I streched lazily in bed, savouring the feel of the silky sheets against my warm skin. The sun was coming in through the small window, caressing my small form still hunddled in the bed. A knock on the door instantly followed by the largest woman I ever saw put an end to my laziness and the maid literaly exploded in the room.
"My! Lady Kanzaki! Still in bed!? Come come! Let me help you! The king is waiting!"
The king... A cold chill ran up my spine and I felt the urge to huddle back under the sheets. The memories of last night came back in force and I couldn't hold them back. The terror, the helplessness, the hurt... I couldn't humanly face this man (was he only a man?) again. I was extremely terrified and the single idea of finding myself alone with him once more made my stomach lurch.
Meanwhile, the woman had pulled me out of the warm bed onto a small wooden chair and was now meticulously washing me with a cold cloth. Soon enough, I was trembling not from fear but from cold and at the same time, a huge, soft towel was thrown over my head. The maid furiously dried me, I almost feared that she would snap my neck when she did my hair. Once I was cleaned properly, she went to a chair where she picked what looked like a dress from it. I backed away a few steps, holding my hands in front of me.
"Where are the clothes I was wearing yesterday?"
The woman walked to me like a predator in front of a helpless
pray and the glint in her eyes didn't reashure me at all. There was
nothing worse than an angry maid who had to force her "mistress" to dress
in what seemed to her like casual clothes I guessed after she had grabbed
me without saying a word and had mercilessly strapped my thin body in this
million-laces-dress.
"Good, now His Majesty is waiting for you in the small office. You have the honour of having breakfast with him!" the woman said,
pushing in my back.
I squarrely refused and held my ground by sticking my heels in the thick carpet. I was sure the huge maid would finish it by picking me up but thank God I was saved by the best apparition ever. Arching an eyebrow at the scene, Gordon stepped inside my room and looked at me.
"Hum... What seems to be the problem here?" he asked, coughing lightly.
"This girl refuses to budge even after I told her His Majesty would have breakfast with her! What is wrong with that girl? I give up!"
Finally, a very disapointed maid left the room, cursing under her breath. Gordon let her leave and then looked back at me. I just stared a my feet, much too embarassed to say anything.
"What is wrong lady?"
I bit my lip, unsure of what was expected of me this time. I wasn't aware of the customs of this place and furthermore, how could I tell Gordon about my terrible experience?
"I just..."
My teeth sank in my cheek and I tasted the bitter-sweet blood seeping down between my clenched jaws.
"You met him didn't you?"
"Hai..."
I lifted my eyes to his and was instantly captured by his strong gaze. He scanned through my mind, gently, like a shy bird and the cool feeling of him made me sigh in relief. This was a totally different experience. I didn't feel threatned nor hurt. I just felt his light presence looking deep inside myself, fetching the answers to his unspoken questions. Regretfully, I felt him pull away and when I came back to my senses, all I saw was his flushed face and clenched fists. The strenght of his emerging anger hit me like a ton of bricks and I fell to my knees, crushed by such powerfull aura. The anger wasn't directed towards me but since we had shared our minds, the mingle of our thoughts was still present and I could feel what he felt...
So much anger, so much hurt... His soul was crying and screaming at the same time and there was so much desolation in his memories, I dared not touch them. I felt around, looking for the source of his sudden eruption and found a picture I would've normally refused to gaze at again. I saw myself in the arms of the king, his mouth coldly hurting mine and his eyes glazed over, all his evil spirit reflecting over his twisted face. I saw my limp body empty itself of life and turning cold as my thoughts were taken away brutally. I saw a single tear run down my cheek before the image lost itself into oblivion.
"He couldn't do that, not again..."
"What?"
I pulled myself from him again and looked straight at his red face. He shook his head and looked down.
"I... I can't believe he did it again..."
"Did what?" I was more and more impatient to know.
"Hurt. He... he wasn't supposed to be able to... Not again!" He fell to his knees, clutching his head in his hands, almost, crying?
"What wasn't he supposed to be able to do?" I asked him, shaking his shoulder. "Tell me!"
"No... No... NO!" He kept on screaming louder and louder and finally, I had to go and close the door to be sure he wouldn't attract people by crying so loud.
"Gordon!" I took his face in my hands and forced him to look at me. And then, I did something I would regret for the rest of my life. I dove in him, carrying my own conscience into his and imposing my will on him. "That's enough! Now tell me what is wrong!"
He went very still and kept his eyes locked to mine. There was no resistance to the presence I had placed in him and I was surprized by the feeling that emanated from his mind once I did. Relief? He swallowed slowly and then opened his mouth to speak.
