Chapter 11
"Mirrored Spirits"
Arianna was on the verge of breaking into a run, walking as briskly as she could, her heart was pounding furiously inside her and her palms were damp. She hardly knew the last time she had felt so nervous. Taking in numerous deep breaths, she gathered the folds of her long dress as she half jogged. A few steps behind her was Clavetti. The castle matron was red in the face from trying to keep up with the young girl and was puffing heavily.
"Slow down, my girl! Let me catch my breath a moment!"
"Clavi! I swear to the gods I will leave you right where you are if we are not there at this moment! Come Clavi! I beg you! Please, we are nearly there!" Arianna shrieked. Her hands shaking as she folded them together begging Clavi.
"Ye wilt surely be the death of me! Come along then! We would not want the Lord Knight waiting, would we?"
Arianna laughed breathlessly as she resumed her pace, "No, we surely would not!"
Just as they reached the corner of the corridor leading to the room the Lord Knight was staying, Arianna stopped and turned to face Clavi, "Clavi, speak plainly and truthfully."
Clavi gazed at her in full expectancy as Arianna lowered her eyes and asked humbly, "Am I presentable enough?"
Clavetti's face relaxed as she smiled in a motherly fashion, saying gently as she lifted Arianna's chin, "More than you think of, child."
Arianna sighed in relief and smiled back.
Taking a clean kerchief from her pocket, Clavi smoothly dabbed away the beads of sweat that were starting to form on Arianna's forehead. Clavi brushed back the scarlet strands that fell out of place behind the girl's ears and then taking one last look at her charge, her eyes shined as she whispered, "Radiance. Absolute radiance ye are, my girl."
"Thank you, Clavi."
They stood there for a moment before Clavi gently led Arianna to the hallway and in a shaky voice, while she discreetly dabbed her own eyes, prodded, "Well, we simply cannot spend the time with much idle talk, now, can we? Go on, Miss Arianna, the Lord Knight awaits you."
Arianna nodded and took one last deep breath as she stepped into the hallway, her eyes fixed on the wooden door at the other end.
It seemed like the longest path Arianna had ever took just to reach the other end of the corridor. When she finally stopped before the door, she reached out a hand to push it open. But just before she could do it, someone pulled the door from the inside and Arianna's stunned amber brown eyes met Master Grêth's kindly cobalt blue ones.
"You certainly took your time. The Lord Knight accepts your request for an audience. You may enter." He said formally stepping back to allow Arianna inside.
The room seemed quite dim despite the fact that the hour was still shy of dusk, the only source of brightness came from an open window where the sun's rays beamed down to a single spot on the floor. Arianna made out a shadowed figure behind a long table and knowing it could be no other than the Lord Knight himself, Arianna bowed her head half in respect, half in fear of him.
Then when she had gone five steps from the door, Grêth announced, "I take my leave, my lord."
In a softer voice, he whispered to Arianna, "Worry not. You already have his favor."
But before Arianna could turn around and question him, the thud of the door sounded meaning that the old man had already closed it behind him. The shadowed figure moved towards the front of the table. Arianna's eyes remained downcast staring at the dusty floor.
The only sound Arianna could hear was the own nervous beating of her heart. She knew she had to say something but didn't know what was appropriate enough to say.
Swallowing hard, Arianna relaxed herself and gathering enough confidence, lifted her head and spoke in a clear casual tone, "You called for me, my lord?"
The knight remained silent.
"Forgive me, my lord, but I must express how greatly pleased I am to see the Lord Knight is safe and well. The gods have indeed been generous and kind. Your people have prayed unceasingly for you and your men. I am glad to see their prayers have not proved in vain. I see yours have not either."
Callium was greatly taken aback.
He had hardly heard Grêth leave much more this young girl speak but still he could scarcely believe his own ears.
Had this girl just spoken in his native tongue?
Her voice, her diction and even her intonation was flawless. He could have mistaken her for any young woman in Waldǖrth but the fact was that he knew she wasn't. He was greatly relieved his table was behind him offering the support he needed else he would have just managed to lose all sense of balance and fall backwards at such a surprising marvel.
Deciding to lean comfortably on the table behind, folding his arms to depict that he was neither disturbed nor unusually interested in her presence, asked in a calm voice, "Tell me why you think so. When has it become a pastime of yours to discern what my prayers are of?"
Arianna knew what he was trying to do and answered curtly, "Is it not what every captain asks of his gods, my lord? To assure him victory over his enemies as well as the lives of his men? Or maybe I have been misinformed."
"Aye, you are in the right. But it still gives you no claim over my piety."
