Fantasy Kingdom XXI

by Lisa Anne Nisula

  Phichorian was watching them silently. “Why is this so important to you, Bobble?”

  “Because I’m confused. Everyone seems to think it should have worked, but it didn’t. If there’s nothing wrong with the spell, then there must be something wrong with me.” Bobble turned back to Charles. “If you could leave the sweater with Dean Shellwood, she will see that it is sent with us. Maybe Flamebringer can still see something.” Bobble didn’t wait for Charles’s answer but drifted out the door.

  Charles turned to Phichorian. “You think I should go.”

  “I didn’t say anything.”

  “You didn’t have to.”

  Phichorian shrugged. “Bobble’s a good fellow. He won’t have any peace until he knows what went wrong, and when you go home, it will be harder to solve the problem.”

  When he went home. Phichorian sounded so sure that he would get home; he made it feel real to Charles. “So you think I should go with them?”

  “It’s easy for me to say. I’m not being asked.”

  “Yeah, I get to see a dragon with Amertious and you get this room to yourself.”

  “No, Charles. If you go, I’ll go with you.”

  Charles looked across the narrow room and saw that Phichorian was dead serious. He wasn’t sure how to respond.

  Phichorian didn’t need a response. He turned down the bed covers. “You should go to sleep. We’ll have to get up early to see them off and give them the sweater.”

  “OK. Good night.” Charles crawled into bed, turned towards the wall, and pulled the covers over his head.

  But he didn’t fall asleep. He kept thinking of Melissina and Bobble worrying about getting him home. Of course they’d all be doing this anyway, trying to get the castle back to free King Regulous, but they were doing it to help him too. Could he stay here with Phichorian knowing that?

  Charles rolled away from the wall. He could see Phichorian in the moonlight. Had Phichorian intended to put this doubt in his mind?

  * * *

  Charles barely slept. He pulled himself out of bed as the first bits of sunlight came through the window. Phichorian was already sitting up in bed.

  “Couldn’t you sleep either?”

  Phichorian shook his head.

  Charles sighed. “We probably won’t sleep until they get back.”

  “Worried about Melissina too?”

  Charles shook his head. “Guilt.”

  “Charles, we don’t want you to feel guilty about it.”

  “I know, but I will, so I guess I’m going with them. You don’t have to; no one made you my babysitter.”

  Phichorian was already out of bed and pulling on his tunic. “You’re sure about this?”

  “Yes.”

  “Then we’d better tell them to get the wagon ready then get a good breakfast.”

  * * *

  When Charles and Phichorian went to the courtyard with their armor packed, they found everyone already gathered around the wagon. Amertious did not acknowledge their presence. Melissina was bent over the map talking to Dean Shellwood, but she did manage a small wave and a smile.

  Bobble was enthusiastic. He flitted over to them. “I don’t know how to begin... It is so good of you to come... I mean I know if anyone can figure this out it will be Flamebringer. I just have this feeling... Do you need anything? Can I — ”

  Charles cut him off. “No, we’re fine.”

  “All right. Just ask me if you do.”

  As Bobble flitted away, Phichorian murmured. “I wish I did have something for him to do, so he’d calm down.”

  Charles nodded. “I think he’ll keep asking until we do.”

  “Every five minutes while he rides in the wagon. I think Melissina's about ready. Come on, we’ll say good by to Dean Shellwood.” As they stepped around the wagon, Phichorian whispered, “You’re doing the right thing, Charles.”

  Charles was glad he didn’t need to say anything to that.

  Dean Shellwood smiled at them. “Charles, I am so glad you decided to go. It will help straighten out all of this mess if Flamebringer can figure out how this got so confused.”

  Charles shrugged. “I guess.”

  Phichorian answered for him. “We’re happy to help Bobble.”

  “The journey itself should be straight-forward. It is only the dragon you need to worry about. I wish you both luck. And keep an eye on Amertious. This will be hard for him.”

