The Adventures Of Emyrs.

Qwertyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbnmqw ertyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbnmqwerty uiopasdfghjklzxcvbnmqwertyuiop asdfghjklzxcvbnmqwertyuiopasdf The Adventures Of Emyrs ghjklzxcvbnmqwertyuiopasdfghjk A Novelette in Production lzxcvbnmqwertyuiopasdfghjklzxc vbnmqwertyuiopasdfgh Edward Adam Matthew Young Editor : Catherine Young

jklzxcvbnmqwertyuiopasdfghjklz xcvbnmqwertyuiopasdfghjklzxcv bnmqwertyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbn mqwertyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbnmq wertyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbnmqwer tyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbnmqwertyui opasdfghjklzxcvbnmqwertyuiopa sdfghjklzxcvbnmqwertyuiopasdfg hjklzxcvbnmqwertyuiopasdfghjkl zxcvbnmrtyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbn

Prologue

Emyrs awoke with a start, his initial feelings of fear and apprehension quickly replaced by jolting elation. He had come into his wings. As much as it was said that Rome wasn’t built in a day that is exactly what had happened. He could FEEL them beneath his sheets. Emyrs shook himself in a futile attempt to rid himself of the sleepiness that was grasping at every fibre of his consciousness. He stood, realizing that he was magnificent. He had acquired his wings, and as he walked over to his mirror to revel in his reflection, he looked up at himself and was instantly horrified…

2

Table of Contents

3

Chapter 1

~*~ Ryna was in the kitchen of the house that she and Thierros shared and had built, Astraea. They loved their house, and had woven a lot of their magic into its foundations. Ryna stood staring out the window, at the ‘house’ that her son Emyrs had been required to move into since the age of twelve. Twelve was the age when boys developed the magic in their blood that would enable them to either grow wings or become proficient Hexenmeisters. Emyrs was fourteen now and he still had not developed either a Mark of Zauberkunst, or beautiful wings. Overall, Ryna was worried. Thierros walked in, and instantly noticed that his wife was troubled. “Ryna, was ist los, Liebling?” - “What’s wrong, darling?” She stood staring still, and he believed she would not answer, so he began to approach her. Suddenly, she whipped around, her crimson-blonde hair flying in all directions around her face. She glared at him, then her eyes softened, and Thierros felt an intense sadness emanate from her. Instantly, he was worried. He intended to enquire, but she spoke first. “It’s Emyrs!” she shouted, pausing for a gasp of air. ”I’m worried about him! Fourteen already and without a Mark of Zauberkunst or Wings! Why did this happen to us?”

4

Thierros looked back at her with pain in his eyes, for he had thought many times about this. He did not know why Emyrs had not yet acquired a Mark, or grown a pair of wings, but he remained ever hopeful. He had never heard of someone growing up without a birthright and he hoped beyond hope that his son would not be the first. He looked to Ryna, tears forming in his eyes as his mind grasped the intense concern she felt for Emyrs. He stood, looking at her, and whispered, “I’ll go give Emyrs a visit, I will return soon. Ich liebe dich, Ryna, and we will get through this.” She stared deep into his eyes, filled with sincerity, and replied, “I love you too, Thierros.”

~*~ Staring at the reflection presented to him, Emyrs couldn’t believe his eyes. He had wings alright, but his wings looked like the wings of a plucked chicken! And faintly, he could just make out a Mark of Zauberkunst, in the centre of his bare chest. But wait, Flighters weren’t gifted with a Mark of Zauberkunst, so that couldn’t be right. Then again, his wings were far from normal. Usual Flighters grew their wings overnight, feathers and all,

and

although

growing

thirty-two

humongous

bones

overnight is no laughing matter, it was feeble compared to the

5

two week sickness that Hexenmeisters had to endure, after which they would have a brightly glowing Mark of Zauberkunst in the centre of their chest. Emyrs had endured the pain of neither procedure, and wondered what was wrong with him. He was tempted to call his mother and father when he heard his mother’s voice. “It’s Emyrs,” he heard, and was instantly alarmed. “I’m worried about him. Fourteen already and without a mark of Zauberkunst or wings! Why did this happen to us?” Emyrs heard this, and began to despair. He shut out everything and pondered what his mother had said. She, like him, had believed that he would not acquire a birthright. Well, he thought, we were both wrong in a way, weren’t we? He wondered what might have caused him to form two birthrights overnight, and have both not fully formed, or rather, not properly formed. He stood up, and began to walk to his door. He stopped suddenly when he heard two slight knocks on the door. “Come in!” Emyrs said. The door opened and his father stood in the doorway…

~*~ All his life, or at least since he was four, Emyrs’ father had been teaching him little spells that could be formed using Zauberkunst, drawings the words of the spell with the ancient Marks of Zauberkunst, in the air or on the floor. He knew that

6

his father would be disappointed that he had wings, because he thought that Flighters were constantly in danger. So, as soon as Emyrs saw his father in the doorway, he opened his blouse so that his Mark would be unobstructed, though faint. Thierros stepped into his son’s hut, taking in the many of Emyrs’ paintings on its walls. He really was astonished at Emyrs’ artistic ability, and considered him lucky, even without a birthright. He looked at Emyrs: “Your mother and I were—,” and he suddenly stopped speaking as his eyes registered what was being presented to them; his own son, standing in front of him, with two featherless, horrendous-looking wings jutting out on either side of his torso, stemming from between his shoulder blades. And — was that? There was what looked like a Mark of Zauberkunst, right where it should be — in the centre of Emyrs’ chest. Emyrs stood somewhat anxiously as he waited for his father’s reaction. “Emyrs, your wings…The mark…isn’t possible…I don’t unders— Ryna! Get in here, you need to see— Come quickly!” Chapter 2

~*~ “You need to see Roegh, Emyrs,” Ryna said, “As quickly as possible. He is the only one whom I believe will have the knowledge to explain what’s wrong with you.”

7

Ryna had long since inspected Emyrs three times over, and had not been able to conclude anything solid about Emyrs, except that he had developed, albeit poorly, both birthrights. Even though this was important, Roegh wasn’t available until the next day, and Emyrs began to despair. “I have to go around looking like this?” flailing his arms and

looking

hysterical.

“Do

you

want

me

to

DIE

of

embarrassment?” “Calm down, Emyrs”, Thierros said. “I wouldn’t let you go out like that. You would embarrass me!”, he laughed, bringing about an uncomfortable silence which he didn’t seem to notice. “There is a spell,” he continued, “that I taught you when you were young; a concealing spell. I know it’s for little things, but if you add ‘goergh’ to it, it should be able to conceal your wings. I think you should try it, though I can conceal them for you, if you don’t want to risk it.” Emyrs stood still, and said, “Do it, please.” “Alright, eckstein, eckstein, alles muss versteckt sein,” said Thierros, while simultaneously drawing the symbols for these words on the wings with his finger, so as to make the spell doubly effective. ‘Drawing’ the spell wasn’t necessary, but it enabled the spellcaster to feel safer about performing the spell, as there was some structure to his spell. Then he said, “Zauberkunst,” to put the spell to work, and Emyrs’ wings dissolved into nothingness.

8

“Hey thanks, Pa. I appreciate it. Oh, I just remembered; I have to meet someone. I’ll be back later, Mother! Ich liebe dich, Mother and Father. Bye!” And with that, he ran into his ‘house’, picked up his bag and made to leave. He stopped at his door, and thought to himself; Ever since he was twelve, he had begged Zauberkunst for his birthright, be it a Mark or two magnificent wings, and now that he had them, they were gone again. Oh well, he thought, Better things to think about. Smiling to himself, he grabbed his leather money bag and ran out the door. He had to go to the Square to find the perfect gift for Rika, whose birthday was just a day away. Procrastinating as usual, he had left this task to the last minute and was FRANTIC. He was thinking of visiting the whittler to get her both a sculpture and a pendant, after which he would have the pendant embedded with four diamonds. He knew it would cost a lot, but he decided that he simply would forgo his personal money to buy her gifts. He exited his yard, and was greeted by a few family friends, who seemed to have the unfortunate habit of turning up when he least wanted to see them. Soon, however, he was on his way. He had forgotten where the whittler’s house was, as he had not been for almost seven years he asked around, and was at his house within twenty minutes. He rapped lightly on the door, and was soon face-to-face with an attractive young maiden, whose blonde hair shone in the light of the barely risen sun. Emyrs seemed dumbfounded,

9

until he remembered what he had come for. He spoke to the maiden for a while, after which she left to fetch the whittler, her father. He came quickly, but just as quickly explained to Emyrs that he was no longer a whittler by trade. Emyrs’ mind span out of control at the simple statement. What? He thought to himself, how can you not be a whittler anymore? How am I supposed to get Rika a present now? Why would you do this to me? Seeing the dismay on Emyrs’ face, the whittler stammered into life. “Uh…Um…I have some wood in the back, um, if you want it. You could, uh, try to whittle it yourself.” “No thanks, I don’t think so,” he replied. The whittler set his arms akimbo and said, “Now look here, young one. I saw your face a minute ago, and you obviously need a sculpture pretty quickly. Now I can teach you a few spells that should whittle a block of wood down to what you had in mind. Doing it by hand is always better, but it takes years to acquire the skill that I have developed over the years. Now come inside and let me teach you how to do it.” And he grabbed Emyrs gently by the arm, and ushered him inside.

~*~

10

“Hey, Rika! Got plans for the big day tomorrow?”, asked Akitr, a boy in the village who was very attracted to Rika. He seemed expectant, and stood waiting for a reply. Rika looked at him, and then continued on to her house. Rika and Akitr were in all the same magic classes and were separated during the day only for sparring classes. Akitr was constantly trying to show off in front of her, so that she would notice and be attracted to him. On the contrary, he always seemed to mess up in front of her, so much so that he annoyed her now. She looked back, and he was following her now, so she stopped, turned around and waited for him. He saw this and sprinted up to her. “You were saying?” she spat. “Yes, I was asking…Do you have any plans for tomorrow?” he replied, apparently unaware of her annoyance. “Yes,” she said, “You could say that. Why do you want to know?” “Oh,” he said, looking downtrodden. “I had wanted to go to the river, with some friends. I wanted to know if you might want to come.” Now it was her face that was set sadly. She didn’t like turning people down. She thought for a moment, then replied,” Ok, but I’ll have to get back to you tonight, ok?”

11

“All right,” he said, beaming. “See you!” And with that, he walked off. Rika felt bored now, and did not want to go home. She turned in the direction of home and looked around, but there was no-one to see. She turned her head, but saw no-one there either. Feeling resigned, she began to head home. She had only walked about fifteen steps when she bumped into Emyrs coming through a villager’s yard. “Hey Rika!” he said, hastily shoving something behind his back. “Hey yourself,” she grinned, “How’s it going?” “Oh I’m alright.

How’s about

you? Taking care of

yourself?” “As always,” she replied, smiling coyly now, for she had noticed that Emyrs was hiding something from her. “What’s that behind your back?” “Behind my back? Oh, well there’s a house, some grass, a few bushes, that’s about it; Why?” he replied, smiling as well. “Oh, very funny, Emyrs. I meant in your hands.” “Oh, don’t worry about it. It isn’t anything” “And yet, you’re circling it away from my sight. Come on… show me please?” she said, saying this because she was sure it was a present for her birthday tomorrow.

