by J. R. Castle
“I hate this place, Darnel. It makes me feel…” she started to shake her head. “I’ve never felt so exposed. So…uncomfortable. Despite its beauty and finery. In a way, Rodon reminds me of my homelands. But…I don’t understand…this.” Her hands trembled when she held them up before her. “I don’t understand why every part of me begs to flee, to get away from here.”
Yes, Darnel understood those feelings all too well. “That would be the Light King’s doing, Anwynn. He has set protections upon this city and the people. And those protections are against us because we refuse to bow to…to…his demands. That king…he makes people think he is kind and generous, but only to those he favors.”
Finally, Anwynn turned toward him. “It’s because of the Brethren, and our association with them. That’s why this place…”
“Yes. That’s why. And if that regent whelp has his way, it will get to the point where we will be completely unable to take one step into his province. Right now, we can go almost anywhere. Once he starts making the changes that even his old adviser is against, well, that’ll change everything. Especially for the likes of us.”
She turned and her feet rested on the floor so they were face to face. “Darnel, what are your true plans? I hear you and Fajer whispering, but you keep me in the dark. You cast your orders, but exclude me from knowing why.” Anwynn stood over him wearing a sheer cotton gown that hid little of what was beneath the pale blue fabric. “Tell me the truth. I need to know I’m not some pawn that you’ll cast aside when you have your goal in check.”
Darnel also stood, trying to keep his eyes averted from her shapely body. He turned away from her and went to the window. Leaning against the frame, his gaze roved over the darkened streets lit by pale balls of light from the hanging lanterns. Only a few carriages were out at this late hour. Most had retreated to their homes. On the hill, the Meeting Hall, made of white, glittering stones, glowed like a beacon. There had to be a way to cover the White Stones it was made of. Perhaps it would be better to simply destroy the monstrosity and rebuild upon its ashes.
The annoying click of Anwynn’s tongue brought him out of his reverie. “I see you’ll keep me on the outside. So, I am left with the choice to begrudgingly obey, or…accept my fate and let you feed me to the pit-demon. I suppose it’s fitting, considering how many I’ve witnessed and even relished being able to partake in their gifts. What goes around comes around, as they like to say.”
“Perhaps.” Darnel mused. “What I want Elf, is to show that Light King and those stuffy Curians and lofty Logorians that I’m not something that can be swept under the rug and ignored. I intend to prove that I’m a force to be reckoned with. I want them to regret ever shunning me as they’ve done. And I want to show that king that I do not have to abide by any rules but my own.”
Anwynn’s brows shot up high on her forehead. “Oh my, but you do have some kindling driving you, mutt.” Before he could chastise her for calling him such a name, she held up her hands to stop him. “My question is, why should I help you? When you insist on keeping me in my place? I hate being called elf as much as you hate being called a mutt. But you do it anyway.”
Darnel ducked his head as she moved closer and stood before him. Stood a little too close for his comfort.
Leaning on the other side of the window, Anwynn’s smile crept up higher on one side. “I’d like to see you get what you want. But we both know, soon as the regent isn’t in power, Fajer will call the Brethren in.”
“Perhaps. Unless he doesn’t get his powers restored. As it stands, we’ve not been successful in finding—”
“Fajer will stab you in the back, Darnel. He is not your friend, and I can’t believe you’ve lowered yourself to trust him.” Anwynn stated as if telling him the position of the sun.
“I’m not…trusting. Him or anyone else.” He narrowed his eyes on her. “I know what I want and I will eventually get it. You’ll see.”
She inched a little closer until he caught her scent of the wind and earth. Anwynn was beautiful when she wanted to be. He understood the adviser’s fascination with her.
Anwynn reached up and smoothed the collar of his jacket, brushing off bits of dust. “I meant what I said after we left Goia. And it wasn’t because I’m afraid to be alone. I’ve been alone a good portion of my life, and I can handle myself well enough. Just as you can. But there comes a time when you have to admit, two are better than one. We are both powerful enough that we don’t need the Brethren.”
