LXXI. Asadue had left Cadar with the leave of Lord Tyén, though he did not bless his journey ahead, he gave him a horse for the road. He rode to the north, and though his ride began paced and slow across the barren icy fields of the Cadia, upon the fourth hour, a storm had formed above, and to avoid the coming rain of snow, he galloped in haste forwards.
In his mind there was great distress, for the thought of losing Edwald to an early grave was a pending dread to him. He also resented Lord Tyén. One could say that after all the perils Edwald and Asadue had gone through to find and deliver Sir Antuel to him, he should have cared more for the men who made possible such a quest. Now he was alone riding towards an unclear aim with nothing but hope that the fates would guide his way.
And yet dispite his wishes to find his pupil before he met his doom, he had doubts whether going after him was the right choice to be made. In his heart, he pondered on whether Edwald was still the same man he had helped raise, for never before he had dared to call him slave. “Has he forgotten the love and devotion I have towards him? Or has he else learnt to hate me, either for the colour of my skin or the country of my birth?” All this, he thought to himself, but wrestling with an inner voice within him, Asadue shook the thoughts away; “Even if he has gone astray and become a crueller man, it does not change the love I have for him.” So he convinced himself, and forth he galloped onwards.
He followed the road as best he could. The snow closing in from each edge made it look like little more than a half-paved lane. Yet his eyes were still fresh of youth and not worn out of age as they should have been. So he did not lose sight of it.
On he rode until past the storm and a few hours after that, he saw a lonely horse travelling afar. There was no rider on its back. When he got a grip of its straps, he noticed it was the mount of noble stock given to Edwald back in Elorio’s Tomb by the old man. A terrible shiver rolled down his spine, for a horse riding alone in such barren lands could only mean that its rider must certainly have died.
-“He must not be far!” He denied his own reasoning, “If it came from the west then Edwald must be wandering on foot somewhere alone in the wild.” and so he turned his aim towards the west, and without losing sight of the road he scouted the barren meadows on his own.
The storm had been harsh and it left a thicker layer of snow on its path. So his pace was lazy and slow, but his eyes were not; he looked about west and north and white upon white was all he saw. For a while his mind dwelt on what could have happened to his pupil. Mayhaps there had been a bear or else a wolf that took the best of his horse. But there was no history of dangerous beasts preying about those lands. He was scared neither by the thought of a bear’s claws nor a wolf’s jaws. It was the cold what worried him the most. Edwald was bred and raised in Ceor; there winter was always soft, so it was only sound to fear that in the lands of the Cadia, he would stand little chance against winter’s blade-like blows and its bone-quivering cold.
A full moon sailed from east to west, and in spite of all the above, Asadue did not veer off his search until the break of dawn. Then, he saw a scarlet spot wandering not far off ahead of him. As he drew close, he noticed the dot was yet another horse. Two men sat on its saddle. Both wore helmets; one was silver, the other gold. But, upon riding nearer still, he realised the latter man was not hiding his face, and that his mane was merely blond, which under the light of the morning sun, Asadue had mistaken for a crown of gold.
-“Halt there!” Asadue cried aloud with hope restored, for the goldenhead was none other than Lord Elbracht of Ceor.
Then the two men afore turned back and rather than flee before the crying man, the goldenhead bid the silver-helm to stop.
Asadue saw Edwald’s face; his eyes were filled with tears and getting off the horse’s back, the pupil rushed towards the mentor, who also did like-wise. Asadue’s eyes welled up with relief to find Edwald alive, and thus they embraced at last. After their last fight, their hearts had never been so far apart, and yet in the comfort of each other’s arms, their souls were reconciled.
-“Mentor mine.” Edwald with his heart in his hand, “Why, I have been such a fool! I know I have not been so kind, and my last words to you two days ago, were like poison to the mind. Thanks to you I have torn a thousand chains apart, and though they call me Liberator, I know that for the things I have said, I am beyond your forgiveness. But I wish to repent and compensate you howsoever I may. None has cared for me so much as you have, and to all your love and faith towards me I have been nothing but blind. How could I ever call myself your pupil again, when to you I have caused so much harm?”
-“Son, you have proved your tongue is sharper than your sword.” Asadue said taking the heart in Edwald’s hand, “But if a man is cut by that blade and comes back for more even when it means a harder pain, is it not proof enough that he’ll forgive you nonetheless dispite all what you have done and said?”
Never in his life had Lord Elreck been a better father than Asadue was to Edwald now, and to such a man whose bonds he had borne bereft of even a hint of respite, Edwald could do little more than bow. Then Asadue lifted up his chin and with rivers of sadness running down his cheeks, he heard his mentor out.
