by Cox, Craig
"Serves you right, you always dive into trouble."
"I don’t dive into trouble, trouble just seems to find me." Alex rolled his eyes, as he watched Braden finally get his shirt off.
"So are you nervous?" He asked.
"What, about becoming a Lord of Arda? The Lord of the Rose Tower and High Duke of the White Hills, protector of the innocent and the justice of my people. And any other titles I shall inherit from my father?"
"Is that a yes?"
"No I'm not nervous, to be honest. It still sounds and feels so false. I'm not scared of the titles, if I'm nervous about anything, it’s taking responsibility of caring for all those people and having all the power that will be in my hands."
"Well you can still back out you know, we can go back to the shires?"
“We would be leaving our friends here, Ashe, Page, Mace, Jorge even Panorin, they have put their faith in me, I have to repay that faith."
"Your sense of honour will get you killed one day."
"Probably but at least I know you will be right behind me, being my friend and all."
"I'm not dying for your sense of honour."
They both laughed together before turning over and going to sleep.
Chapter XXXV
Ashe
She lay there staring at the ceiling, she couldn’t sleep. How could she sleep? In less than thirty six hours Braden was either going to become a High Lord of Arda or be taken away to be executed for treason. It was the early hours of the morning, she judged by looking at the candle on the small dressing table in the room, she had only had about a half an hour’s sleep so far. At first she had worried about Braden, then she couldn’t stop thinking about the book, Kingston had given her. She had spent the next two hours reading and practicing until she collapsed from exhaustion, but that lasted a short while, before she was woken by a nightmare.
"Ashe."
The word was almost a whisper. She sat bolt upright in the bed, the covers falling away leaving her chest bare. She grabbed the sheets again to cover herself, in case someone was in the room. She looked around but could see no-one. The door was still closed and locked. She shifted around in the bed letting her feet dangle over the side. Ashe thought about the voice, it was familiar but for a while she couldn’t figure out to whom it belonged. She was convinced she was alone, so dropped the sheets, put her head in her hands and began rubbing her temples. It always helped her relax and hopefully from there, drift off to sleep. Then it came to her.
"Father."
She looked up in hope, that he was somewhere in the room. She jumped to her feet letting the rest of the cover fall away. She stood naked in the middle of the room, her head darting backwards and forward before dropping to her chest.
"Oh Ashe."
She was talking to herself, she must have been over-tired and her mind playing tricks on her. Her father had died years ago, she had seen the limp body as the men had piled it onto the back of the cart to take back to Baron Gillard. He was gone. Ashe felt tears run down her cheeks as she thought about how he had died, for only a few pieces of gold. She wiped her face and turned back to the bed. As she pulled the covers over her body, she saw a light under the door. It was bright and unnatural and she recognised it immediately. She jumped back out of bed, quickly pulling on a few odd clothes enough to cover herself before opening the door into the main room. Ashe didn’t look to see if the others were in the room or even if they were awake. She moved directly onto the balcony where the light was coming from. As she stepped out onto the balcony there was only one of the women, looking out over the city. Before Ashe could say or do anything the others appeared in front of the first, they floated above the city not seeming to notice that they were hundreds of feet above the ground. Ashe watched as an argument began between the first women and the man standing opposite her. One by one the others got involved in the quarrel. After standing for a few minutes watching the argument she realised that she couldn’t hear anything. It was silent, only the sound of the wind convinced her she wasn’t deaf. Slowly each of the seven other women stepped away from the man and came and joined the first woman standing on the balcony. Finally, when he was left on his own the man bowed his head and walked over to the woman. He embraced her warmly, his gaze falling on Ashe before he disappeared from view. The other women quickly followed suit until only the first was left alone. She turned to Ashe and waved her over, Ashe was hesitant at first but the woman's eyes were pure and warm, calming her. She stepped up next to the woman who smiled before turning back out to the city, raising her hand she pointed up to the sky to a group of stars. Then she slowly disappeared and as the last of her body vanished, the star she had pointed to, flashed brightly. Ashe watched as the star flashed and then began to move, at first slowly in the dark sky, then faster and faster until Ashe was convinced it was falling out of the sky. She watched it streak past the other stars finally disappearing behind a group of hills in the distance, a second later the sky was filled with a flash of light causing Ashe to close her eyes. When she opened them again she was staring back at the ceiling of her room, under the covers of her bed. She sat upright looking to the door which was still locked, no sign of light beneath it. She turned over realising it was just a dream, she needed sleep, for the next day was going to be a big day. She pulled the sheets up and rubbed her arms pulling down her sleeves and burying herself into her shirt to warm herself up as she drifted off to sleep.
