Kerrien saw the white-haired scholar sitting at an empty table, nursing a goblet, and went to check.
"Would you like me to fill that empty goblet?" he offered. "Please join me and my friend for our meal, we have questions about the shire's history."
The old man brightened and happily sat with them. Rithvik glanced at him, a little hostile, but then ignored him, fidgeting until the maid brought his meal.
"I have eaten," the scholar said. "But I'm very thirsty still. What do you wish to know about our beautiful town and countryside?"
"Old history," Kerrien said. "Like... this was the border of the Moren Empire, no?"
"Actually the river was the border. On the other side of the bridge, it was Moren territory. On this side of the bridge, it was an independent kingdom. This was just a small village back then, only a few fishermen with their families – and the ferryman. There was no bridge between the Moren Empire and Ker Eziel."
"Where did the king live?" Kerrien insisted, glancing at Rithvik who kept eating with his eyes on his plate, but was obviously listening.
"At Ker Eziel. The ruins of the castle can still be seen in the forest."
"Yes, I've seen them," Kerrien said. "That's where the bandits hid."
"Ah!" The old man beamed. "We should have thought about it! Thing is... we don't like that place."
"Why? Is it haunted?"
Kerrien noticed that Rithvik was smiling, but still pretending not to listen.
"No, it's just... an ugly story." The scholar emptied his goblet and stared at it until Kerrien filled it again. "Legend has it that the prince heir of Ker Eziel killed his own father in a madness rampage, then was put to sleep by court magicians. People abandoned the castle and the sleeping prince to his destiny. I don't think anyone has gone there in years."
"Except for the bandits," Kerrien commented. "Although they stayed away from the tower where the prince was kept."
"How do you know?" the old man marveled.
"I caught them. And the last king was...?"
"King Larrelyn."
"Any chance you know the name of that murdering prince?"
"Ah, yes, of course... wait... it's on the tip of my tongue..."
"Rithvik," Rithvik said, rolling his eyes. "And I didn't kill my father. At least, that's not what I remember."
"And what do you remember?" Kerrien asked him as the scholar gaped at the young man.
"I didn't want to be king, so the demons helped me to get rid of the burden," Rithvik answered with a shrug. "There was an eclipse and I lost consciousness..." He stared into the distance, then snapped back to reality and smiled at Kerrien. "Next thing I know, I wake up, you're there and everybody else is gone. And I'm free, thanks to you."
"You requested the help of demons?" Kerrien stared, incredulous, at the former prince.
"Yes, and they granted me my wish," Rithvik replied.
"This is Prince Rithvik of Ker Eziel?" the old man said, pointing a shaky finger at Rithvik.
"I found him in Ker Eziel, so yes, I guess it's him," Kerrien answered through clenched teeth. Although he doubted a kiss could break a demon's spell, he still wondered why he'd wandered inside the tower. He should have left immediately. He'd awakened someone who played with demons. Although that someone still had the most celestial face and body he'd ever seen. And the most innocent smile.
The old man gasped and made a sign of protection from evil. He fled from their table, leaving the goblet still half-full behind.
"Did I scare him off?" Rithvik asked.
"You know, usually legends are based on truths," Kerrien replied. "You don't remember it, but maybe you did kill your father and other people in a madness rampage."
"Oh. Maybe." Rithvik shrugged. "I'm done. Can we go to bed now?"
"Haven't you slept enough? Like, a couple of centuries?" Kerrien asked, a little sarcastic. He wasn't getting real answers from the reluctant prince. It was possible the long-sleep spell had tampered with Rithvik's memories, but still...
"That was a magic sleep. Doesn't count." Rithvik yawned. "This room is very loud, can we go to a quieter place?"
Kerrien had to admit that the rowdy crowd was getting on his nerves too. He shook his head and lead Rithvik to his room, wondering whom he could consult with to learn more about his find. Rithvik didn't look dangerous, but still...
He had chosen a single room, since he'd rather sleep alone when he traveled. He didn't want to pay for another room and briefly thought he wouldn't mind sharing with Rithvik. Although the scholar had looked scared by Rithvik's reputation.
