Читать книгу Dark One Rising - Leandra Martin - Страница 8

Just inside the border of the Dark Woods, underneath a hooded heavy woolen cloak, Alekzand’r Kenyon Morgan waited for his companion and calmed his horse who was more fidgety than normal today. His side of the kingdom was finally seeing signs of spring, but this side, the raw winter went on. The horse’s breath could be seen in the raw bitterness of the cold, and he suddenly longed for the warmth of a fire and a tankard of spiced ale. But that would have to wait. There was business to attend to first. He flexed his fingers to try and work out the frozen joints. Despite the protective leather of his thick gloves, the cold air still caused the fingers of his hands to get stiff after so many hours in the saddle, and his back and neck were getting sore as well. Spring seemed to be coming later and later every year here. It wasn’t normal, and it made him irritable. Too many nights sleeping under the stars in the bitter cold, not enough warmth to perk up his soul.

There was something dark and disturbing hanging over this side of the kingdom, but he’d be damned if he knew what it was. He spent too much time riding the countryside not to notice the change. The people were more nervous these days, rather jumpy when it came to strangers in their villages. They went to market to do their trading, but rarely stayed out to enjoy the festivities that always followed a day of bartering. The artisans and entertainers complained of light purses due to the anxiousness and tight fisted patrons. He couldn’t figure out what people were so afraid of, but he feared something wicked was blowing in the wind.

He guessed that whatever was amiss very likely had something to do with the Duke of Xenos, but he had no solid proof, just his gut. People talked, and it was easy to get information out of the villagers with the right motivation, usually the clinking kind. He had been told stories of dark arts being performed inside the walls of Sexton Manor, and people seemed more afraid of Fallon than usual. It was no secret that he was a crass and quick tempered ogre. Peasants always created made-up stories, for they were a superstitious lot, but Alekzand’r didn’t think they were all just stories this time. He felt something stirring, but he couldn’t put his finger on it. He heard of strange things and seen some as well, but he couldn’t explain any of them. He would not start worrying about it just yet, but he refused to just brush it off as nothing either. Soon, he would have to find out what was happening, and he hoped it wouldn’t be too late when he did.

Alekzand’r saw a horseman approach who looked over his shoulder as if making sure no one was following, then slipped in behind the trees and pulled his horse in next to him. The stranger reined in his mount and pulled his hood from off his head, his breath making mist in the bitter air.

Alekzand’r, now knowing the coast was clear, pulled his hood off as well. He put out his hand for his companion to shake, and they nodded to each other.

“Kevaan, it’s been a long time.”

“Yes, it has. Too long I’m embarrassed to say.”

“How goes things on your side of the fence?”

Kevaan shook his head. “Not so good. My father has been acting strange lately, but I cannot put into words why I feel he’s not himself. Just random things. Random acts and deeds.”

“Is he not well?”

“Physically he seems fine, but mentally..” He left it hanging in the air. “That’s why I have come. I need a big favor. I trust no one else as much as you for this. It’s extremely important.”

“We’ve been friends for many years, Kevaan. Anything I do for you would be no favor, only an act out of friendship.”

Kevaan nodded his head. “You’re one of my closest friends too; that’s why I feel I can’t trust anyone else with this task. It’s too delicate.”

“What is it?”

“It’s about my sister.”

“Ah, fiery Melenthia. How is she these days? I haven’t seen her since she was practically a child.”

“Well she’s no longer a child and hasn’t yet picked a man to whom she wants to marry. My father is at his wits end with her, and in saying so, has decided that he will no longer accept an old maid for a daughter. He has given her hand in marriage.”

“I find it hard to believe that she hasn’t had many such offers. She was a lovely child, although precocious, but I assume has grown into a beautiful woman.”

“She has. But, she is also not quite a normal girl. She does not hold the same ideals as the rest of the girls in court her age. She wants someone to love, not someone in name only, which has made the decision harder. Men find her extremely attractive, until she opens her mouth, then they are insecure about themselves. It’s my fault, really. I should never have allowed her to learn things that only men should know. I have ruined her chances of finding a man who will actually love her. They want a wife, not competition.”

