by T. K. Chapin
Chapter 10
Back in the room, Katlynn found Amon had awoken from his slumber. He was putting his scrolls he had got from the priests into his pouch and getting ready leave when she had come back into the room. Turning to her, he said with a yawn, “We best get going love.”
“What spell did you learn that zapped you so bad on energy?” Katlynn asked.
“It’s a Cure Poison spell. I had no idea how difficult of a spell it was that was contained on those scrolls I’ve been using. I’m glad I know it now though. They also provided me with a few extra Major Healing scrolls.” Katlynn glanced over at the table to see a depleted black diamond.
“You had to use one?” She asked with a heavy sigh.
“Yeah, it was the only way I wasn’t going to sleep the majority of the day away.” Opening his pouch, he retrieved his last black diamond. “I only have this one left until we make it into Elvark.” Shoving it back into his pouch, he continued, “I have a friend there that has a rather large stash of black diamonds though, so we should be good once we get there.”
Heading out of the inn, they loaded up their horse and were off on the trail towards Elvark. As they rode, Katlynn remembered her evening with the Syrena. “Are you familiar with Bardic magic?” she asked Amon as she kept her arms wrapped around his waist.
“Yes, somewhat,” he said over his shoulder. “It’s a rather elusive class of the Curo. They are a wonderful help on the battlefield from what I hear though, why?”
“I met a Bard last night that taught me about it, I had no idea the magic even existed.”
“Those walls of the castle you use to live in kept you plenty safe, but it also kept you shielded from the world and the truths that exist in it. There’s a lot you don’t know. You didn’t do the Song of Fusion did you?” Amon asked.
“No, she said it was too serious to make a quick decision on,” Katlynn said with a bit of sadness in her voice.
“Sounds like an intelligent Bard, but that class usually is. It’s a decision you shouldn’t take lightly if you decide to do it at all. It’s a lifetime commitment and cannot be reversed.”
“I know. I’m still thinking about it.” Katlynn tightened her grip around Amon’s waist as they road into the Ironwood Forest.
“We will cut through the forest and stay off the trail to help keep us hidden from the guards. Hopefully they’ll start to relax eventually and give up.”
“If we make it to Eken, won’t we be safe?” Katlynn asked.
“Yes, but Eken’s protection spell that’s casted over it only works as long as we get into the city. The king’s guards, I suspect, are already-” Amon’s sentence was interrupted by an arrow zooming through the air and into his neck. Gurgling as blood spewed from the wound, Amon grabbed his neck and Katlynn screamed in terror.
Suddenly another arrow whistled through the air and struck the horse’s side. The horse reared and knocked Amon and Katlynn off its back and took off through the woods. “Oh my gosh! Amon!” Katlynn screamed, scrambling to her feet and over to his side. Blood poured from his neck as she grabbed a scroll that fell from Amon’s pouch that was strapped to the horse’s side. Reading the scroll, she pressed her hand against Amon’s neck. Immediately the spell transferred from the scroll through Katlynn’s body and into Amon. The Major Healing mended the wound closing it quickly. “What are we going to do now?” Katlynn asked fearful as she stood up looking around to see nothing but trees in every direction. Amon jumped up and held her close to shield her from any more incoming arrows. But there was only silence.
“Let’s head towards the direction the horse ran off,” Amon said as he grabbed Katlynn’s hand. Through the woods, they traveled until they came upon the horse. It was lying in the grass on its side. Arrows strewn across the horse’s torso confirmed it was too late to save it from death. Bending down to the horse’s side, Amon touched it gently. “She was a good horse,” he said quietly.
Katlynn touched Amon’s shoulder to comfort him. “I’m sorry love,” she said quietly matching his tone. Glancing at the horses back side, Katlynn noticed their supplies and equipment had not been stolen by whoever shot the arrows. Bending down, she retrieved the pouches and her mandolin. “Why didn’t they steal our gold or supplies?” Katlynn asked perplexed. Seeing Amon grab hold of his robe’s pocket, she remembered his mysterious glowing secret. “Is this because of that thing you won’t tell me about?”
Amon looked at Katlynn with heavy eyes. He shook his head as he glanced at his hand that cupped his pocket. “This is not good,” Amon said just as rustling through the woods could be heard. Startled, Amon arose and turned towards where the noise was coming from. Katlynn held onto Amon’s arm in fear as the sound grew louder.
“Who’s out there?” Amon shouted wrapping his arms around Katlynn to protect her. “Show yourself!” He shouted even louder. Just then, Lenzo and a few of the villagers they had met before came out from the trees.
“Amon and Katlynn,” Lenzo said with a saddened tone. “It is I, Lenzo.”
“I know. But why were you shooting arrows at us, killing our horse!?” Amon shouted in anger as he warmed up his hands to cast a spell.
“Stop casting, we were not the ones who shot at you. We came for the beast.” Amon rested his hands as he looked over at the horse. Katlynn noticed the logs between Lenzo and the horse hid the horse from his sights and he had no way of knowing that the beast was dead.
