The Awakening (4 page)

He glanced upward toward the battlements wherefrom the three noble fighters jumped not too long ago, defying the odds that fateful day and turning the tide of the battle. He let his vision wander to the hillock from whence Robyn first descended upon the city, remembering poignantly his steady gaze and somber ride to the gates. A fleeting image of his initial encounter with the disheveled and exhausted elfin Prince crossed his mind’s eye and caused him to smile slightly. He looked once more upon Tomas’ serene face, superimposing his brother, Davmiran’s image upon his in his mind’s eye.

When what was one will become two
, he repeated to himself meaningfully.
It seems that the fabric has woven its own threads in the midst of mine. The entire cloth has been strengthened no doubt
, he thought confidently as he crossed the threshold of the city to gather the mounts for their departure.
It is time to say goodbye
.

Chapter Six

“Who is it that you say approaches, Lord Markal? Can you make out the design upon the standards that they bear?” Queen Esta inquired of her captain as she peered out the leaded windows of her sitting room.

“Yes, your Highness. I can see the patterns but they are not ones that I recognize.”

He too was craning his long neck in order to peer over the shoulder of his Queen.

“Have they sent an advance guard with a message for me?” she asked calmly.

“They have not, my Queen.”

“Well then, we must send our own to greet them and determine their purpose in coming here unannounced. Prepare to meet them before the gates, Captain.”

“As you wish, your highness,” he responded at once and then he bowed his way respectfully from the large, ornate room.

Once he had departed, Queen Esta Par D’Avalain forgave her imperious and calm demeanor and rushed to the broad leaded windows that overlooked the courtyard. She shielded her eyes from the streaming sun and scrutinized the contingent through a slim but powerful looking glass, as it commenced its entry into the sweeping clearing before the towers guarding the city’s gates. An imposing Knight upon a white horse stood at the forefront of the group. He was clothed fully in armor with his visor up, and she could discern a pattern upon his chest plate. As he drew nearer, Queen Esta realized that the design was that of a tree, green and abundant. The standards his guards carried also bore the likenesses of trees, similar to the one on the chest of their leader. The others in his party were all clothed in green suede tunics with silver swords tucked into their belts, the hilts of which were also green and shimmering in the morning sunlight. The Knight’s face was shadowed and difficult to see clearly from her perspective.

I do not recognize these markings
, she thought.
What manner of Knight approaches a city so well armed as ours, without announcing himself?

The Queen was not concerned for safety’s sake, as her guards were well trained and attentive. And when it came to sheer numbers, the group of strangers was outmatched five hundred to one.

She watched as Lord Markal let the drawbridge down and cantered out into the clearing with a small contingent of well-armed attendants. The guards upon the battlements watched closely and heedfully, prepared to defend their Captain should the need arise.

Lord Markal removed his gauntlet and raised his hand in salute to the Knight before him.

“Hail, stranger. Who be you and what brings you to our fair city?” he inquired.

The Knight removed his helm and revealed a handsome face, strong featured and serious. His long black hair fell to his shoulders and was thick and wavy above a broad forehead. He too removed his gauntlet and then raised his right hand in salute.

“I come from the east, my Lord, from Talamar. I am but one of many who have joined the battle against that which was and that which yet wants to be,” he bellowed in a deep, solemn voice. The others surrounding him behaved not in the manner of soldiers at all at this comment, but rather like supplicants. They raised their hands to their chests and with their fingers spread wide, they held them tightly against the images of the trees emblazoned thereupon. They reiterated in unison, chanting repeatedly, “That which was and that which yet wants to be.”

“I am still unclear, my Lord, just who you serve and why you are here in Avalain?” Lord Markal inquired, a bit perplexed. “You stand at our gates surrounded by armed soldiers and yet you do not explain your presence clearly.”

“We serve the earth, Captain. We serve those trees who serve us,” he answered by means of explanation.

“Do not all the trees serve us and we them, Sir Knight?” Lord Markal questioned.

“No, my Lord. Many manipulate and control us. Many consider us their subjects and treat us accordingly,” he responded.

“The Lalas have preserved the balance upon our land for countless tiels. They guard the Gem and protect us from the darkness. What trees do you speak of, Sir, that treat people so? Surely we have none in Avalain,” the captain declared, astounded by the visitor’s declarations.

