✽✽✽
When Jahreed had invited Tawnee to the gathering he had expected a light hearted affair, one where she could relieve some of that stress she was carrying around on those small shoulders. He had thought that he would be the one cheering her up, enough to see that pleased smile on her perpetually stoic face. Yet here he was, feeling like a fool at the realization that Feather had truly only thought of him as a friend. While he had expected her to one day be his bride. Yes, they had never spoken of such an arrangement outrightly, and had only interacted on familiar terms. But it was what everyone had expected of them, since they were children. Instead she had invited him to a gathering so that her father would not think twice about letting her go out with friends he did not know. One of whom, she clearly cared for romantically. Jahreed sighed audibly and that earned him a glance from Tawnee who was standing beside him. He had really messed up tonight, he thought. Not only was his disappointment a mood killer, but instead of a joyous celebratory gathering, they walked into a solemn meeting, centred around one very ordinary looking man.
Feather came and stood beside him, “you can come sit, you know,” she whispered.
Jahreed looked in the direction where she pointed, it was a spot beside her sturdy beau and he felt an unfamiliar emotion stir up within him.
“Oh no, thank you. I think I will stand.”
“But what about Tawnee?” Feather protested.
Clearly discerning his mood, in a way that no one ever had, Tawnee leaned forward and with a polite smile, declined Feather’s offer as well.
“Oh no, that is okay Feather. I prefer to stand.”
With an unsatisfied frown Feather nodded and left them to re-join Merc among the seated crowd, all fully enthralled by this speaker.
“Jahreed…”
“Would you rather sit?” he said quickly, interrupting whatever it was Tawnee was about to say.
She smiled, “I would actually prefer to not draw attention to myself,” she said.
Jahreed nodded, “of course. I apologize.”
“But we can sit right here where the trees cast a shadow from the moonlight,” she suggested.
He smiled, “thank you for understanding.”
Tawnee nodded, “Feather reminds me of a sister of mine. Always clueless to those who care about them the most.”
Jahreed chuckled as they shifted around to find a spot in the shadows, “she knows I care for her, just not in the way that I am sure Merc has confessed.”
Tawnee nodded as she hunkered down onto the cool grass with ease. He sat down next to her, still marvelling at what a fascinating contradiction she was; how easily she sat down in the dirt, while maintaining the manners of a gentle woman.
Once they were settled, Tawnee looked ahead at the speaking man. He decided not to distract her with his questions and pay attention as well. Whoever this man was, he had drawn an enthralled audience and he was not going to go through such lengths to come here and not find out why.
✽✽✽
“… so you see, the source of light came into the world and the world was blind to it’s light. Choosing instead to dwell in the safe confines of the shadows and comforting themselves with its familiarity.”
Within seconds of tuning in to the speaker, Topaz was captivated. Not because what he said intrigued her, but because it was slowly kindling a fire of righteous infuriation. The man did not dress in the finery of a citizen of Stone Vale. He wore a rather outdated sleeveless overcoat, in bland colours of grey and white, that reached almost to his ankles, over a worn-out canvas tunic, with straw laces and patched trousers. Topaz grimaced mentally, not over his clearly uncomfortable fashion sense, but over the words he was speaking and the way the audience all held onto it. She looked over at Jahreed, who was leaning forward with interest. She hoped that he was not being swayed by this level of blasphemy. The man was openly speaking against Aldor and the throne of her father and of a new way that all came from the elusive, possibly mythical source of light.
“Darkness has found its way into Aldor. It lurks in your cities, it festers in your temples, even as the blood of the innocent and devoted cries out from beneath your elegant stone structures. Judgement will come to the Royal city first and then to the surrounding territories, unless you repent you will not be spared from the judgement that is to come.”
As the man finished his dark sentence, his eyes found Topaz. He held her gaze boldly and recognition flashed in his intense eyes. Topaz felt a chill of discomfort zing through her, followed by what she knew to be pure fear. She had been discovered, she thought, wondering what the man would do. Instead he shifted his eyes from her and addressed the crowd once more.
“Judgement is coming to this kingdom. El is displeased with the people he has set aside for himself; you have failed to keep his ways and have rejected his promised one. But a new day is coming, the light of El is come for every tribe, every race and every tongue, a new people are arising from the rubble of callous hearts, to know the love of El. Aldor was set apart to be light in a dark world. Aldor was to point the world to the promised source of light. But your leaders had become too consumed with their power, they refused to return it to the God who gave it to them. I tell you today Aldor is no longer a refuge from the darkness, but it has become a breeding ground for it. Pretending to be light while holding hands with darkness. Do you want to be a part of this new way, do you want to stand apart in the darkness that is to come?”
Topaz watched in outrage as people all around her started lifting their hands, one person in her periphery drew her attention, when he stood up. A man was standing with a lifeless boy in his arms. Topaz watched the tiny legs dangle from the man’s arms and she and Jahreed exchanged glances.
“Ajorel,” the man shouted, “my son, he is sick. The healers have given up on him. I believe that you are a man sent from El, please can you help him?”
The man who Topaz now realized was called Ajorel, looked at the man with compassion.
