Birthright: Lord of Arda (20 page)

Chapter XXXVI

Braden

Braden sat staring over the books laid out in front of him on Page's desk, he could hear Troy trying to mouth words on the balcony with Page. The old man had taken it upon himself to teach the boy to read. Troy was picking it up quickly but was still struggling with some of the more complex words. Braden had been taught first by his mother and then by Bronn. Soon after he had begun to train with a sword.

“A swordsman's mind should be as sharp as his blade”

He had always quoted when Braden had complained about reading yet another book instead of being out in the fields in the sun. He gazed back over everything in front of him, it was a combination of books on the Drake lands, their family history, the history of Arda and it’s royal family and also one on proper etiquette between nobility. It was a lot to take in and he was sure the majority of it would slip out of his mind as soon as it went in. He rubbed his eyes for the fourth time in as many minutes, the sun had reached its zenith and had started to go down a few hours ago. He had been at this since the morning. He had been about to travel out with Ashe into the city, when Page had grabbed him and pulled him back to the desk. She was going to see if she could find Kingston again and try and learn more about him and the book. Alex had left before sunrise to go to Cecile's workshop, he was determined to be there for every hammer stroke of the new armour that Cecile was forging.

"A Lord must first be greeted by his full name and title, example 'Lord Edward Kar', once you have been greeted in kind, you are able to address him by just his title and family name."

Braden continued reading the book aloud. It seemed to sink in quicker when he read it aloud.

"Lord Braden Drake."

He looked up to see Page standing in front of him, the old man smiled back at him.

"It doesn't sound right." Braden questioned.

"Well you will need to get used to it. Lord Drake."

"Please don’t, please call me Braden."

"I am only teasing Braden, but you do know that as from tomorrow I will be forced by society to refer to you as Lord Drake."

"Only if the King accepts me."

"Well, I see no reason why he shouldn’t. The evidence we have in your favour, should win us the day and you your lands and titles."

"Should? That doesn't sound very convincing."

"Minor details, now come over here."

Braden moved out from behind the desk, his legs ached from being bent for so long, stretching them out as he walked over to the old man near the balcony. As he got closer, Page turned away gesturing him to follow him onto the balcony. Stepping into the light he looked over to see Troy sitting with his back against the stone pillar. He had three books around him with a further one in his hand, he was reading aloud to Magnus who sat at his feet. He glanced up to Braden with a big grin on his face and large bags under his eyes.

"Braden, do you know the story of the Bard and the Lion?"

"Yes I read that one as a child, have you got to the end yet?"

"No why, what happens?" He asked.

"I won’t spoil it for you. Go on, get back to it."

Troy jumped back to his book with a new vigour, as Braden turned back to Page, who was gazing out into the horizon. Braden moved next to him. Page had supplied him with a complete new wardrobe including three sets of general clothes, one set currently being made by Panorin, and a full set of riding gear. Braden wondered how much it had cost him to feed and clothe the group. Ashe had spoken to Panorin's girls, who had told her that the clothes that had been made by the tailor would cost more than some of the Knights would earn in a year. The man was apparently the most sought-after tailor in Arda, but somehow for Page, he had come within forty eight hours. Braden looked over towards the old man, and wondered how many favours had he used since they had arrived in Alton.

"It has cost a lot, not only in a monetary terms but in others ways also." Page said.

"What?"

"I could tell you have been wondering, I would be if I was in your place. Yes this has cost me a lot Braden, in some cases I have had to use favours that I had been storing up for years, to get you in front of the King without having your head chopped off, and mine too."

"Your head?"

"Pretending to be a nobleman is a capital offence, one that’s punishable by death. I assume you had read that part in the books I gave you? What it doesn't say is that anyone in league with the offending party is also punishable by death. So that means me."

"But that also means, Alex and Ashe and even Troy."

Braden had raised his voice, he hadn’t realised that he was putting his friends in danger. He had left Farnshire to get away from the danger not to endanger the others further. He understood that he would be in danger but not them.

"No, do not worry, I have made steps to ensure that they are not involved. If anything goes wrong it will come down to me and you. And do not worry, nothing is going to happen to us anyway."

