The morning air was crisp and fresh on their faces as they walked along. Every one of them had a smile on their lips, even though some were larger than others. Marius, Rosie, Lina and Simon had grins on their faces that rivalled the morning sunlight in their dazzling power. Even Billabong's temperament seemed brighter. Having left behind the mountains and raging rivers, the regit's brief return to his home had obviously done him the world of good. He padded alongside Lina near the front of the group, his head held up and a sparkle in his large golden eyes that had been missing for the last couple of weeks that they had been travelling.
As the sun began to climb higher above them in the sky that was faultlessly blue, the friends had travelled a considerable way. When they looked behind them, the towering spires of Crystallia had all but faded into the distant horizon and they were surrounded by acre after acre of lush green land. They continued to walk until hunger began to gnaw at them and they stopped by a small group of trees, which, while providing them with fruit, also gave them some shade to relax in.
" I have a question…" Rosie asked.
" If this is the one about where babies come from…firstly, I think I would be more than slightly worried if you didn't already know and secondly, you should be asking your husband!" Jo smirked wickedly before Rosie launched an apple at her head.
" Oh grow up Jo," Rosie pouted before continuing, " It's actually something I thought of back in Vaniria but…" She paused. " After the attack, where did all the Aesinians go…?"
There was a brief silence and Rosie wondered if she'd asked a question she shouldn't.
" They weren't captured by Incubus or anything awful were they…?" Lucy swallowed her mouthful of fruit.
" Well, I know many were killed…and hundreds fled from the siege…" Aradia said quietly.
" Rumour has it that many did flee from the siege and that they re-grouped somewhere in the North, built a new settlement and began a new life," Lina stretched her wing with a groan, it was healing but no where near as quickly as she would like.
" Any idea where…?" Mark asked.
" None," Lina shrugged. " No one I know of has ever actually found this settlement…or met anyone who's from there."
" It's supposed to be over here in the East though isn't it…?" Glyndwr chipped in.
" Apparently," Lina took a sip of water. " Who knows, we might find it!" She grinned.
" Well, it can't be that hard to miss a settlement out here on the plains surely…" Jenny scoffed, throwing an apple over to Amos who caught it and took a large bite before asking thickly.
" Why'd you ask anyway…?" This, they assumed was to Rosie, rather then Jenny.
" Well, it's just that at some point, like it or not…we're probably going to end up coming face to face with this Obsequious guy…" She replied.
" Besides which, if he's anything like his father he won't face us alone…" Jo grumbled.
" And you think that they might join us…?" Martin paused as he passed the water to Guillaume.
" I don't see why not…" Rosie said plainly.
" I mean, he's not only threatening to repeat the siege of Aesina on Vaniria, he's threatening to take away everything…from everyone…" Guillaume's tone was firm. " Why wouldn't they join us?"
" Let's not start getting ahead of ourselves…" Phillipe's voice said reasonably. " We haven't even found these Aesinians yet…let's worry about convincing them of the worthiness of our cause when we manage that task, which may I remind you is hardly simple!"
" No I'm serious…" Guillaume rose up onto his knees. " Take a good look at these countries we are trying to protect, trying to save…look around, can't you see what this world has become?"
" Guillaume…?" Jo's voice was wary as she listened to his not totally unfamiliar words and noted the unusual glow in Guillaume's eyes as he continued unabashed.
" Everywhere is chaos, everywhere is doubt…"
" I think you've made your point now," Simon said placatingly, laying a hand on Guillaume's shoulder before Guillaume jerked it away.
" Don't you see, in the face of peril, goodness…" Guillaume continued to almost preach before Jo cut him off.
" Goodness shall prevail," Her voice was quiet but it silenced him as quickly and efficiently as if she had yelled his name at the top of her voice.
" How…how did you know I was going to say that…?" Guillaume slowly sank back down, confusion showing in his eyes and dark furrowed brow.
" Just a feeling," She smiled as warmly as she could before sensing the awkward silence that had descended upon them all.
" Come on then…" Marius said after a pause, helping Rosie to her feet. " We're not going to find any villages or crystals sitting here are we…?"
" This is true," Amos grinned, jumping up and brushing the grass from his trousers.
