by C. J. Aaron
There was little question as to the other Vigil at his side. Though it spoke nothing of her competence and ferocity, it was Lenu’s height that gave her away. As strong and far more cunning than most of those accompanying her, she stood easily a head shorter than the figures that flanked both of her sides.
Rolan waited beside Andr. The lines of concern were evident, clearly etched across his face, though he smiled in greeting. The departure of his child was sudden and unexpected. Though she was with more than capable companions, the uncertainty and the length of their absence, even with the warning, had likely been jarring.
“I’m sorry for the haste of our departure.” Ryl’s words were heartfelt. He chose not to flavor his statement with any added emotion. Though there was a tugging, a remorseful sympathy from the alexen within, he couldn’t fathom the emotions of the father. He’d run for so long, fearing for their lives, Ryl felt responsible for heaping more discomfort on his shoulders.
“How is Faya?” he inquired.
“She sleeps soundly. She’ll be no worse for wear. Sarial’s timing was impeccable. She’s with her now.”
The expression on Rolan’s face shifted as he responded, “I place no fault on you, Ryl. She has ever been a handful. I don’t pretend to understand the changes, the progression of the alexen in her body. The unpredictability, honestly, it scares me.”
He laughed to himself for a moment, a halfhearted chuckle to which no one was privy to the joke.
“It’s a strange thing living the way we’ve been forced to live,” he offered after taking a moment to collect himself. “I fear more for her mind now than her safety. I’ve struggled in the best of times. I’m at a loss now.”
Ryl felt the approach, the growing warmth, though he listened sympathetically to Rolan’s confession. The sudden wave of emotion, disjointed and raw yet wholly honest and compassionate, whispered over the group.
“You have done far more than most.” Sarial’s voice, melodic and compassionate, was the first to break the silence. She smiled at Ryl, placing her hand briefly on his shoulder as she brushed past.
“I assure you that there are a great many within this clearing who would give anything to have a shred of the support you offer her daily.” She stopped a few steps before the father. “You’ve done the best you can, and she has thrived under your care. She will be forever among friends who understand and who will gladly help share her burden.”
Though he worked adamantly to hide it, the moisture swelled in his eyes.
“She’s a strong spirit, as you know more than anyone,” she continued. “By her own admission, the events of the day have shaken her, yet her resolve is stronger now than ever. She is beginning to understand the life that she will lead, and she accepts it.”
Rolan opened his mouth to speak, but clamped it shut again as the words choked in his throat. He lowered his head for a moment, wiping his eyes with the back of his shirt. Sarial placed a hand on either of his shoulders. None interrupted the moment of silence.
Ryl took a moment to catalogue the remainder of those gathered around the fire. He was somewhat surprised when his eyes met with the figure standing opposite his position. Cray smiled in greeting. The unawakened son of the mercenary had grown, matured significantly since the toxins that had clouded the alexen had been removed. Though he had much yet to learn, he stood with a confidence that was hitherto unheard of. Ryl felt his own alexen surge through his veins, bringing with it a sensation of pride.
The last member gathered before the fire was seated on a stump to the side of Cray. His face was familiar, though Ryl failed to recall his name. He had been among the riders who followed Lieutenant Moyan, defecting to aid the tributes’ escape from the army. Likely a new arrival from Cadsae, his face was dirty, his eyes sunken. Ryl chuckled to himself quietly. The man looked as exhausted as he felt.
Andr grinned as their eyes finally met again. He reached down to the stump at his side, lifting a serving plate laden with several chunks of grilled meat. He crossed around the fire, treading silently not to interrupt the moment between Sarial and Rolan. He offered the plate to Ryl and Paasek.
“I saved what I could,” the mercenary whispered. “One of the Vigil brought down a deer this afternoon. A lucky treat.”
Ryl thanked his friend as he ate hungerly. He knew that with the warmth of the fire and the food in his belly, the true measure of his exhaustion would soon set in.
“Faya had another vision,” Sarial announced after she’d finished comforting the girl’s father. “Whether she can decipher them or not, she can provide no details other than professing that she must leave tomorrow.”
Sarial’s hand remained on Rolan’s shoulder, giving it a gentle squeeze before he opened his mouth to interrupt.
“She will go nowhere unattended,” she continued. “Isn’t that right, Ryl?”
The attention of the gathering shifted immediately to his side of the fire. He hurriedly swallowed the remaining morsel of food in his mouth.
“Aye. We’ve yet to discuss the plans, though circumstances have necessitated that my time here be cut regrettably short,” he added. There was genuine regret in the statement. He’d longed for the time to reconnect with his friends. Though the passage of time had not been minor in the grand scheme of things, lifetimes of experiences had occurred. “We need to return to Cadsae as soon as possible. We leave in the morning.”
A collective groan rose among a few of the onlookers surrounding the fire. Ryl had only just arrived. In many of their eyes, he had only just departed. The wounds of his departure were still fresh. Robbed from his servitude in The Stocks due to an early Harvest, he’d made waves prior to his leaving.
His return was epic.
His legend grew with every footstep.
