How was that possible? thought Kaira. And by the looks on everyone’s faces, they thought the same. They didn’t see a soul on their way there.
“She also said that you talked to her for a moment before taking your rest on the side of the road,” the soldier added. The others were still confused but chose to ignore the story.
The other soldier that came from the other side whispered to the other’s ears and he smiled back at them.
“Your Majesties, your carriage has been prepared and is ready to take you to your destination. The driver already knows where you are to be dropped off —”
“To the city of Tamara, am I correct?” Aderon abruptly interrupted the soldier. But, he disagreed.
“I apologize but the Prime Minister thought best for all of you to head straight to the Red Prince,” the soldier said.
“But, but how? Tell us how and why it happened,” Kaira asked.
“Your Highness, we do not know. They only told us this without further information,” the soldier replied, clear on the soldier’s face that he was affected by it.
“But there have been some rumors circling in the capital that the Princess killed the ill king in his own bed chamber,” the soldier, jolting Kaira where she stood, horrified. “Since then, the capital has been closed. So your orders now are to head straight to the Red Prince. The carriage will leave you when you reach the ruined city where the Prince and his army currently reside.”
“Ruined city? Do you mean the ruined city of Trodos? That is more than a week far. Are you sure that he is still there?” Kaira asked, assuring every detail of the new orders. She knew that the Empire only had one city in ruins. It was the old capital of the Trodonar Empire.
“I am sorry, Your Grace. But we are talking about the city of Melgrace,” the soldier said. Kaira ran cold sweat upon hearing the news.
“Melgrace? That’s the gate city! How could that big of a city fall,” Ravaen asked, unable to believe what he just heard.
“That’s where the Red Prince stopped his tracks. Reports indicate that he is still there. We do believe that he is still replenishing his army. Moving that fast from town to town, especially in Huertian will really take a toll to any army. The nearest neighboring town from one place to another could take days to reach,” the guard said.
Everyone was left speechless. Kaira felt the burden of their task as she remembered what the maiden had told them. With such an immense threat, how could they go ahead and let Tamiron live? Kaira felt conflicted.
The soldier called them to board the carriage. It was a big carriage, sure to accommodate them all comfortably for the long journey ahead. The soldier opened the doors and the ladies were the first to enter. The soldier helped Kaira in hauling Evangeline into the coach.
“No, no. I’m fine. I can take care of her,” she told the soldier who politely backed away.
“What happened to her, Your Highness?” the soldier asked. Kaira carefully pulled Evangeline from her back and gently settled her on the seats.
“Uhm, she bumped her head,” she said in a bubbly tone and grinned at him.
“Is she of the Maroon Orderian, Your Highness? How clumsy of her,” the soldier again asked, peeking through the window. Glaivel patted the soldier on the back and motioned into the carriage.
“Orderians,” Glaivel said jokingly and sat beside the left window.
The soldier agreed and Sevidon quickly followed. He sat on the right side of the carriage beside the window. Graveloth quickly followed as well and sat in the middle of the two, which was a bit uncomfortable to him for he knew the tense relationship this two had. But he could not complain. Kaira and Evangeline needed the space on the opposite side for her to rest. Kaira noticed his slight uneasiness and giggled it out as Graveloth smiled and went with it.
The soldier noticed the remaining two who were the Fliers. Before he could even talk, Aderon summoned his wings and flew atop the carriage. The driver understood this and was about to ask Ravaen where he would place himself and Ravaen simply pointed to the roof.
“I’ll just take the roof then. When the High Prince gets tired, I’ll fly. We’ll take turns.” He climbed up the back and onto the roof where he rested his back. The soldier, apparently satisfied, signaled the driver that they were ready.
Inside the carriage, everyone was resting. Kaira grazed Evangeline’s hair with her fingers. Graveloth only watched; nothing else to do. Sevidon looked at the sky above with his chin resting on his palm as they swiftly moved through forest. Glaivel focused on the trees, watching out for anything peculiar.
