14Chapter 4
"So, how are you liking it here so far?" 'Red' asked Keia as they walked around the garden. She looked up at him and smirked. "Well, considering I've been here only a week, I'd say I loathe it." Caer stopped. "Loathe it, you say," he asked, an eyebrow raised in a questioning manner. Keia stopped and turned back towards him. "You would hate it too if all you could do was knit, go to boring dinner parties, have tea with every old noblewoman in the Citadel, listen to the ladies of the court simpering about the latest fashions or what the prince and his brother were doing." She groaned, not noticing the grimace on Caer's face at the mention of the Prince. "It is all simply annoying."
"I completely understand," Caer said while casually rubbing his left arm. Memories of his latest encounter with Loki rose to the surface. "Although I hate it for an entirely different reason" he whispered under his breath, remembering the young princes' favorite games, most of which included either beating him up or doing things too or with the serving girls. He'd oftentimes be in the kitchens when Loki or Arran's most recent victim would come in for some of Cook's bruise-balm or any of remedies in Cook's cabinet, most of which were medicinal herbs that were often used in Am'zhere to prevent unwanted pregnancies. Looking at the Princess's worried face he swore to himself at that moment that he would do anything to prevent her from experiencing Loki's cruelties.
"Red," Keia said. Caer blinked, suddenly remembering that the princess was still standing next to him. "Yes?"
"Where'd you go? I lost you there for a moment."
Caer shook his head and waved his hand in dismissal. "Don't worry about it, just thinking." He started walking again. Not wanting to be left behind, Keia followed. "So princess," Caer said while grinning, "if you are not fond of knitting and gaggling, what do you prefer to occupy your time with?"
Keia laughed. "Well, I would say that I prefer…."
~~~()()()~~~
7 Goldcrown 1464
"Sparring" she told me. Sparring? Since when do women spar? Not that I believe them incapable of it or any such thing, I've just never heard of it being done before. After our stroll through the garden, she expressed her desire to retire to her chambers. I, being the gentleman, offered to escort her. She of course, smiled and accepted my offer. When we arrived at her chambers, she showed me the dagger she preferred to fight with. It was as long as her forearm and made of the most brilliant silver metal I had ever seen. The moment the smooth blade rested in my hands, I knew what I had to do. I needed to visit Derek and Captain today, the smith and the armsmaster.
I've just returned from my errand. Derek and the Captain both agreed to give me lessons, albeit hesitantly for fear of what his Lordship would do to them if he found out that they taught a servant. What convinced them in the end, they both had said was my sheer enthusiasm and my offer of a carving for each of them as payment. My lessons start tomorrow; I should be going to bed now.
~Caer
~~~()()()~~~
Caer slowly pushed open the door to the Captain's domain. He quietly slipped inside. In the center of the room was a raised circular wooden platform; to his right was a cloth covered wall with suspicious lumps under the cloth; to his left was the arms master himself giving him a judgmental glance, as if measuring his capabilities with a single look. "So you're here now," the Captain said to him, "Welcome to your new Hell for the next few months."
Caer grimaced; a little more worried now than he had been before. "Come," the Captain said to him and led him over to the cloth wall. The Captain yanked the large cloth away and revealed to the awe-struck young man, row upon row of weapons. There were swords, axes, maces, daggers, spears, pikes, and glaives of every make and design imaginable. "Choose the weapon that fits you and meet me in the practice ring" he said, gesturing to the platform. "Take all the time you need," he said before walking to the platform. The Captain stood silently and watched as Caer reached for the spiked ball and chain. The young man picked up the heavy mace and promptly lost control of the ball and smashed it into the wall. The Captain sighed; this was going to be a long day.
~~~()()()~~~
As the hours passed, the Captain grew more and more worried. Perhaps he was wrong about the child. Maybe the soul of a warrior was not what he possessed. If a blade did not choose him soon, he would have to dismiss the boy.
Caer groaned tiredly as he tossed his latest failure to the side: it would seem that punch daggers were not his destined weapon. He looked up to the top of the rack at the last weapon set. It was a pair of long curved blades, wider than scimitars and shaped like flames. Both blades lacked a cross-piece and a hand-guard. The hand-grip was set into the side of the blade, allowing the metal to flow around it in a smooth curve. The Captain raised an eyebrow at the boy's final selection. No one had ever been chosen by those blades before. The last student he had that had tried those blades had run from his room screaming, with bright red welts on his palms.
Caer gently grasped the blades and gave them an experimental swing, admiring the way they cut a smooth path through the air in front of him. He smiled, carefully weighing them in his hands, adjusting to the feel of them. They were the epitome of elegance, deathly elegance. He traced the vorpal steel with his eyes, watching as the candlelight danced along the keen edges. He could feel the warm heat emanating from the rough grips beneath his hands and a strange sense of acceptance.
