“You have lost, now leave before I kill you,” Byron commanded.
The General looked up scathingly and raised his finger to the air, a clear signal. Byron spun to look at the crew but they were ready, their heads cleared by watching Byron’s fight. The soldiers and crew met in a clash of weapons and shouts. The army was muscled and strong, but slow and dim-witted and so were easily overrun. The crew did not kill their opponents but gave them painful wounds that slowed them down and eventually stopped them. Byron looked wildly around and saw Kestyn battling a man twice her size and winning spectacularly. He smiled despite himself and made his way to the General, who had crawled to the rails of the ship. He grabbed him by the throat, as the General had done to him once before and gripped it tightly.
“You have lost,” he repeated, “now leave before I kill you, I have no qualms with such an action and it would please me greatly.”
The General scowled, “This is not over stable boy, this thing is higher than me and the army, you have a hefty price upon your head.”
Byron sighed and lifted the General off the deck and with a swift motion threw him overboard. The sight of their General falling into the sea froze the remaining soldiers and they were easily overpowered. The Captain cried in victory and jabbed his sword into the air. Together him and his crew prodded the men on the floor with the tips of their blade and forced them towards the plank that separated the two ships. Cautiously they were made to cross, or plunge into the unforgiving sea. When every last one was back aboard the Captain ran to the helm, the crew ran to unfurl the sails and they set off as fast as they could into the night away from the soldiers.
***
Braelyn sat on the cold, damp floor of the cellar, chewing her nails in agitation. Laken sat next to her, staring at the door as though it might suddenly explode. They had not been taken to the dungeons, as was normal for prisoners such as they, but dumped and forgotten about in the cellar. Aerona was keeping her intentions for them strictly a secret it seemed. The cellar was full of kegs of heavily spiced wine, gathering dust in the corner, it seemed they had not been touched for years, as anything used for pleasure in this palace. The room in fact was so full of untouched kegs that Braelyn and Laken had only a small space to sit and lie by the door. Not that they could lie down and rest, fearing any moment Aerona would be back.
“So you are a Princess?” Laken asked, in a way that was more a statement than a question. Braelyn turned her head quickly to see his expression, to see if he was mocking her but his face was blank. He may not believe her but he was not going to ridicule her, she breathed a sigh of relief.
“I did not know myself until a few months ago,” Braelyn answered, “I did not know my parents, I spent my life as a maid in Inlo, but I met a – a woman who explained it all very clearly and convincingly.”
Laken looked at her then, thoughtfully, as though measuring her up, taking her in for the first time; she wondered what he was thinking, his face was impassive but she knew many things swirled in his thoughts. So she sat still and allowed him to look, taking the opportunity to view him too. She thought back to her previous judgement, prying suspicious eyes, long hair tied tightly to the nape of his neck and his tanned skin from hours of working in the sun. She saw now a different side of him; his eyes were not suspicious but watchful, and his skin was a beautiful chestnut brown.
Eventually he tore his eyes away from her face, “I have been thinking many things since you arrived, but there is one thing I cannot understand and it has plagued my belief in how the world works. How did you cross The Wall of Inlo?”
Braelyn gulped sorely, for she had had nothing to drink for a long time, and considered how to respond, the truth may frighten him, she thought, and she needed him as her ally, “We did not cross The Wall...” she finally replied.
“Do not patronise me,” Laken interrupted, his eyes flashing, not dangerously, Braelyn thought, but with a fierce intelligence, one that people mistook for violence. Braelyn nodded wearily and sighed as though to tell a long story. Laken noted this and crossed his legs in anticipation. How to begin? She wondered. She cast a quick look around the cellar, though if any were listening they had only to stand on the other side of the door, and begun her tale.
She told him of Wynn, how they had met in the most horrific of circumstances, how she had killed their Master and fled through Woodstone to be found by a group of travellers. They were betrayed and then kidnapped by Woodstone’s army but Wynn had used her magic – Laken’s eyes had widened considerably at the mention of magic but he said nothing and allowed Braelyn to continue – and sent them to the plains. There they walked to Kingly and regrouped. Wynn began to learn how to control her magic with Arabella. They were attacked by the Fallen, an army of the dead created by Aerona. Laken had interrupted then.
