by Garry Spoor
“Yes, that’s right.”
“I’ll… check with the kitchen.”
“Wonderful. I suppose I should start getting ready for the ceremony,” Kile said after pulling open the packs and finding them filled with clothes. She was grateful to see at least one pair of pants.
“I’ll go see to your breakfast now,” Daniel said and carefully made his way past the dogs and out into the hall.
Kile waited until he left before she started laughing. She felt bad, treating Daniel that way, but she got over it pretty quickly.
“I can’t thank you enough for helping me out,” she said, kneeling down in front of the dogs. “But I don’t even know your names.”
-I am Shebara,- the first dog said and turned to the other two who were guarding the door.
-He is Keefer and she is Lalina.-
“Well, I am very happy to meet all of you, but why are you here, Shebara?”
-You were in danger. We heard you call, so we came.-
“Well, I don’t know how much danger I was in, but I am glad you came when you did. Won’t you get into trouble, though?”
-Trouble?-
“Well, yeah. I mean, don’t you have to be somewhere? Isn’t someone going to be looking for you?”
-No, there is no one looking for us at the moment, we are simply… waiting.-
“Waiting? Waiting for what?”
-To go back to doing what we do.-
“And what do you do?”
-We walk the halls of the house to keep those who shouldn’t be here from being here.-
“Oh, so you guard the Manor House, but why haven’t I seen you before?”
-The vir have kept us from the house. Now we wait until we are allowed back in.-
“Why are they keeping you out of the house?”
-We don’t know. The vir do what the vir do.-
Keeping the dogs out of the Manor House seemed a little strange. There simply wasn’t any reason for it unless it was because of the ceremony later that afternoon. Were the dogs known to bite guests? Somehow, Kile doubted it. The situation reminded her of the first time she visited Colonel Barshed before she knew who he was. They not only removed the dogs from the colonel’s compound but the horses as well. There were even archers on the roof, and although she was told they were not there to shoot down birds, she had her doubts. It was all done in an attempt to isolate her from her world, to keep her friends at bay. Was that what they were trying to do now? Were they trying to isolate her? For what reason?
“If you don’t mind, can you guys stick around for a while?” she asked the dogs. She was safer, more connected with them nearby.
-We have no place else to go,- Shebara answered.
“They won’t miss you?”
-There are many where we are waiting. We all wanted to come when you called but thought it better this way.-
“Roughly how many are there?”
-We are a large pack,- Shebara answered, and in her words, Kile saw the Yuton kennels. It was a large open area with around thirty or forty dogs roaming free.
“Well, that’s good to know.” She got to her feet. “Hopefully, Daniel will be back with something to eat.”
While opening the rest of the nonays’ bundles, Kile tried to convince herself she was being paranoid. However, it seemed every time she was worried, it was something worth worrying about. Was this one of those times?
Questions led to more questions. There were always more questions. They usually came after she finished answering the last lot, but the questions would have to wait for now. Maybe she would have more time after the ceremony. As a knight, she might get even more answers.
Searching through the clothing, she eventually selected a red dress and held it up in front of her while she looked in the mirror. This one will get his attention, she thought as she swished it around.
“I’m going to go get changed,” she told Shebara. “If Daniel comes, try not to eat him.”
Taking the nonays’ bag of grooming supplies, she retreated to the lavatory.
Kile wanted nothing more than to take a long hot bath, but there wasn’t one available, so she settled with scrubbing herself from head to foot with a washcloth and a basin. Looking through the nonays’ supplies, she found a few scented soaps and oils, as well as an assortment of goo stuffed into jars and bottles. What she couldn’t identify, she left well enough alone. Of the soaps, she found one with the faint scent of lavender. It reminded her of Erin, and she wondered where the Lady Hunter was now, and whether she would be at the ceremony. Knowing Erin, she was already whipping the recruits into shape, preparing to release a new crop of Hunters on the unsuspecting public.
Changing the water in the basin, Kile continued to wash her hair and shook it out before running a comb through it. With a thin leather strap, she found in the nonays’ bag, she pulled back her hair and tied it into a tail. She was going through the bag one last time when she heard the dogs in the other room and knew Daniel had finally returned. Exiting the lavatory, she found him standing in the doorway with a tray of food. None of the dogs would let him pass.
“Lalina, Keefer, let him in, please.”
The two dogs reluctantly stepped aside, letting Daniel enter. She found it strange they were so distrustful of him. She never saw any animal react to Daniel in that way. Come to think of it, since awaking in Yuton, she hadn’t seen too many animals around.
“I managed to get a few scraps of meat for the dogs and a bowl of fruit for you and Vesper,” Daniel said, setting the tray down on the table. “Sadly, there are no apple pies in the Manor, so I had some apples sent down to the stables. I hope that’s all right.”
“What? Yeah, yeah, that will be fine, thank you,” Kile said.
Daniel took the plate of scraps off the tray and set it down for the dogs, but they wouldn’t even look at it. They were too busy watching him. Although he tried to hide it, Kile could tell they were making him nervous.
“So, you decided to go with the red dress,” he said while trying to ignore the dogs.
