by John Marco
None of them pitied Raxor, and to Aric that was good. He was still their king, still their hero. And while he was with them he gave them a strength Aric could see on their troubled faces.
‘Aric,’ said Raxor suddenly. ‘Come here.’
Surprised, Aric stood. ‘My lord?’
King Raxor patted the empty spot beside him. ‘Sit with me. We must talk.’
Alarmed, Aric took his seat next to the king and looked at him quizzically. ‘My lord? Is there trouble?’
Raxor gestured to the men and women who had gathered on the shore. ‘You see them? I want you to stay clear of them while you’re here in Gilorin. Don’t talk too much to anyone, all right?’
‘Yes, my lord,’ Aric agreed. ‘But who are they?’
‘They have names you’ll need to remember. That one, in the red jacket . . .’ Raxor pointed at the man with his chin. He was only a speck but his scarlet clothes stood out among the crowd. ‘Duke Joric of Glain. That man next to him is Duke Redhorn.’
‘And next to him, my lord? Another duke?’
‘You see my meaning?’
‘I think so. Men with armies.’
Raxor nodded. ‘I have explaining to do, Aric Glass. And better to do it here in Gilorin than in Hes with so many ears around. I have family in Hes, and I don’t care to face them. But I’m still in need of these men. They came because I asked them to come. They need to know what we’re up against, and they have to hear it from me.’
‘Is that why you brought me here, my lord?’
‘No,’ said Raxor. ‘Not precisely.’
‘No? Why, then, my lord?’
Raxor smiled. ‘You have told me so much. But I still have questions.’
‘I have tried to answer everything.’
Aric waited, but Raxor grew quiet, leaving Aric to wonder at his meaning. They said nothing more to each other as the boat came to shore and the royals smiled with wide greetings. Among them were sprinkled a handful of soldiers. One in particular caught Aric’s eye. A long, lanky man, he looked oddly familiar, and his clothes were unlike anyone else’s. Instead of the usual Reecian uniform, he wore tight leather armour over his body, accentuating his muscular physique. He was older than the others too, though not at all feeble looking. He stood apart from the nobles and their wives, his hands at his sides, his taut face stoic. While the others spoke among themselves, the man in leather remained silent.
‘That one, my lord,’ said Aric, pointing at the stranger on the bank. ‘Who is he? Not a duke, surely.’
‘No, not a duke,’ replied Raxor. He leaned back and let the breeze strike his face. ‘Aric, I should tell you something. There are people who will have questions for you, people who will want to know all about the things you’ve told me already.’
Aric nodded. ‘I understand, my lord. I don’t expect anyone to trust me. That man – is he one of them I should be worried about?’
‘No,’ said Raxor flatly. ‘That’s one of the only men in the world you can trust. And that’s why I brought you here. For your own protection.’
Before Aric could speak again, one of the king’s men reappeared, whispering in his ear. Raxor nodded and ordered the man to make the others ready. The man called to the rest of the passengers, telling them to make ready to disembark. Raxor remained seated, straightening imperiously while oarsmen guided the barge to shore, finally lifting their oars when the boat’s flat bottom hit shore. He gestured for Aric to stay beside him while the servants waded into the mud, pulling the vessel further ashore. A great commotion ensued while Raxor’s underlings eagerly made ready for him. The royals on the shore quieted. Aric heard the old man sigh beside him.
A man with a small trumpet called the king from his seat. Raxor’s advisors lined up behind him as the crew of the barge lined the starboard side of the vessel to help him down. Aric kept close to Raxor as the king stepped off the boat and into the mud, landing with a sucking noise. Aric and the advisors piled out after him, all trudging through the mud toward shore. The man in leathers came forward, striding to the king’s side. Raxor paused to greet the many nobles who’d come.
‘No ceremony,’ he called to them. ‘Be at ease.’
Relieved smiles broke out among the crowd. Servants hurried at Raxor, filling his ears with reports. Raxor nodded impatiently, gesturing for Aric to stay close. Enduring the confused stares of the nobles, Aric remained at the king’s side while he and the leather-clad soldier inspected the nobles. Raxor’s ringed hand came out, bidding each of the nobles to kiss it. The women curtsied, averting their eyes, their painted lips curled with polite smiles. A few of the dukes embraced the king, telling him solemnly how much they felt his loss. Raxor kissed their cheeks, thanking them for coming.
