Sentinels: Forsaken Knight (15 page)

"Yes, I heard about that," Anye commented. "Very impressive..." Amadi didn't react to the comment, but Anye could see there was something else on his mind. "I suppose I'll go and-"

"There is more to this than what my uncle knows," Amadi said. The statement caught Anye off guard. "You should know this."

"Know what?" Anye asked.

"The
Sky Fire
was not a natural phenomenon, Anye," he explained. "Something very old and very powerful caused it when attempting to break free from its cage."

"What are you talking about, Amadi?" Anye asked.

"I do not know what this evil entity is," he explained. "But the artifacts written of in the ancient book are the keys to finding it out, and stopping it. This much I have seen both in my visions and in person."

Such a claim was ridiculous, even for one as strange as Amadi, but he seemed completely convinced of himself. Anye didn’t wish to anger him, but his relationship to the governor suggested that her contract may be more about the boy’s feelings rather than simple artifact acquisition. "Is that what this contract is really for? To find out what this evil is?" she asked.

"No, he knows nothing about this," Amadi told her. "I did not tell him for his own protection. I tell you because I sense that you are somehow connected to this, as am I."

"Well, that's interesting...makes me feel all the better about this job," Anye commented.

"There is something else I have seen in my visions, Anye," Lord Taggart explained. "A pair of dragons locked in combat, with their riders each wielding lances. One of the riders stabs the other, knocking him from his mount and killing him."

"Dragons? And their riders?" Anye asked. Her heart pounded in her chest, thinking of Glenn and his disappearance.

"I do not know what it means, if it is literal or simply a message to be interpreted in some way," Amadi explained. "The vision is covered in shadow. All I can see are their shapes and the silhouette of a city unlike anywhere I have been."

"I see..."

Amadi got to his feet and dusted his robes off. The soft glow of the gem floating at the top of his staff illuminated his brown face with a blue glow. "When we arrive at the Sun's Bed, we must be extremely careful. I fear that agents of that evil being will be waiting for us."

“I’ll keep that in mind,” Anye replied, though she found it difficult to sound sincere. The talk of Amadi’s premonition reminded her of something else he told her during the tournament. “Amadi, you also told me you were searching for something, and that I was the key to finding it. What did you mean by that? Was there another vision?”

Amadi widened his gaze and looked down at the ground for a moment in silence before answering. “Let’s just say…I have a feeling that our meeting was not by chance.”

It wasn’t the answer Anye was looking for, but the boy had his quirks and believed in visions of the future so she felt it was best to leave the matter alone. “I see. Thank you, Amadi. Good night.”

______

Anye awoke the next morning to a lecture explaining various fundamentals about the basic nature of magic as a whole. Amadi claimed she would need to know, and understand wholly, those fundamentals before trying to strengthen her bond with it. Her previous training helped so the boy skipped over the basics of
summoning
magical energy, instead going into the concept of meditation so she could practice during their voyage over the sea. Mastering that would bolster her capabilities considerably. There were also several exercises Amadi told her she should do when they could, but attuning herself to the collective energy of the world was more important.

And as Anye predicted, the pair arrived in Mark's Landing within half a day of riding from their camp after her first lesson.

The unexpectedly small fishing village was nothing if not hospitable. Because of its relatively safe location on the south-western coast of Belrun, the town hadn't seen any kind of warfare for over a century, even during the revolts. The town's position also made it the primary location for any ships heading westward or north to Delrich's capital, so the dock had been designed to deal with people not so acquainted with fishing.

The ship Micah Lord Taggart had commissioned for the pair sat waiting at the far end of the docks. It was one of the largest ships in port. The captain of the vessel and his apparent first mate stood waiting for them at the gangway.

"Miss Amy and Master Amadi?" the heavily grey-bearded, perfectly round captain said to them as they approached on their horses.

Anye was surprised to hear her alias. Her few days spent with Amadi and his uncle at the estate had made her accustomed to being called by her real name again, somewhat forgetting her status as a fugitive.

