The Twin Princes

by J. M. Topp

  ‘What am I to do?’ asked Rickert. ‘What will happen once I have met with the high primarch?’

  ‘For all the evil festering in that man, he is an intelligent being,’ said Rebecca. ‘He will doubt you. That is the point of the meeting.’

  ‘What exactly will that accomplish?’

  ‘By not accusing him, by maintaining your composure, he will begin to understand that you are capable of peering behind the curtain. You will not confront him, but you will threaten him. In doing so, perhaps you can instill a sliver of fear in the primarch. If you do this correctly, perhaps he will make a mistake—his last mistake.’

  ‘This seems far-fetched, don’t you think? We are leaving things to fate and to chance.’

  ‘We are leaving things to causality, and in this case, I am your dagger to command,’ said Rebecca, falling to one knee.

  ‘There must be something you want in return for this undying servitude.’

  ‘You are a quick learner, Prince Rickert. I do want something in return.’

  ‘What is it?’

  ‘The Harmony of the Apostles.’ She stood up and walked before Rickert. She set her hand on his shoulders.

  ‘Of which I am one,’ he said, glancing at Ayda. Their eyes met momentarily.

  ‘Correct. The Harmony will take place in the easternmost end of Eldervale, and a balance will be restored to the world,’ said Rebecca.

  ‘How? What does that all mean?’ asked Rickert.

  ‘I don’t know full well, my prince, but in order to seal the barriers between the worlds and end the Second Age of Fog, never to let a Third Age of Fog come to pass, it must be done.’

  ‘All you need me to do is go to Alder Isle?’

  ‘That’s right.’

  ‘So be it. I will be with the Harmony of the Apostles, if only to fulfil this promise. But only after my sister is saved.’

  ‘I have begun recruiting assassins and thieves from among the elfen and humans. You will have a secretive order at your disposal before long, as I am rebuilding the White Dagger Guild anew.’

  ‘I have your word that my sister is safe?’

  ‘For the time being, she is,’ Rebecca said, nodding.

  ‘I want to know if anything changes. I will have daily updates,’ said Rickert. ‘I now realise how tired I am. I will go to my bedchamber.’

  Ayda slammed the book shut and ran to hug Rickert. She draped her arms over him. ‘I will see you in the morning.’

  ‘What are you going to do?’ he asked.

  ‘I am in the guild,’ said Ayda, smiling broadly.

  ‘She is an acolyte. Not an assassin quite yet,’ said Rebecca, grabbing her cloak. It was still wet, but judging by the puddle underneath the books, it had shed most of its rainwater.

  Ayda glanced at Rebecca and then frowned. ‘Yeah, an acolyte.’

  ‘Leave him be, Ayda,’ said Rebecca. ‘Tomorrow will have challenges of its own.’

  ADVOCATE ESTMUND SIGHED rather loudly and put his hand up to cover his mouth. ‘Forgive me, my prince,’ he said, shaking his head and blinking his eyes. ‘The last few nights have been gruelling on the senses. The humans are not as easy to accommodate as one might think. Things aren’t going so well. Already, two of their oxcarts broke down on the Owldive road, blocking it altogether. How those rickety oxcarts of theirs made the trip through Muldvale Pass is an absurd mystery to me.’ Advocate Estmund pulled a torch from a sconce and entered the catacombs with Rickert close behind him.

  ‘I fear greatly for the fate of the humans. I don’t know if it was the wisest decision for them to come here,’ he continued. Rickert walked behind Advocate Estmund deeper into the catacombs. Ever since the death of Noreadryyn and the kidnapping of Rhiannon, the entire city of Felheim had been under a curse of silence. The humans had been adjusting into their section of the city, and the only noise came from their rebuilding of the quarter. The tri-month celebration of Eygol had been cut short, and people were beginning to take the banners and sprawling tents down. There would be no full celebration this year. A tangible stillness hung in the air, and Rickert did not like it one bit.

  Estmund opened a rusted gate to the tombs and let Rickert in first. The graves were located within a hill that had no name, at the far end of the Royal Quarter. Rows and rows of stone caskets sat beside the walkway. This was where Rickert’s father and his father before him had been laid to rest. Estmund lifted the torch above his head and led Rickert through the tombs. Rickert glanced up at the ceiling to see strange markings etched in the stone. Estmund looked up and whistled.

