Aereon lowered his hands, and the men fell to the ground in a heap of blood and dust.
“Guard, come quick,” Aereon called out leisurely.
Rook pushed through the door and looked around the room. He ran to the two men at the far side of the prison cell. “Where are the others? What happened?” Rook efficiently rolled the men onto their backs. Their faces were broken and gushing blood.
“It was very odd. I asked a few questions, they began attacking each other, and everyone else disappeared,” Aereon said with feigned innocence. “Are they all right?”
“Alive, but I don't know for how long,” Rook said, eyeing Aereon warily from across the room.
“I believe they were using magic to trick the guards this entire time. We must inform the queen,” Aereon declared.
Rook nodded reluctantly. “I agree, but we should hurry. I should send the physicians down here as well.”
Rook and Aereon left the room, closing the door behind them. After several minutes, the ground shuddered beneath the two injured captives. The dungeon floor loosened like sand, and the men sank into the ground. When they were completely submerged, the shaking stopped, leaving no sign anyone had ever been there.
32
“Do you mean to tell me you’re reliving the same day over and over again?” asked Tarness in disbelief.
Anderfeld nodded.
“If this is so, how would anyone even realize it?” Dallow asked, his brow furrowed beneath his blond bangs.
“Most living here don’t, but for me, there’s the book.” Anderfeld looked miserable, like he was revealing every skeleton in his closet. “The book you saw me reading when you first arrived. It, too, seems to be magical. Whatever I write can be read the next day. Every morning, I start by reading the first page, which explains the curse, and then the last. The more I read, the more I remember...well, more like vague, dusty recollections of memories. Then I begin researching a way to escape this...prison that saved our lives.”
Angst’s eyes were wide. “You mean to tell me you think those...things did this to you?” He pointed at Dulgirgraut and Chryslaenor hovering beside each other in the corner.
“I believe Dulgirgraut tried to protect us, Angst, but something went wrong. Maybe it was too much for even foci to resolve.” Anderfeld pulled on his face with his hand, as though attempting to wipe away his weariness.
“So how can we help? What can we do to break this curse?” Angst asked.
“Please excuse me,” Aerella stood abruptly and left, apparently upset.
Anderfeld waited for her leave before replying. “I don’t know that there’s much you can do, Angst. I have some theories I’d like to discuss with you all tomorrow.” He drank some wine. “I may be able to help you, though. There’s much I can teach you of your sword. Tomorrow I would appreciate the opportunity to fence a bit and show you some of what I’ve learned from Dulgirgraut. Maybe I can give you some pointers, so you can avoid some of my mistakes.”
The offer was surprising, but how could he refuse? “Um, thank you. Your help would be most welcome.”
Anderfeld stood. “I need to make notations in the book before going to bed. I’ll try to be thorough, but you may have to spend some time reminding me what transpired today.”
“Of course,” replied Angst, at a bit of a loss.
Anderfeld left. A young man entered and offered to lead them to their rooms for the night.
“I’ll catch up with everyone shortly.” Angst went in search of Aerella. Something didn’t feel right.
Aerella stood on a white marble balcony overlooking the city. She’d obviously been sobbing, and was now trying to catch her breath.
“I’m sorry if I’m interrupting,” offered Angst as he approached her.
Aerella seemed surprised to see him, and wiped her eyes quickly. “I apologize. It was rude of me to leave so abruptly.”
“Not at all. It sounds like you don’t often get guests,” Angst said in a quiet voice.
“Only once every several thousand years or so. I guess I’m out of practice,” she said, trying to make a joke. She brushed the long mane of hair off her shoulders.
“You have to be the most attractive two-thousand-year old woman I’ve ever met,” Angst said with a broad smile.
Aerella giggled politely. It was a pretty sound that seemed to contradict her expression. “Mr. Angst. Does your wife know what a flirt you are?”
“She admonishes me for it frequently, yes.”
