《# The Gemstone of Ominium 2 - Pain》 Prologue His quick footsteps resounded across the empty corridors. It was almost unbelievable how everything had changed. There were no more giggling from the Court Ladies at every corner, or gentlemen dressed in flashy silky garments. Now only silence inhabited the big palace and when it was broken it wasn¡¯t with the rustling of satin, but with the loud sound of heavy boots against the white marble floor. The guard opened the door to grant him passage the moment he saw him, ignoring such formalities as announcing his arrival. All that had ended when he¡¯d bravely, or insanely, decided to stay behind and help with the Kingdom¡¯s defense. The man inside the room currently reporting on the defense of the city grew quiet and the old King, dressed in the ceremonial uniform of the Black Knights, a thin golden crown circling his forehead, looked up at him. ¡°Lord Heric.¡± ¡°Your Majesty,¡± he greeted the man bowing his head and Endio turned to the Knight that had been interrupted by his arrival. ¡°Salnar was just telling me about what happened on the walls. That this ¡­ Dragon ¡­ really exists, and how it was the cause of yesterday¡¯s panic and confusion.¡± ¡°So it is, Your Highness. It was an humongous red animal, with fiery eyes and dark fumes rising from its nostrils,¡± Heric provided, trying to remain composed at the memory of the events of the day before. After the terrifying vision he¡¯d witnessed he¡¯d spent the rest of the day unable to produce a single coherent thought, much less try to explain what had happened. Thank the heavens he hadn''t been the only one rendered to such an incoherent state, most of the men stationed on the walls having suffered from similar effects. ¡°It was truly a horrific sight!¡± the Knight added. ¡°According to the White Knights, it would seem these beasts are able to induce a deep, petrifying fear in any living creature standing in the proximity of their presence. It¡¯s an uncontrollable kind of fear that will take over the bravest of hearts.¡± ¡°And yet our biggest threat, our certain defeat, this ¡­ beast ¡­ simply left?¡± Endio asked in clear disbelief and Heric nodded. ¡°So it seems. It flew away right after the first attack, when we were sure everything was lost. And there hasn¡¯t been a single sight of the red creature since then. Which is good. It allowed us to immediately start repairing the watch tower that was practically destroyed. However, the fact that the army camped at our doors hasn¡¯t moved since then leaves us ¡­ apprehensive. We fear they may be waiting for the creature¡¯s return.¡± ¡°I see ¡­ And what do our White Knights have to say about that?¡± Endio asked and the Dark Knight shrugged, apparently resigned with the poor information they had on the matter. ¡°They don¡¯t tell us much. Only that something must have called the beast¡¯s attention towards west, which means that something else must have raised the Lord of the Northern Armies¡¯ interest. And well, needless to say that most men believe that this was somehow Prince Elian''s doing, Your Majesty.¡±Unauthorized content usage: if you discover this narrative on Amazon, report the violation. Endio sighed and looked out the window. He clearly remembered Serafan¡¯s words and, although he wished to keep his Kingdom and all its people safe, the fact that the recent events might mean that Serafan¡¯s objective had been accomplish left him feeling uneasy and divided. He didn¡¯t know what kind of jewel the Lord of Morianor was looking for, nor what it could do in his hands. However, from what little he knew about Serafan, he was sure that nothing good could come out of the concretization of his plans, no matter what they might be. Keeping that in mind he couldn¡¯t help considering that maybe the sacrifice of one Kingdom wasn¡¯t such a high price to pay, if that were enough to thwart his plans. On the other hand, although the attack on Mithir had been halted, the presence of the enemy¡¯s forces camped right outside their door might be evidence that he still hadn¡¯t found what he was looking for. ¡°Elian ¡­ Well, then. Keep watching our ¡®friends¡¯ outside. You may be right in your assumptions, but it¡¯s better to expect any possible outcome. I may be wrong, but from what I¡¯ve been told I¡¯d say these men aren¡¯t here in search of a glorious battle, but instead expecting to earn some good coin. Pillaging, that¡¯s what they¡¯re interested in. And although I¡¯m certain that their commanders maintain an iron grip on their men, it was never a good idea to lay a plate of food in front hungry men and tell them no to touch it. So it¡¯s better to remain vigilant.¡± ¡°Please, rest assured, Your Highness¡± the Knight assured him and, bowing, left the room. ¡°Lord Heric,¡± the King called him as he too was about to leave. ¡°As I came to understand there were two young girls in your group, when you first arrived from Everlyn, none of which left with Lady Dana to Leips. Am I wrong?¡± ¡°Well ¡­ It¡¯s true that two girls traveled in our group when we escaped Everlyn. But there¡¯s not much I can tell you about their present whereabouts.¡± ¡°I see. But you can tell me ¡­ did Lidya remain in Everlyn, and was she alive when you left?¡± ¡°Yes, Your Majesty. She wanted to stay behind and nothing or no one could convince her to leave with us. As I understood, she strongly believed that she could earn us some time, so that we could safely escape ¡­¡± ¡°And her daughter ¡­? Allana ¡­¡± Heric looked at him, the lie hanging from his lips, but stopped himself. The man in front of him looked old and tired. He could still be considered to be in his prime, should one take only his age into account, but his soul was too spent, his eyes almost listless, the same kind of dead gaze he remembered seeing on Lidya¡¯s face. Why lie to him now? What harm could it do telling the truth? They¡¯d probably never see them again anyways. Not Allana, nor Elian, nor any of the Knights that had left with the Prince. And maybe knowing that his sister¡¯s child had lived, that she¡¯d been in his palace for a short while, would bring him some kind hope, if not happiness ¡­ Endio lowered his gaze and took a deep breath. ¡°Yes ¡­ I suspected as much,¡± he whispered and Heric gazed at the man unable to understand. ¡°In any case what good would it do to keep them apart after all the evil that befell Everlyn, and M¨¢don and all the other Eastern Kingdoms? It¡¯s like fearing death every time we go to bed and every time we raise in the morning, feeling it caressing your face whenever the wind blows from the North. Thank you Heric ¡­ you may go now.¡± Heric bowed and left the room feeling slightly confused, but quickly decided to leave the rumblings of the old King at that. His men needed him. They had learned a lot from the Knights of Mithir about the ways of combat and strategic defense. Only now could he clearly see how Everlyn had never stood a chance, no matter how hard he might have tried or how wonderful his plans might have been. And there were still many useful things yet to be learned. Chapter 14 - Melkar (P1) - Golden Dragon Retreat Part 1 - Golden Dragon Retreat The constant bumping and jolting of the wagon caused by the smallest of stones made it difficult to consider it a pleasant way to travel. As they approached Melkar, the number of abandoned crop fields they passed by had increased, the houses, once inhabited, now slowly decaying. The man sitting next to her gave her a cunning smile and signaled her keep quiet. She had dismounted her horse a few miles back and now accompanied the wine seller, traveling on the slow, torturous wagon. The rancid smell exuding from the man, combined with the heavy scent of the wine, made her feel dizzy and somewhat sick. But the sight of the gates of the city of Melkar growing closer made everything bearable. Her horse had been tied to the back of the wagon, its saddle covered with old, filthy blankets, their color long gone, lost beneath the accumulated layers of dirt. The man had given her his traveling cloak, gray and half ripped, telling her to cover her head and wrap it around her face, in order to hide her features as much as possible. And Allana wondered to what extent the stench surrounding her didn¡¯t come from that old piece of dirty, darkened fabric. Finally they reached the city gates, and two men wearing full armor and wielding long spears approached them, forcing the wine seller¡¯s small wagon to a halt. It only took her one look to identify them as belonging to that same group she had found in the Silver Forest. And although the wine merchant had previously alerted her to that fact, she couldn¡¯t help hold her breath when one of the men came a little closer, questioning her traveling companion. ¡°Greetings, wine merchant! We were beginning to miss you this week,¡± said the soldier who had approached them, his voice harsh and rough. ¡°Good afternoon, gentlemen,¡± the man at her side humbly replied, barely raising his gaze. ¡°I hope I find you all in fine health ...¡± ¡°As always, merchant, as always. And how¡¯s the business?¡± The merchant raised his gaze, knowing all too well what was expected of him, and put a smile on his face adopting an expression somewhat dramatic. ¡°It has its ups and downs, sir ... And here I am, with this heavy cart, so hard to unload with me being an old man and all,¡± he said mournfully and then looked at the soldier as if and idea had just occurred to him. ¡°But maybe. .. that is, if it¡¯s not too much work ... maybe your excellencies could help lighten my load? Let¡¯s say ¡­ two barrels? Let us call it an offer of goodwill ¡­ and you¡¯d be doing this old man a favor. What say you?¡± Allana remained quiet and alert, caught between admiration and contempt, watching as that farce was willingly played by both parties, which in the end only served as an excuse for the guards to hold on to two wine barrels for free. ¡°We will be happy to help you, merchant ...! After all, we¡¯re here to serve the people of Melkar right? the guard said, motioning two other men who quickly begun unloading the barrels. Only then did the soldier¡¯s eyes lingered on the merchant¡¯s strange and unusual company. ¡°And the lady? First time I see her ....¡± ¡°Yes, sir ... I bring her to see the physician ... You see, my son is finally old enough to get married and my wife made this arrangement, but the girl does not seem very healthy ... She has those small bugs all over her hair and she¡¯s always coughing ...¡± he added in a whisper, leaning slightly forward, and the soldier took two steps back at the sound of the word ¡®cough¡¯. ¡°So I decided to bring her with me. Don¡¯t want my son marrying an unhealthy woman. And then there¡¯s that other matter, you know ...? One can no longer trust these young girls,¡± he went on, again with that unfortunate expression. ¡°I see ... But from what you say I doubt you need worry about that second matter. No man in his right mind would bed a woman like that!¡± The wine merchant seemed to ponder on the guard¡¯s words and ended up smiling, although his eyes showed only a deep ignorance and a profound lack of intelligence. ¡°Well, right you are, my lord!¡± he said, showing his rotten, yellow teeth, and the guard took another two steps back. He verified that his men had completed their task and that the barrels were safely being stored inside the guard post and took a deep breath. ¡°You may go, then,¡± he said in a commanding voice that revealed his desire to see them both as far as away as possible, and the merchant nodded with a smile on his lips. ¡°Thank you, kind sir! Until next time!¡± he uttered back, waving his cane and putting the wagon back in motion, and Allana watched with relief as the tall columns that flanked the gate were slowly left behind. The merchant¡¯s smile died instantly, his eyes recovering their cunning glow, and his expression became serious. ¡°Thieves! I hope you choke to death on my fine wine!!¡± he whispered almost inaudibly and Allana couldn¡¯t help feeling sympathy for the poor man. He had probably worked all year to make that wine, the only thing able to guarantee that the needs of his household would be seen to, only to be forced to give it away without any kind of compensation. ¡°But there you go, missy! The first part of our agreement is fulfilled. Now a place to stay. I suppose the Golden Dragon Retreat is more or less what you are looking for ...