Svana traveled for less than a day, but she wasn't sure how much longer she could stay on the road with the amount of people traveling back and forth. Some peddled their merchandises, but she didn't recognize their faces. She observed their stares as they saw what she dragged behind her.
I can't wait to be rid of this thing! As she rounded a bend in the road, a familiar cottage style home made its appearance. The farmer! Surely he will have use for some of this. She dropped the crudely built stretcher and ran toward his house.
Her hand raised high, she thudded it heavily on the door.
"Tomas, good sir, are you home?" She kept knocking, and finally she could hear the soft scratch of feet against wood as someone made their way toward the door.
Tomas looked quite surprised to see her. "Well, I'll be darned," he said. "What's brought you back to these parts?"
"Tomas, I'm afraid I need your help. I've a fairly large load of meat, a whole bull actually. I need to sell it off, or trade it. Enough for provisions for at least a week, for a whole army. Do you think you can help me?"
The man was wearing his straw hat, just like the time before even though he had been inside, and even though the corners of his eyes wrinkled when he talked, she thought he might have been quite handsome when he was younger.
"Well, if it's a whole bull as ya say, we're going to need some help." The farmer hurried out of the front door.
"I left the bull in the road, can you meet me out there?" she asked.
"Yes, I'll be along in a minute."
She patiently waited for him, and when he joined her, they worked together to cut the bull into pieces. They managed to sell bits of it off to peasants who were on their way back to the Tellurian villages.
It took them well into the night, but between the two of them barreling the meat into town, and word spreading of the unexpected surprise. They managed to get it all traded off for a variety of things Svana knew would be of far more value to the king than just a single large bull sitting out and rotting.
"You're going to need that barrel for the wealth of things you've acquired from your bartering today. I couldn't have been prouder if ya was my own flesh and blood." The farmer radiated pride when he smiled at her. She allowed herself to be proud, too. They had helped a wealth of people that day, and she had set some meat aside to gift the farmer for helping her.
After cleaning out the wheelbarrow, she placed all her goods in it. She had received a noble amount of vegetables, fruits, breads, cheeses and even some materials she knew would come in handy for clothing. Not for me, but I can at least help the soldiers whose clothing had seen better days.
"May I borrow this? I promise to return it." She motioned to the wheel barrow, and he nodded at her smiling.
"It's going to cost you."
"Anything, Tomas. I owe you a debt of gratitude."
The farmer grabbed some fresh apples from her haul, and the meat she had set aside for him.
"That's all I need, just make sure if you aren't able to return it, give it to someone in need. I have others."
She nodded, and without thinking, she gave the elderly man a strong hug. "Thank you for everything."
Tomas scratched his head. "I've only helped you as you helped me, and I hope it's not the last time."
She grinned at him. "I'll be back as soon as I can, for now I must be on my way."
Svana grabbed the wheel barrel and pushed it in front of her, going as fast as she safely could without knocking the provisions out. It was dark already, and she only hoped Gill had not gone back to the king yet, with the news of her so-called betrayal. The journey didn't take nearly as long without the added weight of the bull, which wasn't too strenuous on her, but had tired Lingaria.
After a few hours, she reached the soldier camp she had left. She looked around and was pleasantly surprised the camp seemed to be as she'd left it. Relief spread through her at the sight, and she hoped she would still get the chance to prove herself, not only to the king for her achieving so many supplies in exchange for a bull, but also to her soldier companions. While her aim was to take the king's place, she still needed allies.
"Gill, Jasper, Duggary, I've returned."
She heard the soft sound of stirring from the empty tent that had been left behind by Branwin.
Duggary crawled out. "What are you doing back here, wench?"
His voice dripped with hatred for her, not that she blamed him.
"If you're still angry about earlier, in all fairness, you cut me first. You would have killed me had I let you. So shut it and look at this bounty I have brought with me. These things will keep much longer than meat would have."
"We could have cooked it all." Duggary retorted, spitting venom with his words.
"Were you going to do that? Because I certainly wasn't," she said.
She left the wheelbarrow and sat by his side. "I may be a woman, but I don't cook."
Svana hoped the tones of jesting in her voice would be enough to calm the hatred he spat at her. He said nothing in response.
I guess that's better than him threatening to kill me, she thought.
"Although, if you can be a little nicer. I wouldn't mind cooking up some of these vegetables for us," she said, as an afterthought.
Duggary groaned and then fell over on the ground. The gash from her blade had run deep, and if she didn't do something he was going to die.
"Good going, Svana." Jasper emerged from his tent, one of his eyes black and blue from earlier. His voice low and sounding much like a frog.
"What happened to you?" she asked, genuinely worried about the younger man.
"You happened to me. You crushed my throat earlier."
"Well, some hot food and you'll be right as rain. Has Branwin returned yet?"
"No, but he will. He always does."
Gill had joined them, in spite of having been sound asleep as was evident by the way he rubbed his eyes. "So did I hear you were going to cook?" he asked softly.
"Men," Svana laughed under her breath, but she smiled into the night. Perhaps there was hope for this lot after all.
