LXIX. By the year 1717 of the second age, Asadue had been under the service of Lord Elbracht for over twenty years. He had served his mother before him and after almost a decade as her personal slave, she made him a free man. Back then, Asadue had been given for the first time in his life, a choice to go wither he willed; the world was open for him to fare, yet in spite of his newly given freedom, so was the love and devotion he had for his mistress that he chose instead to remain by her side as a servant.
Asadue had great knowledge and wisdom that went beyond even the most learnt of sages in the realm and it seemed a waste that such wise a man should be made to clean her chambers and fetch her wine every now and then. Lady Aveline realised that his erudite mind could be put to better use elsewhere, so when his first-born child was ripe of age, he employed him as one of his tutors. It did not take long until he grew fond of the young Elbracht, as well.
He was brown of hair, short of beard, and tall of stature. His skin was swarthy gold like sand, under his bushy brows lay hidden in shadows two brilliant green eyes that shone like perls on his eagle-chiselled face. The Hazagodian tutor had always had a thick dialect that gave away his foreignness almost as much his outlook. But though to his brethren it was often hard to understand, Elbracht grew quickly fond of his accent and even learnt a lot of his own native tongue, much to the distress of many noblemen in Ceor.
He saw his pupil come of age and as he took his father’s place, both became very attached to the other. Edwald always kept him a chair next to him in his council and dinning tables and Asadue frequently came up to his tower before bedtime and would lecture him in history, philosophy and other sciences of the mind.
In spite of all the things they went through together in the past, now their hearts seemed to have grown miles apart. Edwald had never dared to call his mentor a slave, for though in court, many were keen to remind him of his place, Ebracht saw beyond the prejudice of his peers and found in him just a tutor but a true friend as well. He treasured his qualities and expertise often above those of higher birth. Hence it came as a deadly blow that Elbracht should call him thus.
The pain of this wound ached deeply in Asadue’s heart and meditating long on these thoughts kept him awake until the morrow of the next day. His tired eyes saw the first lights of dusk, as the sun paled the snow-covered roofs and fields down below Myrlost’s heights. He made a prayer in his native tongue, but his chants were interrupted by the crackling of an opening door.
He turned on his back, hopeful that his pupil would stand on the threshold; the man standing there was also of golden hairs, yet it was not his beloved Edwald. The man in question was Sir Antuel and though he had wished his pupil would come in his stead, it shocked him to see him all the same. Sir Antuel had long travelled along the Hazagodian, but never did he take the time to know him a little better. He had been raised with the belief that slaves were beneath the High Men, and despite this, the fact that he would come into his chambers proved that aught had changed within him.
-“Master Asadue,” he said, there was a quaint politeness in his tone, “I did not wish to disturb you, I will come back later when your done with your prayers.”
-“Why, by all means come in, my lord,” Asadue replied. “Though Lord Elbracht is in the other chamber, I am afraid. I do not know if he is awake, but you can try knocking at his door.”
-“I know.” Sir Antuel said “Yet, I wasn’t looking for him. It is you whom I wished to see.”
-“You honour me, my lord” Asadue was not sure to say, “How can be of help?”
-“I heard you had you two had an argument last night.”
-“Do the walls have ears and eyes?” Asadue said surprised.
-“Not that I am aware of, but the castle is not so large,” Sir Antuel replied, “It is often quiet like a tomb up here in the mountains, so unless there is a battle outside, even the softest noise can filter through the walls. I take it; his wish to face alone the Buram Horde had something to do with this quarrel.”
-“I am afraid so,” Asadue regrettably assented, “Like his father, Lord Elbracht is quick to anger in the face of opposition. He can be stubborn and froward at times, yet often his strong-willed heart proves to lead to brighter paths. This is not one of those instances.”
-“Surely, you can dissuade him to do otherwise.” Sir Antuel said.
-“I tried, but when a man such as him is so blind by his own resolve, little can do the words of another to stop him. And there is something else…” Asadue hesitated for a moment. “He called me slave. Never before had he addressed me by that name.”
-“That does not sound like the Elbracht I came to know,” Sir Antuel said, baffled by what he had just heard.
-“On that much we agree.” Asadue was sad to admit, “Since his duel with Sir Frann, he has not been the same. Perhaps that damned dwarven sword has brought out the worst of him or else this place has hazed his judgement. Last night,—as we trespassed the holy shrine—he kept saying he could feel a pulse calling him there. He was not himself that evening. He walked those halls as if were his own home and knew exactly what should be done to invoke the ghosts that prowl therein. He stained the stone with a few drops of his blood and the temple seemed to answer in return.
