27 Tavorhel. The twenty-sixth day of the eighth month.
‘Didn’t think they’d act so quickly after I pressed forth my claims,’ Barheila said as she pushed Tarigen into the carriage.
In name, Tarigen was being escorted as a prisoner to Maerila to engage in a hostage exchange with the enemy. In reality, the escort was made up of ten royal guards and a representative of the royal court with his servants. It was basically an entire entourage. The carriage Tarigen was in was one used for long-distance travel, but certainly not made to house a common prisoner. It felt more similar to the formal exile of a noble.
‘How did you manage to convince the court?’ Tarigen asked. ‘And to prepare such a… normal carriage for me as well.’
‘Just a little bit of political persuasion,’ she smiled.
‘What do you mean? I knew I wasn’t welcomed here, but I definitely didn’t expect this kind of a farewell.’
‘The court would ignore me if I just told them about your connections with the rebellion. With more “important” things on their hands, they’d simply shoo me out of the entrance and keep you under arrest in your room. However, once the name of the commander-general was brought to the table, I managed to get an audience with the king himself.’
‘How?’
‘It’s practically common knowledge that the royal court, despite being so divided, holds a generally common dislike of Commander-General Esiel. So when I explained that this could curb his power through involving them more with the affairs of the rebellion, they allowed me to enter the court and persuade the king. Thankfully, I managed.’
‘You’re actually a genius.’
‘You’re the one who suggested this in the first place, remember?’
‘Thank you for actually taking up my suggestion. It might’ve deviated a little from what I originally imagined, but it was definitely for the better.’
‘You have enough food, right?’
‘Yes.’
‘Clothes?’
‘An extra set. I have to at least appear as if I’m being escorted as a prisoner.’
‘Alright, you two, get away from each other already,’ the representative said as he stood between Barheila and the carriage. ‘Prisoners are better left in silence before they can spread their malicious influence any further.’
‘Alright, alright, whatever you say,’ Barheila stepped back. It was obvious those words were just an excuse.
The doors of the carriage were shut. With a wooden bar inserted into the lock outside of the door, Tarigen was now properly confined inside. Soon, they departed, leaving Barheila alone in the courtyard.
‘Stay safe out there, Tarigen,’ she said to herself.
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27 Tavorhel. The sixth day of the ninth month.
‘We’re almost there,’ the representative announced from his compartment in a separate carriage. ‘We’ll be entering through the city’s northern gate, so there will be a slight detour around the western walls.’
‘That was fast,’ Tarigen noted. ‘I thought we’d take at least two weeks having to accommodate for the marching speed of the guards.’
‘It’s surprising that you are still unfamiliar with the abilities of the royal guards, not to mention we have been travelling for longer consecutive periods of time per day. I wonder if you have actually learnt anything from your education.’
Tarigen chose not to respond. It was just something built into the elites of Trelven, after all.
For a war that had been raging for decades, the road to Maerila was surprisingly well maintained. With several villages and towns that lay between as pit stops, it ended up being quite a comfortable ride. The fields of grass were luscious in the brightness of summer, and the farmland were filled with crops almost ready to be harvested. War had barely any effect on the lands near the capital, and even as they went further northeast and approached closer to Maerila, the scenery didn’t particularly change much, with only a few mountain passes that posed any difficulty to the entourage.
Yet as soon as they came within visibility of the city, it was as if they entered a different world. Farms lay abandoned, the lands emptied of any crops. The buildings were all at least partially destroyed, and what remained were clearly burnt or riddled with holes. The fields around the city were completely desolate. No villager went to greet them, or even appeared at all. The entire area was devastated, as if a swarm of locusts had appeared and consumed everything in its wake.
‘So this is the rebellion…’ Tarigen muttered.
He wondered what kind of person he would meet, assuming the trade deal was made and he managed to be sent to the Foresters. If his assumptions were right based on the physical description of their leader, then he needed no introduction once he entered her presence.
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It was only two years since they had last met each other, and so much seemed to change already.
He remembered her as something of an older sibling despite not being from the same family. She wasn’t exactly the brightest individual he knew, but she possessed a pure sense of responsibility over the other children her age. She was leading a group of children, including her two sisters, on a small adventure when they first met over a decade ago, her authoritative voice keeping everyone in line. Despite not having any relatives left in the village, she was resourceful for her age, gathering enough food from the forest and the charity of the neighbours, including him, to keep her and her sisters healthy. The same applied to her sisters, though not nearly to that extent. Despite being triplets, she was just slightly superior.
She was surprisingly optimistic even when she became a warrior and was led on a journey to the Guild with the other sixteen-year-olds. It was a way to get out of their situation, perhaps.
He remembered that optimism lasted for around two years.
In a way, it would be both shocking and expected if he met her as the leader of the rebellion. He knew and had seen no other white-haired Forester, after all.
