Chapter Twelve
The Riders
= = = = =
A few days passed and every attempt to see Erica was hindered by her father. I was worried about her, because I hadn't seen her since my encounter with Markus. Salim kept giving me an evil look every time he noticed me, and has forbidden Erica to see me at all.
Even though I was a bit on edge from Salim's behavior towards me, I spent most of my time looking for information on the Yce Ivy Pear at the 1st Glorianan Library of Marete. According to Orion, it was formerly the home of the Famous Adventurer's Correspondence School for Heroes, the very place where he had graduated!
It was during one of those days that the Librarian, Davie, informed me about how Salim had prepared to move the Apothecary to one of the fishing villages... We both had no doubt that it was to keep Erica from seeing me.
I was still training with Bruce almost daily. In fact, since the arrival of Draco and Joshua, and Joshua's decision to train under Bruce as well, my skills had improved greatly in swordsmanship. I could almost take on Joshua, who - according to Draco - was a born natural when it came to sword fighting. Josh and I spent a few afternoons training without Bruce's supervision outside the gate to the city.
On top of my trouble with Salim, whom I was pretty sure forbade Erica to see me under any circumstance, and in spite of my growing friendship with Josh and Bruce, I wasn't sure if I was anxious for, or dreading the next time I would be able to see Viana again. Talking to her through the sword got me nowhere in learning how she was entrapped inside, probably due to the enchantment put on the gem during her capture.
Two weeks of searching the library revealed nothing about the Pear, nor any way to counter a particularly powerful enslavement curse. I was, once again, outside the town gates with Joshua, practicing the basic Attacks and Guards.
"So, who'dya reckon'll win tonight at the arena?" Josh asked as he sidestepped a Force Bolt.
Every night at the coliseum, there was a match between that week's reigning champion, and a c challenger.
"I don't know." I pondered for a second, blocking a Water Burst with LifeShield. "Justin seems to have a good chance tonight." He was this week's champion. "But that new guy Ashton seems serious about winning."
Ashton was a "Great Traveling Adventurer" - to quote him - from Nova Roma. According to him, his father would have won the Rites of Rulership hand not an assassin stabbed him in the back.
"I'm gonna cheer when 'e gets walloped by Justin!"
"Hear, hear!" I raised my sword to mock a toast. "We'll have to ask Orion about Ashton's dad when we..." We both paused. The distant clatter of hooves echoed in the small nook of stone where we were standing. It quickly grew louder, and three riders approached. I had to nudge Josh in the ribs after they got close enough for us to realize that the riders were girls.
"Denyan, I bet!" Josh muttered to me in a semi-squeal of delight. He was probably referring to their pale skin colour. I smiled and nodded at each as they passed to approach the gate.
"Welcome to Silmaria," I said.
"Ye- " Josh stopped mid word, his voice high pitched out of nerves. "Yes, welcome!" he finally muttered, a bit overenthusiastically. I knew which one of the girls had struck his fancy, too. She seemed to be about eighteen, ad she had a long, black ponytail that she had draped in front of her. She had a look of innocence in her eyes, but something told me otherwise. But it wasn't long before my eyes were glued to the second rider. I had caught her staring at me, and our eyes met. I must have been awestruck... well... I was awestruck, and this time Josh hand to jolt me in the ribs. Luckily, the girl didn't see it, but the other two did.
"Could you direct us to the..." the girl with the ponytail started, but stopped to clear her throat, "...the, ah, Hall of Kings? It's official business from the Boyar of Mordavia." I knew Josh was suppressing a knowing "I-told-you-so" grin, since these girls, or at least the one speaking, was from Denya.
"Er... ahm... sure, we were, ah... just on our way! We'll lead you there!" I took another quick look at the second girl, who, once again, I had caught staring at me. This time, it was I who blushed; though I didn't look away... she did - again, her short brown hair cascaded around her as she whipped her head around to break eye contact.
"You'll have to leave your horses with the guards at the gate, then we'll head up," Josh couldn't stop grinning. I didn't pay attention to the other two riders. I wasn't sure why she was blushing - was it because she knew who I was, or was it because she found me attractive?
Before I knew it, we were at the gates to the Hall of Kings, and the Guards saw Josh and I approaching, and opened them. The three girls followed. Orion was sitting on his throne discussing current matters with the elderly Centaur, Logos. He noticed us, and rose.
"Erik! Josh! I see you've brought some visitors!"
I opened my mouth to speak, but the black-haired girl spoke.
"Hello, Orion!" she said with a huge grin on her face. Orion seemed taken aback by being called by his first name from this newcomer. She reached into her pouch, and Josh and I placed our hands ready to draw our swords if needed. She pulled out a doll... an old, ornate doll. Orion's eyes lit up at the sight of it. She approached him, and handed him the doll.
"Tanya Markarov!" Orion now had a toothy grin. "You look... good... for your age!" he chuckled.
Tanya smiled back. "The bite..." she trailed off, "...you know."
