On the far east edge of the tree line there was a small group of people, maybe three or four but they were no danger to us where we were camped.
Cassidy, I learned was the name of the blonde girl. The one who reminded me of myself was Breanalee and the last who had not spoken a word but watched me with open curiosity was Yana. She was the youngest, her hair a brilliant auburn that caught the light of the campfire beautifully.
Dee had set about passing bread, cheese and fruit from the pack she brought. It wasn’t much but enough to silence the growling pleas from our stomachs. The silence was comfortable, only broken by the popping of the fire and the sound of bread being ripped by teeth.
Dee cleared her voice, gaining our attention before talking. “I am sure you are all curious as to what happened with the other soldiers. Those who could manipulate the elements but were of no royal blood line.” We all just stared at her. I knew what it was, it had been done to me. Taken from me. If it had a name, like it had been done before, I didn’t know it. I had never read of it in any of the books I so furiously studied before leaving Lygot.
“It is called Black Magic. This is not the first time that it has plagued your land.” All of us looked at Dee with confusion. “You must be mistaken, Dee. Surely, had something like this happened we would know.” Before I had even finished my sentence Dee had begun shaking her head. Setting down the remainder of her bread she dusted off her hands and took a deep breath.
“Your histories have been altered. A different version of events. Still truthful but not the whole truth.
I am from a place that sits through The Undiscovered Sea. My home is only one of many great cities that have been built across the continent. I am from a place called Rydon, and I am one of the Rouella.
The kingdom and cities and people all share the same land, only separated by borders like Vyterra and Shellandria. It is called Kavasta. Should you ever see it you will know what I mean when I say there is nothing like it. From icy plains of a constant freezing winter to the deserts that meets the waters edge.” She closed her eyes as if she could see it. I knew she had never been, she told me when we were at the Inn, when she was telling me of my parents. But I knew she had been told of her homeland in detail by her own family. My heart ached for her, to know her home lay beyond what we could see, to know that life moved on there as it did here, but that she had never been able to see it, be a part of it.
“A sea that used to be known by all and travelled by many. My people are rich with magic, but it is different to Terra’s power. It has no boundaries but those of life and death. I can create something of nothing.” To demonstrate, Dee held her hand out, flat and palm facing upward. A candle half burned of its wax materialised in her palm.
We all, even myself, startled back at sudden appearance of the object. “I can tend to your fevers too, when you’ve been taken ill. Like Terraleise I can move the earth, the water, the air. But I am different, I am not made with the essence of an element intertwined with my soul. My soul is magic beyond the elements, harnessed by words, spells and books. Passed down from generation to generation.
We lived in peace once, those from Kavasta and the royals and common folk of Vaashaa. Our people mingled. Friendships were formed, families made. We were not rivals and did not want for what the other had. But it was discovered that our words and spells could be effective to a degree with the help of plants and things found in the natural world. Herbs and mixtures that hold magic of their own. So, a book was stolen. We call them grimoires, and with it the people of Vaashaa discovered a way to control more than their given element, or to gain magical ability where they had none at all. To steal it from another or the natural occurrence of the element itself. The mother. Morella.
The war was long and painful. The groups that had formed in support of Black Magic, of praise to the thief who sold the spells to royal, nobles and common folk alike were sought out and executed and ties to the continent beyond were severed. Most returned, some stayed with their families but couldn’t adapt, others like my own family managed to blend in and keep our true selves a secret.”
The words were out of my mouth before I could stop them. “That is what Cander was using me for while I was in the palace. Beneath the palace.” I corrected myself. “Every day he would come and I thought he was boiling the water in my blood and breaking the bones in my body but it was much worse. He was trying to take the magic from my soul.” No one said anything. There was not too much to say after an overload of information and a confession like that. Still, it felt good to say it out loud.
Yana’s voice was soft, sweet and seemed terribly misplaced amongst the topic of conversation. “So, what are we going to do?” There was no fear in her question. No hesitation but only wonder. A peaceful, matter of fact tone that carried with it an understanding that when a job needed to be done, you just did it. I had a feeling I would like her very much.
“We will remain here for a couple of days more. I cannot move too much and I will not risk Dee depleting her own resources to speed along my recovery.” At least she had the decency to look mildly shocked that I had taken note of the stream of magic she sent towards me. My ability to sit and talk was evidence enough. It wasn’t just from my encounter with the woods either. Waking up before leaving for the scouting mission I had felt as though I’d been in recovery a week already, not just a single night. Now I knew what, or rather who, was responsible for my fast-returned health. “This gives us an advantage now Dee. Should we run into trouble there will be far more than the combat training on our side and in our arsenal.” Her mouth set into a line but she didn’t argue with me about it. She knew I was right. I felt myself slouch a bit more as she cut off the deliverance of her power to me.
