“Is that really necessary?” Robert complained, while a sly smile spread across Sayana’s lips.
Crisis averted.
They spent a few minutes securing their supplies to their horses and then mounted up. Robert easily sat astride his black stallion, clearly demonstrating his experience as a rider and he reluctantly extended a hand to help Sayana climb up behind him.
While they were settling in, Aiden noticed Criosa gazing at the crowds of people going about their lives. The princess had a wistful expression on her delicate features, and he could guess what she was thinking. There was something about the way her hood framed her face that Aiden found quite captivating.
“They have no idea, do they,” she said rhetorically. “They may have heard rumours, and they certainly know of the recent attempt to seize the throne, but the people are simply oblivious to the impending doom about to descend upon them, should we fail.”
“Your subjects are safe, for now,” Black told Criosa in his rough baritone. “Standing around here isn’t going to make them any safer, though.”
“I suppose not,” she murmured. She shook the reins and led them down the cobblestone streets, kicking up a light dusting of snow from what little remained.
Fairloch’s main gate was especially busy these days, as with the thawing weather, merchants were back on the road, transporting their wares to towns and cities along the east coast of Aielund. Criosa was adamant about keeping her identity obscured, so they had to wait in line like the rest of the travellers, instead of using her influence to bypass the guards.
Eventually, they passed through the gates without incident and cantered away from the city. Cherry trees lined the highway, their pink flowers in full bloom and stray petals drifting to the ground in the mild breeze. The air was still crisp and cold, though noticeably warmer than the past few months had been. There was something invigorating in the air and Aiden felt right at home as he followed behind Criosa, enjoying the brisk ride despite the nature of their journey.
For the next few hours, they travelled silently, with only the pounding of hooves and the rush of wind to listen to. As they travelled southwest, they passed by wagons, as well as common folk too poor to own a horse. The road began to rise as the Stonegaard Mountains loomed before them, growing closer with each passing hour.
They stopped for a short rest alongside the highway, allowing them to stretch and have a quick bite to eat. Sayana wasn’t moving much — Aiden could tell she was hiding her discomfort so as not to appear weak before Robert. Despite his position as little more than a prisoner in the group, the mercenary strode about confidently, checking the horses for injury as well as making sure their equipment was secure. If Sayana had been attempting to intimidate him, it hadn’t worked.
Eager to press on, Criosa had them back on their horses and riding for the mountains within ten minutes. The altitude, the steep grade and the cold were doing a great job at conspiring to impede their progress.
As the sun sank behind the mountains, the smell of smoke could be detected in the air and from up ahead, the welcoming flicker of campfires shone in the dim conditions.
Not long thereafter, they arrived at MacKenner Plateau and found dozens of other travellers setting camp for the night. Many had tents attached to the side of their wagons, and despite all the space available on the broad, flat ground, the place was looking rather cramped.
“I hate this place,” Pacian growled as he dismounted. “A perfect place for an inn and it’s left bare.”
“Yes, I’ve often had merchants and nobles petitioning the Crown to construct an inn here,” Criosa explained as she looked around. “Unfortunately, this is the eastern edge of the land Aielund bequeathed to the dwarves of Ferrumgaard when they had nowhere else to go. My understanding is that it’s owned by the MacKenner clan and for whatever reason, they have refused to build anything.”
“It’s still stupid,” Pacian grumbled. Nellise went to his side to offer him comfort, but he turned away and stalked off towards one of the large fire pits that people were gathering around. Nellise watched him go, the look of concern on her face troubling to say the least. Aiden busied himself by unpacking his small tent and setting it up, while Robert tended to the horses. When Aiden was done, he sauntered over to Nellise, who was just finishing off her own tent — by herself.
“Is now a good time to talk about it?” he prompted quietly, drawing a silent nod from the worried cleric. She gestured for him to follow her away from the camp site, to an empty place closer to the edge of the plateau. Nellise held her silence for a time, gazing out over the distant lights of Fairloch that twinkled like fallen stars.
