“There’s a washing basin in the closet up the stairs to the right.”
That would have to do for now. “Thank you, Sir Vernovus.” I bowed my head, spun on my heel, and marched toward the stairs with purpose.
“Our room is the last one on the left. I’ll wait for you in there,” he called after me.
The washing basin wasn’t quite as nice as a full bath would’ve been, but it did feel good to sponge the dirt from my body, and there was even a piece of lavender soap which smelled wonderful.
I stripped down to my under garments and washed as best as I could. Finished cleaning myself, I realized that I hadn’t brought my clean dress with me. I scolded myself for my own foolishness in my excitement to be clean.
Luckily, the hallway outside of the wash closet was empty. I quickly tip-toed to our room and slipped inside saying, “Turn around. I need my clean dress.”
He did as I asked, holding out the blue gown I’d brought from The Golden Lilly Inn. “I figured as much.”
Feeling myself blush behind his back, I grabbed the dress and quickly donned it. “Would you be so kind as to help me with my stays?” I asked, holding the gown in place while he came around behind me.
His fingers gently brushed the skin on my back a few times as he worked. He did my stays up firmly, but left them loose enough to allow me to breathe. “You seem as though you know what you’re doing.” I turned my chin so I could just make out his face, which was focused on the task I had given him.
“I used to help my sister with hers sometimes.” His lips pulled upwards slightly at the memory, though his eyes remained on my back.
His breath tickled my neck, causing goose-bumps to rise up on my skin. I cleared my throat, feeling awkward.
He stepped back. “There, all done.”
“My gratitude again, sir.”
He tipped his head toward the door. “Now, shall we go find something to eat? I’m famished.”
“Indeed, as am I.”
He let me lead the way.
Downstairs, we found a small table in a dark corner of the tavern where we were served fish stew, fresh biscuits and cold ale. We sat quietly, all of our attention focused on our warm, delicious meal. It had been quite some time since either of us had enjoyed something fresh and warm, other than the meat Percifal had hunted and cooked for us over our fire. The ale went down quickly and smoothly, a nice change from the water and whiskey we’d been drinking since we’d left Lottenheim.
My muscles relaxed as I sipped on my second mug of the amber liquid. Percifal told me stories about himself and his sister from when they were children. I listened closely and actually started to enjoy myself… until he stopped speaking, eyes widened. A slight twitch in his jaw told me something alarmed him.
“What’s wrong?” I asked, about to turn and look in the direction he was staring.
He reached across the table and caught my hand to stop me. “Dance with me.” He pulled at me to get up.
Confused and a bit dizzy from the ale I’d consumed, I protested, “Whoa! I am not a good dancer, Sir Vernovus!”
“Shh! Just do it.” He spun me around, not giving me a choice.
Halfway through my spin, I noticed three well-dressed men settling down at a table. Percifal’s eyes were locked on them.
The musicians played a light, bouncy tune that consisted of multiple fiddles and a flute. I let him lead, as I didn’t know this dance he’d dragged me into. I was used to the formal dances of high society. This one was different with its light, quick steps. Percifal held me steady, his grip firm but gentle; it seemed most things about him contrasted.
I raised my chin so that my mouth almost touched his ear and whispered, “Those three men?”
“Peers of Aquila,” he confirmed. My heart fluttered when he spun me again and then caught me. “Laugh like you’re having a good time, Lady Phyra.”
I smiled as he dipped me and let out a whimsical laugh. “My, you are a good dancer, Sir Vernovus.”
“I’ve had practice.” He winked.
Though a few others danced around us, I paid them no attention. I forgot we were hiding from the three peers for a moment as I let Percifal guide me as though we were one, lost in the music. I suppose the ale had a hand in my being so mesmerized. It felt nice to let go and have fun for once. I couldn’t remember the last time I had.
The song ended, and he gave me a bow before taking my hand and leading me off the small dancefloor at the edge of the tables. As we made our way past the table of peers, one in a black and gold velvet doublet stopped us. “Forgive me, sir, but you look quite familiar.”