"Yes, you are the captain of this ship I presume?" Amadi replied.

"Aye," the bearded man answered. "The name's Bikke, but just
Captain
will do. Mister Evans, my first mate, will help you with your things. The
gracious
Lord Taggart also paid me for the voyage in full, so we may depart whenever you're ready."

Amadi looked to Anye, seeking any indication that she may wish to delay the trip any further. She nodded her head at him without a word, indicating she was ready to go. The less time spent on land other than the Sun's Bed, the better.

"We are ready to depart now," Amadi said.

"The horses will need to stay in the stables," Bikke told them. "They don't do so well on open water."

The lanky first mate walked up to the pair of horses as Anye and Amadi got off of their backs, carrying their sacks of possessions on with them. "Will you not need assistance with your things then?"

"We do not have much," Amadi answered. "We can carry them ourselves."

"As My Lord wishes," Evans replied, and then walked down the dock back to the stables with the horses.

"Your lady friend seems to be a mute, Master Amadi," Bikke commented as the three of them walked up the gangway on to the deck. "Is she alright?"

"I'm fine, Captain, but thank you for your concern," Anye replied.

"Oh!" Bikke said excitedly. "And she's got a pretty voice too!"

"And quite the skilled sword arm," Amadi countered. "I suggest you remind your crew of that before any of them attempt to engage my friend in any lewd or inappropriate conversation."

Bikke coughed as he laughed at Amadi's retort. "Don't worry. My crew and I are all honorable men of the sea. After all, I'm not known as Bikke the
Pirate
, now am I? Ha!"

Anye and Amadi continued to follow the ship's captain as he waddled across the deck inside to their cabin, underneath the captain's quarters above. The vessel was old but incredibly sturdy. Bikke told them he had been ferrying people to and from Mark's Landing for over twenty years on that ship, which he affectionately referred to as
The Empress
. The trip to the Western Isles was nothing new and would only a take a few days if the wind was on their side.

Anye and Amadi placed their bags in the cabin and followed the captain back out on to the deck, where he had begun barking orders at his crew to begin casting off. Anye decided to look over the edge of the ship facing north, thinking about her life and how it had changed. She still hadn’t read the letter her father had sent.

Amadi noticed his partner’s subtle distress and followed her over shortly after she had leaned over the edge. “Something on your mind?” he asked.

Anye was surprised at his apparent interest, but appreciated it nonetheless. “My life has changed drastically in so little time,” she answered. “Just over a month ago I was a respected knight and my biggest worry second to the protection of the realm was my father trying to marry me to some pompous bureaucrat or their son. Now, I have to live by a false name as a mercenary because of a murder I didn’t commit, while the man responsible is free to carry out whatever plan he has. Wondering what troubles my home may be facing due to his schemes is taking its toll. I should be doing something about it, not hiding.”

“You fear he may be conspiring to do more to your country?” Amadi asked.

“Wouldn’t you?” she replied quickly. “The bastard murdered Prince Robert, rest his soul, right in front of me and then convinced King Justin, his
father
, that I was the one who had done so! Now he is military advisor to the king and the war with Mitus has escalated once more. He’s up to something more than taking the crown for himself, and I can’t do anything about it. And now Glenn…Glenn was supposed to come find me when he found something, but I fear that he may be another victim to Amador’s plot…”

“I see,” her companion said. The two of them remained quiet for a time, feeling the wind blow on their faces, enjoying the serenity while it lasted. “Do not worry about your friend. If something had happened to him, my uncle would have surely told you.”

“That’s just the thing, he did tell me. Glenn’s disappeared after having been sent to Toran
alone
to deal with wild dragon attacks,” Anye explained as she turned around to lean her back against the edge. “His Majesty would have never sent him to do such a thing if he were in his right mind. Glenn was like a second son to him. Whatever Amador is up to, he needed Glenn and me both out of the way. After this is over I need to go back.”