“They can’t see the horse, the only way they would have known was if they were the ones who killed it!” Katlynn said.
“No… I’ve seen the druids do this before,” Amon said shaking his head.
“What he says is correct Katlynn. We heard the blood of the beast cry out as it spilled into the soil of the forest,” Lenzo said as he stepped over the logs approaching them. “We have no weapons other than our druidic spells. We carry no bows or arrows, see for yourself.” Lenzo motioned with his hands to his druids that came with him. Bending a knee to the horse, Lenzo laid a hand on the horse’s head and bowed his head. Faint whispers of a prayer could be heard that were not understandable for a brief moment before he stood up.
“The horse has been concentrated to the forest, its spirit will now return to the Life Tree.” Lenzo said. Taking his wooden staff, Lenzo touched it against the horses’ torso and it began to sink into the ground.
“Where is the body going?” Katlynn asked.
“It’s being absorbed by the ground. The soil will use its essence to breed new life.” Lenzo turned with his people and started back into the woods.
“Could you help us get to Elvark?” Katlynn asked. Amon looked at her strangely.
“They betrayed us, why wouldn’t they do it again?” Amon whispered in her ear.
“We must return to our village. You are on the right track, but the guards are in hunt of you.” Why is Lenzo so helpful? First as we left their camp and now with directions… It doesn’t make any sense.
“How come you betrayed us? I heard you by the water’s edge speaking with the guard… But you gave us those mending leaves to help us and just helped us now with our direction… It doesn’t make a lot of sense,” Katlynn said. Lenzo turned around and looked at both Katlynn and Amon and then peered towards the direction of the Fireblade Mountains.
“My duty to the king comes only second to keeping alive the one who holds the Keepers pendent,” Lenzo said as he and his people vanished into the woods. Katlynn grasped her necklace.
“Let’s rest here for a moment before we keep moving,” Amon said. Katlynn agreed with a nod and pulled out her mandolin to practice. Amon came over to Katlynn and held the strings from being used.
“Hold on… We don’t want to alert whoever may be hunting us. I will cast Sound Barrier. The spell is light on mana and will keep us quiet to outside ears,” Amon said. He moved his hands in a circular motion and created a clear force field around them that kept them silent while inside. “That will keep your mandolin practicing quiet to anyone ou
tside the bubble.”
“Thanks,” Katlynn said with a smile. Practicing the Song of Fusion in increments, she found it to be rather easy and she elected to not practice it again since playing it fully would make her a Bard. Shuffling the song papers, the next one she had in hand was the Song of Purification. Katlynn showed the song sheet to Amon.
“Do you know what this song does?” Katlynn asked. Amon grabbed the sheet and looked over it. He looked down for a moment in thought before he looked back at Katlynn.
“This song will purify elements such as poison, sickness or curses.” Amon handed the sheet back to Katlynn and retrieved a waterskin to get a drink while Katlynn practiced the song. After refreshing himself with water, Amon said, “Let’s keep moving.”
**
Coming upon the town of Elvark, Amon and Katlynn found the town swarming with guards. Sneaking along the outside parameter of the town, they kept hidden at the forest’s edge. Stopping at a moss covered tree that lay across the forest floor, they watched the town, waiting for an opportunity to sneak in and get to the house with a slanted roof where Amon’s friend resided.
“Tell me about Haden, what’s he like?” Katlynn asked. Katlynn had never met someone that Amon knew, all his family had abandoned him as an infant and the priesthood took him in and raised him as one of their own. She wasn’t able to meet them though because they had no interests outside of Omad and their priestly duties.
“He’s just an old friend. He’s a giant warrior with some spell casting abilities along with a bit of a chip on his shoulder for good reason. The king’s guard slaughtered his mother and father when he was a mere six-years-old all because they assumed his dad was someone who he wasn’t.”
“Wow, that’s terrible,” Katlynn said. He must have some real angst towards my father. “Is that why he’s helping you?”
“Pretty much, he’s obsessed with helping people that are going against the king. He thinks the entire royalty arrangement is stupid and made up.”
“Made up?” Katlynn asked confused.
“The whole dragon egg thing, he thinks it’s all one big joke that the royal family made up in order to keep their power over the kingdom.” That’s an interesting train of thought, but it seems rather stupid to make up... “I obviously don’t believe that, nor does more than a few drunks at the local tavern, but I don’t say that to him, I like the help he provides.”
“What if it is all made up?” Katlynn asked curiously.
“That’d be ideal. We wouldn’t have to feel bad about putting the entire kingdom in jeopardy if in fact they weren’t in any danger.” Turning his sights away from the town, Amon relaxed his head against the log. “The moss is kind of squishy and makes a nice pillow,” Amon said with a smile. Katlynn turned and snuggled up to his chest. “Don’t worry my love; it will all be well in the end.” Amon kissed the side of Katlynn’s head.
Chapter 11
That evening, the number of guards had dwindled to only a couple as the rest turned in for the evening at the local inn or tavern. Amon looked to see the path the guards were patrolling. One was patrolling in a circular fashion inside the town, while the other one traveled in the opposite direction just outside of town.
