He thought about calling for his horse to ride down there, but given the warmth of the afternoon, he decided to walk, especially since there was no rush anyway.
It always amazed him how much the city changed depending on which ring you were in. Considering they added different rings over time, each had a unique type of architecture. The buildings in the inner rings were regal with a lot of stone work and columns throughout. As you progressed toward the outer rings, stone gave way to wood, stucco, and thatch. The merchant rings contained structures only built out of wood.
He rounded a dirty corner and spotted the smithy’s shop, the Firehammer, across the street. He made his way over, and ducked inside.
A blast of heat that felt like the seventh level of hell hit him in the face. The stench of burning charcoal provided an acrid odor mixed with the stench of sulfur and overpowered his nose. An older, burly man pounded away on a red, glowing strip of metal, while a younger man stoked the fire.
Raythum cleared his throat to try to get their attention.
The young man turned to see who interrupted them, and the smithy said in his deep, husky voice, “I’m all booked up today. You can try and come back tomorrow.” The young man’s eyes opened wide recognizing the prince at once. “I might squeeze you in…” The young man shoved his elbow into the smithy’s side.
He grabbed the strip of metal with his tongs and plunged the metal into a wooden barrel of water, before turning to the young man. “What the devil was that for? You know not to interrupt me when I’m working.”
The young man rolled his eyes and pointed at Raythum.
The smithy had a thick, red, curly beard. Black smears covered his face, and he dripped with sweat—understandable considering the heat in the forge. He squinted through the smoke and dimness to see who stood in his doorway. Upon recognizing Raythum, he wiped his black, callused hands on his apron and made his way over to the prince. “I’m sorry, my lord, I didn’t know who you were. We don’t get many royals in this shop. Are you lost?”
“No, sir,” he chuckled. “I’m here to employ your services.”
The smithy furrowed his brow. “What about the royal smith? I know him well and his skills are superior to my own. What could I offer that he cannot? Usually when one of your kind comes to the outer rings to do business, it is for some sort of illicit activity. I have to tell you, I won’t participate in anything illegal,” he said, feeling anxious.
Raythum looked shocked by how straightforward the smith came off. “I assure you I’m here to inquire your services for a legal matter.” He put the chainmail on the table and found the damaged links. “You see, these links broke during my training today. I would normally use the palace smithy, but he is busy and won’t get to this for a couple of days. I need it repaired before then. He lauded your work and recommended I come to you.”
Clearly relieved, the smithy fingered the broken links, inspecting the damage. In a gruff voice he said, “I don’t like doing things on short notice. However, because of who you are I think I can get it fixed today. Give me a few hours and I should have it mended for you.”
He turned and carried the mail over to his anvil. He grabbed pliers and began removing the broken links.
Raythum cleared his throat again. “Excuse me. Is your residence nearby?”
Irritated, the smithy turned around. “As a matter of fact, yes, I live next door.”
Raythum’s eyes lit up. “Might I trouble you for a glass of water? With all the heat, I’m suddenly thirsty.”
The smithy turned and barked orders to his son. “Henry, take the prince to the kitchen and give him some water,” he ordered, although he appeared annoyed.
Excitement filled Raythum’s face. He didn’t know if the smithy would allow him into his home. Assuming Serena was there, he hoped his plan would go accordingly.
Henry led him outside, around the corner of the shop, and into their meager home. They entered through the kitchen and Henry grabbed a silver pitcher. He poured water into a pewter cup and handed it to Raythum. “If there is nothing else, I need to get back to my father.” Just then a wide-eyed Serena walked into the kitchen carrying a black cauldron in both of her hands. “My sister, Serena, will help you with anything else you may need.”
“Thank you. I appreciate your hospitality.” Raythum said as Henry rolled his eyes. He seemed put-off by the chore of escorting the prince.
Serena waited for her brother to leave before approaching Raythum. “What are you doing here? Are you dumb?” She walked over to lead him out of her house, worried someone would see them.
