by Tacori Bean
“Could I accompany you tomorrow instead of August?” He asked.
“Is there any reason?”
“Well besides me hoping you would have forgiven me for the way I acted towards you and Tristan and trust me to accompany you, August cannot go to Yaffu.”
“Why not?” I inquired.
August spoke from the far wall, “Because I was banished.”
“Do I even want to know?”
“It was of no fault of his own.” Damon stated.
“When the disease that spread throughout the region killed many of the women and children, including many of the queens, the queen of Yaffu was one to fall. Her husband, King Crobert, was angered and banished all of Queen Remne’s guard. It was a hard time for the king, and I just happened to be one of Queen Remne's guards.” August spoke.
“I see. Then it will be no trouble to have Damon come with us instead.”
Damon smiled, “Wonderful.”
~~~
The midday sun shone as we followed the path that cut through the forest to Yaffu. The snow had melted and turned the harvested farmland to slush but the images still burned in my mind of the red stained snow.
“You still see it, too?” I whispered to Tristan.
He nodded, “I'll never unsee it.”
Basil continued to lead us through the outskirts until we came upon what used to be the wall surrounding Yaffu. It was broken and crumbled to pieces. Stepping into the kingdom, the horror of what we missed after we fled was revealed. The streets were clear of people and not a sound was heard. Plots where houses once sat were nothing more than burnt embers. The whole place was deserted.
I pulled my cloak tighter around my neck, but it didn’t stop the chills that ran down my spine.
One building that was not as damaged sat with guards placed in the front. Basil ran up to one of them and embraced them.
The guard looked at us as we walked up, “Thank heavens you have brought Basil home. We feared she would be one among the fallen that was trapped in the burning houses.”
Damon spoke to him for a minute and then motioned us to follow him into the building.
Inside, an older man sat at a large desk. His tired but caring brown eyes were fixed on a tattered book, and his long beard, the length making up for his balding head, fell against his chest. A young woman stood beside him with her hand on his shoulder looking into the book. Her brown hair fell in waves around her chubby round face, and she had the man's eyes. A purple flower crown sat peacefully upon her head.
The voice in my head stirred, For people like her the first casualty of war is her innocence.
One of Yaffu's guards cleared their throat, “King Corbert, Princess Maylee, you have visitors.” He said as another person took my cloak before being motioned off.
This is the king?
He looked up and smiled, “How nice it is to finally meet the one worthy of Althea's name.”
“You know who I am?” I asked, ignoring the comment.
“Everyone in Kocala does.”
I nodded hesitantly and cleared my throat, “We brought crops and blankets for the refugees.”
One of the guards took the large packs Damon and Tristan had been carrying.
“So the news has spread to the other towns of our attack from Evnock.”
“Actually that's why we are here.” I began, “We have intel that Secret Hollow is next on the list to be struck. In an effort to have the upper hand, Secret Hollow has waged war on Evnock-”
“You waged war on Evnock.” Damon mumbled only loud enough for me to hear.
I continued, “We want to insure that Yaffu has been taken care of before we focus solely on the war. And that injured refugees would not seek passage to Secret Hollow in fear they would be caught in the fight.”
“If it is a war you have waged then take my men to fight.” King Crobert stated without hesitation.
“Sir, we couldn't. Your men are needed here to protect your people.” Tristan spoke up.
“Calvin has already gotten what he needs from Yaffu. He will not be back. If my men can make a difference in the fight and stop this massacre from continuing, you send word and they'll be there within the hour.”
“Would they not want to stay with their families after this devastation?” I questioned.
“No man will be sent to fight unless it is of his own free will.” He paused.
“I assume you will find passageway for the women and children that will be fleeing from your town?” He continued.
I nodded hesitantly, “While our people would rather stay in their homes, one of my companions and I were here during the attack and I will not let my people sacrifice themselves to the same fate. One of our guards should be speaking to our people now about the matter.”
“Then if it isn't too much, would you take my daughter and her guard with you and let her escape with your people until she is safe on the odd chance Calvin will return? She is Yaffu's only heir and it is my job as her father and king to assure that she remain safe until she ascends the throne.”
“If it would mean her safety to flee with our people then we would be more than glad to accommodate her until passage is secured.” I assured.
He stood and held out his hand which I grabbed as he held it in both of his, “You are a strong, noble leader of your people.”
I smiled as he released my hand.
This does not seem like the king August spoke of.
“You said Calvin wouldn't come back because he had what he needed, what did he take?” Tristan interrupted.
“A book on the Mystics. Yaffu had the only copy. What he wants with it I know not.”
He looked over at Damon which I had noticed him doing periodically. “Now I recognize you!” He said.
Damon’s eyes shot up as sweat began to bead on his forehead.
“My it's been years since I last saw you. How you've grown, Sir Damon. Or should I say Prince… Damon.” He paused, a heavy sorrow appearing on his face.
“Prince?” I froze.
