CHAPTER FORTY FIVE: VISITORS

It was a rough night of sleeping, plagued by nightmares of being trapped. Lightning struck all around. He tried to run, but his feet moved like lead blocks.

Then outside the cell bars there was movement. To Calin’s terror Evany was being dragged into the darkness by that creature of a man Xyri. The sweet venom dripped from the voice of the ashen man as he took Evany into the darkness. “She will scream, son of Darrus... She will scream.” It was enough to break him free from the nightmare.

He sat up gasping for breath. It was all blurry and vague, but those words rung in his head.

It was still dark outside, but sleep wouldn’t come easily again. Sweat dripped from his forehead. He looked around and sighed. The bars of his cell were taunting him with his predicament, and on top of that he hadn’t had a drop of water in such a long time. Calin looked toward what was supposed to be the entrance to his cell, no container of water. He sighed again and tried to forget about the fact.

It was slightly chilly and he drew his dark cloak around him, infinitely glad that they didn’t take it from him. Even so, he shivered within it. He absentmindedly fumbled for the ring on his finger, and jerked upright. The ring wasn’t there anymore! He got up and rummaged through his clothes. Gone.

It was gone.

A pain spiked in his heart, one he hadn’t felt many times since he could remember. It was no physical pain. He had lost one of the most important things dear to him. The only other thing except for a letter and the remains of his clothes that he had worn when he fell from that cliff eight years ago. The only real possessions he had from the parents that had left him. The pain of losing the ring was threatening to bring tears to his eyes.

Just as he was about to allow the despair to sweep him away, something caught his attention. Even through his blurry vision. There was this slight movement at the top of the column that marked the corner of his and the other cell. Calin tried to wipe at his eyes to get the tears away and stared harder. But it was like looking at a spot on his eye, one that kept moving out of sight.

He shook his head vigorously. There were clearly traces of a yellow light seeping into the pillar in a gentle dance. Then it was gone, like an after image.

With a frown Calin blinked his eyes several times and moved forward, the pain that had threatened a part of his sanity only remained as a dull throb in his chest as he wondered at what he had seen.

“What was that?” Calin finally whispered.

“What was what, lad?” The voice from the side startled Calin as he jerked, but then he remembered Eli from the next cell. Without taking his eyes from the pillar he said, “Eli... did you see that yellow light on the pillar just a moment ago?”

There was shuffling and then Eli’s voice was closer as the man said, “No lad, I didn’t... are you sure there was something?”

Calin stared intently at the pillar, but there was no more light, just the smooth surface of the marble.

Finally he laughed and sat back. “Sorry I must be seeing things, I just really thought... No, it must have been a play in the air.”

“It is alright lad,” Eli said a moment later. “I’ve been in this prison for years and years, sometimes it gets to you.” It could easily have been said in harsher terms, and Calin didn’t miss the small gesture.

He shrugged it off. But then a question came to mind, though he almost didn’t get the words out through his dry throat.

“So where do you get water in this place, it’s been days since I had something to drink.” He didn’t know how long before extreme dehydration would start to take him, but at the very least at that moment he was glad that his thirst wasn’t as noticeable.

Eli regarded him for a moment and as the man opened his mouth to say something, the door from their prison wing swung open with a loud clash.

Two men strutted in, with only the pride or rather the arrogance that guards can. The one had the same attire as the guards that had kept the path into Yera’s Crossing. The other one, however, was bedecked with more flamboyance. Somehow the man looked familiar... The realization struck hard to his utter dismay, the captain from the fort!

The one that had not so long ago wore the nightmarish crimson sun so proudly. Though his attire now was burgundy chainmail with the lady of Yera’ Crossing’s crest on his chest.

Something in Calin screamed the word infiltration. It had been clear from Eli’s reaction; that those that wore the crimson sun weren’t welcome in these lands. For what purpose the captain infiltrated Yera’s Crossing was unknown, but it was clear there were hidden motives.

When the captain came close, a broad grin splayed his lips, then the man said, “My my my, didn’t think it was true. But there you are... the last of them.”

