"Even if it means risking your life?" Elise inquired with a raised eyebrow.
"Even that," she confirmed because she had already made up her mind. "I can't leave and go home knowing what he has gone through. If I leave, who is to say that anyone else would even get half as far as I did and even if they did, would they help? I can't turn away knowing what I now know."
"Well, since your father instructed me to keep an eye on you, I guess I'll also be going along," she stated in a matter of fact tone. "I couldn't let you go on an adventure without me."
"I certainly have reason enough, but why would you risk your life?" she queried. She was hoping that Elise would accompany her because they were such good friends and she didn't think that she could make it by herself.
"Who said that I would, and besides," she smiled as she turned and clasped Angelina's hand, "I would give my life for you any day, as I know you would for me. I suppose that by now Lord Airic will know that you have heard the story. After all, he is a wizard and even a slight wizard like Tolmac knew when someone disturbed his things," she smiled even a bigger smile as she gave that all knowing look to Angelina.
"Yes, I guess he would," she replied with an innocent look. She knew that Tolmac had caught her a number of times when her curiosity had gotten the better of her. "I'm sure Airic will be interested in knowing why I was snooping in his private chambers. I know I was told that I could go through the books and scrolls in his library, but I was informed not to venture in the other rooms. But then again, he obviously set that up for someone to stumble upon so he shouldn't be mad at all."
"Well, we'll find out soon enough. It will only be a few more hours until dinner. I hope you've thought this thing through," she stated as she gave Angelina a hard look. "This is not going to be an easy task and I don't think that just the two of us are going to be able to handle it. We haven't really been off by ourselves for more than a few hours at a time and even then we had a guard close enough to us if anything happened. I'm not trying to talk you out of this, I'm just trying to impress upon you the seriousness of the situation."
"I know, and I thank you for it," she wanted Elise to know that she was taking it seriously. "But if we don't get out there when we have the chance, we probably never will. I'm not afraid to sleep on the ground and ride all day and all the other responsibilities that come with traveling. Besides, I've already thought of a few companions that would make our trip a little more secure."
"And just who might they be," she inquired waiting to hear who Angelina thought they should partner with.
"Sir Taz for one and Sir Matthew," she responded. "Of course I'll need to inform Sir Taz of the situation and I'm sure he'll know who we could ask. I certainly can't tell father. He would never allow me to do something like this."
"Well, let's finish our lunch and then I think we both had better go in and relax a bit," suggested Elise even as she started to eat. "We might even want to take a nap if we can because I have a feeling this is going to be a long night."
Angelina and Elise finished their lunch then headed to their rooms.
Angelina couldn't get her mind off of what happened earlier. She was also beginning to feel a little different toward Airic knowing that he really wasn't much older than her. When she saw him as a young man she was quite attracted to him. She was beginning to feel flustered with how she felt and knowing that she didn't want to act differently toward him. She pulled a pale pink satin dress and matching slippers from her wardrobe before she stripped off her clothes and climbed into the tub of steaming water that Cabrilla had prepared in each of their bath chambers. Angelina added honeysuckle oil to the water and leaned back to relax and try to clear her head. She soaked for a long time before she finished her bath and put on a soft thick robe. She laid down on her bed to try to get some rest before she would have to get ready for dinner. She didn't think that she could fall asleep but did and when she woke it was getting dark out. Dinner would be served shortly. She got up and dressed. She brushed her hair and pulled the sides of it up with pearl combs and let the rest of it hang down her back. By the time she had finished getting ready it was time to head downstairs for dinner.
Elise joined her and they headed to the dining room. When they entered, Airic was already seated. The servants placed the platters of meat, potatoes, vegetables and bread on the table before leaving the three alone. Angelina and Elise took their seats.
"Before you say anything," began Airic as he broke the silence, both women giving him their attention. "I think that we should eat our meal and then when we retire to the sitting room we can discuss what happened today."
Elise and Angelina agreed. Some general conversation was made but most of the meal was eaten in silence. Angelina thought that Airic would be excited that his secret had finally been revealed; however, he looked almost sad and avoided looking at Angelina. When they finished, the three made their way to the sitting room. As always, Airic sat in one of the high back chairs to the left of the fireplace and Angelina sat directly across from him on one of the couches. Elise took a seat beside her.
Airic took a deep breath before he began, his eyes focused on the table between them. "I know that you have heard my story. Whatever decision you have come to I want you to know that you are free to return home if you wish." He glanced at the women, waiting to hear their answer.
"I've decided," Angelina began, paused and looked at Elise. "We have decided that after hearing your story we could not leave and go home."
Airic looked sharply at Angelina as he realized what decision they had come to. His eyes met hers.
