First Comes The One Who Wanders

by Lynette S. Jones

  “I was beginning to wonder if we were going to get to eat,” he remarked, as he gnawed contentedly on a bone. “You didn’t bother mentioning you gave me the last of your food this morning.”

  “I figured we could find something,” replied Leilas, wrapping the uneaten meat in leaves and packing it away. She’d already set aside some of the vegetables.

  “Yes, the Creator does provide,” agreed Cephom.

  Leilas wished she could be as certain as her companion was of that, but said nothing. Throwing her pack down as a back rest, she settled in for the night, a cup of warm creekgrass tea in her hand and the blanket over her feet. Cephom rested against the saddle and softly began to sing.

  By the sea, where the sea creatures play,

  Pillars tall, where few dare to travel,

  Those who came, honored Sylph with tokens,

  From the creatures that were his alone.

  From his creation will come one piece.

  In the land where fire reigns, lay fields of rock and glass.

  Glass of darkness, glass of fire, homage to the crafter Crog.

  In the evil forest, in an empty circle, will come the second.

  One from Sea, one from Fire, half is found.

  In the mountain, where the stars have fallen,

  Those who look to the sky come to pay homage to the crafter of the stars.

  In the Mountain lies the stone, in which the crystal orb will set.

  Caves seemingly of ice, but truly made of stone.

  The gift of the crafter Anhj.

  An orb cut from the rock that sparkles like the rainbow.

  In the mirrored depths lies this precious gem.

  One of Sky, one of Land, all are found.

  Fire and Sea, Sky and Land come together with power.

  The scar is healed with an act of love.

  Leilas had slipped almost into a waking sleep as Cephom sang. Visions of each place flashed through her mind as he sang of it. Only the ending seemed to be still swirling in the mists. Trying to clear her mind, Leilas wondered if this were some kind of spell Cephom was weaving over her. If it was, it was too late to try to protect herself from it.

  “You’re safe, Chidra,” said Cephom softly. “Sleep now, I’ll keep watch.”

  The last thing Leilas remembered was wrapping up and drinking her tea. Now it was morning and her cup had fallen from her hand and lay on the ground next to her. Cephom was already moving about, preparing leftovers from the night before into some sort of breakfast. He’d found some eggs and had added them to the mix. Stretching as she rose from the ground, Leilas looked around. Everything seemed to be in order, except her thoughts. They seemed scattered.

  “You slept well last night,” said Cephom, handing her some food and tea. “You must have needed the sleep.”

  “It has been awhile,” admitted Leilas, “what with all these dark creatures going to join the war, looking for people to harass on the way.”

  “Some that are specifically looking for you,” added Cephom. Leilas looked up startled at the crafter’s shrewd guess. “It makes for sleepless nights.”

  “Yes, it can,” agreed Leilas.

  Leilas ate the food Cephom offered, and then helped him pack. They were on their way before the sun had moved two hours higher in the sky. “You’re from the sea,” interjected Leilas, in one of Cephom’s few pauses.

  “Yes, of course I am. I told you that.”

  “Yes, you did. I was wondering, since you’re from the sea, if you could tell me about Sylph?”

  “What would you like to know about Sylph?” asked Cephom, becoming reticent to speak for the first time on their journey.

  “Whatever you’re willing to tell me. I know very little of him.”

  “Ah, I see.” Cephom seemed to relax a little. “Sylph’s gift is healing and intelligence. He made many of the sea creatures very intelligent, to be like him. He created the great leviathan, so that men would recognize their smallness and be humble. It’s said, he can still be seen playing with the creatures of the sea upon occasion. Especially when the tides are high and the waters warm.”

  “What does he look like?”

  “Well now,” said Cephom, “that’s an interesting question. They say he can take many forms, depending on his need, old man, young man, dolphin, dragon, whale, as can all the Creator’s crafters, or so I’m told.” Cephom veered away from the subject of the Creator’s crafters, choosing to regale Leilas with tales of exotic ports along the coasts and islands of the sea. Leilas tucked all the information away, wondering if she would ever have the opportunity to see these magnificent sights Cephom described.