Something bothered Calin about the statement, but he squeezed his own fist and ignored the remark, forcing a smirk.

Slowly he sat back against a cell bar and said, “Did the horse give you much trouble to tow back in, a few days ago?”

The smile disappeared from the captain’s face.

But strangely, as the man stepped closer to the cell, he was all the while keeping track of the other guard in the room before saying in a low harsh voice.

“That was you? Do you have any idea what you cost me? That horse cost me a small fortune and it got away.”

A smile tugged at Calin’s lips and he said, “Oops. But, I bet the dead Nighthound was worse. I heard the guards say they are very rare.”

The captain’s eyes popped open wide. A vein started throbbing on his forehead and it looked like he was going to burst. His hand started to unsheathe his sword, but a glance at the other guard stopped the motion. Still, the man gritted his teeth and sneered. “You’re just as arrogant as your father, boy. Yet, I’m not the one sitting behind bars.” The anger didn’t fade from the man’s face as he whispered, “Mark my words, when Mishael has laid his little trap and snared his prey, I will, and I tell you, I will enjoy cutting the price from your flesh before Mishael kills you, do you hear me, boy?”

Calin was about ready to spit at the man as another set of guards barged loudly into the room, breaking the flaring aggression that had sprung up in the room.

Behind the new guards, a man rigid and proud like a military general entered. There was grey hair hinting at long years in service over his ears. The man was heavily armoured in a beige coloured metal. A burgundy cape flowed behind his shoulders.

The minute the captain noticed the armoured man, he straightened up in haste and changed his face, before he said, “Commander Osai’es, I ... I didn’t expect you in here.”

The commander came forward and stated, “Captain Gemmer, don’t test my patience, these prisoners are not under your jurisdiction. Go back to the walls immediately or you will be disciplined. No. Wait; rather go to the Guild at Fort Gavon. They are tasked with figuring out what is going on in the caves deep under Yera’s Crossing. I heard there was urgent news from Captain Cecil… You know which Guild?”

The captain stuttered. “Yes. But sir... surely I ....”

But the commander glared at the man and demanded. “Now! Go assist her!”

With that, the captain stammered and retreated rapidly from the room, only glancing back to glare at his commander in chief.

Without a doubt, Calin was certain now that those with the crimson suns were after something. They were everywhere he went. The fact sat heavy in him, only adding to the feeling of helplessness that had been on the rise for a while.

Steeling himself, he stood up as the commander approached his cell. The man stared at Calin intently with his faded green eyes. After what seemed far too long, Osai’es said, “So you’re the boy they say threatened the King’s life?”

Flabbergasted, Calin asked, “Huh? What... what do you mean I threatened the life of the King... sir?”

The commander’s stare got harder. “Don’t play coy with me boy, they threw you in here because you threatened the King’s life in Moons’ Reach.”

Shaking his head vigorously, Calin said, “I’ve never been to Moons’ Reach before... sir. In fact I was on my way there for the first time ever, before I was captured against my will in an ambush just south of here.”

The commander jerked back as if something dirty had been thrown in his direction and he spoke harshly, “Don’t you be lying to me boy, or I will have you flogged!”

With apprehension building in his stomach, Calin said, “I’m not, sir. I’ve never even been to Yera’s Crossing before yesterday. I came from somewhere to the North-East of Needlewood village, sir, looking for my parents. I didn’t even know why I was thrown in jail, sir. All I was doing was trying to travel to Moons’ Reach for the first time to try and find my family.”

The commander had an indescribable look on his face and was about to say something, when Eli tapped something metal against one of the cell bars.

“Osai’es, leave the boy alone. He is not in here for the reason you think.”

The commander spun on Eli and hissed, “You have no say in the matter Elizriél. You better remember your place.”

With a huff of contempt, Eli walked back and disappeared in the shadows of his cell. A voice travelled out of the dark.

“Oh I do remember my place Osai’es, but it’s not where you think it is.”

The commander growled at Eli and said,

“It’s commander Osai’es to you!”

