“Greetings, stranger. I apologize for a rude welcome, but what is this about?“ the man asked.
“I apologize for the intrusion, but is this the house of Mr. Collin Brooke?” Raven asked softly.
“Yes, is there a problem?” the man returned.
“Please call him, I want to tell him face to face,” Raven stated.
“Alright… sir… who should I say wants to see him?” the man pried.
“Raven,” Raven answered and pulled back his hood.
“… I… I am sorry, your highness, I didn’t recognize you,” the man stuttered as he realized who he is talking to.
“Please call Mr. Collin,” Raven insisted.
“Right… right away,” the man added and went inside. Soon after, he returned with a very similarly looking man, apparently his brother and an older man. Raven studied him carefully. The man was slim, his body strong and hands harsh. He was visibly used to manual labor.
“Are you…?” he breathed as he saw Raven.
“I am sorry for your loss,” Raven exhaled softly. The men stared stunned for a second. Collin’s eyes filled with tears. He had to sit down on a chair nearby.
“Dad… what is he talking about?” one of the brothers asked in confusion.
“Samantha Collins, your mother, has died during the attack on the city. She wished to keep her existence a secret, but… I believe she deserves better than to be buried among other slaves… just like you and your children deserve to know who she was, what she had sacrificed and what she had she done for all of you. I am sorry… I wish there were more I could have done for her,” Raven explained naturally as he could have while holding back his own tears.
“I knew her… I knew Sam ever since I was taken to the arena. She was… she was like a mother to her and me… Sam deserves to be remembered,” Raven added, then grit his teeth as his eyes started burning. He put the hood back on and spun on his heel to leave. He knew the men were saying something; he couldn’t hear them. All he could do was walk out. The finality of it pierced his heart like a burning spear.
Farewell Sam… I will more than miss you.
“I hereby start the meeting of the city council. First of all, I would like to warmly welcome the newest member, winner of the grand tournament and the official ruler Illysaeas, prince Raven,” Lord Ricochieu opened up the meeting. All nine members of the city council were looking at each other nervously. Prince Stallington was ruling the city for as long as anyone remembered. Now he was no more.
“I have four things I would like to go through,” Raven opened up.
“First, all forms of slavery are to be banned and be henceforth punishable by death. Any current slaves are to be released and paid out gold to start a new life. I have already put this in motion with all slaves I had inherited from Stallington,” Raven started.
The city council stared in amazement.
“Xona, Grimdawn, Nurnfell, Slupsey, Ulyssalom and Sonenheim have all done the same. The others will likely follow as well. This is a wise course of action. I believe we can vote straight upon it,” Lord Ricochieu concurred.
Raven The notion passed unanimously.
“Secondly, all forms of demons, their mutations and followers are to be hunted down and killed. I have already instructed the heads of the city garrison and of the hunting forces, I would just like to ask you to instruct your private men to do the same, so we have no conflict,” Raven announced.
“I am sorry to ask, but have you coordinated with count Salazar on this? It sounds exactly like the act the Xona council passed after the arrest of Mr. Leker,” one of the council members asked.
“I had. He sent me the text of his acts for inspiration, I have them here,” Raven smiled and put up two larger parchments on the table, “he also offered help in case slavers cause any trouble, but I don’t think we want it unless it is absolutely necessary.”
“Sounds good” the councilwoman smiled. The rest of the council agreed as well. All the laws were already in place, so it was more about the strength of commitment.
“Thirdly, lord of Ulyssalom sought me earlier today. He said he is afraid of the growing influence of Xona and would like to strike an alliance with us. I am up for it but told him that someone from the city council would seek him to discuss it further as I have little insight into these matters. He stays at the Golden Bell inn.” Raven announced.
“I shall invite him for a meeting here tomorrow if all agree, I believe this is a good chance we should not let slip.” lord Ricochieu concurred. The rest of the council agreed.
“Lastly, I will head out to see the world. As of now, I am taking a leave of absence from this council, without replacement and hand over all my properties and men into the care of the city council until my return,” Raven finished up.
“Shall we have any way to contact you?” a councilman asked.
“I doubt I would be able to travel anonymously enough to not be reachable by a courier,” Raven admitted.
“I hope you did not expect us to disagree with this one,” Lord Ricochieu chuckled.
“I did not.”
126
Miranda
Miranda didn’t want to go back to Illysaeas. Really, really, really didn’t want to go.
For as long as I don’t enter that room, I can give myself false hope.
The two-day trip to Illysaeas took Miranda almost a week. She only got there once she ran out of all the booze she took from Eliases ship and the nearby villages. She couldn’t sleep at all during the entire trip. When the nightmares of dying Nashimaeal didn’t show up, the nightmares of uncontrollably shaking bloodied Luna did. She remembered every detail. The torn muscles, bloody foam by the mouth, pulsating black veins. Miranda drunk herself until she passed out. She was completely decimated. I have no idea how to face any of this. The archbishop, her dear friend, died because of her getting overly emotional during a mission. Luna was dead and she couldn’t have saved her. Dead because of the course of action her Order took. Dead because her agents didn’t find the secret tunnel under the arena. Lucas may have taken the blame on himself, but she knew the truth.