Raythum smirked. “I had to see you again.
Serena frowned before speaking. “Why? Nothing can come from it, so what’s the point?” He could tell he piqued her interest, but she seemed hesitant to learn more.
“I don’t care if anything comes from it. I just want to get to know you.”
“You’re wasting our time. I think it would be best if you left.” She made her way to the door and opened it. She frowned and her frustration level rose when it appeared he wouldn’t follow her.
“I hired your father to repair my chainmail.” He grinned. “So, it would appear I have a few hours to waste, my lady.”
She closed the door and walked back over to him. “Stop calling me my lady. I’m not your lady, nor am I of noble birth. I’m simply Serena.” She glowered at him. “Why are you doing this? Do you think this is a game?”
He walked over and put his arm on her shoulder. Forcing her to look into his eyes, he said, “I told you, I had to see you again. You are so beautiful.”
She backed away to get his hand off her shoulder. She didn’t like his presumptuousness. “Stop! Stop this instant. You can’t have feelings like this. We are of different classes.”
“What does it matter if we are of different classes? You can’t stand in the way of feelings. They are inherent.”
She spun around facing him head on. “Do you think if word got back to your parents, the king and queen, they would stand back and accept this courtship?”
“I don’t care what my parents think about it. They always tell me to follow my heart. I think it would apply in this case too. While they may be the king and queen, they are very supportive of me, and the decisions I make.”
“You are out of your mind if you think that.” She grabbed his hands in her own and continued. “This could never work. I must ask you to leave, and never come back. My father would never approve.”
“I won’t do it, Serena. I’m not asking you to be my wife. I would just like the opportunity to get to know you.” She backed away from his advances again. “Spend the afternoon with me. We could take a stroll; maybe go down by the river. If you refuse, I’ll have you summoned to the palace. Think of how that would look.”
She spun around. “You wouldn’t! This is a dangerous path for us to embark on.” She wrung her hands.
Raythum inched toward her. “Please, all I ask is for you to spend the afternoon with me.”
“What you ask cannot be. Please just leave.” She looked at his puppy-dog eyes and sighed. It seemed he wouldn’t be budged. With no other options, she said, “Fine! I will accompany you on a short stroll. Let me get my coat.” She stormed out of the kitchen and out of sight, upset by his stubbornness.
Satisfied with his persistence, Raythum waited for her to return. When she did, she asked him to lead the way.
They left the confines of the city walls. The day felt too cool for a summer afternoon. He tried to dig for more information, without being pushy. He learned her mother had died during the birth of her younger brother. Her father raised them on his own. He did a good job, but it wasn’t always easy considering he lacked a motherly touch. He was focused and committed to the betterment of his children, though.
They ambled their way to the river. Raythum enjoyed her company and tried his best to soak every moment of it in. He found an old tree that had fallen, and invited Serena to sit on it. He grabbed her hand
to steady her, before sitting down himself. He felt a connection through the soft skin of her hand when he grabbed it. Her eyes lit up; she felt it too.
“So tell me, are there any young men courting you? I’m sure your father has plans for your future.”
She frowned. “See, we were having a great conversation, and you had to go and get weird on me again. I don’t know if it is any of your business,” she paused. “But at this moment, no, I’m not being courted.”
He blushed, embarrassed by his words. “I apologize for being so straight forward, but I had to know.”
“Let’s not worry about such things this afternoon. We should just get to know one another and enjoy this beautiful day and what little time we have.”
They spent the rest of the afternoon sharing with one another, creating a relationship. What neither of them realized was that they had an audience; someone watched them through the thick cover of the forest.
After returning Serena to her home and picking up his repaired chainmail, Raythum returned to the palace with a smile on his face. He couldn’t remember a time when he had been so happy. He walked to the kitchen to grab something to eat.
His brother rounded the corner, a sly grin on his face. “Did you have a good afternoon, brother?”
