The Dark Crown

by S C Gowland

  ‘Let’s get going.’ hustled Kubrean, looking sharply at the guards at the gate. ‘I have no wish to be the subject of tittle-tattle.’ he said gruffly, leading Max by his reins up the hard-baked streets towards the university.

  In many ways Prava sounded and smelt like any other large town; street traders shouting the offers of the day, the clanging of metal echoing from smithies doors and open with bulking men and hammers. The scent of bread and fruit hung in the air like a cloak, thick and unmistakable.

  Occasionally Kaoldan was hit by waves of exotic spices, vegetables and earthy goods. There was as subtle difference that it took Kaoldan sometime to recognise. The usual smells you associate with a large town or city are fairly standard, but Prava was missing one thing. The fresh smell of salt and fish. Maybe it was just something he had grown accustomed to having almost always lived by the sea, but Prava smelt thick with vegetation. At that moment Kaoldan wished, for many reasons he was back in Thura accompanied by familiar smells and sounds.

  A cry of anguish pierced the white noise to the rear of the group. There was a blur of black fur followed closely by the sound of rapid heavy footsteps belonging to a thick set, red-faced stall holder. The black shape disappeared into the thick of the crowd, trailing behind it what appeared to be a long string of sausages. The stall owners head scanned the crowd searching in vain for the thief.

  Kaoldan cursed but a small smile crept onto his face. He hailed the stall holder, beckoning him over - who approached cautiously.

  ‘This should more than cover your inconvenience.’ said Kaoldan, flicking a shimmering silver coin through the air, it was caught expertly in one hand by the stall holder.

  He looked into his hand and sneered. ‘If I catch that black bastard. I’ll string him up.’ he said to no-one in particular.

  ‘I wouldn’t advice that.’ said Kaoldan flatly, levelling a stare straight at the stall holder, who caught his eye - tried to match the stare then his eyes dropped. He turned muttering and left quickly enveloped by the crowd.

  ‘You really must teach that dog some manners.’

  Kaoldan snapped his attention to his left where Kubrean had appeared beside him, slowly trotting alongside. For a second Kaoldan cursed himself for allowing Kubrean to sneak up on him. But the genuine concern on his face made Kaoldan curse himself even more for having thought such things.

  ‘He’s alright.’ said Kaoldan spying a guilty looking dog some way in the distance eating the evidence.

  ‘How are you?’ asked Kubrean.

  ‘Not so bad.’ Kaoldan said looking towards the looming shape of the university then at his friend. His heart quivering.

  ‘I know that this is going to be hard for you.’ began Kubrean.

  ‘No.’ interrupted Kaoldan somewhat sheepishly shaking his head. ‘It will be ok.’ he smiled weakly to offer some reassurance.

  ‘Rubbish.’ scoffed Kubrean. ‘You really think you can hide this from me? Like it or not, I know you better than you realise, and this will be hard.’ he enquired looking deeply at Kaoldan. ‘For all of you.’ he emphasised.

  Kaoldan inspected the floor, avoiding the gaze of his friend.

  ‘I know.’ he admitted. ‘But I’m coming to think that, perhaps. Just perhaps. You might be right. It will be good to see them again. I just hope that it does not bring back too many bad memories.’

  ‘They have changed and grown up a great deal. And you have changed too.’ said Kubrean with a wry smile. ‘and probably more than you think.’

  ‘Perhaps.’

  ‘Just trust me with this. Have I ever let you down?’ asked Kubrean tilting his head to one side.

  ‘Well, if you’re really asking. There was that one time in Khural when I was nearly killed by some sort of giant slug?’

  ‘That does not count.’ said Kubrean defensively shifting in his saddle. ‘I got you out.’

  ‘Hardly a full and correct version of the events as I recall.’ challenged Kaoldan. ‘You had to cut me out of its stomach.’ He shot Kubrean a withering look.

  Kubrean looked hurt then he smiled. ‘You smelled for a week afterwards.’ he laughed trying unsuccessfully to cover his mouth with his hand.

  Kaoldan winced. ‘I’d almost forgotten that smell. Smelt like rotting vegetation or something.’ he shuddered.

