Bloodlines

by Helen Church

  “Thank you for your warning Elder.”

  A small smile twitched her stern lips, and she gestures towards the book. “I’m giving you this book. Keep it with you at all times. The moment that you start to bleed, I want you to burn this book. It is Magickal and it will let me know what has happened. Destroy any evidence. Tell nobody else.”

  “Why can’t I tell anybody else?”

  “Because if you have no husband, they may force a union with just anybody to ensure that you will have an heir.”

  Ilsa stiffened at that. “Who?”

  “Likely one of the Courtiers. They aren’t noble blood but they are lawful and would do anything in service of the kingdom.”

  “And I wouldn’t be allowed to refuse?”

  Vesta grimaces, and this is the point she is trying to make. This is why she is warning Ilsa. “To do so would be denying your duty to the crown and you likely would be…overwhelmed.”

  Ilsa shook her head, “Jocham would never allow this.”

  “Jocham would never know. Until it was done.”

  She felt herself pale. “I see.”

  Vesta smiles, obviously relieved that Isla understood the situation and neither of them had to be embarrassed further. “Would you come for a walk with me? There is something else I would like to discuss with you.”

  Ilsa gave a nod of consent, but her mind was racing.

  3

  Ellard shook his head, “surely you cannot be serious!”

  Elder Vesta raises an eyebrow at him, “I am always serious.”

  Ellard looked at Jocham, “what do you make of all this?”

  Jocham looked thoughtful, and took a long time to respond. “Well, Ilsa is of age. And so far the usual training has been no challenge for her. She’s a natural born warrior. I believe that she may have skills in the area of Magick’s.”

  “But to send her to the Seer’s of Carbom…Wouldn’t that be as good as offering them a platter of meat to consume?” Ellard had visited the vile place only once since they had taken over the city, and hated to think of Ilsa defenseless in that fortified garbage heap. “Not all the Seer’s are friendly to the kingdom Grandfather, you must remember that.”

  Jocham nods immediately, “of course I remember, I was the one who banished them there. But Ilsa and her birth are a mystery they have always shown an interest in, and they may be able to better decide where her future lies. And I wasn’t for a moment considering sending her there alone.”

  “You would accompany her of course,” Vesta spoke to Ellard, and he got the distinct impression that the Elder didn’t approve of this plan.

  Ellard frowned as another thought occurred to him, “my father’s murderer is there and you expect me to hold my tongue, and my sword while they pull apart my daughter’s mind!”

  “There is no proof Master Ellard,” Vesta says decisively. “The accusations were always denied by Seer Elmington.”

  “Of course he denied it!”

  Jocham holds up his hands, “Ellard, enough. We know the truth, and there was no proof to convict him of the crime. I know this journey will not be happy for you, but think of Ilsa. For all your grumbling I know that you care for the girl, and I am not strong enough to make the journey myself.”

  Ellard feels a pang in his chest. Yes he cared, of course he cared. “Jocham, what could they possibly do, other than harm?”

  “Not all in Carbom are against the kingdom. Seer Barey is willing to accept you and speak for you in the city. I’ve had contact with her for many years on this subject and she believes that the bird mark Ilsa’s mother bore is one that she has seen before.”

  Ellard didn’t believe that any Seer could be trusted, and wasn’t surprised that one would make such a claim. “Well I can see that you have already decided our course on this matter. My opinions count for naught.”

  “I’m sending you and no other because of your opinions Ellard.” Jocham said this forcefully. “You will be vigilant where no other would, and I know the trickery that could come of this. But Ilsa must know, as must we all, where she came from and what she was destined for.”

  “You always said no Seer took credit after your investigations.”

  “Of course nobody took credit, but how else was she conceived?! Some form of trickery is the only explanation.”

  Ellard was relieved that Jocham believed as he did, that her conception was not natural. “When do we leave?”

  “Tomorrow. Ilsa is preparing for the journey now.”

  “Where is she? I would speak with her.”

  “With Master Crog.”

  Ellard bowed to them both, “with your permission I will prepare for our journey.”

  Jocham gave him a relieved smile, “go with my blessings.”

  Ellard hurried to the training grounds. He wasn’t sure what he could say to prepare Ilsa for what was about to happen but he had to try. How could he explain to her what the Seer’s were capable of doing? And the dangers that were sure to follow them into the citadel.

  When he arrived, he found that Ilsa was fighting against Master Crog. Jocham’s own companion at arms, his hair was wispy and white beneath the helm he wore, but that was the only sign of his advanced age. Every single muscle was as toned as it had been when he was younger, and he had trained every warrior in the kingdom.

  Ilsa took instruction with him alone, so as to not distract the young men of the service battalions, but Crog never gave her an easier tutorial in deference to her gender. If anything, Ellard was pleased to see that he pushed her even further, and she delighted in the challenge.

  Neither of them noticed that he had entered the large chamber, and he sat for a moment watching them spar.

  They were both silent as they engaged. Crog gave no warning as to whether his next move would be offensive or defensive, and Ilsa had to rely purely on her instinct whether to move into a block or attack. Ellard was pleased to see that she didn’t miss a single move, and she was obviously a good pupil.