She stepped close to Angst, close enough to remind him of Victoria. Aerella shivered and looked frightened. Since she’d first held his hand, Angst had felt an uncomfortable connection with Aerella. He’d wondered if it was the sword, and that her own father held a similar blade. Now he felt like the wrong person—that maybe Dallow should’ve been here to share some wisdom, or Hector to cheer her with a bit of roguish charm.
“What is it? What bothered you so much that made you leave?” Angst asked.
She looked up at him and parted her lips. He did not lean forward to kiss her, but instead stepped back slowly. Her lips closed, and she shivered again. “You understand so little of our nightmare. You see, you could have kissed me.” She moved forward once more and spoke in a quiet voice. “You could still kiss me, or hold me, or slap me, or rape me, and tomorrow I would never know.” Aerella began to cry again.
Angst pulled Aerella into a comforting hug. She sobbed into his shoulder, but after a short time, she calmed. “Thank you, Angst. I wouldn’t have expected you to do any of those things, but you have to understand what we’re facing. I will never know all the wonderful or terrible things I’ve done over the last two thousand years, and I can’t live with it anymore.”
“I want to help, but I don’t know what to do,” Angst said, gently pulling away. “Is there anything that will remove this curse?”
“My father seems to think so,” Aerella hesitated, on the verge of breaking down again but deep, calming breaths seemed to help. “Just remember, the sword chose you for a reason. Most of the foci select people who want to be heroes, Angst. Becoming a hero requires sacrifice.”
“So I’m learning,” Angst said under his breath. “Do you know what he wants of me?”
“I really can’t say.”
The tears streaming down her cheeks stopped him from asking any further questions about her father or Gressmore.
“Is there anything I can do for you?” he asked, hoping for even the tiniest chance to hero something this evening.
“Um, would you mind holding me a little bit longer? If I happen to remember today, I’d like the memories to be happy.”
“Well, I’m not one to argue with my elders,” he said with a wink, and she giggled.
Angst gave her another long hug that didn’t feel as awkward as the first one. Maybe he’d passed a test...but would she remember that tomorrow? She sighed a lot, her sobs calmed to breaths, and she finally pulled away.
“Mr. Angst, be sure to tell your friends to wear their armor to bed,” Aerella warned sincerely.
“Our armor? What happens if we don’t wear it?” Angst asked, confused once again.
“Maybe nothing, but I’m not completely certain. I do know you weren’t wearing these robes when you arrived, and you may not be wearing them tomorrow morning when you awaken.”
“It’s freezing!” yelled Rose, waking everyone within earshot.
Angst’s eyes popped open, and a grin crept across his face. A quick look at their surroundings confirmed Aerella’s warning. They lay on the cold ground, scattered about the entrance of Gressmore Towers.
Angst meandered over to Rose, who was shivering so hard she was barely able to hide her nudity. On one knee in front of her backpack, she was desperately trying to cover her sizeable breasts with her left arm while yanking out clothing with her right. It didn’t help that Scar was sniffing her ear with his wet nose. “What happened? Why are we on the ground?” Rose asked, sounding furious.
Dallow wa
lked over to stand by Angst, eyed a mostly naked Rose, and quickly spun away. “It, uh...well, it seems,” he stuttered, “we’ve been expunged. Whatever curse causes them to relive each day kicked us out with nothing but our belongings.”
“Can I lend a hand?” Angst offered generously in an overly polite tone.
Rose was fumbling to pull on her leather britches with trembling hands. She’d given up covering her breasts in favor of expediency. “Ass! No, just...turn around, would you? How did you guys get dressed so fast anyway?”
“Um, we’re very efficient,” Angst replied, sounding quite innocent, and turned away as slowly as possibly.
Hector showed up and immediately started laughing. “Didn’t you tell her to change last night?” he asked before Angst could stop him.
Rose stood there for a moment, glaring at him before shivering her way into her top. “Har har. Fast dressers,” she said through chattering teeth. She glared at Angst and Dallow while slipping on her boots. “Don’t talk to me today.”
Angst grinned triumphantly, but Dallow looked shocked. “What did I do?”
