Eden-South (8 page)

He sat and listened intently as she wove a
story of a younger son’s discord and betrayal of his family. Now a
war threatened them, all because of those events ten years
earlier.

“What is the King’s army?” he asked when she
made a quick mention of it.

“It is exactly as it sounds. The High King
has an army, known to be the best in the land. Boys in the Capital
are required to join on their fifteenth birthday, and they are put
through rigorous training. If they complete the training by their
eighteenth birthday, they become one of the King’s men; if not,
they are forced to choose another path in life.”

“Look, I’m sorry to hear about all your
troubles,” he began. “I just don’t understand why you’ve brought me
here. Where do
I
fit into all of this?”

She got up from her seat and slowly walked
over to the wood stove. They sat in silence momentarily before she
began again.

“There is a great man here in the Capital
named Alistair. He is the High Priest, a devoted follower of both
our God and Goddess. He is not a man of magic like Aziz is, but he
does have some inner sight, which allows him to see things only the
higher powers may choose to show him. They came to him the same
night Elrond died, and warned him of the threat Callum’s new
alliance would bring to Eden. They told him to bring the other
tribes together, and create a strong force in Eden to oppose the
north. However, they warned him that even with the combination of
the Riders, the eastern Swordsmen, the Archers from the south, and
the King’s army, it wouldn’t be enough. There would be a great
warrior from another world that he would need to cross over and
bring to Eden, a person who would bring us victory in our time of
great need.”

With each word, Aiden could feel himself
growing more and more pale. She wasn’t actually suggesting what he
thought she was, was she? His mind swirled, wondering if this was
some elaborate joke after all.

“I’m assuming then that you need my help
finding this man?” Aiden asked hopefully.

She smiled down at him as if he were a small
child. Her face was so gentle and pretty, it made his palms
sweat.

“Aiden,
you
are that warrior.
Alistair saw your face, and told me exactly where to find you.”

He got up from his chair and backed up
against the door. “There has to be some mistake. I am no warrior,”
he argued.

Diana walked toward him, grabbing both his
hands in hers. “I know how absurd this must all sound—” she
started.

“There’s an understatement,” he interrupted.
“Are you even looking at me? I’m only
fifteen
, and I’m not
experienced in any type of fighting. You are insane to think I’d be
anything but a burden to you.”

“Aiden, you must believe in yourself. The
men will train you; I will train you. We will all help you reach
your potential, and you will be a great warrior.” Aiden shook his
head as she spoke. Her grip tightened. “We
need
you! I
cannot stress to you how dire our situation is. Alistair said you
would be ready when you turned fifteen, and that now was the time
you should come.”

Panic started to set in, and his breathing
started to come out in short gasps. “I can’t do this, Diana. I’m
not the one.” He took his hands away from hers and walked outside.
The fresh air helped calm his attack, and his breathing slowly
returned to normal. “I’ll get myself killed,” he said, feeling her
presence behind him. “I can’t risk that; it would kill my parents.”
His thoughts went back to them and Eddie, and he knew he couldn’t
take such a risk.

“This is not your world, Aiden,” she
replied. “You cannot die here.” He turned in surprise, raising his
eyebrows.

“I can’t?”

“No, not here. That is why our God and
Goddess told us to get someone from your world. You’re the only
thing that will rival their creatures. They won’t be able to kill
you like they can us. Don’t you see? This is why you are so
special; this is why you must help us.”

According to Diana, the time he spent in
Eden wouldn’t affect the time back at home. When he returned it
would still be night, and no one would have noticed he was missing.
This made him feel better. Thinking about how his mother would
react when she went to get him up, and he was gone made him sick.
Nothing made sense to him thus far, but he was trying to be a good
sport about it. That afternoon they went outside to begin his
training. Apparently, someone would come for him in three days, and
Diana wanted to teach him the basics before he went to the city.
The men in the army were the best of the best, and Aiden guessed
she wanted to limit his embarrassment as much as she could.

