13. First Adventure #2
Elasha was suddenly shaking her head. “But my father thinks that’s foolish. That Darcassan is fine. So I should–”
“Do you think that’s foolish, King Aquilan?” Declan asked, without turning around to confirm that the light footstep on the stair was the Sun King.
“No, I do not. Darcassan is missing?” Aquilan swept the rest of the way down the steps and across the gleaming foyer to them.
“Oh, Uncle!” Elasha attempted to swipe away yet more tears that started to fall upon seeing him. “I did not mean to worry you with this–”
“You are not worrying me, Elasha.” Aquilan clasped both her shoulders.
Her lower lip, which had been wobbling even with her teeth trying to hold it steady, broke free and a sob escaped her lips. She buried her face into Aquilan’s chest. The Sun King held her as her father should have done. He stroked her hair and back.
“It’s all right, Elasha. It is all right. We will fix this,” Aquilan assured her.
His blue eyes were fixed upon Declan as he said this.
Declan felt as if he were a planet that was orbiting a star.
The planet thought it was moving away, but no.
It was always pulled back again. The question was would he accept this or try and run again?
He did not run. He stayed. Foolish or brave, he could not say.
“Your brother left last night?” Declan clarified.
Elasha pulled back and snotted into the rag again. She nodded. “Yes, yes, Uncle, he’s looking to prove his theory about a rift to Illithor and the Leviathan that I told you about yesterday.”
Aquilan frowned deeply. “He went alone into the ruins?”
She nodded. “And he hasn’t returned! Normally, I wouldn’t worry, but… I don’t know.” She balled a hand against her chest. “Something feels wrong.”
“He is your twin, Elasha, I trust your instincts on this. I will go look for him,” Aquilan said.
Elasha’s head lifted and her mouth opened in an “O” of shock.
But then her eyes flickered over to the doorway where Vesslan had disappeared through.
She clearly was afraid that Vesslan would be angry with her for involving Aquilan.
That was almost a reason for Aquilan to most definitely go even if he hadn’t already intended it as far as Declan could figure.
“U-Uncle, I did not mean for you to be pulled into this! Just let me take a few Protectors and I will go. You should not–”
“Elasha, Darcassan is my nephew. Do you think I could rest easy here when he may be in danger?” Aquilan asked. “Never! I will go find him. And if he is completely fine, I will be relieved, not annoyed.”
The things her father should have said, Declan thought.
“We will go together. And Rhalyf. We will need him. I wonder where he is.” Aquilan cast around as if he expected his best friend would appear at his side.
Considering what Declan knew of Rhalyf, he wouldn’t have been surprised if the elf did just that.
But he did not. Aquilan brought up the ridwin –the spell that allowed elves to speak over long distances–but Rhalyf did not answer.
Aquilan’s frown deepened. “I can see where he is. We will pick him up on the way.”
“I–I will go get our horses and meet you out front,” Elasha said. Her eagerness despite her fears of her father’s anger spoke to just how worried she was about her brother.
“Bring four mounts,” Declan suddenly said.
The planet has decided that it orbits the Sun, does it? The voice chuckled indulgently.
Aquilan turned to him. There was a mixture of concern and pleasure on the Sun King’s face.
Concern, because he, undoubtedly, thought that Declan was still overcome by those ridiculous paintings in the throne room.
Considering how often he had collapsed in front of the Sun King, Declan could hardly blame Aquilan for thinking he was some kind of shrinking violet.
But he was not. He was quite strong. The pleasure flummoxed him a bit.
He likes you, the voice chuckled again. So very much. But, of course, he does. How could he not?
Again, Declan ignored the voice.
“I know what you are going to say, King Aquilan.” Declan stepped over to the Sun King.
“Aquilan,” the Sun King corrected gently. “Just… Aquilan.”
Elasha–who had frozen at Declan’s words–looked between the two of them. Her lips parted and she blinked as if finally seeing the two of them together and recognizing… recognizing what?
Declan merely nodded at the correction. “I must go with you. And not only me. But Snaglak and Finley.”
“You believe they could help find Darcassan?” Aquilan asked, not disbelieving at all, but open to whatever he had to say.
“Finley knows the ruins like the back of his hand. I know he has his game tonight, but this is more important. There’s no one better in a fight against Leviathan than an orc. Especially one that needs beer money,” Declan said flatly.
“And you… will protect me,” Aquilan stated, without question. And there wasn’t any doubt in his voice. The Sun King’s eyes held certainty. “That is your role.”
Again, Declan nodded, not trusting words. “Can you send word via your ridwin to the orc barracks for Snaglak to pick up Finley and meet us wherever Rhalyf is?”
“Rhalyf is just in a glade not far out from the dome. And yes, that can be done,” Aquilan stated.
“It’s still light, but Snaglak will come,” Declan said.
“Does he need a steed as well?” Aquilan asked.
But Declan shook his head. “He has a naki that can carry him and Finley easily.”
The naki were reptiles as large as horses that lived in the Under Dark. Only orcs were capable–or foolish enough–to ride them. Snaglak’s naki was named Glom and when it wasn’t trying to eat Snaglak, it was fast and capable.
“A–an orc and a naki will be joining us?” Elasha looked a little faint, too.
“A human as well,” Declan said, not indicating whether he meant himself or Finley.
“We are lucky, are we not, Elasha, that so many beings of the Empire will assist us in looking for your brother?” Aquilan looked at her firmly.
She swallowed, but then quickly nodded. “Yes, yes, you’re quite right. I’ve just never… Well, new experiences every day these days! And I am very grateful.” She turned towards Declan. “I don’t believe I caught your name, Lord?”
Prince, the voice whispered.
Declan’s mouth opened, but no words came out. All he had to say was “Declan Wilde.” But still he did not.
