‘Yes, Queen Thimat. I need to progress with my quest as soon as I can, so let’s get the problems at hand dealt with quickly.’
Heather turned to speak with the Captain. ‘Captain, I have interrupted, please continue with your discussions.’
‘Good to see you Heather. I was explaining to the Queen that it is our tradition to give persons suspected of a crime, a trial in front of the King’s Council. Perhaps I could speak with you alone before we continue the debate.’
The Captain diplomatically turned to consult with Queen Thimat. ’I will seek council with the Changeling, before we conclude this discussion, if I may?’
He should take this opportunity to explain to you what these evil humans have done to my peoples, the Queen Mindtalked to Heather. I should deal with this matter in my own way but my Advisers remind me we are Gardians, not Destroyers.
Thank you Queen Thimat, Heather Mindtalked, politely bowing her head in recognition of the Queen’s compromise.
The Captain led Heather a distance away from the dragons, who watched in silence as they walked away.
‘It is very difficult to explain to the Queen,’ the Captain began in a whispered hush as he imagined all could hear his every thought.
‘I don’t know if Rikka’s son has technically committed a murder in our laws. The abapes are not of our race,’ said a very confused Captain. ‘I don’t know what the King’s Council will determine on this matter but I do know we cannot allow the dragons to fry him.’
‘I will ask the Queen’s permission to meet with Rikka and her son,’ Heather suggested. ‘I have not met with them yet but I understand they did good work in easing our Royal Family’s ills and pains.’
‘The King appears to be in two different minds,’ Captain Yanomi admitted. ‘Before we captured Rikka, he instructed us to kill them on sight. Then later he said to keep them safe and they were not to be harmed. I still await final confirmation on what his latest wishes are on this matter.’
‘I think we will just go for the delaying tactic for now Captain,’ she wanted to speak with the prisoners before making any judgements.
They returned to the still silent group of dragons. Heather realised they were probably communicating through Mindtalk. She sat upon a large high backed wooden bench and indicated to the Captain to stand by her side.
‘Queen Thimat,’ Heather began. ‘I would ask that I have the opportunity to meet with the prisoners. Then, I would further ask for your patience a little longer while we await a reply from our King on this matter. I will not leave for the Wall until this is resolved.’
That is not the answer I had hoped for Changeling, the Queen spoke to Heather formally. All friendliness now vanquished.
Had your soldiers not been here, this human, Fedros, would be no more. I do indeed respect your ways but you must also respect ours and it is we who have suffered from this dreadful crime. Our wounds are deep from this terrible deed. What is this man that he can kill with such uncompassionate ease? I say the world would be a better place without him. The Queen finished with a loud snort of her nostrils, reminding these humans who was the biggest in this group.
‘It is settled then Queen.’ Heather would not be intimidated, even confronted by an overpowering and angry dragon. ‘I will meet with them first before I comment any further.’
Yes, I suppose this must be the way of things, Queen Thimat unhappily agreed. Let us now proceed with the plans for your journey.
Heather breathed a sigh of relief that the subject was to be changed.
By the end of the meeting, all had agreed that the dragons would accompany Heather into the Darklands, through the mid-mountains of Madzren. They could not stay with her for long as this could jeopardise the unwritten agreement with the Emperor and therefore be a risk to Raphael’s safety. The meeting concluded and just as all began to disperse, a messenger ran up to the Captain with a look of terror on his face.
‘Captain, we have just received word, our King is dead,’ the ashen faced messenger finished with tears wetting his cheeks.
‘Has there been an early attack?’ Heather quickly grasped the situation. ‘What of his sons Leon and Amos?’ She had many questions to ask, believing she had been tricked and the monshaads had managed to attack Beldroth.
‘No, it wasn’t like that,’ replied the messenger, confused. ‘He took his own life. The Princes had already left the city on their journeys to bring together the Lightlands Council. As far as I understand, they are not yet aware of their father’s death.’
‘Thank you Erat for delivering such grave news. At ease, soldier.’
