Chapter 9
It's probably started by now.
"I know."
You gunna watch?
"I can't."
From the window I mean.
"Probably not."
Why not?
"Don't want to."
Are you scared?
No response.
The fox sighed and joined the knight on her blanket, resting his head on her lap. It'll be alright.
"I know."
No you don't. You're obviously scared stiff.
"Just thinking."
Liar.
No response.
Aquaris sighed again and jumped off the bed. He trotted over to the door and pulled the tray of food over, stopping at her feet. Can you at least eat?
"Not hungry."
"Stop being such a baby."
Aquaris jumped back onto the cot and buried his head in the folds of Michelle's shirt. "Now look who's afraid," she grumbled before answering the god. "Perfect timing as always, Mithros."
"Now you're just being sarcastic. Do you want to know what's going on or not?"
"It's not like I can change it."
"No, but it may calm your nerves." A black-skinned hand reached out for hers and she looked up, startled. Before her stood the Sun Lord himself. He was powerfully built with black skin that accented the blazing-gold crown on top of his cropped hair. Golden armor, over a kilted white tunic, adorned his body and a beautifully crafted spear was held in his left hand.
"Well, they say that it's bad luck to refuse a god."
"Especially one as powerful as I."
"Don't get cocky. I still hate you."
"How could I forget?"
Michelle was about to take his hand when she felt Aquaris' trembling body. "Please stop frightening the poor thing and turn down your voice. His ears are more sensitive than mine."
"You sound like your sister," he grumbled, but with the snap of his finger, Aquaris went limp in sleep.
"Like you even know."
"Oh, believe me. I haven't exactly gotten 'friendly' prayers lately."
Michelle laughed then grabbed the god's hand. Her body lifted up off the ground and grew as faint as a spirit's. "Uh-oh," she gulped. "You remember that I hate heights right?"
"Don't worry. I may be old, but I have a good memory. Unfortunately…." Before Michelle could argue again, the window was blown open and they were suspended about six stories above the ground.
"You're definitely not gaining points on my likeness scale…." Michelle grumbled. Mithros surprisingly smiled and pulled her down lower. Michelle stifled a scream and found herself clinging to his arm.
"You can open your eyes now. We're here."
The knight slowly opened her right eye, determined not to get tricked by the Sun god. Seeing that they were indeed safely on the ground, Michelle relaxed her grip and looked over at the wooden platform in the middle of the town square. Jonathan stood in the middle, Thayet at his right. Alanna, Raoul, and Numair stood quietly behind them along with a small amount of soldiers. The other guards outlined the platform. Michelle was surprised to see Ray among them.
"People please," Jonathan begged, "be civil."
"That monster destroyed everything!" One man shouted.
"Not everything," Raoul grumbled silently. In any other circumstance, Michelle might have smiled.
"Everything that was destroyed has either been repaired or is in the process of," Thayet announced.
"This isn't the first time it's happened either!" cried another.
"You all know very well that the Inferno cannot be controlled." Michelle turned to see an elderly woman.
"Her father was the last Inferno," Mithros pointed out. "She's witnessed the worst of it. He killed her mother and older brother before Inferno swallowed him in his own flames. She was only five."
"Thank you for the vivid picture." An involuntary shiver ran down her spine.
"Don't worry. He was weak, you're not." Mithros smiled again, something, Michelle decided, he did only when he was around her. She merely nodded.
"I have witnessed the destruction before," the lady continued, "and have no intention of going through all that again." Others mumbled their agreement.
"But it can be controlled." Michelle cringed when Jonathan referred to her as 'it.' "We have been making great progress in the past few months."
"Some progress," a soldier muttered. Raoul shot him a glare.
"The Inferno is under control," the king finished.
"Look at the history, sire." One nobleman begged. "Every Inferno recorded has ended up killing themselves and everyone around them in the end. What makes her so different?"
"How can you keep saying that? Michelle is a knight of Tortall! One who has saved each of you many times. How can you single her out as a monster?" Michelle glanced at the speaker who was just a young girl no more than ten years old.
"See, there are those who want you to stay," Mithros pointed out.
Jonathan found himself smiling. "This girl speaks the truth and we all know it."
Whispers sounded throughout the crowd. "I don't like the sound of that," Raoul muttered over to Numair's ear.
"This may work in our favor," Numair replied.
Another long moment passed until one nobleman spoke up. "We'll give her a chance, but be warned. If a stunt like this is ever pulled again, you won't be able to protect her."
