VI.

Go, little one

Walk through the streets

Go and have fun

With all your friends

But, please, when you play

Remember to be good

Because our Pantheon

Punish those who don’t

Your hand you don’t lift

To do an evil deed

No matter if the other

Is the worst of enemies

For Magic will send

The ones who are bad

To live within seven feet

Deep in the land

Children’s Song

*

The west Continent is known to be peaceful. Compared to its Eastern brother, these lands have less conflicts and wars – even though there are still several territorial disputes in progress behind the scenes.

After centuries of battles, attempts of domination, wars between cities and citizens, the territories ended up divided by eight: The Free City of Rendall, the oldest realm, isolated from everyone and everything; the Kingdom of Fiandel, the nation with the most powerful army and the biggest amount of population; The Sultanate of Argalya, feared by their mysterious advances in magic, in most part unknown to the rest of the continent; The Mallia Confederation, home for the most influent families that commands the shadows; The Markav Republic, second nation in military power, home for all the big warrior families; The Kingdom of Vivre, cradle of the arts and the nation that mastered the mercantile culture; The Red Desert, home to bandits and renegades – a deadly desert, seized by the scum of society; and the Great Forest, dominated by the Order of the Eight Races, currently commanded by the Oracle.

Guided by the desire for internal growth, the major kingdoms (Fiandel and Vivre), a long time ago, made a peace treaty, which forced the other nations to obey the determination to freeze borders and to recognize the individual sovereignty of the seven nations – nobody wanted the Red Desert. It is a fragile and it is known that the peace is temporary, while both sides look for a definitive way of taking control, but, over time, turned into a consolidated idea in the population’s unconscious, turning the wars into distant memories. This, however, does not prevent the kingdoms from having their conflicts with the smaller nations, with discreet campaigns throughout recent history.

However, there is still a general idea of peace, which allows the cities to grow, bigger and prettier, less threatened by eminent destruction. Kingdoms and their inhabitants permeate larger percentages of their own territories, meanwhile, the capitals, center of development, grows rapidly, driven by taxes paid by cities with an ever-increasing number of inhabitants.

And, in the capital of the Kingdom of Vivre, this evolution is even more noticeable. From the road, which, for kilometers before reaching the gates, displays a well-laid stone path, with dirt in-between the pieces in order to facilitate the transport of horses and carts, from where it is possible to see, in both sides of the road, large farms and plantations. A road filled with signals and uniformized guards in all intersections, welcoming with palatial education the guests that travel under the Fiandel flag.

The company of – now - eighteen soldiers (and one prisoner) advances along the road, guiding two carts, both which are full of wounded personnel. During the final section of the journey, due to the large number of injured people, the few supplies were loaded on the horses, tied in cloth bags, in order to open enough space in the cars guided at the rear.

The closer to the gates and external walls of the city, the smaller the properties became, and the cultivation fields were replaced by bars, inns and houses of workers who exercised their trades withing the walls. The traffic of horses and carriages was big, but the road was several meters wide, allowing those with special documents to get to the front of the line, ahead of the many traders, travelers and onlookers whom had lined up at the customhouse.

Rinlia, who was wearing her insignia and a letter with the orders of King Njalmar, sovereign of Fiandel, knew how much power she held in hand, so she guided her men to Vivre’s soldiers, stationed outside the military post.

The flags, placed on both sides of the carriages, added to the uniforms, was enough to make their presence respected by those present. The soldiers on duty, dressed in the traditional red cloaks and golden armors from the Kingdom of Vivre, immediately greeted the newcomers.

-Those capes… - murmured Barsen, staring at the two men who were looking at Rinlia’s documents.

-I think they inspire respect. – Says Yvanna, her horse standing beside the carriage guided by the ogre.

-There are other ways to inspire respect, without compromising the movement of a soldier.

She did not respond, adjusting her hood when Rinlia made a gesture for them to move forward. She waves to Gasser and Barsen, who guide their carriages in the direction taken by a detachment of five soldiers, who immediately left their post to accompany them.

They followed the streets, surrounded by tall buildings from all sides. From the beginning they hear seagulls and other sea birds. The ocean was nowhere to be seen, but it felt close. Vivre’s harbor is known as the largest on the continent and, after advancing through the streets, this characteristic became obvious: Countless trades with items related to fishing, from materials for the repair and construction of boats; from the negotiation of fishes to the sale of materials to survive in boats for long periods of time - all of this permeated the streets of the capital.

