by D N Meinster
"But these days, we cannot trust even that which we have always known," Aergo told him.
Uterak grunted but said nothing else.
"You've heard the rumors?" Aergo inquired.
Uterak crossed his arms. "Who hasn't? But didn't put much weight in 'em, until right now." He looked into the eyes of his guests. "Is that why you're here?"
"Do you know what they could mean?" Aergo asked, having come to a conclusion after days of wrangling. He didn't give Uterak a chance to respond. "The end of the Five Kingdoms."
"That's where it's leading," Amelia interjected. "If we cannot put a stop to it, the world as we know it ends."
"You're not exaggerating, are you?" Uterak said, his eyes bouncing from the King to the Grand Mage. "Well, what can I do about it?"
"We do not know how much we don't know," Aergo stated. "There is a dearth of information; one that gives our enemy the advantage."
"Radite has been barred to all travelers," Amelia informed him. "We cannot get in."
Uterak finally understood why they had come to him. "There might be others better equipped."
"But none as loyal," Aergo said.
He recalled a trip to the Twilight Islands not many seasons ago. The family had decided not to take Traverse Bridge, but instead sail the Unending Seas to the tropical islands. It would be a short journey, maybe two hours at most, but his youngest son had begged him to let them go by ship. On the way there, his son fell overboard. It was Uterak, still in all his heavy armor, that jumped off the vessel to save him. Rantiford was still peeling away at his suit when Uterak returned with his son. The guardian had earned his trust and almost replaced Rant as Head Guardian.
"I will follow your orders, though I worry I will only disappoint you," Uterak sighed.
"Worry not," Aergo replied. "Come back alive and that is all that will matter."
Amelia circled the guardian, getting a better look at him from every angle. "Your first stop will be Terrastream. Find out as much as you can about the beast that emerged from the earth."
"Only when you are satisfied that there is nothing left to know should you move on to Faunli," Aergo said.
"You will not have armor," Amelia told him. "You will not have more than a single blade."
"That will be enough," Uterak replied.
"Make your way into Radite by any means possible," Aergo insisted. "Swear your fealty to this new emperor if you must. Learn as much as you can from him and those that would serve him."
"And then make your way back here," Amelia said. "I will have a mage waiting on the border by Wingless River. If you are followed, she will be your only backup."
"And if you are in danger, send a message down the river," Aergo added.
"How?" Uterak asked.
Aergo reached into his coat and pulled out a glass bottle. "Write a message and put it in here." He held out the bottle for his guardian to take.
"She will know to look for it," Amelia said.
Uterak, bottle in hand, bowed before his king. "I am honored to serve you, Your Majesty."
Aergo and Amelia looked at each other before the King replied. "You serve all of Kytheras." He placed a hand on Uterak's shoulder. "You cannot fail."
"I won't."
Chapter Thirteen
The Other Emperor
Sarin was in Faunli. This fact was enough to make Aros giddy inside. His whole body was bursting with energy and made the exhausting journey to Fair Forest that much easier.
It should've been obvious. The little he recalled about Sarin were the vile deeds he committed on the Fauns, so why wouldn't he return to this kingdom? The Sarin he had engaged with in Kytheras was the exact same as the one historians had written about. Death had not changed this man, nor had resurrection by Thalians altered his goals. He served Neanthal, but he was not as zealous as his brethren. Without clear direction or a watchful eye, he went right back to doing what he had always done.
And so Leidess' appearance made even more sense. She knew, or the Goddess had informed her, that Sarin was here. And she had come to him over a day ago because he was so close by. Aros had vowed to do as she required of him, and now he was convinced he would be able to keep his vow.
A violent array of images flashed before his eyes. He saw his clawblades in Sarin's chest, or he saw the killer decapitated efficiently by his own blades. Sarin's mask shattered, and Aros was the one to end him. Leidess would be proud of him.