“We will continue to train, to keep up our fitness and then we will head north where the Lygot army is headed. To Move.”
“And from there?” She pressed.
“From there Yana, we will go to war.”
Fifteen
Silas
We walked on for a short while. Long after the sun had set, we continued to make our way towards the middle of the forest.
After maybe twenty minutes or so the sense of comfort and ease that had developed along with the bond between Jude, Asher and I resurfaced and so did the easy conversation that often flowed between us.
Finding a natural clearing Asher volunteered to make a fire, big enough only to make a small stew. Our rations that we brought with us were helpful until their weight became a hinderance. We had anticipated that, of course, but packing enough food to gain our strength for the night seemed like a better option than not. We intended leaving many of the unnecessary things behind with the knowledge that they wouldn’t go to waste. These woods were combed frequently by those who dwelled in the village along the base of the range and even into the ranges for food, plants, anything useful. Jude organised our bed rolls while I set to work on shielding the space we had claimed for the night. Precautions.
The fire came to life within seconds of being the focus of Asher’s attention. His approach was methodical but soft, like he had done it many times before but every time he set to work again he enjoyed it more than the last.
It was clear his mind was ticking away at something, Jude noted it as well, our eyes met confirming that something was off, but neither of us said a word until he offered up a thought himself. Asher was kind and patient, not overly common outward traits of a soldier on his way to war, but everyone had their pressure points.
“Has there truly been no word from Montreese? No sight or movement?” A fair question but not what I had expected. I thought his experience with my magic had unnerved him, or maybe he didn’t fully agree with the change of plans we had made in the meeting prior to our departure. This, I would not have guessed.
I left this one in the capable words of Jude, who seemed more than happy to divulge more detailed information that his scouts had accumulated. However, the information was only so new. On our way to
Vyterra before we had even arrived at Altrey and set off on our own failed scouting mission we, or rather Jude, had deployed a number of scouts – spies if you will – off towards the coast of Montreese, Shellandria, the Shellandrian/Vyterran border, and to scout the Vyterran kingdom itself. The latter being the most important.
So, he began in the candid conversational tone of a general to a soldier. “The scouts from Shellandria got word to us once we had dropped anchor just off Altrey. They confirmed with us everything we had already assumed of our allies, and once we had planned to move north we sent word to their base camp at The Shared River to inform the Shellandrian forces of our next movements and intentions. Our arrival will be a small surprise to them, a variation of the original plan, but we will update them on the next phase of our plans, the threat we now find ourselves facing. Of us sweeping from the west side of the ranges while the army from the armada rains down the east.” As he spoke, a stick had made its way into his hand and he was mapping out the plans in the dirt. A general indeed.
He moved to indicate the locations of Venta and Move. “Our scouts from Vyterra confirm the state of the kingdom. Unfortunately, we learned little else about Cander until we arrived.” His eyes clicked to me quickly.
I knew it had been hard on everybody, Terra being absent. The dark places we all had visited since leaving the shores of Lygot. It was clear that Jude took Terra’s capture as his responsibility. He was in charge of our scouts, our spies, of gathering intel even before his promotion along with Tashka to co-generals. The situation with Cander, his deception and use of Black Magic, as well as Elias’s – a Vyterran spy posed as a Lygot General who was feeding our battle plans to our enemy – deception and ability to root himself so deeply into the highest circle of the Lygot army. To leak every plan and idea to our enemy. But no one had known, no one had suspected at all. It was not his burden to bare alone. I reached my hand out to clasp his shoulder, giving it a slight squeeze before he continued.
“But Montreese. We never heard back from our scouts in Montreese. It can mean a few things. One, that they didn’t make it back to Altrey in time and we simply didn’t cross paths. Two, they were found and detained, causing Montreese to distrust our alliance. Though this is somewhat unrealistic because we told them where we were going before we left Lex, they knew of the threat – be it not as much as we know now but they knew that war was coming as a warning had been sent on the way back from the Tour of the Kingdoms. If this was the case they would have sent a messenger of their own to the ships off the coast of Altrey.”
“So, what is the third option?” Asher asked. His face cast in dancing shadows from the fire before him.
Jude’s eyes became guarded. “It is only a theory Asher, it could be…” Asher cut him off. “What is the third option Jude?”
It was silent for a while as they held each other’s stares. Jude no doubt weighing the pros and cons of sharing this with him.
“Please Jude, I have…there are people I care about there.”
With a deep sigh, Jude went on. “The third option is that, because they are a continent of their own like Lygot, they are isolated. Their traditions and way of life have them folding in on themselves even more. It is possible that, knowing what we do about Black Magic…the fear is that the royal family of Montreese has been held up and its people have been utilised as what we can only believe are unwilling candidates for the army Cander is building.”