This, however, was limited to the simplest streets, far from the heart of the city. Increasingly, the buildings seemed to be projected to occupy prominent spaces in the eyes of the viewer: Whether by the colors or the ornate signs, each piece of façade was used to attract the attention of the passersby. Before arriving in the center of the city, they saw all kinds of traders: From farmers to bank and investors negotiating papers and screaming in the windows of the establishments.

The amount of information per the square meter was such that it started to become suffocating. Barsen, used to the open battlefields, felt his big body constrained by the tall buildings and narrow streets. The smell, previously acceptable because it was mostly composed of meat (although fish) and paints on wood, now became more oppressive, as the smell of sewage from the secondary streets began to creep over the main road.

In this environment, where everything had little space and the glamour of the great gates and subtle adaptations of this outdated world began to disappear in the sea of desperate commerce, the soldiers who rode behind the guides of the city increasingly noticed the attempt to overlap an artistic sense over this uninspired content – this was the real reason behind the carefully painted armor and the polite treatment: To maintain the fragile artistic façade of the Kingdom.

And although they were shocked by this information, as soon as they arrived on the main streets, the soldiers – and Barsen – were able to breathe normally: Those streets, with their size still under the control of the crown and the nobles, widened again, giving ample space for movement through the luxurious shops of the retail center – one of the prides of Vivre, in the heart of the city.

There, the stores have large windows, displaying the most luxurious of fashion items; the restaurants served only small portions of the rarest foods; the artisans exhibited the most delicate works of art, destined for the royal salons and the greatest nobles of the continent.

And, in the center of all this, placed in a square with a diameter equivalent to a small farm, is the statue of “LIFE” – the representation of the Entity adopted by the Kingdom of Vivre as its Protector.

The statue of a woman with dazzling features and a gentle smile, with her hands cupped in front of her chest, over which there is water, which falls into the largest fountain in the kingdom.

-Wow… - Gasser cannot take his eyes off the image, which rises to a height equivalent to a tower.

-Hold on!

They stop and turn. Behind them comes an imposing soldier, protected by a red armor and yellow cape, an inversion of colors that indicates that he is a royal knight of Vivre, member of the special protection force of the castle and the highest rank among the soldiers of the Kingdom.

The soldier approaches; Rinlia signals to Yvanna. The deputy commander, unlike Barsen, is not responsible for a carriage, therefore, is free to move among the other soldiers.

While Rinlia receives the soldier, the vampire moves around the carriage, where the wounded personnel are placed. Inside, everybody is unconscious or sedated in order to feel the least amount of pain. Arthur’s body is tied up. Yvanna check his state and returns to where the soldier interrogates Rinlia.

-You came by the path that crosses the border with the Great Forest?

-Yes. – Rinlia nods.

-Did you see something related to the thunders from the last two nights?

-Yes. We were attacked by animals influenced by magic, coming from the Great Forest. That is why we have so many injured soldiers.

-Any chance for an incorporeal to be in those parts?

-We were too worried surviving. The fight was rough. Even if there were any, we would not notice.

-Could I talk to the soldiers? Perhaps someone among the injured can be of help.

-With all due respect, we did not come to talk about this matter. Our affairs are more urgent. – Rinlia’s tone rises to match the soldier’s voice. – We are tired of a long journey. We were attacked by thieves, magic and animals on the road. Besides, your spies, who have been watching us for most of the way since we entered this land, must know that we bring important news from the kingdom of Fiandel. So, I will be grateful if you become less concerned with setting up interrogations searching for ghosts and more concerned with providing shelter and a place to care for our wounded.

The soldier hesitated for a moment, as if he wanted to contest, but, after considering the situation, he resumes the posture with a pointed nose, signaling to the two soldiers/guides.

-Show them the way to the Southern District. – He turns to Rinlia. – They will guide you to a military post where you can leave the wounded. Nearby there are several stores that are indebted to the Castle. Show your badge to them and ask these soldiers to testify that you are here in military service and your stay will not be charged. – He made a half bow. – In the morning, go to the castle. Your Majesty, Queen Aetna, has ordered me to allow you a night’s rest before granting a meeting.

-I would prefer a meeting to be held today. – Rinlia says, with a big effort to keep her tone polite. – We need to get back to Fiandel as soon as possible.

-This is Your Majesty’s order. The meeting will be held tomorrow, with witnesses.

