“We could have a family,” Bridget said to him. “Finally grow old together and have all that we want.”
Porter thought for only a moment and nodded. “We will come with you,” he proudly declared. “We will follow you, King Aroden.”
“It will be a pleasure to have you with us,” Aroden said.
“What of the rest of the people?” Adriana asked. “Rachel struggles to keep them out of the inn. I suspect they’ll demand to come.”
“We must leave them,” Aroden said. “Unless they possess a horse, they won’t keep up with us.”
“The sun rises,” Brian said. “We should leave before more of the creatures show up. Once news of their defeat reaches their masters, they’ll surely send more.”
“How will we pass the other villagers, though?” Adriana pressed. “They block the exit. Once they see you leaving, I doubt they will watch idly.”
Aroden sighed. “Do what you must to keep them away from us. It weighs heavily on my conscious,” he muttered to the room. “Come,” he said to the others. “We must leave. Open the doors, Brian.”
“Wait,” Porter called out while rushing towards the back of the inn. “I wish to gather a couple of items from our private quarters.”
“Hurry, Porter,” Aroden called out.
While they waited, Zed gathered his belongings by the fire pit, picking the old book up from the small table beside the fireplace with the white feather marking the page. Thrix approached and stared down at the book and then Zed. “I see why you recognised my ancient crest. You possess The Rolag,” Thrix observed with a stern glare. “It comes from the library of Durk’helm.”
Zed froze. “I did not know the title of this book,” he said, “but yes, it does. It came into my family a long time ago.”
Thrix shook his head. “I searched for that book but couldn’t find it. The Rolag belongs in Durk’helm.”
“Why?”
“Knowledge should be kept safe,” Thrix answered. “That book possesses ancient knowledge unfit for your eyes.”
“I can’t read most of it anyway,” Zed justified. “Nor can most people, I’m sure. It contained the crest of the Eternals and that of our enemies.”
“Show me,” Thrix ordered and Zed found the page.
“Here,” he said and pointed to the intersected triangles and the beast’s head. “I can’t read most of the language around it, but this is the crest.”
Thrix frowned as his eyes glanced over the text. “It is as I feared,” he said and walked up to Aroden. “We must hurry to Brymar.”
“Can you read it?” Zed asked after him. “Can you read the words?”
“Yes, of course I can,” he said, “but knowledge must be protected.” Though he didn’t elaborate, the others could see him clearly shaken from reading the text. William and Elizabeth exchanged glances, all the more determined to journey to Durk’helm.
“Well, it’s hard to trust you if you refuse to trust us with information,” Aroden said.
“Your world is being attacked by forces from another realm,” Thrix said. “I recognise that crest all too well, and The Rolag confirms my fears. This goes above all of us, now, even me, owing its roots to an ancient war between the forefathers, the Architects.”
Porter returned with a packed bag and holding a small steel sword. Thrix stopped talking, and everyone silently stared at Porter, including Bridget. “I pulled out my old sword from decades ago,” he said while inspecting it with a shrug. “If the time comes, I’ll fight for my new home and defend Brymar with my life.” He paused and his expression softened with a light smile. “That’s assuming this old thing doesn’t break,” he added at the end.
“The sword,” Bridget smirked, “or you?” She laughed, giving her husband an endearing embrace.
“Let’s hope that time doesn’t come,” Aroden said with a grateful nod. He glanced at Thrix before advancing to the front door. “Brian, it’s time.”
He opened the front door to reveal Rachel on the other side, her bow in hand and surrounded by the villagers seeking answers. A few other Arraci stood beside her, several with their swords out. The panicked people all stared at Aroden as the rising rays of the sunlight struck his weathered face; they started to shout out questions and praise for defending the village. Aroden raised his hands in an attempt to silence them, but it took some time for them to quiet down.
“People of Skee,” he called out. “This is no time for chaos. Your village was attacked by an unknown enemy, but the Arraci protected you. We must peacefully pass through and return home.”
“What about us!” several of them shouted out.
“Follow if you can,” Aroden exclaimed. “All are welcome, but we haven’t the time to wait. You will be safe here in Skee if you stay.”
William’s stomach churned at the lie. He felt Max’s discomfort, too. But it was the right thing for him to say, to give hope and reassurance where none existed. Otherwise, a riot would ensue, and no one would leave peacefully. Still, he thought about the hardships of leadership and wondered how he would tackle the same situation. He searched inside and asked himself if he had it within him to shun his people for a greater purpose, to lie to them in order to prevail.
“Please, let us pass now,” Aroden called out, but the villagers didn’t immediately disperse. They knew more destruction was coming, evident from the litter of corpses now lining the periphery of the village and their crops decimated. A few of them ran towards their homes while others even tried to advance upon the king. The Arraci propelled themselves in front of the royal family with their swords raised. “We must have peace,” Aroden exclaimed. “Let us pass!”
The rest of them stood frozen in front of the line of Arraci that surrounded Aroden and his sons. Of course, most of them didn’t own a horse, or even much food for that matter. William’s heart felt heavy. It didn’t feel right, none of it did. He turned to Elizabeth, who walked cautiously beside him, and leaned towards her.
