The Final Lesson, page 19
part #1 of The Final Lesson Series
She wasn’t older than eleven years old, but she carried such fire that it was closing time that it would strike fear into the heart of any man in her path. “Cici!” the girl called over, pulling the pink ribbon from her hair, her curly locks falling to her shoulders. “All done for the night! Did you have any luck?”
Sien set her napkin on the table, sighing. “Well, the mixture worked wonders, but note to self and note to you, Luna, truth serums crafted from Passionflowers are best effective on test subjects that don’t have a sense of idiocy behind clouded logic. All that he was doing was trying to flirt just like the other guys. But it wasn’t as graphic.”
“He didn’t try to make any moves, did he?”
“No, he’s too sensitive. I can tell he’s troubled—he walked in here looking lost. I’m sure that he needed the drink.” Then she paused. “Oh, wait a second… maybe next time I shouldn’t put it in alcohol. The guy did say he wasn’t a drinker.” She grinned. “I can use tea!”
“Why didn’t you do that in the first place?” Luna whined. “Now we have to leave him here!”
“I’m sure that he’ll be fine.” Sien stepped over to Lancett and carefully wrapped his arm around her shoulders, pulling him to his feet. Luna trekked over to the two and held him by his waist, too short in stature to manage further help. “Hopefully he can sleep well…”
Leilana marveled at storm-clouds filling the open air, her hands caressing a thick pile of hay in the refurbished carriage. Horseshoes trotted along the lengthy trail, the informant checking in on them every so often. Solus and Leilana found themselves unable to speak, conflicted over their experiences with Rem, the young prince sleeping in the hay, wrapped around him like a blanket.
The jog to meet with the informant drew attention from the people of Kalonia but leaving immediately was a far easier feat. They now knew the faces that played a part in the assassination of their deity and their savior, gone in one fell swoop. They would never be allowed back in that city; they were wiser off never returning. Met with a blank stare that evolved into a glare upon seeing citizens ushering them out in a less than friendly matter, the man on his horse-drawn carriage wielded a sharp tongue the moment that they arrived past his scheduled time, his scraggly brown hair up on all ends, covered by a top hat. He dressed as though he were attending a dinner party in Linmus, his overall appearance condescending. And they were stuck with him for the next day.
“I can only take you so far,” the informant, who earlier gave them the name Lunious, specified. “Up to the Teir region, no more. You get off my carriage at the first town we reach.”
“We understand,” Solus replied, leaning over the cart to face the man, resting his chin on his hands. “We appreciate your help nonetheless, Lunious. You didn’t have to.”
“Oh, I know,” Lunious scoffed, whipping the reins a bit harder on his steed to speed up their pacing. “As much trouble as you got into back there? You’re lucky that Prince Remiel made it out in one piece! You know how screwed we’d be with no king in Adrylis? How would I be able to sell my goods if they’re all chewing their nails and biting their tongue about this war? They’re supposed to be preparing for it by buying me out!”
Solus gripped to the cart to steady himself when the horse jerked forward and hit a bump on the road. Leilana winced when her head hit the back of the cart, rubbing the injury, glaring up at the man, but by the time that he started up another topic, they were well past their annoyance.
“Jumping the gun and screwing up that bad. Kid’s not so bright, is he?”
“He’s bright but reckless, so it pans out,” Solus admitted.
“Lady Karma’s gonna nip him in the ass if she hasn’t already.” Solus visibly flinched, and Leilana sighed, leaning against the cart. He wasn’t very subtle when it came to dealing with people and his emotions, was he?
“This guy is sketchy, and he’s a little rude,” Leilana told Solus upon him taking a seat. “What made you pick him out of the crowds?”
“He spotted Rem, claimed that he knew his mom and wanted to help us. That was his shorthand explanation.” Solus smiled at her, resting a hand on his knee as he straightened his back. “Contrary to his questionable behavior, he has a kind heart. That is hard to find in trying times.”
“I still feel like he could be a little nicer.”
