The Tales of Neroman: The Silver Savior

by Tom Burton

  Stooping to pick up the dropped bow, she asks, “Why do you want to be an archer?”

  Daniel clears his throat and hesitantly replies, “I’ve always wanted to be something more than what was around me, and I felt like this was the chance to prove that I could be, not only to the king, but also to myself. King Edmund pointed me to this courtyard, and I tried the bow and arrow.”

  Still grinning, the woman slowly nods at Daniel’s words. After a moment, she asks, “And how are you feeling about it now?”

  Daniel immediately smiles. “I’ve never felt so relaxed about anything in all my life! When I pull that bow back, nothing else matters, it’s just me and the target.”

  Laura gives Daniel an approving look and hands him the bow.

  Feeling emboldened, Daniel says, “Given that there is still room for improvement, I don’t suppose you could give me a few tips?”

  “Well, by the looks of it, you may not need much help, but I suppose a few helpful tips won’t hurt,” she says.

  Daniel smiles and, extending his hand, says, “I’m Daniel Rane.”

  “Laura Hutton.” The two smile at each other as they shake hands, then Laura picks up a bow and arrow for herself.

  Aaron follows King Edmund up a flight of stairs. They are greeted at the top of the flight of stairs by a beatufiul woman in a green gown, with a small silver crown on her blonde haired head. She is cradling a baby in her arms.

  “Aaron, allow me to introduce Her Majesty of Neroman, Queen Kendra,” King Edmund says.

  Aaron bends down on one knee. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, your majesty,” Aaron says formally.

  “And this little one is the future king, Prince Andrew.” The king pauses a moment while he smiles at his wife and son, then continues. “My lady, this is Aaron Silver, a dairy farmer from Greyshore.”

  Queen Kendra gives Aaron a knowing smile. “Really? My parents were farmers, but we were from the South.” Aaron simply responds with a smile.

  “Would you like to join us for dinner, Aaron? I’d love to talk more about what you do,” the queen asks.

  Aaron hesitates. “Well, your grace, I’m not exactly dressed for such an occasion.”

  The king waves this off as if it is no matter. “We have clothes for you, Aaron. And Sam and Daniel can join us as well.”

  Aaron smiles gratefully at the king’s generosity. “Then of course I’ll join you. It would be an honor.”

  “Excellent! We have spare chambers for you three at the end of the corridor,” says the king, pointing down the corridor behind them.

  “That’s wonderful,” Queen Kendra says. “I look forward to seeing you tonight, and your friends.” The king steps forward and takes her hand, and the three of them walk up the stairs to where, Aaron presumes, their chambers lie.

  A few hours later, Aaron, Daniel, and Sam are together in the suite of rooms they have been granted. They are bathed and dressed in finer clothing than any of them have ever worn before, and they are each sitting on the edge of their very own down beds.

  Daniel asks his friends, “How is it, in the space of half a day, we’ve gone from farmers talking to madmen in the back streets of the city to dining with the King and Queen of Neroman?”

  Aaron laughs a little and says, “It’s only dinner. We came here to find out about what is happening to me, and now we know. Now we need to find the man who spoke to me in the night.”

  Daniel looks at Aaron appraisingly. “Do you have any idea where to start?”

  Aaron can only shake his head.

  Sam glances at the candle that is marked to show the time. Standing up, he says, “Come on, we don’t want to be late.” The three young men straighten their lavish outfits and leave their chambers.

  A castle servant seats Aaron, Daniel, and Sam on one side of a massive rectangular table, whereas King Edmund and Queen Kendra sit across from them on the other side. The hall is well-lit with candles and torches. Arrayed between the king and queen on one side and the young men on the other, there is an abundance of various foods. Aaron, Daniel, and Sam fill their plate’s right to the edges, whereas the king and queen take minimal portions. Soon the room is quiet except for the sounds of forks and knives on plates.

  Queen Kendra breaks the silence with a gentle question. “So Aaron, will you have a different approach to your farming now that the weather is turning?”