“You don’t like it?”
“On the contrary, it looks nice. You look very nice.”
“Thank you, I suppose.”
“A little nervous about the ceremony, are we?” he asked.
“I don’t know about you, but I am,” Kile said, approaching the bowl of fruit. There was quite a selection to choose from, although most of it was probably left over from last night’s meal.
“It is actually a simple ceremony,” Daniel said. “You don’t have to do anything. The king does all the work. He’ll give a short speech and start awarding the medals. There are only four people ahead of you, so you won’t have long to wait. When they call your name, you walk down the aisle and kneel before the king. He’ll say a couple of words and hang a medal around your neck. After the ceremony, we’ll all be heading back to Azintar.”
All? Did that mean Roland already made up his mind? He was going to ask her the question again, and this time she had to give him an answer. Nothing about the ceremony would be simple.
“I think I’ll go for a walk,” Kile said, heading for the door. The three dogs got up to follow her, but Daniel blocked her way.
“I don’t think that’s such a good idea,” he told her.
“I’m not going to run away. I promise.”
“It’s not that. It’s only, well, there are guests coming.”
“And what? You think I’m going to scare them away.”
“No, it’s just… it’s going to be a little chaotic and maybe you should remain here until the ceremony starts.”
“What aren’t you telling me?”
“Nothing, because there’s nothing to tell,” Daniel said. “Look, the king is meeting with someone this afternoon and it would be best if you wait here. Keep the dogs in here with you, and I’ll send someone to fetch you when the ceremony starts.”
Something more was going on here—something she wasn’t supposed to know about.
“Fine. I�
�ll stay here.”
“Thank you,” Daniel said before leaving the room. “I’ll send someone to fetch you—”
“I know, I know, when the ceremony starts,” she finished for him.
“Yeah, stay put.” He closed the door behind him.
Kile stared at the door.
-I don’t trust him. He seems false,- Shebara said, sitting down beside her.
“You know. I’m beginning to agree with you,” Kile said. She turned to the table where Vesper was already deep in the fruit bowl, digging out the grapes. “I need you to do something for me,” she said to the yarrow.
-Help Kile.-
“Yes, I need your help.”
~~~***~~~
Sitting on the bed, Kile closed her eyes and took a deep breath. She had been putting off this little trip for fear of what she might find. Letting herself go, she sank deeper into her Edge, leaving behind everything she was, everything she knew, until she stood, once again, on the plains of Fthak’thun. It was so easy. For a moment, she feared she’d never left and that when she opened her eyes, she would still be inside the Maligar.
“So, you finally returned.”
Turning around, Kile found herself standing in the middle of a field, surrounded by wildflowers. A great forest stood in the distance with snow-peaked mountains rising above them. The skies were blue, the air was clean, and a gentle breeze carried the sweet smell of spring
Risa Ta’re was waiting for her.
“Am I—”
“Yes, you are in Fthak’thun.”
“But it’s—”
“I know. It is slowly reclaiming itself to become what it once was before the Maligar poisoned it.”
“But it’s only been a day.”
“A day to you maybe, but here, time has no meaning.”
“It better have some meaning. I’m due back for a knighting in a few hours.”
Risa laughed and it was a clear, carefree laugh. Not like the one Kile was so used to hearing in this place.
“I shouldn’t worry about that,” the Alva said. “You still have one foot in the mortal realm, so time for you moves as it always has.”
“So, it’s truly gone, the Maligar that is.”
“Yes, it is gone, but the troubles it caused remain.”
“Yeah, well, they’re not my troubles. Not anymore,” Kile said. “Let someone else handle them. I’m finished.”
“Others are handling them in their own way, in their own time.”
“Well, at least that’s something.”
As Risa started walking, the tall grass parted, creating a path for her to follow.
“So, what troubles you?” the Alva asked. “Why are you here? I can see you still have questions. Maybe you are not as finished as you might have thought.”
“Maybe I’m not.” Kile caught up to her. “There are still things I don’t understand.”
“There will always be things you will not understand. At some point, you must accept this. If you do not, if you linger too long on them, you may find answers you’re not willing to accept. Answers that are best left unknown,” Risa explained.
“But isn’t it better than not knowing?” she asked
“Sometimes it is, and sometimes it isn’t.”
“Why do I have a feeling, no matter what I ask, I’m not going to get a straight answer?”
“That would depend on—”
“The question,” Kile finished for her. “Yeah, I kind of figured that out.”
Risa laughed her carefree laugh again. “I am sorry. It is not that I don’t wish to answer your questions, I simply cannot. I’m afraid I am not an oracle. Much of the world is shielded from me since my coming here. I don’t know all the answers.”
“I’m not looking for all the answers,” Kile said. “Just a few.”
“Then what are your questions?”
“Well, for starters, why did Galan take the Heart of Nilak all the way to the Shia Province before releasing the Maligar?”
Risa gave Kile an apologetic smile. “I regret that is one of those questions I cannot answer since I was not there, but maybe he can,” she added, pointing to someone behind Kile.
