On Hiatus!

I have to finish 366th Overlord and then I'll finish this one because the second book is kinda heavy on this prequel ;D

Chapter Five (first draft, will expand more later)

A few days before the Allegra and Frey arrived at Para, Faelwen had tucked herself away for a moment of peace from her life as Queen of Paramecia. She sat with her profile against the reflective light of the fountain. Her flawless pale skin and golden braided hair shimmered like the surface of the lake during sunset. She turned slightly, her golden eyes calm and controlled, to her chancellor who had just arrived, standing a few feet away from her.

“Is something the matter, Samus?” asked Faelwen.

Samus strode over, hands behind his back, to an empty chair across from Faelwen. “Everything is fine your majesty,” he said.

“Is that so? Hmm, I thought you had come here to drag me off to some new meeting,” said Faelwen.

“My Queen, there are times when you do need to relax,” smirked Samus. He produced a teapot and two cups from his back. “A special tea, courteous from the head chef.”

Samus placed the cups on the table and poured the tea into each cup. Then he sat in the empty chair. He couldn’t help but note how strong the Evengreen family traits were. She looked nearly identical to her younger sister save that she is slightly taller.

Faelwen had bent over to take a cup when she spotted the runner boy weaving in and around her courtiers in the distance. She sighed as she recoiled and held the cup at her lap. Her eyes still pinned on the boy.

Samus turned and looked at her direction. “I hope it is not another childish complaint from the House of Fir. Lately they’ve become quite vocal,” he said in disdain. He took the remaining cup and lifted it up at Faelwen. “I drink in hopes the news is something mundane and requires not of your attention, your majesty.”

He swallowed down the drink.

Faelwen grinned and shook her head. The hint of fine liqueur waffled to her nostrils from her cup of tea. She figured Samus had probably requested the head chef to lace the tea with alcohol for her. Though not prohibited, the Elders looked poorly on her if she drank on duty.

“Your majesty,” cried out the runner boy. The boy collapsed before them.

Samus immediately stood up and held the boy upward. “Breath boy! Here, drink this,” he said and handed the boy his empty cup. He took up the kettle and poured the arm tea into the cup.

Faelwen raised an eyebrow and Samus humorously shrugged. The boy gulped down the tea in one shot.

“Speak young one,” said Faelwen.

“There’s an envoy from Bastile, Captain Winster is her name. She says she needs to speak to you at the square, your majesty,” the boy trembled, “and there’s a coffin with her!”

The word coffin made the Queen stand up, her stomach sinking.

“Who’s in the coffin and is Arilyn with them?” she asked.

“I dunno, your majesty. I just saw the coffin before sergeant Markov told me to go tell you the message,” said the boy.

Faelwen sprinted off. That was all she needed to hear. “By the Goddess, please let it not be what I think it is,” she thought frantically.

“Wait, your majesty,” cried out Samus. He turned to the boy and shoved the teakettle into the boy’s arms. “The rest is yours,” he said and ran after the Queen.

% % %

When she had arrived at the square, her braided golden hair had come undone and her face flushed from both the liqueur laced tea and the running.

“Queen Faelwen is here,” shouted an elven soldier.

She slowed down, watching the rows of elven soldiers departed as she walked to an one-eyed human female. The human woman bowed respectfully.

“Greetings, your majesty. I am Captain Winster of Bastile,” said the woman.

“Where’s Arilyn?” asked Faelwen. She didn’t see Allegra around the human soldiers either.

Captain Winster lowered her eyes.

“I am sorry to say but Princess Arilyn has passed onto Yaaru, your majesty. I am here to bring her body to you,” said Captain Winster.

Faelwen felt the wind had been knocked out of her. “What did you say?” She needed to hear it again, just in case she may have misheard it.

“Arilyn is dead,” said Captain Winster.

The words rang painfully in the Queen’s ears. She griped her chest and felt her throat tighten. She felt a gentle hand on her shoulder and she turned to see a Samus.

“Samus, she’s gone,” said Faelwen hoarsely, tears streaming down her face.

Samus said nothing and only pulled the Queen into his arms to let her cry.

% % %

Faelwen sat on her throne, her hand clenching and unclenching repeatedly as she listened to Captain Winster.

“The woman is taunting for us to make the first move! Why else would she put on such a show at the square?” whispered Samus to her in Elven. “I do not believe the reasoning that she was abiding to the ancient custom to why she did not present herself in the castle.”

Winster stopped talking and smiled sweetly at Samus. “I can understand Elvish too,” she said and continued with her speech.

Samus lips tighten. Along the sides of the throne room were dignitaries from their allies and representatives of each Elven House. At the end of the row on the right side, the head of the House of Fir paled like a ghost.

“I thought you said that my sister killed herself out of guilt. Now you’re telling me that Allegra killed her?” said Faelwen, her golden eyes like bronze daggers.

Winster pursed her lips. “With all due respect, your majesty, but Allegra killed our king. It wouldn’t be too farfetched that she may have killed Arilyn too. I suspect to keep her treacherous plans a secret if she did.”

“Do you know where Allegra could be?” asked Faelwen, barely hiding her anger.

Winster shrugged. “Who would know? Perhaps she is with her only living family,” she insinuated something darker.

The head of the House of Fir stood up abruptly. “We have nothing to do with this or Allegra! We had cut ties with the half-breed years ago. We only let her keep our house name as an honor to her mother—“

Faelwen raised her palm. “That is enough Elder Fir,” she said. The Queen turned to Winster. “I need to grieve, Captain Winster. Please understand. Anything else, I will deal with later.”

“I don’t think I can oblige by that, your majesty,” said Winster. She pulled out a scroll from under her black cloak and tossed it at the feet of the elven Queen. “The testimony that Arilyn had wrote. By his majesty’s words, ‘We can not tolerate such aggression. We of Bastile declare war on Paramecia.’”

Along the rows, people gasped and there was a small outcry. Faelwen kept her harden eyes on Winster’s haughty stance.

“You come here to tell me that? We can kill on the spot and dump your bodies at the doorsteps of Bastile,” said Faelwen.

“I’ve taken that to account. I doubt her majesty will do in the presence of the dignitaries of the other kingdoms. Surely, they can see this is hardly Bastile’s fault,” said Winster.

“Get out now! Out of my kingdom,” raged Faelwen.

“Will do, your majesty,” smirked Winster and bowed out of the throne room.

“Your majesty, we can’t go to war right now! It will crush our progress for the United Trade and the agreements we have so far,” said Samus.

“I don’t care right now!” said Faelwen. She was suffering and raging. A combination that was making her lose herself. “Everyone, just get out! Just leave me alone!”

Faelwen slumped her shoulders and, for the first time in her life, let herself be vulnerable. Arilyn was her all she had ever since their parents had ascended to Yaaru on mount Meru a hundred years ago. They had asked her to take care of her younger sister and now she can not fulfill that promise.

Samus bit his lips and turned to the men and women at the court.

“Today is adjourned. The next session will be postponed as well until further notice,” said Samus.

There was a small rumble of squeaking chairs but no one dare to make conversation, well at least until they were out of the throne room. They filed out of the court with their minds on today’s turn of events. Elder Fir lingered to leave and approached the Queen, “My condolences, my Queen,” he said and then left the court.

Samus watched the last person leave before going over and picking up the scroll that Winster had tossed. He placed it in to the Queen’s lap. “Whether or not this testimony is true, Paramecia is doom to war. I know your heart is suffering and so is min, but you must prepare for the inevitable,” he said gently.

He gave the Queen a gentle hug and then left the throne.

Chapter Four (first draft)

Chapter Four

Allegra had seen the billow of smoke rising in the distance and she ran faster up the hill.

“Am I too late?” thought Allegra.