“Pace hinted at something he’d done back in Stonegaard,” Aiden began when it became clear Nellise wasn’t going to start the delicate conversation. “He wouldn’t talk to me about it then, and I think it’s pretty obvious he hasn’t spoken to you about it, either.”
“He’s bottling it up, whatever it is,” Nellise replied softly, her fine pale hair swaying in the cold breeze. “It was something special, having him live with me at Highlorn for the past few weeks. He was enjoying the chance to indulge himself and laze about, as was his want. After the first week, he started to become short tempered with me, even when I hadn’t done anything to deserve it. He began drinking heavily, and spent more time brooding than anything else.”
“Trouble in the bedroom, perhaps?” Aiden asked, attempting to lighten her mood.
“My word Aiden, that was rather forward of you,” she exclaimed, the typically conservative young woman caught off guard by his direct question. “And as it happens… untrue,” she added in spite of herself, prompting an embarrassed grin from Aiden.
“Sorry, I probably shouldn’t have asked that,” he said.
“It’s a fair question, I suppose,” she replied with more confidence. “I was nervous at first, but he was a gentle lover—”
“I really don’t need to know the details,” Aiden interrupted her, regretting his poor attempt at humour.
“Be careful what you ask for,” she advised him with a smile that quickly faded. “Sometimes, afterward, he’d have terrible dreams and awaken in a cold sweat. I knew some of what he went through during our time in Stonegaard, but I don’t think he’s told me everything… and its eating him up inside.”
“He told me he’d made a mess of things,” Aiden mused aloud. “He said, ‘I had to do terrible things. Things I can never take back.’ Any idea what he might have been talking about?”
“There were times when he was away from the rest of us,” Nellise said after a moment’s thought. “Anything could have happened. I will ponder this, and see if I can wrest more information out of him in my own, subtle way. Anyway, I’m starving. Thank you for the chance to talk a little, Aiden.”
“Anytime, Nel,” Aiden replied with a reassuring smile. He was about to follow her back to the camp when he noticed Criosa approaching. He ignored the faster beating of his heart at the sight of her and tried to keep things professional. It wasn’t working very well.
“Well, this is all rather exciting, isn’t it?” she beamed, rubbing her hands together to warm them.
“I take it this is your first time on the road like this?” Aiden observed shrewdly.
“Of course,” she admitted. “Father would never permit me to go traipsing around the countryside with the intention of battling dragons and whatnot. But it’s certainly a thrilling experience, riding through the countryside, facing the prospect of danger and such.”
“Yes, very exciting,” Aiden drawled. He’d had enough excitement for one lifetime.
“Well, listen to you, Mister ‘I’ve done all this before,’” Criosa chided him with a sly grin.
“You seem to have forgotten what it was actually like, being in a battle,” Aiden reminded her. “Culdeny was no picnic.” This struck a chord with the flighty woman, whose smile vanished as she recalled her kidnapping and subsequent rescue.
“Yes, I remember,�
� she offered soberly. “But my country and my father need all they help they can get, and I won’t let my fears control my actions. By helping to rally support amongst our allies, I am doing my part to aid in our defence. I must admit, heading out on the road this time, fully prepared, makes a world of difference. I speak of facing down challenges, testing one’s mettle against the rigors of the road and of course, the romance of the whole adventure.”
“Romance?” Aiden asked with a raised eyebrow. “I hadn’t really thought of it that way before. Perhaps I was distracted by all the blood and danger.”
“Nonsense,” Criosa retorted, “I’ve read many novels about this sort of thing. Young, beautiful people thrust together due to circumstances beyond their control and finding love in a world gone mad.”
“I think your knowledge on this subject might be just a little bit… entirely wrong,” Aiden advised delicately. He hadn’t forgotten who he was talking to, after all.