Braden turned and looked at Troy who was still engrossed in his book, his heart had leapt for a moment wondering what was going to happen to them all. As he continued looking down at the boy Page placed a hand on his shoulder.

"I know how much your friends mean to you Braden, so I have made sure that they are safe, no matter what happens. This is your birth-right, this belongs to you as much as that ring and your sword. Now relax, it’s quiz time, what do you do when you first meet the King?"

Chapter XXXVII

Ashe

Ashe took a seat at the same table as she had sat the day before. She wore a different cloak just in case any of the regular patrons recognised her. She had spent most of her life in constant suspicion of everyone around her. She had changed her attire and looks as much as possible and had kept on the move. She had only been at the table ten minutes when Kingston stopped beside her.

"Good day Ashe. How are we this fine day?"

"Hello Mr Lyfield, I am ok. I didn’t come here for pleasantries though, I came because of the book."

A smile appeared on the old man's face, at first it looked cold then Ashe realised it was more like relief.

"I hoped as much but this is not the best place for us to discuss this. Please follow me, my shop is not too far from here and we can talk more openly."

Before Ashe could answer, he turned away from her and began walking back up the street waving his stick out in front of him, Ashe got up slowly from her seat and began to follow Kingston through the crowd. As he walked, he caught a few people on the shin and the back of their legs. Most people kept out of the old man's way, allowing the two of them to make good time through the streets. His shop was just a few roads away. From the outside it looked like any book-store, but as she stepped inside Ashe noticed that it wasn’t exactly the most popular store on the street. The shelves were covered in dust, much of Kingston's stock hadn't been touched or cleaned in years. She stood in the door-way looking over the shop, the years of mistrust was built up in her mind and forced her to stop.

"Ashe, do you mind closing the door please. It does get a little draughty in here if it’s kept open."

She pushed the fear to the back of her mind and closed the door. Kingston made his way behind the counter towards the rear of the shop feeling his way around until he came across a stool he was looking for. Plonking himself down onto it, he twisted his legs under the counter and faced in the general direction of the door and Ashe. She slowly made her way across the room, purposely moving to one side to see if the old man's head followed her. She got within touching distance of the counter, he moved again. Reaching under the counter, he pulled out a book similar in size to the one, he had given her the day before.

"Did you bring the book I gave to you yesterday?"

Instinctively, she reached to where the book was hidden under her cloak, she rubbed her fingers over the edge and the cover.

"Yes. I did."

"Well good, I hope it taught you something useful."

"Unfortunately, I couldn’t read it, so I actually came to return it."

Kingston cocked his head to one side still looking straight ahead, he pursed his lips before shaking his head.

"Either you were not taught very well or you are lying to me, which is it? Even if your education in the subject matter is lacking you would at least know some of the basic language used in the book."

"Sorry, I could understand some of it but the rest was in another language." She replied.

"Arceair, are you telling me you never heard of it." Kingston said strongly.

Ashe was caught unaware by the sudden power in his voice, it took her a few more seconds to really understand what he had said. He had said the word for fire in Old Imperial, at first she was shocked but then she realised he must understand the old language, he had at least one book in the language and potentially another out in front of him.

"So Ashe, do you know the word? Do not lie to me, please I am old and do not have time for liars. I can see the fire, the magic in you."

"But how? You’re..."

"My eyes? Just because I am blind it does not mean that I cannot see. I can see the magic in you as clearly as you can see me. Why do you think I was so sure in my conviction that you were who I said you were?"

Ashe slowly began to back away from the old man towards the door, panic was seeping through her entire body. Her head was twitching from side to side, her eyes trying to cover every dark corner of the room to see if anything, anyone was hidden, waiting to pounce on her. She raised her hands ready to defend herself when Kingston raised his own.

"Ashe, please do not be alarmed. No one is here but you and I."

"How can I take your word for that?" Ashe said as she continued to move closer to the door.

"Don’t you realise that I would be locked up in the Citadel Tower, if anyone knew I had this power."

"No, they would have you in the street seeking Arcanes to capture." He hesitated for a second before smiling again.