Chapter XXXVI
Braden
Braden sat staring over the books laid out in front of him on Page's desk, he could hear Troy trying to mouth words on the balcony with Page. The old man had taken it upon himself to teach the boy to read. Troy was picking it up quickly but was still struggling with some of the more complex words. Braden had been taught first by his mother and then by Bronn. Soon after he had begun to train with a sword.
“A swordsman's mind should be as sharp as his blade”
He had always quoted when Braden had complained about reading yet another book instead of being out in the fields in the sun. He gazed back over everything in front of him, it was a combination of books on the Drake lands, their family history, the history of Arda and it’s royal family and also one on proper etiquette between nobility. It was a lot to take in and he was sure the majority of it would slip out of his mind as soon as it went in. He rubbed his eyes for the fourth time in as many minutes, the sun had reached its zenith and had started to go down a few hours ago. He had been at this since the morning. He had been about to travel out with Ashe into the city, when Page had grabbed him and pulled him back to the desk. She was going to see if she could find Kingston again and try and learn more about him and the book. Alex had left before sunrise to go to Cecile's workshop, he was determined to be there for every hammer stroke of the new armour that Cecile was forging.
"A Lord must first be greeted by his full name and title, example 'Lord Edward Kar', once you have been greeted in kind, you are able to address him by just his title and family name."
Braden continued reading the book aloud. It seemed to sink in quicker when he read it aloud.
"Lord Braden Drake."
He looked up to see Page standing in front of him, the old man smiled back at him.
"It doesn't sound right." Braden questioned.
"Well you will need to get used to it. Lord Drake."
"Please don’t, please call me Braden."
"I am only teasing Braden, but you do know that as from tomorrow I will be forced by society to refer to you as Lord Drake."
"Only if the King accepts me."
"Well, I see no reason why he shouldn’t. The evidence we have in your favour, should win us the day and you your lands and titles."
"Should? That doesn't sound very convincing."
"Minor details, now come over here."
Braden moved out from behind the desk, his legs ached from being bent for so long, stretching them out as he walked over to the old man near the balcony. As he got clos
er, Page turned away gesturing him to follow him onto the balcony. Stepping into the light he looked over to see Troy sitting with his back against the stone pillar. He had three books around him with a further one in his hand, he was reading aloud to Magnus who sat at his feet. He glanced up to Braden with a big grin on his face and large bags under his eyes.
"Braden, do you know the story of the Bard and the Lion?"
"Yes I read that one as a child, have you got to the end yet?"
"No why, what happens?" He asked.
"I won’t spoil it for you. Go on, get back to it."
Troy jumped back to his book with a new vigour, as Braden turned back to Page, who was gazing out into the horizon. Braden moved next to him. Page had supplied him with a complete new wardrobe including three sets of general clothes, one set currently being made by Panorin, and a full set of riding gear. Braden wondered how much it had cost him to feed and clothe the group. Ashe had spoken to Panorin's girls, who had told her that the clothes that had been made by the tailor would cost more than some of the Knights would earn in a year. The man was apparently the most sought-after tailor in Arda, but somehow for Page, he had come within forty eight hours. Braden looked over towards the old man, and wondered how many favours had he used since they had arrived in Alton.
