The Children of Calm (35 page)

“We need to know,” Lana said.

“The situation is more dangerous than I had previously realized. It appears that four days ago an Imperial Dreadnaught Xephyr landed in the fields to the north of the village, and Imperial soldiers took all the villagers aboard the vessel to imprison them in an isolation camp.”

“But why?” Lana asked.

“Allow me to finish,” Altan said. “A man with a long scar on his face and a man named Celek seemed to be in charge.”

“Celek!” Tresten said, his grip tightening on Silran.

Knots formed deep within Rylek’s stomach.

“But – but that can’t be!” Selenor said. “He would never do something like this.”

“It’s not a question of who did it,” Tresten said. “To me the question is
Why?
”

“Caenar’s final thought was literally, ‘Celek has betrayed us all,’” Altan said. “There is more: they are searching for the four of you.”

“Well, if that’s the case, let’s find them and maybe we can get this all sorted out,” Selenor said.

“Don’t be so naïve, Selenor,” Tresten said.

“His final thoughts and memories are jumbled, which comes as no surprise knowing he was under such heightened distress,” Altan continued. “From what I can piece together, it seems to me that Celek drove Caenar through the statue, and said to him, ‘This is for denying me what you knew was rightfully mine.’”

The four stood silently for a moment, exchanging glances.

“But this still makes no sense,” Lana said. “On what grounds does the Imperial army have the right to do all of this? What have we done to deserve this?”

Selenor looked at Rylek. “You’ve been so quiet,” she said. “What do you think?”

When Altan mentioned Celek and the man with the scar, Rylek felt as though someone had punched him in the stomach. On that night he had walked by himself around Calm – it seemed like a lifetime ago – he had secretly seen and heard part of their conversation. But the part he had overheard gave no hint to actions of this magnitude. Clearly neither his father nor Caenar had suspected Celek of doing anything like this, or they would have mentioned it to him. Now he found himself in the precarious position of having been unwillingly dragged into something he had previously not felt entirely connected to in a personal way.

But now things had become personal.

He drew Faldrahil and looked again at the inscription:

for the children of Calm

“I think we have family and friends to rescue,” he said truthfully.

“That would be where you are mistaken,” Altan said. “It would be folly for the four of you to attempt standing against the Imperial forces.”

“But with you on our side, surely we stand a chance,” Tresten said. “Look what just the three of us did in Khragzul.”

“There is more than what you can see going on,” Altan said. “Your path does not lie in that direction at this time. Perhaps later. But for now you must return to Perdeisolen, where Andulibar and his people will be able to watch over you until I return.”

“But where are you going?” Lana asked.

“I have an errand I must run, and I must use all the speed that I possess. In fact, I will delay no longer.” He stood to his feet. “Rylek and Tresten, you must bury your elder, and then the four of you make posthaste to Perdeisolen. Eat and drink now, then sleep for a few hours some distance away from here. After I am gone, your exhaustion will return.” He then started walking towards Lake Calm. “You will hopefully see me again soon. Look for me in a week’s time.”

“But…” Selenor started.

“There is nothing to fear but the consequences of foolish decisions!” he called out to them as he walked away. “It is often better to retreat for a day in order to strategize rather than to rush into certain death. Be well, my children!”

Then much to their surprise, Altan simply disappeared from their sight.

***

“He just comes and goes as he pleases, doesn’t he?” Tresten said.

“Help me figure out how and where to bury Elder Caenar,” Rylek replied, already feeling the fatigue settling back into his bones.

After searching through some of the buildings’ remains, Tresten found an old shovel. They then decided it would be best to make a grave for him under The Sentinel. As they carried his body to the ancient oak, something caught Rylek’s eye: he detected a faint glimmer in Caenar’s right ear. Keeping silent, he awaited an opportunity to secretly remove the clear spherical object. His chance came several minutes later when the girls left to search out the rest of the village and Tresten was busying himself with making the first digs into the grave. Quickly Rylek pocketed the crystalline article next to the one he had taken from the hidden cave in Perdeisolen.

Some time later Caenar was laid to rest in the grave, and the four stood solemnly over it.

“He was certainly a bit of a frass at times…” Tresten started.

“Seriously?!” Lana exclaimed between her tears.

“…but I cannot deny he loved this village and the people in it,” he continued. “I am sure he died protecting what he cared for most.”

You are more correct than you can know
, Rylek thought to himself. He glanced at the girls, who were both sobbing and quivering. The clouds had begun to part, and the soon-to-be-setting sun was peeking through, casting a golden hue on the village. Even after his brief bizarre behavior had been stopped by Altan, another seed of hopelessness had remained in his heart. But now, there was something about feeling the warmth of the sun on the side of his face that seemed to melt that away, and a flame stoked within his belly. He was suddenly reminded of the vision he had seen on The Balcony not more than an hour previously.

“He would want us to go, I think,” he said slowly. “Not to Perdeisolen, but to look for everyone. I can’t help but think he knew this was coming, and sent us all away for this purpose.”

“What do you mean?” Tresten asked.

“It’s hard to explain - just a gut feeling.” He looked at each of the others till they were all returning his gaze. “We do need to eat and sleep, but then we have to track down the Xephyr as best as we can.”

“But what about what Altan said?” Selenor asked. “He said it’s too dangerous for us alone, or even if he went with us.”

“We’re prepared now,” Rylek said.

“I don’t feel very prepared,” Lana said. “I feel torn. It seems foolish to disobey Altan, yet coldhearted to not try and free everyone. At least if we fail, we’ll be with our families.”

