The Silent Pact

by Genevieve Dickinson

  The ceremony in question was to welcome a delegation from Katrell that included Queen Miraphina and Prince Esren. As a mark of respect, it was being held in one of the city’s larger parks near the Statue of Peace. The monument had been erected to remember the signing of the historic peace treaty between the two kingdoms over two hundred years ago, ending many years of conflict between them. The tensions would always remain, however, so it was best to remind people of peace while the visiting royalty was here.

  Autumn enjoyed walking through the city. It took time to get past her fear from her days of living on the streets, but eventually, she grew fond of it. Today, the young woman was pleased to see a festival market set up along the roads and allowed herself a few moments at each stall to browse. She was almost ready to head to the park when suddenly a familiar sign caught her eye: Madame Clara, Fortune Teller. Her heart racing with excitement, she rushed to the tent and hoped that the old woman would recognize her.

  Madame Clara was mending a skirt while she awaited her next customer. She rose as the Autumn entered. “Welcome, welcome, my dear girl. Sit down, and let old Madame Clara tell your future.” She paused, studying the girl carefully. “Wait a minute. I know you. The mute girl who helped me with my stall a few years ago.” Autumn nodded happily and extended her hand to shake the old woman’s. “Well, I must say, I was right that things were about to get better. The years have been good to you, I see!” Madame Clara smiled, a look of pride crossing her face. “I must say, it couldn’t happen to a more deserving soul. So, how about getting your fortune told, old friend?” Autumn nodded and reached into her purse to pull out a few silver coins, but the old woman stopped her. “No, no, my dear. Seeing you all grown up is payment enough. Sit down, let’s see what the fates have in store for you.”

  Madame Clara sat down at her table, and Autumn followed. The old woman gazed into her crystal ball, and her eyes seemed to glaze over. She stayed like that for a few minutes, then seemed to come out of her trance. She looked disturbed. “My dear, you must understand that the crystal shows me only vague images. It’s up to us to interpret them. I see creeping darkness, something on the horizon that threatens to consume everything it touches. I’m not sure what it means, but I’m sure the answer will become clear in time.” She frowned. “I was hoping I would have something happier to tell you, dear child. Please, be cautious. I sense danger gathering around you, and I’m not sure of the source.”

  Autumn was troubled, but she nodded a thank you and hugged Madame Clara before she left the tent. She walked slowly towards the park, pondering the old woman’s words.

  When she reached the entrance to the park, all thoughts of creeping darkness were driven from her mind. She rolled her eyes when she saw the gathering of well-dressed nobility swarming around the Prince, who was standing by the gate. He was handling the attention well, smiling broadly and behaving cordially with everyone who approached him. He really is getting good at this. He’ll be a good king someday. She looked around, amused by the ridiculous hairstyles that some of the women wore, and finally spotted Albrecht.

  He was still wearing the brown, scholarly robes he always wore. He looked out of place with the brightly colored courtiers fluttering around him. I wonder if he even owns anything else, Autumn thought as she headed towards him. When he spotted her, he smiled and held out his arm to escort her inside.

  Autumn took his arm and walked down the paths of the park toward the monument. She looked at the statue with an odd sense of nostalgia. She had come here occasionally as a child when she was living on the streets. The statue, which depicted a robed woman shaking hands with an armored man, was carved from a massive piece of white marble. It seems odd to think fondly of anything from those days. Still, it was a beautiful place to spend a summer evening.

  Today, there was a wooden platform set up in front of the statue. The Royal Guard stood at attention all around the platform, where Commander Kasrian stood chatting casually with the King. There were dozens of chairs. To Autumn’s delight, Albrecht led her to one in the front row. “I mentioned to the Commander that you might like to come, and he reserved spots for us,” Albrecht explained. “Befriending royalty certainly does have its benefits, doesn’t it?”

  Autumn fixed him with a reproving glare. He laughed at the look and patted her on the back. “I know, I know. That’s not why we do it. Still, you can’t deny enjoying the perks every now and then. Speaking of which, have you thought any more about what we talked about earlier?”