The Captain took the piece of paper the messenger grasped tightly, as if holding on to it would mean his King still lived. The messenger looked relieved at his dismissal. This was not news anyone would gladly part with.
‘I cannot believe King Alfred would do this,’ Heather quietly expressed to the Captain.
‘Aye lady,’ Captain Yanomi spoke his reply, for Heather’s ears only. ‘There is more to this story, I wager. We must get you on your way so my troops can return to the Royal City. We will be needed by the High Mages. I cannot think how order will be in Beldroth with our King dead.’
This is sombre news for us all, the Queen Mindtalked to Heather.
I cannot help but wonder if his sudden death is anything to do with Morte-Bielz. We must make haste with our mission Heather. We will prepare quickly so the young Prince can still be rescued. I do not like to think of that monshaad Emperor holding him for one moment longer than necessary.
‘First, Queen Thimat, I must contact my father, the Head Mage. I must know what develops in Beldroth and what my father advises.’ Heather turned her attention to the Captain. ‘Captain, I will go meet with the prisoners now and report back to you on my judgement.’
The group continued to disperse, the dragons following their Queen down a large passageway and Heather following the guards to the cells, on another level.
5 Aunt
Entering the dank, gloomy chamber she came face to face with Fedros in the first cell. He stood rigid, clutching the iron bars of the gate and staring with crazy eyes wide in surprise. An eerie orange glow surrounded him in his cell as the burning torch spread its fingers of light. The fetid smell or stale urine swirled around her nostrils.
‘Ahhh,’ he whispered loudly. ‘Here you are Changeling, finally you have arrived. My Master will be pleased that he can now progress with his plan.’
‘Who is this master you speak of?’ Heather recognised Fedros from his role as Leon’s temporary guard. She remembered, at the time she had thought him an unlikely looking soldier.
‘My Master is keen to meet with you Changeling. My mother and I are to accompany you, so you can tell that to the stinking dragons. If they attempt to hurt me, they will have to answer to the Emperor Morte-Bielz!’ he shouted, podgy white fingers wrapped around the iron bars of the gate, shaking them furiously.
‘Don’t you see Changeling? Our Master has his eyes on all his servants. He watches you closely, so treat me well,’ he laughed oddly, his wild ice-blue eyes gaping back at her. Heather backed away from his cell gate, unsure if indeed he was as mad as the soldiers had implied in their gossip. Treading the dusty floor, grit crunching under her step, she took a right turn towards the cell of the old woman.
Rikka sat upon a hard, cold stone bench that must surely make her bones ache with discomfort. Her tangled hair hung in long dirty strands. Her robe grubby from lack of cleaning and her skin dirty from lying on the floor of the dusty, damp cave.
‘Ye have spoken with my son, Changeling?’ she asked of Heather. ‘His words are those of a man possessed. I explained this to the captain, my son has evil in his blood. The evil got him when the young Prince was taken from us. All of his words are lies. My only master is the King. My only son is possessed of an evil devil, ‘e is lost to us.’ She stood up and hobbled to the gate, shaky in her balance as she slowly seated her frail bones on the floor, bowing her head i
n mock disgrace.
‘Rikka,’ Heather spoke gently through the iron gate and knelt down to sit opposite the old woman. ‘Our king has passed on to the Realm of the Dead.’ At hearing this news, Rikka’s eyes remained locked on the cold stone floor, she feigned concern with a meek moan but she knew that her Master’s hand would have played a part in ending the human King’s life.
‘This is a sad time for all our people,’ Heather put her hand through the bar to reach out and gently comfort the old woman. ‘But do not be weighed down further by this, think only of your own burdens at this moment,’ Heather worried that this news would only trouble the old woman more. ‘Have you no other family that can help you with your son?’ Heather’s voice was a soft whisper as she questioned the frail old woman. ‘Your son speaks of you both serving a master, do you understand what this means?’
