Chapter 38 #2
The newest members of the Eternal Court lined up on the left side of the room.
I looked to Oz, who offered a grin and a shrug.
A movement that was quintessentially him, yet I knew he was nervous.
The confidence that his eyes normally boasted was nowhere to be seen.
Replaced by a trepidation I knew well, as it lived on my face.
“Begin,” Rai shouted from the dais to meek applause and a soft accompaniment of the harp. Its sounds were soothing, almost otherworldly. As if each string plucked belonged to a different world, one of peace, tranquility, anything other than what was about to transpire in this room.
Two Eternal Court members made their way forward, each bowing before Rai, who said, “Why have two of you approached at once?”
The larger of the two men stepped forward, “We have each been offered the same gift, Your Majesty.”
“And that might be?”
“Strength.” He said, rolling his shoulders back to show that his words were true. “We wish to provide a demonstration.”
Rai giggled, feet kicking in the air at the prospect. “How marvelous. Yes, do begin.” He waved his hand, instructing the musicians to move. Each made their way to the side, while the guitarist made his way to a back table, grabbing a drink of something.
I only knew the battle began by the grunts the two members of the Eternal Court were offering the audience as they attempted to take down the other. It was a test of strength, will, and endurance. I knew we would be here for a while.
Weaving in and amongst the crowd, I made my way to the table. “Do I know you?” I asked the singer. His hair fell to his shoulders; it was a deep, rich brown, and he smiled.
“It is possible.” He wiped the crumbs from his hands as he turned to face me, “I meet lots of people, given what I do.”
His accent was thick, heavy. Not one I was familiar with, but there was something about his face that I just couldn’t shake.
“What’s your name?” He asked as he leaned on the neck of his guitar.
“Kadian.”
“Kadian.” He repeated in a way I’d never heard my name said before. “A strong name. An ancient name.” He nodded approvingly, “And where are you from, Kadian?”
I didn’t know why I continued to answer his questions without hesitation, but I did. “Escalia.”
“Ah, Escalia. An odd place.”
“You’re familiar with Escalia?”
He nodded before turning to see the two men continue to fight each other. One had maneuvered the other into a headlock. It would be a matter of minutes now.
“And what will you perform tonight, Kadian?” His eyebrows rose, his curiosity piqued.
“I was hoping you might be able to help me out…” I said while looking around to make sure no one was paying too close attention to our conversation.
“Oh?” He rolled his words in a way that spoke to his ability to spin tales, weave songs, stories together. He would hopefully be my salvation.
“My… skill has not yet manifested. And I am not revered for my words. I have nothing. Is there perhaps a song, a poem, anything you could offer me that I could present as my own? I don’t have anything on me, but rest assured, I will find you payment.”
He held up his hand before reaching into the sleeve of his shirt and pulling out a folded piece of paper. He handed it to me. “Offer this to me when you come up, and say it is better performed as verse. I will take it from there.”
He turned and made his way back to the front of the room. The Eternal Court member who had been the one to speak had been revealed as the victor.
I navigated the way back to the Court of Shadows members while we watched the next several Eternal Court members display their gifts.
One girl made the floor tremble with a stomp, while the other caused the tile to move with a flick of her wrist. “She can manipulate earthly materials. Useful.” Iona whispered as she’d made her way back to me.
“I’m surprised she hasn’t been sent to Hadash to help in its reconstruction.
” I nodded in agreement as we watched everyone take center stage.
“Do you know what he’s going to do?” Iona asked as Oz made his way to the center of the room. I shook my head. Despite my asking, Oz had refrained from saying anything.
“Your name?” Rai asked. He currently sat in his throne with one leg draped over the arm, his finger circling the top of his wine glass.
“Osforth Kadem, Your Majesty.”
“Osforth. What an unfortunate name.”
“I quite agree with Your Majesty.” Oz ran a hand over his bald head before continuing, “I am sorry to say however, that my magic has not yet asserted itself, and I have therefore chosen a performance. I do hope it will meet His Majesty’s expectations and approval.”
“Oh Gods.” Iona and I said in unison.
Oz walked purposefully over to the harpist, whispering something to her. With a nod, she played the softest melody, a lullaby of sorts. It would soothe even the rowdiest of babes to sleep.
Oz cleared his throat, and I was tempted to cover my face, avert my eyes in any way possible, but felt compelled to watch what was about to unfold.
Her hair burns red,
A wildfire’s glow,
And woe to the soul
Who dares make her foe.
A blossom may hide the sharpest thorn,
And monsters need not be horned to be born;
Yet those who wander and dream in the deep
Shall wake to the lark’s song they cannot keep.
Her voice is the tide of a siren’s plea,
A haunting hymn from the heart of the sea;
It lures many a man with a promise so sweet,
From shadow to light—yet to ruin they meet.
The room stood silent as Oz lowered the paper from his face, and waited for Rai’s judgment.
Lowering his leg, he sat properly before raising to his full, albeit underwhelming, stature.
He took a few steps forward, down off the dais as he made his way toward Oz.
I was certain I could see a pulse in one of the veins in his neck.