12

“All right, all right!” said Emyrs, “It isn’t anything special.” And from behind his back, Rika saw two blocks of perfectly symmetrical wood, one significantly smaller than the next. Emyrs stared at her, hoping to find the slightest bit of disappointment in her face, so that he could assure his suspicions. Rika looked at Emyrs as he withdrew the wood from behind his back, and was instantly disappointed. She had been perfectly sure that he had been carrying a gift for her. A single tear was gathering in her eye, and as she struggled to keep it at bay, she let her guard down and let the disappointment show on her face. Now that she had seen the blocks of wood, she knew he had not gotten her a gift, and was beginning to wonder if he had even remembered her birthday. She said nothing on this, but asked, ”Hey, are you doing anything tomorrow?” Seeing this as a trick question, Emyrs answered, “Yes, in fact, I’m going up to the ring to practice sparring and a bit of defensive magic with Father. Why?” Feeling thoroughly distraught, she said nothing. Feeling uncomfortable in the penetrating silence, Emyrs said, “Well, I’ve got to meet my parents soon for something important. See you later.” She whispered something like ‘See you’, and they crossed each other as they when in opposite directions. As they crossed each other, Emyrs felt a pang of guilt as he heard a sob. 13

Dang, he thought, I should have just gone with my plan, and asked her out for her birthday. I had to play around, didn’t I? I’m sure she thought I was going to…By Zauberkunst, I am an idiot! As he walked on, he continued ranting and raving to himself, feeling furious at himself for being so foolish. Leaving Emyrs in the road, Rika felt so dejected. She was now sure he had forgotten her birthday. She had been looking forward to meeting Emyrs that day, because somehow she had gotten it into her head that he liked her. She had never been sure, because he had never said anything. Because of this, she had never told him that she liked him, in an effort to save herself embarrassment if she was wrong and he didn’t like her. It’s a good thing, she thought, because he really doesn’t like me. I would have made a complete fool of myself. He didn’t even remember my birthday. ‘Important’, he says. I’m not important? Ha, well, by Zauberkunst, I swear…Argh! All the while, Rika had tears flowing down her cheeks, soiling her blouse. She ran the rest of the way home and slumped into her bed, burying her head in her pillow.

Chapter 3 ~*~ After fuming with himself for making Rika sad, Emyrs decided that he would try to make it up to Rika, by making her sculptures way more elaborate than he had planned. The whittler had warned Emyrs about how tired he would feel after

14

trying to whittle two sculptures in one night; now, he was going to make them even more elaborate. He had a sip of Vitalität to reenergize him, and set about remembering the spell the whittler had taught him. He had figured out how he would execute the spell. He drew the Marks of Zauberkunst for the spell on to the first piece of wood; the larger of the two, and doing so, brought up and image of the sculpture he wanted made in his mind. As he made to start chanting the spells, an image of Rika pervaded his sight, and with it, it brought a wave of guilt. Rika was expecting him to ask her out; he knew it. He had instead played with her, and now she was mad at him. Emyrs sat down, watching the Marks of Zauberkunst fade into the wood, thinking about Rika. She was fair, with long, hazel hair reaching down past her shoulders to the arch in her back, curling cutely at the ends. She was round in the face and a bit bigger than the average girl, though absolutely beautiful, with a smile to die for. She was very articulate and had an awesome knowledge of the marks of Zauberkunst. She was the most accomplished Zauberin for her age, having gotten her birthright at the age of nine. A year before today, the twenty seventh day of the fourth month, Icwit, and one day before her birthday, she had accomplished what Emyrs had always wanted for his father’s sake; she achieved the rank of Zauberkünstler. A Zauberkünstler was one who was a Zauberer or Zauberin who had mastered their village’s element of choice,

15

and was more than adept with the other three elements. However, she was not the only accomplished member of her family. One of Emyrs’ friends, Uriel, was the single most decorated Flighter in Vitalität Valley. He had single-handedly won battles for Taerani, his country, on many occasions. Though Uriel was five years older than Emyrs, he had still been one of Emyrs’ best friends since he could remember having friends. And thinking of friends led Emyrs right back to Rika, and how he had hurt her. Remembering this, Emyrs took a swig of the energizing drink the Valley was named for, Vitalität, and set about drawing the Marks of Zauberkunst on the wood. Unnaturally, the marks flared as soon as he drew then and stayed bright white on the wood. He spoke, “Legen sie meine gedanken hier.. Legen sie meine gedanken hier.,” gaining volume and pitch as he chanted. “Legen sie meine gedanken hier..”—“Input my thoughts here”. “Legen sie meine gedanken hier..” “LEGEN SIE MEINE GEDANKEN HIER.!!!” And he touched the wood at this last chant, shouting ‘ZAUBERKUNST!’ and shielding his eyes as the wood flared to life, and began shedding little bits of itself, until before Emyrs’ eyes was a magnificent sculpture, not very tall, but exquisitely detailed. Because she was a Zauberkünstler, Emyrs had thought up something including all four elements. Now, even as he looked at his creation, he was stunned.

16

It was a semicircular wall of stone in front, and a semicircular wall of fire in the back, while a tidal wave of water rose up from the centre and rose up over the wall of stone. Meanwhile, above it all, was a cloud with lightning forking wildly out of it, around the wave. There was only one difference between the sculpture in front of Emyrs and the one in his mind; the sculpture in his mind’s eye was coloured. No problem, he thought to himself. He took a seat, and looking at the sculpture, he felt very happy. The whittler, before he had let Emyrs go home, had warned him about the energy he would take to make the sculptures, and had recommended he keep a store of Vitalität handy, to rejuvenate him quickly and effectively. Now that Emyrs remembered this, he felt himself cheerfully surprised. He was not in the least bit tired, and in fact was nearly positive he could finish the second sculpture without taking another swig of Vitalität. This, however, was not the only reason he was surprised. Secretly, he had been harbouring the doubt that he would not be able to perform the spell because the Mark of Zauberkunst he had developed had been so feeble. He looked at it now and it

seemed

even

weaker

than

before;

almost

invisible.

Abandoning all pretence, Emyrs took two long swigs of Vitalität and settled into his chair. He slid up to his painting desk and opened a drawer to take out the containers of dyes he used in a spell to make paint. He ran to the well and filed a pitcher full of water.

17

Striding

over

to

his

desk

again,

Emyrs

sat

and

contemplated what colours of dye he would need to paint his figure. White & grey for the cloud, he thought, yellow for the lightning, blue and white for the water, red and yellow for the fire, and black for the cracks in the wall of stone. All in all, six colours. “All right, Black, Yellow, red… blue, grey and… white!” he found himself saying aloud. He poured the six powder dyes he needed into the pitcher and swirled them all around. Since the spell was his own personal invention, he spoke the words in his own

native

language

instead

of

Zauberkunst’s

ancient

language. “Red, yellow, grey, white, black, blue; turn these colours into paint”, and he looked on as his simple spell spun into action. The dyes span into each other, then separated into their six partitions, each colour taking up a sixty-degree portion of the circular pitcher. “Right,” said Emyrs, “That’s done… the painting can come later. Now for the pendant!!!” He sat and formulated an image of the pendant in his mind, and drawing the same Marks of Zauberkunst as before, he began to chant…

Chapter 4

~*~ 18

Lying on her bed, recovering from her most recent bout of outrage, Rika sat thinking about Emyrs. She was always fascinated at Emyrs’ reaction to the displays she did for him. She knew why he was so amazed, but she had never done anything to alleviate his fascination, because she lavished the opportunities she got to spend with him, and really liked it when he was impressed with her. Sometimes, though, she was disgusted with his knowledge of magic. She knew it wasn’t his fault though, so she always dismissed these thoughts. He wasn’t really allowed to learn the higher Zauberkunst Marks, of course. He didn’t even have a mark of his own! She turned and sat on the edge of her bed, leaning on the headrest, when a painting on her wall caught her eye. It was a portrait of her, and one done by Emyrs. He had painted it so beautifully that it often gave her trouble to accept that it was her. Rika through his eyes, she thought. Looking at the painting calmed her down and softened her up to Emyrs. Following this train of thought, Rika swung back onto her bed, dropped headfirst into her pillow, and decided to forget the day, resolving to have a happy one when she woke up. ~*~ Emyrs leaned back into his chair, and looked at his two completed, painted carvings and smiled, beamed in fact, for they were masterpieces. One, his favourite, was Rika’s own name, and the name she chose at her ninth birthday; Prozion. It was a nickname she had donned as a result of Emyrs constantly calling her the ‘Protector of Zion’, who was her cat.

19

She liked the name, and often boasted that she had come up with the name, and not him; Prozion was simply a shorter version. He had also set four diamonds into the pendant of Rika’s names; a blue for water, red for fire, white for air, and black for earth. Feeling extremely accomplished, he sat back and nodded his head, as his eyelids slid shut and his consciousness slipped away…

Chapter 5 ~*~ For the second time in as many days, Emyrs awoke with a start. He felt different than before; joyful, but with no apparent reason. He turned his head on his pillow to look out the window, and saw that it was still dark. Right, he thought, now I can try to see Roegh before the day really starts! For Roegh rarely slept; he no longer needed to. He was old and hardly displaced any energy; he slept maybe once or twice every month. He sat up in his bed and took a look around his room. It was cramped and cluttered, with paintings of Ryna, Thierros, Rika, Uriel and Vitalität Valley adorning the walls. He walked over to his chest of drawers to extract some clothes to wear when he stopped. Something was different… It was night time, and yet he could see everything as clear as day.

20

‘Intriguing’, then he looked up and saw a tiny orb of light hovering about a foot over his head. As quickly as he noticed it, however, it disappeared. Weird, he thought, deciding on the spot to light his candles instead. Groping around for his bed, he found it and sat on it to begin his daily ritual of lighting the candles. One step forward, two to the right, he recited in his mind, tracing the steps to get the materials for lighting the candle. As he reached the first candle, however, it was aflame. Huh, he thought to himself, what is going on here? He took two steps back, and the candle flickered and was extinguished. ‘Huh!’ Smiling, Emyrs walked forward two steps and the candle re-ignited. One step back, extinguished. One step forward, ignited. He smiled and walked around the room igniting and extinguishing candles. He passed his palm over a flame and stared into its depths. He revelled in its formation, the three layers of fire working seamlessly and simultaneously to create heat and light. He pulled himself from its grasp, and walked back from the candle, still facing it, so as to see it extinguish. To his surprise, it didn’t. He stepped back twice. It didn’t extinguish. He continued stepping back and fell backward onto his bed. He sat up and stared at the candle. It wavered and flickered, but it shone on, letting its orange glow fill its own little corner of the room. ‘Huh’, he said. He thought back, because he was extremely intrigued as to why it hadn’t extinguished.