  Aaron, his mouth full of food, shakes his head. Quickly swallowing, he says, “Fortunately not, my lady. We still produce and sell milk no matter what the season. But the taste of the milk changes throughout the seasons.” Both the king and the queen show that they did not know this. Aaron continues, “My father says, ‘In winter we’re the richest men in town…every winter.’”

  Daniel peeks around Sam to look at Aaron, smiling. “And I’m the poorest man in town, summer or winter.”

  Aaron smiles back at Daniel and replies, “Well, you do make the tavern richer than it needs to be. Do you think that’s related?” Everyone at the table laughs, Daniel most of all.

  The royal steward enters the hall, walks briskly to the king’s side. He whispers into his ear, and the king nods, saying, “Bring him in.”

  The steward leaves through the same door, and returns immediately with a Royal Guardsman in tow. The guard clears his throat and says, “My king, there is a mob outside. They are banging on the castle gates, demanding entry.”

  King Edmund stands, tossing his napkin into his seat. “What are they going on about?”

  The guard hesitates, then says in a rush, “They are claiming that the royal family is ignoring a growing threat in the North.” Aaron, Daniel, and Sam exchange worried looks. The king concentrates for a moment, thinking of commands to give. Lifting his head with a fierce look on his face, he says, “Steward, take the queen upstairs with the prince.”

  The steward turns to the corridor and calls out to the guards stationed there. When the steward steps back into the hall with a pair of Royal Guards, Queen Kendra stands and follows them guard from the hall.

  The king then looks to the guard who brought this news. “Send men from the other gates now! Don’t leave the other gates unguarded, but reinforce the gate where the mob is.” The guard turns and sprints out of the room to relay the king’s order.

  King Edmund walks to the window at the end of the hall. From this vantage point, he can see the shadows cast by the torches carried by the loose group of people outside the gate. Thinking aloud, he says, “I estimate there are may be two dozen people out there, likely armed with pitch forks, axes, and torches.”

  Aaron steps away from the table and breaks the king’s concentration. “Your grace, is there something you know that we don’t?”

  The king slowly turns to face Aaron, his face gloomy. He replies softly, “It’s not just a random mob in the city making this claim. I sent scouts northward weeks ago in attempt to reassure the city that there is nothing happening in the North. They never came back. The leaders of these protests took that as a sign that they are right.”

  Aaron takes a step toward Edmund, saying, “Your grace, you cannot bury your head in the sand! If Mutaro has indeed resurfaced, if he is preparing for a return to Neroman, then we need to do something about it before he strikes.”

  Silence falls over the hall like a heavy blanket. Sam summons all his nerve and says, “But this was hundreds of years ago, Aaron. Why would he come back now? How could he come back now?”

  Daniel replies, “He’s a wizard, yes? He could have lived all this time, right? And if he has some magic powers, he could find a way to learn that the country is on the verge of another civil war. This would be a good time to prepare for an attack, either while we argue or later, if we actually end up fighting amongst ourselves.” The hall is once again silent as the four of them consider the impact of Daniel’s words.

  The king returns to the
table and, picking up his goblet of wine, says firmly, “I think it’s best we get some sleep. We can talk about this again tomorrow.” His tone makes it clear that he is finished with the discussion. Sam and Aaron tug at Daniel’s sleeve to prevent him from speaking, and the three young men leave the king to his thoughts.

  As Aaron, Daniel, and Sam enter their borrowed chambers, the silence that weighed on them during the walk from the hall continued. Without a word being spoken, Sam and Daniel immediately prepare to go to bed, blowing out the candles. Aaron, however, sits on a cushioned bench near a small window overlooking the city. After a few moments, he reaches into his pocket and takes out the cold vision medicine that King Edmund had given him earlier. Taking a deep breath, Aaron allows one drop of the liquid to fall onto his tongue. He closes his eyes as he swallows it, and then he re-opens them slowly. And remains sitting by the window.

  As the sun rises the next morning, Aaron wakes to find Sam reading a book in bed, and Daniel up and dressed. Daniel looks over to Aaron, raising his bow in a mock salute. The two long-time friends exchange grins, and then Daniel leaves the room.

