by P D Atkerson
In a way, Enrick could understand why his father loved the smell of smoke now.
The smell is empowering!
“Once I have you, Feeler, I’m coming for you, Shey.” Prince Enrick whispered, tightening his grip on the saddle. “And I will watch you burn, just like this village.” With that, Enrick yanked on the reins and turned away from the smoking village.
* * *
Chapter 3
Rising Smoke
Another twig snapped under their weight, as they ran through the trees. It was a young man, cloaked in a royal servant's cape. On his back, he carried a little boy. Running down a sloping hill, the young man tripped and nearly fell, the weight of the boy too much for him to carry.
Out of breath, the young man stopped and bent over, dropping the boy to the ground, as he gasped for breath. Clutching his side.
His eyes were sad as he looked down at the boy.
“I’m sorry.” the young man whispered, stepping away from the boy. “But I’m not going to get caught, I… I can’t. They will kill me. Please forgive me.”
“Walner…?” the boy questioned, confused. The young man turned away and bolted forwards. “Walner!” the boy screamed, weeping as he ran after him as fast as he could. But his short legs were no match for the young man and soon, he vanished from sight.
The boy continued to run, but soon exhaustion swept over him and he dropped to his knees. He couldn’t go any further, he just couldn’t!
Night was drawing near and soon it would be too late for him. He just couldn’t go any further.
His eyes blurry, he turned back in the direction of his home. When he did, he could see the dark, smoke like fog, seeping through the trees towards him. Turning the bright leaves into gray ash. He knew it was going to be upon him, and there was no escaping.
“Goodbye.” He whispered, looking up towards the sky one last time. Fighting back tears, he closed his eyes, laid back against the ground and let out a long breath. He knew when he opened them again, his life would be gone.
Aroron awakened from his dream, by someone pounding on his chamber door.
Half asleep, he shoved himself out of his bed and stumbled towards the doorway. By the time he reached it, any memory of his dream was gone. He opened the door to find Lilay standing outside. “Lilay, what are you doing here?” he mumbled, fighting back a yawn.
She looked at Aroron and frowned. “Are you alright?” she asked. “You don’t look very good.”
“Well, I was trying to sleep when you came pounding on my door.” Aroron said, leaning against the doorframe. “What is it you wanted?”
“Oh!” Lilay said, taken aback, as if she’d forgotten she was the one who’d awakened him. “I came because I saw something when I was up in the tower, earlier this morning.”
This better be interesting. “What did you see?” Aroron asked, crossing his arms.
She bit her lip and shrugged. “I’m not sure, that’s why I’m here.” She said. “Do you think you could come and look at it?”
Aroron rubbed his head and nodded. It wasn’t as if he was going to get anymore sleep now. “Just let me grab my coat and sword.” He told her, before ducking back into his chamber.
A minute later, Lilay was dragging Aroron up the tower, up and up and up, to the very top. The highest point in all of Glunot.
“What were you doing up in the tower this early?” Aroron asked, rubbing the sleep from his eyes as he stepped out onto the balcony wrapping about the outer edge of the tower.
“I always come up here in the morning.” Lilay said, brushing him off as if it was a normal thing to do. It took them nearly twenty minutes to get to the top, it definitely wasn’t normal. She moved over to the edge of the balcony, to where a telescope was mounted to the stone wall. “What… what is that?” She asked, pointing towards the horizon. “I’ve never seen anything like it before.”
Aroron stepped forwards and grabbed hold of the telescope she was using. He pressed his eye against it and looked out. What he saw, almost made him want to laugh.
“Smoke and fire.” He said, stepping back. “Haven’t you ever seen smoke and fire before?”
“Yes, but… so much of it?” She asked, looking confused.
He sighed and turned back towards where the gray mass hung in the sky. “I’d guess it’s a village on fire.” Aroron said. “A fairly big one, by the looks of it.”
Lilay gasped. “A village? But it’s been growing! Why hasn’t anyone tried to put it out?”
