Queen Lenora was up before even the earliest squires, servants, and stable boys had lifted an eyelid. The sky was still black beside the Bolg Moon which gave off a distant, dull glare. The air was prickly and cold as Queen Lenora chose the finest war horse she could find within the stables. She grabbed a saddle and some reins, turning to see a stun-faced stable boy. He stood with mouth gaping open and arms limply at his sides. He had not seen royalty so close. Better yet, he had not ever seen the queen completing her own tasks without the helping hands of May Otto and Kiss.
The queen skipped past him, tethering the horse to a wooden railing in the grassy clearing just before the main gates of Crow Castle. The queen soon arrived at May Otto’s door, rapping her knuckles aggressively on the door and demanding she attend to those who were still sleeping and chosen to accompany her. She would ride with the host herself. A motherly apprehension filled her insides when she pictured Aurela at the mercy of the unpleasant lord Maykeep. She rued her naivety to have trusted in their friendship.
May Otto scurried off with Kiss and Alice. They shook awake Rohinar, who had been sleeping half-naked when the covers were yanked from his bed and curled up into a ball, shivering. His protests had not been pleasant until he was jarred from his dreams. His mind had been flogged all night with unpleasant visions and dreams. All of them had included the Silver Tree, which seemed to be speaking to him somehow. He felt a strange compulsion to go and visit it, and so he did.
Meanwhile, lord Mared Swordrin and lord Kyn Malarin had left in the night to obey their queen’s orders like the loyal men they were. Lord Mared had given the queen a quick kiss on the cheek and the hand before departing upon horseback before midnight. Lord Malarin left immediately following the council upon his trusty old horse with brown hair and gray spots around its sides. He was a man of few words and strong conviction. He would meet the queen’s main host at first light by the bottom of the mountain slope leading up toward Baronview. The queen expected nearly five hundred men from him, five hundred men from lord Mared, and two thousand men of her own. There were only three hundred to be found within the confines of Crow Castle, and so Ser Sledda had gone and gathered loyal swords to Dalrin in the night, despite the fact that he had not been invited to join the party. He still had an odd way about him since the night of his encounter with Zdeno and the snake. The queen preferred to keep a comfortable distance from him. His protection and swordsmanship would provide Crow Castle with security in their stead as they journeyed north toward The Maykeep Castle. It sat in a land called Alkorna. The land was flat and composed a soft soil. It had rained hard the night previously and the morning’s light was vague and gentle. The skies threatened snow, which had been odd considering it was normally warmer when the sun came up.
King Aydar was incessant that the Silver Tree controlled the weather patterns here in the northern reach, but the queen would have none of it. She might have believed it if it wasn’t from his mouth. Bitterness had built within her after the king’s recent behavior. Leaving the responsibility of the throne chair to her, all alone. She had grown to like the power—yes—but the resentment was there, nonetheless. It was an embarrassment if nothing else.
The queen designated King Aydar to sit at the high dais in the courtroom. But she had demanded Illena sit in the throne chair. She had a protective bias toward her daughter. She saw Illena as fit for ruling. She had discipline and intelligence about her. Rohinar thought too much with his heart. His maturity was lacking, and he had already demonstrated his hastiness by committing his betrothal to a Valnarak. The queen had not even begun to unpack that conundrum yet. She hoped that Ser Jaqon and Galor would be able to maintain stability at Baronview. Prince Rohinar had still not returned to Baronview yet and with a force of Venistar men invading Bulkjor, it would be crucial that Baronview’s walls were sealed and unbreachable if that army was led to its gates. For that reason, the queen had insisted that Galor return to his post as city watch as soon as possible, rather than accompanying Rohinar to The Maykeep to rescue the girls.