“Do not let your emotions control you, Anye. Doing so makes one careless and stupid,” Amadi said bluntly.

“Excuse me?”

“What would you do once you returned home?” he asked. “As soon as you were seen, your king’s soldiers would either cut you down or force you to submit, and you would be right back where you started.”

“And what would you know?” Anye snapped. “You weren’t framed for a murder and forced to flee your home to avoid the executioners axe!”

The crew around the two of them slowed in their work, looking at the pair oddly. Anye realized that she still needed to maintain her false identity and calmed herself down, but Amadi’s statement still angered her.

“I apologize,” he said to her. “I do not usually travel with people, and I am told that I can be rude. Please forgive me, I only wish to advise you to err on the side of caution rather than reckless endangerment.”

Anye stared at the boy as he spoke, but she saw the sincerity in his eyes. He was right, of course. Blindly marching back to Delrich wouldn’t gain her anything except a return visit to prison if she wasn’t killed on sight. Her honor still compelled her to seek the truth and see justice be served of course, but she needed to be smart about it.

“I know,” she finally said to him after letting out a sigh. “I’m sorry I snapped at you.”

“Do not worry about it,” Amadi replied. “But I have another bit of advice, if I may?”

“What is it?”

“Read the letter,” he said. “It will bring you some closure, at least from that aspect of your life.”

Amadi didn’t say another word, nor did he give Anye a chance to respond before he turned and walked back towards the cabin. She had been putting off reading it since it had been given to her, either out of fear that Lord Taggart was wrong in his statement about her father or how she would feel if he was right.

She pulled the rolled paper out of her pocket and stared at the string holding it closed. The ocean wind threatened to snatch it from her fingers, and she was tempted to let it. But whatever it was her father had to say to her he deserved to have it be read, not thrown away never to be seen again.

Anye pulled the string holding the paper rolled together, untying the knot and releasing it. The parchment bounced lightly as it uncurled, before she held the bottom with her other hand, and she began to read…

Anye, my daughter,

I hope this letter reaches you safely. I’ve heard of your disappearance from the castle, and because of my last words with you I assume you think me disappointed and furious that you fled from your punishment. I am not, but rather I am relieved that you are hopefully alive and well instead of hanging from a rope…or worse.

Do not worry about how I know where you are. King Justin has of course inquired if I had any hand in your escape and where you may have fled to, but I told him I did not know, and that is the truth. I sent this letter to Lord Taggart assuming you had traveled south. If you have indeed gone to Belrun, then he will make sure you receive this.

Your mother and siblings are well, and we all pray for your safety and good health.

Anye, I am sorry I did not believe your claims of innocence. I cannot excuse how I acted. I am your father and I never should have treated you that way. For that, I truly am sorry. I was blinded by foolish pride and refused to listen to you for all these years. I should have supported you, especially after what transpired in Hammerdrop…

Things are happening in the kingdom. King Justin has…changed, somehow. The castle gates have been sealed ever since your escape, opening only for those who have been summoned by his majesty. Your friend, Captain Sturmwind, has also been on the receiving end of our king’s newly discovered paranoia. He has been stripped of his rank, title, and had the link with his dragon severed on charges of conspiracy, He was sent to Toran alone to prove his loyalty to the crown. He came to me as he left on his mission to try and convince me of your innocence, of which he had no need by that point. I have not heard from him since, but he wishes you are safe as well, and bids you stay safe until you can return home.

If this letter has indeed reached your eyes, please give Lord Taggart my thanks. Again, my daughter, I am truly and deeply sorry. Be safe...

Love,

Your Father

       Anye was in tears by the time she finished reading the letter. She knew what would be in it, but reading it was still reassuring. It had to have taken a significant amount of effort for her father to admit such things, especially Hammerdrop. The battle that took place at that small village in eastern Delrich was what claimed the life of her fiancé, and her father’s near immediate movement to see her married to someone else afterward was almost enough to completely destroy what remained their relationship. The fact that he admitted the error of his ways proved to her that he really did care.