"I say leave these lands for good," Ivaloo replied bluntly. "If anything happens to me, the king will know."
Dafydd scoffed. "What will he know?"
"That my father was killed by magic, and so was I. I suspect his death was your doing, and I wrote it in my letter to the king."
"Me? Do you have any evidence to back up such accusations?" Dafydd asked innocently.
"Not yet, but I've sent for a magic user." Ivaloo glared at him.
"I am a magic user, would you like me to check?" Dafydd replied pleasantly.
"I want you to leave the castle now and for good," Ivaloo said through clenched teeth. Why did Dafydd set him so much on edge? He could feel his twin had gained power and it scared him.
"Why? I am your brother. Why do you deny my heritage?"
"You cut me out of your life a long time ago, Dafydd, so don't play the 'I-love-you-so' game with me!"
"Fine. I was hoping to find you more agreeable, Brother."
"Stop calling me 'brother' when all you want is cutting my throat," Ivaloo snapped.
Dafydd smirked. "If I call you 'brother' it's only because your face is like mine and the blood in your veins is the same that runs in mine. I'll call you 'brother' even when I kill you – and your castle, and your wife, will be mine!"
Ivaloo felt Denisonde shiver by his side under Dafydd's burning gaze. The twins might have the same features, but cruelty in Dafydd's eyes was so blatant not even Ivaloo's hatred could compare to it.
Dafydd turned his horse that left the courtyard at a steady trot.
Ivaloo breathed slowly to regain control, then went to the captain of the guard to instruct him. The watch should keep their eyes open and immediately warn him if they saw Dafydd again.
"My lord, he looks just like you, except for the clothes," the captain objected.
"I shall have either my secretary or my wife always by my side."
The captain bowed and Ivaloo went back inside the castle. He joined Denisonde, who had gone back to their chambers, upset.
His fingers lightly brushed her long brown hair and she raised her blue eyes on his face with a mute question.
"What's wrong?" he asked tenderly, sitting near her.
"Your mother..." She hesitated. "Has she taught you magic?"
"Yes, but I can't remember even the easiest spell. I was just a child, and I'm afraid Dafydd kept studying on his own."
"Is it possible he became a real sorcerer now?"
"I don't know. I guess so. I'll have to confront him again real soon, I'm afraid."
"But if he has magic and you don't, you will lose! He is stronger, he'll kill you!"
"Maybe. And yet if he thought he could, he'd have already tried to do so."
***
Ivaloo was in the great hall, sitting on the dais with his secretary to work on administrative matters when the Chamberlain introduced a man in his forties, with a long blue robe decorated with golden stars. The man didn't carry any weapons, but had an amulet around his neck and a large bag slung over his shoulder.
"My lord, the wizard has arrived."
Ivaloo dropped everything and got off the dais to welcome the wizard with open arms.
"Welcome, Magus. It's an honor to have you in Caer Danae."
"The honor is mine, my lord," the man answered, with a slight bow. "You wrote in your letter you need protection. Could you be more specific?"
Ivaloo led his guest to a table where servants brought food and wine. The wizard sat with a pleased look on his wrinkled face and drank and ate while Ivaloo spoke.
"I have a twin brother, Magus, who wants my castle and lands. I'm afraid he's joined forces with the powers of darkness to try and take them from me. I need you to stop him."
"The twin sons of Lady Milecent doing battle against each other... sounds like an interesting challenge." The wizard paused, nodding to himself. "Yes, you probably need my help. Any idea of your brother's powers?"
"No, I have no idea of how he spent his ten years of exile," Ivaloo apologized. "Maybe you heard about him in some schools for magic users?"
"No, he never attended any of the official ones. But your mother was powerful, and if anything of her magic is left, it's in him."
"Is he dangerous?" Ivaloo asked, worried.
"Not for me." The wizard smiled confidently.
The next morning, the servant who brought him breakfast found him lifeless.
Ivaloo stared at the dead wizard with a worried expression. "Damn that brother of mine. I had hoped Magus would be capable enough to defeat him."
"Obviously your brother has become an impressive sorcerer, my lord," the Chamberlain said.