He’d shaken the very foundation of their prison. After delivering them to the safety of the Erlyn, he’d largely been absent, though not of his own choosing. Situations had again forced his hand, as he was assured they would again. He longed for the time to spend reconnecting with those he held closest.
“Her visions have been largely accurate to this point. Her gift has proven paramount already. The future of these great woods, likely the future of us all, has her to thank for that.” Ryl’s admission was honest. Would they have found the subterranean chamber where the future of the Erlyn now waited? Would they have reached Da’agryn in time?
Ryl noted the weary guard rise from his rest on the stump across the fire. An expression of discomfort was added to the exhaustion written across his face. Much of the conversation since Ryl and Paasek had arrived had been personal; he took a step forward as he cleared his throat.
“I bring word from Captain Le’Dral.” The guard’s voice was tentative as he spoke. “The captain requests a report. Words of the occurrences at the waystation and atop the wall have been unsettling. He’d like the information from the source.”
Ryl understood the logic. He nodded his head in agreement. The guard was a respected member of the shrinking inner circle whom they could trust, though his message lacked important insight that the captain would value.
“Aye. He’ll have his report in a few days’ time,” Ryl added. “Get some rest, my friend. We’ll depart with you in the morning.”
The guard was thankful to be released. With a small smile and a sloppy salute, he left the group, trudging off to find rest among the great trees. The collective attention of the group focused on his weary retreat.
“There is more to your departure than a need to give report.” Lenu’s voice cut through the momentary shift in focus. Her words were more a statement than a question.
Ryl nodded his head in response. “Damaris has moved beyond the shock of the king’s death. They’ve forgotten the city that was sacrificed for the perverted purposes that have corrupted them for a millennium.” The agitation grew in Ryl’s voice as he spoke. The alexen mirrored his anger, spreading heat as they burned through his veins. “Their patience for our rebellion has ended.
Their feigned period of mourning has faded. They seek to bring Cadsae back into the fold.”
The statement was of little shock to those surrounding the fire.
“What is it that you intend to do?” It was Cray’s voice that responded. There was no hint of the meek subservience, a product of cycles held under the vicious rule of others. His words rang with a newfound confidence that brought a smile to Ryl’s face. Much had changed in the last moon.
An ember popped from the fire, sending a small chunk of flaming stick skipping across the ground. Ryl ground the glowing section into the dirt.
“The Erlyn needs time,” Ryl noted. “Her powers beyond these walls are fleeting at best. The reunion has only just begun. Every moment we can give her restores a measure of her influence. Any delay we can give her will aid us when it comes time to leave for Vim.”
His gaze traveled to the shadowed edge of the woods in the distance before returning to his companions.
“Those who now deem themselves rulers of this kingdom demand an answer, and I plan on delivering one,” Ryl growled. “Though likely unsurprising, it will be one that they will not find pleasant.”
“I’m coming with you,” Cray’s voice interjected before the others could reply. His words were determined. Ryl saw the hint of fire stir within his eyes. Sarial gasped, covering her mouth gently with her hand. Her eyes went wide at the vehemence of the statement.
Ryl grinned as he turned his head, meeting the gazes of Paasek and Andr in turn. He understood the phrenic counselor. The slim grin on the elder’s lips was the answer he sought. The hardening of the mercenary’s stare was followed by a subtle nod though there was an undeniable flicker of pride that sparked in his eyes. He pondered the thought for another moment before responding.
“It risks much; there will be little safety where we go,” Ryl cautioned.
“I’m not content to remain here, hidden away, while the fate of the kingdom is decided.” The anger in Cray’s voice grew with every word. Each was enunciated with more force than the last. The hint of motion in his eyes, the flames burning in their depths surged, far outpacing the reflection of the fire before him.
Ryl understood the feeling that coursed through the tribute all too well. It hadn’t been long since he’d experienced the same.
“You said we are free, yet all decisions have been made for us,” Cray continued, the words rolling off his tongue with likely more spite than he had intended, though Ryl forgave him for the insinuation. Andr stood with arms crossed, watching the scene unfold. For one who knew him as well as Ryl did, the amusement was undeniable.
“The tributes have had little to no say in what happens,” he carried on, his tirade growing more forceful. “From the moment we were locked inside The Stocks, we have been silenced. We must be allowed a voice. Decisions will not be made in our stead any longer.”
Lenu, of all, seemed to bristle with the comments. Her chest swelled as she primed for her retort.
“That’s enough,” Ryl boomed as he released an unrelenting wave of pacifying emotion. Cray’s mouth snapped shut. Lenu’s aggravation was satiated; she released a long, slow yet steady exhale.
“The freedom of the tributes has never been far from my mind since the day I left this wretched place.” Ryl’s voice was measured, yet his tone was powerful and direct. “It is true that situations have required certain decisions to be made without your counsel, and for that I am sorry.”
He met the gaze of Cray, holding it for several moments. After a spell, the fierce expression written across the face of the unawakened softened. His head drooped; his gaze lowered to the ground.
“I have crossed the world with the sole purpose of ensuring your freedom, ensuring the freedom of all the tributes.” Ryl too softened his voice as he continued. “You’ve no doubt heard tell of the horrors that were brought upon the city outside the walls. It was a sight you thankfully never witnessed, for it will haunt me for all eternity.”