Without warning, Osai’es spun and flicked his cloak in frustration and started retreating from the room. But not before he said, “I am a busy man, but I’m not finished with either of you.” The armoured man left, taking the guards with him.

Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

***

Utterly confused with what just transpired, Calin turned to Eli’s cell and asked, “What was that?”

Coming from the shadows, the bearded man laughed out of his belly and said, “If you were in here as long as I have, you don’t have anything to lose. So if I can ruffle the commander’s feathers. It helps take my mind off of things.

‘Besides, I like you lad, and if you don’t even know about the Guardian’s Veil, which clearly you didn’t, there is not a chance that you’ve been to Moons’ Reach. So I’m very much inclined to believe there are people who don’t want the reason for your captivity to become general knowledge. And because I like you lad, I will be very honest, it truly makes me a worried man.”

Wow, Calin stared at his fellow prisoner. Eli had appeared somewhat crazy from the start. But the man didn’t miss a thing.

The floor was hard and far too cold, but Calin sat back down as he said, “You are a very interesting man, Eli. My guesses are that you were wrongly accused as well.”

The man smiled and nodded his head in respect at Calin before he said, “Well done lad.”

A few moments passed and Calin said, “I am glad for the company. It helps.”

Then the man leaned against the wall. “As am I for yours lad, as am I.”

A bang resounded through the room as the door swung open and through the entrance strode a scarlet haired girl.

Kara.

“What the?” Calin mumbled as the girl closed the door behind her, looking out one last time before it shut closed completely. The girl stormed to his cell.

“Calin! You’re okay! We feared the worst when we met up with Mictoria and Christoff and heard what happened.”

He took hold of the girl in a kind of awkward hug through the bars before letting her go again, glad that she was okay after her hard fall.

“No,” Calin said. “I’m okay for now. Kara you... wait, how the heck did you get in here? There are guards everywhere.”

But he shook his head, there was no time for explanations, so he continued, “Never mind that, you have to listen to me quickly. They plan on handing me over to this guy Mishael. I think that’s his name. Then they are going to use me to get at my father. After that... they... I... But that doesn’t really matter right now.”

He could see the utter shock on the girl’s face. She had caught on to what was going to happen. But he grabbed her hands and gave her no time to speak.

“Kara, what is important is that you and the others must find Evany. See to it that she is safe and when they hand me over, that Evany goes free. I’m the price Kara, and the deal was, if I don’t do anything stupid then they will let her go.”

Kara looked at him as if he was mad, she threw up her arms and said, “What has gotten into you Calin? There is no way we are going to leave you to those pigs.”

Calin desperately wanted to get the message across. It was extremely important and the girl was stubborn as usual. He was about to say something when a whistle sounded somewhere. Kara grabbed his hands and said, “Calin I don’t have time, but don’t worry we’ll find a way to get you out.”

With that, the girl scampered off to the door. Calin shouted after her. “Get Evany first, I beg you!”

It was as if the exchange never happened. The door had closed and the girl was gone. Calin’s heart was thudding in his chest; he silently wished they didn’t do something crazy as he went back to his blanket. As he laid down Eli’s voice drifted from the other cell.

“Don’t get your hopes up lad,” he said in a grim tone. “Long ago in a darker time, Yera’s Crossing was one of the six grand prison cities. It was the perfect prison for many reasons, not only because it was so high from the ground.”

Dragging the blanket tighter around himself, Calin let out a pent up breath and said, “I know... I just want them to free my friend. All I care about is her freedom and theirs.”

It was silent for a couple of seconds and then Eli said, “You’re a good young man, Calin. Never change that about yourself. Now get some sleep, it’s still a couple of hours till the sun rises.”

Calin nodded as he chewed on his lip. His body soon decided that it was too tired to worry any further as he drifted off to sleep.

***

A few hours later the sound of the door’s latch opening echoed, waking Calin. Half-heartedly, he lifted his head from the blanket. Even to his foggy mind, the surprise of seeing Jerry hit him. The boy was sneaking towards the cell. “Oi,” whispered Jerry. “Calin, are you awake?”

All drowsiness was gone in an instant as Calin got up and said, “Am now, how do you guys keep getting in here?”

