Chapter 18

The night was still, quiet, and cold. The only sound that could be heard was the steady beat of Eldane's cantering hooves. A single candle light burned in the darkness, and she knew she was nearing the camp. She slowed Eldane and wasn't surprised to see that the lone candle was in Dasian's tent. He often stayed up late, organizing, planning, and writing messages. She smiled to think that he would no longer have to do that, now that the war was over.

She stopped, swung off, and noticed Dasian was sitting on a fallen log, not far from where she was. He was looking at her intently, but in the moonlight she could not really see his face.

"Dasian," she started.

"I don't want to hear anymore lies from you," he suddenly said curtly.

Anaella stepped back in surprise, wondering if she had heard right. "What?" All news of the war and Veronica fled from her mind.

"You heard me." He arose slowly and straightened. "Do you remember what I told you back in the wizard's city before we came here?"

"You told me to call you Captain."

"Aye. But I also said that if you betray us in anyway, I would personally kill you."

The way he said the word 'betray' made Anaella's heart stop for a split second. "But I have not..."

"But you have," Dasian interrupted. "Let me ask you a question first. Where did you go the day after you 'helped' us with that mirage trick?"

Anaella was tired of lying so she said, "I went to the witches to ask..."

"The witches," Dasian repeated. "They are the very roots of evil. Why go there without telling me, then come back and kill Sir Loban?"

Anaella's eyes widened. "I did not kill Sir Loban!" she cried, sounding very hurt. "I loved him like I would my own father. I wouldn't have even thought of hurting the old knight. I confess about going to the witches and visiting my home for a brief time. But I did not kill Sir Loban."

"Desertion itself deserves death," shot back Dasian, who was walking slowly towards her. "That isn't all you did, is it? You gave away the location of my campsite to Felipe, making it possible for them to attack us."

"No! I didn't. This is all lies." She turned to leave, but he was faster and caught her by the wrist. He twisted her back and she faced him in dread. All reason and triumph had left her mind, she was speechless.

"I must fulfill my oath," he said, and then in a softer tone, "Even if I don't wish it."

"Dasian, please," she begged. They were the only words that came to mind. "It's not true." If she had not been the chosen fairy, tears would have been streaming down her cheeks. But there were none, only a pleading light her eyes. He ignored her eyes and drew his sword half way out.

"I never thought it would be you who I had to kill," he said sternly, yet softly. He drew the sword all the way out, and held it lightly by his side. He hesitated; he had never killed a woman before. The crazed witch that had been trying to kill him was the closest thing he had come to harming any woman, when he had to whack the wild witch over the head. His mind and his oath to the army were telling him to get rid of the traitor. But his heart was stopping him from doing any action.

Anaella glanced at the hesitating sword and took the chance to try and escape. She surprised him by stepping up on her tip toes and giving him a firm kiss. While stepping back in complete surprise, he let go of her wrist and his grip on his sword loosened. But she didn't back down. Instead she wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him harder.

Still in complete surprise he dropped his sword. As soon as she heard the sword clatter to the ground, Anaella turned and jumped on her horse. By the time Dasian knew what had happened, Eldane was gone from his sight.

A cold autumn breeze swept up the leaves and scattered them all over the camp. Tnsaiu walked slowly through the colorful leaves, his cape flapping slightly behind him. He looked confusedly over the quiet camp. Some of the men were sitting around small fires, cooking their breakfasts. They glanced at the wizard in contempt, and their tones became lower. Willy sat at on a stump by one of the fires, strumming his forgotten lute. He seemed to be trying to remember a sad song because the few notes he played were doleful and low. He looked up at Tnsaiu and sighed sadly.

"Ah, Master Tnsaiu," he said, "I fear you should not be here. The men do not deal with so called, 'traitors' lightly and kindly."

Tnsaiu did not seem surprised. "Then I supposed Veronica is here."

