Trials of a Champion

by Thomas O'Gorman

  Tiga thought Sexton was very good looking as well. The problem was that she didn’t want to get close to another man, after what her father did to her. She had a wall up that no man could break down. She felt she was damaged, and she felt like she could never trust another man to not take advantage of her. Tiga didn’t necessarily want to be alone, but to protect herself she decided she needed to be alone.

  “Your Majesty, thank you for receiving us on such short notice, and please accept our apologies for interrupting your dinner.”

  “It is quite all right. I am grateful you are here, and I look forward to fighting alongside you to protect this great city. Tell me what is the news of the day? We have been cut off here and don’t know what is happening in the world outside of Skal.”

  “Your Majesty, I take it that you have not heard the news about Delver Kide.”

  “No, what news of my nephew do you have? Has he won another war in the last few weeks?”

  “Your Majesty, I truly regret to inform you that your nephew has gone missing. He was on board a ship that was traveling from Predias to Aviel, and the ship never made it home. Patrols were sent to look for the ship, but it wasn’t found.”

  “How long has the ship been missing?” Arkyn asked.

  “A week, Your Majesty.”

  Arkyn gripped his chair hard and the ladies in the room burst into tears.

  “Are the patrols still searching?” Thora asked. “He is my son, and the Champion of Aviel. They can’t give up looking!”

  “My Lady I assure you that they are still looking with hundreds of ships all up and down the Gulf of Skal. They won’t give up until they find out what happened.”

  “Thank you for telling us,” Arkyn said. “We are his family, so you can understand why this is such a blow.”

  “Your Majesty I am sorry I was the one that had the displeasure of telling you these ill tidings.”

  Thora got up and left the room, and Astrid and Torvee followed her. Tiga had tears running down her cheeks, but she stayed put.

  “What other news is there?” Arkyn asked.

  “Aviel prepares for war,” Rackam said. “The northern army is marching south to Barristan and the southern army is positioned around Alexandra. The men are provisioned and are on a war footing.”

  “Good. I would bring those army’s together if I were Landis, but I suppose he has his own reasons for keeping them apart. Let me tell you my news. The Menegar are taking their time marching from the coast. They have stopped at the abandoned city of Hatelburg and looted it and burned it to the ground. They are headed to Jurgeston next to do the same to it. After that we think they will head here. At the pace they are going we expect them to take another two weeks to arrive. For some reason they are in no hurry.”

  “Sire that gives us adequate time to coordinate the defense of Trellheim. How much food and water is there? I ask because I would like to know how long we can hold out if it comes to a siege.”

  “Trellheim is prepared for a drawn-out conflict. We have natural wells that are deep and unassailable and there are ample cows, pigs, and sheep that we have moved into the city to feed our combined armies for a year. There is also enough flour for bread to last that long as well.”

  “Your Majesty, I hope it doesn’t come to a year, but it is a relief knowing we have adequate food and water for the men.”

  “Yes, if we die, it won’t be of starvation.”

  “Sire, if I may, I would like to have my aide headquartered in the palace, so he can coordinate meetings and carry important communications back and forth between us. Would it be too much trouble to let him stay here?”

  “That is a good idea. He can stay in the Juniper rooms. They are close to the war room and they have their own bath and privy, so Captain Sexton can have some privacy. He is welcome to dine with the household, which after today will be me and my generals. Tiga, would you show Lieutenant Sexton to the Juniper rooms?

  “Yes uncle, I would be happy to,” Tiga got up and walked toward the door. She turned to Sexton. “Please follow me,” she said.

  They walked out of the dining room together and Tiga led him down the hall.

  “My Lady, please forgive me for being so forward, but I must say if I knew that Skalish women were as beautiful as you and your sister, then I would have joined the Skalish army instead of the Aviel army.”

  “Lieutenant you flatter me. Torvee is my cousin and she is very beautiful. I am half Skalish and half Avish and am rather plain. I do have a claim to fame though. My brother is Delver Kide, or Winn Vaux.”

