Trial by Obsidian

by Naomi Kelly

  Six

  With no idea how long he would be gone, or even where he went, I rummaged around the room to occupy myself. Fleeting scenes of me fleeing the Chambers raced through my mind, but I banished them quickly. He told me to wait, and although the decision nagged at the fighter side of my mind, that’s exactly what I did. I wanted to trust him. I needed someone to trust.

  I was snooping through Reuben's drawers when I heard returning footsteps and muffled voices. I sprang away like a mischievous child and stood by the window.

  "...heart palpations are always worth investigating. I'm glad you sought me out Beta."

  The doctor's voice became clearer as Reuben rounded the door carrying a long wooden crate. Once Teriam's gaze landed on me, he froze in the corridor.

  "Get in. Sit Down," Reuben instructed. Teriam shuffled his way in and fell into the chair whilst he continued to stare at me. Was it shock or fear that held him captivated?

  Reuben set the crate down on the bed and gestured for me to look in it. I obediently opened it to avoid his wrath. It was filled with fresh clothes, various sizes and scents of soap, a bowl of figs and true to his word, more goats cheese.

  I mouthed a silent thank you to which he nodded back curtly.

  "Don't be a fool Beta, she's more dangerous than you think," Teriam whispered furiously.

  Reuben gathered the crimson vials and shoved one into the doctor’s chest, "Well I'm a lot more dangerous than her when I am angry," he rebutted.

  The doctors face paled. His mouth fluttered as if a thousand sentences tried to fit out at once and all got jammed along the way.

  "If you haven't been taking your medication that could be resulting in the heart palpa-"

  He fired a vial at Teriam's feet. It smashed against the cobbled stones, leaving blood-like splatters everywhere.

  "Stop lying to me!" he roared. I feared the reverberations would shake the turret.

  "Beta please see sense. That sorcerer has gotten inside of your mind with her lies," Teriam kicked the glass shards from his boots.

  "The only thing wrong with my mind is that poison you've had me inject for the past fifteen years. Why?" Reuben clenched his fists.

  "I'm as good as dead if I speak."

  "Your outcome for staying silent is not great either," Reuben growled.

  The doctor released a long-staggered breath and looked up at me.

  "I know you took syringes from my home. You will not have to knock me out this time, I will fully comply. Use the Truth Serum on me." Teriam raised his hands and tilted his head to expose his neck.

  I looked to Reuben for permission and although he looked perplexed, he nodded in approval. I retrieved the indigo injection and waited for the go ahead. I wondered if my mother would be disappointed in me for acting as if he was my Beta too.

  "I'd rather if you told me like a man instead of opting for cowardice," Reuben spat venomously.

  "As I said, if I speak, I am dead. But if he finds out I willingly spoke, then I am tortured."

  "He?" I enquired.

  Reuben stared at the doctor and waited but his silent protest had begun. The Beta cursed under his breath and then gave me the signal to go ahead. I repeated my actions of a few days prior, but my hands were trembling less than before. I had experience, permission and a Sinlaran Beta backing me.

  After a few minutes, Reuben pushed up Teriam's head by his chin. He stared into his eyes and asked some basic questions to see if he was under the influence of the serum. Once satisfied he begun.

  "Why have you been poisoning me for almost half my life?"

  "It was an order," Teriam responded curtly before pursing his lips once more.

  "Don't make me drag this out of you," Reuben said, with harsh emphasis on the word drag.

  "The Alpha came to me in the middle of the night all those years ago and said he needed me to invent a serum of the utmost importance. I had created the Truth Serum a few months prior after years of study, but he didn't have that long to wait." Teriam explained, "I spent the next fortnight altering the ingredients so that the effect it had would be the reverse. The truth would be locked within the recipient's mind instead of spilling out of it."

  "My own father orchestrated this?" The anger in Reubens' voice had diminished into confusion.

  "It was Karnes' idea to start with the high dosage of two injections per day. Once he was convinced you had forgotten he agreed to reduce it to one a day to stop the memories returning."

