They’d sat like this countless times when they were younger. When she’d arrived at court, a girl of fourteen promised to the prince, stronger than both Evandro and Eliodoro had been and twice as agile. She’d wept in secret for her lost family, and Evandro had been the one to listen to her angry confession: she’d never cared about marriage, and leaving her childhood home for one she’d never seen had hurt her feelings, even if it was the custom in nobility. But Ligeia was not one to be seen shed tears or show weakness, and soon she’d rolled her sleeves up and tried to make the most out of her new life.
* * *
Eliodoro couldn’t but be impressed by her resilience, and her wits and sharp tongue had soon turned her into a friend. A sister to Evandro, even. He’d been the one to hold her hand the night before her wedding, promising her that everything was going to be alright, that Eliodoro loved her. He’d poured his heart on his words, painting his beloved prince with all the love he’d never confess him. And Ligeia had understood, and wiped his tears. She’d stopping mourning for her childhood home in the end, and found a new one in the husband she’d learned to love and in the friendship of her trusted knight with a broken heart.
Ten years had gone by, and here they were. Ruins of a fallen realm, hidden and forgotten.
He sighed and turned his hand on his knee, and she slipped hers in his palm.
“I’m sorry,” Evandro said under his breath. “I… I should’ve sought you out, but I was too…”
“I thought about you a lot,” she interrupted him. Evandro hung his head and clutched the tunic on his chest.
“And I thought I’d lost it all--you, my honor, my promise to Eliodoro…” He looked at her, and through the screen of his hair Ligeia was a statue of copper and gold, haloed by the candles. “I never had the guts to die, either. I… wanted to lay the Asares girl head on your tomb, you know?”
Ligeia squeezed his fingers and wrapped her other hand around his.
“Gaiane Asares, am I right? The girl in blue.” Her eyes hardened, a flicker of steel that made her face look more dangerous.
“The lost princess. I tracked down a patrol of soldiers looking for her, and pretended to be on their side.” A mirthless laughter trembled on his tongue. “I couldn’t even kill them.”
“Ampelio told the whole tale to our sentry men. We have a network of outposts around the land, you know?” She crossed her legs and looked at their conjoined hands. “I didn’t believe him when he said you lived.”
Evandro brushed his thumb on the back of her hand.
“I’m a farce. I was so ready to kill a girl in her sleep, and…”
“What about the other girl?”
He shrugged.
“They’re very close. Leo and Gaiane, I mean.” He pointed at the healing scratches on his face. “She’s very determined to protect her. I don’t know why, but the princess did nothing to fight back, she never used her powers…”
“I’ll see her tomorrow,” Ligeia said. “Is it true she escaped her palace?”
“I think so.”
Ligeia twisted a thin braid around her finger.
“I don’t know what to make of this. Is she a danger or a resource? Her relationship with her family can’t be that good, if she fled them. And maybe…”
“She was used as a weapon once. Do you think we could do that again?”
“I wasn’t thinking about that,” Ligeia said curtly, then sighed again. “I don’t know. I don’t care, maybe, but I wish Rea could live free…”
“Ligeia, how did you survive? I thought I had doomed you all when I made the archways collapse.”
“Althea did it. She burned the remains of her power to keep the tunnels from collapsing on us, but when Mirone tried to look for you he found only corpses.” She pressed her lips together. “I buried you too, that day.”
“Ligeia, I…”
She grabbed his chin, turning his face toward her.
“Evandro, I’ve been alone for so long. And I missed you every day since that bloody spring.”
His throat clenched again, and his vision blurred.
“I’m not him,” he whispered. “I wish I could comfort you, but…”
“Neither am I,” she interrupted him. “But we have each other, and you’re a blessing I never thought I could deserve. The Dawn Star loved my husband, and I’ve always considered him the most valued of friends. I wish you were happier…”
Tears welled in his eyes, and this time he didn’t fight them. He let them flow, sobbing loudly, shaking his head.
“I’m sorry--I’m so sorry, Ligeia, I should have…”
“Here,” she cut him short, pulling him in her arms.
