Surface World 2

by Ed Montalvo

  “Meaning…,” he addressed him, then the council, “…I will go to the bowels of hell for her. Enter the mouth of the mother of all dragons if asked.” His stony face shielded him, betraying nothing other than what he said. “I would deny her nothing.”

  After the murmurs subsided, “Loyalty is not a Drouwen trait. Why her?” asked the priest.

  Ceron cringed inwardly, “Indeed, why?” He knew Drouwen's valued loyalty more than humans.

  Dregous locked with Tatiana’s beautiful near white eyes. “The same could be said of humans, Elves and Ayrian people. The question is not why, but whom I serve? I choose her. She possesses a humble spirit…, and is… very special to me,” he was dangerously close of betraying himself.

  “Figures he would word it that way,” Rem whispered shaking his head. Seeker shushed him.

  “Am I to understand…” the priest began.

  His tone warned Ceron, “What are you doing?” he interrupted.

  “This is a clergy request,” and gestured Ceron back. “If I were to say should you stay with the princess you would be put to death. Would you leave her side?”

  “Good heavens…, what are you saying,” Tuke stood.

  “Silence, you are forbidden to speak,” the old priest ordered.

  Dregous’s heart skipped, his face held a bland expression, “You understand correctly,” he wondered if he misread them, he sensed a threat but wasn’t sure of its severity.

  Seeker scanned for a quick exit to aid the prince. The hall was filled with mages. They were trapped.

  “Dregous, what are you doing?” Rem probed. A mage warned him to silence. He glared at him, “The hell with you.”

  Tatiana’s heart started beating fast. “What are you doing…, they bait you.” She addressed the council, “I will send him away.” She turned to Dregous, “You said you would deny me nothing,” she scanned his eyes almost pleadingly.

  Another priest on the last tier of the hall prepared his hold spell on Tuke, Angelique and Rem. They had almost lost their friend twice in the past weeks. Tuke wasn’t going to stand idlily by. Seeker was determined to cause chaos to aid his escape. Rem had lost too many friends, Dregous wasn’t going to be another. The group looked ready to interfere.

  Dregous smiled and calmly said, “I meant every word, my Princess.”

  She felt light headed and wet her dried lips, “Then leave me,” her words stung her deeply.

  “I can say it, but cannot do it…. Forgive me.”

  She shut her eyes, biting back her fears, “Oh blessed Ukko, you cannot do this. Can you not see they are trapping you!”

  Gunthar turned to the priest, “What… are… you doing?” he breathed, “This is…,”

  The old priest interrupted, “What should have been done.”

  ***

  The council and those outside, were shocked. They murmured, wondering the sudden change. The clergy decided to execute the Drouwe prince.

  Outside, the word spread throughout the crowd. His supporters murmured then began talking loudly. Soon those Dregous saved shouted their disapproval as they approached the doors. The guards held their weapons barring any from entering.

  ***

  Gunthar’s hesitation proved ill. The old priest gave the order. The priest cast his hold spell on the group, another cast the same on Gunthar.

  “No!” Tatiana screamed.

  Gunthar found his voice, “What have you done? He helped save our city…,” he growled.

  She turned to the council, “No please, he will leave me, I beg you do not harm him.” She returned to Dregous. “Do not do this, please leave me,” a painful lump burned her throat.

  “Forgive me princess. It is best for all concerned,” said the old priest.

  Tatiana glanced, “I will rescind all that we agreed!” her voice cracked.

  “A small price to pay,” he replied. Members of the council were too appalled and confused to respond. They glanced between one another and what was unfolding.

  “Damn you!” she grabbed her sword.

  Dregous gently touched her, “No Angel,” his calm demeanor stilled her. Tatiana tried to speak but the lump in her throat denied her. She released her weapon.

  The Curator was ready to cast his spell. He poised, assessing the situation. He knew Dregous wouldn’t do anything that may harm the princess, though remained ready in case he misread him.

  “Angel, please,” Dregous then whispered, “This is my choice… my death would save thousands.”

  The priest shouted at Dregous, “Do you still stand by her side?”

  He memorized the details of her face, “I do.” The Curator cast a holding spell on Tatiana while they were preoccupied.

  “So be it. On your knees,” he ordered, Dregous did so with a blank expression. The hold spell took effect on the group and Gunthar.

  “Dregous… you are hurting me. I do not wish to lose you,” her voice cracked. “Please,” as the guards surrounded her, Tatiana prepared to fight regardless. She’d rather have him angry and with her than have the memory of him when she realized she couldn’t move.

  “Angel, be at peace. I have no regrets. The past few weeks I have spent with you have been…. You have given me something I have not had. You made me feel…,” he couldn’t finish and squeezed softly. “…Loved.” Tatiana looked at him on his knees barely hearing anything over her pain. Every second passing crushed her.

  “Guard,” as the priest spoke, Tatiana felt faint.

  The guard looked at the old priest awaiting instructions. Lord Gunthar was too shocked. He would have bet his life the council had spared Dregous.

  “Ready,” The guard raised his weapon.

  “No no no, please do not harm my…,” her voice broke, her strength faded, heartbroken and openly cried as she looked up to the heavens for strength to stop this madness, “He is my heart,” her voice was too hoarse and low to understand. She strained against the hold. The Curator was surprised her arms moved.

  “By the gods, do not do this!” Lord Gunthar shouted and realize he couldn’t move.

  Tatiana closed her eyes but could still see Dregous in her mind. She desperately wanted to break free, trembling against the invisible force. “No! Please no…,” she looked at the council. Her eyes grew wicked. “I will slay you all!”

