It was here that Bella and Lonewolf talked, sharing much that had occurred during their separation. Bella cut their talk short at dusk because of her plans to meet up with Laelliandir, but to Lonewolf’s surprise, Bella had not once mentioned him. Lonewolf decided it was a subject that would wait another day. He wasn’t about to press her for information when they had just reunited, but he noticed how happy she was. She turned down his offer of wine, knowing she had to stay focused. She did, however, tell Lonewolf she was more than willing to drink on a different night, preferably after Laella fell asleep.
After she left, Lonewolf sat on the edge of the bed and looked out the window, thinking to himself. He liked what he’d seen here in Garroth, and he was happy for Bella and Luminear who seemed content with the life they’d made here. If he accomplished his goal, their life would change again. While he regretted how his actions would affect them, his pangs of guilt would not change his mind. Lonewolf had become a master at making excuses for his choices over the past years. At one time he had been able to distinguish good from bad, and he had tried to offset his bad behavior with great deeds too, but of late he’d found it easier to convince himself that whatever he was doing was for the best. It was much trickier now for him to balance his scales of morality, and when he glimpsed himself in the mirror, he hardly recognized the man he’d become.
“Oh, they’ll be better off in Nova,” he told himself as he schemed to keep his name out of future trouble and planned ways to cover up any involvement he had. “Icaz is magical. He has a wizardly medallion. He knows there is sorcery clandestine in Tragmont, and he’s been carrying two babies around since infant-hood. Yes, he’s insane, but what other explanation is there for him being who he is and being able to do the things he does? There has to be some truth to it. Give him a chance. Find that medallion,” Lonewolf told himself silently. “It might be here. Find it. Bring it to him, and if Luminear and Bella are what he claims them to be, he uses that medallion to coax their powers out. If it works, then I will find out the secret. If it doesn’t, he can erase their memories. What they can’t remember won’t hurt them. I would never put them in harm’s way. I need to understand. Is that bad? No, it’s curiosity. Quit thinking so much.” Lonewolf whispered to himself as he rose from the bed and paced around the room. “They are the key, but they don’t realize they are a key to some gate. A hidden gate. What lies beyond it? Am I as crazy as he? It could be another world. Could be anything. Could be the greatest secret of all time. If it’s true they are the key, then it is justified. They have a destiny.” Lonewolf rose his voice above a whisper as he continued this familiar argument with himself. “Destiny. Yes, it is destiny. This has to be done. Don’t question it, just do it.”
“Do what?” Startled Lonewolf spun around in time to see Laelliandir coming out of his closet, sliding his sword with the Novanian blue lion head hilt under his chin. Lonewolf gulped in alarm as he raised his head and wondered how much Laelliandir had heard.
“I should have checked that damn closet.”
“Should have. Must be the wine that’s making you a little slow.” Laelliandir looked from the corner of his eye to the remaining half-gallon of red wine. “Help yourself to my mother’s wine, Wolf? She said you weren’t one for dinner table manners.” Laelliandir eyed the well-dressed man from head to toe. He noted two knives hanging from Lonewolf’s belt, and two more bulging from under his leggings strapped to his boot. A sword sat on the dresser next to the wine.
“So, you caught me. I wasn’t aware you were Lord Laelliandir guardian of proper dinner etiquette. I’ll take my punishment and endure your lecture, and I’ll return the wine.” He paused for effect. “Tomorrow. I’m not quite done drinking tonight.”
Laelliandir shook his head. “You aren’t funny to me. You’re a sad lying thief dressed in rich people’s clothing that shouldn’t have wandered away from your little bandits and scoundrel gangs. You’re a rat who has been way too lucky for far too long. Did you never have parents, or did you refuse to grow up? You’re trash and belong in prison.” Lonewolf laughed at the remark.
“Oh yes, judge, jury, and executioner. The voice of righteousness. The White Lion speaks. What are you? Twenty now? You’re still a kid pretending to understand how the world works. Nothing is black and white. There is no such thing as all good and all bad, but that is how you see the world. I’m bad, and you’re good. What’s so good about being you? What’s so bad about being me? You presume to tell me who I am?” Laelliandir ignored his questions and asked some of his own.