“The visions we saw, were windows to the beyond, Elbracht said, and in spite they showed his own death by the hands of the Black Knight, no less, he continues to believe that he must needs meet with him even if it means an early doom. This is all nonsense if you asked me. Whatever witchraft lies hidden in that place is not a power we should not have trifled with. Your kinsman, Lord Tyén said it himself; our eyes might have been deceived by a devilish device.”
-“You said he sensed a pulse?” Sir Antuel did not give credit to his words. “There is a saying that prays, the temple only calls out to those who share the Elder’s blood or else to those to whom death is near to come. If what you say is true, mayhaps there is more to him than what was previously thought. We must warn him of this foreboding before he rides to the north.”
-“So what Lord Elbracht saw could have been, indeed, a death foresight?” Asadue said and Sir Antuel fearfuly noded. “We must alert Elbracht, at once. My words might have rung deaf to his ear, but maybe if it came from your mouth, he will reconsider.”
Asadue took Sir Antuel by the arm and went to the door next room, but before he could knock, he noticed it was nigh close. A cold wind was breathed out the opening and slamming it against the wall, to their horror they found there was none there. The hearth had long smouldered into dying embers and bed’s sheets were all scattered through the floor, as if someone had left the room in a rush.
-“He might have woken up early.” Sir Antuel said fighting off the worst. “He could be in the great hall breaking his fast with my lord cousin.”
Thither they went, hoping they might find him there. Yet adding to their distress, they found only Lord Týen, eating alone in the great hall. He stood up at once, his brow was frowned and there was a stern look in his eyes. The memory of Edwald’s offence was still fresh in his mind.
-“I did not invite you to my table.” He said in a sever tone to the Hazagodian. “I do not believe you can lay claim to that honour after your misdeed yester eve.”
-“Forgive the intrusion, my lord.” Asadue said, “I would not disturb you if it wasn’t urgent.”
Lord Tyén noticed the worry in his speech. His pale was pale and his hands were fretting.
-“Is something the matter?” He asked, “Has Lord Elbracht fallen ill again?”
-“‘Tis worse than that, I am afraid.” the Hazagodian replied, “He was not in his chambers and his page doesn’t know either whither he went. I was hoping he would be here. Where did you see him last?”
-“The temple, right where should not have been” He answered, “I overheard your strife, last night. Mayhaps he went to stretch his feet in the yard, or he might have gone to the chapel to seek repentance for his trespass. You ought to do the same if you wish to gain my favour back.”
-“There is no time for that.” Asadue replied and Lord Tyén was taken aback by his boldness. “The things we saw in the shrine, they might still come to pass. We need to find him before he does anything rash.”
Lord Tyén looked at him and then at his cousin both, as if he knew what they meant.
-“I’ll go to the temple to see if he went there again,” he said, “You two look for him in the yard. If is not anywhere else to be found, go to the horsemaster in the stables.”
Wasting no time for any explanation, the three men went outside. Lord Tyén headed straight to the shrine, while Sir Antuel and Asadue asked about the people in the yard. None had seen him, so they made it for the stables, where the horsemaster cared for his stock. He was young and naïve and seemed to know little of his job.
-“You, lad.” asked Asadue, “Have seen Lord Elbracht today? He is tall and blond of hair; he came wounded two days ago.”
-“He was here before d…dusk, sir.” the young man stuttered, “He said he was in a rush, and was in dire need of his horse. He did not say where he was headed for, but I was in no place to argue with a lord.”
-“How long is it since he left?” Asadue shouted at him, and at his yelling voice the young man shuddered all the more so.
-“He left about th..three hours ago.” He said, “He took that old nag he brought with him and left without a farewell.”
-“He is not the temple.” Lord Tyén said from behind, and the young boy shivering bowed a knee “I asked the surjeons too if they had look at his wounds, but they said his room was empty.”
-“He is gone.” Asadue said, “This young man told he left on horseback three hours ago.”
-“Then we’ve better ride down to Cadar.” Lord Tyén proposed, “I gave the order that no one is allowed to either enter or leave the city without my leave.”
Reassured by the lord’s confidence, Asadue felt half at ease. There was no way out of Myrlost but through Cadar. One could try and hike their way down the mountains through the cliffs, but Edwald took a horse, so he must have ridden the road to the city down below—so he thought.