“People aren’t perfect, Leilana. There is always something more that we want or expect from others in hopes of glorifying our ideals.”
Leilana wrapped her arms around her knees, resting her chin on them. “I don’t expect people to be perfect, Solus. But humanity leaves you wondering about their unworldly actions. They prosper, but they’re really only looking out for themselves.”
Solus allowed her words to sink in before turning his gaze up to the sky, folding his hands. “Sometimes that’s how it is. We spend our lives wondering what instrument we are to play in this symphony of life. We learn the notes, string together the tools needed to craft an efficient sound, and we play again and again, and we hope to become better. We share that gift we possess with others who see us at work, and we form an unbreakable connection. That is meaning.”
A faint crimson aura surrounded Solus’s body, and before Leilana could react, it had dissipated, much like Rem and Kindall before him. That made two. Leilana grinned, tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear. “You know, you have a funny way of spooling an analogy.”
“It is a talent of mine,” he joked. “Do you like it?”
“I do. It’s comforting to hear.”
He could turn the tides of his soul with the drop of a hat. Solus was a perfect foil to Rem’s personality. He was stoic, motivated, gentle and kind, more of Rem’s shield rather than his servant. He didn’t let Rem dominate him but knew his place. Still, Solus’s newfound connection was suspicious. There wasn’t a drop of magic in his bloodline—she would have sensed his prowess, and he certainly wasn’t a Maester like Rem. That left her considering that he may have woken to his part in her pilgrimage, but any magic was a mystery. There was no guidance from the Warlords. She would have to uncover his totem on her own.
Rem was a mesh of misunderstanding to everyone but Solus, which eliminated that trait. Solus wasn’t the type to embody laughter or merriment and allow it to dominate him. His desire for friendship was undeniable, but he didn’t go out of his way to achieve it, evident by the way that he treated Amiria. Humbleness seemed akin to his personality, but like the rest, that was also reliant on the person he offered it to. That left passion and love. His actions were passionate, his friendship with Rem and the desire to protect her on unbreakable levels. Then there was love, a concept that she couldn’t comprehend.
“Is something wrong?” Solus asked, cutting through the silence. Leilana opened her mouth to speak, but no words rose. She folded her hands and cleared her throat, averting her eyes from him. Solus stretched out his hand to her, his want to comfort increasing. She wasn’t normally this closed off.
“Getting late,” Lunious called while looking over his map, causing Solus to lower his hand. “You kids might want to sleep. We’ll reach the closest spot in an hour or two.”
“I don’t need to sleep,” Solus replied. Leilana was settling under one of the blankets Lunious had graciously provided… for a small fee that cost the last of her funds. It would be a miracle if they could find decent refuge in the next town, given that Solus was the only one left with Nyte coins.
“Whatever’s your fancy, kid.”
Lunious tugged on the reins, the horse letting out a whinny before continuing down the beaten path. Solus glanced over the cart at the empty streets. Nothing along the way but paddies that overflowed and killed the grass. The springtime air was so crisp that he could taste the atmosphere on his tongue. Whatever lined their path to the eastern continent was abound in something much different from his northern roots or the eastern borders.
“What’s the closest town anyway?” Solus asked a few minutes into the unfavorable silence.
“Linarus. Pretty small place, lots of paddies and farmland, not much to go around. Got a great tavern though. The booze is top notch, could almost rival the castle bars.” Solus wasn’t much of a drinker, so he didn’t step into taverns often, but the lure of alcohol did sound tempting as a respite.
“Did someone mention a tavern?” Solus looked over at the young prince leaning over the carriage to keep his balance over the rickety road. “I wouldn’t mind going for some drinks.” Solus visibly cringed—they were low enough on funds as it was, and now the prince was dying for a stiff one since the knowledge of his last birthday was catching on fast.
“Are you even old enough to drink?” Lunious asked.
“He’s newly sixteen,” Solus piped up. “Barely the age limit.”