  Stretching his arms, Aaron nods his head toward Sam. “How is it?”

  Sam beams happily. “It’s incredible! To see what this world has been through, and how humanity has continued to fight on, no matter the cost.”

  Sam’s eyes return to his book as Aaron climbs out of bed and begins to pull on his familiar clothing. “Sam, I’m going for a walk, if you will be alright here?” Sam simply nods without looking up. Aaron departs quietly, no longer thinking about Sam’s books.

  In the royal chambers, Edmund and Kendra face each other, lying on their sides. “My king, the mob will only get larger if you do not respond to them,” Kendra says quietly.

  “I know, Kendra. I know,” Edmund replies irritably, then sighs. There is a knock on the door, followed by the steward’s voice, muted by the heavy wooden door.

  “Your grace, it is Aaron Silver, requesting to speak with you.”

  “A moment, steward. I will see him in my private study momentarily,” calls Edmund, trying to keep the frustration out of his voice. Queen Kendra rises gracefully from the bed and pulls a velvet robe around her. “I will check on Andrew while you speak with Aaron Silver.” She departs through a door that leads to their infant son’s chamber.

  “Very well,” says King Edmunds, looking back at her with loving eyes. Edmund rises and dresses quickly in comfortable clothing. When he steps into the antechamber, he sees Aaron waiting on a chair near the door to the king’s study. Aaron stands as the king bids him good morning and gestures toward the study. “I beg your pardon, your majesty, for coming so early,” Aaron says as he follows King Edmund into the book-lined room. Windows on two sides of the room fill the space with light.

  Edmund waves off Aaron’s apology and says, “What can I do for you, Aaron?”

  “Well, I was hoping to talk with you about something quite important.” Aaron says. The king gives him an inquiring look, and Aaron continues. “The medicine worked, your grace. Thank you,” Aaron says, with a grateful smile.

  The king is surprised by this seemingly unimportant detail. “Oh, good, I’m glad it helped you, Aaron. I wished it could help with other sleeping issues,” Edmund says distractedly. Aaron’s smile fades as the king continues. “It’s these mobs, Aaron. They’re only going to get bigger unless something drastic is done.” The king’s voice is strained with his stress. Aaron leans forward in his chair. “Well, that’s actually why I came to see you this morning, your grace. I have an idea,” Aaron says. He pauses a moment under the king’s intense gaze before continuing. “I need to leave the city and look for the man who appeared in my vision, who told me to find him after I learned about the visions. In such a vast country, I don’t have a place to start, but what if I started at, say, Redlock?” The king shakes his head at Aaron’s suggestion. Aaron hurriedly presses on.

  “It’s like you said: these mobs are only going to grow, and something drastic needs to happen to stop them. The best way would be to know for certain what is actually up there.”

  King Edmund holds out a hand to stop Aaron. “You forget. I sent trained soldiers up there, and look where that got us! We have to assume they are dead! I’m not sending more people up there to die, let alone a farmer from the Western reaches.”

  Aaron says, “I didn’t forget. But I think the problem was that you sent them up there as members of the Royal Army, which last time I checked, hardly anyone outside of Dellmoor is going to take kindly to.” Aaron smiles at his cleverness. “If I go up there, though, as a common merchant or traveler, I can probably get closer and see what’s going on.”

  Aaron looks at the king hopefully, willing him to give his approval. For what seems like long minutes, King Edmund merely looks out the window, remaining silent.

  Edmund finally turns back to face Aaron. He nods, and puts out a hand to still Aaron’s eagerness. “I agree, but I have some terms.” Aaron just nods, torn between excitement and fear about what he just committed himself to do. “You must train here first, so that if you run into trouble, you will know how to defend yourself.” Edmund pauses, waiting for Aaron’s acceptance of this condition. Aaron nods energetically. “Very well. For that, you’ll need a teacher.”

