Kethril (3 page)

They joined Sir Danth at the intersection.
Liselle wore woolen leggings and a green tunic she had made while
living at home. They showed wear from months of journeying. Vevin
wore purple leggings and vest lined with gold filigree in intricate
designs. The magically enhanced clothes looked brand new no matter
how much he traveled. His feet were bare as was his thin, muscled
chest and arms underneath the unclasped vest. Anilyia was in sturdy
tan travel clothes with intricate blue needlework, fit for a
princess, but capable of handling the abuse of the road.

Tathan’s jacket was pure black with runes
down the front opening. He wore dark brown leggings with thin bands
at the ankles to keep them wrapped around his boots. The tunic was
black with brown leather sewn throughout and the clothing was snug,
enabling him to be silent at all times.

“You said Kethril is about a week away,
Vevin?” Tathan asked as they began walking west along the Lost
Road. They had traveled for weeks down the mountains in the east to
get away from Rojuun Territory. The dirt was still damp from the
moisture of previous days, but it was firm and easy to walk on.
Princess Anilyia had a hold of his left hand as usual, a fact he
didn’t mind at all.

“Oh yes. We may make it there a day earlier
if the weather is nice,” Vevin answered while doing the peculiar
walking dance he was fond of. He took two steps to the diagonal one
way and then the other way with a hop thrown in. Liselle had begun
to match his steps in order to keep hold of his hand.

Sir Danth asked Vevin, “How long would it
take you to fly there?

“Well . . . depending on the winds, I could
make it there in half an hour, but that would take lots of work.”
He bobbed his head and took an extra step to the diagonal right,
which Liselle followed. “I don’t like to waste energy while I fly,
so I’d probably take five to eight hours while gliding along on air
currents.”

“And do you know where the country begins?”
the knight asked.

“Oh yes!” Vevin took two extra steps to the
left and one less to the right. Liselle glared, let go of his hand
and walked beside him. He smiled apologetically before answering
the question. “Kethril’s eastern border is along the edge of the
Willden Forest. We’ll reach that in about five or six days, but
it’s another day before we reach a village where there’s a small
inn we can stay at. I checked it out in my first flyby.”

“Do you think it’ll be safe, Vevin? Were
there soldiers around or anyone who looked dangerous?” Tathan
asked.

“Soldiers? No, I don’t think so. There’s an
old wizard tower on the forest side of the village, but I didn’t
see anything that would be dangerous to us.”

“It sounds nice.” Liselle smiled. “I want to
see what the world is really like, not the Rojuun version of it.
You told me about so many cities and villages that sounded
treacherous and shady, Tathan. I want to see those.”

Tathan blushed. “They’re not all
treacherous. I . . . I think I see the worst places have to offer.
Honestly, I hope you never see what I do.”

“You worry me sometimes, Cousin.” Concern
was evident in Liselle’s voice. “When you first arrived at home,
you looked haunted. You’re much happier now, but I still see that
look behind your eyes sometimes. I fear it’ll grow stronger in the
cities.”

“Umm . . .” Tathan was afraid of the same
thing, but didn’t want to admit it. He thought he was better at
hiding his feelings. The fact that Liselle could see past his
barriers worried him. A small part of him was curious if she could
cure his darkness while a larger part was afraid she would. The
darkness had become a comfortable blanket he liked to wrap around
himself. “I am happier now. Thank you for worrying about me.” He
smiled, hoping that would prevent her from digging further.

She narrowed her eyes. His cousin might be
naïve, but she was by no means a fool. “Very well, but I’m still
going to worry.”

Tathan didn’t think it was fair that he was
getting all the attention. Originally, he had wanted to talk to Sir
Danth about the knight’s moodiness when they were alone, but since
feelings were being discussed, it seemed like a good time to bring
it up. “Sir Danth, I’ve noticed you seem to be gloomier than
usual.”

“I’ve noticed the same thing too,” Liselle
agreed. “For a while you were playful and laughed on occasion, but
you’ve been very quiet ever since leaving the caverns.” Sir Danth
showed no indication he had heard them. They walked a short while
before Liselle asked, “Sir Danth, did you hear?”