“Old Man there planned this, but you looked,” Rose snapped. She turned her back on the three and walked away.
They all shared quick, boyish grins. “That was clever,” acknowledged Hector. “How did you know she sleeps naked?”
“Doesn't everyone sleep naked?” Angst asked.
“Eew, no,” Hector answered. “On a different subject, do we go back up there?”
“Yes, we go back in,” Angst confirmed.
“Angst, what are the chances we get stuck up there forever? What happens if the curse takes us in as well?” Hector asked.
“Anderfeld thinks he has information we can use, and I’d like to try and help them as well,” Angst stated.
Dallow coughed. “While I hate to admit it when Angst’s right, the coincidence of Gressmore Towers appearing, and someone living there with another sword like Angst’s is too much to ignore. I agree that we need to go in.”
Angst smiled at Dallow in appreciation. “I can’t imagine what could be accomplished if everyone supported me like that all the time.” He slapped Dallow on the shoulder and gathered his things.
Tarness and Dallow followed his lead and left to grab their packs.
“I wasn’t actually done discussing this yet,” said Hector, the only person not putting stuff together.
Angst looked over his shoulder at Hector. “You can discuss it up there with us, or wait until we come back, it’s up to you.”
They all met at the entrance, where Rose kept her back to everyone. She slapped her hand against the carving and was the first to pass through.
Dallow glanced at Angst. “I think you really pissed her off this time.”
“I’m sure she’ll get over it soon enough.” Angst pushed into the dark room only to trip over something and fall flat on his face. He turned in time to see Rose pull back her foot.
“Oops,” she said, and did a fake little curtsy while covering her mouth.
Before Angst could reply, Dallow had stepped through and tripped over Angst, landing on his stomach. Hector soon joined the pile of men at Rose’s feet. Rose lost herself to laughing when Tarness stumbled over the three just as they were starting to stand. Scar barked, his tail wagging excitedly at this game and happily licked a few faces. After several minutes of gathering gear, rubbing bruises, and waiting for Rose to catch her breath, they made their way to the other entrance.
“Is this going to go on all day between you two?” Hector snapped at Angst and Rose loudly.
“Yes,” Rose answered in her sweetest voice.
Everyone replied with grunts.
“Do you think we’ll have to go through the introductions and translations again?” Tarness asked.
“I hope so. The translation was my favorite part of the visit,” Angst replied eagerly.
“It depends how detailed Anderfeld’s notes are. I’d guess they’ll have to translate, but will most likely be expecting us,” Dallow answered.
“Is it always sunny?” Angst asked as they entered the bright courtyard. Aerella was already waiting for him. He held out his hand with a smile and a nod.
“That’s right, you didn’t get the tour yesterday. Angst, this place is amazing,” Dallow said excitedly. “I couldn’t begin to explain how any of it works, but the stone towers hold the entire city over the clouds.”
“Wow, that’s... I don’t even understand that.” He turned away from Dallow to face Aerella and smile. “You don’t remember anything from yesterday do you? You’re still strikingly attractive.”
Rose patted Angst’s shoulder. “Don’t you remember anything from yesterday either? She can understand everything you’re saying.”
Angst had forgotten, and Aerella giggled at Rose’s comment. Rose took the woman’s hand from Angst. “I’ll help her with translation today, while you go get maimed,” Rose said wryly as she pointed at Anderfeld. “I hope it hurts.”
The courtyard had cleared of people, and Anderfeld stood across from them, looking formidable. He’d shown up in full armor and already held Dulgirgraut in front of him with both hands. Anderfeld was baring his teeth like an angry dog, apparently hungry for this ‘fencing’ match, which made Angst wary.
“Are you sure I can’t stay back and watch you two hold hands instead?” Angst said to Rose out the corner of his mouth.
“Ha. No. Now don’t die, just get injured, and I may forgive you.” She shoved him forward.
Angst kneeled to pet Scar, who sat next to him. “You stay here.”
