A: Ch. 5.1

Chapter V

'Amazing how they can come so close and see nothing.'

'In time they shall see. You have seen how observant the boy is.'

'Yes... the 'boy'.'

Kya had never been so grateful to be home. Back in her room with a real bed and fresh clothes and a vanity with a brush! She had forgotten what spectacular luxuries these were! Upon entering the castle, Hilt was shown off to his room (somewhere in the lower levels, she was sure) and Kya was allowed to hurry back to her own quarters. Hilt still had her bow, quiver and dagger, but she at least had her pack. There wasn’t much left in it of much use save for two small, gold hair clips in the shape of rose leaves. Each had a small inscription on them, and while she had not worn them in some time, she never left without them.

The first thing Kya did was collapse in her gloriously soft feather bed and bury her face in the down pillows. It was so comfortable! Unfortunately, the crisp, fresh linens only amplified her own filth. Groaning, she pulled herself away from the blissful warmth and embrace of her bed and turned to gaze at her reflection in the vanity across the room. Kya didn’t recognize herself. She had a few scratches across her face and there were dark circles under her eyes. Her hair was knotted and matted and her face had a thin, gaunt look.

A bath, food, and then a nap, Kya decided. She could order a servant to draw a bath for her, but it would take nearly half an hour for them to boil the water and bring it up to a basin for her. No, instead she would go down to the deepest part of the castle in the spire of its base. There were a series of hot springs that bubbled and gurgled to life there. How the water managed to come up through the single, thin branch that held the castle up amongst the waterfalls was still a mystery, but Kya was certain that it was a message from the Spirits that even under the most extreme of circumstances, the strong could still stand.

Gathering a fresh set of clothes and a warm towel, Kya crept out of her room and tiptoed through the halls. She didn’t know why she was moving so taciturnly; there were hardly any people left in the castle. Most of the servants were gone, the guards were gone, the council was mostly gone… Normally she’d be scolded for not waiting for a handmaiden, but Kya felt quite safe not being seen.

As she walked down the warm cherry and oak halls she began to think of her father, which ultimately led to her Uncle, King Yaro. The corridor she was walking down used to have large paintings of the late King, his Queen, and herself as a child, but now it was stripped bare. There were several anchors in the wall which held up famous blades and axes. None were used by Yaro, of course. He’d never touched a weapon in his life.

It saddened Kya to see so much of her father erased from what was supposed to be her home. It wasn’t much of a home anymore, was it? The life she had before was long gone. She was no longer the princess, she no longer sat upon a throne, she no longer slept in her childhood bed, and she no longer had her father. Instead she was Kya, and Kya was nothing. Just another officer, another woman who had to scream to be heard in this world of men. It was better this way, she kept telling herself. It was easier.

Her mind drifted back to Cress and her heart skid down to her stomach. He was a fat little man who had never left the Capital before. Kya doubted he’d lasted more than a day on his own. Hilt would have been more merciful just to kill him.

Kya had hardly the chance to think anything more about her clumsy, loyal friend as a screechy voice called out, echoing in the halls.

“Kya?!”

Kya whirled around in time to see a white and amber streak run towards her and tackle her in a tight hug.

“L-Liore,” Kya said stiffly. How many years had she switched names with this girl? It was still difficult to call another by her own name.

“You’re back? You’re actually back!” The girl squealed with delight and grasped Kya in a tighter hug.

“The guards at the gate said I was expected,” Kya said, feeling a flush creep up on her cheeks though she wasn't quite sure why.

She and Liore had been friends since childhood, ever since her Father died, so it seemed natural for her to take her place as a substitute, a doppelganger of sorts.  She still remembered the moment she switched names and officially became Kya. But every time she looked at her dear friend, it sent ripples of unease through her body.

They looked rather similar, especially with the bleaching dyes which turned Liore’s dark hair into amber locks. Liore, though, was striking. Where Kya’s nose was bumpy with a bulbous tip, Liore’s was thin and straight. Kya’s round face constantly gave her the dumpy appearance of a young child, but Liore had sharp cheekbones and large eyes. Perhaps they weren’t so alike; Kya just wished that she could be close in comparison.

Liore fit the role of princess better than Kya ever did. Her hair was always perfectly sculpted and her clothes never had a thread out of place. She spoke with an eloquence Kya had not mastered and she dominated the attention of every man when she entered a room. Kya turned into a frightened, invisible mouse in comparison.

