"I was trying to.....I needed...." Arian saw his old friend lying there on the floor of the throne room and couldn't defend himself. He was placating him back then, trying to defuse a bad situation with his office, instead of talking to a trusted friend. The King sighed and stood slowly, offering a hand to the breathless warrior on the floor. "I'm sorry Gareth. You're right. I let my pride get in the way all these years, and I never even thought about how wrong I was. I only focused on how hurt my pride was when you hit me in front of my entire court."
"Laid you out." The big man said quietly, just getting his breath back.
"Yeah you did, didn't you." Arian laughed at the memory. It was all he could do, now that he had given in to being wrong in the first place. The man could hit like a runaway horse.
"I shouldn't have though, not there. I should've just accepted that you chose the thief over me." He hung his head, remembering how hurt he felt when his closest friend had not chosen him to guard the people of the north. Back then Arian had just proposed that the people needed bastions of defense in each of the three outlands of Lythinall. To the East, North, and West. He appointed one of his trustworthy companions to each post, but when it came to the north, Arian choose Tanan over Gareth.
"Gareth...." Arian knew his friend was still hurting, but he didn't know how to explain it without hurting him even more. He had thought long and hard over that fateful decision. It was a hard post, and he knew that Tanan would've done better, mainly because he cared less. The position needed someone that could make the hard choices and not always the right ones. Gareth cared too much about the people to make those kind of choices. It had devastated the kindhearted warrior.
"No, don't. I know why you choose Tanan. He is charismatic, charming, and smart, all the things you think I'm not." He turned his back on his King. He had thought about having this conversation for the last eighteen years, but now that it was here, he didn't really want to.
"That's not why..."
"Arian, Tierra was pregnant for heaven's sake! I was counting on you to help us!"
"I know Gareth, that's why I sent Caerlyn to help with the birth, but you don't understand." Arian hadn't thought about this, had tried not to think about it, but it was weighing on him now. "Will you let me explain? Please?"
"You didn't even come to see us, all these years Arian......" Gareth walked over and leaned on the throne, resting his head. "You were my closest friend."
"I know, and I let you down, but hear me out." He put his arm around his old friend and explained that fateful decision. After that, they sat there well into the night, talking and catching each other up on eighteen years of missed memories.
On the other side of the door, the two girls sighed quietly, knowing the worst was over. Maressa let her scrying spell fade and smiled at Tierra, still sitting in the chair blocking the door. "Well, we did it. They will be talking for awhile now so we might as well go get a drink or three." She was so relieved that Arian and Gareth were talking that she might cry. It had eaten her husband inside and out all these years, and they had missed so much, over something pride built.
"I'm just glad Gareth didn't charge the door, when I heard him say 'that's it', I thought it was over." She smiled and jumped up, taking the Queen's arm and leading her down the hall. "Now we just have to root out the conspirators, defeat the great evil, and stay alive doing it."
"Yeah, thank the Gods the hard part is over, fixing men's pride was the hardest thing I've ever had to do!" They laughed and giggled all the way to the King's sitting room, where all the best bottles were kept.
Outer Courtyard, Castle Everknight
The older man walked out and shielded his eyes against the bright sun. He looked around for the children that he had yet to add to the castles list of occupants, and he was tired of them evading him. Othren Lawkland was the old seneschal, and he knew everything about the castle that there was to know.
He had been appointed to the post back when Prince Arian had married, and he had actually performed the ceremony as a high ranking cleric of Ollian, Goddess of beauty and songs. He had deep knowing eyes, short close cropped hair, and a wit that was sharper than Carana’s sword. He had just passed his seventy-sixth winter, and boy he felt it. He heard them before they came into view, and when he turned the corner he saw that one of them was training with the Hunts Master. Othren slowed his walk, trying to stay un noticed, ere he spook the children into running. He didn't want to lose them again.