What is my name? Declan asked. Who am I?
Prince Rahven Vaeduzor, the voice said. His first name sounded like “Raven” but with the “ray” more like “rah” but Declan knew it wasn’t spelled that way.
“Declan,” he said, “Declan Wilde. I’m not a… lord.”
You see? I tell you who you are and you don’t believe me! Bah! I should have just let you figure it out on your own, the voice didn’t sound that annoyed though it pretended to be. Not ready to claim your true name and title, I see!
How would I explain that to Aquilan? Declan asked back. He knows me as Declan Wilde. Human. Not Prince–
Prince Rahven Vaeduzor, the voice repeated slowly as if to imprint the name.
How did his being a “prince” mesh with his memory of being trained–or more like attacked–by Vulre? Of being jadir ? It didn’t. And yet… yet, the voice seemed so certain. The name… the name could be his. Though really he had no memory of it.
Is that my full name? Declan asked.
No. But what do you care? You cannot explain it! The voice laughed.
I cannot!
Yet do you not think it more unexplainable when you kill a Leviathan with Krith in front of Aquilan? The voice asked.
Krith?
Broken Fang. Your knife. Your first Blood Weapon. The voice sounded proud about that weapon.
He felt the tattoo of the knife on his arm burn. It had returned to a tattoo as he’d raced downstairs, but it would be ready at a moment’s notice to defend the Sun King. He pressed a hand over it.
“You aren’t nobility? But you seem…” Here, Elasha looked so uncertain, but then she shook herself. “Forgive me. It matters not. I am so glad you will be with us. Any friend of my uncle’s is a friend of mine. And you’ve… you’ve been so kind.”
He merely inclined his head.
“Declan… Declan is someone you want by your side in a fight,” Aquilan said quietly.
Does he believe that? Declan glanced at the Sun King. Or is he just humoring me?
But, again, Aquilan’s face and demeanor showed no patronizing attitude. He believed it even if it must not make sense to him. Declan was human in his understanding. Humans couldn’t wield magic. Only magic could harm the Leviathan. And yet… yet he believed in Declan.
“I will get the horses,” Elasha said and hurried off.
That left Aquilan and Declan alone again.
“Thank you for doing this and for your kindness earlier to Elasha,” Aquilan said. “I did not hear all that happened, but the last part… Well, it was clear that you understood what was needed. I assume Vesslan…” Here Aquilan clenched his jaw. “Vesslan misunderstood the situation.”
“His current worries blind him to the possibility of something worse,” Declan shrugged.
“That is very understanding of you,” Aquilan said. “I will try to believe that and not that he…” Aquilan did not finish the sentence. “But let me contact the orc barracks. Do you wish to speak to Snaglak yourself?”
Declan nodded. The green glow of the spell appeared in the air between the two of them. An orc’s face suddenly came into view. It wasn’t Snaglak, but another orc that had come to the surface to hunt Leviathan.
“What?” The orc snapped.
Declan doubted he recognized Aquilan as the Sun King, not that it would have necessarily mattered as orcs only showed obeisance to the ones who kicked the crap out of them.
Declan stepped into frame. The orc–it was Tradlod–stiffened when he caught sight of Declan.
He was one of the five orcs that Declan had bested in that bar fight.
“What do you want?” Tradlod asked sullenly, but with a touch more respect.
“Snaglak. He is to pick up Finley at his house and meet me… can you send a location of where Rhalyf is?” Declan asked Aquilan.
“I can. It is done,” Aquilan said after he made a quick movement with one finger through the air.
Tradlod grunted. “I see location. But I not Snaglak’s grunt. I not–”
“You will give that message to Snaglak immediately,” Declan’s voice went very low. “Or I will finish what you started in the Dawn. What’s it to be?”
Tradlod actually shuffled back a few steps. “Will tell Snaglak. Will do it.”
“Good,” Declan said and indicated for Aquilan to cut the connection, which the Sun King did.
When he fully faced Aquilan, a quirked smile was on the Sun King’s lips. “I take it that was one of the orcs you fought and defeated?”
Declan gave a brief nod.
Aquilan laughed and shook his head. “I wish I had been there to see it.”
“You might get your chance if he doesn’t give that message to Snaglak,” Declan replied dryly.
Another laugh from Aquilan. “I see that! You are not to be trifled with.”
At that moment, there was the sound of hoofbeats. Elasha and three horses appeared at the front of the palace. He and Aquilan went out and down the steps to meet her.
Aquilan immediately went to the white horse that Declan remembered very well from the first time he had seen the Sun King. “This is Erendriel. My dear friend. And this is his child, Neremyn, for you to ride.”
Neremyn was coal black and tossed her proud head and rolled her eyes a little anxiously at Declan.
Aravae request assistance while we require it, the voice said. She will expect a request.
We?
Request her assistance, Rhaven, the voice insisted.
You could give me your name, you know?
In time. Now… request her assistance before the Sun King places you over his saddle, the voice chuckled. Though you might like that better.
Declan stepped up to Neremyn. She moved a little uncertainly, shifting from foot to foot. His instinct was to grab her somehow. Mentally or physically, he didn’t know.
Request, the voice reminded.
He lifted his right hand and let it hover a moment over her snout then he said in perfect Katyr, “ Avrame, Neremyn . Avrame. ” That meant: Help me, Neremyn. Help me.
The horse settled and he slowly lowered his hand down onto her head. She snorted and nibbled at the front of his chest. He laughed and stroked her nose.
“No sugar cubes on me this time,” he said. “But I promise you something when we get back from our journey.”
“She will hold you to that promise, Declan,” Aquilan said with a smile. He hoisted himself elegantly and effortlessly up onto the saddle of Erendriel while Declan did the same. When they were both seated on their mounts, he said, “Let us begin our first adventure together.”