by Candy Crum
“Indeed. Please update me if you find out anything else.”
Amelia stood and turned toward the door to leave, but stopped. She turned back to Talia, a large smile on her face. “With all this excitement, good and bad, I completely forgot the other good reason I came,” she said.
“Oh?”
“I heard you’ve implemented a counseling project with students. I just wanted you to know I think it’s a brilliant idea. The initiative you've taken since being here is nothing shy of phenomenal. I can’t tell you how excited I am to have you on board. You've been a great asset. We’re lucky to have you.”
“Thank you, Chancellor,” Talia said. “I do appreciate that. These students are the future of the city. We have to give them the best shot we can. I'm hoping to get more kids and even adults involved soon.”
Amelia nodded. “That’s great. I really appreciate the extra steps you’re taking. It really is a huge help to me. In a couple months, it'll be like a brand-new city. Everything will be flourishing. At the very least, it'll be well on its way.”
Talia smiled. “Oh, yes. The city will certainly see some big changes in the next couple months. Some of the biggest changes they've ever seen.”
Arryn and Cathillian had been traveling for two days, and they’d only stopped long enough for sleep and food, mostly for Chaos. As the second day came to a close, they neared the edge of the woods just west of the city. It wouldn't be long before they would arrive at the Arcadian gate.
Cathillian was a bit worried about what Arryn's expectations might be. It seemed she was overly anxious, and he didn't want her to be discouraged if things weren’t what she’d been hoping for. More than that, he was worried about what she would find out about her father.
Other than Elysia and the Chieftain, Arryn was the strongest person he’d ever met. She could handle just about anything, but he prayed that if she discovered the worst, she’d use it as a way to better herself.
“Not much longer,” Arryn said. “I can't believe I'm going back home.”
“Just keep an open mind and remember that everything’s going to be totally different. Try to remind yourself it's something different. The people will be different, the friends that you had will have all grown up, some of them may have even lost their lives in battle or left the city afterward. A lot might have happened in your absence. Just keep an open mind, and you'll do fine.”
“I know you're worried,” Arryn said, “but I'll be fine. I know everything’s gonna be different, but I'm ready. For the first time in my life, I'm ready. Just try and relax. This’ll be fun for you. Just think of all the trouble you can get into in the city.”
Cathillian hadn’t even had a chance to make a smartass retort before he heard the light gasp from Arryn as the large city came into view. It was hard to make out details, but they could see the outlines of the buildings and the tall walls from that distance.
Cathillian knew if he looked over, Arryn would have a look of excitement and wonder on her face.
“There it is.” Arryn's voice was barely above a whisper, and Cathillian could hear what sounded like tears in her voice.
“Well, what are we waiting for?” Cathillian asked. “Let's get you home. See what home looks like.”
Arryn nodded and squeezed Chaos' side with her feet, sending him into a full run. The massive horse moved faster than any other she had ever ridden.
The occasional screech filled the air right along with the sound of powerful wings slicing through the wind as Echo played in flight. She flew in circles, diving down and recovering at the last moment before gliding back into the sky.
As they reached the main road, she pulled back on Chaos' reins, slowing him down to a brisk walk. They approached the front gate to the city, and four guards stepped away from the gates to meet them. Arryn slowed Chaos down to a stop several yards away from the men. A tall man with dark hair and a beard approached.
“Hello there,” he said. “What can we do for ya?”
“Hey,” Arryn said. “My name is Arryn. I lived here as a child. This is the first time I’ve been back in ten years. I heard things have changed; is this true?”
The guard smiled and stepped forward. “My name is Ken,” he said, pride resonating from his voice. “I grew up in the Boulevard, and that's where I stayed until the ol’ bastard was killed. He didn’t deserve the title. The new Chancellor, Amelia, is a badass. She helped free the city and pulled a lot of us from the Boulevard and gave us jobs. So, to answer your question, yes. Things’ve changed.”