"Let's just hope that we'll all be around to convict her," the old woman grumbled.
"What would you have us do?!" Alanna shouted, turning to apologize to her king and queen only after Jonathan cleared his throat.
"Drive her out! If she is truly this "great knight" then she will be fine!"
"That old woman really hates me doesn't she?" Michelle groaned.
More whispers of agreement spread through the crowd. Michelle's heart wrenched. The very people that she had come to love and worked so hard to protect wanted to toss her to the dogs like some pathetic criminal. The whispers turned to shouts, which, in turn, changed to chants. The knight looked at her patron god, hoping for some kind of help. Mithros refused to look at his chosen and just watched the scene unfold. Eve though his face held no emotion, his eyes showed something Michelle was all too familiar with. 'Pity,' she thought, 'You out of all these people have no right to pity me. You cursed me with this.'
"Quiet all of you!" Michelle, expecting to see that either Jonathan or Thayet had regained control, only saw dumbfounded faces on the platform. She followed their attention to the lone man in the back. His shaggy, brown hair with a crooked smiled and wink, saved especially for Alanna, loosened the red-head's stomach. He stood on an empty beer barrel, shouting again for the crowd's attention. "Kicking the girl out of town may sound all fine and dandy, but let's think about this for a second. Yes, Michelle is a knight and can very well take care of herself, but have we forgotten that a war rages outside these walls? Throwing her out will be sending her to her death. You want her blood on your hands? And think about this for a moment. Even if she somehow survives, the Inferno is still a valuable asset to any army. Tell me, do you want the true Inferno knocking at your doors? Right now, my friends, we are losing this battle. Do we really want to give the enemy the trump card?"
"Then what do you propose?" a woman asked.
"Keep her here. Here we have two of the most powerful mages to keep her in check. We have the Dominion Jewel that can keep her locked under ground if need be. Here we have resources. Keep her locked up here."
"Damn you George. You just made sure that I'll be locked up for an eternity."
"He just saved your life. I suggest you thank him." Mithros sighed. "Come, you've seen enough." They floated back up to the tower window and into Michelle's room.
"Wait, you think I should thank him? What good am I stuck in a dungeon under ground?" Michelle went to the window and bolted it shut. "There's an enemy out there that can destroy this entire kingdom with one swift move and the best thing anyone can come up with is keep me locked up? For goodness sakes! I'm the Inferno. If you'd just sit down and help me control this menace we could get rid of the Evaldians!"
Mithros sighed and walked over to the knight. He rested his hands on her shoulders. "You cannot control it. I'm sorry Michelle I should've told you. During those few months of training I truly thought that you had a shot, but now I see. The Inferno is unstoppable and uncontrollable."
Michelle shook herself from his grasp. "What are you saying? A minute ago you were telling me that I was strong enough to conquer this and now you're saying that I'm going to just end up like everyone else? That it's going to consume me and everyone else around me?"
"I'm sorry Michelle. I wish that I could take things back, but I just can't. I had a lot of faith in my choice this time. You had very strong allies and friends in your life. I thought--"
"Stop. Just shut up. You thought this; you had faith in that. The bottom line is, Sun god, that I'm going to die because of you. Your strongest kingdom and people are going to perish because of a stupid choice." Tears rimmed her eyes, but she refused to let them roll down her cheeks. "Thank you, Mithros, for allowing me the privilege of being the dictator of a massacre."
"Michelle--"
"Quiet. I've heard enough from you. Apparently, the next time I'll see you is in the Realm of Death."
Mithros sighed, but did not speak again. He gently brushed away a tear before disappearing.
"Aquaris, get up. We're leaving."
The fox stirred and lifted his head. L-leaving? Why? What'd I miss?
"Everything that's important. C'mon, I'll explain on the way."
Why? Where are we going?
"Aquaris stop asking questions and run down stairs to grab my weapons. Go now!"
Aquaris, still confused, did as he was told. He came back a while later carrying Michelle's two blades a sheaths. Your armor's still down there.
"I can grab it on the way out. I mostly needed these. Did you grab my purse?" The fox jiggled a small pouch from around his neck and tossed it at her feet. She picked it up and tied it to her belt. "Come, we don't have that much time."
The knight peeked around the door frame, swords unsheathed and glowing in her hands. Seeing that neither the maid nor Jonathan were about, she began descending the winding stairwell. She kept close to the wall, Aquaris at her heels. Once the end was in sight, Michelle sheathed her swords, as to not give herself away with their glow, and slipped around the corner. A hall stretched out around her. She checked behind her before continuing forward. "Aquaris, keep your ears open."