“You mean, the woman, the cousin of the King?”
“Yes, she is not really his cousin,” Braelyn hissed in anger, not at Byron but at the mention of Aerona, “she is a Sorceress and she is evil, did you not see the King’s vacant eyes? He is not himself because of her. She is murdering him slowly because she wants the crown.” The words fell from her mouth like snowflakes; due to the anger was stirring in her belly at the injustice of it all. Laken reached out and grabbed her hand to comfort her gently, she smiled at the unexpected touch and the fact he was not mocking her but listening avidly and respectfully.
“After the Fallen attacked us we ran... ran for our lives through Kingly and over jagged rocks, we fell into a tunnel and it saved us. We were kidnapped and two of our own sacrificed.” Tears fell freely down her face at the memory of Theodore’s young, innocent face and Rueben’s horrific murder. Laken moved closer to her and wrapped his arm around her shoulders; she leant on his shoulder as she wept. She told how Wynn was forced to sacrifice one of them. She chose Rueben who had betrayed them and he was sacrificed in front of their eyes. Wynn had tried to bring him back but it was impossible.
Braelyn took a breath to continue the story but the sound of a bolt being opened echoed around the cellar and the door swung stiffly open. Braelyn jumped back until she hit the wall and hurriedly wiped her face. A guard walked in and motioned for them to stand. Braelyn and Laken stood stiffly and waited while the guard spoke to someone behind them. Footsteps told them the person was entering the cellar.
Aerona stepped into dim light of the cellar and waved the guard away, she turned to Braelyn, her hair losing its golden blonde hue and regaining its blood red colour, as though her head was bleeding. “You are the missing daughter,” she stated and laughed as Braelyn clenched her fists in anger, “of course I know who you are,” Aerona continued, “but I want that throne and your father is close to the end.”
“You will pay for this,” Braelyn hissed, standing before her, unyielding.
Aerona scowled, “Where is Wynn?”
Braelyn was happy for the first time in hours; she could not answer this no matter what Aerona did to her, no amount of pain could make information she did not know spew from her mouth, “Even if I knew I would never tell you.”
Laken glanced at Braelyn in shock. When he had met her she was shy, quiet, and afraid. Now she stood before a Sorceress refusing to meet her demands, he witnessed the change in her instantly and knew beyond doubt that this woman must have done such evil things to provoke such a reaction in Braelyn.
“You will tell me,” Aerona screeched, and grabbed Braelyn’s golden hair in her fist and yanked her head down, it was a surprising and childish thing to do, if Aerona had wanted information Braelyn was sure she could have tortured her magically to get it, but it seemed Aerona was intent on humiliating Braelyn as much as possible. Braelyn cried out in pain but refused to speak. Laken walked forward as though to help but Aerona scowled at him and he stood still unsure what to do, would helping Braelyn make Aerona more enraged? Aerona shook Braelyn’s hair once more then let it go.
“Fine,” she smirked. She opened the door, her hair once again regaining its golde
n colour, called out to guard then turned on her heel and left the cellar, locking the door behind her.
Braelyn crumpled to the floor, all will and energy leaving her. Laken grabbed her towards him and held her small body as she wept for her life, her father and her friends. He felt his eyes prickle with tears, for he had never heard sadness as complete as Braelyn’s.
Laken woke up slowly, his body aching from the cold, damp stone. He glanced down and saw Braelyn in the crook of his arm sleeping soundly and peacefully. He smiled to himself and brushed a strand of hair from her face and closed his eyes. He would ask for nothing more than this moment, his back and thighs were damp, his neck hurt from the unyielding wall behind him but he had Braelyn in his arms, and for some reason that made everything perfect. He studied her, closer than he had ever before. Her skin was milky white and soft like silk, her lips were arrow shaped and parted slightly in her sleep. Her nose was straight and there was a crinkle in it across the bridge as she frowned at something in her dream. Her eyelashes brushed against her cheek and he had the sudden urge to kiss her eyes.
