Fanelia, the new king
Fanelia was animated like rarely before as the sun rose in the sky, shining on the normally peaceful city. Their young prince was back, victorious, and there was no time to waste. The crowning ceremony had to take place as soon as possible.
Usually when a new king was crowned it was a few days, if not weeks after the return of their
liege from his journey, to not only prepare the ceremony and the festivities, but also so for the sake of the king's health, to let him heal from wounds, or rest after the hardships of the trial. The ceremony was then followed by a tournament, where the best warriors would compete to show their strength to the people, but also to show their king that he could count on them, that they could be his strength. And after that people would rejoice in dances, songs and different entertainment all over the city. It was a moment of joy and elation as the country was given a new leader, one chosen by Escaflowne himself.
Unfortunately, this time the coronation had to be rushed, and there would be no grand festivities among the people or in the streets afterward. The warriors and melefs were being prepared not to show their strength in friendly competition, but to face the looming shadow of war.
While the priests were assembled and the main plaza prepared, the sanctum of Escaflowne was being cleared for the awakening. Van was rushed to the palace under the acclamation of a part of the citizen, as the others ran to get everything ready, others were looking at him in hope and dread, happy to see their new king, but desperate for what would come next.
Rest would wait, as soon as Van was within the walls of the palace, the royal physicians ran to him, pushing him in a room to make sure he was as unhurt as possible, and healthy after his trial. They tended to his wounds, some bruises and minor cuts mostly, nothing serious, letting him go after making sure to clean and put healing salves on the worst of them.
Van took a few minutes to himself, enjoying the feeling of being back home, even with the excitement going on. He never thought this day would come, and not like this, things shouldn't be rushed as they were, it was supposed to be a grand day, a joyous event, it wasn't supposed to be him… He didn't even have the time to see his mother or sister. And there was likely very little time to do so now, he needed to meet his father and the generals, recounting to them how he won against the dragon, something he couldn't relate to Merle and his mother, too gruesome for them. Then he will have to change for the ceremony, to put on the ceremonial armor meant for the crowning ceremony, then he will enter the sanctum and… Meet Escaflowne. It will be his last trial, making the legendary melef wake from its slumber and recognize him as his pilot.
Just thinking about it, he could feel his hand shake, but it must be done. As his thoughts were taking a somber turn, someone barged into the room and barreled into his side. He barely caught the intruder, and returned the brutal hug. He lift the smaller form from the ground and spinned with it, a smile forming on his face for the first time in a long while.
"Merle, you're too old for this you know ? What would your nanny and Mother say if they were to see you act like that ?" Even if his words were meant to scold the younger girl in his arms, his tone was soft, he was just glad to be able to have his sister by his side, she must have been so worried. He could feel her tremble against him, she had yet to speak a single word to him. "Come on silly kitten, I'm here, I'm fine, don't cry, aren't you happy to see me ?"
She took a small step back, her eyes were filled with tears she was trying to wipe furiously. "I was so worried… I was so scared… Van I…" she was clutching at her heart, searching for her words. He understood, the anxiety has always been a part of his sister, ever since Folken… No, better not think about him, he doesn't have the time for that.
"Tell me, how is mother ? I've yet to hear about her."
Merle was biting her lips, as if she wanted to say something else, instead she answered his question.
"She is heartbroken Van, she is not herself anymore… I don't know, I just wish she would get better now that you're back but…"
Van closed his eyes, he knew it would be hard, not only on him of course, it will be hard for the whole kingdom, but still his heart ached for his mother who had to suffer so much, and would be hurt even more soon. He was being a good son, but he was a prince first, and his duty must come before his own heart.
"But the hardest part has yet to come." He took a long breath.
Merle was looking at the ground for a moment before lifting her face toward him, she looked determined for some reason "Van !... I must tell you… I…"
She couldn't finish her phrase, as a knock came from the door, and the voice of a page filtered from the other side.
"Your highness, the council have assembled, they are waiting for you."
For some reason Merle's expression turned sour, but time was of the essence, he couldn't stay with her any longer. She would have to wait to talk to him.
"I will see you later Merle, go to mother, and get ready, it's almost time" He gave her a gentle smile before leaving.
The page led him to the council room, where he would recount his trial to his father, and the four generals and the high priest, then he will be led to a chamber to change before the ceremony. Only after that will he be let into the sanctum of Escaflowne. He felt nervous, but there was no turning back, this was his fate, it just came earlier than expected.
The council was taking place in the deeper part of the palace, and was a room he never liked as a child. It was dark, and gloomy for a child, the maps on the walls were intimidating, and the long tables where troupes were represented as small figurines were unsettling when he was a child old enough to understand what they meant. This room will become an important part of his work and daily life from now on.
