Rayn returned with a basin of warm water, towel, and razor then hurried out the door. Aaron, loath to be unkempt, was careful to groom and prepare for the day. His cloak and sword hung on the bedpost. Aaron donned the items and left the room.
The common room buzzed like a hive of activity. Several men sat at the table and enjoyed the hospitality of their host. Laughter filled the room and all seemed quite at ease in the old man’s lodge. Others stood near the fire to warm themselves. The fire in the hearth blazed with light and warmed the room like the multitude of jovial conversations warmed the air. A cast iron pot simmered over the fire, a breakfast treasure hidden within. Several decanters were scattered on the main table and steam issued from them like miniature volcanoes while good-humored men poured the hot drink into their cups.
Kaylan seemed to be everywhere at once. He came and went through the door under the stairwell, and as he moved about the table, he delivered plates piled with a variety of food. The din of voices rose like a chorus, jumbled and cheerful. Aaron stepped to the staircase and descended into the swirl of activity.
Kaylan moved through the crowd of people with great agility. He bustled to and fro, brought in cakes and biscuits, bowls, cups, and an assortment of utensils. The men around the table welcomed the additional food and wares as they offered cheers to their host. As Aaron descended the stairs one man at the table, brawny and rugged with a dark, bushy beard and eyebrows to match, nodded his way.
The rugged stranger welcomed Aaron to breakfast. “Come, good sir! Come and sit down for a bite!” His rich accent and the deep warmth of his voice filled the room. The greeting started a cascade of welcomes and “good mornings” from the men in the hall. Another man, seated next to the first, stood from his place at the table and offered him the vacated spot. Aaron didn’t have the heart to refuse such munificence and took the emptied chair.
A bowl of porridge was scooped from the cook-pot and placed before Aaron as he sat, along with a cup and decanter of coffee. Aaron poured himself some of the warm liquid, rich and dark, and enjoyed the hearty meal. Since he slept through two entire days, he was famished and welcomed the food with eagerness.
As Aaron ate, Rayn entered the room and came to stand immediately at his side. “Sir,” he said, “I have secured our horses; we are ready to go. All we need now is our personal gear and we can be off. I see you have met the rest of Kaylan’s guests.” Rayn smiled as he gestured to the other men at the table.
“Aye, lad, he has.” The bearded man replied in his rich baritone, a grin on his face. The stranger looked to Aaron. “Your young private, here, has been good company while you slept. He’s entertained us with tales that had us amazed, and I’ll be bound that you might bring many more details to light.”
“Well,” Aaron said as he shot a look of disapproval at his private, “I am sorry he’s troubled you with his tales.”
“Ah, now, there’s no trouble for a bit of conversation! Don’t be too rough on the lad. I’m sure that he didn’t share your secrets. His talk was of journeys and adventures.” The jovial disposition of the new guest added an air of warmth to the conversation and settled Aaron’s mood toward Rayn.
“Indeed,” Aaron replied as he finished a biscuit that dripped with honey. “Now that I’ve overcome my hunger, perhaps you will tell me a bit about yourself.”
“Not much to tell, we’re just travelers—a troupe of performers for the most part. We have a swordsman,” he gestured to the man across the table from him, “but, for the most part we’re actors. We were caught unprepared on the road when that winter storm fell on us from the mountains. We wandered through the woods and stumbled upon this house. Aye, what luck that was! There are twelve of us, and our host has been mighty busy to keep us fed. You’ll not find a better table set in these parts!”
Cheers rang out from the men who sat around the common room along with a toast for Kaylan. Then the storyteller continued, “We are on the road to Hamilton and will make our way to the capital. We hope to have an audience with the emperor himself. Your private gave us quite a story that we hope to use in a new play.”
“I see,” Aaron said. “I’d like to know what he shared with you.”
“Aye,” said the man. “He told us of a great hunt that you and your men were party to, a pursuit that ended in the mountains north of here. The lad said your game gave quite a chase, but that you are again on the hunt, in pursuit of a quarry more dangerous than the first. It makes for a fantastic tale, the captain of the guard and his young soldier against the odds and the elements to protect the nation.” The burly man smiled. “We are always on the lookout for a chance to add to our collection of plays. Yours will be a wonderful addition.”