Rinlia bit her lip. She knew that a night’s rest would be essential for the soldiers, but she did not want to keep Arthur within the reach of another kingdom more than what was strictly necessary. She wanted to leave with the boy immediately and let the message to be delivered by a messenger, but she could not do that. That message needed to be delivered by her and the reply should return safely to Fiandel. And, although she could trust someone else to deliver the answer, she had sworn to the King Njalmar himself that she would be the one to talk to Queen Aetna.

So, despite being upset, the elf waved to the knight and let him go.

*

The night is high and the wounded, finally, sleep in peace. Inside “The Wyvern’s Nest” inn, five guests are gathered in two different rooms. Because of the “free” service, each inn was willing to provide only two rooms at a time, which divided the soldiers into smaller groups.

Rinlia and Yvanna share the same room, while Barsen, Gasser and Arthur are confined in the other space, on the same floor. Rinlia did not allow the boy to be left with the others at the hospital. She knew that, by doing this, some attention would be drawn, but the risk of leaving him in a place full of healers with knowledge about magic was much greater.

While the others eat, Rinlia stands guard in Arthur’s quarters, in a chair that faces the bed, her eyes locked in the unconscious body. When they brought him, he was not tied up, so he could pass like a wounded man about to wake up, but now, lying in bed, he is again restricted by the ropes.

The elf hears footsteps in the corridor. She makes a move to get up but stops it when she recognizes the sound of the light steps that are approaching.

-I thought you might want to enjoy that the inn’s soup is still being served hot. – Yvanna’s tone is cautious.

-I am not hungry.

The second commander nods and approaches the bed, starring at the boy.

-He seems to be good. – She analyzes the color on Arthur’s lips and cheeks, taking his arm and checking his pulse. – You look contemplative. What are on your mind?

-Nothing.

-Really? How long we know each other? Do you really think I cannot tell when something is bothering you?

The elf bites her lip.

-It is nothing. – The vampire keeps looking at her. – You are very persistent. I am just thinking about magic.

-About the incorporeal?

-Yes. Although I am not a great connoisseur about the technicalities, King Njalmar keeps one of the greatest magicians of the world by his side, so I had some opportunities to talk to him. You are also close to the royal family, so I imagine you have probably heard about the effects the incorporeal have over magic.

-But aren’t those just stories? I thought the “real deal” would be different. After all, even if the prophecy is true, there is no way to know about the details.

-Even so, the prophecy stablishes some concepts. We saw the effects in battle, against the bear. His magic can give life to the incorporeals.

-And does that bothers you?

-Yes. It is weird, don’t you think? We are in Vivre, Yvanna. Of all places, this boy appeared near the only country that worships “Life”. Sure, it is a big territory and it might have been a coincidence, but it is, at least, intriguing.

-I do not understand.

-I am talking about his magic. While all the mages try to use energy from the planet, he does the opposite, giving the energy to others.

-And what’s so strange about that?

-The situation is a bit ironic, isn’t it? We use magic to kill the things that are alive. He uses his power to give life to the ones that are dead. He distributes life, and, somehow, we cannot accept that as something good. Why? Why do things have to be like this?

Yvanna did not answer. She looks to the emerald-eyes and sees a familiar glow on them. She had seen de same glow before. It was part of the reason why Rinlia is still a soldier and keeps fighting even when nobody could ask her for more.

-It looks like we will have a long road ahead, won’t we, madam commander?

-Yes. There is so much we need to understand. Why is he different? Why his magic causes rage in the animals? Was that some kind of instinct response or, maybe, some reaction to the storm from the night before? What is the real potential of the incorporeal when he is around?

-So, this has been your intention from the beginning. To take him back with us.

-It wasn’t obvious? – The elf sighs, exhausted from the journey. Her body finally charges the price for the enormous quantity of magic she used. Rinlia feels as if she were about to collapse.

-I thought we would give him to Vivre. I thought you would use him as some sort of gift.

-Not at all. What I want is to hand this boy over to Armenvald or to some other magic expert in Fiandel. Yvanna, listen to me: - She leans in the chair. – At the very least, that boy is the key to winning the war against the incorporeal.

-What is the best-case scenario?

-He can give us a chance to use the magic of the incorporeals to our advantage.

-Why do you think that the possibility even exists? How do you know we will be able to take him all the way back to Fiandel?

The elf shakes her head.

-You are talking about two very distinct situations. I can be sure about what he can offer to us without knowing if I can take him back.

-The question prevails: Do you think we can take him there?

-If someone can do that, it’s us.

*

*