The priest was on the far right, while the generals were gathered on each side of his father. His father's face was stern, his posture regal as he sat on his chair, waiting for him to give the details of his hunt.
He kneeled before his king, lowering his head, the drag energist he obtained had been placed between him and his father on a display unit faintly glowing under the light of the few torches scattered around the room. It was almost eerie in a way, how such a small piece of crystal could give such weight and power to a man.
"Van Slanzar de Fanel, you stand before us today after going through the sacred trial of hunting a dragon and bringing back its energist. You shall now tell us how you managed to complete your hunt, as per tradition, for the future generations, and for us to see if you are fit to take the crown."
He lifts his head and starts retelling his journey. How he studied his ancestors' history and devised a strategy to successfully hunt a dragon, how he chose where his hunting would take place, how he took his time in choosing the right dragon, and the preparations of the right site to have the fight. How he extracted the energist from the body and went back to the capital.
"I stand here before you after going through the trial as my ancestors have done, may Escaflowne judge me fitting for the crown" Not once during his tale did his eyes leave his father's face, nor his voice wavered. As he finished his tale, the silence weighed on the room, his eyes did not left his father's. It was hard to read his expression, was he proud or skeptical of his youngest son ?
Gaou closed his eyes, the time as come, listening to his son retelling how he hunted down a dragon to bring back its core, was something that filled him with both pride and sorrow. Van was strong, he was now the new lawful king, something he had always wanted to see, his successor ascending the throne. But he still have this image of the small bundle of blanket the midwife put in his arms not so long ago, of the small child calling him father with utter joy and adoration, of the young boy who wanted to train with him and Balgus as he picked a wooden sword for the very first time. Van was now a young man, strong, fierce, and maybe too young and foolish for what was to come. He went to war in his time, it was something he always hoped would not taint his children's lives, but the world does not care for a father's desires. Today his son was a man, and he acknowledged this. He was now facing the new king. May the dragon protect him.
"Rise Van Slanzar de Fanel, you have completed the dragon hunt, this council recognize your strength and acknowledges you as the new king of Fanelia. May your reign be long and prosperous."
As Van rose from his kneeling position, he took the energist with him, as the generals and the priest were repeating "Long live the king, bless the dragon of Fanelia." he nodded at his father and followed the priest toward the room where he would change for the ceremony, it was to take place on the high plaza outside the castle, for the people to see him be crowned.
The priest kept chanting blessing while passing him the pieces of armors, it was very formal, but for Van it felt like a masquerade, the armor feeling to big for him, he have yet reached his adult height, and the weight of the ceremonial armor felt too heavy and at the same time constricting. Finally the priest attached the cape on his shoulders, and they departed for the plaza.
The center of the plaza was occupied by his father, wearing his own armor, flanked by the high priest and two other high ranking priests to assist him for the crowning. Around the plaza the generals were kneeling with their most trusted soldiers behind them, the citizens present were on the outskirts of the plaza, the nobles before the common folks.
High above the plaza, watching from a balcony was the queen, dignified in her ceremonial dress, by her side the flash of pink of his sister hair could be seen, some other nobles women were also on some of the balconies of the palace, watching from afar, it was usual for women to stay away during the ceremony. not by clear tradition, but some were not comfortable to be too close to the warriors, others stayed at the palace for other reasons, like health or age. It was his mother, and sister's role to stay among them, to show that a ruler was always among them.
All eyes were on him, he could feel the pressure of the gazes on his shoulders as he walked to the high priest and his father. Once at the center, he kneeled as the priest made the traditional speech of blessing, asking him to swear on Escaflowne to be a just king for his country, and a protector for his people. He answered loud and clear that he would lead Fanelia into the future, and the priest turned to his father, bowing humbly before him and waited with his hands outstretched. King Gaou took a step toward him, reaching for his sword, and putting it in the hand of the high priest. The high priest bowed once more before turning himself toward Van, he lifted the sword as high as his old arms could, holding it so everyone could see it.
"Van Fanel, king of Fanelia, I bestow upon thee this sword as proof of thy accession to the throne." As he spoke, he opened the scabbard slightly, enough so the royal crest present on the sword could shine in the light, before closing it once again, and extending the sword to Van "Long may you reign."
Van rose to his feet and took the sword from the high priest and put it at his waist, while the crowd exploded in cheers
"LONG LIVE THE KING !" were chanted over and over. as he made his way toward the sanctum of Escaflowne, flanked by the four generals and his father, people bowing and kneeling at his approach. Only his father would enter the sanctum with him, the doors would stay open and the generals would stay at the entrance.