Alek smiled at that. “You’re a doting brother, and you only did what you thought was necessary at the time. Learning those things is not a total detriment. It may serve useful in the future. One cannot know.”

“Yes, you may be right, normally. However, my father does not see things as you and I do. He has given her hand to someone, and I cannot sway his decision.”

“Who is the lucky man?”

Kevaan frowned. “The Duke of Xenos.”

“Fallon Rommel? What in the name of all that’s holy was your father thinking?”

“That’s the problem, he wasn’t. As I said, he’s been acting strange, and this only adds to my suspicion that something is terribly wrong. I fear for my sister’s life. Fallon is cruel and frightening. If I hadn’t stepped in between them at her party, he would’ve taken her by force that very night. I shudder to think what may happen to her in his house if she does anything to make him angry, and chances are very likely that she will.”

“I have heard strange stories around the land about the Duke. I fear he has made a pact with something dark. There is something threatening in the winds. I feel it everywhere.”

“I too have heard stories and felt eerie things. Melenthia also mentioned things, but I acted as though they were nothing. I didn’t want to frighten her. Now I’m afraid Melenthia may be a pawn in some sinister game Fallon is playing, but what it is, I don’t know.”

“What favor do you need of me, Kevaan? I will do whatever I can to help in this unfortunate state of events.”

Kevaan placed his hand on Alek’s shoulder. “Thank you, my friend. She has decided to run away, to escape this sentence she has been given. I asked her to stay put until I could come up with a plan. Leaving is her only option now. If she runs, and my father doesn’t know about it, the deal with Fallon would be off, but my father would not be accused of treachery.”

“Fallon will not walk away so easily though. He will hunt your sister down. He will not allow the deal to be stopped. If your father has promised Melenthia to him, he will do everything to make sure the deal is carried out, no matter what the cost. That man has evil permeating from his skin, I swear.”

“I know, and there lies the dilemma. I fear he has done something to my father to force him to make the decision in the first place. My sister is in danger whether she accepts his hand or not. I cannot protect her this time. I have to concentrate on finding out what’s happening. I need someone to watch over her. I cannot live with myself if I allowed her to walk out the door and face the outside alone. She can protect herself, of that I have no doubt, but if he hunts her, he will find her. I need someone to keep her safe and put her somewhere Fallon will not find her so easily.”

“I will help you, Kevaan. I wouldn’t want anything bad to happen to her either. I have been trying to put my finger on weird happenings all over the kingdom. I too need to find out what’s amiss, but I will make sure she is taken care of first.”

“Do you have somewhere you can take her that she’ll be relatively safe, at least for the time being?”

He paused, then answered, “Yes, I know of just the place. I will take her to Drydon Keep in Azlyn.”

“With the King?”

“Yes. I trust King Dainard with my life, and I know he will help. And frankly, he needs a task to keep him occupied. He has been lax in his good behavior more than normal lately, and I cannot seem to talk him out of his decisions. This would give him something to keep him away from the destructive path he seems to be walking down. The harlots, the drinking and fighting. I swear that boy does it just to make me sweat. He has a big heart though, just as his father had, and the people love him. I fear for him. But this may just keep him in line. He’s loyal to his friends, and he’ll do whatever it takes to protect her if I ask. That I can guarantee.”

“Thank you, Alek; I didn’t know where else to turn. If this turns out alright, I will owe you my life.”

“Friends do not owe favors, Kevaan. Just promise me you’ll not be out of touch as long next time.”

“I won’t.”

“And if you hear anything more, keep me apprised.”

“I will.”

Alek rubbed a hand across his chin in thought, then asked. “Are you sure she’ll stay put for your return?”

“The Duke and his entourage will arrive at the castle in three days. I will have her out and to whatever rendezvous point you suggest before that. I won’t tell my father. By the time she is discovered missing, you will have her on her way to Drydon Keep by then.”

