by Vella Wolf
My brother let out an irritated grunt. “You still trust him?”
“Yes. I do.”
He scoffed in disbelief, and we fell back into step.
As we entered the courtyard, I could see a group of figures standing before two Illyd carriages. Two large ikander were attached to both, their dark scales shimmering in the moonlight. This would be the first time I had ever been so close to such a beast. I wondered if my kital would miss me.
I could make out my other brothers as we approached, Wickam stood with them too. But only two sisters waited to bid me goodbye. Kariss wasn't among them. Verona and Ophelia stood before their carriage, Nyx already sat inside. He wouldn't look at me.
Raest smiled as I joined the group. A nearby guard took my luggage and my sword to stow in Raest's carriage. No doubt I would be riding with him. I couldn't stomach the thought of being stuck with him for a whole day, but what was a day? I was going to be stuck with him for a lifetime.
“Take your time saying your goodbyes. We’ll leave when you are ready,” Raest said to me.
“How kind,” I mumbled as I turned to my family.
Elren spoke first.
“I'm so sorry, Sabyr,” he said as he reached out and took my hand.
“Don't, don't start that again Elren. Just promise you'll take care of everyone,” I sighed.
With a firm tug, Elren pulled me into his embrace, smothering me as if I was a little girl again. “You know I will. Promise you'll write to me, as often as you can,” he said.
I hugged him back tightly. “I promise.”
Pulling away from his warmth, I turned to Dion and said, “You better take care of Elren. Make sure no harpy manages to worm her way into his heart and our throne.”
This actually made Dion laugh.
“I'll keep them away. He'll be safe with me and… take care Sabyr,” he smiled.
Turning to Kero, he grabbed me into a hug before I could speak.
Holding me tight, he started to babble into my ear. “I hate this. I hate that you’re going. I thought we were going to be messing about for many years to come. I'm going to be at a loss without you.”
I sighed and patted his back in comfort. “I'll be back one day, I'm not gone for good.”
He pulled back to look me in the eye, not letting go of my shoulders. “I know, but it'll never be the same again. Please be careful. If anything happens to you, nothing will stop me from coming for you,” Kero growled.
“Hush. None of that. I'll be fine. Like I keep telling you, I can look after myself.” I paused to ruffle his hair. “Kero, find yourself a pretty wife or a husband if that's the case. Don't let yourself be alone.”
Kero smiled at me weakly as I moved away towards the girls.
“Kariss said she couldn't come,” Celia muttered at me.
She wasn't still unconscious then. It was a choice.
“That's alright. Give her a hug from me please Celia,” I said, as I pulled Celia into my arms.
I could feel her quiet tears pepper my shoulder. She was resistant to leave my embrace, and as I finally pulled away, I lifted my hand to brush the tears from her face.
“No tears,” I whispered, and she nodded, pulling out a handkerchief.
“Emile. You need to look after the girls now, especially Kariss,” I said as I crushed her into a hug.
“Leave me with the hard job,” she choked, squeezing me in return.
I turned to the last person awaiting my goodbye. On approach, Wickam reached out for my hand, clasping it into a firm handshake. Sorrow and guilt swirled in his eyes as he spoke with hushed words.
“Sabyr, there is something I must say before you go. I know I have been harsh towards you at times. Torsen was like a son to me, and Ysara’s betrayal was crushing for him. I felt resentment towards you and your mother, but it was wrong. I need you to know that I never thought you were less than your siblings. You were worthy of your place.”
These were words I had always hoped to hear from him but never expected.
“Wickam, I always understood, you don’t need to apologise,” I said as I gripped his hand more tightly.
He shook away my words.
“No, I did. You needed to hear it, and I’m sorry it took this long to say it. There is also one more thing. Do not take this the wrong way but I’m glad he chose you. It will be hard for you to be so far from home, but you will make a fine queen. None of your sisters could be even an ounce of what is needed. I have complete faith in you,” he said as he placed his other hand on my shoulder—a show of confidence and support.