Inside the sanctum, the air was cold, crisp, and the faint smell of flowers and incense permeated the air. On the far wall a giant tapestry depicting the ascension to the throne of the first king of Fanelia was standing regal even after years, he rarely saw it, only once a year during the new year ceremony, when the royal family come as a whole to the sanctum for blessing for the year to come and let rest the year passed. In front of the tapestry were three stones, the graves of the first kings, there were no names on them anymore only a slab where their history was briefly resumed in an ancient version of fanelian that no one speaked anymore aside from some scholars.
The ground in the center of the sanctum was covered by a mosaic representing the god Escaflowne curled on himself in slumber. Each ring of his body was meant to be part of the antic mechanism that would permit the awakening of the guymelef. As for the Escaflowne…
Directly above the mosaic a huge rock was suspended by chains from the ceiling, ensnaring it like in a net metal. This was known as "The Egg", a matrix of stone that covered the legendary guymelef when he was put to rest. No one knows how it does, theories were that it was to await its next awakening, regaining it's strength, and that it was a rebirth each time.
Van learned of how his father, coming back victorious from the war, with his mother at his side, took the Escaflowne to rest here in the sanctum, and lay it to rest, praying to not have to wake it anymore during his reign. In a way his wishes came true, Gaou was not the one who would make it from its slumber today.
As he walked to the center of the mosaic, his father helped him remove the layers of armor, only leaving him the sword, and the energist he had kept in a pouch at his side. Gaou stayed away from the mosaic, observing with a heavy heart his son waking up the dragon.
Once in the center, Van took the enregist in his right hand, and the sword out of its scabbard, and with its blade, slightly cut his right thumb to let the blood flow down into the dragon core. He then lifted his arm high above him, presenting his offering and vow. As his blood was absorbed by the crystal, it started to glow brightly, and he spoke.
"I Van Fanel, new king of Fanelia, binds myself by blood pact to thee Escaflowne. Now sleeping dragon AWAKE !"
The rings of the mosaic started to glow up and start to spin, creating a wind engulfing the new king in its embrace, making it sound like the howl of a great beast. As the light intensified, a lightning of blue energy ascended from the ground and struck the stone egg above, creating cracks of light in the stone.
Within seconds, just like it's name implied, the Egg cracked open, the stone breaking apart as finally the divine armor within broke free. the fragments dissolving in the light like they never were presents in the first place. The rings stopped spinning, and the light rescind as the armor falled to the ground before its new master, one knee to the ground, waiting.
As soon as the white melef was set, Van jumped up on its knee toward the pink heart of the armor. After a last ritual gesture to present the gleaming orb in his hand to its new body, he pushed the energist toward the heart of Escaflowne, but instead of meeting the hard surface, his hand and the gem went through like it was made of suspended water. The feeling was peculiar, there was no resistance, and it wasn't cold nor slimy, it left no residue on his skin, nothing, but he didn't dwell on it, instead he put the energist deep into the heart, reaching the bottom of the heart and left the energist in its new place. For a second he felt like a heartbeat as his fingers left the energist, but he didn't focus on it, getting his arm out of the chamber.
As soon as his hand left the crystal, its start glowing brightly and the energist started to move inside like a beating heart, picking up pace as the second ticked by. Soon the clear crystal chamber stopped glowing, and the transparency faded to opaqueness.
The main chamber of the melef opened, waiting for its new pilot to take place, and Van jumped in it. As the armor closed around him while he took place, he saw his father start walking toward the doors and the generals. He took a moment to assess the commands he only ever read about during his studies from records of his ancestors, and stories of his father, before taking control of it, and making the giant rise to its feets, and take the first step toward the doors.
As he reached the plaza once again, he took care to avoid the people gathered there, then he reached for the back of the Escaflowne and pulled its sword out. Holding it in front of him the short sword then extended to its full size and he brandished it high in a gesture of victory. All over the city, screams of elation were shouted as the new king was recognized by the god of dragons. There may be a war brewing but there is hope, and surely victory will be granted to them, granted by the grace of the white dragon chosen one.
After a while, Van maneuvered the melef back toward the hangar, where mechanics and servants would take care of it properly while the new crowned king went back to the palace. There was much to be done.
The day had been long and the celebration was tainted with worries, but small events still took place for the day. A feast would be held in the palace and at last Van got a moment to go to his rooms and rest. He let himself fall on his bed, falling asleep quickly, the exhaustion of the day catching him. He woke up a few hours later, surprised no one had come to him for any reason, but he was sure his parents made sure he was left alone to rest, and judging by the time dinner, and the feast would start soon, he had the time to wash up before going.