“This is destiny? This has to be done? Don’t question? Just do it? What did that mean? You were talking to yourself.” Relieved that Laelliandir had heard nothing else, Lonewolf still felt foolish for not checking the closet.
“You want to talk? Put down that sword. I don’t take kindly to threats.” Laelliandir didn’t move but kept his blue eyes pinned to Lonewolf’s brown glassy ones.
“I’m not listening to you or satisfying your requests. This sword stays firmly upon your throat. If it goes elsewhere, that means I didn’t like your answer, and I’ll separate your head from your body. Understand?”
“Oh, bother. You are way too serious, Laelliandir. What does Bella see in you? Fine. Let us talk. We need to anyway, and I was hoping for a chance to speak with you, but under better circumstances. First, do you understand anything about me, or was that you being presumptuous?”
“I know you’re a liar. You were involved in that skirmish at Lockage with the mystery tyrant in the north. I know you fought the prince and held him hostage while your leader beheaded the King. You’ve lied before and said you weren’t there. I also know you escaped in some underground tunnel filled with lowlife thugs, thieves, treasure hunters and all-around degenerates just like you. I know you made your way into the south and presented the Northern King’s head to King Rupert Casen. The man you were working for died, and you were somehow riding with Casen. The rest is a mystery unless I’m to believe your version of events, which I would be foolish to do. You’re a thug from the underworld, or at least they respect you enough to let you crawl through their sewers.” Lonewolf kept his face blank, as Laelliandir revealed the source of some of his information. “You see, King Edward Dawnhand and his General, Kadwalador, passed this way. They were captured while hunting for you. When they escaped, they found themselves at Garroth’s doorstep. I sent them home for their own safety and promised them your head if I ever got the chance.” Laelliandir finished his explanation, not at all concerned that the other man would tell the Overlords.
“I suppose you plan to kill me or otherwise you wouldn’t have told me you found the Northern King and his general and set them free. The Overlords would be livid if they heard about that.” Lonewolf held his head high and rested his chin on Laelliandir’s sword.
“I don’t think you will return to them. You’ve caused enough damage, whoever you are.”
“Did Edward tell you I could have killed him at any moment and was even ordered to do so, but I refused? I let him go unscathed. Did he mention that? It wasn’t my fault he came after me without protection. I did not kill the boy or the general, and I had a chance to do them both in.”
“So you’re not a murderer according to you. Yes, they told me, but they didn’t trust you and would have killed you for being an accomplice. You helped slay a king! Who are you, and what are you doing?”
“Surviving. That’s what I do best. I’m a sneak and liar just as you said. I am not a friend of the Overlords, but I’m bound to them. What would stop me from walking away right now? I might have ridden on into the sunset instead of coming here, but I will not leave Bella and Luminear.”
“You should have ridden on, and they are better off without you. They can’t see what you are, and I did not tell them.”
“Like you have anything incriminating to tell them. What would you have me say? I was a poor man moving from city to city looking for jobs, and no, not all of my work was respectable. I worked
dirty jobs. You are right. I grew up poor. My parents beat me, and I ran away the second I had a chance. I had to learn to survive by my own wits. The first group of people that took me in were bandits, and they were despicable people. I learned from them and moved on. This was my life for over twenty years.”
“Spare me the sob story, Wolf. What is your connection to this? Don’t tell me you were at the wrong place at the wrong time and ask me to pity you.”
Lonewolf snorted. “I need no pity and ask for none. I stand by my actions. The man that beheaded the Northern King was my employer. He paid me well so I worked for him, and that is how I met Bella, Luminear, and their caretaker, Zynoa.”
“This much I’ve been told. Who was the man?”
“A lunatic. A wealthy mad man who had taken control of the village where we lived. Two years of corruption before he launched the most pitiful attack imaginable. He took a bunch of farmers to attempt a champion bout at Lockage. It was a stupid idea, so I had a backup plan. I used my knowledge of an underground pass to assure that Bella, Luminear, Zynoa, and I had an escape route. Luck had it that the Prince, Edward showed up. He was a fool. Next thing I knew we kidnapped him and the King died to save him.”
