by ylugin
"Mind if we share a horse?" Lana asked Nadina. They had been riding together for days now but Lana wanted to say something to take Nadina's mind off of Nila. Nadina gave Lana a weak smile.
"Actually, the kids and Donn will be breaking off from the group when we get there so you two will have to ride separately." One of the men said as he walked by. Lana frowned, she placed a hand on Nadina’s arm and have the girl a reassuring squeeze.
Looking over at Donn she saw him drinking a vial of something given to him by one of Bredin’s men. She looked back to Bredin, who was speaking to one of his men.
“What’s Donn drinking?” Lana asked Bredin, not caring that she was interrupting whatever he was saying to his men.
“Oil from the Yellow Root. He has those pesky little lizard creatures everywhere. The drink breaks his connection with them and also has a side affect of making him very weak. It will wear off but in the mean time it keeps him from knowing the way in.”
“Can’t he just call the lizards to him when it wears off or they can follow him?”
“You know nothing of your friend here huh, princess?” Bredin gazed over her. She was not going to give him the pleasure of a response, she would not let him know just how far under her skin he was getting. He smirked at her glare, but then told her, “No. They do not have memory they can only share with him what is happening in that moment. The only exception is his Aorra, that one he keeps in his satchel and will be joining us in Alogrin. Now get moving.” He walked away, moving past a man who was carrying strips of fabric.
After grabbing a blindfold from one of the nearby men Lana turned to Nadina who now stood with Alex. “We are going to one of the most beautiful and amazing places in all the land. It is a legend! I will see you both when we get there okay?” She said to the siblings, helping them onto a horse, and wrapping the fabric around their eyes.
She then joined Kaiden on his horse and tied a blindfold around her eyes. The fabric felt thick and uncomfortably heavy. Once everyone was ready and the horses all connected they began riding.
When the horses began moving, Lana wrapped her arms around Kaiden. She felt his body go ridged at her touch but then he quickly relaxed. She could feel the muscles of his back move with the motion of the horse. Her lungs filled with the pine scent of his skin. Being so close to him was more comforting than it should ever have been.
They rode in silence for what appeared like an eternity. Their trail seemed to be taking them higher up the mountain. Lana wondered how far they had traveled in this manner. It was very uncomfortable to be blind folded, riding into who knows what.
How are you? She heard Ardin’s voice. His presence kept her grounded. It was calming and safe, even though she could feel his anxiety. He hated being separated from her like this.
As good as I could be. You know where we are going?
No, this box is disorienting.
So are the blindfolds.
Unexpectedly the air grew damp and cool. Lana could hear rushing water somewhere in the distance. The ground turned to stone beneath the horse’s hooves. They must be traveling underground now. They traveled in that manner a while, until the moistness in the air disappeared, replaced by dry crisp air. The horses came to a few stops along the way. There were voices but Lana could only hear muffled whispers, unable to make anything out.
Suddenly they came yet again to a stop except this time there was a clear voice heard.
"Take off your blindfolds." the voice commanded.
Lana was more than happy to oblige, only to feel the sharp sting of sudden light blinding her. She blinked through the stinging of the light and shapes began to form in front of her.
They were in a large room with pillars that held up the infinitely tall celling. Sunlight shone from the center of the ceiling, the only opening to the outside world. There were several men in the room and Bredin was amongst them, however the company that had brought them to this place seemed to have gone.
Kaiden sat in front of her and Ardin too was in the room, but Donn and the children were not visibly near. They must have broken off from them during one of the previous stops. Lana saw a glimpse of Nila, who had ridden with Ardin, being quietly and quickly escorted from the room.
"You may dismount your horse. Connor will take him for you. Do not worry you'll get him back.” The voice spoke again. They did what they were told.
From behind Lana and Kaiden entered a boy just roughly older than Nadina, he collected their horse silently and left, shutting a massive door behind him.