As he got out of his bathroom in a fresh set of clothes, a knock came to his door, and a maid announced the presence of his mother. He let her know to let her in immediately, and for the first time since a moon had passed van was in the presence of his mother. How he had missed her, and how he was forced to admit she changed in such a short time.
She still held herself like the queen she is, but he could see she had lost weight, and the dark circles under her eyes looked way too important even with her careful makeup. He made a sign to the maid to leave them alone, and as soon as the door closed, he went to her. She reached for him as the beginning of a sob passed her thin lips.
"Mother, I missed you, forgive me for the worries I gave you" he embraced his mother, and she felt so frail in his arms, had she ever felt like this ? His mother's hugs had always been something he enjoyed, they were warm and comforting, but right now it was different. She was mumbling against his shoulder.
"Van my little dove, you're back. Thanks the Escaflowne. Please don't go… No dragon, no war, please, please, please, no…"
"Mother ?" He could feel her trembling against him and had no idea what to do
They stayed like this for a long moment, before the maid knocked on the door once again, announcing it was time for the feast. His mother took a step back, her eyes filled with unshed tears, and it was a sight that was painful.
Regaining their composure, Van escorted his mother to the dinning hall, they were joined by Merle on their way, and his father was waiting for them at the doors. A servant announced their presence and the rest of the evening passed with tainted joy, and tensed anticipation.
When morning came, Van got up with the sun and went to do his morning sword training with Balgus. Once it was done, and even as his mentor kept telling him he couldn't hesitate in a fight, they made their way once again, to the council room where the rest of the generals and his father were going to discuss, and decide the next step to make.
Hours later and they were still nowhere near an actual plan. The empire was far away, and their technology was a massive drawback for the kingdom; they had no idea how many soldiers and melef the empire possessed, or how many troops their allies had lent them. As for fanelian troops, even if every vassals were to send their best warriors, and their allies were to help, there was no telling how to transport them, and to where. How can they plan a battle when the very battlefield was still unknown ?
They already send letters and missives to their allies of Freid and the strained relationship with Daedalus, but getting their replies would take time, and it was another unknown for the kingdom : How much time do they have before the empire decided to strike them ?
They were divided in how to proceed, between taking the soldiers and the Escaflowne and going to Zaibaich directly and strike the enemy directly, and the ones preferring to wait and fight on the outskirts of the land where they knew the grounds, and could fight. Van was listening, giving his opinion, but was still too young and immature for some of them, they would need him to fight, but not to risk his life, having him acting reckless would be a disaster.
As the hours stretched, and no further progress was made, an urgent knocking at the door made them lift their heads from possible battle plans. A guard barged in the room, panting like he had run from the outer gates to the council room without a break, bowing deeply before speaking.
"Your Majesties ! Ha.. It's urgent ! Uff… Letter !"
"What's the meaning of this soldier ?!"
"Are we under attack ?!"
It only took a hand gesture from Gaou to silence everyone, and the soldier, still out of breath, was now on his knees, brow to the ground.
"Enough, breathe soldier, and tell us what have you barged in for."
The soldier took a few second to try to catch his breath befor lifting his head from the ground and addressing king Gaou
"Forgive me your Majesty, but a letter has come from the Arzas village, it's… it seems to be from the same p-person from before, the… the one that helped save the kingdom from… the plague Sir."
Balgus rose from his chair at the soldier's words.
"Are you sure about that ?"
"Yes Sir ! I mean No Sir ! I mean…"
"Speak clearly." It was always humbling to see Balgus exert his authority without ever raising his voice, both his stature and reputation were more than enough, and the soldier looked ready to pass out.
"A wolf from Arzas arrived earlier to the gates, and he claimed to have been sent by the elders of the village to deliver a letter from the same messenger that saved the kingdom from the plague Sir general."
"Do you have the letter ?"
"No Sir, it's still in the possession of the messenger."
"And where is the messenger soldier ?"
"He should be reaching the castle soon Sir, he should be led to the throne room to ask for an audience with their Majesties, my superior had me rush to you to inform the kings Sir."
"At peace soldier, you did your mission, you can leave and rest now."
The soldier bowed down once more and then left. Gaou left the table to walk toward the door
"Well, it looks like we may have new information now, Van let's go."
"Yes father."
"Your Highness ! It could be a sham !"
"Then it's a sham that saved my life and the lives of my people all these years ago. You need to learn to trust more general Asona."
Gaou and Van left the council room followed by Balgus as the three generals put some order to the room before following them.