21

A few seconds’

thought brought him to the conclusion that it was his passing hand that was causing the flame to persevere. I could be wrong, he thought, but it can’t hurt to try. It was with that thought that he strode across his room to the only lit candle. Apprehensively, he passed his hand over the flames. He stared at the flame for a full ten unblinking seconds, before he conceded that it still hadn’t extinguished. Stumped, he turned and headed back to his bed. He slithered onto it, and turned onto his back, to stare at the ceiling that… he couldn’t see!!! Ecstatic, he turned his head in the direction of the candle, which was now…extinguished. He got up, more confidently this time, and passed his hand over the wick. It lit again. Once more over the flame, and it out. So confidence

is key,

he thought

to himself.

Dead-set on

mastering this new toy he had found, Emyrs settled down and focused, trying over and over to light the candle without passing his hand over it… ~*~ ‘Ok’, Emyrs said aloud, ‘I am officially bored again. Time, then, to paint!’ And he strode over to his painting desk, took out his dyes, and a parchment canvas, and filled a pitcher. Repeating his spell to make paint, Emyrs sat and formulated an image of what he wanted to paint in his head… Rika, hovering ten feet above the ground, with a jagged bed of rocks pointing up at her feet and clad in a purple and black 22

robe, wielding a ball of fire in her right hand, trailing flames, and in her left, a ball of lightning trailing sparks… She looked like she was spinning slowly in the air, and in the background, a tidal wave had risen up, looking as if it wanted to engulf her. Awesome, he thought, this will be a good one, I think. He beamed to himself, and looked to the pitcher, which now held the separate colours he needed to paint the portrait. He grabbed the pitcher and ran back to his painting desk, getting comfortable so he could paint beautifully... He picked up his brush, and dipped it into the pitcher, selecting his first colour, and placed the first stroke on the canvas.

~*~ ‘Ah,’ Emyrs whispered aloud, ‘That’s a good one… I like this picture. Unfortunate that it’s for Rika; I’d have liked to have kept it… Ah well.’ Bored again, Emyrs looked once more to the candle over on his painting desk and remembered his new toy. The novelty had not yet worn off for him, and he thought he had mastered the lighting and “un-lighting” of the candles. He decided to try again, but he moved from the painting desk and onto another candle, just in case anything went wrong. He couldn’t very well harm his new painting, could he? He stood away from the candle, and focused a bit, bringing a picture of a flame to his mind, while staring directly at the wick of the candle. He passed his arm in front of his body while

23

doing this, as if he was passing his hand over the flame, and lo and behold, it lit. Ecstatic once more, Emyrs moved to another candle, and in the light of the two candles, in the reflection of the mirror, he saw it. A gleaming white creature, as quick as he was, was following his steps exactly. He jumped forward, so that his body passed in front of the mirror, and saw it again. It followed him so precisely that it looked connected to his back. Emyrs stood still once more, wondering why the creature had not yet attacked. It seemed to Emyrs that he would be easy prey to the creature, so he was stumped as to why it would not attack him… He stepped back into the mirror’s sight, and looked over to it, and breathed a sigh of relief, then a gasp of surprise. For the white creature, sticking so close to him that it looked like it was on his back, was not a creature at all, but magnificent white wings, that were, in fact, attached to his back. He breathed a sigh of relief once more, and looked at his wings in the mirror again. He was loath to believe that his wings were actually there, for some strange reason. So he stretched his arms around his back, to try to feel his wings. He stretched and stretched, but met no physical resistance, except air. Disappointed, because he was inwardly hoping that they were there, he turned in front of the mirror, so that his side was visible, as opposed to his front. Once more, he stretched his arms around his back, again feeling nothing but air.

24

He looked in the mirror and much to his surprise, found that he actually was touching his wings. His feathers were so soft, that his fingers had not sensed and made a distinction between them and the air. Inwardly, Emyrs rejoiced, because it was common knowledge that the softer your down, the more sturdy they were facing penetration. Emyrs had thought about this many times before he had come into his wings, finding it difficult to believe that softer feathers meant sturdier wings. Now that he actually had his wings, though, Emyrs felt that prospect very believable, and was rather unreceptive to entertaining any other opinion. ‘Mother! Father!’ Emyrs shouted, ‘Come quickly!’ He flexed his newly found muscles and tried them out. He could practically FEEL the power coursing within him. As he heard his mother and father pounding down on the stone path to his hut, apparently running, Emyrs felt that power well up inside him, and stretched his wings out to their full extent, holding his palms out and upwards. Thierros and Ryna bounded through Emyrs’ door, Thierros flinging Emyrs’ door aside like a sheaf of parchment; their son was in danger after all. No material object mattered, beside him. As they entered the room, Ryna gasped and nearly fainted,

for

Emyrs

was

not

in

danger,

but

standing

magnificently in the centre of his room, wings outstretched to the limit, and his palms outward and upward, right wielding a ball of flames, and his left, a ball of lightning. He looked overcome with power; his wings emanated some otherworldly

25

glow, and his face was contorted wildly as the flames and the lightning flared in his palms. Emyrs

stood

up

straight,

and

extinguished

his

palms,

simultaneously folding his wings inward, behind his back, and said, ‘What do you think, Mother? Father? I love this! I feel so powerful!’ ‘Ok you have your wings, Emyrs, but you still need to see Roegh this morning. Don’t forget that’s you still have a Mark and wings,’ said Thierros, ever the killjoy. ‘Thierros,’ said Ryna, ‘I think we should go see Roegh now. He said today, and you know that he doesn’t really sleep. I want to find out what this is as soon as possible.’ ‘All right,’ he said, pausing a while to think. ‘Come, Emyrs; turn around.’ Emyrs obliged, turning, though apprehensively. He felt his father drawing marks on his back, and he hastily spun around to face him. ‘What are you doing, Father?’ he asked, astounded, ‘I love my new wings. I want people to see them. Don’t hide them, please. I beg you.’ ‘Emyrs, turn around. I know what I am doing. Believe me; your wings need to be hidden right now, for your own good.’ Resigned, Emyrs turned once more, leaving his father to complete the spell.

26

‘Zauberkunst,’ came Thierros’ whispered remark, and Emyrs’ wings dissolved into nothingness for the second time since he had come into them. ‘All right’, said Ryna, ’let’s go, Emyrs. Are you ready, or do you have anything you want to take?’ ‘No, Mother,’ came Emyrs’ reply, ’I don’t want to take anything but myself.’ ‘All right, then. Onward!’ Walking through the unlit streets of Vitalität Valley, the threesome echoed their surroundings with complete silence. Until, that is, Emyrs decided to pose a question to Thierros. ‘How come you said my wings should be hidden, Father? For my own good? What do you mean?’ ‘Oh, I said that because it’s true. Beside your family, the first person to see the birthright of a person who has just some into it must be the village elder. If someone else were to see your birthright before Roegh, you wouldn’t get to enjoy your Acquisition Ceremony, and that is the most enjoyable event of anyone’s life.’ Emyrs did not reply, but continued the rest of the journey in silence. They arrived at Roegh’s house, and stepped inside, coming immediately face to face with Roegh, sitting high atop his chair and staring directly down at them. ‘Yes…?’ he crooned, his face assuming an expression of allknowing. Emyrs took off his shirt, so that Roegh could see his faintly glowing Mark.

27

‘A faint Mark is not enough to come see me in the middle of th —‘ and he stopped, for Thierros had lifted the spell on Emyrs’ wings, and Roegh was now faced with Emyrs’ outstretched wings AND his faint Mark. ‘Now THIS, this is a problem,’ said Roegh, jumping silently and gracefully off his chair. ‘We figured that much out…’ said Emyrs, to which he quickly received a jab to the side by Ryna. Roegh looked Emyrs all over, examining him from every angle, then had him lie on his back and his stomach, examining him visually both times in great detail. ‘I don’t know what’s wrong,’ Roegh said, looking for all the world as if he was dying for having said it. ‘This is a total conundrum for me. Never before have I seen this.’ He jumped back onto his chair, and sat, pondering. ‘Ganubrend is your best choice. Ganubrend, the Wise Sage. Seek him out on his little island in the centre of the world, heh. However, you must have your Acquisition Ceremony first, Emyrs. I trust no-one else has seen you?’ to which Emyrs replied with a shake of his head. ‘Right, then you must have your

Acquisition

Ceremony.

Also

your

training

must

be

completed. However, since your Mark doesn’t seem to be fully formed, you will only receive Flighter training, although I’m sure your parents will have no problem teaching you how to be a Zauberer of Zauberkunst. Leave now, Emyrs. I want to speak to your parents.’ Emyrs walked sullenly out of Roegh’s house and paced in the road. He was restless, and couldn’t help but show it. No, he

28

decided, calm down. He sat in the road, and busied his self trying to create fire or lightning by snapping his fingers. Thrice he tried before getting any reaction from his fingers. On the fourth try, a flame flickered into existence, to be extinguished instantaneously by the blowing wind. Suddenly, Emyrs’ chest felt heavy and he felt totally drained of energy. He lay down in the road, sucking desperately at the air, trying in vain to force oxygen into his lungs. His head fell back and stopped sucking, as he felt himself drift into the black…

~*~ ‘Get up, boy!’ Emyrs felt a soft hand pulling his head upright, and he felt silk on the nape of his neck. He was more than ready to slip back into unconsciousness, when he felt a harsh slap connect with his cheek. Instantly aware, he opened his eyes to find Roegh’s wrinkled face hovering a few inches from his face, with his hand prepared to issue another slap. ‘He’s awake!’, came Ryna’s soft whisper. Emyrs still felt a bit groggy, but he raised his head, and said, ‘I’m awake… Don’t slap me…’ Roegh withdrew, looking rather disappointed and said, ‘Hide your wings once more. Go home, and forget this conversation, until the Council calls. I will host a meeting with them, about your Acquisition Ceremony, and we will call when it is time.’

29

With that, Roegh ushered Emyrs out of his house, and spoke to Thierros briefly, before handing him a bottle. ‘Thank you, Roegh,’ was Thierros’ reply, and he turned to meet Emyrs and Ryna further down the road. ‘Here, Emyrs. Vitalität. Drink it.’ Thierros once more concealed Emyrs’ wings, and they walked quickly but quietly back to their house. Upon arriving, Emyrs went quickly to his room, and downed the bottle of Vitalität, gathering the three presents he had for Rika. He laid them out on his bed, and sat on the floor, waiting for the Vitalität to chase the sleepiness out of his system. A tiny sliver of sunlight shone across his face, right below his eye, and he looked out through the window, witnessing the rising sun. He rose, left his hut, and went to Astraea, to find Ryna cooking eggs. He sat at the table, before remembering to pick up a plate, and got up once more to pick up a plate from the cupboard above the open stove. He sat down quietly again, and Ryna ladled out eggs and sausage onto his plate, slicing some brot for him to eat with it. He finished his meal, and got up from the table. He kissed his mother, and walked out of the house once more, trudging the road to Rika’s house. Fifteen minutes passed before he was at her bedroom window, and he rapped lightly on her window, with no response. He knocked lightly again, this time hearing, ‘I’m coming!’ He stepped away from the window, and less than one minute later, Rika opened her window.

