The Dark Crown

by S C Gowland

  His eyes narrowed a grin grew on his face.

  ‘Go on, I dare you. Hit me!’ he growled. ‘In fact, I’ll help you.’ He offered slowly sinking down to his knees with a dull thud. ‘Go on, hit me as hard as you can, but no magic!’ he wagged his finger and smiled.

  She looked at him questioning his offer.

  ‘Go on…’ He goaded her, raising his chin.

  She set her feet and pulled her right arm back, and his grin widened.

  In truth, she could have hit him much harder, but such was the accuracy and speed of the punch, that it had cracked against his jaw before the grin had reached his ears.

  Silence descended in the courtyard as he collapsed like a puppet with its strings cut, flopping onto the grass with a dull thud.

  She attentively patted his head and walked towards the three observers; the crowd melted in her wake. A wry smile grew on her face as she stopped briefly to bow to them and nodded to her sister who followed on, she then winked at Kaoldan and both women promptly disappeared through the main entrance out of the courtyard.

  ***

  They waited patiently outside the changing rooms for a short period.

  ‘I think they will make an excellent addition to the group.’ mused Kubrean perched in a window seat, gazing out of the glass his feet lodged upon the sill.

  ‘No lack of confidence in either of them and if all I have been told is true, not lacking skills with the blade or in the practice of Fajin either. I understand your reluctance in taking them with us my old friend.’ he said sensing doubt in Kaoldan. ‘Things have to change now and then, and it’s not such a bad thing is it?’ He swung around to face Kaoldan, who had been lost in his own thoughts, distracting himself by studying one of the many paintings on the wooden panelled wall.

  ‘Hmmm…’ Kaoldan answered.

  ‘And.’ Kubrean continued. ‘The more of us there are the greater the chances we will be able to find out more about this Reng thing, and I am inclined to say the better our chances of making it back in one piece.‘

  Kaoldan pulled a face, but he knew his friend was right. Things did have to change the more of them there were, the greater the chances in their favour, but this did not stop the nagging doubts at the back of his mind. He sighed deeply.

  ‘Must all paintings in this place have a Royal?’ and their entire entourage in every picture?’ he mused looking at the array of painting down the expansive corridor. The creak of a door opening announced the arrival of the two young Walkers. He turned to see Romina and her younger sister Zahara stood side by side, both in matching uniform in front of them.

  The new arrival was quite the opposite of her taller sibling in many respects. Kaoldan was quite taken aback at the changes in her. Zahara had changed considerably but still possessed many of the same features as her sister.

  She was fully half a head shorter than her sister but had wider shoulders and was slightly more powerfully build, in keeping for such a gifted gymnast. She too had the same strong nose and mouth but a rounder face, her hair was a bobbed thick mass of brass blonde pulled back into a perfunctory spiky ponytail. Her grey eyes darted around taking in all around her. She turned her gaze at Kubrean and Kaoldan, smiled and bowed to them both in turn.

  ‘Masters.’ she said, her voice had a musical quality to it.

  ‘I apologise for the display in the courtyard. It was not my intention to embarrass the Order or either of you. It was just something that I felt had to be done. The knuckle-dragging oaf has been at it for far too long and fortunately this was the perfect opportunity to teach him a lesson or two.’ Zahara explained.

  ‘Zahara...’ Romina exclaimed a look of disapproval on her face.

  ‘Well, he had it coming.’ she shrugged matter-of-factly. ‘We can’t let things like that be said and allowed to pass.’

  ‘Here, here…’ clapped Kubrean walking towards them. ‘And a good right cross it was as well’ he nodded.

  ‘Thank you.’ replied Zahara looking slightly embarrassed by the praise. ‘I always try my best,’ she said as a small smile crept on her face, ‘How are you Father?’ she asked Kaoldan turning to look at him intently.

  ‘Fine, fine...’ he spluttered not really sure where to look.

  ‘I’m glad you’re here.’ she announced a cat like grin appeared on her face and she cautiously moved forwards catching him in a light and perfunctory hug. Kaoldan stood again scarecrow like. Romina hid a laugh behind her hand.

  ‘Come on, give me a proper hug.’ challenged Zahara looking up at him, a twinkle in her eye.