She was on top of the hill when she saw a group of soldiers trying to calm down a raving brown horse. Right away she noticed the symbol on their chest, a lion’s head. Quickly she pulled her blood-spattered hood over her head and slid her spade between her belt under her torn cloak. Then she made her way down the hill.

“Whoa, whoa, come down fella,” crooned a soldier.

He was a lanky man with fair hair and a hawkish nose.

“Bena, he ain’t calming down,” said one of the soldiers around him.

“Nar, calm. We are alright,” said Allegra as she approached the horse.

Nar immediately calmed down and stared at her, presumably in a horse kind of way, astonished.

“Is this your horse…what has happened to you, traveler?” asked Bena.

Allegra kept her head low, face shadowed, as she went to Nar.

“We were attacked by demons on the road,” said Allegra.

“By the gods! We thought we had killed them all. My apologies, do you need medical help? There’s a Grand Healer with us who’s healing the injured from the mob attack,” said Bena.

Allegra wavered her hand. “Thank you kind soldier, but my wounds are minor luckily. I do not wish to take up the Healer’s energy when he can use it to heal others,” she said.

Bena opened his mouth to insist when he, as well as Allegra, caught sight of a red haired woman coming over the hill.

“Hey, Al-“

“You’re alive!” cried out Allegra and dashed to Frey. She wrapped her arms around Frey and clung the shorter woman to her.

“Nice to see you too,” said Frey in a muffled voice, her redden cheeks pressed against the warrior’s chest.

“Listen to me, those are Bastilian soldiers. They have no idea who I am and I’d like not to fight honest soldiers. You got that?” whispered Allegra harshly. “Do as I say and I mean it this time.”

Frey nodded and was glad when Allegra pulled away.

“How did you survive? I thought you were gone,” said Allegra putting a convincing air of concern as she lead them to Nar.

Frey puffed her cheeks like a chipmunk. The warrior did not know the conditions of being a priestess of Isiana. One of which requires her not to lie. Ever.

“Well, I, hrum,” Frey became tongue-tied.

“Are you hurt, m’lady?” said Bena to Frey. “Again, my offer of the Grand Healer—“

“Grand Healer!” yelped Frey.

“Uh, yes, I was offering your friend here some healing if she was injured,” said Bena.

“Oh well, we don’t need it. We’re good. Just a little shaken up that’s all,” said Frey.

“If that’s the case, I am glad you two travelers are unharmed—which is a miracle by the way,” Bena hooked a thumb behind him toward the town’s gate. “We were just about to leave and catch up with our captain. I thought you two would like to take advantage of the Grand Healer before we escort him back to Paramecia.”

“Captain…?” said Allegra.

“Yes, The Quicksilver herself! Captain Winster. She has been charged with taking Princess Arilyn’s body back to Para,” said Bena and whispered. “Travelers, be careful. War is looming in the horizon. If you two are heading to Para, I suggest turning around and head back home.”

“Sounds grave,” said Allegra and turned slightly away so Bena wouldn’t notice the crackling of her jaw.

“Yes, indeed. Tell me, where were you attack so that we can kill those abominations?” asked Bena.

“Down the road. Not far from here,” said Allegra.

Bena nodded. “I see,” he turned to his soldiers. “We got two boogies down the road! Unit one come with me!”

One of the soldiers cracked her back. “The killing never ends,” she said.

“Not a word, Percela. Without us many innocents would’ve been killed,” said Bena as he moved to a fine black stallion. He climbed onto the saddle and took up the reins.

“May Isiana protect you two,” said Bena to Allegra and Frey. Then he tapped his left temple. “Ah, as another warning. A criminal of the highest treason has escaped from the capital’s prison. She is a half shade elven with unusual blue eyes. It has been reported that an equally dangerous red-haired witch also accompanies her. If you see any of the two, please report to the nearest authorities. There will be a handsome reward for those who help capture these traitors.”

“Will do,” said Allegra.

Frey and Allegra watched Bena spurred his stallion up the hill and over to the other side. Following him closely was the soldier named Percela and a few other soldiers.

“Newbs,” said Allegra under her breath. She looked onto the remaining soldiers who were busy burning demon carcasses in a pyre just beyond the entry gate. “No wonder Winster left them behind.”

“We’re lucky she did. They didn’t noticed us but I fear he may figure it out once he sees the demons on the road so going into Moss is out of the question,” said Frey. “I have a friend near. She can hide us until the soldiers are out of the area as it seems there is a bounty for us.”

“Is that the real reason why you don’t want to go into town?” said Allegra as she stroked Nar’s muzzle.

Nar neighed.

“Well, actually,” Frey stuttered.

“You can’t lie can you?” smirked Allegra.

“No,” smiled Frey. “Unlike you. Quite a thespian?”

“My secret guilty pleasure,” said Allegra and climbed onto Nar. She collected the straps that held the horse to the wagon as makeshift reins. “Get on before those soldiers notice us lingering.”

Frey climbed onto Nar and wrapped her arms around Allegra. For some reason, the warrior’s body felt quite delectable today. She did not realize where her hands actually were at.

The warrior grunted.

“What?” asked Frey.

“Your hands, lower them please,” said Allegra.

“Low—oh, sorry!” apologized Frey and moved her hands down to the warrior’s abdomen. “T-he hut is on the left fork of the road. It goes around Moss and into a pathless forest. Nar should know the rest of the way since that is where I got him. ”

Allegra nodded and clucked Nar to move down the forked road and curved around Moss. The warrior was careful to keep her head down as they passed the soldiers. Once they had gone around the town of Moss, the road had disappeared. Before them stretched rows of pine trees as high as towers and trunks massive enough for three riders to go through the upraised roots side by side.

“We should walk the rest of the way. My friend doesn’t like to see people riding horses,” said Frey as she got down. “Actually, she doesn’t like people much but that’s okay. She likes me.”

Allegra got off Nar and removed the straps.

“Something tells me she is not a usual woman,” said Allegra.

“I don’t know how you do it but you seem to already know what’s going on,” said Frey.

Allegra shrugged. “You can say a little bird tells me,” she said.

Nar flickered his ears and flashed his teeth.

“Oh look, Nar is happy to back with us, c’mon here boy,” said Frey and patted the horse’s snout. “I bet you want some oats! Little Narly wants some oats, don’t you?”

“If that woman calls me Narly one more time,” said Nar telepathically to Allegra, “I’m going to kick her in the face!”

Allegra nearly froze from hearing Nar in her head. It was the first time that the horse spoke in her mind instead of talking to her normally.

“Hey, Frey, let me lead Nar into the forest,” said Allegra.

“But he…,” Frey watched Allegra lead Nar, breaking branches that were in their way. “What has gotten into her?”

Frey followed the warrior and her horse silently, wondering if she had done or said something wrong to cross her…friend? Were they friends? The question hummed in her mind when they came upon a hut made from dead foliage, mud and feathers.

Allegra let Nar head to a small patch of meadow off to the side of the hut. The warrior turned around and saw the glimmer of a cloaking spell behind Frey. She rolled her eyes. She should’ve expected that much from Frey’s friend who’s probably another magical trinket collector.

“Do we knock on the door?” asked Allegra.

There wasn’t a door for the warrior to see. Only a rectangle drawing, seven feet by four feet wide, was marked on the hut.

Frey looked up a little surprised. “We just go in,” she said and went to the ‘door’.

“Nimhar, it’s me Frey,” she said.

The rectangle drawing on the hut suddenly formed into a solid wooden door. The door opened with the creaking sound that seemed to stretch throughout the forest. Frey entered the hut followed by a cautious Allegra. There they met Nimhar or more precisely, Nimhar’s bony finger.

“Eek, take off your clothes!” shrieked Nimhar.

The pint-sized old woman, with a nest as a hat on her baldhead, raked and clawed at Allegra’s and Frey’s clothes.

“Hands off of me you crazy lady!” threaten Allegra.