"Here he goes again, his majesty never changes heh ?" said Luva, smiling as yet again his king trust was put in the unknown
"One day his trust won't be enough and i fear the price we may all pay for it" answered general Asona
"You better not try the king too much Asona, I remember far too well what happened to the last fool who disrespected the sense of trust king Gaou had" chastised general Yurizen, he had been among the doctors sent to help heal said fool after all. And they all knew what Yurizen was referring to. They too had been skeptical of the king's choice of wife back then, but they never opposed him or his instinct. They grew up with Gaou, and went to war with him, they respect and trust their king.
They locked the door behind them and went to witness the audience between the kings and the messenger. When they arrived a young wolf was kneeling in front of the throne, king Gaou was sitting on it while Van was standing next to him.
"May the dragon bless your Majesties, I'm Lang from the Arzas village, I'm here today on behalf of the elders of the village."
"Well met young Lang, what does your elders have to say for them to send you here so urgently?"
"I…" the young wolf, maybe a bit younger than Van, seemed lost for words for a moment before regaining his composure. "The elders sended me as I was the fastest messenger in the tribe. They received a letter meant for your Majesties, they say it's from the same sender as the one who helped with the plague."
"How do they know? Have they read the letter themselves?"
"No your Highness, they did not, but I've been told it arrived in the same way as the first letter, and sported the same scent."
"And how did your elders received this letter?"
"I've not been informed, your Highness, I'm only the carrier of the message."
"And they are certain of the senders and veracity?"
"Yes."
As king Gaou took a moment of reflection, Van's thoughts were pondering the veracity of this letter. The first letter saved his father's life and the lives of many citizens, but back then he had been a child, and never saw that letter up close. He learned of its existence years later during his studies. He always thought the timing of it was strange, who could have sent it and how come the reclusive elders of the wolf tribe did not know who sent it, or were willing to say how it reached them. How did that letter and its sender know what needed to be done?
Fanelia had been facing a crisis, and this letter had helped solve it. Now as Fanelia once again was facing a difficult time, a letter arrived, sent by the Arzas village? It was suspicious, even if well meant.
"What can you tell me about this letter young Lang? As you have not read it, what does its scent tell you? Can you give us any information about the sender with your capacities?"
"Forgive me your Highness, my nose is not the sharpest of my people, I can't give you much information."
"Give us the ones you can."
"... It smells like no paper or ink I've ever encountered as a messenger, so it must have come from far away. I could faintly smell salt and sea coming from the paper, but I don't know how far or where. The ink smell is fainter, but I can still say it's made from some soot from a wood essence I don't know and some kind of glue, but I can't tell what, I've never smelled anything like it before. That's all I can tell you, your Majesty."
"So, according to you, is this letter genuine?"
"I don't know your Majesty, but it comes from far away for sure."
"Mmmh. Have you been in contact with the first letter when it arrived in your tribe?"
"No your Highness, I was too young, barely a pup back then, I only heard of it when I started my training to be a messenger last year."
"I see, what do you think Van?"
Van was taken aback by his father's question, he had never asked for his opinion before, or at least never in public. But then again, he was king now, and if his father was still regent, the crown and its responsibilities were now his too. As such, reflected on the situation at hand.
The war council was stuck for now, their army still needed some time to assemble fully and be ready for battle, and time was against them.
The last time a letter of unknown origin reached them through Arzas, it saved them. He had studied the first letter, read the reports made by the experts, and if they had been unable to find much about it, they had come to a similar conclusion as the wolf messenger before them. Whoever sended it, had helped them before, and maybe it will help them again. It should have been already checked for poison, and Lang would have smelled it if anything was amiss. Even if the timing was once again suspicious, there was no helping it.
"Let's see the content of this letter, we will see if it will be useful this time too."
"Well said. Lang, fulfill your mission, and give us the letter."
"Yes ! Here it is, your Majesties." Lang took an envelope from the inside of his jacket, and rose to his feet, walked to the throne and bowed to the waist as he presented the letter to the two kings.
"You can go rest, Lang of Arzas, we shall let you know if a message shall be sent back to your elders."
"Thank you, your Majesty." Then the wolf man left the throne room. Gaou inspected the envelope in his hands, turning it in his hands, but as he had been told, there was no seal or visible sigil to see, only the words "To the Dragons of Fanelia".
As the generals approached their lieges, he pointed to his son how the word dragon had been written plural, meaning whomever sent it meant for the both of them to receive it. The last letter had been addressed to Varie with the words "For the Queen".
"Let's see what this is about. Van read it aloud."
