The woman and a few other people nodded again while the rest looked on. Some of them appeared intrigued, and others were utterly unreadable. As per usual, we left that compound with a vague idea that we may have reached more than we could tell, but without any real idea of numbers. Too many people, Gornish and Rounan alike, seemed to have been terrorized by the magic-hungry Royals for far too long.
The Ranguvariians rejoined us shortly outside the compound, and we rode on in silence. Technically, our numbers had evened out to the point where Luke, James, and Bartholomiiu could transport us anywhere in Nerahdis, but traveling the old-fashioned way gave us more of an excuse to search for a safe place to make our new home. A big place to hold lots of people, yet nondescript as to not gain unwanted attention. It had to be the perfect combination, and we needed to see as many options as possible.
As the sun stretched toward the western horizon, its rays lingering just for a few minutes more before disappearing, my mind harkened back to Sam’s mention of Frederick and Xavier. It seemed like ages since we’d seen them or spoken to them. Mine and Frederick’s letter-writing had ended when we left for Caark, and I hadn’t seen Xavier since the battle at the Archimage Palace because he’d refused to show up at our meeting earlier in the year. After being around them for so long, it felt strange to be separated and have no contact. How were they faring? Mira and Taisyn, Cornflower and Dominick, too?
My saddle felt empty without Rayna tucked in with me. I noticed her and Kylar’s absence wherever I looked, especially whenever I looked at Sam. It’d been so long since it was just the two of us. My heart ached.
Evan’s horse suddenly sped up to match mine’s pace. He peered over at me in the fading light. “You okay?”
I looked at him funny, trying to figure out what he was talking about. Then, I remembered the comments from the Rounans. “Yeah,” I sighed. “I guess I should be used to it by now. It took a long time for the Rounans at our old compound to not hate me, and some of them never did quite get there.”
“Well, I just want you to know that I think they’re disillusioned,” Evan replied, his voice becoming harder. “They like to play the victims that paint the Gornish as the bad guys, but it seems to be that they’re just as judgmental.”
“You got that right,” I blurted, feeling vindicated. After a few seconds of thought, I added, “Do you think there’s truly good and evil? I mean… We are the good guys, right?”
To my dismay, Evan screwed up his face a little as he considered his answer. “To be honest, I don’t really believe in absolutes like that. Nobody is perfectly good and nobody is perfectly evil,” Evan responded. “I mean, Rhydin obviously thinks that he is in the right and that he is doing something good by usurping the Royals and taking Nerahdis. He doesn’t see what he’s doing as evil.”
“Are you defending Rhydin?” I demanded, nearly stopping my horse in its tracks.
“Of course not!” Evan replied. “I’m just saying that I don’t think there’s such a thing as totally good or totally evil. It’s more complicated than that. People are more complicated than that. I think good and evil are things that are determined by how it affects others, not the person themselves. Which is why it’s so important that we do what we’re doing for the right reasons.”
“What do you mean?” I asked.
“Well, Frederick and Xavier are our friends. We like them, and we want them to have their thrones back. But we need to be doing that because it’s what’s best for the people, not just because we like them and don’t like Rhydin,” Evan explained.
“Which is what we’re doing,” I answered, starting to feel defensive. “What’s best for the people is to not be ruled by a dictator who murders people and lies to them.”
“I know,” Evan said sheepishly, his shoulders hunching a little. “We just need to make sure to never lose sight of that. Y’know?”
I nodded quietly, turning my attention back to my horse. The Ranguvariians had stopped ahead, likely ready to make camp for the night.
“I think,” Evan declared, “that the next Gornish town we come to, we should try a different tactic.”
“Like what?” I questioned doubtfully.
“I think instead of just trying to attack Rhydin, whom people really like right now, and advocate for what people see as the old way, we should try putting you forward as a leader,” Evan suggested hesitantly.
As my horse came to a halt, I looked at my brother like he had two heads. “Why?”
Evan shrugged. “Because you’re a commoner. Just like them. They might relate to you more.”
“But I have magic. They might not think that,” I answered sadly. “Besides, I’ll never be a leader of one of the kingdoms. Isn’t that lying?”