The room was immense, grander then any room she had seen in even the city of Abder, which was quite overwhelming for Lana. The stonewalls had carvings and designs etched in them. The pillars seemed to be of solid brown stone, though Lana decided against walking up to one and knocking on it to make sure.
"I am Micah, this is Cale and Clyte." The voice brought Lana's attention back to the people in the room. "We are the council here, leading the people of Alogrin.” Micah stood tall with brown curls that just grazed his shoulders. He wore a loose tunic and brown pants.
Alogrin... it's truly real. Lana thought to herself in awe.
“Clyte?” Kaiden spoke, his words laced with what Lana thought to be an excited disbelief. He looked at the Rami woman with large eyes.
Clyte stood beside Micah, a full head shorter than he. She had long straight black hair that she wore loose and sun kissed skin. A cream blouse wrapped around her muscular body with tight brown pants. Weapons of all kinds hung from the brown belt around her waist.
“You know of me?” She asked casually, as if not surprised.
“You are a legend. You were the most amazing warrior.” Kaiden seemed almost giddy and Lana wished that he had been forced to go separately with Donn.
“I still am.” She wore a smug smirk.
“We thought you had died. This is truly an honor.”
Lana was taken aback by Kaiden’s reaction to Clyte. The two were now staring at one another, Clyte with a smug smile, Kaiden with bright shining eyes.
Lana decided to intervene.
"I am..."
"We know who you are, Lana Casteel of Selviria, what we don’t know is why you have come here” The voice sounded annoyed, coming from Cale. He had light hair and facial scruff. His brown Madonian eyes showed no kindness towards her.
Lana eyed the three before her and those who stood behind them, three men and a woman, all eyes were on her. Donn had told her that she needed to make this meeting count, to draw them in. She swallowed and drew a deep breath before starting.
"My father is dead." Lana began, no one stirred at the news but by the slight change in Micah's eyes Lana thought that this was possibly new news for them.
"I am now the sole council commanding over the Selvirian lands. And I have reason to believe my father's death was caused by Arkhip Dukran.”
That had seemed to catch their attention. She could even feel Kaiden turn to her with his blue eyes. He had not known this information. “My father had always been the Dukran’s biggest obstacle, constantly in the way of him achieving the war they have always dreamed of. Now with him out of the way Arkhip has lead the Madonians to war with the Rami. I have come to ask for your help to stop him."
Cale was the first one to respond. "We are not interested in becoming a part of your plot and politics in order to make you Queen of all Madonians," his blond hair fell in front of his eyes when he spoke.
"I do not wish to be Queen." Lana said in irritation. "I want what you all want and have, safety for both Madonians and the Rami." Lana looked over to Clyte, a Rami. "We are stronger when both kinds work together.”
Clyte gave a small smile "You think we don’t know that, child."
Child? Lana was taken aback by the Rami woman's remark. She could feel more anger stirring within her.
Lana turned her gaze back to Micah who seemed to be the kindest. "Please, Arkhip is a great danger to not only me but to everyone. I have come to find help. I am no fool
. I know that I alone will be unable to defeat him. He is incredibly talented, capable of creating and controlling a numerous amount of wolves. If we work together I think we stand a chance, before he has his teeth sunk into both Madonian and Rami lands. Once he does that there will be no stopping him. You all will live here hidden away while the rest of the world burns and once it is all turned to ash I have no doubt that he will come for this place, no matter how well you hide its entrance."
Micah turned to Kaiden without replying to her. "It is not customary for Madonians and Rami to be friendly outside of Alogrin. How did you two meet?"
Lana looked around in bewilderment. Is it customary for those in Alogrin to completely ignore her? She felt Ardin beside her, his warmth. He was trying to calm her.
"We met at Ucu, the school on the small moon, as children. We became friends. When we returned we went our separate ways and I did not see her again until a little over a month ago."
Micah nodded, "and what brought you two together again?"
