Avondale

by Toby Neighbors

  “But,” he said, “I am not without mercy. As a boon to our King and his beautiful daughter…” He cast a look over his shoulder as he said this, looking at Ariel who seemed to be entranced by the whole affair, “I banish you from Avondale forever.”

  Once again Leonosis paused and was rewarded by a gut wrenching moan of terror from Lady Olyva. If Rafe had not been holding her, she would have fallen to the ground.

  “And to ensure that your romance is not endangered,” he continued. “I banish your lover as well.”

  The crowd was so shocked by Rafe’s banishment that they no longer talked in hushed voices. The great hall was suddenly filled with noise, but Tiberius heard none of it. The crowd was flabbergasted that the great Sword Master’s son was being banished. Everyone in the city knew of Rafe’s skill with the sword and everyone expected that he would bring great honor to Avondale, just like his father had. No one had even considered that Leonosis would banish him. Tiberius looked to his father, hoping that Aegus would intervene, but from the look on the Earl’s face, everything was going according to plan.

  “I’m sorry, my lady,” Tiberius said to Ariel. “It was my honor to meet you.”

  “What?” the Princess said in surprise.

  Tiberius didn’t wait to explain. He left the high table and made his way through the crowd toward Rafe who stood holding Olyva, his features set with a look of furious defiance.

  “Brother!” Tiberius shouted as he stepped up beside Rafe, who looked at him in surprise. “Don’t do this. No one has been hurt here. Rafe has served our family with honor. I, for one, will vouch for him. Lady Olyva was carried away from her family and all she knew in Hamill Keep. Neither of them deserve such a cruel sentence. I beg you to reconsider, for the good of Avondale.”

  The crowd seemed surprised at first; Tiberius had expected that. He was the Earl’s third son, and he doubted if half the people in the great hall even knew his name. But they liked what he did and it gave them hope that Rafe would be spared. He could hear the excited talk all around him and he hoped the looks of eager expectation on their faces might help sway Leonosis.

  “This in not your place, Tiberius,” Earl Aegus said.

  “Rafe is my friend,” Tiberius said, still speaking loudly so that everyone in the hall could hear him. “Avondale is my home. I only want what is best for all of us.”

  “You would tie your fate to Rafe Grentzson?” Leonosis asked.

  For a split second Tiberius hesitated. He knew he was giving his brother the power over his life, but he doubted that Leonosis would banish him. Adding his own life to the balance would give his brother a reason to overturn his ruling without losing the respect of the crowd.

  “I would,” Tiberius said.

  The murmuring grew so loud Leonosis had to call for quiet in the hall. Tiberius saw Ariel moving over to her father and whispering in the King’s ear.

  “My decisions stands,” Leonosis said, with a look of wicked glee on his face. “I banish the three of you forever.”

  There were angry shouts from the crowd now, and calls for mercy. Olyva’s face was buried in Rafe’s chest and the young warrior looked at his friend. There were tears in Rafe’s eyes. Tiberius was shocked. He couldn’t believe his brother had banished him forever. It wasn’t right, but Tiberius knew that arguing wouldn’t change anything. He clenched his teeth and glared balefully at Leonosis, ignoring the downcast looks of his mother and father, knowing that neither would speak up for him.

  “May I interject?” the King asked, rising to his feet and bringing the hall to silence instantly. The King didn’t wait to be given permission to interfere with the proceedings. “I can see the value of this officer and being a warrior myself, I would grant a reprieve to Rafe Grentzson and the Earl’s son as well. There is a place at Sparlan Citadel for both of you.”

  Tiberius felt hope kindle to life in his chest. He understood now what the Princess had whispered in her father’s ear. By tying himself to Rafe, she was able to get him to leave Avondale and return with her. No one would even know that he was wanted, since the Citadel was a warrior’s stronghold and Rafe was the most promising fighter in Avondale.

  The crowd called out their approval of the situation. There were whistles and shouts of praise for the King’s mercy. Tiberius looked to Leonosis who was now stone faced, only the pulsing throb of the vein in his neck betraying his fury. The Earl seemed unsurprised by the King’s intervention.