“Is there nothing we can do?” he whispered.
“I am not in a position to answer,” she responded. “Your father orders the Arraci.”
William clenched his fist as they passed the crowds, the rest of the Arraci returning from the outskirts and keeping the villagers at bay. All of the faces stared back at him, all filled with distress and concerns. Children stood at the front, too, their confused, blank glances at everyone around them piercing William’s heart. They couldn’t understand what happened around them, wouldn’t understand the situation Aroden was forced to leave them in. Surely, there must be another way.
“Father,” William said as they walked passed towards the stables. “Is there…”
“No, William,” he calmly said back to silence him. “If our home were compromised, we’d all perish. You will understand one day the burden of being king.”
They reached the stables below and mounted their horses; Max rode beside Victoria with William next to Elizabeth as Brian led them out of the village. A few of the villagers resorted to handing their children towards them, forcing William to break his stare with them.
A small girl, no more than seven or so with long brown hair, beautiful hazel eyes, and wearing a dirtied dark green dress was propelled in front of William’s horse; Windrunner abruptly stopped. The girl raised a small hand towards William with tearful eyes, as she stared back at her mother and father in the crowd. Her parents begged William to take her with their hands together and desperation in their eyes.
Aroden turned to see the commotion and witnessed the hardship facing his son. William looked at him for guidance but instinctively extended his hand to the girl, hoisting her atop his horse in front of him. He saw the hope in her parent’s eyes and the confusion in the girl’s.
“She will be safe,” he called out to the parents, seeing their relief and the tears streaming down their faces. “You have my word.”
Elizabeth looked at him and gave a shallow nod.
They advanced down the street toward
s the back of Skee, the girl quietly weeping the entire time while attempting to look back at her parents. It was difficult not to look back as they left the shouting villagers behind them, but they knew it was the only option. “What is your name?” William asked the small girl in front of him.
“Lilia,” she said through the tears. “My mother told me to reach up to you and said I must go with you, but I don’t know why.”
“You did well,” William said to her. “Your parents would be proud of you.”
“I don’t understand,” she wept.
“And you won’t for a while,” he answered. “But you will be kept safe where we’re going, you have my word.”
“When will I see my parents again?”
“I’m not sure,” he answered, his brow creasing and his chest tightening. “I’m not sure when you’ll see them again, Lilia.”
She looked at him with perplexed, watery eyes but fell silent.
Elizabeth rode up beside him and looked at the girl. “You just saved that girl’s life,” she said across to him. “Now both of us have saved a life today.”
“If only we could’ve brought them all, then my conscience would be clear.”
“One life is better than none,” Elizabeth pointed out. “Never forget that.”
“The rest of the Arraci will follow soon,” Brian exclaimed from the front while picking up the pace; they had to pass over the bodies littering the ground, and William tried to cover Lilia’s eyes. “We must put as much distance between us and Skee as possible. The road to Brymar is a long one.”
As their horses ran faster, William held onto the reins and protectively secured the girl on top of Windrunner. “Have you ridden a horse before?” he asked and she slowly shook her head. “I’ll keep you safe,” he muttered, to the girl as much as to himself. “Just hold onto me and the horse, Lilia.”
*************************************************************
Skee slowly faded into the background behind them.
They’d only been riding for a while, but leaving the village weighed heavily on William’s conscious as he felt Lilia slowly falling asleep in front of him. His chest felt heavy, his palms sweaty; none of it felt right, leaving the villagers of Skee, the people of their kingdom, vulnerable to certain death. His heart couldn’t fathom it, couldn’t accept it. What kind of leader could? He heavily sighed and rode faster, catching up with his father while firmly holding onto Lilia.
“Father,” he blurted out, forcing everyone to slow down from their rapid trot. “Father, we cannot leave Skee.”
“Now William…”
“No,” he firmly interrupted, “I refuse to leave them. It contradicts the purpose of a leader, regardless of what cost we claim as a reason.”
Aroden chose not to respond.
“We must save them.”
Aroden shook his head. “What would you suggest we do?”
William recognised his opportunity. He thought to himself only briefly before responding. “Send a group of Arraci back to Skee, tell them to escort the villagers further into the Brutean Kingdom for their safety.” He could feel everyone around him listening intently. The attention would usually make him nervous, but not this time. He continued to speak his mind. “It is the right thing to do.”
“But who would lead them?” Aroden asked.
“I will,” a voice called out from further back. Rachel caught up with Aroden and William, giving a respectful side-glance to William and a shallow nod. “I will lead the people of Skee to safety if you so choose.”
“And where would you take them?” Aroden asked.
“Further into the kingdom, as William suggests,” Rachel answered, “where other armies of the Brutean Kingdom protect the people.”
“My armies,” Aroden muttered under his breath. He sighed, looking to his son again. “And you feel strongly about this, William?”
“I do,” he asserted while glancing to Lilia in his lap, who slept restlessly. “My conscious requires it.”
Aroden assented, suddenly looking weary, the weight of the years upon him. “Very well, son,” he said. “I will listen to your judgement and allow you to lead.” He motioned to Rachel while looking into William’s eyes. “Give the order, then.”
