Chapter III

Horizon

Julius I

-Beyond our sight, they wait.-

“It is morning, my lord,” a voice, sweet and loud and clear, was followed by rays of the sun piercing a poor fellow’s eyes. A poor fellow who merely wanted to sleep for a while more. A poor fellow who made an audible eek and turned around, opposite the window.

“A moment longer… My head will be the death of me…” he said, just barely, with a voice drier than sand. He covered his head with the sheets, though even without them he was sweating from the summer heat.

The knightess by his bed opened the window. A draft of fresh air cleared out the staleness within, and the city noise and bustle became apparent. People traversing, mostly. No traders or craftsmen, they were not allowed this close to the castle. “Better?”

“Cup of water would do nicely.”

“Had enough wine, my lord?”

“For now…” He lowered the sheets from his head. Annea started pouring water into a cup from a nearby pitcher. A green cup, and a green pitcher. Just like the sheets, and the drapes, and the carpet, and even the walls. A bunch of nauseating dark green and the odd golden accent.

“Ought to save all that drinking for your next birthday feast.” She handed him the metal cup and stood by watching him gulp it all down in an instant. “Will you be recovered by early evening, or must I carry you?”

“I will be fine in… a moment.” He placed the empty cup on the nearby nightstand. “Where’d I put my clothes?”

The knight cast her eyes on the floor. “Your clothes are on the floor, my lord.”

He took a single look beneath his sheets. His underpants were on, as was a single sock. “Good thing I brought a change of clothes.” He sat up and leant both left and right, checking near the bed’s sides for his luggage.

Annea pointed towards a trunk in the room corner. “I moved it out of the way. You might’ve tripped, otherwise.” She then watched Julius look around, still in his bed and covered in his sheets. “Please don’t tell me you need help getting dressed, my lord.”

“Ah, uh, no, no I do not.” He kept looking around, though. Searching for something. “Where is my… where is the puzzle?”

“The iron cube?” she knelt down and swiped with her hand beneath the bed. Then, she handed over the intrinsic cube to Julius. “Haven’t you solved it yet, my lord?”

“No, there’s something missing.” He rotated the cube, moved his hand alongside the many crevices, then presented one side to Annea. “There is a hole here. For some kind of key.”

“Was the search for the key the real reason we came to Roddan?”

“Of course not. I wouldn’t torture myself with the stench of fish for a simple key. No, I think it's in Reinra.”

“Ah. The place we are going to next.”

“Our reasons are purely diplomatic. The cube and key are simply something we will take care of along the way.” He stood up and went towards his trunk. There, he took out nicely folded clothing. A white tunic, a short-sleeved thin blue jacket, leather trousers, and a new pair of socks. From another box within the trunk, he took out a wide armlet and bracer, both golden, and a glove made for an archer. He, quickly as he could, dressed himself and put on his boots which sat in front of the bed.

“Already ready, my lord?” Annea asked, staring out the window.

“Unless I am forgetting something.” He took the iron cube and placed it in a satchel, which he then put around his waist. He then walked up next to Annea and looked out of the window. It would be noon, soon.

“A few hours to spare, my lord.”

“Good. Some food and coffee seem in order,” he backed away and went towards the room exit. “Are you coming, Annea?”

“Hm?” she turned around, seemingly startled. Then, she closed her eyes and smiled softly, the same way she always smiled. “My sword is with you, prince Julius,” she told him and the two walked off.

They left the room and proceeded through the castle. Greenveil was its name, and it was more a manor than a castle, with three tall floors, a throne room as one entered, and a single round tower by the north-eastern corner. Their passage through the throne room was inevitable, and Julius did not have any desire to speak to the Duke, Richard. Which was why he was fortunate that no one held court or rested on the emerald-encrusted, green silk covered throne. But it was also rude to leave without informing the lord of the house, which was why Julius told a nearby guide of their departure. Departure where? To Seoltair, capital of Reinra, though the ship was not due till late noon.

Julius would, as he was hungry, spend his time in the local coffee house. Annea, too, would come along. Never would he leave her behind.

“Do you plan on wooing more ladies, my lord?” Annea broke the silence, though that silence was already filled by the crow chatter.