  "Forgotten what?" I chimed in.

  Terriam's stare burnt into me, and his eyes began to well up. His reddening cheeks puffed as his clamped lips prevented both breath and lies from leaving.

  "Spit it out."

  "Alpha Karnes is not your father, Beta," Teriam coughed and hung his head.

  My hands flew to my open mouth but did little to stop the loud gasp escaping. I searched Reuben's face for hatred or despair, but he remained relatively unshaken. He exhaled unsteadily and swallowed hard.

  "So my mother lay with another man? And he wanted to hide it from me to protect my image in the Chambers and not taint my affection for my mother?" Reuben hypothesised with a hopeful tone I didn't understand. "He was just trying to save Mara’s honour and-"

  "She is not your mother," Teriam interjected with closed eyes.

  The crunch of Reubens fist meeting Teriams jaw instantly followed. "How is he doing it Juniper? How is he being deceitful under Truth Serum?" Reuben demanded.

  The doctor spat a mouthful of bloody spit onto the floor. I was surprised he didn't spew out some loose teeth too.

  "I don't think he's lying. The words are too easy for him to say. He would be struggling for breath more if he was fabricating his story," I explained.

  "He has to be lying. Karnes told me how you helped Mara during childbirth. There are even paintings of her pregnant in their turret."

  "I am not lying Beta. Even if I could I would not but you have to listen to the truth you're seeking." Teriam begged and gestured for him to sit. Reuben remained tense and taut but perched himself on the edge of the bed.

  I remained standing between the two men like an out of awkward peacekeeper.

  "I did help Mara to give birth, and yes there are memories and paintings of her pregnancy. She was always faithful to Karnes and they did indeed have a baby boy called Reuben," Teriam shuffled in his seat, "On the night the magician stormed the Chambers, he had wanted to murder the Chamber wives in symbolic revenge for his partner being executed.

  Instead of Mara, he found their son...and he murdered him in his sleep." He paused to let the Beta react or maybe punch him again, but nothing happened.

  My eyes were drawn to the door and I had to fight the urge to run. This wasn't my story to hear or my place to be present.

  "Once they knew of the attack, Karnes and Mara ran to check on Reuben, but found him stiff and cold. At this stage, Douward, who was the chief guard, had already killed the magician in the hallway downstairs but that wasn't enough. Karnes was now Alpha, and he controlled all of the Sinlara guards. He ordered them to round up the magicians in the Chambers and execute them that night. He and Douward immediately headed south, rode through the border and didn't stop until they found the Onyx clan."

  I had subconsciously balled my fist at the mention on Douward near a magician clan, and although I hadn't noticed, the ever-observant Beta had. He shuffled over on the bed and offered the space to me.

  "Douward set their homes on fire. Most of them perished in their sleep, and the ones who managed to escape had nothing to defend themselves with. It was an easy task, except for one problem. As they rode away from the burning flames a child on horseback galloped past them. The rider didn't get very far, he-"

  "No."

  "He fell and hurt his ribs. When Karnes caught up, he rolled him over to find a young, dark-haired boy with bright blue eyes that resembled his own son so much-"

  "No," Reuben shouted again, this time with an animalistic snarl.

  "-t
hat he took him back to the Chambers for his grieving wife before they had even held the funerals. Karnes arranged to have Reuben's body placed into the foot of Kole's coffin before it was lowered into the ground and used the funeral to announce that the reports had been wrong. Their son had not been killed just severely injured and although his heart had been weakened, he would recover in time-"

  "Enough!" I snapped, unable to take any more.

  I didn't have to look at the Beta's face for a reaction as I felt it radiating from him.

  "I need to know who I am," Reuben croaked with raw emotion. "Am I a magician? Am I like Juniper?"

  "I honestly do not know, Beta. You showed no powers when you arrived, but I'm led to believe they develop as you age?" Teriam looked to me for confirmation, but I avoided his glance and clamped my teeth together. Magicians abilities begin to flourish with the onset of puberty, but I refused to say for fear the Chambers would somehow use it against me.