"If you really are as pious as I believe you are then why question one's assumption of your entreaties to your gods? You proudly bear the very emblem of Criastus on your weaponry, so you must be pious. Or if I am wrong and you are not… then what reason have we in carrying on with this conversation?" Arianna answered him back promptly.
The knight straightened and dropped his arms to his side. Arianna daren't look him in his eyes after that kind of reply. She knew she had spoken insolently and impulsively. She knew she had stepped out of her place but, strangely, she seemed to find it quite invigorating, similar to the kind she felt after running across the fields on Lastoth.
Callium heard strength, veracity and candor echoing from the girl's words. Values he had strained so hard to teach his men to acquire. He had not planned on doing so but because of the sudden alteration in the course of events, the knight decided he wanted to see this girl entirely. Due to the dimness of the room, he only saw her shadowy outline. Her face in darkness.
"Come forward, girl. Step into the light that I may glance upon the face of the one who speaks with such conviction and boldness." Callium said as he beckoned to her.
Arianna heard his command and wanted to hesitate but her will defied her and before she knew it she was striding towards the area bathed in the soft glow of the afternoon sun.
The Lord Knight heard the girl's footsteps thudding softly on the dust covered floor, saw her figure approaching and then pausing for a moment before slowly walking into the sunlight.
No! It can't be!
When she lifted her face to look at him, the knight felt every breath he had leave him and he gripped the table for support as he felt his knees would give way any moment. All color left his face and Callium was slowing shaking his head in utter shock and disbelief as if he had just seen a ghost. His hand made one nervous stroke down his russet beard as he continued to stare at this girl he had earlier regarded as nothing but a peasant girl.
Why had he not seen it before?
He took one look at her and Callium found his answer.
His last memory of her was of this pale and fragile girl wrapped in bandages and old rags. Her badly bruised face and her uncovered lacerations were still clear in his mind. Her scarlet hair was lank and in disarray. Her light colored eyes were filled of fear and confusion. She was as helpless as a lame horse in a muddy ditch.
Now, standing before him underneath the rays of the sun, was not the girl he remembered. Here was a beautiful young maiden, elegantly dressed in emerald green robes, radiating poise and modesty at the same time. Not a single scar blemished her fair skin. Her bright scarlet hair was kept in a braid and was tied with a ribbon similar in color to that of her gown. Her eyes were the color of fresh almonds, light brown with a dust of amber… or could it be gold? No trace of apprehension in her eyes but instead a glint of the fiery spirit living in her just waiting to be revealed.
Her eyes are different and of a strange color but they possess the same ardent spirit as—
He stopped. It was too painful to remember… to relive those forgotten years. No, he would not dare to venture there yet. It was still too soon for him. By the gods, even after a hundred years it would still be too soon for him. He had to face it one day… but it would not be that day.
He turned from Arianna and hung his head, his palms on his table.
Arianna felt something change in the air…she couldn't say what precisely it was but she knew it was there. Just as she could feel the intensity of the knight's gaze on her transform entirely from the one she sensed when she first entered the room even if she couldn't see him… she could feel it… she didn't know how or why…but she could.
Feeling the silence and his queer aura unsettling her once again, she spoke, "Forgive me, my lord. You have not uttered a word. Do my looks repel you?"
Callium took a deep breath before he turned back to face the girl.
His voice sounded strained as he replied apologetically, "No. No. You look as luminous as the sunlight beaming upon you. Forgive me, in turn, for I seem to have been rendered speechless by such beauty as yours. Though I may be Lord Knight, I am still a man who appreciates loveliness when he sees it."
Arianna bent her head, a soft blush on her cheeks, "You flatter me, my lord."
Callium managed a soft smile. He knew a flowery excuse was the easiest way to any female's heart and it always managed to turn the conversation towards a milder mood, completely alleviating any tension or awkwardness that lingered in the air.
"Have I? That was not my intention. I was merely speaking the truth." He stated with all sincerity.
The knight walked towards Arianna until he too was basked in the sun's rays.
Arianna looked up at him for he towered over her. She noted that he had lost weight and the marks of war clearly shown on his face. There were more silver streaks along his dark hair than she remembered. Dark circles gleamed under his tired copper eyes telling her just how exhausted he was.
"Tell me your name."
"Do you not know my name, my lord?"
"I do, but I want you to tell it to me that I may appreciate it. It is more significant to hear one name's from its owner lips than from someone else's. Do you not agree?"
"I am called Arianna, my lord."
The Knight smiled kindly, "Well then, it has come to my attention, Arianna that I seem to find you an extremely fascinating girl. I will be looking forward to knowing more about you in the future. Are you in favor of joining me for supper tonight?"
