An Ancient Heritage

*The next day at Clearcourt Castle, The King's Quarters*

The door opened quietly, Cassandra's small frame passing through the space she had made quickly before she turned and closed the door behind her, taking great care to make not a sound. Although Jacob had passed several days ago, it would be many years before Cassandra lost the knack for slipping past the guards in the section of the castle reserved for the King and his family. She had met with the young king clandestinely many times, and knew the guard schedule well.

She threw the bolt into place, sealing herself in the room before turning and pausing, resting her back against the wooden barrier and staring at the room she was now in. The King's bedchambers were as she remembered them, all of King Jacob's personal items still in their places where he'd left them. It was as if he was not really gone, and would be back in only a short time to don the coat he'd strewn across the back of a chair or pick up his sword and scabbard from where it leaned against a dresser.

Hesitantly Cassandra stepped further into the room, pausing to run her hand over the coat, feeling the fabric beneath her fingertips. She knew in her heart that Jacob was gone, and the feeling of being here was like a thousand knives stabbing into her. Even so, she took a shaky breath and straightened upright, letting her hand fall away from the coat. After her talk with Tristana, Cassandra was resolved to get to the bottom of Jacob's death. Whether or not her visions would eventually be the death of her, she was not going to let the King's passing go without investigation. Just as she had told her friend to be bold, it was now Cassandra's turn for boldness.

Although it was one of the most painful things she'd been forced to do, Cassandra began a diligent search of the room, looking for clues or signs that might indicate something suspicious about Jacob's death. She started with his writing desk, rummaging quietly through the papers there and finding nothing out of the ordinary; most of the documents were related to the affairs of the Kingdom of Olinoth.

With nothing turning up in the most obvious place, Cassandra paused, turning towards the large four-post bed that dominated one side of the room. The bed where the King had passed in his sleep supposedly, and the bed where she had lain with him in secret. Swallowing a lump in her throat, the young noblewoman forced herself to walk towards it, her hands running across the comforter on the top of the thick mattress, her keen eyes searching for the slightest thing that was out of place.

At first, all seemed as it should be, and Cassandra was about to give up and look in another area of the room before she noticed the soot on the floor. It seemed like nothing, just a few specs of dirt on the stone floor of the King's chambers, and yet as she bent down to look closer, she observed that the soot seemed to be smeared ever so slightly, as if it had been dragged in.

Cassandra knelt beside the soot, her fingers running across the stones of the floor. She bit her lip pensively in thought, studying the pattern of the mark there. She knew that there were no candle sconces above the bed, and the fireplace was on the other side of the room, so what had caused the mark? She looked harder, practically crawling across the stone floor as she followed the angle that the little mark took, her eyes coming up to the blank stone wall beside the bed.

She rose, walking over to the stones, pressing her hands against them and feeling along their edges, searching for anything unusual. As with the other parts of the room she'd searched, at first she felt nothing. As she ran her palm across the edge of two stones one final time, she felt something strange.

She felt a draft.

Cassandra's eyes widened as she continued to press her hands against the stones. For there to be a draft coming from the solid wall meant that the space beyond it was open. It meant something was hidden there. Being that there were no obvious signs of a lever or other device that might open the space, she decided to take a chance. Keeping her voice low, Cassandra sang a few small verses of a prayer, using a minor incantation that would allow her to detect the presence of magic.

The small spell sunk into the stones, and suddenly a square outline began to glow. Her mouth hanging open in shock, Cassandra pressed a hand against a glowing symbol that would normally be invisible to the human eye, her spell revealing the secrets of the hidden door. The stones began to shift, grinding against one another, the wall opening before her and revealing a passageway with a set of stone steps leading downward beyond. The dim glow of candle or flames illuminated the bottom of the stairs where her vision ended.

Heart pounding in her chest, Cassandra cautiously stepped through the opening in the wall, her sandals placed carefully on each stone step as she brushed cobwebs from in front of her. Determined to discover what was at the bottom, she boldly pressed on, the glow of the flames growing brighter as she neared the bottom.

Finally arriving at the bottom of the stairwell, Cassandra paused, finding herself in a strange, round chamber. Two other passageways branched off from the central room, trailing off into the distant darkness. Along one curved wall a small shrine of some sort had been set up on fallen stones, candles and melted candlewax all around a central flat stone. Atop the center of the shrine sat a tome, the book having a dark black chain around its cover and a steel lock keeping it shut. It looked partially charred at the edges, with strange runes running along its cover. The entire chamber was illuminated by a fire that burned in a hole in the wall opposite the shrine, seemingly without fuel.

Hesitantly Cassandra moved into the circular room, approaching the shrine and studying it. She had never seen such a dark place, and the layout of the candles and the tome set her on edge. She reached out, carefully taking the tome up in both hands, feeling the strange leathery cover and the way the runes had been burned into its surface. The chain binding the tome made a faint rattling noise as she took it from its resting place, and just holding the object made Cassandra uneasy.

Surely this is a clue as to what happened to Jacob. I'll need to take this and find a way to open it.

Even as Cassandra thought about her next move, she noticed something unusual. She tilted her head, staring into the dancing flames that illuminated the chamber. Oddly, one portion of the fire seemed not to move like normal fire would, the flames curving around a round object that almost resembled a face. With a start that set Cassandra's heart to pounding, she realized she was staring at a face.

And it was staring back.

Shaking with fear, Cassandra slowly backed away from the fire, heading towards the stares. To her horror, the object in the flames moved, slowly slipping from the hole in the wall and into the chamber she was in, a thing from her worst nightmares.

It was some sort of dog, made of cinders, ash, and fire. Flames licked up from its molten body as its ashy paws pressed against the stone floor of the chamber. For a moment, it just stared at the intruder before it opened it's mouth, revealing almost magma-hot flames within it and a row of razor sharp teeth made of burning ashes. When it growled, the sound echoed through the small space, and Cassandra nearly felt her heart stop in her chest.

Her morale breaking, Cassandra turned, dashing up the stairs and back towards the king's chamber, the tome clutched against her chest. Behind her the demonic hound growled again, and she could hear it bounding after her, its paws making small hissing sounds as they burned the dust on the stone steps.

Cassandra ran as fast as she'd ever run in her entire life, but even so it was not enough to escape the flaming hound. As she reached the questionable safety of the top of the stairs and the king's chamber beyond, she heard the hound growl right behind her. It leaped into the air, its weight slamming into her back and throwing her forward and onto the ground.

Cassandra hit the stone floor hard, the breath rushing from her lungs and the tome flying from her hands. It skidded across the floor even as the hound tumbled past her. The beast slipped, its four flaming legs scrambling for purchase as it sought to turn. For her part, Cassandra tried to rise, only succeeding in rolling over as she struggled to draw breath. She lay on her back for a moment, dazed as a shadow fell over her, the flaming maw of the beast inches from her head.

When it growled directly next to her head, Cassandra nearly fainted in fear. She went to bolt upwards and failed as the beast's jaws clamped down on her shoulder, the bite painful and searing her clothing in an instant. She began to scream, and the beast growled again, releasing her shoulder and jumping on top of her, its jaws clamping down on her thigh this time as the weight of its two front legs drove the air from her lungs again.