  Kaoldan relented and relaxed. He folded her into his arms and breathed out slowly.

  ‘That’s more like it.’ she said emerging from the embrace and cocked her head to one side. ‘Just like a new pair of boots, we’ll break you in and soften you up.’ she declared nodding, as if the deal had been agreed.

  Kaoldan wasn’t entirely sure he liked the sound of that.

  ‘Kubrean. It’s so good to see you again.’ she said bouncing over to him. Their embrace was full of affection and Kaoldan found his muscles tightening and pinching.

  ‘How was your journey?’ he asked.

  ‘Oh, you know, long, dusty and uneventful. We were able to go by ship from Vanguard to the Weeping Cove. It saved us weeks and also saved us trudging through the Infinite Steps forever.’

  ‘The clue’s in the name.’ added Romina.

  Zahara smiled back sourly. ‘Anyway, Kryst insisted that we remain here while he went to meet you.’

  Kaoldan’s stomach lurched. Kryst knew and had helped to make this happen? Acting as chaperon to his daughters and had said nothing. Kaoldan’s fists clenched, he decided he needed to have a very serious talk with his friend.

  ‘I understand that we are to accompany you both on an errand?’ Zahara queried a hint of excitement evident on her face.

  ‘Correct.’ replied Kubrean

  ‘Making us take the very long journey from Vanguard to Prava just to say hello, would not have been the best idea you’ve ever had.’ said Zahara, her eyes semi accusing Kubrean, who winced at the suggestion.

  ‘May I ask where?’ she began slowly rocking on the balls of her feet.

  ‘We need to find more information about someone called Reng.’ said Kubrean.

  ‘Reng?’ said Zahara looking thoughtful pacing away in her own little world.. ‘So we need to speak to people to get this information? Bash some heads together, pull the knowledge from people who may want to keep it from us. Sounds fun.’ she said turning dramatically, eyes bright.

  Kubrean coughed. ‘Not quite.’ he said. ‘It’s a little more, erm, perfunctory than that.’

  ‘Oh.’ said Zahara looking slightly crestfallen.

  ‘So where do we start?’ asked Romina.

  ‘The Library.’ said Kubrean with a smile.

  To say that her face was the very definition of disappointment would be an understatement. ‘Really?’ she said, eyes dropping searching for the joke, it never came.

  ‘Yup.’ replied Kubrean grinning. ‘Figured we’d get you to hit some books before you started hitting people.’

  ‘Shame. I can’t say I’m not disappointed.’ she said pointedly scrunching her mouth to one side.

  ‘Life’s full of little disappointments my dear.’ said Kubrean linking his arm with hers. ‘Best to start early I say. Avoiding further disappointments in the future.’ She smiled at him sarcastically as she dropped into step beside him.

  They chattered as they walked away down the corridor.

  ‘If you’d care to follow me.’ piped up Romina.

  Kaoldan shook his head.

  ‘Yes of course’ he said with a weak smile. She gestured the direction, and they both followed on,

  ‘Is she always so...’ Kaoldan grasped for the right word.

  ‘Direct?’ suggested Romina.

  ‘Yes, direct.’ said Kaoldan apologetically.

  ‘Most of the time, yes. But you’ll get used to it. She’s not half
as tough as she likes to have people think.’ said Romina looking ahead to her sister, a small smile creeping onto her face.

  ‘She’s changed.’ said Kaoldan shaking his head with a snort.

  ‘I have too.’ said Romina glancing at him.

  ‘Yes, of course you have.’ said Kaoldan cursing himself, avoiding her gaze. ‘How was your journey?’ he asked keen to change the topic.

  Romina then began to tell Kaoldan every detail of their journey, the communication from Kubrean delivered by Kryst, their epic sea journey and the joys of travelling across Essealar with her sister.

  Kaoldan nodded in all the right places and tried to appear interested, but his head was somewhere else. Who were these two women? Stupidly he realised that he had been so preoccupied with his own thoughts and avoiding Kubrean that he had taken very little time to considered how and who the girls would be. He thought about them all the time, that was true, but somehow, strangely he had not factored in that they would have changed.

