James listened to these strangers talk about him, knowing more of him than he did himself. In the space of half a day he’d discovered that he in fact had both a mother and a father, and that he did have a past life, the details of which were still mostly a mystery. It was a comfort, however, to know there had been something before. James was a real person. Or at least had been. While his mind still throbbed from all the revelations, he knew there was a part of him deep down that felt better.
Den announced he would take care of Evan’s wounds and took the Voarn into the kitchen. James had no response beyond turning red-faced after a quip from Den about him still being there when they returned.
Sam was standing by the back window; his usually relaxed and inviting features hardened with a severity James had never seen on him before. James thought he could see the serious soldier in him now. The Oneron soldier Sam was meant to be. It felt like he was only seeing Sam for the first time.
Den had explained to James that his father was believed to be within one of Sacre’s secret armies. The circumstances of his disappearance and last known location hadn’t make enough sense to those who looked into the events, and there was a trail that led to a Sacre warship. He was told that his father was a great war hero, and if that were true then it made sense that Sacre would want him in their hidden army. But what if his father was already fighting for them? What if he had already been killed in one of their battles? James may have lost his father before having had the chance to know him.
James realised that Evan was not so similar to him. The Voarn had been magically transported to Carnan, and dropped into the continent of Medropon, which was a lot different than waking up without knowing who or where you were. A part of him wished Evan could be more like him, to understand more of what he felt. Though, as James often believed, there was no one else like him. And with his mother and father likely gone, he truly was alone.
Returning from his thoughts, he saw Evan had returned with Den. There may have been a hot odour in the air, which made James wonder if they’d used any healing magic in the kitchen, or if he was just imagining it.
“It’d be best going at night,” Sam told them, turning from the window. “Although I fear we don’t have the privilege of time. We should act now, with the sun full in the sky.”
“I agree,” Evan said. “Swift actions are for the better.”
“I can take us to the warehouse,” Sam said, his arms crossed contemplatively. “I’ve some understanding of its layout. It’s not heavily guarded. If we’re careful we should be able to go in and out without notice.”
“And you think we can just break into a warehouse in the middle of the day?” James asked, voicing his doubts. “Like some criminals? That’s what you want from us?”
“Trust me, James,” Sam said, keeping his voice level. “This building may have the evidence we need to determine what Sacre is doing, and what part Higero Jaxx is playing in all this. A simple inspection of this warehouse is our best move right now.”
Den, back in his chair, nodded thoughtfully. “It’s true we cannot know what could be hidden within a warehouse affiliated with Sacre.”
“Of course, we’ll be extra careful,” Sam assured them.
James rubbed his weary eyes. “Okay, but… so what if I was some kind of soldier? Why is this Dark Sorcerer after me? What does it want?”
Den’s grave expression held James firmly. “I’m afraid we can’t answer that. Your father, Hayden, knew of the Dark Sorcerer’s search for you, but he didn’t share the reason for it, if he knew one. Mine and Sam’s task was merely to keep you protected here in town, while we waited to hear from Hayden. But we haven’t heard anything in these two years.”
A deep frowned contorted James’s face. “Den, I still don’t get any of this. Evan was told by some gods to come and get me. That I can help him save his people. And somehow put a stop to this great armada that’s building. That might be building. I mean… what’s so special about me?” He realised he was rambling, and now studied the faces watching him, feeling his face redden.
“Only you can answer that,” Sam said, his hands on his hips. “And prove the Light Council right. I’m sure they wouldn’t choose you lightly.”
“That’s comforting.” James frowned, feeling the weight of expectation lower his shoulders.
“Perhaps they truly have made a mistake,” Evan said tightly. “If James truly does not believe in his abilities then he will be of no help to us. Such a lack of confidence and competence, it is truly a marvel to me why the gods did choose him, if I am to be honest. What good can he be, truly?”
