With a gruff demeanor Jema glared in secrecy at his squire from across the way, waiting for him to realize his ignorance, alas Sam and the others failed to take notice.
"What are you doing here son?" Jema asked, perturbed at the scene before him.
"I think they're Sam's friends. He told me to wait here for a moment."
Jema peered once more at Sam who was stubborn to turn and regard them. With a scoff Jema grabbed Landau's shoulder.
"Here, come with me, let me take you somewhere where you can have a better view of the evening."
Jema ushered him through the crowd, but refused to alert Sam; guilt overcame him, knowing Sam would eventually stress at his disappearance, but he sensed that was Jema's intention. With ease the knight forged a path through the crowd, citizens dispersed in his oncoming and Sam soon obscured from view. The noise made it hard for him to converse with Jema, but eventually they exited the congested crowd and headed for 'The Lazy Wagon' tavern on the outskirts of the harbor.
"Why is everyone gathered in the harbor anyhow, what will happen here?"
"The Queen will address the people from her podium across the wall there," Jema pointed to a platform protruding from the palace gardens atop the wall, aloft from the moat that encompassed the palace. "It is a rare treat for the citizens to witness their Queen, certainly not as accessible as your encounter," he said before he motioned him inside.
Landau gaped with wonder at the tavern from the moment he entered.
It was extensive and open, the wood was polished and glimmered like gold from the light of the fireplace, the warmth left many to disarmor themselves and savor the heat on their skin. Shelves were littered with urns, displayed like trophies, while the walls were adorned with maps and portraits all delicately framed. The warriors enjoyed the leisure of the occasion, and Landau’s eyes were enthralled on their intricate weapons, sheathed by their sides; the adventures and battles such weapons must have withstood made him wonder. Many men vied for the knight’s attention but Jema dismissed them all to accompany him. The knight led him upstairs to another sizable lounge area, as luxurious and packed as below, before arriving on a private balcony that overlooked the throng of people in the harbor.
Landau never witnessed so many people in one viewing, awestruck at the spectacle whilst Jema fiddled through his pockets for some darkleaf.
"Jema sir, I don't wanna be a burden. I’m grateful for the company, but I would think you'd have lots to do on a night like tonight."
"And what do you know of my duties?" he smiled, inhaling his smoke as though he had longed for its relief for weeks.
"No it's just - I don't know. It feels strange to show cheer after the week we've had. I'd like to think the danger has gone, but if it had I'd probably be on my way home by now."
Jema took another puff, still perplexed a child his age spoke in the manner he did.
"I agree this past week has been disturbing, but this is a time of safety, removed from any danger, here we have an army at our disposal, several in fact. If ever there was a moment I could sit back and relax my sore old feet, then this be the night. I would hope you're at least enjoying the occasion son?"
"I've never seen anything like it," he looked around constantly to find something engaging to fix his eyes upon.
"As early as tomorrow we will seek to find an answer to your misery, then you can go home and make all your friends jealous at what you have seen."
"What about Clancey?" said Landau. "Has he arrived yet?"
"Not yet I'm afraid, but his journey was a long one. He told me even with one arm he could ride a horse like no other, if that is true I suspect he will be a few days away at best."
It brought little comfort to learn Clancey had not returned, though he knew Clancey was never one for large crowds.
Within moments a high-pitched horn bellowed across the city, and the entire crowd turned and cheered toward the podium in a unison roar. From across the moat torches burned brightly, and the Queen ushered herself towards the podium's edge, elegantly dressed in a glittering skirt of blue and gold and white. She carried her sapphire sceptre, and even from below Landau could see her alluring smile cast down on her proud citizens. With graciousness she bowed to her people, and all music and chatter came to a halt, as the Queen twisted her sceptre between finger and thumb, provoking her voice to project over her audience like a pleasant thunder.
"Welcome," she uttered and the crowd applauded. Landau smiled at Jema who acknowledged her impressive power.