¡± ¡°I want a place where a traveler new in town would choose to stay ...¡± ¡°Then you have the right place. Almost all travelers go there ... Except those with money or influential connections that allow them to stay in one of the houses near the city center!¡± ¡°No. I rather stay in this ... Golden Dragon.¡± The man nodded and led the small wagon through narrow streets made of stone. Here and there she could see busy people going about their daily lives, but they all carried a heavy air about them, they¡¯re expressions tired. With heads lowered and eyes cast down, they moved quickly, as if trying to escape an invisible threat. They rarely exchanged greeting and, when they did the words were uttered in whispers, making the entire city fall into that almost murmured melody that came very close to a complete silence. That city had nothing to do with Mithir, or even Everlyn. Once inside those walls it was almost as if a heavy weight was slowly dragging its inhabitants towards a deep darkness. Above all it was clearly a place where the people lived in fear and oppression. As the streets grew increasingly narrow and dark, the sounds of cheering voices and laughter cut the air, sounding more like a scream of defiance, contrasting with that heavy atmosphere. In there the houses had no windows facing the street and the doors were boarded with old planks of wood, like tombs forever sealed. In the corners, where the shadows ruled, she could detect small movements and eyes glowing in the dark. Once or twice Allana was even able to distinguish the form of a rodent almost the size of a rabbit. On the street corners skinny women with gray faces and a half torn dresses advanced to the light at the sound of the crackling wood wheels. Their pained expressions forever lost, immersed in the nightmare that surrounded them ... meaningless lives of empty souls, offering to the occasional passer-by the only thing they really possessed ¨C their bodies. From time to time the cry of a child overpowered the increasingly loud laughter. They reached her like echoes coming from those closed doors, those sealed tombs, reminding her of faceless images ¡­ and a deep pain that she couldn¡¯t explain ¡­ a gaze of darkness ¡­ She shook her head, forcing herself to return to the present, and took a deep breath, thanking the smell of the wine that prevented her from feeling more keenly the foul stench that filled the air.This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it. She stopped herself from even imagining the conditions those children must lived in, their mothers probably amongst the women she saw outside, lost amidst the darkness, sharing the corners of the streets with the rats and rotting filth. Finally a golden light bathed her face and, in that narrow street that the sunlight would never reach, that source of light was like the dawn after a winter night. She raised her head and saw a building with bright windows. Above the door hang a sign with a golden Dragon painted on it, although the wood was slightly cracked, the paint looking old and chipped. The sound of laughter, now almost deafening, came from the inside the establishment and, in the mournful silence that infected the whole city, it echoed aggressively for another two or three blocks. ¡°Here you are! The Golden Dragon Retreat! But I advise you to be careful in there. Most customers are men and the ladies are either the likes you¡¯ve seen around or traveling very well accompanied and well ... aren¡¯t exactly ... well ...¡± ¡° I understand! You need not worry,¡± Allana replied, staring up at the sign and took a deep breath. She would wait here. They may even have arrived before her ...! The thought alone was enough to make a smile brighten her tired face. To see Elian again ... and everyone else, Denar, Elipson ... But what if she couldn¡¯t find them? What if they had already followed the road towards the Ice Mountains? ¡°Well, my second task in completed. I think it¡¯s time to finalize our arrangement.¡± She looked at the man sitting beside her and gave him a genuine smile. Searching under her tunic she produced the bundled pieces of jewelry and the merchant¡¯s eyes glowed anxiously. He quickly untied his pouch from his belt and handed it to the girl. ¡°It¡¯s all I have!¡± Allana accepted it and gave him the treasures she¡¯d brought from Mithir. Untying the merchant¡¯s pouch she quickly assessed its content. It wasn¡¯t much, she thought ... but it would surly be enough to pay for her expenses for a few days. The man, on the other hand, quickly put the wrapped golden pieces away and, with a bright smile, held the reins of his mule, as if he were anxious to get away from that place as soon as possible. ¡°There! Deal closed!¡± she told him, closing her new pouch and tying it to her belt near her sword. Getting rid of the merchant¡¯s cloak, she jumped from the wagon and untied her horse. The man gazed at her for a few seconds, looking slightly apprehensive. But then he seemed to remember that that strange girl had wanted to secretly get into a town she didn¡¯t even know, and that the motives behind such endeavors normally meant a lot of trouble. And so he turned his gaze towards the dark street ahead and hit the hindquarters of his mule with his cane, putting the wagon in motion again, driving away without a single glance back, as if he¡¯d never even met her in the first place. Allana held her horse by the reins and took a deep breath looking once more at the picture of that small Dragon. It was almost ironic. A Dragon, the same thing that had caused all that mess, the main reason that had led the Knights to leave on that quest, that had pulled her and Elian apart ¡­ And yet ¡­ Melkar! She¡¯d reached Melkar all on her own!, she thought, smiling pridefully as she guided her mount towards the porch where other horses patiently awaited their masters. ¡°Now be a good boy and behave. I promise to come back and take care of you,¡± she whispered near its pointy ears, caressing its forehead, and swung her only bag over one shoulder, walking towards the door. She had to push it hard in order for it to open and the smoke that filled the air inside made her cough. It was a relatively big room. Inside there were long, wooden tables, surrounded by ten to twelve chairs each. At a corner was a fireplace, which Allana quickly identified as the source of all that smoke. On the left side there was a counter, where a potbellied man, his greasy hair stuck to his forehead, took note of the guests¡¯ orders. Like the wine merchant had told her, there were men everywhere. Men with hard expressions, dirty faces and cold eyes. Others, too drunk to even stand, laughed and sang out loud. There were women too, women like the ones she¡¯d see outside, but these were laughing, her cheeks pink from the warmth and alcohol, looking like dolls at the mercy of the cruel, unscrupulous hands of the men paying for their favors. She took a deep breath for courage and walked to the counter with firm, decided steps, standing on tiptoes to be able to place her elbows on the polished, stained wooden surface. The man at her side immediately looked at her from head to toe, his dark eyes curious. Allana ignored him, trying to captivate the potbellied man¡¯s attention who, wiping his hands on his dirty apron, almost ran from one side to another, trying to comply with his costumers¡¯ requests. ¡°Excuse me! Hello! Hey! I¡¯m talking to you!¡± she tried, raising her voice so she could be heard over the noise of the crowd but he didn¡¯t seem to even notice her. ¡°Hey, kid! What are you doing in a place like this? Are you lost or what?¡± the man at her side asked and Allana gave him a cold glare, choosing to ignore his question, trying to capture the fat innkeeper¡¯s attention. The man at her side took a deep breath, sounding bored, and lightly shook his head. ¡°You may as well stand there all night, trying to make yourself heard ¡­ Wanna see how it¡¯s done?¡± he asked and, the moment the innkeeper walked by him, he grabbed him by the collar of his tunic and, in a quick movement, pulled him down, against the counter. The innkeeper groaned in pain and looked at him with fear in his eyes, holding his breath as he was forced to lean forward, their noses almost touching. All around her voices were suddenly silenced, although the sound of laughter could still be heard from the other side of the room. ¡°Are you deaf or what, man? The girl wants a room!¡± he said in a whisper, although his voice was cold and hard, and the innkeeper¡¯s round cheeks blushed violent as he stammered. ¡°Yyyes ¡­ of course, my lord ¡­ forgive me ¡­¡± Allana looked at the man standing beside her with renewed attention. He was still relatively young and was all dressed in black, like the Knights of Mithir, although his ways could never hold the class or distinction of a Knight. The man didn¡¯t reply, releasing the innkeeper¡¯s clothes and, turning around, walked away, wrapping himself in a black cloak lined in red. Everyone went silent as he walked by, fear living in their eyes, until he finally left the establishment. The innkeeper sighed in relief and lowered his gaze to look at her for the first time, a malicious smile taking over his face. ¡°I want a room!¡± she declared, trying to sound tough, and a man a few steps away laughed out loud. ¡°Honey! You can have mine, if you want. There¡¯s more than enough space.¡± She ignored his coarse comment and focused on the fat man on the other side of the counter. ¡°And?¡± ¡°Listen here, kid. This is no place for a child like you. Just do yourself a favor and go home.¡± The man at her side gulped the rest of his beer and gave her a lecherous one over. In a sudden movement he caught hold of her hood and pulled it back, uncovering her blond hair and revealing her child-like face. And yet he was immediately frozen in place, his smile withering away. Allana looked coldly at him and poked his ribs with the tip of the dagger she held in one hand. ¡°Touch me again and you¡¯re a dead man ¡­¡± she whispered and the man raised both hands in the air, regretting his unthought actions, slowly stepping back without a word. Allana exhibited her dagger, spinning it between her fingers with one hand, and glared at the innkeeper, trying to look as threatening as she could. ¡°And? Do you still think this kid should go home? Or do you need me to pick your ears clean until you¡¯re able to hear that a I want a room?¡± ¡®Ohs¡¯ and ¡®Ahs¡¯ surrounded her, more from amusement at the sight of that small frail-looking girl trying to intimidate such a big man, and the innkeeper grabbed a key from a key-holder nailed on the wall behind him, throwing it on the counter. ¡°Second floor, eighth door,¡± he told her dryly and Allana quickly grabbed the key and walked away, followed by the other men¡¯s gazes. She quickly found the stairs and she couldn¡¯t help feeling relieved when the sounds from the common room became muffled by the distance. The corridor she turned too was narrow and windowless, making it dim and stuffy, the only light coming from the few old looking lamps hanging from rusty nails stuck to the walls. Still she couldn¡¯t help feeling safer surrounded by all those shadows than downstairs amongst all those rough-looking men. She stopped in front of the eighth door and turned the key. Outside the sun had already set and the sky quickly grew darker. The room was small and the straw mattress had visible bumps. Next to her was a wooden table, over which a candle stump had been placed. A tree legged stool at a corner completed the room¡¯s furniture. On one of the other corners was the ¡®bathroom¡¯ comprised of a chamber pot, a basin, a small round wooden tub that she¡¯d have difficulty fitting into, and a couple of jars filled with clean water. Allana sighed and, closing and locking the door, dropped her bag on the bed. She quickly untied her cloak, her new pouch and her sword¡¯s belt, washing her hands. The water was freezing cold and shiver climbed up her spine. But she¡¯d been on the road for five days and was in dire need of a bath. Gathering the few cockroaches that had elected her small bathtub as their home, she took off her clothes and climbed inside, kneeling on the hard bottom, grabbing one of the jars to pour it over her head. * If you want to know more about this book or simply access earlier updates, please visit the official site at http://carpersanti.net/arnae/ Also, please consider supporting the author so she can go on putting her madness out there for anyone to read: https://www.patreon.com/carpersanti ?? Chapter 14 - Melkar (P2) - Called Back Part 2 - Called Back Kayla entered the room with hurried steps and only stopped at the sight of the dark shadow by the window, looking outside at the city at his feet. The blazing fires had long died out, leaving only darkened stone, ash and an intense and sickening burning smell in their place. The palace, where they now met, had been the only construction that had been spared the massive destruction that had devastated the Kingdom of Everlyn. ¡°My Lord! Why have you commanded me to halt the attack on Mithir? The city would have fallen in less than half a day!