Still, Kya would feel the occasional sting of jealousy around Liore. Her uncle had stripped her of her title, her father, and now her name.

“Yes, well, that,” Liore said, still smiling. “It was a teeny tiny lie that I came up with. I said I’d received a hawk with a letter from you that spoke of your success in the mission and your immediate return.”

Kya stared at Liore, her mouth dropping. “You did what? Why did you do that? And why did anyone believe you?” Kya would never have done that. She would send word to the King himself, or to Grand Scepter Gardel, the leader of the council. Why would anyone, especially the King, believe Liore’s absurd tale?

“I said you had written to me in code and that I was ordered to burn it after I read it,” Liore said defensively. “Look, King Yaro was being an obnoxious little prick and this little story scared him enough to pack his things and leave as quickly as possible. He thought that it was your ghost who had written the note and that you were in fact returning to kill him in his sleep. Well, I can’t give him all the credit. I may have encouraged that little story,” Liore said, a wicked grin on her face. “I said the ink was written in phantom blood that could only be read in the full moon.” She giggled and beamed at Kya.

“What have you done?” Kya asked, feeling her heart sink. The King was gone. He had fled north, just as she had feared, and it was all thanks to idiot Liore. “Why would you do that, Liore?” Kya demanded, her voice angry now.

Liore recoiled, looking cross. “He was making ridiculous orders to the people in the Capital. He insisted on a ten-fold increase in agriculture before the end of fall and even commanded that the Salvation of Serenity be torn down in place of a new temple for his idiot Gods. I was protecting the Capital when you went off on a suicide mission. I was doing what a princess ought to do: protect her people, not abandon what’s important.”

Kya was fuming. Firstly, she was upset that her Uncle was gone. Secondly, she was furious with what he had tried to do in her absence. The Salvation of Serenity was a temple erected just outside the castle to honor the Spirits. As the beliefs of people began to wane (much due to the encouragement of their King) it grew more neglected. But many people still secretly prayed in the middle of the night in its beautiful stained glass walls.

“You know all that I did was to protect this country,” Kya snapped, feeling the flush darken on her cheeks.

“Don’t even try to convince me of that. You know as well as I that the King created the mission to get rid of the Knights and Lords that were giving him trouble. You offered to do this! You were happy to accept the death sentence!”

Hurt, but still angry, Kya glared at her friend. They were being too loud and it was too easy for others to spy on them as they lingered in the hall. “You still shouldn’t have done that. You should have waited for my return. How long ago did he leave? Why did he take so many people? What did he do before he left?”

Liore glared at her. “I want to know why you’re here,” she said calmly, ignoring her questions. “You’re alive. Did you succeed, then? Did you capture the Third General?”

Kya had the knee-jerk reaction to spill her whole confession to Liore. She desperately wanted to admit everything that had happened since she left on her mission. The deal she had made with the General, the slaughter of Vawl, how she abandoned Cress, and her commitment to take Hilt to the North. 

The girl paused, the words lingering on the tip of her tongue. Liore was looking at her expectantly with those large grey eyes. Swallowing hard, Kya finally took a breath.

“No,” she answered. “The General left the city before I had the chance. I lost track of Cress and wound up in Vawl. There was an attack, everyone was killed. A young man saved me and escorted me back here,” Kya said quickly. She bit at her lip at looked up at the disappointed princess. “Lorant was there. In Beinn.”

“Lorant? But I thought he—“ Liore started.

“He’s dead. They killed him. I saw it happen.” Kya’s throat felt dry and ached. Her fingers were tingling and the sides of her vision began to go black. She squeezed on her set of clothes and looked down on the floor.

“Kya,” Liore said tenderly. The girl reached out to touch her, but Kya pulled away reflexively. She didn’t want comfort.

“The General did it. And then he slipped out of the city during the night.”

“And Vawl?” Liore asked softly.

“I can’t talk about it right now,” Kya said, her voice crackling. “I have lots to say, much of it must be to the council.”

Liore took her hand. “Let us go to my quarters. We can sit and talk through it all together. I’m sure you haven’t had anything decent to eat, my dearest friend. I can send for warm sweetbread and some tea.” 

