DarkSkull Hall

by Lisa Cassidy

  When she asked about it, he explained to her that he’d been given the command of her escort after his conduct on the journey to DarkSkull, adding self-deprecatingly that there were now few others willing to command a protective detail through the disputed territory.

  “Dashan, that’s great,” she said, genuinely happy for him.

  He’d shrugged off her congratulations, and she’d seen in his eyes that there was far more to the story than he’d told her.

  “It’s really nothing. Back home I’m still just a dirty half-Shiven.”

  Dashan usually joined Alyx, Tarrick and the twins for dinner over a campfire each night. Tarrick and Dashan had taken a liking to each other almost immediately, and Dashan was always friendly to Finn and Dawn.

  Alyx didn’t involve herself much in their conversations, preferring to simply sit back and allow their talk to flow around her. She mostly ignored Dashan’s looks of concern at her relative silence, but made sure to join the conversation if they became too pointed.

  A week out from Tregaya, they hit the border of the disputed territory. Too anxious to be able to sit still in the carriage, Alyx was riding Tingo for the first time. She kept near the carriage with the twins, the reassuring weight of her staff hanging between her shoulder blades.

  The Bluecoats grew more alert as they approached the border crossing, keeping one hand tight on the reins and the other on the hilt of their swords. Dashan’s shoulders tensed as he rode forward to the Shiven warriors that waited on the road ahead. There was nothing to delineate the border except the invisible line that the warriors stood on.

  Out of courtesy, Dashan dismounted and three warriors moved forward to speak with him. They were big men, just like the ones Alyx remembered attacking them on their way to DarkSkull, and moved with an easy grace.

  Unconsciously, she kicked Tingo forward to get a better view. One of the warriors was gesturing, a scowl on his Shiven features. Dashan said something, and Alyx heard him chuckle. The Shiven relaxed, and made a gesture with his hand. As one, all of the warriors moved off the road.

  Dashan got back onto his horse and rode back to them. He spoke briefly to the Bluecoats, then waved Alyx, Tarrick and the twins on. Nobody tried to stop them as they continued along the road and crossed into the disputed territory.

  “You handle him well.” Dashan rode up alongside Alyx a few minutes later.

  “Thanks.”

  “It took a while, though.” Dawn laughed as the twins joined them.

  Alyx smiled in response to Dashan’s raised eyebrow. “There was a lot of falling off in the beginning.”

  His mouth quirked in a grin. “The first day of Bluecoat training, they assigned us horses and made us ride them around the drill yard. I was still pretty scrawny and it took me six tries to even get on the horse. All the other recruits were laughing at me. It was horrible.”

  “You could not have looked any worse than Finn trying to get on his horse at first.” Dawn laughed at her brother’s scowl.

  “It took me a while too,” Alyx said. “I’m sure I looked more like I was trying to climb a tree than get on a horse. Then once I was up, it was usually Tingo taking me for a ride, not the other way around.”

  “But you kept trying huh?” He smiled, approval in his eyes. “Nice work, mage-girl.”

  “Stop being nice to me,” she said. “It makes me itch.”

  He laughed. “All right, well, I’d best go organise a patrol. We want to make sure those Shiven stay off our back.”

  Once they were across the Rionnan border safely, a sense of excited anticipation began to fill the group. Alyx felt the restrictions of life at DarkSkull Hall start to lift from her shoulders. She was going home, DarkSkull was behind her and she never had to return.

  Tarrick stayed slightly separate from the group, spending most of his time with the Bluecoats, but even his mood improved noticeably. While Alyx and the twins slept inside the carriage, Tarrick slept outside with the Blue Guard. She heard them often laughing and talking late into the night.

  One night there must have been a discussion about who had the better fighting skills, because Alyx and the twins started emerging from the carriage in the mornings to the sounds of Tarrick sparring with one of the Bluecoats, his wooden staff against their sharp swords.

  Alyx observed with interest one morning as Tarrick sparred with Dashan. The air was warm despite the early hour, and she sat on the carriage steps contentedly sipping from a mug of tea. The young men had stripped down to rolled up shirtsleeves, and were trading blows in a small clearing off the road.