Tirell wore a belittling grin on his face, but Raythum hated that he wore the silver medallion around his neck. The medallion marked him as a Keeper. His brother had manipulated those around him to reach this status. His plans were nefarious, Raythum just knew it. The problem was getting others to recognize it as well.
Raythum attempted to walk around him. “Yeah, sure. I feel very relaxed.” His brother grabbed him and turned him so they faced one another.
“Do you think you are making a wise decision?”
Raythum tensed. There was no way he could know, was there? “What do you mean? I just went out for a stroll.”
Tirell frowned at him. “Don’t play games with me. I followed you today. I could tell by your manner this afternoon you were up to something.”
Uh oh. Raythum thought. I thought I had been so careful. He turned to walk away. “There’s nothing to hide. I ran into her on the street the other day, and haven’t been able to think of anything else since.” His brother tried to stop him; a fruitless endeavor. Raythum had grown, and stood taller and bulkier than he did.
“I don’t think father would respond in a positive manner to your choice of women. She is a commoner.”
Raythum turned and faced his brother. “Father doesn’t have to know about it. Besides, you wouldn’t get in the way of love, would you?” He smiled as he turned and headed to the kitchen.
All summer long, Serena and Raythum met whenever an opportunity presented itself. In the middle of the merchant ring sat a park. A large garden sat in the middle of the park, containing several large boulders. When one of them wanted to meet, they would scrawl a message on the boulder. Instead of writing explicit instructions, they instead just wrote the day and time. They would then meet in his private tree stand by the river, the one he took her to during their first stroll. The seclusion provided the perfect location for them to meet while not raising suspicion.
After his confrontation with his brother, he had been on alert to ensure no one followed him. So far, he thought he had been successful.
It became more difficult to be away from her. She always lingered in his mind and he had to contain himself, as he wanted to see her all the time. He loved her company, and felt a true connection with her, as if they were soul mates. He didn’t have a lot of time with her, but he cherished every moment they did have. Sooner, or later it would become an issue. If it grew any more serious, he would have to explain to his parents what had been going on, and how he had fallen in love. He dreaded the entire situation.
On a hot afternoon in late August as he prepared to leave the palace to meet Serena, he rounded a corner to find Tirell and his father walking toward him. He didn’t anticipate a confrontation—not that there would be one necessarily—but the impending conversation had him on edge.
They were deep in conversation until they spotted Raythum. A large smile filled Tirell’s face. His father put his arm around Raythum’s shoulder. “Your brother here just told me an interesting story.” He couldn’t hide now. Raythum’s heart missed a beat. “From what he has been telling me, you’ve found yourself a lady.”
Raythum nodded his head. “Yes, father. I’ve been seeing Serena since the beginning of the summer.”
“Well, son, your brother also indicated he has taken issue with it because she isn’t of nobility. Is this true?”
Raythum averted his gaze. He started to question his own decisions, and wondered if he was making the right one. “Yes, it is true. She is the daughter of a blacksmith.”
“I take it you didn’t want to tell your mother or I for fear we wouldn’t agree with your decision?” Raythum nodded his head. “I have to say, I’m disappointed in you.” Tirell appeared even happier after hearing this statement. His father wore a concerned look. “You should know your mother and me better than that. I’m happy for you, and I’m sure your mother will be as well.”
Raythum looked stunned and stared his father in shock. “You mean you don’t have a problem with it?”
His father chuckled. “No, Raythum. I don’t have a problem with it. In fact, I would like to meet her. Discuss it with your mother, but I think we should invite her family over for dinner.”
Raythum couldn’t believe what he heard. His parents were progressive, but never in his wildest dreams did he expect this kind of a response. He looked at his brother, whose jaw dropped open. He hadn’t expected this type of response either.
“And Tirell, I would think you would be above setting your brother up. You, more than anyone should know better. You haven’t given us any credit at all, and I’m disappointed with you.” He smiled at Raythum, before leaving them both in the corridor. Raythum could almost feel Tirell’s fury and confusion at how it all had played out.