Kaiden glanced at Lana who was turning red, he wasn’t sure if it was from frustration or embarrassment, he figured it was probably both. " Rami warriors came onto Madonian lands outside of the city of Abder. She came to our camp, alone, trying to find information as to why the Rami had come. The king's Lieutenant General caught her, I heard her screams."
Kaiden had to pause for a moment, his pulse quickening at the memory.
Suddenly a man from the back stepped forward, he was tall but slightly hunched, his face aged beyond his years. He wore all black, a loose V-neck, which allowed a good view of a nasty scar with a silver tinge he had across his neck. The scar made Lana uncomfortable, and his eyes, they seemed wildly dangerous. The man whispered a few words to Micah who responded with a nod and then the man disappeared into the back where he came from.
"We will discuss your request. But know this Lana Casteel, you are no queen here, to us our people come first."
Lana was both relieved and angered.
"I am not a queen. I am a part of a council, such as yourself."
Micah gave a small smile. "We make decisions for one land, the same people. You however rule your own lands, your own people. You have decided to work together with the other Madonian rulers in what you call a council, but each is a ruler. That is where the difference lays. We mean no disrespect by it, but to everyone here you are now Queen of the Selvirian lands." Micah's tone was simple and informative. There was no harshness or distaste behind his words.
However, fury still coursed through Lana and she had to refrain from speaking up against his words. They were allowing for her to stay, they hadn’t yet said that they flat out weren’t going to help her people, so she should have been thankful. Her lips pressed into a tight line, keeping from grimacing. It was the best she could manage.
"Tonight we will have a feast to welcome our new friends." Micah spoke to all in the room before tuning to Kaiden and Lana. "You two will find something to wear in your rooms. Please do not wander about before the feast tonight, where you will be announced to the people as guests here in Alogrin."
"May our rooms be near each other?" Kaiden asked simply. The request made Lana flush.
"Don't trust us Rami? You think that together the two of you may stand a better chance than apart?" Cale did not say more after Micah’s stern look.
"We can be weary of newcomers.” Micah attempted to excuse Cale’s remark, with a polite smile. “Your rooms will be close to one another."
"And Donn?" Lana asked.
"He has his own place here but it is not far from where you two will be. Now, Conner will take you where you need to go."
Chapter
Eleven
Connor, the boy who had taken their horse from them, entered the brown-pillared room and led the three of them through small back hallways. Everything was stone and the smell of dust and candle wax filled the air. The boy turned here and there, down the weaving stone labyrinth of hallways. Lana tried to remember the way but the place was a massive maze and after the first several turns she stopped trying.
“How do you not get lost?” Lana asked the boy as she looked around in wonder. Dark corridors lead away from the small hall they were walking through. There were twists and turns everywhere she looked. The corridors were small and nowhere as beautiful as Alogrin was told to be. Lana assumed they were walking through the servant halls and not the main halls.
“I grew up here, miss,” Connor replied with a shrug. They continued walking a ways before he spoke again “This side of the castle is pretty much empty so you won’t be disturbed.”
More like we wont disturb others. Ardin added while taking in the surroundings.
Connor opened another door but this time instead of more small hallways they were standing in a grand hall. The hall too smelled of dust and candle wax, Lana assumed the entire place must smell that way. The boy stopped near a dark wooden door and turned to Lana. “This will be your and your Aorra’s room.” He turned his eyes to Kaiden. “Your room will be the third door down from this one.”
“What about Donn and the kids?” Lana asked.
“They are a floor below you, but please do not go looking for them. Also don’t open your windows until after the party and you have been introduced to the people. There will be a chiming of the bells before the party, at the first set someone will come to your room to help you get ready, the second chiming will mean that the party is starting and you will be escorted there.”
Kaiden and Lana each thanked the boy and he ran off, disappearing behind a door. They looked around the hall, it was only lit by candles and there was an uncomfortable feel in the air. Lana wasn’t sure if the feeling was this place or due to Kaiden’s actions of the day. The way he acted against Donn, the way he seemed to brighten ten folds when talking to Clyte, all of it made her uneasy.