  Autumn shook her head. “It’s a big decision,” she signed to him. “I don’t want to rush it.”

  He nodded approvingly. “You’re right. Take your time, it’s not like you have to decide right away. I went when I was a young man, you know. It was quite an experience, I can tell you.”

  She smiled. “Then tell me. I want to know what I might be getting into,” she signed. Albrecht chuckled as he began sharing some of his favorite memories. The tutor continued talking as the chairs were occupied by courtiers and the surrounding park filled with a massive crowd of citizens. Finally, the clamor of the crowd hushed. Then the nobles stood, and the noise raised again in a deafening cheer as the Katrellan delegation arrived.

  Queen Miraphina is younger than I thought she would be, Autumn thought as she applauded. She’s quite beautiful, really. She looks just like her portraits. Then her eyes fell on the pale young man walking a pace behind the Queen. A wave of nausea swept over her, and she sat down to force it back. Albrecht looked down, concerned, but she waved him off. She wasn’t sure what was happening, but she doubted he could help.

  Finally, the delegation reached the platform, and the assembled nobles sat down. Albrecht leaned in and whispered, “Are you alright?” Autumn nodded, smiling in what she hoped was a reassuring way. Not wanting to worry her tutor, she sat up straight and looked at the platform.

  King Aldwin and Queen Miraphina were now greeting each other cordially, but Autumn wasn’t listening. There was a strange buzzing noise. It got so loud that Autumn could no longer hear the words being spoken on the stage, but a quick look at the rest of the people assembled confirmed that she was the only one who heard it. Puzzled, she glanced at the young man she had spotted before. Queen Miraphina was introducing him to the King now. Autumn realized that he must be Esren, the Chosen of Katrell.

  Looking at him filled her with a sense of dread. What is this? He certainly doesn’t seem intimidating. He’s elegant, even handsome. So why does he scare me? As she thought, she glanced up again and realized that he was staring at her with a look of surprise. Their eyes locked, and he smiled. No one else noticed. Everyone was watching the King introduce Prince Lyall to Queen Miraphina. Esren’s eyes seemed to bore into her very being. She forced herself to look away, fixing her attention on Lyall.

  Remembering that the Prince was nearby comforted her, as did the sight of Commander Kasrian standing casually behind him. With those two around, nothing could possibly hurt me. Especially in the middle of the city, surrounded by the Royal Guard and half the city’s population. The buzzing noise receded as she began to relax.

  Still, the unease stayed with Autumn through the ceremony and lingered for the rest of the day. After the feast and all the cleanup, she finally laid down to sleep in her small room. As her eyes finally closed, her unease turned to fitful dreams of a black-robed figure on the horizon, watching and waiting.

  

  On the other side of the castle, Esren couldn’t quiet his mind. He’d never felt anything like the power emanating from that girl he saw at the ceremony. He lay awake in his room, the book he was supposed to be reading sitting untouched on the nightstand. A gentle knock on the door caught his attention. “Come in,” he said, as he composed himself into a more studious posture.

  The Queen entered the room, smiling at her son’s assumed pose. “You needn’t do that, Esren. I know perfectly well that you weren’t reading.”

  Esren tossed the book back onto the nightstand. “Did you se
e her, Mother? The girl at the ceremony?”

  “Yes, I did. I asked around. She’s a servant in the castle. You sensed her power, I take it?”

  Esren sighed. “I don’t even know how to describe it. Intoxicating, perhaps. I’ve never seen anyone with so much magic in them.” He gazed off into the distance. “She belongs in Katrell. With all that strength, she’d do so well back home. We should talk to the King, see about taking her back with us.”

  The Queen sighed and shook her head. “Nor has its mages, too. In time, I’m sure she’ll come to understand her power.” She shrugged. “Or perhaps not. That’s not really our concern, nor is it our place to decide where she belongs. She has her own life here. You cannot presume to know what is best for her.” She looked down at her son, her expression thoughtful. “Was that all that was on your mind?”

  Esren nodded, thoughtful. “I guess so. I’m sorry if I upset you. It was just so odd to see someone like that here. She was beautiful, wasn’t she?”

