Excerpt from The Fear Inside
by Ezra S. Freelove
Last edit: 18 Jul 2004
She sighed.
Makai suppressed one of his own. He often watched over Rose and responded in kind. Deep in a dream, she mumbled something unintelligible and softly rolled onto her side. He approached the tall glass windows. These windows provided a splendid view of the forest during the day. The setting bloody moon now approached the tops of the trees.
Inside a castle like this one, one should feel very safe from the dangers in the world. Yet, this night apprehension squeezed him.
Morning would not come for a few hours, but she would be leaving him at its arrival. She would leave with her father, the duke, who was summoned to perform his duty by presenting himself before the king and renew his allegiance. A foreign boy such as himself would be out of place and mostly unwelcome. Some years ago, he was summoned to court to be viewed and studied. Given the choice, he knew to return to that place would not prove pleasant.
He understood much now about royal politics through books on the histories from the duke’s library. Great battles threw away the lives of thousands for power. Marriages made for improving family fortunes, both luck and wealth.
Some thought the kingdom, Brochia, stood on the brink of war with its neighbor, Filopin. Recent political maneuvers placed Prince Ghedald, the Brochia’s Prince and heir, in a marriage with another Culotra’s youngest Princess, Alyssa. Except, Princess Amber, the eldest daughter and heir was not submitted for the match. Nor was the dowry compelling. Amber, instead was promised to the heir of Filopin, Prince Chalin. Filopin and Brochia oft quarreled over the mining areas of the mountains along their border. Mercenaries always smelled blood and flock to such places as they had in the past several months.
The city nearby saw a recent influx of mercenaries headed towards the border. Even such transient visitor caused trouble in the markets and taverns.
Reading and numbers were forbidden except to those of noble rank or occupational need. Rose taught him letters and some words years ago. Secreted away in a cache known only to perhaps a few dead builders and those willing to find every cranny were a few books borrowed from the duke’s library for study. Normally, he spent a few hours studying while others slept.
Among his own people, knowledge was passed through stories. Few things were written.
Steps approached down the hallway. The owner attempted to muffle the sound my walking slowly and deliberately. Makai hid in the shadows of a chair in the room. Across the hall, the door to Elise’s room opened just a little and closed back. The person crossed the hall and cracked open the door. Makai watched Lady Rema stick her head in the room and listen intently. Satisfied all was well, she closed the door back.
He smiled. Everyone would be asleep soon except for the wall guard. They only stayed awake as old Granthor frightened the men enough not to draw a beating.
Padding across the room to the door, he opened it much more quietly than Rema. Down the hall he raced, his bare feet making nary a sound and up the attic stairs, among the random trails, and out the courtyard window to the roof. Perched there, he found a small rock from the pouch at his waist. Hefting it, he launched it into the air and tracked its flight and listened for the clang against the steel helmet. The clang and curse from the owner made him laugh.
Amazing stuff this steel. Stronger than anything his people used for their tools. Years ago, when the slavers came, his people’s weapons could not stand up to the steel armor. Steel weighed much and baked the wearer. Stories he heard from those he met later in the island fortress where they were kept before the escape gave him hope against the steel. His one time in the fighting pits gave him an appreciation for how to beat it.