Chapter Two - Elegance
The carriage ride was painfully silent. As the sun dipped below the horizon, the stars filled the sky in an amazing display. It was surprisingly warm inside the carriage, considering the fact that there was no source of heat. Julian kept his eyes on Lillia. She was a sight to behold, looking stunning, though her clothes were simple. Lillia was fully aware that Sir Julian was staring at her, but she did not betray her outward appearance. Never in her life had she ever noticed anyone giving her so much attention.
Lyder hated that attention. Every chance he had, he would frown at the invisible advances passing from Julian to Lillia. It was a futile effort however. In Sir Julian's mind, Lyder did not exist anymore.
"My darling, you have not said a word," Sir Julian stated after too many minutes had passed in silence. "Do you not speak? I bet your voice is as beautiful as the Pteri's song."
Lillia blushed, but did not say a word. She gazed out onto the horizon serenely.
Lyder glared at Sir Julian. How dare he try to flirt with his sister right while he sat beside her? He didn't trust this Sir Julian.
Julian remained oblivious to the evil looks given to him by Lyder. He had never seen such an amazing woman. He was absolutely convinced that the being before him was in fact a reincarnation of a moon goddess. After all, there was no other explanation for her ethereal glow in the moonlight. He was captivated.
"Oh, I wish I could earn your trust, dear beauty. Ah!" Julian grinned and leaned towards Lillia. "You could tell me your name!" His smile was sweet and innocent-something rare in the Darigan race.
"Her name is none of your concern," Lyder said, but it was in vain.
Lillia took a fleeting look at Julian, but resumed her scan of the outside. She wanted to tell him, but she just couldn't bring herself to.
Lyder fumed. "Leave her alone, alright? She doesn't want to be bothered!" he shouted. The Aisha outside opted to stop the stagecoach to give the boy a smack. After all, who was he to yell at Sir Julian, the most magnificent in all of Neopia? She didn't, however. She knew it would only anger Sir Julian.
Without so much as a scowl or any look of annoyance at the boy, he sat back in his seat and let his eyes wander to the window himself. "It is a pleasant night out, isn't it?" he asked aloud. He didn't really expect an answer however. This was more his way of declaring he would drop the subject.
For now.
The Darigan Citadel was more active than either Lyder or Lillia had thought. There were actual shops and stalls lining the streets, and plenty of customers, many not even Darigan. Surrounded by Julian's Darigan soldiers, Julian, Lilla and Lyder made their way to Julian's manor, a place within the walls of the grand Darigan Castle. Actually, Julian had opted to go this way. He wanted to show Lillia (and to a much lesser extent, Lyder) around his homeland, a place he knew neither of them had been to.
Lyder had only heard terrible things about this dark place. He had once heard on one of his visits to Meridell that it was perfectly normal to use slaves as currency. He saw no such thing happening before him, but he didn't put it past this place. For all he knew, this was just the exterior to a disgusting world of corruption.
"And this is where the Petpet battles are held. Oh, don't worry, we take good care of the Petpets when it's all over," Julian said, his arm around Lillia's shoulder. Lyder wanted to smack it away, but he knew he risked getting attacked by any one of the 3 guards that surrounded them. All he could do was glower as he imagined what he would do to Sir Julian, if given the chance and the strength.
"Oh, my dear, would you like your own Petpet? I could give you any kind you want, just name it… or perhaps, give me your name." Julian smiled nonchalantly at Lillia, who still wouldn't speak, but smiled timidly at everything Julian said. No one had ever approached her before, so this kind of attention was quite exciting. To her at least. To her brother, Julian should be quick to back off.
Within moments, they had reached the outer boundaries of the Darigan Castle. There was a large stone wall dividing the castle yard from the shops outside. The walls were guarded by very tough looking men. They would not hesitate to attack if the need arose.
"Good evening, Sir Julian," a large Darigan Eyrie said in the most official way he could. He seemed to be the captain of all of the other guards, and it was no wonder, this Eyrie was huge!
"Ah, good evening, Arluin. How goes the work?"
Arluin laughed huskily. "There's not a man alive that can get past me!"
Julian chuckled lightly. "You keep up the good work. I know no one would dare sneak in with good men like you around."
Arluin saluted Julian before flying up to open the massive gates. They made a deafening creak as they slowly opened to reveal a rather beautiful landscape before them. In absolute contrast to the outside, the land around them was organized, most likely day to day by gardeners.
"Take care of yourselves, y'hear?" Arluin shouted as the gates closed behind them.
Julian waved and flashed his charming smile before turning to the siblings (or more accurately, Lillia). "This is my home! Or rather, the garden. Isn't it lovely? Before, this place was so dismal, but now…. It's amazing what one can do with a few flowers and a topiary, isn't it?" Of course, 'a few flowers and a topiary' is quite the understatement. Julian placed his hand around Lillia's shoulder again and led her to the castle doors.
