by AJ Martin
Joseph looked gravely back at his men. “A lot of my men have family there. Myself included.”
“Many people fled just as we did,” Matthias replied. “There is hope that the people you care about escaped.”
Joseph nodded. “Perhaps.” He exhaled and gestured to the three of them. “You are an interesting party of travellers,” the man said. “The clothes you wear are eastern, unless I am mistaken?” he asked Matthias.
“I’m from Mahalia,” Matthias replied casually. Luccius looked at him in surprise at the revelation. “You have journeyed far, it would seem?”
Joseph nodded with a smile. “I have travelled to your lands once. Your fashion is quite distinct. I wondered whether you would tell me the truth of where you came from. There are many of your kin who would lie to an army of Olindian soldiers, for fear of being strung up and hung as a wizard.”
“I have nothing to hide,” Matthias said with a smile. “I am a merchant, a vendor of fine spices. That is all. I care not for the wizards in my lands. That’s partly why I left to become a merchant.”
Joseph nodded. “I see. And you,” he continued, turning to Luccius. “I have seen an ansuwan before, but never in my country.
“I am his partner in our venture,” Luccius smiled. “We had aimed to make our living in your lands selling our goods.”
Joseph nodded. “I am sorry for the loss of your livelihood,” the man said. “But at least you came away with your lives. What about you?” He gestured to Emary. “Where are you from?”
“I have travelled from across the ocean,” Emary replied. “From a land called Lantai.”
“I have never heard of it,” Joseph said. “What reason have you for travelling so far?”
“That is my business, soldier,” Emary said sharply.
Joseph looked wary for a moment, but then he smiled wryly at her. “You are a confident woman. Just be sure that business does not involve the use of those weapons you carry against any of my people. There are many bandits in these parts. Do not count yourself amongst them girl.” He turned to Matthias. “I would watch your travelling companion. She could get you into trouble the way she speaks to others.”
“We’ll keep her in line,” Matthias said with an edge to his voice as he glared at her.
Joseph placed his helmet back on his head. “If you seek longer term shelter, it is better to go further afield to somewhere like Gavna. Moriana is a small village, with a single very cramped tavern with a couple of rooms. It will take you longer to get to Gavna - another three day’s walk in the same direction - but you would be further from danger, from what I have heard of the dragon’s movements and more comfortable to boot.” He mounted his horse.
“Thank you. We might just do that,” Matthias replied.
“Safe journey.” Joseph turned and indicated to his men, and they began to move again, parting slightly to avoid Matthias and the others as they rode past. When they had ridden out of earshot, Matthias turned to Emary and raised his hands.
“Well that was a good way of getting yourself trussed up and carted along with them, speaking to the man like that!” he exclaimed.
“It was none of his concern,” Emary sniffed.
“You could have just lied!” Matthias exclaimed.
“I am not like your kind. Deception does not come as easily to me,” she said icily.
“You took a risk, didn’t you, telling him you were from Mahalia?” Luccius asked.
“He knew already. I could see it in his eyes. If I had lied we would most likely be trussed up as a part of their convoy by now.” He shrugged. “Oh come on, let’s get moving,” he sighed.
They arrived in Moriana by the late afternoon of the same day. The village was small, as the soldier Joseph Maranin had said. They found the tavern quickly.
“Traveller’s Rest,” Luccius read the sign above the array of small, square windows set into a larger frame. “Sound’s good to me.”
“I doubt we will find horses here,” Emary commented. “We should move on to this Gavna the soldier spoke of.”
“It’s late afternoon and the sun will be setting soon,” Matthias said. “You heard what the soldier said about bandits. And I’m in no mood for a fight.”
“For a man who claims to be so desperate to find this princess, you rest too often,” she sniffed.
“I won’t do Josephine any good by collapsing from exhaustion,” he rebuffed.
She sighed. “It’s your choice wielder. I am in no hurry to walk away from a tavern if you aren’t.”