Rai stood in front of Oz, and the room held its breath. Uncertain what was about to unfold. Rai took one final step, raised his hand, looking ready to strike, before he raised the other one and slowly clapped. The crowd quickly followed suit as Rai began to laugh and smile all the while.
“How marvelous. It must have taken quite a woman to inspire such a poem. I’d love to meet her.” He winked as he made his way back up to the dais.
I turned my head to my left and saw Iona, her eyes glassier than I’d ever seen them.
“You alright?” I whispered as I lowered my head to her ear.
She nodded without saying a word.
As Oz exited the floor and the next Eternal Court member came to the center, I noticed him begin to navigate his way through the crowd before making his way to the exit.
One down.
We endured another thirty minutes of Eternal Court members, the majority boasting their strength, one reciting a decent part of an index, their gift had been that of memorizing texts related to the earth. Then the Court of Shadows was summoned.
“Derek Hesler,” he said as he made his way to the center of the room.
“Ah,” Rai chimed, “the first of my own court. I hope you do not disappoint.”
Derek bowed his head before making his way to the center of the room.
He looked to the four braziers that marked the edges of where we stood.
With a flick of his wrist, smoke billowed, growing stronger from each.
Visibility quickly became hazy, the sounds of coughs boomed across the hall.
A moment later, he flicked his wrist again, and the smoke receded to the fire from which it had come.
Rai lifted his glass and toasted him as Derek exited the floor.
I felt a nudge at my side, and Iona gestured toward the floor. I couldn’t be next, there was someone… shit. My feet felt leadened, each step an arduous task. Please let me disappear. Vanish to wherever Brida and Lil are. No, fuck. Don’t think about it too hard or everyone will see your sandstorm.
“And who might you be?” Rai’s gaze lingered on mine. Perhaps he recognized me, but remained unsure as to from where. After all, what was I but a gnat to him. I am the man who will rip your fucking throat out once I know where she is.
“Kadian Taldot,” I said through gritted teeth, fists clenching.
“Pray tell, Kadian Taldot, what gift has Vasenia blessed you with?”
I was uneasy on my feet, shifting my weight as I reached for the paper I’d placed in my pocket. “Vasenia has yet to make my gift known. Perhaps she wishes for me to prove my worthiness to His Highness first.” I said as I retrieved it.
“If that is so, then she has good judgment.” He took a swig of his drink, “And how will you earn my favor?”
“I have prepared something for His Majesty. But I fear it must be performed, for you see, it deserves a voice far greater than mine.” I gestured to the musician whose expression had grown feral. “Would you help me, sir?”
“A double act, how lovely.”
“I fear not Your Majesty, for my voice would scare even the smallest creature, and I do not wish to inflict that upon you. If it would please you, I would ask this man to sing my words.”
“Very well.” Rai snickered, “Let us hear what you have to say.” He gestured the singer forward, whom I gave the paper to. As if he were looking upon it for the first time, I realized that I myself had not read its contents. What have I just agreed to?
The man strummed his guitar, as if he were playing a woman in the middle of the night. The strokes were soft, the movements fluid and precise, everything about it was an art.
Long ago, when the world was new,
There lived two brothers, and a father who
Strove to still the clash and strife,
Yet gained instead his son to the knife.
When the old king fell, the land grew strange,
For few recalled his noble name;
The winds bore forth, through clouded skies,
The mournful wails, and grieving cries.
Yet two remained who bore his line—
One forged of will, of steel, of spine,
Of steadfast heart, of tempered mind;
The other lagged, and trailed behind.
The bond of blood was split in twain
When the younger sought to claim the reign,
To steal the throne of a realm unknown,
And see the world undone, overthrown.
For two may not command the helm,
Nor rule as one over a single realm;
And so the land was split and riven
Its fate to chaos’s hand was given.
Its fate to chaos’s hand was given.
Its fate to chaos’s hand was given.
With the final lines of the song, the musician bowed his head, and I perilously held my breath. Why in the Gods’ name had this man chosen a song about two brothers vying for power… Unless…
“What an interesting performance,” Rai said from his perch. “What inspired its inception?” His eyes bore into me with a visceral hatred. I shifted uncomfortably, looking for an escape, anything to remove myself from the situation.
I coughed, trying to prolong the inevitable. “My job has been in the House of Shadows with Tura. I came across a story that inspired it in one of the many books she is having me catalogue for the house archives.”
The room was silent. Each and every person waiting for Rai’s judgment or praise. My pulse quickened, a beating in my temples I couldn’t temper.
Rai’s lips pulled slightly in the corners and he said, “You must have Tura send that book to me. I do love a good story.” He raised his cup to me, and I looked to the musician who offered me a wink before returning to the front of the room.
Lowering my head in a bow, I made my way from the floor. Get out of here as quickly as possible and get to the Eternal House without anyone noticing. That’s all I have to do.
Applause rippled through the air as I glanced at Iona, waiting in line to present her gift. Whatever it was, I would learn of it later.
For now, I turned toward the Eternal House—praying it would grant us entry. Praying I would find what we sought. Praying it would lead me to her.