With the Aisha and the Hissi following so close behind, Lyder was forced to walk several steps behind them.
Yes, Lyder decided he did not like Julian one bit.
"You're dismissed," Sir Julian said, waving his hand in the air in a lazy circle.
A simultaneous "Sir!" rang out and the three bowed their heads low and immediately turned towards the soldier's cafeteria. The Aisha looked back. She already hated the girl for stealing the attention of her Julian. Then again, there was nothing she could do. Julian had already made it clear long ago that he was not interested in her….
It actually took them a while longer to reach the wing of the castle designated to Julian, but after all of the twists and turns were taken, the beautifully decorated area (which Julian seemed to have named 'The Fleur Noire Wing) unveiled before them. The large room had a simple long wooden table in the center with many high backed chairs surrounding it. The table was covered in what seemed like a plus shaped purple runner with gold embroidery. There was a large black carpet with the same embroidery pattern below it. Paintings adorned the walls depicted scenery of kings long deceased. A set of stairs on the other side of the room spit into two: one side for bedrooms and such, while the other side was for the servants. The large door on the left seemed to lead to a larger than life kitchen (who knows why anyone would need so much space to cook) while the one on the right led to a luxurious den with velvet upholstered seats and a marble fireplace. It was all so overwhelmingly beautiful.
A Shadow Acara promptly walked in (of course, Shadow in keeping with the Darigan color theme, for who would dare place a Darigan as a servant?) carrying folded garments. Her head bowed and she held the garments above her in a habitual display to show the world her status even in comparison to mere fabric. She spoke not a word-it was not her place. She dared not to even look at Julian's guests, for if they were allowed to even so much as breathe the air surrounding the great Sir Julian, their value must have been greater than that of a Jeweled Scarab.
Julian took the garments without so much as a greeting. One would wonder if Julian even knew the name of this particular servant. "I suppose dinner is approaching," Julian commented. He turned to the siblings, this time actually looking at Lyder. "What you're wearing will just have to do. As for me, I would rather not have to wear my own armor to dinner. It's not the war, you know." He smiled charmingly before he headed to his room (so we would assume). "Please, make yourself at home," he called out as he headed upstairs.
Lyder and Lillia stood there silently. Lillia was still swept away by Sir Julian's advances. Lyder was still ruing the day he ever stepped outside his home that day. Suddenly, he turned to Lillia.
"Do you think they were lying about our father being home?" he asked.
It was enough to snap Lillia out of her trance. She turned to Lyder, new tears in her eyes. She was silent; she couldn't say anything. All she could do was fall into her brother's arms and weep.
Dinner had begun. The servants marched in one by one, each carrying a dish of high class meals, most of which Lillia and Lyder had never seen before. Julian arrived moments later, now wearing a long coat made of white silk with a fur trim (the fur probably from some rare animal from far away) Being that it would be only the three of them for dinner, they all sat on the left side with Julian sitting in the ornate high backed chair at the foot of the table. Lyder sat on his right.
"Sit next to me," Lyder said, careful not to reveal her name to the Darigan. Lillia looked at Lyder, then at Julian, who had already somehow pulled the chair on his left closer to him. She looked at Lyder apologetically before she sat in the chair beside Julian. Lyder, betrayed by his sister. So tragic.
With all of the food placed on the table, the servants left, leaving 3 behind-one for each of those dining. Their job was simply to bring them whatever they wished efficiently and swiftly. Lyder didn't know what he wished. He was happy with vegetable soup.
Lillia pointed to the deep red, spicy smelling jelly before her in her silent way of asking Lyder what it was. However, it was Julian who took it upon himself to answer. "It's Cornupepper Jelly," he said with a sweet smile. "It comes from a land that doesn't even exist!" Lillia's eyes widened. She had never strayed far from her home or the path leading to the same store they always went to. There were places that actually sold food like this?
Seeing the look of excitement in Lillia's eyes prompted Julian to continue. He told her about a place completely submerged under the sea, and a place high on top of the world where a giant snow beast lived. He revealed to her that he had himself found the mysterious shop owned by the magnificent faerie queen Fyora. He even told her stories of how he had once found the legendary treasure of Geraptiku and how he had flown into the sky and made friends with beings called "Grundos".
Lyder didn't buy any of it. Going into space, a city on a cloud, lost deserts and spooky villages? There was no way these places could possibly exist. What was next? A prehistoric world of dinosaurs? An island of pirates? These were all children's stories.
As dinner came to a close (though most of the food hadn't even been touched) the servants took each plate away. "Don't worry," Julian was quick to say, "they don't throw it away. The servants get to eat what's left. Good food should never go to waste."
The three of them stood up, with Lyder stretching. He didn't like Julian, but he certainly liked the food he had. That was all he was going to give him though.