" I suppose you're right…" Aradia groaned. As she started to get up, Glyndwr offered a hand to help her up. As first she just stared at him, eyes slightly narrowed and contempt on her face.
" No one's watching you know…" He winked. Aradia's pale cheeks coloured slightly and she took his hand and allowed him to help her up.
" Thank you," She muttered as she pushed past him and began to follow the others as they headed back out onto the plains.
" My pleasure, your highness," Glyndwr sighed, going after her. " My pleasure."
As the sun rose higher in the sky, the air grew warmer and warmer and the fresh breeze that had refreshed them all morning, all but vanished. The talking amongst the friends petered out and their pace became increasingly lethargic.
" Can we stop…please…?" Aradia groaned after a couple of hours had passed since their last break. Jo merely nodded and the friends collapsed gratefully down onto the grass, fumbling to try and get to their water in their packs.
" It's too hot," Marius gasped before gulping down some water.
" Tell me about it…" Jo wiped at her forehead with her tunic.
The group lay in the sun for a while, trying to cool down, but with the absence of a breeze all they ended up doing was sun bathing.
" I guess it's not so bad…" Phillipe rolled up his sleeves and turned his face up into the sun. " I'd rather be out here than stuck inside somewhere on a day like this…"
The others sighed and nodded their agreement. After a few minutes Jo got up and wandered away from the others, rubbing her forehead and frowning. After exchanging a few worried glances, Rosie, Jenny, Lucy and Mark followed her.
" Hey, are you alright…?" Jenny asked as Jo rubbed her neck.
" Yeah, I've got a bit of a headache that's all. I'm just tired I guess…" Jo sighed.
" Jo, can I ask…what was all that with Guillaume back there…?" Lucy hissed once she was sure the rest of the group couldn't hear them.
" Yeah, I mean, not to sound stupid-" Mark began.
" Too late!" Rosie and Jo chorused.
" …But didn't he go a bit, well, 'Guillaume' on us!" Mark finished, after throwing the two girls a haughty look.
" He did go a bit weird," Rosie agreed.
" Well, let's not forget who he is…or was at least…" Jo quirked an eyebrow as she explained. " The 'Guillaume' from 'Martin Guerre' will always be part of him…no matter what happens…"
" Oh, you mean like Phillipe went all 'Javert' on us when we met Valjean…I mean Alvejan…" Lucy realised.
" Something like that, yeah." Jo stretched her arms over her head. " We may leave the past behind, but it never really leaves us…" Looking up as she stretched, Jo could see that on the horizon was the thinnest of black lines. Clouds. And they were storm clouds too judging by the colour. The friends headed back to the others.
" I think we should try to find some shelter…" Jo murmured, glancing around trying to spot somewhere that might serve their purpose out here on the plains.
" What for…?" Aradia yawned loudly with a frown. " What's wrong now…?"
" There's a storm coming," Jo answered flatly, with the slightest trace of annoyance in her voice, "And I don't know about you, but I don't fancy being out here in the middle of no-where when it arrives."
" What storm? Where…?" Jenny's voice was slightly concerned in tone. Jo pointed vaguely at the horizon where the thin black line had become a marginally thicker black line, while she continued to scan the surrounding area for a suitable shelter.
" That's a storm?" Amos exclaimed.
" How'd you figure that one out?" Martin asked warily.
" It could just be a cloud, couldn't it…?" Bertrande offered.
" No hills," Jo replied immediately before adding almost as an afterthought. " We're on the plains, there are no hills or mountains to the South to form rain clouds and that's too dark to not have rain in it…"
" Mountains make rain clouds?" Simon's eyebrows were high on his forehead. Seeing that Jo wasn't going to even try and elaborate or explain, Mark had a go.
" Well…it's to do with…you see hills…when the clouds…no, hang on…" Mark floundered momentarily before simply settling on. " Yeah, kind of."
The rest of the group cast a wary glance at the skyline and almost in answer to a question no one dared to ask it, lightning flashed beneath the black clouds now racing across the sky towards them.
" Oh terrific," Rosie's voice was drenched in sarcasm as she hurriedly snatched her pack from the floor. " Don't suppose Mithras thought to teach you any spells to do with umbrellas did he…?"