  “My Lady, please do me the honor of calling me Reed. As for beauty your cousin is indeed beautiful, but you outshine her. Your modesty is touching but please don’t disparage yourself. Colonel Kide is my personal hero and the reason why I bought my commission. If I could be half the man he is I would consider myself a great soldier. May I ask your name, my Lady?”

  “Reed thank you for the complements. No one has ever said I was prettier than Torvee. I don’t believe you think that but thank you anyway. I am very proud of my brother and I am glad to hear you admire him too. As you saw I just heard that he is missing, and I am very upset. Something tells me that Winn is still alive. He is very stubborn and hard to kill. My name is Tiga, and you may call me that. I don’t feel very much like a lady these days. May I ask about your family background? You have a noble air about you.”

  “Tiga, a beautiful name for a beautiful lady. My father is Baron Morraven. I am his fourth son. I don’t have a title and am not considered nobility. Father was always kind to me because I was the baby. My three older brothers all went into the army, so it was only natural that I enter too. I joined last year and have done nothing but train. I was so happy to be sent here so that I can finally see some action.”

  “It is stupid that the non-heir offspring of barons are not considered nobility. Just so you know I consider you royalty even if you don’t have a title. I think this fight is going to be more than you bargained for and you are going to wish you were back in Aviel.”

  “Tiga, I would never wish that. If I wasn’t here, I wouldn’t have met you. I am already under your spell. I hope that we get to spend a lot of time together in the coming days.”

  Tiga blushed.

  “Reed, you are a charmer. Look we have reached your rooms. It was a pleasure meeting you. Goodnight.”

  “Tiga, wait! I need to familiarize myself with the palace rather quickly. Would you meet me after breakfast and give me a tour?”

  Tiga felt her walls come up. She could tell that Reed liked her, and to be fair she did think he was charming. They were supposed to leave for Aggenburg tomorrow afternoon, and she would likely never see him again. Despite her trepidation, she told him she would give him a tour.

  “Tiga, you just made me very happy. I will count the minutes until I see you again. Goodnight most lovely of ladies.”

  Reed went into his rooms and shut the door. Tiga felt like she should have told him she was leaving tomorrow, but he would find out soon enough. She went to her own rooms and her lady’s maid, Gena, helped her out of her clothes.

  “The palace is buzzing about that handsome Aviel lieutenant,” said Gena. “Did you meet him?”

  “Yes, Gena I met him, and he is a nice man. It is a shame he will probably die in battle.”

  “My Lady don’t talk like that! We must hold out hope that our boys will prevail against the invaders.”

  “I don’t have much hope for anything.”

  “My Lady, I am sorry you are always so sad. Is there anything I can do to cheer you up?”

  “You can change my past if you have that power. Other than that, there is nothing.”

  “My Lady, you have every reason to be happy. You need to get out of this funk somehow. Maybe there is a young man waiting in Aggenburg that will cheer you up.”

  “I doubt it Gena. I doubt it. I am ready for bed now. Thank you and have a good night.”

  “Goodnight, my Lady.”
>
  Gena blew out the lamps as she left the room. Tiga crawled into bed and was glad to finally be alone. She started crying about Winn and because of her terrible sadness. She finally found sleep after her pillows were soaked with tears.

  A few hours later she was woken up by a gentle shake. She opened her eyes and Torvee was sitting on her bed with a lantern.

  “What is it Torvee, is everything all right?” Tiga asked.

  “Everything is fine. I came in here to hatch a plot with you, but first, tell me about Lieutenant Sexton.”

  “There isn’t much to tell. I showed him where his room was. He was very charming, nice, and easy to look at. It doesn’t matter, we won’t see him after tomorrow. Why, do you like him?”

  “He is too pretty for me,” said Torvee. “The word is he likes you. One of the servants saw you blushing when you were walking with him. Anyway, that is not why I am here. What if I told you that you would see him after tomorrow because we are going to stay behind?”

  “I would be horrified about Reed, but I desperately want to stay. I want to fight Torvee. I am an excellent archer and Sir Karik taught me the sword. Skal has a lot of women fighters and I could join them.”

