by Osku Alanen
A moment later, the door to Rodrik’s room flew open. Alessia smiled, fully expecting to see Rodrik walk into the room with a tray full of sweets, but instead, she saw the grim face of Captain Severan standing there, sword drawn.
“Captain,” Alessia whispered, feeling her throat tighten. “How did you find me?”
“His highness tasked me to find you, and so I did.” He looked at the dress lying on the cabin’s floor and frowned. “It would be best for all of us if you dressed in haste, my lady. The King awaits.”
Alessia gritted teeth in silent fury. This was not how she expected her day to start. What had she accomplished with this risky stunt of hers? Now, the Captain of the guard himself saw the evidence of Alessia’s lapse of judgement. With horror, Alessia realized what this would mean for Rodrik. His father would surely be furious, and while this was all her fault, his father would no doubt blame Rodrid. At best, she might be able to convince him to imprison the boy, and at worst, his life would likely be forfeit. Gods, he might even have him flayed alive for touching his little girl—a mere stable boy. No, it cannot happen. I will not let it happen. Alessia blinked away her tears as she dressed herself, humiliated by the Captain’s presence in the room. In a normal circumstance, a male guard would never be in the presence of a princess in her state of undress, but this situation was anything but ordinary.
With horror, Alessia saw Rodrik return to the room with a plate full of meat, eggs, and drinks.
“Woah there. Now what the hell do you are doing in my room,” Rodrik shouted.
“Stay out of this,” Severan said sternly, brandishing his drawn steel to show the boy he was serious.
“Alright, alright. Calm, now. There’s no need for things to turn messy.” Rodrik placed the tray on the floor and raised his arms up.
Alessia saw Rodrik judge the Captain, and in a moment of sudden realization, she knew what he was about to do—even if it meant his life was over. She had to act fast, or the boy was as good as dead. She then saw the open balcony across the room, and when the Captain’s eyes went back to Rodrik momentarily, she saw her opening and ran.
“Stop,” Severan cried in alarm.
At that very moment, Rodrik charged Severan, pushing him down with his body. Despite decades of experience and training, the Captain was taken by surprise, and he topped down to the floor with him. Rodrik gripped the struggling Captain’s body, no doubt trying to buy Alessia some time.
“Run,” Rodrik whispered.
Alessia hesitated when she realized how far above the ground they were. Could her legs take the fall?
“I’ll be fine, just jump.” Rodrik shouted, just as he got kicked in the chest by the Captain’s boot.
Alessia lowered herself as close to the ground as she could. She then let go, praying she wouldn’t break her legs. The last thing Alissia saw was Captain Severan bashing Rodrik’s head with his sword’s pommel. He had finally fought off Rodrik’s feeble attempt, and now the boy would feel his fury. She hit the ground, gasping with pain. Nevertheless, she remained standing.
Alessia ran like her life depended on it. She owed it to Rodrik. She ran past the main street which was now all but abandoned, with only a few eager traders getting ready for the day’s work. They looked oddly at the fleeing girl, but they soon went back to their tasks. She entered an alley, leaving the wide, open streets behind, occasionally daring to look back if the Captain was pursuing her.
No one followed her.
She stopped to catch her breath behind a corner of a street she didn’t know the name of. Luckily, there was no one else there, and Alessia could have a moment of respite. What now? She thought to herself, biting her lip. She knew she couldn’t continue this foolish escape much longer. If the good Captain had managed to find her in a tavern, there was no doubt he could do it again. Her mission came back to her mind: the library. It was her only hope. Sure, Captain Severan would soon figure out where she was heading, but where else could she go? She knew no one here. A thought entered her mind: could Doctor Meridian offer her shelter? After all, he had offered to help her to find out the truth. Surely, he could offer her a place to stay for a day or two at least?
Alessia wiped away the sweat from her forehead and set her eyes towards the library which loomed in the distance. She had no idea where Meridian lived, so her only choice was to head for the library, hoping she would run into him. She felt her breath return to her, and she resumed her escape. When she reached the massive steps in front of the library, she collapsed there, her hope dissipating.