Or would she? The Leidess he had known despised violence. She hated war and hated Madam Tudith for filling her days with nothing but the endless deaths contained within Ghumaic history. Leidess couldn't wait to change the focus of that class. Now she would never have the chance.
Aros' spirits fell as the memories overwhelmed his imagination. There she was smiling at him in class, and at the Door, and in their homes.
He stopped walking and put his hands over his eyes. Tears soaked his palms as he held them there, waiting for the feeling to pass. Aros knew he was still an emotional wreck, and if it hadn't been for Leidess' orders, he would have been on his way back to Kytheras by now.
"What's wrong?" he heard Rikki ask him.
Why hadn't he rushed in to kill Sarin when he had the chance? If he had fulfilled his promise, he could have left. This could have been over. Was he that afraid to face him alone? Did he really hope for this Slythe to weaken him?
Aros wiped at his eyes and tried to give Rikki a reassuring smile. "Just...you know."
Rikki nodded.
Aros tried to get a look at Doren, but the Prince had not said a word to him since they left Lemon Village. Most of their time going through these seemingly endless fields was occupied only by silence.
"Leidess never would have wanted anyone to die," Aros mumbled.
"It's not something I would have wanted either," Rikki replied. "But Sarin must. For Milo." She took out her map again and traced their path on the parchment with her finger. "We have to be getting close."
Doren peeked over her shoulder while Aros continued to brush away his tears. He couldn't keep crying. He had to be stronger than this. What if he broke down during his battle with Sarin? He couldn't let that happen.
What if he was supposed to have killed Sarin already? What if he had missed his chance? Sarin could be in the middle of burning another village right at this moment.
Aros knelt on the grass. His head was pounding, and the sweet scents of a beautiful Faunli day were no comfort. He tried to go over what Leidess had said to him at Perish Lake. Those moments were his only solace.
"I'm gonna have to learn to shift," Rikki acknowledged.
"Didn't you say you were gonna wait?" Doren asked, speaking for the first time in hours, if not longer.
"These Roamers, they can shift," Rikki stated. "Sarin can shift. Hatswick can shift. We are at a complete disadvantage. I don't have a choice any longer." She glanced apprehensively at her staff. "I only wish I had someone to teach me."
Doren reached for her arm but broke off before he even grazed her. "I believe you can do it without one."
She gave Doren a brief smile before turning her attention to Aros. "We can stay here for a bit if you need us to."
Aros pushed himself up, gathered his breath, and said, "No. Let's keep going."
"Are you going to try shifting now?" Doren asked.
"It'd be pointless. We'll be there before sunset."
So the trio resumed their march toward the forest, though they also resumed their silence. The sun kept the way forward clear, for there was not a cloud to block it the entire rest of the way. And, in spite of the bright day, they passed on the outskirts of Faun settlements without being noticed.
There were plenty of people out, tilling the land, washing clothes, and even meditating. But they were all so focused on themselves that they paid no attention to the nearby Kytherans. Aros was merely relieved to see them without the hint of a spear nearby.
Aros had never really imagined the other kingdoms. He had zero e
xpectations when he had come to Faunli and hadn't spent much time taking in the new sights. Leidess was always on his mind, instead. But it was thinking of her that made him appreciate what he was seeing. Not because she would never get to see them, but because now he knew she was seeing them. He remembered how she had wanted to go on a journey not unlike this, to see velizards in Faunli and whatever else wasn't around their home. Aros got to see them in life. She got to see them in death. But in the end, they both got to see them.
And there was this tiny Faun locale, undisturbed by the war or the Thalians, and for a few minutes, Aros could appreciate being somewhere new. They had made their homes of rock and mud, and seemed content not to upgrade them in any way. There were children running about, not playing bonball or splitting, but some other game that Aros couldn't comprehend from such a distance. Were his days of playing games truly over? Was it all war and murder from now on?
Aros tugged at his spiky hair, appreciation for such a peaceful place fading as it shrunk in the distance. He knew what his next thoughts were going to be. Leidess, and his vow to her, were returning to the forefront of his mind.
