"No. They are fine. Get on with it. Skip the rest and bring out the rope." High Queen Ishanna snapped at the priest, furious that he had not omitted these words from his speech. The priest, a little unnerved by Ishanna's outburst, nodded and apologized as he fumbled in his robes before bringing out twine golden rope.
"If you will bring out your hands and clasp them as one." As instructed by the priest of Xio, Albatros brought out his large hands first, and Laella slowly lifted hers and lowered them into his. His were enormous and devoured hers. The texture of the tough gray hide reminded her of that of a rhinoceros. She did her best not to look away but kept her eyes upon his. Albatros felt her tremble at the slightest touch while above them Laelliandir was about to burst. As the priest unwound the cord, he wrapped it around their wrists, loop after loop, tying their hands together as one. "May this twine represent your union, loyalty, and faith in one another as one to serve the Lord Xio in harmony. May this rope bind your souls as one in trust, friendship, and love. This unbreakable bond conjured before the Lord this day is impenetrable. Let no man, woman, tyrant or warlord come between this union as long as you both live under the protection, guidance, and love of our Lord, the great Xio, one above all." The priest wrapped the last bit of bondage between them. "If there are vows, please speak now." Laella shut her eyes, having nothing to say. High Queen Ishanna was about to speak up once more, but to her surprise, Albatros spoke out in his deep voice. Although he didn't raise his voice, it was booming enough to carry throughout the courtyard.
"Lady Laella of the house Javalla." Laella opened her eyes, and the surprise on her face mirrored many in the audience. The High Queen Ishanna looked to Albatros and back to her guardians, unsure what was happening. "Perhaps not by choice or tradition we come together, but even as a duty I make a promise to you. A promise as the husband I am, even though not as the husband you deserve. I will honor you just the same. I will protect your kingdom, your honor, and your family to the best of my ability. I give you my word as I would my own Queen and my people. I shall serve you as you merit and follow you if we are bound to the same house. I will respect you and be the champion you need however you deem fit. I will defend the name Javalla and treat it as my own. You have my word, and my word is my bond."
As Albatros finished, tears flowed from Laella's eyes, and although she did not respond, he could tell his kind words comforted Laella. She had expected nothing from him, which made his words more meaningful than she could express, but not everyone was comforted as she. The entire ordeal bored High Queen Ishanna who reached over and tapped the side of the priest's shoulder signaling him to finish.
"In the good grace of God, as an anointed servant of Xio, I declare the binding of your souls and the unity between Lamisdoria and Divox. Forever will you be joined now, and until the end of your days. Blessed be."
As the priest finished the ceremony, the guests cheered and applauded Laella and Albatros, congratulating them on their official bond in marriage. Laella and Albatros raised their hands together, joined, and looked to one another. They may not have said it, but their understanding was mutual. An unspoken agreement between one another, and mutual respect. The High Queen turned and looked to her guards and motioned them close.
"He's all yours. Don't disappoint," Ishanna shouted so Laella could hear over the cheers, and with that turned one last time to Albatros. "I'll have my eye on you. My spies are everywhere. Now blessed be to you both." With that, she turned to descend the stairs and take her leave.
Upon the balcony, only Luminear kept her gaze upon Laella and Albatros, deeply touched by the short ceremony. She had been so engrossed in the bittersweet event she had barely noticed Laelliandir take his leave with Bella chasing after him. Only Markus remained, and he wasn't thinking about the wedding at all. He slumped down against the railing next to Luminear and watched the newly wedded couple and the crowds beginning to celebrate. The priest announced food and drinks in the ballroom as Bella rushed back to the two.
"Lumi, Mark. Lae is going to do something. I know it. I've never seen him so angry." Markus kept his back to her and gave her the cold shoulder, but Luminear turned to face her sister.
"What do you mean? He's just upset. Let him be, Bell. Give him space." Luminear reassured.
"No. I have a hunch about this. He's not himself." Out of patience, Markus scowled at Bella.
