The Flames of Arathia

by Jordan Liberatore

  “Wait, Nathan is going towards the lion’s den?” Lillian protested. “Are you crazy? That is where the Eknar is!” Caleb slowly stood, the shock evident on his face.

  «Nathan is alive? How is it possible? How did he survive the flames?» Caleb breathed, almost defeated. Drusilla was starting to realize that she wasn’t his only victim of choice in the room, looking right over at Lillian.

  «He took his father›s ship. He is the last living person of his line. Lillian, the Eknar has been with us for years. I do not believe she is aware that he is the heir,» Adam explained. The two firebloods now looked more confused than ever, Caleb sitting back down.

  “The Eknar is a woman?” Caleb asked.

  “What do you mean the Eknar has been with you for years?” Lillian added. Adam sighed, exchanging a glance with Drusilla as he slipped off his wedding ring.

  “The Eknar is my wife, Lucinda. She has been working with me and Nathan for a few years. We only recently learned of her loyalties,” Adam replied with pain in his voice, staring down at the ring in his hands. Drusilla leaned back. So her fear was true. Malcolm was killed by his own sister, the one woman he apparently loved as much as her. Drusilla grabbed at her own ring, staring at the dagger still on the table. Silence overcame all of the firebloods at the table. Drusilla then let the rest of her thoughts settled. After all this time, the woman who ordered her dead had been right there with her. Drusilla looked at Caleb and Lillian, thinking of all that they and Nathan lost at the orders of this woman. She felt for them, she truly did. Lu had manipulated Malcolm to kill despite everything. She then killed him in cold blood when he finally had the strength to leave. Drusilla held the ring tighter in her grasp. She’d make sure Lu died, on the lives of her mother and the love of her life.

  “Look, we should be going, shouldn’t we?” Drusilla offered. The others began to nod, but Queen Avariana stepped back in. “Your Highness,” Drusilla welcomed, all four standing. Avariana smiled and nodded at her warmly.

  “Before the four of you leave,” Avariana began, “I want to share some wisdom.” They all sat down once again. . “The battle you are about to fight will not be easy. Loss will be large. I have felt that the heir has been found out, or will be. You shall need to find him and give him the Gem. There is no way to win the freedom of the firebloods without him having that stone. Only he knows how it is to be used.

  “Lillian, doubt not your strength. If you doubt, you shall fall. Great things are in store for you if hold to what you have. Caleb, you are one of the best hunters. Your skills shall aid you in this quest. Take a hold of that. Adam, my dearest child, hold to what love be in your heart. The magic held within you is great and will show itself at the precise moment it is needed. Do not fear what your heart tells you. Keep Drusilla safe. Stay by her and remember, even tears may one day save a life.

  “Drusilla, I have given you what wisdom I have already. Hold to that blade of yours. Prevail child, and fear not what has come across your mind. It is to be, but is not the full picture of what is to come. You are chosen,” Avariana advised. Drusilla thought back to the dream she had, a chill running down her spine. They all said their goodbyes and left to retrieve their horses, riding back to the village.

  “Kloy. I like it. You have a last name once again. The cloak looks nice on you,” Adam remarked, looking at Drusilla.

  “He’d want me to wear it,” Drusilla sighed. “You know she killed him. Her own brother.”

  “I know,” Adam sighed, letting Caleb and Lillian ride ahead of them. “I should have realized sooner what she was.”

  “And I Malcolm,” Drusilla mused. “He was a good man, just trying to give his sister what she wanted until he realized he could have a different life, a better life.”

  “What will you do with the boy?” Adam inquired.

  “Declan?” Drusilla sighed. “Malcolm was going to have him be trained in the castle. I feel it’s a better life for him. Soldiers can be scum, but knights are honorable. Declan will be a better man, a better person, than both his parents could ever hope.”

  “I can see you being a good mother,” Adam remarked. Drusilla smiled.

  “Perhaps one day, Adam,” Drusilla mused. “Fate may give me another chance, seeing as we make it through this alive.” They reached the village where the firebloods of Norto were already gathering.

  “War is upon us!” Lillian called, more firebloods coming out dressed ready for battle with bags on their backs. “Men, raise your arms and join our crusade! The Brethren shall fall! The heir is still yet alive!” They began to have a small following of men and women clad as warriors.