"Send for the most powerful wizard of the northern kingdoms."
"But my lord, we were told this one was the best!"
"Obviously he wasn't. We need someone better, strong enough to stop Dafydd! Goddamn it, send the word for a Magical Race magic user – Waiora or Genn, I don't care!"
"Waiora and Genn are legends, my lord."
"They must be hiding somewhere. We stole their kingdoms, but they're not all dead. Find them!"
***
That night Ivaloo left the music and singing of the dinner, as if hearing a mute calling. He went for a walk on the battlements, thoughtful. Was his mother's blood awakening in him after the confrontations with Dafydd? Was magic wrapping the castle again like during his childhood?
He was startled by the feeling of a presence. Dafydd was standing next to him and the moon shone on his white cloak. But the face was in the shadows.
"Resisting is useless," he hissed. "I can take your place anytime. We're identical, nobody would notice. Give me your castle and I'll spare your life."
"Never," Ivaloo answered, unsheathing his sword. "Fight me now and we'll settle this once and for all!"
"Sword against magic?" Dafydd smirked. "You're a fool, Brother. Your wizard is dead. Who do you think killed him?"
"You really enjoy murder, don't you?" Ivaloo asked sourly.
"I do. Tomorrow I'll have you, your castle and your wife, and you'll be defeated."
Ivaloo charged with his sword ready, but Dafydd vanished in a puff of smoke, leaving his twin breathless.
Shaken, Ivaloo put away his sword. He had to find help. He had to go out through secret passages that led to places never visited in generations. Maybe he could find remnants of the past. The castle was old, maybe the Magical Races had left some items down there before vanishing who knew were...
He quickly went back to his room, once his father's, and started searching for the hidden button in the shadows created by torches. The secret panel opened with a swish and Ivaloo stared at the darkness behind, uncertain.
He had no idea of what lived there. But if the Magical Races existed, he could find traces of them in those forgotten tunnels – maybe even meet one of them. He doubted the demons lived under Caer Danae.
He was about to pick a torch to explore the tunnel when the blade of a knife stabbed him in the back. His heart missed a beat while he swayed and fell against the wall. Dafydd! he thought terrified, slipping to the ground and feeling the blood inexorably running out of his body.
His twin bent over him, his face hidden by his long hair.
"It's over, Ivaloo," he said quietly. "Stop fighting."
Ivaloo moaned, he couldn't speak. His brother's hand covered his face. He felt like screaming while his thoughts and memories passed into his twin's mind, but no sound came out of his wide open lips.
His eyelids closed and Ivaloo sank into unconsciousness.
***
"It is done," Dafydd murmured. "Now I'm you and you are me. See you in the afterworld, Brother."
He pushed the unconscious body in the passage and closed the secret panel. He took off his white clothing and searched his brother's wardrobe chest. He found the blue tunic sewn by Denisonde, much similar to the one Ivaloo was wearing that night, and wore it with a satisfied grin.
He lit the fire in the hearth and
quickly cleaned the blood traces with his cloak, then burned all his white clothes. While the flames devoured the fabric, he stood with a smile of triumph. The light was defeated and the taste of victory was wonderful.
He heard a door open and turned. Denisonde came in, calling her husband.
"I'm here," Dafydd answered.
"Why did you leave the banquet?" she chided him, embracing him out of ignorance.
"I came to prepare the room for my beloved wife," Dafydd answered holding her.
He smelled the perfume of her hair, feeling with all his being the female body against his.
My compliments, Ivaloo, you have very good tastes! he thought, feeling desire rising inside him. He never had a steady woman, and his one-night stands had always been tavern maids or peasants more or less consenting. Denisonde was noble, beautiful, clean, and Dafydd wanted her badly.
He loved her with a hunger that surprised her, but regained control in time to convince her he was really her husband.
***
Ivaloo kept screaming in anguish, hoping somebody would hear him, but nobody was there. He was a prisoner in a nightmare where rivers ran blood, trees grew cutting swords and the moon had the severe face of his dead mother. And he was stuck there and couldn't run away. Demons smirked at him from behind the black trees, creatures of darkness that seemed so fond of him.