  ‘Not your finest hour.’ said Kubrean. ‘Maybe that is yet to come.’ he offered nodding towards the emerging space of a town square - a merging point of six main roads within Prava.

  The convergence of the busy streets created a crush of colour and noise. Families, stall owners, travellers, people simply standing and talking.

  Members of the university recognisable by their different coloured robes and soft cloth caps; gatherings of men and women in burgundy, topaz, lime green, sky blue. Kaoldan was not able to recall which colour represented which school within the university, but they were plentiful within the square chatting and sharing pleasantries.

  Kubrean led the way down a straight street to the left of the main road leading to the university. The street was edged by two and three-storey buildings, the crowds thinned out and shops were slowly replaced by more residential properties, families with bored looking children watched from windows as the group made steady progress. The road eventually turned sharply left to reveal a large square building made of yellow stone with a red roof surrounded by a high perimeter wall.

  The main entrance was surrounded by members of the City Watch, who stood stiffly in their black starched uniforms. Their heads flicked up in unison, eyeing the Walkers with stern suspicion.

  A rake thin man moved a few steps forward, he turned to whisper something to his colleagues, and they sniggered, badly disguised behind raised hands.

  ‘Can I help you?’ he asked disdainfully looking at Kubrean.

  Kubrean smiled politely. ‘Yes, we are here to meet two colleagues from our Order. I believe they are here.’ he enquired.

  ‘Yes.’ replied the lead watchman with a nasally whine. ‘They are in the guest quarters at the rear of this facility.’ He flicked his hand over his shoulder towards a small tower. ‘You should find them there, I’d think.’

  ‘My thanks.’ replied Kubrean as he began nudging Max towards the tower.

  ‘Just one more thing.’ said the watchman lolling his head to one side and raising his hand. ‘You will have to leave them here.’ he flicked a finger towards the Pantheras. ‘No livestock allowed inside the facility.’ he said wrinkling his nose. ‘Sure you understand.’

  ‘Livestock?’ repeated Kryst raising an eyebrow.

  ‘Or whatever they are.’ dismissed the watchman. ‘Not allowed, no matter what they are.’ he shrugged.

  Kubrean sucked his teeth. ‘And where are the panthera of our colleagues?’ he enquired, a serious look growing on his face.

  ‘Couldn’t say.’ said the watchman, inspecting his nails.

  Kubrean’s eyes narrowed. He released his hands from Max’s reins and raised his left hand slightly.

  A look of shock appeared on the watchman’s face as he rose three feet in the air and hovered, he looked down head darting like a startled chicken. Kubrean pulled his hand towards his chest and the watchman floated over like a balloon on a string. The other half dozen watchman backed away, eyes fixed on their airborne leader, who came to a halt eye height with Kubrean.

  ‘Could you do me a favour?’ asked Kubrean leaning forwards slightly.

  The watchman said nothing, his face baffled by his newfound ability to fly.

  Kubrean coughed heavily. The watchman spluttered back into recognition, his eyes wide as he looked at Kubrean.

  ‘Ah yes, hello.’ said Kubrean with a sweet smile. ‘I just wondered if you could do me a favour.’ he repeated. ‘Find them.’

  ‘What?’ chirped the watchman.

  ‘Find my two colleagues livestock. I believe that was the term.’ he consulted with Kryst.

  ‘I believe so.’ said Kryst nodded, straight faced.

  Kubrea
n smiled, delighted at the news. ‘Would you be so kind?’ he asked the floating watchman.

  ‘Yes.’ the watchman blinked rapidly as he answered.

  ‘There’s a good fellow.’ said Kubrean with a wink, he lowered his hand. The watchman slowly descended back to the ground. He nodded then turned barking orders at the other watchmen, who gawping retreating back to the main entrance.

  ‘Wait here.’ said Kubrean nodding to the others. ‘And try not to cause any problems.’ he looked directly at Zalen and Dalon.

  The pair looked at each other, then back at Kubrean, the very picture of innocence.

  ‘Please?’ he said.

  ‘I’ll watch out.‘ replied Kryst gruffly eyeing the other two, who both slumped into their saddles.

