by Luna Lais
Once they arrived in the little town of Heartsfield Eranen stopped for a moment at the Inn to secure their room for the evening. It was not a very large Inn. The bottom floor contained only a small counter and a sitting room which consisted of a few chairs by the fireplace. There was a fur rug in front of the fire to keep the cold wind from coming through the cracks between the slats of the wooden floor during the cooler months. The rug with the addition of a few simple paintings made the room feel cozy. They would have to look elsewhere for dinner since the Inn had no dinning, but Lissandra assumed Eranen knew where to obtain a meal. Heartsfield was a place he visited frequently for supplies and to sell his vegetables. "Well it's about time, my boy" the cheery voice brought Lissandra attention to the inn keeper. She was a plump elderly lady with rosy cheeks. Her silver hair was in a tight bun on top of her head and she was beaming a bright smile and cheery eyes at both of them. "Your grandma would be so proud." It had taken Lissandra a moment to realize the woman was talking about their marriage. Eranen blushed and nodded as he handed the lady the coins for the room before escorting Lissandra back outside.
After mounting on the horses again they began a short ride to the small temple devoted to the sun in the middle of town. Eranen had been right that Heartsfield did not have much to offer. There was only one single dirt road that ran the length of the town. Their horses were the only ones on the road, what few people she saw walked. A few small shops and homes spotted the street and there was no walkway connecting the buildings. When they arrived at the temple Lissandra was disappointed to see it was nothing more than a one room building constructed out of wood with a crooked tiled roof. The word temple had made her think of the Temple of the Moon's Soul and its beauty. Eranen's barn was in a much better state of repair. The fact that the Sun, with obviously so little funding maintained its hold in Hokaren was surely a testament of the Hikirians faith to the Sun. Even the lowliest of the temples in Calandoria were the most beautiful buildings within a town, with the exception of Rorgrim. There was no temple in Rorgrim, Lissandra thought for the first time. It struck her odd that a country which showed so much devotion to the Moon would have no temple within the walls of its capital. Most Calandorian laws were based on the dictates of the Moon.
There was only one priest inside the temple of the Sun when they entered. He was a very old man who with a limp and whose back hunched over. When Eranen had first mentioned what they were there for the priest had told him that the Sun was busy watching the fields at this time of the year and proper marriage ceremonies were for the winter. He was more than pleased to perform a ceremony for them once Eranen offered him a few coins and insinuated Lissandra's belly would be to round by winter for it to be a proper marriage should they wait. She could feel the blush spread across her face at his words and the disapproving glance the old man shot at her. Eranen standing behind the man urged Lissandra to play along with his eyes. She did, what choice did she have? She was not staying in Hokaren until winter and Eranen would never go to Rorgrim with her unless they were already married. The whole affair from the time they entered town until the end of the ceremony was accomplished in less than twenty minutes.
Lissandra somewhat deflated turned to Eranen as they rode to the town's stable to house the horses in for the evening, "That's it?" she asked trying to hide the disappointment in her voice. "The only wedding I ever attended was Jimreth's, but it seemed much grander."
Eranen shook his head and chuckled. "He was the crown prince of Calandoria, I am sure that made quiet a difference." When she did not comment he stopped his horse to look at her. "The way we did it, is how everyone who is not royalty does it," he said softly.
"I know," she said smiling, "I just thought I would feel different somehow," Lissandra did not know what she expected, but now that the fulfillment of prophecy was at hand she was surprised to find everything seemed so ordinary. This was the day the Moon would meet the Sun surely that held some cosmic importance that would make the day feel somewhat special to everyone.
"Only your name changed," he said moving his horse again. "You are still the same as you were before."
They rode in silence the rest of the way to the stables and after leaving the horse they walked the short distance to the Inn. When they entered he turned to her, "Are you hungry," he asked.
"No," she shook her head still lost in thoughts of prophecy.
"Good then we can go to our room," he raised his eyebrows and smiled.
"Now," she whispered looking around to make sure the elderly inn keeper was not listening. "The sun is still up"
Eranen laughed, he could not help it. "The Sun blessed our marriage, so I do not think it will mind. If it makes you uncomfortable you can always move some clouds in front of it until it is as dark as night outside."
"I just did not think it could be done with the sun up," she said looking around the entrance of the Inn again wishing Eranen would speak quieter.
"Fortunately, it can be done anytime," he said taking her arm and leading her towards the stairs. There were only six rooms in the small inn and theirs was at the very end of the hall farthest away from the stairs. Eranen paused just outside and smiled at her before sweeping her off her feet and into his arms. "Still nervous," he asked.
