by Thandi Ryan
‘A truce,’ said Adriel. ‘I am willing to put the incidents of the last few days behind us, if you will.’
Rakan and Rufus both nodded.
‘I am agreeable to that,’ said Rakan.
‘As am I,’ said Rufus.
‘Good,’ Adriel replied curtly. ‘My work here is done,’ he said, staring out of the bricked window.
‘I will leave Lansten at the same time as you do.’
‘Where will you go?’
‘Everywhere,’ Adriel replied grinning?
‘What will you do?’
‘What I am supposed to.’
Rakan laughed slightly as he looked at the old man who stared back at him with glinting eyes.
‘Will you not tell me?’ Rakan asked.
‘I shall be playing on the discontent of others?’
‘There is discontent?’ Rakan said quite surprised.
‘Just because discontent is silent young Rakan, it does not mean that it is not there,’ Adriel replied.
‘I see,’ Rakan said thoughtfully.
‘Rakan and Rufus,’ Adriel began again; ‘I shall be doing what I am destined to do, ensure you do that which you are destined for.’
‘We will,’ Rakan promised.
‘Ensure that you do,’ Adriel said tartly. ‘You have made promises to Salwar, do not break them.’
‘We will not,’ Rufus added.
‘Good,’ Adriel said. ‘Now I will leave you princes of darkness. Good journey back to Amalah and you will hear from me soon.’
‘Good journey to where ever it is you are going,’ Rufus said.
Adriel looked out of the brick window one last time and gazed up at the stars before he turned to Rakan and Rufus and gave a thin smile to them, before he disappeared into thin air and left the two of them in the dark dank room to talk to each other.
‘What do you think Adriel will be doing?’ Rakan asked curiously.
‘Anything, I would not hazard a guess, for his mind seems infinitely complex not to mention devious.’
‘Very true.’
‘Perhaps he has gone to find more like us.’
‘There are none like us.’
‘Very true.’
‘Tomorrow we return to Amalah.’
‘Yes.’
‘How do you feel about that?’
‘I feel as though things in Amalah will get very interesting over time.’
‘Yes they will,’ Rakan said adamantly, as the two of them broke out into a malevolent smile that would have chilled anyone’s spine.
The next day the two young men packed their belongings and emptied out their room for the last time. They made their way to the snow field and embarked on their journey back home to Amalah.
Although the two young men had been corrupted to the side of evil by the dastardly Adriel, the transition was not complete. They still felt love for their family, friends and home and they looked forward to seeing.
They rode hard for three days and three nights and on the fourth day they reached the outskirts of Amalah city and by mid morning, they had reached the palace gates. They dismounted and made their way into the palace where they were welcomed warmly and ushered to the Guard Commander’s room where Garrick and Kalon were.
‘Am I interrupting?’ Rakan asked mischievously.
Garrick and Kalon turned around to see Rakan at the door and both broke into wide smiles.
‘Rakan, Brother,’ Kalon said excitedly, as he rushed to where his brother was and hugged him. Rakan hugged his brother back tightly and ruffled his hair.
‘It’s good to see you little brother. Although I see that from now on I can no longer call you little,’ Rakan said, as he stepped back to take a good look at his brother. ‘My, how you have grown,’ he said proudly, looking at Kalon who was now six feet and one inch tall and only two inches smaller than Rakan. ‘I think you may even reach me or even surpass me.’
‘I don’t know,’ Kalon said, still holding onto his brother’s upper arms. ‘I know I am so very glad to see you though,’ he said.
‘As am I,’ Garrick said looking at his eldest son.
‘Father,’ Rakan said letting go of Kalon and going to hug Garrick. The two men hugged tightly and for a good few seconds before Rakan stepped back from him. ‘I missed you too.’
‘And I you son,’ Garrick said, almost overcome with emotion at seeing his son again.
‘Do I get a warm welcome?’ Rufus asked, as he turned the corner and made himself visible to Kalon and Garrick.
‘Rufus!’ Kalon said. ‘How glad I am to see you my friend,’ Kalon said, as he rushed towards Rufus and hugged him.