"If you're that worried, do something about it. He's a grown man, and he doesn't need a girl tagging along at his hip all the time. He's a Javalla and can take care of himself." Markus, for a change, was quite serious using a tone Bella had never heard from him. Before she could register what was going on, Mark stormed off brushing past her in a huff. Bella watched Markus retreat then focused on Luminear. Noticing just how shaken, confused, and terrified Bella was, Luminear took action grabbing her sister by the hand.
"Come on Bell. I'll help you find him." She insisted on taking the first step pulling her along.
"Thank you so much!" Bella gripped her sister's hand as they took off in a mad dash to chase Laelliandir. Bella was far too focused on the possibility of him doing something terrible to wonder what Markus' problem was. "He might try to kill Albatros. I don't know what he's thinking." Luminear listened to Bella's frantic worries, but she did not respond. Suddenly it had hit Luminear and she knew exactly what to do. She knew what Laelliandir was planning. He had told her, and Bella was right to worry. If she could only bring Bella to him, he might confess his plans, and Bella might change his mind before it was too late. Understanding Laelliandir’s secret feelings for her sister, Luminear imagined if anyone could persuade him, Bella could.
Chapter Four
People in the Cellar
A s soon as the marriage ceremony finished, Laelliandir stormed from the balcony in a fit of rage. Bella chased and pleaded with him, but nothing she could say would stop him. He kept hidden under his hood, wanting to draw no attention and eventually turned and demanded she leave him be before he strode off from her side. By the time Bella grabbed Luminear to help her talk sense to him, he had disappeared in the crowd.
Laelliandir did not return to his chambers, though. He did not go to Albatros' room in waiting either. Instead, he wandered the long halls of the keep and took stone staircases down several flights into the deep cellar. Past the armory and relic rooms, he walked, threading through corridor after corridor until he came upon a small door that led into a maintenance closet of sorts. Keeping his eye on his surroundings and making sure he was not being followed, he entered the room and shut the door behind him. He stepped over a few fallen mops, buckets and various other cleaning supplies, until he came upon the back wall of the small square room and pushed.
"Here we are." Laelliandir thought to himself as the secret door flung open, presenting a staircase. At the bottom of the stairs, a fiery torch lit the way. He secured the door behind him. "Either they're still here or forgot to put out the light,” he thought as he worked his way down the creaky wooden stairs. Less than thirteen steps, the staircase was short, but in lousy repair as many steps were on the brink of collapse while others were already broken. "Hey!" he whispered as he trod on the cold musky base of the secret room and gazed around the shadowy corridor. The lit torch on the wall revealed a long rectangular table in the center of the room along with a desk and several cobweb-covered bookcases. Beyond that point, there was pure darkness. Seconds passed before two figures materialized from the shadows. "You're still here. I wondered if you'd be down here waiting or if you'd headed out on your own." Laelliandir flung his hood from his head, presenting his short golden hair, pale milky face and blue eyes.
"Where did ye expect us to go?" A big man barreled in first. Cloaked in green, he also removed his hood, exposing his long bushy red hair and beard. Beside him, a slender younger man, also cloaked in green appeared. This man, a smile on his face, had short dirty blonde hair and dirt caked across his cheeks randomly.
"Well, we're more than ready now, if you care to get
us out of here, lad." King Edward Dawnhand suggested. He and Kadwalador Thornheart had been hiding out in the lower chambers of the castle, and Laelliandir had been their accomplice. The two masqueraded as homeless vagrants, although Edward looked far dirtier. He took pride in his disguise as his goal was to cover up his royalty and play down his charm. As Northern King, he must hide his identity at all costs. Thus, both men looked as if they had climbed from a nasty trash bin.
"I can’t imagine how you will get back to Cassenneth unless you go the way you came. My spies told me Nova has intercepted your little letter to Lockage. They know the Northern King..." Laelliandir looked at Edward and bowed his head to him with respect. "They know you are here, and they have sent out bounty hunters to find you. They will not support or welcome you or assist in your hunt for the fugitive."