The fewer voices, the better. That is why the queen had insisted that Waryon and Alon the Cup Bearer stay behind as well. They were merely noise in her head. The only council she sought were that of her son, Rohinar, and the two lords—Mared and Kyn. Mared was quite affectionate and willing to bend to her wishes now that she had seduced him once. Kyn Malarin had the loyalty of a lion and had served the crown consistently since his inception as a lord twenty years back. He had experience on a battlefield and would prove worthy council to herself and the young Mared Swordrin. She hadn’t planned on receiving input from her son but he was a prince now and he had spent quite a bit of time with Galor, who had the instincts of his legendary older brother, Ser Ganator the Great they were calling him now.
*
Through miraculous timing, lord Malarin and lord Swordrin’s armies coalesced around the same time at the foot of Baronview’s valley. The two lords let their armies flank either side of Queen Lenora’s main force. The blue banner of Dalrin flew high in the sky. The sigil of Dalrin’s Crow flew proud upon it. Mared and Kyn flew similar banners, their colors differing because of their house’s allegiances. Kyn Malarin wore a mean grimace on his face. The face of battle, the queen thought to herself. Lord Mared Swordrin, on the other hand, wouldn’t meet the queen’s eyes. He feels odd because of the tension, thought the queen. Part of her felt angry that he was letting that affect their relations, especially as they rode now to save her daughter. But he was young and unmarried. Perhaps a match for Illena.
It was Prince Rohinar who arrived last, mounted upon a black destrier with gold plating and armor coated on it. He wore a crown of twine with golden leaves upon it—no doubt from the Silver Tree itself. It was an old Dalrin tradition for a warrior of great renown or a warrior of king’s blood to ride with the fashioned crown. It kept his flowing hair back from his face. He looked majestic, with light chainmail of silver and a black coat. His sword hung from his scabbard at his hip, tapping against the destrier with every stride. He was a strong rider, despite his young age, and the queen admired it as he approached. His elegance wore away at the queen’s annoyance at his tardiness.
“Rohinar Aetos, prince of Baronview,” said lord Mared with a glint in his eyes. Rohinar smiled weakly, but his eyes were dim and null of interest. Instead, his thoughts wandered back to his experience this morning by the Silver Tree. His father had stood there, hands folded, and gaze fixed up at the tallest branches. A swirling noise of wind surrounded the tree.
“You know why no one ever visits the tree anymore?” Aydar asked. He answered his own question before Rohinar could even ask. “Because people are afraid of its power. They are afraid of the implications if anyone believes the tree to mean anything more than superstition.”
Rohinar stood a little way behind his father, staring at the same part of the tree where a few wild branches sprawled into different directions like gnarled fingers. “Mother is that way.”
“She is, yes. And I was too until a short while ago.”
A discontented wind nearly knocked Aydar and Rohinar backward. The branches groaned and creaked, and quiet words seemed to whisper in the wind. Rohinar’s face fell when he realized the tree was speaking.
“Rescue the Silver-Bloooooood…” The words seemed to hiss and ring in the wind. “Bring her to me before the assassin arrives.”
“Assassin? What assassin?” asked Rohinar. The tree’s talking had stopped. The wind had stopped.
“The Valnarak’s are coming. King Tuuka…is coming. They have a large force. Larger than what we have by three-fold,” began King Aydar. He was more lucid than Rohinar had seen him since he disappeared into his stacks. “The Maykeep thing is a distraction. Can’t you see it?”
“What do you mean? Tuuka’s army is all the way in Bulkjor and Maykeep kidnapped Vaya because she used to be his concubine before she came to us. That’s all.”
Aydar was smirking, nodding his head. “There’s the context,” said Aydar. Rohinar felt uneasy. He was not the same father he grew up knowing. He had lost his bitterness and anger. Instead, it had just become madness. He was sounding like a prophet. Like the oracle. “Maykeep seized the perfect opportunity. Aurela drew us out from our fortress. Vaya used to be his, so he can fix his pride now he has her back. But Vaya is the Silver-Blood. Tuuka knows that.”
“How would Tuuka know that?” asked Rohinar, confused.
“Because he has the traitor. The Oracle. Remember?”
Rohinar had forgotten. Everyone had. It had almost been a relief when The Oracle had deserted. One less person to remind them of the Silver Tree and their responsibility to it. But King Aydar had not forgotten.
