Belvedor and the Four Corners (Belvedor Saga Book 1) (23 page)

Solomon observed the girls as they dug into their pasts, desperate for their understanding. “These remarkable gifts are all pieces of the world I speak of,” he said, drawing their attention back to him.

“Why do you and Talis leave us with only a sliver of information and then expect us to believe, to understand? This is nonsensical!” said Lessa. She slammed her fists down and stood from the table to face him.

He opened his mouth to speak, but Arianna interrupted.

“He tells me he is a sorcerer, and you say you’re training us in
spells
,” she said. Her hands gestured everywhere as she panicked. “Are you saying all these strange things that have happened to us are due to magic? None of this makes sense! What does magic even mean?” She folded her hands at her chest.

“Magic has no true definition,” said Solomon. “One who wields magic defines it for himself.” His look turned serious as he struggled to handle the situation.

“Well, why have you chosen us? Why now?” asked Arianna. Her eyes grew wide, and she felt her skin blanch. The questions poured from her lips without her approval. She didn’t even know she had been thinking those, and they surprised her, to say the least.

“Yes,” said Lessa. “Tell us why! Talk of magic is punishable by death… and you wouldn’t risk your lives for nothing. There must be something you aren’t telling us. What do you really train us for? And why us?” Her face flushed, and she pulled at her cheeks.

Solomon slunk back from the bombardment of questions and waved his arms in front of him. “Arianna, you know why I chose you. Don’t you remember?”

Arianna peered back to the day they first met.
I chose you because you’re worth choosing.
Her eyes started to water as she contemplated Solomon’s words.

“But, Master, please just—”

“No,” he said. “I cannot. I’m so sorry, girls. This is not the right moment, but one day soon. You can trust me.” He donned his robes and moved towards the door. “Keep practicing…
everything
I’ve taught you.”

Solomon slipped out the door, and Arianna and Lessa both continued their lessons, deep in thought. Soon, the girls were exhausted from trying to keep their minds so busy.

“Lunch?” said Arianna. Lessa nodded in agreement, and they prepared the meals Cyn had left.

“What were you taught of magic in your district?” asked Arianna, confronting the matter at hand.

“I was taught that magic is just a fabrication thought up by people who became overwhelmed by their imaginations, people who never made good citizens of the Olleb,” she said. “The only reason that we’re privileged to know the word is simply to desist any gossip or tales that still linger… hail King Devlindor.” She recited the words as if reading a script. “And you?”

“Quite similar.” A laugh escaped her lips, but then she turned serious. “I think Talis… he healed me. I was beyond repair, yet here I am. No medicine could’ve done that,” said Arianna.

“Yes, he told me,” said Lessa, expressionless.

Arianna didn’t know how to feel. “
If
magic supposedly gave me life, then where is its place in this history? What else is it capable of? I wish I knew more about the past,” she said.

She slumped, looking to Lessa for answers. It felt odd to yearn for so many answers when not so long ago she never even had questions. Her world had become so complicated in such a short time. She remembered the elders spoon feeding her the knowledge slaves needed to survive. Until now, it never occurred to her there could be more than their wisdom, more to this world.

“The night I came here, Master Churry sat me down in his study beforehand and told me of his belief in magic. He told me he healed you and that fate has led us together.” Lessa trailed off, searching for words. “I always hoped there was more to this life, but I truly wasn’t expecting this much excitement.” She smiled as a curious expression played on her face.

Arianna said nothing, taken by surprise at her friend’s evaluation of the information.

“I believe every word he said. I trust him,” said Lessa. “But I also think they haven’t told us everything yet.”

Arianna stared at her, dumbfounded. “Excitement…” she said, tasting the word. Her eyes twinkled as she recalled all the strange events of her recent past. “Yes, this is quite exhilarating isn’t it?”

Something changed in her then. Maybe Solomon’s words sank in or Lessa’s trust in her master gave her courage. Maybe the weight of it all was too much to deny. She didn’t know, and it didn’t matter anymore. Arianna let her mind open wide, changing her beliefs forever. 

Just like that, all of the stories she heard, all of the wisdoms Solomon and Talis shared, and everything that had happened to her became a part of a reality she had been trying to shut out. So many possibilities poured into her mind, and now she wished she’d paid more attention to life in general.

The girls found themselves enraptured in talk of these magical secrets, contemplating old memories in a different light. In an instant, their glum worlds exploded with life. They believed in magic.

“All of those scrolls Talis left, have you looked through them?” asked Lessa.

“Not especially,” said Arianna, shrugging. “I’ve been occupied with the festivals so near.” She shook her head in wondrous confusion. She never thought she would find herself studying for a subject such as this.

Arianna poured some of the red wine left from yesterday, and they sat cross-legged on the training mat. Beaming over the scrolls for hours, they tried to sort out all of the information they could in one sitting, finding it all very puzzling and sometimes disturbing.

The feeling of elation was hard to subdue, but Arianna couldn’t help but notice the cloud hovering over her head.
Why have you chosen us?
The earlier conversation bounced through her brain. She felt desperate to know more answers.

“I think I’ve found something!” said Lessa, unfurling a long scroll. It read
Olleb-Yelfra the Fallen
and dated almost three centuries earlier. The scroll seemed to have taken a lot of damage, and no signature claimed the writing.

“Do you think it’ll explain more on the past? All of these other scrolls only talk about charms and creatures that I don’t understand.” Arianna scratched at her head. “Right now, the only thing I care about is how all of this connects to us,” she said, scanning the parchment, doubtful.

“I hope so…” said Lessa. “But I tell you, even if I do believe in all this and trust our masters, I still don’t know if I want anything to do with magic after some of the bizarre stories we’ve read.” She crossed her arms at her chest as Sano crawled into her lap.

