“What’s our next plan?” Ellie asked in a soft voice.
“I’ll try to send Nigel a message, telling him we’re here,” I explained.
“Alright, I’ll come with you.”
“No, I won’t take long. Just get some sleep.”
She nodded. We were exhausted but I needed to do this first. I went downstairs to the inn keeper and asked her how to send a message to Lord Nigel. She graciously answered that a post delivers messages there daily and I could give her the letter then she’d send it for me. I nodded and requested for a pen, paper and an envelope which she willingly supplied. I wrote a letter to Nigel simply stating the name of the inn and my initials at the bottom, he was sure to recognize my handwriting and knew what it meant, careful not to divulge all the details in fear someone else might read this. I place the letter inside the envelope, sealed it and wrote Nigel’s name at the back then gave it to the inn keeper who happily accepted it.
I went back to our room and when I opened the door, Ellie was already sound asleep on her bed. If this was our usual day, sleeping in the same room with Ellie would have been exhilarating but present circumstances made anything desirous distasteful. I was too tired to move lying on the other bed feeling the weight of my exhaustion. Running away and the fear of being caught kept me awake since Belforg but I was convinced we were safe here so I allowed myself to succumb to a deep sleep.
The next morning, Ellie and I were at the bar downstairs eating our breakfast when an old man, short, medium built with gray hair stood before us.
“Are you Lord Curtis?” he asked in a deep unwelcoming voice.
I looked up from my plate startled and stared at him directly. He recognized me, I didn’t know how but was he going to turn us over? I counted the ways how we were going to escape. He was an old man and we could easily outrun him unless there was somebody else waiting with him outside.
He grew impatient by my silence. “Lord Nigel sent me,” he added.
Despite his unfriendly approach, this was the best news I’ve heard since we left Pinewood. I could’ve leap with joy towards him but would probably scare him away so I hid my enthusiasm.
“Yes I’m Lord Curtis,” I confirmed.
He became grumpier. “I’ll be waiting outside,” he angrily muttered and left.
When we were done with our breakfast, we paid for our meal and left the bar and found the old man outside waiting, sitting on an empty wooden wagon pulled by a donkey.
“Hop on,” the old man commanded nodding his head towards the back of the open wagon.
Ellie and I glanced briefly at each other then we approached the wagon. I helped Ellie climbed and I hopped on after her. When we were settled, he nudge the donkey with the reigns to move forward and it obeyed as we slowly took the path leading outside the town.
The wagon bounced on the uneven and rough road making the ride uncomfortable but the scenery was a sight to behold, the huge mountains soared over us like gods looking down on the insignificant creatures. Trees and grasses inhabited the bottom of these mountains. It was peaceful except for the sound of the wagon’s axles making noises of rusted old metal as it continually turned. We passed another wagon carrying large barrels of wine going towards the direction of the town, the old man greeted the driver of the other wagon and the driver bid the same without stopping.
We reached the base of the mountain but there were no roads through or around it. Instead, the road we were on became a trail leading up to the mountain. The donkey followed the steep and narrow trail sure footed as it was. I on the other hand grew anxious if it could carry our weight but it barely showed any signs of struggle.
After around fifteen minutes, we stopped when the trail ended on a wider flat surface and we got off the wagon. In front of us was a skeletal frame made of unpolished woods stretching high up beside the mountain and inside the frame was a large wooden lift that could fit around twenty people, it had wooden railings and on top of it were four metal pulleys and large chains on the roof.
It was terrifying to look at, the wooden frame was so high similar to the mountain’s height that it also got lost in the clouds.
“Please don’t tell me we’re going to ride that,” I mumbled nervously looking up.
The old man said nothing. He led the donkey holding the reigns of the head towards the lift, opened the railing gate and guided the donkey pulling the wagon inside then waited for us.
Ellie gazed at me with a smile. “Come on Curtis, if the donkey isn’t scared then I’m sure we’ll be fine,” she encouraged.
I gazed at her, envious of her lack of fear. I saw no other choice if this was the only way to Nigel. I hesitantly got on the lift after Ellie and positioned ourselves at the center near the wagon. The old man closed and secured the gate and went over to the corner where a metal lever was.
“Hold on to something,” he instructed and pulled the lever up, the lift rattled and slowly started to ascend.
It was slow at first then slightly picked up speed. I tried to get a hold of something not taking my eyes off the horizon. My hand brushed a furry texture and I turned realizing I was touching the donkey’s back and it turned to stare at me, seemingly mocking me for my weakness while we went higher from the ground.
The height I could take but it was the wooden lift I lack confidence in. Ellie of course was enjoying this, she went over to the side of the railings and looked down.
“Ellie, I don’t think it’s wise to stand there,” I cautioned.
She didn’t listen. Her hair flew frantically behind her as the wind blew harder and the air much cooler.
She turned her head towards me and said in awe, “Look at the view from here Curtis.”
I was scared to move but her invitation was difficult to resist. I gathered my courage and slowly walked where she was. She took my hand when I was beside her. Everything was spectacular and we could see everything and the ground below became small. All the colors of nature at a distant angle were a magnificent view.