"To my dear citizens of Arwendel," she spoke precisely at a moderate pace. "I thank you with all sincerity for being a part of these celebrations tonight. For more than two hundred years you have helped this city to grow, not just through strength of muscle, but with ideals that people of all races can exist harmoniously, without peril nor fear. Two centuries ago this land to many was unknown and unexplored, but through the help of myself and a multitude of people, this city has become one of the most populous and prosperous cities in all of Heldorn. When we consider the magnitude of what we have built here, it is astonishing to think where we can take ourselves into the next century, with you people to inspire its future, I have little doubt hereafter will be solid for generations to come.
Tonight we pay tribute to those who were responsible for the foundations of this proud city - those who sacrificed their time in building it, and we mourn those who sacrificed themselves to defend it," she said with a quiver in her voice.
The crowd cheered in her humble appreciation of them.
"I'd like to thank our guests who accompany us here tonight, it is with great allies such as yourselves that we one day strive for a greater alliance, where war need no longer prevail and we can finally acquire normality with peace. Tomorrow marks the beginning of the tournament, and I encourage you all to enjoy the games, and send my best wishes to all the contestants who have travelled far to enthrall us in the coming days ahead. People of Arwendel, I stand here proud today not as your leader, but as a citizen among you, and much of the thanks for this city's success belongs to you."
"I officially declare the centenary underway."
With that a burst of fireworks exploded in the sky behind her, and she waved with a childlike glee to her people, the thunder of the fireworks contested with the applause that erupted throughout the streets of Arwendel. Kids stared up in amazement and warriors raised their mugs, Landau however could not help feel discouraged, much to Jema’s notice.
"Don't be disheartened that the Queen didn't acknowledge your village Landau. Her speech was written weeks before these tragic events. I could sense her angst in refraining to mention it. The Queen is wise to assure her people they are safe. They need to believe they live in a time of peace."
"Do they Jema sir? I mean are they safe?" disbelief seeped through him, absent of any reassurance.
The knight pondered such a question, weighted with much indecision.
"Let us hope so," was all the encouragement he could muster, returning to his pipe, while the clap of fireworks did their best to divert Landau's attention.
With a familiar gust of wind Vhalen returned to the platform outside his tower, still snickering from the looks on citizens' faces upon performing his tricks. He had barely heard the applause from the Queen's speech before returning to his tower, content on avoiding the gatherings of downstairs to retire early for the night. With a thrust of his staff he unlocked the door, the faint moonlight and odd firework shone through his windows, and bore a shaded flare upon his tower. Vhalen took one step when the squashing of glass grinded beneath his foot, and he was quick to notice the wreckage that lie before him. He whispered a phrase into his staff to bring a faint light from its point, and its glow revealed his tower was now ravaged, and in complete disarray.
Books had toppled from the shelves up high, jars that held his ingredients were shattered, vials with liquids had poured onto the floor, and produced a noxious odor. Among it all was an ominous silence that gave no indicat
ion to what did this. Vhalen discovered among a splash of white blood his gnome companions, spread across his desk, their tiny bodies torn apart and left mercilessly to perish. He scooped one up to examine its wounds, its frail body dripped blood from deep wounds, and barely held together. With a quiet tear he placed the body on the desk in solemn remorse.
Catching his eye was a pool of water that streamed from his room of familiars. With his staff equipped he loomed inside, feathers sprawled across the floor soaked in water, his tank had been shattered and the few fish he could rescue had suffocated. His lyrebird had been plucked of half its feathers, the eyes had been punctured and savagely removed.
Vhalen's knees thumped against the sodden floor, only his staff kept him from toppling completely. His heart bruised with agony, he failed to comprehend the reason behind this savage scene. Tucked in the far corner of its cage, Vhalen discovered his rabbit still alive, though the familiar shivered in distress.
"Winifred, what happened here?" he whispered, but his fearful friend could not contain her violent shudder. When a slight grunt echoed from across the tower, it was enough for Winifred to recede into the shelter of debris around her. Vhalen pussyfoot toward his old apprentice's room where the grunt resounded, his staff grasped tight as he peered a careful eye into the chamber to scrutinize any movement, but there was none.