At that moment, she heard raucous singing, and Jasper stood.
"That'll be Branwin, this is what he does."
"Branwin, you've returned." Svana jumped to her feet, excited to show him her loot from the day.
"Watch out for the lady, watch out for the lass,
She'll skin ya, and eat ya' and do it with class.
For ne'er a man who could steal her away,
For he's sure to be dead by the end of the day."
Branwin was heavily intoxicated, and the song he sung, though chipper and catchy as it came out of his lips, was so slurred Svana could barely make out the words.
"What are you singing, Branwin?"
"It's an old Aequoris tune, about the men lost at sea and the woman who lured them to their deaths," Jasper explained.
All the men except Duggary joined in for the next verse.
"With hair of summer's gold, and hips made of light,
She weaves a magic spell under the moonlit night.
If her lips you do kiss, and her hand you do hold,
Then beware good sir, for your body goes cold."
"So hold tight to your chest and do not be beguiled.
For the woman you love, is the ocean's child.
Hold tight to your breath and let it not still.
For many are lost, for the siren's thrill."
Thoroughly enjoying themselves, the men grew louder and louder, and Branwin's drunken voice was drowned out by their crude off key singing for the last verse.
"Watch out for the lady, watch out for the lass,
She'll skin ya, and eat ya' and do it with class.
For ne'er a man who could steal her away,
For he's sure to be dead by the end of the day."
They laughed uproariously, and Svana couldn't help but laugh at their good natured singing. Even as she wet a cloth and tended to Duggary's wound that wa
s red and starting to swell.
"That can't be good," she said under breath.
No one heard her concerned remarks. Gill and Jasper were too sidetracked by the drunken older man who they had to treat like a child to get him into his tent. When at last his obnoxious singing had quieted and she could hear him snoring, she grabbed the rolled-up blanket from her rucksack that had been left with the soldiers when she had left to sell the bull earlier. She used it to cover Duggary, to keep out the night chill.
Then curling up in a ball herself, she drifted off to sleep. Lingaria's voice in her head being the last thing she heard.
You've done well today, but if he dies, it's going to be bad for you.
He's not going to die, Lingaria. I won't let him. Then Svana was fast asleep.
42
Hekla
Nature has its own tune, and you have to put aside your own internal thoughts and listen--really listen, to hear and understand the world. A peace of mind comes when you become one with nature. And when you really listen to it, you begin to understand it.
King Thomasett the Kind, Second King of Aequoris, 335 A.V.
Hekla watched the tip of Speltus' tail flick assuredly, and she couldn't help but feel a tinge of frustration growing inside herself. She was frustrated with the dragon; she was frustrated with herself. And she was frustrated with the Aequorans. All she wanted was a chance to speak with them, to reason with them, and to bring peace to them and all of Verdil. But they wouldn't listen.
"I feel like this is going to end badly for me," Hekla said, hands on her hips.
"Why would it end badly, Hekla? You have one of the most powerful beasts alive to aid you in your quest for the throne," Speltus said.
Her little dragon beast floated around her, still able to appear as graceful as a ballerina in his magical air bubble that encased his scaled body.
"All right, so tell me how to get out of here. Take me to the throne room," she demanded.
"Why would I take you to the throne room? You're not thinking with your head. What you must do will take patience and magic. Magic that you have not yet learned because you have been on the ground. None of your fire magic will work down here. Are you ready to listen?" He crossed his short arms over his chest and tilted his head slightly.
Hekla nodded, noting how even in the dim-light of the water dungeon, she could see the softest shimmer of his magic casing covering his tiny dragon body.
"It's rude to stare," he said, drawing her attention back to the task at hand. "Focus, please."
Nodding, she wrung her hands nervously. "My apologies, Speltus. I suppose I just haven't gotten used to all of this quite yet."
"Which is to be expected, you are underwater, in for lack of a better word, a magic bubble. I have no doubt that in itself is nearly too big to comprehend."
Hekla nodded.
"Never mind about the details, it is time for more training. Do you remember our nights in the Aequoran cavern?"
She nodded again.
Using his wings now, as if they were fine, Speltus propelled himself away from Hekla to have adequate room to show her magic.
"Everything here is going to work slightly similar to land. Your scepter is just as powerful, but now we must focus your attention on using different elements."
"I just got comfortable with fire spells!" she whined.
"I know Hekla, but spells are similar in that they must all draw energy from somewhere. Fire spells draw energy from all elements. Whereas the levitation spell draws energy from the air, and from I. Water spells draw energy only from water, so if you are confident in your scepter, and what I am capable of, you will do fine. It will come as easy to you as breathing."
"Somehow, I hardly think that's true," she scoffed.
Speltus shook his head, "Still so stubborn, aren't you? I could just throw my hands in the air and say to Hades with all of this, but I know that you can be a quick learner when you want to be. I am counting on that now, I don't know how much time you will have down here, and I don't want to risk your life any more than it has already been risked, do you understand?"
"Yes, Speltus, I understand. Show me what I must do."