“I never said I was a hero,” James shot back with anger rising within him. “You don’t wanna work with me, that’s fine by me. I never wanted to be a part of this, whatever this is, in the first place.”
Den cut in. “Keep true, Evan. This cannot be easy for you, but you must trust us.”
Evan stood now, scowling. “I have been transported across the galaxy to a mad world of criminals and liars. You tell me to trust you, Den Keenosh, yet you do not reveal to us the truth behind your leg.”
While Den held Evan’s stare, James could see the old man’s breath had quickened. For the first time, Den showed signs of alarm, his aged face lined with angst.
“That’s enough, Evan,” Sam said in a calm but firm voice. “This is a trying time for all of us. Yet you must hold to your faith. We’re here to help each other. Even the gods have touched our gathering today.”
Evan cast James a dark look. A similar look to when he’d held the sword point to his face. “And what of James? What reason would the gods have to choose him? To hold us back? To divert our attentions and priorities? They have sent us an empty shell.”
“I ain’t an empty shell!” James burst to his feet, clenching his fists. “Who in the Abyss wanted—”
“That’s enough, both of you.” Den’s powerful voice brought silence to the room.
James glared at Evan a moment, his blood still hot, before turning away.
Den’s tone was softer now. “I understand your concerns, Evan of the Illan. But there are forces at work which may be beyond your present understanding, or any of ours, and I ask you to hold true to your faith. In time you will understand. Your father would not have set you on the path that led to James were it not of utmost importance to find him.”
Evan remained silent, breathing heavily. James felt Sam looking at him but was unable to meet his eyes.
Den began lifting himself off the chair with a struggle. “Walk with me, James.”
James turned to him, confusion and caught off-guard.
“I’d like some air, if you’d join me.” The old man gestured to the window that showed the back garden. Leaving the room sounded good to James. He stepped with Den, who hobbled somewhat before finding his stride with the leg brace. “Sam, perhaps you’d care to introduce Evan to Elleanor?”
Sam’s head rose. “Good idea,” he simply said.
***
Trees and shrubbery lined the edges of the garden, which was around thirty paces in depth and fifteen across. The grass they walked on was close cropped and healthy-looking, with a fresh smell about it. By a purple flowered bush at the far end stood an ornate fountain, its soft water rippling over two levels in a low babble. Unseen birds chirped nearby.
James’s anger and frustration with Evan slowly faded as he felt himself soothed and comforted by the mild air and the warmth of the sun. It would be a while before he realised the garden reminded him of his forest caves in Mount Volton.
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While Den’s leg brace impeded his step, he managed the walk with little trouble. James took it upon himself to curl a hand under Den’s upper arm to support him, feeling the solid muscles under his shirtsleeve, and was sure the old man didn’t need his help. James absently ran a thumb over one of his toughlets as he sat there.
“Two years,” Den began. “Not only have you been in Tyken Town for two years, James, but Sam and I have also been here for that time. Leaving our old lives behind. You should know what an important and difficult task watching over you was. You have yet to realise your worth, therefore your capabilities and importance can’t be judged accurately by yourself. So, take it from someone who once knew you when you were younger, it was clear from an early age you were destined for greatness. You would do best to ignore Evan’s doubts. He is a troubled boy. He’s been through a great deal and seen many terrible things for his relatively young eyes. His judgement and opinions are clouded.” Den fell into thought for a moment and looked troubled.
“I realise I didn’t handle our first encounter very well. I…” Something brought a smile to Den’s face, but he shook it away with a dry laugh. “After all this time I just was not prepared for you. I was never meant to be the one to reveal the truth to you. I had the length of a night to arrange your arrival to my home without arousing any suspicions. I realise what a shock our meeting would have been for you. I do not blame you for running away; my words were heavy. I apologise for that.”
They reached the end of the garden where a stone bench lay beneath patchy shadows near the murmuring fountain. Long bladed leaves and colourful plants surrounded them. With a soft sigh, Den lowered himself onto the bench. James released his hold once the old man was down, wanting to be sure he was comfortable before sitting next to him.