¡± ¡°Kayla, I¡¯ve told you before. Destroying everything that stands in your path isn¡¯t always the best way to accomplish our objectives,¡± he whispered condescendingly and turned to face her. ¡°Besides I need your presence elsewhere. News from the west have reached me. It would seem my jewel is somewhere over there. I charged Caleb with finding it. However, in case he fails, I may need your intervention.¡± ¡°West? But ¡­ how?¡± ¡°It would seem it found its way to somewhere near Melkar. And this cat and mouse game has gone too far,¡± he went one, approaching her, and Kayla lowered her gaze.Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author. ¡°If that is what you wish ¡­¡± ¡°Yes, it is,¡± he replied, lightly touching her head, sliding his fingers down the long strands of red hair that fell all the way to her waist. ¡°Your hair, like this, makes you look like one of them. You could easily go unnoticed in a human city,¡± he said sarcastically and Kayla escaped his touch, living flames burning in her eyes. ¡°I¡¯ll leave immediately.¡± ¡°Yes. And keep me informed.¡± She simply nodded and left the room, her steps echoing against the white stone floor. Serafan laughed, amused with the anger a few mere words could invoke, and took a deep breath. ¡°It would seem you earned yourself some time, my beloved Endio. Lets see then if your precious city is as resistant as you claim ¡­¡± * If you want to know more about this book or simply access earlier updates, please visit the official site at http://carpersanti.net/arnae/ Also, please consider supporting the author so she can go on putting her madness out there for anyone to read: https://www.patreon.com/carpersanti ?? Chapter 14 - Melkar (P3) - Rencounter Part 3 -Rencounter They brought their horses to a halt. The night hours had stretched slower than normal and no one had managed much sleep. Although they hadn¡¯t shared it in words the entire group felt slightly anxious, wondering about what would await them the next day. Just like Mahel had estimated they¡¯d taken eight days to reach Melkar¡¯s gate. Elian frowned, looking at the tall columns flanking the large gate, the weight he carried in his chest growing increasingly heavy. His thoughts were constantly assaulted by suppositions and concerns he could do little about. Lidya¡¯s words still rung in his head and he couldn¡¯t help wondering if he had in fact done the right thing, leaving Allana behind, ignoring the condemned woman¡¯s final request. On the other hand the fact that he hadn¡¯t heard a single word from Mithir left him restless. He¡¯d never realized how much he loved his small, peaceful Kingdom and, by his counts, there was a real possibility that, by now, there was nothing left of his family and home .. For an instant that whole trip seemed utterly useless. After all, what were they really looking for? Help to save what? Denar returned to the group and scratched his head, his brown hair in need of an obvious wash. ¡°That I could see there are at least two men guarding the gate. But there are probably another couple or so inside,¡± he reported and Elian tried hard to pay attention to what he was saying. ¡°Do you think they¡¯ll believe that story again?¡± ¡°Maybe ¡­ Probably yes. But this time lets try not to be so careless. Lets hide any insignias that might identify our origin. And put your most fearless, threatening expressions on your faces!¡± he added and Arkel growled as if to emphasize his words. It was past midday and everyone longed for a table to seat at and a hot meal to fill their stomachs. Denar, as it had become customary, took the lead, and the guards crossed their spears in front of him, forcing him to a halt. As the Knight had suspected these men were in no position to act as careless and relaxed as the men they¡¯d found on the road. And although they showed a healthy measure of fear after he¡¯d explained their line of work, they still questioned them thoroughly, about their origins, reason to travel, where they¡¯d been to, where they were going, and so on. They searched their bags greedily, as if hoping to find a hidden treasure, and finally informed the travelers that there was an admission tax to be paid. ¡°Oh, but of course,¡± Denar said, smiling sarcastically. ¡°Please excuse our ignorance. Let¡¯s see, how much would said tax be?¡± he asked, untying the pouch hanging from his waist, and the man¡¯s eyes glowed at the tinkling sound of coins. ¡°Five silver coins, sir ¡­ each!¡± Denar gave him a murderous look and the man took one step back. ¡°Hum ¡­ I tell you what. I¡¯ll give you fifteen coins and my honorable word that I won¡¯t mention this matter to your superiors. And, of course, that you¡¯ll still have your head attached to your neck come morning. What say you?¡± The man¡¯s face twisted in anger but, even so, he didn¡¯t dare get any closer to any of the group¡¯s members. ¡°Are you threatening me?¡± ¡°Oh no, no at all. I wouldn¡¯t dare threaten a noble man of the law. I¡¯m just offering you a deal. Fifteen coins and, of course, my protection. And you let us pass,¡± Denar calmly explained, offering him the fifteen silvers, and the man hesitated, but ended up grabbing them with surprising speed, last he get caught or worse. Denar smiled, amused, and urged his horse forward, followed by the rest of the group that, like instructed, glared threateningly at the guard. They pushed forward a bit more and stopped near the corner leading to the main avenue. The houses there were all big and made of stone, sometimes with two or three floors. It was clear they belonged to the city¡¯s wealthiest class. However, the houses they could see on the secondary streets told a complete different story. The stained, darkened, wooden walls and zinc rooftops only made the streets look even gloomier. All the stores and commerce warehouses were located on the main avenue but, even at that time of day, the city looked almost inhabited. The few people they saw walked in quick steps, their heads bent down, covered by cloaks or mantles as if they wanted to go unnoticed. ¡°Hum, I know the perfect place for us to stay, unless they were forced to close their doors,¡± Denar told them and Elian gave him an inquiring look ¡°I¡¯ve been here before ¡­¡± ¡°And it would seem you didn¡¯t make many friends, or am I wrong?¡± Lamar asked, noticing that the moment they¡¯d crossed the city gates he¡¯d covered his head, and the Knight smiled but didn¡¯t answer. They followed him through narrow, dark streets, and progressively less and less inhabited blocks of houses. In there the air seemed heavier and an foul stench of something putrid scraped the back of their throats, leaving them nauseated; a repugnant smell that seemed to be the result of something long dead, mixed with excrements and rotten food. Elian raised the collar of his cloak so it would cover his nose. There were whispered voices all around them, and ghostly faces peered here and there from the shadows. Occasionally they would shamelessly pull apart the ragged clothes that covered them, exhibiting their naked bodies, and only then did he realize that those faces belonged to women ¡­ that they were actually Human Beings and not ghosts from some unnatural world. The smell of rot was so strong and rank that it left a bitter, pasty taste in his mouth. The sound of screaming woke him from his torpor and his gaze fell on the two soldiers that had grabbed a woman, tearing her clothes to shreds. The fruits she¡¯d carried in a basked were now rolling over the dark stone of the pavement, ending up in the gutter where they remained covered in fetid water. She was still fighting them, despair contorting her young face, but it was clear that she had no chance to escape. Elian clenched his fists hard and was about to make his horse turn around when a hand held his reigns, forcing him to avert his gaze. Elipson simply looked at him, understanding and sadness clear in her eyes, and all he had to do was face that gaze to know what she was thinking, and that she was right. Stopping now would compromise everything and put everyone¡¯s lives at risk. And that was something he simply couldn¡¯t do. After all he was responsible for the lives of those that followed him. And then the dark, narrow alley was behind them and that pleading face of suffering was lost in the shadows, her screams no more than a murmur like the ones that filled his head every time he woke up from his nightmares; meaningless echoes, with no origin or destiny. Denar brought his horse to a halt and the rest of the group followed his lead. And only then Elian realized that the foul stench had been replaced by the characteristics smell of wine and bear. ¡°This is the place I told you about ¡­¡± ¡°Well, one can always trust you to find the best places to spend the night!¡± Arkel said with a board smile on his lips. ¡°You could have chosen a more pleasant route, thought ¡­¡± ¡°As long as it¡¯s discreet,¡± Elian added in a whisper but no one seemed to hear him. They dismounted their horses, leaving them under the small porch built for that purpose, and, after giving a silver coin to the dirty, skinny boy taking care of the animals, made their way to the door. The warmth coming from inside touched their faces and they quickly looked around the room, gathering their bearings. There were few guests, at that early hour, but the general mess promised a lively night. All the better. The more people it got, the easiest they¡¯d go unnoticed, Elian thought to himself. A sudden smile stretched across Denar¡¯s face and, in quick steps, he marched towards the shadowy table in the corner, where a dark-haired man was sitting, his clothes shabby and patched in several places. Placing a hand on the man¡¯s shoulder, he bent forward to better look at his face. ¡°Drake?! Drake!¡± The man sitting at the table raised his head in alarm, trying to recognize the man talking to him. And then he jumped to his feet and, in one fluid movement, pulled the Knight down, forcing him face down on the table, and twisted his arm behind his back, pressing the point of a sharp dagger to his neck. ¡°I thought this day would never come, you traitor!¡± Denar remained very still and simply smiled. ¡°Come now, Mandrake ¡­ I¡¯m sure you don¡¯t want to do this ¡­¡± he said softly, signaling him to look to his right and the strange slightly averted his gaze, which was enough to allow him to see the sword pointed at his head and the deadly expression of the green-eyed man holding it. Another man, this one taller and stronger-looking, placed one booted foot on the bench on the other side of the table and looked at him. ¡°Not that we like him all that much, but he¡¯s rather useful, now and then,¡± he explained in a calm voice and Mandrake released the Knight as if nothing had happened, sitting down again in front of his broth that miraculously hadn¡¯t been spilled. Denar straightened his back, rearranging his clothes, and gave Lamar a reproving gaze. ¡°We¡¯ll talk about that later ¡­¡± he grumbled and Lamar smiled condescendingly. Arkel, following the other Knight¡¯s relaxed demeanor, sheathed his sword, and Denar turned to the strange man again. ¡°Come on, Mandrake ¡­ I¡¯m really happy to see you. To see you¡¯re still alive!¡± ¡°I don¡¯t want ¡­ I refuse to talk to you!¡± ¡°Fine. At least tell me how Terran and Mikha are.¡± Mandrake looked up at him, anger hardening his gaze, and clearly tried his best to remain seated. ¡°Dead!¡± he replied dryly and, as if that talk had never taken place, took a spoon of that yellowish broth to his mouth. For a moment Denar was at a loss for words, disbelief marking his his face. ¡°And your brother ¡­?