  ‘It always amazes me how well those words are written. Not many know the olden language, and even fewer know how to write it, let alone carve the lettering so beautifully into stone.’

  ‘What does it say?’ asked Rickert.

  ‘For Blood and Branch. Our nation’s mantra,’ said Estmund and then turned to Rickert. ‘Do you know what it means?’

  ‘It means for family and country,’ said Rickert, reciting the mantra he had been made to learn, something Noreadryyn had drilled into his mind over and over. ‘They are the words my father High King Atmerys Feldyr commanded as our nation’s words.’

  ‘You’re right,’ said Estmund. They stopped just at the end of the tombs before a beautifully built marble statue of an elfen woman. It was newly sculpted, much to Rickert’s surprise.

  ‘Despite Morrenwylf’s declaration that Noreadryyn was a traitor, I was still able to have her buried here. Noreadryyn was a good friend to me. She was always there,’ said Estmund. He gazed upon the marble structure in awe. Estmund walked to a stone grave and set the torch into a sconce. Rickert recognised a smaller inscription on the casket. It bore Noreadryyn’s name. He placed his hand on the engraving.

  ‘She was with you from the beginning, wasn’t she?’ asked Estmund.

  ‘Noreadryyn was like a mother to us.’ A feeling of pain and sadness stung Rickert’s gut.

  Estmund scratched at his cheek, and his half-ear twitched. ‘Do not blame her, Rickert. She thought she was doing what was best for you and Rhiannon.’

  ‘You’re wrong, Advocate. She didn’t care for my wellbeing or that of my sister.’ Rickert fought back tears.

  Estmund stopped. ‘Why would you say that, my prince?’

  ‘I tried to warn her about Morrenwylf, but she wanted me to keep quiet.’

  Estmund smiled and shook his head. ‘What was she to do? Raise the alarm? Tell everyone that the high primarch was planning a coup? She would have been hanged and left you and your sister defenceless.’

  ‘I am defenceless!’ shouted Rickert. He turned his back to Estmund and crossed his arms. He heard Estmund give a sigh but then felt his massive hand on his shoulder.

  ‘We will get to the bottom of all of this, but let me make one thing clear: you are not alone.’

  ‘I will not let Felheim fall.’

  ‘Blood and Branch,’ said Estmund, looking over Noreadryyn’s tomb.

  ‘Those words your father took as Felheim’s mantra were not uttered first by him but by his grandmother. She was princess thousands of years ago, but she was betrayed by her parents and sold into slavery to the lands beyond the Chirin Sea. It was said the child had a propensity for magic. Real magic. She grew while in slavery, but the slavers quickly realised what she was: a sorceress. The slavers became her family, and she became their queen. With a handful of slavers, she re-entered Felheim via the sewers and killed the king and queen, becoming the only monarch of the land. She threw their royal bodies from the top of the Tower of Sanctuary, shouting the words “For Blood and Branch.”’

  Rickert thought about Estmund’s words for a moment. ‘So it doesn’t mean family and land?’

  ‘To some it does, Rickert. But I think those words mean that blood must be spilt for life to be preserved.’

  ‘I cannot just command Morrenwylf to be killed,’ said Rickert.

  ‘I do not know if that is the role you play in all this, Prince Rickert. You must meet
with the high primarch first, young prince.’

  Rickert thought about what Rebecca had said. He would not let the fate of his sister lie in the hands of foreigners. He chewed his lip as the torchlight flickered before Noreadryyn’s grave.

  RICKERT PUSHED THE large red study door open and stopped for a second. The green marble floors had been polished, at his command, and the barricade had been broken down and removed. Lorett stood like a statue by the other silent guard. Rickert entered the study.

  Ayda stood in the centre of the room. Though the study was fully lit with candles and the floors had been mopped, piles of books still sat beside the shelves. Ayda stood on one leg, the other foot on her knee. Her two hands were folded in front of her, in a praying stance. Rebecca sat on the ground beside her, eyes unwavering from her acolyte.

  ‘Wrong. Your mind just left. Where did it go?’ snapped Rebecca. ‘You got distracted.’

  Rickert closed the door behind him.

  Ayda opened her eyes, glanced at Rickert, and closed them hurriedly. She put her left leg behind her, and then, clenching her fists, put her arms to her sides.