The pain was intense, the burning combined with the feeling of the beast's teeth sinking into her flesh. Cassandra thrashed, struggling to scream and hearing distant shouts from beyond the locked door, her fear having caught the attention of the guards. Even so, she knew they would be too late as the flaming hound began to thrash and clamp down harder on her leg, her blood welling up from the wounds it was causing.

As the beast continued to bite her, Cassandra felt a strange tugging sensation deep within her, the demonic creature beginning to feed on her life energy. Weakness flowed through her, making it impossible to scream or even bring her hands up to try to push the beast off her. She could feel her life slipping away slowly, the pain and darkness rising up around her. Mournfully she thought of Jacob, and realized that this very beast might have been the creature that drew his vibrant life from his body.

I am sorry my beloved. I will die as you have died, and they will only find my mysteriously bloody corpse on the floor of your chambers. I have failed you my love.

As her vision began to gray at the edges, Cassandra felt her body rock, vertigo swirling around her. She realized with wry amusement that she was about to have a vision, even as she lay dying. Apparently her family's curse didn't care what the circumstances were when visions arose. As the horror of the real world faded around her, Cassandra began to see something else....

********************************

A spark glowed brightly, its light so bright as it hovered above the fields of green that it was almost impossible to look at. It was inspiring, and Cassandra felt her spirits soar as she looked upon the glowing light. In the distance, darkness rose up, hurtling towards that glowing spark, and it shone all the brighter, throwing back the darkness that closed in around it.

In time, the darkness grew too strong, and Cassandra mourned as the spark began to dim, it's light covered in the surrounding darkness, no longer visible to her. It seemed that there would be only the darkness forevermore, and yet even as she watched, other sparks arose and drove back the darkness, revealing the first spark she had seen. It was dimmer now, and a speck of darkness was within it. 

Her vision followed the spark as it floated above the green plain below, watching as it finally landed on the vibrant terrain. There it sank into the earth, a small tree beginning to bloom. The tree grew, branches coming out from it as it reached towards the sky. Along each branch apples began to bloom, and Cassandra felt joy with the birth of each one. Now and then, an apple would begin to turn black, its juicy flesh decaying as it withered on the branch. Cassandra felt she could weep with each of the lost apples, watching as they fell from the try to rot on the ground below.

The tree grew taller and taller, more and more apples growing red and bright along its branches. Every now and then, another would blacken and fall, but it was rare and the joy of the tree's existence was greater than such losses. At the highest branch, Cassandra saw two apples grow, bright and red with a third apple beginning to grow between them. This one too, had turned black, but unlike the others it did not wither. The skin of the apple was as dark as the darkest night, and yet she could see the seeds within it glowing with light. It grew larger, the fruit perfectly shaped and normal other than its dark color, and for some reason the vision told Cassandra that this was significant.

A moment later, the world spun around her, and Cassandra's vision ended.

***********************************

Cassandra gasped as the vision ended, her weak body barely functional as the hound drew the rest of her life from her. In that moment of confusion, Cassandra realized the dream meant something, but she could not understand it in her dazed state. Even so, as consciousness returned for the last time, she felt something unusual within her. She could feel the beast's tug at her life force, as if it was intimately a part of her now. Scared that she would die, Cassandra's mind reached out, tugging back, trying to reclaim her energy, her very life.

To her everlasting surprise, her tug turned into a torrent, like a child petulantly snatching an object from the hands of another. The hound howled mournfully as a rushing, burning tide of energy surged from it and into Cassandra, her body beginning to function again. Before her eyes the beast's flames flickered and died, and it burst into a cloud of glowing cinders that drifted down around her, each slowly extinguished as it settled on the stones.

In a dazed state of confusion, Cassandra sat upright, feeling her strength returning and a strange heat like a fever traveling through her body. She brushed soot and embers from her torn and burned dress before she began to crawl across the floor, reaching out for the tome and clutching it to her again. She heard pounding at the locked door as guards tried to enter to determine where the screaming had come from.

"Interesting. You have slain my hound. Who are you?" a male voice whispered behind Cassandra.

She gasped, rising to her feet, her eyes wide as she turned to see a man standing in the doorway to the hidden stairwell. He moved further into the room, sliding the secret door closed behind him, a smirk on his face. He wore tattered, studded leather armor and he had strange tattoos running up his bare arms.

"No matter. You have taken something that does not belong to you, and of course you have seen that which you should not. You must be eliminated," the man said menacingly. He reached to his belt, removing a whip and holding it out. The weapon ignited, fire trailing down its length.

Cassandra's mouth opened and closed, words failing her as terror rose up in her once more. She had no idea who the man was, or what was going on. All she knew was she needed to get the tome away from him, and that her body felt like it had been bathed in lava. The fever continued to rise in her, corresponding to her fear and terror, the burning sensation growing and centering in her spine.

The man grinned, seeing his victim trembling with terror. He lashed out with the whip, the flaming weapon striking the king's chair and severing it clean in half, leaving two charred halves and a flaming coat to fall to the floor. With a laugh the man used the weapon again, this time cutting a flaming divot out of the floor, the weapon so hot that it turned the stone almost to a liquid state.

As the man intentionally terrorized her, Cassandra felt her fear and terror give way to something else. Rage began to build in her, anger at the attacks and her impending death. She had come to find out what happened to her lover, and had stumbled on an assassin that most certainly had taken Jacob's life. The anger grew in her, a searing, burning sensation that she could hold back no longer.

The whip came up again, this time flicking out and towards Cassandra's neck. The attack was clearly meant to decapitate her, and she had run out of time. Her hand came up before her, and the weapon struck her arm, the flaming, magma-hot cord wrapping over and over around her wrist and stopping.

The pain was intense, the searing, burning feeling in her arm matched only by the fire of rage burning deep within her. She could see by the look on her attacker's face that the weapon should have severed her arm cleanly off, should even now be charring the very bones beneath her flesh. And yet it was not, the flaming hot whip hurt more than she had ever experienced before, but it was not burning through her flesh.

In that moment, Cassandra closed her eyes and let her rage rule her. Although she could not see, the flames of the hound that she absorbed rushed through her flesh, bursting from her back and burning through her dress. Flaming hot wings made up of dark ash with burning cinders in them burst forth, displayed behind her like the wings of some dark angel.

Her assailant's eyes widened with shock and he flicked his weapon, loosening it and letting it fall from Cassandra's wrist. As her eyes opened, she saw him backing up, a hint of fear in his voice now, "The masters will not allow another to interfere here! I do not know who you are or how you got here, but you will not take this place from them. It is their destiny! You must die!"

Confused at the words, unaware of her transformation, Cassandra just watched in horror as the man brought his whip up again, the weapon about to strike at her. Instinctively she brought her arms up before her, the flaming wings arcing forward to protect her from the weapon as she covered her head. The whip lashed out, the flames simply absorbing into the fires around Cassandra, the ash and soot of the wings on her back throwing out clouds of burning hot volcanic gas across the room as they fanned out.

