Revelyn: 1st Chronicles - When the last arrow falls (66 page)

Rema placed his weapons and cloak on a bench by the wall and then lay briefly on the enormous bed savouring its softness which seemed to engulf his whole body before realising that he might easily fall asleep if he remained there. He walked through the living quarters and out onto the balcony, where he found Ofeigr standing by the parapet which separated any on the balcony from the long fall into the clouds. He walked quietly over and together they leaned upon the stonework and looked into the vastness. Neither spoke for a time, but finally Rema broke the silence with a question which he had long desired to ask.

‘Ofeigr my friend, why did you wish to accompany me on this dangerous quest?’

True to his manner, Ofeigr did not reply, but Rema knew he was thinking on his words for he nodded his head slightly in acknowledgement of the question. After a time he gave his response, the words coming slowly as though most carefully chosen, each one placed between the others as if in the solving of a puzzle; whilst the delivery was somewhat distant, as if he spoke more to himself than Rema who stood beside him.

‘Many years ago your brother and I were closest friends. He was a leader, a brave lad who stood firm for what he saw as true. He suffered many a knock on my behalf, for in those days I was timid and easily distressed by others who enjoy such teasing games. The day you were stolen Rema Bowman was the day he changed. He took the loss of your parents hard enough, but his grief in losing you could not be measured. I lost a friend that day, for ever after he was always angry. He blamed himself that he had not fought better and saved you. None could assuage his deep guilt, and though I tried many times, he spurned my efforts and in the end it caused an enmity between us. He travelled alone then and finally after the years had seen his heart become like stone to others, he left. He claimed he went to find you, but I think he went to fight the world.’ He paused then and looked at Rema, as if to see if what he said had been well received. Rema smiled and nodded.

‘Go on Ofeigr, your words are most important to me at this time,’ he said in encouragement, for in truth he found himself desperately wanting to know more of his brother and what had come to pass. Ofeigr turned back to the void.

‘I learnt to fight then. I was angry that he had left me, and I became known as one who cared little for his life. My parents were poor folk who cared little for me, and I had looked to Refr for my comfort. Thereafter they changed my name to that to which I now answer. I will not reveal my birth name for it has long been set aside.’ He took a breath and then finished his moving tale.

‘I vowed that if you ever by some fate returned to our shores, I would search for Refr so that he might have some rest, for I know in my heart that somewhere out there,’ and here he swept his hand across the broad vastness before him, ‘somewhere out there is a man in need of redemption. I owe him that. If he is still alive.’

Rema nodded in appreciation before gripping the silent Ofeigr’s arm.

‘Well spoken my friend, you have moved me greatly. I too would like to know what has become of my brother, for it has only been a short time since I knew that I had one.’

Ofeigr’s final words remained with him thereafter.

‘I travel with you Rema Bowman for I sense that you will find him, before the madness to be visited upon us is spent.’

They parted then but Rema felt that Ofeigr had not revealed all that he might on the matter, and a deeper truth lay behind his motivations.

The Hall of the Elders was high and narrow. It opened directly onto a large stone balcony which jutted out above the void directly below the platform which the five companions had stood upon earlier that evening. This hall too was ornately decorated with many sculptures and carvings, and the walls and ceilings were covered in the same brightly coloured and detailed paintings which adorned so much of what they had already seen. They entered together with Rema leading and Serenna by his side. The others were behind, Reigin in the centre and Scion and Ofeigr on either side. They all felt intrigued as to how they would be received, and what the Elders would be like, for though they had pressed both Rhynos and Cordia for some knowledge on these matters, little had been offered.

‘All will be revealed,’ Cordia had said on several occasions, ‘Far be it from me to speak on these matters. The Elders will reveal what they will.’ And that had been the close of the matter.

Just inside the huge carved wooden doors which opened onto the balcony was a raised platform upon which were two identical upright chairs, remarkable in their plainness when surrounded by so much ornate detail. Upon these chairs sat the Elders.

