Circle of Reign

by Jacob Cooper

  “Whose scrolls?” Ryall interrupted.

  Vicar Johann stopped short and turned around. “Pardon me?”

  Holden’s head started to come up but he stopped himself from fully raising it. He turned and looked over at Ryall, concerned.

  Ryall clarified. “You mentioned the scrolls, how they teach that the Ancient Heavens aren’t cruel. Whose scrolls say that?”

  “Why, the Changrual Scrolls, of course. Surely you understand this basic doctrine of the order?”

  Holden cleared his throat, trying not to be obvious but also trying to convey a message of “Shut the Blasted Heavens up” to his friend. It didn’t work.

  “Right, I’m just curious if those were the scrolls from before or after we invaded Senthara and destroyed the Hardacheons.” Ryall spoke with falsely innocent wonder.

  “My boy, the scrolls are the same as they always have been, handed down from the Ancients after the Heavens placed them on the world.”

  “Placed them?” Ryall asked. “From where were they displaced in order to be placed on our world?”

  Vicar Johann didn’t answer. Ryall pushed on.

  “Are you sure there wouldn’t be any variation in the scrolls throughout time?”

  Johann was starting to get a little agitated. “What is your question, exactly, Ryall?”

  Holden, wide-eyed and turning as red as his hair, stared holes in his friend. He was still hunkered down on his desk behind the boy in front of him. No matter how much he internally willed his friend not to say anything more, he knew Ryall could not resist. We’re done for! Might as well bring out the stakes and torches now!

  “I guess I’m just wondering what was taught on Feylan before we came here to Senthara,” Ryall smugly asked. “I wish we had some writings from the Luminary on the subject.” Ryall knew full well the answer to his questions from the tablets and scrolls in the caverns.

  A solid thump was heard that echoed through the classroom. Holden had let his head free-fall to the surface of his desk, no doubt believing they were destined for the fires, the first heretics to be burned alive in over a century. Ryall himself expected flames to come spitting forth from Vicar Johann in rage, screaming heresy and blasphemy and calling for the High Vicars. Instead, a very confused mask swathed itself across the Vicar’s face. He blinked more rapidly and furrowed his eyebrows.

  Ryall had to catch the shock that erupted inside him before it showed. He has no idea what I’m talking about! He looked around and saw the other students in the class staring at him blankly. Looking back to Johann, Ryall noted genuine concern on the instructor’s face.

  “My boy, are you well? You seem not yourself,” Vicar Johann said.

  Holden took the cue and roused himself from the cauldron of self-despair in which he wallowed.

  “He’s been like this all span, Vicar Johann. He spurts out bits of gibberish and seems to think that he’s making total sense. I don’t think he’s slept much. It might be well to put him on bed rest for a couple days with bland foods and water. I’d be happy to watch over him.”

  Ryall glanced at his friend to find him looking up at the Vicar intently, feigning concern over his poor, suffering friend.

  “Yes, perhaps so,” Vicar Johann said, placing his hands together in front of his stomach in a resigned gesture. “I’ll see to it.” The Vicar turned and started to move on to the next subject.

  Ryall was too dumbstruck to say anything in protest. How could he not know? The boy had believed that there was some conspiracy at work, some ploy to conceal the truth. Perhaps Johann is lying or just acting ignorant. But no, Johann’s confusion seemed so genuine. And what’s worse, Holden stepped in perfectly to take advantage of his friend’s embarrassment and score a serious victory in their prank war. Ryall looked over at Holden. His friend did not acknowledge his stare but continued to look straight ahead with an air of smugness.

  Two days of bread and water.

  He would pay, no doubt about it. Ryall would not forget this.

  THIRTY-FIVE

  Aiden

  Day 28 of 1st Dimming 412 A.U.

  “YOU ATTACKED ME!” HEDRON said angrily as he felt the knot on the side of his head.

  “I saved you,” Aiden corrected.

  The gray light of morning was getting brighter. In a few hours, though it would only be midmorning, the day would be as bright as it would get this far in the North. After the last of the winged demons had fled, Aiden retrieved Hedron where he still lay unconscious. It took a few rough shakes to bring him around, but once Hedron awoke, he came up spitting fire.