It’s useless, isn’t it? What has this running got me? Nothing! I have learned nothing, and now poor Rodrik will pay the price. My father will be furious. Surely, he will shut down my experiments, too? Thankfully, she had the foresight to ask Leah to feed her patients when her confinement had started. That was her worse nightmare, to find a smelly tomb filled with rotten corpses when she got back.
“Alessia! Thank the gods, you are alright.”
Alessia stood up, startled. In a moment of sheer disbelief, she saw the familiar smiling face of Rodrik running towards her. His face was bruised, but he yet lived.
“You escaped,” Alessia mouthed, embracing the stable boy tightly.
“I did,” Rodrik said. “I managed to lose the Captain. I’ll explain everything to you later, but for now, we need a place to hide.”
Alessia bit her lip. “I got you in terrible trouble, didn’t I? The Captain undoubtedly recognized you.”
“Aye,” Rodrik replied, voice grim. “But I know you didn’t for things to happen this way. And besides, I knew what I was getting into. I can’t show my face in the Royal Plateau anywhere, but don’t worry—I’m sure I’ll find another job sooner or later.”
“I’m so sorry,” Alessia whispered.
“Come with me,” Rodrik said.
Alessia couldn’t believe what she was hearing. How could this boy offer to do something like that to her, after all the trouble she had gotten him into? She didn’t feel worthy of his affection. This feeling was new for her. She knew what they were doing was rash, forbidden, juvenile—but she saw that she didn’t care.
“My family has a house outside the city walls. I’m welcome there, you know. I can’t afford to buy a place in the city, so I stay in taverns instead. It’s not much, but it’s a home. You’re more than welcome to join me—at least until we figure what our next step should be, my lady.”
“You would do that for me?” Alessia asked, struggling to hold back her tears.
“You know it,” Rodrik replied, grinning.
She knew she should say no, but her heart had jumped when she heard his offer. And after a moment of consideration, she nodded to the boy. “Let’s go.”
Her hands trembled with excitement as they passed through the main gate. She wasn’t sure if the guards had been notified that the princess was missing, but in any case, they paid no attention to what appeared to be a farmer with his girl leaving the city. It was fascinating to Alessia to see how much a difference clothing made; she looked nothing like royalty in her pale-blue dress she had bought from a servant girl. She frowned when she saw the line of people desperate to get inside the city; her father must have closed off all entrance to the city, fearing another assassin might get in. But how can a gate stop a man who can transform himself to look like anyone? Then again, father didn’t believe me, did he?
They fled Eyria along less-known tracks, fearing Captain Severan might send riders to look for her. They passed a small stream, which Alessia knew would eventually converge into the Great Lake of Eyria—a major source of fresh water for her citizens. I know so much of my land, yet I have seen nothing with my own eyes. Why did you have to confine me to the Royal Plateau for all these years, father?
When they finally reached a small cabin near the entrance to a forest Alessia hadn’t heard of, Alessia’s feet were killing her. “This is your home?” She asked, feeling the words slurring as she spoke them. Gods, she was thirsty—and hungry. W
hat I wouldn’t give for the breakfast you brought to me in the tavern.
Rodrik opened the door to the cabin with a key that was hanging from his neck, motioning Alessia to enter. He went inside, lighting several lanterns hanging from the ceiling.
“What do you think? I know it’s not much, but it’s a home to me.”
“It’s lovely.”
The house itself was not much, Alessia had to admit. A small shack with barely enough room for a family. It had an old bed, and a kitchen with a stove. Alessia felt herself shiver; now that she was finally safe, the needs of her body were becoming more apparent. Thankfully, Rodrik saw how cold she looked, and he lit the firewood placed in the hearth.
“I’ll get you something to drink.”
“Thank you.”
She saw Rodrik heat up some water in an iron kettle by a fire. He then took something out of a cupboard—tea? And added it into the water. He poured two cups from it, and offered one to Alessia, who took it hungrily, not caring that the water was almost scalding.
