by RM Wark
She took a deep breath and began her descent. It had been a long time since she had walked the narrow steps leading deep into the belly of the mountain. The air smelled of mildew. Cobwebs were everywhere. She found herself fighting back a sense of fear – something she did not recall experiencing when she would explore the dungeons as a child.
She remembered how angry her mother was when Philipe had found her playing down in the dungeons one day. Her mother had forbidden her from ever returning. “But Mother, I always play down there,” she had protested. “It is the only fun place in this entire castle!”
“You once thought this place was fun, Lady Dinah,” she muttered quietly to herself. “There is no need to be afraid.”
The narrow stairs finally came to an end, delivering Lady Dinah into a circular room with eight large doors made of iron. She stepped towards the first door and raised her wand.
“Aperire ostium!”
Ever so slowly, the iron door began to open with a long, drawn-out creaking sound that echoed through the air. At last, the door stopped, revealing a long, narrow passageway. A dim light could be seen at the very end.
Lady Dinah slowly made her way towards the light, towards cell three, towards Lady Victoria.
*************
It was not a conscious thought – at least not in the beginning. She was only trying to get away from her father, his demands, and his unwavering disapproval for the one she loved.
Lady Delia traveled south, wandering through the high steppes of Eastern Aberdeen. The nights were cold and lonely, but that did not deter her. Much to the contrary, the days and nights spent in desolation only served to cement her hatred for her father even more.
One morning, as she watched the sun rise over the Divisidero Mountains, Lady Delia was struck by an idea. I should go to the East, she thought. It is the last place Father would ever expect to find me.
Lady Delia had initially dismissed the idea as being absurd. She knew that talk of war had been escalating. It would be utterly foolish for her to willingly wander into the territory of her enemies.
But are they truly our enemies? she wondered.
Lady Delia had always been curious about the East. She had never quite trusted the rhetoric espoused by her schoolteachers and her father regarding the evil empire of the East. She had seen her own father do things that were just as terrible as the Eastern atrocities cited in her history books. She had always thought that perhaps both sides were at fault for the countless battles that had been fought through the centuries. She had always wondered if some of those battles could have been avoided had the leaders been more diplomatic.
Perhaps I am such a leader.
Lady Delia began to wonder if perhaps Lord Jarek would be more receptive to her words of reason than the angry threats of her father. Perhaps she might convince the Emperor that the Western Wizards were not all like the current King, who was incredibly closed-minded and filled with hate. Perhaps she could even broker a truce. Perhaps she would succeed where her father and all the kings and queens before him had failed.
And perhaps, if I succeed, my father shall let me marry Lord Milton after all.
The more she thought of it, the more Lady Delia became convinced that it was her duty to try to negotiate peace between the West and the East – to avoid yet another battle and the pointless loss of life. She felt confident in her abilities, having negotiated many a truce on behalf of the commoners who came to see her – the commoners whose affairs the King could not be bothered with.
Lady Delia knew that the journey would not be without risk, but she did not fear being harmed by Emperor Jarek. She knew there had always been an unwritten code about the treatment of emissaries between the East and the West – even her own father had abided by such a code. I shall be the King’s emissary. She was hopeful that Lord Jarek would be receptive to her words of peace.
And if he is not, I shall simply dim myself and leave.
With that thought in mind, she made her way towards the mighty Divisidero Mountains.
*************
The sound of approaching footprints caused Lady Victoria’s heart to beat a little faster. She had lost track of time in the dark cells below Mt. Xavier, but her quiet stomach told her it was not the normal feeding time. She wanted to inquire about the identity of the approaching visitor, but she remained silent, holding fast to the edge of her bed instead.
The hallway was dimly lit, and the visitor remained partially hidden in the shadows, but Lady Victoria recognized the figure immediately.
“My Queen! I thought I would never set eyes upon you again!”
Lady Victoria rose from her bed and approached the iron door of her cell. She gave a quick bow, but made no attempt to extend her hands beyond the bars.
“That is something we share in common then,” replied Lady Dinah. “I had not expected to see you again either, not in this lifetime anyway.” The mistrust in Lady Dinah’s voice was evident.
“Aye, my Queen.”
“I was told you were dead.”
“I am still very much alive, my Queen.”
“Why would they tell me you were dead if that were not true?”
“I do not know, my Queen,” Lady Victoria answered honestly.
“You have been held prisoner this entire time, since the Second War?”
“Aye, my Queen.”
“Why did the Emperor decided to release you now?” Lady Dinah asked.
“As a gesture of good faith, my Queen. The Emperor apologizes for the Easterners crossing into the West. He is working to resolve the situation as quickly as possible.”
“The Easterners have been crossing into Durango for several years now,” Lady Dinah countered. “If what you say is true, the Emperor does not seem to understand the meaning of the world quickly.”
Lady Victoria laughed. Her ears were not accustomed to hearing anyone criticize the Emperor.