30

‘You didn’t have to knock twice you know. I was putting on some more clothes.’ ‘I’m sorry then. I didn’t know. I just wanted to be the first person to wish you Happy birthday this morning.’ ‘You’re too late. Mother already did.’ ‘Oh… Well, at least I can give you my presents.’ ‘Oh, ok… I haven’t gotten any as yet for the morning, so you’ll be the first.’ ‘Oh, by Zauberkunst, I’m an idiot! I’ve forgotten them home! I’ll be back, Rika! Just wait five minutes, please!’ And with that he sprinted off into the distance… ~*~ ‘Idiot! Idiot! How could you be so stupid?’ Emyrs was in his room, gathering the three gifts on his bed, and sprinting out again. He bounded down the road, dodging neighbours and relatives alike, with not a greeting to be heard. Further up the road, Emyrs saw someone come out of their house, and turn in Rika’s direction. He sprinted a little harder, and realized that it was Akitr. ‘Oh no, you don’t!’ he cried, adding another burst of speed to his sprint, gaining on Akitr easily. Within twenty seconds, he was close behind him, and Akitr turned, hearing Emyrs’ heavy footsteps close behind him.

31

Emyrs caught up to Akitr, and seeing him turn, stuck his arm out at Akitr’s neck, delivering a sharp blow, to which Akitr responded by promptly dropping to the floor. Emyrs chuckled inward, and bound on. He reached Rika’s house quickly following this, and his pores were flowing with sweat. He walked up to Rika’s window, and stuck the gifts through, soon following suit. He could hear water flowing in her washroom, so he knew she wouldn’t be in her bedroom. He laid the gifts perfectly on her bed, and then sat on it, facing directly away from her washroom. He sat patiently, waiting to hear her water turn off. It did. She stepped through the door, and Emyrs sat perfectly still, not wanting to turn around and look at her, because she most probably was naked. ‘You can turn around, you know,’ came Rika’s voice, ‘I have a towel on.’ ‘I’d rather you changed first,’ replied Emyrs, not wanting to disrespect her. ‘Oh, come off it. I just went to wash my hair, and I decided to hop in on an impulse… I’m in a TOWEL! You can turn around!’ So he did. He turned, and saw her standing by the washroom still, in a towel as she said, with her hair hanging down her front, soaked with water. He stared. He couldn’t help it. There was something different about her now. He couldn’t place it.

32

Maybe it’s the fact that she’s semi-naked, he thought to himself. What kind of person are you? She looked at him with a smirk on her face, as if she knew what was going through his mind. ‘It’s all right. I know what you’re thinking. Mother told me about boys your age, it’s natural. Just don’t get any funny ideas!’ she said, ending with a grin. ‘I told you I didn’t want to turn around…’ he said, turning again to face away from her. ‘I know, but I wanted to see the look on your face. You should’ve seen it. You’d have laughed at yourself!’ ‘Can you put some clothes on, please? I want to give you your gifts…’ ‘No. Give them to me now. I’ll change later.’ Why is she doing this to me? he asked himself silently. Resigned, he got up and turned around, picking up the pendant first, and going over to her to put it on. About five feet away, he noticed a wonderful aroma coming from her. He dismissed it, and kept going till he was behind her, and put the pendant on her, clasping the hook of the string it was attached to behind her neck keeping it firmly in place. With his head directly above her hair, and without fiddling with the necklace to worry about, he noticed her wonderful aroma again. It was entrancing, it was captivating; she ensnared him with her aroma, but it wasn’t like she smelt any different than usual. She just smelt…well even more wonderful than before. He was totally entranced by her smell… until he saw her looking at him with a puzzled look on

33

her face. He snapped out of it and asked, ‘What?’ to which she quickly replied, ‘That’s what I wanted to know… You were staring at me with a blank expression for close to two minutes… I thought you fell asleep or something.’ ’No. it’s just… never mind. It’s nothing. ‘ He went over to the bed and picked up the sculpture, beautifully painted, and gave it to her. She put it on her chest of drawers, and collected the painting from the bed. ‘Is this ME?’ she asked. ‘Yeah. It kind of just came to me. I didn’t plan on doing it. Sorry if it sucks.’ ‘No! I love it! It’s beautiful!’ She walked across her room, and got a sticky substance called leim and stuck it on the back of the parchment, after which she stuck it delicately on the back of her door. ‘Now I can see it from every angle of the room, and it’ll be the last thing I see when I leave.’ She turned back to face Emyrs, only to find him right behind her, looking straight down into her eyes. He just stared, and a thousand words passed between them, without either saying a thing.

34

And then… they were kissing. They stood there silently, enjoying the feel of one another, as they each did what they had been longing to do for ages. Then came the break-away. Rika stood looking up into Emyrs’ eyes, and Emyrs stood staring in to hers. He stepped back and sat on the bed, wanting to kiss her more, but holding back, because he felt that he had already disrespected her enough as it was, by kissing her without first having her consent. ‘I think I’ll go’, he mumbled, hanging his head, ’I’m supposed to help Father prepare food for your party today, but I’ll get out as soon as I can.’ ‘I’ll be right here in my room. I’m not going anywhere until this evening, when the party starts. When you finish, come meet me back here. I want to see you again, but I might be sleeping. If I am, you could wake me or wait. It’s your choice.’ ‘Alright, bye Rika’, said Emyrs. ‘Buh-bye,’ she called after him. With that, be clambered back through the window, his limbs shaking from the adrenaline rushing to every part of his body. I just kissed Rika, he thought. I just kissed Rika. He walked steadily down the road, hearing no-one and nothing. He rushed into the house when he arrived, and into the kitchen, which Thierros now occupied instead of Ryna. He grabbed a knife before Thierros said anything, and proceeded to cut the paniot, and place them in a bowl. He didn’t know how he really felt about kissing Rika; on the one hand, he felt he had really

35

disrespected her, but on the other hand, it seemed as though she had kissed him back, and some part of him was begging for more. He couldn’t quite place his emotions, and oh, joy, he was meeting her again later today. He placed all his concentration into cutting up the Gurken, and blanked out any other distraction.

~*~ She sat on her bed, her head swimming from what had just happened. She was proud of herself. She couldn’t believe she had kept her cool talking to Emyrs, after they had just been kissing. But she had, and she was so proud. But back to matters at hand… She had just been kissing Emyrs! She didn’t know how it had happened, just that it HAD happened. One second, she was looking up at him, the next, they were kissing, and it was WONDERFUL! She just felt so happy. Still on her bed, she turned unto her pillow, and rested her head on it. I’ll just rest a while before Emyrs comes back. I think I have another two hours or something. Anyway, when he comes he’ll wake me up… With that, she laid her head back and fell asleep…

36

Chapter 6 ~*~ The preparations for the party were going so slow, especially as the Council had called Thierros to their Meeting. He usually was part of it anyway, but since they were discussing Emyrs, he was not allowed to participate, due to potential bias. The only thing keeping Emyrs going was that fact that it was for Rika; otherwise he’d have been in his bed. Just then, Thierros walked through the kitchen door, and began once more to help Emyrs, who didn’t bother to ask what went on in the Council Meeting, because he usually never said. He endured this silence till the last kaninchen was gutted, and the last gurke peeled, after which he promptly dashed out of the house, heading directly for Rika’s house. He made this journey in record time, although he was covered in sweat when he arrived. He climbed through the window again, to find Rika asleep on her bed. Good, he thought, I can have a little chance to cool down before she wakes up. So he sat on the chair next to her bed and he waited. However, it wasn’t long before he noticed her starting to stir in her sheets. Soon, she was awake, and turned to find Emyrs sitting patiently and silently next to her bed. ‘How long have you been here?’ she asked. ‘Only about fifteen minutes…’

37

‘Oh ok,’ she said, smiling, ‘Well, you’re making my room smell weird; you sweat too much. Go have a shower in the washroom; I’ll get a towel for you.’ Emyrs obliged, seeing himself as having no choice, since he could smell himself. He entered her remarkably blue washroom, heading quickly to the shower before taking his clothes off. She entered as well, standing in the corner. ‘Umm… why are you in here again?’ said Emyrs, truly puzzled as to what was going on. ‘I need to talk to you,’ she said, ’Mother told me something after you left.’ He let the water run, got under it and said, ‘Ok. I’m listening.’ …………… ‘Rika?’ he said. ‘Yeah I’m here. After you left, I went to sleep and Mother woke me up and said that the Council had a Meeting earlier this morning, and that I’m not going to be having my birthday party.’ ‘What??’ ‘That’s what she said. She said that the Council said that due to “recent circumstances”, my birthday party can’t take place.’ ‘Are you sure?’ ‘Are you calling Mother a liar?’

38

‘You know you don’t mean that… I just mean that it sounds pretty weird. No-one I know has ever not had their birthday party. What could have possibly happened?’ ‘I don’t know, but this is really unfair! Of all the people in this village, why’d they have to choose my birthday to not host?’ ‘I don’t know, Rika, but Father is on the Council, I will ask him why this happened.’ ‘Father is also on the Council, but he won’t tell me a thing. Except that I should be happy that they’ve decided I’m not getting my party today, and that I will be happy when I’m told why I didn’t get it. I don’t understand why he thinks I would be happy, though. I’ve been looking forward to this for months!’ ‘Could you hand me the towel, please?’ And Rika stuck her hand around the kaninchen-skin curtain, handing him the towel. ‘Thanks. I’ll ask Father anyway. No harm can come from it, at least.’ ‘True,’ she said, ‘Well, I brought you a blouse and pants to wear. They’re outside the shower. I’ll leave so you can change.’ ‘Ok thanks.’ He exited the shower, and dried himself, thanking Zauberkunst that Thierros had hidden his wings, because he didn’t know how he would have fit into the blouse with them protruding. He left the washroom, and saw her sitting on her bed, with what looked like dried tear streaks all down her face. He sat next to her and turned her to him, taking her cheek in his hand. ‘I’m sure,’ he said, ‘I’m sure the Council has a good reason for 39

cancelling your party today. You may even get it another day. Who knows? But don’t cry; I’ll try my best to find out what’s happened…’ ‘Ok,’ she said, resting her head on his shoulder, ’I believe you.’ ‘I’m going to try to find that out now, ok? I’ll come back as soon as I have some kind of information.’ ‘Bye…’ He made to leave, then turned back and gave her a hug, and withdrew with a kiss to her forehead. ‘Don’t cry,’ he said, and climbed through the window, walking down the road to his house, not wanting to run and sweat, having just taken a bath. Fortunately, Thierros was on his way to the Square, to buy some more gurken. Emyrs walked up to him, and asked, ‘Father, what happened in the Meeting?’ Not really expecting an immediate answer, he walked alongside Thierros, in the direction of the Square. ‘Nothing, Emyrs,’ was Thierros’ reply. ‘Then why,’ he asked, ‘is Rika under the impression that she is not getting her birthday party?’ ‘Razac told her?’ he said, more to himself than to Emyrs, ’Then again, it is his daughter’s birthday… Oh, this makes things harder… Anyway, tomorrow, that’ll be sorted out. Tonight we’ve got to work.’