Weapons of various kinds were laid out on
the grass, none of which Aiden would ever have imagined using. He
almost expected them to be movie props. There was a long, thick
sword, straight as an arrow. There was a thinner sword, slightly
curved, and a thicker, short sword, also curved. Then there was an
axe with two heads. This weapon made him gulp when he looked at it.
The damage something like that could do to a person would be
gruesome. Aiden prayed for courage. Then there was a bow with
arrows laid out. Diana said he didn’t need to perfect all of them,
but should at least be comfortable with each. They would have to
find the weapon that suited him best once they got started.

“Here is your helmet,” she said, holding out
a metal contraption.

“Great,” he said sarcastically, taking it
from her hands. He put it on his head, but found it annoying and
uncomfortable. “Do I have to wear this? It hurts my head, and it’s
making me sweat. Plus, it’s pushing my glasses into the side of my
head.”

“Don’t you want to stop someone from
shooting you in the head?” she asked, crossing her arms.

“Yes …”

“Then, yes, you need to wear the helmet. Why
don’t you take off those things,” she suggested, pointing at his
glasses.

“I won’t be able to see,” he replied.

“Hmmm …” Diana walked over to him, holding
her chin while she seemed lost thought. “Let me see if I can fix
this.” Slowly, she took off his glasses and told him to shut his
eyes. Holding her fingers over each of his eyelids, she began to
chant in the strange language he had heard her speak before. After
thirty seconds, she told him to open his eyes again.

Looking around at the area they stood in, he
could see the trees and birds in front of him perfectly. His vision
was even better than it had been with his glasses. He began to jump
for joy, exclaiming his amazement at her powers.

Diana laughed, telling him to calm down.
“Your eyes will remain like this while you’re here in Eden, but my
powers won’t extend into your world. I’m afraid you’ll still need
those things you call glasses when you go back home.” That put a
slight damper on things, but at least he had perfect eyes for the
time being. “Shall we get to work?” she asked, walking over and
picking up one of the swords.

With his new vision, Aiden felt more
confident and was ready for anything she threw at him.

Or so he thought.

CHAPTER FOUR

The moons sat full in the sky, lighting the
Capital with their bluish glow. The night was only beginning, but
already the streets were filled with the people of Capital City. He
looked down at the laughing, carefree citizens, and couldn’t help
but wonder how many more of these nights he would live to see. The
threat from the north was always looming in his mind, making it
hard to enjoy such festivities. Past spring festivals had been his
favourite night of the year, finding it his only escape from the
life and position he held. Tonight, he thought sadly, would
probably pale in comparison to the others.

“Are you coming?” Melaine asked from inside
the room. He turned to look at her, appreciating the view. She was
dressed in the ritual colour of red, her long dark hair pinned up
in an extravagant twist, and her green eyes accentuated with paint.
Even her high cheekbones were painted pink, making her look
youthful and attractive.

“I’m certainly not letting you go out
looking like that, all by yourself,” he answered with a smile. “Let
me just change first. I’ll meet you in the courtyard.”

“Yes, your majesty.” She smiled, grabbing
the mask that sat on the bed. It was common for the women of the
Capital to wear masks that night, finding it more freeing to do as
they pleased while in disguise. The men, however, did not. Jameson
always owned it up to the fact that men didn’t care what others
thought anyway. There was no need to hide who they were. As she
left, he headed to the mirror to make sure his hair wasn’t too
dishevelled.

Staring at his reflection, Jameson wondered
where the time had gone. He had once been one of the most handsome
men in the Kingdom, but now he just looked old and tired.
Admittedly, he wasn’t that old, but he felt it often. His sideburns
were beginning to show grey, which Melaine constantly teased him
about. She knew how insecure he was about his increasing age. There
were lines around his eyes now, and his stomach wasn’t as flat as
it used to be. He sighed, trying to mentally prepare himself for
the night to come. It would be a long one—the spring festival
usually was.

“God, you’re vain,” he heard a voice remark
from the doorway. He turned to see the Captain of his army, and
incidentally his best friend, Turk, standing leisurely in the
opening. “Why are you sitting there, staring at yourself?” He
laughed.