The Captain let out a deep sigh, suddenly aware that he was holding his breath. He turned and began to climb the platform's stairs. "Come along boy, we don't have all day. Caer reversed the blades and walked slowly over to the stairs, careful not to cut himself on the adamantine blades. The Captain unsheathed his rapier when Caer had clambered up onto the platform. "Finally," the Captain whispered, twirling the shimmering blade around his fingers, "now come at me with the intent to kill. Let's see how good you naturally are."
The combatants stood stock still, motionless, waiting for the other to be the first to move. With a shout, Caer lunged towards the Captain, the blade in his right hand pointing at his opponent's neck, the blade in his left reversed and lowered to his side. The Captain stepped to the side and lightly rapped at the boy's unprotected side with the flat of his blade. Caer stumbled to a halt, turned and slashed both blades out in front of him, only to have them lightly tapped aside by the Captain's rapier. The Captain turned his back towards Caer and walked to the other side of the platform. With a crash, Caer's blades met the rapier, held out behind the Captain's back. Slowly the Captain turned, the dual blades still pressing against the rapier. With obvious effort, the Captain pushed Caer back and knocked his blades to the side.
"You've got plenty of strength," the Captain said, "but what about speed?" Dodging a stab to his right side, the Captain twisted about and slapped Caer's left flank with the rapier. "Speed," growled Caer, "I'll show you speed." Before Caer could make another move, he stiffened at the soft prick against the small of his back. He cautiously looked over his shoulder and down at the point of the Captain's rapier. "We have work to do", the Captain said. He withdrew the blade and tossed it to the side.
"You see those bandages on the benches over by the wall?"
Caer nodded and looked up at the Captain confusedly. "Go and wrap two around each wrist and ankle then return to me." When Caer returned he returned to find the Captain wearing a sadistic grin. He looked up cautiously. "Captain?" he asked. The Captain snapped his fingers and Caer fell to the ground, feeling as if the weight of the world was pressing down on him. The Captain leaned over him. "When you are finally able to stand I want you to run laps around the room, five hundred of them."
Caer looked up, "what did you do to me?" The Captain rested a foot on the small of Caer's back before speaking. "I activated a chain enchantment in the bandages. Gravity runes are wonderful aren't they?" The Captain walked away before Caer could respond.
Caer growled. The young man was not pleased.
~~~()()()~~~
8 Goldcrown 1464
I can't believe it, how could he do this to me! I ache bloody everywhere and can barely hold the quill in my hand. On top of that, both Ember and Keia laughed at me. Laughed! Neither of them knew what I was doing, but with me dragging my self around like a seal on ice they had plenty to laugh about. If there is anyone out there, please let me survive the next few months….
~Caer
15 Goldcrown 1464
I began training with Derek the Smith today. He's having me forge nails…I hate nails. The only good thing that came out of this was the realization that the Captain's weights have actually done my some good. The hammer didn't seem so heavy at all.
Dang, break time is over, back to carving duty.
Later- I seriously hate Loki. He 'claimed' another maid today, and I called him on it. He smashed me against the wall and in no uncertain terms told me that if I meddled in his affairs that my life would be on the line. I would've fought back, but I really don't want to face whatever repercussions that action would entail. And Keia has to marry this guy in a few years. I seriously hope he changes….but I doubt he will.
Arran's been following me around—annoying pest. What is he snooping around me for?
~Caer
12 Silvermoon 1465
Happy Birthday to me! Nothing special happened today as usual, we were all too busy working to do much. Mom apologized for not being able to get me anything, but said she'd make it up to me. Whatever…
It's been a few months since I started working with the Captain, and he decided that I was ready for another duel…
Caer walked cautiously into the Captain's quarters, hand's resting gently at his sides, ready to draw his blades at a moment's notice. Caer looked at his reflection in the mirror on the far side of the room. He hadn't really changed much over the past year: his hair grew longer and he had black weight bandages on his arms instead of the previous cream-colored ones along with the leg bandages. Caer smirked. He blinked confusedly for a moment. "Those are new" he thought, noticing the sharpened tips of his canines. In an instant he had his hand raised and the point of a rapier caught between two fingers. "Nice try, Captain" the young man said, "you're getting slower." Caer let go of the tip and turned to look at the Captain. He was smiling. "You've gotten better" he said.
Caer smiled as well. "You've helped."
The Captain clapped a hand on Caer's shoulder. "You are indeed my best pupil yet," the Captain said proudly, "Since that first day, you have never complained to my face and worked hard at everything I've had you do." The Captain backed up, "so let us see if all that work truly paid off."
Caer grinned. "Shall we?"