The man was struck with the flaming fires and burned to a cinder in a heartbeat, the room behind him bursting into flames as the very stones glowed red from the heat. As Cassandra brought her arms up and away from her face, she cried out, finally seeing the magic that had manifested from her flesh.

Cassandra thrashed, the flaming wings on her back moving in time with her body, flinging flames around her and nearly knocking her off balance. The room was an inferno now, the shouts of the guards outside growing louder as searing heat built up on the other side of the door. Afraid, confused, tainted with magic she could not understand, and unable to process what was happening, Cassandra saw a window nearby and went to rush towards it to save herself from the fires.

Her wings flexed and flapped, moving with her will and hurling her forward. In utter shock, Cassandra saw the stained glass window rushing towards her. She clutched the tome to her chest as she was hurled through the glass by the strange magic on her back, shards of it flying out all around her as she plunged out of the inferno she had accidentally created behind her.

As she fell, Cassandra's flaming wings left a trail of dark smoke behind her, obscuring her from view. In an almost surreal moment, Cassandra watched the sunlight and the light of the flames behind her reflecting from the falling glass all around her, even as the Lake of Stars hurtled towards her far below.

She knew the impact would hurt, and she thrashed in the air, the wings behind her flapping and doing absolutely nothing to aid her descent other than creating some drag. Although they likely could support her weight, she had no idea how the magic worked, why they were there, or how to use them, and so like a young bird that never learned to fly, she fell from the sky, plunging into the cool blue water below.

The impact hurt more than she'd imagined, and she nearly blacked out as she was brutally bruised by the water. Worse still, the deep, cold water flowed over her back, extinguishing the wings on her shoulder blades and feeling like a thousands knives cutting into her spine. In a second, the magic was gone, and there was only Cassandra, the ragged tome clutched to her chest, and the dark water all around her.

For a moment, Cassandra thought about simply letting go, of letting the water claim her. The moments of terror she had just experienced were more than she could bear, and the questions that arose when she thought of how she had survived left a feeling of dread in her heart. The visions she'd seen confused her and scared her, and giving up seemed a sweet release.

Jacob must be avenged. Someone did murder him, and you need to find out who.

The thought galvanized her, and though it pained her terribly, Cassandra Arderne began to swim back towards the surface


She began to swim towards Selwynn Estate on the far side of the lake.

*Original work. All rights Reserved. Copyright 2014.

Private Thoughts

The sun was setting and shadows had crept over the Kingdom of Olinoth by the time Tristana had returned to her home. The servants had not yet lit all of the lights and the corridors of the estate were still dark as she made her way towards her quarters. As she pushed open her bedroom door, Tristana paused in the entrance to remove her sword belt and tossed it casually across the back of a chair set by her desk.

Tristana closed the door behind her, turning to walk further into her room. As she took her first step, a shadow rose up from the darkest corner of the room, the shape moving towards her and taking the form of a cowled figure looming out of the darkness. Tristana’s heart pounded in her chest and she gasped as the person moved towards her. She backpedaled, reaching for a candle and firebox on her desk, depressing the small ward on the metal object and sparking a flame with shaking hands.

As the dim light threw dancing shadows across the room, the cowled figure reached up and pushed her cowl back, long dark hair cascading from the confines of the cloth and piercing blue eyes staring at Tristana. Cassandra Arderne offered her friend only a half smile before moving towards her and embracing her.

“Tristana, I’m sorry that I didn’t announce myself, but I-I didn’t know where else to go..” Cassandra said in a whisper.

“Cassandra, you scared me half to death!” Tristana started. “You know you are always welcome here, do not worry about that, but please next time do not jump out of the shadows like that!”

Cassandra released her friend nodding before turning and walking to the edge of Tristana’s bed and sitting. She hugged herself with her arms, her eyes staring off at nothing, “So much has happened. I just don’t know what to do, what to think. You are the only one I could turn to.”

Tristana went and sat down on her bed next to her friend. She took her hand in hers and held it and smiled at her. “I am always here for you. I also wanted to express my deepest condolences over Jacob, I know how much he meant to you. It was so sad to hear about him dying so young……”

Cassandra blinked once, sadness passing across her features before she turned and looked at Tristana, “It was not natural. He was fine, I had seem him just a few days before. People do not pass like that, not with how he was. I can’t explain it, but I just know it was not natural.”

Tristana stared at Cassandra. “What are you saying Cass, do you think someone poisoned him or something? Who would do such a thing!”

Cassandra looked down, her free hand playing with a loose thread on her cloak, “I..don’t know. I couldn’t prove anything even if I knew who could have been responsible. Not without seeing his room, his things. I might see something out of place, but I dare not go back there, not now. It feels like the whole kingdom is unraveling around us.”

“I do not know if the whole kingdom is unraveling Cass, isn’t that a big dismal?” Tristana started. “But I do trust you when you say you think something or someone did something to him. You knew him really well.” she paused. “Also could you please talk to Rylan, he has been asking about your well being and I have been diverting him, but he knows something is wrong.”

Cassandra sighed, shaking her head, “So much is wrong. I can’t even begin to define it all or wrap my head around it. There have been fights in the streets of Clearcourt. Nobles argue over who should sit on Jacob’s throne before he has even been buried, and...there are other things that worry me.”

“I must have been not paying attention, I have not noticed these fights. I do know that we need to declare a new King though.” Tristana said. “What other things are worrying you Cass?”

Cassandra shifts in place before rising from the bed, taking a deep breath. She paces back and forth in the flickering light of the single candle, not looking at Tristana as she talks, “I...I have to tell someone about this. It is a shameful secret and one that I am not proud to bear, but I can’t do this alone any more. There is something about my family that I have never told you… Do you remember my Aunt Gabriella? The one who went to go live in the countryside?”

Tristana looked at Cassandra with a serious look on her face. “Cass, you are starting to worry me. Yes I remember Aunt Gabriella…..”

Cassandra nodded, looking at her friend, “My aunt did not leave to live in a country estate. She died some time ago, a victim of a curse that befalls certain members of my family. We have kept this secret for generations, hiding away those afflicted with it. From time to time, a member of the Arderne family will begin to see...visions...portents...whatever you would like to call them. Eventually it becomes too much to bear, and those unfortunate enough to experience this are overwhelmed. They hide away from the world, withering away in solitude until they pass.”

Tristana silently listened to her friend, then took a breath and began to speak. “Cassandra, are you saying what I think you are saying? Are you one of these afflicted family members?” she paused. “How long have you been seeing these visions? What are they of? Are you ok? Do they hurt you at all? And just so you know I will NOT let you wither away in solitude, so do not even think of leaving!” Tristana rambled on.

“I’m...I don’t know honestly. I had a vision yesterday, while I was at lessons. It was just a short one but Trist it was so terrible! I saw such death and destruction and it makes me sick even to think about it,” Cassandra said with a shaking voice. “I’ve not really had such a vivid vision before this. Dreams sometimes, but never while I’m awake and never in the company of others. I’m so frightened.”