We continued to ascend and admired the view for probably almost an hour. Silently taking in all the wonders Vienos possessed.
“Prepare yourselves,” the old man instructed.
I turned to him. “For what?” I asked agitated.
He pointed his finger up. “Clouds coming.”
Sure enough after a few seconds, we were covered in thick white clouds, cool and refreshing. I was amazed and so was Ellie, she laughed and our faces lit up like children impressed by the simplest pleasures. I could barely see anything around except her. It was almost like we were flying through the clouds, gliding effortlessly.
A few moments after, the clouds cleared and before us was the sun on a clear blue sky over a blanket of clouds. It was spectacular, we were on the heavens among the giants, and we finally saw the top of the mountains we passed when we arrived that the clouds had hidden so faithfully from us.
The sun shone and I could feel the warmth but the air remained cool, making it a perfect weather. Vienos was majestic and Nigel was fortunate to live here, not even the wealthiest dukedom could compare to its beauty.
The lift started to slow down until we finally reached the top most part of the mountain then it completely stopped. We turned around and saw a vast field full of goperberry shrubs planted in a single line in multiple yet uniform rows and columns, and these only grew on the weather of the mountain tops, where the air is colder and fresher. There were caretakers wearing straw hats spraying mist on the round shrubs, walking along the trail path in between. On the other side of the field were four wooden large barns and a manor, not as huge as what we had at Pinewood but still ten times the size as any common houses back in town.
The old man went across the lift and opened the gate on the other side. He guided the donkey out and we followed after.
“It’s a bit far for a walk so you best ride on the back,” the old man advised.
We got on the wagon again and he sat up front and reined the donkey forward towa
rds the manor. We followed a path going to the center of the field. When we arrived, Nigel was already outside by the entrance waiting for us beaming with joy. He wore regular clothes like the townsfolk, a maroon sweater made out of wool, a beige trouser and black boots. From the looks of him, it seems he was working on the field before we arrived.
“I’m so glad to see you here,” Nigel declared with enthusiasm when the wagon pulled up in front of the manor.
I jumped off quickly and walked towards him and gave a tight hug. “Nigel! So good to see you,” I said.
He chuckled and pushed his eyeglasses up then his gaze shifted at Ellie who was behind me. “My Lady,” he greeted, gave a slight bow and added, “Welcome to Vienos, my home is yours.”
Ellie smiled widely and responded, “Thank you Lord Nigel.”
Nigel brought us to a small parlour inside the manor. It was cozy and very welcoming like the rest of the house. Everything was made out of fine dark wood including the floors and furniture except for the fireplace which was built with smooth gray stones, on top of it was the sigil of Vienos carved on the stone wall. It was three triangular mountains of different height and the middle being the tallest. The windows were not tall and not draped in heavy elegant curtains like the great houses but it gave a homey atmosphere than an intimidating sight. A carpet was laid under the low center table and it had simple designs and was probably here since the previous generation but showed no signs of being worn out.
They only had a few servants employed in their household. An old butler who seems to be in the service of Nigel’s family for quite a long time was the only one facilitating our needs and comfort. He wore a plain maroon tailcoat, the color of the House of Hebber, but looked as respectable as any butler should, and his ease and friendliness made him pleasantly different from the others.
“I hope our stay here wouldn’t cause any trouble,” I said gravely after the butler served us tea and cookies then left.
“No trouble at all. I’m actually happy you chose to come here. I was extremely worried when I heard the news,” he reassured.
“Thank you but I’ll just be sending a message to our friends for help and once they’d know we’re coming, we’ll be out of here as soon as we can,” I said.
“Take all the time you need Curtis. You’re safe here.”
I was grateful to him for letting us stay but I was also worried our presence could lead to a lot of trouble if the Empire knew we were hiding here. They’d be arrested for aiding rebels and I couldn’t dare impose such dangers to Nigel’s family.
“I’m sure you were quite shock when you heard about me and Ellie,” I said.
He nodded. “I couldn’t believe at first but then I remembered how you and Andrew didn’t get along well.”
I sighed heavily. “It’s more than that actually.”
I shared to him the reason why Ellie and I became Defiers, what we were fighting for, the Premortals, and what happened at Pinewood. It was odd at first talking about it to a fellow Elite, I wasn’t sure he’d understand but Nigel was someone I knew for a long time, a friend I could trust and I never saw him like the rest of the Elites.
He sat speechless after everything I told him, his eyes showed sympathy and it was enough for me to sense he understood why we had to do this.
“Just tell me what I can do to help,” Nigel willingly offered.
I grinned. “You’ve already done more than you know Nigel.”
He smiled back. “A rest then? Or a change in clothes? I might have some Lord’s coat that might fit you and my sister’s gown should be the same size as Lady Elaine.”
I shook my head. “Regular clothes will do fine, if our host is wearing it too.”
“Oh, this?” Nigel chuckled, referring to his clothes. “It’s what I wear when I’m helping out in the field.”
“Yes, regular clothes would be fine please, I can’t bear wearing another gown again,” Ellie admitted.
“As you wish, clean clothes will be sent to your room,” Nigel said cheerfully.