The king’s voice was so full of uncontrolled rage and emotion, “My people... How could you let this happen!” He yelled as he pounded his fist onto the desk.
I looked at Damon as a mix of pain and regret filled his blue eyes.
“Why in the heavens have you done nothing to stop that monster you call a brother!”
~16~
DAMON STORMED OUT of the king's library with me in close pursuit still bewildered by the king’s discovery.
“Damon!” I called but he kept walking.
I caught up to him in Yaffu's deserted marketplace. I grabbed his sleeve and tugged it, pleading him to stop.
“Damon! Talk to me.” I begged.
“Why should I? After what I've done.” He cursed.
I stood there holding his wrist as he refused to look at me. The trees casted shadows over his blond hair, and the wind made the shadows sway back and forth across his pink-tinted face.
I didn't realize until the chills encased my body that I had left my cloak in the building.
Damon taking notice of this removed his cloak which he kept and placed it around my shoulders, and tried to lead me back to the king's library.
But I stopped still holding onto his wrist, “Are you still mad that I ran away? Is that why you won’t talk to me?”
He met my gaze, “I was never mad at you.”
“Then what was it?”
He sighed, “I was hurt that you could leave me so easily… when I knew no matter what you did to me I would not be able to leave your side.”
“Damon…”
He stared down at the cobbled streets and took a deep breath, “Despite the lies about my past, I am still the same person you and everyone in Secret Hollow knows. My past is of no use anymore for it is filled with royal politics and matters of a kingdom that is no longer mine.”
“But I still deserve to know.”
“That you do…” He trailed off but only for a moment, �
�Ever since Calvin and I were lads, our father held us to very high standards, even for royalty. Calvin immersed himself in every aspect of being a royal, but I… I couldn't have hated it more. The level of perfection that was expected was beyond my comprehension. Calvin on the other hand thrived in that environment, so much so that he shut himself away from the rest of the world and focused solely on obtaining the crown. Even from a young age he craved the power of our kingdom, just as our father once had.”
He sighed, “But as every other lad, royalty or not Calvin had to take up a trade, but unlike many who took up fighting or music, Calvin chose magic, which he obtained by birth.”
“He excelled greatly when it came to ancient magic, and by the time it came for my father to choose an heir, he had exceeded the highest level of magic training. After my father chose me, the younger of the two of us, Calvin grew furious and changed his ways when it came to magic.”
Looking away from me he paused for a moment, seeming to collect his thoughts, “Instead of finding power through his kingdom, he found it in his magic, which began feeding from his feelings of rage and betrayal. Soon the power of his magic did not suffice, and he began trying to obtain the kingdom despite our father’s choice. He lost all value for human life and turned twisted in his ways. It was no secret that the power had gone to his head.”
He took a deep breath, so much pain covering his face that I had to look away, “I found that I cared too much for the well-being of my people and I let that cloud my judgement when it came to important decisions. The politics eventually began getting to my head and I changed into the person I promised myself I would never become; My father. So I left before things got worse. It was a selfish decision, but as soon as I was stationed at Secret Hollow being a guard was no longer a cover up. It was about the people who needed me to protect them. Covering up my past is the best way to do so.”
I began to feel dread in the pit of my stomach, “Was that the reason you saved me in the forest? To second your position as a guard, coming to save the day?”
“Heavens, no!”
“Really? Because you keep acting like you care for me, but you never tell me how you really feel.”
“You have no idea how much I care for you, and I honestly can't explain it.”
“I’ve noticed.”
The look in his eyes changed to one so full of longing and certainty, “I don't know how I'm supposed to tell you h-how I get shy whenever you're around, o-or how when you speak my heart races. And your smile… don't even get me started on your smile. It is so rare, but yet it is the most beautiful thing I have ever seen. Every time you are near me, or I think about you it feels so right for me to be by your side. I go crazy thinking about it.”
“D-Damon…” His name was only a breathless whisper coming from my mouth as heat spread from cheek to cheek. I didn't expect him to actually tell me.
He spoke with so much confidence, “I saved you that day in the forest, because the moment I looked at you I knew I would never be able to live without you. I knew in that very moment that you would change my life, and you have. By heavens, Journey, how you have changed my life.”
“I-I…” It was hard to answer such words which came straight from his heart.
He stepped up to me and put his hands on my shoulders, his face only inches from mine as chills encased my body from his touch, “I can’t stop thinking about you and even if I could, every time my mind wanders, it wanders back to you.”
I stood there mesmerized by his words, not sure I could will myself to look away from him as nerves buried themselves in the pit of my stomach. I held my breath, feeling my worry and doubts wash away.
Sobs filled the silence, forcing my gaze away from Damon.
We found Basil sitting behind a broken well, weeping.
“Basil? By heavens, what happened?” I joined Damon over to where she sat.
She looked up at us with her ice blue eyes, tears glistening in them, “Z-Zephyr is… gone.”
~17~
TWENTY-TWO PEOPLE GONE, including ten from the guard, the rest innocent civilians like Zephyr, Basil’s brother.” Piper recalled one day on our walk to the wall.
