by ylugin
“Can we go swimming?” Alex asked, squinting through the sunlight.
“How about this. First a little game and then swimming after.”
“What’s the game?” Alex suspiciously inquired, folding his arms in front of him.
“Say the three of us went on a dangerous journey together and on this journey I injured my leg with a break. I need to rest a while. You two go find whatever you can to help in this small bit of woods here. It can be something for my injury or food. Bring it back and we can go over if it is truly safe to eat or how it can be used and so on.”
“Okay!” Alex and Nadina spoke in unison. They both enjoyed puzzles and that is what this was, a type of puzzle, but one with practical use.
“Oh and Nadina, where is Nila?” Lana asked.
“She is hunting rabbit! One day she hopes to be equal to Ardin’s rabbit hunting skills.” Nadina enthusiastically replied.
“Okay good. She can’t help you in this. Just the two of you, okay?”
“Why?”
“You may not always have your Aorra to help, and in that case it’s good if you can do this without the use of her aid. Now, ready, set, go!” The kids began running into the small wooded area. “But don’t take too long!” Lana called out as the children disappeared behind the trees.
“These aren’t wild woods. They won’t find much of use in there.” Donn said to Lana while watching his grandkids vanish into the small wooded area.
“It’s still practice.” Lana replied with a shrug before narrowing her eyes on the old man. “What is it that you think I am planning on doing, Donn?” Lana asked, referring to the conversation they were beginning to have before Alex and Nadina had arrived.
“What would I know?” Donn answered.
“Stop being coy with me.”
“Coy, me? Nooo.”
“Yes, coy.” Lana said teasingly, while Donn smiled a sly smile.
“I have my suspicions on what you may have planned... So I urge you to be careful and be wise. Not everyone who helped you and taught in your past is truly here to help. Some who seem to be out for your best interests are actually only out for their own.”
“You’re speaking of the Instructors?”
“You saying my suspicions are true?”
Lana stared at Donn with a small smile while shaking her head. “You are not the most straightforward man, Donn.”
“It is true. I have my ways.”
“Well I think I will be okay.”
“Very well, that is your decision to make. But know this bit of truth. These instructors, these who you think are friends of yours are not who they seem to be. Your friend Shade knows of that.”
“The Shade? How is she involved?” Lana asked, the smile gone and her expression now serious.
“She is linked to those who live on that small moon.”
“What do you mean? How is it that you know all of this?”
Donn was not given a chance to reply for Nadina and Alex ran out of the woods as soon as Lana had finished asking the question. Lana was pretty certain that he would not provide her with an answer, not a real one anyway.
Both Nadina and Alex ran up to Lana and Donn carrying various berries, mushrooms, bark, and things from the woods.
Lana. I need you. Ardin’s voice suddenly entered her mind.
Instinctually, Lana turned her head in the direction she could feel Ardin was calling her.
Right now? She asked her Aorra.
Yes. It is urgent. Meet me in the brown room.
Lana turned to Donn and the children. “Ardin is calling me away, he says it’s urgent. If it weren’t I wouldn’t leave.”
“Its okay.” Nadina answered, trying her best to not sound disappointed while Alex remained silent.
Lana turned to Donn “Will you finish with this?”
“Sure, sure, I know some things about this. Go.”
“Thank you.” She said to him before turning to Nadina and Alex “I will make this up to you both, I promise.”
With that Lana turned and began heading towards the brown room.
What is it this time? She asked Ardin as she headed to him. Guiltily, she looked over her shoulder at Alex and Nadina. She had promised to spend the day with them and now had to break her promise. They stared at her with large matching brown eyes as she headed towards the castle.
Lana turned away. She could hear Donn’s voice in the background. “Now this one would certainly have me going behind that bush for the rest of the afternoon upon ingestion.” The corners of her lips pulled up. Where would she have been if she hadn’t ever found Donn?
Ardin, what is going on?
No idea. I was told to urgently go to the brown room and to instruct you to do the same. Ardin replied.
Lana began running towards the room, walking was too slow. She couldn’t help but feel nervous about this sudden request. Last time Ardin requested her presence it had to do with Kirill, she could hardly imagine what this could be.
“What’s going on?” Lana asked as she marched into the room, with a ragged breath for hurrying.
Her green eyes fell first on Kaiden. He stood in the dead center of the room. For a moment Lana was surprised that he had beaten her here, then she really noticed him. His demeanor was that of someone who was beaten, small and ashamed with a face as colorless as ash. He looked sick and it seemed that once his eyes found hers that he seemed to get worse.
Lana’s heart skipped a beat, stricken with sudden fear of what she did not know, fear of whatever it was that Kaiden knew. She wanted to go to him, but her feet seemed to be made of stone, keeping her in place.
“What’s wrong?” Lana asked, looking at Kaiden and turning her attention to Micah. The council and all of their advisors stood in the room.
Micah answered, “The Rami party trying to find you have turned away from the mountain.”
“That’s good.” Lana said, slightly confused.
“They are going to attack Gorthyn.”
It took Lana a moment before she could find her voice. “What?” Her eyes were wide, panicked. A grumble came from Ardin, who was otherwise silent.