“Careful,” Rodrik laughed.
“Sorry,” Alessia replied, smiling. She looked around the cabin, which looked more inviting when warmed by the fire. It was nothing like she was used to in the castle or her family mansion, but in its own way, it wasn’t that bad. Still, Alessia was surprised to see the cobwebs around the place, guessing Rodrik wasn’t one for cleaning. This place needed a woman’s touch—desperately. Alessia chuckled, thinking it unfortunately for the boy to end up with her, a woman who had never in her life cleaned a room. She knew whatever it was that they had wouldn’t last, but it was nice living in the moment for once. For however long this lasted, Alessia would cherish this experience. And once the dust had settled, she would return to her experiments—and for to her duties as the sole heir of the kingdom.
“We are finally alone,” Rodrik said, gently, showing her the alluring smile that made her feel like there were butterflies in her stomach.
“We are,” Alessia replied timidly. The memory of their last night together came rushing back to her. He had been so gentle. So lovely.
She watched hungrily Rodrik’s wide back as he added a few more logs into the dwindling fire.
“You love me, don’t you?”
The question made Alessia to take a step back in shock. Love? Was that what she was feeling? She certainly felt something for the man, something she had never felt before, but could it be love?
A weird sound seemed to come from Rodrik’s direction. Something resembling laughter, but more sinister. It scared her.
“Rodrik?” Alessia asked worriedly. He sounded so odd. She took a step towards the boy and saw the cup of tea slip between her fingers. She was feeling so tired, so… strange. “R-Rodrik?” Alessia repeated. In a moment of shock, she realized she couldn’t feel her lips. Nor her hands. What was happening?
“Are you alright, my love? You look terribly feeble,” Rodrik said, catching Alessia’s hand.
The world around Alessia spun, and she had trouble staying upright. She felt her knees buckle, but thankfully, Rodrik was there to catch her.
“Oh dear,” Rodrik said, shaking his head in disbelief. “I fear I made it more potent than I thought, my apologies.”
“What…?” Alessia whispered. To her horror, the next word she tried to say didn’t come out. Her lips had stopped working. She couldn’t move her body anymore; every muscle was paralyzed. She watched Rodrik’s face in horror, her eyes the only thing she could still move.
Rodrik was still smiling as he held Alessia in his arms. Then his smile turned… strange. Wrong. His smooth face suddenly became wrinkled, and his pale complexion turned darker. His handsome, symmetrical nose seemed to grow, and turn into a wrinkled, crooked monstrosity. His eyes turned from blue to brown, and his hair seemed to fall off.
If her lips had been working, she would have screamed.
“Surprise,” the assassin who had taken the lives of her brothers said, chuckling. “My love.”
Chapter 11
Arin
“This is Eyria?” Arin whispered, jaw hanging wide open as the kingdom of Eyria unfolded in front of his eyes. He stood atop a cliff, still some ways from the walled city itself. Farms surrounded the kingdom in all directions, undoubtedly providing the it with the massive amount of grain its citizens needed to survive. The city itself was so densely packed Arin struggled to comprehend the amount of people that must live there. Buildings stacked so densely it was a small miracle people could fit around them. He could see several large vessels—likely filled to the brim with both fish and fishermen—traveling to and from the kingdom’s docks. On the eastern side of the city, the ground stood much higher than the rest. A single, narrow road wriggled around the sudden, steep cliff that seemed to appear from out of nowhere. And on top of the cliff, another city unfolded. They were far yet, but Arin could clearly see that this was the heart of the kingdom—where the ruler’s castle laid. It was the only part of the city where he could see color—a garden? He could see a plume of water reflecting sunlight just behind this plateau. It seemed like the eastern end of the city ended into a gargantuan waterfall, which converged with the harbor and the sea at the southern end. It was the single most beautiful creation of mankind Arin had witnessed, and simultaneously, the most terrifying. This… this was civilization.
