The Travelers:
Enchantress' Flame --
Part One
by supergirl309

 Castle Ilt

This territory is starting to look too familiar, Lao said nervously as they strolled through the tall golden grasses of a meadow.

Tila moaned. Don't tell me we're lost, she groaned.

Lao shook his. No, it's something else... He wiped his sweaty forehead. You wouldn't understand, he murmured, reaching back to pluck nervously at the strings of his harp.

It was then that Dane noticed something for the first time. she said quizzically, neither Tila nor I have ever heard you play? Can you?

Lao seemed to relax. Of course I can, he said, trying vainly to conceal his relief. I can't think why I never did so earlier. What do you want to hear?

Dane smiled. How about something you've written.

Lao nodded. Of course. He unslung his silver harp and began to pluck and tune. Then, he struck an experimental chord. A waver of crystal music wafted through the meadow. Silence followed it.

Tila smiled. That's so beautiful, she breathed.

Dane nodded. Yes, do carry on.

Lao smiled and struck another chord. Then, he began to pluck the strings wistfully, creating a deep, crystalline tune. It was sad and beautiful, and full of unexpected things. It was suddenly hopeful and lively... then melancholy... then longingful... then beautifully clear and triumphant. And yet... there was something missing.

After the last, long, crystal note had died out, Dane realised what was wrong. she queried, there are no words.

The Eyrie shrugged. Yeah, I guess I just never found any that... y'know, fit. Maybe I will someday, he said, smiling as if thinking of good things to come.

Dane said, we should move on. If we want to make the cover of the woods by nightfall, we must make haste.

Lao nodded reluctantly. Yes, we'll move on.

***

As it turned out, they weren't able to reach the forest before nightfall. Heedless, they bed down for the night in the middle of the meadow. It was a clear starry night, and the tall grasses were comfortable for sleeping. It wasn't long before Tila and Dane were sound asleep. But sleep didn't come so easy for Lao.

I never yet dreamed of returning to this place, he thought to himself. But I shouldn't have ever hoped it would last. Running away was too easy. Now I'll have to face them. Face them all, he said aloud. And Tairi will still be there. ...And King Ellsmar, and Prince wots-his-face too. He sighed and put his face in his paws. I cannot go back there. He raised his head and shook it sadly. The stars winked back at him. The moon smiled. Do not mock me, he whispered. For you can never know what I must endure.

Dane shifted in her sleep. Lao sighed again and unslung his harp. He strummed it reflectively. Memories flooded through his head. He remembered one evening, being dragged off to Tairi's room and being forced to play for her...

Does the moon sing itself to sleep at night? a young electric-green Eyrie sang softly, plucking a beautiful, mournful tune on a slightly clumsy wooden harp. Do the stars join the chorus when the sun sets? Does the moon look down on the world and cry because all is ruined and unfaithful. ...Except, he gagged on the next words, except a lovely young Wocky named Tairi.

The striped Wocky stared at him, a pouty look on her face. It doesn't even rhyme, she whined.

Lao gritted his teeth. It doesn't have to, Tairi, he explained, wincing slightly.

Tairi stuck her lip out. If it's about me, it should ryme, she griped. Make it rhyme, Lao! she sniffed. My feelings are hurt!

Lao sighed and strummed another chord. But somehow, his heart wasn't in it at all. he sighed, I just remembered--your father wanted me in the Grand Hall right now.

Tairi's lip trembled on the verge of tears. She scowled and sniffed. Hmph! Daddy always has to ruin everything, she muttered, sniffling pitifully as she turned to open the door. Lao slung his harp over his shoulder and practically cantered out the door...

Lao rolled onto his stomach, the tall grasses brushing against his face. Just the memory of the awful life he'd left behind made him feel restless. He stretched up onto his haunches and stared up at the sky. Why do these memories haunt me so? he whispered to the moon. Silence. The moon seemed to grin coldly at him. He muttered something about unfair consequences, then laid down on his stomach and closed his eyes.

He'd not been lying there for a minute when he felt a strong paw grip his shoulder and flip him over onto his back. He squawked and found himself staring up into the face of rhougish young shadowed Aisha.

