ARC 3 - HALLOWED

CHAPTER 15 - THE DISTANCE BETWEEN

Raegn found his way to the kitchens at the first possible moment the next morning. Lona was happily stirring away at three different pots hung over open stoves while Erkan hacked away at what Raegn assumed to be hunks of leftover boar, though the meat was quite dark. It would probably end up in stew where it could be cooked long enough to become tender, but even Erkan’s thick arms were having a time of cleaving the meat into smaller pieces. For once though, Raegn was unconcerned with the days fair. Erkan looked up at him and scowled at the grin plastered on Raegn’s face.

“Whatever your about to say ought to stay in that stupid head of yours, lad,” the cook warned.

Glee and anticipation spread across Raegn’s body and he almost shivered at the secrets he held. But how to reveal them? One by one? All at once? No…making a game of it would be the only way to truly enjoy the experience.

“Are those the legendary knife skills of Erkan the Eviscerator?” Raegn snickered.

The cook closed his eyes and sighed. “Look away, lass,” he said with a wave in Lona’s direction. “I don’t want you to see someone die today.”

Lona smiled shyly, then broke into a fit of silent laughter as Erkan chased Raegn around the tables of the kitchen.

“I’ll flay your stupid face right off your big head!” the cook yelled, waving the knife in the air as he pursued the Templar.

Raegn barely kept any distance between them as his lungs were starved for air from laughing. When they’d both tired enough of the chase Erkan was bent over with his hands on his knees, the cleaver he’d wielded abandoned on a table somewhere behind him.

“I swear,” Erkan growled, “you come in this kitchen again and I’ll turn you to mincemeat.”

Raegn grinned and stole a sip of the soup Lona was making from one of the pots.

“Come now, Erkan. It’s a bit of fun is all. I know that the rumors are wildly inaccurate.”

That got the cook to at least wrinkle his brow.

“You’re an Inquisitor,” Raegn declared. “Quite a prolific one, really, based on the missions that are attributed to the legend. Though I imagine most of the stories are falsified to better hide your identity.”

A wicked smile flashed across Erkan’s lips and the cook took up his original spot behind the mangled boar.

“Not just an Inquisitor, lad. I was the Inquisitor, for a time. And I started those rumors myself, I’ll have you know. One of the best misinformation campaigns the Order has ever seen. People feared me for all the wrong reasons and I controlled that fear. Harnessed it.”

“So how did you end up down here?” Raegn asked with a wave across the room.

Erkan licked his lips and then pressed them in a line. “I tired of it. I’d served for so long that I’d forgotten how to live a normal life. This,” Erkan said with a glance around the room that lingered on Lona, “is all I want now.”

Raegn shrugged, but decided not to press the issue further. He’d gotten what he’d come for, namely a bit of teasing and the confirmation that satisfied an itch he’d had since Joyce had first mentioned the legend some seasons ago. There were still things he wanted to know, of course, like how Erkan became such a prolific Inquisitor yet couldn’t catch him as he lazily dodged around tables in a small room. The cook had recovered quickly, though, and wasn’t breathing heavily anymore as he went back to preparing the stew. Perhaps the game had been played both ways.

Raegn gave Lona a pleasant smile and a nod towards the soup to let her know it was good before retreating back towards the Great Hall for breakfast. Kai and Tera were already there with plates in hand and once Raegn joined them they found a portion of one of the long tables that was absent any other patrons.

Tera had faint bags under her eyes, probably from staying up most of the night transcribing the rest of the notes they’d recovered from their raid on the suspicious group’s hideout beneath the Slants. Raegn considered asking her if anything had come of it, but the stormcloud masking her face wasn’t an encouraging sign. Kai, too, seemed to be more serious than normal. It was odd for Raegn to be the most cheerful of the group, but he resigned himself to trying to lift his friend’s spirits.

“None of us have a shift today, right?” he asked. Upon receiving two tired glances and matching shakes of the head, he continued, “There’s a troupe in town that supposedly puts on a few good skits. Why don’t we go see them this afternoon and then get dinner at the Sly Fox? I’ve been craving that lamb ever since Joyce first took us there. We can play cards tonight, too.”

Tera shrugged which he took as agreement, however weak it might have been. Kai, surprisingly, didn’t give an answer for a time and when the islander got around to making words they weren’t the ones Raegn was anticipating.

“I think I’m going to train today,” Kai said absently. “Sorry.”

Raegn scoffed. “Train? For what? Sparring with me isn’t good enough for you anymore?” he teased.

The grin slid off his face when Kai looked up at him with a vacant stare. The ghostly expression looked so unnatural on the islander's face that he nearly recoiled, in fact.

