Prince Noralv- Edge of Shadows Page 7
“Who are you?” His hand unhooked a rope from his leather belt.
“You, sir, can stay over there,” I warned.
He advanced toward me, rope gripped in hand. “Your name and House?”
My lips felt dry and cracked, and my mouth just as such. I swallowed to try and get some moisture down my throat. My title had lost all its power the moment I had been taken from the berg. Being an unannounced prince, not very many people would know who I was. Though my House name, everyone knew. I was hesitant. I was angry. He wasn’t going to touch me. Not without a fight.
“You are not a mage or beaulecraft trained in the arts, are you? How is it that you obtained the energy of Dimness, Goddess of Dark?”
Quentin reached out to me. Iron teapot gripped in my hand, I swung as fast as my arm would allow, aiming for his head. Quentin parried with his forearm. His body slammed me against the wall, pinning me. My chest spasmed in pain. I yelped. The teapot dropped with a thud, the warm water pooling at my feet. His hands gripped my arms.
“It is my duty to arrest criminal scum who are destroying the natural balance of the world, and those idiotic enough,” he squeezed my arms, “to use the sacred energy of the gods.”
“I am not a criminal.”
I took a deep breath and flexed my fingers. I managed to suppress my rising irk. It was a taboo among us nobility to ever perform such extreme power as beaulecraft. It was a sign of weakness.
“I will only ask one more time. How did you acquire the energy of Dimness?” he asked with a fixed hard stare.
Crawww, cried the raven.
“This is absurd. I demand an escort to the nearest garrison or Noralv watchtower.”
“Fine.”
Quentin yanked me from the wall then shoved my face down in to the mattress. With his knee across my shoulder blades, he bound my wrists. I thrashed and bucked. I was pinned. My body screamed in pain as his weight pressed down on me. My wrists burned as I tried to rip free from my bindings.
“Get off me,” I demanded.
“You will remain under my charge until a proper trial can be arranged…” he said.
“You can’t arrest me. I am … from House Noralv.” He leaned his knee deeper in to my back as I tried to wriggle my way out from underneath him. I swallowed a cry of pain.
“Sorry. Can’t hear you over the sound of lies.” He raised his voice.
Tut-tut, the raven sounded.
“I am of high nobility,” I growled.
“I’ve heard that excuse many times. Please, let me hear another.” The latter comment was peppered with disinterested sarcasm.
“My father and his men are searching for me right now.” At least, he would be. “If you are to continue to treat me in such a manner, he will kill you.”
“Threats aren’t going to save you, boy, and I do not wish to kill you.”
With a yank, he hauled me off the bed and pushed me hobbling across the room to the door.
“I am not threatening you. I am stating facts.” My legs ached as I pushed back against Quentin, but he forced me forward. “Where are you taking me?”
“Out,” he said.
His bird, still clamped to his shoulder, muttered.
“Don’t you dare. It’s freezing out! And I am in nothing but a nightshirt and undershorts!” I was exasperated.
“Chilly, yes.”
He banged the door open. A blast of bitter wind swirled filling every space of the room.
My face flushed with embarrassment as a couple of townsfolk glanced in our direction, walking by while others watched as the Hunter pushed me down the wooden walkway. Each icy step, I tried in futility to stop him from moving me forward. Anger swelled in my chest.
“You’re d-d-dishonoring me,” I hissed. “I am nothing like those p-p-people you hunt for.”
Release me, said the youth’s voice. My heart skipped a beat. The voice was back.
“You want clothes? I need answers.” We stopped by a black horse, saddled with large leather satchels flanking, stuffed with what I guessed was food, clothes, a tent, and blankets. Basic travel needs.
“I don’t know, I don’t know, I don’t know,” I screamed. “Unbind me at once, p-peasant.”
“Answers first!” he shouted in to my ear.
“I didn’t conspire to acquire anything,” I growled. “Obedience has been ground in to me since birth.”
Release me!
“Damn it!” I spat.