“Thank you. To hear you say that. It means a lot,” I smiled.
He let me go and gave a deep bow before bidding me a final goodbye.
“Be safe, be smart. Live a full life, Sabyr.”
Taking in a deep breath, I swallowed my nerves and steeled myself. This was it. It was time to go. With feigned confidence, I strode up to Raest and the carriage, turning back to look at my family only once. I could see Ophelia and Verona boarding the carriage to my right. I wish that I could ride with them, talk with them, and understand what they thought about all this. But no, I would be riding with my fiancé. I looked back to Raest as I approached and he gave me a smile, sweet and sickly. He had a satisfied expression that made the butterflies in my stomach panic. A pale hand was held out to me as I reached the carriage. I took it without question.
“No! Stop!” A woman screamed behind me, every head turning to spot the source. Vines like snakes erupted from the ground curling around the carriage wheels, the Ikander bucked and hissed in fear. Nyx, Ophelia, and Verona burst from their carriage brandishing their weapons as the guards drew theirs. Celia stood before us, arms outstretched and shaking. With a flick of her fingertips, the vines advanced, threatening to swallow the carriage. The rest of my family cowered behind her. I couldn’t believe what I was seeing.
“Stop. Do not take my sister! Take me instead,” she demanded.
Raest’s face, filled with shock and awe, curled into something like approval.
“Lower your weapons,” Raest commanded.
Everyone followed his order, lowering the threat but keeping them poised just in case. Raest could not hold me back as I ran to my sister, a new fear set alight. Her concentration did not waver as I grabbed her arm, firmly demanding answers.
“Celia! What are you doing?!” I growled at her.
“I don’t want him to take you! You belong here!” she yelled, full of fury. She turned from me, facing Raest, calling to him. “You said you wanted the right person, I have a power that Sabyr does not! I can be the queen you need with time.”
The amusement on Raest’s face was disturbing as he took a few steps towards Celia. Brambles began to spring from the ground, a protective barrier around herself and me. Raest cackled with glee.
“I admit, your power is impressive and I never expected this tenacity. But it makes no difference. My choice is Sabyr, and it will always be Sabyr.”
Through her anger, tears came again, falling to the ground like rain.
“No! I can be what you want, look at what I can do!” she screamed, launching her hands into the air. Brambles and gnarled roots followed her call, creating a jagged maze between Raest and us.
With not an ounce of hesitation, Raest began to walk towards her briar weald. Something like shadowed smoke began to pool around his feet, and as he stepped towards the brambles, tendrils of shadow were cast out caressing the spines. As soon as the darkness touched the prickled vines, they began to crumble like dust, and within seconds he stood before us. The terror in Celia’s eyes was heart-wrenching, and I grabbed her in my arms to protect her.
“Pure, raw power. It’s never enough and not what I want. Being my queen requires far more,” he said to her. Celia’s arms trembled, and she bowed her head to Raest.
“Please don’t take her, everyone here needs her. She belongs here,” she sobbed.
Raest walked up close to us, whispering loud enough fo
r just the two of us to hear.
“I’m going to tell you a secret, Celia. Maybe then you will understand.”
He then leaned up close to her ear, uttering his secrets. Her eyes widened as the words spilled from his lips and to my frustration, I couldn’t make out any of them. Raest pulled away bearing that smug smile, and Celia relaxed her body, looking defeated.
I looked between the two of them, irritated. “What did you say? What did he say?!”
“I’m sorry Sabyr,” Celia mumbled and as she brought her hands to rest at her side. Her vines and brambles recoiled back into the dirt, leaving nothing but cracked earth. Within seconds Wickam was upon her, ushering her back inside and far away from us. Taking my hand, Raest led me back to our carriage, and bewildered, I took my seat. My brothers waved a final goodbye as the wheels of my carriage began to spin, and the Ikander made their way out of my home.