Each man mounted a horse and galloped down the narrow, treacherous road. They rid in how much haste they could, for the path followed a meandering course from which slopping edges often many uncaring travellers would fall. This did not trouble Asadue at the least. He thought that falling to any early grave would be a little more rewarding than knowing that his pupil had left to face certain death all by himself. His heart beat faster and soon he found himself at the head of the company and what would have taken them an hour to descend from Myrlost’ soaring height, took them instead a half.
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Once on the ground they turned left, following the only street in the city and upon arriving at the northern gate, it came as relief to find them shut. The guards watching over them were in the last hour before their shift and they seemed wasted and tired, since they were on duty all through out the night.
-“Who among you is the captain?” Lord Tyén asked demandingly.
-“‘Tis I, my lord,” said one bowing his head.
-“Has any one left the city earlier today? The lord asked again.
-“None under my watch, my lord.” the captain was proud to reply.
-“Are you certain?” Asadue was not convinced.
-“None safe some men of the watch” the captain said back, “But they have orders to patrol the road thither every once in a while.”
-“Did any of those men seem strange to you?” Asadue inquired, still with some doubts.
-“Not that I am aware of, sir.” The captain said, “They might have taken some of the new recruits with them to test out their training.”
-“Could it be that Lord Elbracht was among them?” asked Asadue, turning to Lord Tyén.
-“It could well be.” he replied, “The new recruits come from Tharlos, a haven-city to the west. The folks there are sprawling and often come from all across the realm.”
-“Then, Elbracht must surely be among them.” Asadue said touching a memory, “When we fled Fyore we disguised as slaves to get across the Mirn, back in Belén. If he followed the same tactic, chances are that he put on the guise of a guard to escape Cadar along with the men of the watch.”
-“Should this be true, then they might have not gone too far.” Lord Tyén said. “We ought to assemble a scouting party.
“Captain Holdric,” He said turning back on him, “Gather your men, we will follow their trail north. Fetch the most able steeds so we can catch them ere they are out of reach.”
-“As you command, my lord.” He answered back.
Soon, Captain Holdric had mustered a throng of twelve riders, six were seasoned soldiers and Lord Tyén knew them all by name, two were the captain himself and another who seconded him in rank, and four were newly sworn recruits, two were native to the Cadia, the other two came from the south, by the looks of them they could have been from either Harador or Ardor. Armed with swords and shields, and wore both mail and helm, each displaying the colours of Myrlost.
Once the gates were opened, the scouting party rode the northern road. The lands were white with snow, the sky was clear blue, crowned with a radiant sun, which was odd for the time of year, yet it made the task at hand all the easier.
They galloped in haste, the hooves thumping boldly against he snow, and the wind blowing swiftly from the north. Upon the hour, as a taint of blood on a linen cloak, they found the very guards they have sought, waving proudly the griffin blazon—a banner of red and gold singled out from amid the snow. Captain Holdric rang a horn and its booming blow bid the men ahead to stop. Dutifully, so they did and as soon as they were within voice-reach, Lord Tyén shouted at them.
-“Remove your helms!” He yelled. The guards shared quaint looks among themselves. “Do as I say, I must needs see your faces.”
Though, baffled by such an odd request, one by one, the guards took off their helmets. Some were handsome, some were not; a few were brunettes, others were blond; one was olive-skinned, most were sallow and another pale as a ghost. Yet the tallest among them refused to take his helmet off.
-“What’s your name, watchman?” asked Lord Tyén sternly.
-“Hans… if it pleases you, m’lord.” said the young man, with an anxious tone.
-“Quite a name!” Lord Tyén said, sure of his fraud, for it Hans would certainly be a name, behind which Edwald would hide himself. “I knew a knight called Sir Hans, he was the greatest swordsman there was. Were you named after him?”
-“Aye, m’lord.” the young man replied, quivering. “I grew up hearing stories about him. Everyone knows the Greatest Sword in the Realm.”
-“Have you something to hide, master Hans?” Lord Tyén asked daringly, “Why won’t you remove you helm? It’s treason to refuse a lord’s command.”
-“I mean no offence.” Young Hans answered, “‘Tis just that I have no wish to appal you. I haven’t got a handsome face. I was born deformed and maimed. They call me monster and other names, just as cruel. So forgive me, m’lord, if I am not proud to show what lies underneath my helm.”