  They stopped again at dusk. Cephom offered to go in search of dinner. While she waited, Leilas washed in the stream they’d been following since the day before. Then filling the pail with water, she hunted for vegetables and berries. She had quite a collection by the time Cephom arrived with several birds.

  “A feast,” he cried in delight when he saw her harvest. “We’ll eat well tonight.”

  Leilas smiled at this crafter’s obvious delight over such simple pleasures. It was easy to be at peace with this man. Cephom grew more somber as he munched on the berries. “I regret that tomorrow we’ll reach Barroon and I must leave you.” Leilas felt her spirit drop at his announcement. She’d been avoiding the thought all day. “But I’m needed elsewhere.”

  “As am I or I’d go with you to see this ocean you talk so much about.”

  “Yes, a journey you must take alone,” remarked Cephom.

  Leilas’ eyes narrowed at the crafter’s insight. Sometimes he seemed to know a great deal about her business. Cephom smiled innocently and began to hum. Whatever he knew about her, she decided as she settled against her pack, he was no threat to her. Of that, she was certain.

  The humming turned into words as Leilas fell asleep. It was a story about Anhj and the Crystal Caves. The story wove its way into her dreams and she found herself wandering in the Crystal Caves. In her dreams, she found herself standing before a huge block of crystal. She couldn’t see into it, though there was a picture there. Pain and sorrow pulsated through her. Then she heard Cephom humming and her heart stopped pounding and she found some peace.

  Morning came too quickly. Again, Cephom had risen before her and started breakfast. The water skins were already full. All there was left for Leilas to do was eat. Together they packed the horses and headed in the direction of Barroon. The walls of the town appeared about midday. Unlike the last town, they had no trouble at the gates. Leilas breathed a sigh of relief as they crossed through the archway to the other side. Stopping in front of the stores, Cephom slid off the horse and handed the rein to Leilas. “This is where I must leave you, my friend. May the Creator be with you on your journey.”

  “And with you as well, Cephom. Someday, I’ll come find you at your sea.”

  “I look forward to that day.” Cephom bowed and was soon lost in the crowded street. Slipping from her horse, Leilas tied them to the hitch and went to restock her depleted supplies.

  Loneliness hit her hard when she left Barroon, her pack horse laden with supplies in tow. She already missed the ceaseless banter of her companion. Reaching out with her thoughts, she sought Menas and Joshuas. She found him there teaching those gentle people the art of war. She saw Brenth, sword in hand. Then the pictures changed and she saw a warrior on the hills above Menas, riding among his people, calming them, reassuring them. She drew back to the present, deep in thought.

  Duke Cheran’s town of Kyris came into view the next day, but distance could be deceiving on the plains. She rode for another two days before she stood in front of the city gates. Here in Kyris, for the first time, she saw signs of Jovanulum preparing for war. Temporary camps had been assembled outside the city walls. The clanging of swords reached her ears from the courtyards of these camps along with the shouts of the weapon masters teaching the men the art of sword play. Savory smells accosted her from the cooking pots and her stomac
h rumbled in protest of its lack of food. Looking out toward the plains to the south, she could see divisions of men on horses and foot attacking and counterattacking as they practiced their maneuvers. As she rode through the camps, Leilas looked for a man who matched Duke Cheran’s description, but she didn’t see anyone who looked like the man in her vision. She ignored the men watching her ride by and whispering about her. Crafters always made men uneasy and especially one whose crest meant nothing to them.

  Leilas wasn’t surprised to see the captain of the guard waiting for her at the gate. “What business, crafter?”

  “Food, bath, sleep,” replied Leilas. “My business lies elsewhere.”

  “There is little else beyond Kyris, except plains,” replied the captain barring her way. “Haven’t you heard the call has gone out for war? We could use your skills.”

  “Was I not compelled by other business,” replied Leilas, “I would gladly join you. But I must answer to higher powers.”

  A man she could mistake for no one else but Adrian Cheran, rode up to the gate on a chestnut stallion, covered with the Cheran banner. “What have we here?” he asked, his horse dancing impatiently.