" Dragons…yes. Umbrellas…no!" Jo half-smirked.
" Dragons…?" Lucy swallowed nervously.
" Dragons…!" Rosie echoed excitedly. " Cool…"
" Umbrellas…?" Guillaume quirked a dark eyebrow.
" Is it an animal?" Simon asked hesitantly.
" Not exactly…" Jo eventually managed to reply after stifling what could have passed for a cough if it wasn't for the telling twinkle in her eyes. " It's a..well, it's a device for keeping you dry when it rains…" Jo tried to mime what it looked like in the air but this was lost on most of those watching, going by the increasingly confused expressions on their faces. " It doesn't matter anyway…I can't magic us up any so let's just leave it!"
" Sounds good…but what are we going to do about this storm then?" Mark agreed, his green eyes glancing to the darkening sky above them. A wind that was worryingly warm had also begun to dance around them.
" No idea," Jo answered candidly. " I guess we'll have to make do with our cloaks for now…" She wandered over and ruffled the fur on Billabong's head and neck. " Sorry mate, looks like you're going to get wet!" Just then the sky flashed and a roll of thunder boomed ominously overhead. The sky wasn't grey, or black, it was almost an inky-green in colour and as the first large drops of rain began to fall on them it grew several shades darker.
" Typical," Lucy grumbled, pulling her cloak closer around herself against the increasing rain. " It never rains but it pours, with us lot!"
Her statement was answered by two huge forks of lightning just ahead of them and a crack of thunder that sounded as if the very ground beneath their feet had just exploded.
" You can't expect us to go anywhere in this!" Aradia screeched over the sound of the storm.
" You reckon?" Jo shot back testily, " Everyone, we need to stand together…like a wall!" Jo yelled to them all and the group formed a close circle, with Billabong huddling between them all. They joined their cloaks together to form a kind of improvised tent. They exchanged somewhat bemused glances inside it.
" Well at least we're dry…"Lina offered as brightly as she could as another roll of thunder drowned out any further conversation.
" I suppose that's something…" Phillipe grumbled, pinching his cloak tighter against Marius' next to it to try and stop the rainwater dripping onto his head.
The friends resigned themselves to standing through the storm and they began to chat amongst themselves, well shout at each other over the thunder and the sound of the rain beating down outside their cloaks at any rate. Glyndwr glanced around the faces around him and frowned when he saw Jo's expression looked to be one of confusion mingled with anger.
" What you thinking about…?" He asked as subtly as the noise allowed him to.
" Just the storm…" Jo glanced over, " And how quickly it appeared, that's all."
" It is a little weird." Glyndwr admitted.
" I'm not so sure that maybe this storm wasn't sent this way by someone…" Jo added barely audibly.
" I think you may be right…" Glydnwr agreed darkly as a crack of thunder drowned out any further conversation.
The floor was cold and damp and Mithras had never felt pain anything like this before in his life. The floor was cold and damp and Mithras had never felt pain anything like this before in his life. His entire body felt as if it were slowly, yet viciously ripped apart. Prior investigation had led him to the conclusion that he was in a bad way but it was clear that even in the condition he was in, he was meant to live for a little while longer at least. His skin was a mass of bruises, cuts and dried blood. His left eye had swollen worryingly and he could see nothing out of it, not that there was much to see from where he was sat. His memories of how he had found his way into the dark, damp room in such a state were patchy to say the least. The random beatings since he had arrived had been unpleasant but he knew what they were when they happened. The last few things that remembered for certain were those that pained him the most, the murders of the King and Queen of Vaniria. Murders he should have prevented were it not for Dedra. Mithras could see his smirking face in his mind as clearly as if he were stood before him. " And if both my eyes worked," he thought wryly in his mind. And yet as clear as that image was, and as worrying, it was the one that confused him the most.
What had Dedra wanted in Vaniria?
He had talked about collecting something, and Mithras couldn't bring himself to believe that it had been himself, or the blood of the royals. If it had been then surely he would have just ordered his guards to do the dirty work for him, and thinking back, he had seemed more than a little shocked and upset when the Queen had been killed. Maybe that hadn't been part of the plan after all…
Mithras tutted to himself as he shifted awkwardly on the floor. If he was honest, he knew why Dedra had fought with him.