  Kubrean looked on, small smile on his face.

  ‘Let’s go.’ he nodded to Kaoldan, who felt nerves fluttering in his stomach. He glanced at the tower then Kubrean. A weak smile appeared and then was gone from his face.

  ***

  The inside of the facility was luxurious even by royal standards, the perimeter wall more than adequately hid a wide dusty courtyard that disappeared off to the right and left following the contours of the outer wall. A variety of yellow stone buildings scattered before them.

  A young watchman led the two Walkers towards a large square stone structure, the air echoed with the ring of metal on metal in the distance.

  ‘It’s our main training facility.’ explained the young man, as if sensing the question. ‘If you’d follow me please.’ he offered them through a wide wooden framed entrance. The inside of the building was dark and plain, scatterings of paintings came and went as they made their way through.

  They walked for what seemed like hours – tension increasing in Kaoldan’s muscles - until the young watchman came to a halt at the bottom of a spiral staircase.

  ‘Up there.’ he simply. ‘That’s where they have spent most of their time, one of them at least.’ he turned and left without waiting for a response, boots rapping on the stone floor as he disappeared around a corner.

  Kaoldan felt his stomach lurch, his palms had suddenly become very clammy, and he swallowed dryly.

  ‘After you.’ he offered to Kubrean with a weak smile.

  The old man paused, eyeing Kaoldan, then nodded, turned and began the ascent up the stairs.

  Kaoldan followed slowly, his legs felt like lead. He looked up, light broke through slits in the outer wall, plumes of dust floating carelessly in Kubrean’s wake.

  It had been so long.

  Why had it been so long?

  He hardly knew what to expect. Tears, silence, anger, sorrow, happiness? Hello, remember me? I’m your father who abandoned you in your hour of need. How have you been for the last six years?

  He breathed out slowly.

  The stairs eventually came to an end, and they were confronted by a small landing with three doors, two of them open, leading to empty rooms both containing two beds, a small table and chairs.

  A closed door beckoned to the left.

  Kubrean looked steadily at Kaoldan, nodded - more to himself than anything else - turned and knocked.

  A light musical voice, answered, muffled by the wood.

  Kubrean turned the handle with a creak and the heavy door opened light escaping from inside the room. Kubrean entered, floorboards groaning as he did so. A squeal of delight erupted from deep within the room, followed by a stampede of feet. Kubrean let out a grunt as he was almost knocked off his feet by a blur of grey and swirling blonde hair. The squeal continued buried in the hug, the owner of the blonde hair stamping her feet rhythmically in delight.

  A bright face emerged wearing a beaming smile, eyes fixed on Kubrean, who seemed quite embarrassed by the bounding show of affection. The owner of the smile did not really seem to care, and more white teeth appeared as the smile grew wider.

  Kaoldan felt very hot, he turned, twisting his clothes, hands suddenly alive with untameable energy.

  ‘Hello.’ he croaked, his voice hoarse and cracked. He cleared his throat badly.

  The smile turned and stopped, a flicker of recognition, a pause and eyes widened.

  ‘No.’ she whispered; her eyes danced with delight. ‘You came.’ She covered the distance between them in one leap, crushing him in a squeeze, arms tight and strong.

  Burying her face in his neck. Kaoldan stood stunned, arms wide like a scarecrow, uncertain what to do. Slowly they crept in and he embraced her, a silly nervous smile slowly appearing on his face.

  ‘Father…’ she breathed.

  Kubrean stood back, folded his arms and simply watched, a peculiar smile growing on his face.

  Chapter 11 – Brief Encounters

  She had changed. A lot.

  Almost to the point that he felt he did not recognise her. Kaoldan sat awkwardly not really knowing what to do or say as she fussed and glided around the table. He had already fumbled his cup, nearly dropping it twice. He sat rigid, not daring to move a muscle.

  She was a whirlwind of activity chattering away as she made tea for a somewhat stunned Kaoldan and a rather amused Kubrean. Smile wide on his face, arms folded as he nodded along to the chatter, whilst flicking knowing glances at Kaoldan.

