Severed Destinies (4 page)

As his eyes closed and exhaustion caught up with him, the young thief realised that someone would check the wagon before departing. He would have to hide during that time. He decided that he would rest for a while before checking that the underside of the wagon had a suitable hiding place for him. Most had supports beneath where someone of Varayan's slim build could easily, but uncomfortably, wedge themselves in tight.

His mind began drifting from thoughts of the wagon and he felt his body relax. Within seconds, he had fallen into a light sleep and was dreaming of gleaming gold, sparkling gems and of a limping thug being thrown into jail.

Chapter 3

"I shall never get used to this, Khir."

Gorric Orgillian threw the hunting bow down onto the grass and turned to face his companion. He had tried again and again to fire an arrow successfully from the bow, but each time it missed the mark by a substantial amount. The last arrow had disappeared into the nearby foliage, disturbing a number of rabbits who had been hiding there. "I do not believe that I was destined to use a bow."

"Anybody can learn to use the bow with enough practice," replied Khir.

"Not me," said Gorric, shaking his head.

He rubbed at his sore shoulder, where the release of the bow had several times caught him off guard. He came to the conclusion that he was too large and too clumsy to use a bow with any efficiency. Being the eldest of the three Orgillian children, Gorric was also the strongest amongst his friends and this made him feel uncomfortable. He had his father's physique whereby his two sisters - Kithia and Cassi – naturally were more like their mother.

Gorric was nearly twenty and was taking more of an interest in being a noble's son now. His father was well-respected, not only in the town of Tamriel but also as a speaker in the Noble Council of Vylandor. When his father finally stepped down from his position, Gorric would become speaker in his place. He was due to receive specific schooling as to his future role amongst the nobles when he turned twenty, but this would mean spending two years in Vylandor, away from everything he loved. This was why he had decided to spend time with his closest friend, Khir. The two had grown up together and had become more like brothers than best friends.

Khir was not of noble blood, but was the son of a Tamriel forester and so felt at home in the Great Northern Forest. He was much slimmer and slightly shorter than Gorric, but he was a better athlete. The forester's son was also half a year younger than Gorric, but acted as if he were older. Gorric was pleased that his parent's did not disapprove of his being friends with Khir, as some nobles in the other Rotian cities and towns tended to frown upon anyone considered lower in status than them. Khir's parents were very happy with their son's choice of friend.

For the last month, Khir had been trying to teach Gorric how to fire a bow, but without success so far. Khir had explained how their hunting bows were the smallest bows used in the Kingdom and that bowmen downriver at the fortress, Turambar, used composite bows, which were much more difficult to master.

Gorric turned to smile at Khir. "I was always better with the sword than the bow anyway. As long as I can protect myself, I'll be fine."

"I'll agree that you are twice as good as I am with a blade, Gorric," said Khir, bending down to pick his friend's bow up off the grass. "However, I also believe that you are twice as stubborn as I am, so try again." He held the bow out expectantly.

Gorric saw the determined look in Khir's eyes and groaned as he snatched the bow back. "Fine, but if I end up shooting you in the backside, don't blame me."

The two friends practiced with the bows for another hour, until Gorric realised that they would have to begin their trek back to Tamriel. They had left the town during the early morning hours and had walked west across the countryside, reaching the Great Northern Forest two hours later. They always came to the same clearing within the forest, whether it be to practice bowmanship, swordmanship or simply just talk. They had first found the clearing after travelling to the forest with Khir's father when they were twelve and they returned to it as much as they could. However, their conversations had shifted to more mature topics over the years and they both knew that their growing older meant that one day soon they would stop coming to the clearing. Gorric would move into the politics of being a noble whilst Khir would follow his father into forestry.

They slung the bows around their shoulders and headed back east through the foliage. The clearing was not situated deep within the forest and they soon emerged from the cover of the trees into the slowly fading sunlight.

"I'll miss this when I'm in Vylandor," stated Gorric, sadly.

He looked north along the edge of the forest, which seemed to stretch as far as he could see. He knew that the forest crossed the border with Morassia, but he had never gone that far north. It was strange to him that Tamriel was the nearest town to the border and yet he had never once visited the neighbouring land. His father had been a regular visitor to Morassia before his noble duties took priority.

"You'll be too busy to miss it," said Khir, trying to reassure his friend. "Your schooling will see to that."

"It's not just the land though. I'm going to miss everybody here. Mother, Kithia, Cassi…even you." Gorric slapped Khir on the back, making him stumble.

"Will your father be going with you then?"

"Yes. He said that he will see me to Vylandor and introduce me to the people there before coming back."

"Are you nervous?"

Gorric nodded. "It makes me sick to my stomach thinking of the responsibilities I will be expected to take on. I've never had a head for politics, Khir, you know that."

"Neither have I. I'm sure that, after your schooling begins in earnest, you will become adept at the banter required in the council. I've heard your father is quite the bully amongst the other noble speakers." Khir grinned.

"He is strong-willed and I think that the others are afraid of him. When they hear that the young son of Celestius Orgillian is being trained in the etiquette of noble life, they will start spreading rumours about my father."

"What sort of rumours?"

"They will say he is retiring from office. In truth, he will probably not retire for several years yet. He is only forty-six years of age."

"Then why train you now?" Khir was confused.

Gorric sighed. "It is my father's wishes. Having a son with the ability to act as speaker will increase my father's standing. The Orgillian name’s reputation will increase significantly."

"You are already known across the kingdom. Your family watches over Tamriel. Your father is the voice of the town and the money…" Khir fell silent at the mention of wealth.