“Or dead,” Tresten said matter-of-factly. “But I agree. We can’t simply turn our backs on everyone. We need to find out what happened to make the Empire strike here, and why they’re looking for us. And to get some answers from Celek.” His fists clenched as he said this.

“Yeah, remember?” Selenor said. “They’re looking for us! How in Mira are we going to be able to succeed when they’re looking for us anyway? And I refuse to believe this story about Celek being in charge of all this.”

“That certainly doesn’t seem right, does it?” Lana said. “Maybe it’s someone else named Celek?”

Rylek drew Faldrahil out again and ran his finger across the blade’s engraving. “I can’t explain it,” he said, directing their attention away from Celek, “but I’ve never been more confident in my life that this is what we have to do. Even if I am the only one, I need to go.”

There was an authority in his voice that the others had never before heard. Lana hooked her arm around his.

“I’ll follow you, brother,” she said.

“We do this together,” Tresten said.

Rylek looked into Selenor’s eyes, and held her there. He saw storms of fear and uncertainty darken her face. “I need you, Selenor,” he said softly but boldly to her.

Slowly the shadows lifted from her face, and determination replaced them, as though she were feeding herself off Rylek’s sudden limitless supply. “Okay, Rylek,” she said. “I trust you.”

Rylek’s heart skipped a beat, but he quickly quelled the feeling. “Thank you,” he said.

“Now the first thing we need to do is scour the village and take anything that might be useful,” he continued.

“You’re getting ahead of yourself, mister,” Lana said. “We need to finish burying Elder Caenar.”

“Oh – yes,” he said. “Of course.”

***

They split up eventually to look for items they could take on their journey. Part of Rylek’s motivation for going on the hunt was to look for the Oathbinder. He was desperate to know whether he could destroy it or not, so he searched through the remains of Caenar’s office in the Hall of Knowledge. There was nothing but soot and stone, and he did not have the faintest idea where else it could have been.

After some time had passed he found Lana rummaging through some rocks. “Find anything?” he asked.

“Nothing at all,” she said, covered in ash.

“Me neither. Any idea where the others are?”

“Nope.”

“Let’s go find them.”

It did not take long for them to locate where they were. By now the sun had set behind the mountains, and Selenor and Tresten were standing by Retessa’s grave, hand in hand.

“I swear we’ll find out what happened,” Rylek said.

They turned to face him. Tresten nodded, and Selenor smiled. “I know,” she said, squeezing Rylek’s hand.

“We need to eat and get some sleep,” he said. “I want to make for Arcenoth before the sun rises. Maybe we can find out some clues from someone there.”

“We shouldn’t set up a campfire, you know,” Tresten said. “Just in case there are still Imperial soldiers some distance away keeping an eye on things.”

“You’re right,” Rylek nodded. “In which case we desperately need to get out of the open. Let’s head around to the south side of Lake Calm. No one ever goes over there, and we’ll have enough tree cover to hide in.”

“We’ll need to take turns keeping watch, too,” Tresten said.

“I’ll take the first round,” Rylek said. “But let’s eat first. Our true Finding begins in the morning.”

***

Their appetites were nonexistent, but each of them knew they needed strength for the next day. They ate in silence, taking comfort in each other and feeding off the dogged determination Rylek was exhibiting. The only sounds were of the leaves rustling in the branches above their heads; they heard no bird.

The physical toll of their impossibly-paced journey and the emotional toll of their circumstances had left them numb for the moment. Rylek knew nerves and hearts would waken raw in the morning, and was a little concerned the others would change their minds about their plan.

It doesn’t really matter
, he thought.
Either way, I know what I need to do. Though I do hope they will come with me.

He subtly examined each of his friends, and wondered at how weary and ragged they looked. The ashes of their childhood drifted off into the night air, burned away on the pyre that was their home.

Some Finding I’ve had
.
I’ve failed everyone. I had vowed to protect this village, and I’ve failed. I maybe could have prevented all of this if only I had told dad, or Elder Caenar. First Selenor, and now this.

He dropped his gaze to the ground as shame and guilt knotted his stomach.

How can I tell them everything is my fault?

At that moment, something from deep within his chest resonated differently. It was warm and light, and he thought again of the vision he had earlier. Although it was small, hope was incubating unscathed by his emotions. The voice he had sensed returned to his consciousness.

I am with you always, even through death itself.

Then a not-so-distant memory formed in his mind: Tresten walking with him to The Bell And Candle, saying,
We carry the most important parts of the village along with us: each other.

He was right,
he thought.
They are my home, and we’re going to find the rest of our home.

***

The forest was black and chilly, for a damp fog had rolled in over the lake. Lana, Selenor, and Tresten were completely spent and fast asleep on their mats. Rylek slowly wove through the trees, never venturing far from the others. He had neither seen nor heard any sign of any other living being. Occasionally he stood where he could observe what had been Calm, and other times he found himself in the same spot he had overheard the end of the conversation between Celek and the scarred man. Left alone to his thoughts, his anger was slowly brewing inside his heart.

Celek, you cold-blooded coward!
What dark secrets you must have been carrying for all these years, known to no one else here. How
dare
you betray innocent people to exact your brand of justice on the few who are guilty?

His fingers were playing with the crystalline orbs in his pocket. He picked the one he wanted and brought it out, squeezing it lightly between his fingertips. In the moonlight it looked sometimes shadowy and pearly, and at other times translucent. As he quite suddenly made up his mind, a sudden chill of a thrill ran down his spine.