“Aye. It’s a beauty, isn’t it? Some call it the center of the world. I have only visited the place once, and I can see they have made it even grander since then, but don’t worry, up close it’s nothing but a smelly hellhole, with too many people,” Rhea replied, her hand gently stroking the head of the small boy hugging her leg.
“Truly remarkable,” Nijakim muttered.
They had journeyed far to get to this place. They had traveled through thick forests, muddy swamps and constant fog. Yet, thankfully, the first week had been largely devoid of hardship. The rations they had taken with them from the slave traders had lasted them long, so they didn’t grow hungry. Rhea had proved to be a capable hunter, and occasionally, they feasted on a fresh rabbit or two. The possessed only a few coins, so staying in villages was out of the question. They knew that once they get to Eyria, they needed all the coin they had. Nights were the hardest for them, and on more than one occasion, they had no choice but to shiver in cold, damp forests where the wood was not dry enough to burn. If not for the warmth of their combined bodies, Nijakim—weakened as his body was—might not have made it. Luckily Rhea had proven an adept healer, and he had made close to a full recovery.
When, eventually, the fogs subsided, and they reached the border of the kingdom of Eyria, Arin slowly understood how different a place the world could be. Even summers atop the Three Peaks had been nothing like this; no matter how bright the sun shone, there had always been snow. Even Rhea had been visibly uncomfortable, accustomed to the cold weather of the Northern Islands.
If not for Rhea, they would have starved in these strange plains. Nothing in Arin’s training had prepared him for the sheer diversity of the wilderness here. They mostly avoided the main roads, all three agreeing it was for the best since their last encounter with people had not ended well.
And here they stood, at the end of their journey. The walled city of Eyria awaited them. This was where they would find answers, and this was where Arin would find his heritage—or so he hoped. The horrors he had witnessed were still fresh in Arin’s mind. Everything and everyone he had ever know was gone. Who would want to murder a village so separate from the rest of the world? Why murder the elderly and the children alike? This was also where Rhea would leave them.
“Get here already. I know the sight is mesmerizing, but we still must get inside the city. Do as I say, or they’ll turn you away for sure.”
Arin exchanged a worried look with Nijakim, who nodded. It was a scary thought to be turned back when they had journeyed so far. They descended the hill they stood on and walked towards the city gates. Arin thought he saw a line of ants down on the road, but when they cl
ose, he realized it was a massive line of people, all waiting for their turn to be admitted inside. With reluctance, they walked to the back of a line and waited for their turn.
“Don’t talk. The city is known for its distrust of foreigners. Speak nothing, only nod. It’s good you’re dressed in those robes. If we’re lucky, they might think you for a pair of scholars; the guards rarely turn scholars away, no matter how ragged they look.”
“Why are there so many guards outside the gates?” Arin asked.
Rhea shrugged. “I reckon something has happened recently, so they’re more vigilant than usual. Unlucky for us.”
“How should we act?” Nijakim asked. He sounded worried.
“I would say we should prepare for every possibility, brother,” Arin said, fingers reaching for his blade.
“You definitely keep your hand off that if you want to stay alive,” Rhea hissed. “Just follow my lead.”
Arin tried his best looking relaxed. He tried to look like passing into a city such as this was a frequent event for him, but he felt like he was failing miserably. He didn’t feel confident—at all. Not when they walked towards these armed strangers. Men who could kill them in a moment’s notice if they so choose. He desperately wanted to keep his hand on the pommel of his blade, but he had no choice but to trust Rhea. And he had learned to trust her in this journey, even though he knew next to nothing of her past. They had helped each other day and night on this strange journey to Eyria. She had tried her best to teach the way the people of this strange land acted, and in turn, they had taught her their customs.
“No pass, no entry.” The guard replied sternly to the man lined in front of them.
“Please. My daughter lives inside the city. She’s only six. I just want to see her again,” a man begged, falling to his knees.
“I don’t give two shits about your family. If you don’t have a pass, you stay out. That’s the end of it. No exceptions.” The guard nodded to the two others to his right. They dragged the crying man by his arms, shoving him off the road.