“But what about our people? What about my friends?”
“You don’t really care about them more than me, do you?”
My brow faltered. “That’s not what’s important,” I said. “They’ll die.”
I heard the distant sound of fighting, but it grew quiet when Cyric spoke.
“Just stay here,” he said. His lips were at my ear and he spoke very slowly. “We can be happy.”
I felt my body rush. And then go very cold. I pulled away from him, pushing his hands off of my arms. He stared at me, his brows low and filled with hurt and pleading.
I walked backwards towards the door.
“Ellie, please,” he said. “Don’t leave me.”
For some reason I remembered now more of the past than I wanted to.
“I’ll be all alone,” he begged.
I wrapped my hand around the door handle behind me. With a gasp I turned it, spun around, and pushed through the door.
I drank in large lung-fulls of mist. I smelt dirt and dankness. The rough feel of leather pressed against my skin once more.
I kept walking forward, even though I was coughing. When I heard the sound of birds and felt a breeze, I knew I was free of the cave. I fell to the ground and coughed until I wasn’t choking any longer.
I could only assume Estrid was watching this ordeal. Though I didn’t feel sturdy enough to, I rose to my feet.
“Estrid?” I called.
My voice was almost completely drowned out by the loudness of the jungle. If I had thought it had been loud before, I was kidding myself—in the night every animal must have been making noise. Though it was dark I could see well enough to tell that Estrid wasn’t sitting where she had been. I started walking to the pool she’d said she’d be at, but I explored it completely without finding her. I headed back to the caves, calling after her.
I suddenly noticed my bag of fruit still lying out on the ground. Estrid’s empty bag was beside it. I picked it up, then I felt a tremor in my chest. The surrounding creatures seemed to grow especially loud. With wide eyes, I looked up at the cave entrance in front of me. I did not think that I was the only one to be taking the trials this day.
~ ~ ~
CHAPTER SIX
CYRIC:
*
I crept along the wall of a thin alley. Distant calls from the dinner rush-hour filled the streets, but I was alone and hidden well by a balcony overhead. All around and in even in front of me was gold stone and dirt. I was headed towards a private courtyard, separated from the palace gardens by only one wall.
I heard voices and pressed my back into the stone; my arms were stretched on either side of me.
Two heavily-armored guards walked past the end of the alley. They were laughing and didn’t notice me at all. Once I was sure they’d moved on, I walked the rest of the way to the courtyard. I carefully craned my head around the corner. A fountain splashed water in the middle, and there were a dozen lit torches, but otherwise as far as I could tell it was empty. As expected, it was very similar to Lox’s courtyard. The smell of greenery filled the air.
I moved across the courtyard, taking a bit of a running start to kick off a pillar. I used the momentum to bounce off the building, then grab the edge of a stone railing. Hanging on my arms, I flipped myself over it. I crouched below the rails. I was on one of the bridges that connected Commander Tarful’s building to the palace. I could barely see Lox’s building past the gardens in the distance, but I hadn’t been able to come through that way—there was too much security in the gardens and on the balconies surroundings the palace.
I saw the helmet of a guard now, and crept low until I was behind one of the pillars on Tarful’s balcony. Then I stood. His balcony doors were already open to let the fresh air in. I peered inside the room to make sure no one was in there—even though I already knew there wouldn’t be—then I walked inside and started looking around.
It was the upstairs bedroom, but there were many dressers, shelves, cupboards, and even a desk and workspace—similar to the one in my room, only larger.
I checked the shelves beside the desk first because they were closest. I’d done this enough times in the past few days to know better than to think I’d find it easily. I searched methodically, only glancing back at the entrance to the room every once in a while, or when I heard a distant sound.
This was my last room on my list to search. I’d started with Scanth, because he was easiest (I already knew when he was and wasn’t in his room). Then I’d moved on to Jaxom and Raand—the other two lieutenants under Tarful. I’d had plenty of personal experiences with Raand, not the least of which had been the night he’d had me beaten for getting in a fight, so I’d been disappointed to find no evidence in his room. I’d found nothing to convict any of the others either.
I moved onto Tarful’s desk. It was kept outstandingly neat. There was only a small pile of papers sitting ontop and none of the ones I wanted—just lists of his duties or schedules.
In the short time I’d been watching Tarful, I’d decided he was the most boring soldier in existence. Not to mention a stickler for the rules. He reminded me of the scholars back in Uldin Keep. So much to correct, so few obedient underlings. He was kind of a funny guy—then again I hated anyone that would use hundreds of soldiers, men that trusted him, just to further their own purposes. And more than anything I hated anyone that would betray Lox.
I found the second drawer on Tarful’s desk locked— which I took as a good sign. With an uncertain smile I reached my hand under the drawer to feel around. I thought I might find a key—instead the wood shifted up to form a gap. I bent down and inspected it. From the dimensions of the drawer and desk it was clearly some sort of hidden compartment.
I slid my hand inside and pulled out a bundle of papers. They were folded into a neat envelope-sized stack and bound with string. I undid the string and opened them immediately; they were stained with dirt and overuse.