  “I didn’t ask to be saved! I could have helped!” the Kerr boy protested. He truly looked as if he had been cheated from an opportunity to help defend his family and friends.

  “Lad, you did help. You saved me, in all likelihood. I simply returned the favor.” Aiden’s voice remained calm in the face of Hedron’s antagonism. “I suspect you will have more than enough chances for bloodshed. Best you enter that time when you are ready and prepared.”

  Aiden’s calm demeanor seemed to irritate Hedron even more. “I can fight. I know how to wield a sword.” At this claim, Aiden raised an eyebrow.

  “Is that so?”

  “Aye,” Hedron retorted, mocking Aiden in his accent.

  Aiden nodded. “Let’s test that theory of yours.” He unsheathed his sword swiftly and tossed it to the boy, startling him for a moment. Reaching down, he grabbed a dead branch a hand shorter than a sword. “Come on, then. It’s your father’s sword, after all. Are you worthy of it?”

  Hedron looked a little perplexed but then eagerness took over and he assumed a sparring stance. “I don’t want to hurt you, Master Aiden.”

  “Oh, why don’t we not concern ourselves with that? Just do your worst.”

  Hedron raised the sword and charged. When he was within striking distance, he swung down through the air. Aiden sidestepped the blow easily, not raising his weapon in defense. Hedron’s momentum carried him passed Aiden. He turned quickly to face Aiden again. The once master of the hold guard stood casually with one foot forward and his wooden sword dangling down at his side, the end of the dead stick in the snow. Hedron charged again, his sword finding nothing but the cold morning air. Aiden again had sidestepped the attack.

  “Why won’t you fight back?” Hedron asked with frustration.

  “I will when you give me a reason to, lad.”

  Hedron lost his composure with this last taunt and charged Aiden. This time, Aiden did respond. As Hedron began to bring his sword down, Aiden swiped his stick up with a birsk motion and caught Hedron’s wrist. The pain caused the young Kerr to drop the sword. Aiden followed through with a leg sweep, dropping the boy to the ground the same way he did earlier. Before Hedron could react the stick hit his midsection, knocking the wind from his lungs.

  Aiden reached down and retrieved his sword. “Good. First lesson over. You’ve learned never to let your opponent goad you into action. When you’ve recovered from your lesson, you will meet us back at the cottage with the others.”

  Aiden entered the cottage to find Jayden, Ehliss and Crimson Snow gathered around Reign in a curious manner. Each looked at Reign with wonder, excitement, or both. Crimson Snow’s tail shot back and forth so vigorously that Aiden was a little afraid to get in its way. The wolf nosed at Reign’s hand, licking it and occasionally whining for attention. They did not turn or even acknowledge him when he entered, but continued to stare at Reign.

  He walked across the room to the hearth to warm himself. His tunic was soaked and torn in several places, making it a fairly useless garment in the cold. Noticing a few small pairs of antlers above the mantle, he removed the tunic and draped it over the antlers to give it a chance to dry from the fire’s heat. After a few moments of thawing by the fire, he turned toward the group and saw Ehliss quickly turn her head away. She had been stealing glances of him bare chested. Aiden scoffed internally but was caught short when he finally looked at Reign’s face. His mi
nd struggled to tell himself what he saw there. Reign wore an expression of complete solemnity. Her eyes—the eyes were different somehow. They were not hers, in a manner of speaking. She turned her head slightly and raised her eyes to Aiden’s. A flood of recognition pounded its way through him, accompanied by swells of incoherence. Such serenity.

  “Reign, you look so much like—”

  Hedron came through the threshold angrily and kept his head down in order not to meet Aiden’s eyes directly. Seeing the attention Reign was attracting from the small group, he became worried.

  “Has something happened? Is she hurt?” he asked.

  No one answered. Even Reign appeared to be ignoring him. He approached closer and took her hand.

  “Reign?”

