Out of the Mountain

by Violet Chastain

  “Precisely,” he agreed, and continued ahead of me. I blinked, and Kel laughed aloud at my confused expression. I noticed he had been much quieter since we entered the gates and I eyed him.

  “Are you all right?”

  “Just taking it all in. It’s been too long since I’ve been home, and much has changed.” He sighed. I looked ahead of us and noticed I could finally see the palace from afar, but the closer we got the more awed I became. Carved from stone and sitting atop a hill was the most beautiful building I’d ever seen. High arches lined the front, supported by columns engraved with intricate designs. They shone even in the fading light.

  “It’s beautiful,” I whispered to Rowan, and he nodded in agreement.

  “Welcome to Alaris,” he replied as he continued his route to the palace gates.

  “Alaris, formerly known as Reinhelm, was renamed by the people after the loss of their great king and queen,” Kel said grimly.

  “Loss?” I asked, wanting to know more.

  “Yes, the palace is currently vacant of royal blood. Instead this city is now governed by a council called ‘the Six,’ voted on by the citizens. It’s very progressive.” Kel snorted.

  “Sounds like an improvement,” I noted honestly, making Kel laugh out loud. His sense of humor was beyond me.

  We approached the gates and waited as the metal doors swung wide. I marveled at the beauty of the palace once more before we entered the garden that lay ahead of us. Trees, flowers, and ponds were artfully sculpted on the lawn; benches were placed sporadically along the paths. People milled about, seemingly on missions of their own. My eyes stopped on a guard at the bottom of the stairs as she began waving us over. Her uniform wasn’t the black I had been seeing; instead it was a dull gray. She was short and thin, with fiery-red hair and a wide smile.

  “Finally! I thought you’d never arrive!” She squealed, bouncing on her toes, and Rowan narrowed his eyes at her. At least I wasn’t the only one he glared at.

  “I’m Briony, and you must be Vivienne,” she continued, reaching a hand out to shake mine and turning her eyes on Kel. He reached his hand out to her with a smile, and she tilted her head, looking more closely at him. I could see recognition dawn on her face.

  “Briony is a novice in training for the guard,” Rowan said, stopping her from whatever she was about to say.

  “Yes, the actual guard isn’t quite as unprofessional.” She winked at me and then said to Rowan, “I’ll work on it.” She sighed and I grinned.

  “If you’ll follow me, the council has been notified of your arrival and has gathered in the dining hall. The staff is preparing a welcome feast.” She smiled, and my stomach growled loudly at the mention of food. Rowan glared at it.

  “Sounds perfect,” I said, letting her lead us up the wide stone steps. When we reach the heavy doors, they opened of their own accord, allowing our entry. Only a second passed before I was marveling at the beauty within. The entryway was enormous, ceilings reaching high and arching into the roof. To the left and right were multiple arched doorways, leading off into parts of the palace I couldn’t wait to explore. Directly across the room from the entrance was a grand staircase carved elegantly from stone. It was massive, curving up on both sides of the room. Crystal chandeliers hung from the ceilings, light bouncing off and reflecting rainbows. The walls were covered in beautiful paintings. There was so much to look at.

  “This way.” Briony smiled, branching off to the right and through an arched doorway. After a short distance, this opened up into another massive room lined with wooden tables and benches. At the front of the hall, sitting up on a platform, was a large, ornate table overlooking the others. This one was occupied by six people. We approached them, and when we came to a stop the woman in the middle stood. Her graying hair was swept into a tight bun, her face was lined lightly, but she was still beautiful. Her blue-gray eyes narrowed on Kel.

  “You,” she accused sharply, and he grinned. I looked around in confusion.

  “The girl has no knowledge of her lineage. She has not been taught anything,” Rowan said loudly, and I glared.

  “I have been taught many things, much more than you, I’m sure,” I hissed, and he shook his head.

  “He means no offense. You’ll get used to him,” Briony piped in, and I frowned.

  “Very well. My name is Mauve, I am one of the Six,” she said with a careful smile at me. The Six were decked out in all white. (These people were really into color coding.) She gestured to the first man at the end of the table, who was staring intently at Kel, and began introductions.