Unfinished business.
They had unfinished business from years and years before. Mithras frowned, hissing as the movement sent pain shooting through his head, but surely that hadn't been the sole reason for the attack and taking of Vaniria. Obsequious must have had something bigger in mind than to just send Dedra out on his own personal vengeance mission, no, Dedra must have had another task to complete and had merely decided to kill two birds with one stone. He sighed again and shut his eye, seeing Marduk and Eos laying across the marbled floor side by side. Besides, why all the surprise on his part? When it came to sorting out problems Dedra had always preferred a more personal approach Mithras recalled bitterly, even as a child he had always…
The door slammed open and Mithras' train of thought was brought to an abrupt halt. Two huge, bull-like guards stood before him.
" I was wondering when you'd stop by to say 'Good Morning'," Mithras croaked sarcastically. Without a word they stepped inside his cell and hauled him to his feet. Mithras let out a silent cry of agony as his battered body protested the movement. " Ah, I guess we don't have time for the pleasantries this morning then…" He added before receiving a sharp blow to the ribs, causing his eyes to water suddenly. " Then again…maybe we do…" He groaned as they proceeded to half march, half carry him down the corridors and passageways, all so dark and chilling with the wind whistling almost incessantly along them, like a hurried and unfriendly person. Mithras wasn't sure where he was being taken to, was it for another beating or was this for something more serious. As they reached a large set of doors Mithras swallowed nervously, it seemed the answer to his question was nearer than he thought.
The doors were opened from the inside and the young tutor allowed himself to be pulled through them, his own curiosity partly to blame. Why he had been taken to…wherever he was and not just killed and left behind in Vaniria had been playing on his mind. He knew that Dedra must be involved but the rest of the reasons he hoped lay on the other side of the door, whether they were good or, more than likely, bad, he had to know.
The hall was large and even with the innumerable windows lining the walls it still seemed dark. The black curtains seemed to absorb all of the light and warmth that tried to penetrate the gloom. Gothic was a word that leapt into his mind, with angular statues and carvings lining the edged of the room, overly ornate stone thrones sat at the far end and as Mithras was thrown down the steps, he noticed a dark figure stood beside one of the thrones.
He lay where he had landed for a moment or two, trying to overcome the screaming agony that had filled every inch of him and tried to regain control over his body as the doors closed with an ominous booming noise. Then another sound came across the room to where Mithras lay, a voice. A voice that was both at once strange and yet weirdly familiar.
" Well, well, well," The voice taunted. " Look what the guards dragged in." Mithras struggled but somehow managed to pull himself up onto his knees.
" Wh-who…?" He mumbled before the voice continued.
" Honestly Mithras, I'd have thought you would have taken better care of yourself, being the Royal Tutor and everything…" The voice was definitely getting closer but still Mithras could not see nor identify the speaker. He slowly lifted his head and glanced around but still no sight of anyone. He did notice however that the dark figure had moved and was nowhere near the thrones any longer, no where to be seen in fact.
" Well, the hospitality here hasn't been all that fantastic to be honest," Mithras said eventually. "Wherever here is…" He added cynically. The voice laughed, a high, cold sound that made Mithras shiver inwardly.
" I do apologise," The voice said insincerely before continuing. " But we not accustomed to having guests here."
" I can tell," Mithras shot back, twisting round to try and catch sight of whoever it was. " Who are you anyway…" He quirked an eyebrow. " I should like to know just whose 'hospitality' I have been enjoying." Mithras turned his head the other way and caught sight of a cloak moving behind him. He turned back and jumped as there, crouching in front of him, with their face inches away from his was someone he instantly recognised and yet had never seen before.
" Mine," The face said with a smile that could only be described as evil. It was a face that was pale and drawn, with black eyes that bore mercilessly into his. It was the face of Obsequious. For a few seconds the two men just looked at each other, each evaluating the other.
" But where are my manners," Obsequious suddenly said, rising to his feet. " Would you be so kind as to help our guest to a seat…" This was to someone else, someone behind Mithras.
" Of course," Another voice answered and Mithras' entire body stiffened as Dedra appeared by Obsequious' side and then yanked Mithras unceremoniously to his feet before dragging him over to a chair near one of the walls and dropping him down into it. " There you go." Dedra said in what would have been a friendly tone of voice were it not for the expression of absolute hatred on his face.
