Falwyn, page 20
Panicked, Meldus rushed to him. “Draven! Draven wake up, my boy!” He shook the prince’s shoulder, eying the nasty gash as blood streamed from it. “Draven!”
Despite Meldus’s efforts, he could not wake the boy. Meldus ran to the kitchen, ripping a cloth in two and gathering a bowl of water in his arms. Back in the bedroom, he knelt by the bed and wet one of the strips of cloth. As he tried to control the bleeding, a brilliant light shone through the wound, blinding Meldus. He fell back, shielding his eyes with his fingers, as the wound sealed itself.
When it finished, it was as if nothing had happened, save for the blood and the scar left behind. But it was obvious that the trauma had affected Draven. Pools of sweat had formed in between Draven’s stomach muscles. Beads of sweat trickled down his temples. His hair had separated into thick strands, as if he had been swimming and he was out of breath.
“Draven?” Meldus called, hoping he would wake. There was no reply—he didn’t even move. Meldus’s cheeks puffed out as he released a huge breath of air. Dipping the dry cloth into the water and wringing it out, he placed it on Draven’s forehead. With the other, he began to clean up what was left of the blood.
Chapter Fourteen
“This was Andy’s heaviest coat!” Bonnie pulled the heavy goose-down coat around Lara. “You look like a Russian Princess!” She giggled, making a show of the fact that it could be wrapped around Lara almost twice. Then she zipped it up and stood back to admire her.
“You’re a beautiful girl. Keep Lavar close, and don’t let Saban wander too far. There are six men waiting for you at The Lodge, and they will take you the rest of the way.”
Lara’s stomach leaped to her throat. Can I do this? She had already trusted Bonnie with her plans.
Bonnie rested her hands on her hips. “You have the food I gave you?”
“Yeah,” Lara nodded, barely able to talk. The woman had started out as a suspected enemy and turned out to be the kindest person she’d ever met.
Bonnie suddenly pulled her into a hug. “Be safe. Don’t leave the road. Trust the guys—they are loyal to the forest folk.”
“Thank you for everything,” Lara sputtered, “you’ve been very kind to me.”
Bonnie’s eyes watered. “You’d better leave before Sol comes back. The Lodge is only a few miles, but he’s fast for an old man. Hurry.”
Gripping the oversized coat, Lara waddled to the barn trying to ignore the chilling scene. The hills swallowed the house and barn like a grave. Nothing stirred but the freezing wind and a few miniscule snowflakes drifting from the overcast sky. She was grateful Draven had left Lavar; it meant she would reach The Lodge in no time.
Pulling the door aside, she squeezed through into the warm barn and closed it behind her.
“Saban?”
There was no answer. The atmosphere felt different than it had before—apprehensive and sticky. Danger danced on the air, and Lara immediately felt on edge.
“Lavar?”
A snort from his stall sounded and his gray nose appeared over the top of the rope. Lara hurried to the end of the barn and drew back in surprise. Lauric stood in the stall.
“What are you doing here?” she asked.
He patted Lavar’s neck before dipping under the rope. “Your horse is huge,” he ignored her question. “Quite a horse for such a little lady.”
“I can ride him,” she challenged.
“I’m sure you can.”
“Why are you here? I thought you left already?”
He watched her every move. “I kept thinking about what you said to me, just before I left.”
“What did I say?”
“That I was kind.”
His words made Lara pause. “You are kind.”
“Why would you say something like that?”
She looked past him for Saban.
“No one’s ever said that to me before,” he continued.
Lara sighed. “Okay.”
“The King has been informed of your answer.”
Anxiety nudged at her. “Why did you return?”
“My orders are to bring you in.”
Fear and anger mixed together, as if on the high setting of a blender. “It’s true then? Sol is working with the enemy?”
Lauric smiled half-heartedly. “Whether you’re the enemy or not depends on whose side you’re on.”
“I won’t go with you. And Saban will fight you to the death.” Lara frantically searched the barn.