It was a bumpy ride all throughout the day as they made their way through the side of a mountain. It was a short distance to the ground and they saw one of the most beautiful places in the empire.
Kaira was still bothered by the news she heard from the guards could no longer hold her silence.
“Hey, do you believe what the soldiers said awhile back? About the princess murdering her own father?” she said in a whispering tone. The others remained silent for a moment.
“We don’t need to whisper. The sound of the carriage wheels and the wind blowing through the driver’s ears are noise enough. We just have to tone ourselves not too loud,” Sevidon said to them.
“Well, I don’t know what’s happening in the empire recently since I just broke out of prison weeks ago. So—”
“Wait, you were a prisoner? I thought you said you were a blacksmith?” Glaivel suddenly asked out of shock.
“Well I was, but it’s a long story I’ll tell you guys later,” Graveloth answered, quickly dispelling the topic. Sevidon and Kaira was just a little blown by it but they didn’t mind it now because they knew something much more important was at hand.
“Glaivel, enough of that. So what do you think?” Kaira told him. Glaivel just looked at her before turning away.
“I just can’t find myself a good reason to care. Ask the Venis,” Glaivel said a bit rudely.
Kaira got ticked but she let it go and faced Sevidon. Sevidon noticed her gaze and was silent for a moment, seemingly trying to think and sighing it out before looking at the window too.
“Well, first off, Tamiron’s sudden betrayal was a huge surprise to me. I know him personally and I know that he will not just abandon his home like that. And I can’t think of a good reason why he would even come to the side of Xerxecia. Second, based on his stories which he told me, his sister was indeed the kindest of them all. Her humility is unmatched but, if we speak of duty and responsibility, her personality can be like of a true leader,” Sevidon said.
Kaira couldn’t agree more about Tamiron. After their visit back then in Tamara, she managed to bond with the Prince for a while as well. And back then, the Princess was always behind a maid’s leg, too shy to talk to him. She really did not know what to think of him. Not knowing though, made her anxious.
“And third,” Sevidon continued, “I find it impossible if not, a lie, that the princess killed her father. In every sense of the word and every possible scenario, it would not have come to that. That’s just plain lies.”
Kaira was silent, speechless about the topic like Graveloth who knew nothing.
“How do you know that?” Glaivel jumped in, asking Sevidon.
“Tamiron told me that story a long time ago. By the way he said it, his tone was true,” Sevidon answered. Glaivel again looked out the window as he bit his fingers, wondering.
“How about the Prime Minister, Sevidon?” Kaira asked him.
“When I heard of the news, I didn’t trust him fully. I’ve seen him a long time ago during the last war. His decisions were contradicted by the late King. He is a sadist, a warmonger, power hungry and has long wanted for it. But you really can’t pick that up. I’ve lived long enough to see people like him, and I can easily see through someone. Everything that’s happening, it’s just too convenient if you ask me,” Sevidon said then looked at her and Graveloth. Kaira continued playing with Evangeline’s hair as she pondered and Grave
loth breathed deeply, reflecting what sort of mess he got himself into, again.
“Sevidon has a point,” Glaivel suddenly spoke. “You need to think like your enemy. And if all of us are getting the exact same idea from this conversation alone, we might as well consider the possibility that the immortal one was right.”
Kaira dropped her hands. She could already see that this was going to be a problem. How could they make a decision with so much at stake?
“He betrayed his empire, for no reason at all or for something we do not know,” Glaivel added. They all fell silent. Then it hit Graveloth.
“Wait, what if, there was no reason at all. What if, something made him do what he did?” Graveloth continued. What if he’s right? Kaira considered the idea. Moments passed and they were all in much deeper thought.
“But, who can make him do something like that,” Kaira suddenly spoke, “unless.” Kaira stopped by the thought itself. Sevidon looked closely at Kaira’s reaction and he was surprised by it too. Graveloth noticed both of them like they had the same idea.
“Well? What is it?” Graveloth came to ask.