Before he could picture their most recent encounter again, Rikki harshly whispered, "Stop."
"What – "
Rikki put her hand over Aros' mouth.
There were vibrations in the ground. And in the air, the murmur of a thousand voices all speaking at once reached their ears. Emperor Kuwain's camp was near.
Aros' heart raced as the possibilities this presented him with flew through his mind. If they successfully retrieved the Key, he could focus solely on eliminating Sarin. And once that was complete, he could go home.
But there was another thought; another desire, that, as soon as he felt it forming in his head, overtook all the others. That urge, the one that had taken hold of him since he arrived in Faunli, was back. The opportunity for bloodletting had never been closer, and a part of Aros was incredibly excited to partake.
Aros inhaled a tremendous amount of the fresh Faun air and did his best to picture Leidess in his mind. He could not lose control again. He needed to remember who he was and keep his brain focused on that. He was not here for violence.
He was not here for violence.
He was not here for violence.
"So who wants to see what exactly we're dealing with?" Doren asked, ignoring Aros' aggrieved expressions.
"Dealing with? We're not here to take on an army," Rikki reminded them. Her eyes focused on Aros as she said, "We are not here for violence."
Aros exhaled, and though his body shook slightly, the worst of his desires were passing.
"I know. But how should we go about this?" Doren inquired.
"Respectfully," Rikki said. She straightened her posture and positioned her staff markedly at her side. "Prince. Guardian." As a soft breeze caused her dress to flutter and her hair to sway, there was no doubt the mage had intended to appear as formidable as possible.
Seeking to mimic her, Aros reached for his weapons.
Rikki and Doren each grabbed onto one of his wrists.
"Were you listening, Aros?"
They loosened their grips and Aros' arms fell to his side. "Sorry."
"I'll lead," Rikki said. "These Fauns haven't seen mages in decades. They won't know what to expect."
"You remember what Simma said about Kuwain?" Doren asked. "Or didn't say?"
"I'll make the first move, if necessary," Rikki said. "You two can follow."
Aros stood tall and marched alongside Rikki as she made her way to Kuwain's camp. Doren did the same on her other side. They kept close, as the uncertainty of what lie ahead overshadowed their petty squabbles from the past few days. All of them were anxious but were prepared to face an army together.
Fair Forest came into view before anything else. The trees had grown high, their branches reaching for the unyielding sun. Leaves and pines filled in every inch so that it all appeared as one mass instead of individual trunks. It was an intimidating sight, but less so than the thousands of men that were sitting in wait at the forest's perimeter.
They all stopped at once, gawking at the forces at Kuwain's command. Though there certainly had to be campfires and tents set up in the area, given the rising smoke and obvious need for shelter, there were too many men standing around for the trio to see any. All of them were coated in the same armor: red pads not unlike the golden pads of Luewen's men, and helmets that protected their heads and necks but left their faces uncovered. All that stood out amongst the throng of red suits was the occasional velizard, though these too were sporting their own bulky red armor.
"We're not gonna be able to simply take the Key, no matter how this goes," Rikki said, keeping her voice low so as not to be noticed.
"Was that ever really the plan?" Doren asked.
"We can take them," Aros stated confidently.
His friends' eyebrows all rose unreasonably high on their foreheads. "These aren't Outerlings," Rikki said. "These are trained soldiers. We won't be able to kick ass and pile them up."
Aros looked at her. "Why not?" he said, incredibly serious. They had greater numbers, sure, but they did not have magic. They did not have experience facing Thalians. "Between the three of us, we could – "
"We're not," Doren resolved.
Aros' lips twitched, but he did not reply. Did he really believe fighting was the best idea? Or was this another way for his urges to trick him into getting what they wanted? It didn't matter now. Without his friends' support, there would not be a fight.
"Ready?" Rikki said, preparing to move again. "Don't provoke them," she reminded her companions as they set out toward the camp once more.