“What’s your name and House, boy?” He yanked me around to face him.
A lump grew in my throat. My name did not bring me much comfort since it had got me kidnapped in the first place. Now not saying it may be the only thing standing in the way of my freedom once again.
“I am born of House N-Noralv of Stanrocc, son of Eldar Prince Eemond Noralv, Unannounced Prince Thayne Noralv.” I allowed the anger to rise, and recited as many titles as I could before I swallowed back the tears that followed close behind. Any weakness I would not show.
He went silent. I could hear nothing but the whoosh of my blood pounding in my ears.
“You’re Lady Aulynn’s boy.” He pulled back my hair, exposing the bandage where my ear cuff would have been then let the hair drop back.
With fiery defiance, I returned his gaze. I swallowed, tears burning my eyes.
Quentin pursed his lips. “Please indulge this next question. I need to know for sure,” he said. “What is her favorite flower?”
Goodness! What kind of question was that? Did I even know the answer? So much had happened to me in the last couple of days I didn’t even know what my favorite food, color, or favorite weapon of choice was, let alone a flower. Only one answer popped into mind.
“Dragon Lilies,” I said curtly. She kept a potted plant of Dragon Lilies in her chamber. I remember her commenting on how the plant brought her joy, especially on the dreary days.
Quentin nodded. “Theotanian nobility is restricted from ever using beaulecraft, is it not?”
“I. Don’t. Know. B-Beaulecraft!” I said through my teeth.
“You there,” said a deep voice from behind Quentin. “Leave the boy alone.” A large, thick man stood beside a brindled, dragon dog. The dog’s head was low and it was sniffing the air. It was the man who found me that morning, Orin. Behind him stood Elms.
Release me, said the youth’s voice.
My heart pounded in my chest.
Quentin’s raven cawed.
“I need to go inside.” I could feel my panic begin to rise. “Please,” I whispered.
Quentin frowned at me.
“Step away from the boy,” said Orin.
Quentin ignored Orin.
“I can feel the goddess’s energy moving in you.”
Quentin reached out and touched my solar plexus. The rising energy melted away, and the voice subsided. With my arm still gripped in Quentin’s hand, he led me up to Orin. His dog grunted, then snorted. My bare feet were thoroughly frozen and I could barely feel the ground.
“This boy is in Heardnebbian custody.” Quentin produced a flat, metal hexagon, the size of his palm, with a raised raven insignia on it. Circling around the raven was etched Order of Heardnebba. “He carries something that is dangerous to this village. When he is properly dressed, we will leave immediately.”
Orin glowered. “Is this true, boy?”
I took in a shaky breath and let it out at once. “It w-would seem.” I bowed slightly to him and Elms, who remained silent. “S-sorry.” So much for thanking them.
Quentin nodded to Orin then led me back to the room in silence and closed the door.
“You do have the goddess’s energy in you. It’s illegal.” Quentin unbound my wrists. I took a deliberate step away from him the moment my wrists were free. “Even the most skilled hierarchy of the mage guilds do not dare to use the essence of the gods. How do you possess it?” All hostility in h
is voice had dissipated. I knew the answer, but it seemed impossible. Like a dream. Something happened to me. I felt it in the orchard and could not help but feel it at the Mielonder’s camp, and felt it again now.
“A bright light, orb-thing hit me.” I rubbed my unbound wrists.
“An orb-thing?” He raised an eyebrow and wound the rope in a circle, then clipped it back on his belt.
“Yes,” I said. “There was an earthquake, then the glowing orb hit me. My sister, Daria, and I were taken by the Redtails. I can only assume they were a part of this orb-thing.” I paused. “They killed my bodyguard when they took us. I escaped them, she did not, and now I’m here.”
“I see.” He stroked the belly of his bird. It stepped on to his fingers. He whispered something, opened the door, and, with a craw-craw, the raven departed.
With shaky steps, I moved in front of the fire. “You can take me to the nearest garrison. I need to go home,” I said, relieved the bird was gone. Though the fire was warm, I was agitated and very little would bring me comfort.