‘We must talk, old friend,’ he told Duke Redhorn. ‘Later, after I’ve rested.’
Duke Redhorn was a long-necked, elegant man, reminiscent of a swan. He curled himself around Raxor, embracing the king and nodding. ‘You have my loyalty, Majesty. Always.’
Raxor thanked the man before moving on to the next duke, the shorter, serious-looking Joric. Joric took Raxor’s hand in both of his own as he dropped to one knee. ‘We’ll avenge your son,’ he promised. ‘May Baron Glass rot forever for what he has done.’
At that Aric grimaced, trying not to look at Joric directly. Glad to move on, he followed the king the rest of the way toward the end of the line, where Raxor turned to his loyal subjects and thanked them richly for making the trip to Gilorin.
‘Stay and be comfortable,’ he told them. He smiled. ‘Forgive me, but I need rest now.’
The dukes and their wives all gave accommodating nods, appreciating the king’s needs. As they dispersed, Raxor strode up the lawn toward the estate, pulling the man in leather close to him.
‘Corvalos,’ he sighed, ‘I am awake? Or is this nightmare still continuing?’
‘I grieve for you, my lord,’ said the lanky man. ‘I feel your loss so sharply it is though it were my own.’
‘I cannot tell you what happened, Corvalos. It was beyond words. I have never seen the like of Baron Glass before. He is not a man any more.’ Raxor paused, satisfied that they were out of earshot of the nobles. ‘Tell me what has happened. My woman – she is well?’
The man called Corvalos had so far barely glanced at Aric. ‘She is well, my lord. And good that you called us here. I needed to get her away from Hes.’
Raxor’s raised an eyebrow. ‘Tell me.’
‘My lord, you will hear things among the servants.’
‘True things?’
The man grew sheepish. ‘Yes, my lord.’
‘But she is well?’
‘She is, my lord. I have protected her.’
Raxor looked unbearably weary. He turned to Aric and waved him closer. ‘Aric Glass, this man is going to protect you while you are here. His name is Corvalos Chane and I trust him more than any man alive. You’re to do the same. You’re do to everything he asks of you. Do you understand?’
‘I understand,’ said Aric. ‘But why? If I am in danger—’
‘Your name puts you in danger, boy,’ the king interrupted. ‘Corvalos, this is Aric Glass, son of Thorin Glass.’
Corvalos Chane blinked. ‘I’m to protect him as well, my lord? This will be a lot of work.’
‘I will meet with the dukes later. But now I want to see her. Bring her to the gallery, Corvalos. Go now.’
The soldier bowed and left quickly, hurrying back toward the estate. Aric watched him go, confused by what was happening. ‘My lord?’ he asked. ‘Should I not go with him?’
‘He’ll be back for you,’ said Raxor. ‘For now you’ll come with me. There’s someone I need you to meet.’
‘I listened very carefully to the things you told me on our ride home,’ said Raxor as he guided Aric through the halls of Gilorin. They were alone, having passed through the king’s guard chamber and left the throngs of nobles and servants behind. An enthralling mural covered the ceiling of the hall,
replete with creamy, textured roses and singing birds. Aric craned his neck to marvel at the art, then quickly turned his attention to the king.
‘My lord? I’m sorry, you’re meaning escapes me.’
‘Everything you said to me about your father and your time in Koth at the library – I listened carefully. I tried to find a flaw in your stories, some kind of inconsistencies, but there weren’t any.’
‘No, there wouldn’t be. I haven’t lied to you, King Raxor.’
Raxor nodded as he led Aric through the hall. He had not yet explained where they were going or why, and the solitude made Aric curious.
‘Remember when I told you there would be questions?’ Raxor asked. ‘Don’t be afraid, but it’s time for some answers.’
He pushed aside a large oak door, revealing another of the court’s splendid chambers. This one, called the gallery, held more of the fine paintings Aric had seen in the hall, all lined up perfectly on the paneled walls. A huge marble hearth stood at the opposite end of the long room, and above the hearth stretched a gigantic, framed portrait of men on horseback. A handful of chairs were arranged near the heath, in one of which sat a young woman. Next to her stood Corvalos Chane. The woman’s eyes widened when she saw Raxor enter.