She tilted her head so it rested against the pane. “You know, I agreed to wear those fancy dresses and try to impress that regent because I liked the idea of being in power almost as much as you do. But…” her thoughts trailed off as she also gazed out the window.
Her nearness was starting to unnerve him. Darnel didn’t like the turbulent feelings welling up inside his chest. Like when he’d spoken to the fair-haired Sano with her brilliant green eyes and endearing smile. But Anwynn was different. Where the Sano was like a beam of blinding sunlight, Anwynn was like staring up at the face of a silvery full moon. Beautiful and enchanting. Alluring and much more to his liking.
If he ever had his own symbol, he’d choose the full moon surrounded by stars. He loved staring up at the night sky, and he enjoyed staring down at the elf’s tranquil face. He started to take a step backward when she grabbed the collar of his jacket.
“Don’t,” she whispered. “Hear me, Darnel. Don’t keep closing yourself off to everyone who wishes to help you. Let me in. Tell me that if I follow you wholeheartedly, that you’ll let me rule by your side.”
Was she playing him? Using her enchantments to lure him in as she’d done the regent? And Koloman? He wasn’t some simple-minded human.
“Give me a chance to prove that I mean what I say,” Anwynn urged. She stood so close now, her breath washed over his face like a cool autumn breeze, carrying a scent of honey. “You won’t have to fight alone. And I’ll make sure that Fajer never rises up and strikes you while you’re not looking. He plans to do so, soon as his powers return. You know that, as well as I do.”
The thought had crossed his mind a few times, but for now, Fajer had yielded his authority to Darnel, along with the treasured orb he’d been yearning for since they’d first met.
Anwynn’s arms slid up around his neck, and she rested her head against his shoulder. Nobody had ever held him in such a way. For a moment, he wasn’t sure what to do with himself and simply stood frozen.
“How long,” she whispered against his neck, “has it been since someone appreciated you, Darnel? I’ve tried to keep my own feelings in check. I’ve tried so hard, that I’ve even entertained the idea of killing you while you slept. Only, I’ve never been able to draw a blade against you.”
Could she hear how hard his heart was pounding? She was an elf that could move across any kind of terrain without making the slightest noise. How many nights had she hovered over his cot, thinking of ways to get rid of him?
How many times had he mused over ways to get rid of her because she annoyed him so much. Annoyed or attracted? He didn’t even know anymore. She shouldn’t be able to enchant someone like him. Her powers worked on feeble humans, but not…not someone like him.
Could she? How was he to be sure?
Her hand ran down his arm, then circled around his waist, pulling him closer to her. She didn’t smile coyly, as she opted to do when up to something. Her eyes bore into him with earnestness. “You don’t have to say anything, Darnel. Or do anything. Just let me stand here and hold you. I’ve dreamed of doing this for so long.”
Darnel felt as if he were falling as if his feet no longer stood on solid ground. If he dared to close his eyes, he was sure to feel the sensation of tumbling over and over in his decent. He couldn’t… no, he needed to stop her but was powerless. For her arms around him and her soft breaths on his neck were unlike anything he’d ever experienced in his long life.
Before he was able to stop himself, his own hands moved ov
er the soft fabric of her gown until he was able to twine his fingers into her silky curls.
A loud bang sounded from somewhere within the house, snapping Darnel from his trance. He quickly stepped backward, knocking into a table and upsetting the burned-out lantern. It tilted and fell off the table. Tinkling glass scattered across the floor.
“I… need to…check that noise.” Darnel tried to move away from her, but her hands grasped the front of his jacket even tighter.
“You’ve not answered me.”
“I can’t. How do I know you are sincere, Anwynn? You’re—”
“I can’t enchant you. As part Logorian, you must know. Whatever you are feeling right now is real. Logorians are not swayed by tricks any more than my people are. There’s something between us, don’t you see it?”