  King Edmund steps to the door of his study and calls out, “Summon Jaylen Vance!” The king then walks back into the study, where lays a tray with a light breakfast and a pitcher of hot tea. He gestures to Aaron to share the food with him while they await this Jaylen Vance,

  The next few minutes pass in silence as both men, one a noble, one a farmer, eat fruit and bread and consider their immediate futures. Aaron looks over his shoulder as the door opens again, and a Royal Guardsman enters the study, an older man, with a big physique. The king welcomes the soldier warmly, and then introduces him to Aaron. “Aaron, this is Jaylen Vance, Lord Commander of the Neroman Army, and he’s going to teach you how to fight.” Jaylen Vance gives Aaron a stern look as they shake hands, Aaron’s entire arm seeming to flop loosely in the soldier’s strong grip.

  King Edmund says, “You leave in two days, Aaron. You may take Daniel and Sam with you, if you wish, but you should be completely honest with them about your plan. It is highly dangerous.”

  Aaron nods and says, “Thank you, your grace.” At a nod from the king, Vance turns and briskly marches from the study. Aaron almost has to run to catch up with the Lord Commander.

  As Aaron and Jaylen enter the courtyard, Daniel is working with Laura to hone his archery skills. Sam sits on a bench at the edge of the courtyard with another book.

  Vance pauses before their arrival interrupts the archery practice. He quietly says to Aaron, “Do you want to speak to them before we train?”

  Aaron nods and walks toward Daniel.

  “Daniel, can I have a word with you please?” Aaron asks, a safe distance back so he doesn’t startle Daniel while he has an arrow nocked.

  Daniel turns to face Aaron, disturbed by his friend’s formal tone. “Sure, of course,” Daniel says, handing his bow to Laura. Sensing the tension in Aaron, Laura quietly steps away from the young men to allow them to speak in private.

  “Daniel, do you remember how we need to find the man who told me to find him?” Daniel nods, and Aaron continues, “Well, it’s pretty obvious that he is not here, so we need to head out somewhere. And I think there is one place we can go.” Aaron pauses, his stomach clenching in worry about his idea and whether his friend will come. “I think we should go to Redlock. Now, before you say anything—”

  Daniel cuts him off. “I’m in.”

  Aaron smiles in relief, but quickly becomes serious again. “It will be quite dangerous, Daniel” Aaron warns.

  “That’s why I’m coming with you,” Daniel replies with a flippant shrug. Aaron smiles gratefully, and the young men embrace. Once they separate, Daniel asks, “How are
we going to get there? We certainly don’t know the way.”

  “I’m sure we can find a navigator,” Aaron says, his eyes involuntarily drifting to Sam. Daniel laughs at this, and Aaron joins him. Aaron approaches Sam as Daniel goes back to Laura.

  As Aaron approaches, Sam lifts his head. Upon seeing Aaron, Sam says, “Good morning again, Aaron.” “Good morning, Sam. Listen, I’ve got a proposal for you,” Aaron says, standing before the young man from the East. Sam closes his book and gives Aaron his full attention.

  “Daniel and I are leaving the capital in a couple of days to look for the man in my cold vision. King Edmund needs a report on Redlock to calm the people who are now frightened of the madmen talking about doom from the North. We need someone to guide us to Redlock, and you have the best navigational mind out of all of us.” Aaron looks at Sam hopefully.

  Sam’s eyes drop to the closed book in his lap. “Sounds dangerous, Aaron,” he says quietly.

  Aaron sits down next to Sam. In a gentle voice, Aaron says, “It is dangerous, Sam. I understand that, worst-case scenario, none of us will go home again, but that’s life for you, Sam. You’ve always got your nose in a book, reading about the world, and you find it all marvelous, but the world we live in is not in that book, Sam. It’s out there, and you need to live in it.” Sam lifts his face and looks Aaron in the eye. After a moment, Sam gives a slight nod. Aaron smiles and thrown an arm around Sam’s shoulders.

  Then Aaron stands and approaches Jaylen. With his jaw set firmly, Aaron says, “I’m ready to train. Let’s get started.”

  Two days later, Aaron and Jaylen are once again in the courtyard. They are training with one-sword combat. Jaylen is clearly the superior, but Aaron manages to hold his own in the fight. Eventually Jaylen overcomes Aaron, tripping him up and putting him on his back.