My glee faded, my heart sinking before I let out a nervous laugh and answered for my partner, “Oh, you must be mistaken, my lord. I’m Lady Phyra, and this is my guide, Sir Vernovus. We’re not from this area of Sarantoa.”
“Ah—a pleasure to meet you, Lady Phyra,” he replied, eyeing us with interest. “I am Kelen, this is Haynis,” he gestured toward the dark-haired man in a dark blue tunic. “And this is Gestiss,” he finished, indicating the other man with hair of the same shade, wearing a grey and black embroidered tunic. They were all clean cut and reminded me of the high status snobs in my home kingdom.
“Nice to meet you—” I stared, bowing my head.
Percifal cut me off. “Apologies, gentlemen, the lady has had too much ale this evening. We were about to retire for the night. Good evening.” He bowed to them before pulling me away.
Kelen’s gaze roamed over each of us in turn, one eyebrow rose as he tilted his head.
Percifal all but dragged me up the stairs and into our room.
“Ouch! You’re hurting me!” I pulled my wrist from his grasp as soon as we reached our door.
“I’m sorry.” He opened the door and gestured for me to go in.
“And I haven’t had too much ale.” I put my hands on my hips even though I’d probably indeed had enough for the night.
He closed our door behind himself. “I know.”
I waved a dismissive hand and plunked down on the small bed occupying about half of the tiny room. “You know those men?”
“Two of them. Kelen and Gestiss. I only met them once, briefly, so I don’t think they’ve figured out who I really am. But nonetheless, we will leave before everyone wakes… to be sure we don’t run into them again.”
I sighed and reached back to untie my stays.
Percifal moved behind me to help. “Soon, we’ll be at the palace, and you can rest all you want,” he offered, trying to alleviate my obvious distress.
“Right after you abandon me,” I scowled.
“It’s for your own good.” Did I hear regret in his voice, or was that only my imagination? I decided to let it go.
He turned around to let me strip down to my undergarments and crawl under the covers of the small bed. The bed welcomed my exhausted self. As hard as the mattress was, I hadn’t slept in a real bed since The Golden Lilly. I closed my eyes and fell asleep without any trouble.
To my confusion, Percifal shook me awake shortly after I’d closed my eyes. He was fully dressed, though darkness still covered the world. “Zephyra, wake up. We must leave at once,” he whispered loudly, using my full name. It felt strange hearing him speak it… almost intimate.
He tossed my blue dress on the bed beside me. “Get dressed. I will explain once we’re gone from here.”
I groaned, rubbing the sleep from my eyes, and sat up to let my legs dangle off the edge of the bed.
“I’m sorry to have to wake you earlier than expected, but we’ll find somewhere else to rest.”
“All right, I’m up,” I snapped, annoyed at having to leave in the middle of the night.
Ignoring my foul mood, he busied himself with packing up our saddlebags.
Within the next few moments, my dress was on; he had done my stays up for me once again, though this time with more haste, and I followed him down the dark stairs of the inn. All was quiet, as everyone else still slept in their n
ice warm beds. I envied them.
We crept out the front doors and headed for the stables. The stable boy who’d taken our horses upon arrival was nowhere to be seen. With sluggish movements I helped Percifal ready our mounts.
He held Moonlight while I got into the saddle. “Ease your mind, Zephyra, there’s an abandoned shack close by.”
I scoffed. “Wonderful, then you can tell me why we must leave this nice cozy inn in the middle of the night.”
“Of course. I just need some time to think.”
“Well, think quickly,” I shot, squeezing Moonlight’s sides with my calves.
The wind whipped at my face and disheveled hair as we rode down the dirt road and out of Ambedar. We galloped through the meadow by which we had come to the village, only this time, we were headed in a different direction. It dawned on me that we were going around the outskirts of the village.
A black blanket full of stars in the clear sky above us and a pale, glowing round moon lit our way. The sight would have taken my breath away were I not so tired, cold, and confused by our sudden departure.