“You really have no idea what the real world's like, do you?” Aroron asked turning back towards her. Sometimes she reminded him of a little girl. So innocent and naive. It was slightly sad, knowing how old she really was. She should know better. “Villages burn down all the time, sometimes it’s just an accident. Other times it’s a punishment, or an act of war.” he said. “Was that all you wanted to show me?” he asked, heading back towards the door.
“You act like this is normal!” she cried, grabbing his arm.
“Because, it is Lilay.” Aroron said, his voice sharper than he’d meant for it to be. “I’ve tried to talk to the war council, but they won’t listen to me. This is what our world is like. Villages burn down all the time and no one outside of that village really cares. It’s just another part of life.”
“Please,” she whispered, gripping his arm. “Just double check to make sure it’s a village.”
With a sigh, Aroron shrugged her off. “Fine, but only if that means I can go back to bed after this.” She nodded. He took the telescope and scanned over the flames one last time. “Yes, I’m sure it’s a village. I can even make out the buildings.” He was just about to leave, when he spotted something else. Little spots of something, scattered near the burning village. What…? “Do you see that?” Aroron asked, moving away from the telescope. He bent against the railing and squinted. Even without the telescope, he could still make it out. “Those are tents!” he said. “Now that’s something interesting.”
“Why?” Lilay asked, looking through the scope towards the tents. “What’s so interesting?”
Aroron looked at her. “Because, those tents are Karlien and they're in Shenock!”
She frowned. “So?”
“So, I don’t know why that village is on fire, but I think I know who did it.” Maybe they wouldn’t believe Aroron, but they’d have to if he had proof. He knew without a doubt, that King Munay had to be behind the fire.
Without another word to Lilay, he spun around and hurried down the stairs, taking them two steps at a time.
“What are you doing?” Lilay asked, hurrying after him.
“I’m going to go check the tents out!” Aroron yelled back up at her, as he continued to run down the stairs as fast as he could.
“What? Why would you do that?!” she cried, stumbling and nearly falling. “That’s madness!”
“It’s not madness, Lilay.” Aroron said. “There has to be a reason King Munay is attacking Shenock after all this time. He’s never gone to war against them. In fact, he’s never even stolen from them before.”
“But that doesn’t mean you should go out there! Who knows what might be waiting for you.”
Aroron just shook his head, jumped off the last few steps, and broke out of the tower. He hurried down the hall and towards the nearest entrance out of the palace. He didn’t even bother to return to his chamber, it wasn’t like he had anything else to grab anyways. He had everything he owned on him.
Aroron was just turning one of the last corners before stepping outside the palace walls and into the winter world that lay beyond. But he didn't reach it. Two Eloun guards stepped in front of him, blocking his way.
“What’s the meaning of this?” Aroron asked, looking from one to the other. He’d never even seen either of them before, but they looked just like the ice statues of the guards he’d seen when he’d entered the place for the first time.
“I’m sorry, Aroron.” Lilay whispered, stepping from behind them. �
�But I can’t let you go.” Aroron glanced around him. How the heck did she beat him here?! She’d been behind him on the tower stairs, and now here she was.
“And what are you going to do about it?” Aroron asked, crossing his arms.
“This.” Lilay said, looking at him sadly. “I really am sorry.” She motioned to the guards. “Take him to the High Elder, he’ll deal with this.”
Aroron was too shocked to fight the guards, as they grabbed hold of him and drug him away from his only chance of leaving.
They drug him through the palace, until they came to a room Aroron remembered from six weeks before.
When this place had been nothing more than a silent graveyard of the frozen Elouns.
“The throne room.” He mumbled, as they threw the doors open and pulled him inside. This time, the only person there, was the High Elder. The other thrones on the side of the hall were all empty. The Eloun guards pulled Aroron forwards and towards the High Elder.
They let go of him and stepped back.
