Dawn of the Valiant (The Valerious Chronicles: Book One)

by Julian Saheed

Christill sat next to the dying embers of the campfire, studying the worn book Dievu had bought for him as they had passed through Panthron. Titled "The Bloodlines of Feldom", it mapped the long history of the royal family of Feldom, recounting events up until Queen Triel's late father, King Reold Salenburg. With little better to occupy his time during the warm nights, Christill had found reading a welcome distraction.

  In turn, Dievu was grateful for the respite. Christill's eagerness to learn had begun to test his patience as the weeks passed.

  He placed the book down on his knees and marked the page with a thin leaf from the ground. Christill rubbed his sore eyes and whilst glancing around noticed he was one of the few men still awake. Only those unfortunate soldiers whose turn it was to keep watch were alert, listening for any sudden noise around the campsite.

  Christill stood up and began to walk over to his blanket when he noticed a shadow in the corner of his eye. He quickly turned his head but whatever it was had moved on. More than the vision he had felt a presence. It was the same sensation that he had felt when Dievu had found him sneaking up to the Queen's camp. It was the presence of magic.

  He placed his book on the floor and silently crept up to the trees where he had seen the shadow. The few soldiers on guard cast brief looks at him but took little care. The woods ahead of him were dark, as the flickering light from the campfires was held back by thick overgrowth. He stepped on, moving away from the camp, eager to find what it was that he had seen.

  After a few steps he heard what he judged to be crying coming from the trees nearby. He paused and slowly approached the noise. He walked silently, debating at first whether to alert the watch or not, but deciding against it when he noticed a delicate silhouette perched on a fallen tree trunk. What danger could there be this close to the campsite?

  The moonlight cast a silver glow on the figure as it sat with its face in its hands. Christill noticed that it was a lady with a light blue dress hugging her slender body. The woman was facing away from the camp, sobbing softly into the night.

  Then a second figure stepped out of the shadows and Christill could feel the magic that he had felt moments before. It was Dievu, dressed in simple green homespun clothing that blended into the foliage. From what he judged neither of them were aware of his presence so he shifted to the side, to hide behind the leafy branches of the closest tree.

  Dievu approached the figure slowly, so as not to scare her and said, "My lady."

  The woman lowered her hands with a fright and sat up straight. She turned and Christill realized that it was the Queen sitting before Dievu with red rimmed eyes.

  Queen Triel raised her hands and let her shoulders slump to relax. "Oh, it is you," she said in relief. "I thought that the guards had finally found out that I left the carriage. It can be so difficult to find some room to breath."

  "You know that it is not safe for you to wonder around without protection," said Dievu, in a fatherly tone. "The guards are there for a reason."

  "The world is not a safe place, Dievu. Better I die happy, as a free woman, than be locked up under watch for the rest of my life," she returned in a regretful tone. "Come sit and talk with me for a moment."

  Christill watched as Dievu walked over to the fallen trunk to sit down calmly next to the enchanting Queen. He knew that his eavesdropping was inappropriate, yet he did not wish to turn away.

  "Why are you crying?" asked Dievu.

  Queen Triel lowered her face and blew out a long breath. "Sometimes I forget what exactly it is that I am crying about." She let out a cheerless laugh. "This nation is in such a dire state...nobody seems to realise."

  Christill felt as though she was holding something back. There were emotions that she was forcing herself to contain.

  "You seem to be leaving no time to cry for yourself?" Dievu replied softly.

  A gentle and homely smile appeared on the young Queen's face. "My troubles are insignificant," she said.

  Dievu shook his head. "You are wrong, my lady. You are a leader and the people of this nation look to you for guidance. Thus your problems will become their problems. If the troubles of one person go unchecked, they can lead to the suffering of an entire world."

  "You always have wisdom to give me," the Queen replied warmly. "But there is not always time to fix one's troubles when the fates of many lie in your hands."

  "The King shares this burden and you must look to him for the help that you need. You are too young to be carrying the weight of rulership on your own. Feldom is rightfully his responsibility."

  The Queen remained silent, staring into the cold forest. She then craned her neck back to stretch her tired muscles and said, "Dieter is weak. The bitterness of old age has sapped his wisdom like the decay of winter's chill. He does not want to know or hear of Feldom's problems and allows his advisors to rule in his stead. Advisors who are always right because they speak with the authority of Skiye," she spat.

  "You still hold more power than they," said Dievu.

  "You are right...The Maloreichar and I still hold enough influence to ensure that they are kept in check. We try to prevent this nation from tearing itself apart." The Queen sighed. "The royal house is not what it used to be. Its halls are wrought with treachery and betrayal. And I would be foolish not to see that Dieter's advisors have their hands in most of it."

  Not so unlike the Disciple in Hamal, Christill reflected. These men and women seemed to think that because they are favoured by the gods that they were somehow better than the common man. That they deserved to govern others.

  "Lingering on your past again, Christill," said Dievu loudly.

  Christill found himself frozen to the spot.

  "Come out of those bushes," ordered Dievu. "You did not truly think I did not see you following me."

  Christill suddenly felt like such a fool. He moved out into the open and shamefully approached them. Queen Triel showed her shock at his appearance, but he noted that neither of them appeared to be cross.

  "Dievu tells me that he wishes to take you to Karmena. That you will attempt to enter the Academy and become a disciple," said the Queen.

  Christill nodded.

  "Then I think you will need to learn how to behave in a respectful manner, Christill" said Dievu, in a stern voice. "Creeping through the shadows to spy on others is not a quality befitting a disciple of Nyrune."

  Christill listened to their words and felt ashamed. "Please forgive me...both of you. I was acting like a child, when I should have known better."

  "Yes you should have," replied Dievu. "You not only disrespected me, but disrespected your Queen."

  Christill lowered his head.

  Queen Triel rose and walked up to Christill. "Dievu is one of the wisest men I have ever met. Always listen to him." She smiled and Christill could see genuine warmth in her for the first time that night. "You must walk away from this with the knowledge that you can become a better man." She took one final look into his eyes and said, "Do not let Dievu down, Christill."

  She turned and walked gracefully back to the camp. Before she was out of sight, Christill called out to her, "Forgive me."

  Dievu stood from the trunk and Christill noticed that he had a long bundle at his side. "I knew that you would follow me. I am pleased to see that you felt my presence as I passed you. Your recognition of the magical arts is growing keener."

  He handed the bundle to Christill who slowly unwrapped it. Inside he found a shorter version of the bow that had inspired him as a youth in Miirvk. Detailed carvings flowed elegantly through the wood, which was tinged with a green dye. Though it brought back memories of Hamal, he felt a warmth at the feel of the earthy wood in his hands.

  The quiver was even more extravagant than the bow. Gold and silver ran through the images of trees and forest life embossed into the black case, and inside he found a large bunch of white feathered arrows of the highest quality.

  "I see inside of you potential, Christill. But you still have much to learn.
Your actions remain immature and rash. Take the bow of the Karmanians and take your first step towards becoming a better man."

  For the first time in his life Christill felt like he was in charge of his own destiny.

  Dievu nodded and smiled slightly.

  Together they moved back to the camp.