Second Son (The Minstrel's Song Book 2)

by Jenelle Leanne Schmidt

  “I guess I’m just not ready to go home yet. Once back in Llycaelon I have to settle down and assume the responsibilities of a prince of the realm.”

  “Prince?” Calla asked.

  Rhoyan had the grace to look ashamed. “I guess I forgot I hadn’t told you.”

  Calla pursed her lips, but remained silent.

  Rhoyan shrugged and continued. “Once we reach Llycaelon I’ll have to spend the rest of my life under the shadow of my older brother. I am willing and eager to support Ky’s reign... I guess I just want to make some kind of name for myself before then. I’m free of the chains the Ramblers held me in, but the closer I get to Llycaelon the more I feel the weight of the chains I will wear once I get home.”

  “Because killing a dragon, fighting monsters, and escaping from the Ramblers isn’t enough of a legacy,” Dru snorted sarcastically.

  Calla’s face was expressionless. “What do you have in mind?”

  “I was thinking of asking Captain Murry if he would mind making one stop along the way, in a port at Emnolae. We can stop at Kallayohm first, like he was planning, but then he could make a stop at Emnolae on the way north to Efoin-Ebedd. We could pay Captain Murry extra for the stop, I’m sure he wouldn’t mind, since it’s on the way. Or we could book fare from Emnolae. I know it isn’t widely populated, but in my studies of geography there was mention of a harbor town, and where there is a harbor there are boats.”

  “Emnolae?” Calla’s voice had a slight tremor in it. “This isn’t about the story that minstrel told us, is it?”

  “Maybe,” Rhoyan grew defensive, “and so what if it is? What does that have to do with anything?”

  “It might be dangerous.”

  “Exactly!” Rhoyan said with enthusiasm, not noticing the fear in Calla’s eyes. “It just might! This quest won’t be easy that’s for sure, and perhaps that’s why I want to do this. It’ll only be a quick detour, it won’t take long at all, and then we’ll be on our way to Llycaelon again, I promise. If we fail, there’s no harm done, but if we succeed…” Rhoyan trailed off, his eyes brightening with the possibilities. “Well... just think of it!”

  Dru shook his head. “That tale got into your head, I knew it would. Blasted minstrels and their fool stories.”

  “I’m frightened,” Calla said. “Little good can come of this, I think.”

  “You don’t have to come with me,” Rhoyan said irritably, “I’ll go by myself and you can stay on the ship. Lews went by himself.”

  “Count me in,” Dru said. “You’ll need someone with a little common sense to go with you, and it looks like I’m all you’ve got.”

  “Calla?” Rhoyan asked.

  Calla hesitated, the strange words the minstrel had said to her echoed in her memory. “No,” Calla said firmly, shaking her head. “It doesn’t matter if I’m frightened or not, I’m a part of this adventure and I’m going with you.”

  Rhoyan bounded off to talk to Captain Murry about stopping at Emnolae.

  The captain was in his quarters eating when Rhoyan knocked on his door. “Come in, come in!” the captain bellowed his face lighting up as he saw who it was. “Hello! Just the man I wanted to see.”

  Rhoyan was surprised. “You wanted to see me, sir?”

  “Yes!” Captain Murry said loudly, as he stood up to shake Rhoyan’s hand. “Sit, sit, please sit. Don’t look so worried, lad, I just wanted to thank you for helping my men set sail this morning. You are obviously no stranger to boats. Where did you learn? You don’t have the look of a seaman to you.”

  “I’m not a sailor, that’s true,” he admitted. “My master and I were on a two month sea voyage at the beginning of our travels. I learned a lot from the captain and his men, enough to be able to find my way around a ship.”

  “Two months! You mean to tell me that you learned sailing in two measly months?”

  “Yes, most of what I learned was during those two months, though I learned more as I traveled further east. I’ve spent a good part of the past several years in ships.”

  “Have you ever considered becoming a sailor, lad?”

  “Not really,” Rhoyan said. “I did have a question though.”

  “Hmmm,” Captain Murry said, “a question? What do you want, lad?”