  Charles didn’t understand that, but he didn’t know if it was something Phichorian would talk about, so he didn’t ask.

  * * *

  Amertious stayed silent as they rode away from Kirjavale. Charles was glad for the break; it seemed the more Melissina and Amertious fought, the more worried Phichorian got, and Phichorian’s good mood was the only thing keeping Charles from giving up on going home.

  They approached a small town, not far from the University. “The town of Kirjavale,” Phichorian murmured. Charles could see from his seat that the town was small and filled with students, not so different from a university town back home he decided.

  As they approached, Amertious brought his horse over to Melissina. “You should ride in the wagon again.”

  “Nonsense, why?”

  Charles could feel Phichorian watching Melissina and Amertious just as intently as he was.

  “If they see you...”

  “They’ve already seen me. If I get into the wagon now, it will seem suspicious. Anyway, who would ride my horse?”

  Amertious turned to look at Phichorian and Charles. Charles tried to look incompetent, not that that was very hard.

  Amertious snorted, but didn’t press, just turned his horse to the gate. Melissina rode into town behind him.

  Charles wasn’t sure whether to be relieved that they’d avoided a fight, or worried that Amertious was backing down. He turned to Phichorian, hoping to gauge his reaction.

  Phichorian must have seen what he was thinking in his expression since he said, “At last we’re heading towards Flamebringer.”

  Charles nodded. “As long as he doesn’t try to kill it.”

  “Cheerful, aren’t we?” Phichorian gave him such a nonsensical look, Charles couldn’t help but smile.

  “I take it you trust Amertious.”

  “With the dragon? No, but I’m counting on Melissina to convince him, or order him into submission.”

  Charles watched Melissina maneuver her horse down the narrow streets and around the pedestrians. “It seems to be working.”

  “That’s what worries me.”

  Charles wished Phichorian hadn’t said that because it was exactly what was worrying him. “You think he’s getting ready for a stand against her?”

  “You do, too?”

  Charles nodded.

  “At least we’re heading towards the dragon’s mountain.”

  As they rode through the market, Melissina stopped twice to buy supplies. Both times Amertious looked ready to protest, and both times he stopped himself. Charles wondered if Phichorian also thought it took more effort each time, but he didn’t ask. He decided he’d rather not know.

  Amertious managed to hold back until they were out of town and on the Western Road. Then he kicked his horse and sped up to ride ahead of them. Charles thought he saw Amertious muttering under his breath, but he couldn't make out any words and decided that was probably for the best.

  Chapter 13

  When they made camp for the evening, Amertious did not speak to Melissina, but turned to Charles, said, “Time for practice,” and walked into the woods without waiting for an answer. He didn’t seem to be in a bad mood, so Charles picked up his sword and followed him.

  Amertious stopped in the nearest clearing. Charles drew his sword and waited for instruction.

  Amertious stared at Charles’s blade. “That needs to be cleaned before you use it.” Amertious took the sword from Charles and sat down on the ground.

  Charles watched him take a cloth from his scabbard. He remembered the yo
ung squires in the courtyard polishing their weapons and felt kind of silly watching Amertious clean his sword, like he was having his teeth brushed for him. “Um, maybe you could show me how to do that.”

  Amertious looked up at him and Charles felt the need to explain further.

  “I mean, after a fight or something, you’re going to be busy with your own stuff.”

  Amertious handed back the sword. “That is the first thing every squire should learn, although most of them do not see the need for it.” He drew his own sword and started to demonstrate proper arms care.

  Once Charles had learned how to care for his weapon, Amertious took him through the same exercises they had done the day before, just as slowly at first. But by the time Bobble came looking for Charles and Amertious to bring them to the fire for dinner, Amertious was up to about half-speed and Charles could block about half of the blows.

  Amertious sheathed his sword and clapped Charles on the shoulder. “Not bad for a beginner. We’ll do some more tomorrow. Maybe you’ll be ready to take a swing at me.”