  “Come and follow!” Drusilla found herself calling out as well. Adam smiled proudly over at her. “We shall fight the Eknar! Rise, firebloods!” They began to lead their small army to the pond once more. It truly was small, but the village itself wasn’t that large so Drusilla wasn’t surprised. The four dismounted and began to walk into the water when Avariana arrived on her own white steed. Elven soldiers joined their ranks and everyone stepped into the water, everything turning black once more.

  Chapter 2:

  Annloe was already waiting for them with Valtari when Drusilla came to again. Valtari ran straight up to one of the Elven soldiers with the largest smile on his face as he yelled, “Navara!” The soldier knelt down, hugging the boy tightly.

  “Navara is the Elvish word for father,” Adam whispered in Drusilla’s ear. “Lannavara means mother.” Drusilla slowly nodded. Annloe smiled as walked towards him, looking down at Drusilla’s sheath.

  «The Queen hath chosen to obtain for you the powers of old,» Annloe laughed, pointing at the dagger. “That be a wise choice, for things shall only grow harder from here on out. Child, there be a surprise for you on the other side of this isle. Lead your army there. I send with you my blessings,” Annloe explained. He then hugged Adam and Drusilla both. She suddenly felt sad to leave him, but she knew they had to push on. They were running out of time and had a long way to go. Still, Drusilla felt as though there was much she could learn from Annloe. Perhaps should could even search for her mother’s old work and have him go through it. Drusilla kept that thought in mind for if she got through this alive.

  Drusilla and Adam motioned for everyone else to follow them towards the shore. Drusilla stopped dead her tracks though as she saw a familiar group of ships and a few rowboats sitting in the sand. “Sister!” Poyro called with a laugh, running towards her. Drusilla more than happily embraced her brother, looking over his shoulder to see Herto, who she promptly nodded to.

  “I got word you may be needin’ some transportation for an army,” Herto sighed, hugging his daughter. He looked at Adam. “I would be more than willin’ to free the persecuted of our kind. I offer you my men an’ my ships,” he then offered.

  “I am willing to agree to your offer. We are going to land of the fireblood lovers. How long shall it take at the fastest speeds to reach to shores of Norto?” Drusilla asked. Lillian walked up to them.

  “Wait, you want to go to Norto? All that would be there are ashes and ruins,” Lillian protested. Drusilla sighed.

  “That’s exactly why the Free Striders would meet there. Southern Galdirr lacks forests unlike the north. Staying at a burned down village keeps them out of sight. No one would consider that as a meeting place,” Drusilla explained.

  “Who is this fireball?” Herto asked with a laugh. “Lassie, my daughter’s right. I’ve already sent word to them anyways. I have Free Strider friends. Heard they were gatherin’ an’ told ‘em o’ our plans. They’ll be bringin’ horses and supplies a-plenty. Anyways, harbor’s still perfectly intact, one o’ the few in Southern Galdirr and only not run by Brethren from what I hear. My ships are fast. T’morrow evening we land, winds be good and Beings bless.” They began to pile into the boats.

  «That would Lillian Serenity,» Adam sighed. They began to ride out to the ships.

  “I didn’t know you knew Free Striders,” Drusilla remarked to h
er father. “Ever hear of Luther?”

  “Luther? Who hasn’t?” Herto replied. “You know him?”

  “He trained me as a Free Strider after Mother died. Haven’t seen him since, but wouldn’t mind seeing him again,” Drusilla sighed. Herto slowly nodded.

  “Good man, that Luther. Met him two years ago, friends e’er since. That cloak though… Looks like Malcolm the Dark’s,” Herto pointed out. Drusilla bit her lip.

  “It is… Was,” Drusilla confessed. “Sad story, his. He became a Brethren because his damn sister talked him into it. He was going to leave the group when she killed him.”

  “Right hand o’ the Eknar leavin’ the Brethren? How come?” Herto inquired. Drusilla hesitated.

  “Because of me… He loved me,” Drusilla sighed. “It’s a long story, but he wasn’t the man everyone thought he was. He was a man who wanted the people he loved most happy. He never wanted to kill the people he did.”

  “He killed your mother,” Herto growled. “I asked around in Tiarta.” Drusilla looked down.

  “And he regretted it more than anything. After all this is done I’ll tell you all about it,” Drusilla assured as they reached the ships. She soon found herself staring at the water with the wind pushing back her hair.

