Eden

by Janelle Stalder

  CHAPTER TWELVE

  As they sat around the fire in a circle, Logan leaned toward Aiden nervously.

  “I don’t have a strong stomach,” he whispered. Aiden laughed at him, realizing for the first time how white his face had gone.

  “Don’t be such a baby,” he joked back.

  They all joined hands as Diana circled them, chanting in the weird language he had heard her speak before. The words were repeated many times before Aiden felt the first movement. Initially, he thought Logan had pulled on his arm, but then the second movement came and he realized something else was happening. The whole ground shook beneath them, like an earthquake. The tremors increased in severity; however, where Diana stood she was perfectly still. Only the earth within and around the circle moved. Suddenly, the walls in the background became blurry, and it looked like the whole cabin was spinning. He could hear someone screaming in the distance, but a loud whooshing sound was in his ears, making it hard to hear anything properly. Faster and faster they spun. Aiden closed his eyes, afraid he might actually be sick after all. It was worse than any ride he had ever been on, and usually he could stomach just about anything those amusement parks threw at him.

  The walls eventually became indiscernible, just waves of colours and lights. It felt like they were almost flying. Aiden could swear that if he were to release either Felix or Logan, and reach down, there would be no ground there anymore. Diana had given them strict instructions, however, not to let go, no matter what. Even her voice was gone now; there was only the sound of wind whirling around them. Then the lights around them changed, became darker. The air became colder, and the smell of grass filled his nostrils. Suddenly, he felt a thud beneath him, and the spinning slowed down, revealing a large field all around them, and a massive forest before them.

  It took them all a second to realize they had made it, but as the reality set in, they all began to scream and cheer.

  “That was amazing!” Wolf exclaimed, spinning around to look at the field.

  “I’m going to be sick,” Logan cried, running away from the group. They all laughed at him as he vomited in the distance.

  “I can’t believe that is even possible,” Felix breathed.

  “I know—she’s amazing,” Aiden said, smiling.

  “How do you know her?” Felix asked. Wolf looked over too.

  Aiden tried to shrug naturally. “We met a while ago, just kind of hit it off.”

  Wolf narrowed his eyes, but didn’t press the subject. “Well, she sure is a sight. You should have pursued her.” He smiled, wiggling his eyebrows.

  “Why is that always the first thing on your mind?” Elisa scoffed.

  “Because I’m male,” Wolf sneered back. Aiden watched her roll her eyes and start off toward the outer edge of the forest. Wolf followed closely behind.

  Aiden and Felix walked farther into the middle of the field. Logan lay on the ground, his face still green from the travel. It was strange to think that in only a week’s time, they’d be back there to fight the biggest battle of their lives. The green grass would be trampled by hundreds of boots, spattered with blood and guts, the air filled with screams of pain and war. Aiden wondered who out of all those who would enter the spot, would leave in the end.

  “Scary, isn’t it?” Felix said softly, mirroring Aiden’s thoughts.

  “I never thought I’d be doing this,” he confessed. “It’s strange how your life can take such a sudden change of direction.” Felix nodded his head in agreement. “Do you think we’ll win?”

  “We have to,” he answered plainly. Aiden looked at him uncertainly. Felix tried to smile, but it came out weak.

  “Nothing is certain,” Aiden said sadly.

  “No, fate will always control our destinies. All we can do now is try our best, and pray that it will be enough.”

  They looked out at the vast area, picturing what that day would bring.

  “The Captain wants me to lead the first line,” Aiden confided. Felix looked at him, his eyebrows raised in shock. “I know. My sentiments exactly.”

  “It’s not that I don’t think you’ll be a good leader. I’m just surprised. You’ve only been in the army for a short period of time.”

  “Good leader for what?” Logan asked as he approached them.

  “The Captain wants Aiden to lead.”

  “Wow!” Logan exclaimed.

  “He thinks I’ll inspire the other men, because I killed a beast by luck.”