Alekzand’r looked concerned, his head snapping to attention. “I saw Fallon and his men heading for the castle two days ago. I stuck to the woods. They were on the trading route road. I wondered what their hurry was. They’ll be at the castle by tomorrow evening if they keep up the pace they were in.”

“What? He’s arriving earlier than expected.”

“On purpose I would imagine. Arriving early guarantees surprise, which means not enough time for your father to try something against him.”

“That doesn’t leave me any time at all. If Melenthia gets word that he is nearer than expected, she will flee, and I won’t be there to stop her.”

“Is she clever enough at least to stick to the woods?”

“Yes, I would bet that she would do her best not to be seen by anyone who would betray her. The people of the near-by villages love her, so they might harbor her, but I don’t think she would risk being seen down the main roads.”

“That still gives us some time. Return to the castle. Fly like the wind, Kevaan. You must get there before he does. You need to be there when he arrives. Take the old mining road and then cut your way north along the river. It may get you there just ahead, but barely. I will stick to the woods and back roads myself and keep my eye open for her. I promise I will find her and keep her hidden. I must go to an old friend, but it won’t take long. He will give me a way to hide from them and stay hidden all the way to Drydon Keep. Do what you can; I will do the rest.”

Kevaan placed a hand on his shoulder again and squeezed. “Thank you, Alek.”

“No thanks needed. Fallon is an awful punishment for anyone, especially one as lovely and kind hearted as Melenthia. I will do everything in my power to keep her safe, or die trying.”

They nodded to each other, pulled up their hoods once again, and rode off in opposite directions.

***

Alekzand’r galloped hard down the back roads, keeping himself hidden from eyes that might be watching. He thought about what Kevaan had told him. The worry he had about Duke Fallon seemed more urgent now, knowing what he knew. It seemed his want for power and domination were crossing over both borders and seeping into the houses of those who would most likely stand against him. If he wasn’t careful his house would be next. He couldn’t think of a rational reason why he would be attempting to control King Randor, but when speaking of Fallon, there was no rationality in anything. He was power hungry, and it seemed to Alek now, that the stories the locals told were more than just stories. Perhaps Fallon had indeed sold his soul to the Dark One in order to gain more power over the land. The thought was more than frightening; it gave him a chill so deep, he could feel it in his toes.

He rode through the woods, maneuvering his horse around the large trees. He had traveled these woods and back roads so often, he could safely pass through them at this speed with his eyes closed. But today he needed to keep sharp, his eyes needed to see every movement and be wary of every person he came in contact with. He was not worried about being seen at Sol’s cottage, for the sorcery kept it hidden from those he didn’t want to find him. Only friends could find Sol’s house. If he was indeed going to keep the princess safe, away from the spying eyes of those who would report to Fallon, he would need Sol’s help.

He approached the spot where he would have to dismount and lead his horse on foot. The way into Sol’s place was tricky to those who had never been there before, but even he was nervous that he might get lost in the hidden woods if he was not careful.

He jumped down from his horse and grabbed the reins, leading it around the bole of a huge tree. He took a quick moment to stretch his back and legs that had gotten stiff from the cold hard ride. He let the reins of his mount fall, his horse leaning down to graze on whatever foliage he could still find on the hard forest floor.

Alekzand’r leaned up against the tree, calling out, “Sol, it’s Alek. I need a favor.”

He waited for a few minutes, then felt the air around him change. He grabbed the reins of his horse again and walked around the same tree he had been leaning on. The forest was the same, but there was now a small path leading off to the right, that had not been there a few moments before. He took the path, winding through the trees for approximately a half mile before he saw a small cottage with a plume of smoke coming from out of the chimney. He walked to the front door, tied his horse to the rail just outside, and knocked. He waited for a few moments, then the door creaked open just slightly, and Alekzand’r pushed it open the rest of the way, stepping into the plain, but warm house.