40

‘Father! Rika’s father told her mother, and her mother told her. But you still haven’t answered my question… Why isn’t Rika getting her Birthday party?’ ‘Listen to me, Emyrs. You are NOT supposed to know this. Well until, tomorrow. Rika can’t have her birthday party today, because YOU got your wings today. Now, normally, when someone acquires their birthright, they have their Acquisition Ceremony the next day. And you WILL have it tomorrow. The thing is, you got your wings on Rika’s birthday. That means you share a date. She can’t have her birthday party today, because it has to coincide with your Acquisition Ceremony. That’s why I’m off to the Square again. I need to get more gurken and karroten, for the grand celebration tomorrow.’ Emyrs stood looking at Thierros, dumbfounded. It was his fault that Rika couldn’t get her birthday party, he thought, but hopefully she’ll see it like Father and realise that it’s a good and not a bad thing. ‘Emyrs! Are you listening?’ ‘What, Father? No, I’m sorry; I wasn’t. What did you say?’ ‘I said, so as not to complicate anything, Roegh did not tell them about your Mark, only that you got your beautiful, white wings this morning, which technically is true, because the wings you had before were feather-less and pink… So your Ceremony tomorrow is that of a Flighter.’ ‘Ok thanks, Father. I’ll be back home later. I’ll probably be down by the river today then. Bye, Father. Ich liebe dich.’

41

He headed back up to Rika’s house again, for what seemed to be the millionth time for the day. He knocked on her window, when he arrived, and when she came to it, asked, ‘Do you want to go down to the river?’ ‘Yeah, all right. Did you find out about my party?’ ‘I’ll tell you at the river. Just let me ask your mother if you can come first.’ He went around to the front of the house, and knocked on the door. When Rika’s mother answered, he asked for Rika to be allowed to go to the river. She agreed and called Rika, who was already ready, and they left promptly. ~*~ Sat on the edge of the river, Emyrs watched as Rika swam in the water. He didn’t really like bathing in the river, so he decided to wait until she had finished swimming, to tell her about her party. Presently, however, she swam to the riverbank and asked, ’Why don’t you come in?’ ‘I don’t really like bathing in the river. Or being in it, for that matter.’ ‘Well, I’m kind of bored in here by myself, so you,’ she said, pointing at him, ‘are coming to join me…’ ‘No, I really don’t like bathing in the river…’ Hearing Emyrs talk about the fact that he didn’t like coming in the river, Rika started to feel a little mischievous. She swam to the riverbank, and splashed him, drawing a surprised ‘Ugh!’

42

from Emyrs, who promptly jumped in after her, following which she swam deftly away from his grasp, eluding his every attempt. ‘Come on, stop’, came his voice, ‘Let me tell you what Father said.’ Hearing this, Rika swam to his side, at the edge of the river. ‘I didn’t realise that I would cause this,’ he began. ‘Put your hands on my back… Just do it… Now perform the spell for revelation.’ She did, and out of thin air appeared Emyrs’ beautiful white wings, glistening from the sunlight playing on the water in his feathers. ‘Emyrs! You know you have wings, right? They’re so soft!’ ‘Ha! Yes, Rika, I know I have wings… They’d be kind of hard to miss, wouldn’t they? Anyway, they’re why you can’t have your birthday party tonight, because I got my wings on your birthday. It means we share a date, and your party has to coincide with my Acquisition Ceremony…’ ‘Well, that isn’t so bad though, is it? It just means we’ll have a reason to spend lots of time together tomorrow, doesn’t it?’ said Rika, with a coy smile on her face. ‘Yeah, but that’s not the only thing…’ He raised his hand out of the water, and snapped his index finger and thumb together, producing a flame at the end of it.

43

‘What in the world? You can do magic as well?? That doesn’t make sense! You have wings! How did you do that? And without seals too!’ For to use elemental magic, one must still access Zauberkunst, using seals formed with Zauberkunst marks to allow your body to channel any one of the four elements. ‘I don’t know,’ said Emyrs, ‘It just kind of CAME to me. I don’t know how it happens. Now, you can’t tell anyone about the magic; the Council doesn’t even know yet… I expect Roegh will tell them after my Acquisition Ceremony…’ ‘Wow,’ she whispered, ‘and you don’t know how come you can do the magic?’ ‘I just said that, didn’t I?’ ‘ ‘Ok, no need to be testy… Well, what do you plan to do?’ ‘My Acquisition Ceremony is one of a Flighter, so I’d not be going to the School for Magic and Elemental Management, but Father and Mother are going to teach me at home…’ ‘Makes sense, I guess… I just thought of something; Do you have a Mark of Zauberkunst?’ ‘Yeah, right here, as normal.’ ‘It’s so faint… Don’t you feel tired or anything from using magic?’ ‘Only after using a good bit, do I start to feel tired.’

44

‘Ok, I’ll have to make sure you keep a bit of Vitalität on you all the time then, won’t I?’ ‘Heh, yeah I guess so… Listen, I really don’t want to go back home right now, and I doubt I will tonight; this river calms me… So if you want to go home tonight, Let me walk you back home now…’ ‘If you’re staying all night, I’ll stay with you. But only if you’re staying all night.’ ‘Won’t you have to tell your Mother first?’ ‘Nope, I don’t think so… She knows who I’m with, so she won’t worry… Or, at least she’ll know whose parents to speak to if I go missing…’ ‘Oh, all right then… I’ve got a sheet of cloth in my sack there but I only brought one; I didn’t think you would stay… So you can have it, and the blanket; I’ll sleep on the riverbank. It’s soft there anyways…’ ‘My mind is telling me to insist that you sleep on this sheet, but my body is bawling, “NO! Let the chivalrous idiot sleep on the riverbank! It just means more of the sheet for me!”’. With that, Emyrs laughed, and said, ‘So who are you going to listen to, your mind or your body?’ ‘Well it depends on if you really want to sleep on the riverbank… I’m sure there’s plenty of room on this sheet for us both. I don’t roll in my sleep so I’m sure you’ll be comfortable…’ Now in Emyrs’ head, there was another battle going on… His body was telling him, join her on the sheet; It’ll be much more comfortable then sleeping on this muddy and probably wet 45

riverbank, but his mind was telling him, stay on the riverbank; Joining her on that sheet would be an infringement on her privacy and your self-respect. Knowing fully well that he had already disrespected her by kissing her without her consent, he decided that sleeping on the riverbank would still be utterly stupid, no matter what the alternative might be. Before joining her on the sheet though, he asked one question… ‘When we kissed, earlier today, was it awkward at all?’ Caught totally off-guard with the question, Rika stumbled over her words... In truth, it was probably better because it gave her time to think. She did exactly that, and finally made up her mind to tell him the truth. ‘It was sudden,’ she started, ‘but not awkward really. It felt like, I’d been waiting for that to happen for a long time. Don’t worry about the disrespect. It doesn’t count because I was willing. It was wonderful, really.’ He breathed a sigh of relief, and said, ‘Wow, that’s a load off my chest! I was really worried about having…disrespected you, you know, that’s why I asked…’ ‘I know… I answered that, didn’t I? Anyway, are you actually going to sleep on the riverbank? I’m sure it’ll get pretty wet later tonight. Come up from there and lie down on the sheet. There is enough room.’ ‘All right, I’m coming. You don’t have to pester me.’ Rika spread out the sheet to its full extent, and Emyrs sat down on the furthest end away from her, looking up and the sky,

46

newly blackened from the lack of glorious sun. He looked up at the stars in the sky, and thought about the day, contemplating upon how hectic it was, and how much more hectic tomorrow would be. He was not accustomed to going to bed this early… He usually headed for his bed after the moon had already passed its highest… He turned and saw Rika smiling coyly at him. Inquiring as to what made her smile like that, he got no response but ‘Nothing’, and Rika’s bodily response of setting her head back, and closing her eyes and waiting for sleep to follow. Emyrs watched this and followed suit, his reasoning being, I may not usually go to sleep this early, but do I usually have Rika sleeping right next to me? And with that, he lay back and slept…

Chapter 7 ~*~ ‘You can’t just go around killing people needlessly, Your Majesty! Think of their sons and their daughters, their mothers and their WIVES! Pull back, Your Majesty! See reason!’ ‘Princess Asara!’ said Hadael, Supreme Advisor to the King. ‘Watch the way you speak to your Father! His Majesty’s Words are final, after all. Do you really mean to oppose His Majesty’s will?’ ‘No, Hadael, but surely you must see that this war is immoral!’

47

‘Maybe, maybe not… But what I think is irrelevant in this Court, if His Majesty has already made a decision. It would do you well to realise that the same stands for you.’ ‘Silence, Hadael! Asara! This war will continue! The land must be purged of ALL who oppose my reign! If you do not believe in this My Decree, then you are a traitor to this land, and must be killed without remorse!’ Her father’s words still ringing in her ears, Asara digested what she had just heard; her own father was willing to kill ANYONE, even HER, for opposing his reign. Now for a King, it’s natural to kill subjects who aspire to start an uprising… But one’s own daughter? It was unheard of! ‘I am sorry, Your Highness. I was out of line. My temper got the best of me.’ ‘I know, My Royal Daughter… However, your words cannot go without consequence. I don’t think you shall be allowed to practice archery or riding for a month, as atonement for your rudeness. Hadael! Gather a troop to escort Her Royal Highness to her chambers. Make sure there are sentries placed outside her door day and night. There will be no recreation for Her Royal Highness for a month. Such is My Royal Decree. Act!’ Without a sound being uttered, four stately guards appeared at her sides, and although they were not allowed to touch her, there was no doubt in her mind that there would be no discussion, just action. Silently, she complied, keeping in time with the guards’ brisk pace, on her way to her Royal Chambers.

48

They stood outside her door and waited for her to enter before closing the door behind her, and leaving half of the troop behind to stay at her door.

~*~ A sharp knock came at the door, and Asara flung up her head, wondering who in their right mind would disturb her as she meditated. Bursting through the door came Hadael, and he shut the door behind him, going straight to her bed and sitting next to her. ‘You have to leave,’ he gasped, in between his short, staccato breaths,’ His Royal Highness has decreed, after you left, that you are a traitor. He has ordered you killed while you sleep tonight. You must leave!’ ‘I can’t just leave, Hadael. All my stuff is here. And who will take care of me if I leave the castle?’ ‘I will meet you soon enough. There is a village at the far side of the forest that you see out of this window. Stay there. Find the inn, speak to the innkeeper, and tell them that I requested you be given somewhere to sleep. They should comply. Hide out there, and be inconspicuous. Cut your hair, and darken your skin. You cannot allow the guards that he will send after you to recognize you. They will kill you on His Majesty’s orders.’ ‘I hate to have to do this, Hadael. All this because I asked him to stop the war….Heh! Aren’t you worried about your own head? Father WILL have you for this if he finds out.’