‘My child,’ Rikka whimpered as a trickling tear dampened her cheek leaving a pale trail in her dirty skin, ‘he is no longer my son. When my kin know his blood is tainted with evil, they will not seek to help me.’ Rikka turned her back to the gate so Heather could no longer see her face.
‘Your family should always love you Rikka. It will not matter what your crimes are, they will shoulder your burden with you. Can I not contact them for you and explain your dilemma?’
‘Are you sure of this child?’ Rikka feigned surprise. ‘My blood is of nobility? Do you really believe they would protect me from the torturous death that the dragons wish upon my broken body?’Rikka slowly stood, Heather stood with her and looked upon a bent old woman, seemingly fragile and vulnerable.
‘Tell me who would shun you in old age? They cannot be very noble if they act this way, even nobility should protect their own. Your son may have to face a death penalty and then who would care for you? I say your bloodline will be your lifeline. Now tell me who your kin are and I will ensure their responsibilities are met.’
‘Very well child,’ Rikka spoke slowly and steadied herself leaning on the bars of the gate. ‘Your mother and I share the same mother.’ Rikka looked up to witness the shocked expression on the face of her niece. ‘Yes Heather. Your mother is my younger sister. She has never known of me and I in my turn have kept myself out in the cold. But now, I seek her love and embrace. I am in need of kinship. You child are of my bloodline, will you help me now?’
‘My … my mother has spoken of no sister, how can this be true?’ Heather spoke rashly, unsure how to react to such astonishing news. She longed for her father by her side, he would know what to do. Rikka was suddenly more refined in her behaviour and speech. If this old woman truly did speak the truth, then her family did have an obligation to aid her.
‘We have different fathers Heather, but that is not unusual. Your own sisters have different mothers, is this not so?’ Rikka reminded Heather.
‘I - I must speak with my father first. I cannot possibly know what should be done without his wisdom.’
‘A strange dilemma child, here you are about to face a powerful Emperor all on your own, yet you cannot make a family decision alone. Are you sure you can be successful at your quest? The Prince child still depends upon your bravery.’
‘I will do all I can to save Raphael, you can be sure of that, old woman.’ Heather turned to leave, confused in her stress at this news. There was a noticeable difference in Rikka. She spoke as if from Royalty, her back had straightened and she suddenly appeared younger and almost striking.
‘You know child, you will make a beautiful bride.’
Heather did not reply but wondered how Rikka could have known of Leon’s proposal. She stopped in her tracks and returned to the old woman’s cell. Rikka was now standing with imposing posture at the rear of the cell in the darkened shadow.
‘My grandmother, do you know her name?’
‘Of course I know my own mother’s name, Nealther. What test is this?’
‘It is not a test Rikka, that will be performed by the Head Mage, my father. Only he has the skill to know if you tell the truth. You will be tried and tested most fairly. I merely wanted to hear you say my grandmother’s name. And yet, you do not say it with love in your heart. I cannot know why you left the embrace of your family, who you now wish to protect you. I meant what I said upon those words. If we are kin, we will care for you. That is, should your son be given the death sentence?’
Heather swiftly left the cold chambers behind, relieved to be away from the people who she now believed may be of her own blood. This problem was becoming more complex. It was time to seek her father’s wisdom and love. Mindtalk was not easy with such distance between them but her father was strong enough to hold the magic. She felt a shiver of happiness run through her. It had been a long time since she had contacted any of her loved ones, it would take much strength but it would be her last opportunity before she left for the Darklands.
6 Judgement
Head Mage Heimarl awoke the next moonwake splendidly happy. At long last his eldest daughter Heather had contacted him. He had spent a good part of the moonsleep Mindtalking with her. Relieved that she was safe and had survived her first journey alone, pride overwhelmed him at the achievements of his wonderful daughter. Content with his lot, he felt ready to face his moonwake’s work in the catacombs of the libraries.