  “I hate to trouble you or be a bother, but I was wondering if you could make one stop for us on the way to Efoin-Ebedd?”

  “I plan on making several stops along the way in Kallayohm, if you don’t mind. Business, you know. We won’t be taking the fastest route to your destination; I hope that’s not a problem?”

  “Oh, no, not a problem at all,” Rhoyan said hastily. “But I sort of had a specific stop in mind.”

  “Well then, what is it?”

  “Could we perhaps make a stop at Emnolae after Kallayohm?”

  “Emnolae!” Captain Murry’s eyes widened. “No thank you! What could you possibly want there? That land is crawling with seheowks, wyvrens, and who knows what else! Most sane people stay as far away from there as they can, and I assure you, I’m as sane as they come. I’d like to keep my boat intact if you don’t mind.”

  “Seheowks are common in Llycaelon, and to be wary of them is wise, but we keep them under control. Surely they do not warrant such fear?” Rhoyan had always believed that the bloodthirsty creatures were indigenous to his home country, they plagued the northern and eastern shores of Llycaelon constantly. He was surprised that the captain had encountered tales of the creatures. Seheowks were a topic that the kings of Llycaelon dealt with, and as far as Rhoyan knew, they were one of the best kept secrets in the realm. Some king many years ago had decided it was best to keep knowledge of the constant attacks of the seheowks from the common people. A border patrol had been set up, and the seheowks had become the personal problem of the king as well as a symbol of the kingship; the burden to protect the people from the monstrous invaders was passed down along with the crown. On his journeys with Sheyardin Rhoyan had encountered wyvrens and other were-creatures, as well as faced and defeated a powerful dragon and a hydra. Seheowks suddenly seemed quite tame.

  “Murderous creatures,” Captain Murry said, “no one knows quite what they are or where they came from, but a lot of them make their home in those parts, the islands of Emnolae especially. They were first seen shortly after the last High King died. I don’t know much, mind, and it’s none of my business, but I’d say the loss of the High Kings is what allows these types of creatures to roam free. They first appeared out of the east, but that’s about all anyone knows.”

  “What do you know of the High Kings?” Rhoyan asked.

  “Well, I know all the islands were once united under the rule of the High Kings. There have been a few of them, each in their own time and each one of them beat back a darkness that threatened to overwhelm all the lands. There was Lews the Shining, and Ghuntair the Warrior, Bain the Golden, and Sharlmayen the Strong. The last of them was Artair the Noble. It’s been far too long, in my opinion. More than a thousand years, it’s been now, I do believe. That’s all I know... just the stories...” the captain squinted at Rhoyan. “Just what do you want in Emnolae?”

  “That is my own business. You don’t even have to dock at the harbor, just give me a small boat and I’ll row myself to shore. I will in no way allow your ship to be endangered.”

  Captain Murry stroked his beard thoughtfully. “All right, lad. I’ll drop anchor within sight of Emnolae after we make port in Kallayohm. I can give you three days. If you are not back by the time the Dragon’s Eye is rising on the fourth day, I will give the orders to leave without you.”

  If the captain thought this would discourage the young man from traveling to Emnolae, he was sadly mistaken. Rhoyan’s eyes lit up. He shook the captain’s hand heartily, all the while thanking him.

  “Don’t thank me, lad,” the captain muttered. “I fear it is your death I send you to.”

  ❖ ❖ ❖

  As the days passed, the
king grew neither better nor worse. Seamas began to take over many of the king’s duties to keep the realm from falling into chaos or despair. With the help of his counselors, Seamas soon grew accustomed to his new position. He would not allow anyone to speak of him as the king, insisting that while the true king yet lived he was merely the crown prince, performing in his father’s absence.

  Seamas found himself stretched much too thin as he tried to ride with the Helm and attend to his duties as acting king as well. After many long, exhausting weeks, he had to admit defeat. Seamas went to speak to the Helm.