Tomorrow Kerrien should try to find out more about what had happened. Surely Rithvik was innocuous, but still...
"How do you summon demons?" he asked while Rithvik took off his slippers and slumped on the bed with a sigh of relief.
"They came to me," Rithvik answered with his eyes closed. "Well, he was just one. All black, but very beautiful. He was very gentle... and he kissed me just like you."
Kerrien's heart missed a beat. "You remember me kissing you?" he asked with a strangled voice.
"It was a very sweet wake-up call." The green eyes stared at him as Rithvik shot him an impish smile.
Kerrien groaned. "What kind of spell exactly hit you?"
"I don't know." Rithvik closed his eyes again. "Coming to bed or not? Can I snuggle up against you?"
"No! Do you want me to call a maid to keep you company?"
"I'd rather have you." Rithvik hugged the pillow and stretched to sleep. "Come, I won't bite you..."
And then he drifted off to sleep.
Kerrien couldn't believe his ears. He decided to sleep on the floor. Or maybe he should just leave right now and abandon the prince to his destiny.
He felt very tired, all of a sudden. His knees gave way under him, and he curled up on the floor, passing out almost immediately, as if hit by a spell.
***
"Why are you sleeping on the floor?"
The voice reached Kerrien through the fog of sleep. He opened his eyes and saw Rithvik watching him from the bed, his green eyes wide in wonder.
"Come here!" Rithvik patted the mattress next to him. "You must hurt everywhere."
Kerrien repressed a groan as he sat.
"I'm not a prince, I'm used to sleeping on the floor," he grumbled.
"Oh... fine. So, no morning cuddles either?"
"Why would you want morning cuddles?" Kerrien exploded. "We've just met! Who do you think I am?"
"My savior," Rithvik said with absolute certainty and a beaming expression. "We'll be together forever."
"Forget it." Kerrien rose. "I have better things to do than look after a fallen prince!"
"You don't want to take care of me?" Rithvik's expression fell. He frowned in worry. "Why did you kiss me, then?"
"Because... you were asleep! Like dead! I didn't think it would wake you up!"
"But you did wake me up..." Rithvik sighed. "As you wish. We'll do it your way. Where do I get a shave and when do we have breakfast?"
Kerrien glared at him and pointed at the basin in a corner. "Can't you shave yourself? I'll use the outhouse. See you downstairs."
He probably needed to shave too, but he didn't trust himself at the moment. His hand shook as he unbuckled his belt to relieve himself. Something was very wrong. He shouldn't have slept that soundly.
Maybe the kiss had done it. Tied him to that crazy prince. He decided to get away from the tavern without breakfast...
But his feet brought him to the main room where Rithvik joined him with a bright smile.
"I thought there would be a barber in the inn, but nobody is willing to shave me. Will you do it?" the prince asked.
"Maybe we'll go to a barber's shop later," Kerrien answered bluntly. "Do you have any magic skills?"
"Me? No, why?" Rithvik replied, puzzled.
"Then your demon lover did something to you," Kerrien muttered, averting his eyes. The idea hit him then. "Don't you want to find him?" he asked
.
"Who?"
"Your demon lover. The one who granted your wish. Don't you want to see him again?"
"Nah. He was sweet, but you're more handsome," Rithvik answered. "Those pastries smell very good, can I have them?"
At least he asked, instead of just taking, like some nobles Kerrien had met. Spoiled, but well-mannered.
As he sipped his tea, Kerrien observed Rithvik.
"Why didn't you want to be king?" he asked bluntly.
"Too much responsibility," Rithvik answered between bites. "This is delicious... want some?"
"Not hungry. How do you plan to earn your living from now on?"
"Mmm..." Rithvik munched and pondered. "I'm young, I can learn anything. Teach me," he said at last, looking Kerrien in the eyes.
Kerrien scoffed. "Teach you what? You're a prince, can you use a sword?"
Rithvik nodded, his mouth full with the last bit of pastry.
"Ever been to war? Dragon hunting, since you lived at the time of the Moren Empire?"
Rithvik shook his head and gulped before downing a glass of water.
"Is dragon hunting still a pastime?" he asked, hopeful.
