Alk didn’t reply, so Henry continued. “Alk… I have no idea how effective my new powers will be when I face the darkness… So you can’t just rely on me… If I fail to master the Wyvern’s powers I would have to rely on the Aelfgar… It’s the only certain form of defence… without it we’re lost… I have to recover it, but could do with your help.” He paused again, waiting for Alk’s reply. “And I know what’s on your mind.” He smiled. “Mylon is more than capable of leading his men until you join us again.” Alk looked away from Henry and around the room. He sighed and then nodded. “But I’ll have to clear this with Mylon first… It would be helpful if I knew when you intend to leave.” Henry smiled again and didn’t hesitate to reply. “In the morning… we leave at first light… Will Mylon and his men be ready to leave by then?” Alk looked almost outraged. “Our men are always ready.” Then his voice trailed off a little as he composed himself.
Alk was renowned throughout for always allowing his temper to get the better of him. “I’m not sure I can say as much for our new king, though… He’s still in shock over the loss of his father… and our two friends.”
Up to this point, Bree had stayed quiet throughout the whole conversation, feeling that her part in all this was to be by Henry’s side and support him. However, on hearing of Mylon’s state of mind, she felt she had to speak up. “I may be able to help him,” she said quietly. All faces were now on her. “In his grief, that is… that’s if he agrees for me to try.” Still holding onto his arm, she looked up to Henry. “I have the ability to help him,” she said with no intention of elaborating any further. Henry looked over to Alk who just shrugged. “No harm in trying… If the girl thinks she can help, then what’s the harm…? Let’s go and ask him now: time’s not on our side… so the sooner done, the better.”
Bree gave Henry a quick kiss and smiled, then turned and walked over to the door where Alk was standing waiting for her. She had no intention of ever leaving Henry again, and the thought of letting him out of her sight for just one more second made her whole soul ache. Henry smiled, seemingly knowing how she was feeling. “I’m going nowhere until you get back,” he said, trying to reassure her. “Go and do what you feel you can… I’m leaving for the palace soon anyway and we’ll meet up there.” She rushed back across the room and jumped into his arms. “I love you, my dear sweet Henry… I love you.” She kissed him on the cheek and without looking back or waiting for Henry to respond she was out of the door in the blink of an eye and halfway up the alleyway. Alk turned, nodded and followed her out of the door.
Mylon had been sitting cross-legged on the floor of his father’s bedroom going through an old, highly decorated box of keepsakes from his childhood that his father had on a table next to his bed. It contained all sorts of bits and bobs. He knew his father had the box and had often wondered what secrets it might contain, but never once asked him. However, taking into consideration his state of mind, he’d hoped by opening it would some how help him fill the emptiness he felt. Unfortunately, what he found only made him feel worse: he had no idea that his father had kept all of his old drawings that he had done when he a young child. He had kept all manner of things: Mylon’s first hunting knife, old crayons, his first pair of shoes, and his first hunting hat…
He sat motionless on the floor, his eyes filled with tears with the contents of the box littered around him, when there came a light tap at the door. At first, he didn’t hear it, too engrossed in his memories. Then came the second tap, this time a little louder. He looked up and sighed. “Come.” Alk was the first through the door. “Well met, my king,” he said, giving a curious bow. “I have someone to see you… and before you say anything I know that you’re not up to visitors… This one is different… she’s here to help you… If you let her, that is.” Mylon got up from the floor just as Bree entered the room. “My lord,” she said with a beaming smile.
Mylon gave Alk a confused look. “Help… what kind of help?” Bree walked right over to him, careful not to tread on the mixture of items on the floor, and placed her hands on his. “Please… let me help, my lord,” she said gently. Mylon didn’t respond, spellbound by her beauty. The warm, soft touch of her hands on his put him at ease immediately. “Sit, my lord,” and to Alk’s surprise Mylon let her lead him to one of the large, plush chairs and sat him down. Alk’s heart sank when he saw how drawn and pale his face was. Mylon’s eyes were dark and heavily bloodshot. Bree thought the same but neither showed their concerns or commentated.
