The Broken Rose

by Jeremy Forsyth

  Syghters were warriors who specialised in archery, scouting and navigation. They belonged to the Order of Arranda and just now, Absiden watched as two of them entered the property at a brisk pace, their grey hoods hiding their features. Their steps too were hidden by their grey cloaks, making them appear as though they glided over the floor.

  “Coming from Sky Road, I wager,” said Ralune. She then looked at Absiden. “There are always syghters on the roads these days.” Adding, more to herself, “the good ones and the bad.” Ralune suddenly gestured below the balcony and asked with curiosity, “Do you think those syghters found any of the bad ones?”

  Absiden shrugged as he put the cup of water to his lips and drank. “We will find out this morning when the other Arch Mindfinders arrive,” he told her.

  Ralune seemed satisfied. “Well, I hope they hurry then. The sooner the Unknown Daughters are apprehended; the sooner peace will return to the road. Things are getting worse here because of them.”

  The elvess backed away from the railing and turned to continue her service inside after offering Absiden a peach from the bowl she had brought up with her.

  “Later, Ralune, thank you,” he replied.

  Absiden had no appetite. Even the water was losing its initial appeal while the dream plagued his mind. He straightened, remaining far from content.

  What does it all mean? He sighed in frustration. He shook his head and decided that the dream of shadow meant nothing. Nothing. Nothing but an extension of my own vivid imagination. And yet… Absiden knew that he didn’t have much of an imagination. That was an attribute his United-One and daughter held - not him.

  Absiden tried focusing his thoughts on his daughter; recalling her face, but the dream continued to bother him. He turned and stalked back inside and found Ralune wiping down one of the cabinets on the furthest side of the chamber, unperturbed by Absiden’s presence.

  The chamber was spacious; containing bookshelves, plants and a handsome rug from the Singing Isle. On the walls, portraits of Absiden’s predecessors hung all around him, contrasted by two great mirrors hanging on opposite ends of the wall directly in front of him. Due to the glass doors that Absiden presently stood between, there was no lack of light or fresh air inside, making it a suitable place for Absiden to conduct his responsibilities. However, when he looked to his right and focused directly above where Ralune was currently cleaning, he remembered the chamber’s singular and only flaw.

  “Any word about when we can expect that leak to be filled?’’

  The elvess straightened and turned to face him. Following Absiden’s line of vision, she realised what he was referring to.

  “I’m unsure, Arch Mindfinder,’’ she replied. “I’ll make enquiries later, if it pleases you?”

  “It will indeed.”

  The elvess smiled at him and continued dusting. Absiden walked further inside and sat down on the cushion at the head of the Alepion map. There he considered it thoughtfully and at great length.

  The map stood three feet off the floor, its interior moulded to portray a detailed overlook of the Moon Elf Realm. Absiden traced the length of Sky Road all the way north to the river Silverway, following it to its northern fork that stretched towards the city of Inomen. His eyes then moved across to the Auless River and then beyond to Flingwood Forest, until they rested on the great city of Moonguard.

  “Moonguard - the seat of the Primes,” he whispered, eyes narrowing.

  Rhallor served there. One of the most gifted and powerful of the Mindfinders, Absiden’s son had become the personal informer of the Realm’s ruling government; the Primes. Absiden knew that he should feel proud; granted he was, yet deep down, he wanted his son here where he belonged - away from the inherent politics that came with his position.

  The Primes of Moonguard were a group of selected elves designated to maintaining and preserving the country according to the Anda document that had given them the authority to do so. At the same time, they competed with the Throne and the Elder who sat on it.

  Admittedly, the competing between the Primes of Moonguard and the Elder of Lowvilla had calmed down since Elder Tarranice took the throne. Tarranice was one of the Blademasters, Adonai’s chosen representative. It was known, however, that when the day that Tarranice’s daughter - the Crowned Daughter of Alepion – succeeds him, this temporary peace will once more be disturbed, as is common with every looming succession.

