Daegan (The Age of Alandria: A Companion Novella)

by Wylie, Morgan

  “Master Halister has brought me to exhaustion. Enough for today,” Daegan called out, raising his sword in front of his face, taking a step back. He turned to the drill master, who nodded his approval. He nodded back then turned and bowed slightly, never lowering his gaze to the men who tirelessly gave their all against him. It released his pent-up agitation like not much else could.

  With training done for the day, Daegan, Hal and another member of their squad went for refreshments at one of the local establishments down in the square of Elnye. The square was actually more circular, but the town center nonetheless. The cobblestone road was narrow and surrounded a large statue of a Ferrishyn warrior wearing not a crown, but a stone set in some kind of iron atop his head. Next to him was a Faerie woman with twigs attractively strewn throughout her long wavy hair of stone, and in between them was a young boy. They looked happy and content.

  The stories spoke of the man once being one of the kings of Feraánmar. However, when the uprising happened many years back most of their histories had been destroyed. This statue had been saved, but the plaque with their names on it was also destroyed. Daegan had once tried to get some of the history out of some of the older citizens, but the little they had given him was spoken out of fear, in secrecy, or they refused to talk about it altogether. Most conveniently, they didn’t remember much of anything beyond the last rule before the Paladin took over.

  The buildings that made up the “square” were also made from stone of various kinds. Some were cobblestone like the path itself and some were constructed of river stones, boulders from the earth, or a combination mixed with pebbles in the mortar.

  There weren’t many places with grasses, greenery, or even trees. Many of the shops had climbing greenery on the outsides of their dwellings. Most of the foliage, however, was outside the actual square and especially closer to where most of the Faeries dwelled outside of the main city in L’nalrinia, not far from Elnye. There were designated spaces for grasses, trees, and shrubbery in the square and on the way up the hill to where the castle of Elnye was settled, along with all the smaller buildings related to serving the royalty. These gardens were for resting and renewal and were open for all to appreciate.

  Inside the little shop that served food and drink, the three Ferrishyn relaxed and cooled off from their exercises. Daegan didn’t go out carousing with many of the men, but he liked to hang out with Hal and a few of the others as long as it wasn’t a larger group. Daegan’s guard was always up, but in a smaller comfortable setting it was easier for him to at least be a little casual.

  “Did either of you hear that Captain Rajent is reported missing?” Squadron member Lenith inquired as he took a sip from his pint.

  “I heard that this morning,” Hal said, shaking his head in disbelief. “It is such a shame. He had a family.”

  Daegan stiffened. He had heard it mentioned but still something did not set right with him about the whole situation. Rajent was a shifter. Daegan had plans to investigate in the camp later; he would check on Rajent’s family. Maleina would probably scold him for interfering with the shifters and their way of life; she didn’t care for their community as a whole, and she did not want him to help them either.

  She hadn’t outright commanded anything, so he was not defying her, but still, he would fly under the radar when he checked on some of the families, especially the women and children who didn’t have the help they needed. He would bring in supplies, sometimes food and clothing, if they needed it. Some of the vendors in the square and some smaller stores that dealt out of their homes would donate to his cause. He didn’t know how they found out about what he was doing, but somehow they knew and would approach him when it was safe and offer things to help out—anonymously, of course, as they couldn’t be seen going against something they knew Maleina did not approve. Daegan knew Maleina could be cold-hearted and a ruthless leader, but he didn’t think she would stoop so low as to harm one of her own people. However, at the same time he would not try and test her either.

  “There has to be a reason,” Daegan said to no one in particular. “Something is hidden.” He raked his fingers through his hair, obviously no longer relaxed. He downed the last of his drink and figured he better take off before he brought down the others.

  “You are thinking of trying to track him, aren’t you?” Halister patted his friend’s shoulder. “I know you’ll find something. I just hope it isn’t a pile of dead bodies somewhere.” Hal’s expression saddened. “I knew Rajent—not well, but I appreciated how he governed his people and I liked his frank honesty... we’ll figure it out. We have to.”

