Excerpt : The Fear Inside
Author: Ezra S. Freelove
Last Modified: 02 Aug 2004
5th Day of Secarda, 591 RA
Dearest mother and father,
I hope this finds you well and safe. My hope is this letter will restore any faith that we might soon reunite. Please continue to have hope. I am safe, although in hiding.
Our dear servant, Makai rescued me that horrible night so long ago. For months we have been on the run. Assassins and bounty hunters doggedly pursue our ever attempt to blend into the background.
Once the world is safe, we shall come out of hiding. This I promise. Promise me that you will be safe and not seek us.
Hope to see you soon,
Rose Gadraifo
* * * * *
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 of all nights 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 Gadraifo in the great nation Brochia, in the morning. Three days before, a messenger brought a letter summoning the duke 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 their 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 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. Perhaps some thought this primitive. It resulted in everyone knowing the stories rather than a select few. Few modern cultures could make same claim.
Steps approached from down the hallway. The owner attempted to muffle the sound by 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 night guard. Those poor men. Old Granthor frightened the soldiers enough not to draw a beating by catching somuch as a wink.
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, along the random trails between boxes and junk, 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 and sharper than anything his people used for their tools. Years ago, when the slavers came, his people’s stone weapons could not stand up to the steel armor. Their shell and wood shields shattered before the steel blades. For the protection it afforded the owner, steel weighed much and baked the wearer. His people adapted and eventually drove away the slavers by exploiting the armor.