“I’ve studied this extensively and romance is a central theme on this sort of caper,” Criosa assured him with a subtle grin. He suppressed a smile and gazed at the distant city as the stars came out with the fading of the light.
“So… you think there’s definitely some sort of romance in the future for us?”
“Oh, absolutely,” Criosa nodded enthusiastically. “I’d keep my eyes peeled, if I were you, as you never know when something good might come along.” She gave him a subtle nudge in the ribs with her elbow and Aiden chuckled, glad that the dim light hid his bright red face.
“Perhaps we should have something to eat?” he advised with an abrupt change of topic. “We still have a long ride ahead of us, and we need to keep our strength up.”
“Quite so, Sir Aiden,” Criosa beamed, taking his arm and leading him back to camp for a hot meal.
* * *
The fine weather of the previous day had vanished by morning, and when Aiden and his companions set out once more, a heavy fog had rolled in to obscure the trail. It was slow going as they continued to ascend, with visibility reduced to a few yards for most of the day. The traffic was no help either, for many of the wagons ahead of them were fully laden and Aiden believed he could walk faster.
There was one high point of the day, however. Once they cleared the fog, the sky became a clear blue and the view over the top of the clouds below was astonishing, almost as if the majestic peaks were floating on a sea of vapour.
After a frustrating day of travel, they finally arrived at Auchlevie, a village nestled between the great peaks. It was a small community centred on a large inn named after the village itself, showing a distinct lack of imagination on the part of its owner. There were a number of wagons parked to the side of the inn, yet the majority of the merchants they had travelled with were continuing onward, hoping to make the city before nightfall.
There were still a couple of hours remaining before the sun sank in the west, but Aiden was weary and saddle-sore from the slow journey. His discomfort paled in comparison to Sayana’s, who collapsed to the ground when Robert brought his horse to a halt. The mercenary had a faint grin on his face as he dismounted, though he had the good grace to help her back on her feet without comment.
“I can’t go on,” she informed the others with a stifled groan. “I need a night to recover.”
“You’re not alone in that regard,” Aiden muttered, his thighs burning as he dismounted. Pacian leaned against the side of his horse, apparently also feeling the worse for wear.
“I had hoped to make it to Stonegaard and speak with King Sulinus before the day’s end,” Criosa remarked, “but I suppose we can stay here for the night instead of the city.”
“It’s less than an hour from here,” Nellise suggested. “If you’re willing to go on, I will accompany you while our companions rest up.”
“It will be hard enough convincing the dwarves to mobilize on short notice without delaying it further,” Criosa said thoughtfully. “Very well, you and I shall ride on, and return in the morning to continue our journey. If you think you can manage without us for a night,” she added.
“I don’t know how I’ll get by with two less people oppressing me, but I’ll manage,” Robert replied sarcastically as he strode towards the inn, flipping a coin to a short dwarven lad, who immediately went to stable his horse.
“Seriously, keep an eye on him,” Nellise advised after he had gone through the door. “We all know how dangerous he can be.”
“I’ll get him drunk,” Pacian suggested tiredly. “That’ll make him easy to deal with.”
“All right, just go easy on the drink yourself,” Criosa advised. “I need you sharp and ready for tomorrow. We shall see you early in the morning.” With that, the two ladies rode onwards through the village towards the distant city.
Aiden made sure his horse was being cared for, and then followed the others into the inviting confines of the Auchlevie Inn. The warmth of the hearth flooded over him as he stepped out of the cold, a welcome relief from the bitter conditions outside.
The establishment was half full of travellers and locals, all of whom were enjoying the rich food and drink on offer. Within minutes, he was seated at a table and eating his fill, alongside Pacian and Sayana.
Robert sat by himself a few tables away. He showed a distinct lack of interest in his surroundings, seemingly resigned to his fate. Aiden still harboured a great deal of resentment towards the man, though Robert’s quiet conduct throughout the last two days had given him something to think about.
