by Day Leitao
“What’s that?”
“You don’t know it? It’s the capital, right by the Queen’s castle.”
“Oh.” She didn’t know much about Whyland. Yeah, she had a book at home, but it had only images. How was Karina supposed to know the name of any place?
“Just a four-hour flight.”
Flight? They were going to fly there? Karina was ecstatic. At the same time, she was surprised that they were going so far. Last time she’d been in Whyland everything had been in a walking distance—even if a few-day walking distance—or short flight radius.
“But we have to get to my lift first,” Sian said. “It’s just by the Darloom castle.”
“Isn’t it dangerous going there?”
“There’s danger everywhere.”
“More Kyons?”
“They are not the only dangerous thing looming over Whyland right now.”
“Are you going to tell me about it?”
“We’ll figure it all out. Together.”
Figure it out wasn’t very reassuring. Karina shivered.
Sian looked at her. “Listen, I don’t want to make you…” He rolled his eyes. “Uncomfortable. But I’m wearing long sleeves under my coat. You have nothing on your arms. I can lend you my coat. If it doesn’t offend you.”
Karina noticed his long overcoat. It looked nice. And it was true that he seemed to have warm clothes underneath it. But he was so tall. “I think it’s too long. I don’t want to trip on it.”
He looked at it, then looked at her and sighed.
They walked a few more minutes. Karina didn’t see the dreaded castle with the garden. Instead, they came to the door of a different building. It was actually a door closing a rock formation, like a cave. It had a key lock, and Karina was surprised that it didn’t have anything fancier like some sort of combination or crystal. Sian had a key in his pocket and opened it. Inside, there was a white oval machine with a round part on top, something like a zeppelin would be if it had been made in one piece.
“I’m going to apologize. This is not my real lift and it’s not in great shape. It was just so I wouldn’t be tracked.”
Karina shrugged. “So?”
Sian slid a door. The lift was very small. It had four seats in two rows and some space on the back. It was much smaller than the lifts she had seen before, which had two compartments and a large area on the back that could fit a large table and even have two beds opened on it. “It’s just small.”
“Not that. It’s old. My lift was small as well. My personal one. I don’t mean the one from the army.”
That made sense. Except that a teenager having the equivalent of a private helicopter was not as normal as Karina would have expected. But then, his father had been the commander of the king’s army. Maybe his family had money, or whatever the equivalent of it was in their terms. Of course, everything was different now that the king had been deposed. Sian was likely the one who cared that his lift was now old.
They entered, and he closed the door. The thing had a black panel. Sian sat down and rested his head on the panel.
“Are you all right?” Karina asked.
He put his hands on his face and rubbed it. “I didn’t sleep.”
If it was true that he had been watching the tower, then he hadn’t had any sleep. “You must be exhausted.”
“I shouldn’t. I trained for it. I could go for two days without sleep.”
“Did you eat anything?”
“Why? Are you hungry?”
Now that he mentioned it, yes, but it wasn’t why she asked. “I’m asking for you. You can’t have spent an entire day without eating or sleeping.”
“I trained for it,” he repeated.
“Fair enough, even if you trained, your time's up.”
The issue was where they'd find food, though. She didn’t think there would be a grocery store or restaurant nearby.
Sian closed his eyes as if thinking, then said, “There’s a village nearby. We could go there. I’m sorry, I can’t go all the way to Siphoria.”
“It’s fine.”
He passed his hands on the panel. Red, pink, and blue lights flickered. Nothing in it suggested that it was old. The lift was made of a dark material that looked like acrylic or plastic. Okay, there was also a difference in the lights. This lift didn’t have bright lights on the ceiling. In fact, it had no light at all other than what was in the panel casting a red glow over Sian’s face. The lift ascended. Karina feared it would hit the ceiling, but there was no ceiling, just something soft, like fake rock made of fabric, and the lift passed through it. Karina looked outside the window and saw only dark trees. There were no lights anywhere around the area they’d been.
The lift shook a little, like turbulence on a plane.
Sian grimaced. “I told you. It’s old.”
“As long as it doesn’t crash.”
“Hopefully it won’t.”
And here Karina was, having destroyed her way back home, flying in the dark, with no clue what was going to happen, why those creatures were chasing her, and how exactly she’d help Sian sort it all out. Somehow, she liked it.
8
The Village
After flying for some twenty minutes, they landed on the top of a hill, with no houses around them. Karina looked around, wondering where the village would be.
Sian observed her. “We’ll walk there. I didn’t want them to see we flew here. Be on your guard. And don’t say my name.”
“Because of your father?”
“We're in the south. Apparently, things were ugly over here, and my father was the king's commander.”
Karina remembered that. “That’s why they rebelled, right?”
“But that’s the thing, they didn’t outright rebel. The rebellion came from within the army. I think my brother had an important role in it. But it doesn’t matter. The King has been deposed, my father is no longer around…”
“But you supported your father.”
“I supported what I thought was right. I was mostly in Siphoria.” He looked away and scoffed. “It doesn’t matter anymore.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Why sorry? There’s no loss, no failure, only learning and experience.”