  They had been apart from him for so long. Too long, Kubrean was right about that. But how they had both changed. Scared and obedient girls is what he had taken to Vanguard all those years ago and now what did he find? They had become strong independent women without his help.

  This particular point hit Kaoldan in a number of different places in his heart, his head and his soul. He began thinking about the complexities of the issue but stopped and forced it from his mind.

  Be present. Be present, he reminded himself.

  ‘So, for future reference definitely avoid taking her by ship, she’s not really got the legs for it.’ said Romina.

  ‘And you are ok with the sea.’ asked Kaoldan conversationally, unsure what else to say.

  ‘Oh yes, no problem for me.’ said Romina standing tall as she walked looking at Kaoldan then grimaced as she opened the large wooden door to the outside.

  Kaoldan blinked as he emerged into the sunlight.

  ‘Master!’ came a voice full of urgency. ‘O, master!’

  The floating City Watch captain strode forwards his face full of delight, boots crunching on the gravel.

  ‘I believe I have found your, erm, steeds?’ he shrugged. Pointing towards two fully saddled panthera in the distance shading themselves under a tree.

  ‘It appears we knew where they were all along.’ he shook his head and shrugged his shoulders apologetically.

  ‘Why thank you, Captain.’ replied Kubrean warmly. ‘So good of you to find them for us so quickly.’

  ‘The very least we can do.’ said the Captain with a small bow.

  Zahara and Romina exchanged a puzzled look.

  ‘Yes, thank you.’ piped up Zahara joining in the spirit of the conversation.

  ‘We are most grateful.’ said Romina straight faced.

  The captain looked slightly abashed by the praise, bowed again, turned and headed back towards the main gates. Moving much more quickly than before.

  ‘What did you do to him?’ accused Romina towards Kaoldan. ‘They have been nothing but rude and darn right horrible to us since we arrived.’

  ‘Don’t look at me.’ he said laughing, raising his hands defensively ‘Ask the Master.’ he said bowing dramatically toward a rather beaming Kubrean.

  ‘Ah. Yes.’ smiled the old man. ‘I merely explained to him how grateful we would be for his help in finding your steeds.’ he concluded with a shrug.

  Zahara narrowed her eyes.

  ‘They are found. That is all that matter.’ said Kubrean straightening out his uniform and looking towards the other Walkers also shading under the trees.

  ‘Hello girls.’ boomed Zalen with a broad smile getting to his feet, dusting his uniform with his hands.

  ‘Girls?’ said Zahara sourly at the apparent offensiveness of the word as Zalen approached.

  ‘He definitely said, girls.’ confirmed Romina with a nod towards her sister, arms folded.

  Zalen stopped in his tracks a look of worry on his face as he searched their faces.

  ‘It’ll do.’ said Zahara teasing.

  ‘Ladies is better.’ suggested Romina.

  ‘Oh ok.’ said Zalen, set straight on the matter.

  A smile appeared on Romina’s face. ‘Uncle Zalen.’ she said moving towards him and embracing him.

  His face brightened, body straightened, and he reciprocated the hug.

  Zahara approached pretending to play fight. Zalen reacted and crouched ready to respond.

  ‘I wouldn’t if I was you.’ interjected Kaoldan nervously.

  ‘Why not?’ said Zalen glancing at his friend, face full of cockiness.

  ‘Never mind.’ said Kaoldan deciding to leave his friend to his fate just as Zahara cracked a hefty punch to his unprotected arm.

  Zalen leapt back, like a scolded cat, rubbing his arms.

  Zahara grinned then hugged him. He smiled warily then slowly backed away still rubbing his arm.

  Various hugs and pleasantries were then exchanged as they worked their way through the other members of the group who had wandered over, all except Dref who was lying hidden in the shade of the tree on the floor taking in the scene before him. The big black dog’s ear flicked, and his tongue lolled slowly out of this mouth.

  ‘Who is that?’ asked Romina looking at the dog.

  ‘Oh, he’s just a friend.’ answered Kaoldan making his way towards the dog. Dref cocked his head to one side.

  ‘Come.’ he said.

  Dref hesitated.

  ‘Come.’ he said, more sternly this time.