“See you tonight.” Lana opened the dark wooden door and walked into her room, shutting the door as soon as Ardin entered, leaving Kaiden alone in the hallway, mouth half open as if he were about to say something. Even though Lana had no real reason to feel angry with him, she was, and feeling that way only angered her more. She needed time alone for her brain to unravel the jumble of knotted thoughts that muddled her mind.
The whole day had been very long and extraordinarily aggravating. Between the morning where Kaiden had spoke against Donn’s character and then the uncertainty of being blindfolded to be brought to Alogrin, only for her to be ignored half the time she spoke, the day was draining. The day was also not yet over.
Releasing a small sigh, Lana let her eyes focus on the room she and Ardin had entered. The space was beautiful, decorated in earthy tones with purple walls. A massive bed with a large white canopy worthy of any princess stood in the center.
Rolling her eyes at the unnecessarily extravagant room she sauntered over to the stain glass window. There was nothing that could be made out for certain through the warped glass. Just blurs of colors, the green of the outside, forests or farmland she thought to herself.
How are you? Ardin asked.
Lana realized she had pushed him out of her mind so she could rant to herself during their walk to their rooms. Before she could answer him something on the bed caught her eye.
“You have got to be kidding me.” Gaping, she picked up the delicate the gown. The gorgeous material felt thick in her hand. It was fancy and elegant and not something she was planning on wearing.
It’s going to look beautiful on you.
Lana could not suppress her annoyance. “This is so over the top! They want to dress me up like the princess doll they think I am and parade me around their party! I did not come here for this.” She tossed the dress back onto the bed.
I don’t think their intention is to make you look foolish. This is Alogrin, a majestic place where great people once lived. It is the seat of the once great empire of the Land. Very few from the outside have ever been here. I think that gown will most likely help you fit in, not make you sta
nd out.
Through a small doorway Lana saw a white tub. She walked to it, leaving Ardin in the bedroom with the dress lying on the plush bed. To her surprise the tub was already filled. A few lavender petals floated in the water, filling the room with their aroma. She held her hand over the water as steamy warmth touched her skin. A small bit of joy came with the thought of being able to experience a warm bath, something she had not been able to enjoy for over a month.
Lana peeled her clothing off and stuck her feet into the tub first. The heat stopped her, shocking her body for a moment before she slowly sank into the warm water. It felt delightfully good to be submerged in warmth.
Hot water soothed her aching body, slowly washing away the hardships of the past weeks. Lana shut her eyes and let the smell of lavender envelope her. Drawing it in with every breath she felt herself beginning to relax.
If nothing else in her never-ending day at least she got to enjoy this small moment of peace. Taking pleasure in every glorious moment, she stayed in the tub until her fingers had become all wrinkled.
Wrapping herself in a towel found on a nearby stand, she walked from the bathroom to the bedroom, where Ardin lay on a plush circular rug that lay at the foot of the bed. He watched her as she stepped to the bed.
Grabbing the gown lying on the bed, Lana ran her fingers over the fabric as she carried it to the bathroom. It was lavish and well made, certainly the most luxurious gown that she had ever seen. Someone had put a lot of time into making it.
With a sigh she pulled the gown on. To her surprise it fit her body like a glove. The dress hugged every curve in the most perfect way. Looking at herself in the mirror, Lana couldn’t help but stare at her reflection. The dress was black and long to her ankles with red embroidered flowering running on her sides. It had long sleeves with the same embroidering but they stopped at her shoulders, which remained bare. Her brown hair, still wet, brushed against her shoulders.
There is a girl here. Ardin entered her mind.
Lana darted to the room where she saw Ardin standing, looking at a large eyed girl who was staring back at him. She wore a simple dress and had her blond hair pulled back into a messy bun. The girl looked up at Lana with warm bright eyes.