“Edward said the King gave his own sword to this man?”
“That’s true. He did. From my viewpoint, it looked like he handed over his own sword and let that crazy old man kill him. It was bizarre. I can’t explain that. It made no sense, but if you say the boy saw the same thing, you know I’m telling the truth.”
“No, I don’t. But I trust the Cassenneth King over you. Skip ahead. You escaped and presented the head to Casen. Your employer agrees to set you free after getting him to Garroth, but it doesn’t work out the way you planned. Casen kills your employer, and you start working for him and leave Luminear and Bella behind for a year to work with another crazy tyrant. See, that’s what I don’t get. How do you attract these enemies of nations?”
“Well, when you put it that way, it sounds bad,” Lonewolf admitted. “But it is true. My employer died. Casen chose me to work with him for helping bring the head of Alezenda. In return, Luminear, Zynoa, and Bella would be safe, which they were.”
“Why you?”
“I was honest about that part. He learned I was my previous employer’s champion and wanted me to be his. I was more of a slave than anything and forced to fight. I’m not even that great of a fighter, and I nearly died. The ruse to use the minotaurs was my idea, and I came up with it to save my own skin. Can you blame me for not wanting to die? It was a long shot, but I figured if we had one minotaur champion, Offedius would not want Divox to think they were picking sides so she’d send another minotaur for Nova to use. Even the playing field.” Laelliandir cleared his throat, interrupting him.
“This is where I have more big problems. How could you foresee Offedius’ strategy? That she might send a second minotaur or send word to us? Are you a mind reader?” Wolf was growing frustrated with Laelliandir’s game. He sighed and shut his eyes for a moment before, without warning, he flung his head out of harm’s way, while slinging one elbow in the air to slam down on the base of Laelliandir’s sword. Simultaneously bringing his knee and rammed it into Laelliandir’s groin propelling him back into the closet. As Laelliandir stumbled backward, he lost his balance, making it easy for Lonewolf to seize his opponent’s sword. Laelliandir landed on the closet floor, but shoved himself up to his feet immediately, prepared for Lonewolf to attack. Lonewolf did not strike though. Instead, he backed further away from Laelliandir and kneeled down.
“This is where I have big problems, Lord Laelliandir,” he explained as he took the dirks from his leg straps one at a time before rising to his feet. With Laelliandir’s own sword pointing at him, Lonewolf tossed his dirks across the room one at a time. Laelliandir looked at him dumbfounded as the man disarmed himself of knives. Lonewolf then took his free hand and removed the knives from his belt and tossed them aside too. “I don’t feel comfortable talking with a sword against my neck, and while I’d love a good heart to heart, I am no fan of being threatened. Makes me uneasy.” Lonewolf said as he then threw Laelliandir’s sword to the corner of the room and reached for the sword upon his dresser and discarded it too. Both men stood defenseless with a pile of weapons far from reach. “Come out, and we’ll talk. After that, we can fight to the death if you want, but the least we can do is try to settle our differences,” Lonewolf offered seeing Laelliandir’s serious expression. Lonewolf reached for the wine and took a few gulps before bringing it back down to the dresser. He then hopped up next to it, taking a seat. Laelliandir crept out of the closet and looked around the room to where the weapons lay, then he looked back to Lonewolf. “Don’t repeat it. I heard you. No more of your mother’s wine. I’ll quit tomorrow. Liver hates me anyhow.” Laelliandir just glowered at him not amused. Lonewolf shrugged. “Too serious. See, I’m a man that reads people. What would I have done as lord of the minotaur? On the one hand, I’m determined to keep the peace, but I’m also needing allies because this army of ruthless centaurs threaten to invade my land? What would I do? I wouldn’t want to turn down Casen in case he wins the civil war. He wins, and he remembers me, and how I refused to help, and he’s not likely to help me in return. Help both sides and remain neutral. Minotaur, mortals, elves, dwarves, not any of us are too different. We all look for ways to help ourselves. Mostly we are selfish creatures of habit. You study how people work and how they act and treat each other and before long you use it for your own gain because like I said we are all selfish. I wanted to live, survive, and get back to Luminear and Bella. I weighed my options and took a chance. It ended up getting the White Lions of Javalla and the Novanian army together, and it ended the crusade. I was still in a bind and being watched like a hawk until your crazy uncle vouched for me. Maybe he didn’t trust me but wanted to keep his eye on me. Whatever the reason was, I worked with what I had to gain their respect and my eventual freedom. I could run now. Be gone forever. I’m free and never have to return, but I want Bella and Luminear with me, or at least to be allowed to live in the south. They are my only family.”