Tristana took her friend’s hand and gently guided her to sit on her bed again, and she sat next to her and hugged her tightly. “Cass, please know that I am always here for you and you can tell me anything, anything at all. I do not want you to go through this alone. I will not let you be destroyed by this.” she stopped and then started to speak again. “We will get through this together as we always have. You are my best friend, and I will not even consider the possibility of losing you. Please tell me whenever you have a vision and I will help bear the grief with you. I wish to help you in any way that I can.”  Tristana  released Cassandra from her hug. She walked over to the top of her bed where her pillows and her most cherished teddy bear were. She grabbed the bear and brought it to her friend. “Here Mister BooBear will help you feel better. Can you stay the night? We have not had a sleepover in quite some time!”

Despite herself, Cassandra smiled a little as she took the bear, clutching it, “I told my mother I was coming here. She will not worry if I do not return this evening. I-I couldn’t tell her...about the vision. I’m not ready yet to face them with this. I don’t know how they will react. They might wish to send me away to avoid having the public find out about things. It would be a black stain on our family’s name. I just….the vision was so vivid. I saw the Wall broken. I saw the armies of Olinoth slaughtered on a vast field, our people burned and maimed and dead. It was so horrible.”

Tristana gasped. “That couldn’t possibly happen, could it? The Wall has always been there, I did not even think it was possible to break it. That must have been terrible to see, and I hope that it was not really a vision and just some scary thing that could never actually happen! Try to put those thoughts from your mind, you shall stay here with me tonight! I will keep your mind thinking of other matters!” Tristana started to blush. “My brother knows about my feelings for Ry, and like I said before you must talk to him, he is very worried about you.”

Cassandra nodded, still clutching the bear, “I will speak with him. I didn’t mean to make him worry, or you either for that matter. I’ve just...everything has come apart so quickly, and I’m so scared of what the future will bring. I do not know if my visions are just madness or if they could come to pass. Some of those in my family did see the future, but they saw only minor events or small experiences. If this came to pass….it would mean the end of everything. I cannot believe it is true, but then that makes me a madwoman doesn’t it?”

“Cass, you are not a madwoman! I do hope these visions are not true, but if they are, then we will face this together. Try not to dwell on it. And do let me know if you see anything else.” Tristana let out a laugh. “ At least your parents are not trying to marry you off! I cannot even begin to think about being married to someone I barely know and do not love. Then Rylan and I could never be together! Even though he never would want to be anyway. See Cass, just think of these things and they will put your mind at ease!”

Cassandra offered her friend a smile, shaking her head, “I wouldn’t worry about it too much, Trist. I can’t see you allowing someone to take Ry from you, even if it means marching into his wedding and demanding a duel from the bride. Maybe you can stall your own parents by trying to apply for a position in the city, as I have? It would keep you busy of course, but away from their negotiations. Then again, you might come home one day and find you’ve been married off without a word.”

Tristana smiled back. “Yeah Cass, I do not think my father would let me apply for a position within the city. He is hell bent on selling me off to another family. He has wanted me gone since my mother died. I think I remind him too much of her.” she stopped, looked away briefly as tears started to form in her eyes. She fought them back and then turned back to Cassandra. “Cass, Ry does not have feelings for me, so why would I ruin his wedding day? I would fight for him if I knew he felt the same, but I could never just ruin his relationship for no good reason!”

“Trist, don’t speak like that! You are defeating yourself before the battle has even begun!” Cassandra said, standing and looking down at her friend. “Here you are trying to tell me to be positive and lean on you for support, but you should be doing the same. If you want his heart, you’ll have to win it. He’s as thick-headed as the Wall sometimes, and maybe he doesn’t even know what he wants or who he fancies. Don’t give up without a fight. We’ll make a pact together; neither of us will surrender to our fears.”

Tristana looked up at Cassandra and smiled. “I suppose you are right. He can be pretty thick-headed. He probably has no idea that I have feelings for him, so how can I expect him to know if I do not do something about it! I should fight for him! You are right, I should take my own advice. See that is why we are friends, we help each other out when we need it! I really needed some girl time, Cass….”

Cassandra nodded, sitting down again, “I think I did too. I needed to just tell someone about this before it eats me up inside. Maybe that is what we’ve done wrong. Maybe my family was wrong to keep this a secret, as dark as it is. Fighting it alone is impossible, but with friends you have more of a chance. I just need to rest. I feel like I haven’t slept in days with everything that’s been going on. Tomorrow is a new day and we’ll figure all of this out. We have to.”

“Yes Cass, let us rest, it is getting late. I did not realize how long we were talking.” Tristana yawned. “I am glad that I was able to help you a little bit by talking about it.  I am always here for you, as I know you are here for me. And please talk to Rylan.”

Cassandra turned on the bed, crawling over to the covers and slipping beneath them, still clutching her friend’s doll in her arms, “Sleep sounds like a sanctuary right now. And I’ll try to talk to him soon, I promise. I don’t want him barging into my family’s estate shouting my name!” With that she yawned as well, placing her head on a pillow and closing her eyes. “Hopefully the dawn brings better things…”

*Original work. All rights Reserved. Copyright 2014.  Written by Biara and Kyliska.

The Wall

Adalwyn Estate

“Are we finished yet, mother?” Rylan asked impatiently as he sat back in his chair. His mother sat across from him at the dinner table located in the dining hall dressed in an elegant green dress with silver lining along the edges of its trim. With a short sigh, the eating utensils she had in her hand were returned to the table, “Rylan…I know how much you detest this but this is very important. If you are to become King, you must have manners and it is with manners you will not disrespect any of your supporters or followers.” Rylan leaned back up from his chair and stared at the empty plate before him and smiled, “Well could I at least have some ‘real’ food on the plate mother. Would it not be easier instead of using my imagination?” His mother simply shook her head and raised herself from her chair, “You never have lacked imagination my son and I can see that you have had enough of today’s lesson. Go...Before your father returns home.” She said now smiling. Without any hesitation Rylan quickly arose from his chair causing his upper thigh to hit the edge of the table resulting in the plates shifting making quite a ruckus. He stopped abruptly in anticipation of his mothers words for lacking any etiquette she was so desperately trying to install into him but she just sighed. In return for her silence, he walked over to her and wrapped his arms around her, “Thank you mother, you are the best!” His mother returned the gesture and hugged him back. “Go now before your father arrives…I know you wanted to meet Tristana this afternoon.” Ryan nodded and let go of his mother as he ran towards the main hall in order to get to his room so he could grab his sword.

