Dark One Rising (9 page)

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

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

“Kevaan, it’s been a long time.”

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

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

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

“Is he not well?”

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

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

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

“What is it?”

“It’s about my sister.”

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

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

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

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

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

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

“Who is the lucky man?”

Kevaan frowned. “The Duke of Xenos.”

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

“With the King?”

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

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

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

“I won’t.”

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

“I will.”

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

***

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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