  “Cool.”

  Bobble and Amertious both stared at him.

  “It’s something we say back home.”

  “Is it good or bad?” Amertious asked.

  “Good, definitely good.” Amertious still looked confused, so Charles added, “Thanks for the lesson.”

  “It is important that you be able to at least hold your enemy back long enough for aid to reach you.” But Amertious did seem friendlier during dinner.

  Phichorian seemed to notice it too. At least he refrained from needling Amertious through dinner and even entertained them with a song about a knight of the order of Rooksguard who found the cloak of the wizard Toth and used it to free the maiden of Rosewood.

  Charles went to sleep thinking that maybe this would all work out. He woke up to the sound of screaming. He sat straight up before he realized that it might be better to pretend he was asleep and spy a little. He’d be no use in a fight; if he knew what was going on, he’d have something to work with.

  It didn’t matter though. As soon as his head cleared, he could tell that the voices belonged to Melissina and Amertious. All things considered, Charles wished he had pretended to sleep. He didn’t want to hear this again. Charles looked around.

  Phichorian had seen him sit up. It felt cowardly to pretend anymore, so Charles crawled out and rolled up his blanket.

  “Fine, don’t trust me with it!”

  “You’re a grand one to talk about trust. You’re the one who’s questioning me.”

  “With good cause it seems.”

  Charles couldn’t find anything else to do with his bedroll, so he meandered over to the fire and sat on a log beside Phichorian. “What’s it about this time?”

  Phichorian shrugged. “Same as always, really. This time they’re pretending it’s about the map the hermit gave us.”

  “How can they fight about that?”

  “Melissina's the better map reader, so she thinks she should hold onto the map. Amertious is insisting he should guard it.”

  Phichorian’s next words were drowned out by Amertious yelling, “If you think it’s the only hope for the country, then you should want your best people guarding it.”

  “You don't want to guard it; you only want it so you can destroy the dragon. How can you talk about protecting the last hope for Father when you want to destroy the only creature with the knowledge we need?”

  Amertious sputtered with rage. He turned away like he didn’t even want to look at Melissina. Charles fought the urge to hide behind Phichorian and regretted it at once as Amertious’s eyes latched onto him. “Come along, Charles. We’ll continue your training.”

  Charles did not want to go with Amertious when he was in a temper, especially when Amertious would be swinging a sword at his head, but it did seem like a good idea to put some distance between Amertious and Melissina. “Be sure to collect the pieces,” he whispered to Phichorian as he slid off the log and followed Amertious into the forest.

  As he trotted beside Amertious, Charles said, “Maybe I could learn to hit back a little bit?” If he was stuck with Amertious in a temper, he’d much rather be swinging at Amertious than have Amertious swinging at him.

  Amertious stopped in the first clearing they came to. “OK, let me see your stance again.”

  Charles stood, trying to do exactly what Amertious had shown him. He held up his sword without being told, just in time to block a blow from Amertious’s blade.

  “Not bad. Maybe you are ready to learn a bit more. Attack me.”

  Charles just stared. He hadn’t expected Amertious to let him fight back, not when Amertious seemed to be in the mood to hit something, and that last block had clearly been luck.

  “You and Phichorian have wanted to for days. Come on.”

  Charles got it; Amertious didn’t want to hit something, he wanted to be hit, thought he deserved it. But Charles didn’t have time to contemplate that. Amertious was waiting, so he lifted the sword and tried to do what Amertious had done.

  “Hold it up more, good. Now try to watch how I’m defending so you can get around it.”

  Charles did his best. Amertious blocked the first two. On his third try, Charles saw Amertious’s elbow move to raise the sword. Charles changed his mind mid-swing and caught Amertious’s hand with his sword, tangling them up.

  “Good. Try to get my sword away.”