And here, Evandro wept. For his lost love and his past honor, for the trauma he’d buried under years of stubborn denial. For the knight he’d been and that he was called to be once more. For his past mistakes and those he’d barely avoided. For Eliodoro. A pure, noble kind of despair that shook his shoulders and made him grab Ligeia’s back. He soaked her shoulder in tears, unashamed as she caressed his hair and murmured comforting little nothings.
Eventually, he stopped sobbing and sniffled loudly; Ligeia grabbed his shoulders and pulled him back, looking him in his eyes.
“I’ve had eight years to mourn, and you never did it, right?”
“Sort of,” he grumbled. He rubbed his sleeve on his eyes. “I should’ve comforted you instead, I’m sorry…”
“Stop apologizing,” she said, tucking a long strand behind his ear. “I can’t say what’ll be of us, but the Nikaia’s rebels could use a skilled fighter.”
Evandro chuckled and sniffed again.
“I’m not much of a fighter anymore. A decent hunter, maybe?”
“Bring my people food and they’ll love you no matter what. Do you want me to walk you back to your room?”
“I should be guarding your door instead! That’s what a knight would do, or…”
Ligeia burst out laughing, standing up and playfully shoving Evandro's shoulder.
“I don’t need a knight; I just need a friend!”
“That’s not very queen-like of you.” he said, walking with her to the door.
“Well, there’s a time to be noble, and a time to be trustworthy. I care more about the latter, at the moment.” She picked a lamp from the ground, lit it up with a candle and took Evandro down the corridor.
They didn’t speak much, but when Ligeia hooped her arm in Evandro's, he leaned closer and took the liberty to kiss the top of her head.
His chest had never felt lighter. It was like having a family again.
Thanks to Ligeia’s guidance, Evandro stopped by his door without any mistake.
“Here you are. Someone should’ve brought you some food: eat, rest, and tomorrow we’ll see what to do with the princess.”
“You think we stand a chance?”
He didn’t say more. Even speaking of insurrection, of taking Epidalio back, seemed too much. But if Ligeia needed someone to fight at her side, Evandro was her man.
She wrapped herself in her cloak.
“I don’t know. But we have something we’ve lacked until yesterday. I’ll send Ampelio to fetch you tomorrow.”
She turned around and left. Evandro watched her go, and when she disappeared in the shadows he entered his room at last.
Yes, there was bread, and water, lukewarm but clear enough. He ate and drank, and then lay on the straw, his arms crossed under his head and the sword by his side.
The Dawn Star lived. Faint, frail, but here he was.
He closed his eyes.
For the first time in eight years, he didn’t dream.
Chapter 15
Gaiane limped in Ampelio's trail, her eyes captured by the labyrinth of corridors and hidden nooks around her. Nikaia was in ruins above the surface, but here, underground, people lived and thrived.
Well, let’s stick with live, she thought with a bit of shame, passing in front of a mother breaking a small loaf of hard, flat bread among her
three children. They were all very thin, their eyes too large in their small faces, and their clothes were covered in patches.
Her face burned, and under their hostile gaze she looked away, tripping over her own feet.
“Careful there,” Leo said, swiftly taking her arm and supporting her.
“Thanks, I… I was…”
“Mesmerizing, isn’t it?” Ampelio said. He turned to smile at them, but Leo glared at him, and he sighed. “Can you please be a little less antagonizing, Leo? I did nothing wrong, it’s not like I actually betrayed you!”
“You tricked us,” she snapped, holding one arm around Gaiane’s waist and leading her on.
“I had my reasons.”
“What reasons? Wanting to show off with your folks doesn’t count as…”
Ampelio stopped and held his lamp high between them. Gaiane thought he was likeable enough, but there was something too nice about him that made her distrust him a bit. Now, though, he was serious, his eyebrows furrowed and his lips stretched in a tight line. She nestled closer to Leo and immediately felt safer.
“I didn’t want to show off,” he said curtly. “Have you seen this place? We need everything! We need capable people, we need hunters, fighters. We need hope!”