When the greetings were over and done with, the four men stood in the room talking and laughing and Rakan and Rufus began telling them the most salient parts of what had taken place in the school of Lansten but making absolutely no mention of Adriel or Salwar.
After a while, the two of them went in search of Waldon, Kenaz, and Ellora and Amara, who were all so glad and excited to see them and they too, spent much time talking and catching up. They promised to meet and catch up over many dinners and that they did, over the coming weeks. Soon all six friends were back together like old times and they were all living and working in Amalah and spending whatever spare time that they had together.
Once again, Amalah was back to normal and everyone felt happy – except for Gaerwen. She was not sure why, but she had developed a feeling of foreboding that seemed to grow worse as each day passed. She could not understand why she had suddenly started to feel this way and the more she thought about where her feelings came from, the more perplexed she became.
She thought hard and tried to remember when she first began to feel this way; it was the day she returned from South Amalah, “the day Rakan and Rufus returned,” she thought to herself. She wondered if they had anything to do with her feeling this way but for the time being, she could not fathom why they would. She hoped that they did not and she hoped that her feelings did not mean that they would come to any harm or trouble. Gaerwen tried hard to not think about the bad tidings that she felt were impending and so she relaxed in a bath and then meditated before she went to bed.
The next day she rose and as usual, rode to the palace for Amara’s lesson. Gaerwen loved her job and she loved Amara, for she was like the daughter she never had. To Gaerwen, Amara possessed a kindness and innocence that made her feel protective of the Empress.
When Gaerwen arrived at the palace, she dismounted in the court yard and a horse hand took her horse away from her and to the stables and she thanked him and turned to enter the palace. She had only taken a few steps when she heard the sound of men’s voices and horses steps, and when she turned around, she saw Rakan and Kalon riding towards her. She waited in order to greet them as the two young men dismounted and also gave their horses to the stable boy.
‘Good morning Kalon and Rakan,’ Gaerwen said brightly.
Good morning Gaerwen,’ Kalon said pleasantly.
‘Hello Gaerwen,’ Rakan said.
The three of them made small talk and as they engaged in conversation, the feeling of foreboding that had left Gaerwen last night returned almost instantly. As the three of them continued to talk, so her feelings grew and as they intensified once again; her heart began to pound in her chest. “What is this?” she asked herself, beginning to be afraid.
‘Gaerwen are you alright?’ Kalon asked, deeply concerned for her. ‘Gaerwen you have become terribly pale.’
‘Yes, I’m fine thank you Kalon, I just felt a bit strange but it has passed now.’
‘Let me take you inside,’ Rakan said.
‘No!’ Gaerwen replied sharply, much to the brother’s surprise.
‘I mean no thank you,’ she said, adjusting her tone so it became much softer. ‘I’m fine really,’ she insisted.
The two brothers looked at each other, each of them looking as puzzled and quizzical as the other. They were about to say something more when they heard a horse galloping towards
them. The three of them looked outward to see Rufus galloping towards them and once again, they stood still until Rufus was in the courtyard dismounting.
Rufus was clearly in good cheer and he bade them all good morning. As he drew closer, Gaerwen’s feeling of foreboding increased. She stepped back from the three young men unable to discern why she was feeling that way.
The three men now stood side by side and Gaerwen stood opposite them and then suddenly, Kalon stepped forward to where she was, leaving Rakan and Rufus shoulder to shoulder and then she saw it; a black aura cloud that covered them both and the more she stared at them, the thicker and darker the black aura cloud got: she stepped back quickly, horrified and scared at what she saw. The emerald ring that she had worn as an amulet began to vibrate and glow, and as she felt and saw it, she quickly hid her hand from Rakan and Rufus.
‘You!’ she said, shocked as she looked at Rakan and Rufus. ‘What did you…?’
‘Gaerwen,’ Kalon said, walking towards her to catch hold of her before she crumpled to the ground. ‘Gaerwen, whatever is the matter?’