  Tarrick was clearly giving all he had, but he was mostly ducking and avoiding as he faced what looked to be a far more skilled opponent. What was even clearer was that Dashan was holding back; he was beating Tarrick effortlessly.

  “He’s good,” Finn said enviously, chewing toast nearby.

  “Yes, he is.” Dawn nodded, eyes fixed on Dashan.

  Alyx rolled her eyes. Dashan’s sword skills were nothing she hadn’t seen many times before. “Very soon, Tarrick will be that good. He’s already improved.”

  Dawn made no reply to that, but the twins shared an amused look over Alyx’s head.

  “What’s that look for?” she asked indignantly.

  “Granted, Tarrick is going to be a strong mage and capable fighter, but even I can tell that he’s never going to fight like Dashan does,” Finn said.

  Alyx looked back at the sparring match. Dashan moved like the Shiven warriors she’d seen, all ease and fluid grace. Tarrick was more solid, not as quick on his feet. His blows were powerful, but they were rarely quick enough to hit their mark.

  “I don’t understand. Rothai says Tarrick is a natural warrior mage,” Alyx said. “With time and practice he’ll be a superb fighter.”

  “I wasn’t making a comment on Tarrick’s future abilities, but on the uniqueness of Dashan’s,” Finn said.

  Alyx frowned in confusion, “Would you like to repeat that in a language I understand, oh learned one?”

  Dawn laughed.

  “Finn!” Dashan called out. He and Tarrick had stopped sparring and were taking a breather. “Would you like to join us?”

  “I think I’d rather maintain my dignity,” Finn called back.

  “You’re going to have to do this again next year at DarkSkull,” Tarrick said. “I would suggest you learn as much as you can over the summer.”

  “Good advice, but I choose to rest and relax as much as I can over the summer.”

  Dashan smiled. “I always like a shirker. Come on, we need to get moving for the day anyway.”

  One evening, when Alyx went to relieve herself, she came back to the camp to find Dashan leaning against a tree, staring watchfully out into the darkness surrounding them. Remembering the promise she and Dawn had recently made together about how they were going to treat others, she approached him.

  “Alyx,” he greeted her.

  His amused tone rankled, but she was determined to keep to her promise. “I came here to apologise.”

  Dashan’s eyebrows shot up. “For what?”

  “I’m sorry that people have always treated you badly because you’re half-Shiven.”

  “You’ve never cared that I was half-Shiven.” He shrugged. “You only dislike me most of the time because I annoy you.”

  “True,” she said. “But even so. I saw it all happening around me, the way they treat you, and I never said anything. I’m sorry, Dash.”

  His expression turned serious. “I never needed you to apologise on behalf of others. I’m a big boy, I can take care of myself.”

  “Fine.” She rolled her eyes. “I won’t apologise then.”

  She went to stalk off in a huff, but his touch on her arm stopped her. “I only ever needed you to not care that I was half-Shiven.”

  “I don’t,” she said simply.

  “And that is the greatest gift you’ve ever given me,” he said. “And why I will always consider you my friend no matter how snot
ty, spoiled, or self-involved your behaviour is.”

  She glared at him. “Well I don’t quite know the answer to why I sort-of consider you my friend, no matter how cocky or dissolute your behaviour.”

  “You’d best go think on that then.” He grinned. “Use some of those noble-born brains you have.”

  “Oh, go climb a tree.” Alyx turned and walked back to the carriage, wondering why she’d even bothered.

  His laughter followed her all the way back.

  The closer they came to Alistriem, the more Alyx’s excitement mounted, and the more the darkness of her time at DarkSkull dropped away. She longed to see the emerald fields and graceful spires of the royal city. The rugged valley and harsh winter of DarkSkull Hall had been a stark contrast to her beautiful homeland, its warmth and vitality.

  Finn and Dawn were just as eager to see home again, and the three of them spent hours hanging out the carriage windows and regaling Tarrick with descriptions of the city. He would eventually get fed up and start boasting about the endless deserts and stunning oases of his home. Dashan often dropped back to listen with interest to these conversations, especially when Tarrick spoke of Zandia.

