‘Actions of some should not account for the actions of all, some of the men must have some good and decency in them, considering everything I still choose to believe that.’
‘There aren’t that many of us left since Dukan…Is it enough?’ Adonia gave a slight sigh as she knew this to be true but then another thought came to her, the mages.
‘I have another plan if they are willing to help, Griffiths will pay, I will make sure of that, but this goes beyond just him, the fight goes to Kinlan then the Tainted. You are all fine soldiers, but we need an army, we need some more firepower.’
‘Then I’ll go with you.’ Fenrir said as he laid his hand on her shoulder. She smiled at his touch, to some their relationship was obvious, though they remained her friends and followers some of the villagers did glare at the forbidden lovers, sceptical of them, some were still unsure how far into a relationship they actually were. As much as Fenrir showed his affections toward her by his simple touches it was never a public display, as much as he loved her there was still that lingering fear in the back of his mind.
‘The mountains are treacherous, ye best be on guard.’
‘We will Barmic, I trust you with the preparations.’ He gave a sarcastic salute as Adonia and Fenrir prepared for their journey.
Even in the height of summer the mountains of the north held their snowy tops. The pair dressed well for the travel wearing thick fur cloaks and heavy boots, the terrain was too dangerous for horses. Adonia stood out to the edge of the village where the people watched their newfound leader, she looked back one last time with Fenrir beside her and held her hand out to the sky. It was like a sign of goodbye yet also strength as the people followed her action of raising their hands to join her, she clenched her fist and swung her arm back down.
Chapter 9
The Magi of the North
‘Save your strength, it’s a long hike.’ Fenrir said as he tried to slow her fast walking pace. She looked over her shoulder and silently acknowledged him and followed his pace. ‘You think the mages will help you?’
‘I don’t know, if they do that’s more men for the cause, if not I hope we still have the firepower to defeat Griffiths.’
‘You sound sure of that.’
‘I’ve never had to lead before but…’
‘They follow you.’ She couldn’t doubt herself now, this army she was creating needed a strong leader to pull them through and the mages needed to see a confident leader if she had any chance of winning them over.
They helped each other over the sheer drops and chasms of the mountains that blocked their path, Adonia held his hand as she steadily stepped on the slippery rocks across a stream. They took the opportunity once they had crossed to fill up their containers. The water was fresh and crisp, even in her time in the north this was something new to her.
‘Can’t get better than mountain water, especially when it flows this fast.’ Fenrir said as he finished filling his container.
‘Have you ever been to the college before?’
‘Never been worth the effort, everyone knows it’s there but its such hard work to get to.’
‘Some friends of mine from the camp were mages.’
‘Mages with forest elves?’
‘It’s a long story, they told me they used to travel with their parents until…They became orphaned, the elves found them and took them in.’
‘Are they seen as elves?’ she gave a sigh as she remembered Ivory’s rejection from the elven woman he loved dearly.
‘The elder saw them as her sons yet they were unlucky finding partners, one of them loved a young girl and I knew she liked him but because he was human-.’
‘Why don’t you care?’ His quick comment caught her off guard, yet she could see the intensity in his eyes, she glared at him slightly and stopped in her tracks she wanted to smile but just approached him slowly.
‘I can ask you the same question, after all you were the one who kissed me first.’ Fenrir gave a soft chuckle.
‘I won’t lie, I always thought you were beautiful even when we fought.’ He smiled as he shoved her shoulder slightly. ‘I guess it was just what we were taught, and the things I’ve seen, humans, elves they can’t be together…That’s why I was afraid, I didn’t want you to get hurt, especially once I knew my feelings for you.’ He said as he lightly brushed his fingertips against her cold cheek. ‘Now your turn.’ He smiled slyly.
‘Considering what as ass you could be, you helped me when I needed it, even when we fought and bickered there were still times you put yourself in danger to help me, I don’t care if you’re an elf, only thing that makes you stand out is your hair.’ She smiled as she ran her fingers through his white locks. ‘Your ears.’ She playfully pinched the tip of his pointed ears but as he went to pull away, she held his face. ‘And your eyes.’ Adonia softly smiled as she gazed into his bright eyes, but the memories started to come back, the memories of the innocent Arthur.
‘Fen…You said that Arthur had your sister’s eyes?’ she asked sheepishly as they continued on their journey.
‘Melda’s eyes were a bit greener than mine…Like the fresh grass of summer.’
‘Did you know she was pregnant?’
‘Yes.’ He sighed. ‘It was inevitable but I could see at one point she was physically pregnant…I just assumed they killed it once it was born but as soon as I laid eyes on Arthur, when I saw those eyes I knew who he was.’
‘…But he looked like a full-blooded elf?’
‘I told you, even elves that wanted to participate did, I guess an elven servant was the father, but it was impossible to tell who…There were so many.’
‘I’m sorry for bringing it up I-.’
‘It’s alright Adonia, it just taught me that you hear how pure and natural elves are, how they are one with the forests are and all that, yet they can be just as cruel as any human.’ Perhaps that’s why he never seemed to have such a bright outlook on his own brethren, it made Adonia feel sorry for him how humans hated him and how witnessing the abuse of his sister by elven hands made him hate elves, Fenrir had no one but himself.