  ‘No, no, no…’ warned Rebecca. Ayda jumped, and then as if the very flames from the candles were being sucked from their wicks, a liquid darkness Rickert couldn’t comprehend began to wrap around Ayda. The snarling growl of a beast echoed in his ears. In horror, he covered his ears but was unable to close his eyes, helpless to even speak. After a few seconds, he fell to the floor on his knees. In a flash, Rebecca jumped and swiftly kicked Ayda in the stomach. Immediately, the sounds and shadows disappeared, and Ayda fell on her face, holding her stomach, gasping. Rebecca was breathing heavily, her silver eyes glaring at her apprentice. ‘Your form was off. I warned you not to, Ayda. Listen to me.’ Ayda attempted to catch her breath, curled up into a ball.

  ‘You…kicked me…’ gasped Ayda, holding her stomach.

  Rebecca sighed and turned to help Rickert back onto his feet. Then the blue-haired elf sat down on the floor, crossing her legs.

  ‘Get back on your feet and resume your position.’

  Ayda coughed and then slowly picked herself up. ‘What did I do wrong that time?’

  ‘You lost focus, and the third digit on your right hand twitched twice as you performed the technique.’ Rebecca glared at Ayda. ‘If you completed that technique with your poor form, you would be dragged into darkness, and it may never give you back. Your form has to be more than perfect to be executed properly.’

  Ayda sighed and shook her head. ‘This is stupid. You do this so fast, almost without thinking.’

  Rebecca stared at her pupil. ‘You said you wanted to learn, and I feel I am being fair. My master stripped me of my clothing, tied my wrists with rope so tight it almost cut off circulation to the point that I almost lost my hands. Then, he threw me out into a blizzard to learn what you are learning now. He said if I were indeed swallowed by the darkness, at least I would take some of the blizzard with me. Be grateful I am not as ruthless as my master was.’

  Ayda shuddered. ‘All right then, I’ll try again.’ She stood again on one leg and closed her eyes.

  Blood dripped from Rickert’s nose. He wiped it away hurriedly. ‘I want to know where my sister is now.’

  Ayda opened her eyes and stood on both feet. Then she glanced at Rebecca.

  The blue-haired elf stared holes in Rickert but remained silent for a few seconds before she let out a sigh. ‘What do you intend to do with this information, Prince?’

  ‘I intend to take her back.’

  ‘Not a wise move right now, my prince—’

  ‘You do not command me!’ Rickert stamped his foot on the floor. ‘You will tell me where she is, or—’

  ‘Halt!’ A muffled voice from the other side of the door interrupted Rickert’s rage. He recognised Lorett’s voice. It was laced with worry. Then the whistling sound of a bolt piercing armour sounded twice on the other side of the door. A low moan and the sound of two bodies hitting the floor made Rickert turn and clench his fists. Blood seeped in beneath the door.

  ‘What the hell?’ he asked in shock.

  ‘It’s Morrenwylf’s men. We have to leave,’ said Rebecca.

  ‘You don’t know that,’ snapped Rickert.

  ‘She does,’ said Ayda, revealing a thin stiletto from her belt.

  ‘You intend to fight them, Ayda?’ asked Rebecca.

  Ayda glanced at her master and hesitated. ‘We are just going to let them in?’

  Rebecca looked more annoyed than anything. She stood up and walked to the window. Just as she unlatched the lock, a heavy object slammed against the door, making Rickert and Ayda jump. Rebecca pushed the window open and jumped out onto the roof of the castle, vanishing from sight.

  Ayda grabbed Rickert by the sleeve. ‘Come on!’

  ‘No!’ Rickert tore his hand away from her. ‘Why should I trust you?’

  ‘Now is not the time, Rickert!’ insisted Ayda.

  ‘My sister is somewhere in the city, and I have no idea what to do! The Kindler has betrayed me, and you won’t tell me anything! I can’t be sure you aren’t planning to kill me too.’

  ‘If I wanted to kill you, you would be dead already. Listen.’ Ayda grabbed Rickert’s face and pulled it close to hers. ‘You have to understand that we intend the best for you. Right now Morrenwylf’s men are breaking through that door. What will they do if they find you here?’