“What if a spell made him do it?” Kaira said. What else could do this? Kaira thought. Only the Orderians are powerful enough to do that. And if what Sevidon said about Tamiron was indeed true, then this could very well be a huge possibility.
“That’s impossible. The Orderians have been the longest ally of the Trasidars,” Sevidon said.
“But think of it. Think of it carefully,” Kaira insisted. “Of all the people here in the continent, the Orderians are the people who have the power to do this.”
“What are you saying? Are you saying the Orderians have plotted this?” Glaivel said.
“No — I don’t know. Maybe. But we need to consider the possibility here.”
“I’m telling you now, Kaira. It is just impossible. The Orderians are here because of the Trasidians, heck, they weren’t even united back then and they still became allies until now. We can’t just throw away years of their unwavering loyalty.” Sevidon countered.
“What if it’s not the Orderian at all. What if someone else is doing this?” Kaira answered.
“Then he or she has to be more powerful than the Orderian Council. Their laws even forbid that kind of magic. Let it go, Kaira. We need to think of something else,” Sevidon finished the conversation then and there.
But Kaira could not. She needed to be sure. The possibilities were just too good to ignore. She needed to prove Tamiron’s innocence.
A good half of the day had passed and the carriage left the mountain pass out the central region of Francesno’ir and entered the small region of Go’Renhor. They found themselves in a wide flat land, southwest of Melgrace and south of the Rallen Forest. The outlay of the land made it difficult to cross both day and night, but it was the fastest way towards the ruined city so they really did not have a choice.
The wide open field was full of creatures, herds of rhenos, spotted animals that produced milk. Some osgraths, large bird like creatures with long legs and necks, had wings but cannot fly, and panthers to carones, a dog like creature that roamed the wilds. Vulturets roamed the sky in the day which made it eerie along with the intense heat of the sun and the gusts of hot wind.
Kaira looked outside, trying to admire the landscape but found it a bit odd when she noticed that Evangeline seemed to be having a nightmare. Evangeline started to shake and breathe heavily, taking as much air through her mouth. She was panting, panting until her eyes opened wide as it glowed of bright maroon and her mouth emitted the same tint of light but everything inside was dark except for the lights that came out of her. Small lights started to appear, surrounding Kaira and Evangeline when suddenly, she let out a strong energy burst and rattled the entire carriage. The carriage exploded to pieces, throwing everyone out of the road. Evangeline let out an ear piercing screech until the explosion was over.
The horses were knocked out as everyone lied down on the ground unconscious. Everyone except Kaira. She looked around as she tried to look for Evangeline and was stunned to see her floating in midair, slowly descending, still surrounded by the bright maroon incandescence. Kaira was hurt and her body ached badly but she ran for her. She ran as fast as she could as the light that surrounding Evangeline disappeared.
Kaira was able to catch her with ease as Evangeline’s unconscious body dropped face to the ground. Ravaen flew quickly to their aid when all of a sudden, Evangeline woke up with a full gasp for air. She panicked and held Kaira and Ravaen’s arm alternately. It appeared as if she was trying to say something but wasn’t able to do so. Kaira quickly dragged her legs to sit up straight as she still held Evangeline by the head.
“I know what happened to Tamiron,” she stuttered and tried to breath slowly.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
In the governor’s palace in Melgrace, the sky was restless as before. The dark clouds covered the land with endless darkness as they robbed it of the sunlight that it needed. Tamiron and his army were preparing to leave the city. They made all the final preparations for the next pillage and the soldiers were eager for new meat. They were anxious to strike another city, scourge the land of its worth and strip it of life. Leave it desolated. Tamiron overlooked his army atop the palace. He jumped off the ledge and approached one of his Xerxecian lieutenants.
A Xerxecian soldier was about to hand Tamiron his horse but his hand stopped to reach for the horse’s bridle. He turned his head slowly towards west. His eyes glowed of blood red. He looked up at the angry skies then set his sight towards west. He breathed heavily before turning away completely and walking several paces towards the west. The soldiers were startled but one dared to go near him and asked.