“What’s wrong, Nimhar?” asked Frey.

“Blood of their brethren will only drive them crazy! They will come here,” explained Nimhar. “Take your clothes off now! All of it,” she shrieked again.

“Wait, I can’t get naked here,” said Allegra.

Frey’s eyes widen. “We can’t do that,” she blurted out. “Well, not right here standing in the door way!”

The pint-sized woman stepped backward with her hands on her hip.

“Quick into the bath I have ready,” said Nimhar. “I feel them closing in. I must burn your clothes at once! Eek, that spade, give it to me NOW!”

Allegra, halfway undressed, handed over the bloodied spade and her belt to Nimhar.

“Go to the baths, hurry! Go, go, go!” Nimhar shooed them into the back of her hut and into a grey stoned room.

On the floor was a large carved out tub with steaming water. Allegra and Frey stripped off the rest of their clothes.

“In,” said Nimhar. She shoved them into the water and then pointed to the soaps, towels and scented oils at the edge of the tub. “Scrub everywhere.” Then she gathered their clothes and left the room.

“She even took my boots. Is she going to burn them too?” asked Allegra.

“Probably,” squeaked Frey. She had crouched low to avoid showing her body. However, she eyed the woman across from her. Allegra’s body was lean and toned, even the slash shaped scars that raced up the sides of the warrior’s body did not diminish that beauty.

Allegra didn’t seem to be all too perturbed by their nakedness. She was busy moving to the edge and taking up a bar of soap. She started scrubbing her arms and then stopped. “I’ve never heard of their blood attracting more of their kind. That lunatic better have a set of clothes for us. I’m not about to go to Para naked.”

“I hope too.” Frey felt the blood run up to her face as her gaze fell onto Allegra’s chest. There was an ‘x’ marked scar between the warrior’s breasts from the collar bones to just on top of the diaphragm.

“What are you looking at?” asked Allegra, catching her gaze.

Frey snapped up. “Oh, I was just wondering about that scar you have on your brea--I mean chest,” she dribbled.

The warrior looked down and frowned. “That was back when I was still a page. I got too confident and Winster gave it to me as a reminder to never step out of one’s bound.” She looked up at Frey. “Is it ugly?”

“Absolutely not!”

Allegra nodded and offered the bar of soap to Frey. “You better scrub or bird nest lady will come barging in. She may start scrubbing you herself,” she said.

“Maybe I want to scrub you,” thought Frey but quickly shot down the idea. What is gotten into her? “You were the one with demon gore all over,” she said, trying to keep her mind from her naughty thoughts, and snatched up the bar of soap from the warrior. She turned around quickly. “At least we’re getting a free bath,” she mumbled under her breath but the way the room was built, her voice easily carried over to Allegra’s ears.

The warrior reached over and picked up the scented oils. “I suppose these gets rid of the scent of demons.” She sniffed the oils and then poured them into the water.

The relaxing smell of lavender and mint carried themselves in the steam of the water but they did little to relax the nerves jolting in Frey. Here she was alone, naked, with Allegra. A dream come true or a nightmare? The wanderer could not decide which one.

“Frey,” called out Allegra. The warrior leaned into the back of the tub and pulled off the leather string that held her hair.

Frey carefully turned around, wiping the tips of her damp curly hair away. “Yes?” she asked, barely masking her jitters.

“I know I said I didn’t want to know why but if this is going to be a problem whenever a chosen of Her is in town, I think now is a good time to tell me,” said Allegra with her elbows propped behind her, on the edge of the tub.

“I’ve always wanted to but I wasn’t sure how’d you take it,” said Frey.

That brought a raised eyebrow on Allegra’s face. “You didn’t kill anyone did you?”

“No, no, nothing like that.” Frey hesitated and wrapped her hands around the bar of soap. “You remember me healing the wounds on your face?”

The warrior nodded.

“Usually it’ll take a regular healer less than five minutes to do that. I took double the time…if you’ve notice, I rely heavily on magic already embedded in objects,” Frey looked down at the bar of soap. “I’m a failure, Allegra. That’s why I ran away from the temple. I wasn’t good at anything and I was barely an apt healer.”

“Is that it?”

“Well, yes. Aren’t you a bit, I dunno, freaked out about it?” Frey slumped her shoulders. “It’s not normal to fail when the Goddess has chosen you to serve her.”

The warrior rolled her eyes and moved to Frey. She squared the shorter woman’s shoulder. “Nobody is the same and I expect that to apply to servants of Isiana too. She wouldn’t pick you if she thought you were a failure.” Allegra remembered her own conversation with the goddess. “So quit beating yourself down. No friend of mine who braves demons and my own temper would let something trifling like not being a good healer, priestess whatever, get to them!”

“I’m your friend?”

Allegra gave a side-glance look. “I would think so.”

Frey dove in, not for a kiss, but for a hug. She buried her face under the warrior’s chin and let it all out. All those years wandering and haunted by her disappointments came to a crescendo.

“Unbelievable,” sighed Allegra but she understood. Failure is a personal doom. She should know. The warrior felt her heart blacken and rage pulsating through her temple. Xavier will die or she’ll die trying.

“Allegra, is everything okay?” winced Frey.

Allegra wheeled backward when she realized her nails where biting into Frey’s skin. Five red marks appeared on either side of Frey’s shoulders. “I’m sorry,” she quickly apologized.

Frey only smiled and chanted softly. A blue light outlined her body and the red marks quickly disappeared. “At least I could heal myself. I’m not a failure on that department,” joked Frey, hoping Allegra heard the story of the great Healer whose only weakness was his inept to heal himself. A kind of running gag at the temple really.

Though under the jest, Frey was worried. The dark look on Allegra’s face was a mark of the beginning of madness. The pain in the warrior’s heart is slowly eclipsing into pure hate. “If she keeps on this path, she will become the very demons she despise,” she thought.

The warrior, feeling guilty for accidently harming her friend, offered to wash Frey’s back.

“I would lik—“

The door to the room opened. Nimhar stood in the doorway with two folded white robes in her arms.

“Finish, yeah? Go to my hearth. The bones tells me you two have much to tell me,” said Nimhar and bent down to leave the robes on the ground. When she straightens back up again, she crossed her arms and noticed that the two women in the tub were looking at her. “What is wrong?”

“You’re standing there, my friend,” said Frey.

“What’s wrong with that? It’s not like I’m going to be voyeuristic about it, unlike you two,” said Nimhar.

Frey’s and Allegra’s eyes widen.

“I see, I see, I’ll leave you two alone,” smirked Nimhar and closed the door behind her.

“Let’s get out,” said Allegra.

“Yes,” agreed Frey.

% % %

After finishing up and putting on the robes Nimhar provided, they went to the living area of the hut. Nimhar sat on a rocking chair sipping tea in front of the crackling fireplace. At the foot of the rocking chair were scattered bones of varies birds and small animals.

She pointed to two empty chairs across from her. “Please sit and tell me what has come to pass. The bones tell me of great danger looming in the world,” she said.

Allegra and Frey sat down and began reciting their tale. When they reached to the part with them encountering the Bastilian soldiers at Moss, Nimhar stopped them.

“This is far worse than I had imagined,” murmured Nimhar.

“How so?” asked Frey.

“My dear, isn’t obvious? Those soldiers heading to Paramecia only have one true mission and that’s a declaration of war. A war that will provide many deaths and, as they say in the Codex of Mosak, ‘He that death has made death will bring Him forth. His bonds be forsaken, His body reawaken and all of Lando shall perish under his shadow,’ ” said Nimhar darkly.

“So if Bastile and Paramecia go to war, Harthor wins,” said Allegra.

Nimhar nodded. “It is good, Frey, that you are going to Para to warn the Right Hand even though I hate his guts.”

Allegra looked at Frey who shrugged.