¡± he asked again, this time with fear in his voice, and Mandrake shrugged, filling his mouth again. ¡°As far as I¡¯m concerned, could be dead as well.¡± ¡°Then he¡¯s alive!¡± ¡°I rather not talk about him. Much less with you.¡± Denar smiled and replaced his friendly hand over the man¡¯s shoulder. ¡°I really missed you. And I¡¯m very sorry for Mikha and Terran ¡­¡±Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. ¡°You have no right to talk about them! Not you, who abandoned us when we needed you the most!¡± Madrake rebuked, shrugging his hand away. ¡°I didn¡¯t abandoned you, and you know it! I tried to warn you time and time again. But you and Caleb, you just wouldn¡¯t listen.¡± The stranger dropped his spoon on the plate and took a deep breath, shaking his head. ¡°You were just an annoying kid ¡­¡± ¡°But I was right.¡± He smiled sadly and nodded once. ¡°Yes. You were always very perceptive.¡± ¡°What good would it have done if I had stayed? We would all have died, together with the others. And then you were always telling me I had to look out for Arista. I had to take her away from that place.¡± ¡°Arista ¡­ I can¡¯t even imagine her right now. And to think I promised her so many things ¡­¡± ¡°Tell me what happened, please. Until this day I never really understood how things got so out of control ¡­¡± Mandrake raised his head and, for the first time, look at the other members of that strange group. ¡°I see you got yourself new companions ¡­¡± Denar smiled, knowing that that meant he¡¯d eventually tell him what had happened all those years ago and that, more importantly, he had partly forgiven him, and decided to introduce the others. ¡°This is Elian. The one with the sword is Arkel. That one is his brother, Mahel. The one with the sense of humor is Lamar. And the lady is Elipson.¡± Madrake lightly nodded his head at the ¡®lady¡¯, and looked back at Denar. ¡°It doesn¡¯t take much to see that they were all carefully chosen ¡­¡± Denar laughed and shook his head. ¡°No. To tell you the truth they weren¡¯t chosen at all. They just came from a place where there are plenty like them.¡± Mandrake¡¯s dark eyes glowed enthusiastically. ¡°Oh really? You have to tell me where that place is. I wouldn¡¯t mind surrounding myself with people like these. But please, take a seat. You must be tired from your travels,¡± he invited and the Knights took places around the table. Mandrake signaled the girl that seemed to be in charge of waitering the tables and they all asked for something to drink and eat. Elipson could only hope that she wouldn¡¯t end up with a bowl of yellowish-green liquid like the one in front of Mandrake, or she would surely throw up. ¡°So tell me, what happened? And where¡¯s your brother?¡± Denar insisted and a shadow seemed to fall over the stranger¡¯s face. ¡°That night ¡­ When I woke up it was still dark. I thought I heard voices and remembered what you had told me, that they would end up ambushing us if we remained within Melakay¡¯s borders. I moved carefully and saw a shadow near a bush, a shadow too similar for me to be unable to recognize it. I relaxed, telling myself I was a fool to believe in some boy¡¯s ominous tale. And so I stepped out of my hiding place. I was about to walk up to Caleb and share my own stupidity with him when I saw he was talking to someone I had never seen before. And then I heard him tell the other man to get his men. That he¡¯d like to get it over with as fast as possible. That we should be caught by surprise, while we slept. I think I¡¯ll never forget those words. I can still hear his voice say them every time I close my eyes. For a moment I couldn¡¯t understand what I had heard, then I didn¡¯t know what to do. I ran back to our camp and shout them awake, telling them to grab their weapons. I looked for Arista but couldn¡¯t find her. I looked for you too, but you were gone. And then our camp was surrounded by men holding swords. Ours had barely woken up. Many died before they could stand and pick up their weapons. And suddenly I saw Caleb looking straight at me. I saw Terran run to him, telling him something, probably asking him for guidance. And saw him be impaled by my brother¡¯s sword ¡­ his gaze cold, merciless.¡± Mandrake stopped for a few minutes and took a deep breath as if to cast away the images that had taken over his mind. ¡°They didn¡¯t kill me. To tell you the truth I was the only survivor ¡­ Caleb spared my life. They blindfolded me and locked me up in some tower. Caleb came to see me many times ¡­ If I could have killed him then ¡­! Every time he came he would tell me how much he loved me. As if someone could do what he did and still love anyone. He explained that he had realized that ours was a lost cause. That we were fighting for the wrong side, and that we¡¯d never win. Now he could have anything he wanted, all we had dreamed of. I¡¯m sure you can imagine. My brother ... Finally he told me that all I had to do was join him ¡­ and it was then he told me the truth. Melakay¡¯s rebellion had been this big scam, something that had been carefully planed. Of course the soldier¡¯s didn¡¯t know, but it was all a big game. A bloody game destined keep everyone busy while his new Lord took over the government. In said rebellion the King and his heirs would have to die, which in fact happened not long after. The youngest Prince made a deal with Caleb¡¯s Master, agreeing to serve him if he¡¯d give him the Crown. And Denar, everything happened exactly like he told me it would. Their plan worked perfectly. But more than that he told me what would happen next. You know how Caleb always enjoyed bragging about things only he knows. He told me that once the great Kingdoms of the West had been subdued, a great Army would come from the North to destroy the smaller Kingdoms of the East, so that they¡¯d have complete control over the Continent. According to Caleb this was a great vision ¡­¡± Denar shuddered and looked briefly at Elian. ¡°The Kingdoms of the West?! Does that mean they are all overthrown?¡± ¡°Melakay is for sure. Rumors say that Saltan is under they influence as well. As for Thundel I don¡¯t know. Thundel is always hard to understand, since they don¡¯t have a central government. Since I constantly refused his offer to join them he stopped bringing me news. And I remained his prisoner for five years, until I was finaly able to escape. He hunts me down even now ¡­ As far as I know he was here yesterday, looking for me, so beware. I¡¯m sure he¡¯ll recognize you if he sees you again.¡± ¡°And you¡¯re here, now? In the daylight? Are you insane?¡± the Knight asked and Drake gave him a crooked smile. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I have people everywhere in this city. He gets even a bit closer and I¡¯m immediately warned.¡± Elian dove into his own thoughts. He had been told him to look for help in the West but it would seem that the great Kingdoms of the West were in need of help as well. Could it be possible that the entire Continent had been overtaken by their enemies and that, contrary to what they had initially thought, Mithir, Leips and Harver were the last free Kingdoms of Altier? And if so ¡­ what hopes of success could they hold? Forcing himself to put such dark thoughts behind him he tried to focus on the conversation taking place right in front of him. Now Denar wasn¡¯t the only one making questions, Mandrake¡¯s story worrying everyone else. But Elian could hardly hear them anymore. He felt as if a dark hole had suddenly appeared beneath his feet and he knew all too well that nothing good could come of allowing himself to plunge into that darkness. Suddenly Elipson¡¯s childish voice echoed in his mind. As long as you¡¯re true to yourself, it doesn¡¯t matter if you lie to everyone else. But if you start lying to yourself then it will be the same as punching a wall. You¡¯ll be the only one getting hurt. He looked at her. She was carefully listening to the strange man. He wondered if she could still tell him those words even now. Or if she¡¯d tell him that all children are innocent, and that loosing that innocence is the price one must pay for growing-up. He took a deep breath and forced himself to pull back from that dark path. Be true to yourself! No excuses!, he told himself and allowed the images he had been blocking from his thoughts to return to his mind. The golden haired girl on that balcony ¡­ the only goodbye ¡­ maybe the last ¡­ Allana. He¡¯d broken his promise. He¡¯d left her alone in his past. The girl he¡¯d searched for his entire life. But how could he have brought her in that increasingly hopeless quest? Above all he wished she could be safe. And to make sure of that you treated her the same way everyone else did. As if she were some porcelain doll. You locked her in a box. You betrayed her trust and worse ¡­ you betrayed yourself! He could still see the anger hardening her golden eyes, hear her harsh words. Who did he think he was? Yet, none of that mattered now. It was no use hurting over a decision he¡¯d made. Nothing would allow him to go back and do things differently. And even if he could go back. Would he have chosen to bring her? Would he have risked her life? Her safety? And yet he couldn¡¯t help missing her terribly, as if a part of him had been torn and left behind. The sound of a murmur woke him from his thoughts. He raised his head, looking around, but none of the Knights seemed to have noticed it. They were still asking Mandrake about the safety of the roads and about news of the other Kingdoms. Elian still managed to hear something about a storm that would reach them in ¡­ five days? That same murmur filled his ears again. It felt as if someone was calling him, but the sound was far from sounding like his name. By then he¡¯d established that only he could hear it and, as it came closer, the murmur became something like a melody, even though he still couldn¡¯t establish its origin. ¡°Excuse me. I¡¯ll be right back ¡­¡± he said almost unconsciously and left the table. He walked without thinking, as if someone else were in control of his legs. Crossing a small arch, that he hadn¡¯t even noticed that existed, he found himself in a smaller room, also furnished with tables and chairs, but obviously much less frequented. His gaze immediately fell on a small table where a couple seemed to be arguing, although their voices could hardly been heard from where he stood. And yet the sound of that melody was much stronger there, echoing enticingly inside his head. Walking towards the table he could see that, sitting on the other side, facing him, was a tall, harsh-looking man. However, his companion, sitting with his back to him, wore a dark cloak that covered his head. He looked much smaller than the other man, and suddenly he was on his feet, a sword quickly appearing in his hand. The sound of the metal leaving its sheath silenced the melody inside Elain¡¯s head and he could clearly hear his clear voice. ¡°Get out of my table this instant!¡± His heart jumped a beat ¡­ that voice! Wake up! You¡¯re dreaming again!, but this time the image refused to disappear. He walked to the table in a firm pace and faced the man that had also stood up, apparently willing to take their argument to the next level. ¡°You heard the lady. Scram!¡± The sword fell on the floor, the clanking sound of the metal filling the air. And yet, although the weapon threatening his life had disappeared, the tall man chose to leave, rather than having to deal with that newcomer as well. She stood motionless ¡­ Elian could almost imagine he could hear her heart racing. He raised a shaky hand and pulled the hood of her cloak down, revealing a long, golden braid. She slowly turned around, as if fearing he might suddenly disappear, and looked up at him. ¡°I can believe it ¡­ Allana ¡­¡± he whispered and she threw her arms around him, hugging him with all her strength. For a moment he just stood there, feeling her ¡­ feeling her body against his, her warmth, the scent of her hair, of her skin. Then he wrapped his arms around her as well, and allowed his eyes to close as a deep relief flooded his every cell. Always be honest with yourself ¡­ ¡°You¡¯re here ¡­ I¡¯m so happy you¡¯re here ¡­!¡± he whispered, caressing her hair, and gently pushed her back to touch her childish face, her smile making him smile as well. ¡°I can hardly believe my own eyes.¡± ¡°I was afraid I¡¯d missed you, that you might have already left Melkar ¡­¡± ¡°Elian? Is everything all right?