Chapter 22
Raest didn’t speak a word as we travelled through the forest of northern Seranel, and I was thankful for it. It wasn’t long before I found myself dozing in and out of sleep. After everything that had happened, I felt like the life had been sucked out of me. I fell into a deep sleep until a sharp lurch from the carriage jostled me awake. I braced my hands on the seat to stop myself from falling, and a large hand gripped my arm to steady me.
“Sorry, the road is a little rough here,” Raest said with an apologetic smile. I shrugged off his touch and readjusted myself.
“How long have I been sleeping?” I asked.
“About five hours. We are about to cross the border,” he said, gesturing out the window.
Shuffling over to the glass, I peered out into the woods. I could see the lush green foliage of my forest. Tiny yellow flowers dotted the forest carpet, but I could see dark colours looming in the distance. I was lucky the weather was still warm, this would all be buried in a stark white come winter.
Slowly as we passed, the forest began to grow darker, and the plants' colours began to change. Trees that looked like oaks and willows filled the forest. Their leaves grew in different shades of blue, purple, silver, and white. The treetops melded together in a thick canopy, creating the illusion of night throughout the forest. Luminescent flowers in shades of pink, lay blooming amongst the vines that covered the trees and the grass. Night lilies, just like the ones Raest had conjured, huddled in clusters below many of the trees. Insects that glowed like stars danced in the air. This forest was like a dreamland.
“I never realised how different your home was. Are all your forests like this?” I asked, not tearing my eyes away from the forest for a second.
“Most of them. However, up north, it snows most of the year, so the forests are mostly pine, aspen, and juniper,” he replied.
I wondered if they shared the same palette. As we continued on our way, the forest grew thicker, revealing more unusual plants in the colours of the night. I saw very few animals, it was hard to pick them out in the darkness. My eyes weren’t used to this gloom. As we crossed a wide river, a small murder of ravens sat on the ornate metal framework bridge. These creatures were just like the ravens at home. I whistled to them as we went past, attracting the attention of their silver eyes. It was comforting to have some familiarity in this strange place.
I tried to stay awake to continue sightseeing, but my lack of sleep hindered my efforts. My eyelids drooped as I leaned against the window, gazing out at the forest. I don’t remember dreaming. Many hours must have passed, but it felt like mere minutes. A warm hand pressed on my shoulder as a voice beckoned me back to consciousness. I opened my sore eyes, rubbing them out of their haze to look upon Raest.
“Sabyr, we are almost home. You will want to see this,” he smiled, looking pleased.
Home. The words almost stung. Straightening myself up, I looked out of the window once more. It was already night here, the black sky awash with lights. The forest had thinned out, and I could see a large lake shimmering in the distance between the trunks. Pushing my window open, I peeked my head out to get a better look. The breeze washed over my face carrying the scent of the land. My homeland always bore the thick scent of pine, this place smelt complicated. The smell of icy waters lingered under the bouquet of the forest. I could pick out some of the blooms, jasmine, and gardenia, but the rest of the aroma was foreign to me.
As the trees continued to thin the view of the lake became clearer and with it the port of Xerai. My eyes widened with wonder as the city came into view.
“Welcome to Xerai,” Raest said proudly.
The city was huge, so much larger than Ahnell. Unlike the flatland of home, the landscape around curved and buckled into shallow valleys and rolling hills. The city itself was built on a rise, the streets and buildings constructed on tiers leading down to the port. The buildings themselves, a variety of single homes, apartments, and villas, their grandeur increasing up the tiers. Most were constructed in shadowed wood and stone, a stark contrast to the bright blue and white lanterns that lit up the night.
Even from this distance, I could see how the city bustled. Men, women, and children going about their business as if it was the middle of the day. Ships with sails like dragon wings pulled in and out of port, many smaller boats were moored around the lake.