*
Commander Tarful,
I am happy to report that our plans have come about just what we hoped. My father is dead at the hands of your assassins. Once I brought proof before the council members that they were Akadian soldiers, they didn’t hesitate to give me full military power to attack Akadia. Their only requirement was that I inform King Molec of our declaration of war, but as you know that news will never reach Akadia. At least not before it’s too late. Your lieutenants are meeting with my commanders as I write this. I will send this letter on to you with Jaxom. He can confirm the news and explain our strategies for the battle.
If all goes well, I will see you on the battlefield in less than a fortnight. Expect the entire force of Karatel ready on the Hills of Karthus.
Signed, Prince Nain
*
I read the letter twice, then looked over the papers attached. They were battle plans, along with older letters, detailing meetings between Tarful and Nain’s men. From what I could tell, the battle was to be less than three days from now.
I heard another shout from outside and quickly replaced the compartment wall. I wrapped the string around the letters and tucked them into my tunic. I crept outside, then to the edge of Tarful’s balcony. Then I jumped to the ground.
#
Thane answered the door to the war-meeting room. This usually meant Lox was in there alone. I told him I needed to speak to Lox right away, but he wouldn’t let me. Apparently there was a meeting going on. I got a glance at the crowd behind him. A half dozen lords were present, not to mention some of Lox’s lieutenants. I told Thane to let Lox know I’d wait there. Before a few minutes had passed Thane came back with instructions from Lox to wait in my room for him. I obeyed, reluctantly, though I decided no matter what I would come back by nightfall.
Once in my room I couldn’t stand still. I rarely sat around in there—even on normal days. The sun was just beginning to set. I watched it from my window for a while, then I went over to my desk and sat down in the padded chair.
I pulled the letters out and read them over again. As I’d noticed before, Scanth’s name was never mentioned. Even in the battle plans, where the attacks were detailed out by leading lieutenants, he wasn’t included. I set the papers down on my desk. I felt overheated; I told myself I’d just been in the sun for too long.
My eyes found the drawer of my desk. Without thinking, I opened it.
I pulled out the silver band that was resting inside. It was cold to touch. With one hand I spun a few times, then I ran a thumb over its center. It didn’t take much work on my part to remember how it had once been.
I stared at it for a long time.
*
ELLIA:
*
As a princess who would one day have to carry many burdens, I had developed a process of working through my emotions—particular emotions surrounding a circumstance—by carefully examining them.
I did not do this with my experience in the caves. Once Lucian informed me that I had passed, I didn’t think about the caves again.
Tonight I was on my way to a dinner being held inside the Warriors’ chamber in honor of the passing of the trials. I wasn’t the only person to have passed. There were two Yanartians that had taken the tests with their respective trainers. And of course there was one Katellian that had taken the tests, but she wasn’t being acknowledged.
“For the last time, I’m not telling them, Estrid,” Lucian whispered fiercely.
We were not more than ten feet from the entrance of the gold-lit Warriors chamber. There were finely dressed Warriors all around. Estrid and I were wearing green silk dresses; Lucian wore a green and copper tunic. The sound of music, warmth, and easy laughter was everywhere. But these lively surroundings weren’t keeping Estrid and Lucian from fighting, as they had been since Lucian had come to collect us at the cave.
“That’s not fair,” she snapped back. “I passed. I deserve to become a Warrior.”
“You deserve to be thrown off the Isle,” Lucian retorted.
“If you really think that, then why haven’t you made me leave?”
“I can take you now,” he said, grabbing her arm.
“Stop, both of you,” I interrupted. We were at the doorway of the chamber building. People were waiting to get passed the arguing pair. “Are you really going to throw her out to sea tonight?” I asked Lucian, nodding to his hand. They looked almost laughable, wearing matching clothes and matching expressions of dislike. “And Estrid, would you really make him tell the Warriors tonight in front of everyone?”
They both thought about it.
I waved a hand. “Never mind, don’t answer,” I said. I could see they were both going to say yes. I headed inside.
“Wait, don’t leave me out here with him,” Estrid said, chasing after me.
The chamber was more beautiful than the first night I had seen it. One long table had been set up, running from the inner chamber where the meetings took place to the outer chamber which held many Yanartian ornaments. Only first order Warriors, the advancing apprentices, and their closest friends were allowed to attend, so it was only a little bit of a crowded fit. The chimera had been allocated to dining outside.
I waited for Lucian to tell me where to sit. Estrid took the spot just beside me, so that he had to move down another seat. Minstrel was across from us, already caught up in a conversation with one of the graduating apprentices. The first order Warrior named Elminster sat on my right and to my great distress just across from him was Lyrie, the red-haired woman that seemed to dislike me for no reason.
As soon as we were all seated, Alek rose and gave congratulations to the graduating apprentices. It was easy to get lost in the ritual of it. They were the type of words I’d imagined hearing since I was young. But I was thrown when Alek mentioned something about a third trial.