“You would have died,” Den continued sombrely, “had your father not done what he could. Needless to say, some High, dangerous sorcery played its part. An unfortunate side effect of the craft involved in healing you meant that your memory was lost. To ensure no similar fate befell you, it was deemed in your best interest that you be put into hiding. That you had no knowledge of your previous life only benefited your hiding.
“It’s no coincidence you be placed in this town; a small, inconspicuous world where few enquiring eyes passed through. I requested the position of watching over you as Tyken Town was my birth town. Though I only spent a few years here before I left this world, a very long time ago, and hadn’t been back until two years ago. I cannot apologise enough for what you must have felt these past two years. Particularly the first few seasons before Tam found you. You see, Sam and I were told where to find you in the city, although problems arose that meant you were placed on Mount Volton instead, without any of us knowing. We searched for you, hoping the best for your fate, and it wasn’t until you came into town that we were able to track you down, and bring Tam into your path to help you begin your new life.
“You were meant to live the rest of your days here, safe from outside harm. You were guarded more than you would have realised. Your friend, Tammrian Borral, is an old friend of mine. Along with Sam, they watched over you daily. Your true identity could not be revealed to you as it was safer for you to not know. We provided the best life for you that we could. You weren’t alone, James, you had three carers looking out for you. Though it appears that we were able to protect you from everything but your fate.” A sorrowful sigh passed Den’s lips as he looked around the garden, forming his next words. James remained silent, watching the old man closely, lost in the moment.
“I am very old, James. More than you can imagine. And I’ve seen enough for several lifetimes. My loved ones are all gone, now. I am all you see that is left. And what do I have to show for it, apart from this old pained exterior; this old man shell? I have my memories. My heart remembers the love it has felt, my mind remembers the lessons I’ve learned, my hands remember the skills they’ve learned. I don’t wish for anyone to not know their past; to not remember their experiences. Their loved ones. I can’t think of a more frightening existence.” Here Den paused and turned away as he fought back tears. The sight sent a shiver through James that reverberated through his body.
Den swallowed, grimacing with some unseen pain. “Now you’ve been given this chance to free yourself of the hold of the city, to be free to find yourself again and meet the person you really are; who you once were, and can someday become. You have countless people, places and planets to see. I know your heart yearns for it, though you’re afraid to take the step. I’m here to tell you that it’s okay to be afraid, but you shouldn’t let that hold you back from what you want. You don’t want to end up a lonely, grumpy old man, like some people… and not have the company of fond memories to know you were truly loved, and that you lived your life to the best of your potential. You owe it to yourself, son.”
James met Den’s eyes and saw they were red-rimmed. They sat in silence for a long while, with James overwhelmed by the weight of Den’s words.
A light wind moved through the garden, rippling the grass. The earthy smell of leaves and flowers washing over him was a familiar comfort that absorbed him.
They continued to sit in silence.
***
A brown satchel was slung across Sam’s body and both he and Evan held swords when James and Den met them again in the living room.
“How is our hero?” Sam asked lightly, watching them both closely.
“Great.” James did his best to match Sam’s airy tone. “Den showed me his impressive plants and lovely flowers.” He locked eyes with Evan, who was impassive and distant, and so he turned away from him, if only to avoid a confrontation with Evan at that moment.
“So,” Sam began, raising his sword, “James, I’d like you to meet Elleanor. Ellie, to her friends.” The narrow steel blade was nearly as long as Evan’s sword, though not nearly as wide or thick. The top was somewhat flat, unlike the pointed tip blades James was used to seeing around. The short cross-guard was studded with glistening gems, which looked like a manufactured glass. It looked to James like it’d seen little use, which surprised him, given that Sam was a soldier.
“Pleased to meet you… her.” James had to smile at his confusion.