"It has cost a lot, not only in a monetary terms but in others ways also." Page said.
"What?"
"I could tell you have been wondering, I would be if I was in your place. Yes this has cost me a lot Braden, in some cases I have had to use favours that I had been storing up for years, to get you in front of the King without having your head chopped off, and mine too."
"Your head?"
"Pretending to be a nobleman is a capital offence, one that’s punishable by death. I assume you had read that part in the books I gave you? What it doesn't say is that anyone in league with the offending party is also punishable by death. So that means me."
"But that also means, Alex and Ashe and even Troy."
Braden had raised his voice, he hadn’t realised that he was putting his friends in danger. He had left Farnshire to get away from the danger not to endanger the others further. He understood that he would be in danger but not them.
"No, do not worry, I have made steps to ensure that they are not involved. If anything goes wrong it will come down to me and you. And do not worry, nothing is going to happen to us anyway."
Braden turned and looked at Troy who was still engrossed in his book, his heart had leapt for a moment wondering what was going to happen to them all. As he continued looking down at the boy Page placed a hand on his shoulder.
"I know how much your friends mean to you Braden, so I have made sure that they are safe, no matter what happens. This is your birth-right, this belongs to you as much as that ring and your sword. Now relax, it’s quiz time, what do you do when you first meet the King?"
Chapter XXXVII
Ashe
Ashe took a seat at the same table as she had sat the day before. She wore a different cloak just in case any of the regular patrons recognised her. She had spent most of her life in constant suspicion of everyone around her. She had changed her attire and looks as much as possible and had kept on the move. She had only been at the table ten minutes when Kingston stopped beside her.
"Good day Ashe. How are we this fine day?"
"Hello Mr Lyfield, I am ok. I didn’t come here for pleasantries though, I came because of the book."
A smile appeared on the old man's face, at first it looked cold then Ashe realised it was more like relief.
"I hoped as much but this is not the best place for us to discuss this. Please follow me, my shop is not too far from here and we can talk more openly."
Before Ashe could answer, he turned away from her and began walking back up the street waving his stick out in front of him, Ashe got up slowly from her seat and began to follow Kingston through the crowd. As he walked, he caught a few people on the shin and the back of their legs. Most people kept out of the old man's way, allowing the two of them to make good time through the streets. His shop was just a few roads away. From the outside it looked like any book-store, but as she stepped inside Ashe noticed that it wasn’t exactly the most popular store on the street. The shelves were covered in dust, much of Kingston's stock hadn't been touched or cleaned in years. She stood in the door-way looking over the shop, the years of mistrust was built up in her mind and forced her to stop.
"Ashe, do you mind closing the door please. It does get a little draughty in here if it’s kept open."
She pushed the fear to the back of her mind and closed the door. Kingston made his way behind the counter towards the rear of the shop feeling his way around until he came across a stool he was looking for. Plonking himself down onto it, he twisted his legs under the counter and faced in the general direction of the door and Ashe. She slowly made her way across the room, purposely moving to one side to see if the old man's head followed her. She got within touching distance of the counter, he moved again. Reaching under the counter, he pulled out a book similar in size to the one, he had given her the day before.
"Did you bring the book I gave to you yesterday?"
Instinctively, she reached to where the book was hidden under her cloak, she rubbed her fingers over the edge and the cover.
"Yes. I did."
"Well good, I hope it taught you something useful."
"Unfortunately, I couldn’t read it, so I actually came to return it."
Kingston cocked his head to one side still looking straight ahead, he pursed his lips before shaking his head.
"Either you were not taught very well or you are lying to me, which is it? Even if your education in the subject matter is lacking you would at least know some of the basic language used in the book."
"Sorry, I could understand some of it but the rest was in another language." She replied.
"Arceair, are you telling me you never heard of it." Kingston said strongly.