  Rickert thought for a moment, but the sound of the door being broken down shook his thoughts. ‘I…I…’

  ‘I won’t make you go with me.’ Ayda let Rickert go and walked to the window. ‘I know you feel the waves are drowning you, but they will swallow you if you do not choose someone to trust. You can’t do this alone. Choose your allies and stick by your choice.’

  Ayda leapt out of the window, leaving him alone.

  The door splintered open, and Rickert saw three men in blackened chestplates barge through. One of them Rickert knew well, as he was the one who had crushed his hand.

  ‘Your Highness,’ said the man with a scar on his face. ‘You are in danger.’

  ‘You’re right, I am!’ Rickert bounded to the window and jumped out.

  ‘Get him!’ screamed the scarred man.

  Sunlight blinded Rickert, but Rebecca grabbed him by the collar of his shirt, and as if he were a babe, she wrapped him in his cloak and sprinted over the tiles of the roof. A protest began to form in his throat, but the speed that Rebecca ran, even with the weight of his body, shocked the words from his mouth. Ayda ran beside her, but Rickert noticed that she was struggling to keep up with Rebecca.

  ‘Where are we going?’ Rickert managed to ask.

  But Rebecca did not answer. Her feet barely made any noise as she ran over the red clay roof tiles. A lookout stood on a tower, gazing over the castle. His head began turning toward them. Rebecca noticed this instantly, and she jumped off the roof and fell into a maze of gardens. Ayda tripped and fell into a bush beside them. Rebecca snapped her head back and glared. Thunder rolled overhead as rain clouds threatened the blazing sunlight.

  ‘Ayda,’ snapped Rebecca in a rough whisper. Ayda emerged from the bush with leaves and broken twigs in her black curly hair.

  ‘Sorry.’

  ‘We haven’t time to fool around. Keep up,’ she snapped as she dashed through the maze. Ayda frowned and sprinted after her. Rebecca took a sharp turn into a dead end, but instead of turning back, she leapt into the air. Rickert clenched his teeth as they scaled the brick wall. Rebecca landed softly on the other side and ran even faster than before. Rickert looked back to see Ayda tumble over the wall and immediately run after them.

  Suddenly, bells began to toll. Whistles and shouts rang through the maze of gardens. Rebecca jumped over the second wall of brush and out of the gardens but then stopped.

  They stood at the precipice of a dry moat that separated the castle from the rest of the city.

  ‘Shit,’ whispered Rebecca. Rickert looked down at the dry be
d of the moat. Rusted spears lay on the floor beside carts and broken barrows. Sharpened stones had been sewn into the mud. ‘Is there no other way?’

  Suddenly, Ayda jumped over the edge, not realising the path stopped abruptly before her. Her eyes widened as she collided into Rebecca.

  ‘Fuck!’

  ‘Ayda!’ snapped Rebecca, but it was too late. The assassin lost her balance and tumbled into the moat with Rickert in her arms.

  WHEN RICKERT CAME to, he realised that Rebecca was still running. He looked back to see Ayda doing her best to keep up with the blue-haired elf.

  ‘What happened?’

  ‘You passed out,’ said Rebecca. ‘And you wet yourself.’

  Rickert turned red as he felt moisture in his pants.

  ‘Don’t worry, young prince; worse has happened to much nicer people,’ said Rebecca.

  Rickert glanced at his surroundings. The castle rested in the distance. Small houses sat side by side along the cobblestone street that Rebecca and Ayda ran along. The sky had darkened remarkably, though there were a few strong rays of light left shining on the road before them.

  ‘Where are we?’ asked Rickert.

  ‘The Sapphire Quarter, the new place for mankind,’ said Rebecca. ‘Though it may not be for much longer.’

  Rebecca turned a corner and kicked twice on a door without a handle. The sign on the corner read Aelferwich Boulevard. The door creaked open ever so slightly to reveal the shy face of a human maid, and Rebecca burst into the room, pushing past the woman and making her squeak. She startled King Hamlin and Korhas, who were conversing in hushed tones over two mugs of ale. Hamlin drew his dagger, but Korhas stepped in front of him.

  ‘It’s all right, she’s one of us,’ said Korhas. ‘Where have you been, Rebecca?’

  ‘What is an elfen doing here?’ muttered Hamlin in protest.