-“Monsters don’t repulse me,” Lord Tyén said grimly, “Only liars. Off with your helmet.”
With trembling hands, Young Hans removed his helmet and immeadiatly, Lord Tyén regretted having been so careless. For the boy behind the mask was all he claimed to be. His head was large and sharp-edged, so much so that it almost did not come out of the chinstrap. His face was grey and a nasty scar went from all across the middle from chin to forehead. His nose was all but gone and his cheeks were shrunken to the bone. A tear escaped his eye, streaming down from behind his swollen suckets.
-“I did not mean to be so careless.” said Lord Tyén, not appalled but pitting him. Ashamed, Hans put back on his helmet. Then he spoke to the party as a whole. “Men of the watch, Earlier today one of my guests escaped Myrlost. His name is Lord Elbracht of Keor. He rides northwards to an uncertain fate. He is tall and blond of hair. We must split up and so we can scout the land in search for him.”
Shortly, the company split in three groups. Sir Antuel rode with first to the northwest, Lord Tyén with the second forwards on the road, and Asadue with the third to the northeast. They galloped with haste upon wintry slopes until they lost sight of the other two throngs. They put hours in the hunt, and the sun had already left its noon-throne, when, in the third party, weariness and fatigue had already taken hold in most of their horses.
-“We ought to go back to Cadar, sir.” one said to Asadue, “We have been hours in the cold and we have found neither sign nor trail that he followed this course. I think ‘tis best to tell Lord Tyén that the man he seeks hasn’t gone this way.”
-“It won’t be long until nightfall.” Asadue sadly admitted. He noticed his horse was tired too, for he had not taken that old hack, the keeper of the tomb had given him. “Very well, we’ll have it you way. But you better be ready to go on with the task upon dawn.”
Relieved by his decision, the men of the watch were happy to obey. It had been almost a day since their last meal, and hunger had already begun to blind their eyes and deafen their ears. Yet one guard did not seem tired at all and what’s more, his steed looked still strong.
-“You’ve got a tough nag with you.” Master Hans said riding next to him. “Where did you get it from?”
-“This old moke?” the guard forced a snicker, “an old man gave it to me.” Judging by a certain brogue in his tongue, he was likely a recruit from the south.
-“Newly sworn?” Master Hans asked.
-“Nay” He replied and it was as if he stifled himself from saying anything else.
-“How long have you been guard?” Master Hans asked, mistrusting his words.
The guard did not respond.
-“Where do you come from?” Hans asked warily.
-“Keor.” the guard answered unwillingly and Master Hans realised he was hiding something else.
-“Are you the man, we are looking for?” He asked sternly.
The guard sealed his lips and swallowed his tongue.
-“Master Asaude!” Hans gave the alarm and shortly after the company stopped, the guard veered off the given course. He turned back and galloped away from the throng.
-“Follow that man!” Asadue gave the order, and then he realised they had been fooled all along. Edwald had not even left Cadar before dawn, he had mingled with the guardsy, indeed, but not with the patrolling watch. On his own he could not have convinced the sentries to open the gates for him, yet if it came as an order from the Lord of Myrlost himself, he could get past them and later on outsmart them.
And all of this played out just like he had planned. His horse, though old was a noble stock and far quicker and stronger than the other cobs the guard mounted. They chased him for half an hour closing in from left and right, yet he outpaced them. The snow glinted all about them as the horses strode towards him. Soon the icy flakes formed a haze before their eyes and so thick it was that the younger horses lost their aim and began to race against each other.
Amidst the tumult, Master Hans had Edwald in sight, and he cantered with unwildering will towards him. His horse was not as fast as his, but neither was it tired. Of all the guards in the throng, only Master Hans kept his course and he galloped forth without fear until neither could be seen.
Asadue was distressed, he wished to follow on their trail, yet his mount did not have the strength. He commanded other two guards to go after them, but after many a tiring hour both their horses refused to race on. Asadue cursed at the heavens, his wrath was like a fire that had been fuelled with oil and when he ran out of words in the common speech he began to swear in his native tongue.
-“We must go back to Cadar,” one said, “Lord Tyén must know what happened here today.”
Asadue could not reply, he could not give the order. He just stood there looking fast into the distant north, a sea of blue above a field of milk, and somewhere in the middle of the skyline, there was a scarlet dot that became ever smaller until all track of his beloved pupil was lost.