As for Mylon, he couldn’t take his eyes off Bree. He had never seen the likes of her before. She was stunningly beautiful and her touch…Well, to him it felt like soft, warm feathers. Bree sat him back in the chair. Now satisfied that Mylon was settled, she knelt next to him. “Close your eyes, my lord,” she said quietly and again he did as he was told. Bree spoke softly. “Now, my lord… I am here to help you cope with your grief… I can’t make all of your pain go away… but I can help… I can help by making the strong sense of guilt that I know you feel just melt away as a distant memory…Whenever the feeling of guilt raises its ugly head it will be replaced with thoughts of happier times.” She paused. “Will you let me help?”
Mylon opened his eyes and looked over to Alk. “What is this…? Do I look like I need help?” he said with an air of confusion in his voice. “Yes… I would say that you do,” Alk answered in his usual blunt tone. “You know as well as I do that you are not yourself… I mean, look at the state of you… Sitting around on the floor playing with your old toys… Damn it, man…You’re the king,” Alk replied in a stern tone. “Besides, you look like death itself… and you’re no good to anyone moping around in self-pity… We have the fight of our lives on our hands and we need you to be at your best.” He paused. He was allowing his temper to get the better of him again. “We need a leader… a strong leader.”
He took a moment, allowing Mylon time to reply, but he chose not to, so Alk continued. “My king, let the woodland girl do her bit.”
Mylon looked into Bree’s eyes, still taken aback by her beauty. “Tell me again what it is you intend to do,” he enquired. She smiled. “As I’ve said, I’ll replace your guilt and any bad emotions you have with pleasant ones… You will still grieve your loss… It’s important for you to do so but your mind will be at rest… Which will help you get on with life and deal with more important matters… Will you let me help?” Without replying, Mylon sat back in the chair and closed his eyes. Bree glanced back to Alk who nodded for her to continue. She placed one hand each side of Mylon’s head and leant forward until her forehead was touching his. Mylon felt an instant connection and an overwhelming urge to grab her and hold her closer to him, but resisted and let Bree continue.
At first, he felt that nothing was happening, but slowly the deeply rooted guilt of his strained relationship with his father started to melt away, leaving him with only memories of better times, just as Bree had promised. When he thought of his two friends, again only pleasant memories of their carefree childhood emerged.
Moments passed. Then, ever so gently, Bree pulled away and sat back on her heels. Mylon could immediately feel the loss of his physical contact with her and yearned for more of her touch. Slowly he opened his bloodshot eyes and focused firstly on Bree, who by now was crying. He looked over to Alk, confused, wondering why she was so upset. Alk shrugged. “Have I hurt you in any way…? I mean when we were… Did I hurt you?” Bree put up her hand to stop Mylon in mid-sentence. “No… it’s not you,” she just managed to say before running from the room, leaving Mylon and Alk looking at each other, bemused. Alk shrugged again and said in a matter-of-fact way, “Women… If I live to be a hundred… I’ll never understand them.” Mylon managed a brief smile. “My friend, you’re already past that,” he said mockingly. “Well, then, I’ve proven my point,” Alk replied jokingly, glad to see Mylon showing some of his old self again.
Mylon immediately felt light-headed when he got up from the chair and steadied himself by leaning
on the arm, putting his weakness down to a lack of sleep. Still unsteady, he walked over to a small, old oak cabinet which housed his father’s best drinking liquor, took out two glasses and a bottle, and poured them both a drink. He handed one of the glasses to Alk. “My father,” he said, raising his glass. “The King,” Alk replied. They both downed their drinks in one; Mylon placed his glass on a table.
“My old friend… I’d like you to summon two guards to escort me to the palace catacombs.” He then explained to Alk that he needed to pay his respects to his father before they set out in the morning. Alk offered to go with him, but Mylon thanked him and insisted that he wanted to be alone when he visited his father, and assured Alk that he would be safe. He would keep the guards close to him and leave them just outside the entrance to the tombs. Alk wasn’t happy, but didn’t argue the point, and did as he was instructed. He called one of the two guards at the door to go and summon two of the best household guards to report to the King’s chambers immediately.