‘My lord,’ she exclaimed, rising from her chair, her pretty face lit with relief. Aric looked at her, sure that she was familiar to him. He paused a few steps behind Raxor.
‘Mirage?’
The woman shifted her gaze at once, locking eyes with him. Her face fell in surprise. ‘Aric . . . Aric?’
Both Aric and the girl looked at Raxor, who frowned. ‘I thought as much,’ the old king grumbled. He said to Aric, ‘Mirage is from the library at Koth. Yes?’
Aric stared in amazement. ‘Yes. But how . . . ?’ He looked at the woman, who he had never known well. Together they had seen Lukien off on that last day in Liiria. ‘Mirage, what are you doing here?’
Mirage groped for answers. ‘I . . .’ She shrugged. ‘I’m the king’s woman.’
‘What?’ Aric erupted. ‘King Raxor, what is this? How did she get here?’
Raxor lost none of his sternness. ‘She was brought to me by Corvalos Chane. It’s as she says, Aric Glass. She is my woman.’
‘You mean a slave?’ Aric gasped. He went to Mirage. ‘Is that so, Mirage? Is he keeping you here? Did he kidnap you?’
Mirage seemed unwilling to talk. Her eyes shifted nervously between Aric and the king. ‘Aric, it’s difficult to explain.’
‘Someone do explain, please,’ begged Aric, looking to Raxor for any scrap of knowledge. ‘My lord, tell me what’s going on here. You brought me here to see Mirage. Why?’
‘Because of what happened at the Kryss,’ said Raxor. ‘And because of the things you told me. Mirage is trying to spare my feelings, but it’s all true. She was captured and brought to me. She was meant to mend this old fool’s heart.’ The king smiled at Mirage, then sighed. ‘But she has kept secrets. I know that now. Others tried to tell me. But now I must have answers.’
Mirage swallowed nervously at the accusation, but it was Corvalos Chane who spoke up.
‘My lord, Asher came for her while you were away. When he heard what had happened to Prince Roland and the others he took her from the castle. There was a fight. Men died. But I got her back.’
The news sent the last bit of strength from Raxor’s face. He went pale suddenly, licking his dry lips and going slowly to one of the chairs. Mirage and Chane stood over him, both with surprising concern. The scene made Aric shake his head.
‘I don’t understand any of this,’ he grumbled. ‘Mirage, are you here because you want to be? Because that’s what it looks like and it makes no sense at all!’
‘I was taken here Aric, against my will,’ said Mirage. She sank down next to Raxor’s chair, falling to her knees and taking his hand. ‘My lord, I’m sorry for what happened to your son. I am. I hope you believe me.’
Raxor took her hand in his much larger fingers, gently squeezing it. ‘You’re safe? Asher didn’t harm you?’
‘No, my lord,’ Mirage answered. ‘He meant to, though. If not for Chane . . .’ She smiled, reassuring the old man. ‘But no. I’m fine.’
Aric watched, dumbfounded by what he was seeing. What was it about Raxor that made people love him, even his enemies? Corvalos Chane hovered over them, offering no words as the young girl and ancient king enjoyed their strange reunion. The memories of his last days in Koth flooded over Aric, brought to life by the revelation of Mirage. What did she mean, the king’s woman? She had loved Lukien once. Did she now love Raxor?
‘This is impossible,’ said Aric. ‘Mirage, you don’t belong here. What happened? I thought you were with my father.’
Mirage rose hesitantly to her feet. ‘I know,’ she said. To Raxor she added, ‘My lord, it’s true. I was on my way to him. I had nowhere else to go. And if Chane hadn’t captured me that night I would have gone to him.’
‘So you knew him better than you ever admitted,’ sighed Raxor. ‘Were you lovers?’
‘No,’ answered Mirage.
‘No,’ Aric added, ‘but they would have been if my father had his way. He loves her, King Raxor, or at least he did once.’ Aric glared at Mirage. ‘What have you told him?’
‘As little as I could,’ Mirage shot back. ‘I had to protect myself.’
‘She has secrets, my lord,’ said Chane. ‘About that, at least, Asher was right.’
Raxor kept hold of Mirage’s hand. ‘Aric Glass, you haven’t lied to me yet. Tell me now – what do you know about this girl?’