Nimhar continued, “However, Child of the Firs, you must stop the Elven Queen from going to war as one representative of your kind. The Right Hand may warn the Queen but he is human and distrust between our races has grown significantly since ancient times. I believe that is why the Goddess had ask you to follow my friend.”

“I’m only half. She isn’t going to listen to me,” Allegra protested.

“She will listen to the last person who loved her sister,” said Nimhar.

The warrior’s stubborn will faltered and she could feel a lump building at the base of her throat. “I will try,” she said quietly.

“Good then,” Nimhar stood up, “please follow me.”

The two followed the old woman to outside of the hut. They passed by Nar who whished his tail as a sign of greeting. At the side of the hut was a boulder that Allegra and Frey hadn’t notice before.

Nimhar touched the boulder. Instantly if crumbled away to reveal a set of stone stairs leading down a hole.

“The boulder is a fake. I didn’t want my forest friends making a home in the storage,” smiled Nimhar.

They went down the stairs. Torches along the walls lit up, illuminating the path. When they reached the bottom, Allegra and Frey were dazzled by the amount of gold, chests and gems piled up in the center of the room.

Nimhar notice them staring at the treasure and cleared her throat to catch their attention. “Another illusion, I assure you two. So don’t touch it lest you wish to forfeit your life,” she said.

“Let me guess, robbers?” said Allegra.

Nimhar winked at Allegra. “Just in case,” she grinned.

They walked around the illusion and into another room. In this room were weapons of all types, armors in brilliant metal, fine leather and shields with encrusted ancient emblems.

“Back in the days of the first wars against the demon hordes, this forest use to be a fortress for the united front,” explained Nimhar. “Here the elves dug intricate tunnel ways while we humans built the fortress. I was lucky to have found one of the storages still intact. Here you will find what you need for your journey.”

Allegra went to a leather armor and examined it. “These are enchanted,” she said.

“Good eye,” said Nimhar. “Not even elves make them nowadays. A great shame, really. They are still quite effective against demons.” She turned to Frey who stood in awe.

Frey’s eyes were rabid as she glossed over a nearby rack of weapons. Magical enchanted weapons.

“I think I’ve died and gone to Yaaru,” said Frey. She went to the weapon rack and took up a bronze pole that had a carved dragon wrapped around its full length. She twirled it around and made some impressive arcs with it.

“Good. I’ll leave you two and while I go prepare for supper,” said Nimhar. The old woman exited the room.

Frey and Allegra looked at each other.

“Well, I guess that answered your earlier question,” said Frey.

% % %

They waited for two days before continuing their journey to Paramecia. Thanks to their newly acquired equipment, demons seem unable to detect them. That made travelling a lot easier.

It didn’t take them long to reach Paramecia after they had left Nimhar’s hut since they were going through the forest. Usually travelers avoid the forest due to Nimhar’s illusions and the demons that lurked around it. Instead, most travelers use the other route from Moss to go to the elven kingdom.

Allegra and Frey stood in front of a pair of elven rangers at the border crossing. The warrior had pulled the hood of her newly acquired cloak over her head. She stood unobtrusively behind Frey and pretended to busy herself with Nar.

“What is your purpose at Paramecia?” asked one of the rangers suspiciously.

“We seek the Temple of Isiana,” Frey and showed her palms to them.

A blue hue of light hovered over her palms. Immediately the rangers bowed.

“Forgive us for our behavior, priestess. You and your friend may pass,” said the ranger.

Frey smiled. “May Isiana bless the two of you,” she said.

The rangers let them pass and they traveled for another three days in the elven kingdom as they made their way to the capital. At one particular stop, at a traveler’s camp not too far from the capital, they had gotten word that Captain Winster had arrived at Para some days ago and already left.

Allegra became quiet upon hearing Winster was carrying a coffin with her retinue of soldiers. It was obvious who was in the coffin.

“You okay?” asked Frey as she handed a steaming cup of tea to the warrior.

They sat at the outskirt of the traveler’s camp, electing solitude instead of interacting with the other travelers at the camp. The stars above twinkled and the cool air brought the incessant sound of crickets. Nearby they could see Nar’s silhouette nipping at the tall grasses.

“I’m thinking about her,” said Allegra after taking the cup of tea from Frey.

Frey put a hand on the warrior’s shoulder. “Would it help if you told me about her, Arilyn? The Right Hand always says it helps to talk about things that are painful. It makes the healing easier,” and she added quickly. “If that’s alright with you that is.”

Allegra looked into the darkness. “I first met her at the capital. King Edward had asked me and Viktor to go to Para and try to convince the elven queen in a new trade agreement. He wanted to make a new trading route that went through Paramecia as a rival of the famous Kitir’s Silken Road.

“When we were finally given an audience with the Queen, I had been summoned specifically because no full human was allowed inside the castle. That castle was huge. I can’t believe it, but I actually got lost.

“I didn’t want to look like a fool and ask for directions to the throne room. So I wandered about until I heard the most beautiful music. It was coming from the garden and as I searched for the source of the music, I saw her.

“By the gods, she was so gorgeous. I remember not being able to speak for a good minute or two….”

The warrior’s voice drifted away into light sobs.

“Oh by Her Grace, there’s no hope for me,” thought Frey. She rubbed the warriors back. “There, there,” she said gently. All she could do now is comfort the warrior.

% % %

The next day they arrived at Para, the capital of Paramecia. They had left Nar to roam at the grass fields near the capital’s entrance. Allegra had assured Frey that the brown horse was not going to run away again.

Frey took a deep breath. “The same as I have always remembered,” she said and took in the view.

The elven capital was like no other city. For one thing, a city of this caliber would have tall walls for protection from the demons. Here there was none to be found. Not even guards posted but rumors goes that the very trees in and around all of Paramecia serves as spies and guards for the elves.

Frey could hear the Damlsa River that coursed through the capital. It is this river that the elves of Paramecia used frequently to trade with other kingdoms. The river flowed from a nearby lake, Helmia, all the way down to the delta of Corith. She had often swum in that river with the other orphan children that had been warded to the Temple of Isiana.

She remembered one time she went too far deep and the strong undercurrent had caught hold of her tiny legs. She was drowning. Just when her head barely dipped under water, someone pulled her out and took her to the river’s bank. She was semi-unconscious and recalled that someone breathing air into her mouth. She coughed out the water and her eyes fluttered open. A young half-shade elf child with azure eyes was in front of her, heaving and dripping wet.

“Oh my Goddess, that was her! Allegra saved me,” thought Frey. The shock was overwhelming and she could feel her knees shake at the revelation. “How could I forgotten her?”

She recalled next seeing a male shade elf come over and clobbered Allegra over the head. He yanked the young Allegra up and pushed her onto a wagon, cursing profusely before driving off furiously. Then she relapsed into unconsciousness.

“Are you scared of going back?” asked Allegra.

“No,” said Frey and turned to Allegra. The warrior’s face lay hidden by the shadows of her hood. “Allegra, have y—,” a piece of paper landed at her feet. She bent down and picked it up.

“It says: ‘Dead or alive, Allegra Fir. Fifty thousand in gold,’” she said and looked at her friend.

Allegra’s face harden. “If it takes my life to end this war before it starts, then so be it,” she said.

“But after you get Xavier, right?” teased Frey though she would not want the warrior to die after this ordeal, especially now remembering that it was Allegra who had saved her before.

The warrior cracked a smile. “Shall we head to her majesty?”

Frey nodded and decided later to ask the question. There was something far more important at hand as they dove into the city.

Chapter Three (really raw first draft)

Chapter Three

Allegra stood over Frey. The light of the moon danced on the auburn hair of the slumbering woman. For a normal human, Frey would be undetectable but because of her elven blood Allegra could see the Sign.

Above the sleeping woman’s right shoulder was a slight speck of blue light. That was all Allegra needed to see and confirm her earlier suspicions but she wondered why her savior was not where she belongs. Why does this woman keep her true identity concealed?