“In myself I am but a man,” he replied but lifted a hand towards the ailing child, “but by the power of El in me and his light now living in me I say by El’s name, arise child!”
Instantly the child stirred and lifeless legs kicked out. Topaz jumped to her feet; her eyes wide.
“What sorcery…” she muttered.
Jahreed stood up beside her, “this is unbelievable.”
“I cannot stay here,” Topaz said, turning to leave.
“Wait what?”
Jahreed came after her, “wait, why are you running away,” he called, “don’t you want to know how this man is able to do this?”
“Dark magic,” she replied firmly.
“I saw it with my own eyes only recently. I cannot be a part of this. If you want to stay and contaminate your mind with this filth, go right ahead.”
She turned to leave, “but the boy…” Jahreed said.
She stopped and turned around, “all trickery,” she replied, “this man is poisoning the minds of people against my fa… my king,” she broke a sweat at how she nearly revealed herself.
“I cannot listen to anymore.”
“Well let me walk you home. This is no hour for a lady to be by herself.”
Topaz shook her head, “I know this place like the back of my hands. I am more worried that you will not find your way back. It is best if you wait for Feather. Good night Jahreed and all the best to you.”
She did not set out to sound so cryptic in parting ways with Jahreed, but she truly did not intend to see him again. She had already risked a lot coming out here with him tonight and she dared not give him another chance to convince her to do anything else she might regret.
“Well alright then,” she heard him say as she put distance between them.
He knew that she was right, that she knew Stone Vale better than he did.
“Good bye,” he called out, sadness evident in his melodious baritone.
Chapter 14
Deswald howled in exhilara
tion even as his crippled fingers clung to the narrow waist of Eylisia in fear.
“Relax” she shouted with a good-natured laugh, “I’m taking us lower. So, you will see better.”
Deswald could not find his voice, as Eylisia pulled on the reigns of her dragon. The large scaly beast, dipped its head forward, shifting the angle of its wings as it launched into a downward dive.
Deswald had learned recently that from this height Eylisia was perfectly capable of seeing down below. Tyattarans apparently had excellent long-distance vision, which made them excellent scouts… and archers as well. Commander Arthur was more than happy when Eylisia offered to help scout ahead with Deswald. His previous unwillingness to rescue her forgotten.
“Hold on!” the Tyattaran shouted.
Deswald was too busy trying to not be suffocated by the wind pummelling his face. Eylisia however, was completely comfortable. Once they were closer to the tree tops, Eylisia levelled out her dragon and they coasted easily above the tree tops.
“Hey!” he shouted, suddenly finding his voice now that they were closer to the ground.
“You see something?”
“There’s movement over there,” he pointed over her shoulder and she guided her dragon in that direction.
“Be cautious,” he warned, “We don’t know if they are friend or foe.”
She moved closer to where he had pointed and together, they tried to scan through the tree tops.
“I don’t see anyone,” she shouted, “but I see signs of a camp.”
Deswald squinted, “I don’t see anyone neither.”
“Then let’s keep moving.”
“No, we should check it out… on foot.”
Eylisia nodded in understanding, “I see a clearing near the edge of the forest where Ike can land safely.”
“We’ll circle around one more time before we land.”
“Good idea,” Deswald replied.
His grip around Eylisia loosened and he turned his attention to the ground below.
“I think we’re clear,” he said.
She nodded, “I think so.”
She brought her dragon down. Landing was difficult for the wounded dragon just as taking off was. Deswald grunted at the bumpy landing and dismounted as soon as the creature stopped moving.
“This is harder than riding a horse,” he said, walking stiffly away from the dragon with a grimace.
Eylisia chuckled, “I beg to differ, this is a way smoother ride. Once you get the hang of it, I assure you that you would love it.”
Deswald turned to look at her and grinned, “you may be right, I just have to get my dragon legs.”
She giggled, “now that would indeed be a sight.”
Deswald laughed, this was the happiest he had felt since starting this Quest. Other than that initial surge of joy and pride upon starting out with a much larger group than they had now, the rest of the journey had been a difficult one. One that had driven laughter and lightheartedness from him.
“Can I get some help?” Eylisia asked.
Her dragon had lowered itself onto its belly for her to dismount but with her wounded ankle it was still a difficult task. Deswald immediately stepped forward to help. She was short but heavier than he would have expected. But he knew what to expect this time, having lifted her up an hour ago when they had made their ascent.
“Thank you.”
He nodded, “it’s no problem,” he replied as he took their water skins to the stream nearby.
“Let’s get some water and rest a bit and then I’ll go in to the forest to investigate. The sooner the others catch up with us, the faster we can get out of this place.”
“Do you think we are making good time?” Eylisia asked.
Despite her thick accent, she spoke his language well. When she spoke her own language as he had heard her do with her dragon, it had sounded stilted and sharp, like successive angry knocks with a carpenter’s hammer. But in his language, it sounded almost melodious, maybe because of the careful way she pronounced their words.
Deswald shook his head and handed her a water skin, while he proceeded to fill the other.