The Wall. At the very edge of Olinoth

Rylan slowly approached the edge of the Wall, A massive stone structure that was higher than anything within the kingdom; its massive stone structure surrounded the entire kingdom for hundreds of kilometers. At the base of this particular spot, a single tree grew alongside the wall itself, almost to the point the two coexisted together. The tree was what made the spot so special. Every 4-5 months the tree’s leaves would change color and it would range from gold, yellow, to even brown. The color change amongst the tree fascinated them and as far their knowledge went, it was the only tree within the kingdom that went through such change. When Rylan had asked his parents about the strange occurrence they seemed to know very little about it. His friend Cassandra Arderne had later on discovered something in reference to the color changing phenomenon during one of her visit’s to Clearcourt Castle’s Spire of Magics as “seasons”. All three children all assumed it was a sort of magical spell placed on the tree but for what reason that tree seemed to be the only one affected. As Rylan approached he noticed the tree had turned from the last time he had seen it over a month ago, the leaves of the tree were beginning their change. Not far from the tree was a small pond and it was here on this very spot that Cassandra, Tristana , Brenton, and Rylan would dream of always building a huge castle to rule this small part of Olinoth. Rylan bent down to pick up a small pebble from the ground and was immediately startled by the voice of a young woman yelling “Watch out!” Within that moment, a white horse sped by Rylan, almost grazing him in the process causing him to dive off to the side. The young woman started laughing as the horse continued to charge forward, leaving Rylan in the dust picked up by the horse. Noticing the sword holstered to the side of the horse, Rylan cried out; “Tristana, are you mad?!” and began to give chase on foot.

Tristana slowed her horse to a stop at the bank of the pond and jumped off and quickly drew her sword from her holster as she smiled in anticipation. Rylan quickly drew his sword at his side and playfully clashed his sword with hers as he finally reached her. The two spared for a few moments before Rylan had to stop to catch his breath, “H-hold on Trist…l…let me catch my breath.” He said lowering his sword. Tristana laughed and lowered her sword, “Beaten by a girl and her horse!” she said. Rylan shook his head and placed his sword back into his leather scabbard and walked over to the tree and lay back against its trunk still out of breath. “I would hardly call that a win Trist, you charged at me with a bloody horse and I had to run to catch up!” Tristana grinned deviously and walked back to her horse and rubbed her hand along its neck and then reached into a leather pouch and grabbed an apple and fed it to it. “Rylan, only a fool would run on foot to chase after their enemy and then still expect them to put up a good fight. Werrin should have taught you that. You lost, my friend.” She said still grinning.  “Well most honorable men would not begin a battle charging into their foe!” he shot back as he playfully tossed a small twig at her. “Ah, but I am no honorable man. I am a noblewoman of House Selwynn.” She said curtsying. The last couple of days had been different for Rylan; he had not heard from nor seen Cassandra since the King’s death and even Tristana’s brother had made himself seem more occupied as of late leaving only Tristana and himself to really spend any time together. “Trist, have you heard from Cass yet?” he asked carefully treading his grounds. His mother had always said it was wise to never worry the dealings of others but Cassandra was almost a sister to him. He had always viewed her as the weaker of the sorts and felt it was his responsibility to watch over her the best he could or was allowed to. “No, I am afraid I have not. I actually had hoped she would be here by the time I had arrived since I did not pass her on my way here.” She said as she sat next to Rylan.

As Tristana sat down, a leaf fell from overhead and onto the ground before the two. Tristana leaned forward and grabbed it and held it up against the sun. “Do you remember when Cass would talk about the roots of the tree? How she said 'there was more to it than the eye could see' and how she wondered of the trees roots grew beyond the wall…” her voice trailed off into silence clearly lost in her own thoughts. Rylan simply offered her a smile in response. “What are you saying Trist? That there is more to Cass than I am aware?” Tristana’s face immediately grew red and she turned to him with a shocked look. “No! Not by any means was I suggesting that she is hiding anything from you! I mean, maybe she just is having a rough time at the Spire of Magics or maybe she just wants to be left alone or perhaps…” Rylan shook his head and interjected; “Trist! It is fine…relax.” He knew something was not quite right and for whatever reason, Tristana was hiding something. However for better or worse, he had to trust there was a good reason as to why she was not telling him about Cassandra and quickly changed the subject.

“Where about is your brother? He seems to lack the desire to participate in our gatherings anymore.” Tristana frowned and raised herself up to her feet. “Brenton was to meet some noble family’s daughter in Clearcourt in the later. Father is hell bent on marrying him off as well.” Rylan laughed. “It is of no laughing matter Ry! He acts as if he wants to rid himself of us! Like we are bastard children or something and quite frankly it angers me to no end! I cannot marry someone whom I do not love!” Tristana said with anger in her voice. Rylan followed her lead and rose to his feet and walked over to the shores of the nearby pond and stared off into the distance. “You ‘could’ learn to love him though…couldn’t you?” he asked as he bent down and looked into the reflective waters of the pond. He heard her walk up behind him and he immediately grew nervous, envisioning Tristana pushing him into the pond. “Perhaps.” She said softly. Rylan looked over his shoulder and saw her staring down at him and smiled. “Well, look at the bright side Trist…you do not have to endure the teachings with my mother on how to act like a proper noble.” Tristana smiled “Oh and little does she know there is little hope in you my friend.” She said playfully pushing him, almost causing him to lose his balance and fall into the pond. “I should return…I was told not to tell anyone but I am supposed to meet with Cassandra outside her home this evening. I am hoping she will talk to me and tell me what actually is going on.” Tristana then turned to mount her horse that was still finishing on the apple she had fed it earlier. “Trist…speak to Cass for me, please? I am deeply concerned for her and I want her to know that I am here for her if she needs me.” Tristana simply smiled and nodded before hugging him. “I will speak to her and let her know.”

Rylan smiled and watched Tristana ride off into the distance.

Portents and Signs

*Clearcourt Castle, Spire of Magic*

"And so you see, the prayer becomes not only just a series of incantations that form the core of the spell you are casting, but it also aligns the energy within your body to achieve the ends you seek," the voice echoed through the stone chamber.

Cassandra nodded, jotting some notes down in a journal as she watched Father Elliot scrawl some more barely decipherable words across the chalkboard he had on the far side of the laboratory. She knew that it was important that she continue her studies and she was trying to remain focused, but her thoughts continued to wander away from the lesson about magical foci and back to recent events.

Frustrated, Cassandra stared down at her notes, which were not nearly as neat as she'd prefer and likely would be recopied later on into a more presentable form. She laid her hand flat on the page, noting the way the black nailpolish she'd taken to wearing in mourning stood out against the white of the paper. She sighed again, reaching up to push some of her hair out of her face in frustration before a voice interrupted her thoughts.

"Cassandra, I know that things are a bit unsettled right now," Father Elliot's voice said kindly from right above her. Cassandra's head jerked up and her eyes widened as she realized that the elderly man had noted her lack of attention and had approached her without her noticing. "It's alright. We can continue this another day when your mind is more clear. I do think it's important we continue this though; you are one of my brightest apprentices and I would hate to see your potential go to waste."

He offered Cassandra a rare smile and she couldn't help but find herself returning it. The old man had been her mentor for many years now, helping to nurture the small spark of talent she had for the arcane and the healing arts and bringing those skills to life. Her parents had been so thrilled to see her take an interest in something that they had allowed her to become a full apprentice under the esteemed Father Elliot, even though her duties as heir to the Arderne family would need to be set aside for a time.

