"Hello, Rhys!"
I looked up from the book Orne gave me a few days ago, now nearly finished, and saw Edmund walking towards me. I felt a wave of guilt pulse through me as I thought of how I had been ignoring the other sorcerers around me during my stay. I hadn't spoken to Edmund since first arriving, and now I was just a few hours from returning to Bamarre castle. My heart gave a sudden lurch as I thought of home.
"Hello, Edmund. I see you are ready to return to King William. I hope you had a nice stay here at the citadel."
The young sorcerer smiled. Always so happy, always carefree. Didn't I used to be like that? What happened to me? I feel like during my entire stay, nothing but negative feelings had been pounding in my breast. My anger at Orne, my worry for Addie. The last time I smiled was when I was with Addie, showing her my lake.
Lost in my thoughts, I forgot I was speaking to Edmund. I forced myself to look at him. He was chatting on, as if he didn't know I wasn't paying attention.
"…but my teacher, Gustav, was saying that I need to work more on lifting next time we are here. You wouldn't believe what trouble I have gotten into with King William. Sending objects flying into his face at random moments. He's so easygoing, though, so he just laughs it off. In fact, before I left—"
"Rhys."
I turned and saw Orne motioning for me to approach. I breathed a sigh of relief, while heart fell into my stomach. I was relieved to get away from Edmund's chatter, but I wasn't really in the mood for talking to Orne.
"Excuse me, Edmund," I said as I turned back, "I hope I may see you again soon."
"Goodbye, Rhys!" he called back cheerfully, unaware of the tension between me and my teacher. Taking a deep breath, I made my way towards Orne. He wasn't look at me when I arrived. He was looking at the sun, just beginning to rise in the east. The light cast a pink-ish glow on the miles of clouds. It was beautiful. Was Addie enjoying this sunrise, somewhere far away?
The silence dragged on until I felt obligated to break it.
"Here is your book, Orne. Thank you for lending it to me," I muttered as I handed the book to him. He took it from me, still not looking away from the sun. Hoping that is all he wanted, I began to back away.
"I need to speak to you Rhys," Orne said, his voice stiff. Keeping my head held high, I flew back to him.
"What do you think of that sunrise, Rhys?" I blinked, surprised; however, I thought it was best not to question him, and just give him an answer.
"I think it's beautiful." Orne finally looked at me.
"And you believe such beauty should be treasured? You don't need to answer; I know that you think yes. I could see your answer by the way you looked into the sun, memorizing its every color. But I must ask, why?"
"Why what?" I asked, perplexed. What did this have to do with anything?
"Why do you believe it should be treasured? The sun rises every day, and you can count on it rising again tomorrow. So why do you spend so much time staring off into it now?"
"Because this one stands out from the others. It is unique. Those clouds that are there now weren't there yesterday morning. The sun did not cast that exact same shade the day before, or the day before that, and it never will again. It is a unique piece of art, one which cannot be replicated."
Orne stared at me for a long time before saying, "You know, most sorcerers do not see it that way. I do not either. I see it as a sun coming up. Nothing more. Why should I get emotional over something so natural, when I could just as easily create something even more beautiful with my wand? This is how you and I differ, Rhys. How you differ from other sorcerers. You have human emotions, not sorcerer ones. Centuries of human poets have spoken just as you have now. They see a flower and write sonnet after sonnet on its beauty. That is why you love this human girl. You see something so precious, something worth treasuring. I see another human. And, though I do not agree with your ways, I must respect them. After all, you aren't the stupidest sorcerer to ever pass through this citadel," he said, smiling. This moment should be cherished. Orne never smiles.
I smiled back. "Thank you, Orne. I'm glad that my feelings have not affected our friendship."
"Farewell, Rhys. Have a safe journey to Bamarre." With that, he flew away. Still smiling, I began my journey back to Bamarre Castle.
"Oh, Rhys! You're back!" Meryl croaked as I entered her chamber. I was ashamed to remember that, while away, I barely thought of her. I was so worried about her sister. I hoped to make up my neglect while I was home.
"Princess Meryl, I am happy to be home again. How do you feel?"
"I'm fine," she said softly, although she shivered in her many blankets. I had an idea. Drawing out my wand, I pointed it toward the open window. A cloud draped in and I fashioned it into a warm blanket. Placing it around her shoulders, Meryl thanked me as she relaxed deeper into her chair. Her shivering had stopped. I think I even heard her whisper, "Take that, Sir Gray Death."
"If I am not needed here, I should like to go out and search for Princess Addie."
"Oh yes! Please do, Rhys!" Meryl exclaimed. I said farewell to her, Bella, and Milton, then made my way to the front gate. I will fly out to the west and hope to find Addie there. Cure or no cure, I am bringing her home. Tonight is Meryl's last night, and she wouldn't want Addie to be away during it.
As I flew over the plains near the desert, I began to look over every object in sight, praying that my eyes will fall upon a healthy Addie. After what seemed like eternity, I saw a girl sitting in the grass, holding a spyglass to her face.
My heart soared as I flew towards her.
"Addie! I was looking for…" My brain suddenly began to question why she was sitting instead of standing. Her dress, one I've never seen before, was torn and she had various cuts and burn marks. "Are you hurt?" I asked her.