"Well yes, I guess they would. But why would I have given you that book and waited for you to come to me. If I was working with someone wouldn’t I just give the word as soon as I saw you in the street? Look Ashe, as I said I am no threat to you. I am a historian of the Arcane arts, I have trained and studied with some of the most powerful Arcanes in the past five decades, I have lived to pass on that knowledge to the next Arcane. You."

Ashe was now backed up against the door, she had her hand around the door knob ready to escape at a moment’s notice.

"Ashe, Arcane of Fire."

She stopped, the door was slightly ajar. The passion on Kingston's face was hard to ignore, it was almost as if the years of pent-up frustration were pouring out. How long had he been living here like this, waiting for an Arcane. She pushed the door shut, the sound of the latch seemed to calm the old man's face. He dropped his head to the book still in front of him, he ran his fingers across the cover and smiled.

"The book I gave you is only one among many written by the old Arcane Council, long before even the Kingdom of Arda existed. The one I gave you lists only the art of fire and its uses, this one however, is the first book. It was originally given to the new students upon their arrival to the Old Council, it is basic, but I implore you to read it all. You will learn much about your talents."

He slid the book across the surface before looking up to her face.

"You do not know how happy I am to see magic again."

The smile across his face was genuine even childish, it reminded Ashe of a child receiving his birthday present. She reached over and picked up the book, again a symbol was emblazoned on the front, she ran her fingers over it before flipping it open the first page. She spent a few minutes skimming over the words. Kingston was right, it was basic stuff, a lot of it she knew already. She smiled to the old man closing the book and placing it in her cloak, next to the first one.

"Thank you."

"No Ashe, Thank You."

Chapter XXXVIII

Braden

He had finally been let out of the room and also he had been let out of the Citadel. Braden didn’t think Page would let him out of his sight, after what had happened the previous day, but after half a day of his constant complaining about the mountain of papers which the old man kept putting in front of him, along with a promise that he would to be back before the sun-set. Page had reluctantly let him go. Until sun-set, had at the time, seemed a good deal but once he finally stepped outside the Citadel's great gates, Braden realised he didn’t actually have much time at all, two hours at the most. Instead of taking a random wander into the city he had an actual destination in mind. He had asked directions from one of the guards who had pointed him in the right direction. The guard had told him it would take about twenty minutes to get there but it had taken him well over half an hour. Once he had got out of the district, the crowds had slowed down his progress. After five minutes of shoulder-to-shoulder pushing through the streets Braden watched as a nobleman rode past, the crowds parted to let the man pass making sure they were not crushed under the horse’s hooves. As he watched him ride by, Braden made a mental note to write down that one of the positives of becoming a nobleman meant no more queuing.

Another five minutes of pushing and shoving, the crowd broke up to reveal a large square surrounded by three buildings. On the left, the building stood three storeys high, it was made of solid stone blank apart from a few lines etched across the top of the double door. The second building which was straight ahead was the most impressive. It’s columns stood four storeys high with a dome adding yet another storey to the top. It was as wide as it was tall, the dome was made from crisp white marble and seemed to be made from solid gold. On the top sat a nine-pointed star. Braden had been told by the priests who used to visit Farnshire about the great temple, but only when he was stood before it, did he really understand their awe and amazement. Every time, he had asked them to describe it, their eyes would glaze over at the thought of it. Braden stood still in the middle of the square his eyes tracing over every detail of the temple. The top half of each column had writing etched into the stone, each with a story dedicated to one of the nine gods. Some of the stories were triumphant, some of tragedy, but each was so finely cut and detailed that from where he stood across the square he could make out each face. Braden finally pulled his gaze away after reciting the middle storey in his head. He hadn't noticed how long he had been standing there, but the sight of the nobleman from earlier, riding away from the temple, made him look up to the horizon and realise how little time he had left. He turned finally to the third building on the right of the square, it was the smallest with only two storeys and was the least surrounded by people. Braden made his way across to the building, as he got closer he could hear the calling of cattle, a step closer and he could also hear lambs and sheep and then, as he reached the door, a chicken added it’s voice to the ever-growing noise. Pushing open the door Braden was almost knocked out by the smell. At first it was potent and made him screw up his nose but then it made him feel homesick. The smell of livestock, hay and wood combined together made him think of Farnshire and of his mother. He made a conscious effort to hold back the tears, as he walked over to a man who was exchanging a young lamb for coins near to the entrance. Braden kept his distance until the man finished his business and watched the previous customer exit through another door. The man then walked up to him.