¡± Allana peered towards the archway and smiled at the owner of that new voice. ¡°Allana!!¡± She quickly left Elian¡¯s arms and ran to hug Elipson, Who stood there, too stunned to say anything else. ¡°Elipson! So good to see you!¡± Elipson looked at Elian, her eyes filled with questions, but he was too overwhelmed to notice it. ¡°Allana ¡­ How did you get here? Where are the others?¡± Allana released her and raised her head proudly. ¡°There are no others,¡± she calmly replied and Elian seemed to wake up from his dreamy state of mind. ¡°No others? You mean you traveled all alone from Mithir?¡± Allana looked at him, still smiling, and nodded. ¡°Are you insane?!¡± he demanded, raising his voice, and the girl¡¯s smile quickly faded away. ¡°Elian ¡­ this is hardly the appropriate place to discuss that,¡± Elipson reminded in a hushed voice but he didn¡¯t seem to hear her. ¡°When did you leave?¡± ¡°The day after you left.¡± ¡°You crossed the Silver Forest?! You must have! It¡¯s the only way you¡¯d be able to get here before us!¡± ¡°I did, but ¡­¡± ¡°Do you have any notion of the risk you took? How stupid can you be?!¡± ¡°Elian ¡­¡± Elipson tried again, noticing the girl¡¯s sad expression, but Allana raised her head and faced him, her golden eyes glowing coldly. ¡°Just let it be, Elipson,¡± she said and turned to him.¡±I don¡¯t have to explain myself to you! I thought I¡¯d made that clear the last time we spoke! I don¡¯t need you! Is it so hard to accept such basic truth?!¡± Elian¡¯s dark gaze glowed dangerously, his rigid expression hardly containing his anger and indignation, but Elispon placed herself between the two of them. ¡°This is not the place, Elian! You¡¯re drawing too much attention,¡± she added, lowering her voice and looking around at the few people present, noticing they were all looking at them, and Elian seemed to swallow his own words. Instead he walked by Allana, grabbing her arm, and dragged her away with him. ¡°We need to talk!¡± he said dryly and dragged her roughly towards the stairs. Elipson followed them and stopped by the table where the other Knights sat, looking intrigued at the strange company Elian seemed determined to take with him towards the bedrooms¡¯ floor. ¡°What happened?¡± Lamar asked and Elipson sighed, facing Denar. ¡°Allana is here ¡­¡± ¡°Allana?!¡± Arkel repeated with a pensive expression that said that the name wasn¡¯t¡¯ strange but that he couldn¡¯t quit place it, and Mahel looked towards the stairs where they¡¯d both disappeared. ¡°The Princess ¡­¡± ¡°Princess? But wasn¡¯t she supposed to have died in Everlyn?¡± he asked, apparently unconcerned with the matter, and Elipson sighed, sitting down. ¡°It¡¯s a long story ¡­¡± ¡°Hum ¡­ I knew it. Things were just going too smoothly to be true,¡± Denar sighed. * If you want to know more about this book or simply access earlier updates, please visit the official site at http://carpersanti.net/arnae/ Also, please consider supporting the author so she can go on putting her madness out there for anyone to read: https://www.patreon.com/carpersanti ?? Chapter 14 - Melkar (P4) - Words of Many Meanings Part 4 - Words of Many Meanings Stairs ¡­ shadowy stairs that led to an even more shadowy corridor. He wondered why those kinds of places never had a decent light. And why would such a thought cross his mind in that precise moment? His fingers wrapped around her wrist; the warmth of her skin; the sound of her steps ¡­ she was real! She was right there. She wasn¡¯t a mere dream condemned to obliviousness once daylight touched the world. Once on the first floor, far from unwanted, meddling gazes, Allana pulled her arm free and raised her head to face him. He¡¯d been caught off guard by her sudden movement, she¡¯d seen it for brief moments on his face, before he recovered his angry expression. ¡°This is far enough! You can go back down and join your Knights!¡± she told him dryly. ¡°I¡¯m not, and I¡¯ve never been your responsibility! And if you ever felt that way because I left Everlyn in your company, that¡¯s no longer a reason! I left Mithir on my own and of my own accord! I got here traveling alone! I don¡¯t depend on you for anything!¡± What else could she say? What else could she tell him to make him understand once and for all? His eyes glowed in the dim light for brief instants, anger filling those dark wells, and Allana thought he was going to shout back at her, or do something even worse. But then, like a storm that suddenly dissipates, his anger was gone, and he lowered his gaze. ¡°No ¡­ I don¡¯t want to argue with you anymore ¡­ not after knowing how much it hurts. I just want to talk ¡­ please,¡± he asked in a whisper, his expression gentle, even a bit sad, and Allana couldn¡¯t find in herself the courage to refuse his request. Taking a deep breath, she ended up giving up her last ideas of resisting him and shrugged, signaling him to follow her. She climbed another flight of stairs, her steps light, hardly making any sound against the old wood, and walked down the narrow corridor. Elian could hardly avert his gaze from her figure; from the way she moved, her gentle sway as she walked. Under the light of the feeble lamps that tried to bring some light to that dim corridor, he saw a small key appear on her hand and then she opened a door, offering him passage and closing it behind her. Elian examined the small bedroom for a moment. Even if she hadn¡¯t been the one to take him there he was sure he would have been able to tell that she had slept in there, small details denouncing her presence. ¡°When did you arrive?¡± he asked, careful to sound as natural as possible, and she sat on the edge of the bed. ¡°Yesterday. In the evening.¡± He watched her for a moment. Her answer had been dry and her golden gaze was still cold and distant. Far from the light that had glowed all over her face the moment she¡¯d first seen him, hugging him without a thought.Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original. ¡°I¡¯m sorry for before ¡­ I spent every single day since we left Mthir thinking about what had happened ¡­ about our last talk,¡± he confessed, averting his gaze. ¡°Blaming myself for committing such a huge mistake. And yet, the moment I see you again ¡­ Even now, I can hardly believe you¡¯re really here. The truth is I worry about you, even if you¡¯re not my responsibility, even if I have no business meddling in your life, even knowing I have no right to tell you what to do or to question your decisions ¡­ Because it was never about some sense of responsibility or obligation,¡± he said, facing her again. She remained very still, simply listening to him. ¡°If I worry about you is because ¡­ I love you.¡± He¡¯d finally said it ¡­ the words he had refused to even think about. But what were words? Fake, deceiving sounds of many meanings. People only heard what they wanted to hear. She stood up, walking up to him, and held his hands. And Elian could only wish she hadn¡¯t, that she¡¯d kept her distance as if she were a figment of his imagination. However her expression was gentle again and a childish smile took over her lips. ¡°I know. But if you feel that way about me, then you must be able to place yourself in my shoes. You leave me behind, I don¡¯t even know where to, and you ask me to wait, not knowing when you¡¯ll return, unable to know if you¡¯re dead or alive ¡­ What if I did the same to you? Went somewhere else, leaving you behind, protected by the walls of some palace? How would you feel?¡± He searched inside himself for an answer, although he knew all too well what that would feel like, the image of those carriages disappearing into night still bright alive in his memory ¡°Allana ¡­¡± She stepped back, leaving him empty handed, and looked out the small window that showed only the narrow, dark street down bellow. ¡°I no longer belong anywhere, if I ever belonged somewhere to begin with. This has always been my dream; to travel the world. Yet there was Everlyn, and my mother, and Heric ¡­ Those were my shackles, but now all that is gone. And although sometimes I still cry for what I lost, I¡¯m finally free. There¡¯s nothing else to hold me back, to stop me from following my wish ¡­ And my wish right now is to be here.¡± He hugged her from behind, her frail body completely locked in his embrace, and took a deep breath, allowing his eyes to close for a moment. ¡°I only know that I wouldn¡¯t be able to bear it if anything were to happen to you because of me ¡­ You can call me selfish all you want. I missed you ¡­¡± She laughed lightly, the sound of her laughter making him smile, and turned in his embrace to face him. ¡°You¡¯re so silly ¡­¡± she declared, standing on tiptoes to place a light kiss on his face, which seemed to catch him off guard. ¡°Nothing bad is going to happen to me. It¡¯s more likely that something bad might end up happening to those around me. But, as long as you¡¯re close by, everything will be okay.¡± ¡°Allana ¡­ certain things ¡­ have changed ¡­¡± he told her and her childish smile disappear, replaced by a more serious expression as she looked up at him, waiting for him to go on. Just tell her! Tell her once and for all! ¡°What is it? Is something wrong?¡± she asked, now worried ¡­ and how could he possibly tell her the truth while facing her like that? ¡°No. It¡¯s okay, it can wait,¡± he replied, smiling, and held her hand. ¡°Just tell me! How was your trip? I want to know everything!¡± Allana smiled again, that same smile that children put in their faces when they have something special and important to share, and pulled him towards the bed, making him sit. * If you want to know more about this book or simply access earlier updates, please visit the official site at http://carpersanti.net/arnae/ Also, please consider supporting the author so she can go on putting her madness out there for anyone to read: https://www.patreon.com/carpersanti ?? Chapter 14 - Melkar (P5) - A Trap with a Child-like Face Part 5 - A Trap with a Child-like Face Mandrake bid them farewell, wishing them good luck on their travels and stood up, leaving the inn with the promise they would surely meet again. According to him, as the place began to fill the danger he¡¯d be in would double. There were may people in the city able to identify him, if nothing else because his features were exactly the same as his brother¡¯s. The Knights watched him go with heavy hearts, since nothing he had told him about the world¡¯s present situation had bode well for Mithir¡¯s already dark future. And yet, since Elian had disappeared upstairs, neither Elipson nor Denar had been able to focus one-hundred percent on their talk. Finally the group was left in silence. Outside the night had fallen and old, smoky lamps had been lit all over the common room, the small fireplace, now burning at a corner, filling the air with the scent of burned wood. ¡°This Princess ¡­ she brought an escort, right? Who came with her?¡± Arkel finally asked and they all turned to Elipson, all except Denar that had already guessed the answer. ¡°Well ¡­ It would seem she came alone.¡± ¡°Alone?!¡± Mahel repeated, incredulous, expressing everyone¡¯s thoughts on the matter. ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°But she¡¯s Elian¡¯s cousin, right? The child they took from Mithir all those years ago?¡± Elipson simply nodded to Lamar¡¯s question in silent confirmation and Denar sighed. ¡°You¡¯ll understand when you meet her. That girl in a never-ending well of problems ¡­¡± Elipson pierced him with a sharp glare but chose to remain silent, for the good of coexistence. ¡°You mean to say we know her?¡± Mahel asked, curiosity gleaming in his greenish blue eyes, although he kept his voice down, unconsciously trying, as always, to go as unnoticed as possible in the presence of the others ¡­ ¡°Nonsense! A Princess? I would never have forgotten such occasion!¡± Arkel countered perversely, and Denar played with his empty glass. ¡°Yeah, you¡¯ve met her before.¡±This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it. The three Knights looked intrigued and Elipson thought it better to say something that would erase from their minds the brilliant ideas she knew had begun to form. ¡°Allana is a very strong willed, brave young woman ¡­¡± ¡°Or a very stupid one,¡± Denar interrupted her. ¡°Because traveling alone from Mithir can only reveal one of the two!¡± ¡°She¡¯s brave, and you know it! She has showed her courage and determination more than once! Only someone like that could stand losing everything she lost and remain firm, head held high!