Arryn couldn't help but smile. Ken's pride was intoxicating. She was happy for him, happy for all the people whose lives had been positively affected.
“You have no idea how happy that makes me. I can’t wait to see it for myself,” she said.
Ken smiled. “I’d be happy to let ya through so ya can. But first, I need some kind of proof you’re an Arcadian. You don’t look like an Arcadian to me, even one that’s been gone ten years.” He nodded toward Cathillian. “He sure as hell don’t look like no Arcadian I ever seen.”
“I don’t have documentation of any kind,” she said. “I look like this because I’ve spent the last decade living in the Dark Forest. Ever heard of a druid? This pointy-eared bastard to my right happens to be one.”
Ken’s eyes widened a bit as he looked back over to Cathillian. He took a step back, his grip tightening on his magitech weapon.
His gaze lingered for a few before he looked back to Arryn and nodded. “I understand and respect that, but I hope you understand we have a job to do. You seem kind enough, so I’ll accompany you in. We’ll go to the guards’ quarters and look into the story you gave. That sound acceptable to you?”
Arryn thought it over. A battle had recently been fought there. She shouldn’t have expected them to be any less than cautious. They probably would be for some time.
“Of course,” Arryn said. “I don’t trust you any more than you trust me, no offense.”
He smiled. “None taken, ma’am.”
“I honestly have no idea how much luck you'll have looking into my story, but hopefully we can find something. There must be someone around here that would remember me or my parents. Christopher and Elayne.”
He nodded and gave a reassuring smile. “Follow me, and we’ll get ya taken care of.”
The gates opened, and Arryn saw inside. Her eyes fell to the familiar, cobblestone road, and all the buildings inside. She saw businesses and houses, and farther off in the distance, she saw the outline of the Academy. It stood tall and beautiful above everything else. She couldn't wait to get started.
18
As Amelia exited Talia’s office, she was startled by a guard standing in the hall. “Yes? What’s wrong?”
“We have two people in the guard’s quarters, and we ain’t really sure what we should do. The guy clearly ain’t from around here. Says he’s a druid. If I didn't know any better, I'd say he was. Pointy ears and everything.”
“A druid? Seriously? And what about the girl?” Amelia asked. A smile spread on her face as she thought of Laurel, the druid that had joined the fight against Adrien.
“Said her name’s Arryn, and she lived here ten years ago. Her father worked for Adrien at some point, and the old Chancellor had him taken and her mother killed. You should definitely come hear this. She seems OK, nice enough, I guess. But we just wanted to be safe, never seen her around before. Especially the pointy-eared fella.”
Amelia quickly followed the guard, wondering what on earth could be happening and who could have just shown up to Arcadia. She’d only known one druid—Laurel.
The druids had refused to help Arcadia, so she couldn’t imagine why they’d want to show up now, but she intended to find out.
When Amelia arrived at the guard’s quarters, she had no idea what to expect. When Ezekiel had returned and told them the people of the Dark Forest would offer no help, she wasn’t quite sure how to feel about them. But Laurel had done quite a bit to salv
e any negative feelings she'd had towards the druids.
What could a druid possibly want, and what on earth would one be doing with an Arcadian girl?
She was intrigued to meet whoever waited for her and get to the bottom of it. If they were friendly visitors, then it couldn’t have come at a better time.
Who better to have around than a druid when the city was in such need for food and resources? But they would be welcomed into the city no matter what as long as their intentions were pure.
As she opened the door to the guard’s quarters, she was taken aback by the beautiful, porcelain skinned girl sitting before her. Raven black hair, medium height, and her body was built in such a way that Amelia knew the girl had trained every day for many years.
Next to her stood a tall man that stunned her to silence just as his traveling companion had. Long blonde hair, green eyes, and a body that was built for battle. As she looked him over, she saw his ears extending slightly out through his hair, coming to subtle points.