He moved towards the edge of the cell, truly wanting an answer to that this time. Then Jerry gave Calin a piece of paper and lifted his shoulders, and said,

“That’s a very long story. Mictoria is an incredibly resourceful woman. But Calin, listen we found a single way off this rock for you, though the problem is we can’t figure out how to get you out of the cell...

‘Mictoria keeps on saying {these cells are really special and}... agh never mind it didn’t make sense at all any way. Basically she said you can’t even attempt to tamper with them. It is incredibly dangerous to do so. Calin... The only possible way for you to escape is if they let you out of the cell somewhere, and then if you can get all the way to the second room from here, where you came in. There is a window. The paper will say the rest.”

It was tempting to open the letter, but Calin resisted and asked, “What about Evany, I told Kara that she is the priority Jerry.”

The boy looked impatient, but he shook his head. “Yes yes we know. We are going to go rescue her from Ta-Reen the moment the sun sets. But when we do, you have to try and get out.”

The boy was about to leave, when Calin grabbed his arm and said, “Jerry listen to me, when you get Evany, don’t wait for me, just get out of here. I will try and join you, but if anything happened to me I want you to take Evany and Kara and go as far away as you can. Try and get Tyas to take you somewhere safe. Do you hear me?”

Jerry looked like he wanted to protest, but Calin squeezed the boy’s arm hard and said, “No ‘buts’ Jerry. Just do it.”

Looking heavily conflicted, the boy seemed to try and think, but finally he said, “Fine Calin, but try to get out please? The girls would kill me if you don’t.”

Calin smiled at that and said, “Now, I can’t let that happen. Just get out of here before you are caught!”

The boy nodded with a smile and swept out of the room. As he closed the door, Calin fell back and sat down heavily.

Now that Jerry was out of the room he dropped his false bravado. He didn’t see a way out of the cell. The bars looked and felt unmovable. What else did I expect from a prison? Half heartedly Calin asked into the almost empty cells.

“Do they ever let us out?”

The answer was clear even before Eli spoke.

“No... I’m so sorry lad.”

Calin nodded slowly with his eyes closed, it wasn’t a surprise. But it didn’t make it any easier to hear. “Then I hope they can free my friend. At least that will bring me some peace.”

A grunt sounded from the other cell, and with that the silence settled over the place again. It was hard to come to grips with the idea of captivity, but somehow he knew that his death wasn’t far off if the exchange took place.

It was impossible to make peace with that fact, but he was trapped and there was no path to follow, no escape. It was a maddening thought. Calin shook his head before he wandered over to the small little barred window. Outside, the courtyard stretched far down below.

About a hundred metres away from where his position, stood the massive Morning tree that from that angle looked more like two huge trees entwined permanently. Below, the bleach white buildings stretched over the dark roots. All around the city a three story high wall embraced it, a couple of guards patrolling the top of it.

On the far left side of the courtyard, the colossal bridge disappeared out of sight and into the mist.

As he was about to leave the tiny window, Eli’s sombre voice came from the side.

“I heard the tale of that tree, many years ago.”

Calin glanced at the man, but didn’t say anything as Eli continued. “There once was a young Leafling woman, a very long time ago. Quite an uncommon occurrence, since they don’t often leave the great forests, in her case the one called Ethanier. But her reasons were never given and most only whispered of her beauty all over the towns she visited. They often invited her for a feast. But she never had an eye for the prejudiced noble men who thrived in the grand places.

‘Even though she did not mingle often in the company of the nobles, her presence was marked by one young ambitious duke, who wanted nothing more than to have her as the exotic beauty at his side, nothing more than a face.

‘It was hardly a surprise to learn the woman did not want anything to do with that man. And had she just left the town, she would never have felt the sting of his poisonous ire.”

Calin shifted his gaze to Eli. The soft light bathed the man’s face in that warm, pink glow from the Morning tree.

Eli then took a breath and spoke again.

“But alas, the woman stayed in that city. She had met a man, who took in children that had no one to care for them. Moved by this act of selflessness, her heart finally found the place where it belonged.