Tarness gently grabbed Scar by the scruff of his neck. “I’ll hold onto him, Angst. Good luck.”
“Get him, Angst,” Hector and Dallow said in support.
Angst looked at Rose and Aerella one more time before removing Chryslaenor with a sigh. Fighting against monsters, or people without giant magical swords, had been a challenge. Angst always felt at odds with Chryslaenor, trying to balance what he wanted to do with what the sword wanted him to do. In spite of this, Angst didn’t remember ever being nervous about a pending fight. Until now.
Anderfeld advanced then stopped about twenty feet away from Angst, lowering Dulgirgraut. He bowed politely and said something Angst couldn’t understand. Angst mimicked the bow but said nothing in response. Anderfeld lifted the sword again, this time holding the enormous blade horizontally in front of his face, as though preparing to defend against the first attack. He nodded. Angst nodded as well, locked his jaw in place, and ran at Anderfeld like a blur.
A streak of green light from Dulgirgraut cut through the air as Anderfeld met the first blow. Chryslaenor struck the other blade with a loud clang, appearing to shatter the green light in an explosion of colorful sparks. The giant swords blurred together in a maniacal dance of blue and green. Angst swung and parried, attacking and defending a constant barrage of crashing blows.
This was the first fight that truly felt like a challenge, and yet Angst held back until he realized Anderfeld was merely testing him. The older man didn’t even seem to be trying. At this frenetic pace, it didn’t take long for Angst to tire. Anderfeld deftly blocked a swing aimed at his head and held the sword in place, giving Angst a moment to catch his breath. A fair-sized length of Anderfeld’s long, braided hair dropped to the ground, inadvertently sliced off by Chryslaenor. The older man smiled smugly, and Angst’s frustration rose. He let Chryslaenor take over a little, but drove the fight with his will and growing frustration.
Chryslaenor led him forward, forcing Anderfeld to take a step back, and then another. The shower of sparks grew increasingly bright, obscuring his view, and burning the grass around them in a ring. There was a resounding crash, and both men flew back. Anderfeld landed on his feet with Dulgirgraut in the same horizontal position as before. Angst slowed himself by kneeling and extending his right foot. He dug a path of grass and dirt as he skidded to a stop.
At the very moment Angst was going to rush forward, Anderfel
d lowered his sword and threw out his hand to signal a stop. Angst remained on one knee, attempting to control his rapid breathing and hold onto consciousness. Aerella ran over and placed her hand on his forehead. She stared at him with an odd expression, as though both impressed and concerned.
“Are you okay?” she asked, and he understood her words.
“I think I’m just old or something,” he said between gasps before standing shakily.
Anderfeld was already in front of him, a broad hand extended to help him up. “That was a fine duel, Angst. It’s been a very long time since I’ve gotten to enjoy such a match.”
“Sorry about your hair.” Angst pointed to the braid.
“It will be back tomorrow,” Anderfeld replied with a smirk.
“Why aren’t you out of breath?” asked Angst, disgusted with his own performance. “I hope I wasn’t that bad.”
“Not at all,” Anderfeld said, patting him on the shoulder. “It’s one of the many things we need to discuss, though. I never would’ve imagined one could use a foci, much less fight like that, without bonding.” He shook his head in disbelief. “It took this fight for me to realize, Angst, but it seems you are not yet Al’eyrn.”
33
“Gressmore was a city like any other, well, in the sense that it rested on the ground,” Anderfeld began. “We were one of four cities scattered throughout Ehrde. Each was a place for the magi, or magic wielders as you call them, to study and live in peace,” the large man explained as he paced around his library table.
Dallow was touching every book on the nearby shelves, desperate to absorb their contents as quickly as he could. Anderfeld hefted an old leather-bound volume that had been sitting by itself on a nearby podium. He closed it and placed it under one of Dallow’s hands. Dallow blinked rapidly, surprised by the book’s sudden appearance. His breath caught and his eyes widened momentarily. “Oh,” he breathed, and the white glow from his eyes faded to their normal shade of brown. “Thank you.”
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