  Absiden shifted in his cushion as the door of the chamber opened for Arch Mindfinder Alantus Tassafar - a graceful and voluptuous elvess with long golden locks. She was tall with warm and inviting blue eyes that robbed Vandile of intelligent speech every time the two conversed.

  As the door closed behind her, Alantus approached the map with a pleasant smile. “Fair morning, Absiden,” she greeted. “All fair and well with you?”

  “Morning Alantus. Indeed, it is. Take a seat.”

  The elvess seated herself on Absiden’s left and was greeted by Ralune when she placed a bowl of grapes on Alantus’s side table. Absiden studied Alantus as she helped herself to the fruit, reflecting.

  Besides himself and Rhallor, Alantus was, in Absiden’s opinion, the most powerful Mindfinder in the city. She had risen quickly to the mantle of Arch Mindfinder since joining the Order. Absiden could still remember his surprise upon hearing that an elvess of Gatheian descent was distinguishing herself above her peers. Her ancestry had made it hard for her rise, yet it kept her humble; a fact which made Absiden grateful. If she had been born a Pure Blood with her power and beauty, she may have become a nightmare.

  “Did you sleep well?” the elvess asked, after biting into another grape.

  “Dreadfully,” he answered honestly. “Ralune!”

  “Yes, Arch Mindfinder?”

  “Do we have any pomegranate this morning?”

  “Of course, Arch Mindfinder.”

  “Please, bring me some.”

  “What kept peace from your sleep?” Alantus asked now.

  “Nightmares,” he replied gruffly. Ralune brought a jug of pomegranate juice and proceeded to fill Absiden’s cup. “Tell me about your meeting with Paetarn yesterday. Thank you, Ralune.”

  Alantus reached for more grapes. “Paetarn still plans on leaving at his intended time.”

  Absiden took a sip from his cup and relished the tangy taste. “Has his mother discussed the risks with him?”

  “Apparently, yet Paetarn is content with the sentinel and syghter escort that his mother has arranged.”

  A fool then, thought Absiden.

  Paetarn, the son of Lady Salandel Redwind - Higheress of Olden - had been offered the opportunity to become the shadowa of that Highborn who ruled the Breath of Evening. Yet, given the situation with the Unknown Daughters plaguing the lands with their crimes, the danger was indeed substantial.

  Consequently, Absiden had requested a Blademaster escort from the Elder of Lowvilla. However, he had not received a response, making Absiden restless. “Let us hope it is his confidence in our warriors rather than his impatience.”

  “He is young, Absiden,” said Alantus.

  “Grace for the young, for they are fools,” Absiden recited irritably, not knowing where the proverb had come from.

  “Perhaps we can find a way to detain him until the Elder sends his answer,” suggested Alantus hopefully.

  It was your charm and beauty that I had hoped would detain him, Absiden thought. Absiden was all too aware of how Alantus’s beauty affected those she interacted with. He had hoped to use it where Paetarn was concerned.

  “Perhaps some crucial service to perform before leaving; arranged by Higheress Salandel herself. If that doesn’t work, I could encourage Salandel to forbid him from leaving Olden until a blademaster can secure his passage to the Breath of Evening.”

  Before Alantus could respond, the door to the Arch Chamber opened for the Arch Mindfinder Tyane Sunpoint, a lean and dark-haired elf whose pale blue eyes made him a compelling, and to some, intimidati
ng sight. Absiden was also aware that amidst the younger mindfinders of the Order, Tyane was greatly feared.

  Alantus smiled at Tyane and offered greeting. Absiden waited for Tyane to greet him first, after which he offered him some of Ralune’s refreshments.

  “Water,” replied Tyane in a quiet and didactic tone, seating himself on his cushion opposite Absiden. That left a fourth, vacant cushion to Absiden’s right; a sad reminder of Rhallor’s regrettable absence. Absiden pushed aside his sorrow for the moment; his focus decidedly on the meeting at hand. He directed his gaze to the map - his eyes starting from the city of Olden where they were currently situated, then moving to the Sky Road where his eyes followed it to Higher Heart.