¡± Elipson insisted and looked at the others. ¡°However she¡¯s still young. Once you get to know her a little better you¡¯ll see, she¡¯s actually very kind and funny. And so I shall warn you all right now! If I even dream that any of you hurt her in any way you¡¯ll have to answer to me!¡± she declared in an open threat, so that they¡¯d take her serious and, for a moment, the expression on the other Knights¡¯ faces clearly showed that they had understood her warning all too well . ¡°Eh! Who would have guessed we¡¯d see the day. The Black Lady protecting a little girl,¡± Arkel mocked, laughing, and Elispon smiled back at him. ¡°Believe me, it¡¯s not her I¡¯m protecting. It¡¯s you.¡± A collective ¡®oh!¡¯ echoed all around, followed by wave of laughter that made Elipson smile. It was simply impossible to dislike that silly bunch. They were all grown men, most of them older than her, and they still needed someone to keep them in line, to wake them up after partying all night, sometimes even to lend them a friendly shoulder to lean on. Her gaze fell on Denar for brief moments. There was a discreet smile on his lips. It was clear that Allana¡¯s sudden presence worried him. And knowing him like she did there was only one reason that could explained why he felt that way. Like her, he too had fallen prey to the enchantment of those golden eyes. He too had become attached to her, and how could he not? Looking back to all that had happened she could clearly see that he had fell victim of her spontaneous way of simply being; the same way he had fell under the spell of Elian¡¯s gentle nature all those years ago. They both shared that same kind of presence that made those nearby feel drawn to them and willingly give them their love. Denar worried about her, about her safety, the same way he worried about Elian. And soon enough all the Knights would worry as well. All of them, forever captives, forever under that little girl¡¯s spell. And the mere thought made her smile widen. Like a trap that no one suspects. A trap with a child-like face. ¡°Can¡¯t we go find them?¡± Lamar asked and Elipson shrugged. ¡°We don¡¯t know where they went.¡± ¡°Oh, leave that to me,¡± Arkel said and stood up. ¡°Come Mahel ¡­ and don¡¯t forget to growl!¡± Mahel smiled shyly, but a mischievous expression took over his face. * If you want to know more about this book or simply access earlier updates, please visit the official site at http://carpersanti.net/arnae/ Also, please consider supporting the author so she can go on putting her madness out there for anyone to read: https://www.patreon.com/carpersanti ?? Chapter 14 - Melkar (P6) - Search for a Spy Part 6 - Search for a Spy ¡°I¡¯m glad you managed to safely cross the Silver Forest.¡± Allana averted her gaze and nervously squeezed her hands together making Elian smile. Another of those small gestures typical of her. ¡°Well ¡­ I mean ¡­ I did find a group of soldiers ¡­¡± ¡°You found what?!¡± he demanded, quickly losing his smile, and she looked urgently at him. ¡°But nothing happened! Really! I only heard them talk. They seemed discontent about something regarding their forces being split up. And there was something else, something that kept the entire forest in silence, something not Human that was about to leave the main army and go somewhere else.¡± ¡°The Dragon?¡± Elian asked, hope brightening his countenance. ¡°I don¡¯t know, I¡¯m sorry. They seemed too afraid to talk openly about it. Always afraid something or someone might overhear them, even though there wasn¡¯t anyone else close by¡± ¡°If it was the Dragon, and with their forces split up, then Mithir may actually have a chance ¡­¡± ¡°I really can¡¯t tell. All I know is that they weren¡¯t happy, and that, by the way they talked, they sounded like mercenaries, men fighting for money, not for any specific Kingdom. They seemed to have a certain aversion to anything related with Magic, but it was thanks to some kind of Magic that they were able to carry those heavy weapons. And they¡¯re looking for a jewel, which confirms the rumors we received from M¨¢don. Also they had orders to capture anyone that makes use of Magic. I don¡¯t know if the Magi of the Tower will agree to leave the safety of their mountains once news that they¡¯re being targeted and hunted by the Northern Armies reach their ears ¡­¡± ¡°They can¡¯t abandon us now, when we need them the most.¡± ¡°I never spoke or seen a Mage, but the feeling I get is that they¡¯re all old men, with white hair, long beards and serious expressions.¡± Elian laughed, amused by her critical expression, and the sound of someone knocking on the door captured both their attentions. Allana gave him an intrigued look but he simple sighed. ¡°Come in!¡± The door opened slowly and Elipson¡¯s head peered inside, immediately putting a smile on Allana¡¯s face. ¡°May I?¡± ¡°Of course, come in!¡± she told her, jumping to her feet, and Elipson opened the rest of the door, giving way to a tall man with dark-brown hair and two others with green-blue eyes. ¡°Hum ¡­ they wanted to meet you, and well ¡­¡± Allana smiled, nodding, and invited them in. Elipson stepped aside, granting passage to the tallest man and the other two followed him closely. All it took was a single glance and she was sure these last two Knights shared the same blood. Their hair was light-brown; the oldest one used it long, tied at the back of his head, and the youger one used it short, the light bangs falling over his eyes that glowed in a mixture of blue and green. Elian stood up and took a deep breath. ¡°How did found out where she is staying?¡± Elipson shook her head and sighed. ¡°Arkel threatened to sic his mad brother on the innkeeper, should he refuse to spit out the information,¡± she said, obviously pained with the act the two brothers had put on. ¡°I can¡¯t believe it! That again?¡± Elian asked with a sorrowful tone, and the oldest of the two brothers smiled mischievously. ¡°Mahel is getting really good at playing his part of deranged brother,¡± he praized, laughing out loud, and Mahel blushed, since his gaze was still lost on those golden eyes that kept smiling at them. ¡°Elipson. Don¡¯t you think you should introduce us to Her Higness?¡± said the taller man, his voice calm and grave, and Elipson nodded. ¡°Allana, this is Lamar Darnel. Arkel Lasien. And the crazy brother is Mahel Lasien.¡± Allana greeted them all with a smile, especially Mahel since he was clearly the youngest and was obviously embarrassed by the whole situation. Lamar took a step forward and bowed respectfully. ¡°It is a pleasure to meet you again, Your Highness,¡± he said and Allana nodded discreetly. ¡°Hey, Lamar ¡­ Again?¡± Arkel asked, clearly trying to remember where they¡¯d met her, and Lamar smiled at the girl. ¡°Of course. If I¡¯m not mistaken it was Her Highness who stopped that young girl¡¯s Test.¡± Allana nodded again and looked at the other two Knights. ¡°That¡¯s right, that was me. But could you please drop the formalities?¡± Arkel and Mahel looked at her in disbelief, and Allana took a deep breath when she noticed the dark figure in the back, leaning against the open door. She crossed the room followed by the other¡¯s gazes and, without a word, held onto the Knight¡¯s arm and stood on her tiptoes to place a light kiss on his face. Denar looked completely taken aback, his cold and distant expression quickly melting away to one of complete shock, leaving a smile on her lips. ¡°I¡¯m also happy to see you again. And please don¡¯t worry so much. Everything went just fine.¡± His tense shoulders relaxed and he shook his head, condemning her childish attitude, placing a large hand of her head as if she were just a kid. ¡°You reckless brat ¡­¡± he muttered under his breath and Allana smiled proudly before turning back to look at the Knights now filling her small room. She wasn¡¯t alone anymore ¡­ She¡¯d never thought it would feel so good being surrounded by familiar faces again. ¡°Well, It would seem we¡¯re staying here,¡± Elian decided and couldn¡¯t help feeling a bit amused at the lost expressions still plastered on his toughest Knights¡¯ faces. ¡°Mahel, could you please get us rooms for the night? Denar, you see to our dinner. And we¡¯ll get our stuff and see to the horses.¡± ¡°You can bring my bags here,¡± Elipson declared, placing herself beside Allana who smiled at her. ¡°Does that mean you¡¯re going to abandon us?¡± Arkel asked with a desolated expression that was far from being able to move any of the presents. ¡°But of course, honey! There¡¯s no reason why Allana should stay alone. And I¡¯m sure all of you have been blessed with enough common sense to not even dare offer to take my place,¡± she quickly added in a clear threat and Arkel averted his gaze as if the thought had just crossed his mind. ¡°Besides, you all snore! I need a quite night¡¯s sleep for a change!¡± ¡°Ah, Elipson ¡­ You¡¯re being unfair,¡± Mahel protested in a half voice, his cheeks still blushed, and Allana couldn¡¯t help laugh. ¡°Let¡¯s move, people! Soon the inn will be full and we may very well find ourselves sleeping with our horses!¡± Denar reminded them and was the first to leave, followed by the other three Knights that were still contesting Elipson¡¯s accusation. Allana took a deep breath when they finally left and Elian gave her comforting smile. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. They may seem a bit all over the place but they¡¯re all good guys.¡± ¡°I just don¡¯t want them to think of me as a burden.¡± ¡°You?! A burden? You have nothing to worry about, hun. Only someone who doesn¡¯t know you would think of you like that,¡± Elipson said to which Elian nodded. ¡°Everything will be fine, you¡¯ll see. And that being said I better get going too, before Arkel gets us all into trouble again.¡± Elipson agreed and Elian left, leaving them alone. Elipson looked at the girl beside her. At a first glance she obviously looked the same, but something in her eyes, in the way she carried herself, something hand definitely changed. As if she¡¯d reached some inner resolution and that had left her more self-confident, more certain of herself. Allana smiled, feeling the other woman¡¯s gaze on her, and took a deep breath. ¡°How¡¯s your shoulder?¡± ¡°Oh, almost healed. I think it will be fine from now on. You know ¡­ you were really missed.¡± ¡°Me?!¡± Elipson nodded and smiled lightly. ¡°And it wasn¡¯t just Elian. It¡¯s something I can¡¯t quite explain, but I¡¯ve always been true to myself and as such have no problems admitting it. I missed your presence. It¡¯s strange and, to certain point. ridiculous, since I hardly know you ¡­ at least not as Allana.¡± ¡°I¡¯m the same as always. Allana or Darna ¡­¡± ¡°Yes, I know. But being Allana gives you a different ¡­ weight. After all I fought against you, or better yet, I fought against the memory of you for a long time. And I tell you, it wasn¡¯t an easy fight. I think ¡­ I even hated you a bit, seeing the way he cried every night, seeing all my efforts wasted in a single moment, when he remembered something about you.¡± Allana lowered her gaze. ¡°It never depended of me ¡­ I could never have even imagined ¡­¡± ¡°Oh, I know! I¡¯m sorry. You have to understand that I too was a child. And children have a different, special way to see the world. In any case, I¡¯m happy you¡¯re here, now ¡­ And I do like you, Allana. You¡¯re like a precious gemstone that, no matter how dense the darkness around you gets, you never lose your glow. Even when it seems a useless to fight, you never give up. You are what I was never able to be ¡­ I allowed my light to easily disappear ¡­¡± Allana was at a loss for words, noticing the shadow of a deep sorrow taking over her gray eyes. ¡°I¡¯m not that strong. If it weren¡¯t for Elian, if he¡¯d never went to Everlyn, I would probably have never left that place. I¡¯d probably be dead by now, and I would have happily accepted my own death.¡± ¡°And yet you had the courage that many brave men I know lack. You ventured on your own, all the way from Mithir, leaving behind the safety that was offered to you.