As they reached further into the mountains they knew to stop for rest, they camped under a small rock ledge that acted like a tiny cave just giving them enough protection from the elements. As Fenrir poked the campfire Adonia curled up to him and held onto his arm.
‘Cold?’
‘A little.’ He knew what she really wanted, he lifted his arm up and pulled her close before covering her with most of his cloak.
Even though he had been there through her healing, the sensation of a kind touch was a welcoming feeling, he didn’t shy away from her scars like Jenny or Barmic would when it came to tending them, he understood the pain, the source of infliction. He held her before she would wake up so she wouldn’t fear waking up alone in the dungeons again, he was always there for her. But as Fenrir poked the fire once more there was a thought that harrowed his mind, something he had to ask.
‘Adonia I have a very important question.’
‘Yes?’
‘After this, after Griffiths, Kinlan, the Mother…What will happen, to us?’ it was nothing he hadn’t mentioned before but before their relationship he assumed she would return to Argonar or take her rightful place on the throne, but now there was no Argonar to return to.
‘I know my place is in Nebine as queen but…I don’t want to leave Fen, I love you.’
‘And I you, yet I don’t think nobles will welcome me with open arms not only because I’m an elf but an ex slave, illiterate.’
‘Fenrir.’ She interrupted but curled closer to him. ‘I don’t want to think of those days, I just want to think about what’s happening right now, no more fear of the future or what I’m going to do next, right now all I want to think of is being here with you.’ Fenrir understood her and wanted to feel the same though the thought was still in the depths of his mind, he held her closer and appreciated this small moment with her.
The next m
orning, they continued to travel north, the snow was much heavier and the mountains more dangerous, but they still pressed on. As Adonia climbed on top of a snowy rock to gather her bearings a bird swooped close to her head then perched on the branch of a dead tree. A crow.
‘Brave thing.’ Fenrir said as he stood by her side and examined the creature, but she was immediately put on edge.
‘Alright, where are you?’ she called out as she hesitantly looked around.
‘Adonia?’ he asked clearly confused but she continued to search. Even after all this time she knew that crow meant danger, something was near, the Tainted this far north? But no spirit came, the crow only gave a simple caw before lightly gliding down to her and perched upon her shoulder. Adonia stared at the creature confused, not once did it ever come into contact with her, nervously she went to touch the crow with her fingertips expecting it to peck at her, but it simply moved its head out of the way to allow her to touch it. She gently slid her fingertips down its silk feathers from the back of its head to the base of its tail. ‘It appears you’ve made a friend, but who were you talking to?’
‘Ever since the attack on my family’s castle a crow has always watched me, and not long after something terrible would happen, it’s usually followed by a spirit who knows me and seems to know a lot about the Mother, but the crow has never acted like this.’ Fenrir raised his eyebrow as he too petted the unfamiliar crow.
‘Looks like there’s still a lot you haven’t told me.’ She gave a quick scoff then looked out into the distance again.
‘Because I don’t know what to do about it…A war on our heels is one thing but this supernatural nonsense as well.’
‘Perhaps it’s a guardian.’
‘Perhaps, it’s never harmed me, come on let’s keep moving.’
Even as she walked the crow continued to perch itself on her shoulder, if she needed to climb it would simply glide off her until she was stable once more. She was still confused with its sudden attachment for her and even as she continued on her journey, she constantly kept her eye out on a lurking spirit. It almost reminded her of having Luna by her side, she wondered about the animal sometimes how her companion was or if he was even alive given the years that had passed. As they came to a steep climb Fenrir gave her a boost by cupping his hand to allow her to stand on them and be lifted to the edge, she followed by offering her hand to let him climb.
‘How do the mages travel? This is pretty dangerous especially if you’re not used to it.’
‘Mages don’t travel unless they need to, the college has been there for centuries, yet I’ve never met one.’
‘Odd, my friends told me they travelled all the time.’
‘Maybe they were outdoorsy.’
‘Maybe…’ as they continued traveling north into the thinning air the crow gave a sudden caw which immediately put Adonia on edge, but there was still no danger, the crow glided down to the floor to a small collection of rocks and began to peck.
‘Found something?’ Fenrir asked as he watched the strange animal. Without even a response Adonia knelt down and moved some of the rocks out of the way until the crow discovered an ancient broken bangle and continued to peck at until Adonia picked it up to examine.
‘This is…’ she twisted the bangle around as she stood up, there were markings engraved on the copper bangle. ‘Ancient Alexandrian, before Alexander was even a united country.’
‘Strange…’ Adonia gave a slow nod of acknowledgement before examining the bangle further. She recognised the engravings to be ancient Alexandrian yet could never make out the writings, such knowledge from her childhood studies had been long forgotten.
‘Maybe the mages might know.’