He met the eyes of several around the fire. Andr and Paasek had experienced the horrors firsthand. Lenu, Dav and the phrenics had been present at various times after the razing of the sprawling city. He could see flashes of the horrors reflecting in their eyes. Their distant stares focused on nothing in particular and the images burned into their minds.
“You are free. I will say it again, and I truly mean it,” Ryl confessed. “If you or any of the tributes choose to leave the safety of the forest, to return to whatever destination you choose, that is up to you. Understand that the world beyond these walls, the city that has sprouted where Cadsae once was, has not undertaken a similar shift as you have experienced.
“Though many openly support the tributes, welcoming the change, the division runs deep,” he continued. “Nearly all have weathered attempts on our life. Just the other night, more than a dozen—guards and innocent men and women, survivors of the horrors of Cadsae—were butchered inside these walls.”
Sarial gasped again at the statement. A touch of color seemed to blanch from Cray’s face as he listened to the telling.
“As it has and will forever, your brand will easily identify you.” Ryl sighed. “There are likely many who would seek tributes for the bounty you would bring.”
As he finished, he turned his body, his pointed stare meeting with Lenu, Paasek and Andr in turn.
“You’ve spent time training them to different extents; your assessment is welcome,” he admitted. “Where we go, violence is certain. There will be few of us, Ramm, Vox, Paasek and perhaps Paelec if he can be spared. Andr and Lenu, I want you to select even groups of Vigil and Guard. Lord Eligar may desire to add a few to the cause. Are there tributes proficient enough to form a contingent of unawakened?”
Andr and Lenu met eyes for a moment. The Vigil was the first to respond.
“Their training has been brief, though they progress admirably for ones who’ve never held a blade,” she intoned. Her voice was emotionless; her assessment was given-matter-of-factly, devoid of emotion. “It’s likely that they’ve witnessed more combat firsthand than we have.”
“To a degree training them has mirrored my first training with you,” Andr acknowledged. “Unsurprisingly, most took to the instruction with ease. I’ve spent enough time among the guards to assess the talent, or lack thereof. It’s no offense to them, saying that there are a handful who fight as well if not better than the vast majority. From the simple standpoint of armed combat, I see no danger in including them. I’ve seen what even an untrained tribute can do when put to the test.”
Andr’s eyes rested on Cray’s as he finished his statement. For a moment, Ryl witnessed the look that flashed between the pair.
“I understand that feeling all too well,” Ryl admitted. His memory flashed back to moments in his recent past. Forced primarily out of desperation, his power had felt limitless. It was an exhilarating sensation. It terrified him, chilling him to the core. His thoughts darkened, as did the tone of his voice.
“This can be a boon as much as it can be a curse,” he added. “Paasek, you have worked with them all. I welcome your estimation.”
The phrenic stepped forward, holding his hands out before him, rubbing them together as he collected the warmth from the fire.
“All have made strides, though I’d hesitate to test the mettle of most at the moment,” he intoned. “They are still too fresh, the emotions too raw and unpredictable.”
Ryl noted Cray’s jawline tighten at the statement. He looked as if he was ready to retort, though he remained silent as the phrenic continued, “I would strongly advise against allowing any who show skills that fall under the elementalist sect to accompany you.”
Ryl agreed immediately with the assessment. He and the massive phrenic knew firsthand the toll learning the skills exerted.
“Matching the budding skills with that of a phrenic would be wise. The training would be invaluable. I fear we’ve been spread too thin to offer all the instruction that they require.
“Who do yo
u have in mind?” Ryl quizzed.
“One stands across this fire as we speak,” Paasek confirmed. The light sparkled in Cray’s eyes. “His pedigree with a sword would be easily matched. The twins would be the next choice if they share the same sentiment. The silent one possesses a cunning level of agility that would benefit from your instruction. The other shows a proficiency with a bow that would have made Kaep proud. Paelec would be a valued mentor. As you said, they risk much, yet they represent the fate, the future of the phrenic.”
There was silence around the fire for a few moments as all those pondered the assessments that were given. Cray struggled to maintain his excitement.
“Cray, do Tash and Palon share the same sentiment as you?” Ryl inquired. “If they are willing, if they understand the consequences, I see little harm in their coming.”
Cray nodded his head excitedly as he responded. Ryl noted the clear look of satisfaction written across Sarial’s face. Her gaze met his for a moment. The message contained within the depths of her eyes was transparent. She knew there was nothing she could do to stop them from going. She begged for their safety.
“Of that I’m sure,” the tribute responded. His voice was assertive, lacking the bubbling excitement that his features had been unable to disguise.
“You do well to hold your emotions in check,” Paasek added.
“Rest will be a wise decision, as it will likely be a premium once we depart. If the twins are available, their council would be welcome.”
Without a word, Cray nodded before turning on his heel, hastening to the tree that housed the required tributes. The group followed him with their eyes for a moment. Lenu and Paasek watched with the appraising eyes of his instructors. Andr’s face beamed with a sense of fatherly pride.