"There are no more dragons," Kerrien replied. "If there are, they're hiding who knows where. We hunted them to extinction."
"Oh." Rithvik's disappointment lasted only a moment. "So? Barber and then what? I need boots or walking shoes. And do you want to try my fighting skills? Will you buy me a sword?"
"You know what? You talk too much. Learn to be quiet and speak only when questioned," Kerrien said, slamming down his mug. "Let's go. And not another word, is that clear?"
***
The barber was a chatterbox worse than Rithvik, but since he knew everything about everyone, he was the best person to ask information of.
"Castle in ruins? No, haven't heard of it. You should ask Bartiella, the showy scholar who frequently speaks against the establishment. She's been quickly gaining enemies and might be expelled from our university soon... Rumors say that she is trying to be friendly with wizards. She can usually be found at a party."
"How do I get invited to any of these parties?" Kerrien asked while the barber shaved Rithvik.
"You could try Lord Hermir... the old money lordling who throws lavish parties. Unfortunately he seems to be afraid of outsiders. Maybe you'll have more chance with Rylasina. She's a paranoid courtesan who has been accumulating debts. She is unwilling to associate with military officials, but you're not one of them, are you?"
"No, I'm a mercenary and bounty hunter." Kerrien sighed. He wasn't too happy to buy information from women. "Where do I find this Rylasina?"
"She can usually be found at the market in the main square. She probably knows where Bartiella is. They used to be friends."
"You have very notable locals here in Backeran," Kerrien commented.
"Oh, and I haven't told you of the flamboyant politician who is associated with several questionable events..."
Kerrien was glad to leave the barber's shop.
"If I talk too much, what about that man?" Rithvik asked with a teasing gleam in his eyes.
"I was gleaning information." Kerrien glared at him. "Since you know nothing of this town and these people, I need to ask somebody else."
"There was no town here in my father's time. Although I did recognize the river before we entered the town walls..."
The market was busy and noisy, with heavy traffic and a large number of guards who didn't really see the very many pickpockets, too busy trying to dislodge the many beggars. There were six stalls in the middle of the square, and shops opened all around it.
Rithvik watched every single window or display but didn't stop anywhere. He clearly wasn't interested in spell scrolls, musical instruments, perfumes, pottery, necklaces and amulets, incense and balms, or lamps and tools.
"No blacksmith?" he asked, disappointed.
"Maybe not in the center of the city," Kerrien replied, looking at the crowd around them and wondering who could be either the scholar or the courtesan. Maybe the very pale, exuberant woman who seemed intent on starting a fight at the necklaces and amulets stall was the courtesan.
"What about a shoemaker?"
Kerrien ignored the question and headed for the roofed and walled kiosk. The half-naked female owner of the kiosk looked ill without the hassle of having to fight with a customer. Haggling was routine, but the pale woman seemed to test the vendor's patience.
"Before your outraged screams call in the guards, what's wrong, ma'am?" Kerrien asked the customer.
"Rylasina always wants to rip me off," the vendor complained while the customer glared at him. She still had traces of her beauty, but she wasn't in her prime anymore. No wonder she'd become paranoid. Younger women were stealing her best customers and she was accumulating debts.
"I'm honored to meet the renowned and most beautiful Rylasina," Kerrien said. "How can I help you, my lady?"
Startled, the woman looked at him and Rithvik, who hid his chuckle behind his hand.
"You've heard of me?" she asked. "And you are?"
"Kerrien. Of course I've heard of you. But I'm actually looking for the scholar Bartiella, I've heard she's a friend of yours."
Rylasina sighed. "Yes... what do you want from her?"
"Her knowledge, of course. What else could we want from a scholar?"
"Is your young friend laughing at me?" Rylasina frowned at Rithvik who looked away to hide his hilarity.
"This... young man thinks he's a prince and can laugh at anyone," Kerrien replied, mildly irritated by Rithvik's behavior. He wanted to elbow the prince to make him stop laughing at the aging courtesan. "Will you be so kind as to tell me where Bartiella is? I'll buy you that necklace you're bargaining for so hard..."
Rylasina nodded regally and accepted the gift.