  Once they had disengaged, Crog removed his helm and bowed to Ilsa, “you have earned your sword, my lady.”

  She bowed in return, “thank you Crog.”

  Ellard stood and walked over to them both. “I didn’t like to interrupt Master Crog, but I was hoping she’d knock you on your ass.”

  Crog smiled, “I heard you enter, but nobody has ever knocked me on my ass.”

  “I seem to recall stories of my father Danton doing exactly that.”

  Crog laughed, “only because I allowed it.”

  “Of course,” Ellard laughed too, and turned to Ilsa. “You fight well.”

  Crog thumped her in the arm as heartily as he would have smacked a male soldier, “that’s my girl!”

  “Could I speak with you Ilsa? Once your training is finished for the day?”

  “Of course,” she looked further puzzled but gave a bow of consent.

  “She’s done now Ellard,” Crog thumped him this time, and then gave them both a bow. “Good day.”

  They both watched him depart, and Ilsa was the first to speak once he had left the chamber. “This is unexpected, father.”

  “Well, I have just been informed of our journey, and I wish to speak with you about it.”

  Ilsa returned her sword to the sheath strapped to her hip and thigh. “I’m listening.”

  Ellard felt uncomfortable. He’d never spoken at length about his father’s murder. “You will by now have been told about your Grandfather Danton’s murder?”

  She gives a small nod, “Elder Vesta told me that Seer Elmington, the leader of Carbom, was responsible for the murder of Danton, but that no proof could ever tie him to the crime.”

  “Yes,” he was surprised that Vesta had delivered the account correctly, but pressed on with what he wanted to communicate. “Before Carbom was established as a Seer citadel, it used to be our northern outpost. Many soldiers and their families lived there, all in service of Jocham. The Seer’s used to live among us at that point too. Danton wa
s appointed Northern Lord, and head of Carbom, overseeing the King’s business. Until he started to give orders that were not in the kingdom’s interest, they believed that all was well there.”

  Ilsa showed no sign of boredom, so he continued. “My mother Rissa returned here to Bardon, with me while I was an infant. She confessed to Jocham that she believed my father had lost his mind. She believed this because he had appointed Seer Elmington to be his chief advisor, and because he started ordering soldiers to abandon their post’s and flee with their families.” Ellard paused, “when Jocham arrived at Carbom, the few remaining soldiers were all stripped of their armor and wandering around as if they had been dazed, speaking nonsense words. He could get no sense out of them, and he hurried to find my father. When he reached the courts, Danton was impaled upon his own sword, and Seer Elmington had a whole crowd of witnesses, also dazed, saying over and over again, ‘he fell on his own sword’.”

  “You believe Seer Elmington brainwashed your father to fall upon his own sword?”

  “Yes I do. And I wasn’t alone. It is that belief that started the banishment of the Seers. There was no proof of the crime, no evidence to accuse Elmington, so he couldn’t be treated as a criminal. But Jocham never trusted the Seer’s after the act that saw his own son killed, and he quickly passed the law that they all be confined to Carbom, for their own safety, and the Magick’s are now contained there with the Vaiden orb. And you know that the creation of the Vaiden orb was the final permissible act of Magick, which trapped the Magick's within Carbom forevermore.”

  Ilsa seemed to consider his words, “do you think there is a trap waiting for us there?”

  Pleased that she understood the dangers of the Seer’s, he gave a quick nod, “I do. Jocham has ordered that this journey is necessary, but I believe we need to be on guard.”

  “Of course.”

  “I do not just mean that you must be ready to draw your sword, I mean that you must learn to protect your mind.”

  “How?”

  “Protect your thoughts by not giving them power.”

  “I don’t understand.”

  Ellard sighed, “I wish I could explain to you more clearly Ilsa. Imagine that I could look at you right now, and without a word from your lips I could know every single part of your mind. Your memories, your feelings, your hopes and dreams, and worst of all, your fears. The things that make you weak are weapons to the residents of Carbom, and to reveal them would be as good as falling on your own sword. Don’t think of these things, and learn to guide your thoughts to safety.”

  She frowned. “How do I do that?”

  “I am no expert, but the only time I came face to face with Elmington I thought of the wood in the trees being shaped into the bow, or the rain falling from the sky. Direct your thoughts to the mundane and physical objects you take for granted.”

  “So think of the steel being shaped by the blacksmith to make my sword?”

  “Exactly! I’m glad you understand.”

  “But how long must I do that for?”

  “Until we safely leave Carbom. I don’t care what Jocham says, we cannot trust anybody there.”

  4

  They made good time when they left at first light, but Ellard insisted that they not tire the horses and try to rush the journey. They made camp beside a river that ran through the forest clearing so the horses could drink.

  “You rode well today,” Ellard told Ilsa as she gutted one of the fish they had just caught.

  “Thank you. I know the reason we left Bardon, but part of me is enjoying being outside the city walls, even though I know what is ahead.” She gestured to her horse, “Cetar never gets to run like that, and I know he’s enjoying using his legs for once.”