"Can't trust the South!" Kadwalador said, his voice echoing, as Laelliandir put his finger over his lip to signal the man to speak quietly.
"You can trust me. I have welcomed you into my home and vowed to get you to safety."
"Welcomed us by dressing us up in garbage, I might add." King Edward smiled, finding the ordeal amusing. "What of our man? The one whose trail led us here. We found his boat." Laelliandir shook his head.
"Not all of it makes sense, but I got word from one of my people that traveled in with Ishanna Maelor, High Queen of Nova today. He works for me." Edward and Kadwalador's eyebrows shot up, their interest piqued.
"Spit it out, White Cub." Kadwalador said as Laelliandir gave him a look. The northerner's sarcasm did not amuse him.
"I'm a White Lion, and the same age as your king, General." Laelliandir corrected.
"Come out with it, boy. He's Cub King for all I care. Tell us what you learned, and I'll do better at addressing you. You found them?" Kadwalador grumbled as he crossed his burly arms.
"Not the old man, but the younger one you seek. Well, I neglected to mention it before because I could not be certain if he were one and the same. Lonewolf."
"You found him?" King Edward asked, his smiling smirk now replaced with intensity.
"It would appear, but you aren't getting close to him. He's not even permitted to leave Nova for another half year. He's under suspicion for his dealings with King Casen and is servant to my uncle, Neighraellium. Oddly enough, he's somehow won the High King and Queen's favor. They are even taking advice from him, along with my uncle. He's a snake. I don't trust him. Nobody had laid eyes on him until his arrival with King Casen last year, and he claims he came from the village. Some placed called Frenmere Pass in the Freelands. He claims a tyrant came into the village and took over. After some time, he escaped then was found working under Casen. I have a sketch of him I requested my spies to send." Laelliandir pulled out a scroll then unfolded and presented it to the two men. Kadwalador and King Edward recognized him on sight. He was for sure the same man who traveled with Icaz, Alezenda's killer.
"That's the scum," Edward responded first.
"I should have killed him when I had the chance!" Kadwalador added.
"As for the old man, you seek. The murderer. On good faith, my lord Xio seems to have blessed me more information on your fugitive as well." Edward and Kadwalador waited for Laelliandir to finish. "I have two girls here with me. You won't touch either of them. They are innocent, and during the time of your attack, they wouldn't have been but twelve or thirteen years old. But they came here along with Lonewolf. There was also an elderly lady that is no longer alive and an old man who they called Icaz. Strange name."
"That's the other one! That's the man responsible for my father's death!" King Edward blurted out. "Where do we find him?" Laelliandir shook his head with regret.
"I'm sorry, but he's... Well, according to our captain, the old lady who died, the two girls and Lonewolf-- they all claim that Icaz came here to present the head of your King and father, Alezenda to King Casen to strike up a deal."
"That wretch!" Edward clenched his fists while Kadwalador remained uncharacteristically silent, intent on every word.
"The deal went bad. Possibly Lonewolf was working for Casen all along. We don't know the details. The Nova captain stationed here arrived after the events. Lonewolf and King Casen were left standing, but this Icaz fellow was already dead. Your father is avenged, King Edward, although I am sorry you were not the one who did it."
"How do we know this? Who are these girls? Are they still alive to vouch for you, and why should we trust you at all?" Kadwalador broke his silence with one question after the next tumbling out of him.
"I want his head!" Edward said, while Laelliandir shook his head.
"Why should you trust me?" He fought to hold his temper. "I understand your anger, General and yours, King of Cassenneth, but pardon me when I tell both of you to get out of my city and fend for yourself if you dare accuse me of lying. I have helped you, and I don't have to. I could report you both. My High Queen is right upstairs. Even if she departed, we could track her down in no time. Do not accuse me of lying when I have nothing to gain.”