  “Even good men,” the King continued, “can be corrupted by a lascivious woman. What say you Rafe Grentzson, will you join my war band?”

  Tiberius knew his friend’s answer before Rafe spoke. Their salvation hinged on Rafe abandoning Olyva and Tiberius knew his friend was too honorable to accept that. The fact that the King had insulted Lady Olyva only made the decision that much easier.

  “No,” he said.

  The crowd was shocked to silence.

  “Go then!” Leonosis bellowed. “Get out of my sight. Guards!”

  Armed men marched into the feasting hall. The King looked furious and Princess Ariel was shocked. Tiberius guessed she’d never heard anyone refuse her father before.

  “You got us into a hell of a mess now,” Tiberius growled.

  “Would you have done it any different,” his friend shot back.

  Tiberius thought of Lexi. She was a lost soul, a thief, her status even less than a peasant, and yet he would have done the same for her. It was devastating to realize he would never see her again, but he shook his head anyway.

  The guards surrounded the three of them, and Tiberius cast one last look up at his family, but they only seemed embarrassed. He doubted they would miss him at all. And then he turned on his heel and followed his friends from the feast.

  Chapter 20

  Tiberius

  They were almost out of the castle when a servant reached the group of soldiers. Tiberius had expected as much. His brother would want a little more time to gloat over Tiberius’ fate. The guards changed direction and ushered them back into the depths of the palace.

  “Where are you taking us?” Rafe asked them.

  The soldiers refused to look at him.

  “You cowards,” he spat.

  “They’re just doing their job,” Tiberius said.

  “They used to be my friends.”

  “Just stay calm,” Tiberius said. “We won’t gain any ground making people angry.”

  “How the hell are you so calm?” Rafe asked him a low voice. “You just threw your life away.”

  “I was trying to help you,” Tiberius snapped.

  “Well a fat lot of good it did,” Rafe retorted.

  “Don’t you dare blame me for this,” Tiberius said. “And by the way, I’m still angry at you for selling out to Leonosis about the Graypees.”

  “I didn’t have a choice,” Rafe growled. “You think I like letting that snake steal our glory? I had to make the best of a bad situation.”

  “Let me guess, you traded Leonosis the truth for letting you marry Olyva.”

  “It was the only chance we had to be together.”

  “You took Leonosis at his word?” Tiberius asked incredulously.

  “What choice did I have? He came to me and the lies had already been spread through the city. It wasn’t like I bargained with him. It wasn’t even my idea. Besides, Olyva and I weren’t flaunting anything. I had no idea he would betray me.”

  Tiberius just looked as his friend, but Rafe wouldn’t meet his eyes. They were led into a small room with no furnishing except three wooden benches set against the walls. Rafe led Olyva to one, and sat with her. She was distraught and rightfully so. No one had ever left Avondale and returned. They had no idea what they would find beyond the thick layer of mist in the blighted lands, but they knew huge monstrous beasts lived in the lowlands. Whatever they found, it would not be pleasant.

  Hours passed and Tiberius stretched out on one of the benches. He hoped that he might have a chance to collect a few of h
is things before being banished from his home. There had been no decree against letting them arm themselves, in fact he still had the dagger that Robere insisted he wear and Rafe still had his rapier strapped to his hip.

  Eventually, Robere arrived carrying a tray of food. It was nothing more than some cheese, bread, and a pitcher of water, but at least they wouldn’t be starved.

  “Oh, Master Tiberius,” he said sadly.

  “Don’t be sorry for me,” Tiberius replied.

  “I can’t believe what is happening.”

  “It will be alright. You’ve been good to me, Robere. Thank you.”

  “I will miss you, Master Tiberius.”

  “And I you, Robere. I will remember you always.”

  “I wish I could do more,” he whispered, slipping Ti’s whip from beneath a fold in his tunic.