There were five other people sitting in the common room of the Traveller’s Rest: a man and woman in the middling years, sitting at a table by themselves and three other men in loose, dirty clothing sharing a large pitcher of ale by the fire. Between them they made the cramped room seem crowded as Matthias and the others entered.
“This is quaint,” Luccius commented.
“It is boring,” Emary sniffed. “There are no dice games and there is no dancing.”
“But there are drinks and comfortable chairs,” Luccius nudged her.
“Your behind must be as soft as a peach,” Emary scoffed. “But I will agree with you about the drinks.”
A woman appeared behind the bar. “Why, hello there!” she said and beckoned them in. “My, my, what an interesting assortment of creatures you all are!” She chuckled. “Look at those ears! Oh I do beg your pardon,” she said, blushing as Luccius frowned. “I meant no offence to you. I bet you get that all the time!”
“No, no,” Luccius lied, remaining cordial. “It’s fine. May we take a table?”
“Please!” she beckoned to them and they all sat down by the window. “My girl, aren’t you a beauty?” she said to Emary. “Such unusual features! Why, I’m just glad my husband isn’t around! Why he would take quite a shining to you and no mistake!” She chuckled again. “Anyway, where are my manners? My name is Belyndra and-” she looked at Matthias and paused, squinting at him. Then she gasped. “No! No, it can’t be so!” She exclaimed breathily.
“What's the matter?” Matthias asked her.
“It must be a coincidence," she added as she shook her head.
“What is the coincidence?” Matthias asked more bluntly, trying not to raise his voice.
“My, my my! What a series of events I have been witnessing lately!” Belyndra continued.
“Bar woman, you will speak of what you know,” Emary growled. The woman appeared taken aback a moment.
“Oh. Oh yes, of course. I am sorry! My tongue does run away with me sometimes,” she commented. Then she bent over to Matthias. “I had a young girl ask after someone the spit of you, young sir!” Belyndra advised him. “Another beauty, with long blonde hair and dazzlingly blue eyes, accompanied by a man with a limp.”
Matthias shot up from his chair “Josephine!” he exclaimed, and the others in the inn all shot a stare at him.
“That’s the girl!” Belyndra said excitedly. “Oh, so it is you she was after!”
Matthias exchanged looks with Luccius and Emary. “She’s alive!” he exclaimed and started dancing about on the spot. “Thank the gods she’s alright!”
Belyndra watched him dance about with a smile on her face. “She most certainly is!”
“How long ago was she here?” Matthias stopped and asked excitedly.
“Ooh, it must have been five or six days ago now,” she said. “She was headed to one of the towns I pointed her to up the way. Riverfell and Gavna. I think she was heading after another man who was looking for her.”
Matthias’s face fell. “Another man?” he replied.
“An older gentleman, well dressed, with a beard and walking staff a bit like yours, but taller. He was here asking after her and had left before she had arrived,” she said. “You mean you don’t know about him?”
“It could be Fenzar, Matthias,” Luccius said gravely. The wizard nodded.
"There is no 'could be' about it," Matthias said.
“Well you don�
��t look too happy about that,” Belyndra commented. “Did I say something wrong?”
Matthias placed a hand reassuringly on the woman’s arm and smiled. “Not at all. Madam Belyndra, if you wouldn’t mind getting us all a drink, yourself included, then I would be very grateful if you would tell us all about Josephine’s stay here.”
An Unexpected Visitor
160th Day of the Cycle, 495 N.E. (New Era)
Chalize leaned over the rectangular game board and let his hand dangle tentatively over one of the fourteen circular trays that made up its surface, a ruby pinched between his thumb and forefinger. Opposite him Silar sat patiently, watching the emperor pore over the holes. In the board's trays were more gemstones of all shapes, sizes and colours and beyond that, in front of them both were piles of the stones as well, Chalize's significantly larger than Silar's own.
Chalize smiled as he found what it was he was searching for. He dropped the ruby into a tray to the far left of the board. “Double rewards, I think you will find, unless you can match my gesture with a diamond?”