‘Let’s see if this even works, first of all…’
The entourage soon arrived at Maerila’s northern gate, guarded by a surprisingly low amount of sentries.
‘State your reason for entry,’ the sentry above shouted. ‘Without an official reason, you are not permitted to enter here.’
‘I am a representative from the royal court in Trellien,’ the representative responded. ‘Under orders of the king and the royal court, I am here to deliver a prisoner and a message regarding Commander-General Esiel and the Forester rebellion. In my hand is a letter with the royal seal and the signature of the king.’
‘... The commander-general is currently organising the troops for battle,’ the sentry replied as he turned to his comrades. ‘Inspect the carriages and the letter.’
‘I also would like to request an audience with the governor.’
‘This can be done after we verify your identities.’
It didn’t take long. The heavy gates and portcullises were opened, and the entourage entered the city without much trouble.
The city was well-protected, the streets and buildings mostly still intact and clean without much hint of a battle, a pocket of peace compared to the scenes around it. The people walked to and fro, some looking at the carriages in curiosity as they went about their daily lives.
They soon arrived at the city hall. Being bound in ropes, Tarigen stepped off the carriage and noticed the governor along with several officers already there to receive them.
‘Welcome to Maerila,’ the governor greeted. ‘I apologise for not quite having the time to properly welcome a delegate from the royal palace itself.’
‘Where is the commander-general, if I may ask?’ the representative questioned.
‘He is mobilising the troops for another battle today.’
‘Please tell him to return here. This letter is for his eyes.’ There was an unusual hurry from the representative’s voice.
‘I’ve already sent one of his lieutenants,’ the governor reassured. ‘He was just having a chat with me earlier, quite conveniently. And the one behind you is…?’
‘The prisoner I mentioned. He’s a Forester.’
Hearing the word, the people began hurling insults at him, some even throwing pebbles picked up from the street. The guards quickly formed a ring around him, protecting him from further harm.
This was an expected reaction from the people. They were very likely personally affected by the events, their livelihoods disrupted by the rebellion. Still, that wording from the representative was definitely intentional. Tarigen glanced at him, but he noticed no change in his expression.
‘Shall we head up?’
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‘I don’t need to hear that from a mouthpiece.’ As Esiel angrily left the governor’s office, the eyes now all turned towards Tarigen who had been silent ever since he entered Maerila.
‘Where should the prisoner stay for the time being, governor?’ the representative asked.
‘Due to the sensitive nature of his identity, I propose he continue to stay in his carriage,’ the governor suggested. ‘However, for the rest of you, I will prepare suitable lodgings until this deal is complete. All expenses will be paid by the governing office, naturally.’
‘Can I say something regarding this matter?’ Tarigen asked.
‘Oh, he finally spoke.’
‘Given the commander-general’s reputation, don’t you think there is a possibility where he’ll continue the attack he planned?’ From what Tarigen had heard about Esiel, the man held an unnatural hatred towards the Foresters. It felt almost illogical for him to change his plans just because of the introduction of a new factor which included him, a Forester.
‘He may be an arrogant man, but he knows his boundaries around the law,’ the representative answered. ‘Along with his military brilliance, it’s why he is still not removed from the court. Thankfully, we can use that to our advantage at times. It’s something the crown prince’s aide managed to pick up, hence why you can be here and have a chance at freedom.’
‘You just had to add that.’
‘Please remember your position right now.’
Tarigen sighed.
‘Take him away,’ the governor ordered. Escorted by the guards, Tarigen left the office and returned to his carriage.
It was strange that throughout the entire conversation, no one mentioned Amovishel beyond the contents of the letter. Despite the plans being made for the goal of rescuing the crown prince, the man himself was barely even in their minds. Amovishel was almost an afterthought for them in the face of political struggle, a piece in their plans just like Tarigen.
Amovishel had been absent for quite a while now. Despite Barheila taking over much of his duties, her role only limited her to do so much. The vacuum of his position in the royal court was probably affecting the king’s decision making. Even when someone this important in the kingdom had been captured by the enemy, they still continued their schemes and machinations against each other.
There was also his condition as a prisoner. Even the Foresters should’ve known about his identity. To have one of the most powerful individuals amongst their midst, it would become extremely easy to enact their grievances upon him. It was a shock he hadn’t been killed in captivity by this point.
Nothing Tarigen could think of evoked optimism. His only solace was that, maybe, perhaps, Amovishel was protected by her. They were both mixed-bloods, so certainly there would be at least some sort of sympathy… right?
He had no idea. Much could change in two years, after all.
He shook his head lightly. Perhaps if Amovishel wasn’t captured or Esiel had more freedom in using his troops, this would’ve all been over. Despite the shocking efficiency the kingdom had in response to the rebellion, they were constantly being bogged down by schemes like this.
They were simply worrying about their power far above the security of the kingdom that gave them such power.