‘Welcome travellers.’ The woman Elder spoke first. She was elegantly tall and striking in her speech and demeanour. Her dark hair was long and beautifully plaited in many decorated braids which fell to the waist. Her eyes were the deepest blue, her skin smooth and faultless. To the five, she looked but a young woman yet Cordia had said she had seen near two hundred summers. She wore upon her head the most delicately polished gold band, not quite a crown, but more an interwoven vine of leaves and buds. It seemed alive with a light of its own generation, and sitting there as she was, so confidently self assured, she was striking to behold.

‘My name is Kreilliorn, Eldres of AlGiron,’ she continued as her welcome seemed well received.  ‘We have heard much of you all, especially you Rema Bowman. This entrance of lowlanders into our land has not been heard of since the Great Separation. We have been told that you need to speak with us on matters of great importance. We look forward to this, for we understand you have come in peace. Once more I welcome you.’

Rema felt obliged to respond in some manner, but the other Elder motioned for silence. The hall fell quiet and he sat gazing upon the five with a commanding authority, for his eyes, whilst as deeply blue as The Eldres’, seemed quite piercing in their ability to see beyond the outward cloaking mask with which all mortals surround themselves. He searched the face of each of those who stood before him. His gaze was neither confronting nor accepting, but they all felt he perceived deeper things of them than perhaps they might have revealed.

He was taller than all the Edenwhood they had yet encountered, with the strong and intelligent close set eyes so much the character of these people. His hair was blonde but not starkly so and it fell to the shoulder. His physique was most impressive for he was broad of chest, and with long rangy arms and legs which one might well imagine could travel fast across the ground and leap and wield a sword to the death of any enemy foolish enough to dare to best him. He too wore a golden braided band upon his head.

‘My name is Anderlorn, Elder of AlGiron,’ he spoke at last. ‘I too welcome you but with some greater reservation than my equal here. I sense that each of you before me has gifts and understandings which recommend you to me, and for this I am glad. I had feared that I might discover it to be other than this. Please be seated for I would like to talk with you.’

As he spoke, attendants brought forth five elegant chairs and these were arrayed in a half circle before the two Elders of AlGiron.

Rema then stood to speak and with a nod of permission from the two magnificent
Edenwhood
, he did so.

‘Elder, Edlres,’ he said, looking at each and bowing slightly, ‘I thank you for your warm welcome and understand that our visit has caused some concern. Indeed as we entered this city of Alderyn, many of your people seemed fearful that our presence was an evil omen of what is to come.’

At this point Anderlorn held up a hand. ‘You sensed this Rema Bowman?’

‘I did, Elder Anderlorn,’ Rema replied, ‘and I felt grieved that our coming has caused this, but there is a growing evil afoot in Revelyn which I fear cannot be broken without the aid of the
Edenwhood
. The King, Lord Petros who calls himself the light of his people has brought the land to its knees in thrall to his mad desires for power which he knows to be threatened by a true heir to the throne, for he is not of the line of the House of Hendon which has ruled by right for long generations now.’

Again the Elder held up a hand and spoke.

‘We know this man is not the rightful ruler. We had some grievous dealings with King Frederic many summers ago, and did battle, against our will with the men of Revelyn. This man who is now King, this Lord Petros, fought us and was a favourite of King Frederic, who was mortally wounded on the field of battle. I know this for it was my sword, Anderwyn which pieced his side. We had travelled to Revelyn as you do now, in peace, and to seek ways to live together, which since the Great Separation has never been possible. There was present a most evil creature who advised the King and betrayed our overtures with many lies of our intentions. We have not returned to the lowlands since that day, but we know that as King Frederic died he named the man of whom we speak to be the new King of Revelyn.

At this point Reigin stood and addressed the Elders.

‘This evil creature of whom you speak is called Zelfos and he is indeed one who holds the keys to power in Revelyn in recent times. All fear him and Lord Petros does nothing which upsets his intentions...’

As he spoke the Eldres Kreilliorn stood and halted him before he could go further.