Lunious ushered his horse onwards, the animal’s hooves trotting against the dirt, pushing up some pebbles now and again. “Better tell that to the tavern mistress then. I don’t argue the idea of needing a little pick-me-up just to get through the night.”
Solus followed Rem’s gaze after receiving silence over Lunious’s statement. He was staring down at Leilana, who remained asleep, bundled under the blankets. Sometimes, Rem was too thick-headed for his own good. Solus crossed his arms, smirking at the younger man’s back.
“You know,” The gesture caused Rem to jump, the chill of his friend’s stare rushing down his spine. “If you want to protect her, why not just tell Leilana how you really feel instead of pushing her away and lying by saying that you don’t trust her?”
“What makes you think I trust her?” he asked.
“You’re like an epic, Remiel. It’s easy to flip through countless pages and choose your favorite parts once you get through the story enough times over.” After taking a place next to his friend, propping up his legs and resting a hand under his chin, he chuckled as he continued, “Besides, I’m your best friend. You can tell me anything in that silly head of yours.”
Rem rolled his eyes. “Yeah, you’re right about that. Even if I held my tongue, you’d chew it off.”
Solus was beaming. “I’m glad you see it my way. Back on subject. What do you think of her?”
Rem sighed, crossing his arms. “I think she’s a lot like you, but not like you at the same time.” Solus raised an eyebrow. That was rather contradictory. “She puts me in my place and tries to do the right thing. Can be kind of annoying at times, but I value it. And if you like her right off the bat, it has to speak leaps and bounds for how she must be.”
“Then why do you test her?”
“Because this journey isn’t meant to be easy. People are going to be hurt, and others will die. She’s got enough on her plate, and this is her first time seeing Adrylis. Why the hell does she need to get involved in my pilgrimage when she’s got her own?”
“Bear in mind, this is your first time outside of the walls as well, and I haven’t gone very far myself. But that is beside the point. I think that you should at least try to talk to her. I know that you remember what you said to her in Kalonia.”
“Wha-I-”
“Epic,” Solus repeated, tapping his forehead. “Now, time for talking is over. If we are going to be arriving in the next town, we’d best be prepared. I think that we can stop there and make our way to the next city on foot. Leilana does have her own map. Now, back to bed with you.” Rem kept a finger pointed in the air, his mouth hanging open before he closed it shut, rolling onto his side. “Good night.”
“Night.” Rem paused before stating, “I’ll try and apologize to Leilana tomorrow. I don’t want her to stay angry at me. Or to die if she explodes.”
“A wise move, Highness.”
Lunious rested a hand on the side of his face and sighed. Conversations between nobility were so damn boring. Couldn’t go around talking about money or women, nope, they just had to stroll down the path of war, redemption, and drama, drama, drama. Well, at least they were keeping their spirits up.
Solus was the first to jump from the carriage when they arrived in Linmus late into the night, just before eleven. The moon was still high enough in the sky for Lunious to briefly explain the phases of time and space to the three teenagers. Rem, uninterested by the spiel, took off after a few minutes to look for the tavern and settle down for the night. Leilana watched from afar as the young prince trekked through the open fields, talking briefly to the townsfolk that passed him by. At one point, she saw him give a nod in response and take off further into the area. Solus was hesitant to follow him at first, but in the end, thanked Lunious for the lesson and went after the young prince to keep him from running into trouble.
“That Solus kid sure does know how to take on burdens,” Lunious began, taking a long drag on his pipe to clear his own air, letting the smoke run free. “Must be nice to have a heart mended for pain.”
Leilana took to gathering their belongings in silence while the man spoke, stopping short when her fingers grazed metal. She pulled out what appeared to be a pistol hidden in the haystack. The barrel was icy, bound and built-in gold. There were traces of a powder lingering on the weapon, which she wiped her bag. She tucked it back under the haystack, not wanting to deal with the manner.
“You’re awfully quiet, Leilana.” He kept his back turned. “What ails you?”