  Not receiving an answer, Teriam continued, "The serum I concocted is a bi-phase formula. The ruby liquid contains the ingredients to suppress your memories and the gold flakes are a physiology blocker, just in-case you did have magic."

  "You mean the serum for my non-existent heart problems that kept me in my turret for years?" Reuben launched to his feet and grabbed the doctor by the throat.

  "We kept you hidden so your physical differences were less obvious to Sinlaran’s. You were taller than Reuben, we had to wait for you to mature so puberty would be the reasoning-”

  "The reason I looked different is because I was a different child! You gave me the name of a dead boy...What is my own name?" Reuben had now lifted him out of his chair and held him in suspense.

  "I do not...know...you've always been...Reuben to me..." Teriam spluttered the words out as his face turned bright red.

  I moved beside Reuben and wrapped my hand around his forearm that held up the doctor. I could feel the muscles under his warm skin reverberate with strength.

  "You don't want to kill him," I said gently.

  "Oh, I do," he spat, but after a moment's hesitation, his grip eased, "But I won't."

  He released his hold and Teriam landed with a dense thud, his body completely limp.I kept holding his arm until the raging pulse beneath my fingertips began to regulate.

  "I don't know anything about who I am anymore, but I know we need to leave this damn room," Reuben said as he stepped over the doctor and opened the door, "Bring your belongings. We are not coming back," he said over his shoulder as he left.

  I had to act fast to keep up as his footsteps faded down the corridor. I swung my satchel over my head but decided to remove the syringes I had looted in a symbolic stance of solidarity with Reuben. I had my own crystals for healing now which made the Soothing Salve redundant and I simply didn't trust the outcome of the others. I scooped the crate of goods off the bed and sprinted after him.

  By the time I caught up, he was at the end of the winding stairs and making his way towards the hallway.

  "Psst! Where are you going?" I whispered frantically. Being back on the ground floor was making me feel vulnerable to attack from every angle. There were too many access routes for too many people to come kill me.

  "I need to do something before we leave," he announced.

  At the hallway door was a young guard who stood to attention upon seeing Reuben. His gaze grew from intimated to perplexed as it moved from the Beta to me.

  "Good afternoon Beta," he cleared his throat.

  “Open the doors, Marx," Reuben said firmly as he toed the wooden door. The guard seemed hesitant, but he obeyed and even bowed his head as I walked through the doorway.

  Reuben leaned over the long table and unfurled a blank scroll. I had fought off my curiosity to peer at the cursive scrawl that he filled the page with. He rolled it back up tightly without reading it. He then picked up a nearby candle and dripped the warm wax into a messy circle before stamping with the Chamber seal.

  "Hand this to your Alpha when he returns," he explained as he handed over the message. Marx didn't seem to register the emphasis on ‘your’ Alpha instead of ‘our’, but I certainly did. Although I shouldn't have been surprised by his lack of observation as he didn't even register who I was.

  "Yes, sir."

  "Are there horses in the stables?" Reuben asked as he headed for the main entrance.

  "Only your gelding and late Gamma Douward's speckled mare. The rest are being used in the cavalry, but a raven message arrived earlier stating the men are beginning to retreat, sir."

  "Which men?"

  "All units, including your legion sir. The Alpha gave direct orders to all legions to return to the Chambers," Marx explained.

  I didn't know the Alpha well, but I felt weary of his plan. He did not seem like a man who gave up the hunt easily.

  "We do not have time to wait for their arrival. I guess Douward won't have a use for the mare now, I am sure he would not mind Juniper borrowing her," Reuben muttered to himself as he marched ahead.

  "Oh, I'm pretty sure he's turning in his grave at the mere mention of it," I scoffed.

  "Juniper? As in the witch girl?" Marx froze behind me and reached for his sword.

  "Do not even think about it." Reuben had barely raised his voice, but the anger saturated his words and a storm brewed behind his eyes, "You are going to walk with us to the stables and help tack up the two horses without questioning me again because I am your Beta."