“Not necessarily,” my twin replied as he slid off his saddle to the ground. “You’re more of a leader than you think, and this rebellion is going to need as much guidance as it can get.”
I let his words soak in as I dismounted. I’d never thought of myself as much of a leader really. I was going to have to think about that one for a little while.
Our life settled back into its new routine, which felt eerily similar to the rituals we had created during our journey to Caark. Even though our numbers had been cut in half. Luke, James, and Bartholomiiu busied themselves with preparing the fire and establishing a perimeter for watch duty while Evan prepared to make our meal. It turned out that he actually somewhat enjoyed cooking even if he preferred fish and destroyed any beef or venison that made it into his unfortunate hands. Since returning to the Three Kingdoms, I had eaten far more fish than I had in my entire life.
I settled myself next to Sam by the fire, trying to ignore the empty ache that always plagued my arms this time of night. Kylar and Rayna were far safer where they were, even if it hurt. Sam, I knew, was quietly struggling with the same thing. He remained close to me, but he never brought up any topics of conversation. At the beginning of our travels to the different towns in Lunaka and Auklia, I used to bury my nose in the history book, but even that had lost my interest now.
There was nothing else about Rhydin. The rest of the book was useless to me, aside from one interesting portrait of my ancestor, Nora Soreta, the first Allyen. She was tall and muscular with a lean face. But I couldn’t read anything about her since Frederick and I’s correspondence had ended while we were in Caark. I kept meaning to strike it up again, but I felt guilty that the only real reason I wanted to talk to him was to pick his brain for definitions.
When the sun rose the next day, bringing with it the moist heat of summer, I dragged my feet in preparation for the day’s ride. Every morning for the last month had been the same, and it was wearing on me. The dew would burn off shortly, and the clothes I’d been wearing for the last month would gather more dust, more sweat, and more dirt. It was rare when we’d come across a stream in which to wash. Life on the road was getting old rapidly.
As Evan willed an Einanhi squirrel into existence to help the Ranguvariians scout our route ahead, an idea occurred to me. Maybe, I could create my own little Einanhi to steer our group more toward a river or inlet from Auklia’s basin. The practice certainly wouldn’t hurt after my last attempt, which resulted in a very low-power Kylar.
I closed my eyes, and after a few moments, I felt the siphoning of my magic away from me and toward the small bird in my mind. Another Lunakan wren, quite a bit simpler than creating a pint-sized human being. I let the power drain into it a little more than I had with the Einanhi Kylar, but then abruptly shut it off as I suddenly sensed the bird felt…full, in some weird way. Whispering the incantation, I hesitantly opened my eyes, afraid to see if I’d created another uncontrollable monster.
There, in front of me, was a tiny, Lunakan wren, exactly how I’d pictured it. It twitched its head back and forth, eyeing me with one eye before flipping its head to the other side to get a good look at me with the other. Seemed like typical bird behavior. I stared at it for a few more seconds, anxiously ready to
end it if I needed to. But the attack never came. Instead, it just stared back.
“Uh…” I uttered, not sure of what to say. “Follow my brother’s squirrel and steer it toward some sort of body of water, if it’s not too far.”
The bird dipped its head and beak as if in a bow, then flew off in the direction Evan’s squirrel had scurried. I couldn’t help but stare after it. Had I really successfully created an Einanhi? And, of course, when no one else was watching.
I darted to my horse and threw myself up into the burning-hot, leather saddle. I hollered as I kicked its sides to follow, “I made an Einanhi! I made an Einanhi! Hurry up, boys, you’ve gotta see it!”
Before Sam, Evan, or the three Ranguvariians could even mount their horses, I was gone in a flash. Feeling the wind in my face was like a breath of fresh air now, and I didn’t feel the heat bouncing off the top of my head or singeing my bare arms. We were still in a forest in southern Lunaka, having recently crossed the mountains from Auklia for the umpteenth time, but the trees didn’t slow me down. My horse expertly maneuvered through them, the joy of a run evident in his perky ears and gleeful trot compared to the boring walks he’d been subjected to for the last month.