49

‘Do not worry about me. I will meet you at the inn. Do not leave the village until I have met you at the inn. Fly now! Gather a few robes and your hammer, and go!’ Quickly they embraced, and Asara lay on her bed pretending to cry as Hadael left. As soon as the door was closed behind him, she gathered a few of her training robes, and her hammer, packed them into a cloth sack and called upon the energy inside herself to begin to channel Earth. Feeling satisfied with the power she felt flowing through her, Asara slung the sack over her back and jumped out of the window. Calling forth Earth from the ground, Asara cushioned herself as she fell, lowering the bed of Earth on which she rested, so that it was as close to the ground as she could get it without skating along the ground on her back. She rested for a while, and thought of the magnificence of Hadael’s timing. The guards had three-hour shifts, and therefore would not change shift for another two hours, and they weren’t allowed to knock on her door until the new sentries had arrived. Hadael had just given her a two-hour head start on his majesty’s guards. Good, she thought, it will give me time to get settled and call Jiscad. With the village approaching, Asara left her bed of Earth and walked along, changing from her royal robes of green, to beige training robes, not only to be inconspicuous, but also the fact that her royal robes were dirty, and she hated feeling dirty. Within another ten minutes, she was at the door of the inn, having remained totally inconspicuous as far as she was concerned. She asked one person for directions, but he did not recognise her as his Royal Princess, for fair reason too. The only

50

time subjects saw her was when she was fully clothed in her Royal garb, so in training robes, it was no surprise he did not recognise her. She knocked on the door of the inn, and at once was face to face with a large-bodied, hairy man. ‘Come in, Your Majesty,’ he said at once, ‘Hadael sent your eagle before you. I will send my wife to you to cut your hair, and to bring some of the stlife to darken your skin, so that you may blend with us. Hurry inside; it won’t do to have you seen by the neighbours. They talk…’ Accustomed to being served and seen after, Asara relaxed while the innkeeper’s wife, whose name she later learned to be Ryun, bathed her, and found her a robe to wear to bed. She called Jiscad, via a whistled tune, who came immediately, Hadael having sent him to Ryun before Asara. She rubbed his feathers and took comfort in his being there. Again, Ryun walked through the door, this time with stlife to apply to her skin. ‘This is of the quickly drying sort, Your Majesty. You will look like one of us in no time. Turn, and let me cut your hair.’ ‘You need to stop calling me Your Majesty… That will certainly cause the guards to arrest you… We should probably come up with another name and identity for me. I can’t very well be Asara, Princess of the Royal Palace when the guards arrive, can I?’ ‘No, of course not, Your Majesty. I mean, Asara…’

51

The Rising Sun Chapter 8

~*~ 16th Year of the Reign of Niim’aal, King of Pantal ‘It’s time for us to be leaving now, Asara. Onward to Taerani! I think I have taught you well enough. Now, as a sign of diplomacy between your rebel forces and the Army of Taerani, you will offer yourself up for enlistment, so that they know that your quest is not one of power, but of justice.’ ‘Would it not be easier for justice to prevail if I was in a position of power?’ ‘Yes, Asara, but I urge you not to tell the Taerani general that. Let him determine for himself that you are worthy of promotion through your deeds.’ ’Let us leave, Hadael! Thank you so much, Mother. And you, Father! You have made this year and a half extremely enjoyable. I ensure you that when my father’s reign has ended, I will personally reward you with livelihood for the rest of your life; Food, clothing, shelter, you name it, it is yours.’ ‘A fitting reward, Asara; worthy of the future Queen. Now we must leave.’ ‘Please, PLEASE do not call me that! It annoys me.’

52

Asara and Hadael left Onagrat heading east, in the vague direction of Taerani, with their small band of followers, about twenty-five strong, with the intention of enlisting themselves in the Army of Taerani, to fight against the Pantal Army, which was waging a full-scale assault on the capitals of every other country on the continent. For Niim’aal was so absolute in his quest for sovereignty, he decided in his madness to obliterate anyone that could potentially oppose his reign. The other countries obviously would not sit and take this lightly and therefore banded together their armies, under the banner ‘The Army of Taerani’, Taerani being the biggest country on the continent after Pantal. Once this had happened, The Army set up its base of operations in the circle of land in the middle of the continent that belonged to no country; it was neutral land. Deploying one General to each country to fend off attacks to that country, the Army was ready to take on Niim’aal, and restore order to Serechol. So far, however, their attempts at defence of their countries had been all but futile; the plague of Pantal still spread slowly across the countries. Dead-set on ending her father’s reign, and the restoration of Serechol, Asara had begun to instil the seeds of rebellion within Pantal itself, under the moniker, Amer Frau von der Erde – Lady of Hammer and Earth, and although she was hardly of the age to be considered a Lady, the commoners seemed agreeable enough to accept that as her title. The general populace seemed eager enough to fund their expedition, for none enjoyed Niim’aal’s reign. He was so dead-set on destroying the

53

threats to his power, his subjects were given free rein to terrorize the commoners as they pleased, and as such, “taxes” on just about everything had been imposed. Although that left them with close to nothing, they were happy to fund an effort to depose the tyrant that was King Niim’aal. Not as many, however, were willing to offer themselves as soldiers in Asara’s small army, resulting in a year’s worth of efforts yielding only twenty-five members. Hadael remained optimistic however. It was his opinion that closer to the borders Pantal and the different countries, there would be greater willingness to join their band. Asara could only hope. It honestly didn’t look very promising from her point of view. There were advantages that they had that King Niim’aal’s Army did not. Asara could safely transport all twenty-five warriors of her band along the ground faster than horses using the same method she had used to escape from the king’s castle; she called upon the energy inside her, and brought a bed of Earth up under each of her warriors’ feet and slid that Earth across the ground at breakneck speeds. It was not dangerous at all, because Asara had the forethought to wrap her warriors’ feet with the Earth to keep them steady. This speed ensured that if they correctly knew the position of the king’s armies, they could successfully avoid capture at all times. However, it was lucky for Asara that there were a lot of Earth Movers within their ranks, because as their ranks swelled, Asara alone could not be counted on to move the entire troop of warriors. It was a pity that there were no Hexenmeisters of

54

Zauberkunst, because they could do with extra protection, but they made do extremely proficiently. Any extra protection may well have been overkill. Of the twenty-five warriors, five were earth movers. Asara sometimes called on them when she felt a bit tired. Currently they were doing exactly that, rushing to the aid of a village currently under siege by one of the King’s battalions. They were holding their own, and to both Hadael and Gerico, the villagers looked promising. ‘We may not reach in time,’ said Asara, eyeing the pillars of smoke now rising from the village. ‘Aye,’ said Gerico. ‘Patience, my friends. The winds may yet blow in our favour.’ ‘How? This is a remarkable opportunity to gain a boatload of fighters, and it’s slipping through our fingers.’ ‘We may not be in time to save the village, but we may well save the villagers, who will in turn feel indebted to us; a fact we would do well to use to our advantage.’ ‘Ha! You really are a brilliant man! Why would the King let you leave? I can’t imagine a stupider move on his part!’ exclaimed Gerico, beaming all the way.

55

‘He didn’t let me leave. I had to fake my own poisoning, and subsequently bribe my own coroner to let me leave. After hearing that His Highness intended to kill Her Royal Majesty, I could not stand idly by. I chose a path, and it has not yet caused me ill.’ ‘I’ve learnt something about you today, Hadael. I’m happy to be your second-in-command. I don’t think anyone could have asked for a better commander.’

Chapter 9

~*~ ‘We’re nearing the gate, everyone. Look alive!’ came Asara’s voice. ‘And now to prove our worth once more! To arms, men. We enter the village from the west and split into three. We need to flank the Pantal Army. There are many more of them than there are of us, but who are the better warriors? We will have no problem disposing of these vermin. I want seven going left; they’re yours, Soling. Seven right; they’re yours, Gerico. The rest of you lot, we supply the main force. We need to reinforce the villagers. You, son, Come here!’ ‘Yes sir?’ came the reply of one of the soldiers picked for the reinforcement company.

56

‘This banner is yours. Wear it proudly, for the fate of this village depends on whether the villagers recognise us as Amer Frau von der Erde or as Pantal Army men. Gerico, Soling, to me! Take your men Gerico, you have a ways to go. I need you to flank them from the right. Wait on my signal. Chances are that Centre Company will have to attack before anyone else. Soling, take your men, and go left. Keep out of sight, but make sure your archers have a clear view of the battle. Maybe have them mount the rooftops. Same for you, Gerico. Earth movers, you have free rein. Just don’t die. Now go!’ ‘Aye, Sir!’ came the unanimous reply from left and right companies. ‘Centre company… Charge!’ Forsaking Asara’s method of movement, the centre company ran, the banner-man in front, banner firmly secured to his back. Hadael and Asara followed closely behind, leading their troops into battle. As they neared closer, a villager’s voice rose from within the mire. ‘They’ve got reinforcements! Behind us!’ ‘Wait! That isn’t a Pantal Flag… Isn’t that… No! It couldn’t be! Is that Amer Frau von der Erde? We’re saved!’ ‘Aye, friends! We are from Amer Frau von der Erde, but this is not all our company. At this very moment, two more groups are moving into position to flank the Pantal soldiers. We feel your plight, and as such, we have come to your aid.’

57

Luckily for Asara and Hadael, they had arrived during a lull in the fighting, and as such, the village leader, Croxl, was able to come out and speak to them. ‘Good tidings, friends. A pleasure to make your acquaintance. I am Croxl. Have you come to aid us in ridding our village of this scourge?’ ‘Aye, we have. We have two groups waiting to surprise the soldiers once the fighting resumes. I have instructed them to place archers on the rooftops, to give us no little advantage. There are also two Earth movers in each of those companies, to protect them. However, I’m getting ahead of myself. I must ask, do you need or want our help? I would not force our services onto those who do not wish it. This is after all, your village.’ ‘It would be a pleasure to fight alongside you all. Not a man or woman in this village is ignorant of your efforts to rid this land of Niim’aal. I fear, however, that our village is already lost. Thankfully, we have no casualties as of yet, but our women and children are hiding in the village centre, and only us men, and boys nearly of age are fighting. We attempted to hold them off at the gate, but they have been slowly driving us back. We’ve been at it for about 4 days now.’ ‘Take heed. This battle ends today. Will you allow me to take control of your villagers for the remainder of this battle?’ ‘Aye… What is your name? I should like to introduce you as the acting commander of our ramshackle forces.’ ‘Hadael. I am Hadael.’

58

‘Men! This is Hadael. He will be taking over for me as your commander for this battle. You are to follow his commands exactly, and do as he sees fit. Understood?’ ‘Aye, sir!’ ‘Why?’ came a voice from the background, ‘Who is he?’ ‘I’m glad you asked. This is Hadael of Amer Frau von der Erde; the driving force behind the opposition to Niim’aal. He is a much more worthy commander than I am. It should be a pleasure for anyone of use to serve under him. Now, no more talk; it is time for him to command you.’ ‘Aye, sir.’ ‘Now, good sirs. This is your village. You should not have it razed and pillaged because of these soldiers’ greed. Call up your every ounce of might, and fight for your wives, daughters and your homes. This battle ends… TODAY! Come, men! Today, you prove your worth as soldiers! Onward!’ Hadael lead the charge, Asara keeping pace to his right, Croxl to his left. In the distance, the Pantal soldiers felt the thunder before they heard or saw it, and hurried to pick up arms, aligning themselves to defend against a charge. Fifty yards away, in the shadow of the village’s expansive market buildings, Gerico and Soling lay in wait, carefully avoiding the soldiers’ eyes, while keeping watch of their commander, anticipating the command they knew would come. Hadael’s

mind

was

moving lightning-fast, proposing and

rejecting battle strategies in the blink of an eye, until he finally 59

found one that would work. Indeed, all his battle strategies worked; his survival depended on it. It was a simple matter of the tactic that when employed would result in the least casualties. He gazed forward and was heartened to find no archers within the ranks of the Pantal Company. Mentally adapting to the new development, Hadael ordered his men to unsheathe their weapons and halt. He stood still and observed the Pantal Commander dress his Company, watched them take up arms, and watched their slow procession forward. Still Hadael did not order his men to take up arms. Asara looked over at him and followed his gaze; the slight flickers to the right and left, and realized what he was planning. He was waiting until their entire company had passed Soling’s company, so that his archers could thin their troops before they realized what was going on. As soon as she thought it, Hadael nodded his head and a barrage of arrows rained down on the men, except… they weren’t arrows… The Earth Movers were improvising, fashioning darts out of the clay and shooting them at the soldiers. Asara took a moment to smile at the simplicity of it, and followed Hadael as he once more led the charge into the battle. She could see the arrows raining down now, four at a time on each side of the road, both Soling’s and Gerico’s archers now firing. Soling and Gerico themselves had not climbed up onto the rooftops and had each ordered their Earth Movers down with them, and were beginning an assault of sorts from the back.