  “It has been a true pleasure leading you into battle and out again,” Seamas said, “I will miss that dearly. But, as you know, the king is seriously ill and I must do what I can for him. As the crown prince I have responsibilities that I cannot disregard, much as I might wish to. As such, it would not be fair to you to continue trying to be your commander. I am appointing Tobias to be the new commander of the King’s Helm. You all know him to be fearless in battle, quick thinking, and just. He has been my most trusted aethalon and my right hand man through everything that we have encountered. I suspect he will keep things much the same as they have been. I hope the king recovers soon and that I will be able to rejoin the King’s Helm, but until then I leave you in Tobias’ care. I look forward to the day when the king walks from his sickroom and I can ride with you once more.”

  “To the restored health of the king!” one of the men shouted as Seamas finished his speech.

  The rest of the Helm took up the cry, “To the commander’s quick return!” Seamas’ heart was near to bursting as he walked among them as their commander, knowing in his heart that it was perhaps the last time. As he spoke with Tobias quietly about his new duties as commander, Seamas caught Llewana staring at him across the crowd. She glanced away when she realized he had seen her. Puzzled, he finished speaking with Tobias and joined her.

  “You don’t think the King will ever get well, do you?” she asked.

  “What do you mean?”

  “Your words were full of hope, but your eyes say you won’t be returning.”

  “Perhaps you’re right. I honestly don’t know. There is one thing that might restore my father to health, but it is beyond my power to give.”

  “I don’t understand.”

  “My brother.”

  “Your brother? But he died during his apprenticeship.”

  “Perhaps. No one knows where he is, or what happened to him or his master. I don’t know why Rhoyan and Sheyardin stopped sending messages, but I do know my brother: he is a survivor.”

  “You think he’s still alive?”

  “I don’t know what to think. But I do think if something had happened to Rhoyan, we would have heard from Sheyardin. The better guess is that something happened to Sheyardin, and Rhoyan is still alive and trying to get home, but like I said, I don’t know.”

  “But why would it matter? How could Rhoyan restore your father’s health?”

  “Have you heard of the prophecy of the second son?” Seamas asked quietly.

  “Yes, who hasn’t?”

  Seamas snorted. “Best kept secrets...” he sighed. “Well then you know in the House of Arne there’s never been a second son born: until Rhoyan. Ever since that prophecy the kings of Llycaelon have hoped for a second son who would fulfill the prophecy, but until Rhoyan, those hopes were in vain.”

  “Your parents believe the prophecy is talking about Rhoyan?”

  “It would seem so, the first second son in a thousand years. One would be a fool not to believe it means something. My father believes it, anyway. And now he has fallen ill and what is killing him is that he thinks he is dying having given up perhaps the only hope we have. He thinks that will be his legacy, and no matter how much he loves me as his son, what he really wants is to name Rhoyan as his heir in my place.”

  “That’s ridiculous,” Llewana burst out, “I know the prophecy, and it doesn’t say one word about the kingship or the throne of Llycaelon!”

  “Prophecies are tricky things, and this one is most certainly a riddle,” Seamas spoke quietly. “It is even said there is a missing stanza somewhere.” Here he shrugged. “Anyway, all I know is that it will be someone born into my family, the House of Arne.”

  “Such tellings are a gift!” Llewana said, a bit heatedly. “They are given freely but also at a great price; but they are not given to just one people or one land. Such tellings are meant for all, I guarantee that some form of ‘our’ prophecy is known in almost every country. Your family is conceited indeed if they think the ancient words of a dragon are meant for our land and our throne only.” Llewana paused, then continued carefully, “I… I am sorry Your Highness, I meant no disrespect. I only wished to defend you. It is not right for you to be passed over because of possible misinterpretation.”

  “I thank you, but if it is not a case of misinterpretation, then I would not want to be the one standing in the way. If my brother is to be the champion of Llycaelon, then I wish him no harm.”

  “The Helm will miss you,” she whispered, and in that broken whisper that might have been a suppressed sob Seamas suddenly saw her heart and understood her passionate defense of him.

  He stared into her eyes, black meeting green, and saw the truth there as well and he recognized it. He saw recognition in her eyes too, and the shock she received upon discovering it. He could not name the moment when he had first acknowledged the fact that he loved her, but he suddenly knew in a flash of insight that he had always loved her; and somewhere in the long months since they had first met, she had grown to love him as well.