Gaiane shook her head.
“Let’s assume I want to help you, what use could I be? I never did chores in my life, and…”
“Hope, my little princess,” Ampelio said, extending his hand to pat her cheek. Gaiane tilted her head back to avoid it, and the boy didn’t seem to resent her for that. “Hope to take back our land, one day…”
“I’m not a weapon.” Gaiane shivered and instinctively touched her throat. Her mother’s collar still weighed around it, in her memory.
“And she deserved to know the truth. Hasn't she been used enough already?” Leo said. Then, after a pause: “I would’ve liked to know the whole story, too. You know, for common good manners.”
“I couldn’t. You wouldn’t have believed me, and Evandro twice as much.” His voice dropped an octave, and he turned around, leading them on. “Ligeia needed his (her?) knight. She needed a friend, and the moment I saw him I knew…”
“He’s a rude man,” Gaiane interrupted him.
“And an animal. He even smells like one,” Leo continued, and Gaiane nodded. Ahead of them, Ampelio's shoulders sagged.
“He is, and something else. Something more. I’ve seen it, believe me… when I met him, I saw through the lies he’s told himself for all these years. He’s still a knight, he just… lost himself, I think.”
“He tried to kill Gaiane.” Leo said.
“And I stopped him. You’re welcome, my lady.” and he mockingly bowed to Gaiane, who blushed.
“I am of course very grateful for your intervention. Still, you lied to us and made us think you were taking us to my mother. Why?”
“Oh, that? Nothing personal, I just have a thing for theater.”
Leo left Gaiane’s side--something she didn’t really appreciate--and stepped in front of Ampelio, one hand slapping his chest.
“You little shit! You wanted to impress your crush and used us as actors in your play!”
“My… my crush? Oh, Leo, you’re dreaming! I only brought Evandro to Ligeia, that’s all. He still wants to wring my neck, I think…”
“And you’ll deserve it. You had them put a sack over my head, and Gaiane was terrified!”
He stopped at the top of a short staircase. This part of the tunnels seemed newer: the walls were propped up with wooden beams, and the air still smelled like damp dirt and mortar. Gaiane shivered and tried to look behind Ampelio: were cells there? Should they consider themselves prisoners? But it was too dark to find an answer.
“Listen, girls,” Ampelio said. His voice was low and musical, but his eyes were tired. Gaiane almost felt sorry for him. “I’m sorry you had it rough. And I’m sorry I had to see so many friends die when the Asares soldiers found us--yeah, they were after you, princess. I’m not saying it’s your fault, but…”
“But you’re implying it,” Leo interrupted him, crossing her arms.
“I wish it never happened, Ampelio. I escaped the royal palace because I couldn’t see any other way out of my cage, and I never thought my choice could’ve hurt someone, Gaiane said. How pathetic she sounded, teary and weak. She cleared her throat and tried to be louder. “My family would’ve used me against Epidalio again and again. They only needed an excuse!”
“I’m starting to see how desperate you were… you’re just some kind of victim of this war, only a different kind of victim. But these people,” and he waved at the underground complex, “they deserve a better future. They don’t even care about vengeance anymore, it wouldn’t bring their families, their homes or their power back.”
“They’d still like to see me dead. I understand that, I’d want that too in their shoes…”
“Well, it won’t happen,” Leo said angrily. “I won’t let them. I can still take you away, unless you want to lock us up.”
Gaiane felt her heart melt a little. Leo was fierce, protective and capable. Not a useless creature like her, who somehow couldn’t even use her magic anymore.
Maybe it’s a blessing. Too much evil has come from my powers…
“I don’t think you’ll want to leave. You’re hunted now, both of you, and Nikaia is your best chance to start over again. Unless you have a family to return to, then…”
“I do, but that’s not the point,” Leo said. “Still, if I see bars or locked doors, I’ll kick your ass to your queen Ligeia’s throne and back.”
“She’d find that funny,” he said. “This way.”