A voice spoke from behind them. “Don’t be premature with that performance.” Kaylan entered from the hallway under the staircase and approached the table.
“Ah, Kaylan!” interjected the bearded man, “come join us at the table. We have had very little time with you on this fine morning, and you must join us so we can enjoy your company as well as your food!”
“Indeed, I will.” Kaylan sat at the table as several men excused themselves to prepare for the troupe’s departure. “You must not tell his story, not yet Master Bruhn. He has yet to live the full story, and what is to come might be of greater interest than what is past.”
“Aye, now… you have piqued my interest!” The performer slapped the table and rattled the dishes. “Give me this tale, and I will see that every performer from Shepherd’s Peak to the southern coast hears of this great adventure!”
“Don’t worry, my dear performer,” Kaylan said. “I believe you will have more of a tale than is contained in all the history of Celedon. Now,” he said, as he turned to Aaron, “we have much to discuss, and our time is limited.”
“Indeed,” Aaron rejoined. “I have many questions and hope you will provide me some answers.”
“I will endeavor to do so, as well as offer some information that may be of help to you,” Kaylan said. “Let me tend to my other guests and then we will have that talk.”
The other gentleman, Bruhn, looked at Aaron with renewed anticipation. “So, your story continues! I’ll be eager to hear the entire tale if we meet again. But, now, I must be off and tend to my troupe. They are eager and want to leave as soon as we’re ready. So, Captain, I bid you farewell.” He stood and offered his hand to Aaron who took it in his own. Then Bruhn departed through the main door into the brilliant, sunlit morning.
With Bruhn and his companions gone, the common room fell silent. Aaron enjoyed the quiet moment as he sipped his coffee and ate some of the corn biscuits that remained. He smiled as he considered the energetic performer. Bruhn looked more like a woodcutter.
Several minutes passed before Kaylan returned with Rayn close on his heels. They both sat at the table, Rayn’s expression showed an eagerness to hear more from their host.
Kaylan poured himself a steaming cup of coffee and turned to face Aaron who began to feel a bit uncomfortable as the wizened host fixed his eyes upon him. He hoped Kaylan’s information might help him piece together the riddle of his experience with the fire orb.
“Now,” began Kaylan, “let’s discuss what happened two days ago. I’m sure that you have questions for me, and I know I have a few for you. Perhaps together, we can discover all that needs to be understood.” He sipped on his drink and leaned back in his chair as he waited for Aaron to begin.
“Well,” Aaron hesitated, “my first question is who are you?”
“I am Kaylan,” replied the old man. “That is who I am. But, I think your question is more about what I am rather than who.” Aaron nodded in agreement. “I am from days long ago and have dwelt among the races of this world for ages beyond count. I am Kaylan the Elder, and I am here to aid you in your task.”
“Your words are riddles to me,” Aaron spoke in frustration. “My task is to retrieve the Book of Aleth and return it to its rightful place.” Aaron pushed away from the tab
le and moved to the fire. He leaned against the hearth and stared into the flames as they moved in chaotic patterns upon the wood. “How can you be of any help in that?”
“You don’t understand, Captain. Your quest to regain the Book of Aleth is more than you realize. You have not come to my door by chance or circumstance, nor did a snowstorm guide you to my steps. You were meant to come to me, and I have waited for you; I knew of your arrival long before you showed up on my doorstep. And now I need to help guide you to the right course.” Kaylan’s voice took on a more serious tone.
“The right course?” Aaron exclaimed. “My orders tell me the right course! I’ve been sent to find this book that has vanished into the wild. My course hasn’t changed. I am a soldier of Celedon and will do my duty.”
“Kaylan,” Rayn interjected. “I don’t think you know what you’re talking about. This book belongs to the emperor, and we are vowed to keep his commands. If you have any knowledge of its whereabouts, let us know, otherwise we need to leave.”