“Did I woo them yesterday? Doubt I did. You know what I think of those miserable giggly wretches.”

“Ah, I do. And so do they. Your wooing, my lord, included plenty of profanity.”

“Kh—hmh!?” Julius stopped in his tracks and turned around. “What did I say!? I did not gravely insult my dear, dear benefactors, did I?”

“Elessa felt insulted. Something about her laughter and a writhing lynx, if I remember correctly. Terrena, however, enjoyed your… profound words.”

“Elessa, Elessa… house… Laihart, from Kyrmen? Insignificant, their house is in debt. Terrena, however… Terrena Amanios. Mansion behind Terwall. Good, good, she is beneficial,” Julius sighed. “Only these two, correct? None other did I slight?”

“Ah, there is one other. You had peculiar things to say to me.”

“Hrm… did I anger you?”

“Yes.”

“I beg your forgiveness.”

“No apologies are necessary, my lord. I have already given you a harsh reprimand and brought you home.”

“Harsh re… oh. Explains the lump on my head.”

“I have rendered you unconscious, my lord, yes.”

Julius began waging his finger and shaking his head. “You have done well.”

“Merely following orders, my lord. Though you could have professed your feelings to me by now, seeing how you act,” she smirked.

“Yes, yes, I do enjoy your never-ending companionship.” He turned around, a crowd of people from here and everywhere walked about. “Let us move forward, I am still hungry.” He began to walk.

“We never had to stop walking, my lord. You stopped, therefore I stopped,” she said, walking closely behind him.

“Though that may be true, I… oh, shut up and walk.” His steps hastened, and Annea’s feet followed suit.

In the corner of a bricky three-way street stood a quaint coffeehouse with a wide terrace and trimmed rose-filled hedges around it. And though it was wide, and the interior perhaps wider, only a few people sat by the tables.

Silk, velvet, rich furs, and embroideries of who knows what noble metal. Hats, jewellery, and pipes. Those were the things these people carried and wore. Apparel that many of them had gone into debt over, just so that they might experience nobility. There were those who, of course, had the means to live with such luxuries without debt, but it was reserved for counts, earls, banns, dukes, and kings. Julius could not recognize any face inside, so they must have been the former.

Julius and his knight sat on the terrace, at a table in a corner. It had a decent view of the brick walls around them and provided them a single grain of privacy. Though what little they had was soon gone. People tend to recognize the young prince. People tend to stare uncomfortably at him, too. He was used to it, of course, but any single person that turned their head towards him could have had malicious intent.

Regardless, he had his knight at the ready. The silent watch of the guards, as well. He had noticed them a while ago, warding and watching over him from a distance. Not as sneaky as they had ought to be, but oh well.

It took a short while, perhaps around a minute or two, for a server to come. Julius ordered an omelette and a short black coffee. Annea ordered herself some rich tea biscuits and coffee with cold milk. They waited for a while longer, afterwards. Then, as it was delivered, Julius paid the price of two and a half golden marks, which would usually be enough to buy a whole pig. Not that he was well-versed in pig economics.

“Forgive me for asking, but… you haven’t told me why we are going to Reinra, my lord,” she spoke, her now ungloved hands dipping the biscuits into her coffee.

“Purely diplomatic, as I previously stated” he said and sipped slowly on the dark warmness in his cup. “I will tell you on the ship. Getting overheard here would be… unfortunate, to say the least.”

“Ah, I see. Then would you prefer we sit in silence, or should I regale you with a tale of sword and sorcery?”

“You know I detest silence when we are outside as we are now. A tale, though… No, I don’t think I have the willpower to listen to it.” He leaned against his intertwined hands and furrowed his brow. “Is your mother well?”

“I haven’t seen her in… years.”

“Not since you came into my service, right?”

“That… no, longer. Why are you asking?”

“Merely making conversation. Besides, you know I never met my mother, so I would like to hear your experience.”

“Well, she is…a nice woman. I am convinced you two would be on good terms.”

“Hmh, doesn’t tell me much.”

“Does it not? Besides me, my lord, who, exactly, are you on good terms with?”