Alk and Mylon were still discussing details of their morning departure when the guard returned with two young guards in tow: they both bowed and stood to attention whilst awaiting orders. Mylon gave Alk a quick man hug and a pat on the back, stood back and smiled. “Be back shortly, old friend.” He then turned and left the room. “Stay with your king,” Alk ordered the two guards, “and don’t let him out of your sight.” They both saluted and turned to follow their king.
By now the whole palace knew that the old king had been killed, but the full details of his death were still kept from many, which meant that both guards knew that there was a real danger to Mylon’s life and under no circumstances were they going to be responsible should any harm come to their new king on their watch. As Mylon made his way through the palace, his mind was still on Bree. She had done exactly what she had promised. The guilt he was feeling earlier was gone, and the only thoughts he had of his father were good ones. However, he still felt empty with his loss, but with his new state of mind he felt that he could cope with it and hopefully begin to move on. He felt that he had already taken back control of his emotions and could deal with matters in hand, and to try help resolve the terrible situation in which they found themselves… But he still couldn’t get Bree out of his head and the way he felt about her. He was still wrapped in the warm, inner glow that he felt for her, puzzled by how good she made him feel and why she left so quickly in tears. Deep in thought, he and the two young guards made their way along a long, stone, dimly lit corridor and down numerous old, worn stone stairwells, working their way ever deeper under the palace itself until finally they reached two very large, ancient, embossed wooden doors reaching up twenty feet or more.
Mylon reached into his tunic pocket and pulled out a large, rusty key. Indicating for the two guards to stay put, he walked forward, inserted the key and turned it with ease. With a loud clunk that echoed throughout the entire room, the lock released. He pushed open one of the heavy doors a little. The hinges were stiff with age and creaked in protest, as the heavy door opened, a strange, green glow emitted through the gap of the door. Mylon took a moment to look through the opening and then back at the two guards who, as ordered, were staying a respectable distance from the doors. He walked back over to his two companions.
“Your names,” he demanded.
The two glanced at each another, unsure of why their new king would be interested in asking their names. “Lilly my lord, and this is Poppy…We trained together since children… and served together ever since, my lord,” Lilly said, having no idea why she mentioned spending their childhood together and felt a little embarrassed for having done so. However, most people would feel intimidated addressing a king, let alone it being their first experience in meeting royalty; so perhaps she could be forgiven in such a situation. Mylon smiled, realising for the first time that under all their armour, tunics and uniforms, the guards were both in fact females – not that it mattered to him, as both male and female alike join the King’s Guards and all were expected to perform to the same high standard. And if Alk assigned them for his personal protection he must have rated them and their abilities pretty highly.
“Well, it’s nice to meet you both… I’ll need some time alone…” Mylon said softly with one of his usual smiles. “So I ask that you don’t follow me into the chamber… despite what Alk has said… Do you understand?” Both Lilly and Poppy nodded. Mylon smiled once more and then turned to walk back to the heavy wooden door that lay ajar. He hesitated a moment, staring through the door, sighed, and then entered the catacomb. He decided it would be wiser to leave the large door ajar knowing that his two protectors were just outside. Lilly and Poppy both hesitated a second or two, looking at each other, and then without saying anything, they both walked towards the open door, neither having any intention of letting their charge out of sight.
When they reached the open door, they both glanced in. The whole chamber was illuminated in a soft green glow and full of large, elaborate, stone-carved sarcophagi, many within cut-outs around the walls, stacked from floor to ceiling like books in a library, whilst other more elaborate and possibly more important tombs were situated on the stone floor. At first there seemed to be no physical source for the green light, but on further inspection it looked as if it was being emitted from the sarcophagi themselves. Thin strips of green light shone through the gaps where the lids fitted onto the casket, glowing as if the very souls within were aware of Mylon’s presence in the chamber – all, that is, but one. And that one Mylon was standing over. Time hadn’t allowed for a formal ceremony to put the old king to rest properly, so for now he was placed in a standard, plain wooden coffin which sat atop a stone altar, draped with a flag bearing the king’s coat of arms.