The warrior watched as Frey squirmed a little. The smell of crushed herbs waffled to her nostril from the ceramic mug on the window still.

A sleeping concoction, thought Allegra as she went through the smells in her memory bank. Perhaps she is dreaming from her past. Maybe that’s why she’s out here instead of the Temple.

Allegra turned and found a blanket. She took the blanket and spread it over Frey.

“Goddess,” whispered Frey and then relaxed.

Allegra’s jaw went tight. A flurry of emotions ran through her heart and mind.

“Isiana,” said Allegra under her breath. “Why did you let Arilyn die?”

“Because it was fated,” said Frey suddenly.

Allegra blinked several times. Frey sat up with her eyes still closed. An image of a blue-eyed armored woman appeared over Frey.

“Do not be afraid mortal,” said ‘Frey’.

“You are…,” said Allegra.

“Isiana, the Goddess and Ruler of the heavenly plains,” said Isiana.

The warrior quickly went onto her knees and placed her head onto the floor.

“That is good. It seems I’m lucky you haven’t lost your manners,” chuckled Isiana.

“I am not worthy,” said Allegra.

“If you were unworthy, would I be standing here before you?” mused Isiana.

Allegra looked up. “But I failed to stop Xavier!” she protested.

Isiana looked straight into Allegra’s eyes.

“You can not stop him. Not in your current state,” said Isiana.

The Goddess outstretched her phantom hand and touched the warrior’s forehead.

“Follow my servant, Allegra. She will lead you to your heart’s desire,” said Isiana.

“My heart’s desire?” said Allegra and griped her chest. “All I ever wanted was to spend the rest of my life with Arilyn.”

“Arilyn…she passes from this world, my child,” said Isiana.

“I,” Allegra’s throat swelled from her grief.

“When you can finally move on, your destiny will show. Be strong, Allegra,” said Isiana. She pulled back her hand and her celestial body stood out of her host.

Frey, eyes still closed, turned and laid back into bed. Isiana began to fade away.

“Wait!” said Allegra as she scrambled to her feet.

“Frey will lead you the way,” said Isiana and vanished.

Allegra looked down at the sleeping woman. Frey smiled and pulled the blanket close to her chest.

She will lead me the way? thought Allegra.

% % %

Frey’s eyes slowly opened up. She yawned, stretched and even noted to make tea when she thought about yesterday. It had been awkward with her making food and Allegra starring at the table, not moving an inch. She had twice offered food but Allegra politely declined both times.

I really didn’t know what to say! I must seem so rude when I collapsed on my bed and slept—oh my goddess! It’s morning! thought Frey.

She launched herself off the bed and looked wildly for the warrior. All she saw were her junk.

“Oh! You did it again,” berated Frey and darted out of her cottage. “Allegra!”

She stopped short at the foot of her cottage. She watched with an almost pious position as Allegra, with her long dark hair tied back, bowed to three mounds of dirt. Each mound had a plank carved with the names: Edward Dufal, Viktor Stieg and Arilyn Evergreen. After the fifth bow, Allegra stood up and turned to Frey. The warrior’s eyes were red.

“I took care of your horse while you were asleep. He’s in the stall,” said Allegra.

“Uh, thanks,” said Frey and approached the warrior. “I’m sorry for your lost.”

“I appreciate it,” said Allegra.

A moment of silence stretched between them. Frey scratched her head and tried to think of something to say.

I really have to stop these awkward moments. Perhaps I should offer a prayer to the ones she lost? thought Frey.

“When do you want to leave?” asked Allegra suddenly.

“Leave?” answered Frey.

“To Para,” said Allegra.

“Ah yes, Para. As soon as you want but let me go prep up the wagon,” said Frey. Then she realized it was her moment to give a prayer in good will. “Oh, excuse me for a moment,” she said.

The wanderer walked to the three mounds and went onto her knees. With her hands together in prayer position, she closed her eyes. She recited a small prayer.

“May Isiana, watch over you all,” whispered Frey and got up.

She turned to Allegra. “We’ll have to stop along the way to Moss. The town should have all the supplies we need for travel.”

Allegra nodded and smiled. Like really smiled. Frey secretly pinched herself to make sure she wasn’t still dreaming.

“Thank you again…for your prayer,” asked Allegra.

“What made you change your mind?” asked Frey.

Allegra cocked an eyebrow. “Would you believe me if I said Isiana told me to follow you?”

Frey’s eyes widen. “Isiana? Really? I’ve been trying my whole life just to speak with her—opps!” She clasped her hands over her mouth.

“I knew who you really are before Isiana visited me, priestess,” said Allegra and pointed to her eyes. “Elves can will themselves to see certain magical enchantments and I so happen to inherit it.”

“Oh. That explains it. Well, um, do you think you could keep it to yourself when we reach Para?” asked Frey and hoped that Allegra will not ask why.

“Yes, but how are you going to keep it away from the Right Hand?” asked Allegra.

“It’s alright with him. I was just going to go straight to his private home,” said Frey.

“Ah, I see. I won’t ask any more,” said Allegra and began walking away.

“Where are you going?” called out Frey as she followed the stalwart warrior.

“To help you prep your horse and wagon,” answered Allegra without turning around.

Frey scurried to catch up as her heart thumped in excitement.

“Finally, she’s talking,” she thought.

% % %

Perhaps she thought too soon. The wanderer drove her wagon down the road lined with naked oak trees. The noise of her horse’s hooves and her rickety wagon wheels crackling over the crisped red orange leaves were the only sounds in the air. She sighed inwardly and wondered if the famed mistral, Miriana, was playing in the town they were heading to. She’d trade a harp song or two over this, once again, silence.

Frey stole a quick side-glance. Allegra sat next to her, head inclined and appearing to be focusing on the road. The warrior wore a green hooded cape that Frey had insisted her to wear since fall was giving way to winter.

Maybe I should ask a question? thought Frey. It seems that Allegra was more willing to answer now. Taking a breath, Frey opened her mouth. “Were you always raised in Bastile?” she asked.

Allegra blinked several times as if she was at another world and had just returned. The warrior pulled her cape around her tighter.

“More or less. I did live a few years of my life in Paramecia with my elven family,” she answered with a hint of acidity.

“Better not ask about her elven family,” thought Frey.

“Why did you leave Paramecia?” she then asked.

“My human father was looking for me and finally founded me. He didn't like it that my elven family were actually keeping me away from him,” answered Allegra.

“That is something of never heard of. Usually the elven side would just give the child to the human parent,” said Frey. “I’m sorry if that offended you.”

Allegra wavered her hand. “None taken. I had wondered about that considering my mother had died while giving birth to me. They had no real reason to keep me. I thought maybe they hated my father more than hurling insults at me everyday,” she said bitterly.

Suddenly the impulse to know if Allegra was indeed, Frey gasped in her mind, the illegitimate daughter of King Edward returned. Perhaps that is why her elven family kept her away from her father!

“Very strange indeed. Who was your father?” asked Frey curiously.

Allegra gave a slant smile. “Jonathan Baker. He was King Edward’s confidante,” she answered.

“Oh,” said Frey with disappointment.

The warrior chuckled lightly. “You thought that King Edward was my father?” she asked.

“Yes, well, y’know I’d assume considering Xavier wanted you dead. Did he think you were really King Edward’s other child?” asked Frey.

“Not surprised. That monkey of a king named me next to take over his throne in his godforsaken will,” spat Allegra.

“Surely that would mean you are his child,” said Frey in wide-eyed wonder.

“No, I’m sure of that. I had overheard him speaking to Viktor about his only son’s incapacity to rule before. I just didn’t think he’ll name me of all people! He could’ve named Eric Nightingale. He’s his cousin and next in line after Xavier anyways,” said Allegra. “I really don’t understand why he had to chose me.