“I know,” Lauric stepped toward Lara. “I told you that my orders were to bring you in—not that I was bringing you in. You called me kind.”
Lara looked behind her as she backed into the wall. “Was that an insult or something?”
“No,” he smiled. “They must not have you. They will only use you for their own evil gain.” He stopped advancing toward Lara and lowered his voice. “I’m going to tell you what you need to know, and then I’m going to let you escape.”
His answer was shocking, and Lara remained silent while he spoke.
“The knife you used on yourself, is special. You weren’t supposed to do that,” he pointed to her side. “It’s very likely that you harmed Draven at the same time. Don’t let anyone take it from you. Ever. You won’t be able to cure him if someone hurts him with it. Do you understand? It will be the death of him. Draven will be coming for you soon. Geldrac knows that. He’s counting on it.”
She must have looked like a fish—open-mouthed and blank. “How do you know about Draven, and why would he come?”
Lauric smiled. “Everybody knows about Draven. And he’ll come because he loves you. Geldrac knows it will be easier to fight him here than in Brethlyn; Draven is weaker here and he won’t be able to bring all of his soldiers. Geldrac knows you are a distraction. Draven is more apt to make a stupid mistake here, and it would be an easy win. This is a war that has been planned for decades. They intend on wiping the Brethlyn out and claiming their lands.”
Lara was amazed at the wealth of information Lauric had just given her. “Why are you telling me all this?” she asked, trying to process all of his words.
Lauric looked down. “I’m from Ahnalise. I’m tired of being under the Celak rule. There are many of us who feel this way. We want to live in peace, but Geldrac is a bloodthirsty tyrant.” He shrugged his shoulders. “And, you called me kind.”
“How do I know that you’re telling me the truth?”
His narrowed his eyes. “I swear it!”
A thought came to her, and she hastily asked, “Abraxas Thelon—do you know him?”
Lauric nodded. “He’s been working with the Celak as a spy for many years now.”
“No!” Lara’s cry startled Lavar. A growl emitted from the beams above them, giving away Saban’s position. “I knew he was bad! He’s a traitor! He is supposed to be Brethlyn’s Captain of the Guard!”
“He has boasted of his betrayal many times,” Lauric admitted.
The reality of the danger for Draven was exceedingly real. She reached for the rope to Lavar’s stall in a daze. Unclasping the hook, she asked him to kneel. The large horse dropped to his knees.
“Many of us have considered joining with Brethlyn,” Lauric added in haste.
Lara eased onto Lavar’s back. “Thank you for the information you have given me,” she said. “I will remember how you helped me. I hope I can repay you some time.”
Lavar rose with a grunt.
“Remember my people. They don’t want to fight.” Lauric asked.
Lara pointed to the floor and Saban landed with a heavy thud at Lauric’s feet. Raising his hands in submission, he backed into the barn door.
“Can you open the door, Lauric?”
He didn’t say a word as he hefted it aside and watched Lara disappear into the falling snow.
It didn’t take long for Lara to reach the part of the forest affected by the fires. Though the falling snow covered most of it, the burned earth bled its stifling smell into the air, reminding her of the Umlands. Dismounting, she patted Lavar and knelt, taking the dirt into her hand. She raised it to her nose and sniffed. There was more than just the smell of fire. Oil was mixed in with the concoction. What had caused this fire?
She stood and closed her eyes, sensing the world. It was much easier now for her to feel the life about her. The thick forest behind her crawled with it. The wasteland before her was death. A noise sounded, and she wheeled around to face Sol.
“Why are you following me?” she demanded, upset he had not announced himself to her.
He gave her an awful smile. “My dear, I simply wanted to say goodbye.”
“Goodbye?”
“Yes, I know I cannot change your mind about leaving. I want to urge you to try to see things my way, but I know I can’t.” He edged closer to her. “May I give you a hug goodbye?”
Everything in Lara told her to stay away from Sol. Against her better judgment, she relented. He hugged her close and a bit longer than she wanted, but when he pulled away, there were tears in his eyes.