Aroron turned his gaze towards the High Elder and glared at him. “I’ve been locked up in this place for six weeks and I’ve never tried to leave. Am I a prisoner here?!” he spat, fighting the urge to draw his sword. The Elouns might say they were a peaceable people and didn’t want to fight. But right then Aroron was having a hard time believing it.
“Of course, you’re not a prisoner, Aroron.” The High Elder said, bending forwards, he clasped his hands in front of his face. “But you’re much more than a guest here as well. You’re the Dragon King! I don’t see what good will come from you going out there alone to check the campsite.”
“Oh. My. Gosh!” Aroron growled. “Do the walls have ears too? I just decided to go out there like ten minutes ago and you already know? Honestly, do you have spies watching me?”
The High Elder shook his head. “No, of course not. But I’ve known for several days that you would try this.”
Aroron stared at him. “And how did you know that?”
He dropped his gaze. “I can’t tell you that.”
“You can’t tell me that? Really? But you expect me to just sit around and wait for someone to decide to do something?” Aroron asked. “If I stay here and do nothing for much longer, I might end up killing myself and I doubt that’s any better than being killed by someone else.”
“Don’t be dramatic, Aroron!” The High Elder said, snorting as he shook his head. “Another one of your Strangeheart traits.”
This Eloun was maddening!
“I’m not being dramatic!” Aroron snapped, his eyes flashing white. “I give you my word, if I don’t leave this place soon, someone is going to get hurt!”
The High Elder rubbed his chin. “Are you threatening me?”
Aroron shrugged. “Take it whatever way you wish, as long as you understand my meaning. I do not plan on staying here. Lock me up if you like. But you know as well as I do, that won’t stop me.”
The High Elder ran his hand through his hair and pressed his lips together. “Fine, but you’re not going alone.”
“High Elder, you’re acting like I’m a child.” Aroron said. “I can take care of myself; I have for most of my life. I don’t need a babysitter!”
“I don’t think you need a babysitter,” the High Elder said. “Just someone who will have your back if the need arises.”
“Fine!” Aroron said, spinning around, he moved back towards the throne room’s doors.
“Oh, and Aroron…” Taking in a deep breath, he turned back towards the High Elder. “Before you go, there’s something you should know.”
“And what is that?!” Aroron snapped. He hated people who thought they controlled his life.
The High Elder bent forwards again and clasped his hands in front of his face again. “There is a prophecy states that you’re the only one who can stop what’s coming to Aleanare.”
“A prophecy? What ‘prophecy’? And why should I care?” Aroron asked, crossing his arms as he leaned back against the door-frame. “Please! I’d love to hear.”
The High Elder sighed and closed his eyes. “’The Dragons fly before the war. One will conquer, one will fall. Where the waters touch the sky, is where one must die.’ This is a prophecy about you.”
“Is that supposed to scare me into staying here?” Aroron asked, squinting. “You make up some weird rhyme and I’m just to… what? Sit around here waiting for something magical to happen? Or for the war to come to us?”
“No.” The High Elder said, shaking his head. “I didn’t make it up, and I don’t expect you to sit around here. It was just a warning to be careful.”
“Well, guess what? I don’t need your warning. I’ll just make sure I’m not the one to ‘fall’ as you said.” Aroron tightened his grip on the hilt of his sword and glared at the High Elder. “I’m leaving at the end of the day. Either I’ll go with someone you send, or I’ll go alone. The choice is yours. But I’m going, no matter what you try to do to me.”
Chapter 4
Wolves
When Aroron had told the High Elder to pick who would go with him, he didn’t expect him to pick Lilay and Slanslot, but that was just what he did. Aroron was far from happy about it. The first thing he did after he heard about it, was head straight to the throne room.
He threw the doors open and stormed inside. “Why the heck did you choose Slanslot to go with me?” Aroron asked, fighting the urge to yell at the Eloun.
“Aroron…” the High Elder said, face tightening as he glanced around. It was then Aroron realized, they weren’t alone this time, but he didn’t care. He was mad at the Eloun for picking Slanslot to go with them.