She began to murmur then; slowly opening her eyes and looking around the cellar. Her face looked crestfallen for a second as she had forgotten where she was, the sight of the dusty kegs and the locked door reminded her of the night before and what they had gotten themselves into. Sighing she looked up at Laken and rubbed her face wearily. He caught a glimpse of her eyes, as beautiful and clear as the sea.
“I am sorry you are involved in this,” she whispered suddenly to Laken. Laken laughed and hugged her tightly in response. Braelyn looked at him quizzically and felt her anger and fear melt away in Laken’s arms. Laken sensed her change in mood and brushed another strand of hair from her face. The simple, tender act warmed Braelyn’s soul and she kissed him impulsively, his lips warm and melding around hers perfectly. Laken’s eyes widened in shock but kissed back for this is what his heart had been crying out for, for so long. Someone to love him, flaws and all. Their lips moved in unison and their hands wandered, he held her tightly to him and pressed their bodies close. Eventually Braelyn pulled away.
“If I could do everything over I would let you involve me in this again and again,” Laken said softly. Braelyn laughed, her spirit lifted, it felt so right to be here with him, she had never wondered about a lover, not from fear of men the way she knew Wynn was, but because she had never found someone to love. It was sad that she had found Laken in such frightening and uncertain circumstances.
The door opened sometime after midday and two guards entered; their faces expressionless. Braelyn appealed to them, crying and screaming and Laken took hold of their arms and tried to speak to them rationally. They pointedly ignored their pleas and grabbed Laken and Braelyn and dragged them into the hallway. Aerona stood waiting, her face angry. She grabbed Laken and Braelyn, one arm each and stood still for a moment. Her eyes closed as though concentrating and with a slight pop she disappeared with Laken and Braelyn into thin air.
***
Wynn stared at her pack, stuffed full of everything she would need for her journey. Clothes of all kinds; leggings, trousers, shirts, tunics, jerkins, socks and undergarments. Medicines for blisters, salves for wounds, needle and thread for darning and sewing up gashes. A range of daggers, thick ones, thin ones, tiny ones that could not really do much damage but would be easily hidden if the occasion arose. Then the things she had carried with her from the beginning, the rebec Medea had given her, the book of Necromancy and her outfit from Wolf. It was a strange collection, much more extravagant than what she had been used to. She had travelled vast distances with Arabella with much less than this and survived. It seemed preposterous that she would need so much, but she did not argue; she was not experienced enough for her opinion to count. All that was missing was food and water; she would collect them later, when Salina had finished preparing them.
Wynn pondered what she was facing. She would be leaving this life, this undoubted luxury for an unknown future, in a land she had never heard of, with a man she barely knew. By all accounts it was a terrifying and foolish prospect, and it was only because she could see the sense in it, and trusted Taien more implicitly than was probably reasonable that she had agreed at all. Taien had been vague on the specifics and Wynn wondered whether he knew himself. They were to travel east towards the coast, and from there board a ship to his homeland, from there the facts became slightly ambiguous. She had to force herself to just accept that she could not know everything.
At least I have somewhere to go, Wynn thought. She contemplated the students who now all had to find shelter and a place to stay. Some could return home to their rich and influential parents, but for most the journey was too long, they would have to pretend to be orphans and get jobs in the nearest towns, as prentices, in shops, in the dyer houses, anywhere they could find employment. From there it would be a waiting game, Irik had promised them resolutely when everything was over he, and the other professors would return to the Seminary and rebuild it and make it their home once more. It was a good plan on paper, but if it would work would remain to be seen. The key to its success was for the students to keep their magic hidden, magic was completely forbidden in the lands and if they wanted to be able to return to the Seminary they had to remain Free.