‘Not much,’ Aric confessed. ‘She came to the library with Lukien in the last days before it fell. She came from Grimhold, and she was a friend to my father back before the armour claimed him. I know that she loved Lukien and that my father loved her. I know because that’s what Lukien told me and he never lied, my lord.’
His words stung Mirage, who glanced away sheepishly. ‘I couldn’t tell any of this,’ she said. ‘It was nobody’s business.’
‘But it is my business, don’t you see?’ insisted Raxor. ‘You knew what Baron Glass would do to us, Mirage. You knew and you kept it from me.’
‘I didn’t!’ Mirage pulled her hand free. ‘I told you all that I could about the Devil’s Armour. I tried to make you listen, to keep you from the battle. But you had to go because of your precious honour! Don’t blame me for what happened, my lord. Roland’s blood is on Thorin’s hands, not mine.’
The pain in Raxor’s face was stifling. ‘What else haven’t you told me? You have so many secrets. What were you doing in Grimhold?’
Mirage stiffened. ‘I cannot tell you.’
Raxor looked at Aric. ‘Do you know?’
Aric shook his head. ‘No. But she’s right, King Raxor. She didn’t know what the Devil’s Armour could do. No one knew until we all saw it used at the Kryss.’
‘Mirage,’ said Raxor, looking straight at the girl and sounding like a parent, ‘I need to know everything. You were not at the Kryss; you have no idea what happened. Your man Glass—’
‘He is not ‘my man,’’ Mirage said angrily. ‘You insult me when you say that, my lord. I have told you all I can about him. I would have gone to him because I was alone in Koth and had no one else to turn to. Aric told you about Lukien, yes? He left me in Koth, just like everyone else to hunt for a riddle. What was I to do? Starve?’
‘You’re better off for coming here,’ said Aric. ‘Mirage, you do not know the man my father has become. He’s nothing like he was. He’s become a monster now.’
‘An unstoppable monster,’ said Raxor. ‘Unless you know a means to beat him, child.’
Mirage shrank from the question, turning to Aric instead. ‘And you, Aric? Why have you come?’
‘I came to offer the help of Nith,’ said Aric. There seemed a great deal to explain, but he told her simply of his time with Prince Daralor and how he’d been sent back north to make a truce between the prince and Reec. �
�I thought to help King Raxor at the Kryss, but all I could do was stand around and watch the slaughter,’ he said, and admitting it pained him. ‘I believe you, Mirage. You couldn’t possibly know how to beat my father’s armour. Lukien knew it, too. That’s why he left us.’
‘To find the sword you spoke of,’ said Raxor wearily. ‘Mirage, do you know of this sword?’
‘Only what Lukien told me, which is nothing at all,’ said Mirage bitterly. Arching defiantly, she told the king, ‘You may send me back to Asher if you wish. I’ll not tell you any more about myself. You’ve had my loyalty, my lord. I don’t know why, but I gave it freely. I can give you nothing else.’
She waited for his reply, as did Aric who wasn’t even sure what she meant. He had heard the name of Asher bandied about like a threat. No matter who he was, he wouldn’t stand for Mirage being harmed.
‘You think that little of me?’ said Raxor, his chin sinking to his chest. ‘You are safe here, child. And I will deal with Asher for what he did to you.’
His answer relieved Mirage, who smiled sadly at the old king. But Aric wasn’t satisfied. Mirage was no slave, even if she had come to believe it.
‘My lord, she’s not a bird to be kept in your cage,’ he protested. ‘She’s a free woman. I cannot let you lay this claim to her.’
Raxor looked at him with thunder in his face. ‘You heard her, Aric Glass. She has nowhere else to go.’
‘Be that true or not true, she was kidnapped by your man here. She pleases you, I don’t doubt it. But she is a free woman.’ Aric braced himself for the king’s wrath. ‘You must release her.’
Corvalos Chane took a step from the shadows, eyeing Aric angrily. Raxor flicked his hand to steady the soldier.
‘I brought you here to help me understand things,’ he said. ‘And now I do, mostly. You may stay as long as you please, Aric Glass, and then you may go back to Nith and await the Bronze Knight. And while you’re gone we shall all pray for a miracle.’