‘Welcome Reigin. The Elders have thought much upon your presence here in AlGiron since told of one such as you in the company of these others. You are one of us and yet we hear that you claim this is not so. Where do you come from
Giron,
if not from AlGiron?’

Reigin paused and seemed to gather his thoughts for he had not been ready to speak on this.

‘I cannot perhaps explain this as you wish, Elders of AlGiron, for truly I too have been confused in my heart. Before three days passed I had not seen an
Edenwhood
. I knew not the name
Giron
; this name that had been given me upon suspicion of my motives.’

At this point Reigin paused and all saw that he struggled mightily with some emotions which sought to best him. The Elders perceived this more clearly than all else and kindly waited for the big man before them to find himself. In a short time he was able to continue.

‘Until recently I was in the service of the king of whom we speak. I was a
Wolver...’

At this moment, at the mention of the word, a cold shadow passed over the room and both Elders narrowed their eyes as though some deeper vision had been granted them.

‘I was taken from my home and family as a mere child, and trained as all
Wolvers
are to serve the Royal House of Hendon as warriors. We are the best in all the armies of men; we learn early to know no fear and to shed no tear. We kill easily and often, and all other men fear us, for we have a speed and skill in pursuit and with the sword which cannot be matched by other men. There are perhaps two score, and I was the best of these.’ He let the words hang long in the air before Kreilliorn spoke to break the silence which they had wrought.

‘You claim no longer to be such a one, a
Wolver
? How did this come about?’

‘By chance Eldres,’ Reigin replied, ‘I encountered the true heir to the throne of Revelyn, a women by the name of Sylvion Greyfeld, daughter of Sontim, son of Raven son of King Manitra. This Raven Hendon fled the Royal Palace as a young woman and was lost to her family and her line. She married Sentor Greyfeld and her granddaughter is the woman of whom I speak, Sylvion Greyfeld, second cousin to the last true King of Revelyn, King Frederic. That is what I remember, for it was taught me by this heir who was captured by King Petros and conveyed to a place of imprisonment upon Bald Cape, far to the north of your land. I was her guard under orders to kill her immediately should any rescue be made by her betrothed.’ He paused here and thought about what next to say. No one spoke for they all waited eagerly for his next words.

‘She taught me with a wisdom and understanding that I had never been offered, that my service to the House of Hendon needed to be more than just the swift execution of orders. She taught me that right and wrong are in the hands of those who act, as much as at the feet of one who gives the command. It was because of her that I looked deep into my heart and grieved the loss of my family and saw that the stealing of a child to make a warrior is wrong. I swore then to serve this heir, and I assisted her escape. This Eldres Kreilliorn is why I am no longer a
Wolver.
’

His words moved the company greatly, and none more than Rema for they saw that Reigin had no choice to become what was most feared in all Revelyn, and they marvelled at his redemption.

‘This heir of whom you speak must be a woman of greatness.’ Elder Anderlorn commented quietly. ‘And you mention her betrothed. Of what consequence is he?

Reigin smiled. ‘This man is of the greatest consequence Elder Anderlorn, for it is none other than Rema Bowman who is here before you as leader of this quest.’

Elder Anderlorn gave no show of surprise at this announcement, nor too Eldres Kreilliorn, but all had a sense that the matter was not dealt with to their satisfaction.

‘Reigin, a
Wolver
you claim to have been, and of course we in AlGiron have known of these, but never have we encountered one such. If we had, we would have known immediately that you are one of us, and that being a
Wolver
is not of your nature, but of your training. You have explained much in that we now know that you and all
Wolvers
are stolen as children and so crafted to another’s will. A great sadness indeed.  Please tell me where does your kin from whom you have been taken, where do they live in these times?’

‘I have never visited my kin but I believe they live far to the south, beyond the Luminos River and I have been told that there is but a single tribe, and these well controlled all about by soldiers of King Petros, and before by the Royal House for generations.

At this point the two Elders spoke at length in their own tongue with some show of emotion and consideration of each other’s argument. In the end both seemed satisfied with what they had resolved.