Gorric glanced at his friend. "I don't mind you mentioning it. We
are
wealthy and we do fund Tamriel as best we can."

"You're the wealthiest family around here," said Khir. "Compared to you, I'm a pauper."

"Don't be foolish," snapped Gorric. "I'd gladly give up the family wealth to live a simpler life. It is decided from birth who I shall be. My destiny is already written. I will spend the rest of my natural life as a nobleman, speaking on behalf of Tamriel and the Orgillian family, knowing that one wrong word in the council could spell the end of my office. I would much rather choose my own destiny."

Khir shrugged. "No man's destiny is decided yet. Not your's and not mine anyway. What's to say that you and I couldn't travel the world as explorers, like we wanted to be when we were younger?"

"I couldn't bear to disappoint my father, Khir."

"I know." Khir patted the larger man on the shoulder. "No son would wish to disappoint his father or mother."

The two men continued east and, as evening began to fall, they arrived back in Tamriel. They noticed that the construction of the new town wall was well underway and shared thoughts as to when it would be completed.

As they made their way up the main street, they passed several people, all of whom they knew. In a town like Tamriel, it was unusual to meet someone one did not know. The nearby tavern was beginning its trade and regulars were making their way to it already. Gorric and Khir had never had a taste for alcohol and tended to avoid the tavern.

They reached the centre of Tamriel, where several streets met in a large square, and saw children playing by the statue there. It was a splendid sculpture of a woman holding a young boy aloft. The woman was said to be the founder of Tamriel and the boy was allegedly her firstborn child. It symbolised the beginning of the town's growth. Bizarrely enough, the name of the woman and her child could not be found in any history book.

As they passed the children, Gorric smiled at them. "It's getting late. Time to go home I think."

With playful groans and yells, the children headed off down the street.

"You'll make a good father one day, Gorric," said Khir.

Gorric nodded and smiled. "I have to find a wife first."

He had yet to meet a woman who caught his eye. Women seemed to be scared of approaching him and he believed it to be because of his status in Tamriel. He had kissed girls, but had never had the pleasure of sharing his bed with one.

Khir chuckled quietly to himself. He found it awkward talking to women and considered himself not to be husband material. He was too much of a loner for that and enjoyed peace and quiet. Still, he too felt the longing inside when a beautiful girl passed him by.

"You'll dine with us tonight?" Gorric asked Khir.

"Of course," was the instant reply. Khir never passed up a meal as delicious as those at the Orgillian Estate.

They headed to the north end of town, where they reached the outer gates of the estate compound. The guard on duty saw them approaching and opened the strong metal gates.

"Good evening, my lord," he said to Gorric as they stepped through.

"How are you, Varro?" Gorric asked as the guard closed the gate behind them.

Varro grinned and shrugged. "I can't complain. Quiet night as usual."

Gorric had always liked the man. He was the oldest of the estate guards at forty-two and, when Gorric was younger, he had spent many hours telling the noble's son tales of war and ages past.

"When do you finish tonight?" asked Gorric.

"At midnight, my lord. Then I'll be off home to the wife."

"How is she? I understand she was not feeling well."

"She's beaten the sickness now, thank you for asking. It won't be long before she's beating me around the ears for being late for supper again."

Gorric smiled. "We must make time to talk soon, Varro." He and Khir began the walk towards the house.

Varro watched them walk away and then returned to his post by the gates. He glanced back once to see them entering the large house and began wondering what wondrous meal awaited them inside.

"So, Khir, tell us what you have been getting up to lately."

Khir looked up at the intimidating figure of Celestius Orgillian at one end of the long dining table. He always felt that he should not speak in his presence and instead should be bowing to him.

"I…well, I haven't been up to much, sir."

Celestius raised one dark eyebrow and shook his head. "Come now, Khir. I know what you and Gorric get up to on a daily basis. I'm sure you have been causing more trouble around town."

Khir nearly choked on his food. "No, sir. That's to say…I…well, we…"

Celestius let out a bellowing laugh. "I'm not serious. I know that you two would never be a problem around Tamriel."

Khir smiled nervously. He could not help the fact that Celestius made him uncomfortable. He had known the man for years, yet always felt beneath him. Then again, Celestius had been raised as a noble and his years of speaking at the council had made him a hard man to face in conversation. His eyes were always locked on the person he spoke with, unblinking. Celestius had always said that he could tell what another man was thinking just by maintaining eye contact with them.

"Leave the poor boy alone, Celestius."

Khir glanced to the other end of the table, where Gorric's mother, Elna, sat. She was a beautiful woman with an almost majestic grace.

"Khir knows me by now," smiled Celestius.

"I think that sometimes you forget how frightening you can be," said Elna, returning the smile to her husband.

Khir looked across the table at Gorric, who smirked and shook his head at his friend. Khir then looked at the other two people at the table. Seated next to Gorric was the youngest Orgillian - Cassi. She was only five years old and yet was probably the most demanding of the family. Once or twice, Gorric and he had lost Cassi momentarily when looking after her. She loved to hide from them and always met them with an innocent smile when they found her.

To Khir's right sat the final Orgillian - Kithia. Blessed with her mother's beauty and her father's firey spirit, Kithia was eager to prove herself to her parents. Only seventeen, she was determined to follow in her father's - and eventually her brother's - footsteps by becoming a noble speaker. There were currently no women on the council and she had plans to be the first. Her father clearly paled at this thought and many arguments between the two had been due to this topic. However, Kithia was the most determined, if not stubborn, woman Khir had ever known.