It was a sorry state of affairs. They were all separating to follow their own paths. Wynn pondered her friend Arabella; she had pledged herself to help Irik by travelling to the other Nations and begging or demanding for aid in the coming war. Wynn knew Arabella could be persuasive, whether through fear or her beauty it did not matter, either way having Arabella with him Irik was sure to get the help he required. Yet Wynn found it hard to accept, Arabella had always been with her through everything, the hard times and the happier times, protecting her, standing by her; their separation marked the beginning of the end. And of Nethali, she would have to go alone on her travels, as a representative of the Seminary and of Berhandril. It would do no good if she travelled with Irik, they needed her to go alone and bring reinforcements. It was a dangerous plan and one Irik disagreed with furiously, but they all saw the logic of it; Aerona had access to as many men as she wished, not to mention her army of Fallen and finding an opposing army would be difficult in Inlo and its neighbouring lands. They needed to travel further to places Wynn had never heard of.
All this because of Wynn; she still bitterly regretted her actions but she knew that in some way or another Irik, Nethali and Arabella would have left the Seminary to do just this. She had only speeded the process up. Wynn was beginning to accept that it was unavoidable, there could be no light without the dark and sad things would always happen no matter how powerful she became. Lady Fate had a plan, and Wynn would have to accept it.
Wynn sighed deeply and left her room in search of the kitchens to collect her supplies. The corridors had been patched up in the few days after the attack, the rubble was deposited and the whole place swept, but it was a mockery of what once stood. Wynn still could not quite bring herself to look at the destruction. She walked, head down, to the kitchen. When she reached it Salina greeted her warmly, she did not blame Wynn for what had happened to the Seminary, she had known Wynn before the darkness took hold and Wynn’s explanation had been more than enough to satisfy her questions. Wynn wished it had been as easy with the other servants and students.
“Hello Wynn!” Salina smiled, busy kneading dough on the counter, her hands and arms, and much of her face smothered in flour, “your supplies are over there, I have probably baked and cooked too much but I fear you will lose even more weight in your travels and I cannot have that on my conscious.”
Wynn laughed and looked at the pile of supplies, cooked meat – salted heavily to preserve them – crusty bread, nuts and berries, smoked fish, hard biscuits and a selection of spices to flavour the food. The meat and fish would have to be consumed hastily for they would not keep for long, but the bread and nuts and biscuits would last for many days. Wynn wondered if there was a town mi
dway in their travels, she mentally logged it as a question to ask Taien. She gathered the supplies in her arms and turned to Salina.
“Thank you, I appreciate it Salina,” she said softly.
“Oh child, it is the least I could do,” Salina stepped away from the dough and placed her hands gently on Wynn’s face, “you are a good girl and have had such a hard life. I see only happiness in your future, when everything is done.”
Wynn smiled weakly and ducked her head so Salina would not see her tears, surprised they had come at all. It was all she could do not to weep, she mumbled a hoarse thank you and left hurriedly; she did not want their last meeting to be one of sadness. Wynn was sure of one thing, any more goodbyes and she would shatter, she was leaving everyone who she loved, or could eventually love behind and it was tearing her apart. Wynn walked through the corridor, forcing her tears to stop flowing; she knew it would be too hard to stop if she let them fall much longer. It was an effort but eventually they stopped and she was left to float through the halls, not really sure how she felt. All the students were in their room’s trying to pack their whole life in a small bag and she met no one for a long while. So when Taien turned the corner a long moment later Wynn did not really notice him.
“Wynn!” He called. She raised her head to the sound of her name and spotted Taien walking towards her. Wynn smiled weakly and nodded her head in response, shuffling her supplies in her arms so they were more comfortable to hold. When they got closer to each other Wynn could not help study Taien, in the light of the morning, his brown mop of hair that never really stayed where it should, his big brown eyes that were always watchful but seemed to hide a sadness, the stubble across his chin and jaw and his tanned skin. He was beautiful really, now that Wynn looked. As soon as she had though it Wynn glanced up to see Taien’s reaction, prepared for it, but he was not paying her thoughts any attention, instead he was stifling a laugh.
Shade of Destiny (The Foreseeing) Page 53