“I don’t think so,” he said worriedly, “we have too many wounded. But once we meet up with the caravan it will make the journey easier and we should return to Stone Vale in five days.”
They had left the village three days ago, moving cautiously through the woods towards Stone Vale, being careful to avoid the dark forests. Whatever those creatures were, they seemed most comfortable there.
“Are you eager to return home?”
He chuckled before taking a drink of water, some dribbled down his chin and he felt inclined to wet his entire face with it. Then poured some over his hair, smoothing his hair back and out of his face.
“Of course, I am,” he turned around to find Elysia looking at him with intrigue.
She turned away quickly and hobbled to sit on a log nearby, “other than escaping the evil in this place, do you have something in particular to look forward to at home?”
Deswald nodded, “Yes. I miss my family… and,” he sighed.
The Tyattaran looked at him intuitively, through eyes like slits. Her eyes were almost like Ben’s but with a sharper curve. Deswald had to admit he would not have thought that to be attractive on a woman… or anyone for that matter. No offense to his best friend.
“You have someone special in Stone Vale?”
He shrugged as he sat down beside her, despite his relaxed demeanour he was constantly aware of his surroundings, his sword never far from his hand.
“I hope so,” he said, “I’ve been gone a long time.”
“If it is special, she will wait.”
Deswald nodded, “it is special and she promised that she would.”
He smiled at the thought of Ruby, “I do miss her. It’s just that sometimes I get this feeling. Being the woman she is, I sometimes feel like I can lose her at any moment. I feel like who I am is not enough to hold her.”
Eylisia looked at him with understanding, “She is a woman above your station.”
He nodded, “a princess actually.”
“Ahhh,” she said, “now I see. If a woman such as her has given you her promise… then it must be that she feels for you strongly.”
He chuckled drily, “Oh no. She has never admitted that. She… does not express her feelings too freely. At least she has not to me. Maybe she is scared of what would happen. But I have seen it in her eyes… even if she hasn’t said it. And she has promised is to be there when I return. I don’t know what to expect.”
“I understand your longing to return home, I may never see mine again,” she said softly.
“I’m sorry you had to face what you did. You must miss your family… your husband.”
Cultures were different but he knew that the ring she wore on her finger with a small silver chain connecting it to a ostentatious bracelet, symbolized that she belonged to someone.
Her expression grew sad, “I miss my father… but a part of me is happy.”
Deswald waited patiently for her to carefully form her words into an explanation of what she meant. He was in no rush to dive back into the forest on sore legs.
“I have no husband. But I am pledged to the son of the elder of the most powerful clan in Tyattar. When his father became ill my father panicked. Tyattarans are very strict about a clan leader not having a queen… and an heir. Ijji found me satisfactory and my father did not hesitate to give him my hand.”
Deswald frowned, “you do not marry for love?”
She looked up suddenly, “is that something you do in Aldor?”
Deswald frowned, “well I guess it might be different for royals. But… you aren’t a royal.”
“Ijji met me a few days before we were to be wed, but we never made it to our wedding day.”
“Tell me how does that work?”
Eylisia frowned, “Oh I would rather not bore you with Tyattaran ways. And I do not think we have the time
.”
“You clearly miss it. Maybe talking about it might help… unless talking about Ijji is hard for you.”
She sighed, “I did not yet get to a place of love with Ijji but… he was kind to me,” even with her darker complexion Deswald did not miss her blush.
Deswald smiled. Suddenly a horn sounded in the distance.
Deswald leapt to his feet, “Prince Jasper!” he exclaimed.
“They must have seen us! But how did we not spot them?” she asked.
“Because it’s Jasper, you see him when he wants you too. Will you be okay here on your own?”
She smiled sweetly, “I have Ike, he will protect me.”
The dragon huffed in response, casting a stern eye in Deswald’s direction. Deswald nodded before running into the forest.
✽✽✽
Topaz was pacing the hallways outside her father’s chambers waiting for him to attend to her. The guard in front her father’s door barely acknowledged her as she moved back and forth before him. She had been tossing and turning all night after what she had witnessed in the forest and felt like she could not rest until she told her father. As if her troubles were not enough, she was met by her displeased charge, his practiced pout in place.
“There you are,” he said, “I have been looking for you all morning. I am ambassador Crombey of Dartshall and I know what it is to be welcomed in a place. I have been here to get an audience with your father but he has kept trying to distract me with his unremarkable city scape and his barely present daughter.”
Topaz sighed, “I am sorry that you feel that way Ambassador,” she replied in a bored tone.
“I am afraid father has been extremely busy recently with all that has been going on. But I am sure it will be well worth your while to show us a little more of your kind patience.”
The words she spoke tasted bitter on her tongue and she knew she would have to spend some time washing her soul to regain its stellar integrity. The pouty man raised his chin, looking down at her with those bird-like eyes on his narrow face. His most attractive feature was his thick shoulder length hair, it was not braided or locked like most Aldorian men wore their hair, but was worn loose, with extra care clearly taken to maintain it’s wavy pattern, like a woman might style her hair. Topaz mentally rolled her eyes.
Kingdom's Darkness (Gemstone Royals Book 2) Page 11