All of those people…
I looked around and tried to engrave the image of the town into my mind.
Children ran around us, smiles covering their face as they played in the fresh snow. Men and women busied themselves around, humming or laughing about each other. They were happy and safe.
‘What happened to Yaffu is only half of what will happen to Secret Hollow.’ Ozara’s warning filled my head.
Then the images filled my mind, Secret Hollow burned to the ground, only embers and smoke remained. Bodies littered the ground in pools of blood. Everyone left for dead at the hands of Calvin. Or rather left for dead by me.
My people! A voice inside my head cried.
I felt a tear slip down my cheek.
“Journey?” Piper’s voice pulled me from my endless thoughts.
“What have I done?” My voice barely a whisper as I stood shaking in the middle of the snow covered path winding through the town.
Piper looked at me with concerned green eyes, “Journey, what are you talking about?” She asked softly.
“I sentenced my own people to their deaths. Men, women, and children… they will all be dead because of me. Because I thought I could live up to some magical being that could actually save them!”
She stepped back.
“But I can’t save them! I can’t… protect them.” More tears fell softly down my face.
“None of this is your fault.”
I met her eyes, “I really wish I could believe that, but we both know it’s a lie.”
~~~
August’s POV:
Laughter filled the tower as the midday sun warmed us against the cold breeze coming from the window.
“Princess Maylee really does that?” Damon questioned, resting against the window ledge.
“All the time! I can never keep her in one place, she loves to run off and she knows it infuriates her father.” Neil, the princess’ guard laughed a deep, hearty laugh that didn’t match his boyish appearance.
The lad was fresh out of the academy and was much younger than many of the recruits I remember from Yaffu. Golden brown eyes were almost covered by a mop of orange curls which sat atop his round, pale face, encased by a mass of freckles.
“Surely Lady Journey has quirks such as Maylee’s.” Neil commented.
Damon shook his head, “Journey is an amazing person, but very blocked off and not very trusting. She does not want to seem vulnerable therefore she keeps mostly to herself. So, as far as we know, no.”
“For not opening up, it sure does sound like you know a lot about her.” Neil leaned against the table, his tone a bit snide for my liking.
“It’s a different kind of way.” I spoke up. I may not like Journey but respect should be given, Damon has taught me that much.
An awkward silence clouded the space until the sound of thundering hoofbeats shattered it.
I gazed over at Damon who was already heading towards the stairway.
The moment we reached the outside of the wall, a black steed that stood out against the white powder blanketing the forest, slid to a halt in front of us, it’s skin glistening with sweat as it stomped and paced in place. The beast’s breath clouded in the chilled air, as it snorted when the rider atop it’s back pulled it into a square halt.
The rider reached behind his saddle and grabbed another cloaked figure, threw it to the ground where it landed with a thud, and the beast ran back into the forest.
I was the first one by the person’s side. We carefully flipped them onto their back, as Neil ran for Piper.
“By heavens.” I whispered.
I stared down at the thin, lifeless body, whose short ash blonde hair was caked with dirt, face and arms bloodied and bruised, and both tired eyes blackened and swollen shut. She was shivering and every breath was labor
ed. Never did I expect her to be so weak or beaten, but yet here she was. The expert commander of Evnock, once respected and highly ranked, now laid half dead, and clinging to the only hope for her life.
~18~
I STOOD OUTSIDE of the room where Ozara had been taken care of and recovered.
It’s been a week… It is time to know what happened.
I pushed open the door and stood in the doorway.
Tristan handed her some of the tea that Piper had mixed to help her aching body.
She looked much better than when she arrived. Her eyes were no longer swollen, and all the dirt and grime had been washed from her body and hair. Piper had been treating her bruises and cuts, which she thought most certainly would scar. But one thing that we could not treat was the nightmares. It was no secret that she had been waking up in the night, screaming, and begging for something to stop.
I looked up and took in the moment. A smile coming to his face, Tristan stood by her bedside, and spoke something softly to her. Her dull eyes brightening as he spoke, Ozara nodded and smiled up at him. They looked happy.
“Could you give us a moment?” I spoke up to Tristan, hating to interrupt the moment.
He nodded and walked towards the door, flashing a smile back at Ozara as he left.
I pulled a seat up beside her bed, “You seem a lot better.” I commented as she sipped from her cup and tried to sit up further.
“What can I say, I'm a fighter.” She gave a small, hoarse laugh, her voice still scratchy but she didn't seem to mind.
I scooted closer to the bed, “It's been a week, Ozara. It is time you told us what happened when you returned to Evnock.” I finally mentioned.
She hesitantly nodded and cleared her throat, “As you know exposing battle plans to anyone is treason, so by doing so I fully accepted whatever punishment I would receive.” She coughed violently before taking another shaky sip from her cup.
“My trial was dismissed from the royal court and put into the hands of Calvin, because it would be an add-on to my previous sentence.”