  «Hello, Drusilla,» a voice greeted behind her. It was Poyro. He leaned against the rail next to her. “Where is Lu?” he asked.

  “She’s with Nathan,” Drusilla replied. Poyro raised an eyebrow.

  “That’s a really stupid idea, letting the heir to the fireblood stay with someone with Brethren ties,” he argued.

  “Eknar,” Drusilla corrected with a sigh. “She’s the Eknar, and she killed her own brother. Adam doesn’t think she knows about Nathan’s heritage yet though.”

  “That doesn’t change anything. The Brethren have spies. Why else would she have burned down Nathan’s village?” Poyro countered. Drusilla looked at him. The question sent a chill through her. It made sense. Why else would she target Norto?

  «You seem to know a lot about what›s been going on,” Drusilla remarked. Poyro laughed, looking out at the water and back at her.

  “I’m a pirate, born and raised. I’m supposed to know about this type of thing,” Poyro explained. “Also, I look out for my sister. I know about you and Malcolm. It’s a shame, what happened to him. I know he was leaving, for you.” Drusilla slowly nodded.

  “Is it worth being a pirate?” Drusilla inquired. Poyro frowned, looking back out at the sea.

  “In some ways yes, but I’d rather travel on my own. I want to see the lands, you know, not just the seas. Still, I don’t regret a day here. I know it’s my fate, and I know one day it may change,” Poyro mused. Drusilla studied him.

  “I guess you’re right. Don’t tell Lillian about Lu. She doesn’t need to know that Lu knows about Nathan. I’ll need to warn Adam, though,” Drusilla warned. Poyro looked behind them, standing straight again.

  “Well here comes Elf Boy himself,” Poyro chuckled. “I’ll let the two of you be alone.” With a wink he then walked away, only to be replaced by Adam. For a moment Drusilla felt as though she were back on Nathan’s ship under the stars.

  “She knows,” Drusilla muttered, watching the sky reflect on the surface of the water. Adam sighed. They both should have seen this coming. They never should have left Nathan alone with Lu.

  “I’m afraid she does as well. I just don’t want to worry Lillian. That’s the last thing she needs,” Adam agreed. Drusilla looked up at him.

  “Who is Lillian?” Drusilla asked.

  “Lillian is Nathan’s fiancée. He doesn’t know she’s still alive, though. Quite frankly, I hadn’t either until we were talking with Annloe. Lillian and I had met once or twice before the fire, but even then not long enough for her to probably remember. I used to work for Nathan’s father. Lillian’s father was also a merchant. The two families were close,” Adam explained, rolling up his sleeves and pushing back his hair. He was done hiding who was now, and Drusilla was happy for it. She liked seeing Adam so open. It fit him better.

  “Can you explain that tattoo now?” Drusilla inquired, brushing back her hair. Adam smiled.

  «I suppose it wouldn›t hurt at this point. I›m the prince of the Elven people. The ones you›ve seen at least. There are other groups as well. My mother, as you know, is Queen Avariana. My father was a fireblood who had taken refuge with the Elves. The two fell in love and married. However, because my father had no Elvish blood, he couldn’t rule the land. After I was born, he left the area and went exploring the world of Serentari. I only ever met him but a few times. When I was 16, I decided I wanted to leave Serentari and explore my father’s world, which is called Nacotari. My mother made me swear to return one day to rule the kingdom. This tattoo is the sign of the Elves. Its name, in your tongue, is the Three Point Symbol. It represents the close ties of the Elvish people and their power. It shows that I am to one day return to my home as king,” Adam explained. Drusilla slowly nodded. As she did, she began to realize that she loved Adam. Perhaps it wasn’t as strong as her feelings for Malcolm, but she truly loved Adam more than she realized. The thought of him leaving, of being without her, it hurt. She didn’t want to go through that, couldn’t.

  “Then you’ll have to leave her,” Drusilla remarked. “She would never be able to reach Serentari.” Adam smiled.

  «I›m okay with that. I don›t love her,» Adam confessed.

  “Who do you love then?” Drusilla inquired, studying his eyes. Adam just smiled and shook his head.

  “I’ll let you know when I figure that out, Sill. Then you can tell me who it is your heart longs for,” Adam suggested with a wink. Drusilla smiled.