“This lake connects to a large river that eventually reaches the ocean. Many smaller villages rest on its banks, and if you travel far enough, you will reach the city of Hallon in the far west. Hallon dwells in a climate and landscape friendlier for farming. The river is a form of lifeblood to Xerai and the people living around its waters,” Raest said behind me.
I nodded in response taking in his words, this was but a drop in the knowledge I would need to learn about these lands. I had spent most of my life learning everything about Seranel in order to serve it the best I could. Now this was my land, and I barely knew a flipping thing about it, I was starting at stage one again. I hoped their libraries were better off than Ahnell’s.
Raest’s presence shifted behind me, and a warmth grew on my left. He opened the window next to mine, leaning out to point at Xerai.
“It doesn’t do it much justice from this angle, but Xerai continues on at the other side of the hill,” he said.
I gave him a puzzled look. “You’re telling me there is more?! It’s already huge.”
“Naedis is far more dangerous than Seranel, plenty of nasty beasts wander the woods, so there are fewer villages strewn about. Most of our population concentrates around the capitals. Xerai has to be big,” he explained.
It was then I noticed the thick black stone wall that encircled the city. A few guard towers dotted the walls, ramparts perfect for archers and artillery. Darksteel spikes curled out from the base, deadly and menacing. Raest noticed I was staring at the wall.
“The wall was built for protection against invaders and lost beasts. We haven’t relied on their defence in a while, but it's better to be safe than sorry.”
“It makes Xerai look like a prison,” I frowned. We had no walls like this in Ahnell.
Raest shook his head in protest. “Everyone is free to come and go as they please. It wasn’t so long ago that these walls were needed. If we ever manage to achieve lasting peace, I’ll tear them down myself.”
I wasn’t sure if the idea of him pulling it down was warming or terrifying. I had seen only, but a taste of his power and that was a harrowing experience.
Leaning further out the window, Raest began to point out other features of Xerai.
“There are a few different marketplaces. Near the river, it is mostly fishmongers and transport. On the fourth tier is mostly farmed goods and imports from Hallow. As we enter the city, we will be travelling through the main marketplace leading to the topmost tier. It is focused on tailors, finery, and home goods,” he said, pointing to the tiers as he went.
I made a mental note of all these spots as he continued to talk. “Over on the left hillside, is our primary caster academy. Anyone who wishes to learn from the best is welcome here
. There is also another smaller academy in Aralos to the east.” He pointed to a small castle with four towers at its corners. It was difficult to see from this distance. But I could pick up that it had its own large garden and a smaller connecting building, perhaps a living quarters for students. However, the size of this building paled in comparison to the structure to the right of it. It had a thick wall of its own that concealed the inside.
“What is that?” I asked, pointing towards it.
Raest made a noise of discomfort. “That is the arena, one of the oldest buildings here,” he said.
I turned my attention towards him before asking, “an arena? What for?”
He moved uncomfortably under my gaze. “I’m not sure how much you know about our history, but did you have temples in your lands?”
I shook my head. “Temples, no. But we had many forest shrines.”
“Well those arenas are our version of a shrine or a temple,” he said bitterly.
I looked at him, confused. He sighed, the reluctance to inform me on this matter, evident.
“Sabyr. Our history is a bloody one and not just for our wars. There is a reason Circae was called the god of chaos. At the beginning of our creation, he demanded arenas to be built in place of temples for his worship. Instead of prayer and offerings, he craved blood. For thousands of years, my people would fight to the death in the arena for his amusement. Circae would sit amongst us, cheering on as we beat, cut, and murdered each other,” he said with a quaking voice.
I gaped in horror at him, I had heard of Circae’s torment, but this was something else.
“Why? Why would someone do that to their own children?!” I spat.
Raest shrugged, his anger cooling. “I don’t think he thought of us as his children, others would argue otherwise. But in my opinion, he was just a madman playing with toys.”
Arndell was nothing like that. He had always been spoken of as if he was a stern but supportive father to my people. While I had never experienced life with him around, it was obvious that his absence was devastating.