All of a sudden, there was a flash of orange out of nowhere. My horse reared up so fast that his neck collided with my nose, and before I knew it, I was tumbling backwards out of the saddle and fell hard to the ground. My horse screamed and snorted, prancing around as he reared a couple more times. I tried to roll and get away from him, but my ribs were screaming with red-hot pain.
I threw my hands up to stop the stomping horse with some sort of magic, lights flashing at my fingertips, but a figure jumped in the way. A woman’s voice crooned as she held her hands up toward the spooked beast, “Easy, easy!”
After a few moments, the screeching and snorting horse eased himself back down onto all four hooves. He shook his head and took several gasping breaths, although he never took his eyes off of the woman in front of him, especially the bright, orange turban wrapped around her head.
I coughed and sputtered, “I’m so sorry! I nearly ran you over!”
The woman turned in surprise, her eyes a beautiful crimson color like I’d never seen before. She chuckled deeply as she noticed me holding my ribs, unable to get up. “Somehow, I think we’re even,” she said melodically, a thick Auklian accent coming out loud and clear. She held her darkly tanned hand out to me, “My name is Anne. Now, who might you be with that fancy light magic of yours?”
I grunted and groaned loudly as she hauled me to my feet, clutching my ribs fiercely. “I’m Lina,” I mumbled before looking around the small clearing briefly to make sure it was safe. “I’m one of the Allyens.”
“No kiddin’?” Anne huffed before the sounds of bickering reached our ears. The woman, who looked like she could be close to thirty, shouted over her shoulder, “You quit that and come on out here, boys!”
Two young boys, who were the spitting image of each other and looked to be around five, sprinted out of the thick bushes behind Anne and dashed over to Anne, hiding behind her plethora of rainbow sashes and sensible trousers. Both of them had bright red hair and eyes the color of a green, Auklian tree frog.
I struggled to breathe, holding my ribs tighter and trying not to focus on their faces too long lest I be reminded of my own little ones. I asked, “Are these your sons?”
“Good gracious, no. These two are Chretien and Willian, a couple of war orphans I stumbled across about a year ago. I guess I might as well start calling them my own, I suppose. They’re as good as such!” Anne snorted a couple times, and then turned a serious, scarlet eye in my direction. “So. An Allyen, huh? What’s one of the Allyens doing all the way out here?”
“Eh, it’s a long story,” I replied as I scratched the back of my neck. Abruptly, it occurred to me that this woman was a living, breathing soul who didn’t seem to hate my guts, so I took a deep breath. “Actually, my brother and I are traveling around to find any opposition against Rhydin. What do you think of him?”
“Ugh, I hate that sorry scoundrel!” Anne seethed as the twin boys huddled behind her.
“Really,” I responded, trying not to sound too shocked. It wasn’t often I ran into someone who actually disliked him, much less hated him. “Why?”
“Well, why do you hate him?” Anne shrugged, looking at me like I was crazy. “He just swooped in after the war and took control of the whole entire continent. I’m a skeptical person, Miss Allyen. I know when I smell fish, there’s usually something fishy.”
“Yes! I-I agree with you!” I stammered with excitement. “He shouldn’t be in charge, and you don’t even know the half of it! Would you be interested in joining my brother and I in creating a rebellion against his reign?”
“Well. That depends,” Anne responded as she cocked one of her hips out. For the first time, I noticed a well-shined, well-worn sword at her side. “What will you Allyens do when he’s out of power? How do I know you two won’t just create your own empire in Rhydin’s place?”
I gawked at her, totally taken off guard.
“I don’t trust people very easily, Miss Allyen,” Anne continued, her eyes falling to the two boys who had slowly come out from behind her to play in the clearing. “I’m just a wanderer. In my experience, I can’t trust anyone but myself.”
“Please, call me Lina,” I pleaded, “and I completely understand where you’re coming from. There are very few people in Nerahdis I can trust too. I promise you that Evan and I aren’t interested in ruling, only in removing Rhydin from power and putting Prince Frederick and Prince Xavier back on their rightful thrones.”