  “That can be arranged,” Drusilla chuckled. Adam smiled at her once again before walking away. Drusilla sighed, letting a flame dance across her fingers, reflecting on the waves below. She smiled. For once she felt entirely in control of her life, completely herself. It was freeing, and Drusilla wouldn’t change it for the world. She was going to love being Drusilla Kloy, even if she didn’t make through the war alive.

  Chapter 3:

  Morning came with rain. Nathan cursed at their luck. He was also starting to wonder if he should have taken the Gem. Alas, it was too late and Drusilla was Beings knew where with it. He was wondering how she and Adam were doing. There was a heavy silence on the ship, making Nathan more uneasy than ever as he felt the tension between him and Lu grow stronger by the minute. The two didn’t even eat breakfast on the deck together. She took hers to her room. Nathan sighed, shaking his head as he looked out into the rain, seeing a dark shape on the horizon. He knew it as land. In most cases it would him smile, but now it just made him anxious, his heart racing. “Land ho,” he muttered half heartedly, looking over at Lu who just glared back at him. “Welcome to the land of the Brethren,” Nathan sighed, watching as the shore drew closer.

  “Perhaps we should get going then,” Lu suggested as they dropped the anchor. Nathan looked at her, the rain still pouring down.

  “Let’s pack first, Lu. We need food at the very least and our swords,” Nathan replied. Lu frowned, but nodded as she walked down to her room. Nathan went and threw some food in a bag and went to grab some clothes and his sword. Turning it in his hand, he realized how much nicer Adam’s was. One day he’d have to get a better one, he reflected. Then again, maybe the Fireblood Sword was nicer. Nathan smiled at that.

  “So we should get going then?” Lu asked as he stepped out of his room. She seemed a bit happier now, two bags of her own. Nathan slowly nodded.

  “Yes, let’s just get this over with,” Nathan muttered, making his way back out into the rain. They got into one of the rowboats and made their way to shore, ditching the boat there and heading towards the nearby woods. Cover would be useful in many ways, and Nathan preferred to spend as much time under it as he possibly could. Sighing, he began the long walk to Anikarra. They remained in silence until evening, when the two found a sturdy tree to climb in
to, glad the rain had ended, and glad to give their tired bodies some rest.

  The rain didn’t bother Herto’s crews that much. The day was spent preparing for battle anyways, going over weapons and maps. Most of them spent the day below deck until the rain finally stopped that evening for dinner. That was the first chance Drusilla had to be alone, and she was glad for it. She’d gotten too used to solitude as a Free Strider. Then again, even before that it had really just been her and her mother, and for a while Malcolm. However, Drusilla soon realized that she wasn’t going to be that lucky now. She had barely sat down to enjoy her dinner before Caleb walked over with that cocky smile of his. Drusilla groaned internally. He didn’t know when to give up, did he? “Well, if it isn’t Miss Free Strider sitting all alone!” Caleb called. Drusilla glared sharply at him. “Care for some company?” Drusilla sighed as Caleb promptly sat down next to her, the sharp smell of rum on his breath causing her to cough.

  “Actually, I’d like to be alone,” Drusilla muttered, not that Caleb seemed to notice or care. She was really starting to hate the man.

  «Come now, pretty girl, surely you must want some attention,» Caleb teased, playing with her hair. Drusilla jerked, realizing how drunk he was. She knew better than to stay sitting there. Enough time in enough inns had taught her that.

  “I don’t want attention, especially not the kind you wish to give. I came up here to be alone,” Drusilla growled, hand on her dagger. Caleb stood as well.

  “Don’t you like me?” Caleb inquired. “I’ve seen it in your eyes.” He cocked his head to the side with a smile. Drusilla stepped back.

  “Her heart belongs to another, Mr. Caleb,” a voice warned. Drusilla turned to see Adam. “Now, if I were you, I would get some rest. It’s a bad idea to be drunk before we land, which will be soon. Leave Drusilla alone,” Adam commanded like a true prince. The rays of the setting sun hit his jaw at the perfect angle, his dark gray shirt and Elven chain mail billowing against his figure. He had one hand on his sword, ready if needed. If this was the true Prince Adam, Drusilla certainly did not mind. He was stunning. The two men glared at each other, Adam’s eyes narrowing. Finally Caleb gave up and retreated below deck. Adam crossed his arms.