  “Please reconsider,” Ceron found his voice. He refused to believe what was happening. “There is no need for this.” He thought he was successful convincing the council Dregous was an asset.

  “Take your mark.” The old priest ordered. The guard lined his sight with the sword to the prince’s neck.

  Tears streamed down Tatiana’s face as she shouted repeatedly that she would kill them all. Her heart never knew such pain, the shattered pieces melted away leaving behind a harrowing void. The agony of losing him at the mountain returned full force adding to her grief.

  “This is your last chance Dregous! Will you reconsider?” The priest demanded.

  Dregous remained silent, he feared Tatiana’s sadness more than his demise. The princess screamed, ordering him to rescind. He couldn’t.

  The old priest closed his eyes shaking his head. “Great heavens,” he breathed softly, “So be it lord Dregous of the Drouwen Empire. Guard…, proceed,” he sounded defeated.

  Tatiana’s heart froze. Everything moved slowly as the blade came down. “No!” she strained. The council was astounded and felt the princess’s anguish. She frenzied to break free as her arms moved, she continued to cry for him. Tuke all but passed out from their emotional trauma. The blade went through Dregous's neck. The guards surrounding them vanished, as did some Knights and constables.

  Moments later, “You may stand Lord Dregous. It is clear your loyalty to her is infallible. I humbly beg your forgiveness,” said the old priest. Dregous was drained and disorientated.

  Tatiana couldn’t believe her eyes but was grateful he was still alive. The hold gave way and ran to him, dropped and held him tightly. Her wings blanketed th
em like a protective shroud. He was willing to die to remain at her side, sending her heart and spirit to grand heights. She was so elated she felt unsteady. The hall members were baffled, those outside listening were beyond confused since they couldn’t see.

  The priest explained it was all an illusion. They needed to know if he was true to his word. The council was uninformed due to Dregous’s intellect. He would’ve been able to see through their guise. The Curator was the architect and felt this would prove to the old high priest he was unlike his people.

  Tuke, Angelique and Rem rushed to stand by the couple when the invisible force released them. The guards prevented the citizens from getting closer.

  Dregous looked at the council and closed his eyes as he breathed in Tatiana. “But, I am not free,” he labored through the lump in his throat. The princess’s feelings for him was clear. His heart bled heavily, he loved her like nothing he’s ever known.

  Tatiana pulled away from Dregous, “Of course you are,” she said confidently, sniffing back her tears, “He is free to go?” she addressed them. They remained silent. “He is free to go, is he not?” the sense of loss returned while wiping her eyes.

  “What the hell you mean not free…?” Rem shouted. “You put them through all this shit and still want him locked up?”

  “Then what the hell was all this for…!” Tuke’s outburst shocked them, though, no one rebuke him.

  “My lord…?” Seeker asked.

  Dregous signed her, ‘Look after the princess,’ Knights escorted the citizens and the party from the hall.

  She nodded and signed, ‘I will remember you this day.’

  His gentle smile ached her, ‘And I you.’

  With the hall cleared, “It was decided last night contingent on the priest’s test. You are free, but you must be under my care for the next three months in my academy. This will give the people time to become accustomed having a Drouwen in their midst and visitors as well. Do you understand the wisdom behind this Lord Dregous?” The Curator asked.

  “I do,” his heart disagreed.

  She held Dregous again. “No, you will not take him from me…,” she declared.

  Dregous reveled in her embrace, her scent, “Angel, it is a new beginning…, remember, small steps…. You will have the chance to go home and inform your people what you have learned and all you have accomplished,” he breathed, gently stroking her hair, memorizing the details of her face.

  “What WE accomplished,” she corrected, “But, still that is three months.”

  “When it is over we will have that engagement, and look back on this day with humor.”

  Slowly he pulled away, she sniffed back her tears. “I guess…,” she moaned.

  “You are to be sent to the school grounds immediately,” the Curator stated.

  “Counsel adjourned?” asked the old priest as he motioned Ceron.

  Ceron looked puzzled, unsure what happened, then noticed the priest’s circling hand, “Pardon?”

  “Adjourned?” he bobbed his head slightly.

  “Oh, apologies, of course,” he slammed the mallet loosely, “Council is adjourned,” he whispered.

  The guards approached, “A few more moments please…,” as he stood with Tatiana in his arms. The guards stepped back. “I am grateful.” He hugged the princess tightly. He wanted to confess his love, instead pulled away kissing her hand with tear moistened lips then was taken away.

  When she came to her senses, she followed them, “Wait, please….” Tatiana’s heart bled as Dregous disappeared behind the dark wooden walls. The door thundered as it closed. The princess kissed the spot where he did, tasting him, as her tears streamed. “Heaven knows this is not how it should be. Ukko protect him, he is my heart,” she whispered, sniffed, feeling empty and alone.

  Lord Gunthar approached her, “Do not worry my lady. He will be fine. The Curator is a friend and a man of his word.” The lord Knight will discuss the magic cast on him with the Curator.

  The princess’s sad eyes broke Gunthar’s heart. She walked to the large double doors. Her footsteps resounded the hall as he watched. The echoes were a reminder how lonely she is in a world of humans.

  Index

  Other books available.

  Be sure and get a copy of Surface World book one, how it all began.

  The Dark Elf, known by many sub-names, is a simple Language to learn. Inside you will find the basic syntax, grammar, sentence structure and compound words to speak the language with proper pronunciation, annunciation, syntax and grammar.

  Be sure to look for the exciting continuation with the party’s adventure “New Alliance Death of a King”

  Author email: edmontalvo@mail.com