As the guard walking on the outside perimeter approached near Amon and Katlynn, Amon summoned a golden Spiritual Hammer in front of himself, outside of the patrolling guard’s view. The hammer began to spin vertically faster and faster until he released it, launching it through the forest. It sliced through a branch and traveled upwards into the sky out of site. The branch hit the ground, startling the guard and causing him to stop where he was and proceed into the forest to investigate the sound. Amon and Katlynn seized the moment and sneaked into the town of Elvark. They found a concealed spot to hide between two of the town’s shops.
As the guard patrolling inside the town made his way around to where he was in sight of them, Amon threw another Spiritual Hammer. It hurled across the way into a shop’s window, shattering it and alerting the guard that was patrolling. As the guard’s back was turned to them investing the disturbance, Amon and Katlynn sneaked into Haden’s house right through the front door.
“Amon!” Haden shouted as he rushed towards him. Each step shook the floor boards beneath his feet until he stopped at Amon launching him upwards with a massive hug. Looking down at Katlynn as he set Amon down, he said, “This must be the princess.”
“That is I, but I go by Katlynn,” she said. This guy is like a giant! His arms are the size of my torso!
“Don’t be nervous around me!” he said patting her roughly on the back almost knocking her to the floor. “You are in safe company; I think what you are doing is good! Those royals are all twisted up over this failed marriage!” Haden laughed.
“News has reached here?” Katlynn asked. Haden looked towards the window and smiled.
“Of course, did you not see the guards outside? The news is spreading across the kingdom like fire. They are saying this is the upset of the century!”
“Oh dear…” Katlynn said softly.
“Is that upsetting to you? Isn’t that why you are doing it?” Haden asked. Amon grabbed her hand and kissed it.
“We wanted to be together, that’s all. We don’t wish to destroy the royal family ties of magic,” Amon said. “We did the only thing we thought we could.”
“Well regardless of what you were trying to do, it’s an upset and a good one at that! I even heard from a buddy over at the tavern that there is a rumor buzzing around about a possible war starting between the royal families!”
“A war why?” Katlynn asked concerned gripping onto Amon’s hand firmly.
“After the wedding fell apart, the Curo Royal Family left in a fury of anger and frustration. It was later revealed, the Curo Queen was killed in route to the Curo capital Khazar.” Katlynn covered her face as she cried into Amon’s shoulder.
“Esyma’s dead.” Katlynn said sobbing. “All because I didn’t marry her son. Her blood is on my hands!” Katlynn cried.
“What’s the problem?” Haden asked confused.
“Could you excuse us?” Amon asked Haden politely. Haden walked off into the other room while Amon tried to calm Katlynn down. “What’s wrong? Who’s Esyma?”
“The ring…” Katlynn said choking on her words as she tried to speak.
“What?” Amon asked rubbing her shoulders trying to calm her nerves.
“The ring I told you about the other day, that ring was Esyma’s ring…” Katlynn said wiping the tears from her eyes.
“I’m not sure I recall that conversation love,” Amon said.
“Ugh… the ring that looks like a black diamond!” Katlynn said annoyed at his inability to recall their conversation. “The ring doesn’t really matter, what matters is she’s dead.”
“I’m sorry my love,” Amon said softly kissing her brow.
“I just saw her alive and breathing at the breakfast table a few days ago and now she’s dead!” Katlynn said crying into Amon’s shoulder.
“You haven’t had much loss in your lifetime, have you?” Amon asked. Katlynn looked up at Amon and shook her head.
“No… and I have never had someone die as a result of something I did.”
“You don’t know it was your fault.”
“I know she wouldn’t have died right then if I had gone through with the wedding…” Katlynn said pulling away from Amon’s shoulder.
“Don’t go down that road of thought Katlynn…” Amon said with a sigh. “It’s only going to take you down a path of remorse, guilt and sadness… and that’s silly considering this is the greatest time in our lives.”
“How could you say this is the greatest time of our lives? Someone died from our decision and we are constantly on the run!” Katlynn began crying harder.
“It will get better my love, it will!” Amon said grabbing her hand and pulling her in close to him. “I promise my love, this uncomfortable state we are lingering in is only for a short while.�
�� Amon pulled a ring from his robe and slipped it onto Katlynn’s hand. The ring was a silver plated band with a small purple stone in the middle. “When I said our love is the forever kind of love, that’s exactly what I meant.”
Katlynn screamed with excitement as Haden came back into the room. Wrapping her arms around Amon’s neck as she jumped with excitement and glee, Haden cleared his throat.
“Congratulations to the two of you but Amon, I have some bad news,” Haden said holding up an empty cloth bag. Amon released Katlynn and walked up to Haden.
“What?” Amon asked.
“My supply of black diamonds has appeared to have gone missing…” Amon grabbed Haden by the shirt and pulled him down to his face.
“What do you mean man? You told me you had me covered if I could make it here. You said you had at least twelve!” Pushing Amon back onto the wooden floor, Haden stood over him looking down.