“Those who have grown up in Yanartas no doubt know about the last trial, but for the benefit of our visiting guests I will explain it. Yanartas is more than just an Isle, beneath us lies a dormant volcano—it produces the fires famous to our land. It is also the nesting ground for the wild chimera.”
“Perhaps you have wandered where we Warriors get our chimera? I can promise you they are no creatures of captivity. Each and everyone one of the Warriors must find and tame their own granted chimera. Likewise, each of you apprentices must travel to the top of the mountain to try and connect with your own chimera. This is the third and final trial to becoming a Warrior of Cirali. We wish the three of you great luck.”
As Alek held out his glass and the meal began, I turned a hard look on Lucian. But Estrid was the one to get his attention with a wave.
“May I help you?” he asked.
“You didn’t tell us anything about a third trial,” she said. “What kind of trainer are you?”
He narrowed, and then they went on arguing with each other —though now they spoke in code so that no one would know what they were really talking about. I gave up on getting more information on the third trial and started to eat. I hadn’t taken two bites before Elminster called my attention.
“What did you think of the second trial?” he asked me. He spoke in a low, throaty, tone that was so slow it seemed to make time halt. He had the longest white beard I’d ever seen and hair that made mine seem short. He had to be the oldest of the first order Warriors.
“Second trial?” I asked, swallowing my food. I noticed Lyrie watching us and tried to ignore it.
“The caves,” he amended. “I think that they are the most interesting of the three. I like to ask every Warrior their opinion of them. What did you think they tested?”
I felt a refreshed sense of irritation at Lucian for not informing me of these different named trails. What was the first one? Travelling through the forests? I had no clue. One thing I knew was that I didn’t want to talk about the caves. All the same, I wasn’t going to ignore Elminster. I sighed internally and forced myself to consider it seriously. “I had thought at first that they presented you with your fears, but perhaps… it is rather your weaknesses that you face.”
“An interesting opinion,” he said. “It is understandable that you would see them so.” He pointed beyond me. “When young Lucian was a boy, he thought they were a prediction of the future. We had the hardest time convincing him otherwise.”
Elminster laughed a little. I tried to imagine what Lucian could have seen to make him think that, but as I was watching him his cheeks puffed up in his anger at Estrid and I found myself laughing with Elminster.
The old Warrior went on. “In truth no one knows. They are too subjective to define, and above all they are meant to be kept within one’s own heart and not shared. All the same, after my many years of study, I have taken to calling them the caves of dreams and nightmares.”
I felt my throat tighten. It was not difficult to imagine which was which in my case.
“They present you with terrors so personal that you cannot make yourself ignore them. And desires so cherished that they threaten to keep you with them.” He lifted a shaky finger. “Do you know what determines whether you have passed the trial or not?”
“You have to get out before dawn, right?” This, at least, Lucian had explained.
Elminster nodded.
I looked back to my food, though I felt little desire to eat anymore.
“Do you think any of what happens in the caves is real?” I asked Elminster, suddenly turning to him.
He looked surprised.
“I mean, I know they haven’t really happened,” I corrected, “but do you think the way it represents things is accurate? Like the way it represents people to be?”
Resting his fingers on his face, Elminster thought about this. “I know that many have hoped so,” he answered.
I frowned. I noticed Lyrie look away from us, her expression sorrowful and not unkind. I tried to take a drink of my water, but before I could, Estrid turned on me.
“This one is chockfull of secrets,” she said, throwing a thumb back at Lucian. “And
he has the gall to judge me.” She shook her head. “Guess what I found out about the third trial?” She spared a glance for Minstrel who was listening as well, then smiled at me. “You’re going to need a good night’s sleep, my friend. You leave at dawn tomorrow.”
~ ~ ~
CHAPTER SEVEN
CYRIC:
*
“Don’t worry Cyric, just trust Lox.” That was the advice Veera had given me before I’d left for the banquet hall. Now I was kneeling in front of King Molec while he read the bundle of papers I’d found in Tarful’s room.
“What is the meaning of this!?” Molec erupted. The entire table of a hundred or so guests went silent. Molec squeezed the papers into a clump.
In a hurry to get them away from him, some of the councilmembers reached for the letters. This was no wonder considering what I’d claimed they were, but I reiterated my words.
“I found them hidden in the quarters of Commander Tarful. They were as I presented them to you in his desk.”
“What proof do you have?” Molec asked. “Who are you to be in a Commander’s quarters?
A chair moved back behind me. I looked to see Scanth standing, with his arm raised. “My King, if I could, this man is one of my best soldiers. I ordered him to spy on my leading Commander when I grew suspicions that Tarful was conspiring with Karatel.”
“Why was this not brought before the council?” the king exclaimed. “A banquet is not the place.”
“We thought it urgent business, your majesty,” Scanth protested.
I noticed—as few others seemed to—the letters of evidence being passed from one councilmember to the next. Each one that read it grew an expression of shock.
The other members of the table were demanding to know what was going on.
“Silence!” the king said. “I will not have this turn into a riot. Sarstus,” he called, snapping his fingers at the guard standing close to him. “Have Commander Tarful brought here immediately. Where is Lox?”
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