"Good afternoon, a little late aren't you?"

"Good afternoon, yes there were many people and I got caught up in the crowd."

The man looked him up and down, he was about the same height as Braden but his build was a lot closer to Alex's and his shoulders were wide from hard labour and his forearms were as thick a man's calves. He was dressed in fine clothes with a leather apron around his waist, protecting his trousers from the debris which had accumulated throughout the day. His thick leather boots were dark brown but Braden couldn’t tell if it was the leather or from wet mud.

"You’re new here aren't you?"

"What makes you say that?" Braden asked.

"You didn’t cover your nose and mouth when you came in, which tells me that you’re a country lad, used to the smell of livestock and mud, unlike the majority of people who come in here, have never smelt anything like this."

Braden smiled at the statement, he could picture Page's face, if the old man had walked in here.

"Now what are you looking for?"

"Umm, a Lamb." he said hesitantly.

"You don’t sound too certain, who are you looking to buy for? Vila, Lacerta? Kora?"

"Well, Patella was the patron goddess of my home town, but my mother’s goddess was Kora, so I would probably say her."

"That explains the lamb. Well, a Lamb is suitable for three gods, Patella, Lacerta and Ori. Kora however, you should be looking for a cow, a bull would be preferable, but unfortunately, I do not have any today. One of the High Lords came this morning and sacrificed nine, one to each god."

"I don’t think I can afford a cow, I hope I have enough for a lamb, but this is all I have"

Braden opened his coin purse, he only had a little more than the lamb was worth, Page had told him the usual price for a lamb, but he had took a little more just in case the man decided to try and cheat him because he knew he was inexperienced. The man looked over into the bag and gagged at the amount in the bag.

"Hmm, you are right, you could get a good sized lamb for that price.”

The man took a step back from Braden and looked him over again, his eyes stopped on the sword at his waist. Both he and Page had decided it was best, that this time he took his sword with him in case of trouble, he hoped it would allow him to avoid any unforeseen occurrences in the city. Page had made sure he had all the correct papers and documents, so he wouldn’t get arrested by the city guard.

"Who do you work for?"

"Mr Will Stamford Page, I am to be one of his new retainers when he retires shortly."

"Oh, Mr Page, I know him, do you have your papers on you? Prove to me that you work for Mr Page and I will loan you the amount for a cow."

Braden showed the man his papers and after close scrutiny, the deal was struck. Braden signed against Page's name for the price of the cow and after some gentle persuasion, the cow was moved out of the back and led to the side of the building closest to the great temple.

"These two lads will help you get her inside, you look strong but trust me, if the cow decides to bolt you won’t be able to hold her."

Braden shook the man’s hand and thanked him again before he took the third rope tied to the cow’s collar. Between the three of them, they guided the cow around the side of the great temple. The throng of people had almost disappeared, allowing them an easy path up to the doors of the white building. As they reached the bottom of a small wooden ramp, two priests approached them. Both were dressed in white robes which covered them from head to toe. One had a blue stripe, the other a brown stripe around the middle of the robes which covered their bodies, Braden could only see their eyes. The one with the blue stripe stepped closer, he looked over Braden and the cow before speaking. His voice was deep and rough, it didn’t match the high-classed clothing he was wearing.

"Do you wish to sacrifice this animal to the gods?"

"Yes to the goddess Kora."

"So you seek justice for something? You are not the first today, we will need to clear the altar. It will not take long, you can wait in the side room."

Braden followed the two priests back inside, once they stepped through the threshold the brown striped priest and the two lads lead the cow to one side and out of sight. The blue priest explained that the animal had to be cleaned, before he was offered to the gods. There was an odd look in the priest’s eyes when Braden asked the question about what was going to happen next. They entered a small square room, where the priest left Braden, informing him that he would be back shortly. Braden looked around, the walls were clad in wood from floor to ceiling. Intricate carvings of the eight goddesses were in each panel of the walls. He looked at each before looking into the face of the one male god Jouran, whose arms were open towards one of his daughters and to everyone who stood in the room below him. Braden was still staring up at his face when the priest walked back into the room, he coughed lightly to get Brandon’s attention, before motioning him to follow him out of the door and into the main chamber of the temple.