  Tiberius took the whip and quickly hid it inside his own shirt. He wanted to send a message to Lexi, but he doubted that anyone in the palace would be able to find her. She had made her decision the day before. She didn’t want to be with him, so he decided not to mention anything about her. It wouldn’t be long before anyone with ties to Tiberius or Rafe would be ostracized in the city. Lexi would be better off without contact from him.

  “You have done more for me than anyone in my family,” Tiberius said.

  Robere bowed, then hurried away. Guards stood outside the room, but they didn’t seem to pay any attention to what was going on inside the room. Tiberius had never been in the room before; it was obviously just a holding cell for people awaiting the Earl’s judgement. Eventually, they fell asleep. When they were roused they had no way of knowing if it was night or day. The room had no windows and was below the main level of the palace, so even if the sun had risen, its rays would not reach them.

  “How long do you think they’ll keep us here?” Rafe asked.

  “I don’t know,” Tiberius said.

  More bread and water was brought in. They tore the loaf into three pieces and ate. Olyva was silent, and Tiberius realized he hardly knew her. He’d had no reason to get to know her, and their paths in the palace rarely crossed. He couldn’t help but wonder how Rafe had come to spend enough time with her that he would willing give his life to protect her.

  “So,” Rafe said once he finished eating. “What was up with the Princess last night?”

  “I don’t know,” Tiberius said. “I had just met her.”

  “She looked pretty happy to be escorted into the great hall with you.”

  “What can I say, I’m irresistible.”

  “I’m surprised that Leonosis wasn’t escorting her. Rumor has it her brother is ill and King Aethel was in Avondale looking for a husband for his daughter.”

  “Leonosis is probably doing his best to charm her right now,” Tiberius said. “She wanted to sit by me at the feast.”

  “Why?”

  “Why wouldn’t she?”

  “Well, come on Ti, I mean…” Rafe couldn’t find words to express himself without insulting his friend.

  “Thanks,” Tiberius said.

  “I didn’t mean any offense. It’s just that you’re going to become a Paladin and live a life of celibacy. I just never really thought of you as the type to pursue romance.”

  “I wasn’t pursuing it, not with the Princess anyway.”

  “Well there has to be a reason,” Rafe said.

  “Why do you care so much? I used to think we were friends, but that was before you lied about what really happened on the wall.”

  “I told you, I didn’t have a choice.”

  “What does he mean?” Olyva asked.

  “It wasn’t Leonosis who saved him when he fell off the wall,” Tiberius said. “It was me.”

  “How’s your arm by the way?” Rafe asked him.

  “It’s fine. My hands are still raw from the rope burns though. How’s your back?”

  “It’s great… better than great really. I feel stronger than I ever have.”

  “Good,” Tiberius said.

  “So tell me what happened,” Olyva said, showing signs of life for the first time since they’d been confined to the small room.

  “I fell, just like everyone knows, but it was Tiberius who came down the wall and saved me. He used his whip to hold off the Graypees until I caught my breath.”

  Rafe looked at Tiberius with a knowing glance, but Olyva didn’t see it. Tiberius realized he wouldn’t have a chance to get the things he stashed near the fields below the city. He wanted to kick himself for that, but there was no use fretting over it. He could live without the clothes or coins, perhaps even without the tools or weapons, but he desperately wanted the book of magic. He had the first part memorized, but had stopped after the first spell in the last chapters. He tried to comfort himself by acknowledging that without the Second and Third Order spells, he shouldn’t be practicing magic of the Fourth Order anyway, but he still regretted not having the book.

  “I think I know why the Princess wanted to sit with me,” Tiberius whispered to Rafe and Olyva. “She knew about me.”

  “Knew what?” Olyva asked.

  “Ti has some special skills,” Rafe lied.

  Rafe stared hard at Tiberius with a look that Ti took to mean he shouldn’t say more. He guessed that Rafe thought Olyva had enough to worry about without knowing Tiberius was a wizard. Oddly enough, he didn’t feel like a wizard. He could sense magic, and cast some spells, he’d even healed his friend, but it all felt like he was dabbling in something he didn’t understand.

  “She does too,” Tiberius said.