“I can’t keep playing around,” Kai mumbled. “Nalani will have a legion soon and probably be sent off to the Far East. I need to take the trial,” he said more resolutely. “And you should, too.”

Raegn wrinkled his brow and Tera stiffened on the bench beside him. “Why?” he asked.

“I’m not content keeping our relationship hidden,” Kai said, clenching of his fists atop the table. “And for all your talk of protecting the Realm, you can’t tell me that you’re satisfied living life as a Templar.”

Raegn grimaced at the accusation, but his friend was right. He’d been thoroughly enjoying his time at the Order and had almost convinced himself that this new life was acceptable. When the truth was put in front of him, however, the lie became apparent. There were parts he wouldn’t trade, namely his new friends, but the patrols and guarding? Arresting people for petty crime and watching the sick, diseased, and misfortunate struggle to survive? It was woefully unfulfilling.

“The next trial starts in Highsun,” Kai said while rising from the table. “That’s two seasons away. If we start training now we’ll be well prepared.”

The islander left Raegn and Tera at the table to consider the offer. There was an awkward silence as Raegn pushed around the grits on his plate and Tera kept her eyes in her lap. The morning had taken a sobering turn, but it wasn’t entirely unsalvageable. He turned to Tera to see if she might still want to go see the acting troupe, but as he began to ask she pulled away from his touch.

“I should go,” she murmured before taking her still full plate to the pile of dishes at the edge of the room and disappearing down the hall.

It was foolish to believe it would ever last. Two things so different couldn’t be kept together. Not for long, anyway. She’d known it, but pushed the thought to the recesses of her mind in hopes that time might have her forget about them entirely.

The world would not be so kind.

He was a hero at heart. Tera knew it. He was brash and fiery but it was in those moments of passion, whether they were targeted at her or some other goal, that she’d found reason to love him - and she did love him, despite Nalani trying to convince her otherwise. Her friend had been right though, although only half so. Raegn wasn’t holding her back from becoming a Justicar as Nalani had warned. Tera had welcomed the distraction from her failures and gotten wrapped up in the affection he gave her despite her weakness. If either of them were being held back it was him. All she’d done in return for his attention was draw him away from the path he’d been on.

Tera hugged herself tighter while curled up on her bed, feebly trying to stop the tears from running down her cheeks and soaking her pillow. It wasn’t fair. If she had the strength of her sister she could have everything she wanted. The title of Justicar, pride in her familial name, and a lover to fill her heart. But fate had scorned her. She would have none of them. Raegn would leave her behind to fulfill his destiny just as Nora had. Maybe not today, and probably not tomorrow, but slowly the distance between them would grow.

What would hurt worse: Asking him to forsake the trial to stay with her and being rejected? Or facing the inevitable and choosing to accept it despite the pain? At least the latter would set him free. Was that not what a selfless lover would do?

She whimpered, pleading with herself not to make the choice, praying for another option, but her mind betrayed her heart.

Raegn closed the door to his room and unfastened his cloak from around his shoulders before tossing it over the back of the chair pushed beneath the desk. The acting troupe had been good, but without anyone to accompany him the jokes and moments of wonder that had drawn laughter and awe from the rest of the crowd fell flat for him. He plopped himself down on the bed and the wood squeaked in surprise. His boots fit well and took a bit of effort to pull free, but he wiggled his cold toes beneath his socks before spinning to lie flat on the mattress.

What was he supposed to do? Every time he’d tried to bring up training with Tera or attempting to help her she’d shut him down quickly. He didn’t know much about the Crusader Trial, but he supposed someone who couldn’t physically manifest the Light would still be able to pass. She was immensely powerful with barriers and more than adept at imbuing herself if their session in the sea was any indicator. Enough to be a Crusader. Too bad that wasn’t her goal.

Raegn sighed. She would be upset if he took the trial with Kai, but that anger would fade in time as it had the other times he’d wronged her. Once he knew the process, he might even be able to subtly guide her towards success as well. In the worse case, they’d simply have to continue as Justicar and Templar. Nalani might feel the need to hide her relationship with Kai due to the rank structure, but from what little Raegn had seen and heard of the Justicar they were given much more freedom than Crusaders. The Order would probably overlook their relationship so long as he served well.

He bolted upright at the knock at his door, then shook himself free of the surprise. No one but Kai or Tera ever came to his quarters. Had Kai come to get him for training?

“Come in,” he called out.