" Thanks," Mithras answered curtly, avoiding eye contact with either of the men before him.
" So…now that we're all here…" Obsequious settled down in a chair opposite Mithras and motioned for Dedra to do the same.
" Why have you brought me here?" Mithras cut in, his grey eyes slightly narrowed as he looked over at the black, cold eyes of Obsequious.
" Just to talk," Obsequious' voice was little more than a whisper but the tone rivalled even the loudest threat the young tutor had ever heard.
" What about…?" Mithras' voice was becoming increasingly wary, thanks large to the sound of Dedra cracking his knuckles next to him. " I have nothing to say to you that you don't know already, no doubt…"
" Mithras…I just want us to talk, about many things…" Obsequious purred dangerously. " This has nothing to do with that silly little quest…" His tone was almost reassuring but the glint in his eyes kept Mithras' guard up. " More of a chat…about the past…" Obsequious smirked as he saw even more confusion pour into the face before him. " About old haunts…old friends…" Mithras' eyes narrowed even further. " That type of thing…" Mithras glanced from Obsequious to Dedra and back again, suddenly aware that there was a similar glint in both sets of eyes.
" It's…it's about her isn't it…" Mithras' voice suddenly became stronger, almost complaining in tone. " I thought we'd left all this behind us…"
" Then you thought wrong didn't you," Dedra said viciously.
" But it was so long ago now…at least six or seven years…" Mithras began.
" Nine…It's been nine years," Dedra's voice was suddenly quiet and his hand slipped inside his pocket and he sighed, almost sounding relieved. Mithras frowned, wondering what could possibly be in…?
" No matter how long," Obsequious regarded the royal tutor coldly. " It is something I would like to discuss with you…both of you…"
" But we were little more than children then…" Mithras protested.
" Maybe so…but as I recall, we all did things then that many adults would have thought twice about." Obsequious shot a glance at Dedra which was plainly meant to be one of admiration but Mithras noticed how Dedra squirmed, like a child caught doing something they shouldn't.
" What did…?" Mithras started before Obsequious cut him off as he continued.
" Julia was last seen at the siege of Aesina, or so rumour states…" Obsequious said, his fingers playing with the crystal around his neck. " She was with you and the Princess Aradia, was she not…?" This was directed at Mithras but the young tutor looked blankly at him.
" Sorry…?" Mithras' face became one of ignorance. " Julia was where…?" Mithras emphasised his attitude with a yawn.
" At the time the city was attacked, Julia was with yourself and the princess…was she not…?" Obsequious annunciated the last few words dangerously.
" I don't see why you're asking about her…" Mithras stretched as leisurely and as calmly as the pain and his nerves would allow. " Why so eager to know what happened to a local peasant girl…?"
" Because, you and I both know, Julia was not just 'a local peasant girl'…was she…!" Obsequious' expression became slightly more smug as Mithras' face paled another shade or two.
" I…I don't know what you mean…" Mithras said, avoiding the black eyes before him.
" My lord…?" Dedra chipped in, his voice significantly quieter than usual.
" Julia was…" Obsequious paused, relishing the horror on Mithras' face and the intrigue on Dedra's. " The heir to the throne of Vaniria."
" How did you…?" Mithras exclaimed just as Dedra made a strangled sort of noise that sounded like " What?"
" Or should I say, she is the heir…" Obsequious amended.
" She's alive…?" Dedra exclaimed. Mithras stayed quiet.
" I have reason to believe so…" Obsequious continued. " But to be sure…I need to speak with someone in particular…" His thin eyebrows came down lower over his black eyes and his entire face became more angular, more evil in appearance. " Dedra…how easy is it going to be to get the young witch here…?"
" Jo? Here…?" Dedra exclaimed before realising who he was speaking to.
" Yes, Jo, here…" Obsequious quirked an eyebrow. " Is that so hard a concept to grasp Dedra…?"
" No, my lord, it isn't…"
" Then why the response…?"
" I think, my lord, we may have some difficulty there…" Dedra chose his words carefully. " You see, I believe Jo has feelings…that she is in love with one of the those she travels with…"
" I know she is…" Mithras added, more to himself than anyone else.