Quentin shook his head. “Not a good idea. There is something going on out there, and I believe you’re caught in the middle.”
“You have basically accused me of being a criminal, for illegally performing the beaulecraft arts, and now I can’t go home?” I squinted my eyes at him. “First of all, it is not up to you to decide whether or not I am a criminal. That’s the Cempa’s job—or my father’s.” I briefly held up two fingers, in emphasis. “Secondly, as a child of royalty, I have never ever learned the arts. Behind berg walls is where I spent my days under the ever-watchful eyes of my family and my many masters. Who could have taught me? No one would risk that,” I said. “Not with the threat of permanent exile or death looming for tainting a champion child’s mind.”
“A strict life, indeed. I do not doubt your lack of knowledge and practice of the arts, but the beaulecraft energy did come from you. I could feel it. Alzur followed the beaulecraft trail, and it led straight to you.”
“Alzur?” I asked.
“My raven. My constant.”
“Whatever. Just take this goddess energy, knowledgeable one. I don’t want this power.”
“I can’t take it.” Quentin reached out for me. Stepping back, I pushed his hand away. “We need to leave right away.”
“Why would I go with you? I told you, I am going home.” I turned toward the fire.
“If you do somehow manage to go back home, it will be your House’s undoing,” he said.
“Not possible. It’s safer than being here with you.” I hugged myself tightly.
“Upon your arrival at your House, you will be greeted by silence. A grim reunion. Blood will be your royal carpet. Bowing at your feet will be the corpses of your loved ones. Flame and ash will be what’s left of your House.”
“What are you saying?” My eyes were wide. My mouth dry as I looked at him. “Why are you telling me this?”
“If you return now, that is what will happen. Your sister is safer with the Redtails. Trust me.”
“Safer?! How…?”
“There are those who will destroy everything. Your family. Your friends. Everything. To acquire the goddess’s energy, which will bring them power. And that’s what it is. Power.”
“Then take it from me. You’re a mage, a gehan, aren’t you? Please, I never wanted it.” I raised my hands in the air exasperated. “I don’t even know why the orb hit me,” I said.
“I’m sorry. If you want a chance of saving your family and yourself then you need to come with me,” he said.
My heart felt as though it was torn in half. I had failed to save my sister. Geir died to save me, and I ran away like a coward. How could I return home? Using beaulecraft. Leaving Daria behind. Cowardice. Facing my father now would be shameful.
“Where?” I was defeated. “Where would we have to go?”
“East. To the Gladewine Academy. There is a sugian where a Heardnebbian sister branch is. The Guardians of Hremm. It is close, and I have a friend who will take us in.”
I nodded.
“Until we rid your body of the goddess’s power, I am placing you under my charge. From here on out, you must do as I say. Understand?”
Numb, I nodded.
There was a knock at the door then it slid open. Elms and Orin entered with his dog close behind. “Here are young Thayne’s clothes. Clarris has mended all the holes.” Elms handed me my things back in a neatly folded pile with my boots, cleaned, and on top. I bowed then took them.
I dressed quickly. Orin followed us out of the Healer’s and around the village while we gathered some things for our journey. We stocked up on food, Quentin bought me a horse—it was on a running tab he made for me—and we were on our way.
The journey to the academy took us to the beginning of the Readfahan Mountain pass. A day’s travel. Night had been our companion awhile before Quentin had allowed us to sleep. Fortunately, we had made it to the small town of Wulfhli, and Quentin had paid for us to stay at an inn—added to my tab. It was dingy and almost a shack, compared to what I was used to, but it was dry and indoors.
There was only one single bed, a side table with an oil lamp, and only enough space to walk beside the bed and that was it. It was the smallest room I had ever been in. I felt out of place and sat on the edge of the bed.
“Don’t worry, Highness. I won’t make a prince sleep on the floor. I will sleep there.” Quentin sat next to me, tugged his boots off, and shoved them under the bed.