“Aye, my Queen. There is truth to your words,” she replied, noticing that her laughter seemed to put the Queen more at ease. “Alas, I cannot explain the delay. I only know that the Emperor is committed to resolving the issue, and that he released me as a gesture of good faith.”
“Aye, you have told me this already. Are you capable of saying anything else, or are you merely a puppet of the Emperor now?”
Whatever levity Lady Victoria’s laughter had brought was now dashed.
“Aye, my Queen … I mean no, my Queen, I am not a puppet.” She meant for her voice to be assertive and strong, but instead it sounded timid and weak.
“Where were you kept?” the Queen asked, changing the subject.
“In Cetahl. That is where the Emperor lives. Lord Edmund has a map—”
“I am familiar with his map,” interjected Lady Dinah. “Were you kept in the dungeons?” The Queen’s eyes scanned the dimly lit cell where Lady Victoria stood.
“Aye, my Queen. In the beginning.” Lady Victoria cleared her throat. “But the Emperor eventually gave me freedom to roam within one of the wings of his castle. Under supervision, of course.”
“And why would he do such a thing?”
Lady Victoria felt her face go flush as she remembered the first time the Emperor courted her. She hoped the Queen had not noticed and was grateful for the poor lighting. She lowered her head just in case.
“I do not know, my Queen.”
“You never thought to ask?”
“One must … choose their words carefully around the Emperor, my Queen,” Lady Victoria explained, lifting her head to meet the Queen’s gaze.
“Perhaps the Emperor was struck by your beauty and desired some companionship?”
Does she know? Why else would she ask such a question?
“No, my Queen,” said Lady Victoria with a nervous laugh. “The Emperor had no use for me. There were plenty of beautiful women eager to keep him … entertained.”
It was a lie. She had never seen the Emperor with another woman.
“In that regar
d, the Emperor is very much like our own Lord Fabian, or at least the Lord Fabian I remember,” Lady Victoria continued.
She had hoped the comparison might elicit a smile – Lord Fabian’s exploits were well known – but the Queen’s expression was disturbingly blank.
One would think I had just insulted Lord Rowan!
An awkward silence ensued, and Lady Victoria became increasingly worried.
Perhaps I should say something nice about Lord Fabian. Perhaps I have offended her by teasing a Western Wizard.
“Of course, I would be remiss if I did not confess that I, too, came under Lord Fabian’s charm,” she stammered. “He even asked me to marry him.”
Lady Victoria smiled at the memory. She had been certain he was joking, but he had grown angry when she laughed at him, and he had repeated the question in earnest. To make up for her slight, she kissed him passionately and led him back from his terrace overlooking the Lower River Kael to the quiet of his bedroom. They ended up making love until dawn.
Unprepared to give him a proper answer to the question of marriage, she had left the next morning while he slept. At the time, she did not realize she might never see him again. The Eastern Wizards killed her parents and kidnapped her a few days later.
She often wondered what answer she would have given if fate had unfolded a different way. For now, she was content in knowing that of all the women Lord Fabian could have had, it was she that he had wanted to marry.
Lady Victoria was still smiling when Lady Dinah turned abruptly – without uttering another word – and left.
*************
Although she had been climbing through the Divisidero Mountains for weeks, it was difficult to tell whether she had made any real progress in her journey. She was forced to double-back several times when trails would inexplicably stop at a tangle of underbrush, or when she came to a swift moving stream she dared not cross. She was tired and found herself easily confused.
Have I been down this trail already? Is that not the same tree I saw this morning?
“Obscura me totalis!” she commanded with her wand.
She was grateful for having mastered the impossibly difficult spell during her final year of school. It had been more than eight centuries since another wizard had managed such a feat – not even her father had mastered the spell. While the spell did not make Lady Delia entirely invisible, it allowed her to “dim” herself to the surrounding world, causing her to fade into the background scenery, masking her smell and muffling her sounds.
Exhausted, Lady Delia curled up under a tree and fell asleep. She awoke to the sound of a crackling flame and the smell of smoke. In a clearing below, she could see the shape of a man huddled over a fire.
Slowly she descended upon his campsite. Lady Delia watched from a distance as the man deftly skinned a rabbit and roasted the meat upon the fire. She noticed a sword by his side and a bow and arrow near his tent. His camp was well outfitted, and she was certain he was no stranger to these parts. It appeared he was alone, so she decided to approach him.
“Egedietur ab umbis!”
With a short wave of her wand, Lady Delia emerged from the dim state.
The man lifted his sword upon hearing her footsteps, but a few words and a flick of her wand sent it flying out of his hand. He began to run towards his tent.
“Please, sir. I mean you no harm! I simply want your help.”
The man stopped and turned around. He was smaller than she suspected, and slightly older.
“Who are you?” he asked with a strong Eastern accent.
“I am Lady Delia. A Western Wizard.”
His eyes grew wide in alarm, and he began stepping backwards towards his tent.
“I shall not hurt you,” she assured him. “I promise.”
“What do you want?” he asked, unconvinced.
“I need you to take me to Emperor Jarek.”
Her request was greeted with a blank stare.