When Kya didn’t say anything, Liore reached out and hugged her again. “I have missed you, so. I can’t tell you how many days and nights I cried and prayed for you. I thought perhaps Taerce the Deceptive would be kind and bring you back, and he has, but not without scars. I knew you were strong enough to return, but I always feared that he would be stronger. Please, my friend, my sister, come with me.”

Kya finally noticed that she was trembling. She forced herself to stop. “How would you stand me?” Kya teased. “I must smell like a goat that rolled through the manure fields.”

Liore laughed and pulled back, her face scrunched up. “You were going to the springs, weren’t you?”

“I haven’t properly bathed in ages. I didn’t mind as much as I traveled, but I realized I wouldn’t be able to stand looking the court in the eyes like this.”

Liore held onto Kya’s hand gently. “I’ll have a few servants draw a bath and prepare a meal for us to eat in my room. When you’re done washing, I will brush and braid your hair before you meet with them, and you can tell me all about what happened. All right?”

Kya smiled, instantly relaxing. As much as she wanted to disappear into the black waters of the springs and let her troubles melt away, she couldn’t deny that familiar company would be comforting. Liore was the closest thing to family that Kya had anymore. For how many weeks now had her only company been General Noden?

A shiver went down her spine. She would not allow that man to frighten her like a little bird when she was in her own castle. This would work out, somehow. She would find a way to deceive him, to trick him, and finally kill him.

General Hilt would not leave this Capital alive. 

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A: Ch. 4.5

“Behave,” Hilt warned as they continued their journey to the Capital. “If you pull some silly stunt, I will not hesitate to kill you.”

“Such a gentleman you are,” Kya said sarcastically.

Gods, she was annoying. He truly was tempted to get another noble to show him the way north. It would certainly be quieter. But no, he knew how much value this girl held. Idiot King Yaro may have seen her as a threat to his throne (which she was) but his plan to send her on a suicide mission was laughable. Threats should be kept close so you could watch them and she was much too valuable. How could he not see that?

He was selfish, that was all. Every decision he made revolved around how he would benefit at that point in time. He never looked ahead, he never planted his pieces across the board, it was always a do-or-die moment.

What a fool. Hilt would greatly enjoy the day when he could rip out his throat and skewer him like the fat pig he was. But that day was not today. He could destroy the entire country as soon as he got all of the information he desired. People were worthless. They lied, they cheated, they were cruel, and they all believed to be invincible.

Well, Hilt was never one known to waste valuable opportunities that crossed his path, so this brat of a skáld would have to remain. For now. Every man had his limit. If she did something stupid—like expose him in the Capital—then he would be forced to kill everyone in the castle, the city, and the surrounding areas, all while making her watch, and then he would finally get around to killing her, in the most brutal of fashions.

The thought was soothing and it brought a slight smile to his face as he tugged on Fierant’s reins to take them around the final bend of the trail. The Capital lay before them, in its exquisite and striking glory. Beinn was an engineering marvel by housing most of the country’s population on a single mountain, but Elivagar’s Capital was simply beautiful.

The castle lay on the western point of the city with the rest of the people spilling out to the east on a tiered system that looked like an intricate stairway of semi-circular steps to the castle. Amazingly, the people managed to create the expansive city without destroying their forest. Houses were built into or on the large sycamore trees and pockets of wildflowers were avoided by roads or farms. The layout should have been strained and haphazard, but instead it felt fluid and almost natural. It was almost as if the city had always been there, like the forest had designed it.

Obeying the obnoxious aversion the Northerners had to stone or metalwork, everything was made of wood, grass, and—ugh—flowers.  Hilt still couldn’t comprehend it; why build something out of something that can, and will, die? It was unbelievable! Wood rots, grass practically dissolves, and flowers were just… stupid. Hilt shook his head as they started down the road to enter the city, disgusted, yet completely in awe.

“Your country should be lucky we haven’t stricken a match to this fire hazard,” Hilt grumbled.

“The Capital will never burn. The Spirits will always protect us.”

Hilt ignored her ignorance and continued to examine the city and its confusing layout. There were several rivers that traveled directly into the city. Amazingly, they joined together directly at the castle. Three of the larger rivers convened to form magnificent waterfalls which spilled down a large cliff side and wrapped around the large structure, obscuring it in a silvery mist. It was eerie how it looked almost suspended in the crashing waters, like a phantom in the shadows of a lake. A large bridge (the only modern piece of architecture in the city, from what Hilt could see – it was created of intricately carved stone) connected the castle to the rest of the city. The tendrils of mist crept from the falls and coated the city as the large river twisted and twirled through its center.