She had never heard him speak with such sincerity—it was unnerving. She gathered her bag and held it close to her. “It’s nothing. I should catch up with Solus and Rem. I don’t want to be left behind.”
Lunious stepped towards her, towering over her diminutive height. She took a step back, and before she could question him, he tossed her a bag, which she nearly dropped out of surprise. The texture was rough, but a durable hide, able to properly carry whatever contents laid inside.
“You’ve got a long journey ahead of you. Wouldn’t want you starving to death.”
“Thank you.” She didn’t want to seem ungrateful. He brought them this far of his own free will, even if the circumstances were confusing. “I’m sure that we could use this effectively.” She jumped off the carriage and continued into town.
“Oh, you will! Food doesn’t last forever, ya know!”
Leilana listened to the horse’s hooves trot against the ground in the opposite direction before ceasing altogether. She turned around to find the merchant gone, and relief embellished her. She set the bag of food on the ground and opened it, an herbal scent overflowing from the interior. Fruits and vegetables, no meats or grains that could spoil too fast. It seemed normal enough, but there was something unsettling about it, and she couldn’t put her finger on what. Maybe she was paranoid because Lunious didn’t seem trustworthy himself. A man that talked to the people he was trying to help while keeping on his toes about what he said and why concerned her more than it had Solus.
She tied the bag shut, tossing it over her shoulder. The weight was immense over her tiny body, but not unmanageable. It would still be time before strength could grow along with her like Rem told her before. What was adulthood even like? Solus and Rem were older, but they weren’t adults yet themselves. Lancett was a bit older than her, but still nowhere near drinking age like her new allies. Ennis was only sixteen when he set off on his path to becoming a Warlord four years ago. He would have been twenty now, but he died just shy of eighteen, nowhere near the proper age of adulthood.
She spent time aimlessly walking, unsure of where Solus and Rem had gone off to. The people of this town were basking under the moonlight, some with tired faces and dark circles under their eyes, others filled with chortles and proclamations to those they walked alongside, hoes and wool-sewn bags over their shoulders. Though spacious and filled with more greenery than she had seen in any town thus far, Linarus was nowhere near as spacious as Kalonia.
Daybreak was a long way off, and yet several people were still out gathering herbs and planting more in their place. It seemed to be their specialty. It was quiet. Quaint, almost. She could see a prosperous life here somewhere down the line. Maybe not a life for her as a Warlord, but it was a life to hope for someday. She set the bag of food down near one of the open fields, figuring that the villagers could find more use for it than them—she couldn’t bring herself to trust anything relating to Lunious. Sketchy merchants were the worst kinds of people according to Ennis.
She spent the next twenty minutes or so roaming Linarus, rubbing her tired eyes every so often. She almost missed her warm bed back at Magiten Academy. Sleeping in hotels wasn’t bad either, nor was sleeping under the stars or in caves, but there was no comparison to your own pillow and blanket. It wasn’t long before she stumbled upon Solus and Rem standing outside of a small building chatting up one of the locals that had a drink in hand and a big smile on his face.
That had to be the tavern.
“Leilana!” Solus waved to her. Upon her return to their side, she briefly turned to Rem, who refused to meet her stare, biting his bottom lip to keep his tongue. “Sorry for leaving so suddenly.”
“It’s all right,” she told Solus. “I found you, after all. So, you and Rem are going drinking?”
“We’re planning on it. Care to join us or something?” Rem asked, clearing his throat afterward.
Leilana shook her head slowly in response. “I’m not old enough. I don’t even think that I’d like it. It has a strange odor.”
“I’m sure that’s not the case,” Solus chuckled, laying a hand on her head. “You just need to find something that suits your palette, like with food. But that’s a lot further down the road anyways. I’ll see about finding a place to lay our heads for the night, and you can go ahead.”
Leilana reached up her own hands to lay across his, grasping the warmth of his palm for a few seconds before moving it away from her head. “I may go right to sleep, just so you know.”