  “What news from the Realm?” Absiden asked. Silence followed. He made a glance to his left, “Alantus?”

  She nodded and then looked down at the map, her expression hardening. “Sunken ships near the Evening Sea,” she began. “From the word at Dare Star, it appears to have been a giant sea serpent that attacked from the ocean’s depths. My mindfinder did not linger long enough to discover anything more, though it was said that a couple of the islanders vowed to hunt and kill the creature.”

  “I have a similar report,” said Tyane, formally. “It seems that a single ship from the Storm Fleet caught fire. It did not sink and is still intact. The word is that the fire was caused by unleashed power from one of the elves on-board.”

  “Was it possibly the Burning?” Alantus asked to lighten the mood.

  “A youngling,” replied Tyane, showing no appreciation for Alantus’s jest. “From what my mindfinder gathered, it appears a group of younglings snuck on-board and were at play. That play consequently earned the wrath of Higheress Rannasa Fellmoon.”

  As well it should, thought Absiden. The Storm Fleet zealously guarded the Blue Sea and the Fulas Sea in the east.

  Absiden nodded. “Good. What else?”

  Tyane cleared his throat and continued. “Syghters are active on the Pale Road,” he said, his hand pointing out the area on the map. “As well as further up Sky Road near the River Glades. Deacon Varanten Whiteflower has sent more sentinels to aid the syghters there. Up north, the Higher of Inomen continues to increase the guard on Aron Road.”

  “Any more signs of the outlaws?” asked Absiden.

  “None, yet,” responded Tyane.

  Alantus then added, “last night, my mindfinders reported that syghters stir on Steel Road. They tell me they saw a fellowship of them head towards the city of Evennal. They reported that the syghters broke off into groups to scour the hills near the road, before joining up again at the city gate. We might find that today they have picked up on the whereabouts of the Unknown Daughters.”

  “Let us hope,” said Absiden, weary of the issue.

  The Unknown Daughters were renegade syghters who had once belonged to the Order of Arranda. When Arranda’s united-one, Mune Lightbreath, was murdered at the hands of an elvess named Sharlanta Longshine, those who supported Sharlanta fled with her from Arranda’s terrible wrath. Thus, they became the Unknown Daughters, taken to thievery and abduction to earn ransom coin.

  Hoping for better news, Absiden made his enquiry over the growing issue regarding Proloss River in the south within the Borderland Forests. Alantus focused her vision on the map and pointed.

  “Another elf has fallen sick. The river continues to bear vileness which it has yet to carry out to sea.”

  Another sick? That troubled Absiden greatly.

  The river Proloss stemmed from the Sand Elf realm of Aminiouse Glare where, in the Sand Land, it is known as Solack River. Absiden’s first suspicion, when first Higher Arranda sent word of the river’s corruption, was that it was due to the war that had waged in Aminiouse Glare over the past few years. Absiden revised his theory after flying over Aminiouse Glare to inspect the problem personally. The war within the land continued south of the river; nowhere close enough to have fallen warriors infect the waters with their rotting corpses. Realising this, one conclusion remained - the rivers must have been poisoned by some natural or unnatural cause. Even if that were the case, the river should have washed it out to sea; but the corruption still lingers.

  “What of the Lowvilla volunteers who offered to manage this problem?” Absiden asked, shifting uncomfortably.

  “They have yet to leave the capital,” informed Alantus, saddened by the report she had to relay. “The Emention elf who gave my mindfinder the report believes the elves of Lowvilla have withdrawn their offer to help after they heard reports that a Sand Elf host had been spotted near the base of the river.”

  “What do you think?” Tyane asked, looking at Alantus and frowning at the news.

  “I, for one, have doubts that they would withdraw out of fear,” admitted Alantus, not looking at Tyane but rather Absiden, who nodded his agreement.

  Directed at Tyane, Absiden said, “Today’s headline will read: Lowvilla Scared? With the subheading: Does High Temple Leader Rhuce Longwind cower away from service to the Realm?” That should be incentive enough to get the service done, thought Absiden. By the looks of his fellow Arch Mindfinders, it seemed they too agreed.