Silar frowned. “I still haven't the slightest idea how to play this game and win,” he said, yielding to his opponent and picking up seven rubies and two emeralds, placing them in Chalize's open, waiting palm.
“I've been playing since I was four,” Chalize smiled. “Do not feel too bad. Ohlrahn can take years to master.”
There was a knock at the doors and Sobril bowed his way to the desk. “Forgive the intrusion my liege,” he stuttered. “But I bring a message delivered just moments ago by carrier pigeon from the border.” He paused.
“This is becoming a habit Sobril. Go on then, out with it!” He sniffed impatiently and rolled his eyes.
“O - of course! It is from General Voldus, from the border patrol. He brings you word he is sending an escort back into Ank’ Shara. They are bringing two people to meet with you. They have claimed to be Princess Josephine of Aralia and her personal guard!”
“What?” Silar spluttered before he could stop himself. Chalize eyed him, his brow furrowing.
“Voldus must have made a mistake. I haven't seen the Aralian king for a long time. Why would his daughter be visiting me?”
Sobril pulled a small scrap of paper out of his waistcoat and handed it to Chalize. “This is the note from General Voldus.”
Chalize took it and squinted as he read. “Did Voldus say how far away they are?” he asked. Sobril indicated to a scribble in the top corner of the paper.
“The message is marked from the Tapa Lowlands,” Sobril advised. “Their party had only been gone an hour when Voldus sent this message. He estimated they would be here in three days. He has ordered the escort to take the river from Kaipaj part of the way to speed up their progress.”
Chalize leaned back in his padded chair and nodded. “I can think of no reason why someone would pretend to be the princess. There is no advantage to such a deception. Silar?” he asked the man opposite him.
Silar shrugged. “There is no advantage I can think of,” the man replied stonily.
“Voldus is a good judge,” Chalize nodded. “Have rooms prepared for them Sobril and bring them to me when they arrive.”
Silar turned to the small man “And make every soldier is aware that there is to be absolutely no mention of our invasion plans,” he added.
Sobril nodded and shuffled back across the floor to the door, slipping out quietly.
“I have seen men on the block looking more relaxed than you do right now Silar,” the Emperor said acerbically. “What dealings have you had with the princess?”
Silar shook his head. “I have had none My Lord,” he said, smiling thinly. “I apologise for my reaction. I was merely surprised.”
Chalize scoffed. “Never play cards, Silar. You would lose even more at that than you have at Ohlrahn! Out with it,” he said authoritatively. “What are you holding back?”
Silar looked at him a moment, and then finally acquiesced. “It is just that I don’t trust Aralians, My Lord,” he said. “Such an unexpected visit cannot bring anything good to you in these delicate weeks of preparation.”
Chalize nodded. “I see. That’s all?” Silar nodded, and the emperor laughed. “Oh Silar, you can leave the worrying about that to me. Voldus is taking them along a route that will conceal our armies and once she is here in the palace, I will see to it that she is restricted in her movements so that she will not discover what is happening.” He patted the man on the arm. “You worry far too much. Have faith in your emperor Silar. I am not my father. I will not make the same mistakes he did.”
Ank’ Shara
163rd Day of the Cycle, 495 N.E. (New Era)
The dirt - paved streets of Aslemer’s capital city bustled with people as Josephine and Thadius followed their escort through the streets towards the palace. When they had arrived at the border between Olindia and Aslemer they had been lucky to approach a crossing where a high ranking general was currently stationed. He had arranged for them to be transported to the capital without delay. It was in surprising contrast to the trouble she had experienced trying to gain access to Crystal Ember, especially in the state she currently appeared. She would have not believed herself if she said she was the princess of Aralia, but clearly she must have been more convincing than she had thought.
