Dedric finally took a deep breath and let it out of his lungs with relief, as if the poison had been drowning him internally. Skuld quickly proceeded to clean the wound and closed it. She then stood up and helped him stand.
“I’m glad you came with us,” Dedric said to her as Dunhill held him over his shoulder and got him on his horse.
“We better get going. It’s getting late and I don’t want to spend another night in here,” Dunhill said.
The Company resumed its march and plunged back into the lush forest.
“Are you going to tell me that none of you had been warned that this swamp was plagued by nymphs?” Genuss exclaimed furiously.
“We didn’t know,” Dedric said with the little force he had left.
“You almost died in there! Things like this cannot happen to us!” Genuss shouted.
“Why did they only attack Dedric and Dunhill and not one of us three?” Prudence asked.
“Nymphs do not attack women. Only men,” Genuss replied.
“Why?”
“I noticed a group of Dryads as well as Leimenids, and Heleimids. These are nymphs of the trees and forest. They populate them and have their life source bound to them. All forests have been dramatically affected by wars in the last two decades. This was before the Council captured Alanel and restored peace to the Five Kingdoms, but nymphs could never forgive such outrage to their homeland. The forest is sacred to them and it has been offended. They avenged nature ever since, and took the life of every man they could catch,” Genuss explained.
They were still riding when the sun slowly began to hide in a blood-red misty horizon.
“Why so serious?” Skuld asked Dunhill as he rode beside her. “You haven’t said a word since we left the swamps,” she continued.
“My fang,” he responded.
“Again with that!” she protested.
“It was a Syraltho fang. My dad gave it to me. He was a dragon slayer, the last of his Order. He killed that dragon on his last mission to Syralth, but he got seriously wounded and died on his way home. I got the fang from the hands of a messenger who brought the news to my home.”
“I’m sorry, Dunhill. I didn’t have a choice. I needed to do something to save Dedric.”
“I know,” he lamented. “It saved my best friend’s life so... it’s fine”
The trees began to dissipate, appearing less and less often, and the ground began to rise and undulate beneath them.
“Here it is at last!” Dunhill exclaimed and the rest of the Company circled around him to look over the edge of a hill to a beautiful city lit by the moon.
CHAPTER 9
“
Lots of people—lots of people! I don’t think we should have come. Look at this, so many people in one place!” Genuss protested as they approached a crowd in one of the squares that was situated on the base of the mountain.
“What are you celebrating?” Dunhill asked a male giant in the crowd.
“We are not celebrating, Sir,” the giant responded.
“Then what is happening?” Dedric asked.
“Just take a look,” the giant said, pointing at the centre of the square.
A huge beast lay dead in the cold ground. Hundreds of people stood there, surrounding the scene and gasping in horror.
Suddenly, the crowd began to open to make way for two men who seemed very important.
“Excuse me! Step away! Lord Bessyd is here!” a man shouted.
Lord Besyyd was one of the fae. He had a strong and robust figure highlighted by his dark hair and skin. His clothes were distinguished, made from a silver-grey silky fabric with armour appliques. Beside him was an old wizard with his young assistant. They all approached the corpse of the beast for a closer look. Then the magician bent down and opened the eyes of the animal. He approached the legs of the beast and examined the dirt between its claws. There was moist soil.
“What do you see?” Lord Besyyd asked. Prudence and the rest of the Company watched each other and listened carefully in case this could be of their interest.
The old wizard stood and moved toward Lord Besyyd.
“A kind of magic I’ve never seen before, my Lord,” he whispered closely.
He then walked in circles around the animal and spoke aloud: “The beast escaped from the woods in search for survival. As I can see, this is a case of poisoning, possibly due to water consumption. My disciples and I will go to the Mothingale River to verify if its waters have been darkened. For now, stay away from there and of course, it is strictly forbidden to drink it.”