  Dawn turned to Alyx one night at the fire when Finn rose to go and speak with Tarrick. “How are you feeling?”

  “Thrilled to be away from DarkSkull. Trying not to let what Ladan told me mar the fact I’m so happy to be going home.”

  “And how are you doing with all that? It seems like you’re sleeping better.”

  Alyx wrapped her arms around herself. “I keep telling myself that my father will have answers that will explain all of it. Who Ladan is. Why my memories of my mother were taken.”

  Dawn smiled sympathetically and reached out to squeeze her arm. “I’m sure he will.”

  “Thank you, Dawn. You’ve been amazing. I don’t know how I would have gotten through it without you.”

  “That’s what friends are for.”

  The warm weather held the morning they descended from the mountains and began winding their way along the main road towards Alistriem. Emerging from the forest, the emerald green farmlands of Rionn lay out in the early summer heat, the fields busy with workers. The roads became busier too, with people heading in and out of the city to find work and merchants transporting the stock they’d purchased to the great Alistriem storehouses.

  These travellers all gave the carriage a wide berth when they saw it was surrounded by a unit of Blue Guards. The Bluecoats wore severe expressions and glowered fiercely at anyone who came too close.

  Eventually the city itself came into sight, sprawling at the base of the cliff where the shining waterfall poured down from the palace. The sandstone palace walls glowed golden in the afternoon sun, their light seeming to shine down over the city. Rainbow water droplets sprayed out from the waterfall, cascading down with the gushing water.

  The sight of her home made Alyx so excited she thought she might burst with it. She was finally home, safe and alive. And Cayr! After waiting and hoping for so long, she was about to see him again.

  The streets of the city were far busier than the road leading in. Hawkers and vendors shouted their wares from street corners, while riders, carriages and pedestrians tried to make their way through the crowds. Alyx breathed deeply, savouring the smells of cooking foods.

  Eventually they wended their way out of the main streets and into one of the residential quarters, its distance from the centre of town speaking to its relative poverty. Alyx didn’t miss the looks of excitement passing between the twins as the carriage moved along narrower streets lined with smaller houses.

  Eventually Dashan called out an order, and they pulled up in an area Alyx remembered as where they’d stopped on leaving Alistriem to pick up the twins. She was just opening her mouth to ask if this was where they lived when both twins suddenly let out shrieks of delight and scrambled over her to get out of the carriage.

  A beaming man with soot-stained hands and shirt was coming down the front path of the nearest home, an older woman close behind. The twins flew into their parents’ arms, a tangled mess of laughing and crying. Sharing a hesitant look, Tarrick and Alyx stepped out of the carriage and hovered a short distance away.

  Eventually Dawn stepped back and waved Alyx and Tarrick over.

  “Mother, Father, these are our friends. Tarrick Tylender and Lady Alyx Egalion.”

  It gave Alyx a small jolt of surprise to be referred to by her proper title, but it was a dose of familiarity that she drank in with pleasure.

  “Lady Egalion.” The twins’ father bowed and their mother curtseyed politely.

  “It’s lovely to meet you,” she said with a smile.

  “Father, mother, would it be all right if Tarrick stayed with us? He’s a good friend from DarkSkull,” Dawn asked.

  “I don’t want to be any trouble,” Tarrick said instantly. “I have enough coin for a room at an Inn.”

  “Don’t be silly.” The twins’ father stepped forward to shake his hand. “We have plenty of room here.”

  “Thank you, sir.”

  Alyx felt a slight wriggle of guilt. While the twins’ home and family wasn’t as impoverished as Brynn’s clearly had been, they weren’t wealthy either, and yet they were welcoming Tarrick without hesitation into their small home. To his credit, Tarrick seemed nothing but pleased and honoured by their invitation to stay.

  Finn shook Dashan’s hand. “Thanks for seeing us here safely.”

  “A pleasure. Best of luck, Finn.” Dashan smiled. “You too, Dawn.”

  “Will we see you again, Lady Egalion?” Dawn asked.

  “Of course. I’ll come visit after I get settled in.”