60

Positively grinning now at how scattered the soldiers had become from so simple an ambush, Asara let her hammer fall loose in her right hand, reaching inside herself and sending forth a wave of earth destined to take the lives of all those in the front line of the Pantal Company. The tumult that arose when the two groups finally clashed was catastrophic; a combination of battle cries, and last sighs, of metal on metal and grunts of exertion. Asara hung back from the first assault, where her height would put her at a disadvantage. She watched as Hadael’s massive sword swung true, decapitating three men with one blow. She ran in, ducking and weaving to get to his side, determined not to let anything happen to him while his back was turned. She upended a man who was about to drive a spear through Hadael’s back with a blow to the underside of his chin. In one fluid motion, she brought the hammer down on a soldier creeping up behind her. His helmet never stood a chance. Even as she watched, the archers’ arrows seemed to run out, and one by one they were joining the battle. Hadael noticed this at the same moment, and not taking his eyes off of the two men he was fighting, he raised his left arm to signal to both Gerico’s and Soling’s groups. They were going to drive the soldiers out of the town or slaughter them all, whichever came first. He gripped his sword so that the blade faced the ground, and walloped the first soldier he saw with it in the chest. The blow knocked the man backward, sending him stumbling into his comrades, one of whom soon found himself with the body of a friend impaled on his sword.

61

Hadael took advantage of the confusion, calling Soling and Gerico to his side. For a man who hated bloodshed, he was a fearsome warrior. Facing the now dwindling forces of the Pantal Company, Hadael bellowed, challenging any man to best him. He parried a blow to his head, executing a perfect riposte, impaling the man through the chest. Right then, a spear pierced his left shoulder. Enraged, Hadael swung his sword with his right hand and lopped the man’s still-extended arm clean off, hand still clutching the spear. Hadael quickly retreated, only to grunt in pain as the spear wriggled in his shoulder. He steeled himself for what he was about to do, and twisted the spear, while simultaneously yanking it out of him. He sighed once it was out, untying his headband and using it to curb the bleeding. To his dismay, the Commander of the Pantal Company was thundering through the chaos parrying blows and moving on, with eyes only for Asara. Fearing she might be too busy to notice him, Hadael sprung up, barrelling through the villagers at a breakneck pace. He reached Asara just in time to block the commander’s blow to Asara’s head. She jumped at the sudden clash, nearly losing her fingers to a Pantal Soldier in her shock. She swung her hammer into the commander’s chest, sending him reeling backward; an opportunity of which Hadael was quick to take advantage. He kicked the commander in the shin, then stomped the back of his knee, sending him to the floor. Quick as a fox, Hadael was on him with a dagger to the heart.

62

Chapter 10

~*~ Asara saw their commander fall, and steeled herself for the angry assault she thought was sure to come, but to her surprise, the soldiers seemed lost. Hadael however, had anticipated this. There was no way a group of villagers, no matter how determined, could defeat a Company filled with soldiers accustomed to war. This had to be a green Company, and that meant that once the head was gone, the body was soon to follow. For his part, Hadael was not about to let this opportunity go to waste. His devious mind was at work again. ‘Friends! Comrades! Let us end this conflict of ours. See your commander lays dead! Lay down your arms, lest the same fate befall you. I offer you peace, and security. I know that the lot of you probably did not choose this life for yourself. I am sure that the lot of you were ‘recruited’ from your homes, for lack of a better word. I offer you an opportunity to fight back against the tyrant who threatened your mothers and fathers with death and dishonour, unless they gave their sons up to fight. I offer you a place in Amer Frau von der Erde, a place of equality, where you can fight for the right reasons, and reap benefits through compassion and not force. I assure you, the same pleasures will be yours. I only ask that you lay down your arms now. Know this, however! We cannot let you leave and go back to the Army. Amer Frau von der Erde survives solely

63

because our enemy does not know the size of our company, nor our tactics; only that we fight for justice and we are skilled in combat.’ ‘Heh! Skilled is an understatement, am I right?’ came the deep rumble of Gerico’s voice. ‘Right you are, my good man. As I was saying, we cannot allow you leave with the knowledge you now have of our company. Were the Army to find out what you know about us, we would be the quarry of innumerable search parties, with a bounty on each of our heads, I am sure. So now, regrettably, I must put this choice to you. Will you accept my offer, and bolster our company with your presence, or will you choose to die for your country?’ Hadael stood with his left hand on his hip, his right grasping the hilt of his upturned sword. He felt a twinge in his shoulder, and remembered his wound. He hoped they would not confer too long. His hope proved not to be baseless. A soldier stepped forward, introducing himself. ‘In war, there are certain standards to introduction. If you please, I would follow those standards… 18313, 2nd Lieutenant Roal, at your service. In terms of our company, at its full strength, I would have been fourth in command, along with 2nd Lieutenant Shar, deceased, under Section Commander 1st Lieutenant Kurt, under Platoon Commander 1st Lieutenant Johor, under Company Commander Captain Meijer. In terms our company now, at its depleted strength, I am the commanding officer of this Company, and the only surviving member of the

64

company who has previously seen a battle. The rest of these men are green, though if I must say so, they have obviously shown more prowess than my superior officers have. While I do speak for my men, I do not believe that, apart from war, I have any right to judge who lives, and who dies. As such, I have arranged so that every member of our remaining company will report before you, and state their personal decision. As Commanding Officer, I would be last. Are you agreeable?’ ‘I am. However, in the interest of saving breath in the future, I should like you all to understand that regardless of what rank you currently hold in the Army, if you decide to join our company, your rank is lost, and you hold none of the privileges your previous rank would encompass. Of course, 2nd Lieutenant Roal, in your case, as the commanding officer of your company, I would be happy to entertain counsel, as passed up through your own company commanders, if they see fit to entertain your input. Are you agreeable?’ The officer stood, turning over the implications of Hadael’s speech in his mind. Finally, he responded. ‘I am.’ ‘Then, by your leave…’

65

Calling Asara and Gerico over to his side, along with Croxl and Soling, Hadael stood patiently as each soldier introduced themselves, according to rank, name and proficiency. Hadael was dismayed that there was not an archer in the group, but he worried not. At long last, after thirty-seven soldiers had reported, 2nd Lieutenant Roal came forward. ‘18313, 2nd Lieutenant Roal, at your service. As for my own, I choose to join your company. I cannot say that I am happy with the decision you have forced me to make, but I cannot also say that I would willingly die for a King who orders his troops to pillage his own subjects.’ ‘You have heartened me, this day! I am so very glad that no one of you has chosen to part ways with us. I truly am not a man of violence, only a man of necessity. Your assignments can be decided later. For now, I think it is only just that you, Mister Roal, as former Company Commander, apologize on behalf of your company to Croxl here, and offer your services, and indeed your company’s services, to help them in any way necessary.’

66

He continued, ‘To you, villagers, I say this. You have defended your town this day; a commendable feat, no doubt. However, your village still lies at a major crossroads. There will be more troops. They will overrun you; probably the next company, if not, the third. You will lose your homes, your families, your jobs. There will be nothing left for you here. I do not ask this lightly, but I feel it is within my duty to ask. Will you also join us? Will you spend your lives defending against the terrors you’ve seen here? Will you −’ This time, it was Croxl who spoke up. ‘I’m afraid I must stop you there. No matter what happens, this is my home; our home! I won’t leave it for ANYONE, especially not that marauding traitor King. I speak for myself, but I say, I am NOT leaving!’ A resounding cheer rose up from the villagers at his words. Hadael

looked back at Gerico, who immediately

understood, and spoke up. ‘Is there no-one among you who wished to help us on our crusade? Please, step forward if you are willing.’ Croxl stood defiantly at the head of the throng, arms folded against his chest. When no-one stepped forward, his chin rose ever so slightly and he had an air of triumph about him. He began, ‘I am sorry that you will think the worse of us after this, but you must understand. We have just laid our lives on the line for our homes, for out livelihoods. After this, you ask us to simply abandon that all? You would ask us to abandon our

67

comrades, and our friends who have died here today defending the very thing we all live for? The very thing, in many cases, that has been passed down our family for generations? True, our hay has been burnt. True, our crops have been destroyed, but that has no bearing on our mentality. This is our life. Our farms and our families are our life. I would eat my boot if you could find a man who was more sympathetic to your cause than any man here after today, but we simply cannot abandon all that we have worked for; all that we have to give to our children, and our children’s children. I am sorry, but we cannot fund you with men. However, Horing here has been crafting swords and shields since the age of twelve, or so he says, eh? Any weapons you have need of, feel free to ask. Your archers will not be able to stock up here, however. Our village boasts a great many things, but a fletcher is not one of them. I apologise for this shortcoming. Also, I’m afraid that I must ask you to handle your business quickly. I am not dishonouring your new allegiance with these soldiers, but I’m afraid that if you stay here tonight, the villagers may well do so. Not that I’ve got much room for them in my heart, anyway.’ ‘I fully understand. I’m sure my men will comply. Soling! Gather all the men that need new weapons, and take them to Horing. Gerico, Asara, please follow me.’ Hadael took the two of them to the edge of the camp, and began discussing provisions for the camps for the soldiers, as they could not stay in the town as they had planned.

68

The Turning of the Tides Chapter 11

~*~ Night fell on the village, meeting Amer Frau von der Erde camping on the grass, about a league and a half away from the village. The men had been fed, the two seemingly distinct factions now rested together, tankards – now devoid of mead – grasped tightly in the hand of every man alike. Hadael and Asara slept side by side, his sword on his chest, her hammer at her side. A lone sentry tended to the fire, huddling closer to it as the cool breeze drifted across the plain. He fiddled with his sword, passing the time until the next man would come to take over his post. Two men stood on the fringes of the camp, hidden deep in the shadows. They spoke of the day, and of events to come. They watched the sentries change post, watched as each one carelessly stoked the fire, simply waiting for an end to their shift, and said nothing.