“Have you not seen suffering all around you? Has not the earth been rent by seizures and turmoil? Do not the trees themselves cause havoc and pain? They demanded our dependence and now they abandon us. Let the Dark Lord take them all. He can only hasten what must be anyway. The Lalas are dying. We must reclaim the earth for ourselves.”

“What are you saying, Knight? Do you forsake the great trees?” he answered, alarmed at the words this soldier spoke.

“Yes, we do. And their Chosen too. They have never served us. They serve only themselves and their own purposes. We have suffered long enough under the spells of the trees and their servants.”

“Do you not believe that the Gem of Eternity illuminates all of our paths?” he responded, shocked at what he was hearing.

“Nay, my Lord. Let the light be gone from this land. May Colton and the trees destroy each other and leave the earth to us. They have battled at our expense for far too long now. We do not need any of them. They have betrayed their trust.”

“If the light goes out, it goes out on us all, Sir Knight. There is no future for anyone without the Gem’s blessing and radiance,” Lord Markal said in horror.

“So they have persuaded us for countless tiels. But it has been for their own preservation alone that they have foisted these lies upon the people. The trees die and we suffer, yet we live on. They wage open battle with the common man now. We wish to grieve no longer and we wish to endure no more pain. Let them all die and leave us be. Join us in our crusade. Let all the people throw off the shackles of their misery at the hands of the trees and their conduits of power,” he concluded and he spread his own fingers wide and pressed his hand to his chest.

The group surrounding him became more and more zealous as he spoke, stamping the shafts of their spears upon the hard earth of the courtyard and shouting in support of their leader.

During the noise and distraction, barely anyone noticed the lone, grey stallion as it slowly and inconspicuously made its way from the castle to the city gates. It leisurely crossed over the bridge and continued on until it was standing next to Lord Markal’s own dapple.

Queen Esta drew her hood off her head, revealing her abundant raven hair which contrasted sharply against her porcelain skin. Her full red lips glistened in the morning sun. She sat upon her horse without saying a word and gazed upon the assemblage before her. When the clamor died down somewhat, she spoke.

“What have we here, my Lord?” she addressed her Captain. “I hear that our visitors have lost their faith. They wish us to join them in their campaign to hasten the demise of the trees. Have I attended correctly?” she inquired in a voice loud enough for all those present to hear.

“Yes, my Queen, you have heard correctly,” he answered.

“And why my good Knight, do you think we would commit to such a path? We have not suffered under the guidance of the Lalas and their Chosen,” she inquired.

“Their time is past. They have led us to the edge of the precipice and now they forsake us. They care no longer for our welfare, but only for their own. Their conflicts cause great suffering for us all,” he responded.

“Perhaps we simply cannot see the method behind what they do. Should we therefor ignore the rich history of service that preceded these dark times?” she probed in a voice neither arrogant nor haughty.

“Whose service, your Highness? Ours to them or theirs to us?” he asked skeptically.

“Our relationship was mutual, my good Knight. Its wheel turned both ways.”

Queen Esta paused for a moment and dropped her eyes to the ground, deep in thought. When she raised them once more, they were bright and illuminated.

“Sir Knight,” she began again. “We all endure the hardships these times bring to bear upon us.” Her voice was melodious yet strong and steady. “Faith, though, is not something to be casually discarded. Neither is loyalty, as you so declared when you took your knightly vows.”

She hesitated for a brief second so that the impact of her declaration had time to sink in.

“I know that you and your followers are trying desperately to make sense out of the turmoil that you perceive around you. Sometimes though, we cannot do that. And you must be careful never to confuse fear with the disconcertion of your heart, Sir. The heart remains true, whether or not your fear leads you to believe otherwise. Surely you know that we suffer because the loss of the trees is too great to bear, not because they intend us to grieve so violently. They were always and are still our trusted friends.”

Queen Esta lifted her chin and looked the tall knight directly in the eyes. His gaze faltered for just a moment, and she knew that he heard what she said and that it touched him deeply. Yet his eyes remained hard and determined.

“You speak eloquently my Lady, and I trust you are genuine in what you say. But apparently you have not heard what transpired in Talamar. All this time, I assumed you had. Did word not reach you of the abominable treachery? I was certain that such news would have spread quickly,” he inquired, surprised.