Raythum looked pleased and shot his brother a look. He then left his brother to seek out his mother. Excitement flowed through his body. He couldn’t wait to meet her and tell her the good news.
Tirell stood in the corridor awestruck as his father and brother left him. He felt shocked and angry. He had to do something about it, because it appeared his parents weren’t up to the task. He couldn’t allow his brother to continue with this impure match, and he needed to act. He crafted a plan.
Raythum ran out of the palace. His months of anguish spent thinking about the situation left him, and he wore a smile he couldn’t seem to get off his face. His mother had taken the news far better than even his father had. He couldn’t understand what he had been so worried about.
The afternoon felt warm, but a nice breeze blew in across the ocean, lowering the temperature from the ever-persistent rays of the hot sun. The birds were out in full force, chirping with one another. Everything appeared cheerful and happy. He didn’t think anything could spoil his mood. He beamed with delight as he made his way through the different rings of the city.
He whistled as he entered the merchant ring, waving to the guards while he walked through the gate. He noticed a clamoring up ahead; everyone moved around the corner. Fear filled Raythum and he started to run. Serena’s father’s shop is close by, he thought.
He ran and noticed the blacksmith shop engulfed in flames. Thick black smoke billowed out of the cracks and windows. Two people carried her father and brother—who were both unconscious—out of the burning building.
Raythum scanned the crowd; he didn’t see Serena anywhere. He looked toward the rear of the shop and saw the home engulfed in flame also. Panic filled him as he ran over. He grabbed the doorknob, burning his hand. The door felt hot and the handle wouldn’t turn. He tried knocking it open with his shoulder. He tried again to no avail. He ran to a window and threw a rock through it, shattering the glass and releasing thick clouds of black smoke.
; He climbed through the broken window, cutting himself on a shard of glass. He fell inside and began coughing as the smoke flooded his lungs. He stood up—tears flowing down his face from his red and irritated eyes. He looked around the room and searched for Serena, a difficult task given the thick wall of smoke. He spotted a mound on the floor in front of the door. It’s her, he thought. He ran over to her and picked her up. He tried the door from the inside, ignoring the searing heat burning his palm.
With Serena in his arms, he kicked the door multiple times before it splintered open. He fell through and dropped to the ground. He listened to her breathing, but she was silent and he couldn’t find a heartbeat. He breathed into her mouth and pounded on her chest to bring her back, but none of his tactics worked. Somebody tried to pull him away and he threw them aside. He tried again, but didn’t have any success. He screamed out in agony, drawing the attention of several onlookers. He couldn’t believe she was gone and grief coursed through his body.
Her father ran over, blackened, and still coughing from the smoke. He dropped to his knees. He examined her body and began crying and wailing when he realized she had passed. Through tear-filled eyes, he looked at Raythum. “What are you doing here? I fixed your mail.”
Raythum’s hands shook and it took him a moment before he could respond. “I…I tried to save her, but I found her too late. The door wouldn’t open, so I broke a window.” He broke down and couldn’t speak any further. The pain seemed to be too much.
Her father stood and wiped tears away from his eyes. “I thank you for doing what you could, but my lord, what are you doing here? I still don’t understand.”
Still on his knees, Raythum looked up. “I have been seeing Serena since the beginning of summer. When I came to you to repair my mail, I lied. A created a ruse that I used to get close to her.” He could see the anger in Serena’s fathers eyes. “I just told my parents today, and they blessed our relationship. I came here to tell her and to let you know your family had been invited to the palace for dinner so my parents could get to know you.” Fresh tears welled up in his eyes and his throat grew thick with a large lump. “I never expected this. I tried to save her, but I couldn’t get in. I couldn’t get to her fast enough.” He bent over her lifeless body and kissed her cold, dead lips one last time, savoring the moment.
The Rising Past: Book 2 in The Keepers of the Orbs Series Page 8