Mylon was partly aware that Lilly and Poppy were now standing at the door. He had wanted to be alone, but knew perfectly well that they were under orders to stay with him at all times, so he decided to try and ignore them and continue to do what he had come to do, and that was to say his farewells and speak his final words to his father. Placing his hands on the coffin, he bowed his head. “Father,” he whispered, “this is not how I wanted our relationship to end… I’ve not been a good son to you, that I know… But I have always tried to serve you as my king.” He paused and looked over to the door: both guards were still there but now standing respectfully with their backs to him.
Mylon turned back and sighed. “Father… I will not dishonour your name or your memory… Now, as king I will serve as you’d serve, and fight with as much determination as you.” He hesitated a little, tears now in his already bloodshot eyes. “Our people and the world beyond face grave danger… and it’s now down to me as king… to order our people to fight and do whatever is necessary to protect our way of life.” Again, he paused to compose himself. Weakness was something people never like to see in their ruler, and he had no intention of showing his.
“I don’t have your experience in battle strategy or knowledge in the world beyond… But what I do have is your heart and your courage… and hope that will be enough.” He now spoke a little quieter, “I have always loved and respected you, my father… even though I’ve never shown it or ever told you… I’ll make you only one promise… and that is, I will never fail you… or our people… and upon my return I will put you to rest with the honour and dignity you deserve.”
With that Mylon stood upright, saluted, paused a moment, and then with an air of determination turned and walked over to the door. By now the two young guards had seen that he was about to leave and waited for him on the other side of the door. Mylon closed and locked the large door behind him. The sound of the heavy doors slamming and the locks clicking into place echoed throughout the building. Both Lilly and Poppy were now standing to attention as their king approached them. Mylon gave them a quick smile. “I’ll be needing to assign someone to watch over me for the foreseeable future… and I see no reason in not assigning both of you to the task.”
Lilly could hardly hol
d in her excitement and her pride in being assigned as her king’s protector and wanted to shout it out loud, but she merely smiled red-faced. Poppy, however, showed no emotion whatsoever, but inwardly she was just as proud and excited as her friend. They both dared a quick glance at each other and smiled, then formally replied that it would be their honour. Mylon then motioned to them to follow him back up the stairs. A lot of preparation had to be done before setting out in the morning. It was already gone midnight and he knew only too well that he’d have no time to sleep that night, nor would his newly appointed bodyguards.
Back inside the catacombs, the eerie green glow turned slowly into moving green mist, threads of which reached out from each and every tomb in the chamber. The green mist slowly surrounded the old king’s coffin, circling it in a slow-moving whirlwind. Then suddenly a loud, ear-piercing screech came from the tombs themselves, echoing throughout the chamber. The green mist intensified just before entering the king’s coffin and there it came to rest… All went quiet… Now like the rest of the sarcophagi in the chamber the old king’s coffin was also glowing green, and the cloth flag that was draped over it turned to stone, encasing it for all time… The old king was now at peace and had joined his father at rest… along with his father’s father now and for all time.
After a busy night of organising and coordinating his troops, Mylon found himself in one of the palace’s many guest bedrooms slumped in a plush, comfortable chair. He closed his eyes, knowing that he would have to get up within the hour to take Henry to pick up the Aelfgar from its hiding place and then, accompanied by him and his friends, lead his men over to the realm of humans. During the night he had sent for Henry and the others to make arrangements for the morning, but found that they had already arrived and were stationed in the barracks. They had interrogated Walt Britton overnight, and it was agreed that he had no more idea of where the spearhead was than they did, so it was decided to take him with them under guard, and then if he wished to do so, he could leave on his return to the woodlands. They also discussed more important issues like what to do once they got there. They knew from what Bree had said that Alfwald would be waiting for them.
Between Darkness and the Light Page 24