  Romina was tall, really tall. Much taller than Kaoldan had expected, but then he came to realise he had no real idea what he had been expecting. The same gangly teenager he last remembered all blonde curls and eagerness to please. She had been the perfect reflection of an obedient trainee Walker. She had always done as she was told. Never stepped out of line never asked why, carried out everything she had ever been asked diligently and quickly.

  The woman, for that was what she was now, swanned around the table effortlessly garbed in dark grey top, leggings and riding boots.

  She laughed to herself, hands covering her mouth as she giggled at an amusing story Kaoldan had completely not heard. He was somewhere else. Where he was, he wasn’t certain, and he was extremely uncomfortable, was not sure what he felt but he knew it was not unpleasant.

  Her hair was darker, loosely tied back in a wavy ponytail. Now more honey and mustard than the previous gold and silver, when he had last seen her. She still had slight freckles on her nose, and she had a willowy quality to her as she walked. Her face was bright and open, she had a strong nose and she snorted slightly as she laughed. Kaoldan smiled in recognition of a long-lost memory which flashed in and out of his mind.

  ‘Anyway, I said to him “not as long as your breath is an ugly as you are”, I mean what was he thinking’. She concluded her hands on her hips. ‘What?’ Romina asked eyes darting between them.

  ‘Nothing,’ said Kaoldan softly. ‘Just a lot to do. We can talk on the way.’

  A small smile of relief appeared on her face and she nodded. He downed his tea as he stood, the chair screeching on the floor as he did so.

  ‘You do remember your sister is meant to be coming with us as well don’t you?‘ reminded Kubrean getting to his feet.

  ‘Frack...’ swore Romina.

  That was new thought Kaoldan.

  The smile on her face grew wider.

  ‘Do you have any idea where we can find her?’ Kaoldan asked. ‘Time is of the essence and I’d really like to make good preparations before we set out early tomorrow.’

  ‘Not a problem.’ replied Romina. ‘She’ll be where she always is, training and practising. Being my younger sister, she somehow feels she has a point to prove.’

  ***

  They walked around the outside of the grounds and passed through a dozen or so imposing doors following darker wood panelled corridors into a smaller inner courtyard. It was packed with two dozen or so of the City Watch.

  The rhythmic ring of metal on metal filled the air, accompanied by the gasps and grunts of the wielders trying their best to overcome their opponents. The arrive of the three Walkers did not register with the inhabitants of the courtyard, they walked in unnoticed and were able to witness a group of perhaps eight Roya
l Guards laughing. The ringleader, a mountain of a man who appeared to be missing his neck, howled with laughter and slapped his knees.

  ‘Look at that!’ he pointed to a young woman garbed in grey in the corner of the yard. ‘She’s hardly big enough to pick a sword up let alone fight.’ He mocked and mimicked her to the delight of his audience.

  She blinked, a picture of concentration and composure, ignoring his howls and jokes. Took a deep breath and charged forwards. Her charge was towards the ringleader and his group. Approaching them, she raised her arms and dived forwards, flipping and somersaulting, twisting and turning in the air with mesmerising speed and precision. The blonde grey blur came to a sudden and measured stop a few feet from the ringleader who appeared to take great offence at the act.

  He surged forward chin up and chest rising. He shouted something unintelligible at her, stopping right in front of her face.

  Kaoldan’s face hardened, his hands began to clench; he had seen enough and started to move forward to intervene, but a hand fell lightly on his shoulder and he stopped.

  He turned to see Kubrean, who gently shook his head.

  The ringleader was now in full flow.

  ‘What was that?’ He demanded, his shaved head darting around attempting to gain extra attention. ‘All that jumping around, and you still can’t pick up a sword darling.’ he shouted roaring with laughter.

  The other occupants of the yard were now starting to stop what they were doing, looking, listening with greater interest, and in greater numbers towards the ringleader.

  The small gymnast simply looked up at him and smiled sweetly. Her lack of reaction seemed to anger him even more.

  ‘You Walkers are nothing without your magic’ he declared wiggling his fingers in front of her nose. ‘All that poncing about, scaring people because they think you can use magic and turn them into a frog or something. It doesn’t scare me! You couldn’t hurt me if you tried.’ he spat.