Laelliandir took a long breath and regained his composure. “Your story benefits my cause. What happened in the North triggered these unfortunate events in my land, and I do not think it is even close to over."
"Report us for what? I can bring the whole bloody north down here and claim all your squabbling uncouth tyrant lands. I want Lonewolf alive and in chains before we go north. I want answers!"
"Edward." Kadwalador cautioned the young king then turned to address Laelliandir. "Excuse me, my Lord, but we have lost so much already." Kadwalador huffed, trying to keep himself calm, which was no easy task for such a temperamental fellow. "Two years we've been gone! Two years! And nothing to show for it. No way of contacting our people. If it is true, and the tyrant is dead, we need to, at least, bring back the crook, Lonewolf."
"Don't worry about contacting your people. I can send word. You write it up, and I'll make sure it gets out without being intercepted in these lands. I can't promise you Lonewolf, but can assure you a certain death if you even think of going into Nova in disguise to attempt such a task. You think Lockage is well protected? I've seen the Wonder City, and it is magnificent. Secure but welcoming.” King Edward nodded in agreement and in pride.
“Magwhen is not hospitable. The amount of protection Magwhen has right now is insanity. The Overlords are sick with paranoia. There is no way into that city, much less their castle. Even if you entered under some ruse as a guest, if you so much as think about putting your hand in your pocket you'll likely have it cut off."
"Why are you working with us? You're allied with these people. You're a Javalla!" King Edward knew little about the Javallas but had heard the name during his journey in the south, and understood the name was much respected.
"It is because I am a Javalla that I must do what others cannot. I care for this country, and I sense something terrible is happening. It started with King Casen, and it is somehow linked to Lockage. My uncle and his little pet, Lonewolf are deceiving the Overlords because they foolishly trust my uncle. Neighraellium told me some six months back the twelve kingdoms will become one and Tragmont will burn. So I'm certain my uncle has a secret agenda, and it is working so far. I'm even starting to wonder if my uncle and King Casen were allied. The final kingdoms will be given an ultimatum to submit to one rule or perish. If this happens, I fear Divox will be a superpower and not one of peace. There will be more war with intent to conquer, and I refuse to let this happen because I'm loyal to my country, and no one can manipulate us without a fight.” Laelliandir looked into the Lockage King’s eyes and confessed, “Me helping you might be selfish. I am hoping for an ally from afar if I need one."
"Well, you are either completely crazy or very insightful. Wars in the Southern Realm are of no concern to other realms. We all think Divox is crazy." Edward laughed, as Kadwalador groaned.
"Hasty Edward. Don't be too quick,” he advised as Edward raised his hand to silence Kadwalador.
"I'm not
finished, my friend. I wouldn't care unless it also threatens the Northern Realm or if we are indebted to an ally. You get us Lonewolf as our prisoner to interrogate, torture and do as we see fit, and you can consider us allies."
"With respect, King Dawnhand, you are already in my debt. Posters with your likenesses hang in every city, and a group of bounty hunters are after you, while I hide you in my basement."
"Why, you scoundrel!" Kadwalador bellowed.
"I didn't say I wouldn't do my best, but I have a lot going on, and it will not be easy. For starters, I can get you two home, and I can keep you updated on the happenings here. If your man Lonewolf is gaining favor with the High King and Queen, then he's only gaining more protection, and it will be that much harder to get near him. Make no mistake. We're on the same side. The side of justice.” Laelliandir sensed he had made as good an argument as he could, and time was passing. “I must get ready. You'll take the underpass in the back of the room and meet me on the riverfront where you arrived by nightfall. If you heed my advice and head home, then I'll show you a way across the river without taking the bridge and I will supply the horses. Either that or return the way you came."
"Infested with thieves, scoundrels, treasure hunters, that way is. We would never make it a second time."
"If Lucas and Vanaris get word of our whereabouts and safety, they'll know we are all right. We stay on the path, and bring back the Wolf!" demanded Edward again.
Medley of Treason Page 4