As they travelled across the foreign lands Josephine had been amazed at the severity of the change in the landscape as they continued east. The ground morphed from the lush, green meadowland she was familiar with into much more stark, barren plains. The air grew more humid and felt thicker and harder to breathe. The atmosphere was suffocating and the heat clung to her most uncomfortably – so much that, one afternoon, as the sun beat down on her with such intensity she had almost considered unbuttoning her blouse for a moment just to let the heat escape from the confines of her unsuitably thick clothing. She even noticed her skin tanning in the unrelenting grasp of the sun. At least the nights were cool. Their initial escort of five soldiers provided them both with a tent to sleep in for the nights they travelled. Thadius insisted on sleeping in the same one for safety, of course, which she had tried to dismiss without luck. She gratefully took any privacy she could whenever a chance arose, but she did see Thadius’s point when he refused to let her camp alone. After all, who were these men they travelled with? They certainly spent a lot of their time giving her lingering views in the day. Who knows what opportunities they might have taken if she were unguarded?
As she slept in the tent on their first night travelling through Aslemer, her mind had been haunted by dreams. Images flocked her mind, but the most disturbing of them all was that which had seen her back in the strange temple – like building she had frequented in her mind during her poisoning, where she had first met the Akari woman’s spirit. This time though, the majestic building was cold and damp and its previously awe-inspiring halls had fallen into disrepair. Water dripped from the ceiling and seashells and strange creatures clung to the massive pillars that had grown dank with brown smears from rusty metal nails along their lengths. As she walked around in the dreamland she passed several alcoves, where crumbling statues of human - like creatures were covered in mussels, kelp and seaweed. A dank, blue light from an invisible source hung across the place. She seemed to wander aimlessly about for hours, until she emerged through an archway into an average- sized room with paintings across the walls she could not quite make out in the gloom. It felt eerie and lifeless, like a tomb. At the far end of the room was a set of three steps leading on to a kind of stone podium. As she walked up them, in the centre of the square block of stone were the three golden rings she had seen before in the water. There were symbols carved into the three rings, and in the centre was a single golden disc engraved with a lone symbol: an ideogram in the rough shape of a wavy ‘T’, but with an extra line dissecting the vertical sweep of the icon. She knelt down and touched the rings. They were cold - metallic, as she expected by their appearance - and they felt very solidly inset into the s
tone surrounding them. As she touched them, whispers filled her mind. Most of the sentences she could not make out, but one seemed louder than the others and familiar somehow:
“No hope of salvation unless the One can be found; She will find where the Peacekeepers have gone to ground; Only then in time can the Peace be restored; And the countries again united in utopian accord.”
She lifted her hand from the rings and they pulsed. A ghostly outline of Taico Grimm appeared and she yelped, stepping back in surprise. He smiled at her and then his face morphed, growing less gaunt and a beard began to grow unnaturally quickly until it covered half his face. He looked squarely at her and nodded. “This is what it was all for,” he said in a calm, almost fatherly voice. “Asternabai, chosen one. It will all end if you do not stop the Return. Free them.” At that point she awoke, back in the tent, sitting up in a cold sweat. Her clothes were drenched. She slipped her blouse off carefully beneath the sheets, looking to make sure Thadius was still asleep whilst she did so and then, laying it carefully by her side so she could easily retrieve it, pulled the blanket close and over her shoulders. She didn’t sleep after the dream, but lay there thinking, shivering in spite of the heat, cold from the sweat, and waited for the sunrise to come.
The next day’s travel was much like the first and despite making small talk with the soldiers who escorted her, most of the day passed in silence. That night she stayed awake thinking of Matthias. That she still had no idea if he were alive or dead haunted her as much as the nightmares she continued to have. Her heart ached when she pictured him lying dead in Crystal Ember, charred and burnt from the dragon’s flames. She felt even more guilt in that she had not thought as much about Luccius. He was just as dear to her and yet, her thoughts continued to linger on Matthias.
Finally after what felt like an age the princess and Thadius were passed over into the hands of their current escort, a man named Taliph as they reached the border of the city. He was a tall, black – skinned man with a shaven head and a golden earring in both his lobes and burly arms. Despite his oppressive stature Taliph seemed quite kindly as he greeted her with a warm smile. It was a more innocent smile than the leering looks the soldiers had treated her to and she took comfort in it.