That being said, Lord Besyyd and his entourage proceeded to withdraw from the square, leaving the crowd, but not before running into the worried looks of Prudence, Dunhill, Dedric, Skuld and Genuss. He looked at them. They looked tired and concerned. Lord Besyyd examined each of the members of the Company from top to bottom. Finally, he waved his long robe and retired without further ado.
“We better get going. Our presence here might not be welcome, or it might draw some unwanted attention to us,” Dedric said.
When they left the square and the crowd, Prudence was able to appreciate the beauty of the city in which she had just arrived.
Penrith was a big, multiracial ciy that lay over the mountains in a magnificent valley. Most of the people lived and worked at the feet of the mountains, in buildings and houses of multiple stories. As they entered, she looked up at the higher houses on the mountainsides, and the Lord’s house on the mountaintop in astonishment, as they intermingled with low clouds that still persisted in the night sky. Penrith did not have dirt roads like the smaller villages they had visited previously. All of the roads were made of cobblestones. The horses’ hooves echoed against the wet, stone streets that reflected the moonlight as they moved forward. In the distance, they saw a light that turned on and off repeatedly.
“That is the sign,” said Genuss.
“Evard is there with the candle lamp in his hand. Come on,” Dedric added.
And so they stopped in front of a huge estate surrounded by high walls, behind which they could glimpse the roofs of a magnificent house.
Rose Manor was a big household in the elven quarter of the city, not less than ten minutes by walk from the central square. It had a big gate with sharp-pointed bars and a covered bridge that crossed from side to side of it. The whole place conveyed a feeling of being as safe as a prison.
“So honoured to have you back home, Sir,” Evard said to Dedric as Nefyyd welcomed the rest of the group with a handshake.
Evard was short and had red hair, with freckles spread over his round face. Nefyyd had shoulder length black hair, the same colour as his eyes, and was the youngest.
The horses were quickly led to the stables, and the travellers were each shown to one of over fifty comfortable rooms that were in the house.
All of them had rejuvenating baths in hot water. The girls’ bathrooms had been specially prepared with hundreds of candles of the most delicious scents. The bathrooms were circular rooms with a stepped round bathtub in the centre. The walls were a sand-colour stone and had vaulted ceilings. After the bath, their hosts provided them with clean clothes.
Dinner was served moments later.
The dining room was big and comfortable, with milky marble floors and golden chandeliers hanging from the ceiling. Red velvet curtains framed the high windows, and instead of long tables like the ones in the Borghild Palace, the ones at Rose Manor were round.
The plates were made of gold as well as the goblets, and there was tons of the most delicious food. Mashed beets, buttered peas, broccoli stew, pumpkin soufflé, boiled asparagus, steamed spinach, roast beef, roast turkeys, lamb chops, and boiled, roast and fried potatoes.
“As you can see, we have an extensive menu tonight. We hope you like it.”
“More than extensive, I daresay. I cannot wait to try the lamb! Those buttered peas look delicious as well. I have not eaten asparagus in centuries! I truly don’t know where to start!” said
Dunhill merrily.
For the first time in years, Skuld enjoyed a dinner she had not helped with in the least. Prudence was too tired to say anything and since Genuss did not address her with any kind of dialogue, she simply listened to what the men were talking about.
Everyone was eating as much as they could as the talk turned to the exhausting and horrific journey.
“I’ve heard Forth Are had been taken down by the Azarias. Hopefully we can be safe here in Penrith,” said Nefyyd.
“Yes, but I’m not sure for how long,” Dunhill added.
“The forest has changed a lot since the last waning quarter and it is very difficult to come out in one piece,” said Evard.
“Believe me when I say there are things living out there that will hurt you for sure,” Dedric exclaimed. He almost choked on his food when he glanced through the window—Lord Besyyd’s guards were entering through the gate and across the lawns to the front door of the house.