“Maybe he thought you were the best?” suggested Frey.

“Or he was senile,” smiled Allegra. “Father always said King Edward was a bit eccentric.”

“Do you miss…your father?” asked Frey carefully. It was plain clear that her father wasn’t alive. If he were, she figured Allegra would’ve sought him by now.

Allegra laid onto her back with her hands behind her head. The sky seemed to mimic the warrior’s eyes with its azure headlines and cotton ball clouds.

“Yeah. He wouldn’t let Xavier get away with this. He wouldn’t even let Edward name me as the next ruler in the first place…by the gods, that shit Xavier has his sword,” said Allegra and looked over to Frey who whistled at the horse to avoid a fallen oak on the road.

“Don’t worry, we’ll get father’s sword back,” said Frey. “I’m sure he’s watching over you from Yaaru.”

The warrior sat up and placed her forearms on her knees, hutching herself over. “Do you think she’s watching over me too? From Yaaru, Arilyn?” asked Allegra quietly.

“Elves are a bit more in tune with the spirits and the gods. I think she’s definitely watching over you,” answered Frey and then added subtly. “I would.”

“I should follow her,” said Allegra. “After I get Xavier, of course.”

“Would she want you to do that?” asked Frey, not intending for that question to sound a bit frantic.

Allegra thought for a moment and then shrugged. “Probably not,” she said finally.

The wagon slowed down to a stop.

“What the? Nar! Why are you stopping?” shouted Frey. She shook a fist at her horse. “Nar, I’m not in mood for one of your tantrums!”

Allegra pulled Frey’s fist down. “There’s something ahead,” she said slowly.

Frey could feel her skin prickled at what that meant.

“Do you think it’s after us?” trembled Frey.

“Nar stopped for a reason,” said Allegra and the horse neighed nervously.

The warrior turned to her side and pulled out a rusted spade. The handle was rough and discolored but it was still good. “If I get into trouble, I want you to hop onto your horse and run away. Got it?” said Allegra.

“I can provide backup—“

“Got it?” repeated Allegra, cutting Frey’s words short.

Frey gulped and nodded. Allegra pushed herself off the wagon with the spade in hand and walked forward. Halfway she stopped and called out, “We know you are there. Come out!”

The wind whipped down on the road with a kind of eerie low whistle and rustling the leaves. Allegra scanned the area ahead of her back and forth. Watching. Waiting.

Frey looked onward and gripped a stone necklace tucked beneath her linen shirt. She wasn’t going to run. Nope. She had a few tricks up her sleeves; after all, she is a priestess of Isiana. She closed her eyes and let herself breath out slowly. A thin pasty cloud came out of her mouth.

“Go seek that of which is hidden,” whispered Frey.

The pasty cloud formed into a white falcon and drove upward into the sky. It shrieked a high note that rang through out the area. Allegra snapped her head around to see Frey wink at her.

Suddenly there was a roar and something dark emerged among the oaks. It stumbled onto the road, it’s beady red eyes disoriented. The smell of rotting flesh uninvitingly entered into Allegra’s and Frey’s nostrils.

“Run, Frey!” shouted Allega and ran at the dark creature with her spade.

The creature raked its claws forward and managed to block Allegra’s blow. It gurgled unintelligent sounds as it rolled to its sides. Allegra hopped to the other side of it, bringing the sharpest point of her rusty spade in a shallow arc.

An ugly scrawl of broken skin trailed down the creature’s forearm. Ink colored blood oozed from the wound. The creature glared, it’s eyes finally focused on a target.

“Damn demon, I wished I had my sword,” cursed Allegra and dodged a swipe from the demon’s claws.

Frey watched Allegra swooped in and out of the demon’s range like a falcon striking its prey. In her hands she was fuddling with a bundle of sticks she had retrieved from a compartment near her.

“Why are you still there? Run, you fool!” snapped Allegra when she caught sight of Frey’s auburn hair, waving in the air like a flag.

The demon lurched at Allegra’s distraction and managed to leave three fine lines across the left side of her face.

“Just a moment,” called out Frey without looking up. Nar stamped his feet and neighed wildly. “This cowardly horse! Hold still, I’m almost done!” Sweat brimmed along her rusty colored eyebrows as she tried to put the sticks into the right positions on her lap.

“One more stick,” thought Frey. Her hands moved to place the final stick on top of the others. There it’s done!

Frey felt a power surge beneath her…which wasn't the spell she was casting. She jumped off the wagon, sending the sticks flying off, and turned to see another demon flashing its obsidian teeth and one claw on the back of her wagon. It was twice as tall and bigger than the one Allegra is fighting.

“M$%&^ F*cker,” swore Frey and grabbed Nar’s harness, pulling off the safety pins that kept the frantic horse to the wagon.

Immediately Nar bolted, knocking Frey onto her ass. The second demon thrashed the wagon to the side with one sweep from its claws.

“No, this can’t be happening!” thought Frey as she got up and made a run to the oak trees in hopes to lose it in there.

But the demon was much faster than she had anticipated. It dashed past her and turned around to cut her off. Frey’s head throbbed and her heart pounded as she tumbled backwards, the demon looming over her.

Frey closed her eyes tight; she could not bear to see her own demise. She heard the crack of the demon’s jaw and the foul smell of its breath. Soon she’ll be heading to Yaaru and she waited for that one snap from the demon’s jaw to shear off her head. But there was nothing.

Confused, she opened her eyes to see the demon’s mouth open with its tongue dangling lopsided over the corner of its lips.

“You alright?” asked Allegra from behind the demon.

The warrior pulled the spade out of the demon’s back with a sticky sound. She pushed the monstrous carcass aside and hauled Frey up.

“You seemed fine,” said Allegra.

“What happen to the other one?” asked Frey.

Allegra dropped her spade, turned and nudged with her chin to a heap of dark mass on the road.

“Over there dead,” said Allegra and then turned furiously back at Frey. “Why didn’t you run like I told you?”

“I said I was going to help, er, but it seems my containment spell didn’t quite work out,” said Frey, ignoring the warrior’s fury. The wounds on the side of Allegra’s face had caught her attention and she tiptoed up to examine them. “By the gods, any deeper and there would’ve been several holes in your brain!” she gasped.

“It’s just a scratch—ouch!” said Allegra and swatted Frey’s probing fingers away. “Just stick some of your healing balm over them.”

“Tch, the wounds are too deep for it. I guess I’m going to have to do it myself,” said Frey. “Kneel for me.”

“I said—“

“Kneel, Allegra,” said Frey sternly.

They glared at each other. Allegra angry that Frey wouldn’t listen to her and Frey was equally angry for she had little tolerance for uncooperative patients. Then Frey could hear Allegra’s teeth grind and see the warrior’s eyebrows twitched. Slowly, Allegra went onto one knee. Frey smiled victoriously.

“Good,” said Frey. She chanted softly and passed a glowing hand over Allegra’s wounds.

“You’re stubborn, you know that,” complained Allegra.

The wanderer smirked and continued with her healing. After a good ten minutes, the wounds on Allegra’s face had healed without a scar.

“I wished Nar didn’t bolt like that,” said Frey.

Allegra rubbed off the blood that had caked onto her face from her wounds.

“He’s coming back,” said Allegra.

“How do you that?” said Frey.

“I just do,” said Allegra and walked over to the demon that had tried to eat Frey. “I’m guessing this one was the brain of the two.”

“Do you think Xavier sent it?” asked Frey. She moved over to her broken wagon and bent down to collect some of her stuff.

Allegra turned over the demon’s left paw. “No. These f*ckers are a class one demons.”

“Class one?” asked Frey.

“We laypeople classify them into three classes. The third class ones are the really dumb of the bunch. The second class ones are a little smarter but much more powerful. Xavier only had the third and second class, but the first class,” Allegra shook her head, “are completely different. Strong, fast and very intelligent…how far are we from Moss?”