"Many people who see that room spend hours staring into the faces of our gods."

"They are truly beautiful."

"Yes, but compared to this, they are nothing."

As he spoke they turned into the main chamber, the room was almost three hundred meters in diameter. At one end stood doors leading to the entrance chamber and then finally out onto the streets of Arda. About forty feet from the main chamber, a line of red cloth hung over a small barrier. Behind it knelt nearly a hundred men, women and children all on their knees, pointing in different directions mumbling prayers. Braden followed their eyes to the other end of the room, and took a step back in awe. Across the rear half of the main chamber stood nine statues in alcoves, each two storeys high, all nine carved from pure white marble. Each was dressed in their typical attire, Patella wore a sheep skin cloak across her shoulders, Ori dressed in an all-black robe with only a silver belt wrapped around her waist. Jouran wore armour, ornately carved and showing him slaying the three ancient dragon-lords who he had turned into the moons, upon his head sat a golden crown. Braden saw that each of the goddesses wore a silver diadem and around their necks sat a stone on a small pendant, even Jouran wore one. Braden and the priest walked out into the middle of the main chamber he looked back to the people praying. The priest explained that only the priests, the nobility and those making sacrifices were allowed past the barrier and into the main chamber. Years before, all the people were allowed in, however, during a year-long drought the capital was inundated with refugees who then flocked to the temple to pray to Patella, the room became so over-crowded that they one of her fingers had been broken off. The King had ordered the immediate closure of the temple, commissioned a new statue for Patella and sacrificed one hundred calves to both Patella and her father. Only after a year and many good omens of things to come was the temple re-opened and this was when the barrier was put in. No one had stepped past the barrier, the promised punishment that anyone caught trespassing would have their entire family placed into a life of servitude to the priests and all their belongings seized.

"That seems rather extreme."

"As extreme as the displeasure of the gods?"

"I guess not."

The priest finally stopped in front of a large stone table, it stood a foot above the floor and was almost the same thickness. On top was the cow Braden had purchased earlier, the two boys were missing but the cow was loosely tied to two large iron rings attached to the stone table.

"I assume you know what to do?"

"Yes, yes thank you."

Braden had been to nearly every village sacrifice back in Farnshire and had completed a few himself for the village, so he stepped up onto the stone table. As he looked back across the room he noticed that each god had a stone table set up in front of them, some were still covered in dried blood, whilst others were completely clean. He turned back to the cow and the statue of Kora standing before him, she was more beautiful than any woman Braden had ever seen. Her features were almost life-like and with the shadows from the torches around her, it looked as if she was alive. Set to the side of the table was a brass plate and a lit flame. On top of the brass plate sat a large knife, it’s blade curved slightly away from the handle itself. Lettering was etched into the steel. Grasping the handle, Braden lifted up the knife and slowly ran its blade back and forth over the flame, turning it from side to side making sure that every part of the blade had been kissed by the fire. This was to cleanse the blade of any evils so as not to contaminate the sacrifice. After he was sure it was clean he slowly walked to the front of the table and stood between Kora and the cow before turning to face the animal, he then showed the blade to the cow. The animal did not flinch at the sight of the steel. Braden made sure that both eyes made contact with the knife before he stepped beside her, he looked up at the statue of Kora and now with all the preparation done he could make his prayer and sacrifice to the goddess. Kneeling down he bowed his head.

"I pray, Kora, please give me strength and guidance over the coming days, allow me and those around me to see clearly and make the correct and just decisions. Please watch over my mother wherever she may be. I pray to you Kora, for your just nature to give me that which I am owed and that which I deserve. I pray for your victory in the fight against injustice and your everlasting struggle against the darkness. I pray and give this gift to you."

As Braden stood, in one clean motion he slid the blade across the cows throat, without a noise the animal dropped to it’s knees, it’s blood rushing out of the wound staining the table red. Groves cut into the tables edge collected the blood and channelled it to the goddess’ feet. The cow finally fell to one side again without a sound, it was a clean and good sacrifice.