They had almost no time to stand on their feet when the door swung open and the guards entered abruptly, without any care. Lord Besyyd showed up after them. Weapons were taken out of their holsters and aimed at each of the people present, regardless of which side they were from.
“What are you doing in my city?” Lord Besyyd demanded. “Are you fugitives?” he inquired.
“That is no way to enter a house!” Dedric exclaimed furiously.
“Do you think so? These are my lands and not even a needle moves here without my permission.”
“This manor belongs to The Company of the Rose. These lands are ours.”
“I saw you enter my territory with your hoods on and your suspicious attitude. From what or who are you hiding?” he demanded.
“I will not say a word while a gun is being pointed at my head,” Dedric replied.
Lord Besyyd gazed around the room. He stopped at Prudence, turned to Dedric, and then looked at her again.
“How curious is that you are the one who speaks, but you all respond to her,” he said to Dedric without taking his eyes off Prudence.
“I don’t respond to her,” Genuss exclaimed acidly, her sword a few inches away from the throat of a guard.
“You wish you didn’t, Genuss from the House of Godfarr. But since your family is still second in line for the throne of Arkana, you owe her respect and obedience,” said Lord Besyyd. Genuss’s jaw dropped, as well as Prudence’s.
Lord Besyyd inhaled deeply and then agreed. “Put the weapons down,” he commanded, and weapons slowly started to descend from nervous hands.
“Tell your guards to wait outside,” Dedric exclaimed. “We are not fugitives and we are not hiding from anything. We can talk as civilized beings,” he offered, and Lord Besyyd agreed.
The guards exited the room and they all took seats around the still-served table.
“I don’t like disturbances in my city and I take the safety of my people very seriously. So, I’m intrigued about what the Company of the Rose and the daughter of King Tareos are doing in my city?”
“How do you know who I am?” Prudence asked.
“We have something in common, though it may not seem so. I am a light faerie. I sense... an immense amount of light inside you, young lady. A conflicted light so powerful, and capable of manipulating every element. I know each one of your kind, though I do not know you. But a lot has been said about you. That’s how I guessed who you are.” He turned to Dedric. “So, are you going to tell me or not?” he insisted.
“With all of my respect, we are on a journey. While we ensure that we will not inflict any danger to your lands or your people during our stay in Penrith, what we do is none of your business, my Lord,” Dedric said.
“You can trust me.”
“How do we know that?” Genuss exclaimed.
“I wouldn’t risk my head staying alone in a room with you, knowing any of you could hurt me, if my intentions weren’t good.”
“We share a common enemy,” Genuss interrupted. All heads turned to her.
“You do?”
“Yes. The Council of the Five Kingdoms have entrusted us with the task of stopping Alanel.”
“The enemies of my enemies are my allies. I can help you.”
“Yes, you can,” she said.
“How is he going to help us?” Prudence asked.
“We are on a trip to the Atarum Edges. Someone there is going to help us curb the advance of the Azarian troops. But, in order to do that, we need to get there safely.”
“The troops are in search of something very coveted,” Lord Besyyd warned.
“So are we,” Genuss replied.
“You are going to find the King’s runes?!” Lord Besyyd exclaimed.
“We are at war and it is the only way to prevent Alanel’s growing powers,” Dedric said.
“So you know where to find them?” Lord Besyyd asked Prudence.
“I know nothing!”
“If you don’t, then who does?” he asked.
“She knows,” said Genuss. Prudence gave her a murderous look.
“But those memories have been buried, so we are following other clues,” Dedric said.
“Something evil is close. We’ve all been warned. Our villages are being destroyed. Our people are dying, and our enemy is not only making use of traditional forces. They are using evil dark magic to destroy us all. So, I’m going to help you.”
“We really appreciate this gesture from you, Lord Besyyd,” Dedric added.
“There is no other way to get to where you are going, except by air. I will provide you with a garrison of Mithlons, warrior birds that will transport you to the heart of the Atarum Edges, avoiding the danger of Balljas,” Lord Besyyd offered.