“Why do you think the air grows cold and the winds strong? The soil has become unfertile, and the rains have washed away the crops. Why?” The king faced his son now, his head cocked sideways. “A storm is coming. A literal one. The tree is not happy. It was destined to be bonded with the Silver-Blood savior of Dalrin. But now it’s blood is stolen. The assassin. Zdeno. He drank it for himself, and no doubt that Tuuka has figured it out by now and is bringing him along as a token for his slavery of the Silver Tree.”
“Okay, okay, that’s enough. We’re going to save Aurela and Vaya. That’s all. I cannot be focused on this while we’re doing that. Lord Maykeep is challenge enough without all this fatalistic talk running through my head.” Rohinar began walking. Walking as far as he could and as fast as he could, but he dared not run. His pride wouldn’t allow it. Men didn’t run from their problems like a kid.
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King Aydar shouted after him, “Why do you think you are so attracted to the girl? To Vaya?” Rohinar walked faster. Aydar’s voice carried in the wind still, “Because she has the blood of the Silver Tree. She’s special, and you know it! She can save us!”
Rohinar shivered in the bitter cold. The air had become significantly colder since they had begun their journey. Small snowflakes slowly glided down from the air around them. Queen Lenora had a shawl and a cloak wrapped tightly around her shoulders. They traversed across treeless plains. Dirt and patches of yellow grass lay ahead of them like a drained ocean floor. Rocks and pebbles blew in the winds, slapping men in the face and clinking against their armor. Lord Malarin was the only one with his helm on already. He closed his visor and wrapped his cape tightly around his chest. Something was off. King Aydar’s words echoed in Rohinar’s head, playing over and over. The tree’s whispers made him shiver more than the cold wind.
They were headed for The Maykeep. Alkorna. The ride was still another fifty miles, but they were far past the northern reach. The ground was soon frozen as they got closer to Alkorna. Rohinar’s mother pulled her mare up beside his black destrier.
“Beautiful plating he’s got there.” Lenora was referring to the destrier’s gold armor. Rohinar ignored her. He wasn’t in the mood for small talk.
“I do care about the other girl too. It’s just…Aurela is my daughter. Your sister.” Lenora sounded as though she might tear up. It was hard to hear her over the wind and the increasingly heavy snowfall.
“Her name is Vaya. She’s not just some girl.” Rohinar finally replied after waiting some time. Lenora had seemed taken aback by his response.
“Apologies, Rohinar. I didn’t know you felt so strongly for—”
“—yes, you did. You despised her just like every other woman I’ve held an interest in. You had a witch place a curse on the last woman I kept in that tower.”
“Do not speak of such things—”
“—why? Why not speak of it? You did it, after all. And Vaya is not some ordinary girl. She’s a woman I’ve still an interest in.”
“But you’re married. To Elswitta.”
“Screw that. She’s a Valnarak.”
Lenora looked at her son, puzzled. “Then why’d you marry her? Why choose her, knowing that?”
“Because I felt pressured and scared. I didn’t want to deal with the responsibility that was to come with choosing Vaya.”
“What responsibility is that? She was a common girl, found in the Crag by Ser Sledda and yourself.” Lenora was playing dumb and Rohinar knew it.
“You know exactly what responsibility I speak. The Silver Tree. Father’s convinced that Vaya’s got silver blood.”
“Of course, he does,” said Lenora. “Look, let’s just rescue Aurela and then see what Maykeep says of Vaya. She used to be one of his concubines, so he won’t be readily excited to give her up.”
“He won’t readily release either of them. He’s a stubborn man.”
Queen Lenora bit back a smile. She couldn’t help but feel proud of her son. He was sounding more and more like a prince. She wondered if it had to do with spending time around Galor at Baronview. Galor does have a prince-like quality to him.
Another hour of riding had them closer to Alkorna but it didn’t feel like it. The landscape had hardly changed at all and the only thing that changed was that the air grew colder, and the snow came down thicker. Frost had already accumulated upon the yellow grass. At least the wind had died.
