IV. A Trusted Friend

 

Thanus was troubled as he walked through the halls of the castle. Every flickering of a torch or the rustling of a tapestry suddenly took on a menacing meaning--  Bain’s invisible voices could be anywhere. But not, he hoped, in the stables.

As Thanus crept out the servant’s entrance, Castle Vael loomed behind him.

A dark figure lingered by the entrance to the stables as Thanus approached. Choose your friends wisely, Brother Bain had said. There was one man he trusted above all others.

“Bryce,” Thanus said in a whisper.  He had known the Royal Huntsman nearly his whole life.

“Your Highness,” the ranger looked troubled. “You sent for me? It’s a late night for a ride...”

“Quick, get inside before someone sees us.”

The stables were lit by only those shards of moonlight that penetrated the crevices of its wooden walls.  The smell of hay and horse dung was almost palpable.

“My liege,” Bryce whispered, “before someone sees us do what?”

“Bryce,” Thanus gripped his friend’s shoulder in the darkness to prepare him for the news.  He paused.  The huntsman’s bow-arm was wrapped in a bandage. “Are you injured?”

Bryce shook his head, “Reyana suggested this to prevent another sprain.”

No one knew more about healing than Reyana.  Her knowledge was vast and her abilities nothing short of miraculous.  In fact, they were miraculous.  She was one of the Chosen and to have her in the castle was an honor.  Thanus had only heard of seven Chosen in all of the Sheltered Lands, and half of those derived their powers from ancestral ghosts and forest spirits. Reyana’s powers came from Belenos, the God of Light himself.  The Holy Seat at the Temple of the Pantheon in Solis had sent her to the Castle Vael of Ara’Valon in the hopes that King Uther would build a temple.  Despite the king’s affection for the priestess, he skillfully evaded her urgings.  Remember this Thanus: never trust the Holy Seat, his father had intimated on more than one occasion. The hearts and minds of the people should be yours, not theirs.

“She was with you when I sent for you? She knows you are here?”

“Of course, Your Highness.”

Thanus cursed under his breath.

“My liege?”

“There is a traitor in Castle Vael.” Thanus felt his friend stiffen.

“And you think it’s the priestess?”

“She is a Freewoman of Solis, she holds no alliegance to Ara’Valon.  And Rhys has always suspected she may be a witch.”

“Your brother imagines witches at every corner,” Bryce said, shaking his head. “I blame his master.  He’s passed his vendetta against witches on to his pupil. Reyana’s gifts come from the God of Light, not the Forbidden Arts. I can think of no kinder soul than the priestess.”

“I wish I had your confidence, Bryce.”

“Have you spoken to Sir Karleton?  The Royal Guard could conduct a search--”

“You’re the only one I can trust, Bryce. It could be anyone. I wish my brother was here. I never thought much of spellcraft, but now it seems indispensible.”

“Rhys will be home soon enough, once he passes the Trials,” Bryce said. Thanus winced as the ranger spoke.  He should have said if he passes the Trials.  Failure meant death. Bryce continued, “But in the meantime you should call on the Court Wizard.”

Eeryn the Court Wizard was the only other magus Thanus was aware of in the city.  Only the strongest of minds could master the art of magic, and among those few were selected to take the Trials.  Even fewer survived.

“Eeryn? And what if he’s the traitor? His allegiances are to the Tower of Secrets, not us.”

“I’ve seen his power, and it’s terrible. Lightning and fire. The man could decimate on half an army with that wand of his. I for one am glad of the Tower’s puppet strings: untempered magic would tear apart the countryside at the whim of every warlord.  If Eeryn is the traitor, then we really are in trouble. Better to pray he is loyal.”

“You’re right,” Thanus said reluctantly, “I will talk to Eeryn in the morning.”

“Are you sure there’s a traitor, Thanus? Needless suspicion could drive a man mad.”

“I’m sure,” Thanus took a deep breath before confiding in his friend.  “Bryce, I’m... I’m training to become a Templar of the Golden Dawn. It is their spies who warned me of invisible voices plotting against us.”

Bryce nodded, “I would have guessed as much.  You had the mark of a Templar from the moment you came out of the womb.”

Thanus took the compliment in stride. “That’s not all Bryce.  There is a weapon... one that can destroy the balance power not just in Ara’Valon, but the entire Sheltered Lands. We have to stop them, Bryce.”

Bryce swallowed hard. Invisible voices? A powerful weapon? Bryce frowned as he put the pieces together in his head.  If Thanus found out this way.... There was much Bryce longed to tell the young prince, but the king forbade it. He’s an idealist, that one, the king had said of his firstborn son, I admire him for it, I do.  He’s not ready for the harsh realities of politics. Bryce bit his tongue, and patted his friend reassuringly on the shoulder.

“We will find the traitor, Thanus.”

Author's Note

I need a lot of help with this chapter. It feels wrong. I’m even debating cutting it out altogether. Please help with any advice or comments.

Reviews

[Leah]

Why don't you like this chapter? I find it interesting. It tells readers more about witches and wizards and gives the main character someone to trust that the readers can also trust in. Plus, there's another mystery/cliffhanger there at the end. Those are always good to keep the readers reading!