"No," she lied.
Eranen managed to open the door still chuckling as he carried her inside; then kicked the door closed with his boot once they had entered.
Chapter 21
Darien looked around the dimly lit council room. He had moved the meetings to a different room within the castle, a room without windows and only one door. Just outside this room was another larger room that now housed the cabinets of records as well as a table with many chairs. For now he had two guards posted outside the doors of both rooms. Everyone that could be there was present and waiting for him to begin. Eranen, Lissandra and the woman who was unconscious were the only ones missing. The other six all sat silently looking at him expectantly. He glanced at Makren feeling guilty about not speaking with him in private before this meeting, he had meant to. For the past several days he had meant to speak with his brother about a great many things that had happened to him in the Realm of the Sun. Perhaps he should have spoken with him instead of Alli?
He turned to Alli meeting her eyes with his own and nodded. "I have reason to believe that the Realm of the Sun is gathering an army on the other side of the northern mountains of Calandoria," he said this to all in the room, but met Makren's grey eyes with his own. "What do you know of this brother?" he asked.
Makren continued to look at Darien a few moments before turning to Alli. " Alli, you are acumen. Can you answer a question for me?" Alli did not speak, but glanced to Darien instead. He gave her brief nod and then she looked to Makren to proceed. "An acumen had a vision that I would deliver a warning to the kings of the world. Once this is accomplished the destroyer will rise to power. If I tell only Darien and no other ruler would the prophecy still be broken?"
"Yes," Alli said, "As long as Darien nor anyone else who hears your words carry the warning to the other rulers the prophecy will be broken." She said the words with sadness. Makren was intentionally killing an acumen. She could not help but feel sorrow for the acumen who gave Makren this prophecy.
Makren nodded at her words hearing the pain in her voice. If there had been any other way he would have chosen that path, but one acumen was worth the sacrifice to save the world. "Before I speak I will need the pledge of those here never to repeat my words, not even in this room." Makren looked around the table and saw everyone nodding in agreement to his terms. "Brother," he said looking at Darien. "I will also need your pledge to kill me if I ever repeat this in the presence of King Maeorus or King Harold."
"If that is your wish, then I will do so," Darien said only to ease his brother's mind. Regardless of the prophecy he would not kill his brother. According to Horace, his own prophecy had already ensured the rise of the Destroyer. Darien now had a bad feeling Makren's did too.
Shaking himself from his thoughts he looked around the table to see if anyone had noticed the conflict that raged in him. If they did notice, they made no comment. "Descartes sent me here to warn the rulers of the known world that the time of the destroyer is at hand and he will rule over all men just as the ancient prophecies dictate. Descartes believes he is the Destroyer." Makren looked each council member in the eye one by one before continuing. "His army gathering on the other side of the mountains is ten times larger than that of Calandoria's." he said softly.
"Then we should be preparing for war," Lawwe said grimly.
"If his intentions are to rule the world how can we not tell Maeorus and Harold? We will need their armies if there is any hope of defeating and opposing force that size." Alli said alarmed, knowing that even with the aid of Hokaren and Pearoandorn they would still be outnumbered.
"No," Darien said calmly. "We tell no one. Descartes does not have time to move his army through the mountains before winter. It would be suicide to make such an attempt. That gives us time to decide what course of action to pursue." After just making a pledge to his brother, he was not going to immediately break it now that he had heard the prophecy. Makren had been serious about Darien killing him. There was no need to drive Makren to desperate measures to prevent word spreading to Hokaren or Pearoandorn.
"He plans on attacking in the spring," Makren said solemnly. "I was considered a man of importance in the Realm of the Sun and Descartes trusted me with some of the details of his plans."
Darien watched Makren as he finished speaking. He looked as if a heavy burden had been lifted from his shoulders. "Then I will place my trust in you when the time comes to help us find away to defeat such an army." Darien said placing his hand on Makren's shoulder. He turned to the others to continue discussing the destruction of the Temple. He did not see the pain his words caused his brother.
Makren balanced the tray laden with food carefully in his hands as he struggled to open the door to one of the many chambers in the castle. With Lawwe, Karegh, Molly, Alli, Cate and this unknown girl all having private chambers they were almost out of room, he thought idly. If Darien did not move into the Royal Chamber soon his friend Eranen would be sleeping in the hall when he arrived. Lissandra's and Rachel's rooms were the only ones not currently occupied.