When Kile turned around, she saw a tall, dark man with wild black hair. His face was showing signs of age, and although he smiled, he was sad.
“Nilak?” she whispered.
“It is good to see you again, Miss Veller,” he said in a quiet, yet rational, voice. “Although I doubt if you are pleased to see me.”
“I don’t know about pleased, but I am surprised. Are you…”
“Sane?”
Kile thought about it for a moment and shrugged. “Okay, we can go with that.”
Nilak took a deep breath and sighed. “I am getting there,” he said. “It is a slow process, but at least now I know who and what I am, but you wanted to know about Galan.”
“Yes, he was a—”
“I know who Galan Tasara was,” Nilak said remorsefully. “He was an Alva filled with despair, hatred, pain, and a little too much pride. Much like most of his people. You were right about him. He wished nothing more than to set me free within the City of Azintar, but they never gave him the chance.”
“Who didn’t give him the chance?”
“The vir known as Garret Boraro and Ernesto Creech. Galan Tasara never returned from Shenataesi.”
“Wait. Are you saying they… killed him on the Charlotte?”
“The desire for power has always corrupted the souls of the vir. It was why the Orceen could never reason with them, although I can’t say we fared all that well with the Alva, either.”
“Okay, wait a minute. I’m confused. If what you’re saying is true, and Galan never returned from the island, he couldn’t have been the one who released you. It also means he was never trying to take you to Balaa, but then why was the Heart opened in Shia, and who opened it?”
“It was the vir known as Elmac Okalis who released me, although I do not think he understood what I was, or more accurately, what I had become.”
“Elmac? But he was a mystic, a scholar. Why would he release you, and again, why in the Shia Province?”
“I do not know, but I do not believe he intended to. All I know is, an argument ensued among the vir, which ended in my release. At that moment, nothing else mattered to me. I was free.”
The problem with the story was that somebody was lying to her, and Kile was afraid she already knew who.
“I have to go back,” she said, turning to Risa.
The Alva gave Kile a sympathetic look. Did she know the answer as well?
“It is as I said, Kile. Sometimes it’s better not to know,” she added.
“You’re right. I guess I never fully understood the vir to begin with,” Kile said.
“You must find your own way in their world. You must learn how to live among them if you wish to survive,” Nilak told her.
“Thank you. I suppose I always knew that as well. I’ll return here when I can.”
“I will not be here when you do,” Risa said. “My time here is over. Fthak’thun no longer needs me.”
“Where will you go?”
The Alva smiled and took Kile’s hand. “There are still many places for me to see, but do not worry, I will wait for him, and when his time comes, we will see those places together. Tell him, when you see him again, that it wasn’t his fault. He’ll know.”
“Even though I’ve just met you, I’m going to miss you.”
“Do not mourn for me, for we shall meet again but not in this world.”
“I’ll let him know you’re waiting for him.” Kile released Risa’s hand. She turned to Nilak. “And what about you? What will happen to you?”
“I must remain here,” he answered. “There is still much that needs to be healed. If I, in any way, can make up for the damage I have done, it is what I must do.”
“I wish you well, Nilak. I really do. I know you never wanted any of this to happen.”
“I tha
nk you, Kile, and I am sorry for the pain I have caused you. If there is anything I can do to make amends, if you ever need my guidance, you have only but to ask. There is still much this old Orceen can teach you.”
“Thank you, there is so much I want to know about the Orceen.”
“Then return here, and I will tell you all you need to know about us, about your people, your gifts, and your father.”
“My father? What about my father?”
-Father? I am sorry, I know nothing about your father,- Shebara said.
Opening her eyes, Kile quickly looked around the room. Nilak was gone, Fthak’thun was gone, and she was, once again, sitting on her bed, staring at the wall.
“How long was I away?” she asked Shebara.
-Away? You never left. You have been sitting here all this time,- the dog said.
“Yes, of course I have.” Kile said, getting to her feet. “How long have I been sitting there.”
-Awhile… maybe.-
Dogs had a funny sense of time.
Opening the window, Kile looked out on the streets of Yuton. Judging by the sun’s position, it was almost noon. The ceremony was only a couple of hours away. They would be coming for her soon to get her ready for her knighthood.
Suddenly, the fruit bowl toppled over as a yarrow tried to pull out the last bunch of grapes.
“Vesper, you’re back.”
-Been back. You asleep,- the yarrow said. Freeing one of the grapes, he started eating it.
“I wasn’t sleeping, I was meditating.”
-Eyes closed, so you asleep.-
“Fine, I was asleep,” Kile conceded, sitting down at the table. “So, did you follow him?”
-Followed healer, found room, kissy man inside.-
“Please do not refer to him as that. His name is Roland.”
-Roland. What Roland?-
“Never mind. Who else was there?”
-Man wearing night and tall metal men.-
“Metal men? The man wearing night was probably Jerald, but who are the metal men? Are they soldiers?”
-Don’t know. Wear metal.-
“All right, you better show everything,” Kile said as she got comfortable and closed her eyes. It wasn’t long before she connected with Vesper, and he showed her what he saw.