And down they went again. Gaiane could just count the turns and steps they took, tracing a mental map of the place. She gave up at the umpteenth tunnel leading to another tunnel, and eventually they stopped by a door that looked exactly like the last ten they’d seen.
“Leo, this is your room. I fear lunch won’t be anything fancy, if lunch is to be at all: we’re feeding two hundred people, and some of them are young children or elders, and they…”
“I don’t want your food. I have mine.”
“Good. So, Gaiane, if you want to…”
“What? No, I’m staying here!” she blurted out, looking at Leo in panic.
Ampelio sighed.
“You two are very cute, but…”
“If I stay, she stays,” Leo said, her chin out and her black eyes glimmering.
“We prepared a room just like this for you, Gaiane. I’m not throwing you in some rat-infested dungeon, it’s just…”
“I don’t want to be alone. I spent my whole life alone in a room, and now…”
Her voice broke. She looked down at her lumpy, ugly shoes, nothing like the silk slippers she’s used to wear. This place was dismal, dark and narrow, but its walls didn’t oppress her like those of her fancy apartments did. There were no cages here, no prisoner little birds singing and fluttering against golden bars.
“I’m staying with her or we’re not staying at all. Your choice, blondie.”
Ampelio ruffled his hair; the dark ring on his forehead flashed for a moment in the light of his lamp, then his shoulders slumped.
“Fine, fine… I know I’ll regret this, but Gaiane can have this room,” he said, pointing at the door next to Leo’s. “I don’t think there’s even a blanket, and my first choice would’ve been closer to Ligeia’s quarters. More suited for a princess, you know. With some comfort as well.”
“Closer to someone who has every reason to hate me? I’ll pass.” Gaiane murmured. Ampelio rolled his eyes and continued.
“But if you prefer to be…”
“I do. And I can adapt. Or… try to,” Gaiane said, straightening her back. Ampelio was still taller than her, but she could look him in the eye now. It felt good.
“As you wish. The well’s down there, you can see it from here.” He pointed to a small widening among the dimly lit corridors, where a metal cylinder
with a long handle was. “If there one thing we don’t lack it’s water, thank the Spirits.”
“I can wash myself?” Gaiane asked, more relieved than she could’ve imagined. Ampelio smiled, and he looked almost innocent for a moment.
“You should. Mind you, you don’t look worse than most people here, but later I’m taking you to meet Ligeia, and you’ll want to neaten up.” He opened the door to Leo’s room, lighting up a small lamp, then did the same with Gaiane’s.
Not a room, she thought, stepping in. A closet, maybe. Clean but pitch dark, except for the small flame of the lamp burning on the floor. Empty but for a wooden bucket.
Ampelio left them, waving Leo goodbye with more emphasis than needed.
They were alone, and Gaiane stooped to pick up the bucket. It was a rough thing, held together by rusty metal bands.
A soft cough from the door, and she turned around.
“You alright?” Leo asked. Gaiane smiled at her concerned tone: her friend sounded different, as if she really cared. She liked to indulge in the fantasy that it was so indeed.
“I will be. I just… I just need to figure a couple of things out. Like, how to wash my hair if I have no soap.”
“There’s some in my room, you can borrow it. And a towel.”
“And you?”
Leo chuckled and leaned against the door.
“I’m not the one who’s to meet a queen, Gaiane. I can afford to look scruffy.”
“You’re not scruffy! I like your hair, and you always smell good!” Her face flushed so badly she could feel her skin burn as she turned around.
Leo fell silent for a moment, then laughed again.
“If you say so… do you want me to help you draw water from the well?”
A flicker of pride made Gaiane throw her hair back and tuck the bucket under her arm.
“I can do it on my own, of course. I’m not that helpless, you know?”
Leo rolled her eyes and threw her hands up.
“Says the same princess who stumbled and fell three steps into her latest escape…”
“It was dark, and I didn’t know the territory! You would’ve fallen, too!”
“Yeah, yeah, whatever. Good luck with the well,” Leo said, waving at her and slipping into her room.
The Other Side of Magic Page 22