  “No!” Rafe said is surprise.

  “What? I don’t get it. What kind of special skills? What can the Princess do?”

  “I’m not sure what she can do,” Tiberius said. “But I could sense her power when we first met.”

  “And she could sense that about you too?” Rafe asked.

  “I guess so. She asked me about it at the feast.”

  “I don’t understand,” Olyva said.

  “It’s not a big deal,” Rafe told her. “I’ll explain it all later.”

  “Why later? It’s not like we have something better to do,” she argued. “What are you not telling me?”

  “Tell her, it doesn’t matter now,” Tiberius said.

  “I don’t want you to worry,” Rafe said.

  “Well, now I’m worried and I don’t know why?” Olyva argued. “It’s a little late to be keeping things from me, Rafe.”

  “You’re right,” he said. “I’m sorry. Tiberius can work magic.”

  Olyva looked confused for a moment, then she grinned.

  “You almost had me going there for a minute,” she said.

  “We’re not joking,” Rafe said.

  “It’s true,” Tiberius acknowledged quietly.

  “Are you out of your mind?” she said loudly.

  Both men shushed her, and she lowered her voice, but kept berating Tiberius.

  “Do you think the law against magic is for kicks or something? You want to destroy the entire world or do you just think you’re untouchable because your father is the Earl.”

  “Tiberius isn’t like that,” Rafe said.

  “I know the law,” Ti said, keeping his voice quiet. “I don’t know why I’m so drawn to magic, but I am. It’s always fascinated me. Lexi took me to a market on one of the lower levels of the city. Sort of a place where illicit goods are sold. I found two fragments of an old book on magic and I learned some of the spells.”

  “You are out of your mind. Stay away from me,” Olyva said, moving quickly away from the center of the room where they had been sitting around the small tray of food.

  “Olyva,” Rafe said. “Tiberius is my best friend. He defended us last night, remember. He went against his whole family to try and save us.”

  “He’s a wizard, Rafe. There’s a reason magic is outlawed.”

  “I only know a little,” Tiberius said. “Healing spells really. There was a time when magic was learned for
the good of all mankind.”

  “Well, tell that to the wizards who nearly destroyed Valana,” Olyva said. “I don’t think that was for anyone’s good.”

  “I’m sorry,” Tiberius said.

  “You should be,” she snapped.

  “He saved my life,” Rafe said. “When I fell from the wall, I broke my back. I was dying Olyva. If Rafe didn’t know magic, I’d be dead now. He healed me.”

  Tiberius saw Olyva’s fierce demeanor soften. She hadn’t expected to be grateful that Tiberius was a wizard.

  “So, the Princess is a wizard too?” Rafe asked.

  “I don’t know what she is,” Tiberius replied. “But she wasn’t afraid of me and didn’t report me.”

  “Are you sure she knew?” Olyva asked.

  “She asked me how long I had been a wizard,” Tiberius said.

  “Did you answer her?” Rafe asked.

  “No, I didn’t have a chance.”

  “Thank goodness for that,” Rafe continued. “At least they don’t have any proof.”

  “What about the book,” Olyva said. “They’re probably searching all our rooms right now. When they find your book, they’ll probably torture us to death to find out what you know.”

  “No they won’t,” Tiberius said. “I hid the book. I was planning on leaving the city, especially after Leonosis spread his vile lies about the Graypees.”

  “You were leaving Avondale?” Rafe asked, the surprise showing on his face.

  “No,” Tiberius said. “But I wasn’t going to stay in the city. I didn’t want to be a Paladin; you know that was my father’s idea. I knew I couldn’t continue practicing magic and remain in the city, so I was thinking of going into the forest.”

  “Doesn’t sound like much of a life,” Rafe said.

  “I didn’t have much choice. Magic isn’t just something I’m dabbling in,” Tiberius said a little louder than he meant to. “It’s like I feel that I’m actually, for the first time in my life, accomplishing something worthwhile. I can spend hours practicing spells and not even notice the time flying by. It’s fulfilling.”