“I’m old, Turk.” He sighed, ignoring his
friend’s jest. “I look old, I feel old, I am old. What has happened
to our youth?”

“We drank it away,” he replied, laughing.
Jameson laughed in response, and nodded his head in agreement. “Why
are you so glum? It is the festival tonight—you should be excited
and ready for fun. God knows, it is our only night to let
loose!”

Jameson began to dress, picking plain
clothes so no one would recognize him on the streets. It was a long
shot, but hopefully everyone would be too busy trying to find a
lover or friend tonight, that they wouldn’t be looking for him.

“Do you think anyone down there truly
realizes the danger that threatens us every day?” he asked as he
pulled on his tights.

Turk walked over to the bar, pouring them
both a drink of whatever liquor was there. “I don’t think the
people of this city are in any way naive to what is going on, but I
think everyone, including our men and the two of us, just need one
night to forget about it and enjoy our lives.”

Jameson looked at the back of Turk
thoughtfully. The two of them had known each other since the time
they started training camp for the King’s army. They had been best
friends ever since the day they got in a fight, and Turk beat the
crap out of him. A smile crept onto the King’s face as he thought
about that day. His father had been so angry with the both of them,
especially Jameson. Not so much for fighting, but because he had
lost. It had bonded the two boys, however, and they never fought
again after that. They were each other’s backup, and they helped
each other through the three years of training camp. Both boys had
been at the top of their class, so it came as no surprise to
Jameson when his father had named Turk the new Captain.

Getting up, he walked over to grab the drink
Turk stretched out for him.

“You’re right,” he agreed, smiling. “Tonight
is our night to relax. I won’t speak of depressing things any more
for the rest of the night. If I do, I give you permission to punch
me.”

Turk laughed in delight. “As much as I would
love to take you up on that offer, I think I’ll have to pass. I
might break a bone in that old, frail body of yours.” Jameson
pushed him, Turk laughing at his own insult. “Let us go now, my
friend, and walk the streets we live for.”

“Yes, let’s. I believe Melaine is waiting
for us.”

“Tell me, when do you plan to wed the fair
lady?” Turk asked, his eyebrows moving up and down
suggestively.

“You know I’m not one for marriage,” he
replied, ignoring the question.

“You were once,” he reminded him. “Melaine
is a good woman, Jameson. She would be a prize for any man to have.
Plus, you are the King, and you must have a queen and make
children.”

This was a sore subject for him, knowing
that the High Priest and the Chancellor were constantly worrying
about this very topic. He had no wife, and therefore no heir. It
wasn’t that Melaine wasn’t a good choice for a partner: she was
beautiful and knew him better than anyone. It also wasn’t that he
didn’t love her, but he couldn’t say that he was actually
in
love
with her. He knew this was unfair, but he could admit it
to himself. Only once in his life, out of all the lovers he had
throughout his younger years, did he find himself in love. She had
been a vision, everything he could have ever dreamt of, but she had
left. She had chosen a different life over one with him, and it
still stung when he thought about it. It was just something he
couldn’t get over, even after all these years.

“I thought you said no more depressing
subjects,” he said to Turk, changing the topic.

He laughed. “You’re right. Let’s just go and
party with your loyal people!”

“Yes, and hopefully we don’t run into your
daughter.” Jameson winked. Turk immediately went rigid, his face
turning visibly red with emotion. Jameson laughed at his friend’s
obvious discomfort. No father would want his daughter out on a
night like this.

“It’s not funny,” Turk said, pushing him as
they walked toward the stairs. “I forbade her to join the festival
tonight, and she refused. Can you imagine? It’s as if she doesn’t
care about a word I say.”

“Those are kids for you.” He continued to
laugh. “Turk, she is seventeen, and beautiful beyond her years. Not
only that, but she also happens to be the best archer in the King’s
army, and is a girl. You cannot keep her locked up forever. There
are many men who are wait—”