‘Kalon….they…I don’t know,’ she said quickly, not wanting to say anything else in front of Rakan and Rufus. ‘I’m sorry, I just felt overcome and very, very hot,’ she said weakly.
‘That’s it; I’m taking you to see Dariel,’ Kalon said, clearly concerned for Gaerwen’s health.
‘Thank you,’ she said looking up at him. ‘You are a good man Kalon, never forget that,’ she said holding his gaze.
He looked at her for a moment and wondered why she had chosen to say that.
‘The people around me love me and make me that way,’ she said in a whisper.
‘Perhaps, but remember it’s always a choice.’
‘I will Gaerwen,’ Kalon said, staring at her intently.
‘Do you promise?’
‘I promise, now let me take you to Dariel before you nearly fall to the ground again.’
‘Thank you,’ she said.
‘Perhaps we can help you?’ Rakan suggested.
‘No thank you,’ Gaerwen said quickly but softly. ‘I do not want to trouble all three of you from your day.’
‘It would be no trouble at all,’ Rakan said, smiling at Gaerwen his piercing blue eyes boring straight through hers.
‘Thank you Rakan, but no thank you. I really would feel better if I were not disturbing you and Rufus, as well as Kalon.’
‘It’s alright Rakan; I will be fine taking Gaerwen to Dariel. I will meet you and Rufus in our father’s office.’
‘Very well,’ Rakan replied.
Kalon held on to Gaerwen’s arm and he escorted her into the palace as Rakan and Rufus stood and watched them. When they entered and closed the door behind them Rakan and Rufus continued to stare ahead.
‘Do you think she suspects us?’ Rufus asked.
‘I know she does,’ Rakan said slowly.
‘What do we do?’
‘Nothing yet, for there is nothing she can do or say.’
‘But she knows Rakan.’
‘Yes she does. But what can she do? Tell everyone we are evil – I don’t think so and no one would believe her.’
‘She can use magic.’
Rakan sneered and then spoke: ‘So what, our magic is much more powerful than hers and anything she does can be undone.’
‘So we leave her alone?’
‘For now Rufus yes, but worry not, the time will come when Gaerwen will be taken care of.’
‘I hope so, we have plans.’
‘Indeed we do,’ Rakan said slowly in a sinister tone.
The two men grinned a Machiavellian grin and headed inside the castle to meet Garrick.
Kalon took Gaerwen to Dariel and she sat down while Dariel tended to her, she looked at Kalon and smiled at him before she spoke: ‘Kalon, please will you come to my aid one more time and tell the Empress where I am. Please tell her not to worry and that I shall be with her shortly.’
‘Of course, Gaerwen, but please, tell me first, are you feeling any better?’
‘Much, thank you and thank you for your help and for going to tell the Empress – you are most kind Kalon.’
‘Thank you, I will leave you now Gaerwen. Dariel please take care of her.’
‘I will,’ Dariel said sincerely.
Kalon left and went in search of Amara, and Dariel and Gaerwen remained in the room.
‘This is very, very unusual,’ Dariel said in a bemused tone.
‘What is?’
‘Gaerwen being ill.’
‘It happens.’
‘I’m sure it does and if I hadn’t have known you for more than twenty years, I would have thought you were ill, but I have – and you are not. So do you want to tell me what troubles you so much?’
‘No Dariel I do not.’
‘Gaerwen…’
‘Dariel no! I think it safer that I keep my troubles to myself at least for now.’
‘Safer?’ Dariel asked, stopping in his tracks.
‘I mean better,’ Gaerwen said quickly.
‘I want to help you.’
‘I know you do Dariel but the best thing you can do now, is not speak of what happened here.’
‘Gaerwen, you are worrying me.’
‘Dariel please do not speak of this to anyone – promise me.’
‘I promise,’ Dariel said reluctantly.
‘Not to Michael, or Garrick, Häkan, or Thaddeus or Raynor.’
‘All right, I promise.’
‘Good,’ Gaerwen said, satisfied that Dariel would keep her troubled state a secret.