  “Llewana,” Seamas’ voice came out with a cough and he suddenly felt as though a great hand was on his throat, choking him. He took a deep breath and wondered what was wrong with him. Before he could speak another word, Tobias gave the order for the Helm to disperse and return to their base camp.

  “Farewell, Milord Commander,” Llewana said; then she mounted her horse and disappeared amidst the others of the Helm.

  ❖ ❖ ❖

  “There it is,” Rhoyan breathed in wonder, “Emnolae.”

  The voyage had been smooth and swift thus far. Captain Murry assured them this was the best time of year to travel west; the winds would be with them and the storms would go before them. They had made it to the southern coast of Kallayohm in just over three days and had picked up cargo in two different ports. They had left port shortly before dusk and set off in a southwesterly direction.

  “With any luck, we won’t catch up to any of the Change Term storms that will be starting in a few weeks, and we’ll be safe in an Efoin-Ebedd harbor in a few weeks,” Murry had promised.

  Rhoyan had spent the entire night sitting in the prow of the boat because the captain had said they would be able to see their destination by morning. Rhoyan had been too excited to sleep, and he wanted to be the first to see it. Sure enough, just as the very edges of the sky began to lighten, a dark shoreline appeared at the limits of his sight. There were no discernible land marks to be seen yet, but the merest glimpse of the shore caused Rhoyan’s heart to beat faster and his breath to come quickly. Just then he was joined by Calla who was yawning and rubbing the sleep from her eyes.

  “Look!” Rhoyan whispered, pointing at the misty shoreline.

  “Yorien’s homeland,” Calla said quietly.

  There was a long silence before she spoke again. Though she spoke softly her words filled the ship with their force; they bounced off the gentle waves, reverberating up to the sky. The lightening sky darkened as though the Dragon’s Eye had suddenly changed its mind about rising.

  “Run, Rhoyan, run! Look there, the ravine lies between us and the prize, a great gaping chasm that we cannot cross and the seheowks are coming, oh!” her words ended with a cry of terror and she went rigid before slumping to the ground.

  Rhoyan caught her as she fell, and laid her gently on the deck of the ship. Then he reached over for a bucket
of water and dipped his fingers into it. With a flick of his wrist he dripped some of the water on Calla’s face. She opened her eyes with a start and stared at him in confusion.

  “Where am I?”

  “Up on the deck of the ship. How do you feel?” Rhoyan asked in concern.

  “Fine,” Calla looked around. “How did I get up here?”

  “You walked, don’t you remember?”

  “No, I don’t… I remember walking into a cave and feeling frightened and then some awful creatures grabbed me, and then I felt it raining,” she stopped, confused. “It’s not raining.”

  “No, it’s not raining. I’m sorry, I splashed some water on you to wake you up after you fell. It was just a nightmare, Calla.”

  The girl sat up and Rhoyan helped her stand. “Look Calla, there it is.”

  The shores of Emnolae were growing closer and the light of the Dragon’s Eye showed that it was not a dark and misty land. Neither was it one island by itself. There were many smaller islands spreading out around the main landmass, so many that Rhoyan could not count them.

  “How will we ever find it?” Dru asked, coming up on the deck and staring in wonder at the islands. “There are so many of them.”

  “Our prize lies on the main island,” Rhoyan said.

  “How do you know?”

  “Remember the story? The ring of cool flames and the volcano?” Rhoyan gestured at the islands. “Emnolae was created by a volcano; in the center of the main island you can see the peak of a single mountain rising up out of the trees.”

  “That makes sense,” Dru said. “Well then, as soon as we get as close as the captain will let us, we will ask him for a boat and get about finding the entrance into this mountain. Do you think we can actually achieve our goal in three days?”

  “I’m sure we can,” Rhoyan said confidently.

  Captain Murry would not let the travelers leave until the next morning. He insisted that they have three full days to carry out whatever it was that they were doing in Emnolae.

  “I told you three days and three days you shall have. I will give you supplies as well, if you continue to insist upon this crazy scheme of yours,” he said.