“Good luck, my dear.”
“Thank you,” she said stiffly.
“I hope that our paths will cross again.”
Instead of agreeing, Lara smiled. “Goodbye, Sol.”
He understood her meaning and withdrew. Lara led Lavar down a hill, and using the steeper side, mounted him. She left Sol without so much as a backwards glance.
Chapter Fifteen
Adric swore and stomped his feet. His orders were beyond ridiculous. The Queen had received word that Draven was returning. Adric knew better than to lay in wait for the Prince. It wasn’t like Draven to make a show – he wouldn’t announce his return, if he planned on returning at all – and moving the troops solely for this purpose was akin to stupidity.
Pressing his fingers to his jaw, Adric felt the area where Draven had broken it. It had healed within the hour, but it still made him wince to think about it. Not only had the punch surprised him, it made him realize that Draven would win in a fight. He had never been sure as to who would be the victor if they ever had to fight. Now he had his answer.
“Do you see anything?” one of the soldiers whispered, making him scowl. This was against everything he believed in. He shouldn’t be waiting to attack his friend. He might be the Captain now, but above all, he was Draven’s best friend. Wasn’t he? He didn’t know anymore.
Adric snapped a twig from one of the trees and chewed on it methodically. Draven had made a huge mistake bringing the girl. She was human—her kind didn’t belong here. Did Draven expect to marry her? He knew the rules: Humans were second class and off limits to Royals. Draven was going to ruin everything if he kept on his present course.
The Queen had always made it very clear she didn’t want Draven knowing everything. She even surrounded Draven with Brethlyn Lords and Ladies possessing the same talents as he, so he wouldn’t try to develop them further. It was something Adric hated. Draven had a right to know who and what he was. Then he fell in love with that girl, and the Queen grew desperate. To force the Seeing on them both was cruel, and it further cemented the fact that Draven wouldn’t be allowed to be with his true love.
Adric shuddered. The Queen was cold. Why would she do it? It didn’t make sense. To arrest the future King and hold him without trial sounded more like treason than anything else. Adric was in a terrible predicament. His choices were simple: turn his back on the Queen and side with Draven, or turn his back on his best friend. He’d been playing both sides of the fence for far too long, and it was finally blowing up in his face. Frustrated, Adric spat the twig onto the mossy forest floor and broke through the line.
“Adric,” a soldier called, “you’re giving your location away!”
“He’s not coming,” Adric announced in a loud voice. “Even if he were, he’d know it was a trap. Go back.”
The green landscape began to shift, and soldiers from every foot of the forest uprooted themselves. Tree trunks pulled apart revealing camouflaged men and women. Boulders uncurled, straightening and stretching into Falwyn form. The river running alongside the castle shrank as troops climbed from it, shaking their limbs free of the water.
“Where are you going?” A familiar voice followed Adric as he broke from the group.
“I need a break,” he spat again and faced his friend.
“If he finds you alone, you’ll have one hell of a fight.”
“You don’t know that.”
The tall man watched the soldiers fall into line and begin the march the few miles back to the castle. “He’s angry. This never should have happened.”
“What do you mean?”
“I mean he’s the future King. The Queen is wrong.”
“Chael, that kind of talk will get you imprisoned.”
He shrugged, wiping his forehead. “Let it. I don’t like what is happening.”
Adric nodded. “I just wish I knew where he was.”
Chael shifted his stance. “If he’s as smart as we all know he is, he’s gone to see Meldus.” He lit his pipe and breathed in the smoke. “You know it’s a possibility. Why haven’t you mentioned it to the Queen?” Chael pushed.
“Why do you think?” Adric shoved away from him and turned into the woods.
If Draven had gone to see Meldus, then he would know everything. He would return, and he would be livid. If there were more soldiers that felt as Chael did, there would be plenty that would side with Draven. A revolution would take place.
Slipping between two giant boulders, Adric sank to the ground, his back resting against the huge rock. Damn the girl, and damn Draven! Damn me, too. He hung his head, feeling the strain of the years upon him.