He gave her a tonic which she drank slowly and then she sat down with Dariel for a few moments, before she rose to her feet and left his room. She paused at the door for a moment before leaving and she looked at Dariel.
‘Some things are just too close to home Dariel,’ she said in a profound way, before she closed the door and left him alone.
Gaerwen went in search of Amara and when she found her she began to explain why she was late but Amara stopped her.
‘Gaerwen, Kalon has been to see me. He tells me you were ill and had to be taken to Dariel: are you alright?’ Amara asked, quite alarmed.
‘Yes Empress, I am fine. I just felt a little nauseous but it has passed now.’
‘Gaerwen please retire to a room and I will get the maid to look after you until you are better.’
‘Empress I am better, thank you very much for your kind offer but really, I have recovered.’
‘Would you like the rest of the day off, I mean there is no need to continue with my lesson today.’
‘There is every need,’ Gaerwen said quite forcefully.
‘Gaerwen?’ Amara said, quite surprised by her teacher’s tone.
‘I mean you have come so far Empress and today, I intended to teach you new magic and how to ward off dark magic’s.’
‘Dark magic?’
‘Yes dark magic, there may come a time when you may need the knowledge that I have taught you.’
‘Gaerwen we live in peacetime.’
‘Yes we do, but the world is unpredictable and so are people,’ Gaerwen said, trying to control her feelings of panic; ‘and even though we live in peacetime now, it may not always stay that way. I pray it does but I cannot see into the future and neither can you Empress.’
‘Where is all of this bad tiding coming from?’ Amara asked with concern, as she scrutinised Gaerwen’s still pale face.
‘It’s coming from the realisation that I have left you defenceless in an uncertain world and I cannot do so any longer. Before I begin to teach you Empress I ask you one favour.’
‘Name it.’
‘That you do not tell anyone, and I mean anyone that I am teaching you to ward off dark magic.’
‘Why ever not?’
‘For your own safety and protection.’
‘Gaerwen,’ Amara began; ‘something is clearly troubling you ad what you are saying is alarming me.’
‘Em
press, I do not wish to alarm you at all. It’s just lately, I have had feelings of foreboding. I just want to ensure that you are safe and can protect yourself. Please trust me and do not tell anyone.’
‘Alright,’ Amara said.
‘I really do mean anyone Empress: you cannot tell Ellora, Michael, Garrick and any of his friends, or any of your friends. It really is important – you cannot tell a single soul. Please, I know you have many questions but please trust me and know, that I love you as though you were my own daughter and that I will do everything to protect you and keep you safe,’ Gaerwen said, with a sense of intensity and urgency that Amara had never heard her use before.
‘I promise Gaerwen,’ Amara said, taking he hand and squeezing it.
‘Good, then let us begin.’
From that day on, Gaerwen began to teach Amara about dark magic and how to avoid it and deflect it.
‘Always remember Empress,’ Gaerwen began; ‘it is difficult and sometimes impossible, to undo another’s magic. You must deflect and shield or find a way around it.’
She went through how dark magic was used and where its power came from and when the days lesson was over, Gaerwen asked that she and Amara increase the length of their lesson time and number, and although Amara did not know what troubled Gaerwen; she sensed that something was truly troubling her and that somewhere and somehow, trouble was on the horizon and such, she agreed to the increase.
‘I wish you would tell me what is troubling you Gaerwen,’ Amara pressed.
‘I wish I could Empress, but for your own safety you should know nothing of my troubles but be prepared for any that come your way.’
‘Gaerwen…’
‘Empress, dear Amara,’ Gaerwen said, as she took hold of her. ‘Know this, as the Empress people will look to you, especially in times of crisis and you must always be prepared to face whatever challenge arises. I’ve seen you though Empress, I’ve seen the child you used to be and the woman that you became: A decent, honest, kind and caring woman, who is gentle but also possesses great strength; and I know that whatever arises whether it be today, tomorrow, one year or five years from now, that you will rise to whatever challenge comes your way.’
‘I don’t know what to say, except that I am slightly afraid.’
‘Do not be afraid Empress, do not be afraid.’