" Who is this man…?" Obsequious demanded. " And how hard can it be to get rid of him…?"
" His name is Guillaume, sir," Dedra replied thinking back to the dark flashing eyes that had looked so accusingly at him at every possibility. " He is very protective of her, sir…and I don't doubt that he is strong, in both body and mind…it could be a problem…"
" No more of a problem than the incident with that young soldier and Julia I'm sure…what was his name again…?" Obsequious frowned, trying to remember.
" William, my Lord," Dedra admitted quietly, trying to ignore the look of hatred that Mithras was giving him.
" That's it, William…!" Obsequious smiled darkly. " I remember now, if you hadn't have dealt with him…who knows what would have happened…"
" It was a long time ago," Dedra sighed with a grimace. " It was a problem that needed dealing with…"
" Well, whenever and whatever it was…you managed to deal rather effectively with that particular problem nonetheless…" Obsequious scratched at his chin.
" Yes my Lord…"
" You mean, it was you William went to meet that day…" Mithras' voice was a combination of shock and disappointment.
" Yes," Dedra replied bluntly.
" I knew you were low, but I never thought you'd stoop…" Mithras' face contorted with disgust. "You bastard…"
" I'd have thought you'd have been grateful," Dedra snapped at him. " I removed the only obstacle that lay between you and her…" His voice was bitter.
" Don't be so childish!" Mithras scoffed, " There was nothing between Julia and me…"
" Not that you wanted there to be," Dedra sniped.
" Why are you talking about me, Dedra, everyone knew how you felt about her…!" Mithras smirked, vaguely pleased to see embarrassment flare up on his enemy's face.
" I don't…I mean…You have no…" Dedra floundered angrily for a moment or two, before settling on a more definite response. He stood up and in one fluid movement, punched Mithras across the face and sat back down. " Don't talk about things you don't understand, Mithras…"
" Boys, boys, boys…" Obsequious clicked his tongue annoyingly at the pair of them, as Mithras raised his head to reveal fresh blood now coming from a cut near his mouth.
" I'm sorry my Lord…" Dedra apologised meekly.
" Now then…if the play fighting is over…we will go back to Vaniria soon…" Obsequious' black eyes flashed. " I think we'll find there everything we need…"
" You'll find nothing!" Mithras shot back, willing himself to believe his own words.
" We'll see…" Obsequious brushed down his cloak as he rose to his feet. " In the meantime, Dedra, I think our friends will now be well on their way South…probably on the plains…" Obsequious' long fingers curled around the crystal shard around his neck and he closed his eyes momentarily. " Yes, they're on the plains…and I'm sure once they've dried out," He chuckled evilly. "…They will then be heading for the southern deserts…" He chuckled again to himself.
" Sir…?" Dedra swallowed carefully.
" I think you should go and find them…show them the way once more…" Obsequious smiled, a thoroughly unpleasant expression. " And if Guillaume should meet with an…accident…so much the better…" Obsequious chuckled again. " And then, at a suitable moment...come back and bring Jo with you..."
" Yes my Lord," Dedra bowed his head, gritting his teeth silently.
" Why should I risk the lives of my men when they can find the crystals and then all I'll have to do…is take them back," Obsequious sounded thoroughly pleased with himself. " And, more to the point, I've feeling their intrepid leader will be able to help me find the elusive Julia…" With that, he threw a dark glance at Mithras before swirling around and leaving the hall without a sound leaving the two former friends alone. Dedra glanced down at Mithras' face, which was now pale from a combination of anger and fear. Dedra's jaw tightened for a moment while he tried to think of something, anything, to say to him but failing to find any words that were suitable, he turned to leave.
" She'll see through you…" Mithras' voice came after him as he reached the doors. Turning back to face the tutor, he could feel his heartbeat had quickened.
" What?" He asked shortly, motioning for the two guards to enter and 'collect' Mithras.
" Jo…she'll see through you," Mithras repeated firmly as he was hauled to his feet once more. " I know she will…"
" Then you obviously don't know her as well as you think you do," Dedra sniped back harshly before leaving and muttering under his breath as he marched quickly down the corridor, "Because…I think…she already has…"