“Uh… my former betrothed, Elynne. My steward, Faltieal. Aelman, the chef. My… father? No, never mind, not him.”

“Right. Excluding your father, that is four people. Does that not tell you enough?”

“When you put it that way… I suppose it does. Fine, we shall test this theory in the future. What about your father? Is he…”

“No, you would not be on good terms with him. Quite the opposite, I believe.”

“Ah, is that resentment I hear?”

She shook her head. “I love my father, you wouldn’t. Let’s leave it at that, if you would, my lord.”

Julius sighed and downed his coffee. “Shame the omelette lacked herbs. Lacked salt, even. Half a mark for that. Unbelievable.”

Annea finished her last biscuit. “Should have gotten biscuits like I did.”

“I honestly have no clue how those six little biscuits give you enough stamina, especially with the muscles you have.”

“You teach your body, and your body learns. Simple as that.” She drank the rest of her coffee and wiped her slightly stained mouth with her handkerchief, then slowly put on her gloves.

Julius turned his head towards the sky. It was still early noon. “We have a few hours more. Should we get more coffee? Tea, maybe?”

“I need no more, my lord.”

“Then neither do I,” he stood up, slid the chair back underneath the table, and unwrinkled the bottom of his jacket. “Let us walk towards the port. The ship will travel for half a day, anyhow. A few hours of waiting on it before it departs will not do us any harm. Might learn a bit about the ship, too.”

“What is there to learn about a ship?”

“I have no clue. That is why we will learn! Let us head out,” he exclaimed, turned himself around, and started walking towards the port. Annea followed closely behind once more.

By the docks, some time away from the castle, stood a galeas that flew an azure flag with a golden lion. Merchants usually used ships like these, however, this one was slightly modified in order to provide traversing nobility with suitable accommodation. That accommodation came at a cost of storage space, though.

Julius and Annea had just arrived on the ship and the captain did his best to explain the specialties of this ship. There were small ballistae in the ship hull, aimed at the outside through ports, as a means of protection. The Roddan flagship, as Julius had heard, had some new kinds of weapons that would, eventually, be placed on other ships. Cannons, they called them, but they were expensive to produce and used hard to get minerals to fire.

The captain mentioned that, should the winds be favourable, they would reach Reinra by early morning. Julius wore a small smile as he listened to the captain. This would be the first time he was on a ship, after all. First time he would travel outside the Fatherlands.

A final explanation was given on the foodstuff and drinks on the ship. Salted, smoked, and dried foods were the usual, but the prince would be provided with fresher food as the trip was not long. Same thing with the drinks. While the usual water and rum were onboard, barrels of wine and ale were also prepared. Then, as the man finished telling them of those things, he led them towards their cabin below deck. A spacious enough room, with almost enough green as his previous room. There were two beds, a table with chairs, a desk, and various small paintings. The captain told them they would be leaving in an hour and left their room.

Julius put his satchel on the desk and sat down on one of the beds. It was a soft bed and the fabrics were, at least by feel, expensive. “Well, now we wait once more. In the morning, whether early or late morning, we will be in Seoltair,” he turned his head towards the door and the walls, observing for any possible cracks or hiding spots. “There, I will invoke a favour that King Talorc owes to my father.”

“A favour?” Annea asked, taking off her armour. “Does it involve the war, my lord?”

“That it does. Though I have immense faith in our soldiers, I only have enough faith to believe they can win on one front.” Julius took out some notes from his satchel. “I have sent a letter to my father in the east. A letter that tells him how I will call Reinra to our war against Ereya. Then, once their army has been spread thin, we may focus our forces on the south.” He handed one of the notes to Annea. “A scout’s report.”

“Suspicious activity on the Kyrione border? Do you believe that they’ll attack us?”

“I do. All agreements between our two nations were broken off over the past seven years and embargoes were placed on both countries’ traders. And now that we already have one war, it’s a perfect opportunity to strike.”

“After a hundred years of peace, two wars in a row… It makes no sense why Kyrione would want a war. They have resources, they have land. Why do you think they want war, my lord?”