"Veronica," repeated Willy thoughtfully. "Yes, the lone wizardess. She is here, came here yesterday with the sad news. You seem to already know the news, eh? Well, after she told the Captain, she spread the gossip on to us, and Henry and a couple of other men have gone in search of the fairy."

"But you don't believe the news," decided Tnsaiu.

"Nay," Willy shook his head. "I don't believe a word of it. Anaella is not a traitor to anyone. She never had been and never will. And neither are you, noble wizard. These men are too suspicious."

"Anaella didn't tell you the news?"

"I haven't seen her since we parted at the fort. What news is that?"

"Felipe is gone and never to return. The war is over." He told him everything that had happened at the castle and Willy listened with fascination. When the tale was finished, Willy leaped to his feet and shouted. "Glory be! Say, ho, men, it's over, the war, we're finished!" He practically started dancing on his stump. "Finally we can go HOME!" He stopped suddenly and looked at Tnsaiu hopefully. "Really? You ain't jokin' with me are you?"

Tnsaiu smiled and Willy let out whoop. Men started to gather around him, asking for the details. Tnsaiu backed off and walked swiftly to Dasian's tent. He entered and was not surprised to see the young Captain fiddling with his feather pen. His face was blank and his eyes had lost their fire. He looked up at the cloaked man and straightened.

"Captain, you've made a terrible mistake."

"Have I?" Dasian said, no emotion was in his face or voice.

"When Veronica came to talk to you, did she by any chance give you something to eat or drink?"

"No. I had a drink here already." He nodded to the goblet on his table. "I took one sip while talking to her, and haven't touched it since. I've had a terrible headache after I drank it. It's finally beginning to go away."

Tnsaiu picked it up and tipped the cup, letting the water trickle out. He suddenly put his thumb in the way of the water and tipped it right back up. He took out two tiny seeds and held them out to Dasian. They were black and round.

"They are the seeds of Doubt and Hate," Tnsaiu said. "Veronica placed them there by magic. You drank, doubted, and hated."

Dasian glanced away miserably. "I understand I doubted you and Anaella terribly, but I did not feel hatred when I confronted her."

Tnsaiu nodded understandingly. "You didn't because there is so much love and trust in your heart it did not affect you much. Veronica did not know you well enough to realize it would not work with you."

"How did you figure all that out?" Dasian asked curiously, his fire again flickering in his dark eyes, like a candle reviving after a gust of wind.

Tnsaiu gave him a grim smile. "I taught Veronica these things. I know her well enough to know what she plans to do in order to plant a seed of doubt in an army of trust. Of course if anyone tried to do this it would have failed, unless used with magic. You need not worry about her, for I've already asked Willy to have her taken care of."

"Then, she is the traitor and murderer we have all been looking for?"

"Yes. Forgive me for suggesting her as one of my most trusted pupils." He bowed slightly and turned to go. He stopped and looked back at the young Captain, who was staring at the wall of his tent thoughtfully. "I will leave now, sir," he said. "Your king's throne and castle are ready."

Dasian turned to look at him for a moment. He nodded and stepped forward, his hand out stretched. Tnsaiu glanced at the hand, and then shook it hesitantly. Dasian said fervently, "Thank-you, Tnsaiu, for everything."

Tnsaiu nodded and murmured, "Only for the cause of liberty." He bowed slightly one more time and slipped out. Dasian smiled and returned to his desk. It wasn't long before he could hear Tnsaiu's horse whinnying and galloping away. Already he was missing the wise wizard.

Shouts rang through the camp and Willy burst through the flap. He grabbed Dasian by the arm and dragged him out, all the while crying, "Over! Over! The war is over, Captain!" Dasian finally grinned as his men surrounded him, throwing their hats into the air and singing. A few messengers had run to their horses as soon as they heard the news in detail, and were galloping in all directions to spread the news.

But a part of Dasian did not want to rejoice over the victory. It was still mourning the thought of doubting Anaella. He could hardly believe he had almost tried to kill her. Now she was gone, and he would likely never be able to see her again.