“Perhaps.” He pushed her arms down, hating the cold that seeped in where they’d held him so ardently. “I suppose time will tell, will it not? You’re right, I’m not tricked easily and not subjected to enchantments. You are beautiful, but not sincere from what I’ve seen.”
“Then let me prove—” she started.
A string of curses came from whoever caused the loud noise. He needed to go investigate.
“Anwynn, if you mean what you say, then help me. Help me and I will help you. I’ll give you my word on that. But expect nothing else from me. I’m not capable of it.” He couldn’t be any more honest than he was at that moment.
He would not allow his heart to get away from him again. He’d not be lured by a beautiful face and a soft touch. He didn’t need it and didn’t want it. At least, not enough to risk obtaining his greatest desire.
Before she could try again, he rushed to the door and was out of her room. Knowing he’d only torment himself by returning to his lonely room, he headed downstairs to investigate the noise he’d heard.
Darnel followed the glow of a lantern coming from Koloman’s study. Pushing the double doors open, he peered inside to find the old man standing amongst a pile of books scattered around his bare feet. “What are you doing, Adviser?”
“I know what troubles our Anwynn. And you, perhaps, though you seem to withstand it better than the other two.”
Darnel stepped inside, bending down to pick up a rather old typeset book, the kind he was sure the Curian’s made. Not the hand-written ones found in the Brethren’s library. Perhaps he needed to look at Koloman’s library over more closely. His Curian discernment began ticking off the titles and subjects of the text closest to him. If Anwynn won over the Regent's approval, maybe he’d have an opportunity to explore the Meeting Hall’s library before he destroyed the blasted building.
Thinking of entering that white stoned building caused a cold sweat to trickle down his back. Despite his tolerance, he also had his limits.
“What are you going on about, Koloman?” Darnel set the books he’d collected back on the shelf.
“It’s the tree. The healing tree. We must destroy it. Then she and Fajer will not be troubled as much as they are.” He placed a book in Darnel’s hands.
Care and Conditions of the Healing Tree
This might prove interesting. He knew some of the folklore, but not how they thrived and died. Which was covered in chapter fourteen. His lips eased up into a smile. Koloman was proving to be quite useful, after all.
And Darnel knew what he’d do to distract his wild thoughts of the elfin beauty upstairs. He’d do what his mother’s people had been doing to avoid everyone for centuries. He’d lose himself in as many books as he could get his hands on.
“Kill the White Tree, you say? I’m all for that. What do you have in mind, Adviser?”
Chapter Eleven
After a week of walking, Kardia found her legs had grown stronger, and she didn’t tire out as easily. Not that the glowing man named Riyah seemed to mind when she requested a rest. He was much easier to get along with than Jael the faun had been. Much less demanding…or demeaning.
The long stretch of road they followed ran through an open plain of tall wheatgrass. The tallest mountain range Kardia had ever seen rose up in the distance. A misty haze obscured the base of them where the city of Rodon sat, but the peaks towered so high, Kardia wondered if she could catch a star by standing on the very top peaks.
“I’ve never seen mountains like that.” She then ducked her head, realizing there were so many things she’d never seen before. Each turn of the road had offered a new delightful surprise. Lakes so large she couldn’t see the other side. Rivers so wide it took almost half a day to walk across the bridge spanning them.
Who had made such bridges, she’d asked? How far did the lake go, she’d wondered out loud. Why was there so much wheat growing in the sprawling field that it seemed like an ocean of golden silk?
Riyah never seemed to tire of her endless questions and answered each one in a way she easily understood.
“Those mountains, dear Kardia, are nothing but foothills compared to the Semitamon Mountains and only half the size of the Radiance mountains.”
“Radiance is where you said I would be able to go to meet King Shaydon, correct?” She quickened her steps until she walked beside him. He was much taller and his strides much longer, but he never got too far ahead. He had a casual way of matching his pace to hers.
“That’s right,” he said. “It’s the most beautiful city in all of Alburnium. When you see Rodon, you’re going to be quite amazed, but I assure you, it’s nothing compared to Radiance and Aloblase.”