  “I’m going to head back, boys. Sorry to have brought the conversation down.” Lenith took one last drink and placed his coin on the table, rising to go. Daegan saluted him with a wave, Hal with his glass of ale.

  “I am going to head back as well. I have a couple stops on the way then I will go to the camp. Do you want to join me?” Daegan placed his own coin on the table. He noticed Hal had been eyeing a tall, dark-haired Faerie that was sitting up at the bar counter. She had been flirtatiously watching Hal as well, so he did not have any notion that Hal would actually take him up on his offer.

  “Why don’t you go ahead without me, I want to finish my drink and I’ll catch up with you.” Hal gave a cheesy grin, as if Daegan didn’t know why he was staying.

  Daegan nodded his head toward the Faerie with little flecks of twigs in her hair and her tight green swatches of material that covered her, but could barely be called clothing, indicating that he knew exactly what Hal was thinking. “Do not get into any trouble.” Daegan was serious but Hal smirked and gave him a wink, raising his glass, and Daegan went out the door.

  CHAPTER THREE

  Daegan headed up the cobblestone path up the hill toward the castle. He turned off onto a little side street to the left. Not to far off the road was a little shop that had various breads and dried meats. A Faerie woman who was considered elderly in Alandria years owned it, but in appearance, she didn’t look much over seventy in mortal years. She was a round woman with kind eyes and she had green streaks in her white wiry hair that gave her a slight look of madness. Daegan got a kick out of her, and she was always willing to shove something at him to take to give to whoever he deemed needed it. She most likely knew who he took the items to, but for her safety he never told her.

  “Young Daegan!” she shout-whispered to him while waving him in toward her store. “It has been a while since I saw you last. Are you well?” She patted his arm adoringly as she ushered him inside the little cobblestone hut that wasn’t much bigger than one of the food storage rooms in the castle.

  “I am fair, my lady, and how are you?”

  She looked up into Daegan’s eyes, and he saw something in her eyes changing. Her brown eyes suddenly started fading into the background and a gray swirl moved through like a dust storm. He started, but she held onto his arm, whispering, “You need to listen. I have a message for you.”

  Daegan had not witnessed this kind of magic, especially from an Earth Faerie. Their magic centered around nature and things of the land—unless there was more to this lady than he had known. He stared into her eyes, not sensing any harm coming from her; in fact, it was the opposite as he felt quite at peace. Getting lost in the swirls in her eyes, he heard a voice, or perhaps it was even voices, that sounded far off. He had never heard voices like these. It sounded like chimes and the comforts of home all wrapped in the sound of a voice. A voice calling his name. Then it was gone, but the swirls in her eyes continued to circle as she spoke.

  “The darkness in Alandria is about to be set free. It begins in Feraánmar. It will use you. You must be wary. You must fight it. Leave Elnye. The further away you are, the less it will affect you. You are in danger... so are others.”

  Her eyes instantly returned to their usual flat brown as she blinked, coming out of whatever had just happened to her. Daegan had never seen anyone act like she did. He now felt on edge where moments
ago he felt peace. He didn’t know what to make of what she had said. From her reaction, he wasn’t even sure if she knew everything she had just said. She looked at him expectantly, as if she knew he wanted to ask her about what had just occurred.

  “What are you?” Daegan breathed heavily. He knew the frankness of this old Faerie; she wouldn’t be insulted by his question.

  She laughed, in fact. “I am a Faerie just as you have known me to be. Some of us just have a little more to us than you would be aware of. Because of my lineage—that I will not divulge here—I am able to be a... a vessel, if you will, for those that need me to be. There are many things here that you should know are not what they seem or who they seem to be. Be very cautious as you proceed. Heed the call. Get out if you can. Your original destination still awaits you.” She winked, knowing that would throw him since the message had said nothing about where he was to go or how she would know anything about the mountainous region he had intended to reach as a boy when he first set out, but he was found before he made it.