  “That wasn’t luck, Aiden. You showed a lot of skill that day. I’m sure you’ll be great.” Logan smiled.

  “Well, I’m glad you think so, because I told him the only way I’d do it, was if you guys were in the front line beside me. I’m not going in there first alone.”

  Logan smiled, slapping him on the back. “Now, that sounds like a good idea! I’d be happy to be your right-hand man.” Aiden smiled thankfully back at him. Felix looked over at him and smiled too. He put his hand on Aiden’s shoulder.

  “I’d be honoured,” expressed Felix. The three of them stood in silence, looking out at the green field, occupied by their own private thoughts.

  She could see the others in the middle of the field. The branch she balanced on was nice and thick, but she didn’t think it was high enough.

  “I need to go higher,” she yelled down to Wolf, who stood at the bottom of the trunk, leaning against it lazily. He looked up at her.

  “You go any higher, and you’ll get yourself killed,” he argued.

  “I’m not going to fall,” she replied harshly. “I need to be higher to see the field better.” She started to reach for the upper branch, finding a good hold for her hands so she could lift herself up. As she moved, her left foot slipped, almost sending her off toward the ground. Wolf cursed loudly from where he stood.

  “You see?” he shouted. “This is enough. It’s too dangerous that high up.” She was a considerable distance from the ground, but her father had been very specific in his description of the perfect spot. Ignoring him, she tried again, lifting herself somewhat smoothly onto the next branch. She climbed two more before she found one that was thick enough to hold her comfortably, and her arrows. The leaves weren’t too thick there, but they were thick enough to hide her. No one would think to look so high up for someone, she thought hopefully. Peering through the leaves, she could see the whole field perfectly. The spot where her father had said the northern army would come through was the perfect distance away. She smiled triumphantly to herself. This was the place. She’d be hidden away, giving her side a lethal advantage.

  “What are you doing up there?” Wolf called out. Rolling her eyes at his impatience, she ignored him and focused on the view. The field was large, three times the size of the field around the Capital City. The river on the southern side was rushing in the distance, close enough to be an asset, like they said. The northern side had the most forest, offering coverage for the other army. Where she sat was where the trees started to end, giving way to the grassland. It was eerily quiet around, with no animals in sight. There was a history about this place, which was said to be a walking ground for ghosts. It made her shiver to think how many more would find their way here by the time this war was over.

  Aiden and the others were in the middle; she could still see them clearly where they stood. She’d be looking down on them come the day of battle as well. Her father’s words rang through her head. Would she be able to just turn a blind eye if one of them were in trouble? Could she force herself to not freeze up, or react? It would be a hard test for her, but she had to do it. Finding whatever strength she could, she closed her eyes and said a silent prayer to the God and Goddess for guidance through this uncertain time.

  “Elisa! We only have an hour, remember?” Wolf yelled up.

  “Okay, I’m coming!” She started to lower herself branch by branch, placing her feet as carefully as she could. The last thing she needed was to fall and break something on her way down. As she reached the main trunk, she fe
lt Wolf’s hands circle around her waist, lowering her gently onto the ground. They stood facing each other for a second, his hands still holding onto her. She looked up nervously at him, his eyes focused down at her. Finally, he cleared his throat, letting go and stepping back from her.

  “Did you find what you were looking for?” he asked, looking back up at the tree, rather than at her.

  “Yes, this will do. We should get back to the others.”

  They walked silently beside each other until they met the others coming toward them.

  “Well?” asked Aiden.

  “We’re good. We should go back to the spot we arrived at, and wait for Diana.” They all started back to the area where they landed, and sat down in a circle.

  “How long do we have to sit like this?” Felix asked as they sat holding hands.

  “Until we start to travel again,” Elisa replied, shrugging. Logan looked nervous, his face already turning green at the mention of travelling like they had before.

  “I really hate this,” he muttered. They all smiled. “Shut up, all of you.”

  Elisa took one last look back at the field, picturing her next time there. It would be very different, not nearly so quiet and peaceful. The ground shook suddenly, making her turn back quickly.