He was a warrior. There was no doubt in her mind. She imagined he would be able to easily take out any guard that stood in his way if he chose to.
But he hadn’t.
He didn't even look annoyed. He just stood there, silently towering over everyone in the room in height and in confidence, taking a protective role over his young, Arcadian druid friend.
“Hello, I’m Amelia,” she said, giving what she hoped was a sincere smile. While she was worried about their intentions, she also wanted to be diplomatic. “I apologize for the formalities, but I’m sure the guards were kind enough to explain it—I hope.”
“Yes, they did,” Cathillian said with a nod. “They’ve been surprisingly kind. Much nicer than I expected. I’m Cathillian.”
Arryn gave a quick wave. “I’m Arryn.”
Amelia sighed with relief. Unable to help herself, Amelia cleared her mind and slipped into the young woman’s mind. It was wide open for her, even with Amelia being new to the world of mystical magic.
The young woman was nervous about being back in the city. From what Amelia could see, her intentions were pure. Due to her nervousness, her thoughts kept wildly switching from images of who Amelia imagined was her parents to Adrien to the Academy.
There would be no way to make sense of it except to speak to her directly.
“I’m glad. So, what can I do for you?” She turned to Arryn. “I understand you’re originally from here. Is that right?”
“Yep. I lived here until I was nine,” Arryn replied flatly. She’d already been over everything with the guards. “I made a promise to my mom that I’d come back to Arcadia when I was ready. The battle’s over, and Adrien is dead, otherwise I never would’ve spoken a word to them about my past.”
Amelia took a deep breath, exhaling in relief as she stepped forward. “I see. Well, I assure you the city isn’t the one you left. I don’t know if you came seeking vengeance for your family, but like you said, Adrien is long gone, and I’m nothing like him. You’ll never have anything to fear from me—unless I’m given reason.”
Arryn nodded. “I can tell just by looking in your eyes that you’re nothing like Adrien. You actually have a soul. Plus, sitting here talking to the guards, I've learned you’re the one that is partly responsible for the city being freed. So, no. I can promise you as long as you stay a good person, you’ll never be given reason from me.”
Amelia smiled. The girl had fire in her, not unlike another young woman that she knew. With everything going on in the search for Doyle, Amos, and all things regarding the economy and wellbeing of the city, it made Amelia happy to see someone with hope.
“Then it seems you and I have absolutely nothing to fear from one another.” Amelia's smile grew. “And if I'm completely honest, I can’t tell you how excited I am to have druids in the city.”
“We saw some of the destruction when we came in,” Cathillian said. “It looks like most of the city on the other side is destroyed.”
Amelia nodded. “Unfortunately, that’s true. That was once the Boulevard, where Adrien more or less forced the less fortunate to live, secluded from everyone else. Those people are struggling now, but once we get those houses rebuilt, they’ll all have their own water and the ability to bathe their children. As for healing the city, I’d like to talk with you a bit about your magic and what it can do.”
“That's a very noble cause,” Cathillian said. “As for the magic, my family is pretty strong with nature magic.”
Arryn rolled her eyes. “For once in his miserable life, he’s being modest. I’m sure you can’t see it, but this is my shocked face right now. Once you get to know him, you’ll be quite shocked, too. Anyway, by his family, he means that he’s the grandson of the Chieftain.”
Amelia couldn’t believe what she’d just been told. Someone like him could come in very handy. “Really? You must be really good with magic.”
He smiled. “I know my way around the beauty in nature, beauty not unlike your own.”
Arryn sighed heavily. “Oh, hell. And… he’s back, everyone,” Arryn chimed in. She elbowed him in the side. “Get to the point before she lights you on fire for good measure.”
Amelia laughed at the two. She could tell they were great friends, even if they argued quite a bit.