Kardia spread wide her arms and turned in a circle. “I want to see all the places, Riyah. Do you think that’ll be possible?” She laughed at herself, knowing most likely wasn’t possible.
He rested a gentle hand on her shoulder. “Anything is possible, daughter. All it requires is that you put one foot in front of the other and keep going until you reach your desired destination.”
Dare she believe him? Oh, but she wanted to. For a moment, he grew into focus and she stared up at his intense gray-blue eyes, full of sincerity and earnestness.
She desperately wished she could see his face all the time. He only revealed himself when absolutely necessary, otherwise, all she could make out beneath the hood of his cloak was a ball of light.
“Yes, I do believe you. I must keep going. And I will.” Her head bobbed with her determination. “I will.” Except her stomach was starting to rumble and her feet were getting sore. “But, a break now and then is nice. Will we stop soon for a rest? It’ll be dark soon. Shouldn’t we start searching for a place to camp for the night?”
“Soon. We’ll stop when we reach the Leukos River.”
Kardia looked around, not seeing any sign of a watercourse. Her shoulders fell. How much farther would he expect her to go?
Well, she’d not complain. Riyah had been a faithful guide. He always knew where to find safe places to lay their heads at night, and he had an uncanny way of finding delicious things to eat when she grew hungry.
Slowly and surely, she had begun to adjust and find new ways to tackle tasks that she once took for granted. When her heart became too heavy over her loss, she reminded herself that she was better off without fingers than as captive to that Sorcerer. His mark was gone from her shoulder, and she was free to go wherever she pleased.
Even if they were traveling in the opposite direction from Aloblase, she was determined that she would meet King Shaydon first before she made any other decisions about her life. Riyah promised that the people in Rodon would help her get there. As it stood, the King’s Highway did not travel through the Rodonal Province, so she had to find another way.
Kardia hoped that her trust in the glowing man wasn’t in folly. He was nothing like anyone she’d ever met before. Riyah had restored her hope that not all humanity was greedy and controlling. But then he wasn’t exactly human, was he?
Maybe when she did finally reach Aloblase, she’d spend the rest of her life there. If more people or Beings like him dwelt in that land, she wasn’t sure if she’d eve
r want to leave again.
“Riyah, are there more Elderads like you? In Aloblase?”
“Oh yes! Though many of us move about the land, lending aid wherever King Shaydon sends us. Some are living in the greater provinces, like myself, helping the regents. Daska lives in Radiance. He is a high Instructor and oversees the Western Academy. And Amici, why he is currently over in Kinti City. Amici is a Council Elderad. He usually advises military leaders and others in powerful positions. Mohrah is a Healing Elderad and is in charge of commissioning the Healers of the Land. All Healers are required to spend a season with her. Mohrah instructs in ways not found in textbooks. She teaches her pupils how to follow their hearts.”
“Are there more?”
“Several. All have a special quality they offer in service to the Kingdom. As you may have surmised, I am a Guardian Elderad. I also have the ability to lay new White Paths, which was why King Shaydon sent me here to help Regent Leon.”
Kardia’s heart warmed at the mention of the regent’s name. Would he recognize her? He’d been pretty much out of it when she’d mended his broken bone. That had been the first, and last time she’d used her powers to actually help someone. Now her Sano gift was gone, along with her fingers. Maybe it would be better if he didn’t recognize her.
“Will I see the regent while I’m in Rodon?”
“Perhaps,” Riyah answered in a strange tone of voice. “I find it’s better to focus on the here and now, rather than wasting time speculating on the future. It’s like trying to make shapes from the fog. One never knows what will happen, until it actually happens.”
Kardia bit at her upper lip. He spoke in riddles most of the time, yet, she caught his drift. The only important time was the one they were currently in. “So, how much farther before we can stop to rest? I’m really getting tired and hungry.”
“Soon. We’re almost to the river.”
Again she looked but only saw the dirt road slopping upward and upward before it disappeared around a cluster of pines.