A couple more feet and he would be within snatching distance of the little one. Sprout, I think was her name, If I recall. He thought. He reached out quickly and grabbed a handful of her shirt, trying not to seem menacing. "Children! So good it is to finally catch up with you." He tried to put some cheer into his tired voice, to no avail.
"Ah!! He's got me!" Sprout wailed as if she was in the clutches of a fire breathing dragon. At only eight winters old, she was four feet tall, and barely weighed ninety stones. Her short blond hair was still dirty despite being washed, and her skin was a dark tan from being on the street all the time. Everyone knew that when this one grew up, she would be a force to be reckoned with. "Help Vance!" She couldn't keep a straight face anymore and started laughing uncontrollably.
Vance was aiming his bow, with his arm pulled all the way back when she called his name. He released the arrow and turned his head, sending it wide of the target, and frowned at the distraction. He shook his sandy brown hair out of his face and looked to his trainer with an apologetic smile. He was only ten winters, but he was as good with a bow in his hands as a second year hunter. "Sorry Master Breich."
The Hunts Master shook his head and smiled. No one could remain irritated at Sprout, no matter what she did. "That's all right boy, you've done good for today. Kari you're next." He looked to the young girl sitting on the bench with her hands folded politely and wondered again why she wanted to learn to shoot. She had long brown hair, tied up in twin braids with red ribbons intertwined. At twelve, she looked the most grown up one of all the children, except Lan. "You sure you want to try this?" His question seemed to shake her out of whatever daydream she was having.
"Oh yes!" She hoped up and saw Othren for the first time and smiled awkwardly, giggling at how Sprout was struggling and laughing at the same time. She turned her attention to Hunts Master Breich. He was a stern man with a kind heart, short and stocky with black hair and dark eyes. "I want to try everything at least once." She stepped up and put on the leather armguard that she saw Vance use, then selected a bow from the rack and tested it.
"Here, like this." The Hunts Master took her aside and talked quietly, giving Othren a little room.
"Now you two." Othren started, seeing his opportunity. "All I need to do is get your full names for the registry, Is that so terrible?" He released the little one and she sat down quickly, as if he was burning her.
Vance shrugged and cocked his head to one side, "Sorry, we are just used to hiding from anyone with authority."
"Yeah authoritieze." Sprout still had some trouble with some words, but she was doing better. She had been on the street for longer than all of them, and learned from watching and listening more than anything else.
"It's all right, I understand. I'm just old and can't chase children like I used to." He took out his rolled parchment and sat down. Out of his pouch he pulled a quill and tiny bottle of ink, setting them aside and getting ready. "Now Sprout, is that the only name you go by?"
"Yes sirs." She never knew her name that was given to her. Her parents went away long ago. "I was called that a lot by the flower lady down in the city."
"Why was that?" Now his interest was piqued. He assumed it was a self given title, or at least bestowed upon her by the other children.
"Cause she always caught me sneaking around the discarded flowers in the back. I liked to decorate things with them, so she called me Sprout."
"I see, thank you." He turned to the other boy, sitting now next to the little one protectively. "And you g
ood sir? Do you know your full name?"
Vance eyed him suspiciously. Something about the older man made him nervous, he just couldn't put his finger on it. Maybe it was because he reminded him of the officials that gave the kids so much trouble when they were on the streets. "My full name is Vance Blaine, though I haven't used it in quite some time." He scratched his head absently, "My mother told me that before she....before she passed. I never met my father."
"Lots of that going around." Sprout joked. She never did well with jokes, always said them at the wrong times. They laughed anyways, but sometimes she saw them look at her funny.
"Did you all meet around the same time?" Othren wasn't going to ask anymore, but these kids were starting to intrigue him, more than a little.
"No, I came along and met Tomas, Kari, and Sprout about two years ago." It seemed like a lifetime ago, living in alleys and foraging for scraps to eat. "Then Lan showed up with Griff and Meri." He frowned then, remembering poor Meri.