Cathillian winked at Arryn before turning back to Amelia, his face a bit more serious. “If you don't mind, I’d like to look around the city. I can't guarantee that I’d be able to help, but Arryn’s very passionate about the city. And if its lovely Chancellor is, too, then I see no reason why I wouldn't be able to at least try.”
Amelia had no idea what to say. Apparently, neither did his companion, who looked to him with wide eyes.
“Really?” Arryn asked. “You would do that?”
“Aw, do you feel bad now? After that hard time you just gave me?” Arryn’s eyes narrowed, and he laughed. “Like I said, I'm not gonna promise anything. I know at least one Arcadian that isn’t half bad, so if there’s life in the city that’s honorable, and they’re suffering, then it’s our duty to help ‘em.”
Amelia was moved by his words. Coming from a druid, it meant even more. Outside of the city, Arcadians were greatly disliked. She'd learned that from random travelers who had no other choice but to come through the city for shelter or food.
The Arcadians had spent a lifetime treating everyone else that was lower than them like trash. To some of the wealthiest nobles, that was literally everyone.
Physical magic was also more destructive than the rest. So, the Arcadian's looked like slothy, rude, arrogant, harbingers of chaotic magic. Magic that was only taught to people rich enough to afford to learn in the Academy, and anyone less than that was killed for using it.
“Arryn,” Amelia said. “What did you have planned for yourself here in the city?”
Arryn stood and stretched, her body more than likely still sore from riding on the back of a large horse for two days. Amelia had seen the horse she’d rode in on. He was a beautiful creature, but the biggest horse she’d ever seen.
“My goal was to come back and look for my father. I don’t know if he’s alive or dead, but I know he suffered. It’s hard to say what I’ll find. He might’ve died the night we escaped. Maybe he was taken into custody and tortured until he took his last breath. He might even be alive somewhere. I don’t have a clue, but I intend to find him, even if it's only his memory. I need to know what happened.”
Amelia nodded, coming to understand more of the images she saw when peering into Arryn’s thoughts. “I think I can help you with that. I have one person in custody that might be able to shed light on it, and I'm currently hunting another one down. Adrien’s right-hand man. Doyle. He escaped, and we need to find him before he causes any trouble. If we catch him, we might be able to get some answers out of him for you.”
Amelia struggled to talk and look more into Arryn’s head, but it became painfully obvious that Arryn could feel it. The young woman’s brows furrowed as her eye
s closed. She rubbed at her temples and forehead where Amelia knew the buzzing would be the worst for someone that was sensitive to the sensation.
Satisfied that she hadn’t found anything other than what she’d been told, Amelia pulled back and continued. “I can't guarantee answers that’ll lead anywhere, but I'm sure we can find someone around here that knew your father, or might know what could've happened. What do you plan to do in the meantime? You can't possibly plan to spend every moment of everyday searching—or do you?”
“Actually,” Arryn replied. “I want to join the Academy. It was my parents dream that I would attend there when I was old enough—well, once I got strong enough to recruit an army and take back the city, of course. But since that’s already done, I can just enjoy it the way they’d always wanted.”
“Wonderful!” Amelia said. “I was the Dean of Students before the revolution. It was a position I took great pride in. We can definitely make that happen. Out of curiosity, do you remember any of your physical magic?”
Arryn's eyes suddenly turned black, as she arced her hands over her chest and then pulled away, a small fireball in each one.
They weren’t much bigger than a grown man's fist, but they were there, and they were strong for their size. Amelia could tell.
The blackness faded from Arryn's eyes as she clenched her fists, extinguishing the fire in each one.
“My mother was one of the most powerful magic users in the city, at least that's what my father told me. That's why they wanted so badly to be a part of the rebellion. My mother and father taught me magic up until I was nine years old. But I’ve never learned how to grow past what I'd learned from them without a teacher. So, the things that I did know got stronger, though they never got any bigger.”
“So, what you’re saying,” Cathillian said, pointing a finger at Arryn, “is that you have super small balls, but they’re very mighty.”