"No!" he shouted, desperate. "Let me go!"
He thought it was a miracle when he could finally open his eyes back to reality. He was lying on the ground of a cavern with the very dim light of a fire and had no idea of how he got there. Memories of the nightmare came back and he suddenly knew he had been Dafydd for some time. His brother had paid a high price to become master of his magic.
He heard irregular footsteps coming closer and saw a wrinkled dwarf limping his way, beardless and with a few white hairs coming out of his skullcap.
"Ah, so you're awake!" he exclaimed meeting the eyes of the wounded young man. "Good, I hope you feel better."
"Yes, thank you," Ivaloo answered, still a little puzzled at the sight of the strange being. He never expected this! "Are you real? I mean, are you one of the dwarves of the underground?"
"Yes, why?"
"I've never seen the likes of you before! Tell me... where am I and who are you?"
"Of course," the dwarf answered, sitting near him. "You're in the underground of... let me see, how is that Human structure above us called?"
"Caer Danae?" Ivaloo suggested.
"Yes, that one!" the dwarf exclaimed, satisfied. "Well, to tell the truth, this is a new branch of the passages built by Humans, but when we settled here we thought we could use more space."
"Are there many of you?" Ivaloo inquired, stunned.
"Not anymore," the dwarf shrugged. "I'm one of the few who remain. My name is... let's say 'Yooden' for the comfort of your tongue!"
"How did you find me? How did you know I was there?"
"I was searching from some magic mushrooms that grow on cave walls when I stumbled across you. Hadn't seen a Human in ages! And you were drowning in a pond of blood. I brought you here and took care of you."
"Thank you... Yooden," Ivaloo smiled weakly. "Thank you for saving Caer Danae's Lord's life. Now I really must go..."
He was about to sit, but the dwarf pushed him back down gently.
"Where would you go, my young lord?" he chided. "You're wounded. Let your enemies think you're dead, you'll hit them harder when you'll be fully recovered. For now you should rest and regain your strength. First thing is to get you something to eat."
"But I need to find out what's going on at the castle, what my brother is up to!"
"There will be time for that later, young one." The dwarf went to the fireplace to take a bowl of soup. "Now think only about healing, dear boy, or you'll never leave here."
"My name is Ivaloo." The young man surrendered, sitting to pick the smoking soup from the dwarf's hands. He wished he could rush back to the castle before Dafydd did anything to Denisonde. He wasn't really hungry, since his stomach was in a knot, but he needed to regain strength to fight his wicked twin.
He fervently prayed all the gods to keep an eye on his beloved wife and protect her. He had found what he'd been looking for – beings with real magic – but Denisonde was unprotected.
If you hurt her, Dafydd, I'll tear your heart out, he thought, gritting his teeth after gulping down the last spoonful of soup.
***
Dafydd went to his bedroom after checking the night watch was alert as requested. He quickly undressed and joined Denisonde in bed. He embraced her and started touching her. He really enjoyed her body – his twin had good tastes in women.
She let him do as he pleased, but when he was done, she spoke in the darkness. "You are not Ivaloo."
Dafydd regained control and lit a candle, putting on his mask. "What are you talking about?" he asked innocently.
"You twins are physically identical, but you don't act like Ivaloo."
"What do you mean I don't act like myself?" he protested. "People change, you know. Running a castle isn't easy, and there's that threat of my crazy twin and... I very much love my beautiful wife!" He kissed her chastely, imagining that was how Ivaloo would do it.
"You..." She wasn't convinced, so he put even more honey in his voice.
"Deni, I love you. Remember when I told you for the first time? We were in your rose garden, the flowers around you matched the color of your dress..."
***
Time didn't have much meaning underground. There was no sun to follow as the hours went by and Ivaloo felt like he stayed forever in the dark passages and caves under Caer Danae. Yooden often changed his bandages and tended the wound with a strange stinky ointment that seemed to work very well.
Ivaloo met a few other dwarves, but usually he was alone with his host. They didn't talk much. Ivaloo was worried and craved action. Eventually Yooden told him they'd move.