“But, you will have to learn how to fly on them first. No loyalty is possible without trust, and trust must be earned. Mithlons are the most loyal animals in this world. I won’t let my precious beauties be entrusted to those with inexpert hands,” Lord Besyyd said, and they promised to start practicing the next morning.
Too tired to keep talking, everyone retired to their respective rooms and fell into bed. With her mind still buzzing over Lord Besyyd’s intrusion, Prudence leaned over the side of her bed and looked over the window. It almost felt like the one in Maddie’s room. She watched the moonlight and the shadows of trees in the grounds of Rose Manor. She stood there in silence for a minute and then slipped out of bed. Skuld was asleep in the bed beside hers. Prudence crept out of the dormitory and down the stairs, across the lonely corridors and into one of the living rooms. A huge fireplace roared, and there were amazingly comfortable armchairs close to it. She took one without noticing the other was taken as well.
“You look bothered,” said Dedric. Prudence did not respond.
“It’s all right. We are alone, you can tell me,” he insisted.
Prudence shook her head.
“Why do I keep feeling you don’t want to be here?” he sighed.
She looked up at him.
“I know it’s hard,” he continued. “This trip is a very dangerous task. And it’s not even your own war.”
“It is my own war. Part of me doesn’t want to be here and I really miss my old life. But, I don’t really have a past, do I? My entire life is a secret, even for me. I can’t leave. I really want to know what happened to my mother. It’s my only chance to know who I am and where I come from.”
“I promise we will find the runes and we will help you to find out everything about your mother, no matter who we should ask or how far we need to go.”
“Thank you.”
“Now, I better get myself into bed. Only possible way to relieve my neck pain.”
A few minutes after Dedric retired, out of the corner of her eyes Prudence saw something move quickly behind her. She stood. Then she barely heard the sound of a door closing. Prudence headed toward the nearest window.
A hooded figure walked swiftly down the front grounds of Rose Manor. It walked as fast as possible towards the gates, with clearl
y no intention of being discovered. Prudence decided to go after it. It moved as gracefully as a shadow in the middle of the night, making it hard for Prudence to keep up. Prudence walked behind the hooded figure, hiding more than once inside the foyers of the houses they walked by. When the figure turned around a corner, she recognized who was behind that hood. It was Genuss, crossing the city and sneaking into the forest while everyone else was asleep. Prudence’s head was swimming. What was she doing? The magicians forbade everyone at the square to get closer to the Mothingale River, and yet there was Genuss, and Prudence behind her. A light breeze lifted her hair as she got into the thickness of the trees.
The magicians were already there, taking water samples in small glass tubes. Genuss hid behind a tall bush, at a safe distance so as not to be discovered, yet close enough to hear what they were saying. Prudence did the same and hid behind another bush, slightly to the left of Genuss. Prudence tried to catch what they were saying.
“This is dark Azarian magic,” said the old wizard.
“But, Sir, how is it even possible for them to sneak into our territories, under our noses, without us even noticing their presence?”
“They didn’t sneak in under our noses. I’m afraid someone let them in.”
Prudence froze at hearing this. Genuss wasn’t anywhere to be seen. Apparently she was not the only one with secrets in her life.
CHAPTER 10
The night became more and more ruthlessly cold when Prudence decided to leave her hiding place and return to Rose Manor. Of course, the thought of Genuss knowing that she had been followed made her blood run cold. She let out a frozen breath and walked.
Her head trembled at the thought of what she had heard: Who could have allowed the Azarian dark magic to enter Penrith, thus jeopardizing the creatures living in the surrounding areas and its people? Could Genuss have something to do with it? Prudence shuddered at this last thought. Genuss would not be capable of betraying them. She would never shroud in the darkness against which they fought so desperately. The questions continued to accumulate in her head as she moved through the edges of the forest.
The Elven Tales: The Company of the Rose Page 7