The door swung open and Tera stepped in. She slowly closed the wooden barrier behind her as if even the clack of the bolt might wake startle someone. Without a word, she came to sit on the bed next to him and leaned her head into his arm. She’s still upset from this morning, Raegn figured. She did tend to hold on to her feelings a bit too long.

“The troupe was pretty good,” he said lightly. “They’ll be in town for a few more days, so I’m sure we can find time to go together if you want.” Tera gave him no answer, instead staying motionless. “Did you still want to go to the Sly Fox later?” he tried again.

He felt the rise and fall of her shoulders, then she pulled away to look at him with puffy pink eyes.

“We need to talk.”

Raegn wasn’t sure exactly how or why he ended up at Kai’s door, but after spending most of the day in his room and nearly breaking his hand against the stone wall he no longer felt like he wanted to be alone. The islander took him in without question and after several gulps of whatever foul rum Kai had bought settled into his blood Raegn informed his friend of his recent…loss.

“I’m sorry,” Kai said defeatedly. “It’s my fault for bringing up the trial like that. I should’ve known she’d take issue with it.”

Raegn wasn’t sure he completely agreed with it being Kai’s fault, but knew he would’ve ended up attempting to take the trial eventually. Whether or not Tera would be accepting of it was a question that had been lost to circumstance.

“Does this mean we start training in the morning?” Kai asked.

If it was an attempt to change the topic, it would be a short-lived one. “Sure,” Raegn conceded before taking another swig of the rum and scrunching his face to help him swallow it. Light, this shit is awful. Gets the job done better than ale, though.

“She only said you needed time apart though, right?” Kai noted in a hopeful tone. Raegn looked up at his friend from beneath his gloom, but gave a faint shrug. “Things that are torn apart tend to come back together, eventually,” Kai continued, walking over to take a seat next to Raegn on the side of the bed. The islander threw his arm around Raegn’s shoulders and gave him a firm shake. “It might seem like a shit deal now, but only the Heavens know what your future truly is. Trust me, I’ve had to wrangle fate more than most.”

Raegn eyed his friend. “What, following Nalani when she left the Caravan was that hard for you?” he chided.

Trying to help him feel better by comparing their relationships probably wasn’t Kai’s best idea, but Raegn didn’t have the heart to silence his friend or drag him down into his pit of misery.

“No,” Kai said with a chuckle. “It was much more than that.”

Raegn frowned in disbelief and looked up at Kai who had suddenly risen to his feet. Raegn stood too, though he wasn’t entirely sure why. It must have been the focus that had taken hold of the islander's face.

“You have to promise—no, swear to me, that you’ll never speak of this,” Kai said.

“Uh, okay?” The response wasn’t confident enough, apparently.

“I’m not joking, Raegn,” Kai said fiercely. “I will not forgive you if Nalani learns of this.”

Raegn set his jaw in a hard line. “I swear,” he insisted.

With a sharp sniff, Kai reached beneath his belt and pulled a small kerchief free. It looked like it might have been made of silk, though it was worn and it had lost much of its sheen. Still, it was sewn of fabrics colored like the most splendid of sunsets. Deep oranges blended into reds and pinks as Kai unfolded the cloth and revealed a necklace protected within.

“It’s hers,” Kai said softly.

“She gave it to you?” Raegn asked.

“Not exactly.”

Kai delicately pinched a piece of the chain and lifted the necklace from its resting place. A small gem, a ruby by the red hue, with a gold setting like vines wrapped around it, glinted in the candlelight.

“Nalani thinks we met in Joyce’s caravan,” Kai said distantly. “Everyone does.” Raegn watched as Kai’s eyes widened and stared into the slightly swinging pendant. “It’s a lie.”

“So you knew her before?” Raegn guessed.

“And only I remember,” Kai confirmed with a nod. “I grew up on Wairua. My family were fishers. When I was ten I went out alone and got caught in a storm that sunk my boat and carried me away. I washed up on the shores of Gakau half-dead. Nalani drug my drowned body from the tide and gave me the kiss of life. I puked seawater all over her.”

Kai seemed to chuckle lightly at the last part, but the blank stare of memory returned almost immediately. “I stayed with her family for two days until my strength came back and then her father sailed me home. It wasn’t until after he dropped me off and disappeared beyond the horizon that I found her necklace wrapped around the one made of shells that I wore. The clasp must have broken when she saved me, but neither of us had noticed.” The islander absently reached for a piece of jewelry at the base of his neck that wasn’t there. “It was like it clung to me,” he whispered.

Kai blinked some, then gently laid the necklace back into the cloth and began to fold it up. “I never forgot her. Years later I went to find her, but her parents said she’d come to Elysia. They weren’t surprised when I said I would follow her. They even gave me their blessing when I told them my intentions.”