The Riders
= = = = =
A few days passed and every attempt to see Erica was hindered by her father. I was worried about her, because I hadn't seen her since my encounter with Markus. Salim kept giving me an evil look every time he noticed me, and has forbidden Erica to see me at all.
Even though I was a bit on edge from Salim's behavior towards me, I spent most of my time looking for information on the Yce Ivy Pear at the 1st Glorianan Library of Marete. According to Orion, it was formerly the home of the Famous Adventurer's Correspondence School for Heroes, the very place where he had graduated!
It was during one of those days that the Librarian, Davie, informed me about how Salim had prepared to move the Apothecary to one of the fishing villages... We both had no doubt that it was to keep Erica from seeing me.
I was still training with Bruce almost daily. In fact, since the arrival of Draco and Joshua, and Joshua's decision to train under Bruce as well, my skills had improved greatly in swordsmanship. I could almost take on Joshua, who - according to Draco - was a born natural when it came to sword fighting. Josh and I spent a few afternoons training without Bruce's supervision outside the gate to the city.
On top of my trouble with Salim, whom I was pretty sure forbade Erica to see me under any circumstance, and in spite of my growing friendship with Josh and Bruce, I wasn't sure if I was anxious for, or dreading the next time I would be able to see Viana again. Talking to her through the sword got me nowhere in learning how she was entrapped inside, probably due to the enchantment put on the gem during her capture.
Two weeks of searching the library revealed nothing about the Pear, nor any way to counter a particularly powerful enslavement curse. I was, once again, outside the town gates with Joshua, practicing the basic Attacks and Guards.
"So, who'dya reckon'll win tonight at the arena?" Josh asked as he sidestepped a Force Bolt.
Every night at the coliseum, there was a match between that week's reigning champion, and a c challenger.
"I don't know." I pondered for a second, blocking a Water Burst with LifeShield. "Justin seems to have a good chance tonight." He was this week's champion. "But that new guy Ashton seems serious about winning."
Ashton was a "Great Traveling Adventurer" - to quote him - from Nova Roma. According to him, his father would have won the Rites of Rulership hand not an assassin stabbed him in the back.
"I'm gonna cheer when 'e gets walloped by Justin!"
"Hear, hear!" I raised my sword to mock a toast. "We'll have to ask Orion about Ashton's dad when we..." We both paused. The distant clatter of hooves echoed in the small nook of stone where we were standing. It quickly grew louder, and three riders approached. I had to nudge Josh in the ribs after they got close enough for us to realize that the riders were girls.
"Denyan, I bet!" Josh muttered to me in a semi-squeal of delight. He was probably referring to their pale skin colour. I smiled and nodded at each as they passed to approach the gate.
"Welcome to Silmaria," I said.
"Ye- " Josh stopped mid word, his voice high pitched out of nerves. "Yes, welcome!" he finally muttered, a bit overenthusiastically. I knew which one of the girls had struck his fancy, too. She seemed to be about eighteen, ad she had a long, black ponytail that she had draped in front of her. She had a look of innocence in her eyes, but something told me otherwise. But it wasn't long before my eyes were glued to the second rider. I had caught her staring at me, and our eyes met. I must have been awestruck... well... I was awestruck, and this time Josh hand to jolt me in the ribs. Luckily, the girl didn't see it, but the other two did.
"Could you direct us to the..." the girl with the ponytail started, but stopped to clear her throat, "...the, ah, Hall of Kings? It's official business from the Boyar of Mordavia." I knew Josh was suppressing a knowing "I-told-you-so" grin, since these girls, or at least the one speaking, was from Denya.
"Er... ahm... sure, we were, ah... just on our way! We'll lead you there!" I took another quick look at the second girl, who, once again, I had caught staring at me. This time, it was I who blushed; though I didn't look away... she did - again, her short brown hair cascaded around her as she whipped her head around to break eye contact.
"You'll have to leave your horses with the guards at the gate, then we'll head up," Josh couldn't stop grinning. I didn't pay attention to the other two riders. I wasn't sure why she was blushing - was it because she knew who I was, or was it because she found me attractive?
Before I knew it, we were at the gates to the Hall of Kings, and the Guards saw Josh and I approaching, and opened them. The three girls followed. Orion was sitting on his throne discussing current matters with the elderly Centaur, Logos. He noticed us, and rose.
"Erik! Josh! I see you've brought some visitors!"
I opened my mouth to speak, but the black-haired girl spoke.
"Hello, Orion!" she said with a huge grin on her face. Orion seemed taken aback by being called by his first name from this newcomer. She reached into her pouch, and Josh and I placed our hands ready to draw our swords if needed. She pulled out a doll... an old, ornate doll. Orion's eyes lit up at the sight of it. She approached him, and handed him the doll.
"Tanya Markarov!" Orion now had a toothy grin. "You look... good... for your age!" he chuckled.
Tanya smiled back. "The bite..." she trailed off, "...you know."