Asher stood up abruptly. “That is absurd, Jude. How could you even…?”
“It is only a theory Asher, but the dots line up if we only looked at the events as a whole. We have no evidence of testing being done anywhere in Vyterra. Not Altrey, Move or Venta. Montreese has gone dark. Silent. As in nothing in and nothing out, Asher.
They are small, wealthy and without much protection. Overpowering them could have been done by any of the three other kingdoms if it were not for our morals and the peace treaty. We need to be prepared for the worst, Asher, even as we hope for the best.”
Jude had stood up from his seated position too, the two men staring at one another. Asher’s breathing coming quickly, building up to where it looked like all hell was going to break loose.
I rose to my feet, turning my attention to Asher.
“Asher.” His eyes moved to me. “It is smart to think and prepare for the worst. If they need our help then we will be ready.” I stepped closer to him, to allow him to see the understanding in my eyes. “Those we love will be affected by this in one way or another. We are on the side that is fighting for the good. That counts for something, no?”
His swallow was audible. “Your Highness, if I may speak freely.” I frowned but nodded. He has never asked for such permission before. “You know what it is like to move forward while those you love are in danger or left to a fate worse than death.” I held his stare but I could feel my eyes harden, not at his boldness of asking the question no one else dared, but at the memories. “I do, Asher.”
“How do you do it without hating yourself?”
“Because to move forward means that you are not without hope. While there is still hope there is the opportunity to prevail.”
He looked at me for a little while longer before he blinked and his eyes cleared just slightly. “Okay.” He said.
“Okay. Now, how about some stew?” A small smile tugged at his lips as Jude came over and the two grasped arms.
Jude spoke up first. “Gods I’m starving. Who knew being groped by invisible tendrils of wind could make a man so hungry?”
My head was thrown back by the bubble of laughter that erupted from me, so uncontrollable my stomach hurt. Asher let loose a howl of his own and so the evening went on much the same, and I couldn’t remember the last time I had felt young enough to laugh.
Sixteen
Silas
I had woken early with the sun, Jude and Asher both dozing in the early morning rays trickling through the canopy above, so I took myself for a run.
Autumn was more than halfway over. The bite of the oncoming cold lingered in the air, only giving way to a milder temperature as the day passed. It would only hold off its brutal effects for a short while longer. Winter was closing in so quickly I was sure there would be a first snowfall soon.
We had a full day’s walk ahead of us. This forest was longer than it was wide. If we walked for the entire day without stopping we would make it close to the eastern side soon, coming out of the thicket to camp safely for another night before heading across the ranges. We would try and find horses if we could.
Keeping the run short I ran in repeated circles around our camp but far enough away that I couldn’t be seen as I jogged the perimeter. I could still feel the shield of air I had formed, no one was stepping through or around the space, I was sure.
The sweat started to bead on my forehead and run down my back. I circled around and made my way back to camp lifting the shield only to let myself back in. Asher had risen and gave me a nod of acknowledgment with his eyes still half closed as he attempted to get ready to head into the forest. Before he copped the solid shield of air straight to the face I lifted the defence entirely. We would be setting on our way soon, there was no need for it anymore.
I had quietly hoped to dream in the visions of the soulbound connection with Terra. She was here I knew it in my core but only where in this place I didn’t know exactly. The last flashes of memory I had of her, the pain I felt – that she had felt – and did so willingly. She would not have been able to get far without resting. It was the only thing keeping me moving forward. Then there was the reality that if we didn’t find her, there would be no stopping, no time to search along the way. We would have to keep moving and trust she was capable of finding us again. To be worried out of my mind would only disappoint her. This mission was as much for her own kingdom as it was for mine.
“There is water.” Asher said as he moved back into camp with more dignity than he left with, looking far more awake and comfortable. “Sorry?�
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He repeated again. “Water, in case you wanted to bathe before we set on.”
“Oh, of course. Thank you. Actually, that’s perfect.”
“Silas?” He called my name as I made my way past him.
“Hmm?”
“Thank you, for last night. It was…helpful.”
My features softened a bit, I knew all too well the fear that consumed you in the face of losing someone you loved. The anger that coursed through you, and the appeal of falling apart entirely.
I walked up to him and clasped him on the shoulder. I went to say something more but, to be honest, I was all out of words for anyone at the moment. So, I clasped his shoulder once more and gently squeezed. It also made me feel a bit less alone to have someone who knew what it was that I felt, and who also made the decision to move forward.
Heir of Vaashaa: The Lost Child of the Crown (The Lost Child of the Crown Series Book 2) Page 10