Taking the blame to protect me. He didn’t miss the tunnel. The men I sent to find it missed it.
I missed it. Not him.
Come to think of it, Lucas clearly sent me on a non-combat mission to prevent me from doing something stupid… something suicidal.
That’s one more thing I have no idea how to deal with.
Miranda just drank and drank until it made her vomit. Then she continued drinking. Over and over, until she passed out. The next day was the same. The next one too. Then another, another and another until she finally arrived at Illysaeas.
The doors of her room were closed but not locked. Exactly how she left them. Her heart felt like it will stop any second. Her legs were heavy; stomach clenched like a fist and head spinning. She opened them up and walked in. Her eyes were hazy with tears, burning and wanting to burst. She softly walked to the bed. Luna’s body lay there motionless. Exactly how she left it. Miranda took off a glove and put her finger in front of Luna’s mouth and nose.
No breath.
Miranda collapsed to the ground, then sagged by the bed, leaning upon it. She had hoped, truly hoped for a miracle to happen. It didn’t.
Now what?
Tears started rolling down her cheeks. She had never cried in her life and this was the closest she got to it.
“I am sorry Luna… so… so… sorry. I missed the tunnel under the arena. I didn’t send enough men to find it. I know. Now you lie here because of it. You are dead because of me… because I was careless. Careless and proud. I would have had enough men if I didn’t lose them in Cindewell… where I attacked a man I was told not to… I was proud… too proud of my strength… I just couldn’t imagine I could lose,” Miranda breathed, “Nashimaeal is dead. That’s on me too. I wanted to avenge you. Avenge you to the point where everyone loosely related would be dead. Avenge you to lift the blame off me. I
left Nash alone in there… and he died. Died because I was too busy killing everything I saw instead of being there to help him. You know what’s the worst part? I knew it’s pointless. I knew it wouldn’t help… but I did it anyway. Now I am just empty. I got that revenge would have had it without even being there… and there is nothing left. Two people I care about are dead. You are dead. Nashimaeal is dead… I have nothing to show for it. Just my own blame. My own emptiness… I am sorry… so… so sorry.”
“I don’t blame you,” whispered Luna as she put her hand on Miranda’s head.
“Wha…??” Miranda turned her head in disbelief.
“I thought it would be fun to play dead for a bit… sorry,” Luna made an awkward smile.
“Ho… how?”
“No idea. All I remember is a big grey wolf,” Luna motioned Miranda to come to bed. Miranda crawled up into it and gripped Luna into a firm hug, pushing her face into Luna’s chest.
“Ugggh… you stink like a rotten horse marinated in booze,” Luna shrugged.
“Please… just… hold me.”
127
Raven
Do not be afraid of freedom.
Samantha’s last words echoed through his head as he sat on a horse and looked at the gate in front. He was beyond happy to see Luna was alive, at least someone survived. It was also fun to just walk up to the Palai barracks and leave without anyone daring to stop him. One feature of being a prince.
Do not be afraid of freedom.
Easier said than done! I have no idea where the Lake of Dreams is supposed to be… but there is one way to find out.
Raven made the horse move forward and left through the gate. The burned fields and forest around Illysaeas looked depressing, but there were already people cleaning them up and planting new seeds for late harvest. Raven passed on the road until he reached the forest.
Roads are boring; I want to see a forest up close.
He got off the horse and led it into the forest. It left him speechless. For hours he just wandered around, amazed by all life that was surrounding him. It was so calm. So different from everything he knew. He wandered around until the darkness started falling. Raven focused and heard the crackling of fire not so far away. He led his horse toward it. At a small meadow among the trees sat a silvery-haired man with a shaved face. He was dressed in black tunic and pants, had a brown hooded traveling cloak wrapped around him and was drinking from a large jug. There was a smaller animal being roasted above the fire and an old horse eating the grass nearby.
“Greetings stranger,” the man greeted Raven.
“Greetings,” Raven replied.
“Come take a seat, the nights are cold in the forest,” the man offered. Raven thanked him and sat down. “Lost in the woods? Where are you headed if I may ask,” the stranger pried.
“Lake of Dreams,” Raven replied.
“I’m off to Alexandria, that’s a bit beyond the lake,” the stranger stated.
“May I ask for directions?” Raven probed.
“Why don’t you tag along instead? It’s more fun than traveling alone.”
“I would prefer not to… people around me tend to end up badly,” Raven refused.
“Don’t worry about that. I am a demon hunter, I will end up badly whether you are with me or not,” the stranger chuckled. Raven took a pause to consider. He hated being alone… but didn’t want to endanger anyone. Then again, the man who seeks danger by himself will only get safer by having a companion for the way. Plus killing demons was something that Raven sympathized with.
“Want a sip?” the man broke his thoughts and offered the jug to Raven. Raven took it and took a large gulp. The wine was strong. It was the best wine he had ever tasted.
“I am Raven,” he breathed and offered a hand.
“Lucas,” the stranger smiled as they shook hands.
THE END
The legend continues . . .
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To my most beloved wife and my most favorite brother.
To my least beloved wife and my least favorite brother,
both of whom happen to be the same person.
Legacy of Dreams: Freedom Page 56