"We'll get out in the mountains and will stay there for some time. I sent somebody to Caer... how do you..."
"Caer Danae," Ivaloo answered automatically. He knew by now the dwarf had problems with surface names and when he could, he said them in his place.
"Aye, there," the dwarf nodded. "As soon as he learns something, he'll join us on the mountains. In the meanwhile it's better we start off as it's a long underground walk."
Especially for his short legs, Ivaloo told himself impatiently. But he had no other choice than following him.
"Yooden," he wondered. "Is your emissary a dwarf?"
"Of course not, he would be too easy to spot among Humans!" Yooden answered. "And besides we don't like Humans very much, especially in great quantities. Don't worry, my friend won't be noticed. And you'll meet him soon enough."
***
Belfi stopped to admire the castle before proceeding to its gates. Caer Danae was a beautiful building for Human standards. Maybe its builder had glimpsed the Genn castles that once graced the land and was inspired by them.
Belfi adjusted his bow and quiver on his shoulder and walked through the drawbridge. There were no sentinels and Belfi went to a stableman who was lazing about nearby.
His long wavy dark blond hair reached halfway down his back, with a green band keeping it over invisible ears; his face was sweet, boyish, the smile openly gentle, the clothes green and brown; he didn't look much older than twenty and his clean looks invited trust.
"Hello, I'm a wanderer, how is this castle called?" he asked the stableman.
"Caer Danae, and I suggest you keep going and find somewhere else to stop, if you know what's good for you," the man answered gloomily, averting his eyes.
"What? But why? This is the place I've been looking for. I've been told about the gentle lord, the peaceful work as a hunter in his forest..."
"Ha! Listen to that! He is indeed called Ivaloo the Fair, but since he confronted his brother Dafydd the Evil he has changed. Oh, yes, he still hires hunters, but for different purposes
! We all feel something wrong here, as if evil has found a place among us."
The lord and lady were coming out of the castle. The young lord pushed his wife against a wall to kiss her with hunger.
"Once upon a time these things were done in private," the stableman grumbled.
"Who are they?" Belfi wondered. "She's lovely."
"She is Denisonde, our beloved Lady. And he is Ivaloo of Caer Danae."
Belfi observed the lord answering the call of his captain and following him inside the building. Then his eyes met Denisonde's blue ones. He smiled at her and stood up while she came to him.
"Welcome, foreigner," she greeted, a serious look on her lovely face. "If you are hungry, go to the kitchens and help yourself."
"Thank you, my lady, but I'm not hungry," he replied. "Besides, I wouldn't want to intrude."
"You wouldn't be intruding, and as long as I'm the lady of this castle, no guest will be ill-treated. Help yourself to whatever you need."
"Thank you, my lady, your kindness knows no bounds. Maybe later I could have a word with you about our precious lord?"
He received only a sad smile.
"I doubt you could help us," she said. "You're too young to defeat the evil that befell us."
"I'm not that young and harmless," he replied. "What are you dealing with, my lady?"
She sighed, staring into space. "Dark magic. I wish I knew a wizard who could help us."
She walked back towards the main building and he followed her.
"Wasn't the Magus supposed to come here?" he asked, trying to hide his sarcasm.
She stopped and stared at him. "You heard about that?"
He scoffed. "Magus loves to boast." He shrugged. "Pity he's only a charlatan – albeit a good one."
"He's dead," she said.
"I'm not surprised. You need more than a puny Human wizard."
"And where do I find a real magic user?"
She frowned in worry, but he grinned.
"Real magic users don't boast their powers," he said. "If you had one in front of you, what would you tell him?"
She hesitated and stared into space before speaking.
"Imagine to be in love again," she said thoughtfully. "Imagine the person you love changes suddenly. The face is his, the things he knows are a secret between you and him, but something tells you it's not him. But you have no evidence and must be silent for fear of an awful punishment. I guess it's like this for everybody in here as we suddenly saw a wonderful man turn into a sort of demon. We couldn't help it and we don't know what to do about it. He has magic and we have none."
Tales of the Northern Kingdoms volume 2 Page 16