William focused on Rachel, their horses riding side-by-side. “Rachel, please take a group of Arraci, the same who have followed you during your time in Orwell, and evacuate Skee. Take the people to safety and warn other towns and villages along the way.”
“It will be done,” Rachel said with a smile and slight bow, “and I appreciate the order.”
William smiled back before looking to his father again. “If we are to reclaim our right to the throne, we ought to stand for what we believe in and what the throne represents.” Aroden muttered in agreement and William redirected his attention back to Rachel. “Be safe,” he said, and she nodded back. “Return to us in Brymar once you reach the capital.”
Rachel slowed her horse until reaching Adriana, who she lightly embraced, before rallying several other Arraci to follow her. She stopped beside Max and bid him words of comfort before riding towards the village of Skee with a cohort of ten Arraci.
Everyone focused on William, who looked to his father once more. “Thank you,” he said.
“You need not thank me,” Aroden asserted. “I am proud of you, William. You reveal your inner strength.”
William nodded before slowing his horse to return to Elizabeth’s side. He saw Thrix staring at him from ahead. It appeared he approved of the deed and gave a shallow nod. Elizabeth smiled when William returned. “That was a noble path to take,” she said. “You may have just saved that entire village and countless others.”
“I hope,” he said, “but I also fear for Rachel’s life now. I hope it was the right decision to make.”
Elizabeth acknowledged his fear. “Only time will tell.”
Chapter XXVI
“The next town is Noteral,” Brian called out behind him. “We should reach it by nightfall.”
“We shouldn’t stop there,” Thrix barked, riding beside him. “We could be in Brymar before the next nightfall if we continue.”
“The horses will collapse,” Brian argued.
“He’s right,” Aroden said as he fought to keep his eyes open. “And their riders might, too. I’m sure we’re well ahead of the enemy by now. We should set up a camp outside the town.”
Thrix turned to face Victoria. “Let me see the map,” he said as he extended his hand behind to her. She quickly withdrew the parchment from the hard cylindrical casing and handed it to him. After holding it for a few seconds, the map updated. He frowned. “I fear that Skee is no more,” he called out, pointing towards a large blackened dot on top of the small village. “Their armies swarmed around it.”
“What about ahead?” Aroden asked while trying to catch a glimpse of the map. He could only hope Rachel had successfully evacuated the villagers. “Does it show activity ahead?”
“No.” He rolled it up again and handed it back to Victoria. “But they may catch up to us if we stay to rest.”
“How would they know we travel to Brymar? Our home is still a secret,” Aroden said. “Do others know its location?”
Thrix shook his head. “That I cannot say; all I know is that they knew to find us in Skee.”
“We can only hope that Brymar remains a secret, then,” he muttered to himself. “But we will expect the worse.”
Thrix slightly raised his voice as he focused on the map. “It appears their armies surround Durk’helm. The place isn’t safe.”
No one responded, but Aroden glanced behind him to see the others. The message was clearly intended for Elizabeth, though she’d ignored it. While looking behind, Aroden saw her riding next to William, the small girl fast asleep in front of his son. He noticed Max riding beside Victoria in front of William and Elizabeth, and Richard trailing behind everyone else, as always, with Adriana just behind him in the very back. Aroden took a mome
nt to cherish the people behind him. He proudly admired his family, finally together once again.
William spotted his father looking and gave a reassuring smile before turning to Elizabeth, “I wish I could sleep while riding,” he said, forcing a shallow smile as he looked down at Lilia. “I remember the days my father would have me on his horse. I didn’t have to worry about much back then.”
“It’s the innocence of childhood,” Elizabeth said.
His face saddened. “Hers will be tainted by all of this.”
“As were ours,” Elizabeth said. “I’ve never known the bliss of childhood, the carefree mind-set and peace.”
William nodded. “Mine was cut short, too, when my mother died.”
“News of that night crossed every kingdom,” Elizabeth said quietly and paused. “It took everyone by surprise to hear about the overthrow of your father and of Queen Valencia’s passing.”
“I remember that day vividly, the sounds and cries, the battles and screaming in the palace.” William paused. “Adriana is the one that pulled me out of my room in the middle of the night. It was her and Max who came to save me.”
Elizabeth didn’t speak.
“Brian went to pick up Richard. He originally went for my parents, but Aroden wouldn’t allow it. My parents made sure that Max, Richard, and I escaped first.” He paused. “Everything happened so quickly. The Arraci pulled us all out of the city through a secret passage and we came to Brymar. Just like that, my entire life changed in the blink of an eye. I never even saw the enemy that night.” He stopped talking again, seeing that his words saddened her. “I’m sorry,” he said. “I shouldn’t be telling you this now.”
She didn’t say anything at first but inhaled sharply. “I cannot imagine a life without my father around,” she said. “I keep hoping that he’ll show up again.”
“I feel the same way about my mother.”
“But they never will show up again,” Elizabeth mumbled to herself. “My father’s gone. I must come to terms with it.”
The Secrets of Brymar (The Elitherian Fragments Book 1) Page 29