“Patience, Rayn,” Kaylan said, “Your captain has a destiny before him, a destiny far greater than he can begin to imagine. Don’t assume that I brought you into my house and entertained you for the sole purpose of passing the time. It is given to me to provide your captain with what he needs in order to begin his true quest.”
“Well, then,” Aaron said. “Tell me plainly what this is all about.”
“To do this, you must recall for me what you witnessed. Very few are able to look unaided into the fire orb, and yet you did so not two nights ago. That in itself is worthy of discussion, but we haven’t the time. I need to know the vision you saw.” Kaylan sat up and focused his gaze on Aaron.
Aaron took a deep breath, leaned against the hearth, and shared his vision with Kaylan. He spoke of the cavernous hall in which the bearded lord sat enthroned. He described the people he saw, smaller than anyone he had ever seen yet strong and warrior-like. He told how he watched another look into an orb, not unlike Kaylan’s. He also told of the information the other spoke to his lord. When Aaron had given a complete account of his experience, he sat and waited for Kaylan to make sense of it.
Kaylan sighed and fixed his eyes on Aaron. The intensity in his gaze took Aaron by surprise. “What I will tell you”—Kaylan began—“you may not be ready to hear. But I will attempt to explain all that you have experienced so far. Explanations are difficult to understand when you look at them from a lack of experience. You cannot understand the tapestry before all the threads are woven together. What I hope to provide you is knowledge of the threads that are attached to you.” He took a deep breath, “Please, be patient Captain, and together we will find some answers.”
Kaylan continued. “You are caught up in the conclusion of a story, one that spans a thousand years and has filled the land with ancient legends. It began when, under the power of his dark craft, a creature of great evil entered Celedon and deceived the nation. This brought about the rebellion which led to the Great War. Our realm was once ruled by a King, one of great power and wisdom, and though he had the power to cast down the rebellious people, his great love for them prevented this. Instead, he allowed his enemy to triumph. But the King promised that Celedon would be released from the usurper’s control. To that end, he set in motion a series of events to restore the nation. However, it all depends on the Book of Aleth.
“Races of many kinds lived in the land at the height of the King’s glory. Some you have seen already in your vision—you’re description of the warrior-race, those are dwarves. Others, those who lived under the King’s banner, you have dismissed as tales and legends, but they are real. Those whom we now call elves—though they referred to themselves by another name—are lost to the kingdom, but they once roamed the lands freely. The usurper had no power over these races, and they were not deceived by his craft.
“So the usurper appointed himself as emperor and tolerated no one who refused his authority. He made war against them and forced them into exile. All reference to the King and all instruction that concerned the glory days of Celedon were destroyed, which left the truth to fall into the realm of myth and legend.
“The emperor appointed those who were loyal to him and of his same evil nature to govern over the realm and gave them power to act on his behalf. This power came with one provision, however, that the usurper alone ruled supreme and that any dissension spelled doom for the rebel. So, through fear and deception, the usurper maintains his supremacy and keeps the nation in darkness.
“The Book of Aleth is the key to the restoration. In that book, the King placed his wisdom. The King imbued it with his own power and proclaimed that a protector would walk out of obscurity and, with the Book of Aleth, break the power of the deceiver. The Protector alone has the capacity to use the book which is why the emperor wants to keep it hidden, never to reveal its location. The Book of Aleth is the power that the emperor fears.”
Aaron listened with intense fascination at the tale woven by the old man before them. He was already familiar with some of the stories, most of which he heard on the streets or in the orphanages, stories told to keep children from bad behavior. Aaron remembered one story from his childhood, that if he didn’t obey the orphan-master, the great despot would come in the night, take him from his bed and force him into slavery.
Aaron shook his head in disbelief. “The educated don’t hold to such nonsense. It’s ludicrous to believe in some man, king or otherwise, who wields such power.”
“Kaylan, only a fool holds to such nonsense!” Rayn scoffed at the notion. “So, you’re telling us that this book we’re after contains magic enough to destroy the emperor!”
