Riven pushed the doors of the catacombs open and his master led them in. Both equipped their lanterns so they could see as they walked further in. The path downward was filled with walking skeletons, rats, spiders, and the undead. They made it to an old mine lift and went down further.
"How much deeper should we go in master?"
"Deep enough to find what we're looking for. If the duke lied about stopping Salvation, who's to say he hasn't lied about other things. I'm beginning to believe that he had never slain the dragon, but was a coward."
"And what of Lord Julien?"
"I don't think Julien is in collaboration with Salvation again, but I wont ignore the facts. When we finish here, we'll go to the Black Cat to see if anyone ordered a forgery of his armor. If not, then I will bring this to the dukes attention once we have more proof. We still don't know if who we saw was in fact Julien."
Riven stopped in his tracks. "Do you hear that?"
"Hear what?"
"That voice."
They both hushed to listen. It was to faint to make out the words.
"Lets follow it," Riven suggested leading on.
They came to a large iron door. The Arisen pushed on it.
"'Tis locked." She looked around. "I have an idea, this way."
She jumped onto a ledge that led to a broken balcony. She grabbed Rivens hand and pulled him up. Both turned off their lanterns as they listened in to the meeting.
"I, Tagert, since the death of your beloved lead Elysion, declare myself the head. Hence for worth is Salvation."
"Do you see Lord Julien?" Riven asked.
"I see someone in the Nameless Armor," she replied. "But we still don't know if it is Julien."
"Why are you so keen on protecting him?"
"Because I don't want to throw an innocent man in the dungeons. It's not party down there." She sighed, "He uses the guest quarters frequently in the castle, I'll take a look around there. Lets go."
The Arisen searched through Juliens possessions. Nothing of interest was found, until she came across a Salvation merit badge. She looked further into the chest and found a journal.
"I owe the arisen an apology. I confess dismissing talk of arisen
with the other old tales I heard at my nurses teat.
But her actions leave little room for doubt, I am impressed."
"The dukes soldiers are a hopelessly unwieldy lot.
It takes an age to prepare for anything.
What use is pomp and ceremony when it keeps us from the frontlines where we are needed?
Sadly my position in the court allows me little say in such matter.
But maybe if I am able to get the Arisen on my side,
things could turn out different then this year past.
I must think of a way to get to to believe in me.
To see things in my perspective.
But how?
I admit, she is a beautiful woman and it brings me joy to know I have inspired her life,
But with my past haunting me around every corner,
It's becoming harder to hide it."
"Who are you Julien, and what are you trying to hide?"
She quickly shoved it in her pocket and left the room as she heard footsteps. Knocking into someone, she nearly fell back but someone caught her arm.
"What were you doing in there?" Julien questioned letting her up.
"I was," she hesitated, "Looking for you."
"Oh? What for?"
She scrambled for her thoughts. "Do you think the duke would station me at Windbluff? To train under your supervision?"
He smiled. "You want me to train you? An odd request. Pray, come with me. The duke should be in his solar. Lets see if he will grant your request."
Another month had past with no sighting of the dragon. The duke had granted the Arisen to train at Windbluff, but bounced her between there and the Shadow Fort. Julien had been teaching her the art of swordsmanship. They had daily duels both on and off horses. She had given up being a magic archer to become a ranger. Longbows made her start to feel like more of a warrior, although she stuck with her light armor.
Julien stood at the ready, ready to fight the Arisen. Countering each of her attacks, she swung back but missed each time. When he dodged another attack, she nearly fell over, but Julien caught her by her waist.
"I have been bested, ser," she admitted defeat.
Julien let her up. "You are learning well."
"I have an excellent teacher."
Julien scratched his head. "Arisen, I've been meaning to ask you something." His face turned red.
"What is it?"
He hesitated a bit. "I was wondering, if maybe you would accompany me to supper one night."
She grinned. "Ser Julien, did you just ask me on a date?"
"Yes. Yes I did."
"Well, ser. I will gladly accept your offer."
"Really?" he was a little shocked. "Then pray, meet me by nightfall."
Julien walked away right as Riven approached them. He handed his master a book about Gransys.
"Ill rumors are spreading of Salvations return in the capital," he informed her. "Mason is keeping a close eye out."
"What do you think is over that band?" She was distracted by the light shinning on a hill. "That's Hillfigure Knoll."
"Lets go check it out."
"The duke has forbid anyone from going near there."
She started to walk towards the hill. "The duke can mount it."
A rock formation came into few and they made it up the hill. Someone was sitting atop o formation. He did not look at them, but stared off into the horizon.
"He knows, that I know what he seeks to know," he spoke. "Knows it well. While he knows not, knows not what I know. Or know not."
Another man walked out from behind the rock. "You see me, yes?" She nodded. "Then congratulations are due. You have found the man you seek."
"You're the Dragonforged. You should be dead."
"Alas, I am not."
She looked at Riven. "The duke never defeated the dragon."
"No." The Dragonforged answered. "The dragon yet lives. You, are Arisen. Destine to defeat the dragon."
"Neither you nor the duke has defeated the dragon, what makes you think I can? I'm a girl who was raised on a hostile island."
"Which makes you the perfect warrior."
She looked back at the capital. "I don't know what I need to do. I've been here for over two months now without a single encounter from the dragon."