Aros stayed in step with his friends, constantly telling himself not to reach for his clawblades as they neared the perceived threat. Not many of Kuwain's men even noticed them as they approached. There was only the occasional stare and sideways glance. It was not until one of them shouted that all heads turned to look at the approaching visitors.
Suddenly, there were countless crossbows pointed at them, along with daggers and other sharp weapons. Fortunately, they did not shoot first.
Rikki stopped walking when an emissary for the group approached them. "Le pul chek?" he said.
"We are here to see Emperor Kuwain," Rikki said, hoping that the emissary could understand her.
While her words were considered, Aros remembered to tuck the Key on his belt into his pants, so it could not be seen. Though it was uncomfortable, it was better it was out of sight than potentially causing an incident. It was not that he feared a fight; it was that he feared they would take it from him. And he did not intend for them to lose one key in the pursuit of another.
The emissary signaled for another soldier to come and join him. After whispering something to him, the new arrival said, "So, you speak old Kytheran?"
"It is our native language," she replied. "Please, we wish to see the Emperor."
"Surrender your weapons, and we will bring you to him."
Rikki turned to Aros and said, "Do it."
Aros didn't bother grumbling about it. He realized that the Key was their priority. He flipped the clawblades off his back and gently placed them at the emissary's feet. Doren followed, dropping his shield atop Aros' swords. Only Rikki hesitated, but she eventually left her staff with the other weapons as well.
"Follow us," and the two men made an about face and headed into the mass of soldiers.
Not a single Faun moved out of the way, not even for their compatriots. They were forced to squeeze and shove their way through the camp, often causing growls and outbursts that neither Aros or his friends could understand. It wasn't as if these men didn't see them coming, either. All eyes were on the Kytherans as they proceeded toward the Emperor, and none of them were friendly.
Aros' regretted giving up his blades after bumping into his third soldier, who promptly shoved him back. Aros balled his hands and prepared for a brawl, but Rikki appeared at his side and dragged him
past the antagonizing individual.
They caught up to the emissary, who had stopped right beside a man who was kneeling on the ground with his eyes closed.
If not for the crown atop his head, there would have been little to distinguish Kuwain from the average Faun. He wore a red coat over his white clothing, but they were plain, lacking any sort of regalia. These were more a peasant's attire than that of an emperor.
He did not open his eyes while the emissary spoke to him, and it almost seemed like he was ignoring them entirely. The calm expression on his face remained as the one-sided conversation continued.
Kuwain looked entirely like his brother, with only his hair standing out as a remarkable difference. His mustache and goatee had been shaved into three strips, one at the center of his upper lip and chin, and the other two at the edges. These dark facial hairs did not match the shocking yellow mane above his forehead. When he finally opened his eyes, their frigid gold locked onto Aros.
"Kytherans," he said, rising from his knees. "Where is my hospitality? Allow me to offer you some water. We also have gimbin juice, if you would prefer."
Aros' stomach grumbled just thinking of food and drink. He hadn't had a proper meal in days.
Rikki turned his offer down on behalf of the trio.
"Very well." Kuwain rose and paced in front of them a few times, studying them with every pass, and subsequently his emissary. "So, why have you come here?"
Rikki's eyes fell to a spot beneath the Emperor's shirt.
"For this?" Kuwain asked, reaching under his clothes and revealing the second silver Key, which was hanging around his neck on a silver chain. "Did my brother send you?"
They all gaped at the Key. It was so close; they only needed to convince him to turn it over.
"No," Doren answered, and he took out the scroll given to him by his father. He held it out for Kuwain. "King Halstrom Tunsev of Kytheras has sent us."
There was no mistaking the concern on Kuwain's face as he snatched the scroll and unfurled it. But as he read it, there was a transformation in his expression. He even chuckled when he got to the end of it.
"Is this a trick to get me to turn over the Key? Or a joke?" He tossed the scroll onto the ground.