As the sun began to set once more the pair looked up at the looming fortress above, it was well decorated for such a remote place, they crossed the stone bridge to the golden tipped doors and together pushed them open. She had only ever heard of legends of the place but never thought to see its splendour, in the centre of the room was a giant sphere that lightly hovered on top of a natural fountain, yet the water wasn’t mundane, it glowed a gentle, inviting blue. The pair looked up at the domed ceiling and took them back to their time in the caves as tiny blue lights danced above. The walls and pillars looked as if they were made from blue marble with gold ivy reaching across the structure, the pair cautiously pressed forward hopeful to come across the magi kind, but the crow took to flight further into the building. Huge doors opened for the crow as an elderly man came through, the crow perched onto his shoulder which took him by surprise yet did not frighten him.
‘Kind sir.’ Adonia said as she gave a forgotten greeting, the soldier’s way of her arm across her chest and a faint bow, she was no longer a noble, but a soldier.
‘By the Divines’ breath.’ He exhaled as he approached her. ‘Adonia Hardgrave?’
‘Yes.’
‘We mourned for years after the Hardgrave passing, come, come, you and your companion are welcome within these walls.’ They followed the elderly man back through the door and the place was just as finely decorated as the first room, more mages wandered around, reading books, practicing spells, but as she passed, they all stopped and gawked at the Hardgrave. ‘Forgive my haste, my name is Elmond, forgive their stares my lady, you are a walking miracle.’
‘The more I survive the more I can see that.’ They followed him to an old study that was huge compared to her old home, the very walls themselves were bookcases stretching high into the sky. The elderly man sat at a desk where the crow perched itself on top of a collection of books, but something else caught Adonia’s eye, the huge stained glass window held a picture, a picture of what looked like a man with black hair and black clothing and close to his side was a woman with white hair and a white dress.
‘Who are they?’ Adonia asked as she gave a head gesture to the window.
‘Ah, they were our greatest mages to ever walk these halls. Husband and wife you know, but alas they are no longer with us, they were banished many years ago now, a decision that haunted our council, but it had to be done for our safety.’
‘May I ask why?’ the elderly man Elmond gave a slight smile behind his flowing white beard as he turned to the window.
‘As powerful as they were unable to conceive a child through natural means.’ He gave a sigh. ‘They studied these books for as long as I can remember yet nothing helped them, so they did the unthinkable.’ He glanced at his hand before turning to the pair. ‘There is magic in this world that is forbidden for a reason, blood magic and necromancy are such magic. They used their blood in a ritual in order to conceive, and conceive they did, twin boys actually. They were so thrilled but obviously kept it a secret from the college. The boys were quick to show their magical abilities, but their powers were growing faster than they were. You see blood magic uses the life force of the sacrificed blood to amplify the magic phenomenally, their ritual was passed to their children making them more powerful than their parents combined…One day the boys were practicing, and the entire college was nearly in flames, it was then their parents told us of the blood ritual and were banished since. I do not know if they are still alive but…It is a shame; they were such good people.’
‘…Twin boys? One with black hair the other white?’
‘Like their parents yes.’
‘Ebony and Ivory…’ she exhaled.
‘Pardon?’
‘I know these men; I have met them, and they are good people too.’ The man gave a slight shocked exhale before backing off in fear slightly. ‘But yes, their parents are dead, they told me they were orphaned while they were still young and by your expression…You don’t have to fear, they too are dead.’ She sighed.
‘While a relief it is a sad one, I know they were good boys, innocent to the magic that brought them into this world, but they were too dangerous.’
‘They never used their magic; told me they don’t fight.’
‘Odd, none the lest I must as why are you he
re lady Hardgrave?’
‘I ask that the magi join our cause, we face a battle far greater than anyone ever imagined.’
‘No, we lost too many to the Tainted as it is, we are few in number and South Realm was devastating to us all.’
‘It isn’t just the Tainted.’ The crow gave a gentle caw and swooped to be on her shoulder once more.
‘My family was betrayed by the very man that sits on the throne, Kinlan planned the whole thing my family was to be killed he was to rescue and marry me, Greymire saved my life both at my home and at South Realm.’
‘This is quite the accusation; how did you get such information?’ without hesitation she turned around and lifted her shirt to reveal her scarred back. Fenrir gave a quick shudder at her sudden reveal, but he knew words could not express her torture. The man quivered at her scars, even he could tell that these were painful and repetitious, the marks of torture wounds.
‘Kinlan found me and when I refused to marry him he had me tortured, I forgot how long I was in that cell, I never saw the sky, the seasons…He broke me once, I was weak but like Alexander before me I chose to rise again.’ He looked her up and down briefly, he could see her power, her fierce nature. He recognised those eyes in the portraits of the past, the fierce eyes of Alexander Hardgrave himself.
‘No more are you the delicate noblewoman of the monarchy, you have seen things of a war veteran…But to raise an army against the king with the Tainted at our heels? That’s suicide.’
‘I only came to ask for your help, I understand that it is worrisome for your people, but if you do not wish to provide it then I have no need to remain here any longer, come on Fenrir.’ She said as she laid her hand on his shoulder and prepared to walk off. The crow flew back to the pile of books and looked as if it was grooming, while in actual fact it plucked a feather from itself and dropped it on the table in front of the mage. He nervously picked up the ebony feather and was instantly put into a trance.
Bitter Wars- Ashes Page 24