"Yes father." Van took the envelope and opened it, there was no was seal on it, but it was well folded, in a manner completely unique, reinforcing the possibility of the same sender as the first letter.
"To the Dragons of Fanelia, may the stars bless you from beyond the sky even if my letter is not bearing good news.
I write to you to warn you of the danger lurking in the dark. The empire has its eyes turned toward you, and they won't stop at nothing to get what they desire. Their greed will bring doom under their gaze.
They will destroy your kingdom to get their hands on the dragon god. Heed my words you MUST NOT LET THEM GET THE WHITE DRAGON NO MATTER WHAT! If you wake him, I beg of you to hide it, do not engage in battle with the white dragon, it would be your, and Gaea's doom.
My words may sound preposterous, but I have to warn you, they WANT it, and seeked a war with your kingdom in the hope to seize the dragon on the battlefield.
Their army is far too strong at the moment, and they have dragonslayers specifically trained in fire and blood on the lookout for Fanelia. You must hide the dragon for the time being, and wait for the right time for it to strike and be victorious.
Let the white dragon turn to the West, he needs to leave its nest, but it's not strong enough yet. The dragon is still too young for the war, he needs help first. Do not let him hide in the South, the temples are under the eye of the empire too.
You need to send troops to the north of the kingdom at the borders before the mountains, and send soldiers to keep the Chatal Mountains safe. Send decoys among the troops, the eyes of the empire do not have a clear view of the dragon, they only know its vague shape, and its color, they will follow what they see as their prey. They will start fights by the sky and you won't see them, they hide themselves too well, but the water can't hide them.
Fear not for the mountains of the Fangs, what reaches the sky there is safe from the rest of the world, what lay there shall not be disturbed. The nests are safe.
The young dragon needs to hide the white god, and to make his way toward Jesha's domain. He needs to find allies within the sea dragon abode, they will help him reach an informant that will lead them toward what the empire seeks. To weaken the empire, and make the war reach its end, you will need this person.
I beg of you to heed my words, find the merchant with a heart in Jesha's city, he will help you find the way.
I beg of you to put faith in my words.
May the Dragon of the Sky protect you." That's it, there is no signature, wait there is one more thing written, it's… addressed to mother? "The Missing Feather is alive, but it's lost, time will tell if it finds its way back to its nest, or gets swept by the wind."
It makes no sense, this letter is no help at all it seems. In fact it's more suspicious than anything."
"I agree with king Van, this letter is a scam! Whoever wrote it must be working for the empire!" General Asona exclaimed. "How could this person ask us to obey such nonsense!"
"The content is rather cryptic, I give you that Asona, but at least it gives us precious information, we can't dismiss them without investigation." Argued the general Yurizen.
"That person is not a warrior, that's for sure! Hiding the Escaflowne? Scattering the troops? That's nonsense!" General Luva looked ready to tear the letter to pieces, like it had offended him personally.
"My king, this letter seems too precise in its warnings, only a spymaster would be able to gather such information. But an unknown spy whose loyalty is undetermined can be more dangerous." As usual, Balgus was more worried for the safety of the crown, he was one of the few swordmaster of Gaea, and thought before going headfirst into a battle.
Gaou looked more pensive after the reading, taking the paper from his son's hands to re-read it himself "... This letter mentions the Nests, and a missing feather… This directly refers to Varie, and something she only may understand… There is a message for her after all, maybe she will understand more of it than us. Look at the letter Balgus, what do you see yourself? Don't you think the writing is unusual in its form? You've traveled all over Gaea, does anything aside from the message look familiar to you?"
"You're talking about penmanship, my king? It's unusual, but readable, the strokes look peculiar, I've never seen a quill stroke like this. The shapes of the letters too… The first letter was written by someone young, with misspelling and the letters were uneven, someone who was learning the common letters no doubts. If it's the same person, they now have mastered the language, but we can still see their foreign roots…" Balgus was pensive, this letter was more confusing by the minutes.
"A spy, even a beginner, knows how to not show any identification marks in their messages. This person learned to write young, in their native way, then learned the common way later on. It still shows, and none of us is familiar with what their original tongue may be, but the paper and ink came from afar." Yurizen resumed. "The message may be cryptic, but you mentioned the queen may be able to understand part of it. Even if I would not want to bother her with military affairs, it seems we need to consult her over this. you Majesties. Do you think she may know who sent it?"
"No, she didn't know who sent the first letter, and I doubt this fact changed since then, but we shall see if she can solve part of this mystery. Come." As king Gaou left the room, Van and the generals followed him. Balgus and Luva didn't looked happy about it, one because he would prefer to not involve the queen, the other because his view of none fighter women as useless in war matters. Asona looked tired, the situation and his age were not easy for the old general, and Yurizen kept an eye on him just in case, he was a doctor before a warrior afterall.