¡± ¡°Maybe Denar is right, and I was just being reckless ¡­ Besides my motives were purely selfish ¡­¡± Elipson smiled at the girl¡¯s depressed expression and gently caress her golden hair. ¡°I don¡¯t know what your motives were, if you were right or wrong. All I know is that your presence brought a new light, a breath of fresh air to all of us, because it rekindled Elian¡¯s hope. I don¡¯t know how much longer I¡¯d be able to take it, seeing him looking down like that, lost in that uncertainty, consumed by guilt. One way or the other, either we¡¯re aware of it or not, your presence kind of lifted everyone¡¯s spirit.¡± Allana smiled and hugged her, surprising her. ¡°I really like you too, Elipson.¡± Elipson laughed and patted her back. ¡°Well, now, let¡¯s see where I¡¯m going to sleep in this miserable room of yours.¡± Allana pulled away and gave her a mischievous smile. ¡°At least I¡¯ve already gotten rid of all the bugs yesterday night.¡±Love what you''re reading? Discover and support the author on the platform they originally published on. ¡°I see ¡­ what an interesting night that must have been,¡± she replied with a sickened expression that made Allana laugh. ¡°Who could have guessed ¡­ a Princess spending her free time killing roaches.¡± ¡°It was that or spend the night feeling them crawling all over me. I chose the first.¡± ¡°Wise choice. What do you think ¡­¡± She went suddenly quiet at the sound of shouting coming from down below. Allana looked alarmed and her gaze flew to the door at the sound of running steps on the stairs and down the corridor. ¡°What do you think happened?¡± ¡°Wait here. I¡¯ll go and take a look. Don¡¯t leave the room,¡± Elipson told her and Allana nodded, watching her silently as she crossed the room. Elipson opened the door and peered outside. Seeing that the corridor was empty she quietly closed the door behind her. The angry voices coming from below reached her even clearer, sounding like loud protests. With her hand resting on the hilt of her sword, she made her way to the stairs, her steps as silent as possible. Suddenly a man grabbed her by surprise, pulling her roughly, throwing her down the next flight of stairs, making her land heavily on the wooden floor of the common room that creaked in complain beneath her feet. ¡°Everyone down! Now!¡± he commanded in a strong voice and three man, probably guests, ran downs the stairs and past her, quickly obeying, although they were clearly unhappy with the situation. ¡°What¡¯s going on here?¡± she asked the man that had grabbed her but he ignored her, still barking orders. ¡°Hey! You two! Go upstairs and bring everyone down!¡± he commanded and only then she noticed the two large men that accompanied him and that were already running up the stairs, quickly obeying his command. They both held heavy, double edged swords and quickly disappeared amongst the shadows. Her thoughts immediately turned to Allana, who she¡¯d left alone. They would soon find her and and force her to come down to the common room, like everyone else. For a moment she considered going back, trying to reach her, but quickly gave up on the idea. Disobeying their orders would probably be seen as a provocation, and she¡¯d rather avoid getting into trouble, especially knowing that she¡¯d inevitably end up involving the others in the conflict. The screams of a woman filled the air and a rude-looking man dragged her down the corridor by her hair, pushing her against a wall, kissing her while laughing disgustingly. Elipson squeezed the hilt of her sword, a deep anger burning her chest, but suddenly the big man that seemed to be in charge ordered him to let her go, and his command was immediately obeyed. They seemed to fear him ¡­ The woman ran dawn the stairs, passing by her while holding her torn dress so it would somehow cover her naked body, and the men laughed. Elipson looked at the stairs once more, still wavering ¡­ she could hear the noises coming from the floor above. They must be checking every room, forcing everyone out. There was nothing she could do, she regretfully concluded. And so, pulling the hood of her cloak up, she did as she¡¯d been told, and joined the rest of the guests in the common room. As she¡¯d imagined, everyone had been gathered in main room. Surrounding the inn¡¯s guests were more armed men, their eyes wide alert as they looked for signs of resistance, and she couldn¡¯t help noticing the white armbands they wore, contrasting with their dirty, old armors. If Mandrake¡¯s word was to be believed that meant that those were his brother¡¯s men, the one¡¯s responsible for mantaining the order in Melkar, according to their master¡¯s command. She discreetly identified Mahel, near the counter, with a round men wearing a dirty apron standing right in front of him. The yound man had his attention completely focused on his brother, standing on the other side of the room, waiting for a signal that would tell him what to do. Next to Arkel were Elian and Lamar who, in his turn, had his gaze turned towards a shadowy corner by the fireplace. Even though she couldn¡¯t see him, she immediately knew that Denar was there, hidden amongst the darkness. All it took was a single signal and they would all act as one. Elipson turned to the stairs, waiting to see Allana appear. She¡¯d stay close to her and protect her, if the worse came to happen. Guests with disgruntled expression kept coming down, a few looking a bit more conformed, as if they were used to situations like this. Many were still straightening their clothes, or pulled professional girls by the hand. Finally, the two men that she¡¯d seen disappear upstairs also came down, but no sign of the blond girl she¡¯d left in that room. ¡°Everyone¡¯s here!¡± one of them announced to the larger man that seemed to be in control of the situation. Elipson winced when she felt a small, sharp pain on the back of her head and her attention was immediately focused on Elian. It had been a long time, since she¡¯d last felt that disconcerting sharp pain. ¡°Talk to me! Where¡¯s Allana?¡± she heard him ask, as if he¡¯d just whispered in her hear, even though she knew that his voice was only in her head. ¡°I don¡¯t know. I left her in the room, when I came out to see what was going on ¡­¡± she replied, formulating the words in her thoughts, and saw him close his eyes for a moment and the pressure was gone. ¡°Well then!¡± said a voice that captivated her attention and a dark-eyed man stepped forward, the crowd around him parting to let him through, opening a clearing around him. He wore a dark-metal armor that, beneath a cloak lined in dark-red satin, reflected the flickering light of the candles. Elipson saw by the corner of her eye Denar step back, deeper into the shadows. The man that had spoken smiled at all the presents, with the same polite expression with which one thanks the presence of his guest on a special occasion, and she couldn¡¯t help stare at him in complete disbelief. He had the same exact face as the man they¡¯d been speaking to, not long ago. The similarities were so many that it was disturbing. Even their voices sounded the same. The man crossed the room towards the innkeeper and stopped right beside Mahel. ¡°Hum ¡­ I was told a very disappointing thing, that you have bee lying to me. And you know how I get upset when things happen in my town and I¡¯m the last one to know about them,¡± he said, leaning forward over the counter, and the plump man took a step back, clearly trembling, droplets of sweat sliding down his round face. ¡°Mmmy Lololord ¡­!¡± Caleb smiled coldly and, in a quick movement, grabbed the man by the collar of his tunic and pull him down, smashing his head against the wooden surface of counter. ¡°My brother was seen here just this afeternoon, in your establishment. And there¡¯s no way you weren¡¯t able to recognize him, right? As such, I¡¯m certain you understand my disappointment when I realized that you had lied to me!! After all I¡¯ve done to make sure you kept your doors open,¡± he went on, raising his voice, and the innkeeper closed his eyes, his lips shaking, his face still pressed down. Caleb smiled and finally released him, looking amused as the man quickly took a step back, his entire body shaking in fear. ¡°But, oh well, although your life is of no consequence to me, I¡¯ve decided to spare you. However, you¡¯ll have to do me a small favor in return ¡­¡± he said and looked around the room. ¡°Unfortunately we came here, me and my men, in search of someone who recently rented a room in your establishment. But we seem unable to find her.¡± ¡°Please, my lord! Just tell me who!¡± the innkeeper begged, his voice shaking, and Caleb smiled coldly. ¡°I knew that by now you¡¯d be begging me to let you help. She¡¯s a young girl and she arrived yesterday. A wine merchant left her at your door,¡± he went on, looking around once more, as if expecting a reaction. ¡°We know that that¡¯s what happened because he told us himself. His last words, the poor bastard,¡± he added with a sigh. ¡°In any case, he described this girl to us. She is a spy and so I¡¯m sure you understand the reason for all this commotion,¡± he said to the other guests in an apologetic tone. ¡°And then I remembered that kid I helped out, yesterday. And I couldn¡¯t help wondering if, by chance, they¡¯re not the same person ¡­¡± He thoughtfully pressed a finger to his lips and the innkeeper stammered, unable to produce a single coherent word. Caleb shook his head in disappointment and unsheathed the dagger he carried in his belt, nimbly making it spin between his fingers with one hand. ¡°Please ¡­¡± the innkeeper begged, stepping back, and Caleb gave him a threateningly deadly glare. ¡°Please don¡¯t tell me you¡¯re going to reply the same thing you told me, when I asked you about Mandrake ¡­ Because that would be really unwise!¡± ¡°No, my lord! I remember that girl!¡± the man blurted out, his eyes crazed with fear as he searched for a way to save his own skin. ¡°I saw her today ¡­ she was with one of the other guests ¡­ and then another asked me which room she was staying in, which is on the second floor!¡± the man added, hoping that would be enough, but Caleb remained where he stood, his expression impenetrable. ¡°It¡¯s Allana!¡± Elipson winced again at the sharp pain that pierced head and looked at Elian, who was staring intently at her. ¡°Since they¡¯re still looking for her it means they haven¡¯t found her yet. She must have ran away. Remain calm. And stay with me,¡± Elipson replied and Elian nodded discreetly. ¡°And? Who asked such an indiscreet thing, such as the number of a girl¡¯s bedroom?¡± Caleb insisted and Mahel slowly placed his hand on the hilt of his sword. ¡°Him!¡± the innkeeper said, pointing a shaky, accusing finger towards the young Knight, and Caleb looked at him with a doubtful expression. ¡°Him?! Oh, right here by my side! I hope he isn¡¯t just the first poor bastard you¡¯ve decided to condemn to death, right?¡± he asked again with that threatening expression, and the innkeeper took another step back,vehemently shaking his head. ¡°Nnnoo. He and another ¡­ there was a whole group of them ¡­ and a lady too.¡± Arkel took a step forward but Elian held him back, which seemed to calm him down a bit. ¡°We¡¯re joining Mahel. Stay where you are, for now,¡± Elipson heard in her head and nodded, obeying. ¡°Group, uh? Interesting. And who are the members of this group of yours, if you¡¯d be so kind to tell me?¡± Caleb asked, this time turning to Mahel who pressed his lips shut and remained silent, his expression unwavering as if to tell him that nothing in the entire world could force him to open his mouth. ¡°We are!¡± Elian replied in his stead, with Arkel and Lamar one on each side. Elipson saw Denar leave his dark corner but all it took was a small gesture to make him understand and return to the shadows. ¡°Very well ¡­ This innkeeper here tells me that there¡¯s a girl in your group. Is that true?¡± The room fell into a heavy silence, the air almost unbreathable. ¡°Elian? Can you hear me?¡± ¡°Yes ¡­¡± ¡°Tell him the truth!¡± ¡°What?!¡± ¡°Just do it!¡± Elipson commanded in her thoughts. ¡°And? Did the cat eat your tongue?¡± ¡°It¡¯s true. There¡¯s a lady in our group,¡± he admitted and Lamar gave him a sideways look, unable to understand what he was doing. Mahel too, seemed confused, but Arkel quickly caught on, placing an ironic smile on his face. ¡°If you can call her a lady,¡± he added with a sneer and Caleb looked carefully at the four men standing in front of him, studying them closely. The rest of the guests remained silent, in suspense, their fears lightening a bit, now that the culprits had been identified. ¡°And where¡¯s this lady of yours?