“She likes you,” Sam said, rolling the handle in his palm. He sheathed the sword on his waist and picked up a slice of fruit from the table. James saw they’d begun eating some of the food, and two glasses were filled with a red drink; likely a juice.
“It would be good for you to eat something, James,” Den said, leaning on a chair back.
James shook his head. He saw the fruit and the honey bread, along with a pastry he wasn’t familiar with, but he didn’t have the stomach to eat anything right then. “I’m not hungry,” he said, quieter than he meant to. He added, “But thank you,” when he saw Den still watching him. James smiled to himself, aware of how good it felt to have someone care about him.
“If you’re sure.” Den placed a hand on his shoulder, mostly for support, as he stepped past him. “Sam, take some with you, would you? I couldn’t possibly eat all this myself.”
Sam agreed and gathered some of the food into napkins, placing the bundles into his satchel.
Den turned his attention to Evan. “You are well trained with the sword, young one. It should serve you well. Sam also has his talents. Though as I see it, and as James has correctly expressed such concerns, we are not criminals. We do not go with intentions of harm. Gathering intelligence is the priority here.”
“Agreed,” Evan said.
Den turned to James. “You may want this, James.” A metal handle was in his outstretched hand.
With everything else James had to take in that day, he’d forgotten his father’s grapple hook. He hesitated before taking the device. He looked upon it with a newfound awe, and was taken aback at the sudden, incomprehensible flood of emotions. He assessed his feelings and wondered if it was sentimentality he felt toward the object, but he couldn’t be sure. Maybe he was forcing a sentimentality that wasn’t really there. He attached the grapple hook to his belt, feeling like it was the thing to do, and lifted his gaze to see a warm smile lining Den’s face.
“Nor would I want you to go without this, either.” This time Den’s hand contained a square card.
James had already remembered the photo when Den spoke. The two soldiers grinned up at James once more, before he slid the photo into his pocket. One of those men, if not both, was the key to finding his father. They must be. He put the thought aside for now.
“Thank you,” James said to him.
Den’s startling blue eyes pierced James once more, though this time they offered him a comfort. “You are welcome, James Island.”
James clasped arms with Den. While Den’s hand gripped his toughlet, James felt the steel tendons within Den’s strong arm.
“Time to go,” Sam told them. He opened the front door as they approached it.
Den hobbled to the door and gripped the frame for support, then paused as he looked them over. “If fate brings you back, you will not find me here.”
“What?” James’s voice was louder in his surprise.
“I have a personal matter to attend to; and I don’t know how long I’ll be away.”
Evan asked. “Will we see you again?”
“I would hope so, Evan.”
“Perhaps the gods will merge our paths once again.”
Den considered the little Voarn and nodded. He clasped forearms with Evan, and then the Voarn lunged forward and hugged the old man tightly. When Evan released his hold, he kept his head low.
A thin, fatherly smile was on Den’s face, which looked to James more pained than joyful. “The Illan will always be welcome here. But alas, I am needed elsewhere for now.”
James asked, “You have another hero coming to provide guidance for their destiny?”
Den laughed aloud, nearly sending himself into a coughing fit. “Indeed. Such is the life of a wise old mentor, is it not?”
James responded with a smile.
“Or a wise old fool,” Den added with a brow raise. “I can never remember which.”
“Thank you, Den, for everything.” James knew he couldn’t thank the man enough for setting him back on his path. For setting him free, as he saw it. He felt the weight of the moment and was energised, spurred on to begin his new life. His old life. No, to begin a whole new existence.
When they stepped away from the house, Den called out to them. “Sam, look after them, now.”
“Aye, General.” Sam faced him and tapped his chest three times with the first two fingers of his right hand.
As they made their way down the path, James turned one last time to look upon the old man, who remained watching them intently with a sorrowful expression on his aged face.
They turned a corner and Den was lost from view. James found himself wishing he had more time with the old man, but he looked ahead with his chin high, determined not to let him down. Not to let any of them down.
He just hoped he was up to the task.