Chapter Eight

Night had fallen over Illian, and I was sat in a ditch, sat between Raina and Samara, the former of whom was asleep with her head on my shoulder. Opposite us sat Clarissa, Angelica, and Theresa. Only Angelica looked alert and ready for anything, the rest of us were all dead on our feet.

The harrowing experience yesterday in the Mines of Misery had really impacted group morale, and after an arduous day of walking (the horses, of course, being blessed and on their way to the Temple of Solana via the long way round), we were all ready to just collapse and fall asleep.

Matthias and Rosalie had went into Griffinsburg, which was just over the next hill, while we remained here, hidden in case the Illian Army refused us entry and tried to capture us. We couldn’t know for sure their stance on travelers from Avona, so Matthias had exercised caution. Losing Tomas seems to have hit him hard, and he was more cautious and reserved now.

“What’s Griffinsburg like?” I asked quietly, just to fill the void of silence.

“It’s a really nice city.” Clarissa nodded, “The Temple is beautiful, of course, but so long as you stay along the northern parts of town, you’ll have a good stay.”

“What’s in the southern part of town?” I asked, grimly aware we were approaching Griffinsburg from the south.

“Criminals and lowlifes, mostly. The seedy businesses and the underhanded trades. There are two brothels in South Griffinsburg, dens of sin and vice.” Clarissa answered.

“North Griffinsburg is nice and peaceful. We’ll get rooms at an inn, take a day or two to recuperate, and then we’ll head to the Temple.” Angelica told me.

“Oh, I expected you to stay at the Temple of Solana.” Samara said in surprise.

“No, we have a trusted inn that welcomes Dawn Order members. There’s no need to infringe on your hospitality.” Angelica said curtly.

“Why are you being rude to them?” I asked in amazement.

“She does not agree with our lifestyle.” Clarissa answered sagely, “We let any unarmed soul into the Temple for as long as they’d like. Criminals seek refuge from the authorities at the Temple sometimes, and we welcome them as we would someone who has never broken a law in their life.”

“It is insane, to welcome killers and thieves and sadists beneath your roof.” Angelica retorted.

“Solana is judge of this world’s people, not us. She decides who walks in the Light.” Samara defended the priestesses.

“I see.” was all Angelica said.

Footsteps became audible, and Angelica jumped to her feet, half-drawing a blade before Matthias came into view.

“We’ve got our rooms all set up. Come, Rosalie’s already placed some food orders at the tavern.” Matthias invited, and everyone rose to their feet. I shook Raina awake, and the sleepy Weaver mumbled in confusion. I took her hand and helped her to her feet.

“We’re going to the inn, you’ll be able to sleep in a bed.” I soothed her. Raina gave a murmur of relief, and leaned her head on my shoulder as we walked, our hands still entwined.

It was a decent walk to the gate, and the three priestesses received sharp bows from the gate guards as we passed. Raina and Angelica attracted several leers, but not one of the men looked twice at one of the priestesses. I guess they were revered around this city or something. People had definitely been ogling them back in Abara.

“So, how far to the inn?” I asked, and Matthias shook his head.

“Not far. Just a little bit of walking.” he promised, and I nodded.

As I walked, exhaustion filled my every bone, but my mind was still rather alert, and like it had been doing all day, it dwelled on the reality of my new situation.

I’d been having fun hanging out with all of the buxom ladies in this fantasy realm, but between Tomas’ gruesome **** and seeing my sister again in Avandor, I no longer was quite so eager to stay here in this world.

I just wanted to go home, and I was slowly realizing that no one around me had any intention of helping me get home. Matthias wanted to use me to save the world, the priestesses wanted me to fight the Dusk Queen, but no one wanted to help me get back home.

Something told me, some instinct, that the road home would be a long one, but maybe the answer was all the way back in Vina. It seemed like a million years ago when I woke up in Amalie’s house.

So much information had been dumped on me since then, so many different directions I could be pulled in. The invading Illian forces, the Dusk Queen, Daena… it was just a lot.