"We have decided to do whatever it takes to help you," she told him, but he still did not look happy. "Why do you seem so sad?" she asked as she leaned forward in her chair. "I thought you would be happy that we want to help."
Airic got up and walked over to the doors leading out into the gardens. He gazed outside, the gardens barely visible by the light of the crescent moon. He took a few moments before he replied. "I have waited for so many years for this moment and I haven't thought past it. I guess I accepted the fact that this moment would never come. I really never believed that anyone would get this far. He turned toward the women, his face obscured by the shadows of the room. "Now I don't think my cause is worth anyone's life. I've wanted it to be over with and hoped for this moment for so long, but now I realize that I can't possibly ask anyone to do something like this. Madina is powerful and I can't send two defenseless women into her clutches. I'm sorry, I shouldn't have made you come. I realize now what a mistake I've been making all these years. You are free to leave tomorrow to return home."
"I think not," Angelina stated as she got up, Elise sensed her mood and put her hand on her arm but Angelina brushed it away as she made her way to Airic. She came to stand before him. His remark about them being helpless women had put her defenses up. "If you think we are not capable of taking care of ourselves, you are sorely mistaken and we don't plan on going alone. There are a number of seasoned warriors at Talenvar who would be more than happy to aid us. Besides, be it in name only I am still your wife and I intend to do whatever it takes. With or without your help."
Airic didn't wish to fight. "I didn't mean that. I meant that Madina is a powerful sorceress and not even I could stand against her. If you intend to go I will do whatever I can to help you. I must tell you that there are a few things that might make you change your mind. Let's sit and talk," he suggested as he took Angelina's arm and led her back to the couch. He again took his seat across from her. "There are a few things that will make this journey difficult, if not impossible. The first is that I cannot give you the location of Madina's castle because a spell was placed on me each time I went to and departed from her castle. The only thing that I can remember is that her castle was near a large mountain range. The mountain range was southwest of her castle." He sighed, "I didn't realize that she had been keeping the location a secret until I returned home for the last time. Then it struck me that I didn't
know where to find her again. And no one, not even Salene ever mentioned the location of the castle."
"Well, I'm sure that if we pull our resources together we'll find some way to locate her castle," Elise said to reassure Airic.
"The second thing that will hinder your journey and your chances of defeating Madina is that I will not be able to journey with you." He noticed the sharp look that Angelina gave him at that statement. "If I journey with you I will put all of your lives in danger. Madina will be able to sense that I journey to her and she will locate our position and dispose of each and every one of you. I can't let that happen. She wouldn't think twice about destroying you and your companions." He was quite adamant about it and the women could understand his concern. "You will have a chance at a surprise attack if she is unaware of your party. It's when she finds out about you that you'll have your hands full. If she doesn't use her powers on you directly, she will use them in whatever way possible to make your journey even more difficult and perilous." He looked at both of the women intently. "This is a very dangerous and serious undertaking and I want you to be sure that you know what you're getting yourselves into."
Angelina went to Airic and knelt beside him, she took his hand in hers. "I've made my decision. We'll figure out a way to find Madina and defeat her." She glanced down before continuing, her heart starting to race. "Besides, I care for you and want you to be happy and regain the youth that was taken from you."
Elise decided that it would be best if she left them alone so she excused herself and closed the door behind her. She leaned against the door for a few seconds before she made her way upstairs.
Airic stood up and pulled Angelina to her feet to stand in front of him. "I never thought that when Salene was taken from me that I would ever feel close to anyone again. I feel close to you, but how could you care for me when I'm an old man?"
Angelina touched his face, letting her hand rest on his jaw. "You are only old on the outside. You are young inside and I see it in your eyes."
Airic leaned over to kiss her before he remembered what he was and started to draw away.
"Don't," she whispered as she stepped closer to keep him from pulling away. "I won't mind if you kiss me," she said even as she wrapped her arms around his neck.
Airic pulled her close but did not kiss her. Instead he gently held her in his arms, burying his face into her hair. "I wish I could, but I can't. If only I wasn't," he began but was interrupted by Angelina shushing him.
"You'll be young again, I promise," she whispered as she returned his close embrace. She was surprised to feel strong arms holding her tight and his body pressed up against her was not as frail and weak as she expected. They stood there just holding each other.
Airic walked Angelina to the bottom of the stairs and kissed her hand and said good night. He watched her ascend the steps and disappear before he made his way to his chambers.
Angelina entered her room to find Elise there waiting for her. "You didn't have to wait for me," she told her as she kicked off her shoes and sat down on the couch beside Elise.
"I wasn't," she began and hesitated. "I mean I wanted to make sure that you were okay and to let you know that I'm here if you need someone to talk to."