A servant told them the queen was in the inner garden and when they arrived, she was sitting looking in the distance toward the great tree overlooking the palace.
"My queen, I must interrupt your meditation." No one was going to say what was really happening before their eyes, the queen was not meditating, she was lost in her own sorrow. She must have been done with her duties for the day and took solace in the garden, as she had always been partial to the outdoors.
She looked startled for a second when she was called out but still rose to her feet with poise.
"My King, Van, generals, what are you doing here?" Balgus noticed a maid in the corner flinching at the queen addressing her son without his new title, he frowned at her and she left.
Gaou made a gesture, and the generals stood back, leaving their lieges to discuss, there was no need to overwhelm the queen with their presence looming over her frail body. Not when they were wearing their full armors, they all knew the queen was not keen to see reminders of violence. She tolerated the presence of the royal sword, but more than necessary was where she crossed the line, her security never showed weapons openly, and were discreet, the fact she attended ladies' meetings and tea parties was another reason, it wouldn't have heavily armed soldiers and guards at such events.
Van speaked first, she would listen to him more easily, she was always more responsive to her son.
"Mother we received a letter, from whom seems to be the same sender from the letter back during the plague." Gaou took a seat next to his wife, inviting her to sit again. As Van talked, he took the letter from his pocket and gave it to his wife.
"Another letter? Now? Dragon's mercy is the situation that dire? Why are you giving it to me?"
"The content is rather cryptic, but there seems to be something addressed to you specifically, we wanted to know if you could understand what it means, or can you tell us anything about the sender?"
Varie looked unsure about what was happening, but started to read the letter. She took breaks in her reading, mouthing the words silently, pondering before racing the end of the missive. And when she re-read the message meant for her, her eyes filled with tears.
"Varie?""Mother?" "Majesty?"
"Varie tell me what it is, is there a threat? "
"Folken… it's about Folken, this person say Folken is alive. Oh Gaou, our Folken is alive!"
"What are you saying mother?"
"Look, it's how I used to call your brother when he was little."
"Do you think the sender knows him? Where is he?"
"I don't know, but the way they speak of the nests… they know things, Gaou as if they…" Varie stopped her sentence, as she made a realization. Then folded the letter back in its envelope and put it on the table. She took a long breath, closing her eyes to regain some composure. "This letter is a warning to help us, I don't know who sent this or why, but this is to help us, no one would speak of that place like this if they had bad intentions about it.
This is the second time they are trying to help us, without expecting anything in return. I… I think we should put some faith in this mysterious writer."
"Mother, if it's a spy we don't know who they work for and…"
"No Van, I doubt they have been ordered by anyone… Anyway, this letter seems reasonable enough, dispatching the troops to the most sensitive parts of the kingdom. And since we don't know from where the attacks may come, it looks logical to not send the Escaflowne right away on the front lines, right?" The generals were having a hard time seeing their queen so energetic about battle plans, something in that letter must have triggered her. Too bad it wasn't approved by everyone.
"I refuse to hide, I've never turned my back to the enemy!" Van's blood was boiling, how could that letter dictated his actions? This war only concerns Fanelia, not some nobody on the other side of the world with no idea of what they were talking about, he doesn't know how but they managed to manipulate his mother, he refuses to act like a coward!
"Enough Van! You're not a child anymore! Think of the future! You can't run headfirst into danger! You need a plan and THIS is a plan!" This shocked everyone, Queen Varie was never a person to raise her voice in front of anyone or lose her calm and composure, even less at her children. The generals straightened up by reflex at the authority in her voice, while her son and husband were lost for words.
"Mother…"
"Varie? Do you…?"
"No, not this time, you WILL listen to me, all of you. As your queen, you will obey my orders, you will send troops and white melefs to the borders, and the Escaflowne won't go to the battlefield until we can be sure it won't end up in a trap. My son's life is YOUR KING life! You're supposed to protect it, not throw it away! Well? What are you waiting for? For the dragons to spew water?"
With this, Varie dismissed the generals, having for the first time ordered them, and for the first time in a long while showed life and vigor.
Once they were gone, Varie turned to her beloved son, who was still speechless at her attitude. Her little dove… if she was right about who sent this letter, then it was time for him. How she dreaded something like this ever happening, but the letters… she should have known with the first one, but there was nothing she could do, not now, not then, she was powerless in front of this.
She was angry, terribly so, and exhausted, but she was still the queen and she did received an answer to her prayers, it was time to pay back what she owed.