With lightening-fast movements, both had swords drawn and crossed. The Captain spun to the left, dodging the swipe of the Caer's other blade. He made to rap Caer's unprotected left side but was deterred by another sword swinging at his neck. While moving to block the unexpected strike, he received a swift kick in the gut. He reeled backwards, stunned. In an instant, both combatants were pure motion; neither remained in a single spot for more than an instant as they danced their elegant Dance of Death. Suddenly, the Captain thrust at Caer's chest only to be blocked by his downward crossed twin-blades. "I don't think so" Caer said before head butting the Captain. The Captain stumbled backwards and was suddenly met by a flurry of strikes coming seemingly from every possible angle in front of him. Unable to keep up he let himself fall to the ground. Caer pointed a sword at his chest. "Do you yield?" he asked.
The Captain grinned and held out a hand, requesting assistance. Caer reached down to pull him up but found himself dragged down to the ground with a sword now pointed at his neck. The Captain stared down at the young man. "Remember," he said, "be wary of opponents who seem to have surrendered; they might just be faking." The Captain sheathed his blade and held out a hand to Caer. "The duel is over. Well done." He pulled Caer up to his feet and patted him on the back. "You're time with me is over, you may go now." Caer bowed slightly to him and strapped his blades to his sides. He turned and walked out the door, only pausing to listen to the Captain's invitation to return at another time.
…After that I spoke with Derek who also released me from his tutelage as well. I'd learned all the smithing he was capable of teaching me and was considered a journeyman in the Blacksmith's Guild. A whole lot of good that'll do me if I stick around the Citadel for the rest of my life; I probably will remain Royal Ice Carver for the rest of my Days.
Later—I take that back. Apparently his Lordship has appointed me as the Princess' official chaperone to her meetings with Loki since I seem to be so close to her. How I wish I could remove that stupid look from that idiot's face when he tries to play the fop. I know him for a liar—a treacherous weasel.
I must suffer his deceit for now; someday I'll make him show Keia his true face.
I cannot let him ruin her like he has all the others.
~Caer
24 Emberleaf 1465
Something really strange has happened. I saw Ember in two places at the same time. We were resting in our rooms and he had just finished telling me about the work he had been doing and was off to the side reading a book. I looked back in front of me and there he was, telling me about his work again. I look back to the side, and he's still there reading. I look back in front of me and no one is there. What the heck is going on?
~Caer
28 Ashfall 1465
Alright, the weird thing happened again. This time I was looking at His Lordship (while carving a statue) and noticing how much older he looked. But then I blinked, and suddenly there was no trace of wrinkles, his cheeks were flush and he looked…young? I blinked again and he was back to his old self again. It was seriously bizarre.
Then I saw Mother pregnant, curled up and chained in the corner of the throne room. She's dead. Why the heck am I seeing her there? Why the heck am I seeing any of this? What is going on?
~Caer
31 Ashfall 1465
My eyes are glowing, Mom said to me today. What the heck? Why would my eyes be glowing? I have no blood-magic or mage-craft, so why?
If only Mother was still around, I could ask her…ask her about Father. I knew she had no gift, but what about him?
4 Icedawn1466
I think I saw my father today. Or saw my father, whenever he was…
I was walking down an abandoned hall today, trying to take the long way back to my room (avoiding Loki and Arran of course), and was rudely pushed out of the way by some armored tall, broad shouldered, white haired guy. I chased after him, yelling at him to watch where he was going—but he didn't seem to hear me. I ran in front of him and tried to shout in his face, but I couldn't.
I saw his eyes…
…my eyes...
This is seriously getting to be a bit too weird. Next I'll be hearing voices in my head or something…
~Caer
14 Icedawn 1466
I spoke a bit too soon in my last entry. I have officially gone insane. I am hearing voices, albeit very faint, but still voices—voices in empty rooms. Empty but for me and a few flickering torches.
Later—come to think of it… I only hear the voices in rooms that are lit with torches and not mage-lights.
Is there some connection there?
~Caer
26 Icedawn 1466
The flames are officially speaking to me. Fire speaks? I seriously am insane. Someone kill me now. Now they're warning me? Warning me about what?
What is going on?
~Caer
3 Goldcrown 1466
Another maid has gone missing. Cook is absolutely hysterical; apparently the missing girl is her daughter. Who knew?
The disappearances are increasing now. They began with only one girl vanishing each year, to four and now once every month. Something is going on here and I am going to find out what.
~Caer
12 Goldcrown 1466
No sign of Cook's daughter yet, but I think I'm getting closer. I overheard Loki talking to Arran about how His Lordship was going to do it tonight. What is 'it'?
Anyways, it's time for dinner. I'll follow His Lordship tonight after dinner, and then I'll know the truth.
Why is it suddenly so cold in here?
~Caer
13 Goldcrown 1466
I must leave as soon as I can. I cannot believe what it is that I have seen. If I cannot, no one else is likely to believe as well. Maybe she will? He will be doing it again next month. I must bide my time, act as if nothing has happened. On the next new moon I will show her, maybe she can see the truth.
~Caer
Thus Ends Part I
of
The Crimson Ascension