  Ellard smiled, “of course, Glutar feels the same,” he looked at his own horse. “I almost forgot this is your first trip outside. And be thankful that the weather is fair, or you wouldn’t be enjoying it as much.”

  Ilsa finished gutting the fish, and started to spear them on sticks while Ellard stoked the fire. “Have you ever met this Seer we are going to visit with?”

  He shook his head, “no I have not. But if Jocham trusts her, we must trust in him. He wouldn’t send us to our doom knowingly.”

  “But from all I’ve learned so far, the Seers can change the truth to suit themselves.”

  “Indeed they can,” Ellard helped to lay the fish in the fire, and pulled his smoking pipe from his bag. As he began to pack the tobacco inside it, Ilsa spoke again.

  “It was a Seer responsible for cursing our Kingdom. I never understood why we continued to exist alongside them for as long as we did.”

  “You’re talking of Morden aren’t you?”

  Ilsa nodded, “he cursed the King for stealing his sister for marriage.”

  Ellard laughed, “well, that is the short version of the story. Morden was a twin to his sister Maydin. And he had quite an unnatural infatuation with her. A love that she did not reciprocate.”

  Ilsa looked disgusted, “his own sister?”

  “Well, it has been known for some individuals to feel that way. But Maydin only had eyes for Finium, heir to the throne of Bardon.”

  “He is the first name on the Blood Map,” Ilsa said as she turned the fish.

  “Of course, the Blood Map only exists because Maydin married Finium. Morden cursed his sister and her new King to have a barren bloodline that would die with them. He delivered the simple canvas that held their names on it, as a means to deliver the curse to them on their wedding day. But what Morden didn’t know was that his own mother, who used to be a witch while she lived, made sure that her daughter was protected against such a curse.”

  “So that is why we have only had one male heir for every generation, because the curse failed, but also worked.”

  “Exactly,” Ellard lit his pipe with a twig from the fire. “Until you came along at least.”

  Ilsa nodded, “I know all the stories.”

  “I’m sure you do.”

  “What do you actually think happened?”

  Ellard was surprised that she had asked him. Very few people ever cared to hear what he thought on the subject, and Ilsa had never been given an opportunity like this to speak before. “Well, it has to have been some kind of Magick. There is no other explanation for how you are my daughter.”

  “But I don’t understand why someone would do that.”

  “Well, that is one of the things we hope to find out.”

  “Jocham thinks the curse could be broken, but Vesta is worried that the courts will insist I marry.”

  Ellard was surprised at that. “What?”

  “She told me to keep the discussion secret, but she warned me that if I bleed I have to tell her immediately, but to be prepared because I will most likely have to marry so as to not miss the chance to do my duty to the throne and provide an heir.”

  Ellard was furious, “that woman is evil.”

  Ilsa looked taken aback. “She only wanted me to be prepared.”

  “You aren’t going to be forced into a marriage Ilsa. Not all the time Jocham and I have any say in the matter.”

  “She said that you wouldn’t know until it was too late.”

  Ellard wondered why Ilsa was confiding in him. “Did you know that it was Vesta who ruled that I wasn’t allowed to marry?”

  She looked surprised, “I thought nobody would marry you, because you were spent.”

  He laughed, she certainly had been fed a false history. “No, she ruled that to marry me to another Kingdom, would be as good as declaring war as I was sure to be barren. She forced through the law stating that spent men weren’t allowed to remarry.”

  “But you were never married to begin with!”

  “Which still infuriates me to this day.”

  “But your mark shows you are unspent.”

  “It shows there was no tryst,” Ellard looked to his arm. “The Blood Marks, just like the Blood Map are all a part of the curse that backfired
on Finium and Maydin. The Marks didn’t exist before then, and the symbols we see are still being understood. Unfortunately for me, the Courtiers were baffled the day you were born, and they continue to believe that I was a part of the trickery.”

  “I’m sorry.”

  “You didn’t ask for your part in this any more than I did. I apologise I haven’t been the father to you that I should have been.”

  “I understand that you are angry about what happened.”

  “We still do not know what happened, but I cannot deny that you are my daughter, you look just like my father did.”

  She smiled then, “really?”

  “Yes, he had the same bright red hair and green eyes. And sometimes when you are angry you look like him too. From what little I can remember, you are the picture of him.”

  Ilsa turned the fish again, “I think you should marry.”

  He was shocked, “it has been ruled that I cannot.”

  “Well, you said it yourself, you haven’t married before, and they can prove with your Blood Mark that there was no tryst. I think you are unspent.”

  “I don’t think there is a woman who is willing to take that chance, and marry into a potentially barren future.”

  Ilsa shrugged, “women are everywhere. If Vesta has ruled that nobility would declare war over a barren marriage, then find a bride outside of nobility. A woman would love the security of Bardon if she were living in lower circumstances, whether you were barren or not.”

  He laughed, “you are saying that we should find a peasant bride for me and return to Bardon with her?”

  Ilsa smiled, “if it is planned for me to be married without Jocham’s knowledge, why can’t you do the same?”