  “Here we go again.” Wolf smiled. Logan let out a low moan, before the madness began once more.

  They didn’t arrive back at the dormitory till late, or early rather, in the morning. All five of them dragged their feet to their rooms, exhausted from the journey both mentally and physically. It would most likely be an early morning again. Whatever sleep they could get before then was much needed.

  “Goodnight,” Aiden called out. They all said the same, closing their doors behind them. His bed called his name as he entered the room. Without taking off any clothes, he fell face first into the pillow, instantly falling asleep.

  Melaine sat in front of the mirror, slowly taking each pin out of her hair, the long locks falling down her back. She proceeded to take the large ruby earrings off her ears, one by one. Jameson watched her, thinking how beautiful she was without the glittering gems fancied by the women in court. Not that she wasn’t beautiful with them on, but sometimes the simplicity of her by the end of the night was even more appealing. She smiled at his reflection in the mirror.

  “What are you thinking about?” she asked in her soft, rich voice.

  “About how beautiful you look tonight,” he answered. She laughed as if it were a joke, continuing with her nightly ritual. “Court was tense tonight,” he commented. If there was one person in the palace, besides Turk, whom he could speak plainly with, it was Melaine. She knew him better than anyone else, having been his favourite mistress for years now. Turning in her seat, she looked at him thoughtfully.

  “Does that surprise you?”

  “No, it just worries me. People start to doubt their leader during times like these. People do unexpected, dangerous things. I don’t like some of the looks I caught between the lords.”

  “They just worry for their lands. A lot of their estates are outside of the city walls. They don’t want them to be destroyed by the approaching army.”

  He lay back on the bed, staring at the extravagantly decorated ceiling above him. There were pictures of angels and gods, the light hitting the gold that the artists used in their paint. Sometimes he wondered what the point of it all was. All the wealth and gold, the overindulgence of the court, made him feel guilty, unworthy. Melaine snuggled in beside him, resting her chin on his chest like she often did.

  “Do not let the thoughts of others distract you from your decisions. You are a good King, and you know what is best for your people.”

  He looked down and smiled gently at her, stroking her long hair absent-mindedly. “War is a difficult time,” he sighed. “The lords and ladies of the Capital will have to reduce their pleasures, which I’m sure most of them aren’t ready to do.”

  “Let them decide how and where to spend their money. If they don’t use it wisely during a time of crisis, that is their fault. You can’t be responsible for everything.” She stroked his chest with the tips of her fingers. He loved it when she did this—it made him relax for the first time that evening.

  The problem he had was that they did expect him to be responsible for everything. If the city—may the God and Goddess forbid—happened to find itself in a time of famine, all the blame would land on him. It was a proven result of war. Many villages were destroyed during these times, meaning all the men and women who farmed outside the city walls, providing everyone with their food, would be dead. If they did happen to survive, their crops were most likely dead, causing a shortage of food. Hungry people were angry people, people who would cause riots and chaos within the city walls. The war wouldn’t end with one army winning, because they would still have to deal with the people of Eden afterward.

  He couldn’t understand Callum. It was rare that he thought about his younger brother, but in the passing weeks his thoughts would turn to him more often than not. Jameson could understand his feeling betrayed at not being given the crown; he had been surprised back then himself. To turn his back on his people, though, to attack the ones he loved, the city he loved and grew up in? None of it made sense. He often wondered if he had been brainwashed by the sorcerer. Maybe it wasn’t his brother doing all this; maybe his mind had been taken over by an evil spirit. The priests had stories of people like that—he remembered studying them when he spent some years at the sanctuary in the south.

  His father, may the God and Goddess bless his soul, sent him there when he was in his late teens. Jameson’s escapades with Turk were well known by then, and his father thought it would do Jameson some good to be away from his childhood friend. The sanctuary had felt like a prison the first couple of days. It wasn’t until Jameson found their cellar where they kept the ceremonial wines, that his stay there took a turn for the better. He also found a doorway that led out through the gardens, the outside of it covered by overgrown vines. This was his way out in the nights, to enjoy the diversions the south offered during their long, warm nights. His memories went back to one such diversion in their pleasure district. Her name had been Eve, and she had eyes as blue as the sky, and hair as brown as the milkiest chocolate.