  “See you then.” Dawn surprised Alyx, stepping forward to hug her tightly.

  Alyx returned the hug awkwardly. “I’ll see you both.”

  Now they left the city through the north gate, passed a guard post manned by Bluecoats, and started up the road to the palace. Green fir trees hugged the sides of the road, and for a while, the palace was hidden. Then the road levelled and a fork in the road off to the right led to the impressive iron gates of the Egalion estate.

  The white pebbled drive and pale lemon walls of the mansion hadn’t changed at all. Alyx drank in the sight of the blooming rose bushes lining the walls, adding colour and character to the front grounds.

  A tall figure waited at the top of the steps by the front entrance. The moment she caught sight of him, Alyx was scrambling out the carriage door while it was still moving and sprinting the rest of the distance.

  “Papa!” she cried out, flying up to him and hurling herself into his arms.

  “Aly-girl.” He hugged her tightly, so tightly she could barely breathe, but she didn’t care.

  The minute Alyx’s father’s arms closed around her, all the misery, loneliness and fear of the past year faded into the background.

  She was home. Everything would be all right now.

  “I’m so glad to see you.” He pulled back eventually, smiling down on her. “I’ve been so worried for you, and hating myself every minute for ever sending you away.”

  “It’s okay, Papa. I’m home now.” She hugged him again. “That’s all I care about.”

  “Alyx?”

  She spun around, her breath stilling in her chest at the sight of Cayr standing at the bottom of the steps.

  “I’ll be waiting in the dining room. Cook’s got a hot meal ready for you.” Alyx’s father kissed her on the cheek and walked indoors.

  She turned back to Cayr, drinking in the sight of him after so long. He had grown taller in their time apart, and his lean frame had filled out. His tousled blonde hair was still on the lengthy side, and his blue eyes were as bright and intelligent as she remembered them. She felt her breath catch at how handsome he was, and she swallowed, a pit of nervousness opening in her stomach. Was he still the same Cayr?

  He seemed to be similarly struck by the sight of her. “My goodness, Alyx, you’ve really changed.” />
  She walked down the steps towards him. “So have you.”

  “I can’t believe it’s been almost a year,” he said wonderingly. “I missed you so much.”

  “I missed you too.”

  They looked hesitantly at each other, Alyx wishing desperately all the awkwardness would disappear. His thoughts seemed to follow the same line, because a look of frustration crossed his face, then he stepped forward and pulled her into his arms, breaking the tension.

  They both laughed, and Alyx returned the hug, breathing in his familiar scent, finding it hard to believe that she was finally here, where she’d wanted to be for so long.

  “You have no idea how worried I was, when we heard what happened on your journey to DarkSkull.” Cayr murmured in her ear, making her shiver. “It means everything that you’re safely back here with me.”

  “Me too.” She hugged him tighter.

  A wide smile covered his face as he stepped back. “I know you’re probably exhausted from your trip, and want to spend some time with your father. Can I come back tomorrow? I want to hear all about DarkSkull.”

  “I’d love that.”

  He stepped away, but then hesitated and returned to her, leaning down to kiss her hard. She wrapped her arms around his neck, smiling into his kiss, loving the rush that swept through her. In that moment, any doubts she’d had about their relationship after being away so long vanished. He still loved her.

  “I’ll see you tomorrow, Alyx,” he said after pulling back. Turning, he strode back to his horse waiting nearby. Alyx waited until he’d called a greeting to Dashan and ridden out of sight, then skipped back up the steps, her heart singing.

  She was home again.

  “Alyx?”

  She turned to see Dashan sitting his horse at the base of the steps.

  “Thanks for getting me home, Dash.”

  “No problem.” He tipped his hat. “Well, I’ll see you around, I suppose.”

  “Bye.” Alyx smiled, then skipped inside the house.

  She hesitated in the empty foyer, Ladan’s face flashing into her thoughts. Immediately some of the joy of her reunion with Cayr faded, and she tried desperately to shore it up by pushing thoughts of Ladan firmly away. She would speak to her father, but later, once she’d had a chance to settle back in.