-“Mayhaps you do not have my blood, but to me you will always be a son.” Asadue said, and Edwald felt the pulse of his sword telling him that his words were true though at the same time, they were not. “I do not bless this quest of yours, yet not even the dread of death will keep me from opposing even the foulest foe. If confront your brother you must, then I am on your side, this once and for all.”
The two men embraced once more, but after making peace with a hug, the silver-helmet stepped in between them both.
-“There shall be no quest to the north.” Hans said, “Lord Tyén wants you back in Myrlost, and you told me yester eve that you’ll comply.”
-“Aren you that brave guard, who chased Lord Elbracht when your brother’s could not?” Asadue asked.
-“My name is Hans,” he replied, “I see how much this quest means to you both, yet I will obey my lord’s command.”
-“Master Hans, I am ever in your debt.” Edwald said, “But now I cannot back to Lord Tyén. I know you have made your pledge and that your task is to deliver me to him. Yet, I have my made my own pledge. If you won’t open your mind, at least, heed with your heart. My brother is the Black Knight, the common folk have spoken so much of. He might have brought about pain and sorrow, and he could do much worse things still. Nonetheless, he remains my blood and I know that to me he can borrow his ear, even if it means my death, I must try at least. Had you had the chance to speak with your mother before her life’s end, would you not do the same?
“I will fight you if I must, for the same worries whereof I told you before even now linger in my heart. Still, the choice remains yours. Will we have your leave to go on, or will you fight me in spite of all?”
Master Hans took a long pause. Asadue was right; Edwald’s tongue was indeed as sharp as his sword and he could not hide that his words had just pierced into his soul.
-“Where my mind tells me I should take you back to Lord Tyén, my heart commands that I must let you carry on with your quest.” Hans gave way at last. “I will ride to Cadar alone and tell my liege was all what has come to pass.”
-“I hope, for your sake, he will not punish you hardly,” Edwald said with hands on his chest. “But for your pitty and bravery you shall ever have our thanks.”
-“I know my way around pain.” Hans said back to him. “The whip’s embrace does not scare me—no less than a child’s tale. But I take solace on your thanks. Ride now north, if you will. I shall not stand in your way. May the Four Fathers bless you and the Four Mothers keep you. Fare ye well.”
And so he took his leave, with a task unfilled but without a shred of regret.
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LXXI. Of the coming event, we do not have an entry in the Hazagodian’s journals. Instead, we rely on the telling of Sir Antuel as it is conveyed in the histories of the realm. And even then, we must bear in mind that the things still to be told in this chapter were likely written later in his life, many years after they came to pass.
Upon the second day since Asadue left Cadar, a horseman was spotted jaunting back to the city walls. He bore the scarlet red of the Sovarós and helmet he did not wish to take off. The man in question was Master Hans, and as he said he would, he reported onto him all what had transpired. Of the Night Ernes he made especial note, and also of their reunion with the Hazagodian mentor, his own story he left out of the tale, and though he was not proud of habing failed, without shame, he owned the blame.
-“Go back to your post, watchman,” said Lord Tyén, and bowing his head he left.
Sir Antuel was with his cousin during the report, and taking grief on what had been told he turned to Lord Tyén and spoke.
-“Will you not go after them?” he said, “They ride to their death!”
-“That choice was not mine to make.” replied Lord Tyén without regret. “I played my role as a good host, but I will not risk the lives of my men on those who remain stubborn dispite having been warned.”
-“Lord Elbracht was warned against keeping his oath to Lady Aléndra. They said Lord Carathuel would have him slain before he reached his goal.” Sir Antuel said, “Had he not taken his chance against those odds, I would not be sitting here, safe and sound in your halls.”
This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.
-“The man made his choice!” Lord Tyén said again, this time his lordly rage had been stirred. “I already thanked him for his sacrifice and toil, but I owe him nothing.”
-“You might not, but I owe him all.” Sir Antuel said standing up for the Lord of Ceor. “You might have not kept him from his goals, safe here in the sanctity of your halls, but you could have gone with him with army if needs must. Instead you choose to sit idle in Myrlost while the kingdom we love and were born to protect stand in the brink of war.”
-“My duty is to keep you safe until you take your brother’s throne.” Lord Tyén said trying to justify himself.
-“And what will be done to meet that goal?” his cousin replied. “By doing nothing I will never become the Lord of Fyore. All the while, the Black Griffin and the Black Knight tear Thindur apart in two. Shall we sit and wait to pick up the pieces when all is done? I think not. Should this war be the will of the gods, then it must clearly mean they wish to test what we are truly made of. What will the small folk think of us once the war has already been fought? They will see the House of Sovarós as naught but cowards that wait until past a storm only to savage the spoils left over by those who all have lost. So answer now, Lord Tyén of Myrlost; what is then the right choice? To linger in a cave high up the mountains whereas all below havoc unfolds, or else pick up the sword and meet the challenge outside our walls?”