She looked toward me and smiled, beginning to stand up. A look of pain crossed her face and she fell back to the ground. "You're hurt!" I exclaimed. I landed near her, thinking to offer her assistance.
"I'll be alright," she said, smiling, "I just knocked into a dragon."
I smiled too. I was just so happy that she was alive and here. Here with me. "Is it alright?" I laughed.
She laughed too, "I don't know…Oh, Rhys, I found out the cure for the Gray Death!" She then told me of the dragon Vollys who declaimed for her, then told her of the special water from the Aisnan Valley. The tale she told of running through flames and stabbing the dragon sounded like it came right out of Drualt.
"You and Drualt. The only ones to fight dragons and live to tell the tale. I don't think even Drualt ever escaped from one of their lairs."
She blushed, and my heart beat faster. I was glad when she looked down, for I was afraid she would be able to see my love for her in my eyes.
"I was on my way home," she mumbled. I had an idea that made me so excited; I couldn't control the words flying out of my mouth.
"I can fly you home!" Any opportunity I had in which I could hold her again, I would take it.
To my disappointment, she shook her head. "My boots are faster." Right. Time is not a luxury we have.
"Might I wear one of them?" She nodded and I replaced one of my boots with one of her magic ones. We held hands as we skimmed along the ground. When we reached the boarders of Bamarre, she agreed to fly in my arms the rest of the way. I tried not to look too happy as she wrapped her arms around my neck. I was grateful that the sound of the wind covered up the loud beating of my heart. Although there was still a chance of her feeling it through my cloak.
As we flew, I talked to her about Orne and the marriage he never had. She talked to me about spirits that followed her on her quest. Whoever the spirit was, I thanked it for keeping my Addie safe when I couldn't.
The reunion of the two sisters was very emotional for both of them. They hugged each other so long and hard that my eyes began to sting with unshed tears. Addie quickly told her the cure for the Gray Death and began making plans to journey to the Aisnan Valley tonight.
The Aisnan Valley. Located in the Eskerns, the place known for its many vicious monsters that attack many who enter. Even though Addie defeated a dragon, I still did not like the idea of her going into that valley. Not when I'm here to help.
Bella burst in before I could, "The two of you can't go into the Eskerns in the middle of a thousand monsters!" Thank you, Bella.
"I'll go alone," Meryl said between coughs. I didn't like that either.
"The trip is too rough," Addie protested, "I'll take you. I'm used to it."
"I'll carry Princess Meryl to the waterfall. No one else is needed." I looked at Addie as I spoke. She seemed to be offended by my words. Can you not see that I am trying to protect you? I wanted to ask her.
"I'm going." She said stubbornly. I couldn't see any way around it. Sighing, I said,
"Then I'll wear just one boot." They continued to argue, and I continued to offer ways in which I could help. Looking at Addie, I could see that she was becoming more and more frustrated.
"That's enough!" She shouted. Everyone stopped talking and my eyebrows shot up in shock. The look in her angry eyes made her look even more beautiful, though I thought that now was not the best time to mention that.
"Rhys and Meryl and I will go." She finally said, and I sighed in relief. I will protect her. I will protect them both. Addie asked Milton to bring us a couple of swords as she handed Blood-biter to Meryl.
As Milton returned, Addie was busy calculating which way to go. When she mentioned Surmic village, Bella cut in, reminding her of how cowardly they are. Surmic was the village that refused to help Drualt when his sweetheart Freya was dying just outside their walls.
"It's only for directions," I said, "Surely—"
"I'm the king's daughter; I'll command them to tell us," Addie said, her voice deadly.
Soon, King Lionel came into the room. All three of us hurried to conceal our swords, but that did not fool him. I searched my brain for an excuse.
"Sorcerer's use swords—" I began as Addie said,
"We were comparing—" We looked at each other as our voices faded out. It was Meryl who saved us. She told her father of our quest to the cure. He seemed skeptical after Addie explained to him where she had learnt the cure.
"How do I know the dragon spoke the truth?" I have never been angrier with King Lionel. His daughter is dying! Does he not care? If my daughter were dying, I would carry her to the cure myself.
Meryl quoted a Homely Truth which she hoped would persuade him. When he didn't understand, I translated it.
"Sire, we can strike first and nip the monsters. You can strike next and vanquish them." Finally, the king nodded and said he would be ready to go within the week. Does he not know that this is his eldest daughter's last night?
When he finally left the room, Addie and I agreed it was time to go. The clock had just struck nine and Meryl was to die at dawn. When we walked out of the front gate, I looked at the sky, still showing hints of pink from the sunset, and I remembered the talk I had with Orne when the sun had risen. When he had told me why I wanted to marry Addie. As I thought of this, I began to wonder if I would ever have the chance to even tell her how I feel. Who knew what would happen tonight? We may all die, or I may be the only one to die. Is my time up? Will I never be able to tell her of my love?
I looked at her as Meryl climbed into my arms. As I looked into her eyes, I knew that the answer was no. Somehow I will tell her. No matter what, I will protect her and her sister tonight. I refuse to let them die.
Addie smiled at me as she held her hand out. Grabbing it, I returned her smile. Then, without speaking, we simultaneously raised our foot with the magic boot, and took a step.