Lord Swordrin cantered his horse up beside Lenora and Rohinar. “So, what’s the strategy? Should I be preparing my men to fight or not?” His voice had a bit of anxiousness to it, Rohinar noted.
“If all goes well, there won’t need to be any fighting,” replied the queen. “As for the strategy…diplomacy. Diplomacy is the strategy, and I won’t need either of you interjecting for me.” The queen gave looks at Mared and Rohinar. Rohinar furrowed his brow, seeing a glint in Mared’s eyes. That was no way to look at the queen. His mother held a smirk of her own upon her face. Odd.
“You know it’ll never be that easy with Warren Maykeep, your grace.” Lord Malarin spoke now. “What if he refuses to come out from those behind those walls?”
“Then we’ll coax him out,” said the queen, who apparently had an answer for everything all the sudden.
“Coax him out…how?” asked Kyn Malarin. His face was not as boyish and pleasant as Mared’s had been.
“I haven’t gotten to that part yet,” replied the queen. “Do you have an idea, lord Malarin?”
Kyn Malarin pursed his lips, staring straight ahead. “Do we have anything that he wants?”
“It won’t matter,” replied Rohinar. All three heads turned to look at him. His voice was strong and confident, despite his young age. “Maykeep isn’t doing this for himself. He made a deal with King Tuuka of Venistar.”
“We don’t know that Rohinar,” said the queen. “We won’t speculate now—”
“—actually, yes—now is the perfect time to speculate. We ought to discuss this now before we’re sitting outside his walls like fools and whispering to each other what it is that lord Maykeep wants.
“I’ve spoken with father—who, by the way, has actually done quite a bit of research on the history of Dalrinian Tradition and on the religion of the Silver Tree—and he seems to think that our fears are true. The assassin Zdeno took a sample of the tree’s sap when he escaped, and they left to go home to Venistar. He didn’t bring any for King Tuuka, we assume. But now Tuuka has seen the lure of the sap’s power and he wants to take the throne of Dalrin. He wants the Silver Tree.”
“This has got nothing to do with where we are going now,” replied Lenora.
“Actually,” said Rohinar, “it has everything to do with where we are going now. Maykeep is in league with Tuuka. I’ve told you these many times. You just don’t want to believe because you’re upset with father, which is quite ignorant of you.”
“Rohinar!” shouted Lenora. Her shout caused her guards to spur their horses forward by instinct. Lenora batted them away, scowling.
“It is true. If what father says is true, Maykeep is holding onto Vaya for Tuuka’s sake. Aurela was just part of the trap to lure us here…” Rohinar’s voice trailed off, realizing what he was saying. He hadn’t actually thought it through until now.
Mared picked up where he left off. “And Tuuka already sent his forces through Bulkjor and tore apart lord Tchoreg.”
“So where are Tuuka’s men now?” asked Lenora. She looked to Kyn and Mared. Neither had an answer besides a shrug.
“Well, that doesn’t change my mind about anything. Aurela is priority over Crow Castle. She is our kin.”
Rohinar silently disagreed, but he kept that to himself. His thoughts wandered back to Baronview, the capital. He could only hope that Elswitta was still loyal to him and to Dalrin. She had taken oaths and vows before the people that she was sworn to House Aetos and to Dalrin. He had shared his bed with her and felt bonded with her, despite their families’ differences. She had not even appeared happy about Tuuka’s invasion of Bulkjor, although Rohinar had avoided her far more since that news came through. He shrugged. Galor was back in Baronview now. Ser Jaqon was the city watch now too. Jaqon was snuff out anything if Princess Elswitta was not acting herself. The capital was protected.
“So,” began Mared. “Just to be clear, we make a bargain or a plea with lord Maykeep to release both the girls to us. And then we make haste for Crow Castle?”
“Correct, lord Mared,” said Lenora.
“And our large host of men…it is just a show of force. Intimidation?”
“Correct again,” said Lenora.
Kyn grunted. “Better be. I’m not prepared to lose my men over petty politics, no matter who it is.”