-“We must get back now, sir” said the guard again, breaking Asadue’s strain of thought.
-“You are right.” Asadue gave in at last, “We ought to report Lord Tyén, of what has transpired.”
With a beaten-down soul, Asadue turned south again and began a slow paced jaunt back to Cadar. Upon the hour, they met once more with the other two parties at the gates. Lord Tyén and Sir Antuel were disheartened as well, for both their searchs were little less fruitious than the third’s.
-“Did you have any luck?” Lord Tyén asked Asadue.
-“Yes, but our lot was for naught, I am afraid,” Asadue said, “We have been fooled. Elbracht had not gotten past the gates, all along he had hidden among our men, and just as we thought, we had failed in the search, disguised as a watchman, Elbracht outsmarted us and fled. One of the guards went after him, but his horse could not outpace Elbracht’s in the race.”
Lord Tyén was both bewildered and startled, but then it all made sense to him. Other than the patrolling guards none had gone through the gates that day. “Who was the guard that went after him and where is he now?”
-“It was Hans,” answered one of Asadue’s men, “That monster-face galloped after him, his horse was not tired unlike the rest.”
-“You left one of comrades behind!” Lord Tyén shouted at him. “I couldn’t care less if he was either uglier than toad or fairer than Callyus*(1) himself. You let him ride alone and without aid. You should have tried to stop him or gone along with him.”
-“It matters not what happens to him.” Asadue cried back at him. “He follows the trail of one damned by a dark fate. Lord Elbracht rides into his own death. Give me a horse so I can go after them.”
-“Nay, I will not have it in my counscience that you too would meet that same end.” Lord Tyén replied, his brow was frowned, his eyes stern. “Lord Elbracht was my guest—yes—, but he chose his own path when he entered the fane.”
-“I went into that temple too. So count as a trespassing sinner along with him.” Asadue protested with a tongue as sharp as his, “You may choose to sit idle when the unrighteous claim a crown and throne for themselves. You may cose yourself in your castle high in the mountains, while all beneath the clouds your homelands goes to waste, but I will not sit and watch as the fates play their games. So long there is blood in my heart or air in my lungs, I shall stand my ground against fear of doom even if it leads to my own death. Aside from all the things I have taught Lord Elbracht, this I learnt from him: Come what may, it’s only in the face of dread that one can truly be brave.”
Lord Tyén looked both offended and amazed. Regardless of the insults to his face, he felt the Hazagodian’s words, bold though they were, were no less worthy of praise. Yet he did not show any sign of respect towards him.
-“Fetch him another horse!” He ordered to the sentries on the other side of the gates. “This one is just as stubborn as his pupil, but I will not stand in his way. Farewell, Master Asadue. I hope you’ll get to live another day.”
Upon hearing those fateful words, Sir Antuel grew ever worse in distress. Though he had not been very close to him, since he had been raised to think the staint of being a slave was too soiled to wash away, after all the things they had thrived against to gether in their quest, he had grown fond of him. He had lost his family, he had lost Sir Hans, Edwald had escaped, He had left Eridda to an uncertain fate and now he was afraid to loose Asadue as well.
-“I will go with you!” He said, unable to restrain his concerns. “We’ve been together through much mishap and distress. I refuse to remain here and wait, while you follow Elbracht to the grave. Lord Elbracht pulled me out death-like slumber, and showed me the true way to honour the death. He put his life at the edge of the blade and parted with his very name, no less, all to fulfil my sister’s pledge to keep me out of harm’s way. So I will follow him as well, even if it might lead to death. For I, too, owe a debt to him that must needs be paid.”
-“You will do no such thing.” Lord Tyén replied sharply. “I will not have you put your life at needless peril before you come into your claim. You are the rightful heir to Lord Hadril and while you live the Black Griffin is only a pretender. Should you die in this quest, all the pains and heartaches Lord Elbracht suffered for you would be for naught, and Lord Carathuel’s claim would stand undisputed. I will not have that murderous snake succeed in all his attempts to have you slain. If Master Asadue wishes to put his own life at risk for the foolishness of his pupil, I will not stand in his way, but I will sooner slit both my hands than have you join your brethren to an early grave.”
As he said this, the sentries had already brought a horse for Asadue, yet Sir Antuel went and tried to take it for himself. Lord Tyén predicted this however, and shortly thereupon he ordered the guards to have his cousin restrained. Asadue took a last glance at Sir Antuel and blessed him for all the things he had said before he left.