  “It will be done, Absiden,” said Tyane.

  Absiden looked down at the map. “What else? Any news from the capital? What of the Elder? Has he found time to respond to my request for a blademaster? Can one be spared for our cause concerning Paetarn Redwind?”

  Tyane shook his head slowly. “No word, Absiden,” he said, solemnly.

  Disappointed and growing annoyed, Absiden dropped his gaze, staring again at the map. His eyes focused on Lowvilla, the capital city of the Realm.

  “What else have we learnt from that city?”

  “Nothing new within the city itself,” replied Alantus. “Though, within Flingwood Forest, the Seasoning was concluded as of last night. The young warriors were seen returning to the city of Lumondear after dusk. We expect they will make their way back to Lowvilla this very morning.”

  “And what of the Blademaster who oversaw them?”

  “Eldrian Fairleaf?” Tyane said, glancing at Alantus who had referenced him in a poor witted jest earlier.

  “Yes,” said Absiden growing impatient. “What of him?”

  “The Blademaster was seen among them,” added Alantus, “along with his Bladewatcher, who after calling my mindfinders imposing spies, aimed an arrow at one of the birds my mindfinder controlled.”

  “Let them slander,” said Tyane, seemingly unfazed. “The Realm needs our services.”

  Absiden turned to refill his cup. “What else?”

  Alantus looked at Tyane, who remained quiet. “We appear to be done,” she said.

  Absiden frowned. “Done? What of the Old Way?”

  Of Alepion’s threatening outlaw groups, the Old Way had always been its most dangerous and enduring. It dated back to the Great Split during the First Moon - when the First Elder declared Adonai the one true God of the Moon Elves. He had ordered the images and idols of the old gods to be burned. Elves who had still held fast to the old gods have waged a secret and eternal war against believers of Adonai ever since - the Silent War, people call it. It was these curs that Absiden wanted cleansed from the lands. Rather the Unknown Daughters than worshippers of the Dead Gods.

  “No news,” said Alantus, plucking another grape from the bowl.

  “Then we truly are done,” said Absiden, feeling slightly relieved the Old Way had been quiet as of late. He looked at his fellow Arch Mindfinders. “However, getting back to the Unknown Daughters, the Primes of Moonguard have commanded us to get involved in the hunt.”

  “About time,” mused Tyane.

  Absiden looked down at the Borderland Forests. “Indeed. Tyane, seeing as you appear eager, you will join your mindfinders this morning, whilst Alantus will join hers in the afternoon. I will join the search this evening.”

  There were a few moments of silence before Tyane finally spoke. “And what of Aminiouse Glare? What of the Sand El
ves near the river?”

  Absiden considered that. “They are being watched by Rhallor and his mindfinders. And even if they were not, until their numbers swell, those Sand Elves pose no threat to the Realm.” Tyane and Alantus seemed satisfied with that and, after concluding their meeting by going over the final details of their responsibilities, the two Arch Mindfinders left Absiden alone to go over his letters.

  Absiden sat at his desk at the farthest end of the chamber. When Vandile entered after the others had taken their leave, he approached Absiden.

  “All fair and well, Vandile?” asked Absiden, looking up at him.

  Vandile was clad in the silver armour of a sentinel. Draped over his shoulders was a snow-white cloak. Falling from those shoulders, Vandile also wore a white surcoat that fell to his armoured knees and at its centre, it had a black Alepion moon with three black Darkmoon stars hovering above it. Around his waist was a thick black belt which matched the black hilt of the longblade that stretched up at his side. His hair was long and fair, dishevelled beneath his sentinel helm. Like all sentinel helms it was forged in the likeness of a hood.

  “All fair and well, Absiden,” replied the sentinel. “I hear you are joining the hunt for Unknown Daughters?”

  “Yes.” Absiden gestured towards the peaches that had been placed on the side of his desk. “Care for some fruit?”

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  The Missing