Karina swallowed. Right. She remembered how he was confident that he was going to conquer the kingdom, and how she’d teleported and warned the people in the castle. She shivered as she wondered whether he knew her part in his defeat. Actually, thinking about his bright, intelligent eyes, he probably knew. But Karina hadn’t been a major player in that conflict.
She said, “I’m assuming it was Lylah who made a difference.”
He raised an eyebrow. “It was my own ignorance of magic that made a difference.”
There was an edge to his voice, Karina wasn't sure of what. She asked, “And what do you want to do after all is said and done, and the master of the Darloom castle is defeated?”
“Defeated isn’t the right word. I would say putting the Darloom Castle under control. One thing at a time. We’ll focus on the rest later.” He pointed to a direction where there were some lights. “We’re getting there.”
There were some small houses made of cement or something like it, painted yellow or orange. Lamps that looked like gas lamps hung in front of the houses, most of them extinguished now, just a light here and there. There were also a few pens with chickens and vegetable gardens. They walked on a stone footpath in the middle of the village.
Karina smiled. “This is a cute village.”
Sian grimaced. “It’s all right, I guess. My brother was raised in a village like this but in the north.”
“Weren’t you raised together?”
“I grew up in the castle and the military academy.”
Sian sounded jealous of his brother, which was weird if he’d been the one raised in the castle.
“Why do you dislike him?”
“Dislike him? You have the wrong impression. I’ve risked my life for my brother, I’ve lied and do
ne even worse for my brother, and I’ve protected him as much as I could. Now ask him what he’s done for me.”
“He got me here.”
“He owed me one or two. It’s fair. And I’m sure he did it only because it would have looked bad if he refused to help his brother.” Sian changed his tone and said, “We have to find their leader’s house. It should have a star or a different symbol in the front.”
Karina got the cue that he wanted to change the subject and didn’t ask about his brother anymore.
There was nobody outside, and Karina didn’t see any different markings on any house. Finally, a woman came walking in their direction. She had long grey hair and blue eyes and wore a long gown with a coat over it.
“Are you lost?” she asked.
Sian said, “We are looking for lodgings for the night.”
The woman shook her head. “There are no hostels here.”
“I can pay,” Sian said. “If anyone is willing to provide a meal and two beds.”
“We have no use for your money. But we do help poor travelers. Beg and I’ll help you.”
Karina didn’t know Sian that well, but she doubted she would ever beg for anything. She started to say, “He hasn’t eaten for—” but Sian spoke at the same time, “My friend needs something to—” They looked at each other.
The woman laughed. “I like you. You’re my guests for dinner. Come.”
They sat at a wooden table on a kitchen surrounded by wooden cupboards. The old woman, Faria, worked on the stove. She had lent Karina a colorful knitted shawl. Sian said his name was Jojo, and Karina had to contain her laughter. She said her name was Zoe.
Faria sat down. “We’re far from all cities in Whyland. Where were you going?”
“Traveling.” Sian shrugged. “Beautiful scenery and stuff.”
Faria laughed. “Not lost? Fool yourself as much as you want.”
Karina noticed the woman had very light blue eyes, like a blind person, but she had shown them the way and was cooking like someone who saw well. She also looked at their direction when speaking.
Sian said, “As long as I’m getting somewhere, I can’t be lost, can I?”
Faria shook her head. “Sometimes it’s better not to go anywhere than to go on the wrong direction.”
Karina disagreed. “But then you’re not going to know it’s wrong. You need the experience.”
Faria laughed. “Oh, do you, now? You can’t know?”
The woman’s stare was uncomfortable, but Karina held hers. “Not always.”
The woman laughed again, got up, poured a thick soup on three bowls, and set them on the table.
Sian pushed his bowl. “I don’t need it, I’m not hungry.”
Karina glared at him, but he didn’t seem to notice.
Faria sat down. “Oh, you are going to quench your hunger with pride? And the girl will think you’re rude. Do you want to be rude?”
Sian glanced at Karina, then answered, “I didn’t mean that. I’m sorry. I appreciate your kindness.”
Karina tried a spoon. It barely had any taste, and the thing sort of stuck on her throat, with a rubbery feel. She wasn’t sure she would be able to eat it. She took another spoon and felt that although the taste wasn’t great, it was filling. Actually, as she ate, it started to taste good. It filled something inside her that was not yearning for food, but she didn’t know what it was. Sian ate slowly, as someone who was not hungry, but his spoon hand was trembling. He must have been starving. Stupid pride. But he accepted a second serving.
The woman then served them tea. It was sweet, but not sugary, it was more as if it was made of some herb that had a sweet taste. As they sat, Faria showed the paintings of a young man and a young woman on the wall.
“Boy, look at them,” she said. “Aren’t they beautiful?”
Sian looked. “Are they your kids?”
“They were,” she replied.
“I’m sorry,” he said.
Faria stared at Sian. “Are you now? Do you know who killed them?”
Sian put his tea on the table and sat back. His body was relaxed, but his eyes were alert. “I don’t, but if you want to talk about it, I’ll be happy to hear it.”