His grief, over the loss of his lifetime friend King Alfred had been dampening his efforts in the current crisis. Then there had been the terrible discovery of finding the imprisoned villagers savagely murdered in the King’s dungeon. Blood stained tears dried on their cheeks and a ghastly hole in each of their chests revealing blackened shriveled dead hearts. It had been a dreadful sight and one that the King’s clerk was still gibbering over. The clerk was now in the care of the Healing Mages but his words kept repeating in Heimarl’s head. He had said that the monshaad Emperor had possessed the King’s mind and had warned them all to fear for their souls. Yet how could this Emperor have passed through the Wall to make such threats? His powers must indeed be increasing if he had done this by Mind Control, from such a distance. Heimarl shared this skill of Mind Control so knew the price one must pay to control another so far away.
Arriving at his small study chamber, deep in the archives of the subterranean libraries, he usually spent his time from moonwake until the moonsleep searching through any old scrolls or books found written by Saurlton Barronz the Ancient Mage. He pulled out the heavy carved wooden chair to sit upon the soft cushioned seat and faced a smoothed yellow sandstone shelf, inbuilt into a crevice within the wall. The sconce above his head was already lit and had probably been burning non-stop since he had started his research of these writings.
Relaxing his stature, he concentrated on the problems he would have to ponder this moonwake. Through Heather’s contact, he had learned of shocking new developments. Rikka the old herbal nurse had claimed to be his wife’s sister, but he could not remember any talk of Minnah having any sibling relations. He had not approached Minnah on the subject yet, as he suspected there were darker secrets yet to unfold. First, he was going to deal with that treacherous son of hers. He had never trusted that man, not even when he had served at the palace, but he never sought to sway the King’s judgement. The murderous deeds Fedros had committed came as no surprise to Heimarl, he had suspected this pair of devious intentions all along but was never able to fathom out why he had felt such distrust for them.
It was normal practice to allow the King’s Council to make such dire decisions on peoples’ lives. The Council could not congregate without a King, so it would fall on his head to carry out the judgement on Fedros. As Head Mage, he could order the death penalty or grant freedom, his power was equal to that of the King. Because of the possibilities of Rikka’s blood lineage, he had decided to use his own magic skills of Mind Reading which would provide him with the truth of her claims. He needed much strength to delve into another’s mind, but this was the only way. Once he knew the truth, he could make a better judgment of what to do. This was to be his work this moonwake.
>
* * *
Heimarl withdrew his powers from the warped depths of Fedros’s distasteful mind. He had not lingered in there too long. Having successfully spell-cast the emotions of ‘remorse’ into Fedros’s mind, he was convinced this would result in the cruel man suffering from the terror of the crime he had committed.
Now he hovered in Rikka’s mind. She stirred in her restless sleep hearing the pitiful sounds of her son’s constant sobbing. He was annoying her to the point of waking up and screaming back at him.
The guards were not happy with all the commotion coming from the fiend’s cell. He blubbered on how remorseful he was for what he had done. At first they suspected he was mocking them but his sobs were seemingly genuine. They looked in on his mother who appeared in a fitful slumber. They saw no reason to awaken her but clearly her son was deranged. Agreeing to each other that the problem was not theirs, they returned to their duty of guarding on the outside of the prison.
Within Rikka’s sleeping mind he spell-cast her memories back to her childhood. The cruel twisted punishments delivered by her father were at the forefront of her mind. He could see that once she had loved her mother with fondness, but not for long. Bitterness had festered when her mother had failed to protect her from that fiend of a father. She had experienced the joys of relief at her father’s death in a vicious bar brawl where he had suffered a fatal slit to his throat. Not living to discover the cruel results from his acts of incest with his daughter, he would never know she was now with his child. She had wanted to share this terrible news with her mother, but then learned that her mother was also to have a baby, and that the father was a different man than Rikka’s father, she felt truly violated by both her parents. As Rikka relived these hidden unhappy memories and stirred in a fitful sleep, Heimarl watched the images with the magic he had cast upon her. She was not aware of his spying, in her mind.
Blood Bride (Aarabassa World) Page 3