I looked at the yellowed pillowcase that covered the lumpy pillow, then looked at the floor, wondering if he had the better deal. “Thank you, sir,” I said. The floor was not for me and neither was the bed, but, I guess, it was better than sleeping in the freezing weather.
“Quentin?” I asked.
Quentin had put his pack on the floor as a pillow and was laying out his cloak like a blanket.
“Yes?”
He stretched out on the floor and put his hands behind his head.
“I’m wondering…how do you know my mother?” I inquired.
“What gives you the idea that I know her?” His eyes were closed.
“You said that I was Lady Aulynn’s boy. Not Lady Noralv’s boy. Everyone knows my father, and you never said I was Eldar Noralv’s son, but you called my mother by her first name. No one does that.”
Quentin sighed. “It’s a long story. Go to sleep.”
“How did a gehan get to know my mother? She’s Theotanian nobility.” My interest was piqued.
“I knew her before she met your father. If you want to know the whole story, you’ll have to ask her. Now, turn out the light. We leave at dawn.” He peeked at me through his silver eye.
“I can’t sleep after learning something like that! The Cempa certainly wouldn’t have approved of her knowing you, especially if she were to marry my father.”
My mother talked about her life as the daughter of a warrior and her training with healers, but never in my life would I have suspected she would have known a gehan enough to call each other by name. She was from a noble house, even before she met my father. Becoming friends with Quentin would surely have been frowned upon.
“I told you, it is a long story.” He propped himself up on his elbow. “I have something for you to think about if you can’t sleep.”
“What’s that?”
“Because of the latest happenings, I don’t think it’s wise for you to be traveling around with your real identity. It may bring unwanted attention.”
“You mean for me to think of a different name for myself?” I said. Hiding from my problem. I felt like a coward doing so. If it meant sparing my family from further attacks from enemies then hiding I would embrace.
“Yes. At least, a different family name,” he said.
“You’re probably right.” I pulled my boots off and tucked them beside Quentin’s under the bed. “I’ll think about it.”
“Good. Go to sleep.”
Quentin laid b
ack down and closed his eyes.
I turned the lamp out and laid on the bed. I didn’t bother undressing or even turning down the blankets. The thought of how old they were, or possibly how dirty it was underneath, or even how they could’ve felt repulsed me. Regardless of what shape the bed was in, I was still very tired and sore. I let myself relax on the bed, minding the side of me that hurt the most, and, in no time, I fell asleep.
The shadow of a child stood before me, surrounded by a misty, white fog. A black mist rolled in, crawling up the child’s legs then covered the arms. The black mist vanished just as suddenly as it came. The child let out a wail and groped at its arm. Its arm from the elbow down was missing. The child fell to its knees and wept while feeling around the ground with its remaining hand crawling in circles.
A voice, loud and commanding, spoke.
I am life … I am death … Creator … Destroyer … I am the air you breathe, the food you eat, and the skin you wear. From the cold, chiseled rock of the highest peak to the black depths of the lowest deep, I am everything and nothing. I have the power to give and to take. Foolish beings that I love, created out of my essence, molded from the clay of the universe, why have you taken from me? Are you not satisfied with the life I have breathed in you? Everything that you are is me … I have given you everything, and I will claim it back. Beware, lovely beings. The storm is brewing, and will not be contained. A warning has been given…
The fog reappeared at my feet then leaped to my throat, suffocating me.
A raven cawed. Then a man’s voice laughed, deep and resounding. The mist around my throat turned into a hand. A man’s hand. It exposed a raven wing tattoo, the very same as Quentin’s, on the inside of his wrist. He squeezed tighter and tighter until I could barely breathe.
“I will find you,” the velvety voice of a man said.
With a jolt, I woke. A dark figure leaned over me with its hands on my neck and chest.
With one hand, I pushed the figure’s arm off my throat. With the other, I jabbed it forward, connecting sharply with the figure’s chin. A man grunted and pinned my arms to the mattress. I rammed my knee into his side twice.