Ashe was caught unaware by the sudden power in his voice, it took her a few more seconds to really understand what he had said. He had said the word for fire in Old Imperial, at first she was shocked but then she realised he must understand the old language, he had at least one book in the language and potentially another out in front of him.
"So Ashe, do you know the word? Do not lie to me, please I am old and do not have time for liars. I can see the fire, the magic in you."
"But how? You’re..."
"My eyes? Just because I am blind it does not mean that I cannot see. I can see the magic in you as clearly as you can see me. Why do you think I was so sure in my conviction that you were who I said you were?"
Ashe slowly began to back away from the old man towards the door, panic was seeping through her entire body. Her head was twitching from side to side, her eyes trying to cover every dark corner of the room to see if anything, anyone was hidden, waiting to pounce on her. She raised her hands ready to defend herself when Kingston raised his own.
"Ashe, please do not be alarmed. No one is here but you and I."
"How can I take your word for that?" Ashe said as she continued to move closer to the door.
"Don’t you realise that I would be locked up in the Citadel Tower, if anyone knew I had this power."
"No, they would have you in the street seeking Arcanes to capture." He hesitated for a second before smiling again.
"Well yes, I guess they would. But why would I have given you that book and waited for you to come to me. If I was working with someone wouldn’t I just give the word as soon as I saw you in the street? Look Ashe, as I said I am no threat to you. I am a historian of the Arcane arts, I have trained and studied with some of the most powerful Arcanes in the past five decades, I have lived to pass on that knowledge to the next Arcane. You."
Ashe was now backed up against the door, she had her hand around the door knob ready to escape at a moment’s notice.
"Ashe, Arcane of Fire."
&
nbsp; She stopped, the door was slightly ajar. The passion on Kingston's face was hard to ignore, it was almost as if the years of pent-up frustration were pouring out. How long had he been living here like this, waiting for an Arcane. She pushed the door shut, the sound of the latch seemed to calm the old man's face. He dropped his head to the book still in front of him, he ran his fingers across the cover and smiled.
"The book I gave you is only one among many written by the old Arcane Council, long before even the Kingdom of Arda existed. The one I gave you lists only the art of fire and its uses, this one however, is the first book. It was originally given to the new students upon their arrival to the Old Council, it is basic, but I implore you to read it all. You will learn much about your talents."
He slid the book across the surface before looking up to her face.
"You do not know how happy I am to see magic again."
The smile across his face was genuine even childish, it reminded Ashe of a child receiving his birthday present. She reached over and picked up the book, again a symbol was emblazoned on the front, she ran her fingers over it before flipping it open the first page. She spent a few minutes skimming over the words. Kingston was right, it was basic stuff, a lot of it she knew already. She smiled to the old man closing the book and placing it in her cloak, next to the first one.
"Thank you."
"No Ashe, Thank You."
Chapter XXXVIII
Braden
He had finally been let out of the room and also he had been let out of the Citadel. Braden didn’t think Page would let him out of his sight, after what had happened the previous day, but after half a day of his constant complaining about the mountain of papers which the old man kept putting in front of him, along with a promise that he would to be back before the sun-set. Page had reluctantly let him go. Until sun-set, had at the time, seemed a good deal but once he finally stepped outside the Citadel's great gates, Braden realised he didn’t actually have much time at all, two hours at the most. Instead of taking a random wander into the city he had an actual destination in mind. He had asked directions from one of the guards who had pointed him in the right direction. The guard had told him it would take about twenty minutes to get there but it had taken him well over half an hour. Once he had got out of the district, the crowds had slowed down his progress. After five minutes of shoulder-to-shoulder pushing through the streets Braden watched as a nobleman rode past, the crowds parted to let the man pass making sure they were not crushed under the horse’s hooves. As he watched him ride by, Braden made a mental note to write down that one of the positives of becoming a nobleman meant no more queuing.