“Access to the north sea, maybe? A show of strength? Their bored military command wanting some exercise? No, last one makes no sense. They have enough trouble with separatists in the south. That makes them wanting war even more unlikely, but still…”

“Maybe there is another, higher reason. A fanatical purge, or a sudden want for world domination.”

“Now that is just… well, I will not dismiss it, but it is a bit silly. We will know the reason once they actually do declare their war.” He laid down on his bed, arms behind his head. “But whatever the reason, it will just lead to more unnecessary deaths. The Kyrione at least have a trained army with soldiers who know what they signed up for. We have… peasants. Knights, too, but less than a hundred in the entirety of Saarast. Trained archers and crossbowmen too, I suppose,” he sighed. “Regardless, all of it is pointless and stupid.”

“So it is, my lord.” She sat down by the desk, now wearing her white shirt instead of a chestplate. She was silent, for a while. A still, unmoving face. Then, suddenly, it lit up and she grabbed her bag which she had been carrying since Dammrias. She took out two books from inside. One was a blank book, a journal of some kind. And the other was…

“Is there a specific reason you brought the Gaiian Zenith? When was the last time either of us attended Sunday Liturgy?”

“In all honesty, my lord, I took the wrong book.”

“How do you accidentally take a book that fat? It has two thousand pages, Annea. What other book has two thousand pages?”

“The, uh, detailed history of Saarast from the first Sunlit Year.”

“You mistook it for that?”

“No, just giving an example. I wanted to bring a book about swordsmanship, believed it would be an entertaining read. But, my lord, I’m certain that the Gaiian Zenith has some entertaining passages!” She began to flip pages. “I, uh…” She flipped some more pages. “Oh, what in… this doesn’t belong in a holy book, what is…” She flipped once more, brows raised the entire time, before closing shut the book. “Are you thirsty, my lord? Should I get us something to drink?”

“No, it is quite alright. I might grab myself some wine later. What wine did the captain say it was, again?”

“Devyr Red, West Coast winery, I believe. He didn’t mention the vintage.”

“Ugh, Devyr Red? Might as well drink manure,” he sighed and closed his eyes. “I will grab myself some water later. For now, I will take a short rest.”

“Rest well, my lord. I will be on guard,” she said. The sound of leather being dragged from a bag came from the desk. Did she take out a third book? Maybe. Hopefully something enjoyable, this time. She deserved to enjoy her time, he thought. She always went above and beyond for him, so he simply wished he could give her all the time in the world for her to enjoy. And slowly, with those thoughts, he fell into a deep sleep.

Julius woke up in the middle of the night. His short nap had extended to a few hours and he was now both thirsty and covered in sweat. He sat up, a single lantern illuminated the room. Annea slept at the desk, resting on her arms. The night was filled with quiet sounds. Sounds of rocking waves and the boat’s wake, the soft creaking of wood, and the knight’s light breathing.

The prince stood up and slowly, making sure he does not wake the knightess up, sneaked out of the room with a cup in tow. He walked towards the boat storage, walked besides all the empty hammocks, and filled his cup with water from an unopened and hopefully safe barrel. He sniffed the water and put it under the light, just to make sure it was not contaminated. Then, he guzzled it all down, filled another cup, drank it, and filled it once more before leaving towards his quarters. All the while he felt very lonesome, as if walking through an abandoned manor.

The cup was now sitting on the desk, and Julius was wiping himself with a towel. He then felt his stomach rumbling and left the room once more, taking care no one other than him was awake. A second time in the storage room. This time he sought food and found dried venison. He also found the fresh food the captain was talking about, but it was all raw. How was he planning to make it, exactly?

Taking some slices of meat and a loaf of bread, he walked up the stairs onto the deck. He found a nice sitting spot underneath the moonlit sky and watched the view while eating his dinner. It was a full Moon, large and, with no better word to put it, gazing. Observing. Staring down at him in its serene brightness. It was right above him, and even the sea reflected its visage back. There was an accompaniment of stars, too. A thousand stars of a thousand colours. Streaks and paths in the sky. And there was one single path of stars, illuminated in violet and blue and gold, that pointed straight ahead. If he squinted hard enough, he could make out an oaken tree at the end of that path. For one reason or another, staring at it made him weary. Which was why he finished his dinner and walked back towards his quarters, avoiding any and all sounds.