Angelina smiled at her, "Thank you. I guess I wasn't sure how I felt about Airic and I know that it must have taken you by surprise. I still don't know exactly how I feel about him. Only that I feel close to him and care about him differently than I've ever cared about anyone before." She looked at Elise with an almost confused expression, "I can't explain it. The feeling is just there."
Elise smiled and put a reassuring hand on Angelina's shoulder. "Don't worry about putting how you feel into words. The main thing we need to concentrate on is getting this crystal back from Madina. I think we'd both better get some sleep and we can talk more tomorrow." Elise hugged Angelina and then retired to her own chambers to get some sleep.
Angelina sat on the couch lost in thought and dozed off. She awoke late into the night and made her way to her bed. She did not wake up again until morning.
The women had breakfast with Airic and then they all went into the library to review the maps that were there. After searching for hours they still could not pinpoint a location. Madina could be almost anywhere.
Angelina decided to write to Sir Taz and tell him what was going on. She knew that he would be able to give her advice and gather a few men to journey with them. When she wrote the letter she requested that he not share the information with her father because he would demand that she return home and forget about helping Airic. If necessary, he would send an armed escort to forcibly bring her home. She did not wish to make an issue of it. She finished her letter to Sir Taz and wrote a letter to her father telling him that everything was fine there and for him not to worry about her. She also asked for news of the rest of her family. She wanted to know how her sister's marriage went and how the newly married couple was. Airic was adamant about her staying at the estate and not attending the "Changing of Seasons" celebration, even if her sister was getting married. Angelina didn't speak to him for two weeks after that conversation. She wrote to her father at least twice a month but since she could not disclose what she had found out about Airic, most of her letters were of the same unimportant news. Airic's messenger took her letters and the ones Elise had written and left for Talenvar the following day. Angelina anxiously waited to hear from Sir Taz.
Chapter 21
A Long Wait
The weather was getting colder and it was disappointing to the women to realize that they would not be able to begin their journey until the snow melted and the "season of rain" began. It would be at least another eight months until then.
Angelina received a response from Sir Taz. He informed her that it sounded like a very dangerous mission and she should reconsider; however, if she still insisted on going he and a handful of trusted friends would be more than willing to assist her and Lady Elise. He did mention that Sir Matthew and his brother Lord Akbar had already informed him that they would accompany him. The others he did not mention because he hadn't had the opportunity to ask them yet. He did inform the princess that he told her brother, Prince Phillip, of the situation in the event that the party was unsuccessful in their mission. Phillip had agreed to keep things quiet until it became necessary to tell his father. He knew that Sir Taz would make sure nothing happened to his sister. Sir Taz also wrote that as soon as the snows were over, he and the rest of his group would follow Airic's messenger to the estate. They could then plan their journey. The first stop would probably be Cardel, his homeland, if they still did not know the location of Madina's castle. There was an Elder of their tribe and all information was passed down from one Elder to the next and had been that way for hundreds of years. If anyone knew where Madina could be found, it would be the Elder. This at least gave them a starting point and hope.
During the winter months, Airic began to give Elise and Angelina lessons in magic. It became clear at the beginning that Angelina did not have the talent for magic. The only thing she was able to do was to create a flame as Tolmac had taught her. Lady Elise on the other hand was adept at magic and Airic was able to teach her some basic spells. Elise created a flame on the very first try and was levitating and moving objects with only a thought within the first few months. Elise and Airic spent a great deal of time with their magic lessons and Angelina occupied herself with searching books and maps and any other reference item she could to try to find some indication of where Madina was hiding.
The months passed and the "season of rain" began.
The messenger left for Talenvar a week or so before the "season of rain" began. It would be slow going because of the melting snow. This would flood most of the rivers and some bridges would not be able to be crossed. The mud of the trails would also hinder any traveler. It would take at least three times longer for the messenger to reach Talenvar and return.
The women and Airic were getting anxious. He still tried
to convince the women to reconsider but was met with their strong determination.
One evening during dinner Airic mentioned a trusted friend of his who he would like the women to take with them. "Merk is his name," he informed them. "He will bring a few of his men with him as well. I've known him and his family since he was just a boy and trust him completely. I know that you have people in mind but I would appreciate it if you would allow these men to accompany you also."
The women agreed. Angelina figured the more the better but not too large of a party. They didn't want to bring attention to themselves.
To while away the time, Princess Angelina and Lady Elise begin practicing with their swords and staffs to get ready.
Airic went out one day and returned with Merk and his close companion Pendrake. All three men watched the women to see just how capable they were of handling a sword and defending themselves. The men were impressed. They saw few women that could weld a sword and staff. The women also were trained in hand-to-hand combat. Pendrake remarked on the women's style of fighting and were informed by Princess Angelina that Sir Taz of Cardel instructed them. It was most unusual for women of such high standing to be involved in defense training.
The Uzan Crystal Page 20