I'm spending all my hard-earned coins trying to figure out who this gorgeous young man is. I should have left him to sleep in the tower. But then, he'd never see that dazzling smile and those sparkling green eyes. Damn, Kerrien, stop this! He hadn't drooled like this in years. What was wrong with him?
Rylasina took him to a small house in an alley near the town walls and knocked.
"Bartiella, it's Rylasina!"
Bartiella had long white hair and a wrinkled face. She nodded in greeting at Rylasina, but stared suspiciously at Kerrien and Rithvik.
"What do they want?" she asked her friend bluntly.
"Knowledge," Rylasina said with a little shrug. "If they also want entertainment, you know where to send them. But I'm afraid the new generation would rather touch each other than be with an expert woman."
Kerrien clenched his teeth. He wasn't going to touch the beautiful sleeper ever again. He must get rid of Rithvik as soon as possible.
"Fine, but you know I don't like visitors," Bartiella muttered, glaring at her friend who shrugged again. Rylasina waved good-bye and left them with the grumpy old woman.
"I was wondering if you knew anything about the history of the king of Ker Eziel," Kerrien said, standing in the middle of the narrow street, since Bartiella wouldn't let him in. "I seem to understand there were wizards and black magic involved?"
"Ah, Ker Eziel." The old woman snorted. "Legends. Yes, black magic, indeed. You should ask Fionorah."
"Who?"
"The recently bereaved wizard who may have dabbled in forbidden magic. She had many allies and she has studied old spells. She probably knows about Ker Eziel – everybody else is too scared to even ask. She can usually be found at the market. If you see a tanned, sneaky old woman who has a bow across her back, that's her."
And Bartiella slammed her door on their faces.
"What a nice woman," Rithvik commented. "Why do you want to know the story of my father's castle?"
"Because everybody is scared of you! What did you do? I want to know what happened and how many centuries ago," Kerrien snapped. "Aren't you curious? Don't you want to remember?"
"No. Why should I? I
was unhappy. Why would I want to remember that?"
Kerrien snorted and rolled his eyes. "Let's go back to the market," he grumbled. Maybe he should lose Rithvik in the crowd. Except the prince grabbed his wrist as soon as they reached more busy streets and the market.
"There's a shoemaker!" Rithvik pointed at the shop. "My slippers are falling apart."
Kerrien rolled his eyes, but glancing at the prince's feet, he saw Rithvik was right.
The shoemaker told them strong walking boots would be ready the next morning. They thanked him and left the shop, resuming their search for the magic user.
Fionorah found them first. She bumped into them coming out of a shop and narrowed her eyes at the sight of them. Before Kerrien realized she matched Bartiella's description, the wizard had waved a hand around them as if to clear her vision of something.
"Mm. Prince Rithvik is awake!" she said, staring pointedly at Rithvik who stiffened and stood closer to Kerrien.
"How do you know it's him?" Kerrien asked, jarred.
"A dark aura..." Fionorah looked lost for a moment, but then she snapped back to reality. "Why did you wake him up?" she asked bluntly, glaring at Kerrien.
"I didn't even know he existed until yesterday!" Kerrien protested. "And I've been trying to figure out his story since then! What do you know about what happened – the spell, the abandoned castle, anything, really! Why is everybody so afraid?"
"Because Ker Eziel was cursed centuries ago, when this spoiled prince made a pact with some demon who took him to the dark side!" Fionorah threw up her arms and rolled her eyes. "He had to be put to sleep by magic users! The long-sleep spell – which has been lost since, by the way."
"And how does one undo the long-sleep spell?" Kerrien asked.
"I don't know." Fionorah shrugged. "It's beyond what I can do. There were real magicians back then, the Magical Races hadn't been gone for so long and they had spells we Humans can only dream of."
"But wouldn't a spell need a counter-spell?" Kerrien insisted. He couldn't believe a kiss would be enough to undo a spell used to put someone who had consorted with real demons to sleep.
"Probably you had it in you." Fionorah smirked. "You have a dark aura yourself. What do you do?"
"I'm a mercenary."
Fairy Tales Revisited on Silvery Earth Page 15