The room remained as he left it, save for a bag and sword left across his old apprentice's bed, Landau's belongings he determined, from the doorway he failed to apprehend any danger. His bag was buckled and secure, though Vhalen's attention turned to the sword, elegant in its appearance, yet oversized for someone like Landau. With his free hand he gripped the hilt of the sword, the weight of it surprisingly heavy, which made him all the more bemused.
Without warning a small figure pounced to attack from beneath the bed, Vhalen raised his staff to shield the blow but still it knocked him clear off his feet, and his shoulder crashed into a crate as he slid across the floor. He identified his Imp familiar, clasping at the sword on the ground, desperately attempting to haul it towards the tower door. The weight of the blade overwhelmed it, but the determination of the Imp was hypnotic, frantically he jerked it beyond his strength, and growled in frustration.
"Klemm!" Vhalen shouted, rising to his feet to confront his familiar, but the creature was undeterred by his voice, and thrashed his wings rapidly to lift the sword from the ground, but to no avail. "What have you done?!" The Imp snarled, before sheer exhaustion enveloped him, and he collapsed to take breath. Vhalen motioned to retrieve the sword but the closer he approached, the more agitated the Imp sounded. "Klemm I warn you, stand down now!"
The look in his familiar's eyes was foreign, like a villain bent on revenge.
"Do not test me Klemm," Vhalen warned a final time. Klemm growled with the ferocity of a soldier charging into battle, and his wings were volitant, and he lunged with anger at the wizard. Vhalen shouted abruptly, and a ball of sparks charged from his staff and engulfed the Imp in mid-flight, and violently the Imp crashed against Landau's bed, in agonizing pain.
Vhalen dropped his staff in sudden panic and rushed to his familiar left panting on the ground, the fiery blow was gradually burning the skin off his body. Only now did Klemm stare up at Vhalen with remorseful eyes, riddled with turmoil his breathing became slower and slower, yet in his dying action his tiny arm reached out once more for the sword, well out of his grasp, his eyes soon closed, and his charred body became stagnant.
Vhalen sobbed, bereft of what had transpired. Never had he endured such loneliness in his tower, his familiars and friends now massacred, and the sight of their corpses forced Vhalen to weep an unfamiliar tear. He settled Klemm's carcass beside him and wiped the teardrops from his cheek, apathetic to move from his crouched state, when he glowered toward the doorway where clouded in mystery was Landau's sword.
Vhalen could not understand why his familiar became possessed to challenge him for it, as though it had robbed him of all conscious thought, dubious to where Klemm thought to take it. He staggered to the sword to scrutinize the blade, and caressed the metal softly with his thumb. With exhaustion he removed his hat and remained idle on the floor, the sword now ever present in his mind.
Chapter 13
A PROMISE OF HOME
In the warmth of morning Landau ventured to the palace gardens where the smell of lilies and daffodils were crisp in the air. Flowers of every kind bloomed here, planted in tiers that overlooked a gentle stream that rippled from the splash of a silver fountain, sculpted to represent the Queen, whose water sprouted from a decorated sceptre. Grass surrounded the water, so thin you could slide on it, and a cobblestone path weaved across it, passing over tiny bridges and through elegant gazebos of white stone.
It had been ten days since Anduniel commenced the celebrations upon her podium. His placid week was spent in one of many quaint guest rooms, for the door to Vhalen's tower had been locked, and the wizard himself was absent, his belongings continued to elude him and he wondered why he even brought them. Nevertheless, the attention of the chambermaids was less awkward than Vhalen's gnomes, and they managed to outfit him in fine clothes that resembled the wealthier children. The roaring crowds in the northern tiltyard rang loud across the tranquil ponds, for the tournament drew close to its end and yet Landau had been offered no invitation. Jema had shown him his quarters, but had not visited him since, only Samson seldom came to entertain his sustained welcome, yet each time the squire was notably impassive, and it had been several days since his last meet. The absence of company drowned his enthusiasm to remain here much longer, and he was able to move freely without any caution, even now the caretakers and garden tillers paid him no mind.
