The Prince's Shadows

by Seoran Worg

  “No, nothing. It’s just… It’s been long time since I ride someone back.”

  It must be more than ten years ago, the last time I rode Uncle Yezi back. And my father, he never did that, as far as I remember. He is not generous in his affecting.

  “It's make the two of us, my lady. It’s been long time since I take someone on my back,” I hear hint of sadness on Ryn’s voice.

  We arrive in front of my room. He opens the lock, and pushes the door deftly with his shoulder, then he gently puts me on my bed.

  Shortly, Ari enter the room with hot milk. I see she steals a glance or two to Ryn’s face. Her eyes round with awe.

  Ryn leave me then. He goes with deep bow, walking to the door without looking back.

  I let out my pent-up breath, and dragging my weak body to take the milk.

  Oh, why am I so foolish?

  ***

  Today, I am waiting like many days before for the training with Ryn. The training is progressing nicely except that one stupid accident. I still want to kick myself, in the shin, when I remember it.

  I hear echo of footsteps from hallway outside, it heavy and slow. It is not him, I know.

  Shortly after, Master Yan enters the room, telling me to change my clothes and come to the yard. He instructed me to change into simple clothes, a peasant clothes.

  We will go out.

  Joy spreading in my heart but I try mask my face in indifference expression, then I bow to the master and saying my thanks.

  I walk in composed steps to the door. After I safely out, I hurried back to Blue Tower, to my room.

  Finally, freedom.

  Ari helps me to change my clothes to simple peasant clothes, and arranges my hair in simple style. After that, I come down to the yard.

  Under this warm spring sun, it is nice to be outside.

  In the yard, I find Ryn is waiting with his horse and mine, all saddled and ready to depart. I cannot stop smile that sneaking in my face, it has been a long time since I ride a horse or simply enjoying the morning sun.

  Today, Ryn also wears commoner clothes, it is brown in color without any ornament. And a veil in his face, it start just below his eyes down to his chin. The only jewelry he wears is a gold bracelet, fashioned into dragon with jade and white diamond. He lets lose his hair with the sides pulled back into a simple knot behind his head, secured with leather hair band, instead of metal hair band that commonly used by noble or royal. It is definitely odd but I brush off my curiosity.

  “My lady,” he greets me briefly. “We will go outside the wall, to see the limit of your gift,” he says simply.

  He does not tell me where we will go.

  As long as it’s outside this wall, I don’t care where.

  But outside the wall is board place, and we have two walls besides, the Mountain and Giant Wall.

  The Mountain Wall is the inner wall that surrounds the Varr City and has three gates: South, West and North Gate. And no gate in the east, there only Sagha Mountain’s rocky cliff serve as the defense.

  Miles after the Mountain Wall, there is another wall, called Giant Wall. This wall has four gates. In each of this gate stand gate-cities. Perhaps he takes me to the one of these gate-cities.

  The servant help me mount my horse, gingerly I smooth my hair, it is almost in the same style with Ryn’s but it is braided instead of just tied in knot.

  We ride in fast pace, down the mountain and cross the city to the west gate. Passing the familiar road, I feel a sudden burst of sadness. I miss my family and friends. But it is no good to feel morose now.

  As we fast approaching the gate, five-hundred-foot-tall Wall obscure my view ahead, the wall is looming high and wide. It is said that we can ride a carriage on top of it.

  Just before the gate, a stern faced soldier stops us to inquire our identity, but by looking at Ryn’s veiled face and his brilliant light eyes, he just let us pass with a deep bow.

  We are pacing pass the gate slowly, then Ryn remove his veil. Maybe to make himself blend better with the crowd and look less suspicious. But seeing his face, his features and the most obvious, his eyes, it is clear that he is no peasant. At least, he must of a noble blood.

  Outside the city’s wall there are no houses in sight only trees and rock in both side of the road. And some travellers passing by.

  Around a miles pass the gate, Ryn gives me signal to halt. Then he draws near, beckoning me closer and peering into my eyes. When asked, he says he is checking my energy.