No, more than that caused my sour mood. I wanted to know exactly who Percifal really was and what he was hiding from. I would make him tell me. I laughed inwardly at myself. Right, Zephyra. How are you going to make this man tell you anything? Perhaps I would threaten him, I decided. Threaten him with… before I could finish my thought, an old shack came into view.
The small building of rotten wood was missing its door, and the windows had been smashed at one point. It looked abandoned, like an unwanted child.
We came to an abrupt halt outside of the shack. I was wide awake after the ride and wanted answers. We dismounted, and Percifal started the task of unsaddling the horses in silence, deep in thought.
I stood and waited, trying to muster patience.
Once he’d finished, and the horses were tethered, I followed him into the shack.
I studied the inside of the small building. A little, worn table and a couple of decaying, tipped-over chairs sat to one side of the space. Soft, packed earth made up the floor, and there was a pallet near the back, which I assumed had once been the owner’s bed. I imagined a shepherd once occupied this place during the summer months, needing only the bare necessities while he watched his flock.
I looked over to the man who’d saved me twice and had been my guide on this trying journey to the Kingdom of Water. He took his dagger out and ran it carefully along his jaw, shaving off the beard that’d grown back.
I clenched my fists, frustrated by his continued silence. He said he would explain once we arrived, but there we were, and he hadn’t said a word. “Won’t someone recognize you without that beard you hide behind, sir?” I asked in a vexed tone.
He winced, as if I’d caused him some pain with my words, or mayhap he’d nicked himself with his dagger. “Please, just call me Percifal from now on.”
I shook my head and started pacing in front of him. “I shall call you by your name when you tell me who you truly are, if Percifal is even your real name!” I knew I was being cold, but my patience had run out. I was tired of being kept in the dark after everything we’d been through.
He put his dagger away. “It is my real name. Percifal, that’s who I am.”
“Then tell me what you are! Who those men were to you! Everything! And tell me why you ran away to pose as a vagrant. Tell me, or I’ll—I’ll…”
“Or you’ll what?” He strode toward me until he loomed over me, a daring look in his eyes. He was a great deal taller than me, but I didn’t feel threatened by him. He had only ever saved me, he would never hurt me. I knew it in my heart.
“I’ll…” I hadn’t gotten that far in my thoughts yet, so I blew out a breath and said the first thing I could think of. I instantly regretted the words as they left my lips. “Or I’ll go back to those men at the lodge and ask them to take me to Aquila instead of you.” I lifted my chin and met his eyes, only to see how much pain my threat had caused.
He backed away, and I reached for him, feeling ashamed. “No, wait, that’s a lie. I wouldn’t do that, but I’ll find everything out from your sister anyways, so you may as well just tell me now. Please.”
A spark lit his gaze at the mention of Chelela. “My sister…yes, of course. Everything’s happened so that you two can be brought together. Celestia works in mysterious ways.”
I stared blankly at him. I had no idea what he was going on about.
“All right,” he sighed and raked a hand through his onyx hair, sitting down on the palette. “I can’t let you go to Aquila without me anymore. That’s why I no longer need the disguise.”
My heart, surprisingly, warmed. I took a seat beside him, folding my hands in my lap. “Start from the beginning.”
He paused to gather himself, and then he told me everything. “It all began about three springs ago, after Noctis De Celestia. You see, I was once not a very good man… I was blinded by my duty to King Zaeden De Thryst, the King of Aquila. Before I ran to Lottenheim and met Ginnie and Irving, I was one of King Zaeden’s most trusted men. The constable of his army.”
I felt my jaw drop. All of this time, I thought him to be some thief, or maybe an assassin; not the constable of a whole damn kingdom! It surely explained his skill and finesse at fighting with a sword. Still, I could not believe my own ears.
I shook myself, as I noticed he was waiting for me to reply. “So, you were the Constable of Aquila. Why did you leave?”