Raegn smiled. Despite the fresh pain he felt in his heart, seeing the passion of his friend eased the blow he’d been dealt. Kai loved Nalani, there wasn’t a soul who knew them that would doubt that fact. Still, a small part of Raegn had believed that his friend was only smitten by how Nalani played hard-to-get. The chase might be fun, he supposed, but after being at it for years he would’ve tired of it—yet Kai never had. And now he knew why.

“You’re going to use it as a token of marriage?” he asked.

Kai gave a shallow nod. “Nalani is resolute about her desires. I know she loves me, but her dream of being a Crusader came first and I respect that. I’ll not ask her to abandon it for me. But I’ll also not be denied my own ambitions.” He tucked the cloth back beneath his belt and a fire shone in his eyes. “I will marry her. No trial will stop me.”

Raegn took another swig from the bottle and felt the fuzziness around the crown of his head swell. He fell heavily into a chair and leaned back against the stiff wood.

“Woe is the fate of the one who steps between a man and his woman,” he said, quoting an old soldier’s expression. He handed the bottle over as Kai walked by to take the other seat.

“All the treasures of the world to the one willing to fight for them,” the islander said after a long drag of the horrid liquid.

Raegn didn’t know the phrase, but imagined it was one from of the Islands of Motu. Who else but those born of the sea would talk of treasure? It was easy to forget Kai’s heritage - there was little more than darker skin and an odd name to show it - but as the islander continued to down rum like water Raegn could no longer ignore the reminder…or keep up.

Casum hobbled his way up the stairs, pressing one hand against the wall for balance and clutching a book in the other. It wasn’t that he feared it being stolen that forced his tight grip, for the only people who walked these halls of the Church were other members. No, it was excitement - the fact that after seasons of searching he’d finally found the information he so desperately sought. Buried beneath shelves upon shelves of history and familial bloodlines he’d located the piece of the past that would lead him down the path of true discovery.

The door to the Archbishop’s office swung open further down the hall and a blonde Templar stormed out. Casum tried to step out of the way, but the Templar had little in the way of regard as he shouldered past. Casum was knocked to the floor, but managed to clasp the book against his chest with both arms. The Templar didn’t even turn back.

Casum grumbled as he struggled to stand. Why was it that members of the Order were so extreme in their personalities? Half were so lazy they could hardly be bothered to work their guard shifts and the other half so brash and eager they lost all sense. Were he not a cripple and able to fight he might be the same though, Casum supposed.

He didn’t bother to dust himself off as the Acolytes kept the halls of the Church immaculately clean, but he did take a moment to ensure his tabard hadn’t bunched around his waist. A dozen or so limping steps brought him to the same door that had slammed shut only moments ago. This is it. Casum’s skin almost itched with anticipation. He knocked feverishly at the door until a grumbled voice beckoned him in.

“Archbishop,” he blurted out while shuffling to the man’s desk. “I found it! What you’ve been looking for!”

The Archbishop sat in a tall-backed chair with his golden and white robes hung sloppily across the elaborately carved wood. He almost looked like a commoner, sitting there in little more than a simple white shirt with the collar undone and revealing the folds and wrinkles of his neck. With an irritated sigh the Archbishop set aside the letter he was penning and carefully placed it beneath his desk out of sight.

“I’d begun to think you might fail me, Casum,” he said.

Casum paused, the words coming as an unexpected stroke of discipline. “O-of course not, Archbishop. There were just so many possibilities. I pursued many prospects, but none of them led anywhere. But this,” he gave a shake of the book in his arms, “this is the beginning to the answer! I promise!”

“Very well. Let’s see it, then.” The Archbishop held out a demanding hand and Casum passed over the text.

“All this time we thought she was royalty,” Casum explained while the Archbishop skimmed his way through tattered pages. “It’s partly true. King Leofwine made her a part of the family, but she wasn’t of his blood. That book is an account of the assistance King Leofwine provided to the Northern Province when a portion of their tribes broke away and tried to rebel over a decade before the Void War. It proves it! Look!”

Casum flipped to the page he had earmarked despite the Archbishop’s angered grumbling. “Right here,” Casum said with a finger pointing at the paragraph that had sent a shiver down his spine when he’d first read it. “The King comes back with a child. A frail, sickly girl blonde of hair and green of eye. That explains why there’s no record of her birth and why he kept her hidden from the Realm. With that we know where to start looking for her true ancestry!”

“Very good.” The Archbishop straightened in his chair and his lips twisted into a faint smile. “Very good indeed.”