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Discourses on the Road
LXXIII.
Months ago, Edwald had left Ceor. Back then, they were three; Sir Frann, Asadue and he. Over time, this fellowship grew to five, Sir Hans they met in Hebrom, and Sir Antuel in Locht Nelbáris. Sir Hans and Sir Frann had died and now they were back to two. Mentor Asadue thought there would not be any more additions to the party, and riding alone with his pupil, he felt the loss of the men, they had left behind. Sir Hans had been a valient man, Sir Frann a smart one and Sir Antuel was heartful. Asadue pondered long on the memories on the path and stroke him harshly that he no longer had them by his side.
Each of the two rode a horse, since upon finding Edwald’s horse he had kept him ready for his rider. They rode the northern road and their aim was the Buram outpost in Seranos.
-“How long until we get there?” he asked.
-“If we follow the road up to Culgarost it will take us five days to get to Seranos.” Edwald answered, “But if we take Pass of Nahas*(1) it will safe us three days to get there.”
-“Then the Pass shall be, shall it not?” Asadue said and so they began their jaunt.
They left the road behind, and as it grew distant on their right side, the vast snow lands sloped up towards the sky. The wind was soft and fresh and yet not freezing despite the cold scent of the snow. The Aden Hills, a mix of white and grey, bathed under the sun, and it seemed as if there were lazy eyes over their tops, that watched them proudly from above.
-“How are you faring?” Asadue asked, concerned. “Do your wounds cause much pain?”
-“It took them less time to heal in Myrlost,” Edwald replied, “But, ‘tis nothing to worry about. The Night Ernes hurt me only twice. Two wounds will not end my life.”
-“It is not the wounds you already have that trouble my mind,” Asadue said fearful, “But those that you shall gain once we arrive. I know you’ve made up your mind, and that there is nothing I may say to sway you otherwise. Nevertheless, I must ask again if you are sure this is the right path.”
-“I told you already.” Edwald replied, his brow was frowned, “I know Carédock since the crib, I know he will not risk my life. Neither the visions from that fane nor the fates themselves will hinder my way to him.”
-“How can you be so certain?” Asadue protested. “Yes, he might be your blood, but we both know Sir Carédock; it was never his way to put innocent lives to the blade, and yet he has besieged and slain thousands with his horde. If that is no reason to believe he has changed, I know not what else should be. Are you not afraid that his feelings towards you might have also changed?”
Edwald took a while to reply. he could not ignore the truth in what his spoke, and yet a stubborn, child-like voice within him kept pressing on and it told him, he shouldn’t believe all whereof the small folk had spoken.
-“My brother is fast like a rock,” He said, “If there is something he got from our wretched father it is that neither of them had ever been keen to change. I do not believe that he has done all what he was accused of.”
-“And yet his deeds speak where his words cannot.” Asadue said, “His hands bear the blood of a thousand innocent men. Do you mean to say none of these things weigh in to the claims ascribed to his name?”
-“It might be that his has wronged in many ways of late,” Edwald said, “But his love for me remains the same. If deeds truly speak where words cannot, then there are enough proofs to attest to his love. When Ealdorman Corgann kept me as a hostage in my own home, he did all humanly possible and more to ensure my right before the Chancellor’s court. When the king declared he preferred Carédock to ascend my father’s throne, he advocated for me and rejected the king’s choice. Even the whole business in Culgarost was just an attempt to ensure a chance so I might be made King of Men. He can be stubborn and mad sometimes, but even when I took out his eye, he never had such a change of heart.”
-“How will you excuse then the visions in the shrine?” Asadue asked, “The Elder Ones built that temple and they often meddled with the arts of foresight. Should their magic leave no room for doubts? ”
Edwald did not reply right away, for he always treasured the warnings of the old and the wise. Whatever witchcraft was at play in the shrine should have been enough to frighten any man. Edwald, however, was no common man.
-“I never fret in the face of either the morrow’s light or the memories of days past.” Edwald said with pride, “Even if it leads unto a dark path, I will not be made a slave of a fateful omen. I took you for a man of reason, mentor, but now you speak as the old and senile.”
-“Your tongue cuts through and through.” Asadue said and Edwald regretted his words right away. “Aye, I have always preferred reason over fairy tales, but in the last months I have seen things I could never claim to fully grasp. First the Dwarven Sword, then Elven Pass. All those things have no room in the human mind. Any sane man would disregard them as a mad delusion. And yet, wouldn’t you say we have come upon enough to convince the even the most cynical among us otherwise?”
-“What are you aiming at?” Edwald asked.
-“Now that we know these ‘hidden powers’ to be true, is it not safe to assume that what in the Ennish Temple might be a window through which we loomed up things that will come to pass?” Asadue’s premise was hard for Edwald to deny.