Othren knew that look, and knew better than to ask. Life on the street for children was harsh, and it was a miracle that these children survived as long as they did. Especially in the winter months. He looked to Sprout and saw that she was trying not to cry. "There, there little one." He started, but she brushed his hand away with a look that should never be seen on one so young. It was contempt. Taken aback, he sat back and just looked at them for awhile. Finally Vance shifted and looked at his feet.
Sprout took a deep breath and looked Othren right in the eye. "She was kilt when a fancy man hit her with his horse in the snow. You all think we're nothing. He never even stopped when we called for help. No one did." She stood up and ran for the castle, holding back tears.
After a slight pause, to let the little one get out of range, Vance spoke up, breaking the silence forming after the girls flight. "Meri suffered for a long time sir, and Sprout was right there, holding her hand and telling her that she would be ok. It hit us all really hard that day." Vance was looking down, his fists clenching and unclenching in frustration at the memory. "By morning she was gone, and we couldn't even bury her cause the ground was still frozen. Lan and I dropped her off at the North gate later that evening. We heard they burned her up."
"Cremated. They probably cremated her." Othren didn't know what else to say. He knew that the nobles thought themselves above the peasants, but he never thought they would ignore a child that badly wounded. Poor thing must've had bleeding inside her that they couldn't see, or worse. His thoughts drifted back to when he took the oath to be a member of Ollian's faith. Many, many years ago. He vowed to always help those in need of song, story, or life. "I'm sorry Master Vance, It should never have happened. It is even a miracle that you all survived the winters together. Thank the Goddess that Sprout had you all, being that young."
Vance laughed, shaking his head slowly. "You don't understand sir. We all had Sprout to thank. She had been on those streets far longer than any of us. From what we can tell, she was barely talking when she was abandoned. She knew all of the hidden places to stay, the best places for scraps, and knew half of the guards that would help us out in the cold." He stood, and bowed to the older man, brushing his cheek of the tears that silently fell. "We owe our lives to that little miracle." With that he walked back to the castle, needing to find Sprout and hug her for no reason at all.
Othren sat there for awhile longer, originally telling himself he was waiting for the older girl to finish her lesson, but he was fooling himself. He didn't want to get up because he felt ten times older after that entire conversation. This is exactly why I'm trying to change things, these self-righteous nobles think they can walk all over everyone. He clamped down on his emotions and guarded his thoughts once more. It was going to be hard, but change was never easy. He got up and walked back to the castle himself, thinking about what he had started. It might work, but he would have to change his focus. He never noticed the man watching him from the high window, but the man watched with interest. Interest and even a little suspicion.
Frenir Darkshadow turned away from the window when he could no longer see Othren and silently swore under his breath. That man would have to be dealt with very soon. The black haired, bearded man was a sorcerer from the southern lands of G’harr, and as Councilor of Foreign Relations, he was here to try to win little victories for his homeland whenever he could in the interest of peace. He walked quickly through the upper hallways, his polished boots clicking across the stone floor. Othren was going to be trouble, he could just feel it. You won't ruin my plans old man, I'll see to that. His thoughts were troubled, but he couldn't dwell on that right now. No, now he had to anxiously await the arrival of the Princess and she was overdue.
Chapter Five: Almost Home
He sat up slowly, his head hurting like it was hit by a small mountain. He surveyed his surroundings, marveling at what could only be described as astounding. The sky was a deep azure color, dotted with billowing white clouds, and birds trilling their songs as they soared high above. Statues dotted the lush green grassland as far as the eye could see, placed here and there among shrines or pools. Every statue was the same however, and that clue made Karsis frown. They were all of the God Davalar, pristine in his glory as a protector and healer of the races. He got to his feet, testing his balance and realized that he had appeared in Caerlyn's head somewhere different than Caerlyn. He had never seen another mind this lonely. Oh sure it looked positively gorgeous, but there was no one here. No memories dancing by, no favorite people mindlessly repeating their trademark moves, nothing. Nothing except the statues of the God she served dotting a serene, but deathly empty landscape. He started walking and thought of her face, her hair, her smile. He knew how to travel in this place, and suddenly his surroundings changed.