  “This is Quillion, Cordellia, Zoran, Orion, and Dahlia. They are the others of the council.” I looked at each of them as they nodded in accordance with their names.

  Quillion was sharp looking; all the angles of his face and body could cut. He had silver hair and dark eyes. Cordellia was dark skinned with bright eyes; her hair flowed with locks of honey blonde. Zoran smiled when he met my eyes; his bald head reminded me of the monks. Orion was rotund, with hair the color of sand, and although Dahlia certainly appeared to be the youngest of the group, her hair was an impressive shade of silver. I blinked, taking a long look at her striking beauty, and she winked.

  “I’m Vivienne,” I said, quickly recovering, and they all smiled.

  “Such an honor to make your acquaintance,” Mauve replied, and then turned her attention to Kel.

  “Now we must get down to the matters at hand.”

  “Yes, yes, but can I tell the whole story?” Kel asked excitedly, nearly bouncing on his toes in anticipation. I watched as Mauve gave him a sharp look before nodding consent and sitting back into her chair with a look of contempt. I didn’t think she liked to share the spotlight very much.

  “Sit first,” Rowan advised to me as he pointed to an empty seat, and I did, but only because I was exhausted.

  CHAPTER FOUR

  “Where to begin?” Kel asked, tapping his chin.

  “How about the beginning?” I said.

  “Yes, that’s as good of a place as any.” He smiled and cleared his throat. I stifled a grin at his showmanship.

  “Long ago, this land was ruled by a just and kind king called Killian . . . No, wait, I guess I should go even further back than that, though, shouldn’t I? Let me start again . . . ,” he said, clearing his throat more loudly and cracking his knuckles before settling back into position and starting once more.

  “When Killian was young, as was custom, he was arranged into marriage with a powerful magic line. The royal bloodlines possess the most powerful forms of magic, which is always passed down, making the future king quite a catch.” He winked, and I smiled eagerly. I was finally going to get some sort of explanation.

  “The largest nations were divided into two separate groups: Conduits, who could wield elemental magic, and the Shuni, who could conjure. This was the result of a war that took place long before Killian was born. The Shuni had their own kingdom with lands that bordered his, and both of them were bordered on the opposite sides by the sea. Though they had no quarrel with the Shuni, they also had no way to fix the rift between the two nations. So the kingdoms kept mostly to themselves.

  “When Killian came of age, his fiancée Narissa was brought to the palace so that they could properly court. Narissa was beautiful, ill-tempered, and entitled. This didn’t sit well with Killian, but the two were paraded around as a happy couple, and he complied out of duty to his future kingdom. They had a hard time connecting, and Narissa would often disappear into the forest that bordered their lands. One night out of curiosity, Killian secretly followed her.

  “When they reached the Shuni border, against his better judgment and out of concern for Narissa, he followed her to a camp that was close by. A party of sorts was going on, and Narissa was welcomed in as if she was well known. Killian watched from the shadows and was awed by the rambunctious behavior of the Shuni. Conduits were a very reserved group, and the antics of the rowdy Shuni fascinated him.


  “He lost sight of Narissa and decided to look for her in the camp. No one seemed to notice him or even care that he was walking among them. That’s when he saw her . . . not Narissa, no. This was a dark-haired beauty with skin as pale as the moon and eyes to match. She was dancing around a fire, laughing among her friends. He felt drawn to her beauty, and before he knew it, he was standing in front of her. A smile lit up her face before she pulled him along and into the dance.

  “When the time came to leave, he drew her aside and they agreed to meet in secret. They met many times before Narissa stumbled upon them in the forest. She immediately started plotting her revenge. You see, the girl was the royal Shuni Princess Alma. And so Narissa alerted a Shuni guard to their location and sat back to watch what unfolded.

  “The Shuni king was outraged and ordered Alma to never see Killian again, but alas, the two had fallen in love, and there was no keeping them apart. Alma fled her home, and Killian implored his father to see reason. The king saw an opportunity and started trying to negotiate a treaty with the Shuni king. A marriage between their children could be profitable. Narissa’s plan for revenge had backfired on her, so she again began to plot.