There wasn’t much to adorn the roughly built cottage: a table with two chairs near the kitchen area on the right, a door leading to a tiny bedroom off to the left. A large bookcase stood against one wall with heavy leather bound books, maps and parchment strewn haphazardly on the shelves. There was a fireplace with two chairs in front of it toward the back of the room. Sol was sitting in one of the chairs, feet propped up on an overturned bucket, smoking a pipe.

Alekzand’r approached Sol, who looked his way for a moment, nodding, then turned back to the fire, the light of it dancing in his eyes.

Sol was older than Alek, but Alek never had the guts to ask how old he really was. He suspected he wouldn’t believe it even if he told him the truth. His face was wrinkled and pale, with crinkly lines at the edges of his eyes. His hair was straight and gray, and it touched his shoulders. He was wise but quiet, and he knew every inch of Aelethia better than all the map makers combined. He had strange ways and powers that Alek didn’t understand, or wanted to understand. But he was loyal and a good friend.

He continued to remain silent, puffing on his pipe and making halos over his head. Alek sat down in the other chair, removed his gloves and leaned forward, holding his now bare palms out toward the flames, rubbing them together to fight away the numbness from the cold.

Sol puffed on his pipe a few more times, then stood up and went to the pot that was hanging from a hook over the fire. He stirred the contents, grabbed a cup from off another shelf in the kitchen, and ladled a bit of the concoction into it. He handed it to Alek, who took it gratefully, sipping the liquid and feeling the warmth soothe his raw throat. Sol ladled more into another cup and sat down with it in the chair he had recently occupied. He sipped the liquid too, then sighed. “What brings you back to my doorstep, Alek, after so much time away?”

“I’m sorry, Sol, for not coming more often, but the king has me working more these days. I’m trying to put back together the broken parts of his kingdom that fell apart after his father’s untimely death. You know how people are, they tend to become lost when the leadership disappears.”

“Dain is their leadership now.”

“Yes, I know, but people get used to things the way they are. Most people don’t do well with change.”

“They love him, and most of the people seem to respect him.”

“Yes, that at least I can relax about. He has a good heart, like his father before him, but sometimes he seems so lost.”

“He is young yet.”

“He is ten years older now than his father was when he became king.”

“Times change, Alek. Young men are not as mature as their ancestors were before them. It’s unfortunate, but it seems that they don’t hold the same ideals or see the world as their elders did. But he will learn. He has the capacity to be a great king. Be patient.”

“I am. That’s why I glue back all the things that fall apart. I love him and want him to succeed. Sometimes I’m just tired of his lack of motivation. I’m tired of trying to keep his soul intact.”

Sol laughed. “I’m sure all the past Royal Advisors have felt the same way. In fact, I happen to know his father had his whims too.”

“Yes, but his father was disciplined. Dain needs structure and purpose. There’s something dark coming, and I’m afraid he won’t be ready to handle whatever havoc it wreaks when it does.”

“So you’ve felt it too?”

“Yes. What is it, Sol?”

“I don’t want to say more than what I know for sure, but I too fear that something is upon us that may rip Aelethia apart. Someone is dabbling in things they should not trifle with. I sense evil coming, but I don’t yet know what we’re dealing with. I will be meeting with the Elvin Elders in one week from now. I hope together we can see into the Mirror of Souls so that we can be ready for whatever dark cloud is coming.”

“There are suspicions that the Duke of Xenos is behind this. I’ve heard stories, seen things I can’t explain. I’ve talked to a reliable source on the other side of the land, and he too senses something very wrong. All fingers point in Fallon’s direction, but I don’t yet have proof.”

Sol puffed on his pipe in thought, his eyes steadily gazing into the flickering flames. “Yes, I suspect that too. What is it you need from me?”

“Kevaan Breslin, High Prince of Aaralyn, has asked me to take his sister into hiding. Her father has promised her hand to Fallon in marriage, and he fears for her life.”

Sol looked in Alek’s direction once again, their now lukewarm drinks all but forgotten. “Why would her father make a pact such as that?”