"Now, I must apologize, as I don't believe I have any nighttime garments for you to wear." Julian smiled sadly in Lillia's direction. "The citadel is comprised of warriors, and seldom do beautiful maidens grace our humble hallways." Lillia smiled, this time not turning away as she did it. She was slowly starting to warm up to him.
"As for you, boy," Julian said, losing the warmth in his voice, "I don't believe I have anything for a boy so…. undersized. Perhaps if you had a bit more… bulk… you'd be able to wear something of mine." And though he had somewhat offered, the vague outline of a sneer proved to Lyder that Julian had no intention of letting Lyder's low-class form touch any of his fine articles of clothing, be it for sleeping or even holding.
The trio walked upstairs where they were met by the Shadow Acara from before. She kept her head down and her hands in front of her as she awaited orders from Sir Julian. "She will show you to your rooms. I'll make sure to send some men to your home tonight so that you will have clean clothes in the morning." The Acara and the siblings headed towards the hallway, but Julian stopped Lillia.
"I must tell you, you have stolen my heart, but I know not your name. If I never hear another word uttered from your lips, I must know your name, or I shall never sleep." He smiled enchantingly.
Don't tell him… Lyder thought. But it was all in futility.
"Lillia…."
She then quickly turned away and rushed to her brother's side, not taking a second glance back.
Julian held his hand to his heart in a dramatic show. "Her name is Lillia, such a beautiful name fit for an angel." He humbly bowed to Lillia. "I shall see you in the morning (and here, he looked up and paused for dramatic effect), Lillia."
And with that, he took his leave towards his own room at the end of the hall.
It was midnight. The moon cast it's bright light across the gravel pathway. Not a chirp from a Mootix, or a rustle in a tree, the night was silent, save the sound of an old Lupe breathing. He looked tired and worn, as if he had been through quite a bit. He looked up, seeing his old home just a couple hundred steps away. He wondered what he would see there. A warm fire? Some leftover soup? Perhaps his children bundled up in their bedrooms? It wasn't what he saw.
Before he even opened the door, he could already tell something was wrong. That's why opening the door only made his heart sink, as there was no being optimistic in that his assumption was wrong. Everything was in disarray. It was when he reached the girl's room that tears openly sprang to his eyes. Where was his darling son and daughter? Had they been kidnapped? Or worse? No, he couldn't bear to think of anything a cruel as that.
As he stepped forward, he heard his foot step on glass. Below him was a painting of his family. A pair of smiling twin Xweetoks and himself, looking young and full of life. No, the two of them had to be alive. But where were they?
"I can't believe we had to come all the way back here on foot."
Sounds from the outside put him on guard. He quickly took shelter behind a knocked down table.
The Grarrl pushed the front door open angrily. "So the boss has a new girlfriend, and we have to get the pretty princess something to wear?" He made his comment with an air of mockery. He should have been asleep, but here he was, and he was sure to have to be up bright and early in the morning.
The Hissi spoke up. "But it's your own fault for not leaving sooner. He told us to leave hours ago!"
The Grarrl banged his fist upon the Hissi's head. "Shaddap! I know what he told me! Gah! Just hurry up and get the boy some clothes too so I can get some sleep. If I'm nodding off tomorrow, we're in for it. You know she's in a bad mood…." The Grarrl winced at the thought of the pain his Aisha boss would cause him.
The Lupe leaned in. Could they be talking about his daughter?
The Hissi and the Grarrl got to work, the Grarrl muttering every step of the way. He hated that he had to do this for the children of a fugitive. Shouldn't they be in the dungeon? Weren't they looking for something? Didn't their own father just escape?
Now, in case my dear readers out there haven't put two and two together, I shall take the time to inform you that this Lupe was indeed Kervice, Lyder and Lillia's father.
Kervice peeked over the table, careful not to make a sound. Sure enough, the guards before him were Darigan. He had to fight every urge in his body that demanded he leap up and attack. Sure, he was probably stronger than both of them, even though he had spent the last few days locked up in a cell, but they were nothing in comparison to the one they called Julian. It was a mixture of Kervice's own youthful arrogance and Julian's strength that took him down in the war. He believed he could take on the world with his sword and shield. Julian made sure he proved Kervice wrong for the years that followed.
After a few minutes of rifling through everything, they stuffed the clothes in a sack and went on their way, leaving Kervice to the silence of before. He was absolutely positive that they were okay, or else they wouldn't be gathering clothes. They most likely did this after taking them away, or perhaps before. He knew they weren't home when it happened. It was a relief to know that they were alive, but he didn't know how long it would be before that all changed. He was keeping them his prisoners all the same, and probably only taking care of them until he made his appearance known. Yes, his life for theirs.
He made a choice. He would go back. He would save his children.