It was the small kindnesses that her teacher gave her that made Cassandra appreciate the lessons she'd been taught all the more. She smiled up at her mentor, shaking her head gently, "No, Father, it is silly to allow myself to be distracted. Times are indeed difficult and perhaps the future is a bit uncertain, but I know I won't improve if I don't focus. My prayers receive answers, and I know that this means something. Learning how to connect with that force for the good of the Kingdom is important. I'll try to pay more attention, I promise."

Father Elliot smiled at her again and nodded, "I know you will, Cassandra. I have no doubts about your dedication. Even so, in times like this sometimes the best thing to do is commune with your Goddess directly. There are so few now dedicated to her name, and it is rare she answers prayers in these days. Perhaps some time at her shrine will ease your mind, and it will certainly do your spells good as she renews them."

Cassandra nodded, rising slowly from the tall chair upon which she perched. She leaned down and closed her journal, looking around the cluttered laboratory with a sigh. She wanted to continue studying, wanted to learn more about both magic and the every day science that Father Elliot dabbled in here in his laboratory. Experiments bubbled here and there on the tables against the far walls, and hung above the narrow space was a fully reconstructed skeleton of some winged creature that none could identify but that always drew her eye and piqued her curiosity. Here, in this place of learning, she felt safe and comfortable. It was a refuge from the worries that sat at the edges of her thoughts, waiting to get in. Even leaving for the Shrine of Lycania was less comfort to her than simply staying within the small set of chambers and smelling the scent of ancient tomes and the acrid smoke of experiments long since failed.

Even so, she clutched her journal to her chest and offered Father Elliot a smile, putting on a brave face as she prepared to leave. Just as she turned towards the wooden door that sealed off Father Elliot's chambers, the doors burst inward, a crowd in the corridor beyond yelling and jostling each other.

Cassandra reeled back until her hip was pressed against the edge of the lab table as the crowd pushed into the room. Father Elliot walked towards them, his hands raised above his head and his voice loud, "Here now, what is all this fuss? This is a place of learning and quiet contemplation. Please, everyone, lower your voices and speak one at a time so I can understand."

"Father!" one of the people in the front of the crowd said, pushing his way forward. He had a second man supported against his side, the man's arm wrapped around his neck, "Two men are injured and we could not find any of the priests in the lower chambers. They're bleeding badly and need help!"

Father Elliot blinked and then nodded, turning to Cassandra and barking out instructions before moving to follow them himself, "Cassandra! Clear that table. I'll clear this one here. We'll need to lay them out so I can see the wounds. Fetch clean cloths and hot water as well as my medical kit if you would deary."

Cassandra raced to obey while the crowd pushed further into the room. Quickly two of the tables were cleared off and two injured men were laying atop them, bloody wounds on the arm of one matched by a puncture to the stomach of a second. Father Elliot clicked his tongue and shook his head, shooing the crowd away from the tables, "These men have been slashed and stabbed. What happened? Tell me quickly."

"They got into an argument about which family should ascend to the throne next," one of the people in the crowd said. "They drew weapons and dueled one another to a standstill, with none the victor."

Cassandra's eyes widened as she looked down at the man in front of her, blood seeping from the cuts on his arm. His clothing was nicer than average and even through the blood stains she could tell it was of a finer material. He was a noble then, as was his opponent most likely. It had been long since nobles had drawn blood like this, and never over such a dire situation as an empty throne. It gave Cassandra chills to think of what was happening throughout the Kingdom.

"That's enough for now then," Father Elliot said, hushing the crowd. "I will attend to them but this is not a show for you to gawk at. Everyone in the corridor if you will. Yes you as well. Out you go now, there's a good lad." With that, he began to physically shoo people out of his way, cowing the crowd and forcing them back into the hallway before gently closing the door in their faces.

"Well...now that we have some space, let us see if we can help them, shall we Cassandra?" Father Elliot said cheerfully. "This man is more gravely wounded, so I will tend to him. Your man looks like he just needs some stitches and some Soothing. Can you handle it then?"

Cassandra studied the wounds, noting that they were shallow despite the amount of blood. She bit her lip and then nodded, "Yes, Father, I think I can handle this."

"That's a good lass then," Father Elliot said before nonchalantly ripping open the tunic of the noble in front of him, not caring a bit about the value of the garment. He reached into the bag Cassandra had brought to him, taking out a fine needle and thread before he began to place his hand over the wound. Soon the small room was filled with chanting as he began a healing spell, leaving Cassandra to her less complicated work.

"Please, it hurts so much..." the noble on the table moaned. Cassandra nodded, patting his arm before placing her hand over the wound. She began to sing a prayer to her Goddess, the magic forming in her mind in the form of a Soothing spell to ease his pain. She could not completely close a wound as Father Elliot might, but she could ease the noble's pain as she stitched his cuts. A pale blue glow surrounded her hand as she pressed it to the wound, and the nobleman hissed in pain for a second before sighing with relief as her prayer was answered and the pain receded.

Cassandra nodded in satisfaction, taking her now bloody hand off the wound and picking up her own needle and thread. She began to stitch the flesh back together, expertly weaving the needle through the injured flesh as she'd been taught. In a few moments, a nasty sword slash had turned into a neat line of stitches, blood still covering the arm which she dabbed at carefully with a clean cloth.

As Cassandra looked down at her hands, she felt a wave of vertigo overcome her. She grabbed the edge of the table with one bloody hand, her eyes wide as she recognized something welling up within her. Many in her family over the years had suffered visions, and they always had specific symptoms that came with them just before one would appear. It was not hard for Cassandra to recognize she was about to foresee something, and fear built up within her as the scene before her eyes wavered and faded.

*******************************

She stood in a field, her bloody hands held out before her, still gripping the needle in one hand. The ground before her was littered with blowing orange sand and burning cinders that bit into or covered the grass around her. At her feet lay the corpse of a nobleman, his hands still clutching the broken sword he'd been wielding and his body gashed with the marks of claws and partially burned.

Cassandra gasped in horror, her head snapping up as she saw the scene all around her. The field she was in was littered with corpses, all of them bearing terrible wounds and burns, the stench of their dead flesh assaulting her nose. Wisps of smoke drifted over the endless piles of the dead, the cinders raining down around her like falling petals of bright orange. In the distance she saw the Great Wall that surrounded the Kingdom of Olinoth on all sides, its massive structure punctured and the stones that composed it tumbled down in a ruinous beach.

Above her the sky crackled with heat lightning, dark clouds of burning ash drifting overhead and blotting out the sun. Even without the sun's light, a dirty orange glow filled the sky, as if the world itself burned. Cassandra looked down, her eyes wide as she looked over the fields of the dead, realizing she was seeing the aftermath of a terrible battle the likes of which her Kingdom had never known. A battle that had been lost by the brave defenders of her realm.

Crows alighted on the corpses, pecking at them and cawing even as tears rolled down Cassandra's face. The horror of the scene was too much for her to bear, and she began to shake, her stomach retching and heaving from the death and destruction.