"Seventeen years ago, there was a time of great war, followed by a brief era of peace were Fanelia was completly rebuilt by its young king. But only after a few months of living in his newborn kingdom, the king fell ill and one night, disapeared. He never came back and the country soon started to fall into pieces. Guerillas exploded everywere due to the lack of unity that the king had held before. Then, as all thought the darkest hours had returned once more, a child appeared in the night in a blazing collumn of white light. The child had the mark of Fanelia tattoed on his arm and the priests immediatly took him to the temple at the palace. Years passed and the boy grew to a honourable young man. When he turned sixteen, the priests urged him to take the Dragonslaying test in wich he succeded. After returning gloriously, the clerge decided to take him to the Shrine of the Dragon for the ultimate test. In the building, the young man was given the warm heart of the dragon he had slayed and then, he called upon the mighty armour of his ancestors, Escaflowne. But, the legendary weapon didn't come forth. All remained silent after this and the rumour spread that the boy wasn't destined to be truly king. But he had the mark... Some believed in him, others not and all was chaos again. The boy fled and was never seen again, but a man rose from the shadows then and grasped the trembling kingdom in an iron fist. Peace did return after this but at what cost. I was then known as Markus DeLion and watched over the whole north part of the kingdom. When the boy had been found, I rode all night to see him and instantly knew that he was the one. My eyes couldn't decieve me, just like yours lady."
He looked at me, smiling faintly and I urged him to continue.
"I was given the task of raising the boy and teaching him the art of arms and strategy. I did, patiently for sixteen years. I knew him better than anyone else and still, one day, he surprised me more than anyone else in my life. We were practicing when I hit him hard on his knuckles and they began to bleed. Ignoring them, he continued the match and beat me. In the end, I went to congratulate him and saw his white hand, smooth as the day he was born, washed from all blood and free from any wound trace. I looked at him dumbfounded and he just smiled back. What? he asked. In his mind, anyone could do such a thing. He was suprised when I told him the contrary and even more when we had a little chat about his special ability. I knew the boy was something else. There was an aura around him that had set him apart from all the other teenagers. I had first put it in the fact he was marked by Fanelia's seal and destined to reign but after this display, I wasn't so sure."
"What did he do next?" I asked, captivated by the tale."
"He just continued being a boy. He grew so quickly and by the time he was sixteen, his ability had developped so much he could cure invisible diseases and sense people around. It was frightening and amazing at the same time. His personality was absolutely perfect. He had all the best qualities to rule. A strong spirit, a kind heart, a touch of pride but also a great sense of humility. He was perfect, completly perfect. All but for one thing. One day, a priest came and ordered the boy to be taken away. It was time for him to be tested. As expected, he succeded, but then, everything collapsed. More priests came in the picture, making rituals and incantations and finally, they took him to the Shirne. I never knew what had happened exactly that day, except for the general story everyone was given, but by the end of the week, a new king had crowned himself and the boy had disapeared into thin air. I immediatly went to the castle to investigate and was coldly turned back to where I came from. After insisting much, I was let through and went straight to the new king..."
"Rylan Slanzar..." I whispered.
"Yes. He welcomed me with a cold smile and took my arm to lead me to a dark room. By that time, I had realized something was terribly wrong but I had to know. And when we finally stopped, the king lit a torch and in front of me was displayed the most awful scene ever... Lying unconscious in shackles was the boy I had tenderly raised for years. His head was bruised and multiple torture marks coursed across his white chest. Now you know, said Rylan and gave me the most horrible grin ever. He moved closer to me and I felt cold all over. I fell to the floor and he grabbed my hair. He gazed deep in my eyes and pierced my mind, ripping my soul and taking hold of my "ability". Once he was satisfied, he let me fall to the floor and left the room."
"What did he do next?" I couldn't supress the need to know what that horrible man had done in the past.
"That I do not know. The boy beside me was lying still, very calm and smiled a bit when I let out a small moan, rubbing the back of my skull. He said he was sorry about all the trouble he had caused and that the king had promised to let me be if he remained hidden from all others. I wept and said I could never let him do such a thing, that he was destined to rule Fanelia. The dear boy shook his head and took mine in his cool hands. Tears were pouring from my eyes by then, me, a brave warrior and lord. I was crying my heart out but my boy was still very calm and so proud. He leaned closer to me and closing his eyes, he placed his lips upon mine."
I lifted an eyebrow at his last sentence but discarded my questions. Gordon was still pouring his heart out at me.
"I lost consciousness at that moment and when I woke up, I was lying on the side of a road. I walked back to my duchey only to find that some pompous little ass had taken my titles and that I was now officially stripped from my nobility and lands. I wandered long before the village you saw accepted me and with some time, let me lead them."
"That' so...sad..."
Gordon didn't answer and kept his stare to the floor. I walked forward and placed my arms around his large frame. I felt him tense under my embrace but he put his arms lightly in my back and we both eased in this comfortable caress. I lifted my eyes to him and let my spirit slip over his, caressing it lightly in a reasuring way, telling him I understood his pain and would be there if he needed to talk again.
"You told me your name was Markus DeLion. Can I still call you that?"
He shook his head and looked at me sadly.
"I'm sorry but this name is in the past now. Calling me such could only irritate the king and could put you in another difficult situation."
"Oh, well... I'll have to find something else then... How 'bout Mark? It's a popular name from where I come from." I smiled widely to him, showing him how much I wanted him to smile and be happy.
"Very well. But only you."
"Hai!"
I was very content and he felt it, easing more in this nice feeling. We both turned towards the door and I swallowed painfully. I couldn't think about what this meal would turn out to be and the only picture of the king pushed all the little joy I had away. Gordon felt it and took my hand.
"There is a way perhaps to shield you from him."
"There is?!"
"Come."
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