"There we go, that's much better. So, this isn't essential, but I want you to spread your feet and steady yourself."
Hekla obeyed.
"Good, now that you have done that, close your eyes and focus on the surrounding environment. Tune yourself to it, this will be your kingdom one day, you must learn to become one with it."
"Mmhhhmmm." Hekla closed her eyes, listening to the sounds of the water bubbling gently past. The cool of the aquatic atmosphere felt cold and soft against her, but it never quite touched her skin as the magic bubble protected her. All the worries about her sisters, about death, about being queen faded away in the calm peacefulness of the oceans embrace. It was the one single moment that she felt herself exhilarated, even excited at the prospect of remaining undersea for the majority of the rest of her life.
Though she despised seafood, a small fact she hadn't let anyone know, especially Svana, she loved the peacefulness of the ocean. It called to her, sang to her soul like a talented canary calling for its love.
"Yes, Speltus... I feel it. I feel my heart becoming one with this place." She opened her eyes, to see him just a few inches from her face, smiling peacefully.
"I know that's true, you didn't even feel my presence. That's very good Hekla. You've done just what was needed. Now remember that place, remember that center any time you must perform a spell here, all right?"
She nodded.
"The first thing I want you to learn when doing any water spell, is that you must use Aquum Purum, either before or after. This depends on the spell of course."
"Oh, just like with fire spells when I say Pyrem," she said knowingly.
"Indeed, just like when you say fire spells. Stay centered and focused, the second thing I want you to learn is a water orb spell. This will be your first line of defense under water. It can stun your attacker, but you can also twist the words a bit and anyone who may come after you, can be locked up inside of one."
"Excuse me?"
"Let me show you." Speltus puffed out his little scaled dragon chest, and flaring his nostrils said, "Aquum Purum Orbium." He thrust his tiny dragon claw out, palm first, and a water orb began swirling and growing larger and larger in front of him. Then he wound his arm back and acted as if he were tossing a ball and the water orb dispersed full speed in the direction he had pretended to throw a ball moments ago. Incidentally, the wall to her jail was its end course, but when it hit, it dissipated as if nothing had happened.
"Now, if anyone had been there," Speltus said, "That water ball would have knocked them flat back. However you can say 'Aquum Purum Orbium Containum, and that same ball will embrace whatever you choose and hold it hostage. This can be especially helpful if you come in contact with a sea monster or a fight gets out of hand."
Hekla began practicing the two water spells he had taught her, each water orb she created was larger and more powerful than the one before it. She reached her inner calm, and each spell became easier and easier. However, she made a mistake, and lost her focus for one small moment.
Instead of focusing on the wall, Speltus swam ahead, praising her on her efforts. Hekla's attention moved to her dragon companion as she called out, "Aquuan Purum Orbium Containum!"
The little dragon squeaked. His little body somersaulted as he clawed at the prison around him.
"Get me out of this at once!" Speltus yelled.
"Um." Hekla struggled to remember how to stop a spell, and then it came to her.
"Rescindum Enchantum," she yelled loudly and the water orb disappeared.
Speltus drifted gently to the sea floor, shaking his head as he did so.
"Impossible girl," he muttered before licking his paws with his long, forked tongue.
"I'm terribly sorry, Speltus. I didn't mean to do that." Hekla knelt on the soft ground and attempted to p
et his scaly head through their air bubble encasing.
"I think that is enough for today, let us rest and we can start again tomorrow."
Hekla nodded, and finding a stone covered with a thick patch of soft moss, she laid her head on it and fell quickly asleep. Speltus, curled up by her side for warmth, and allowed himself time to rest as well, as the tornado like turning of the orb had quite shaken him.
Tomorrow they would escape, and Hekla would see the Aequoran kingdom for what it truly was. And perhaps, if they were lucky, Hekla would find the Aequoran king.
43
Astrid
With leadership comes great responsibility. All those who are commanded by you, look up to you. And you have to decide what type of leader you will be, and how you will be remembered.
King Cedric the Just, Third King of Telluris, 479 A.V.
With Astrid's thoughts lingering on the passing of Captain Alastair, she had not noticed how fast night had fallen. Quickening her step, she was grateful to see the peering eyes of the pale-face Caelstans that watched her with great interest as she approached.
"You have returned," the willowy being noted, giving her a once over, his multi-colored wings draped gracefully down his back.
"I have." Astrid nodded. "I have done what I was asked," she continued.
Astrid puffed her chest out and lifted her chin up. She met each of their oval-eyed stares with assurance.
"And what of Captain Alastair?" the tall being asked.
"I chased him to the river. He's dead," her face went solemn with the news.
The Unseen Ones had told her she had done no wrong, but she still felt the weight of guilt from taking a life with her hands.
"Did he drown?" the silver-haired being asked.
"No, good soldier. It was a combination of my arrow and plummeting several feet down."
At the news, the ethereal being nodded to her, dipping his head low. A smile spread across his face, lighting up his features. He raised one long limb, and beckoned for her to step forward, which she did with a skip in her step.
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