The woman had a bitter laugh. “You’ll close your eyes and ears and ignore what doesn’t suit you. My kids, my babies, were murdered under General Keen’s orders.” She stared at Sian. “Now, I can’t have my children back, but I could kill one of his children.”
Sian listened and didn’t move. The woman knew who he was. Karina feared that she would attack him, but he didn’t seem afraid and just sat back.
Faria stared at Sian, “I could, and it would be easy. That would feed my revenge, my hate. I would think it would satisfy me, but it wouldn’t. Hate doesn’t solve anyone’s problems.”
“I appreciate it,” Sian said. He didn’t sound sarcastic or bitter, just honest. “You do realize I didn’t choose my parents, don’t you? And I didn’t choose to be raised by my father. But I’m really sorry for what has happened to your family. I am.”
“You show potential, boy, use it right. That’s all I ask.” She turned to Karina. “You, girl, you have a kind heart. Trust it.”
Karina dropped her spoon. Being addressed out of the blue like that had startled her.
Faria continued, “I’m assuming you won’t accept my offer for beds, after what I said.”
Sian shrugged. “I wouldn’t have a problem with that. Now that you made it clear you don’t plan on killing me, I can lie down in peace with the certainty that I won’t be murdered in my sleep.” Again he sounded honest, almost sweet.
Faria shook her head. “I won’t. But I can’t guarantee somebody else in this village won’t try. I suggest you go away from here and find another place to sleep. A few minutes flight will take you far enough. The soup will give you strength.”
Sian got up. “Thank you for your kindness.” He seemed sincere.
Faria laughed. “Come here, Sian, I need to tell you something.”
Sian approached without any fear. Karina almost held him back, afraid that the woman would do something to him, even though she had kind eyes and seemed willing to help.
The woman whispered something on his ear. Sian glanced at Karina, surprised, then he shook his head and glared at the woman. “Thank you,” he said. “We’re leaving.”
Faria said, “But I had something to tell her.”
Sian stepped in front of Karina and extended his arms as if protecting her. “You’re not telling her anything.” He turned to Karina. “Let’s go.”
Karina was curious and met his eyes. “I want to hear it.”
His face was a mixture of pain and pleading. “Please don’t.”
There was something about his voice, pleasant and almost soothing and she had trouble contradicting him.
“Fine, let’s go,” Karina said.
The woman had watched their interaction with a strange smile. Maybe it was indeed better not to hear whatever she wanted to say. As they left, Faria winked at Karina.
As they walked back to the lift, Karina was curious and finally asked, “What did she say?”
Sian shrugged. “It was personal.”
“You looked at me. I thought—”
“The world obviously revolves around you.”
Karina didn’t think that. What bothered her most is that she would have to die not knowing what the woman had said, and she hated not knowing something.
Sian looked at her and smiled. “One day I’ll tell you.”
His smile was actually sweet, and Karina had to remind herself that he hadn’t woken up when she kissed him. There was nothing there. Karina looked down. “I was afraid. Faria seemed nice, but—”
“She just wanted to brag about how nice she was that she wasn’t going to kill me. Maybe that gave her some consolation.”
“You shouldn’t have to answer for your father’s crimes.”
Sian took a deep breath and looked away. “Ruthless and vi
olent.” He snorted. “I was his right hand, though. But it shouldn’t matter, should it? Now that he’s gone. And yet it does.”
“What do you mean gone?”
“Pride. He would rather die than be defeated.”
Karina looked down. “I’m sorry.”
“It was his choice.”
Sian was proud as well, though. A fear crossed Karina’s mind. “You’re not like that, are you?”
“I don’t think I’ve ever used violence if I could do otherwise. So I think I’m different from my father. Or I hope. But yes, I’m proud. The difference is that for me there is no failure, only strategic retreat. People go on and on about how to attack, when in fact knowing when to retreat is more important.” He stared straight at her. “I never lose.”
There was something fiery and fierce in those eyes, and something alarming in what he’d said. Red flags came out in Karina’s mind, but she wasn’t sure what exactly they were signaling. It was just another reminder that she shouldn’t fall for his charm—as if he had any. But at least he’d stopped with all the silly jokes about Karina jumping into his arms or ripping out his heart. She just hoped he wouldn’t rip hers.
Sian was entering a dark cave, with damp walls. He asked her to follow him, but she was afraid of going inside, so he went in without her. Karina was left alone in a dark forest at night, her body trembling in fear. A light appeared in the distance.
It was Faria, with a lantern. “What are you doing here?”
“He left me,” Karina said. “I refuse to go there. But now I’m here, and…” She was going to say that it was dangerous, but the forest had grown calm.
“Don’t you understand? You should have asked him to stay.”
“He stays if he wants to. It’s not my job to ask.”
“So you’re proud as well? I guess that explains it.”
“Explains what? What?” Karina asked. But she wasn’t in a forest, and she wasn’t near Faria. She was sitting in a very uncomfortable seat in an old flying craft in a parallel dimension, covered only by a colorful shawl. She looked out the window and noticed they were flying. There wasn’t much to see, as it was night.