What have we here? he chuckled grimly. Intruders trespassing on our land? Dantare, Sasoa, he barked, tie up the Wocky and the Lupe and start back for the castle. I'll be with you shortly, this Eyrie looks familiar. He glared down at Lao. Too familiar.

Sweat dripped down Lao's face. I-I can explain, Prince Fayin. Just take me back to the castle and let me explain everything to your father, he said pleadingly.

Fayin stared at the timid Eyrie. Who are you? he whispered incredulously.

Lao took a deep breath. I am Reykalora Lao, the bard that once played in your father's hall.

***

Castle Ilt was not really much of an establishment. Instead of a moat, the creaky drawbridge crossed over a pond filled with over-fed Pfish. The castle itself was very simple. The front wall was of thick grey-black stone. It reached on over the sides of the hill it nestled on. Beyond the wall was the outer courtyard, filled with hedges and shrubs, all in great need of a good trim. Then there was the main section of the castle--another four walls of thick stone topped with a flat roof and two small towers. There were no flags waving gallantly from the towers--they would have been invisible behind the false bell-tower that stood tall above the rest of the castle.

As Fayin approached Ilt with Lao dangling limply over his shoulders he was slightly embarrassed. There it is, he said dully, gesturing to the castle. The Castle Ilt. If you're who you say you are, you'll recognize it, he muttered.

Lao sighed heavily. Oh I recognize it, he said seriously. I'll never forget it. I spent half my life there.

Fayin grunted and started up the hill. Yeah, we'll you've yet to prove that to King Ellsmer--my father that is.

Lao rolled his eyes. Why don't you believe me? he muttered.

Fayin let out a dry laugh. Why should I believe you? According to your story you used my sister to help you runaway from here! Even if I do believe you, it should give me even less reason to treat you well.

Lao sighed. Yes, I guess you do have a point, he said dully.

Fayin put him down on the ground. Alright, then, he said, we're here. Go on in, I'm sure my father'll great you nice and kind when he realises who you are, he muttered sourly. And if he doesn't then I know Tairi will. If you're who you say you are, then you've only been her idol for the last few years.

Lao gulped at the thought of Tairi. he whispered, I know.

You know, Fayin said sharply as Lao approached the drawbridge, you broke her heart when you left like that. She's done nothing but mope these past years. Lao stopped and turned around.

She has? he choked.

Fayin glared at Lao. Didn't you ever stop and think that maybe she really liked you? You treated her terribly, using her to escape and all. His eyes bored deep into Lao's. Didn't you ever try take it as a compliment? he said softly. You know we had suitors in here every other week trying to win her over. He shook a tuft of unruly hair from his eyes offhandedly. She's married now, y'know. King Ellsmar forced her into it. He knew you were never coming back, so he made her give up. And she's still heartbroken. He faced Lao squarely and stiffly, aiming his hardest most accusing glare at him. And you don't even care, he whispered.

Lao turned away from Fayin and stared at the ground. I-I didn't know she liked me that much, he gasped. I mean... I... he drifted off and continued to stare at the ground. I guess it was mean... using her like that. I... wish I hadn't been so heartless.

Fayin glared once again. Well, it's too late for that. I can see you were miserable here, he said finally. And now I don't think I want you to go back to the castle. He sighed deeply. I don't want her heart broken all over again. For her sake, I'll let you go on your way, he growled.

But what about--

Fayin cut Lao off. I'll let your friends go too. Just wait out back. I'll be out with them in a second.

Lao nodded. he muttered.

Fayin snorted. Save your thanks. I'm doing this for Tairi, not you.

Lao crept around back and waited silently for Fayin to return. In a few minutes he was back with Tila and Dane, who both looked very surprised and shaken.

Dane said nervously, what's going on?

I'll explain later, he murmered. Let's just leave.

Just as the castle began to disappear over the hills, Lao turned around. Guilt had been dragging at him the whole time they'd been walking.

He sighed. I'm going back to the castle, he said. There's something I need to set straight.

Dane flung her arm around his shoulder. Then we're going with you, she said flatly. Lao smiled weakly.

Thanks, but I need to do this on my own. You wait here. I'll be back by sunrise.

And Lao turned back to the Castle Ilt, to set right the affairs of Tairi's heart, and to smooth over the roughness of his past.

to be continued...