“Great,” Anne scoffed, “so we can be abused again?”
“No, no!” I cried urgently. “Frederick and Xavier are different. They’re going to end the persecution of Rounans and non-Royals with magic. They’re my friends, and I trust them with my life and the lives of my own children!”
“And what about Auklia, hm?” Anne asked testily.
“Well, we’re working on that,” I said quietly. “We’re searching for the heir to the Auklian throne as well as traveling Nerahdis looking for support against Rhydin. A Lady Sabine, actually. Have you heard any stories about where she could be?”
Anne’s lips pressed into a line. “I heard that she was dead.”
“No.” I wilted, deflating.
“Yes, ma’am. I heard that she died just a few years after leaving the Archimage Palace with her mother. My own mother was a maid there,” Anne said slowly.
I looked down, distraught. Sabine was our only hope at finding an heir who could lead Auklia alongside Frederick and Xavier. What would we do now?
“But,” Anne announced rather loudly as she planted her fists on her hips, “I am interested in seeing what this rebellion of yours is all about. As well as meeting these two princes and seeing if they are who you say they are. I suppose we can quit our aimless wandering for a little while, and come along on your journey.” She mused the last part as she turned to look at the two playing boys.
Suddenly, it felt like my shoulders had been strung too tight, and the ache in my ribs worsened. What would the Ranguvariians think when they discovered that a stranger would be traveling with us? Bartholomiiu would have to keep his distance for sure. Not to mention the two young boys. We had just left our own children behind because of the danger we were constantly in, yet we had just gained two more young people to have to worry about. But, we were in such need of support, could I really tell her no?
“That sounds great,” I replied through my teeth, trying to sound as genuine as possible. “We’re headed to Stellan right now, as well as any settlements we happen upon in between. You’re welcome to participate, although not all of our debates have been pretty to watch.”
Anne shrugged. “That’s alright. With how ridiculously skewed Rhydin’s reign has made everything appear to most people, I couldn’t imagine anything less than chaotic!”
Chapter Twelve
A rare, summer rain rolled into the mountains above the small cottage that Frederick and the fractured remains of his family called home. The much-needed water soaked into the rocky ground and trickled down the slope, re-carving a myriad of paths down the mountain’s face that had been there for centuries. For far longer than any Gornish person had set foot on Nerahdis, much less Rhydin or Frederick’s ancestors for that matter.
Frederick sat quietly at the table in the center of the home. Instead of the gold-lined, mahogany table that had occupied the Royals’ former cottage between Lun and the Rounan Compound, this one was hand-hewn from rough wood. Its place was in the home of a peasant, most certainly not that of a Royal.
But, quite frankly, the former table had been sold so long ago to pay for food that Frederick no longer noticed its plain replacement. Nearly all of their fine items were gone at this point, especially after Frederick was forced to give the former Queen Lily all the gold he’d had on hand in exchange for the identity of Archimage Dathian’s daughter, her husband’s cousin, Lady Sabine.
Cornflower, however, tried to retain any remote resemblance to her previous life as she could. While Frederick journeyed from the cottage each day to hunt and forage, to provide for them, the fifteen-year-old girl would remain indoors doing what princesses typically did on their days off: stitching a tapestry, reading the last few books Frederick hadn’t managed to sell yet, or continuing her education from the last textbook her tutor had given her before she left Lunaka Castle at the beginning of the war. She also provided care for the almost three-year-old Dominick, which Frederick appreciated immensely. Oh, how things would be different if Cassandra, his beloved wife, was still alive.
Frederick was just thinking to himself how their Ranguvariian messenger, whom he’d yet to learn the name of, had just checked in with them yesterday as Cornflower embroidered a red rayna flower to her tapestry, much like the pin Cassandra used to wear in her midnight hair, when a dark cloud crossed his senses. Everything went eerily quiet aside from the sound of the rain pattering outside. The Lunakan prince rapidly glanced down at the glass shard charm around his neck, a Ranguvariian feather that could hide his presence from being sensed by another mage. Surely, his senses had to be mistaken.
Reign of Darkness Page 14