“Does your brother know we’re here? I asked reluctantly changing the subject.
Nigel had a brother who was four years older than him. Noah, the Duke of Vienos. I’ve never met him but Nigel told me before that he loved his brother and looked up to him. He took real good care of the family and the dukedom after their father passed away. Nigel also had a younger sister, Nora, who was two years younger and was still at the Yuvaika Institute.
“No, he’s in Lespin with mother. They won’t be back for a week,” he replied.
“You should tell him that we’re here. He might not approve of our presence,” I said worriedly.
“I’m sure he won’t mind. I’ll tell him when he gets back if it makes you feel better.”
“Alright,” I agreed.
“In the meantime, you’re safe here so you can do whatever you like without fear of anyone reporting you,” Nigel confidently declared.
Nigel called his butler to have him show us the guest chamber where we could freshen up. Ellie left with the butler and I stayed behind with Nigel and asked him for a favor. I requested from him if he could send one of his loyal servant who he trust the most to go to Gelhem and ask the man on the boat at the end of the docks for Olfren and tell him where we were and ask if he knew a safer route to Gelhem from here and if there were other Defiers who could help along the way.
Nigel wasn’t enthusiastic of the idea, he wanted us to stay in Vienos where we were safe and leaving could be very risky since the Emperor doubled the number of Corps deployed searching for the prince and us. I explained to him it was the reason why we had to leave and not wanting his family to be in danger because of us. Soon the Corps would be here, it was just a matter of time.
After much pleading and explaining, Nigel eventually agreed to my plan and mentioned his servant, William, the old man who brought us here was a trustworthy man for the job. He had one of his maids fetch and bring him to the parlour. When the old man arrived with a confused expression, Nigel asked him to have a seat and he obeyed.
“William, you’ve been serving the family since before I was born, and I’m very grateful for your loyalty.” Nigel paused, studying William’s expression and continued, “Your devotion is required again for a service of utmost importance and secrecy and may endanger your life if you’re caught but I can’t think of anyone who I trust the most for this,” Nigel said.
William nodded. “I’m here to serve my Lord,” he declared firmly.
Nigel glanced at me then I explained to William where he had to go and who he needed to see. Before this, I wasn’t sure if he was the right man with his stern face and indifference back at the bar but I could see in his eyes his dedication, his expression lit up when he was given a task that made him extremely useful to something worthwhile.
“I’ll be leaving today my Lords,” William eagerly said after I gave the instructions.
“Thank you.” I nodded with gratitude and he took his leave from us.
There was nothing left to do but hope William was successful in relaying the message to Olfren. To alleviate my apprehension, I dared to enjoy the company and my stay in the beautiful place of Vienos. Nigel was kind enough to give us a tour of the fields and the barns.
One barn was for the storage of the harvested ripe goperberries, placed inside wooden crates. The second barn was for the process of turning goperberries into wine. There were simple looking contraptions where the goperberries were poured into large wooden buckets and was grounded by a large turning wooden wheel. The juice from the goperberries poured down a funnel at the base of the bucket into a clear large flask made out of glass where a conveyor rotated it inside the machine to be sterilized and flavored and then poured into a bottle or in a barrel, and the process would repeat itself.
The finished products were labeled and stored in the third barn ready to be sold and distributed, the bottles for the upper stations while the barrels for the small bars for mass consumption. The
fourth and last barn was for the animals such as horses and donkeys, livestock for working the field and for transport. There were also a few chickens, goats, cows and pigs for the family’s food stock.
Ellie was excited being around here. It had been a long time since I saw her happy. She laughed and smiled with the caretakers while they taught her the proper way to harvest and handle goperberries. She was enjoying doing their chores and the caretakers in return were more than willing to happily welcome her among them.
For a time, I almost forgot we were in hiding while I was preoccupied with the harvesting. It almost felt like we were here on a vacation visiting Nigel and his home, absorbing the hospitality they had to offer. At night, it became colder but the heat inside the manor gave us warmth while we enjoyed our dinner. A fire was burning on the fireplace inside a small dining hall with the simple leisure it provided. This might be the last dining hall I could be dining and I was glad it was with the people I love and trust, no need for any formalities.
We ate the delicious food and drank the freshly produced wine, far more superior than the expensive ones I tasted before. We had a lot to drink that night, Ellie’s cheeks were flushed and her eyes sparkled when she laughed at the slightest jest Nigel said, who was also clearly affected by the alcohol becoming more comfortable conversing with Ellie. We also talked about our happy days back at Fortis and laughed when we reminisced the fun memories. Those were the times when we were young and innocent, devoid of the responsibilities of a Lord.
“A toast to my last day of being an Elite,” I suddenly blurted while my head started to spin. “An Elite who became the most wanted criminal in the Empire,” I added.
We raised our glasses then drank and laughed. Drinking too much made me say unpredictable things I wouldn’t dare when sober, the mind becomes sloppy, making words and emotions uncontrollable.
“I wonder what mother would think of me now... Father was right after all and his disappointments in me,” I sadly professed, pouring more wine on my glass and drank from it.
The Prevalence: Sequel and Final Book of The Premortals (The Premortals Series 2) Page 15