“Could you give us a minute?” the High Elder asked the other Elouns, shoving himself off the throne. He hurried to the side and motioned for Aroron to follow him into another room.
As he entered, Aroron quickly scanned the chamber.
It wasn’t a very big room, with a shelf of scrolls filling one wall, and on the others, hung paintings of stoic looking Elouns of ages long past. He couldn’t help wondering how long ago they were made.
Turning away from them, he faced the Eloun. “You didn’t answer my question.” Aroron said. “Why did you pick Slanslot to go with me? Wasn’t there someone else you could send? Anyone else you could send?”
The Eloun sighed and sat in a chair next to the shelf. For a second, he stared at the shelf. “Slanslot is a tracker.” The High Elder said. “If the people are gone, you’re going to want him there. Don’t you think? Besides, if he doesn’t go with you, how will you get back here? It’s not like you’d be able to stumble upon it again.”
Aroron didn’t care the least bit about coming back, but decided not to tell the Eloun that.
“You saw the way he treated me in the council room.” Aroron growled. “He doesn’t even try to hide his disdain for me.”
The High Elder sighed. “Believe me, he’s not any happier about this than you are. But I know I can trust him to do as he’s told.”
“Yeah, I’m sure.” Aroron mumbled, shaking his head. “What about Lilay? Why does she have to come?”
“Lilay’s going to make sure the two of you don’t kill each other.” The High Elder said, crossing his arms. “Obviously, she has quite the work ahead of her.”
He couldn’t believe this!
Aroron hated the idea of traveling with the two of them. He’d be afraid of Slanslot trying to kill him at every turn, and then there was Lilay, who he was sure hadn’t any idea what the real world was like, or the bad people who lived in it.
But what choice did Aroron have? There was no way the High Elder would let him step foot outside the palace without someone accompanying him. Just because he was a mortal, they treated him like a child.
He let out a long, deep breath, before he spoke again. “Fine, but if anything happens to them, it’s on your head, not mine.” Aroron said, turning back towards the door. “I may be the mortal, but they’re the ones you should be worried abou
t. Oh, and you should probably tell them I’m leaving at the break of dawn.” With that, he turned and left the chamber.
None of the Elouns said a word to him, as he passed through the throne room and back into the main hall. Most of them were the same ones from the council room, and for a fleeting second, Aroron wondered if they thought he was a hot head. After all, he’d yelled a lot in front of them.
Maybe he was a hot head.
Aroron shrugged to himself. Maybe he was, maybe he wasn’t. It didn’t matter to him. He had no plans of changing who he was, no matter what Lilay might say about it. He was perfectly content with the person he was!
Fingering his necklace, Aroron made his way back to his chamber. Though, to do what? He didn’t know. He really had nothing to do until morning came when he could finally leave this place!
It turns out, sleeping wasn’t the answer.
Every time he thought he was going to drift off, another thought would enter his mind and send him thinking, until he was fully awake again. It was still dark out, when Aroron gave up trying to sleep.
He shoved himself off the bed, grabbed his things up and readied himself for the journey. He’d already done most of it the night before. Once he had everything ready, he went to find Slanslot and Lilay, to tell them there was a change of plans, and they were leaving earlier.
“Are you two ready?” Aroron asked, stepping into the room where Lilay and Slanslot were waiting for him. “It’s almost time to leave.”
“Yeah, I know!” Slanslot said, rolling his eyes as he shoved more food into his satchel. “We’ll be ready when we’re ready.”
“’We’ll be ready when we’re ready’! Thanks for stating the obvious!” Aroron growled, glaring at him.
“Slanslot, why don’t you just finish, and we’ll leave when it’s time.” She said, patting him on the arm. “In the meantime, I’ll grab the last of my things and I’ll be ready to go.”
“I’m ready to go, now.” Slanslot said, grabbing up two of the large satchels. “Even though it’s way earlier than we agreed upon. I was just stating that we would be ready when we were.”