“Sire, we need to go now. The master needs the port taken by sundown,” the soldier said in a grunt voice. Tamiron faced him slowly.
“Tell me, do you see the sun anywhere?” Tamiron asked, his voice raw.
“I don’t see it General,” the soldier answered.
Tamiron faced the west again. “Then we have the time we need. You go on ahead. I’ll stay here,” Tamiron ordered the soldier.
Without any other questions, they slowly left the Prince and the army slowly faded into the city ruins heading southeast. Tamiron jumped back to the top of the palace and knelt, waiting for something. He felt something was coming. His eyes set west as he waited for those who dared.
End of Chapter XIX
XX: VISION OF THE PLAINS
EVANGELINE’S VISION SPUN. BY THE corner of her eyes, she could see everyone was concerned with what happened. She had no idea. Let alone what she did again. All she knew was that everyone was trying to speak to her.
“Evangeline, are you alright?” Kaira asked her as she tended to her.
“Yes,” she said trying to sit up. “I’m fine. What happened?” she asked.
“You don’t know?” Sevidon asked. Evangeline just shook her head No.
“You are dangerous. Why did the Orderian send you? Really?” Glaivel interjected.
“Hey, go easy on her. Look at what she just did,” Ravaen defended. The two had started to argue, with Evangeline looking around to see the carriage that they rode, was no more. She gasped. She did this, unwillingly.
“Both of you, stop arguing,” Sevidon tried to break the two up, but Glaivel pushed him away.
“Stay out of this. I’ve had it with your friends. They always cause trouble. First is that student of yours, now this. I will convene the Meskotav Council once I get back,” Glaivel shouted at Sevidon, his fingers straight at him.
“Would you two shut it?” Aderon said from a distance, trying to make sense of what to do.
“I agree with the High Prince on this one,” Graveloth suddenly said. “Of all the people here that clearly don’t like each other — and yes, I can tell — you two seem to know each other longer.”
“They are Elves. In this age, every Elf may know someone from the other Elven kingdom,” Kaira said.
<
br /> “No. It goes deeper than that, I think,” Evangeline suddenly said, her attention on both Elves. Then she stood up, “But now is not the time. We must go.”
She walked towards Melgrace as if nothing happened.
“No, you will have to rest a little. We can’t face Tamiron if you’re in that shape,” Kaira said reaching for her arm to stop her. Evangeline kept walking, ignoring Kaira’s calls.
“We don’t have much time.” Everyone hesitated to follow. Evangeline turned around and met all their eyes on her.
“What did you say back there before you dozed off for a moment?” Ravaen asked with his arms crossed.
“Now tell us about what you said about Tamiron. What happened really?” Kaira jumped to the point. The little smile on Evangeline’s face faded.
“I will tell you along the way. But first, we have to get moving, fast,” Evangeline said in hurriedly as she started to walk again, this time leaving the others no choice but to follow suit.
Kaira was able to catch up with her and grabbed her by the shoulder.
“Now would be a good time,” Kaira said.
“Well, during my sleep. I’ve discovered something. I don’t know how but,” Evangeline paused then paced with the others. “I can see with the scout owls,” Evangeline said as she looked at everyone.
“What do you mean you can see with them?”
“They are magical owls created by the Orderians, the Trasidars and we, the Falcons are using them to guard the land bridge that connects Arumar to the Shardon continent. We also use it for guarding the rest of our borders,” Ravaen interrupted.
“The thing is, we can see what they are seeing in real time as another owl projects the images the other witnesses. They are all linked together, and they can store the images as information too,” Evangeline explained further. “There was a scout owl flying by during the battle in the plains of Tamara.”
“You mean you saw what happened that day?” Graveloth asked to which Evangeline nodded.
“Well, tell us then. What really happened?” Sevidon said, Evangeline continued on walking.
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