“I heard.” Another minute went by without a
word. The others exchanged worried glances, but didn’t prod him
further. Then he spoke. “I am unhappy. It has happened at times
where my mood is dark for years, but I was alone and in the cave
where I guarded the crown.” A deep sigh emitted from his chest.
“Being out underneath the sky and traveling with new friends
rescued me from those doldrums.”

“I understand how you’d get depressed
standing guard all alone in that cave,” Tathan empathized. “I’d
probably kill myself.”

Both Liselle and the princess smacked him
hard. “Tathan, don’t be a wretch!” Liselle said. “Go on, Sir Danth.
Perhaps we’ll be able to help you feel better . . . if Tathan keeps
his mouth shut that is.” She glared at her cousin.

“Master Tathan is correct. I tried to figure
out a way to kill myself, but the armor and sword prevent me from
doing so.” He shrugged his metal shoulders.

“That’s inconvenient.” Tathan nodded. Both
women smacked him again. “Hey!”

Sir Danth nodded as well. “Verily. Meeting
you all has made me very happy. You are wonderful people and I
enjoy traveling with you. However, that makes me all that much more
depressed.”

“That doesn’t make any sense,” Anilyia
claimed with a frown. Liselle’s head tilted to the side in
confusion.

“Sure it does,” Vevin said. “It’s Sir Danth
logic. He says things like that all the time.” Vevin explained the
concept. “Being in a cave all alone is depressing, not being able
to kill himself is depressing, making friends is a happy thing, but
once it’s done making him happy, it depresses him more than being
in a cave while not being able to kill himself. Now he’s very upset
that he’s enjoying how happy he is and the unhappiness he feels is
causing him to be in a dark mood, but he likes us a lot and that
depresses him even more. In addition . . .”

“Please stop!” Anilyia rubbed her temples.
“I didn’t understand a word you said and it’s hurting my head. I’d
rather you just eat me and be done with it.”

Sir Danth was frowning and scratching his
helmet in thought. “Master Vevin is right though. Anyway, the point
is that I like having friends again, but it makes me realize how
much I’m missing.”

“What are you missing?” Liselle asked.

“A life.” Upon seeing their puzzled looks,
he clarified. “I am not alive, nor am I dead. My existence is in
limbo.” Sir Danth stopped and faced them. “I can fall in love, but
cannot consummate that love. I was once handsome, but no woman will
see that. I cannot touch or smile, though I convey expression
through magic.” He hung his head.

Liselle put a hand on his arm. “My brave,
sorrowful knight, I can’t imagine how that feels. Is there anything
we can do to help?”

“I’d suggest getting him laid, but he just
pointed out the flaw in that plan,” Tathan said with a smirk.
Princess Anilyia smacked him in the chest again. She seemed to be
relishing the gesture.

Liselle shook her head in displeasure at her
cousin’s lightheartedness. “Don’t mind him. He’s an oaf. What can
we do to help?”

“I don’t think you can, Milady. I see you
and Vevin in love and it makes my heart . . . my absence of a heart
. . . ache.” He resumed walking again. “Princess Anilyia holds
Master Tathan’s hands, a gesture of comfort and pleasure, a gesture
I cannot feel. Have I told you what I
can
feel?” he
asked.

“You have not, my dear knight,” Liselle
answered, walking alongside.

“I feel death. Not my own, but the death of
whatever I kill.” His voice gained a new, disturbing tone. “I can
feel my sword sliding through a person’s body. I feel the soul
leaving the body.” He stared into her eyes. “I like it,” he
finished.

Liselle ran back to Vevin who wrapped a
protective arm around her shoulder as she buried her face into his
chest. Once again they all stopped. Tathan decided the journey was
going to take a long time at their current pace. “My friend, you
know my cousin is a gentle soul. I don’t like the way you’re
speaking to her. It’s almost as though upsetting her gives you
delight.”

“I lost my people!” the knight yelled,
causing them to take a step back. “I have no betrothed to hold at
night!” He gestured angrily as he spoke. “My cities are in ruins
and my friends no longer exist! And
yes
, I like killing. I
like it very much. I want to go to war and kill thousands of
people. I’m angry, Tathan. I’m mad at the universe for taking my
people away and leaving me buried beneath the world to protect a
stupid piece of metal that was stolen anyway!”