"Of course, my lord. It would be more than an honor. Thank you for—"
Arianna paused. She owed her life to him. She knew he deserved so much more than just her simple gratitude. Not knowing what to say, she whispered, "Thank you, my lord."
The knight simply nodded, "You may go."
Arianna bowed respectfully, "My lord."
Then taking a few steps backward, she turned and went out the door, gently closing it behind her.
The Lord Knight remained where he stood, glancing down at the prints left by her shoes on the dusty floor. Painful memories came flooding back into his mind. Failures, regrets and haunting reminiscences were reawakened and would not fade away. Knowing he could not resist the emotional and psychological struggles in him any longer, he weakly and desperately succumbed to them.
The fearless captain of Waldǖrth's armies, the protector, leader and Lord Knight of Wrǖth castle, leaned against his stone wall and broke down, as helpless as a lost child.
An hour later, a knock came on the Lord Knight's door.
"Leave me! I wish to see no one at the moment." Came the knight's gruff voice.
But the door opened despite the knight's demand and the old master healer stepped into the room.
"What do you want of me? Did I not say I wished to see no one? I have important matters to contemplate over and I need my privacy." Growled Callium viciously.
"Do all knights contemplate their matters in such dark chambers, my lord?" asked Grêth as he lit a few candles to shed some light in the room. The healer found the Lord Knight seated in his chair that was pushed against the farthest corner, a severe glare in his copper eyes.
Grêth approached him and said, "Come. Stand up, Callium. We need to talk."
"We can talk at another hour…tomorrow perhaps. Now, I want to be left alone."
"You've invited Arianna to supper. Should you not prepare yourself?"
"I regret that offer. I do not think tonight is the appropriate time for this. Perhaps I shall forego supper…"
"No, Callium. You will not."
The knight looked up at the old man, a fierce glow shone in his eyes, "What right or power have you over me to dictate what I can or cannot do?"
"You should have heeded my words, Callium."
"Oh, and what indeed were your words which I must have carelessly disregarded, Master?" said Callium sarcastically as he leaned his cheek mockingly against his fist propped on one arm of his chair.
"I warned you not to underestimate her but you did."
Callium sighed impatiently and snapped, "Well, what a fool I must have been!"
Continuing in a more cynical tone, "But I must admit, Grêth, you were right. The girl was more than a mere peasant girl. There! Was that what you wanted me to say?"
Grêth's cobalt eyes were humorless and it stared deeply at the knight, "She was much more than that. You must not underestimate me as well. As I said earlier, I know you. At this moment, I know what you saw when that girl stood face to face with you!"
The knight remained silent, not wanting to face the old man.
"Kiana."
The sardonic façade disappeared almost immediately as the knight looked up at the grey old man, astonishment in his eyes, "You saw her in the girl as well?"
"Yes."
The knight turned and walked away from Grêth, "I could not believe my own eyes. I saw her Greth! I saw her spirit mirrored in that girl's eyes! Her spirit, her soul!"
"Her eyes were of a different shade…but the passion, the resilience…it was all Kiana… I never thought it was possible to see her again! Not after… not after…" his soft voice trailed away as he took a deep breath trying hard to control his emotions.
The old man drew towards the knight and laid a comforting hand on his shoulder, "It happened a long time ago, Callium. Yet still, you suffer from the ghosts of the past. Must the wound bleed anew?"
"It never healed, Grêth. It never stops bleeding. Never stops haunting me. Every day and every night. Like a nightmare that just recurs unceasingly."
The knight sighed exasperatingly and his voice quivered as he spoke, "Could it be possible, Grêth? Could this girl be…?"
At this he turned to the healer, a spark of hope in his copper eyes but the old man shook his head slowly and replied, "I have contemplated that matter over and over again, Callium, but I fear it could not be so. The matter remains unsupported by many obscure questions whose answers lead nowhere. That is why you must not forfeit your promised supper with Arianna. I believe she has the answers and perhaps… in time… we shall see."
Callium nodded slowly, "Aye, you are right, as always. So, seeing as I am having supper in about an hour, I must see to it that I am presentable enough. Since it also is a victorious night, there will be celebrations all over Waldǖrth. You will join me in attending every one, won't you, my old friend?"
Grêth smiled, "I would be a fool to turn down such an invitation. I will be there… and so will Arianna."
"See to it that she looks her best tonight."
"Of course, my lord, I shall see to it that she will look so."
The Master healer bowed respectfully and left the Lord Knight to contemplate over their recent conversation.
Twenty years have passed since I lost her…
Could this girl be the key to the mysteries of my haunting past?
Could she liberate me from my demons?
Could she lead me to Kiana…