  “You don’t have to convince me Tiga. I think that if you want to fight you should. I am not a fighter, but I don’t want to run and hide. I can help the soldiers some way while I am here. That is why I came up with a plan for us to stay.”

  Tiga and Torvee plotted for a few hours. Satisfied they could get away with staying, they went back to bed. The next morning Tiga dressed and came down to breakfast rather than having it in bed. She really didn’t like breakfast in bed because she didn’t like having food in her bedroom. She was very nervous about the plan she and Torvee came up with the night before. She entered the breakfast room and her mother and aunt were talking with Torvee and Reed was on the other end of the table eating alone. She felt bad for Reed so she sat by him, hoping that talking to him would calm her nerves. Reed stood up when she approached him and held her chair for her.

  “Thank you,” Tiga said.

  “You look even more amazing this morning. You truly are a beautiful woman.”

  “Reed, you are laying it on a little thick, aren’t you?”

  “I couldn’t possibly. How are you this morning?

  “I am well. I am sorry to tell you that I am preparing to leave for Aggenburg.”

  “I figured as much,” said Reed. “I will admit that I feel like you should go. I would die if something happened to you here.”

  “Shouldn’t I have the right to stay and fight if I want too?”

  “I didn’t say that. If you really want to stay and fight, I would not deny you.”

  “Even knowing that I might die?”

  “It would break my heart, but yes you should be able to choose.”

  “Reed I must say you surprise me. Most men wouldn’t care what a woman wanted. They would just treat them like children.”

  “Tiga, I was raised to believe that everyone had the right to direct their life. It’s one of the things I am fighting for.”

  “Does that mean you would value my opinion?”

  “Tiga, my very happiness hangs on your opinion, so of course I value it.”

  Tiga smiled.

  “Reed you know exactly what to say to everything. You must have at least one girl at home who has given you her heart.”

  “Tiga, I haven’t known many women. I never got to mix with the nobility, and the Barony is not heavily populated. The girls who were of an age with me treated me like a brother, since we knew each other since we were small. Once I was in the army, I went to bars but that is not where the nice women were. I don’t have social standing, so I wasn’t invited to any parties. I am an officer, so I was expected to travel in certain circles and commoner functions were not exactly encouraged. My opportunities have been limited in meeting females. I have never had a serious relationship.”

  “That is hard to imagine but I can see how it could be. Those noble ladies don’t know what they are missing.”

  “Tiga, that is kind of you to say, but I think I have found the girl I want to be with here.”

  Tiga blushed again.

  “We better start on your tour. Come on, follow me.”

  They walked out of the breakfast room and Tiga started showing him around the palace. Reed paid close attention and asked several questions, some of which Tiga didn’t know the answer to. Midway through the tour Reed gently took Tiga’s hand. Tiga blushed again. Half of her wanted to rip her hand away and run back to her room. The other half was stronger, and she let herself enjoy leading around the handsomest man she had ever seen by the hand. She told herself it didn’t mean anything, and she wouldn’t let it go any farther, and that she would avoid Reed after today. Right then and there, his words and manner made her feel special for the first time since she was a little girl, and she loved the way that felt.

  The tour ended too quickly, and Reed had to go attend to his duties. He kissed her hand before he left, and she liked that too.

  The party that was leaving for Aggenburg was gathering in the courtyard. There were about two hundred people lined up in carriages or on horseback. Tiga and Torvee were on horseback situated by the carriage that Queen Astrid and Thora were in.

  “Aunt Astrid,” said Torvee. “I just realized that my maid didn’t pack my brush, because I took it out of the case, used it, and left it on the vanity. She just told me she didn’t see it there.”

  “Torvee there will be plenty of brushes at Aggenburg,” Astrid said. “Leave it.”

  “But Aunt Astrid, this is the brush that Winn gave me for Yuletide before he disappeared. I can’t bear to part with it.”

  Torvee knew that Queen Astrid had a very soft spot for Winn. He was her favorite and she was still very upset about him being missing.

  “Torvee, you are always such a mess. Be quick about it.”