‘For a short time the two young ones were indeed truly happy together. But what she did not know, was, that the young noble had seen them together. His jealousy raged inside him and sadly he did not control it. All in the palace felt his temper at the discovery of the two lovers.

‘From that moment, it had marked a path that would only end in tragedy. One sunny morning the woman and her man took the, as you say, orphan boys and girls on a trip to the lonely small tree on top of the great pillar of Amanker.

‘It was written that, that day, the young tree had sprouted its first blossoms. Two flowers had opened on its small branches. The woman was delighted as it oft said in the legends that the first blossoms of a Morning tree is the warmest, unlocking mysteries for those who hold them. The woman picked one of the beautiful flowers for her lover, who closed it gently in his hand and brought it to his chest. The woman went back and picked the second blossom. She treasured the feeling of the warm leaves in her hands. A hope had sprung up to bring the second blossom to the first, maybe to wish on it together with him, but as she turned to him she heard a sickening sound and an arrow pierced through the heart of the man that she so truly loved.”

Calin’s body stiffened as Eli continued the story.

“It is said that, the moment the man died that his blossom was painted with his heart blood and he breathed his last on the root of the tree. The woman screamed in despair, and drew the sword from her dead lover’s belt, storming at the murderers. Among the three intruders, there was that very noble man who had so desired to have that woman as the beautiful puppet by his side…

‘The noble man had such an intense hatred for the journeyman who had the heart of this woman, that he had given the order of his death and gave the order to kill the children the man had sheltered. But as he gave the order in his uncontrolled rage, the woman was there with the sword screaming that she would never allow him to lay a finger on the children.

‘The archer, who had shot the killing arrow, was dead before he could knock another. Now, as one would have it, the noble was a coward, he shoved the swordsman in front of himself and ran away.

‘The enraged Leafling woman swung her sword and the swordsman took a grave wound, but not before he buried his own sword through the woman’s middle. Though, as the two went down to the ground, the woman screamed and gathered her strength.

‘With a great swing of her arm, she threw her sword after the fleeing noble. Her last breath was used to avenge her true love, and be it luck or from justice, her aim was pure and true. The flying sword pierced the noble man and cast him from the great pillar’s height as if he was banished from the top of that pillar that had brought two blossoms together.”

Eli turned to him and said, “It is said that those two blossoms which were covered in the blood of pure ones, and the tears of the children, was accepted by the lonely Morning tree to become part of it. Though, it still is just a tree, and will always be just a tree, as all trees are. The memories of their passing were so great it affected the growth towards a mighty tree and gave it its unique colour and affinity. From there, the years passed by and the tree grew more in width than most of its kind. Often after that, the children who had survived the ordeal visited the place many times and one day they decided they wanted the two lovers to be remembered. They came back to build their lives on top of the great pillar and under the tree of Two Blossoms which they called Yerandier’s Embrace; named after the woman who had loved the only parent they had ever known and who had so selflessly defended them from the mad noble. Thus came to be the city that is now called Yera’s Crossing.”

Tears fell from Calin’s eye, surprising him, as he lifted the wet droplets off his cheeks. He turned to Eli finally and in a cracked voice asked, “Why… why did you tell me that story?”

Eli reached through the cell bars and patted his shoulder and said,

“Because it should not be forgotten how this city came to be, even if it became a prison city through that war. It was first and foremost built not for a tree but in memory of pure love. I told you this tale mainly because I know how difficult it must have been to keep a brave face in front of your friend when there is no chance of escape.”

There was no way Calin could process the jumble of emotions that ran through him at that moment. Though, after a few minutes of silence, he managed to find his voice again, and he croaked, “I - I appreciate it.”

“You are welcome lad. And truly, I am sorry.”

Calin just nodded without another word and went back to the window to watch Yerandier’s Embrace gentle glow in the dark for a long time.

Eventually, as he looked out over the people far below, the sun started to rise. Somehow the few hours it would give its light seemed useless to him now.

All he cared for, was Evany’s freedom as he spied on the people, waiting for something to happen.