  Miraphina laughed. “When she grows up, perhaps. She’s just a child.” She gave her son a good-night kiss on the forehead, then left his chamber to go to her own.

  Esren stretched out, leaning back as he thought of the girl. “She’s beautiful now, Mother. So very beautiful.”

  Chapter 13

  The clatter of sword against shield was unruly compared to the solemn ceremony the day before. Autumn found it comforting. She watched the Stone Shields’ mock battle with the Royal Guard from a bench near the refreshment table, across the training yard from the gathering of nobles and the Katrellan delegation. Harriet had assigned her to serve the refreshments, but Autumn didn’t want to get any closer to the Chosen of Katrell than she had to.

  Prince Lyall watched the battle far more intently than Autumn from his place on the bench next to her. His reactions are more entertaining than the fight. His fingers twitched, and his feet shifted into the stances he’d been learning. His eyes darted back and forth, taking in every movement on the field. She smiled as she watched him, then turned back to see how the skirmish was going.

  Captain Nilene and Commander Kasrian were the only two combatants left standing. Autumn leaned forward, watching the two intently. Nilene fought with sword and shield. She was a blur of movement, whipping back and forth so quickly that she was difficult to follow. Kasrian was following perfectly, though. His massive two-handed greatsword might have been a liability for anyone else facing this kind of opponent, but the sword seemed more like an extension of Kasrian’s body than a weapon. He ably blocked every strike that Nilene dealt, and brought his sword down in quick response. She was always ready for him, and his sword would clatter against her shield as she dodged quickly away.

  The duel might have gone on for hours if Nilene hadn’t slipped in an unexpected patch of mud. Kasrian was on her in a heartbeat, taking advantage of her momentary distraction to knock her to the ground. He quickly had her pinned. After a brief struggle, she finally dropped her sword in a gesture of surrender.

  The small crowd burst into applause. Kasrian gave the audience a salute, then turned to offer a hand to Nilene. She took it, grinning mischievously as he helped her to stand. She gave the crowd a wave, and Kasrian made a show of shaking her hand in congratulations for a good match.

  They make a sweet couple, Autumn thought. They kept their relationship secret even from King Aldwin, but she had stumbled on the two of them in the servants’ quarters one night. I don’t understand why they need to keep it secret. Perhaps the King doesn’t approve. Or maybe he’d make such a fuss that it would get too uncomfortable. She smiled, imagining Kasrian and Nilene’s reactions to a public announcement. That must be it. Well, whatever the reason, at least they make each other happy.

  Out on the field, Nilene was gathering up her squad and herding them back towards the barracks. She was berating several of them for missing openings or being caught off guard. If Autumn knew Nilene at all, the Stone Shields were in for a rough night.

  Lyall was cheering louder than any of the dignitaries on the other side of the field. He had made the excuse of wanting to get a better view from the ground to join Autumn on the bench rather than sit with other nobles. Autumn was grateful. Being close to Esren made her feel like someone was pressing down on her chest. Having Lyall nearby made her feel much safer.

  Lyall clapped her on the shoulder, startling her out of her thoughts. “Wasn’t that amazing? Nilene almost had him that time, but Uncle is just too quick for her! And did you see that turn he did, where it looked like he almost fell?” He stood and demonstrated, his hands swinging an imaginary sword with more passion than skill. Autumn watched him, suppressing a grin at his antics. He finally sat back down on the bench, a wistful expression on his face. “I can’t wait until I’m sixteen. Father says that’s when he’ll let the soldiers train me for real.”

  And I might be off to the University. Autumn had spent most of the past day thinking about Albrecht’s offer. She still had a lot more thinking to do. The more she thought about it, the more it seemed like the right choice to go. She sighed. I know it’s an honor, and I know it could be great for my future. But do I really want to give up everything I have right now?

  Kasrian’s voice cut through the chatter on the field. “Your Highness, you should come help me tell our guests about the Stone Shields’ prowess on the battlefield. And how about some refreshments for the Royal Guard?” Autumn nodded and bowed dutifully to the prince before rushing over to the table to fetch a tray of drinks. Lyall ran off to the other side of the training yard to join the gathered nobles congratulating Kasrian on his victory.