¡± Caleb asked, and Elipson walk up to them, crossing the crowded room, whisperers following her every step. ¡°I believe that would be me,¡± she said in a soft, mellow voice, and only then Elian noticed her proximity, panic taking over his dark eyes. ¡°Elipson! What are you doing?!¡± ¡°Just trust me ¡­¡± was her only answer. And then Caleb was moving towards her and, holding the edges of her hood,pulled it down, revealing her black, wavy hair and a pair of cold, gray eyes. For a moment he was completely taken aback, lost in the woman that had suddenly appeared before his eyes, until a smile stretched his lips at the haughtiness and coldness of that face. With a sharp pull he broke the velvet cord holding her cloak over her shoulders and let it fall in a dark puddle on the floor, at her feet. His eyes coursed unceremoniously over her body, from head to toe, and stopped at the sword hanging from her waist with a deep sigh. ¡°Does that mean I¡¯m not the one you¡¯re looking for?¡± Elipson asked, placing a hand on her waist, and Caleb smiled again. ¡°Hardly, my lady. I could almost say that all my dreams have just come true,¡± he replied sarcastically but his smile died as quickly as it had been born, and his eyes took on a deadly glow. ¡°However, you¡¯re certainly not the girl I was sent to find. You¡¯ve disappointed me yet again!¡± he said, turning to the innkeeper, his voice hard and sharp, and the poor man raised his hands in the air, clearly in panic. ¡°No, my lord! She¡¯s not the one ¡­ it was the other ¡­ the one from yesterday! The kid!¡± Caleb shook his head as if in resignation and lowered his gaze. ¡°I¡¯m afraid you¡¯re beyond salvation. You are of no use to me anymore. Besides, as you all know, those who help and hide rebels are immediately considered traitors, and the punishment is death.¡± ¡°My lord ¡­ please ¡­¡± the man begged once again, his hands still raised in front of his sweaty face, his eyes drowning in terrified tears, and suddenly a soft whistle echoed through the room, followed by a guttural moan. The innkeepers eyes turned upwards inside his head, his lips half opened in supplication, a mix of fear and pain eternalized on his face. A thin thread of blood slided down his neck, from the place where a small dagger had buried itself in the innkeeper¡¯s throat, and with a gurgling sound the man fell heavily on the floor. Elian was lost on that lifeless face, on that listless body, and suddenly he could hear the man¡¯s heartbeat slowly slowing down, choking him with each new pained beat, making something hurt deep inside his chest, as if a painful, loud scream had risen from deep inside his soul. And then the scream wasn¡¯t his alone anymore and he realized it belonged to the real world. A strong hand pushed him to a side so that a woman could run past him. She fell on her knees beside the now dead man, trying to reanimate him, despair eating her broken voice. Elian looked at Lamar who, still holding his arm and keeping an eye on Elipson, seemed completely oblivious of the dead man at his feet. Caleb smiled, clearly glad that he hadn¡¯t missed his target, and looked at the woman beside him, who had remained absolutely calm and serene. ¡°What say you? Shall we leave this place and have a little talk just the two of us, away from this crowd?¡± Elipson shrugged, as if she couldn¡¯t care less, and crossed her arms. ¡°Why not?¡± ¡°Hum ¡­ I do appreciate women who isn¡¯t afraid to take a risk,¡± he said and, without another word, unbuckled her belt, letting it fall to the ground, over her cloak. ¡°Your sharp pointy friend stays, agreed?¡± Elipson shrugged again and Caleb held her arm, making her walk in front of him towards the door. ¡°Elipson ¡­!¡± ¡°I¡¯ll be fine. I¡¯ll keep him busy for a while. Find Allana and get her out of here!¡± ¡°No!¡± ¡°Elian! Stop behaving like a child!¡± she rebuked him, unable to avoid an annoyed expression, but Caleb didn¡¯t seem to notice it. She saw Denar take a step towards her, from her left side, his emerald eyes glowing dangerously, but then Lamar was near him, holding him back. He too followed her with his gaze, clearly able to remain calmer than the rest but still unable to hide his worried expression. And then the cool air of the night touched her face, and with it the stench coming from the dark streets surrounding them. Caleb waited until all his men had left the inn and turned to face them. ¡°She was here. She must have run away right before we arrived. Close the gates and organize patrols. I¡¯m sure that kid is still in town and I¡¯m going to find her, no matter the cost! Now go!¡± he commanded and the man scattered, each one taking a different direction. Caleb looked at his new companion and smiled. Grabbing her by her black hair he pulled her closer, tilting her head back, and kissed her. Elipson grabbed him by his cloak, stopping him from pulling back, and responded to his kiss with the same force he¡¯d used. He looked at her and smiled, amused, although she kept staring at him with those same cold eyes. ¡°I love that look ¡­¡± ¡°It¡¯s the only one I have.¡± ¡°Yes, I know. Come. I¡¯ll take you to my home,¡± he said, holding her arm again as if he were afraid she might escape, or maybe attack him, and Elipson accompanied him. * If you want to know more about this book or simply access earlier updates, please visit the official site at http://carpersanti.net/arnae/ Also, please consider supporting the author so she can go on putting her madness out there for anyone to read: https://www.patreon.com/carpersanti ?? Chapter 14 - Melkar (P7) - Split Up Part 7 - Split Up Denar pulled his arm free from the other Knight¡¯s grasp. Clearly furious, he¡¯s emerald eyes kept staring fixedly at the inn¡¯s door. What had that idiot done? ¡°Denar?¡± Elian¡¯s voice woke him from his frozen state and he glared at him. What in the world was stoping him from doing exactly as he pleased? Loyalty towards that kid? He recalled a time when he¡¯d sworn to himself he¡¯d never follow anyone¡¯s orders ever again. Had he changed so much? Elian stepped closer to him and placed a hand on his arm. He could clearly see the anger in his eyes, the inner-conflict leaving his thoughts in turmoil. ¡°Denar, please. Don¡¯t leave me now,¡± he asked in a murmur and the Knight sighed, averting his gaze. ¡°I don¡¯t think I can, even if I want to ¡­¡± Elian took a deep breath, unable to feel hurt by his words, and nodded. ¡°Come. Let¡¯s go upstairs. We have a lot to discuss and decide.¡± Denar followed him without a word, as did the other Knights. Those that had filled the common room quickly dispersed, most of them through the exit door, wanting to get away from that mess as soon as possible. Others curiously surrounded the dead body, over which the woman was still crying. But there were also those that simply picked up where they¡¯d left, be it drinking a pint of beer or even having a bit of fun with the closest girl. In any case, the general environment was on of confusion, which allowed the discreet retreat of the small group of shadowy men as they made their way towards the stairs. Once back to the room that had belonged to Allana, Lamar closed the door and Elian opened window, considering its height and the narrow, shadowy street below. It was the only exit, besides the door. The two floors that separated him from the ground weren¡¯t¡¯ that high, the wall showing several irregularities. It wouldn¡¯t be too hard to climb down, he considered. And he knew better than anyone that that was certainly an escape route Allana would consider, taking into account her past experiences with runing away from the palace. So, she must have escaped through the window! And now what? Where was she? What about Elipson ¡­? He looked back at his Knights. The spontaneous joy that had glowed on everyone¡¯s faces just moments ago was completely gone. Now they were all staring at him with gloomy expression, waiting ¡­ And, for the first time, Elian felt the true weight that always weighs on a leader¡¯s shoulders every time he has to make a decision that everyone else expects to be the right one. Taking a deep breath and looked outside again, at the dark sky. It would still be a while until sunrise. It was urgent to find Allana, and even more urgent to get her out of that city, since they seemed to be looking for her. On the other hand he couldn¡¯t forget Elipson¡¯s situation, that was obviously getting worse with every minute she had to pass on that man¡¯s company. Not to mention the fact that Denar might be recognized, should he and Caleb cross paths. The only possible solution was to distribute tasks, so that, if everything went well, they would all be able to leave that damn city together.Love this story? Find the genuine version on the author''s preferred platform and support their work! Once decided on a course of action Elian took a deep breath and looked at the Denar ¡­ It wasn¡¯t going to be easy convincing him. He already looked very close to his limit, clearly about to snap. ¡°Well, the only solution is for us to split up. We should try to leave this city as soon as possible.¡± Arkel nodded in approval and Lamar took a deep breath. ¡°Right. But first we have to find them ¡­¡± ¡°Yes. This is what we¡¯ll do. I¡¯ll look for Allana. Arkel and Denar will get all our stuff and ready our horses, as discreetly as possible. Ideally, we should try to leave town without anyone noticing. We don¡¯t know if they¡¯ll come back here, searching for us. And we don¡¯t want to be followed when we leave the city. If no one knows we left the inn we can gain a few hours of advance that will certainly make it harder for anyone following us to catch up with us. Denar, I¡¯m sending you with Arkel because Caleb knows you and can easily identify you, which I¡¯m guessing, could only make things harder for us. So, if anything unexpected happens, try to keep your identity hidden.¡± The Knight took a deep breath and raised his head in silent agreement, regaining his coolness and objectivity, although Elian knew that he¡¯d never forget what had happened and that, as soon as opportunity arose, scores would be settled. ¡°Mahel, you¡¯ll be responsible for guiding us. You have to know everyone¡¯s location, so that we may all get together again. If anything happens we¡¯re counting on you to be our backup. Lamar, you look for Elipson,¡± he simply said, trying not to dwindle too much on that matter, and looked at everyone. ¡°Are we agreed?¡± The Knights nodded and Elian took a deep breath. ¡°Lets do this, then! I want to be outside this city gates by tomorrow morning, together with everyone else!¡± The Knights nodded again in a silent agreement, and left the room with their specific tasks in mind. Elian held Lamar back for a moment, signaling him to stay behind, and waited until they were alone. ¡°Lamar, I chose you to go to Elipson because I know you¡¯re the most centered of them all, and that you won¡¯t do anything stupid in the heat of the moment. I talked with her, before. She knows what she¡¯s doing. I don¡¯t want you to place your life, or hers, at risk. I¡¯m sending you to help her should she need it, not to save her. If she doesn¡¯t send out any signs of distress, just wait until she finishes what she¡¯s doing. Understood?¡± Lamar averted his gaze and Elian took a deep breath, placing a hand on the Knight¡¯s shoulder. ¡°I don¡¯t want to lose you ¡­ or her. We aren¡¯t strong enough to fight them face to face, much less if it is as we expect and they have Magic on their side ¡­¡± Lamar took a deep breath and nodded. ¡°I understand.¡± Elian gave him a comforting smile, trying to transmit a bit of confidence, knowing beforehand that the request he¡¯d made had greatly displeased him, and they both left the room. The common room downstairs was still chaotic and confusing. Someone wanted to take the dead innkeeper¡¯s body away, but the woman was screaming, refusing to let anyone touch her husband. When Elian and Lamar exited to the cool night all the others had already dispersed. With a last nod that promised without a word a future meeting, they left towards opposite sides, disappearing amongst the shadows of the night. * If you want to know more about this book or simply access earlier updates, please visit the official site at http://carpersanti.net/arnae/ Also, please consider supporting the author so she can go on putting her madness out there for anyone to read: https://www.patreon.com/carpersanti ??