“They aren’t going anywhere with you. You admitted you’re a liar. You helped talk the Overlords into absorbing the rest of the kingdoms and proclaiming themselves a superpower.”
“Oh no, that was your uncle. I played along. The Overlords liked his idea and already had their minds made up. I wouldn’t do as you did and complain and argue about it. We all saw it didn’t get you anywhere. Their mind was set. They liked the idea, and anyone that would argue with them would regret it. I’m glad they didn’t kill you when you came riding in like a gallant knight to save the day. I’m not opposed to the idea of one kingdom versus twelve. All Divox ever does is fight when divided anyway. The region is too small for such a drastic division. Perhaps a change in leadership is in order and restructuring. Look North. Cassenneth. Every bit as big a land as Divox. One leader and never are they fighting. Unless, of course, a southern loon like Casen rides to disturb their good peace. One ruler might be wise, I say, but that’s beside the point.” Lonewolf offered Laelliandir the bottle of wine, but Laelliandir just looked at Lonewolf blankly and ignored the gesture.
“I’m sure that just made you feel warm inside because they spared me,” Laelliandir answered sarcastically. You’re trying to get in my head. You want Luminear and Bella safe. I can believe that. They are safe as you are already aware. I’m sure you wanted to see them too. I don’t doubt that, but you have another agenda here, and we both know it. Which is it? Are you here to check up on me, dig for dirt? Did my uncle send you, or was this a personal request from her Majesty?”
“Your uncle? You are right on him. He’s deluded. Might be the poison. I’m not sure because I didn’t know him before, but he’s a little sick in the head now. Laughs at random things in the night.”
“He’s not himself, and he’s not normal. He used to be. Uncle Neighraellium was quiet, kept to himself and didn’t much care
for titles, but he was also kind, honorable, and intelligent too.”
“Oh, he still doesn’t care for titles. He doesn’t claim to be a White Lion either, but he’s still quite the swordsman and has a decent brain in his head, even if you disagree with this new directive business. He’s not so quiet anymore and a little forgetful. Often he seems insane.”
“Is that what you think is wise? The New Order? You think what they’ve done is a great job, splendidly executed, eh?” Lonewolf shook his head.
“No. No, I do not, my good lord. I think your job is, though.” Laelliandir did not understand what he meant by this.
“Lord of Garroth, Protector of Gargurthian? Don’t play games with me. I don’t have time to waste like this.”
“Aye, you’re very busy, Lord Laelliandir,” Lonewolf agreed as he hopped from the dresser and paced across the room. Laelliandir kept his eyes on him to make sure he went nowhere near the pile of weapons without a fight. “What you have not seemed even to consider is that maybe I’m your ally. Perhaps we have a similar goal. Luminear and Bella cannot leave Garroth, fine. I’m not allowed to leave Nova, fine. Why? Because you don’t trust me, and I’m a slave to the people in charge. I can’t sneeze without someone watching me, and you are absolutely right, I can’t even visit Bella and Luminear without having an agenda to make sure everything is going well here. You are right about me. I’m a simple man, and I’ve done my fair share of dirty deeds and have a history of bad references. I don’t belong in this life, dressing like a nobleman and spending time with rich hateful people that used to spit at me rather than talk to me. It is disgusting, and I want out of this life.”
Medley of Treason Page 14