  Still the dog waited.

  ‘Come…’ he almost shouted.

  This time the dog did move, raising and charging at great speed. Kaoldan’s face relaxed then dropped as the dog shot straight past him towards the onlooking and beckoning ladies. He collapsed onto his back in a heap at their feet and began wriggling as the ladies tickled him.

  ‘If you thought you had problems before, I think you really have problems now.’ whispered Zalen still rubbing his arm.

  ‘Tell me about it.’ sighed Kaoldan. As the ladies and the dog continued to play.

  Chapter 12 – Needle In a Haystack

  ‘So let me get this right.’ said Zahara for the seventh time, arms in the air and hands open by her head as she appeared to be collecting the facts out of thin air.

  ‘Some crazy person says the name of some long dead - possibly fictional King - and we have to search through all the books in this place to check.’ She gestured to the university towering over them.

  ‘That’s pretty much it.’ nodded Kryst, the shadow of high tree branches passing over his face in the midday sun.

  ‘Great...’ she said sourly, face dropping. ‘Not exactly how I pictured this trip going.’

  ‘You’ll soon catch on.’ said Zalen joyfully, trotting along beside her. ‘Kubrean really knows how to keep things interesting and keeps all the best and most fun tasks for us.’ He winked at Kubrean, who was trotting along ahead, body turned to listen to the conversation taking place behind him. He pulled a face and turned back to face the university.

  ‘I’m joking.’ said Zalen covering his face with his hand. ‘He regularly makes us do really boring things.’

  ‘I know.’ said Zahara with a hiss.

  ‘You do?’ questioned Zalen. Sitting slightly more upright in his saddle.

  ‘Yes.’ she hissed again ‘I do understand sarcasm.’

  ‘I don’t.’ said Zalen definitely ‘Really difficult to understand with all those double ss and the pfffss… horrible language.’

  ‘Save me.’ said Zahara looking to the heavens.

  ‘I’ll be sure to save you the biggest books, Master Zalen,’ shouted Kubrean without turning, ‘Given you enjoy these things so much.’

  Zalen slumped in his saddle, like a sulky teenager which in effect he was.

  ***

  The university could be seen from many miles away, but it was only once Kaoldan started to get close to it that you began to appreciate its beaut
y. Its defining feature most certainly was its imposing height, but Kaoldan had often been struck by the beauty that was often overshadowed by the strength of the tree.

  Zalen stretched out his neck and cleared his throat.

  “The Blue Oak is the rarest of trees only found in a handful of places throughout the world; there is one just between the cities of Trin and Tren, another located by the city of Kriyht and apparently another within the Krund empire near to Gnokz. They all tower over the landscape hundreds of metres tall, but it is the Blue Oak in Prava that is apparently the biggest, and the added curiosity of being a university that gives it such infamy.” Zalen concluded.

  Zahara, sat opened mouthed.

  ‘Is he listening?’ hissed Zalen nodding towards Kubrean.

  Zahara nodded.

  Zalen winked at her and took a deep breath.

  ‘The name for the tree is easy to understand the leaves - also gigantic the size of a small table in some cases – have a blue-green hue to them. The tree rarely sheds its leaves, despite being an oak. There was a curious case of a lecturer being killed by a particularly large leaf that had landed on top of her some decades ago. Yet despite the slim chances of being killed by the university itself, it has grown over hundreds of years in terms of visitors, students and academics and is widely acknowledged as the centre of knowledge in the world.’ concluded Zalen.

  ‘Very informative, Master Zalen.’ said Kubrean, without turning around. ‘And a nice try, but you are still going to read the biggest books.’

  Zalen’s shoulders slumped.

  ‘That is a big tree.’ stated Dalon open mouthed and arching his neck back to try to take in the enormity of the sight in front of them. ‘How high does it go up?’ he mused. ‘And how on earth would you even measure it? Not a rope in the world long enough.’ He shook his head as if trying to do the sums.

  ‘They gave up trying to get to the top about a hundred years ago.’ said Romina. ‘Apparently it has caused the deaths of about six people over the years, all falling before they reached the top. Seems academics are not so good at climbing trees.’ she shrugged.