  But he doesn’t even try to draw the energy from my body. I don’t understand what it means and I don’t want to ask, lest he will think I am stupid. But he keeps performing this routine every few miles until we reach Wienna, the city-gate in the west.

  This city looks very different from Varr City, for once there is no border other than the Giant Wall to the west.

  I am not sure where the city starts. All I know is that the buildings are sparse at first and going denser as we closer to the wall. The houses look different too. Here, houses mostly made of wood or brick instead of stone. And there are many holes in its cobbled road, here and there.

  Now, we ride slowly, crossing the busy street to the gate, and I have to rein my horse many times because of some drunkard suddenly jump to the road.

  I see children no older than eight are selling goods in the street. They wear rough brown misshapen tunic and their hair matted with dirt. And people are passing by them with stony face as if this is a common thing.

  Maybe here it is. But, where are their parents?

  I hear Ryn calls my name, trying to get my attention.

  “We will go outside the Giant Wall,” he says.

  I simply nod.

  Shortly, we will arrive at the check point of the Giant Wall’s west gate, for I can see that the wall is looming not far ahead.

  At first, this journey makes me excited. But the far we go the less excited I become.

  The sight here is worse than the Naqari, nother gate-city in the North. The only city I’ve visited by myself, the once time I tried to run away from home few months ago. I cannot imagine what it will look like outside the Giant Wall without a loving uncle who will shield my eyes from harsh reality.

  Far to my left, I see young boys around my age are being chased by soldiers. They jump and darting around. One of them, runs fast, then crashing merchants’ wares, and toppled it. Oranges and watermelons are spreading to the busy street. And angry shouts soon follow. It seems like they are ready to kill each other.

  Maybe seeing fear in my face, Ryn says, “Don’t be afraid.”

  I know that he won’t let bad thing happen to me while in his protection. It’s not mortal danger that I afraid of but the knowledge that the world is less beautiful unlike in the stories and my dream.

  In the west gate, a soldier with a scar in his face stops us. And like the other soldier, he just bowing and says, “You may pass my lord, my lady.”

  It is almost noon now, the warmth of spring sun heated my skin. But we keep pace our horses, to the west, we go. Miles we ride, from one green hill to another, until Ryn stops me once again.

  This time, we stop near a big oak tree, and dismount. He gives me dried food to fill my empty stomach. We eat under the tree's tuft, shading us from the sun above.

  This place is quite beautiful.

  Down the hill, I see dandelion field, they are white and soft looking, dancing with the wind.

  Yes, it’s not as bad as I thought.

  I turn my head, looking at Ryn. He seems at ease too.

  Seeing his sharp profile, he’s truly handsome.

  My heart skips a beat as our eyes locked.

  He looks at me oddly. “It starts to wear off,” he says softly. He stands up, walking to our horses, pulling a looking glass from his saddle bag, and gives it to me.

  “Your eyes,” he says, pointing to the looking glass. I raise the glass, leveling to my face. And I see my reflection there. Now, I know what
he means. My eyes become a shade lighter than before but still look very dark, almost black.

  “Do you know why it changes?” I ask him curiously.

  “I’ve notice it before in our training. The color left your eyes with your energy. It’s your energy draining, my lady.”

  “So, it’s what meant, I see. But I don’t understand why we have to go this far. For what? And why you want to know?”

  “It’s not I.”

  I look at him in silent question. I hold his assessing gaze.

  He turns, breaking the gaze, and says, “This is Prince Lex commands, surely you know it, my lady.”

  “Can you please stop call me that?”

  He says nothing, just staring blankly as if not comprehending what I say.

  “My lady. Stop calls me that. Ava. My name is Ava.”

  “As my lady wish,” is all he says.

  He stands up and starts to mount his horse again but I don’t want to be dismissed now. I follow him and ask, “And what are you?”

  “No–”

  “No one. Don’t tell me that! ” I cut him. I thought we pass the stage of a mere acquaintance now. “You are not truly a ‘no one’, aren’t you?”