Lenora gave him a firm look but resolved to keep quiet. He didn’t have to offer his support, although his loyalty would certainly be questioned. He was requiring a lot of sacrifice on the behalf of his men to join the queen’s ranks for this. They were travelling a long way and with no guarantee that Kyn’s land was safe being unoccupied with King Tuuka’s force somewhere—looming at large.
Sometime later, a black crow with a streak of red on its wings fluttered down from the snow-filled sky, landing on the shoulder of the queen. She was delighted at its presence.
“It is a sign of good fortunte! Not just any crow has arrived, but the crow of Dalrin. Look to the banners, good men. It is the Red Crow of Dalrin.” Lenora had Rohinar and Mared look at the sigil on the Dalrin banners. It was the official crow of Dalrin that had replaced the Silver Tree on their banners many years back.
“Wait, it bears a message.” Mared was pointing to a piece of parchment tied around the crow’s leg. The queen squinted. It was easy to miss admist the thick snow that was coming down.
“It says,” began the queen, unfurling it,
Tuuka’s forces approach the capital. Led by Aryzant, one of Tuuka’s war generals. Same force that took Bulkjor. Be warned.
This message was sent of my own accord. The princess does not know of it. Make haste, I fear for the worst.
* Wrig, messenger of Baronview
Rohinar felt his mouth become dry. Mared and Kyn exchanged worrisome glances. Lenora rubbed her jaw thoughtfully.
“If they’ve made it to Baronview then that means they’ve gone through my lands to get there.” Kyn Malarin began to yank on his reins, rearing his horse. It neighed wildly and Kyn had to work hard to get his horse to calm. The horse could sense Kyn’s worry.
“Kyn! It is too late. Leaving now will make no difference. We must try and see this out while we are so close and while we have the men,” said Rohinar.
Kyn let out a loud grunt. His mouth let some foul words loose before deciding on staying. When this is all done, I expect favor from the crown. Kyn shot a dark glance at the queen. Mared felt his hand slip inside his cloak and clutch to the hilt of his dagger. Kyn’s eyes danced wildly with a seething anger. He seemed to have lost it. Mared could hardly blame him, but a man’s loyalty was to be in homage to the crown above all—even his own lands.
Kyn led the pace from that point forward. His horse charged ahead, and his two guardsmen following close behind. Lenora and Rohinar tried their best to keep up. Their shouts of protest were no use. His pace was going to fatigue the whole troop and cause them to fall into disarray. They had too many men for the pace he wanted to ride at. The snow bit at their face and came down in heavy sheets. At some points, it became a guessing game to follow lord Malarin. He was leaving them behind and his own men were falling from their horses trying to keep up. Eventually the queen held up a hand, halting the procession to their original pace.
“We can’t keep up with lord Malarin. Besides, we are less than an hour’s ride from The Maykeep. Let us rest before we pull up to his gates,” the queen’s shouts were only heard a few riders back and her words had to be echoed by men in the line. The pace was finally slowed. Those who fell from their horses had gotten trampled badly. Visibility was poor and Kyn had set a dangerous pace in unfamiliar territory.
“Is the princess to be trusted?” Lenora tried to shout over the wind and snow.
“Of course,” replied Rohinar. “Galor and Jaqon are there. They will take care of things. Aryzant will not breach Baronview’s walls without severe casualties. Besides, Baronview sits on a steep slope. A siege is likely to fail.”
Rohinar hoped his mother would believe him. He was guessing, but he hoped he was right. For now, they had to refocus their attention to the task before them. Lord Maykeep was an unhinged old lord. Negotiations were going to be nearly impossible with the weather.
Lenora kept her troubled thoughts to herself. For the first time during the long ride, her thoughts drifted onto something besides her daughter. She wondered whether Elswitta would put up a strong fight for her people. For the capital. She had not been princess for long and, already, she was defending her land from an army sent by her own father.
However, Elswitta didn’t defend Baronview’s walls at all. In fact, Elswitta had left Baronview’s gates wide open. All that Aryzant and his men had to do was walk stroll right in.