How can you be certain? She wanted to ask, but she couldn’t manage to speak.
“They assumed that we had Aorras tracking them and that was why they have been unable to catch you. They yelled out that they would be heading to Gorthyn.”
“Burn it to the ground they said,” Bredin added.
Of course, Bredin, that’s how they knew. His hawk was the one who had been keeping an eye on the Rami, on Garin, Kaiden’s brother.
Lana felt queasy. This is not happening again.
What do you want to do? Ardin asked.
These are our people. We fight.
A growl escaped from Ardin, letting Lana know he was with her. Then a sudden wave of strength hit her, she was not sure if it was Ardin or her own need to protect her people that suddenly fueled her.
“I will be going to defend my people.” Her voice sounded stronger than she felt, echoing off of the walls.
“That is a stupid move. Do you really want history to repeat itself?”
Lana turned to where the voice came from. Tor emerged from the shadows, his face stern. She looked at him with large eyes, shocked at his sudden presence. In all the time she had been in Alogrin, Tor had not spoken to her, nor had she really even seen him besides the day that they had first arrived.
“These are my people!” She replied fiercely.
“This is suicide! By the time you reach Gorthyn the Rami will most likely have already arrived and massacred all the people. Save yourself the agony of seeing the butchered children in the streets.”
Kaiden squared his shoulders and spoke, color slowly seeping back into his skin. “Not necessarily, if Garin sent this message, he wants Lana there to witness the slaughter. He will want her to see it first hand, to hear the cries of her people. Otherwise he would have just gone and burned Gorthyn without warning.”
�
��And we should listen to you? For all we know you could be trying to get her to go there, to deliver her to your brother.” Tor barked.
“Enough!” Lana’s voice echoed through the room, angry at the sudden accusation by the stranger who seemed to have too many opinions. Kaiden was someone that she cared about, someone she deeply trusted, and someone she now felt the need to protect.
“You do not know Kaiden nor do you know me. I do not see why this is important to you, nor any of your business. What I choose to do with my life...” Lana paused a moment before continuing. “If I can not even protect the small town of Gorthyn then I have no right to lead people. How can I expect people to follow me and believe in me if I can not protect my home? If I do not fight for those I have a duty to protect?”
“I know you, Lana Casteel. You should listen when I tell you not to go.”
“You know me?” She was shocked, baffled by this stranger. “I have no need to listen to what you tell me to do. You may know of me, but you do not know me.”
Tor objected, “You were not even raised in that city.”
This man was infuriating. He had not spoken to Lana at all since her arrival and now he was behaving as though he could tell her what to do. Like he had some sort of say in her life and her choices.
“It is a part of Selviria.” She snapped. “It burned once, I am not going to have it happen again.” Lana turned her attention to the council. “Will you help me?”
“We will not send our men to fight your battle.” Cale replied.
They have already discussed this and made their decision. Ardin’s words entered her mind.
Lana eyed the council, Cale, Micah, and Clyte. She felt deep disappointment as she paused on Clyte. They were friends, Clyte was a warrior, yet in this moment she seemed to be none of those things.
“Those people in Gorthyn are innocents. They are not only my people down there but they are your people too, or so I thought. You say that Alogrin is a safe place, a sort of haven, but you are hidden from those who need you. I thought I had joined you that we fight for the same side and want the same things, freedom for both lands to come together and live in peace. I thought we were a team and that I had earned some of your trust over my time here. But I see I have been deluding myself into thinking we are anything more than acquaintances.”
The council stood silent a moment before Lana continued. “I will not waste any more time here, Garin already has enough of a head start.” She paused a moment, a thought suddenly came to her. “May I take the prisoner?”
“Dukran?” Micah asked, somewhat surprised.
“The only reason he came here was because he was looking for me. I am leaving. May I take him off of your hands on my way out?”
“I thought you hated the Madonian?” Cale asked.
“He is a skilled fighter and well trained in battle against Rami warriors. He is a weapon. Seeing as I can use some assistance it would be stupid of me to let my feelings get in the way of doing what is important.”
“His father may have been involved in Valdor’s death. Do you not fear the same from him?” Micah responded curiously.
“He claims to be a friend to me. I owe it to that friendship to find out how loyal he is. Plus, he had a perfectly good chance to take my life once, but he did not.”
Micah watched her a moment. She could see him thinking this over before he spoke. “He is yours to take. But there is no other option, he is not to go off on his own.”
“He can lead his armies back here!” Cale objected.
“By the time he finds the entrance we will move things around. If he attempts such a task we will be prepared, but I think Miss. Casteel knows what she is asking.” Micah turned his attention back to Lana. “If he attempts to leave you and not be a part of what you are doing once outside these walls, do not let him live. Can you do that?” It was cold of Micah to say this but he had to think of Alogrin and the people there. Lana understood, she would want the same thing. She would never want to risk Alogrin being found and destroyed.
“Thank you.” Lana replied, accepting what was asked of her in the case that Kirill would not assist in Gorthyn.
“We have horses ready, waiting for you by the gate. They are fed and saddled, I will have Connor get Dukran’s horse as well.”
Lana gave a curt nod and turned to leave.