  Charles stared at the tangle for a second, then twisted and tugged. He didn’t quite get the sword, but he did wrench Amertious’s gauntlet to a funny angle, taking a gouge out of the metal.

  “Good, you’ve thrown me off. Keep going!”

  Charles was watching Amertious’s hand, hoping he hadn’t hurt him.

  “You have the advantage. Take it!” Amertious snapped, then swung at him to emphasize the point.

  Charles got his blade between himself and Amertious’s sword.

  “Good! Keep at it!”

  Charles let his blade drop, then hit at Amertious’s legs with the flat.

  “Use the edge! Keep at it!”

  Charles did, but he didn’t manage to land any more blows. His sword felt heavier and heavier. If it had been anyone but Amertious, he would have called a truce.

  “Melissina says breakfast is ready.” Phichorian waited until he was sure Amertious had heard him, then went back to the fire.

  Amertious put his sword away. “Not bad.”

  Coming from him, that was praise. “Thanks.” When Amertious didn’t start toward the fire, Charles asked, “Are you all right?”

  “I’ve faced worse that you.”

  “Oh. I’m sorry.” Charles wasn’t sure how to get out of that, so he turned away.

  “You didn’t hurt me, but you could have.”

  Charles was so surprised by that concession that he turned.

  Amertious held out his hand, letting Charles see the nick in his gauntlet. “If your enemy underestimates you, you could do well enough. Come on, the princess is waiting.”

  Charles followed Amertious back to camp, grinning all the way. Amertious did not give praise easily, so he knew it was real.

  * * *

  Back at camp, things seemed to have calmed down. Melissina was perfectly civil as she handed round the plates and even smiled at Charles. Amertious did not mention maps or dragons. Charles took his breakfast and sat beside Phichorian. Amertious took his plate and sat down across from them.

  “You should begin to study the code of the Order of Rooksguard, and learn how to serve your king with honor and loyalty.”

  Melissina sat down across from them. Amertious looked up. “Don’t you agree, Your Highness?”

  Melissina did not answer, but became very interested in her food. So did Phichorian.

  “Surely you agree that loyalty to the rightful king is an essential part of the training of a young knight.”

  Charles could feel a shift in the air. He tried to divert it. “But I don’t want to be a
knight.”

  Phichorian and Melissina both turned to him. Amertious was still looking at Melissina.

  Charles wondered if that would offend Amertious. He tried again. “I mean, I won’t have anywhere near enough time to learn to do it right if I’m going home. I just want to survive to get there.”

  But it wasn’t working. Amertious wasn’t listening to him. His eyes were fixed on Melissina, then drifted to look at the whole group gathered around the fire. “Why is everyone so disbelieving when I talk about my oath?”

  Charles shrank back a little, even though he knew he wasn’t really part of the problem. Phichorian shrugged.

  “You wouldn’t know. Well, Melissina? Have I ever shown anything but loyalty to my oath as a knight?”

  “No, you have always followed your oath to the letter.”

  “And when you are queen, I will serve you with equal fervor.”

  Melissina looked at him. “You serve the ruler, but what about me? What if you had to choose between serving your oath and serving me?”

  “You would not do anything against my oath.”

  Charles didn’t understand how Amertious could fail to hear in her tone how important this question was to Melissina.

  “But if I did, if I was convinced I was right, that it was for the best, would you follow me or your oath?”

  “Melissina, this isn’t like you. Do you want some sign of my deep affection? I thought you were above such puerile games.”

  But Melissina's voice was strained, like she was hiding something. “You know how I am, Amertious. I’ve defied Father plenty of times. Just the other week I snuck off to steal plans.”

  “But not in any way that would betray my oath. Not in any way that would betray the king.” And then Amertious started to catch on.

  Charles glanced at Phichorian, wondering if they should interfere before something was done that couldn’t be undone. Phichorian understood the look and shook his head, whispering, “The hermit was right. Best to let it play out. It will sooner or later.”