Chapter 12

~*~ ‘I am leaving you in charge, Gerico. Asara and I will just head into town and bring back supplies for breakfast for the

69

men. After that, we’ll all head into town for lunch, and, work it out from there, eh? Only, don’t tell anyone we’ve left. I don’t want any trouble.’ ‘Aye, sir. You can count on me. You know you can! I’ll keep this no-good rabble in line, on my honour!’ ‘On your honour it is, then. Come, Asara! Let us steal away, and be back within the hour. Have a sentry waiting to greet us when we return, Gerico.’ ‘By your leave, sir!’ Hadael and Asara left the camp silently, speeding along with more than a little help from Asara. They entered the camp from the south, to avoid as much human traffic as possible. As he turned the corner onto the main village road, Hadael stopped short. To his horror, he saw two companies of Pantal soldiers, marching purposefully through the West Gate. He saw Croxl walk out to meet them, saw the Commander of the Companies walk forward, and after a few minutes, saw Croxl’s head fall, his arm raise, and his fingers fold into a fist, one finger alone left outward, pointing directly at the very place Hadael and Asara had just left. Hadael turned, grabbing Asara by the arm, and lifting her onto his back. She began to argue, but a quick look from Hadael stopped her in her tracks. He held his finger to his lips and sped away, turning to the east toward the camp. He saw the soldiers, recruited just the day before, marching in file toward the town, swords and spears stained with blood. Hadael

70

realised that this must have been their plan all along, and that they must have known that reinforcements were on their way. He stopped in his tracks, hiding along outskirts of the town, waiting until the last of the soldiers had entered the town. ‘I need you to get us over to the camp,’ he said, turning to Asara. ‘What’s going on? Where are the rest of the men?’ ‘Asara, listen to me! Get us over to the camp now!’ They soon were speeding along the ground, giving both the camp and the village a wide berth. They entered the camp from the furthest point from the village, and Asara immediately fell to the ground, heaving, for the sight before them was truly gruesome. ‘Hadael! Hadael!’ ‘I know. I know. This, Your Majesty, is the price of war,’ whispered Hadael, and he too knelt and sobbed, for before them, lay Gerico and Soling, the only two men with their swords out, the men who had stayed up while others slept, the men who had died protecting Amer Frau von der Erde, each with a spear through the throat. ‘How, Hadael?’ ‘My Lady, on too many an occasion have I told you that you are too trusting. Indeed, I in my tiredness from the battle just yesterday made an ill-informed and ill-fated decision, and the guilt gnaws at my soul at this very moment. The

71

commander, Roal, never intended to honour his parley with us. He knew that reinforcements were but a day away and simply held us off until he could be sure of their distance. Then, it seems, Gerico woke Soling as we left, I suppose to keep guard, and Roal told his soldiers to go loose. It could not have been an orderly slaughter or they would have been searching for us both, and would not have stopped until they found us. It pains me to say this, however, these men’s misfortune is our good luck. I beg of you, raise a mound over their heads that their bodies do not decay. Raise a tomb of Earth, that Amer Frau von der Erde may forever live on, and let us make haste. It is no longer wise to tarry in these parts. They will soon send troops out to secure the heads of Amer Frau von der Erde. We must leave!’ This will not go un-avenged, Asara thought, looking down at Gerico, your blood will be repaid. With that, she raised a mound of earth under the men and brought it over their heads in a dome. She packed the earth tightly, keeping it sturdy for the years to come. ‘Come! Let us depart, Hadael. I have seen too much gore this day, and I would like to see no more. How far is the nearest town?’ ‘It’s about 20 leagues on foot. We can’t possibly make it in one day.’ ‘We must, Hadael! What has tampered with your mind? If we stop to rest but once, their company will be upon us. They

72

will be sure go back to the campsite to look for survivors; the mound is an obvious sign that there still are. We cannot tarry.’ ‘I apologise, milady. My decisions have been pitiful as of late. I am not myself. I know not what affects me. Wherever you lead, milady, there shall I follow.’

Chapter 13

~*~ Emyrs sat on his bed, looking out the window at the softly flowing river, and thought, Today will be a good day. He thought on all that he’d accomplished in the three years since he’d come into his birthrights. He was seventeen now, and a man by the village’s standards. He’d built his own house down by the river; a small one-person hut, but his hut all the same. He’d been with Rika since about a week after they kissed, and indeed she too was a woman now by the village’s standards. Rather, she would become one today, for today was Rika’s sixteenth birthday, and Emyrs was excited for the day simply because she was. He tried not to jostle her on the bed as he got up and opened the door silently, heading for the river. He sat with his bare feet in the river, enjoying the tickle of the cool water playing between his toes. How long he sat there, he could never remember, but soon enough, Rika was next to him with her feet in the water. They sat in silence, simply enjoying each other’s company, when Rika spoke up.

73

‘I don’t know what to do,’ she muttered. ‘What do you mean? Do about what?’ he replied. ‘About today... I’m a woman today, Emyrs. I’m not so lucky as you. The recruiters must have enough, so you’ve escaped being drafted into the Army, but once I become a woman, I will be expected to have an occupation, and begin my search for a worthy husband. I know that you’re waiting to join the Army, but I am positive that you would not be allowed my hand in marriage if you don’t have a proper trade. You do want my hand in marriage, don’t you?’ ‘Of course I do, Rika! I’m surprised that you even have to ask!’ ‘I simply needed to hear you say it. My thoughts have been clouded these past two weeks; I have been thinking hard on my future. I needed to hear you say it, because I have much to ask of you.’ ‘Ask away. Anything of mine is yours. You know that.’ ‘I fear that Father would not want us to marry if you are to be a soldier. I fear that you may indeed be drafted before long, and our plans will be for naught. I fear that Father will choose suitors for me, with no regard for my own feelings. You know that Mother likes you; Father, however, is oblivious. He knows nothing of you, and does not want to know of you, for if he would but open his eyes, he would realise how happy I am with you. In all, I fear for us. I fear for our future.’

74

‘You’ve not asked anything of me, Rika. What is it that you ponder so?’ ‘I — I want to leave. I want us to leave together, and try to make a life elsewhere.’ ‘Where can I go, Rika? I stand out everywhere. In case you don’t remember, there haven’t been that many Flighters around since Niim’aal started invading. In fact, just yesterday Uriel told me that not one Flighter he knew is still alive. No matter, though. I’d do anything for you. Have you spoken to anyone about this, other than me?’ ‘I’ve hinted at it to Uriel. He’s smart enough to figure it out on his own.’ ‘That’s okay, I think. Uriel’s always been really friendly toward me. I’m surprised, however, that there’s this much rejection of our forthcoming marriage. I mean, people have been wondering why, as a man, I was still interested in a girl, and I’ve received no few scorning glances, but I’ve always thought that they were in jest. Look at me, Rika. As long as you want me, I’m not going to let anyone or anything come between us. Let us put this off, though. Any plans to leave MUST wait until you are a woman, in your own right. We can’t have you walking around without your braid, can we?’ ‘For you, Emyrs, I will wait. I warn you, though. The longer we wait, the more difficult it will be to leave. I’m sure no one will make too much of a fuss about a newborn woman taking off on a trip with her sweetheart. A month, two months after that

75

however, the village will assume that we are fleeing scorn, for whatever reason.’ ‘I would be glad to give them something to talk about in our wake!’ shouted Emyrs, and he and Rika rolled over in laughter, even on the banks of the river, newly sprinkled with dew. They lay embracing each other a while, until Emyrs spotted Akitr coming across the bridge. He sat up and hailed Akitr, who thoroughly ignored him. Hearing Emyrs’ holler, Rika sat up as well, looking to the bridge to find Akitr. She caught his eye and smiled. Akitr smiled back until, remembering next to whom she was sitting, he began to scowl instead. He quickened his pace, crossing the other half of the bridge quickly, all the while steeling himself to have to talk to Rika in front of Emyrs. ‘Good morning, Rika. The Council has charged me with congratulating you on your coming-of-age, and have asked me to escort you through the town this afternoon for your entrance. Find you fault in this arrangement?’ ‘Not particularly, no. I’m not about to complain on the day I become a woman. I refuse to be a burden.’ Emyrs, agitated by Akitr’s presence, and his impending proximity to Rika, piped up. ‘I wish a good morning unto you too, Akitr. However, I must say that I do have a problem with the arrangements made. I see no reason for you to escort her through the town. I sit right here, willing.’

76

‘I’m so sorry to have been the one to break this to you, Emyrs, but your wishes do not dictate the movements or judgements of the Council. ‘ Rika piped up, noticing the tension roiling between the two. ‘It shall be no problem, Emyrs. He will escort me through the town, and as my mother braids my hair anew, I shall bound into your waiting arms, a woman.’ Emyrs wanted to argue; he needed to. He couldn’t stand to hand Rika off to Akitr of all people, but seeing the pain it brought Akitr to hear the words Rika had just said calmed him. ‘All right, Akitr. Have your day. Know this, though. You hold her a second too long, and I shall have your hand for my mantle,’ Emyrs said, glowering. Akitr’s gaze continued on past Emyrs’ deathly stare to Rika, and he held his palm out for her. ‘Noted. By your leave, Emyrs.’ Rika took Akitr’s hand, and walked with him across the bridge, eager to start her life afresh. Before she was out of sight, she turned her head ever so slightly to blow Emyrs a kiss. Emyrs, of course, had not moved, and stood staring with his arms folded across his chest. He gave little recognition of having received the kiss except to nod his head slightly, and retreat to his house.

77

Looking through his window at the sun, Emyrs noted the time, deciding on the spot that he would have another painting ready for Rika by the time she was a woman. That only gave him two hours as she expected him at the ceremony, or at the very least, to be there at the end of it. He lay back at his desk and closed his eyes, visualizing his next painting and wondering how he would make one in time.

78

Chapter 14

~*~ Emyrs bolted upright, scolding himself for falling asleep. He walked to his door, and gauging the time, began preparing his ceremonial dress. He was by no means wealthy, so his ceremonial dress simply consisted of his least tattered robes and his proudest belt, upon which he hung his only dagger, polished and prepared for today. He had to resist the urge to run full-tilt to the village square for fear of soiling his clothes. After a time, he arrived to find the celebrations just beginning, with Rika being escorted through the villagers by Akitr, who had Gertrude on his other arm. Gertrude shared a birthday with Rika, and so today was her happy day, too. He looked up to the platform erected in The Square, an allpurpose rectangular savannah that housed the Market and served as the general meeting place for villagers to convene for recreation or business. Gertrude detached herself from Akitr's arm and glided toward her mother. Roegh stood at her mother's right, and as Gertrude approached the stairs, he walked toward her, extending a hand to her. Emyrs took this opportunity

to

zone

out,

seeing

Gertrude

as

relatively

unimportant in comparison to Rika. He knew he was being unjust but he didn't care.

79

He rocked back on his heels, contemplating what lay ahead for Rika and him. I have no trade, he thought, no way to provide for her. Correct, I am a Zauberer, but people frown on things made of magic. In any case, how can I use the Zauberkunst to provide for Rika? How can I provide for her in any fashion? I'm seventeen. All I can get a job as is as an apprentice, and it's barely enough for me to live on. I suppose she could pick up the washing for the villagers wherever we go, but, I'm not sure I want to ask her to do that. Oh, isn't this a predicament! He looked up at the podium and found Rika's searching eyes. She smiled at him through them and for a while, his troubles were a little less important. He smiled back and drifted off in his thoughts again, looking up at the sky and enjoying the unfiltered sunlight.

80