“Saddle my horse too, will you. I will be joining the young council woman.” Zorin’s voice stopped Lana. She turned to see him walking to the center of the room, away from the council and towards her.
“You will not--” Micah began in protest.
“Am I not a free man?”
“You are but you are more important than a simple free man.”
“I am an advisor to you, the council. Other than that I am a husband and a teacher, nothing more.”
“You are King--”
Zorin held his hand up “I need no protection and I am no King. The title of King has never pertained to me, but if it were to make you feel better. I, Zorin Donyerth, will be escorting Lana Casteel to Gorthyn, where I will help her and her good people. I will no longer sit idly by as a forgotten neighbor while terror spreads around. If you want to think of me as a King, then this is final. I am going to go protect Lana’s people. The same people that at one point were all under Donyerth rule.”
The authority in Zorin’s voice was incredible, nothing that Lana had ever heard from him before. His voice was amplified as if the walls in the room were created to carry his voice alone. He sounded like a King. A shiver ran down Lana’s spine at the sound. It was as if Zorin cast a spell. There was something so infinitely final about his words that no one made a sound.
“I am going too.” Clyte broke the silence.
“And turn your back on your people!” Cale hissed.
“No.” She gestured towards Lana, Kaiden and Ardin. “Those three are a part of my people, I have accepted them as my friends. The people in Gorthyn are part of Lana, thus they are a part of me as well, a part of my people. You forget Cale that I was not born here like you. I was accepted, let in and taken care of here. This became my home. What makes me so different then those in Gorthyn? Why was I let in yet they will not be? War is brewing and I am not one to sit back. I will not watch when I think I can do something to help.”
“Everyone who wishes to go with Lana Casteel may go.” Micah interrupted Clyte and Cale’s argument addressing the entire room before turning to Lana. “I will not forcibly risk the lives of the people here on this, nor will I be leaving them. But if some wish to join you, I will not stop them.” He walked over to Lana and placed a hand on her shoulder “Good luck.” He said as his eyes met hers.
There was heaviness behind Micah’s gaze that Lana could see once close to him. He wanted to help her, but he truly thought he was doing what was best for his people. His people were innocents too and he didn't want to risk their lives, as a leader he chose to protect them. Lana could understand where he was coming from.
“Those of you going, meet by the gate in 15 minutes.” Lana spoke to the room. She glanced over at Cale whose face was red as a tomato, clearly angry at Micah’s decision, with Clyte choosing to go he was out voted.
“If, after this, your people need a safe place to go they are welcome to come here.” Micah said to Lana. “We have more than enough room.”
She replied with a nod and hurried out the door.
Whirlwinds of emotions were coursing through Lana. Fear for her people, sadness to not have had the council’s full support, happiness to find a sliver of family in Zorin and Clyte, and heartbreak for Kaiden whose brother was involved. Lana felt Kaiden walk by her as they entered the hallway, without a word he began down the hall.
“Kaiden” She said softly, reaching out for his arm.
When his blue eyes met hers her throat went dry. The look in his eyes was dangerous and painful all the same. Was he angered by her decision? She hadn’t even considered what he wanted, if he wanted to protect his brother so
me how.
“I have to do this. I have to protect my people…” Lana did not know what to say. “I know those are your people so you don't have to go…” She didn’t want to hurt Kaiden, didn’t want him to have to be there, to stand against his own. But she would not alter this course, not even for him, she was going to protect Gorthyn.
A warm hand touching her cheek, stopping her from saying more. Despite the dangerous look in his eyes, he was surprisingly gentle.
“These are my people. You-” Blue eyes bore into hers.
“But your brother.” His hand dropped from her face.
“Is an embarrassment to me. That’s what you think I am worried about? My brother?” His words were sharp. Kaiden suddenly seemed angry. “How he has become so…heartless. Innocent people. My brother was never kind to Madonians, but he has never gone and outright attacked defenseless innocent people. I am ashamed that he could do this to you, disgusted that we have the same blood running through our veins.” Lana watched Kaiden as he struggled for words, his mind racing. He was shaking, actually vibrating with anger.
All this time she thought he was so quiet because he had no interest in fighting the Rami. Suddenly his eyes bore into hers with a wild look. “Whatever happens in Gorthyn, you do not approach Garin alone. Promise me.”
“I promise.”
Kaiden gave Lana a nod and left her standing in the hallway. She wanted to comfort him, tell him that everything would workout, that his brother is not a monster and that no one will suffer. She wanted to let him know how deeply she cared for him. But she didn’t say any of it, she didn’t think most of it was true anyway.
Ardin joined Lana at her side. Kaiden will be all right.
You heard that?
Ardin nodded. He is in pain. He loves his brother.
Lana understood, she just wished she could take some of his inner demons away, the way Ardin often did for her. She watched Kaiden till he turned out of view and she turned too, heading towards the prisoner’s room.
* * *
Lana’s hand hovered over the doorknob, unable to touch it in a similar manor as the first and only other time she had opened the door. Inhaling a deep breath, she attempted to steady herself. Ardin patiently stood at her side, silently waiting. He was allowing Lana to do this on her own.