  Marx nodded and moved his hand away from his hip and instead offered to take the wooden crate from my arms. I gave it to him to keep his weapon happy hands busy.

  "Of course, sir. Right this way." Marx tried his best to sound as confident as Reuben, but his efforts failed. I was beginning to think it was a task most men would fail.

  We made our way down the stone steps and through the town square. The colourful bunting of the Harvest Festival had been replaced with black and grey knots. The flags on the turrets hung down low and large velvet bows hung from doors and windows. If this was the mourning ritual for a Gamma, I couldn't imagine how they ever got over the death of their Alpha Kole. If only they knew they had lost their child Beta that day too. If Sinlara citizens knew of that heartbreak, I feared their entire grey town would be rendered black forever. We turned left and make our way towards the wooden stables at the back of the Chambers. Once within line of sight, the dark gelding whinnied and began circling his stall.

  "Hello to you too." Reuben smiled and patted his neck firmly. He made hast with gathering tack and moved around the stables with ease.

  Maybe it was because he wanted to impress his Beta or perhaps, he felt sorry for my lack of knowledge, but without prompt Marx began digging out a bridle and saddle for me.

  "Have you tacked up a horse before?" he asked.

  "I have used reins, but I've never ridden with a saddle," I said as I tried not to feel feral. People in Deshure could rarely afford horses let alone a saddle.

  Marx lightly brushed down the mares back before placing the thick blanket and a fudge coloured leather saddle into position. He gave me a quick lesson on how to tie the girth and shortened the stirrups for my height.

  Reuben packed away essentials into saddle bags but slipped a knife into his pocket. He helped me mount before handing me an apple-sized chunk of Obsidian.

  "Are you ready?" he asked as he gathered his reins.

  "No. Not at all," My reply was honest, not humorous, but he laughed regardless.

  He clicked his tongue, kicked his heels and cantered off towards the main gates. I followed suit with an unbalanced trot that I could feel Marx cringing at as I finally left the Chambers.

  Seven

  Reuben continued to lead the way for the rest of the day. The raven message had not stated which way the guards were retreating, so we stayed clear of the main routes. Instead, we took thin, windy trails that would be unsuitable to larger cavalries but favourable for us. Even if our journey was slowed due to dismounting occasionally to squ
eeze through the low-lying branches and dense shrubbery that blocked the path.

  The autumnal breeze and hooves crunching fallen leaves meant conditions weren't optimal for conversation, but neither of us cared. The quiet gave us time to digest the truth's uncovered over the past few days and lies hidden for the past decade.

  After another hour of riding, a secluded wild meadow opened before us and Reuben wordlessly slipped from his saddle.

  "We're losing light fast and the horses need rest," he said as he tied his reins in a knot.

  I nodded in agreement and swung my right leg over to dismount. When my feet hit the ground, the rest of me followed as I collapsed into a pile on the soft grass.

  "Ouch," I muttered. My legs shook on the ground in-front of me.

  "The wobbly legs will fade after a few more days of riding," Reuben said as he grabbed my forearm and lifted me back up.

  "A few more days?" I said absentmindedly, mainly focused on his touch. His hands were hot from gripping the reins, and his warmth spread into my wind-chilled skin, making each fine hair stand to attention. Goosebumps spread like wildfire throughout my body, until even my lower lip tingled.

  "It's another day riding to the border and I am guessing another two or three to your brother?" he calculated.

  "I told you I can't go there. It's too dangerous-"

  "I took care of it," he interrupted and let go of me. I wanted to push further but we were both weary and hungry. I knew better than to press a man in that state.

  When I regained trust in my ability to walk again, I led the horses over to the shallow stream that ran along the ditch. The horses sunk their muzzles deep into the flow and drank their fill before turning their attention to the sweet, luscious grass around them.

  "Pepper was parched," I said as I returned to find Reuben flattening out the saddle mats to sit on.

  "Pepper?"

  "It suits her," I said defensively as I admired the mares speckled coat as she nibbled on delicate meadow-flowers.

  "It's a southern style name for a northern horse." He turned his nose up in disapproval.