  He sees me straight in the eyes, and after a pregnant silent, he says, “I wasn’t,” then he looks away and adds, “but it was a long time ago.”

  Chapter 3

  We, Ryn and I, continue our ride in slower pace to the west.

  Under purplish-blue sky, we ride against the soft wind. Spring’s sun starts to move to the west, partly hidden between the clouds. It shine, emanating lukewarm heat.

  Around us, gentle breeze passing by, makes bulrush dancing slowly. My hair is flowing freely, following the wind.

  In silent, we ride, only clopping sound of hooves hit the ground fill the air.

  Occasionally, the smell of wildflower is drifting to my nose. I see many of them along the way, in various bright colors. And some of them are new; I’ve never seen it before.

  Up, we ride across shallow hill, then down to the vast grass fields. Far to the west, I can see series of mountain. This place is so tranquil; it gives me sense of peacefulness. I can pace my horse here all day, dancing with the wind.

  Ryn says we headed to Darg Lake. It is our final destination. It is the biggest lake in the empire and located almost a hundred miles northwest of the Giant Wall.

  But in few hours, dusk will set so we have to seek a shelter.

  The sun is hanging low in horizon now, and dusk will set soon. We stop at a small village that belongs to Kim Clan around fifty miles south of the Darg Lake.

  I often heard from Uncle Yezi about these many villages that spread across the Varr Empire that he had visited in his younger day, but this village is smaller than I thought. In my imagination, a village should have more than hundred houses, but in reality, this village has no more than fifty houses in total. It also has no border, fence or whatsoever for defense.

  The village’s chief welcomes us to his house which is the biggest one, and we stay there for the night.

  This house mostly made of wood but its foundation was made from grey stone. The chief and his family treat us warmly. He says it is an honor to welcome a fine lord and lady as he put it.

  He serves us roasted chicken and hot rice. I am so hungry so I eat the chicken as fast as a lady allowed.

  After we finish, the chief and his wife clear the table, then he sits before us telling about his village and its surrounding, from crops to common robber that haunts this area. But with my body aches, and full belly, I close to doze off, and not truly listening.

  “You must be careful, my lord. They are savage creature,” he says solemnly.

  Before we retire, one of the villagers brings her new born baby to us. She asks Ryn to name him.

  “He was born, two days ago, my lord.” She plead some more, until Ryn finally gives a name to the boy.

  Some others villagers come thereafter, some ask for a blessing or a simple advice from us. For the first time, I understand what it means to the Blessed.

  Around an hour later, we are finally left alone.

  “Take a rest. We will continue our training before dawn,” Ryn says and starts to raises from his seat.

  But curiosity gets better of me, “Wait!” I say, holding him on, searching his eyes and ask, “Is this common to give blessing and all those thing?”

  “That’s what people expect,” he pauses to take my measure, “To them, we are part a God after all,” he adds in oddly cold voice, then he bows and leave.

  Do we really? I don’t feel godly at all.

  ***

  An hours before dawn, the chief's wife tells me that Ryn asks me to join him in the country yard to begin our training.

  Hastily, I come outside, the air is damp, I hug my body tightly braving the cold.

  Ryn is already waiting in the yard. I slow down my steps. I come quietly behind him, for a while I stay silent listening the crickets chirping in the distant which is the only sound. And looking up to the sky. It is sprinkled with stars. Just below the stars, the holy fire’s light is dancing, blue and purple-red color interchange illuminate this dark and quiet night below.

  “What are you looking at?”

  I jump, startled. He is already facing me, amused.

  I plan to catch him unaware but he catches me instead.

  “Sky,” I say simply.

  He gives me an odd look, then asks me to take my stance.

  We start our training as usual, Ryn try to drain energy from my body.

  Our gaze locked, I try my best to I block my energy flow. Here, I feel a subtle different in my energy. It is easier to get out of breath and my energy is easier to drain out, but the good side is it is easier to manage. And for the first time, I can block him completely.

  Ryn give me nod of acknowledgment.