“Well, let’s find out more before we write off the new world,” said Arianna. “Besides, it’s a bit too late to turn back now.” She began to read:

Since the dawn of time, Olleb-Yelfra saw many a king and queen. For thousands of years, each kingdom flourished under sovereign rule. It seemed as if the Olleb would relish in a boundless Golden Age. The land was an enchanted place while magic kissed the streams and skies freely. Extraordinary people studied the art of wizardry, and mystic creatures roamed the land. Even common citizens shared the privilege of a magical life while everyone lived in peace. Then, the balance shifted.
Where there is light, darkness can always be found. This I know for certain...

Arianna’s voice trailed off, and she looked up with a nervous expression. Lessa clung to every word, urging her onward, but now that Arianna held the information in her hands, she felt unsure.
Do I really want to know?
She sensed a hard history lesson lay at the end of the script.

All of her life she thought the world had always been depressing and dark. It never occurred to her that something more may have survived before these times. Yet, here it was… inked in ancient calligraphy. She felt cheated as she reread the first paragraph.
There had been a Golden Age?

Lessa’s eyes widened with impatience, so Arianna stifled her nerves and continued to read. As she did, her mind painted a vivid image of the words on the scroll. She felt connected somehow, as if she could see into the past through the script. Her imagination whirled, and she became lost in the words, lost in an Olleb-Yelfra before her time. The nameless author guided her through the Golden Age, and her spirits soared throughout the spectacular, enchanted past.

CHAPTER NINETEEN

The sun shone bright, and the familiar roar of the ocean played its symphony nearby. Kyrone Devlindor placed his arm around his cousin, Neas, as they watched the water splash on the silver-sanded beach from the balcony of his room.

Kyrone squinted his eyes to see what caused a splash in the distance. Probably just another mermaid searching for love. He smiled at the thought as he leaned over the white-marbled rail to get a better look. It was doubtful she’d ever find it. 

The city swept down below them in stacks around the castle. He could see everything from there, all the land he was sure. The sun warmed his skin as it kissed the land and sea, and the air tasted of sweet salt. The low buzz from the city also stole his attention as it reached his ears, sounding of life and love as children laughed and young men sang through their chores. Kyrone added his own laughter to the mix as a song he knew well rose from the masses:

I asked for some bread, and he gave me a pig

And that’s why I call him my King

I asked for a wife, a pretty young slice

And somehow I wound up with three

Several years later, I’m on my death table

With one more request for my King

I said when I’m dead, if my children should beg

Please only grant what they need

He said, “Yes my good man, one wife for one man”

Three is a death penalty

Then he gave me a kiss, my last granted wish

And that’s why I call him my King

The song drifted away on the wind along with the laughter. As he stood, perched against the rail, he glimpsed a young wizard building a castle on the beach, the sand swirling in a sparkling gust as his hands twisted around in the air. After a few mishaps, the dancing grains settled into a replica of the Kingdom of Saindora, the city in which they lived. The young wizard glanced up towards the castle, and the young lords waved, clapping their approval. It was just another normal day… a perfect day.

“That was a great duel. You fought well today, cousin," said Neas as he took their swords and positioned them against the smoothed-stone wall at their backs.

“Thank you. You weren’t so bad yourself,” said Kyrone, rolling his eyes. He ran a hand through his thick, black hair, trying to keep his locks in place. 

“Ah, my two favorite boys!” said a plump man with rosy cheeks. They both jumped at the interruption as a man stepped over the threshold, pushing the sheer curtains aside. 

“Father! You’re home early,” said Neas. “What has your journey offered you this time? All is well, I trust?” He embraced his father in a long hug.

“My young prince, you’re always in a rush for the details,” he said. “Come. Let us walk the grounds before supper.”

Kyrone slumped as they turned to leave, letting him alone to admire the view. He felt his heart pang as he watched a father love his son. He had never known his own, and his mother loved him little. He could feel the heat rising in his cheeks as he watched the two take leave.

Just then, a double-winged dragonfly landed on the stone floor, its body glimmering turquoise and the wings black. Such a beautiful creature. Kyrone crushed it under his bare foot. Such a beautiful death.

He wriggled his toes in the warm mess of his kill and felt a twinge of relief. Nevertheless, a need haunted him still. He wished for his father.  

“What are you waiting for?”

Kyrone looked up, surprised to see Neas’ father gesturing for him to follow as he stepped inside the large bedroom. Kyrone flashed his winning smile. Forgetting his pained heart for a moment, he ran to catch up. The remnants of the dragonfly clung to the bottom of his foot as he walked, and a dark gold stain on the balcony floor remained as proof of the creature’s demise.

“It’s wonderful to see you again, Your Majesty,” said Kyrone. He bowed low.

“I won’t ask you again, little lord,” said the King. “Call me Uncle Damas.” He winked and gave his nephew a hug around the shoulders, laughing as Kyrone squirmed. “I trust you’ve been taking good care of my boy here?”

“I never let him out of my sight, uncle,” he said, nudging Prince Neas in the ribs.

They walked through the stone halls of the enormous castle, winding down a velvet staircase. A large window covered the expanse of the opposite wall as they descended, and light blue swirls carved the glass, making the chamber glitter like water.

As they entered into a long foyer, a rainbow of jeweled chandeliers clung to the ceiling. White marble and gold branched out from all angles of the castle, and Kyrone thought the mesmerizing architecture to be inspired by magic itself. Brightly colored paintings hung on the walls, depicting several other kingdoms and their royals, and Kryone caught himself frowning as they stopped to admire a large portrait of Saindora’s royal family framed in crystal.