  She turned her head toward him and her eyes reacted by filling with tears. “Hedron,” she whispered and embraced him with a strength the boy was not accustomed to. A few tears streamed down her face, snow and ice melting around Hedron’s collar where the warm salt water pooled briefly before disappearing.

  “I’ve missed you, boy,” Reign whispered. “You have grown and look much how I did when I was young.”

  Hedron looked back up at Reign when the embrace loosened. A quizzical look rooted itself on his face. It was an odd thing she had said, but the way she had said it was almost familiar to Aiden as he watched. Hedron looked around at the others as if to solicit insight from them. None came. Jayden was closest but her stare did not waver as she looked upon Reign. He looked back to his sister, who gazed at him with such peace, such depth. Serenity was closer to the right description.

  “When you were young?” he replied, confused. “Why is everyone just—”

  “Father,” she said simply, followed by a shallow half smile. It was even reminiscent of him, the way his smile started on the left side of his mouth before spreading fully across his face.

  The ease with which she said, “father” obviously shocked Hedron. “Wh—what?” he stuttered. “What’s happened?” Aiden now saw Hedron sense the change; the change in the air, in those around him. But the change in his sister was more poignant, the center of it. He could feel it. It was unmistakable.

  Reign’s face lost its serenity slowly. She shut her eyes and then reopened them suddenly. Looking down, she gasped as her eyes widened and she stumbled forward. Hedron reached up to catch her.

  “Reign!” he said with concern as he felt her shudder in his arms. “What’s happening?”

  “It’s too much!” Reign screamed.

  Jayden and the others awoke from their trance-like state at this change. “Bring her to the table,” the wolf shepherd commanded. Preceding Hedron, she swiped the articles that sat upon the table to the floor. “Lay her on her back and hold her.”

  “What’s happening?” Hedron pleaded again. “I don’t understand!”

  Reign’s body shook more violently as Hedron placed her down on the old wooden table and braced her shoulders. Reign’s legs kicked wildly, slamming down against the wood as her eyes rolled up in their sockets. Crimson Snow whimpered and paced around the table.

  “Aiden!” Jayden snapped. “Hold her legs!” With the girl fully secured, Jayden shoved a long piece of rawhide between her teeth.

  “What is that? What are you doing?” Hedron asked. Jayden ignored him and scurried around her shelves looking for something in different containers and jars. The various curatives and remedies clattered amongst the shuffling and a jar fell to the floor, shattering.

  “It’s a fright spasm,” Ehliss said, approaching Hedron’s side.

  “What’s that? This has never happened before.”

  “Her body convulses, her muscles tensing and reacting as if the greatest fear one can face is present. The body can’t handle it and it reacts with spasms. That’s why it’s called a fright spasm.”

  Aiden also wore trepidation on his face as he gripped Reign’s legs and held them with concerted effort. “How do we stop it?”

  “You can’t,” she said. “It must pass on its own. We studied anatomy and corporal sciences at the Ministry Academy before focusing in our specific area of study. It’s required of all students.”

  “Stupid girl!” Jayden retorted without stopping her rummaging through the shelves. The sounds of glass vials and flasks being pushed aside still filled the air around them. “Your academies know little to nothing. Fear does not cause this.” She finally found what she was searching for in a small porcelain jar. She brought it hurriedly over to the table and dipped her finger in the jar, bringing out a gray translucent ointment on her finger. She swathed it on Reign’s upper lip and around her nostrils. The trembling and shaking calmed almost immediately. Reign’s breathing became steadier and less erratic.

  “I don’t believe it,” Ehliss said, bringing her head close to Reign’s. “The odor is potent. What is that medicine? Of what create?” Ehliss’ questions had a purely clinical tone to them, devoid of all her previous inflections of concern.

  “Continue to hold her,” Jayden warned. “Residual spasms can erupt, but the worst should be over.” She finally addressed Hedron and answered the questions that still lingered in his eyes. “Your sister was not fully prepared for your father’s last breath. The power of it caused her body to seize as it rooted itself in her. She will likely be in this state of fitful sleep for several days. I must keep a careful watch over her.”

  This explanation did not help Hedron’s understanding, but rather brought on a greater state of confusion. “I have no idea what you mean.”