I wanted to break down and just sob, or… or run away.

That thought had popped up a few times over the course of the day. What was really binding me to these people? I could dash out of here with no one the wiser. All I had to do was not go to sleep right now when everyone else did.

I could escape Griffinsburg, escape all of this shit they were trying to **** me into… the thought was oh so appealing.

Then I looked at Matthias, who was walking with a bowed head and sunken shoulders.

Instantly I cursed myself. Tomas had died for me, to help get me to safety. Everyone else, too, of course, but everyone here was risking their lives for me. I’d detailed the group here to Griffinsburg. Tomas’ **** was on me.

Everything was on me.

But to run now would dishonor Tomas, and I couldn’t do that to him. We weren’t close, but someone dying tended to put things in perspective.

He cared about this cause, so I have to, too.

When we reached the inn, I did not run away, I went to sleep, praying that I did not wake up in Avandor.

———

I woke up the next morning with sunlight streaming through the window and smiled. No visions in Avandor for me tonight. Good. I couldn’t handle another torturous remembrance of home.

I got myself ready for the day and headed down to the inn to get ready, where I found Angelica waiting for me.

“You should take your breakfast to go.” she suggested as way of greeting.

Which brought me to now, walking down a cobblestone street with Angelica while munching on a warm pastry that tasted like strawberries.

“What are we doing here?” I wondered.

“Matthias and I spoke last night, and he agreed that you should be trained in self-defense now. I know you’re about to unlock your connection to the Everlight, but that isn’t a cure all. You need to learn to fight.” Angelica said.

“That doesn’t really answer the question.” I mentioned.

“It doesn’t?” Angelica furrowed her brow, “Well, we’re here to purchase you a sword and sheath.”

“Whoa, really?” I asked, a little excited, to be honest. She nodded.

We entered a blacksmith’s shop, and found several amazing items hanging around the shop. A huge, unwieldy battle axe sat beside twin daggers with long, curved blades. A round metal shield with a strange symbol emblazoned in gold on it hung on the wall beside a leather jerkin of some kind.

“Hello, sir and madam!” the kindly blacksmith grinned, coming forwards to shake our hands.

He eyed Angelica up carefully but gave me a warm smile.

“What can I do for you?” he asked.

“Master Blacksmith, my charge requires a blade.” Angelica said. The blacksmith’s face cleared, and he nodded.

“Of course. Would the young lord come this way? I’ll measure him to see which of my blades is the best fit.” the blacksmith said, apparently having decided that only a lord would have a gorgeous but obviously lethal bodyguard like Angelica. Unfortunately, he wasn’t too far off from the truth.

I followed the blacksmith towards the counter, where he verified which hand was my dominant one (my left one), and then measured my arm.

He tapped his chin thoughtfully then dived into the back of his shop and came up with two swords.

One was a long saber with a long, gently curved blade and a brown handle inlaid with gold accents.

The other was a sturdy short sword with a jet black grip, silver accents, and a leaf-shaped blade. It was the most beautiful blade I’d ever seen.

“I like this one.” I touched the leaf-shaped blade.

“That’s Evor, means glory.” the blacksmith told me, and tapped the small rune on the pommel.

“We’ll take it.” Angelica nodded, and I smiled gratefully at my Vengar, who covered the cost of the sword.

As we were walking out, Angelica paused.

“How much for the armored jerkin?” she asked.

———

I swung Evor experimentally, standing in a field behind the inn wearing my new armored leather jerkin that actually had woven chain armor inside it.

Angelica, her own sword held up, advanced closer to me slowly. She moved with almost inhuman grace, and I swung Evor towards her, only to discover that she was behind me.

“You’re giving far too much advance notice with your swing. You step all the way into it and swing both arms as hard as you can.” Angelica said dryly.

Resolving to stop swinging Evor like a baseball bat, I nodded and went back to my starting position.