Aaron, however, did not feel the same as Rayn. He considered Kaylan’s words with greater patience and was not so quick to challenge all that Kaylan had to say. “Rayn,” Aaron said, “don’t dismiss Kaylan’s words so quickly… all legends have their foundation in some truth. Through the years, the tales grow and get distorted until they become myth.” Aaron felt there was more at stake than he first imagined—more than he understood. “Kaylan,” he said, “I can understand what you’re trying to say, but I am not so quick to believe the ancient myths are true. Even with some of the strange experiences that we’ve had, I can’t believe your words. You sound like an advocate of rebellion against the emperor.”
“Let me ask you a question, Captain.” Kaylan’s words were gentle but as hard as flint. “Who are you loyal to, Celedon or the emperor?”
“What kind of foolish question is that? I am loyal to the oath I swore to uphold the law and defend the nation.” Aaron’s voice carried a note of agitation.
“Let me ask, then,” Kaylan continued, calm and direct. “If you knew that the emperor himself was a danger to the nation, would you oppose him?”
“Captain!” Rayn again protested. “We can’t just sit here and listen to this man ramble on against the emperor. He’s spoken enough for us to take him into custody for dissension.”
“Rayn,” he said, his voice filled with frustration as he chastised his overzealous private. “I don’t think Kaylan is about to incite the entire nation to overthrow the emperor, or that this is an attempt to convince us to do it. A man still has the right to speak about his own heart-felt convictions without fear of arrest.” Aaron sighed with resignation.
“But, Captain!” Rayn persisted. “If everyone has the right to speak against the empire it promotes anarchy!”
“I don’t think we’re in the presence of an anarchist, Private,” Aaron said. “Kaylan, please continue. I want to know what this has to do with me.”
Kaylan looked at Aaron; the wizened man’s eyes spoke his silent concern. “Captain,” he said, “you are the one who has been given the responsibility… you are the one who is meant to recover the book. You are the,” Kaylan hesitated. “You are the Protector of Celedon.”
“But,” protested Aaron, “my duty is to recover the book and take it back to the emperor. I am a loyal soldier. I won’t betr
ay my oath.”
“No, Captain, I don’t believe you will.” Kaylan gave a slight grin. “But I do believe you will discover that the oath you took will lead you to make decisions far different than you can imagine right now.”
Aaron shook his head in disbelief and frustration. “Kaylan,” he said, “you may have aspirations to change the nation based upon ancient fables, but all I will do when I recover this book is take it back to the archives in Celedon and leave it there.” Aaron sighed as he returned to his chair. “I’m sorry. I am no answer to your fanciful hopes; I’m just a soldier of the empire.”
Kaylan leaned closer. “It was not mere chance that brought you to this place. It was not chance that put you in a position to seek the book. There are forces that swirl around you that will guide your steps, even if you can’t see it or won’t believe it.”
“You still speak in riddles. I am charged to defend the empire against all who want destroy it. This book, from what you say, holds great potential to inflict chaos on the nation and turn people against the emperor. Rayn is right, you speak like a dissenter. This story of yours is just a myth told to children, a fairytale. I stopped believing in fairytales a long time ago.” Aaron’s words were hard but his thoughts were filled with the possibility that somehow Kaylan spoke the truth.
“What if I told you that the emperor you serve is the same usurper who has deceived the nation? He has cast a shadow of lies and has blinded the people to the truth. He has tried to destroy all those who oppose him and now has set his desire to eliminate any remnants of the ancient truths. Without that book, the nation will never again know the truth—and you are the one sent to find it. You see, you are meant to find the book, but not for the emperor, for the nation. If that book returns to the emperor, there will be no one left to set right the wrongs that he has brought about,” Kaylan said.
Aaron returned Kaylan’s steady gaze and looked upon the ancient man with strong doubts and suspicions. He believed what he saw in his vision was real, yet he was unable to resolve his recent experiences with what he had always believed. “Tell me, then,” Aaron continued, “if what you say is true, and the emperor has ruled for over a thousand years, what’s to say that his rule is any less valid than a supposed king who gave up on his nation?”
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