The conjoined rivers lasted only for a brief moment as they branched and went their separate ways before leaving the city, giving it the distinct impression of it being a giant spider. That thought alone was enough to dampen the beauty. At least he wouldn’t have to stay here long. Kya had to do her required check-in with the other nobles, they would gather more supplies and then they would scurry off to the north. If the Gods were smiling on them, they would be absorbed in the party which included the King himself. How wonderful it would be for him to magically disappear on the treacherous journey to the Fortress.

His spirits lifted again, Hilt looked back at Kya, noticing she was rather quiet. Alarmed she might be plotting something (again) he spoke up.

“We are to leave as quickly as possible, is that understood? The winter is almost upon us and I have little intention to freeze to death. I plan on staying here less than a day.”

“That’s unlikely. The Council likely won’t even receive me for at least a day. After that they will spend nearly a week discussing what I have to say, and then they will call upon me again if they have any questions. If the King is there, he will only see me after that,” Kya responded.

Hilt felt like burying his face in his hands. These people were impossible. How much more difficult could they make this? No wonder they were losing the war. They didn’t have the efficiency to shit and breathe at the same time.

“So we are here for a couple of weeks?” Hilt asked through gritted teeth.

“If the Spirits favor us.”

He hated those spirits. If she brought them up one more time…

“We should stop before we enter the city. There should be a stream that crosses the road just up ahead. I need to at least look slightly presentable and you need to put those lenses in your eyes.”

Hilt had nearly forgotten. Most people around him were acutely aware of his glowing irises, but to him they were nothing but eyes. He agreed with Kya and pulled off the road a ways beneath a Whispering Willow and allowed Fierant to graze. The girl tried to wash the mud and dirt from her face and Hilt cautiously put the blasted lenses into his irritated eyes. It made them burn and ache in response, but they were necessary while in the city. He groaned loudly as he realized he’d be wearing them for some time now.

“What?” Kya asked, looking up at him as she washed her dirty hands in the stream.

“Lenses,” Hilt grumbled, rubbing at his eyes, which just made it worse. These blasted bits of glass were just as irritating as the bloody skáld. He didn’t think that could be possible.

“You told me before that you didn’t kill him,” Kya said quietly.

Hilt looked up at her, confused. He blinked several times, trying to focus his annoyed eyes. “Sorry?” he asked.

“Cress. You told me you didn’t kill him. Were you lying to me?”

“That fat boy?” Hilt asked. “No, I didn’t kill him.” Hilt grinned inwardly at the thought. He had picked off the other soldiers one by one until it was just the fat one. The look on his face when he awoke to something mauling his companions was simply… incredible.

“Are you lying to me now?” Kya accused.

“No. I let him live. Without his generous tidbits of information, I never would have learned of your title, Princess. I had to repay him somehow,” Hilt taunted. He saw her roll her eyes and bite down on her lip. Such a fragile little dove, wasn’t she?

“Why are you so concerned with him? Was he your lover?” Hilt continued, grinning broadly.

Kya flushed vividly and turned away from him. “No, of course not!”

“Well, I know you have no brothers, but he was fat enough to be a bloody skáld,” Hilt noted, thinking back. “His accent was a bit off, though. My guess is he is from the Capital, probably worked as a page or a scribe, but was born to a lower family. Based on his weight, I’m betting on the scribe.”

Kya stared at him, her mouth open. He loved that reaction. People just walked around with blinders. They never actually saw anything.

“He—well… I mean…”

“I let him live. That doesn’t mean that he’s still alive. The fat pig still had to travel to the nearest city and then make his way here to the Capital. If he’s lucky, maybe he lost a couple stone on the journey.”

“Don’t talk about him that way!” Kya snapped.

“Oh, touchy, little pasty? Did I hurt your feelings?”

Sensing that Hilt was goading her on, she crossed her arms across her chest and insisted on silence. Good. Hilt preferred it that way. Her voice was like the screeching blast of a crow clawing at his ears. Maybe the best route was to cut out her tongue. She didn’t need to talk, just to point which way to go. How simple!

“Come now. We’ll walk into the city together. Remember the story. If you deviate from it, I will knock out your teeth.”