  “Not quite sure, my lord,” replied the captain. “Some sort of crafter. He don’t want to join our side, so I’m guessing a dark crafter.”

  “What say you, crafter? Light or dark?” Duke Cheran’s hand dropped to rest easily on the hilt of his sword.

  “You are brave men, to face a crafter with so few. I can see why Master Manchu has such faith in you.”

  Adrian Cheran relaxed a bit at the mention of a Sky master. “Have you come with word from the Master?” asked the Duke hopefully.

  “I wish I had news to bring you, Duke Cheran. But I haven’t seen the masters for nearly a month.”

  “You seem to have the advantage, crafter. You know my name, but I don’t know yours.”

  Leilas gave the captain a questioning glance, wondering how much she should divulge in front of him then turned back to Adrian Cheran. “I am Leilas Leyson, Daughter of King Leyhan and Queen Daina, servant of the four crafters who were with the Creator in the beginning.”

  “That’s quite a mouthful for such a little girl,” snorted the captain, after taking a closer look under her hood.

  “Most people just call me Leilas.” She dismounted and bowed slightly in the Duke’s direction.

  The Duke was less inclined to laugh at her. “I didn’t expect you to come around the mountain, my lady.”

  “I wouldn’t have, had I not been separated from Master Greyanson,” agreed Leilas. “But I didn’t think it wise to cross the Drakmoth Mountains alone.”

  “Perhaps not, although time is growing short.”

  “Still, there is time,” replied Leilas.

  “Enough time for dinner, news and a good night’s sleep,” agreed Adrian Cheran. “Ferras, take the Princess to the manor and tell Elga to take care of her.”

  The captain snapped to attention and saluted his commander smartly. Duke Cheran rode away while Leilas remounted. “This way if you please, my lady.” Leilas smiled at the change in his demeanor. It did help when you knew the right people.

  A groom came to meet them as they approached the door of the manor and led the horses to the stables while the captain continued to the house. Pounding on the door, Ferras stood back waiting for someone to answer the summons. After a few minutes, a middle-aged woman opened the door for them.

  “Good day, Captain Ferras. I wasn’t expecting anyone this time of day. I was back polishing the silver.”

  “Unexpected guest, Elga. The Duke says take good care of her until he gets here.” He pulled Leilas forward so Elga could see her. “This is,” he hesitated, “Leilas.” He didn’t elaborate any further. Leilas wasn’t sure who he thought she was. But obviously, despite her titles and his pretense in front of the Duke, he didn’t think she was anyone of importance. She accepted his judgment quietly. Perhaps being the daughter of a defeated king didn’t elicit any special treatment. It would take some time to get used to the change.

  Having turned her over to Elga’s care, Captain Ferras started back for the practice yard. Leilas could hear him laughing as Elga sized her up, not exactly sure what ‘take care of her’ meant. “Are you hungry?” asked Elga, shutting the door behind her.

  “Yes,” replied Leilas, following the housekeeper to the kitchen. Elga pulled out a stool for Leilas to sit on and ladled some stew into a bowl. Adding a piece of bread, she turned to go. “When you’re done, there’s an empty room at the top of those stairs. The well is out that door.” She pointed to a door at the back of the kitchen. “I’ll come fetch you when the master wants to see you.”

  “Thank you, ma’am,” said Leilas, in her best imitation of a servant. It didn’t quite have the proper intonation behind it and Elga gave her a frown as she left. Leilas looked around the kitchen and then laughed. It wasn’t quite the reception she’d been expecting. But the food was hot and if the bed was soft, she’d be content.

  Washing her dishes, she dried them and sat them on the table. Climbing the stairs, she dropped her pack by the bed and taking the water pitcher, she went in search of the well. The water was cold, but refreshing. She took the time to wash the grime out of her hair. Then, with nothing else to do until dinner, she took her book and pen and wrote down the song Cephom had sung to her. Songs like that had meaning and weren’t sung every day. She was fairly certain the meaning would become clear soon enough. After she’d carefully written down the words, she retrieved her maps and studied the path she would take on the rest of her journey. It would take three days to get around the mountain, then a day up to Montshade. She wondered if she needed to go that far. The Crystal Caves were said to be near Montshade, not in the city. So, where was near? How was she ever going to find caves that had been deliberately hidden by crafters? She tapped her fingers on the map idly as she studied it. It was a question that still didn’t have an answer.