Aiden and his two friends spoke of idle things over their meal, for they were all too tired for prolonged conversation and after they were done, Sayana excused herself and retired for the night. Pacian laid his eyes on the bar, and Aiden recalled his earlier plan.
“Do you still want to get Robert drunk?” he asked softly so as not to be overheard.
“That was to get him docile,” Pacian replied. “He looks plenty docile to me, and there’s a bottle of brandy with my name on it.” Pacian made his way to the bar and tossed a coin onto the bench.
“Ah, my one true love,” he sighed as he opened the bottle of expensive brandy and poured himself a glass. Aiden watched with concern as his friend slipped into the strong drink, mindful of Pacian’s father and his problems. Aiden had raised this with Pacian before and received a testy response, so he kept quiet this time and resigned himself to a quiet evening by the fire. He was tempted to retire to his room and read more from the Lexicon, but he had become tired of ceaseless study over the past few weeks, so he came up with another idea.
“May I join you?” Aiden asked Robert, who glanced up at him suspiciously.
“By yourself?” he asked. “Are you sure you don’t need backup in case I attack you with a loaf of bread?”
“Pacian can help, in a pinch.”
“The only thing that kid can help himself to is a slow death from the bottle,” Robert remarked caustically. “What about your little red-haired friend?”
“After two days of riding, I don’t think we’ll be seeing her for the rest of the evening,” Aiden said.
“Good. She makes my eye socket itch,” Robert muttered, kicking out a chair for Aiden to sit on. “Are you going to interrogate me, or just lecture me on the error of my ways?”
“I was curious what brought you to Fairloch, knowing what you’d face,” Aiden explained. “I also thought you’d make better conversation than Pacian right now. What did you mean by that ‘slow death’ remark?”
Robert didn’t answer right away. He reached into his dark longcoat and retrieved a cigar from an inner pocket. Leaning over towards the fireplace, he picked up a taper from a small canister and lit it, then brought it up to the end of the cigar. He took a few puffs, and the distinctive, pungent aroma of pipe weed began to issue from his mouth.
“Back at the plateau,” the mercenary mentioned casually, “I happened to overhear what Nellise said about him. I don’t have all the details of what’s gone on around here lately, but I can s
ee the scars on his face — the ones that leave a mark on the inside, if you know what I mean. Whatever that kid’s gone through almost broke him.
“I’ve seen it before in young men who’ve been through one too many battles. He’s seen too much, maybe even done some things he can’t live with. Either way, he’s drinking that brandy like a man looking to make the bad dreams go away.” Aiden didn’t need to turn around to know Robert’s observation was correct.
“Let us worry about that,” Aiden advised coldly, drawing a shrug from the scarred man.
“Didn’t say I was worried,” Robert said, grinning mirthlessly as he puffed smoke in Aiden’s direction. “What about you? You went from a simple country boy, to the saviour of Culdeny, to one of the youngest knight’s Aielund has seen all in the span of a few months. I know you had to do a lot of killing to make that happen, kid. Are you telling me it doesn’t keep you up at night?”
“A lot of things keep me awake,” Aiden replied dryly, “but killing bad people trying to do bad things makes me sleep like a baby.”
“Does your perky little princess know that?” Robert chided him, leaning forward on his elbows to stare at Aiden, eye-to-eye. “Not that I think it’d matter, mind you — she’s got stars in her eyes for you, have no doubt about it. You could kill a hundred men — if you haven’t already — and she’d think you’re a bloody hero. Do you know what the difference between you and me is? I don’t pretend killing makes me a better man. I get the job done, yet somehow, killing men on the field of battle gets you knighted.”
“Do you really need me to educate you on why that is?” Aiden retorted.
“I think it’s because you’re killing in her name,” Robert continued without skipping a beat. “You didn’t do it for money, or fame, or even a title, but somewhere along the way you made a choice to fight her battles. Do you love her? Not in a ‘loyal subject’ sort of way either, I mean proper love.”
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