  “It is time for you to go. I may not see you again.” She looked almost sad about it. “Be well, Master Daegan. Hold onto the light within you and the light you will find.”

  In his confusion and with furrowed brow, he let her escort him out her front door. He found himself standing on the cobblestone in front of her shop coming out of a daze, suddenly unsure of how he got there. Daegan rubbed his eyes in disbelief and sighed to himself, “I forgot the food that she had for me.” He turned back to the little shop only to find the windows dark and filled with cobwebs, the front door hanging slightly off its hinges, and the front steps—he had personally fixed the top board not long ago—broken, just waiting for someone to step onto it trapping their leg in the depths of the darkness underneath it.

  What is going on? Daegan mentally growled. Turning in a circle, he looked around at all the surrounding shops and buildings. Everything else was in the exact order it was in when he went into the shop.

  “How can this be? I’ve been here multiple times in the recent season.” Daegan knew his sanity was intact; he just had to figure out what was going on. At a loss for what to even suggest and not wanting to draw attention to himself standing in the middle of the road, he began walking toward the main road to head back to the comfort of his room. He needed to ask someone, but was unable to think of whom he could trust with this information—Hal, perhaps, but he didn’t think he had any information that Daegan didn’t already have himself. Maybe Wren, but he had been feeling more and more distant from his uncle lately. It seemed his uncle, once a mighty Ferrishyn warrior in his own right, was fading as the shadow of his wife grew every day. Wren simply seemed less than who Daegan knew he could be. He was withdrawn and somber, and would be of no help.

  Never off his guard, Daegan sensed someone watching him. Out of the corner of his eye, he spotted a young boy hiding behind a small tree next to another small dwelling that was in better condition than the shop he had just visited, but not by much. The boy’s clothes were sufficient enough as far as coverage went, but they were torn and dirty. His eyes were sad and held a glimpse of longing in them as he watched Daegan walk by, unaware he could be seen. Daegan didn’t want to frighten the boy, but he was curious.

  “Hello, boy. Do not be afraid.”

  “I am not afraid of you, sir.” The little boy gave a look at the badge of the royal guard on Daegan’s leather belt that held the scabbard for his sword. “I watch to see when others are in our area. What are you doing here?”

  Daegan smirked at the boy’s boldness. He liked that. “I was visiting with a friend.”

  The boy quirked his eyebrow and chewed on his inner cheek, obviously not sure he believed Daegan.

  “Do you know the Faerie woman that lives in that shop over there?” he asked, pointing toward the now dilapidated house.

  The boy frowned and simply stared at Daegan for what was much too long for a simple answer. Daegan sighed and began to walk away. He did not have time to wait for the boy’s answer.

  “Wait,” the boy whispered, waving Daegan to come a little closer. Daegan moved secretively closer to comply with the boy’s game if that’s what he was playing.

  “You are Master Daegan, are you not?”

  “I am,” Daegan replied in a whisper.

  “Master Daegan, I am not sure what magic you are dealing with, but that woman died many full moons ago. Her place has been abandoned ever since.”

  “Thank you,” Daegan replied, giving the boy a serious glance and a nod.

  The boy ran off, leaving Daegan staring at the spot where the boy had just stood. His blood ran cold. He needed to leave. A cold sweat broke out on his forehead. Things did not affect Daegan this way—he couldn’t understand why all of a sudden unexpected and strange things were happening to him.

  The dream—it must have something to do with the dream of his parents he’d been having again, not to mention the other dreams he’d had—the ones of a girl he had never seen before. In those dreams, she led him to different areas of Alandria and showed him things he’d never seen, she’d draw him in with her intoxicating emerald green and gold eyes that simply accepted him as he was while also giving invitation to hold her close.