But it seemed that even the silence of a mouse was not enough to ensure Annea was still sleeping. Or perhaps she had awoken on her own. Whatever the reason, she was the first to open the door and walked out with a slight worry on her face.

“Ah, there you are, my lord. I hope you may forgive my falling asleep, I’ve put us both at risk.”

“Please do not apologize for sleeping. Also, what risk? We are on a ship surrounded by, I hope, trustworthy people.”

“Exactly. You hope, but you do not know.” She tightly grasped the sword in her sheath. “I must be on guard at all times. One wrong move and their head goes off.”

“Right, right. Well, both of us would have already been killed whilst we were sleeping if there were such a person here. As it stands, there is not.”

“They could’ve easily missed their opportunity to strike. An amateur assassin. I spit on their tardiness.” She spat on the floor. Her face quickly became bright red. “I-I did not mean to do that! Please forgive me, my lord.”

“Oh for the love of… Annea, no more of this. Apologizing for anything like that is highly unnecessary, as I have told you a number of times before. Now, before I have entered the room, are you thirsty?”

Annea looked at the open door and the knob she was still holding. “Ah, I suppose I could go for some ale.” She then looked back at Julius. “Would you please stand aside, my lord, so that I may pass?”

“No, Annea, I will bring you a tankard of ale.”

“I insist that I go. It would do me well if I walked a little and stretched.”

“Fine, fine.” He moved aside and let her pass.

“Thank you, my lord.” She walked past him and into the dim storage at the other end.

Julius entered his quarters and sat down, rubbing his eyes and letting out a deep sigh. For a moment he rested, and a moment later he stood up and walked towards the small window covered by green curtains. He moved them aside and realized that the Moon was not straight above him as he had seen it, but slightly tilted and heading westwards.

“West…?” he uttered. Reinra was east. He should not have been able to see the Moon as the window was on the ship’s left side. It would only make sense if they were headed north, but why would they…

“I’ve returned, my lord,” Annea spoke, walking inside the room with her cup of ale.

Slowly, Julius turned around. “Annea, would you mind putting your armour back on?”

“My armour? Is something the matter?”

“Yes, yes something is the matter. We have been heading in the wrong direction for the past… who knows how long. Wait, how long was I even asleep?”

“Since shortly before we departed. I assume you woke up slightly before me, so around… eight hours. And what do you mean about wrong direction? Are you certain, my lord?”

“Very. When walking towards the storage room, did you notice anyone?”

“No one.” She held her chin. A look of realization came about her. She quickly rushed towards her bed, grabbing and putting on her armour as quickly as she could. Her breastplate, her bracers and gloves, and her open skirt.

Julius went towards the room exit. “If I am correct, no one has been steering this ship for the past eight hours as there is no one here but the two of us.”

Annea walked closely behind him as they went towards the ship deck. “But I saw the crewmen boarding earlier. What happened to them?”

“Thrown overboard? I have no clue.” They were on the deck and were now proceeding towards the helm. There, in front of the wheel, stood the captain.

Annea took out her sword and walked up towards him, nearly stabbing his throat with the tip of the blade. “What is the meaning of this you spineless whoreson!?” She shouted out. The captain did not respond.

Julius walked up. The man was stiff as a corpse. His face was pale, mouth slightly gasping. The eyes were wide open, showing the whites and yet no pupils. Julius noticed some drool coming down the chin. And he also saw that the man was not as stiff as the believed him to be. His arms still lightly moved here and there, commanding the vessel.

“By the Sun, what is going on?” Julius backed away and looked around. He saw a golden flicker in the sky, and the small, barely noticeable dimming of the Moon’s light. His eyes decided to stare down towards the deck. A solitary figure, lit up by the weak moonlight. In white robes and black leathers, with a mask covering the mouth and a shawl over the head, the figure stood.

The person walked up. Soft, gentle steps. A grace and pride in their stature. Then, with a raised arm and open hand, as if asking for something to be given, the person spoke. “Sarev, come,” the man spoke with a voice alike silk. His eyes shifted towards Annea, who stood next to Julius.