  Finally I did it!

  This training is exhausting but worthy effort.

  He raises his hand to my neck, gingerly touches my pendant, “Let’s take this off,” he says softly, removing the pendant from my nape. I feel an electric charge when his fingertips accidentally brush my skin.

  “What is that?”

  He seems startled too, “Nothing,” he says.

  He lied, I know because I feel some kind of pull. It is like my energy seeks him out.

  With no pendant, again, I fail to fight his control. It is like my energy has a will of its own. I feel it keeps leaking. Ryn is the one who always draw back, cut out our intertwined path.

  Golden color is creeping on the horizon in the east, sign of the coming dawn. We finish our training.

  He picks my pendant from the ground below. He seems hesitant to put it back to my neck. In the end, he puts it in his pocket and says that no need for me to wear the pendant for the rest of the journey.

  “Do you think I am too slow?” I ask worried

  “It is normal,” he assures me, “You will control it soon,” he adds.

  Quickly, we prepare ourselves for the journey.

  When we go out, the villagers are already waiting there. Our horses are saddled and ready. We bid our good bye to the chief and villagers. They give us some dried fruit and bread for provision.

  We continue our ride to the north. This time, cloudless blue sky welcomes us with the wind and smell of spring.

  Smell of freedom.

  We are galloping faster, wanting to arrive before noon.

  In mid-way, we pass another city but not stopping there, we moderate our pace instead since the street is crowded, many travelers passing by. This city is much smaller and less crowded than Wienna.

  Its people, their clothes and hair style looks different from Wienna. Here most people wear dark colored clothes that mark them as peasant. I see some women wear hair onement in bright color but after look more closely it is only painted wood instead of silver, gold or gem stones. Few of them wear some weird looking clothes, Westerland’s clothes. Many
of Varrian especially that live near the west shore adopt that style. Even though it is made from dark color of peasant, it was styled differently. Their tunic is closed together with many buttons with no sash in their waist, and it also has different kind of neckband.

  I let out a heavy sigh, remembering my father promise to let me go to Westerland with Uncle Yezi. It should be last summer but it is just a dream now.

  We are riding faster again after we out from the city. We are fast approaching a tall hill ahead. But before that we cross dense woodland, full of big oak trees.

  It is dark here, sun ray is blocked by the trees' turf, lend it an air of danger. Out of sudden, Ryn pulls the rein of my horse. Then, I sense rather than see an arrow pass. It feels like a quick sharp wind, whizzing past.

  But as I glance to the ground, I see the arrow is lying there, broken into two nice cut.

  What’s happened?

  In a flash, ten people, all clad in black emerge from the trees, each with sword in their hand. All of them have rough weathered face. Some of them have visible scar in their face and some cut their hair short. Scar in the face is the highest shame in this empire, it is only second to wear their hair short.

  I scan around and see archers perched high in trees not far away, ready to aim. Clearly, we are trapped and outnumbered. In all of my almost-eighteen years, I’ve only heard about these robbers or any other thievery activity. This is the first time I fall victim to one. I understand now, why Uncle Yezi always brings many soldiers in our journeys back then.

  The robber’s apparent leader steps up, he has big slash starting from his ear down to his chin, and he cut his hair short too.

  "Easy my lord. We Just want your bags. Or something to ride," he leers. His band is jeering in unison.

  Bags and horses?

  "Only the one, my lord. You and the rest my go unharmed." chirps the other.

  They all are guffawing madly now.

  What is so funny, they scare me.

  Ryn's face is taut with anger, his eyes glint dangerously, “Out of our way,” he answers in chilly voice, seems unafraid.

  Why is he so stubborn? We cannot possibly defeat them. Just give them the one horse and the bags.

  I try to tell him to surrender, but before a plead come out of my mount. I feel a wave of heat. It transverses outwardly, and singed the path it travelled.

  I see smoke rises from the leader’s burned clothes, and suddenly, he screams and jumping away.

  “It’s a warning. Off you go,” Ryn advises them coldly.