“Kevaan fears his father is not himself, that perhaps Fallon has coerced him somehow into taking his proposal. I need to get her to Drydon Keep in haste. She will flee from her fate, and the only way she will be safe is if I take her to the castle myself and have Dain watch over her. The roads will be too dangerous. Fallon will stop at nothing to hunt her down. The only way I can escape with her is through the Sorcerers Wood. I need your map, Sol. I need it to make sure prying eyes cannot see, and his men cannot follow. I may not need it, but I’d feel better if I had it near, just in case.”

“I know how you feel about going into those woods, Alek. You must fear for her life as well if you are asking me for a favor such as this.”

“Yes. I know he’ll not stop until he finds her. He’ll be relentless in his pursuit, and, if he finds her, she’ll be in extreme danger.”

“Okay, Alek. I’ll give you the map.”

He stood from his chair once again, setting his cup on the table as he passed by. He went to the bookcase and rifled through piles of papers. He lifted books and set them aside, searching between the pages for what he was looking for. He opened an old wooden chest sitting in front of the bookcase. “Aha. Here we are.”

He stood up smiling, closing the lid of the chest gently. He was carrying a folded up piece of old parchment, yellowed from age, and handed it to Alek when he reached his side. Alek took the map and slipped it into a pocket in the inside of his cloak He looked at Sol, who sighed as he sat down in his chair, and smiled.

“Thank you, Sol. I promise to keep it safe. It won’t fall into the wrong hands.”

“I know you’ll be careful, Alek. I would never trust something so delicate to just anyone.” He paused, then continued. “I wonder why Fallon is so dead set on the princess. He could have any woman he wants, and does, from what I understand. I’ve seen the princess, and she is quite beautiful, but she is no ordinary girl. Most men shy away from her. Why would Fallon want a woman who most men feel would embarrass them?”

“He wants whatever power he can gain from King Randor?”

“He can forcefully take that. His armies are growing like a plague. He could easily start a war with the North and more than likely win. There is something he can gain by marrying the princess.”

“What?”

“That’s what I hope the Elders can tell me.”

“When will you return?”

“I don’t know. As you know, the road to Vallis is long, and time there is not the same as here. I cannot give you an exact time frame, but I can guess that I will be gone at least a month. I have prepared myself for a long time away.”

They stood from their chairs, and although Alekzand’r dreaded leaving the peaceful warmth of the fire, he knew he must be on his way. If Melenthia got too far ahead of him, he might miss her. He could not let that happen. He had to have her in custody and be on the road through the Sorcerers Wood before nightfall tomorrow. He made a promise to Kevaan that he would keep her safe, or die trying, and he vowed not to fail. He would make sure she reached Drydon Keep safely. It would be up to Dain to keep her safe from then on.

Sol and Alek shook hands. Alek put his gloves back on, the sound of the now warm leather creaking as he flexed his fingers.

“Thank you, Sol, for this,” he said patting his chest where the map was under his cloak. “Wish me luck. The princess’ life depends on it.”

“Take care, Alek, and make haste. I fear whatever dark magic Fallon might be dabbling in may be upon us before we know it. We have to be ready. I will contact you when I return from Vallis.”

“Good luck to you as well, Sol. Be safe.”

“I will.”

Alek opened the door, grabbed his horses reins and swung up into the saddle. He turned him around and walked off into the woods slowly, for the path was narrow and the sun was setting. The darkness of the woods chilled his soul for some reason tonight, but he shook it off as he rode through the gloom of the trees. He headed back to the entrance of the secret path and thought about the task that was ahead of him. He hoped that he could find the princess before she got out of reach and that Fallon would not be on her trail. He needed time to get to the Sorcerers Wood road, and if Fallon’s men followed too close, they would all be lost inside the hidden forest. He had to get in ahead of them so that the door would close behind him. That was the only way he would escape with her. He could not fail. He would not fail. He kicked his mount into a gallop and flew like the wind down the road.