  “Thank you. It will be too hard to get back in line up here. I’ll ride in the back and catch up on the road.”

  “I will go with her,” Tiga said. They both rode off as Thora yelled at Tiga to stay. Tiga pretended not to hear her. They rode back to the palace and gave their horses to a guard to hold. They went inside but instead of going up to Torvee’s room they went out back to the gardens. They went through the gardens to the woods that backed up against the palace walls. They came to a door in the wall and it was locked. Torvee reached into her dress and pulled out a key that was on a chain around her neck.

  “Papa showed me this door when I was little,” Torvee said. “He carried the key with him around his neck, even till the day he died. I think he forgot I knew what it went to. No one asked for it back when he died. I took it because I thought it might come in handy one day. It did!”

  Torvee unlocked the door and they went through it and closed it back. They were in the merchant district of Trellheim. Torvee led them to a clothing vendor and they bought some lower quality clothes. They changed in the vendor’s tent then they went to a coffee shop to wait out the search that might eventually come for them.

  Four hours passed, and no guards came by. They plucked their courage up and walked toward the front gate of the palace. When they reached the gate, they peered inside, and the party was gone. Torvee hugged Tiga.

  “We did it! There is no way they are going to turn around when they discover we didn’t go. The only thing we have to face now is Uncle Arkyn’s wrath.”

  Chapter 6: Mind Crime

  June 7, 850 A.A.

  Winn woke up and found himself suspended in the air. His head was throbbing. He was wearing a loin cloth and nothing else. He looked around the room he was in. It was spacious and the only object in the room was a wooden contraption that looked like an altar. The walls and ceiling were rock, but the floor was lined with glossy black tiles. In the ceiling was a source of light that was bright, and Winn thought it was magical. He tried to move his arms and legs, but they wouldn’t budge. He tried Samir’s
trick of attempting to see the invisible bonds. As he bent his mind toward that he heard a voice behind him.

  “You won’t be able to see these bonds. They aren’t derived from the magic of a dargul or dark wizard. They are a god’s bonds. Mine to be specific.”

  The speaker walked past Winn and Winn could tell it was a woman from her rear profile, but he did not recognize her. She turned around and faced Winn, and he gasped. She wore black tight-fitting leather. She had a shapely body. She had very long fingernails on each hand and they looked like they were dripping with blood. She had puffy red lips and midnight black hair that was cut short like a boys. Her skin was the darkest red, and her eyes were black. Her ears were pointed, and she had big holes in the lobule of her ears. The most frightening feature she had was her teeth. Fangs were a better word for them. Her teeth were oversized and pointed. Her incisors extended over her bottom lip, outside of her mouth, all the way to her chin. She opened her mouth and her tongue slithered down past her neck. She had a row of five tongue piercings. Winn found her revolting.

  She sucked her tongue back into her mouth. “Don’t you find me beautiful? I am way prettier than that bitch Sarah you married. I am the real Goddess of Beauty, not Vanya, don’t you agree? I am Melevia, Goddess of Dark Magic. I am going to personally oversee the destruction of your mind. I might even do it myself, if Eksela isn’t up to the task. Either way, it will be done. You will be dumber than a Narn and as compliant as a Vestuan whore.”

  Winn tried to talk but he found that he couldn’t.

  “Yes, you are gagged, because I don’t want to hear anything you have to say. I am not interested in anything you could possibly tell me.”

  The door opened to the room and Eksela walked in followed by Hezza and Yhadi. They made deference to Melevia, then Eksela walked up to Winn.

  “You are going to pay for your escape attempt,” Eksela said in Winn’s mind. “I could dull the pain you are about to feel, but I am not going to do so. What we are about to do is erase your memories from now until the time of your childhood. You will remember that you had a mother and father, everyone else you have ever met after the age of four or five you will forget. We will leave the memories of your combat training, and your knowledge of language and music intact. You won’t have a big vocabulary. Your gift for tactics will survive, but your general knowledge will be wiped out. You will never be able to regain what you will lose today. The memory erasing process will last an hour, but you will think it is lasting much longer. Prepare to feel excruciating pain.”