Then, the forest stopped moving, and the hair rose on the back of his neck. It was a tell-tale sign that Draven was near. The animals always seemed to hold their breath waiting to see what the Prince would do. It was the only way Adric knew Draven was present—it meant danger. Draven had no idea how powerful he was. The tales said he would be the Evil Prince. But just how evil, no one knew.
“Draven,” Adric called, his hand resting on the hilt of his sword. He stood, cautious, watching for signs of movement around him. Unsheathing the sword, he scanned the wood.
“I know you’re here,” he announced to the unnerving silence. Making a small circle, he pushed his eyesight beyond the trees. “I can feel you,” he said, his voice revealing his unease.
Instantly, Draven appeared a few feet before him, his glowing silver eyes staring through him. Startled, Adric jumped back and collided with the boulder.
“My God,” he exclaimed, “you scared me!” He looked Draven up and down, and a chill ran through him; Draven had drastically changed.
Draven had always been lithe, but now he stood before Adric with twenty pounds of pure muscle added to his frame. No longer clad in the drone-like Falwyn uniform, he was a powerhouse of confidence, a long armless leather jacket draped around his square shoulders. A dark green tunic, with gold embroidery meticulously sewn into the neck, hung over his dark brown leather pants. A thick belt wrapped around his waist, holding a sword and two knives. His bow in his hand, he looked every inch a King.
Adric was unable to hold Draven’s intense glare for long. It made him feel as if he were being looked through. Draven’s presence was frightening. Adric lowered his sword.
“Where’ve you been?” he attempted and waited for Draven to answer. When Draven didn’t, Adric shifted uncomfortably. “You seem…different,” he tried. Still, there was no response. “Have you come to claim the throne?” he pushed, attempting to draw some reaction from Draven.
It was then that Draven spoke, his voice dark and strong. “Tell me everything you know,” he commanded.
Adric resisted, but his mouth opened and he listened to himself start at the beginning. Draven’s demeanor did not change the entire time Adric spoke. When he finished, the weight of the world fell from his shoulders, and he nearly collapsed, exhausted from the confession.
“You are either with me or against me,” Draven said. “There is no in-between.”
“My position makes me loyal to the Queen,” Adric began, and Draven raised his hand, a tremendous force knocking Adric in the windpipe, dropping him to his knees. The invisible enemy lifted Adric by the neck and pushed him against the boulder. There was no remorse in Draven’s eyes.
“Then you’ve made your choice,” Draven’s tone was final.
A frantic voice rang out. “My Prince!” Chael dropped beside Draven, quickly backing away, his hands up in submission. “Don’t do this! It wasn’t his fault! It’s not any of our fault.”
Tears seeped from Adric’s eyes as he gagged. Chael continued nervously.
“We are with you. We’ll help you.”
“I don’t need anyone to help me take what is rightfully mine,” Draven growled, “and I will not take prisoners.”
“Sir, please,” Chael begged. “He’s your best friend!”
“Do you have any idea what he’s done to me?” Draven’s calm demeanor erupted, and he shouted his last words, throwing his hand to the side. Adric flew into the boulder and collapsed, unconscious in the dirt.
Chael eyed his friend’s limp body. “Yes, I do. There are many of us who know what’s been done. We know it was a terrible thing, but we would have been killed if we said anything. Please, don’t judge us the same.”
Snarling, Draven turned, his long jacket tossing around him.
“Don’t leave,” Chael unsheathed his sword. “I will pledge to you, as will Adric.”
Draven turned. “You’d betray your Queen so easily?”
“She will have you imprisoned if you return. If you sought Meldus, he told you everything. She was wrong to have done what she did—what she plans to do. Many of us have always thought so. But you cannot do this on your own, surely you realize that?”
Draven paused, considering Chael’s words. To claim an entire kingdom on his own would be difficult, no matter what new powers he had.
“Let those loyal to you, join you.” Chael pushed.