“Do you know who he is?” she asked. Only then had it occurred to her that perhaps the Eastern Wizards might prefer to remain anonymous to the general public, much like many of the Western Wizards.
He nodded his head but eyed her suspiciously. “Why?”
She found herself at a loss for words. Why indeed? Am I a fool?
“I am the daughter of King Huron. I am his emissary. I have things to discuss with the Emperor.”
Over the next few weeks – as they wandered along the various trails of the Divisidero Mountains – Lady Delia would learn that the man’s name was Dmitri, but not much else.
“Are you married?”
“No.”
“Where are you from?”
“’Tis far.”
“What were you doing in the mountains?”
He shrugged, not answering.
“Where are we going?”
“To Bogard.”
“Is the Emperor there?”
“Perhaps. If he is not, then Lady Yelena shall help.”
“Is she a wizard?”
“Aye, like you.”
Dmitri did not seem to trust her much. She would catch him watching her on several occasions, and he always kept his distance. But he kept her well fed, and he knew his way through the confusing mountain trails. Within a few days, the Village of Bogard could be seen in the distance.
“We should camp one more night,” Dmitri advised.
“Why? It cannot be more than a few hours to the village. I do not mind the hike.”
“No,” he insisted, shaking his head. “It is too dark. I do not want to cause trouble. We shall go in the morning, when it is light.”
Lady Delia sighed. “Fine.”
“I must hunt. I shall return.”
Before she could reply, Dmitri made his way into the forest, his bow and arrow at his side.
He returned several hours later, but he was not alone. An older woman came with him.
“I do not understand. She was here!” he insisted.
“She is here,” replied the woman. “I can feel her.”
Lady Delia had dimmed herself once again, not wanting to be left alone by the campfire.
“Reveal yourself! I shall not harm you.”
Lady Delia regarded the older woman who had issued the command. She reminded Lady Delia of her mother – they both had hair of gold, and she appeared to be of similar age, or at least the age her mother would be if she were still alive.
“Who are you?” replied Lady Delia.
“I am Lady Yelena. I understand you desire an audience with the Emperor. I can take you to him.”
Lady Delia uttered a few words and stepped out from the shadows.
“There you are,” observed Lady Yelena with a smile. “Come,” she beckoned.
Lady Delia approached with caution, but she was not cautious enough.
“Baculum ad me!” commanded the Eastern Wizard, and in a flash Lady Delia’s wand was stripped from her hand.
“My wand! Give it back!”
“Do not worry, my child. I shall keep it safe. But you are a Western Wizard, after all. You did not think I would trust you with a wand, did you?”
Without her wand, Lady Delia was virtually powerless.
I am a fool, she scolded herself.
“Dmitri, you have done well,” said Lady Yelena, turning her attention to the man. “You may go now.”
“Aye, my lady.” He gave a quick bow and scurried away.
Lady Yelena turned back towards Lady Delia and gave her a bright smile – but it was not a kind smile.
Father, forgive me.
*************
Lady Dinah quickly made her way up the narrow stairs. She had been unprepared to hear Lady Victoria’s words about Lord Fabian, and she needed time to compose herself.
Can it be true?
Lady Dinah’s thoughts were spinning, and she barely acknowledged Gordon when she opened the door and stepped into the main hall of the west wing.
“My lady, is everything all
right?” he inquired with concern.
She nodded her head and waved him off as she headed down the hall. She kept walking until she reached the large wooden door that led outside to the mountain garden. It had been her mother’s sanctuary whenever she needed to get away from everything and clear her head, and now it was hers.
The cold air was a slap in the face, but she forced her feet to keep moving along the mountain path. At last she came to a bench overlooking the mountainside. She sat down and took in the sights and sounds, trying to quiet her head.
Her mother’s discordant wind chime sounded in the distance, and without warning, warm tears began to fall down Lady Dinah’s cheeks. She angrily wiped them away.
“He had a past before you, Dinah,” she scolded herself aloud. “He was allowed to be in love with another.”
But it was not just one, it was many. She said he had many beautiful women eager to keep him entertained.
“I am the only one he desires now,” she protested. But the gnawing doubt did not subside.
In truth, Lady Dinah had not known much about Lord Fabian’s history, and she never bothered to ask. She tried hard to recall whether she had ever heard any rumors of his wandering ways, but nothing came to mind. Her heart had been wrapped around Lord Rowan for so long, she had never really given much thought to the other wizards.
Lady Victoria is very beautiful, and it seems that Lord Fabian loved her once. If he knew she were alive ….
Lady Dinah stood up and stared into the cold grey skies. It would be winter soon. She wrapped her arms tightly around herself and headed back towards the castle.
*************
It was a long, cruel march to Cetahl.
Lady Delia walked along several winding paths, with Lady Yelena directly behind her, riding on a donkey. If Lady Delia walked too slowly, she would find herself suddenly pushed forward by an unseen wind. If Lady Delia stumbled, she would be forced to her feet with a quick motion of Lady Yelena’s wand – a motion that felt much like a whip upon her back.