Angelica came at me again, and this time, I tried to mimic her actions, dancing on the balls of my feet and holding up my sword defensively. She lashed out quickly with her slim longsword, and I tried desperately to lift Evor fast enough to block it. I managed it, but Angelica’s blade crashed into Evor with a ringing of metal and a **** so hard it sent me staggering back.

“You truly are a novice with the blade.” Angelica commented.

“Thanks.” I chuckled dryly. She pulled a waterskin off of her belt and offered it to me.

I took it gratefully, and she put a hand on my arm. I glanced at her.

“You do have a genuine passion for learning it, though. I expect you’ll be a quick learner.” Angelica said with uncharacteristic kindness.

“We’ll see.” I sighed.

Angelica slid lightly back to her starting spot and I felt like a lumbering bear compared to her, but I went back to my spot too.

She twirled her blade expertly and effortlessly between her fingers.

Then she quirked a challenging, excited grin.

“Attack, my king.” she encouraged. I darted forwards, lifting Evor.

———

When Angelica and I joined the others for dinner, I was exhausted and starving. Evor was in a sheath on my belt, and simply walking with a sword on my hip was a challenge.

I plopped down at a table beside Raina, and the busty blond Weaver cuddled up against my side. I saw she held a book, and I tapped the side of it.

“What’s it about?” I asked. She showed me the front cover, but like everything else in this world, it was indecipherable to me.

“I can’t read.” I admitted.

She raised her eyebrows in surprise.

“The language here is that different from your home world?” she asked.

“The spoken language doesn’t seem that different, but I haven’t been able to read anything since I’ve gotten here.” I explained.

“Hm. Interesting. Well, the book’s about artifacts of the Ancient Age. I’m on the chapter about the Seven Rings.” Raina told me.

“What are the Seven Rings?” I asked.

“It’s honestly adorable how little you know about this world.” Raina teased, and I smiled when I felt her hand on my thigh.

“The Seven Rings were powerful objects that contained almost unstoppable magical powerful.” Raina began.

“I thought magic wasn’t a thing here, it’s all about shaping the Everlight energy or something.” I said, surprised.

“That’s all that exists in the modern era. But back in the Ancient Age, it is said they could wield magic, calling the elements to action. They could summon fire and burn down castles, they could summon water and drown cities, they could use earth and swallow armies, they could use air and destroy ships. So much more than that was available, too, but not everyone could do it. The Seven Rings were made by the ancient magicians to give magical power to various soldiers on the side of justice.” Raina explained.

“What happened to the Rings?” I wondered.

“6 were given to generals, and 1 to the king. Of the 6 Rings given to the generals, three fell into the clutches of powerful enemies. The other three generals hid their Rings, and those are lost to history.” Raina recounted.

“And the Ring given to the king?” I asked curiously.

“No less lost than the others, but because there Cerandoran royals are descended from the ancient king, some people hunt for the Royal Ring, as it’s called, in Cerandor.” Raina answered.

“This world has so much crazy history, it’s impossible to remember any of it.” I chuckled.

“Do you know that you’re talked about in this book a lot? Mainly your destined crown, the Crown of the Sun, but there’s also a lot of talk about you. A prophesied hero, born to save our realm.” Raina murmured.

“How many prophecies about me are there?” I asked unhappily.

“There are three. The Rise, the Zenith, and the Fall.”

“That sounds an awful lot like I die at the end of the Fall.” I grumbled.

“Nowhere in the prophecies does it say that you will have to die to win.” Raina shook her head.

“Can I hear them?” I asked hopefully. She shook her head.

“No. Same way I don’t share with you my Weavings.” Raina said with a wry smile, “But in all seriousness, I do not have your prophecies memorized. I couldn’t tell you if I wanted to.”

As Raina took a hand off my thigh, her fingers brushed Evor’s hilt, and then she yanked her hand back like she’d been shocked.

“That sword… it will taste blood, and lots of it.” Raina furrowed her brow.

I glanced down at Evor, and sighed.

I guess one day, I would be drawn into battles of some kind. Hopefully that day was a long way off, though.