  Autumn was pouring water into glasses when a tap on her shoulder nearly made her drop the pitcher. Expecting Kasrian, or perhaps Nilene, she turned around and found herself looking into the bright blue eyes of the Chosen of Katrell. Instinctively, she cast her eyes down and gave a polite bow, gripping the pitcher tightly.

  The young man laughed. It was a thin, quiet laugh that chilled Autumn to the bone. “There’s no need for that, sweet lady. I’ve been hoping for a chance to speak with you since I saw you at the ceremony yesterday. My name is Esren, what’s yours?”

  Autumn was stunned for a moment, trying to determine the best way to tell him that she couldn’t speak. Before she could react, he spoke up again. “I’m sorry. I must have caught you off guard. Please, there is no need for formality between us. I must say, I was surprised to see someone as powerful as you living as a servant.”

  Powerful? Autumn looked up at him, confusion overcoming her fear. Esren laughed again, and she suppressed a shudder. “You don’t even know, do you? Oh, you poor thing. I guess there aren’t many people in Nor who could sense it. In Katrell, you would have been spotted right away.” He reached out a hand to brush an errant strand of hair out of her face, letting his fingers linger against her cheek. Autumn was trembling, her legs weak. She wanted desperately to flee, but her fear wouldn’t let her. Esren sighed as he let his hand drop. “Won’t you tell me your name, sweet lady?”

  “Her name is Autumn.” Lyall’s voice melted Autumn’s fear away. She turned to face him and found him looking coolly into Esren’s eyes. “She’s mute. She can hear, but she can’t answer you.”

  “Oh, I see.” Esren’s voice was cold, a sharp contrast to the warm, almost loving tone he had used with Autumn. “Prince Lyall, thank you very kindly for your assistance. I should be getting back to the delegation. Autumn, I’m very glad to have met you. Think about what I said, won’t you?” He smiled at her, then gave a short bow to the prince and stalked off.

  As he walked away, Autumn let out the breath she didn’t realize she’d been holding. Lyall watched as Esren rejoined his mother, then turned to Autumn. “Gods, he is creepy. Are you okay? He didn’t scare you, did he?” Autumn was flustered but nodded. She turned back to her work, pouring out water into the rest of the glasses.

  Lyall sighed. “I know you’re used to being brave, but you’re allowed to admit when you’re scare
d, you know. It’s not like I can’t see it anyway.” Autumn smiled in spite of herself, and the prince put a hand on her shoulder. “Don’t worry about him, okay? I promise I’ll always protect you. No matter what.” When she didn’t look up, he walked back to the crowd. His friendly smile betrayed nothing of the confrontation he’d just had.

  Autumn set the pitcher down, thinking about what Esren had said. She was troubled. For the first time in years, she thought of the white light that had rescued her from the cultists. Is that what he was talking about? How could he know?

  She carefully picked up the tray and carried the glasses to the members of the Royal Guard. The soldiers were standing off to one side to let their commander do the talking. They took the water gratefully, thanking Autumn for her hard work. She smiled in return and made her way back to the castle. The last thing she saw was Lyall trying to lift Kasrian’s sword without much success. Her limbs were still shaking slightly. Can you really protect me, Lyall? What if I need to be protected from myself?

  

  That night, Autumn dreamed of the temple in the Shadow Mountains.

  The cultists were gathered around, all silent. She walked toward the black stone altar, afraid but determined. She wore nothing, and her long hair was lifted by a gentle breeze as she walked. The dead eyes of the children in their cages watched her. She felt sorry that she hadn’t been able to save them, but she kept walking forward. Finally, she reached the altar and laid down, feeling the cold stone on her bare back. She looked up and saw the full moon through the fissure at the top of the cavern. It’s time.

  A black-robed figure stepped up next to her. She looked up at him and recognized Esren’s face. He gave that chilling smile, then raised the dagger high above her. She felt tears streaming down her cheeks, and he brought the knife down in the center of the symbol carved on her chest. She screamed as she felt the blade bury itself into her flesh . . .