One crow alighted near her, staring at her from its place atop the shattered face of one of the countless victims of the battle. It cawed at her, it's voice loud in the eerie silence of the dead plains. "Caw! CAW!"

"N-no...g-go away.." she said feebly, still retching.

"Cassandra! CASSANDRA!" the crow cawed. She blinked once, shaking her head, feeling the world spinning around her as she gasped and tried to hold back her vomit. The scene turning black before her eyes.

************************************

"Cassandra! Are you quite alright my girl?" Father Elliot said, concern in his voice. He was standing right next to her, holding her upright as she retched.

Cassandra blinked, the vision fading from her eyes and the room returning around her. She took a deep breath, inhaling the scent of books, of learning and expelling the scent of charred flesh and burned ruin.

"Y-yes...I-I think so..." she said softly. "I uh...Just...the sight of the blood...I wasn't expecting..."

Father Elliot released Cassandra's arm, patting her shoulder gently, "It's quite alright. Sometimes it happens if you see too much of it. You should go and get some rest for a time. It'll fade in a few minutes."

"Y-yes, I'll do that. T-thank you, Father," Cassandra said, wiping her hands clean on one of the cloths.

Father Elliot waved at her absently, studying the nobleman she'd been working on, "Yes, it's fine. We'll resume your lessons tomorrow. Excellent work here, by the way. He should recover nicely and with little scarring."

Cassandra nodded, gathering up her journal before dashing from the room, hurrying not towards the Shrine but towards the safety of Arderne Estate and her personal chambers where no one would bother her. Her heart still pounded in her chest from the terror the vision had inflicted in her, and from another rising fear.

Every member of the Arderne family that had begun to see the visions had gone insane. Every one of them had slowly decayed in mind and body until they had died. It had happened many many times, a black secret that the Ardernes never discussed in polite company. The fear that having a vision brought almost made Cassandra stop right where she was and weep. She had never been this scared in all her life.

Will I lose my mind? What does it all mean?

She dashed on, running down the streets of Clearcourt towards her home. She had no idea what any of it meant, but she knew she had to hide until she was stable enough to fake a smile again. And then she knew she needed to find help. This was more than she could face alone.

I have to tell Tristana. Consequences be damned. If I'm to go mad, my friends should at least know. They should at least have the chance to say goodbye. I have no idea how much time I've got now.

Time passes so swiftly.

With that she was through the gates of Arderne Estate and running down the lushly appointed corridors, her chambers beckoning her like a beacon in her mind. There at least, for a short time, she could pretend like she was still safe. Like the world had not changed entirely in a week's time. 

Unrequited Love

Tristana Selwynn took a deep breath as she readied herself for combat. She was taking lessons with her good friend Rylan Adalwyn on sword fighting. She found herself sweating quite profusely, she was training hard and wanted to make a good impression on Rylan.She couldn't help but notice that he smirked at her before advancing. He swung his sword at her expertly and she was able to dodge out of the way. "Ahh I see you have been practicing Trist!" he said gleefully as he began to advance again. This time he came at her from another angle and was able to overcome her. Their swords clashed together as they both fell to the ground. He was laying on top of her, both of them breathing heavily. Tristana stared into his eyes, lost in them. She had a crush on Rylan for as long as she had known him, which was basically her whole life. She knew he probably had no idea how she truly felt about him, but in this moment their desires seemed shared. He had a lustful look on his face as he lay on top of her. She did not even care that his weight was heavy upon her, she could have stayed like that forever. Tristana knew she should say something, or attempt at getting up, but they both seemed quite content on staying right where they were.

The moment seemed to last a lifetime but suddenly Rylan moved his face closer to Tristana's and kissed her. Lightly at first and then it got more intense and passionate. She almost couldn't breathe but she didn't care in the moment. Finally the moment she had been waiting for finally happened. He felt the same way! Tristana never wanted this moment to end.

"Trist!" he yelled. Tristana was confused why was he yelling if he was still kissing her? That made no sense at all! "Tristana! What are you doing???" Tristana finally snapped out of her day dream. She began to slowly realize that it was her brother, Brenton that was calling her name, not Rylan. She began to blush furiously and shook her head as if to wake herself up fully. Brenton walked over to her and smiled. "Where were YOU just now sister?" he laughed.

"Oh shush Brent!" she started. "You have no idea what you are talking about, alright? I was just daydreaming is all, it happens to the best of us!" Tristana said as she knelt down to pick up her sword that she had apparently dropped while her mind was somewhere else. She had met with Rylan earlier to practice some sword fighting, but he was already finished, so she came back to the Estate to make her brother help her out. "Trist, I know where your mind was, and I think it is adorable, really." he teased.

"Oh and please tell me where my mind was just now since clearly I have NO idea myself!" she tossed back. She playfully hit her brother. They were very close, especially since their mother had died a few years ago. "Oh sis, I know you have a huge crush on Rylan! It is so obvious I'm surprised he doesn't know, or maybe he DOES!"

Tristana started to blush again. "How could you have possibly have known that? The only person I ever told that to was Cassandra!" as soon as she spoke the words she realized that her brother was bluffing and had an inkling it was true but once Tristana spoke the words out loud, it confirmed his suspicions. "Bloody hell....." she whispered as he patted her on the back and laughed. "Really Trist, I had a small feeling but now that you confirmed it, I will just go tell my friend about your affections!" and he started to walk away, but Tristana tackled him to the ground. "I think NOT!" she yelled. They both started to laugh until they were crying.

"But really Brenton, in all seriousness, you cannot tell him. It would ruin my friendship and I wouldn't give that up for the world, he has been one of my best friends for my whole life, I do not know what I would do without him." she pleaded. "Trist, you know I wouldn't say anything, I'm just teasing you. Besides you know Father will marry you off to some other Noble House soon enough and then you won't even have to worry about your silly crush anyway!"

Tristana's smile faded away and she began to frown. "Brenton, I cannot be married off like some pawn in a game. I do not want to marry for anything other than love. I know that Rylan does not love me but that doesn't mean that he can't someday, or I might find someone else to love. I do not want a loveless marriage!"

"Trist, believe me, I do not wish to see you go live somewhere else, but you know that Father also wants me to marry as well. We would most likely be split up no matter what in a few years. I need to provide an heir for this family. It is just the way life is sadly." he said.

Tristana looked off into the distance. She stared at the Lake of Stars. "You know he has changed, since Mother died. He does not look at me the same way. I miss her too Brent, but he blames me, I know he does." she said sadly. Tears starting to fall down her face. "I miss her terribly, I know you do too. But to just cast me aside, to get rid of me, it just doesn't feel right."

Brenton put his arms around his sister and hugged her tight. "Trist, you know he loves you, he does not blame you, he just misses her like we all do. It was so sudden, there was really nothing anyone could have done. No one is to blame, it was just a tragic accident." he said reassuringly. "You know I will always be here for you. No matter what. Even if you get married, or I do, I will always be here. I love you." Tristana hugged him back and cried into his shoulder. "Thanks Brent, you really are the best brother anyone could ask for."