Between one step and the next his steps went from the soft lush grass to a hard unyielding stone. He was in the throne room in Castle Everknight, and there against the wall were his former travelling companions. They were still as statues, but seemed real, except for the fact that they were all behind a glass wall. Everyone was there, even himself, posed like they were talking or arguing more likely. He thought as he neared the throne. Sitting on the throne was a young girl, maybe six or seven winters, with long blond hair and dressed in a pure white dress. The dress was very plain and had folded edges, no frills at all. This had to be little Caerlyn. Karsis stood staring at her for a long while, his mind racing at how bad this was. While it looked very innocent, seeing herself as an innocent young girl like this had implications to what they were trying to do. If Caerlyn started reverting while they were fighting this darkness, he would be on his own. Oh Caer, you are so lonely that you put your memories away under glass to keep them still all the time. Do you fear what they might say? His thoughts turned inward at what someone might see in his own head and he actually shuddered.
"There you are." Caerlyn walked in behind him, a note of embarrassment in her voice. She hated that he was going to see things about her that she had kept locked away from everyone. Well everyone except her God. "Come, I can feel where it is, and it's growing stronger." She placed her hand on his arm and got a flash of something long and white....hair? Why did she get a flash of Rhoe when she touched Karsis. Were they that close?
"Yes yes." He reassured her by patting her hand and turning to walk with her. "Do you feel like you've been hit by a mountain as well?" He asked, shaking his head as if to clear it. Something was trying to distract him. Could it be the evil penetrating her soul?
"Yes, as a matter of fact I do feel like that." She smiled as she thought about the deep, dark evil burrowing into her very fabric, and suddenly they were somewhere else. She regretted it instantly. Before her was a massive temple of Davalar, complete with pillars of gold, and marble stone steps. The high stone roof was starting to cave in as a huge, black, monstrosity dug into it with raking claws and tentacles. "Oh Gods above, why did it have to have tentacles?" She asked no one in particular. Then she remembered who was beside her a
nd waited for the sarcastic retort about tentacles.....and got nothing. She looked slowly to her right and saw that he was staring at this beast with narrowed eyes. She didn't even think that he had heard anything she had said. "Karsis?"
He heard her, but he was too busy. The minute they had appeared that thing shot out at his mind and he threw up the quickest, and strongest, shield he had ever had to use. He had been reinforcing it, second by second, as he continued to hold that thing at bay. No, not a thing. That thing is called Xilquiliv, and he is very old....older than me or my entire race. He realized that he had backed up at least three steps. He could feel this things thoughts as it tried to punch through his shields, and then Karsis smiled. He could feel it's fear. "Caer...hit it hard and fast, we're kind of linked, so it is going to hurt me a bit, but he's scared."
"Linked? Karsis I don't want to blast you clear out of my mind, you might not even be whole again." She hesitated as she lifted her hands, She was so used to trusting him that she almost did it while she was talking to him anyway. Old habits die hard. "And what do you mean he?"
"Caerlyn, Later. He is going to needle his way into my mind, my shields are only slowing him down....If I can feel his fear, then he has to be scared of you, not me." He fell to his knees, barely holding his thoughts together. Xilquiliv pushed harder, adding mental probes to all sides of his shields, almost like the tentacles that he had. Karsis had a plan, but she had to do something now. "Please Caer.......NOW!"
She flinched at his harshness, and turned her head to the thing, narrowing her own eyes and focusing her energy into her arms. She didn't need to call upon Davalar here, it all came from her mind. She thrust her arms out at the main bulk of the thing and screamed. "In the name of His light, BEGONE!" Light burst forth from her arms, slamming into it and burning away a good chunk of the side of it. She heard a scream and saw Karsis stand quickly and fling his fingers out at the monster right as her beam hit. Something detonated between the two of them, throwing the bard back and making the thing on the roof utter a moaning screech that chilled her spine, then it was gone.
The Darkness Within (A Lythinall Novel) (Book 2) Page 8