He wandered aimlessly through the Queen’s garden, and followed a path to a large paddock, where a well-trimmed hedge fence of beech and hazel contained a wealth of roaming horses. On approach a soft melody floated in his ear from the stable courtyard, a soothing hum that lured him to discover where it came from.
A young lady dressed in overalls and a white shirt stood with sponge in hand, dipping it in a bucket she then wiped the side of a stallion, tied to a post. The song appeared to calm the horse from roaming, and gently she scrubbed its legs and back. The girl glanced from beneath her straw hat to notice him there, and she smiled at his curiosity.
"Hey there, where did you come from?" she asked with a warming laugh.
"Ah, sorry. I was just wandering about and I heard your voice is all…it was beautiful." The girl laughed at such an unexpected compliment.
"Why thank you. This boy loves a little music when he gets a wash, all horses like different things."
"Do you look after all these horses?" Landau probed.
The girl dropped the sponge in her bucket, removed a moist towel from her waist strap and wiped the horse's nose and ears.
"I try to, I'm one of many stable hands here in the palace. Horses are smarter than a lot of people think, they can be more loyal than any dog if treated with affection. I much rather spend my time with them than some of the snobs in this place."
"I know what you mean. I'm Landau by the way," he walked towards her with his hand out.
"I'm Julia," she beamed with glee, and removed her hat to reveal her dark bobbing hair. Suddenly her face was familiar, her smile instantly recognizable from behind the shadow of her hat.
"You're Sam's friend right?" said Landau.
"Do I know you from somewhere?"
"I saw you at the harbor, the day of the celebrations, with Sam. He brought me over to meet you, but Jema came and took me before he could introduce me." Julia's mouth gasped in the realization of who he was.
"So you're the kid Sam was looking after. He looked mighty worried when he realized you’d gone. Don't worry he can often be neglectful," she smirked. "Sam hasn’t told me much of why he was away the last few weeks, only that you were part of that reason. I'm guessing you won't have much to tell me either?"
"To be honest I stil
l don't know what I'm doing here. This place is very different from where I'm from, not to mention the people. This is probably the longest chat I've had with someone since I’ve been here."
"Well I'm flattered," her constant smile engrossed Landau in her company. "It takes a long time to get used to living in a place like this. There are very few people here who want to talk about things other than politics or war, or the future of the city. It's nice sometimes to just reminisce with someone about your childhood, cause some mischief, enjoy a laugh even. You don't know how hard you need listen to hear the sound of genuine laughter here.
I met Sam almost a year ago, our time together is more secret than it should be. I'm more a commoner in the eyes of most squires here, if you can’t tell, most aspiring knights set their sights on more noble women. Is it weird for me to tell you these things? It's just a lot easier than speaking with horses all day."
"I don't mind at all," her ranting was welcome companionship. "How did you guys meet?"
"It was right here actually," untying the stallion to stroll it around and let the water dry from its coat. "His horse is stabled in the far corner. We'd often stare at each other when he came past, friendly smiles, that sort of thing. One day I went to clean his horse and tucked away in his saddle was a note with my name on it, to meet him by the pond after dark. I wasn't interested, until I spoke to him. He was different from most guys here, a more common way of speaking if you know what I mean."
"I think so," he noticed Julia spoke of Sam much more emotionally than Sam ever had about her. "Do you ever worry about him, when he's out with Jema I mean?"
"I've had to get used to that. There always seems to be a war going on somewhere. There's no denying that knights, even in the safety of our city will be involved in one form or another. Sam's just a squire, but it's only a matter of time before he's promoted to knight, and though I'm excited for him it's hard to find comfort in him disappearing for weeks at a time, not knowing if he'll return. I should find comfort knowing he's in the hands of Jema, from all the stories I'm told about him there's no safer guardian for him to have."
The Secret of Azuron (The Sword Empire Book 1) Page 21