  “She seduced one of the Shuni king’s guards and convinced him to show her around the palace. She slipped away from the guard and snuck into the Shuni king’s chambers to wait. Narissa killed the king in cold blood and stole the Shuni amulet. This amulet was passed down through the generations and was embedded with powerful and pure magic. It allowed the king to retain order among his people, and in the wrong hands it was dangerous.

  “Narissa was not a Shuni or a royal, however, and even though she could not wield its power, she took it out of spite and fled into hiding. The Shuni kingdom fell into chaos and the queen was soon killed. All the remaining power-hungry Shuni turned on one another, fighting for the right to be in charge. It was a time of chaos. The remaining Shuni dispersed and when news reach the Conduit king, he offered refuge to all who would take an oath to serve his kingdom. Alma was distraught, her father and mother were dead, she was the last of her bloodline, and her kingdom was no more. She turned to Killian in her time of need, and the wedding became the main priority of the kingdom. The people needed something to hope for and received just that when Killian married Alma in a public spectacle, inviting all to attend. It was an event that allied the Shuni and Conduits in a greater way than any had ever done before.

  “The Shuni kingdom, which is now aptly referred to as ‘the Wastes,’ has been in turmoil since, and no leader has ever claimed any significant part of the land since the amulet was stolen. There are settlements and villages throughout, but it isn’t a safe place to settle by any means. No king means no soldiers, and no soldiers mean there is no law and order to be followed. Bandits and smugglers are a particular nasty blight for them. But I’m getting away from the original story now, so let’s refocus!

  “Hmm, where was I? Ah yes . . . after the wedding, Reinhelm flourished under their rule, and after many years had gone by, Alma became with child. The people who had gotten so used to their safety became wary. No one knew what this baby would become, you see. There had never before been a crossing of such powerful magic. Both royal lines were joined together, and there was limitless potential in such a joining.

  “When their son Alaric was born, the kingdom quickly fell in love with the boy. He was a joy for all who met him, and not long after that, Prince Kieran was born. It was years later when the queen’s final attempt at a daughter was born, and he was named Farran.” Kel laughed and I smiled.

  “The boys had all the magic from both royal bloodlines. Earth, Water, Air, and Fire. They could conjure and could shift into the Royal Tiger. It was a lot of magic for one to possess and they had to learn to use their energy wisely. It was a hard balance to learn to maintain and it took a lot of patience to learn to do so. As the boys grew, it became apparent to all that they were very different in character and talents.

  “Alaric loved the people and the people loved him. He was compassionate and smart, and the magic flowed easily through him. He learned and perfected things quickly, and he thirsted for knowledge. He was easily being groomed into the next king. Killian even allowed Alaric to practice wielding his magic through the king’s staff. Much like the Shuni amulet, it was an object of great power passed through the ages. The staff amplified the powers of its wielder, among other things. No other was permitted to touch the king’s staff.

  “Kieran was quiet and reserved. He had a hard time relating to others and was often jealous of his brothers. His older brother was paraded about and his little brother was doted on as the baby of the family . . . He was stuck unhappily somewhere in the middle. He liked to keep to himself and spent most of his time alone in the forest outside the city. He often acted as if he felt he was a cut above the company. This did not sit well with Alaric, but Farran loved him still.

  “Farran was much younger than his two brothers, born years after Kieran, and he was indeed the baby of the palace. He was carefree and some called him reckless, but none could resist his charm and wit. He was the most handsome of the three.” A throat cleared interrupted the story. I looked at Dahlia and saw humor in her eyes.

  “Yes, yes, sorry,” said Kel, winking.

  “Eventually Kieran, who had only grown more petulant with age, withdrew into the forest completely. Many searches were made, but it was clear that he didn’t want to be found. Farran loved both his brothers and was distraught. He kept searching for Kieran, hoping to make him see reason, but he was not successful. Naturally time marched on, and King Killian decided his time as ruler was ending. He then arranged for a coronation to be held for Alaric. He was to be a young king at the age of thirty, but the king and the people agreed he was ready.