  She could hear the sounds of dinner being prepared and she was tempted to go down and find some company. But the thought of peeling potatoes for Duke Cheran’s dinner company kept her in her room. Instead, she walked to the small window and looked out over the plains. It still amazed her that she could see so far. The plains went on as far as the horizon. Herders dotted the landscape, tending sheep, cattle, and goats, all food for the army Duke Cheran was assembling. She couldn’t see to the east where her journey would take her. Probably for the best, she thought, turning away from the view. She missed Cephom’s constant chattering and Joshuas’ aura of safety. Sitting at the desk, she closed her eyes and tried to fight the wave of loneliness that overtook her.

  “Blood and guts woman, do you know who she is?” Duke Cheran barely restrained himself from yelling at his housekeeper when she told him what she’d done to accommodate the crafter he’d sent to her.

  Elga smoothed her apron, the only sign she ever gave that she was flustered. “I do believe Captain Ferras said her name was Leilas, my lord.”

  “He didn’t bother to tell you anything else about her?” Adrian Cheran grew less angry at Elga and more perturbed at Ferras. For some reason, the man had taken an instant dislike to the girl. He’d not said one good thing about her all afternoon.

  “No sir. So, I sized her up and proceeded accordingly, since I didn’t receive any other instructions.”

  Duke Cheran ground his teeth in frustration. He’d wanted to make a good impression on this beautiful woman who’d ridden into his town unexpectedly. He’d wanted her to see him as her champion. Instead, Elga had fed her in the kitchen, sent her up to the temporary servant’s quarters and made her fetch her own water.

  “The princess will be joining me for dinner. In the meantime, move her to a guest room, find her some clean clothes, wash her clothes, give her some hot water if she wants and don’t make her fetch it herself. Is that clear enough?”

  “Princess?” Elga straightened her apron some more. “Yes, my lord, it’s quite cl
ear.” Elga scurried off in the direction of the kitchen, giving orders to servants along the way. Adrian swept his hair back with his hand as he watched Elga go. Then he climbed the stairs to his own room.

  CHAPTER 16

  “You look beautiful, my lady,” Duke Cheran rose from his chair as Leilas entered the dining room. She was decidedly uncomfortable in the dress that Elga had provided her, when she took her clothes away to be washed. Leilas hadn’t had the heart to tell her she hadn’t worn a dress in ten years. Elga had almost been beside herself when she came up to her room. She’d apologized all the way down the stairs, through the kitchen, down the hallway, across the foyer and up the stairs to her new accommodations. Leilas had done her best to mollify the stricken housekeeper, but she wasn’t sure she’d succeeded.

  So, she’d donned the dress and fixed her hair. She’d been surprised at the stranger in the mirror. She was thinner, but more than that, her eyes had developed a sadness that added depth to her face.

  “Thank you, Lord Adrian,” she replied, allowing him to hold her chair for her. It appeased her ego to see Captain Ferras looking discomfited at her transformation as he stood until she was seated. She didn’t let the feeling cloud her judgment, though. Captain Ferras wasn’t her friend. He had a deep dislike of her, for no reason Leilas could easily discern. It bothered her that he seemed to be the Duke’s right hand. Were there more dissenters in the camp than just Gidron Frey? Leilas’ brow furrowed at where her thoughts had taken her. If so, how many Jovanulum that were dedicated to the cause were there that they could count on to fight?

  Officers of Duke Cheran’s army occupied most of the seats at the table. Some of the officer’s wives had accompanied their husbands, so Leilas wasn’t the only woman there. Two crafters, one whose affiliation was the Sea and one whose was the Sky, also joined the party of officers. Leilas assumed that they were the masters in charge of the troops of crafters who had come to fight.