With that, he drew his sword and attacked
the nearest helpless tree. Great swings cut through the trunk,
knocking it over with a crash. When it was fallen, he continued
slicing into it. The trunk gave his sword about as much resistance
as butter would a table knife. They watched the knight with dread
as the rage proceeded. Tathan had drawn his sword out of caution
and stood between the knight and Anilyia. Vevin stood protectively
in front of Liselle.

Sir Danth dropped his sword and fell to his
knees. Great, heaving sobs shook his shoulders and he held his head
in his hands. Even though he didn’t have a body, the gestures he
made were eminently human. His emotions were real, powered by
centuries of solitude.

Tathan sheathed his sword and went to put a
hand on the knight’s shoulder. He didn’t say anything, merely
provided small comfort while Sir Danth spent his despair. The
others sat down across the road.

It took some time before the last of the
sobbing finished. Sir Danth knelt awhile longer. Tathan continued
to stay nearby, sitting on one of the newly sliced logs. He didn’t
say anything, giving the knight time to recover. Sounds of the
forest echoed around them, unaware and uncaring of the companion’s
activities. Finally, Sir Danth picked up his sword and sheathed it.
“I must apologize for my most ignoble outburst,” the knight said
dejectedly. “My behavior toward you was atrocious, Milady.” He
bowed to Liselle. “If you wish me to leave I will understand.”

“No! I don’t want you to leave, my friend,”
Liselle exclaimed as she rushed to him and gave him a great hug.
Vevin hovered behind her, sliding back and forth in the manner of a
snake about to strike. Anilyia watched him warily.

“I feel so alone and abandoned,” Sir Danth
told them as he released Liselle. “It feels like everyone left me.
I also dread meeting more people for fear that . . .”

“Go on,” Liselle encouraged.

“I can’t touch or have a relationship with
anyone. I can’t
smile
at people. If I take off my helmet,
children will run screaming. What sort of life is that for a
knight?” he asked.

“Do good anyway,” Liselle encouraged. Sir
Danth raised an eyebrow in query. She explained, “I don’t have all
the answers, but perhaps you should do good wherever possible to
help the homeless and downtrodden as you suggested back in Puujan.
It won’t bring back your body, but perhaps it will help ease the
pain.”

“Perhaps . . .” He didn’t sound convinced.
“Yes, I will try to help the downtrodden. I hope that we will find
some soon. At least we have extra firewood, right?” he asked,
smacking Tathan in the back, causing him to stagger forward. “That
helped too,” he said with a grin. Tathan glared playfully at him
and everyone burst into laughter.

They resumed walking yet again. Anilyia
latched onto Tathan’s hand right away. The knight still wasn’t
cheerful, but the mood wasn’t quite as heavy.

Tathan liked Sir Danth, but was becoming
nervous about his behavior. The knight’s armor and sword were made
of powerful magic. That would be fine for someone who was mentally
stable. It was clear that Sir Danth was far from stable. If he were
to lose touch with reality any more, it could go badly. At the same
time, he wasn’t willing to give up on a friend just because they
might go insane and kill everything in sight. Tathan mused that his
values might be a bit unbalanced.

Anilyia started swinging his arm with hers
to bring him out of his reverie. He smiled at her then noticed the
look in her eyes was one of lust. She wanted him just as much as he
wanted her. They had avoided consummating their feelings for each
other, but just barely. At the Lost Road Inn, their nights were
spent together in the innkeeper’s cabin. Liselle had spoken to them
both and they reassured her each time that nothing was happening.
She didn’t believe them, but the simple fact that the princess
wasn’t willing to be away from Tathan while Vevin was around ruined
any plan Liselle had from keeping them apart.

While in the innkeeper’s cabin, they would
kiss and caress each other. They moved their bodies together with
clothes on, never finding full satisfaction. Anilyia told him that
he would be killed if anyone ever found out about the way they
touched. Instead of deterring him, it just made him more
passionate. Tathan didn’t know if he loved her. It felt like he
did, but she was a princess. He wasn’t allowed to touch her and
that alone made him want her.

Anilyia’s eyes were brilliant blue,
sparkling like gemstones. She wore exquisite jewelry that Tathan
was certain cost a fortune. It would make her a target in cities,
but she refused to give it up. He didn’t blame her. She had very
little left from home and was clinging to anything that made her
feel safe.