When she turned back to the Dragonforged, he was gone, along with his pawn. Riven led his master back to Windbluff. Julien awaited them at the bridge.
"I'm sorry Julien," she said. "Raincheck?"
His face twisted with sorrow. He said nothing and walked back to his tent and closed the flaps. Riven returned to the capital while his master stuck around the tower. She entered Juliens tent. He had changed into his finery.
"Look, Julien I'm sorry. But I'm close to something."
He whirled around and tore off her hood and mask. "Close to what?! I've seen you in those book! I saw you researching Salvation, snooping around my quarters in the castle, what are you looking for?!"
"Proof!" She was in his face. "Are you working with Salvation again? Have you picked up your old role as the Nights Champion?"
"What makes you think I am in collaboration with Salvation?"
"I saw you!" She sighed. "Or at least I thought I did. I broke into the catacombs to ease drop on a meeting, and you were there. Same in Venery."
He placed a hand on her shoulder. She quickly took his arm and twisted it behind his back, then throwing him down. He quickly shot back up and pinned her against the stone wall at the back of his tent, and didn't let go. Neither of them said anything to each other, but just breathed heavily. Losing control of his actions, Juliens lips made contact with hers. Without releasing her, he threw her on the ground. Without fighting, she submitted completely to him.
The rose the next morning Julien awoke to find his bedside empty. After dressing, he found the Arisen buckling a saddle onto a horse.
"Where are you headed to so early?" he asked.
She didn't look at him. "I have business in the capital. Riven is waiting for me and I have to speak with the duke." Pulling herself on the horse, she strode out without even looking back at Julien.
When she arrived back at the capitol the castle guards greeted her. Riven was near the aqueduct talking with Mason while she went to go talk to the duke.
"Dear Arisen," the duke greeted as she entered the audience chamber. "To what do I owe the honor of my most favorable guard."
She tore off her Gran Soren emblem and threw it at his feet.
"I resign my position as a castle knight. I'm on to you, duke Skylar. I know what you're hiding, and I will expose you for the fiend you are."
He laughed. "And what will you plan to do? Seize me throne and send me to my exile just as Edmund Dragonsbane?"
"I have no interest in your throne, ser. This isn't over. I will be back." She turned to walk away, but then stopped. "You have a traitor among the castle guard. Decline me access to the castle and I'll let them roam free."
"Speak with Mercedes. Bring me the traitor, alive."
"As you wish."
Ser Mercedes and the Arisen made their way past fighting men and up the ruins of Windbluff tower. Julien stood in the middle of the broken room.
"Viper!" Mercedes yelled. "You colluded with Salvation to work sedition against the dukes men!" She unsheathed her sword. "Again!"
"Salvation? You place me in ill company. I am a man of this world. Fantasies of death and redemption concern me not one whit." He raised his hand, "No legends. Legends stoke up the masses. If Duke Skylar where to best a second dragon," he turned to them and removed his mask. "Gransys would take the ascendant. But her neighbors ill want a giant looming at their borders, am I wrong?"
"Spear me your sophistry!"
"Enough!" the Arisen yelled. "We are to arrest him to face judgment."
"No!" Mercedes shot back. "I have waited to long for this. He made a mockery of me and my homeland this past year. Treated me like a child and disrespected me in front of my own men. 'Tis unforgivable!"
Mercedes lunged for Julien. In the blink of an eye, her sword was knocked out of her hand and flying through the air. The Arisen had deflected the blow with her dagger, catching it as it came aground, and pointing it at Mercedes.
"'Tis the dukes direct orders, ser," she reminded. "Unless you too wish to be arrested for disobeying the dukes wish. He is to brought in alive."
She turned the sword to Julien.
"I thought better of you, Arisen," he said. "I thought you were in search of proof still. Have you found what you were looking for?"
She held up the journal. "I take my reading seriously, remember?" She tossed the book to him. "I did some reading last night. I know all I need to know."
Capital guards surrounded Julien and shackled him. The Arisen mounted her horse and led him back to Gran Soren.
"Is this why you left so early this morning?" he asked.
"Does it matter? I thought better of you Julien, duke Skylar maybe a liar, but at least he's modest and kind. I thought you had changed, but you haven't. Now I see that see you as a fit role model was a mistake. Just like last night. It shouldn't have happened, and it wont ever happen again. I will see to you spending the rest of your life in the dungeons."
"So it ment nothing to you?"
"No."
She tried to sound as authentic as possible. The truth is, she urned for his touch again. For the first time in her life, she didn't feel alone. Her heart shank to her stomach. Julien was the only person she had ever felt comfortable around, she felt she could trust him. But his actions only brought her anger. Her face burned as as she watched Ser Jakob place Julien behind bars. He stared at her from behind the iron.
"I think it's best you leave," he said. "Don't you have a dragon to go slay?"
"Not yet." She handed him a small box. "I still don't believe your guilty. But all factors point right to you. Either your lying through your teeth or someone is going through a great deal to frame you."
Julien opened the box, and he looked at her.
"Arisen.. I.."
"Time to go," Ser Jakob bellowed.
The Arisen held Juliens hand through the bars, softly squeezing, then releasing. Tears formed in her eyes as she was led away from his cell. And thats when she finally admitted it to herself.
She was in love with Julien.