It had become a habit after every council meeting for him to come here with food hoping to find the unconscious girl awake. He would end up sitting with her for a few hours before retiring each night. Truthfully it was a good place to think. He was alone with his thoughts, but at the same time not alone. It was comforting. As Makren entered the chamber this evening he saw that the girl was awake and sitting on the edge of her bed. He gave her a small smile before entering the room further.
Makren studied her as he walked the short distance to the bed. She no longer wore the rags she had been wearing when she was brought from her cell. The maids had washed and changed her that first night. Now she wore a plain white gown. He noticed that someone had brushed her hair. It was a soft chestnut brown and would surely reach her waist when she stood.
Her face still had few scrapes and bruises that were still healing. Since her wounds had been tended this last week they had almost disappeared. He thought she would be pretty once they were gone completely. He looked at the scar on the left side of her face from her ear down her jaw line ending just under her chin. When he had first seen it he had thought the guards had been more than rough with her, but since it was already healed, he now assumed it must be from a previous injury.
The girl looked up as he walked to her, she smiled at him. She had big brown eyes that were the same color as her hair. "Are you the one that rescued me?" she asked.
"No," he said sitting the tray on a small table not to far from the bed. "I was in the cell two doors down from you." He sat down in the chair by the table where he had watched her on previous nights. "It was my brother who saved us both."
"Where am I?" she asked looking around the room.
"You are still in the castle, just better sleeping arrangements," Makren said. He continued to watch her curiously.
The girl frowned, "So I am still a prisoner, marked for execution?"
"No," Makren said quickly to smooth her fears. She looked so forlorn and fragile. "The King has declared you innocent of all the charges against you. In order to prevent those innocent from being wrongly convicted again he is asking you to serve on his council as an adjutant." The girl did not remark on his words, she only stared at him. Makren was not sure what he had expected, happiness maybe, a smile at the least. She glanced at his face and then his clothes. "So you are not right in the head, is that why they made you a servant, instead of adjutant?" The girl asked. After looking him over for a moment more her eyes told him she had made a decision. "Will you help me to escape?" she asked.
Makren laughed, he had not meant to, but she sounded so earnest in her plea. "I assure you my lady my mind works just as well as any man's." his words caused her eyebrows to shoot up.
"So you are insane." Her forlorn expression returned to her face.
Makren was intrigued by her behavior. One minute she seemed frightened of her own shadow, the next she was making jokes and plotting escapes. "You are not a prisoner. If you wish to leave all you have to do is stand up and walk out the door."
"I can not," she said. "I have already tried, the door was locked," she raised her trembling hands to her neck and her eyes leveled with his. "Do you think it hurts to die?"
Makren's heart wrenched. He had been wondered the same thing lately not of his own pending death, but of Rachel's. "I hope not," he replied softly unable to meet her gaze any longer he focused on the tray he had sat on the table.
"Will you help me?" It was not a question, but a plea.
"What is you name?" he asked looking at her again.
"Kiala," she was fidgeting under his intense stare and she wished he would turn away.
"Kiala what?" he questioned.
"Just Kiala," a tear fell down her cheek. "What is your name?" she asked.
"Makren," he paused. "Just Makren," he said a meeting her eyes again. "Kiala, I swear on the House of Raven that you are free. If you wish to leave just tell me where you want to go and I will see that you are taken there."
"Do not speak that name to me." She said with such force he was taken back. "The House of Raven holds no honor to me and a promise backed by it is as worthless as yesterday's milk." She turned her head from him and stared out the window on the other side of the room. It was dark outside and from where she sat she could not see anything of interest beyond the glass. Makren recovered from the unexpected hostility quickly, but did not know what to say to her. He could easily see why she would not care for the Ronans. "I would like to go to Hokaren," she said softly after her anger had faded. "Will you take me there?"
"If I promise to take you to Hokaren you must do something for me." Makren said surprised how quickly her anger disappeared.
She turned back to him glaring. "Never mind," the disgust in her voice was obvious. "I can not meet your price." She was running her hands up and down her arms as if she was freezing, but there was no chill in the room.
"All I was going to ask was for you to eat your dinner," He said standing. She jumped as he stood and scooted further back on the bed.
"Are you afraid of me?" he asked her seriously.
"Do you look like that on purpose or did something really bad happen to you?" she was indicating his clothes w
ith her hands. Makren looked at what he was wearing. Most nights he feel asleep still dressed and did not see the point of changing into fresh clothes since he was already dressed the next morning. He rubbed his jaw and felt the scraggly beginnings of a beard.
Looking at her he said, "It was something bad."
"I am sorry," she said quietly moving her eyes to stare at the door. "Will you leave it unlocked when you leave?"