He looked straight ahead, a far-away look in his eyes as he continued, “Well, as I said, I was blinded by my duty to King Zaeden, although, I was close to the royal family right from birth. My father helped our king take the throne from our previous ruler, so my parents were peers of he and Queen Thea before my sister and I even came into this world. I’m sure that fact helped once I proved my skills in fighting to King Zaeden, for he then appointed me constable of his armies. I was only sixteen when he gave me the role, but I was well prepared for it. Growing up to always honour my king, of course I never questioned him.”
He paused, a frown creasing between his brows. “That was until my second decade on this earth, about three springs ago, when he learned more about an island called Gwon. It’s right off the coast of Aquila, and it is said that it flourishes with women and gold. The women, he wasn’t interested in, but the gold… he was a greedy king. He believed he was doing right by his people, because if he didn’t get the gold from Gwon, he would increase our kingdom’s taxes.
“At first, he sent his chancellor to the island to inquire with their ruler, Khadji, if he would trade some of his gold for goods such as wool and grain. Khadji laughed in the chancellor’s face and told him he didn’t need anything from Aquila. The chancellor and his guards, myself included, left Gwon at once to inform our king. King Zaeden was outraged by the refusal and decided if Khadji wouldn’t trade with him, he would take what he wanted instead.”
I took a deep breath, shaking my head. “I’m beginning to dislike this king of yours.”
He laughed bitterly. “You haven’t even heard the worst of it yet. I begged King Zaeden to leave well enough alone. I told him we had no need for their gold anyways, but he wouldn’t listen. He ordered me to sail with my men to Gwon and steal some of the gold. He threatened to give someone else my position should I refuse. Feeling I had no other choice, I did as my king bade, and my men and I were successful in getting a large amount of gold back to Aquila. I’m not proud of it, trust me. But at the time, we rejoiced.”
I shook my head and pressed my lips together, not liking what I was hearing.
“Our victory was short-lived. Khadji and his own army ambushed our kingdom shortly after our return. They came at night, whilst most of the kingdom slept, myself included. They took our guards down with their giant, foreign swords and gained access to the king’s chambers. Woken by the sounds of fighting, I grabbed my own sword and headed toward the noise. It was there that I found Khadji with his sword to the queen’s t
hroat, spitting out the words, ‘You take my gold, I take your queen!’ And then he did it, he slit her throat. I can still remember the blood as it spilled out from her neck and onto the white silk sheets.”
“Dear Celestia!” I gasped.
I noticed his hand shake a little before he folded those defined arms of his and continued, “King Zaeden was outraged. My parents came into the scene moments after Queen Thea’s death. While I tried to get my mother out of the chamber, King Zaeden, fool he was, decided to go after Khadji barehanded. My father tried to stop him, only to be cut down by Khadji, who was trying to get at King Zaeden.” Percifal stopped and put his head in his hands.
When he looked up a moment later, his eyes were rimmed with red. I put my hand on his shoulder to offer some comfort.
He continued, “I was trying to protect my mother, when instead, I should’ve protected my king so my father wouldn’t have had to. He would still be alive if not for my mistake.”
I couldn’t believe what he was saying, that he blamed himself for his own father’s death. “No, what King Zaeden did was foolish. Don’t blame yourself. If he would’ve stayed put, surely no one else would have died. It wasn’t wrong of you to protect your mother.”
“Nonetheless, I should’ve known King Zaeden would be blind with rage. Khadji left after that, taking his men with him, leaving the whole kingdom in shock. Everyone mourned for my father, but even more so for their beloved queen.
“King Zaeden went into a silent rage after that night. Once the death ceremonies were over, he drafted up three letters; one to be taken to each of the other three kingdoms of Sarantoa, asking them to join him in a war against the island, Gwon to avenge his queen—and my father.”
“I’ve never heard of this letter,” I interrupted, and then I bit my lip, realizing my rudeness.
“That’s because it was quietly refused. I doubt your queen would’ve said anything about it to you. The other three kingdoms decided that King Zaeden had been careless by stealing the gold, and that this was his own battle to fight. They didn’t want to risk their subjects for his mistake, which I understood, but King Zaeden did not. As I said, he is a greedy man, who mostly thinks only of himself.
The Elemental Diaries - Complete Series Page 18