  “The night of the coronation there was an attack on the palace by a band of rebel Shuni. They came in through tunnels and passages that were only known by royal family members. When Kieran was seen among them, the brothers were distraught at his betrayal. The palace was in chaos, fighting in every room. Alaric was outraged when he saw Kieran trying to steal the king’s staff from the dais. He raced through the crowds, trying to make it there first.

  “When a shrill scream split the air and magic exploded into the hall, it brought everyone in the room to a halt. The brothers turned to see Farran catching their mother as she fell with blood pooling from her chest. A cloaked figure holding a dagger disappeared as Alaric ran toward his mother, and Kieran took the opportunity of his mother’s death to grab the staff and flee the palace while calling for a retreat. The rebels followed, their fight won.

  “Killian ran to Alma’s side and tried to stop the bleeding, but it was of no use. Alma thrust her hand toward Alaric. ‘You must hide it,’ she whispered to them. In Alaric’s hand was the amulet of the Shuni king. Alma had managed to rip it from her assassin’s neck. She took her last breaths in King Killian’s arms.” Kel sniffled, eyes full before blinking back the tears. I furrowed my brow. Those tears weren’t for show.

  “Alaric was made king, and Killian became a shell of himself. His heart was broken, and sadly he didn’t live long after Alma’s death. Alaric put a price higher than any on Kieran’s head and searched the country with a single-minded purpose. His heart was hardened from loss and betrayal. He sent Farran on a quest to hide the amulet. It was a hard year for everyone.

  “The king fought many battles against rebels in his search for Kieran. He was wounded badly, and one of the guards had heard stories of a healer hidden in a valley between two mountains. It was a treacherous place protected by a dragon.”

  I gasped, and Kel smiled widely at my reaction. Velia was said to be protected by a dragon in folklore, although I can attest to the fact that in all my years I had never seen one.

  “There in the valley was something very rare, a healer bloodline. A beautiful woman named Isadora with almond-shaped eyes and skin as creamy as milk. She brought the king back from the edge of death. He demanded she accompa
ny him on his journeys, and she scoffed at his impudence. The once-kind Alaric had grown cold. When she refused him, he left angry, but he was unwilling to force her from her home. And try as he might, he couldn’t stop thinking of her.

  “When he eventually returned to tell her of this, he begged her to come with him and she agreed. Love came easily for them. Isadora softened Alaric and settled his mind. He refocused on his people and began rebuilding and reinforcing his kingdom. He ended his searches for Kieran but kept the price on his head in hope that someone would be able to do what he had not.

  “Farran successfully hid the amulet somewhere no one would ever find it, but it came at a price. An enchantment that was meant to keep him from changing into his tiger was the payment.” He looked at the council with a mischievous grin. The older members of the group were sitting on the edge of their seats.

  “The agreement was a riddle of words, from one trickster to another. Farran outsmarted her, and she was delighted. Instead of never being able to change forms, he could never change at all. Frozen in time at twenty-five, powers completely intact.” There was a collective gasp. I was missing something that was right in front of me.

  “Farran returned to the kingdom in time for the birth of his niece.” He looked at me and my heart sped rapidly.

  “She was a beauty with dark hair and icy blue eyes a bit rounder than the shape of almonds, with skin the color of milk. Even from birth her power was evident and pure, drawing all near. All who saw her felt the need to protect her, and King Alaric used that to his favor. The guards gladly took blood oaths, swearing to protect her. She was so well cared for and watched by all that the people became comfortable with the toddler roaming the palace alone. Everyone and no one watching at once.” He tsked, and I was the one on the edge of my seat now.

  “When she inadvertently found the entrance of a tunnel that lead to the forest outside the city, no one saw her slip behind the wall before it shut. Everyone in the city searched high and low for the girl, and when they found her doll in the tunnel, a search of the forest began. It wasn’t long before a young boy came walking through the forest holding the girl. He handed her to a guard and turned to walk away, but the guards brought him to the palace.