  Aiden agreed. “Jayden, something has happened, but none of us understand quite what it is. You seem to have some knowledge of this occurrence. Please speak plainly.”

  “If you had fewer rocks in your cranium when you were younger you would know exactly what has happened! Thannuel tried to teach you, but you were unprepared.”

  This brought Aiden up short. “Unprepared for what?”

  The sigh that came from Jayden communicated her exasperation better than words could have. “Not now,” she finally said. “Perhaps later, when this has passed.” Reign moaned slightly, her head shifting left to right every few moments.

  No one spoke for several minutes. The silence of the morning was broken only by the occasional moans and grunts that escaped Reign’s tightly clenched jaw. She finally gave in to sleep and then the silence held. It held until the ground began to rumble beneath them. Aiden and Hedron’s eyes locked as they listened, felt. They sensed a mass too great to accurately number.

  “They will not come this way,” Jayden stated, obviously seeing the concern in the wood-dwellers. “They likely still have more than a span of travel. But you must leave.”

  “Leave? And go where?” Hedron asked. “Reign is in no state to travel, especially if there are more of those things out there.” Hedron pointed toward the sky, obviously referring to the winged creatures that had attacked them.

  “Not the girl,” Jayden said. “Just you and Master Aiden. You must go south to Therrium. He will need you now. Elohk and I will see to the girl.”

  “Forget it. I am not leaving Reign’s side. You can burn in—”

  “Hedron,” Aiden interrupted. “Enough. Your sister is in better care with her than us. What will we do here? Waste the moments away waiting for Reign to recover? Therrium needs to be warned, to know what we saw.”

  “What about me?” came Ehliss’ timid voice.

  “You will go with Aiden,” Jayden said. “We can’t have you running around alone now that we know how helpless you are.”

  “No. No way in the Cursed Heavens is that liability—”

  “Helpless?” Ehliss retorted. “I’ll have you know that I am a duly appointed terranist in the Ministry of Terran Studies. I spend spans on end on my own on the glaciers, completely self-sufficient. My father is the former Minister of Terran Studies and one of the most respected men in the Realm. A hall in the academy is scheduled to be named after him later this year and—”

  “And
what good was all that when the Alysaar chased you down? Did you fling knowledge at them? Dazzle them into submission with all your credentials?” Jayden chided. “If not for Aiden and my packs, you would no doubt have been part of the trophies in their beards by now.”

  “Feel free not to mention my help,” Hedron muttered. No one replied to his comment. “Wait, Aly—what?”

  “You would not have even known of their presence if I had not warned you! So much for gratitude and thanks!” the young terranist shot back.

  Aiden nodded. “All right then. What did you see?”

  Ehliss told them of her expeditions upon the glaciers and her studies. Naturally, she lulled on too long in descriptive narrative regarding her instruments and findings, which tested the limits of Aiden’s patience. He balled up his fists tightly and released them over and over to hold back a temper-induced outburst. Finally she came to the clouds that became a storm that morphed to an army of infantry and flying beasts. “The roar of the large dragon-like creatures I mistook for thunder at first.”

  “Alysaar,” Jayden corrected. “Dragons are nothing but myth.”

  Ehliss looked at her with incredible irony. “Of course!” she agreed sarcastically. “Just as there is no one beyond the glaciers. But today, I saw an army coming from across the glaciers, the likes of which I have never seen. And many soldiers were riding these so-called Alysaar with the ease and familiarity our soldiers ride a horse.”

  “Borathein,” Jayden again corrected patiently. “They are not of the Realm, but live far to the north in a land called Borath. They are ancient kin of the Hardacheons, which is, no doubt, part of why they have come.”

  “Are they like the Hardacheons were?” Ehliss asked.

  “Worse, in fact. Though much of what you hear of the Hardacheons is little truth and more myth at this point. They were not so different than us.”

  “They are headed south through the barren lands of the Northern Province,” Aiden reported as he continued to listen to the vibrations. “If they were coming to attack Senthara, wouldn’t they now be heading east, toward Iskele? Toward Wellyn?”