  He sighed, causing Melaine to look up at him questioningly. Those had been easier days, he thought wistfully. Turk had even arrived secretly at one point to come see him. It had cost his friend thirty lashes when he got back. Turk still had the scars to prove it.

  “Where is your mind, my love?” she whispered.

  “Everywhere,” he sighed. “Nights like these are always a whirlwind of thoughts for me. I suppose it will be like that until this all ends.”

  “Will you leave soon?”

  “As soon as tomorrow, if we can manage it. Our forces need to be there before the northern army arrives. We need to give them no other choice than to fight at the place of our choosing.”

  “Then you will come home to me, victorious.” She smiled, stretching up to kiss him slowly on the mouth. He remembered how young she was—only twenty that year. He was almost twice her age. The severity of the situation was lost on her, her young optimism overriding any fears.

  “We can only hope,” he said after.

  They lay together, until he finally heard her breathing slow. She was asleep. He wiggled his way out from under her and placed her head gently on the pillow. Walking over to the balcony, he opened the two large glass doors and walked out into the cool night. The men stationed there ignored him, used to his nightly habits. He hadn’t been able to sleep for months now. It was finally taking its toll.

  “Can’t sleep?” a deep voice spoke from below. Jameson looked down to see Turk standing on the balcony under his. That would have been a guest room. He didn’t know what Turk would be doing there.

  “What are you doing down there?” he said, asking the obvious.

  “Waiting for you to pop your old, tired head out of tha
t room.” He smiled at his friend’s jest. From the day he was crowned, Turk still hadn’t changed the way he spoke to him. He appreciated that. It would have killed him if he had suddenly become formal and traditional with him. Turk’s large body was climbing up the lattice to the balcony, surprisingly effortlessly for an older man. He pulled himself over the ledge, a huge grin covering his face.

  “I’ve always wanted to do that,” he said, chuckling.

  “I’m glad you haven’t, in case one of my guards were to mistake you for an assassin.” Turk shrugged his shoulders casually. “Is there something urgent you needed to speak to me about?”

  “No,” he answered, shaking his head. “I just knew you wouldn’t be sleeping, and I couldn’t sleep either, so I thought I’d come find you. Just like old times, sitting up till the sun rises.” Jameson smiled back at his friend.

  “Shall I order us some wine?”

  “Why even ask?”

  The two of them sat out in the night air, drinking warmed wine under thick blankets. The air was quite cold for spring.

  “We haven’t done this in a long time,” Turk commented.

  “Too long,” he answered. “I suppose that’s what happens in life—we grow up, lose some of our freedom of youth.”

  “Says who?” His friend laughed. “We only grow old if we let ourselves.”

  Jameson sat quietly, lost in his thoughts again. Turk remained quiet for him, used to his frequent silent spells. Eventually, Jameson spoke again, confessing his inner thoughts to his oldest friend.

  “I don’t think I can kill him,” he said quietly, almost inaudibly.

  Turk simply nodded. “Perhaps it won’t come down to that,” he offered. Jameson looked up at the sky, quiet again. “Some people get misguided during their life, and it takes someone who loves them to help them see that.”

  “I don’t even know if I love him.” Callum and Jameson had never been close, even though they weren’t far apart in age. When they were really young, they would often play around the palace grounds together, but eventually their different interests led them apart. Callum had always been interested in books, studying things, and the politics of court. He would watch their father and his advisors, memorizing the things they said. Jameson, on the other hand, could always be found outside. He was riding, or exploring the forests. Then he started his training in the military, and his friendship with Turk led them down a new path altogether. The brothers’ paths would barely cross, except during ceremonies and court gatherings, which Jameson would notoriously sneak out of before the end.