“Maybe a half an hour walk,” said Frey.

“Shit!” said Allegra and went for her spade.

“What’s wrong?” said Frey in alarm.

“The town is in danger! Those demons here are only part of mob of them,” said Allegra and start to head down the road in a run.

“Wait, we can’t take them on ourselves! I mean, look, you only have a rusty spade,” shouted Frey after her.

Then again Allegra did just kill two demons—first class ones to boot—with that rusty spade. Though as good of a demon killer Allegra was, Frey was aware that life preyed on the fools with numbers; the warrior was sure to lose going up against a horde of first class demons. Frey sprinted after Allegra and prayed for a miracle.

Chapter Two

Chapter Two

Frey carefully maneuvered her wagon over the dirt road. She nodded to a fellow traveler as she past him. After some moments and making sure the road was empty, she pulled onto the side of the road.

“Now, lets see how you are,” said Frey.

She turned around and peeked under a bundle of blankets. In these past days she had wondered, perhaps even dare surmise, from what Viktor spoke to Xavier that Allegra could really be a contending heir.

No wonder he wanted to kill her so bad, thought Frey and scanned the warrior. A love child, perhaps?

The bruises on Allegra’s face and arms had already begun to fade away into a more dark tan color. She certainly looked nothing like Xavier or the paintings she saw in the markets of King Edward. In any case, it was not her place to be thinking if Allegra was a product of forbidden love.

Frey rummaged in a bag by her for some healing balm and found a small jar. She opened it and applied to them onto the bruises. She smiled as she gently swept the balm over the sharp contours of Allegra’s face. It was obvious that the warrior was half elven, especially her angular ears.

Her mother was probably a shade elf, thought Frey.

Allegra’s complexion and her azure eyes were strangely fascinating if not attractive for Frey. She had met some half-elves during her wandering and all of them took on their elven parent’s eyes of green.

“Arilyn,” murmured Allegra.

Two blue eyes slit open. Frey sighed.

“No, it’s me again,” she said.

Allegra shut her eyes but Frey could see her eyelashes rimming with tears.

“Sleep. You need to save your energy as your body heals,” said Frey.

She pulled the blanket over Allegra to give the latter her privacy to grieve. Since they have escaped the mad prince of Bastile, the warrior had called out that name. Arilyn. Frey shook her head and scattered visions of a bloodied body being stuffed in a cotton tweed bag flickered for a moment in her mind. She rubbed her eyes.

Got to stop thinking about this or else I’d have to use another sleeping remedy again tonight to sleep, thought Frey.

Nightmares had been keeping her from having a goodnight sleep and who wouldn’t after what she had witness.

“Now, let’s cover our tracks,” said Frey to herself.

She turned to her left and flipped a latch open. Then she pulled out a black bag. In this bag were a mix of minerals, ash and a secret ingredient made to cover scent. As a wanderer, she had to be careful. Lando was a continent plagued by the incessant danger of demons and she had her fair share of encounters with them in the past.

Frey climbed down from her wagon and stroked her horse. Even though she used a magical gem to transport herself and Allegra to her wagon on the outskirt of Bastile, the demons could still track them by their scent. She figured the mad prince wouldn’t waste time sending demons after them.

She opened the bag and began sprinkling it around the wagon and her horse. Then she proceeded to sprinkle some on the road. When she was satisfied she climbed back onto the wagon.

“It won’t be long, Allegra. My home is not far and we’ll be there by nightfall,” said Frey.

Frey was met with silence, something she had gotten use to. She opened her mouth to say some words of sympathy but quickly thought otherwise. Allegra would just feel more terrible than before.

We should get home and then think our next move, thought Frey.

Harthor, the legendary demon, had her deeply troubled and since that demon had aligned itself with Prince Xavier, it could only mean that destruction of Lando is underway. Taking in the reigns, Frey moved her horse onward with great urgency.

% % %

It was a dark and cold place but it was His place.

“What is the matter, my prince? Or shall I say my king?” said a deep, melodic voice.

“Your minions have failed to retrieve the bitch and her companion,” said Xavier.

“Aww, do not be angry,” crooned the voice. “It matters not to our plans. Lando will be yours. Just concentrate on getting me out as fast as you can.”

“The bitch we’re talking about is Allegra,” snapped Xavier.

The voice was silent for a moment.

“What can she do but try to assassinate you? She is no friend to Bastile and especially no friend to Paramecia,” said the voice. “Once I regain my full power no one can touch you. Not even the gods.”

“And when I’m not looking you’ll lop my head off, right?” said Xavier off handily.

“My Xavier!” said the voice indignantly.

A dark purple appeared and blended with the darkness.

“Do you not remember our fated meeting at the Chasm? How you cried out for someone, for anyone to save you?” said the voice. “Oh that heart of yours, how drawn I was from my deep slumber! “

Xavier felt a warm glow in his chest.

“You and I are one. What you love, I will love. What you hate, I will hate. Do you believe me?” asked the voice in an almost pleading way.

Xavier sighed.

“You always know how to get to me, Harthor. Alright, I’ll get you your deaths but what will we do of Allegra?” said Xavier.

Xavier felt a curl around the corners of his lips.

“My minions can only do so much in your world. After all, they are animals in the end. Why don’t you send someone of your kind after her? They can cross the lands without someone trying to kill them,” suggested Harthor.

Xavier thought for a moment.

“I think I have a plan now,” laughed Xavier.

“I am pleased, my king,” said Harthor.

“Your majesty,” interrupted Renald.

The dark cold place evaporated from Xavier’s mind and replaced with the throne room and a stocky man before him.

“Um, I’m sorry to interrupt you, but Captain Nico and Captain Winster request an audience with you,” said Renald nervously.

Renald dare not comment on King Xavier’s strange behavior let alone his odd new taste in décor. He was already not on the good side of the king and, since his failure to kill Allegra, he has been demoted to become the king’s personal messenger. Secretly he made a quick vow on Allegra and her companion.

“Let them come,” said Xavier.

Renald bowed and quickly exited the throne room.

Quite convenient that they are already seeking me, mused Xavier.

Several moments later, a lanky man with a goat tee and a woman with a scar over her right eye entered the throne room. They looked a little surprised at the ‘new’ change in the throne room.

“Captain Nico and Captain Winster,” greeted Xavier respectively. “Just the people who I was about to request for.”

Ninco and Winster bowed to the king.

“My king, Lord Nico and I came quickly as we heard of Allegra’s crimes,” said Winster. “I’m still processing that she even killed Lord Viktor, her master arms of all people!”

“I know. I was in shock too. Captain Viktor gave his life to protect me,” lied Xavier.

He even placed a hand over his heart and forced his eyes to water up. Nico kneeled down before Xavier.

“I’m sorry, your majesty, but I still can not believe,” said Nico.

Oh Nico, I would have you killed too if it weren’t for your stupidity and gullibility, thought Xavier.

“I have proof. Moments before killing herself, dear Princess Arilyn wrote her confession on her collaboration with Allegra to poison my father. Plus, a Grand Healer of Isiana confirmed the poison in my father’s body was the same as the poison found in Allegra’s room,” said Xavier.

Nico looked up wide-eyed and turned to Winster who shrugged.

“I-I am deeply, sorry your majesty!” said Nico and stood up. He pounded his chest. “Allegra must be brought to justice!”

“Your majesty, does that mean we go to war with Paramecia?” asked Winster.

It was no secret that this woman, known as the quickest sword master of all of Lando, despised Allegra for her elven heritage. Xavier nodded. He could always count on Winster on anything involving going against the elves.

“Captain Nico, since you wish to bring Allegra to justice, I need you track her down and bring a swift end to her wickedness,” said Xavier.

“I will use all means,” said Nico while crossing his arm over his chest.