She wiped her tears away and put on a brave face. She didn't like to dwell on these kinds of emotions if possible. Brenton was one of the few people who she felt she could break down in front of. He understood her. Even though he was 25 and she was 22, he understood her more than anyone. "Now pick up that sword and let us really practice, eh?" he started. "No more of this day dreaming nonsense! Ready?"

Tristana smiled at her brother as she picked up her sword, her green eyes sparkling, she was ready to practice. "Ready!"

*Original work. All rights Reserved. Copyright 2014. 

The Roles in which we play

ON THE SHORES OF THE LAKE OF STARS

The House Guard Captain shrugged and smirked at the young man as he returned his sword into his leather scabbard and walked over to the young man before him.  “I suppose your mother will be having a word with me later, no doubt?” he said jokingly to the young man. The young man before him shook his head and smiled, “Perhaps. Maybe you should have let me win and I could convince her otherwise…” the young man responded. The Guard Captain walked over to a small tree trunk and bent over and picked up a small leather pouch and walked it over to the young man, whom was now returning his sword into his own leather scabbard that he had laid onto the ground behind him. “Here, apply this to that cut. It will help keep it from becoming infected and speed the healing process. “As he tossed the leather pouch at the man. He caught the pouch and looked down to his shirt, revealing he had been cut worse than he thought. His white tunic had a 3” slash and had been stained with small traces of blood from where the Guard Captain’s sword clearly had cut at him. “You cut me good, Werrin. Mother will most certainly be displeased that my shirt is ruined.” He joked once more as he removed the shirt revealing his muscular torso. “Aye, master Rylan. As I said, make sure you apply that ointment onto that cut.” Rylan nodded and opened the small leather pouch revealing a small vial containing a green substance inside.  He quickly opened the vial and allowed the substance to ooze out of the vial and onto his hand in which he applied over his wound. “What exactly am I applying anyway?” Rylan asked pausing for a moment. Werrin picked up Rylan’s sword and extended his hand for his pouch, “To be honest my lord, its true name has been lost over time. It is an old mixture of alchemy using star flowers and serpents grass and it has been used in Olinoth since its creation.” Rylan simply nodded and returned Werrin’s leather pouch to him. The two began to walk back to Rylan’s family estate which was along the shore of the Lake of Stars but before Rylan could continue a familiar voice called for him off into the distance behind him.

Rylan turned around to see a girl waving off into the distance along the shores and immediately recognized his friend Tristana, whom already had begun to walk in his direction. Rylan turned to Werrin “I will meet you back at the house, inform my father and mother I will be late for dinner.” Werrin acknowledged him with a nod and slight bow and continued on toward the estate. Rylan turned back to see Tristana slowly walking towards him, her attire was that of a long white and pink dress and her golden blond hair was pulled up into a bun held together by a diamond barrette that sparkled in the sunlight. Rylan smiled, knowing all too well that Tristana loathed acting the part as a noble woman and would much rather be riding her horse or practicing with her sword. As she approached closer, Rylan noticed Tristana holding her sword in her right hand and all he could do is laugh. “You’re a little late for practice Trist!” he shouted out in her direction. Tristana stopped in her tracks and her facial expression changed showing signs of agitation. “Bloody hell Ry! I told you to wait!” Rylan laughed knowing she was annoyed but immediately felt a sense of regret knowing that Tristana enjoyed practicing with Werrin and himself. Her father made it difficult for her to take time to do so on her own estate, in hopes he would ‘mold’ her into becoming a proper noble woman in which she would represent her family properly. Rylan knew Tristana was not the type of woman that would sit at a table and make pleasant conversation if there was fun or adventure to be had and it was this reason why they were such good friends. “You owe me an evening of practice Ry. I even hurried here in this ridiculous outfit!” she decried as she raised both of her hands, her sword still being held in her right. Rylan just smiled. “You honestly believe there would be any practice in ‘that’ Trist?” as he pointed at her. “You either would go home angry for losing or your dress would be torn to shreds and your father would lock you in your room for a week!” Tristana crossed her arms and smirked “OR maybe you simply did not want to be bested by a girl in a dress!” she said as she raised her sword up and pointed its fine edge at him. Rylan shook his head and the two laughed. “I am afraid I cannot…it is almost dinner time and I have to return home soon and as you can see, I need to also find myself a new tunic.” Tristana immediately blushed and dropped her sword down to her side. “You…you, are injured.” She stuttered out. Rylan looked down to the cut on his lower torso and shrugged, “A minor cut and I will be fine. Besides, Werrin already had me apply some of his ‘no name’ ointment on it.” Tristana nodded “Well I suppose I will return back to the house and get out of this ridiculous assemble and you can return home for dinner.”   But before the two departed Rylan  cocked his head and asked “Have you heard from Cassandra today?” Tristana simply shook her head. “I am concerned for her, she seems to have taken the King’s death harder than most and when I attempted to approach her at the funeral she avoided me.” Rylan said with a concerned look upon his face. “You wouldn’t know if there is anything else going on that I should know about would you Trist?” he asked. Tristana once again just simply shook her head and turned her gaze away from him and back towards her family’s estate. “I honestly cannot say why she is acting in such a manner Ry, however I must go. If I do happen to hear from her I will make it known to her you are concerned for her and will have her speak with you.” Rylan simply nodded. “Well then, I suppose we all will see each other tomorrow? That is…if we are all still meeting at the edge of the wall?” Tristana smiled and held up her sword and once again pointed it at him “I would not miss it for the world.” She said as she turned and started her walk back to her family’s estate. “By the way Ry, bring some armor next time…I won’t go easy on you and we don’t want your pretty face getting scratched by the likes of a girl.” She teased. “Only if you wear that dress tomorrow Trist!” he teased back. The two both departed in the directions of their respectful estates for the evening and the sun began to set over the Kingdom of Olinoth.

ADALWYN ESTATE

Rylan opened the large rear wooden doors of his family’s estate and was immediately greeted by a woman dressed in red dress with golden trim running down its seams.  As he closed the doors behind him the woman held out her hands in anticipation to receive something, Rylan simply handed her his torn and blood stained tunic and remained silent. “Rylan, you missed dinner with your father and one of the council members of the king’s court from Clearcourt. This is not a good first impression and your father is extremely upset with you.” Her words echoed through the empty stone halls of the estate as if they were making sure he was aware of her disappointment. “Mother, I am sorry.” He said held his head low. “My son, it is not I whom you must apologize to. I know you have little love for these sorts of things but you have a responsibility as the sole heir to House Adalwyn. You must be guided in the roles of these responsibilities in order to ensure future success my son.” Rylan took a few steps in the direction of main entryway but before he could his mother placed one of her hands on his right shoulder. “I had the cook prepare another warm meal for you. Once you have finished cleaning up , please go and eat.” She removed her hand and vanished around the corner carrying his torn tunic. Rylan hurried up the stairs and turned the corner towards his bedchambers in hoping he would be able to avoid his father for the rest of the evening.

*Original work. All rights Reserved. Copyright 2014.