-“I do not claim to know much of the hidden arts,” Edwald replied, “Yet, is there truly any one who can without doubt claim knowledge on how to interpret from the blind a sight or from the smoke the signs? Charlatans and swindlers, there are too many to count. All boast of having the favour of the gods and the eyes to glimpse in the Beyond, and still time mostly makes fool of them all.”
-“Aye, there are many shams among that lot,” Asadue came back saying, “even then, there are also a few whose foretelling comes to unfold just as they had foreseen. Furthermore what ever power lingers in Myrlost is evidently not made by the hand of man, rather it brought about by the design of the Elder Ones. They are known to be keen to those arts, you cannot tell me otherwise.”
-“I do not doubt the subtlety and prowess of the Ennard kind.” Edwald said, “Nevertheless, even the mighty and renowned are not exempt from cons. The Ennards might have known how to make a show, and deceived others with a devilish device—the figures in the smoke—and mislead the world into fearing what they claimed to know.”
-“We have the histories to verify,” Asadue said, “They often tell of oracles that foresaw famines and coming wars.”
-“Those histories were written many years after the events they convey occurred,” Edwald said, “It is very likely many of them were forged in order to make a point. So, you see, mentor, I am not convinced that what we saw back then in Myrlost was, indeed, a warning from the Gods.”
-“That much is fair enough.” Asadue replied, yet he was not willing to give in. “But in the very soil your doubts are sown, also your convictions grow. The same reasoning you have just given can be applied to the matter of your sword. Why should the Ennard’s deceit be unlike the Dwarves’? No blade has a truer aim than Oakenjaw’s. And even then, how does the sword resolve what is true and what is false? Is their race not also famed for dealing with the occult?”
Edwald could not respond, for he saw there was truth in what he spoke of.
-“You silence says more than words.” Asadue went on, “I am aware that both powers need not share a common root. But it is not as if you had no proof, that there are things that can be seen and read even beyond the world of men. You knew Lord Carathuel was up to no good and that he had designed his own kin’s doom, thus you have no doubt that your sword does aim for truth. Is it too far-off to assume that the Ennards might have mastered the hidden arts too?”
-“You speak of truth as an absolute,” Edwald said, “But who is to say, whether something is false or true? If one said the sky is black and another said it is blue, are they both not right when in the night it is dark yet also bright in the noon? So, you see, it is all a question of view. The same can be said about my dwarven blade, perhaps Oakenjaw does not see under the lens of true and false, but rather takes them as two sides of a coin. Our minds, on the other hand, only lean towards the former, because we were born into a world, where such concepts are taught to all.”
Asadue could not help but be proud of his student, for though their minds were not at all aligned on this regard, his wit with words proved that he had grown into an erudite man.
-“Yes, the concept of truth and deceit can both be flipped like a coin.” Asadue said, “But that is not to say they do not possess a value of themselves. It might be so, that the things whereof we speak live only in the world of reason, and yet the work of the mind often translates into that of the hand. A loamy country might be just a piece of land, but with proper care and labour it can be transformed into a farm, blossoming corps not necessarily native to that soil. A flower, colourful and delicate as it is, might have some beauty in its own, but does it not require an eye to determine its worth? So, concepts though not tangible in form, need not be less true than things we can see or touch.”
-“Do you mean to say that invisible things are just as true as a tree or a rock?” Edwald asked.
-“Precisely,” Asadue answered. “We can say things are real, even if they are not physically there, so long we can measure them by either their shape, looks, or—as it is the case of truth and deceit—also by their effect. The same can be said about the fates, since like any other deeper concept, be it demons or the gods, they do eventually manifest.
“Now, how the Elder Ones could get their hands upon such knowledge, I do not know. However, all what we have discussed should be enough evidence to argue that my fears are just. I wish it were not the case, but we ought to heed what in the fane has been foretold.”
-“And what if it is so?” Edwald said daringly, “Why should we be made slaves to fear of fate? Are not all men entitled to a choice and their free will to pursue what the hearts yearn for? You have always taught me thus. If we live in dread of what may come, what difference is there between the fates and the pain of whip’s blow? I say one can indeed take caution in what has been warned. Nonetheless it should not deprive anyone from the free will of their choice.”
Asadue saw the sense in what Edwald spoke.
-“Whom are you student of?” Asadue was proud to ask the obvious.
-“Yours, mentor,” Edwald replied smothering a smirk.
-“Very well, pupil.” The mentor said, “If you wish to face the dread of fate, then we shall do it together.”
And so they hastened their pace and the snow-covered slopes slanted ever up. They had come to the Pass of Nahas. There, where the skirts of two hillsides met, lied a huge gap that seemed to breathe in all the winds from the north and east. And the sun sat thereupon like a lamp of hope at the end of the road.