  Shaking his head, Daegan snapped out of his deep contemplation. He looked down in a brief state of utter despair. The peace he saw in the old Faerie woman’s eyes came back to his mind. Daegan had never known peace like that. He craved it.

  He rubbed his eyes with the palms of his hands. His distress was getting the best of him. This was all too much. His thoughts were all over the place: When will it make sense? Will it ever make sense? How do I stop it? What if I cannot?

  CHAPTER FOUR

  With a warrior’s focus, Daegan forced the sadness from his mind. Deciding he would simply retire to his quarters since he did not have provisions to supply those in the shifter camp, he headed back toward the castle, which was really more like a relic and a large mansion combined. It was beautiful even with the decaying stones and the grounds around it falling slowly to their own ruin.

  Elnye and L’nalrinia were the most well-kept and the most... alive of the territories left. Not long ago, Daegan had been in Adettlyn—the throne of Lumari, the territory of the Elves—and he was in shock at the destruction and ruin of not only the once beautiful castle, but also the city itself and the villages surrounding it.

  Just outside the grounds, the land was dying, a fact well disguised with a glamour constructed by none other than their own Paladin. Maleina had said that it would keep the people’s spirits up and cause them to stay and be loyal to their cause. Daegan had his own theories that it had more to do with keeping the power of the Earth Faeries’ magic close and under her control. He had no idea how far the decay of his land truly spread. There was something very wrong in Alandria and he needed to find out what needed to be done. His mood was still dark. He could feel the land and its inhabitants suffering. This was his home. With each passing day, his thoughts and connection to it grew stronger. It was stirring something deep inside him.

  With more determination than he had had until recently, he strode with purpose past the stables and toward the side entrance, alongside the kitchen, that he preferred to use even if it did belong to the servants. He felt more comfortable and under less scrutiny using that entrance. Just before he reached the castle, he saw the young boy, Silát, attending to one of the horses.

  “Ready for your first lesson, young master of the stables?” Daegan shouted.

  The boy looked around, confused at first, then his eyes lit up. He tied the horse and ran toward Daegan.

  “You remembered!”

  Daegan nodded with a twinkle in his eyes. He picked up a thick stick off the ground that was about the right size and tossed it to the boy. “You need a sword. This will work for now. To be fair, I will use a similar weapon.” Finding another stick, he held it at the base where the hilt should be.

  “Stand like me, and hold your sword
in your strong hand like this.” Daegan evaluated the boy’s stance. “Now do as I do,” he instructed as he thrust forward then parried back to the left and then again but to the right. “For your purposes, you should be on the defense until you are more familiar with your steps and your strength. You are still small, but you are fast and can use that against your enemy. Stay out of the way of your opponent’s blade.”

  The boy nodded eagerly, taking it all in and mimicking every move Daegan made.

  “Good. You are a quick study, Silát.”

  The boy smiled either at the compliment, or because Daegan remembered his name. Daegan remembered being young and eager to learn at the hand of his father. It was a fond memory. He hoped that perhaps he was creating a special memory and a useful skill for the boy.

  “I must retire for the night, but keep practicing those steps. It is like a dance, Silát. You must perfect the steps in order to move freely with them, but do not forget to be aware of your partner.”

  The boy nodded and Daegan ruffled the hair on the top of his head.

  “Thank you, Master Daegan, I will practice all the time!” He headed back to the stables repeating the varied steps he had learned, and almost jabbed another stable hand that stepped in front of him.

  Daegan laughed and headed into the castle. He had spent all his energy and was in need of rest. The kitchen staff stopped what they were doing to give Daegan a respectful bow. He nodded to them, smiling at each of them as he passed through.

  The sun had since gone down below the tree line and the two moons, each at different stages of waning, one brilliant white and the other gradient blues, had now risen in the night sky. Even as the beauty outside the castle was rising higher and higher in the sky for all of Alandria to witness, darkness was creeping within it. Daegan could feel it like he had never felt it before. This darkness was very much alive, moving and growing. It made his skin crawl.