"You will take the Escaflowne to safety, to the south in the mountains, go to Kakurega then you will be able to hide the Escaflowne where the Taki take source."
"And then what?! Hide like a coward?!"
"Do not take that tone with me! You've never been through a war, Van! We need allies, and this letter gave us exactly what we need and where we can find them!"
"What are you talking about Varie, there is no mention of such things in it."
"The heart of Jesha's domain is a nickname of Asturia isn't it? This spy is telling us that we will find help and allies in Asturia."
"They will never help us and you know it, Aston won't lift a finger, in fact he will probably side with Zaibach."
"The letter doesn't mention the kingdom, nor the king, but it mentions someone else, a merchant, does it not? Gaou, trust me please."
Gaou never liked butting heads with Varie, he was weak for her, and they had rarely fought. He never questioned her about some things, respecting her and her privacy, and right now she looks so sure, so determined, she obviously knows something. This time he will have to ask, and she will have to answer, it was too serious to keep secrets, not when their kingdom and son lives were on the line. But he can't ask with Van present, he may know of his parentage, but like him, had never questioned his mother further.
"We need to make preparations, it will take some time, Van you too."
"What! But..!"
"You're the new king Van, but there's still a lot you need to learn. I need to speak with your mother, leave us."
"Fine." He watched as his son left with a huff, he remembered when he was his age, how he had acted the same way under differing circumstances. He will learn, but right now, after making sure they were alone, Gaou turned to his wife for an overdue conversation…
It took two weeks for the army to be fully assembled, and for several melefs of similar built to be painted white and disguised to look like the Escaflowne, that fact was kept from the public of course. During that time, Van relentlessly trained, both piloting and using the legendary melef, but also on his own with the royal sword. He had always trained with swords of similar
forms, to prepare him for his inheritance of the royal sword, but now it was his, better be comfortable with it. Time seemed to pass too slowly for him and too fast for other people. His mother seem to have regain her energy, she was now directing the people to prepare, making sure there was escapes routes, supplies and support in case of an attack on the capital, but also making plans for all over the kingdom, directing farmers to prepare in case their fields were damaged, and making enough to survive if anything were to happen.
But she refused to answer any of his questions, and she avoided him when she could, it hurt to see her ignore him like this. His father, when they were not discussing strategies and plans, assured him it was because she was suffering to send him to war, but he still knew she was hiding something from him.
Merle tried to spend time with him, but it was always cut short, someone either asking for him, or her being called to attend to her own duties. He was sure his sister would be sent to safety with their people if anything were to happen, but she kept claiming she would go to him at first notice.
The plan was simple: after reports were made of suspicious movements at the borders, general Luva and Asona would lead the Tusk and Horn army to the borders, while general Yurizen stayed in Fanelia with the claw Army, as he was first a doctor. Balgus would start his journey toward Asturia, officially in search of his old student at Fort Castelo near the border of Asturia, while Van was taking the Escaflowne to its hideout, a fact he still abore, and then rejoin Balgus in the Chatal Mountains, then they would go to Asturia to find the so called "merchant with a heart".
The day of his departure, Merle cried, fleeing to the deeper parts of the palace after wishing him well. His mother took him in her arms for the first time since the letter was placed in her hands, and he could tell she was fighting back tears as she told him to have faith, in what she didn't say. His father placed his hand on his shoulder, telling him he was proud of him, and the simple gesture sent warmth in him.
As he leaves the capital piloting the Escaflowne leading the troops until they part in the forest to their respective outpost, Van resolved to protect his kingdom with everything he had.
Once the Escaflowne was secured in one of the Taki caves, hidden and secured, Van started his journey.
He would find the merchant, and the author of the letter, he would win the war and make sure the Zaibach empire regret ever trying to invade his kingdom.
Little did he know he would find much more than he imagined during his journey.
Time for some trivia about the chapter content !
First of all : Lang (the messenger you won't remember) is the Chinese word for wolf, no originality here, sorry.
As for the letter, I researched how sumi (the traditional japanese ink) is made, and guessed what it could smell like for a sharp nose like a canine one based on what it's made of. Do I enjoy making seemingly useless research ? yes. Does it help the plot at all ? not really, but it gives you readers some tiny clues and trivia and facts. It helped build the world of my fanfic. Plus maybe one of the characters at some point may, or not, link things together later and understand more…
Kakurega means hideout, and Taki waterfall, me? subtle? yeah, like a brick falling on a pie.
As for the conversation between Varie and Gaou, you will have to wait in another chapter, to have the content of it. Stay tuned !