“Good. Captain Winston, I need you to deliver a Declaration of War to Para along with Princess Arilyn’s confession and body. We shall let all of Lando know that we do not tolerate such aggression,” said Xavier.

Winster smiled and crossed her arm over her chest.

“It will be done, my king,” said Winster.

Xavier watched the two captains exited the throne room. Soon there will be enough souls for Harthor to materialize in Lando. He clapped his hands.

“Renald!” called out Xavier.

Moments later, Renald entered the throne room.

“Yes, your majesty,” said Renald.

“Get the heralds, the chancellor and all of the dignitaries to me. It is time to announce what has come to past in Bastile,” ordered Xavier.

“It will be done, your majesty,” said Renald.

Renald bowed and exited the throne room for the second time of the day. Xavier leaned back into his throne and closed his eyes.

“How was that for a start, Harthor?” asked Xavier.

“I couldn’t have done it any better,” said Harthor.

Xavier smiled and let his mind feel the pleasantries of Harthor.

% % %

Frey guided her horse to a small empty clearing in the middle of four giant boulders.

“We’re here, Allegra,” said Frey.

Allegra had woken up earlier and sat emotionlessly with a wool blanket wrapped around her head and body. Frey waited for a response but as usual Allegra remained silent.

“Yeah,” said Frey and trying to break the awkwardness building inside of her. “I know it doesn’t look like anything is here but I have to ward off demons, thieves and all sort of baddies somehow when I’m not at home.”

Without looking for a reaction from Allegra, Frey raised her right palm.

“By the protection of her grace, Haram, I am home,” she spoke.

Her voice reverberated off the four boulders and slowly appeared a modest cottage in the middle of the boulders. Frey’s horse neighed in delight as he parked himself and the wagon in the front of the cottage.

“Now shall we have a real meal?” asked Frey.

Expecting another silent answer, Frey began collecting her stuff.

“You have a home?” asked Allegra.

The warrior’s voice startled Frey and she nearly tumbled off the wagon. It was the first time that Allegra spoke and was not under some delirium or dream.

“Ah, yes, I’m not much of a wanderer if I have a place but I am also a collector of magical items and trinkets. So I have to store those items some place,” answered Frey with a slight chuckle. “Are you better now?”

Allegra didn’t answer her question and slid off the wagon.

“Wait! Stay!” said Frey and she scrambled down her wagon. “Please stay. It is safe here and we can think of what to do next.”

Frey held Allegra’s arm. “Please, come inside,” she pleaded.

Allegra looked away but didn’t fight Frey’s hold.

Gently, Frey led Allegra into her cottage. The moment they entered, they stopped. Before them was a cascade of trinkets, stones, sticks, metal scraps, magical hats and all sorts of second grade magical items littered on every space imaginable.

“Whoo, forgot to clean the last time I was here,” said Frey meekly and rushed to clean up the place.

Frey kicked her way through the living room, making a semi-path way to a pile in the middle of the room.

“Uh, wait a moment until I clear the table,” said Frey. “Oh, I was looking for this and this too!”

Frey grabbed an iron ladle, a feathery hat and then some until she her arms were full.

“Do you need help?” asked Allegra as she watched Frey strain to reach a copper spoon will cradling her other items.

“What did you say—eek!” Frey tripped on a wooden chair and all of her items flew out of her arms. “I think I found the chair, ow.”

Frey grimaced and rubbed her shoulder as she hung over the chair. Then she felt strong arms gently take her by the waist and raise her to her feet. The smells of spices mix with earth were unmistakably Allegra’s.

“Oh, thank you,” blushed Frey.

Allegra moved around her and sat down on the wooden chair. Frey clasped her hands together and tried to put on her most cheerful smile.

“I’m going to cook. So what do you want to eat?” asked Frey.

“I’m not hungry,” answered Allegra.

A moment of silence stretched before them as Frey tried to figure out what to say next.

“Thank you,” said Allegra, breaking the silence. “For saving me.”

Frey pulled a large bucket from a smaller pile, turned it upside down and sat on it.

“I had to. I couldn’t let this injustice go unnoticed,” Frey hesitated, “I guess it’s time I spilled the beans as they say.”

Frey took a deep breath and folded her hands onto her lap. It was time to reveal why she was at the castle in the first place.

“You don’t have to if you don’t want to. As of now I am a fugitive, traitor and failure,” said Allegra. “Oh goddess, I couldn’t…I couldn’t even get revenge. The bastard was right in front of my face and I couldn’t even hurt him!”

Allegra slammed her fist onto the table and then slumped her shoulders. Angry muted tears brimmed on the brink of bursting down her azure eyes. Without thought, Frey reached over and held Allegra’s tight fist.

“Grieve, you must but you are blameless. Though we cannot stay here for long. As soon as we can, we must go to Para,” said Frey.

“Para…no, I can’t,” said Allegra and shook her head. Allegra could not return to her lover’s kingdom and the memories spent there with the lovely elven princess spasm achingly in her heart.

Frey sensed Allegra’s outright opposition to go to Para was connected to Arilyn. She sympathized with the warrior. Losing a lover is a very painful experience that she was lucky to never have gone through. However, she had never been in love either.

Still, Frey would rather not go to Para for a personal reason if it weren’t the unfortunate discovery of Harthor’s return. “The Right Hand needs to be warned and I can go there while you stay here if you want,” she said.

“What are you warning them about?” asked Allegra.

“A great evil has appeared again in this world through Prince Xavier. The demon Harthor,” answered Frey.

Allegra face became grave.

“Xavier said that name before blowing a hole through Viktor,” said Allegra.

“That is just one of the many things Harthor can do. Apparently, according to the scriptures of Mosak, the demon cannot be killed. So don’t feel too bad that you couldn’t defeat Xavier,” said Frey.

“Not helping,” said Allegra and then studied the shorter woman with the keenness of a leopard.

“Sorry,” apologized Frey and looked away quickly. She still felt Allegra’s intense stare piercing through her. “I don’t quite know the details but the Right Hand should know what to do. Harthor had been defeated by Her grace before. Is, um, something on me?”

“For a wanderer that likes collecting magical items, you sure know a lot about this Harthor and demons,” said Allegra. She was quite aware that through out their trip to Frey’s home, the wanderer had covered their tracks. She figured it was from Xavier’s demons. That was not a very common knowledge.

Frey laughed nervously.

“Oh, I read a lot when I was little. I was a very curious child,” said Frey and smiled brightly.

“Hmph, maybe you should tell me why you were at the castle anyways,” said Allegra.

“Well…to steal,” confessed Frey. “Well, I was leaving compensation too!”

Allegra raised an eyebrow and perhaps a very slight grin. Frey coughed and tugged on her collar.

“You see most of this stuff here belongs to my friend, Mr. Connor. He died a month ago and named me as sole inheritor to his properties. But he’s a funny man even in death. In his will, he asked me to retrieve an item he had regrettable sold off and bury it in his grave. I managed to track it to Bastile castle but the late king had somehow obtained my friend’s item. Asking or buying it back was out of the question,” explained Frey.

“So you decided to sneak into the castle and steal it,” said Allegra.

“Yeah but I kind of overheard Xavier’s plan for your demise and, well, you know the rest of the story,” said Frey.

Allegra bowed her head to contemplate.

“I am impressed. Not many would try to stop a royal conspiracy let alone help a total stranger,” said Allegra.

Frey cheeks lit up like a candle.

“T-thank you,” said Frey.

The warrior looked up and gave a sad little smile.

“Your bravery burns like the Goddess Isiana,” said Allegra.

“Ahahaha, oh now I’m hungry so I’ll go cook something for myself,” said Frey rapidly.

Is she figuring it out? I hope to the goddess she doesn’t! yelped Frey internally.

Frey got up and clumsily made her way to her kitchen.