Hilt watched as Kya nervously fingered through her hair. She was disheveled, that was obvious, but it would have to do.

“Your hair is fine. It will be good enough to get you through the crowds,” Hilt added. Actually, a hint of golden red was peeking through at her crown where dyes had not touched. It satisfied Hilt greatly to know that Cress hadn’t been lying about her. Sadly, Hilt wished he’d been given the opportunity to figure it out on his own. He wondered how long it would have taken. Infinitely, he supposed, since he had every intention of killing her before that blubbering fool told him. Ah, well.

Despite the unplanned layout of the city that Hilt had seen before entering, it was relatively easy to navigate. There was a single main road that dissected the several steps with smaller ones that branched off to different sections. These smaller roads curved with the layout of the steps, which seemed oddly unnatural as Hilt examined them. It was all too perfect to meld into the otherwise random planning.

Hilt’s horse was quickly taken by a young boy to a stable along the edge of the northern part of the city close to the castle as they entered the cheery city. Kya led the way through the streets, keeping her hood up and neurotically scanning the crowds. Hilt was rather surprised with how she was acting in her own country. It was almost as if she expected these people, these same innocent people she defended, as her own enemies. Perhaps she was just paranoid for leading the Third General of the Nibhein army to the front gates of the Capital. That was more likely.

Despite her cold aura, the people of the city were incredibly pleasant. They were all smiling in the markets, or laughing in their small gardens. Many came up to Hilt with loaves of fresh bread, still steaming with warmth while others offered him clothes woven from fine silk and wool. A group of young women actually tossed a few favors at Hilt before fluttering off in a fit of giggles. This seemed to irritate Kya greatly and she pressed them farther into the city.

The castle, shrouded in mist, was protected by an iron gate that blocked the only passage in. So these people were at least capable of metalwork, Hilt thought, amused. He thought they were nothing but simpletons who weren’t even capable of deciphering a chicken from a horse.

Oddly, there were very few soldiers guarding said gate. With a quick count, Hilt only saw a dozen soldiers even in the vicinity. Nibheis had three times as many at nearly every doorway of their castle. The main gate held at least a hundred. Why was this so poorly protected? Especially as the single entrance…

“Lieutenant Kya,” said one of the guards, immediately snapping to attention. The others quickly did the same. “We’ve been expecting you.”

Hilt raised a brow slightly at this. They were expecting her, were they? How could they? The King assumed her to be on a suicide mission, and he gave her no opportunity to send a message. And how had they recognized her so easily? He turned too glare at the girl, but noticed she was surprised as well, though she hid it well.

“I have news to deliver to King Yaro, Highborn of the country of Elivagar, Commander of Faith,” Kya said in a stiff, official tone.

What an obnoxious title. Yaro thought highly of himself, didn’t he? Commander of Faith? And Kya was a Lieutenant? Didn’t that require her to actually serve in combat? Even just once? What a joke of a country.

“Of course, Lieutenant. And your,” the soldier peered through this helmet at Hilt, “escort?”

“Damien of Vawl, a witness and informant as to the events that happened during my journey back to the Capital. He has been my guide and protector during a time when my life was in grave danger,” Kya responded without hesitation.

The soldier seemed wary, but he eventually allowed them both to pass through. As soon as they were out of earshot, Hilt grabbed her upper arm and squeezed hard.

“Care to tell me how they knew of our arrival?” Hilt hissed.

Kya tried to pull away, but he held tighter. “I don’t know.”

“What did you do?” he demanded. His voice was low as they walked along the deserted stone bridge. It was long and tall as the falls continued into the infinite mist below and around them. The castle appeared to be balanced on a precariously thin podium of stone. Perhaps the spirits truly were keeping this city together. It seemed to defy laws of nature.

“I did nothing, now release me before I scream and every soldier swarms on you.”

“What, all ten of them?” Hilt laughed, though he did release her. “Where the hell is your army, Lieutenant?”

Kya’s brow furrowed as they walked together. “I don’t know. I… I think he’s already gone north.”

Damn. ‘He’ was obviously the King. Apparently the runt gathered all of the soldiers he could manage and fled to his little hiding spot.

“So your Capital is defenseless?” Hilt asked, a smile prickling at his lips.

Kya was silent, but he watched as what little color in her face drained away. This could turn out better than he thought. 

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