You shouldn't be doing this. If we're caught, things will only get worse.
"They can't get any worse now c'mon." A locked chest off to her right drew the knight's attention. She walked over to it, noting that Aquaris had already broken the lock, and opened it carefully. She removed her armor and cloak, placing them quietly on her body, then grabbed an assortment of her other belongings. Once she was finished, they continued on down the hallway.
After a few close calls, the entrance hall finally stretched out before them. Loud voices could be heard echoing in the room, but Michelle's one-tracked mind only saw her escape. 'Once I get out of the palace, things'll be easy.' With a few more glances, the redhead made it towards the doors. She passed through them and took one last look at the courtyard. It was mid-afternoon so the pages were busy with their studies and the King's Own were out in the meadow practicing a few maneuvers with their mounts. 'Good, the stables should be clear then.'
Keeping out of eyesight, she made her way towards the stable and opened the doors then closed them quickly after her.
You're lucky that no one's around, Aquaris scoffed.
"He's right y'know."
Michelle froze and sighed, knowing immediately who was crafty enough to see right through her. "Daine, why are you here?"
"Well, if that isn't the stupidest question. I happen to work in this stable from time to time. I think a more logical question would be why are you here, sis?" The Wildmage sighed. "At least turn around and look at me."
Michelle obeyed. "I have to go, Daine. I can't just sit here and submit to being locked up for the rest of my life."
Daine sighed again and sat down on a stool. She pulled another one over next to hers and motioned for Michelle to sit. Again, Michelle obeyed. "Numair told me what was decided, but he also told me that Jonathan has no intention of locking you up for the rest of your life."
"But he can't go against what the people want. If he does then he'll have a revolution on his hands."
"Numair didn't talk to him long on the subject, but it was suggested that you stay locked up in the tower, but continue with your training and when you are able to control the Inferno then you'll be let out."
"It's not that easy, Daine. Mithros himself said that I won't be able to control it and he knows better then anyone."
"You're going to believe a god? For goodness sakes, Michelle, I thought, after all these years of dealing with gods that you'd learn to not listen to them." Michelle just looked away. "Perhaps you're just looking for a way out or some excuse to justify that leaving is the best option for you right now."
"It is," the knight responded quietly. "You see, if I don't leave, I'll end up hurting or even killing all of you. I plan on leaving and learning to control this thing my way."
"But who will be there to snap you out of it? Who will be there to keep you from doing something you'll regret for the rest of your life?"
"I think I'll regret more things if I stay here then if I left." She patted Daine's hand gently and stood. "I'm not asking you to like my decision, I'm asking you to trust me." She stopped at her two steeds, deciding on which one to take. She remembered thinking it over before, but now standing in front of them both, she couldn't decide.
"Strata might be the best choice. Given she's a warhorse and isn't that great for long-distances, she has been found to have more stamina than the typical battle-type."
"Will you watch over Echo for me then?" Michelle was careful to hide the teardrop from Daine.
"Of course." She turned to Strata. "And you have to watch over my sister." The horse snorted a response and Daine smiled in contentment.
Daine handed the saddle to Michelle and they put it on together. "I'll write as often as I dare. I can't let the Evaldians know that I'm out on my own let alone where I am."
"I know. Just be careful okay?" They embraced in a long hug before Daine finally let her go. "What should I tell Ray?"
"Oh!" She fished around in her pockets. "Give this to him. It should explain everything along with a few other things."
"So, you are just going to leave him?"
"He's in as much danger as you guys are. I couldn't bare it if anything happened to anyone. I know he'll understand."
'Somehow I doubt that….' Daine thought, but kept it to herself. "You know mom and dad will be watching out for you right?"
Michelle nodded. "I doubt Mithros would leave me out in the cold either. See? I'll be fine. I have plenty of people to worry about me." They hugged again until Michelle grabbed Strata's reigns and opened the stable doors.
There stood George, still dressed in his peasant garb and shaggy, black cloak. "What you're doing is treason. If you leave now you'll be hereby exiled from the kingdom of Tortall and relived of your duties to the crown."
A/N: Hey, another chapter. Sorry this one took so long. Things were really hectic with school. The next chapter should be coming soon (well... kinda) , just to let ya know. It's kinda funny how I went from such long chapters down to small ones. -shrugs- Oh well.
Reviews are always welcome. Whether they be criticizing, venting, or the like go ahead and let me know. See ya next chapter and I hope you like this one!
Strata