Not wanting to appear uninformed, Queen Esta replied, “Our relations with Talamar are none too good these days, Sir Knight. It is unlikely that the house of Dumas would keep us apprised of the events developing in its land.”

Her concern was mounting rapidly though, simply by the tone of his voice.

“Well then, you must send a trusted envoy as your eyes and ears, your Highness, and when he reports back to you and enlightens you, we must speak again. Tell me then if you still believe that my loyalty to the trees should be renewed,” he declared. “I took my vows only recently and they mean a great deal to me. But I was knighted after the debacle in Talamar and they therefor reflect a new reality, your Highness.”

“Can you not illuminate me, good Knight? Must I wait so long to understand what turned your allegiance into loathing?” she asked.

“If you wish, my Lady, I can. But I fear that what I offer you in terms of description may not be adequate for you. Certainly it would not have been for me.”

“I would that you make an effort at explanation nonetheless, Sir,” she responded immediately. “But please, let us not stand here in the heat of the sun any longer. Come…” she gestured with a sweep of her arm, “… Join me for some repast if only to quench your thirst, and we can discuss things more comfortably. I will ask my attendants to make the wells available to your assemblage and to bring them some bread and cheese as well.”

Queen Esta did not wish for this conversation to continue in public. Whatever was said would spread like wildfire among her people and until she herself knew what had really happened, she felt that it was best if it remained more private.

“I thank you humbly, my Lady. We are all sorely in need of refreshment. It has been a long ride for us,” he replied gratefully.

“Come then, Sir Knight. Follow me,” Queen Esta said as she turned her horse around in a tight circle and nudged him on through the gates. “Captain, see that our visitors are supplied with refreshments.”

“Yes, my Queen. At once,” he answered, jumping to the task.

“Sir Knight? May I ask if you have a name? It seems to me that if we are going to converse a while longer, it would be appropriate if I knew to whom I was speaking,” she said, turning deftly in her saddle as would an experienced warrior.

The Knight could not help but notice her ability as a horsewoman.

“I am Sir Etan of Balstair, newly knighted by Margot Dumas of Talamar,” he responded proudly.

Queen Esta simply smiled in response to his answer, she bowed her head slightly in acknowledgment and kept moving, keeping her perplexity at the name she had just heard well hidden. Everyone was aware that Duke Leonardo and his wife the Duchess Dorothea recently died in a horrifying fire, but she had not heard that their son had married so soon thereafter. With her head cocked slightly, she feigned nonchalance.

“I am unfamiliar with the name you just mentioned, Sir. The Duchess Margot of Dumas? It is odd that Kettin would have chosen someone to wed whom I am altogether unacquainted with. We were allies for many years and the late Duchess and I attended many functions together. She was a robust and friendly woman and we will all miss her. Yet Kettin had always been a sworn bachelor, much to the chagrin of Duke Leonardo. This woman must be quite captivating to have turned his eye her way and caused him to abandon his predilections,” she commented questioningly.

“I had no occasion to convene with the Duke, my Lady. He was suffering from exhaustion and was bedridden. I am certainly in no position to reply as to the why or wherefor of his marriage,” Sir Etan noted modestly. “She was his eyes, his ears and his voice though, in his absence. That she proclaimed quite clearly.”

Queen Esta was addled by this development and she thought it extremely peculiar that a stranger would be running the affairs of the house of Dumas. Nevertheless, she had always regarded Kettin with disdain. It surprised her none that he would relinquish his duty to rule. She had ever expected though, that Fobush would act as his regent and govern in his name.

This is an odd development indeed
, she thought.

“Well, congratulations to you nonetheless, Sir Knight. I hope you honor your vows and do justice to the sacred oaths,” she said sincerely. “May the First guide you and keep you,” the Queen concluded.

Sir Etan’s eyes clouded momentarily at the mention of the First, but he accepted her acclamation graciously and bowed his head respectfully in her direction. Queen Esta spurred her horse forward faster now, signaling the others to follow. She was anxious to get to the bottom of a number of issues by this time. She needed to know what untoward events occurred in Talamar that could possibly have turned these people and this honorable Knight against the trees. And she had a curious feeling about this unfamiliar woman who had assumed the reins of power in Talamar. Events were transpiring faster than she wished, upsetting the status quo that she had hoped would remain intact at least until her daughter Filaree returned to Avalain.