“Stand back, my lord,” she said and walked downwards, gripping her sword with both hands.

“Hmm?” the man let out a sound and tilted his head sideways. He took a single step forward and took out a sword of his own. It was a long blade, etchings ran across the middle. It had a small crossguard, nearly non-existent, forged out of a black steel.

Annea swung first. Sideways, quickly. A deflect. Again, from the other side and below. Two deflects. They began circling. The man carried his blade casually, lowered towards the floor. She made a downwards swing. A block and hold. She slid her blade down from his and went for the kidney. A spin and dodge. The man was too fast in all he did. Unnaturally. Supernaturally.

She rushed him. A swing downwards once more. Another lock of blades. She kicked towards the stomach with unbelievable ferocity. He countered her kick, punched her sword arm away, and then gave her a catastrophic kick to the chest, nearly launching her away. She rolled into the ship wall. Pain. It looked terribly painful. She gasped for air and mustered enough strength to stand up. She went back and swung again. And again. And again. Every single attack was blocked.

Annea backed off, and so did the shrouded man. “A mistake?” he spoke and tucked away his weapon. “You are not who I believed you to be. Yet your heart is as bright as his. Not a daughter. What are you? An imperfect weapon? No. Perfect. Yet inactive,” he walked up closer, Annea still pointed his blade at him. “Lower it. I will not fight.”

“Who are you!? What did you do to the captain and the crew!?” Julius shouted from the helm and came down the stairs.

“Hmm?” He turned towards the prince. “I have made a mistake. This is not the person I sought. You. You are… king? No, a prince still. Ethrian, no? Same eyes, yet yours are full of life.” He looked to his right and left. “The crew left on boats long ago. They are safe. The captain is dead – a necessary sacrifice, I believed. Another mistake.”

“Necessary for what!? Who are you looking for?” Julius, frustrated, yelled.

“My brother. I made a mistake, believed your companion was him.” He looked at Julius and the slightly battered Annea. His eyes flashed gold. “The ship will crash. A shore of rocks. You will live, both of you. I am… sorry,” he said and with an instant sprint jumped into the deep sea.

“What the hell!?” Julius kept shouting out. He moved towards Annea. “Are you alright? You are not bleeding, but your armour is somewhat dented. Are you in pain? There must be some medicine in the storage…”

“I am… alright, my lord.” She let out ragged breaths. “He said the ship would crash. There… there aren’t any more rowboats.”

Julius looked northwards. Truly, there was a shore there. And great rocks. Rocks the ship was speeding towards. “We have to brace for impact. Swimming is not an option, not in your state and armour.”

“I…” She gazed back at the still captain. She walked up to him and pried him off, tossing the corpse aside. “There is a sandy shore to the left, I must…”

“Annea.” He grabbed her forearms. “Let me. Sit down and rest.”

She nodded and let go. “Yes, my lord.”

“Grab onto something firm. I will not be able to completely avoid the rocks.” He steered the ship towards the left. But, moments after, the crash came. Julius had just barely managed to direct the ship fully off the stones. However, the right side of the ship still hit.

The loud cracking of wood and splashing of water filled his ears. It jumped up, slightly, and Julius barely kept standing. Annea was grabbed onto the mast, so she was not flung away, either. The front of the ship splintered with great force. Parts flew all over, and a singular plank headed right towards Julius. It hit him in the right arm, forcing him to let go of the wheel. He lost his grip with his left hand, as well, and started to tumble down as the ship was tilting leftwards. Julius could hear Annea shouting as he grabbed the handrail he was plummeting towards. But it, too, broke under pressure, and he fell into the sea.

It was not deep. He felt his heels tapping the sandy ground. It hurt like hell, but he swam upwards. “My lord!” Annea shouted, hanging from the mast.

“Let go! I will help you swim ashore!” He shouted back. And as he swam towards her, some other debris fell on top his head. He blinked twice, thrice, and then drifted along on his back as he lost vision and consciousness.

In and out of sleep did he go. He felt arms grabbing him and pulling him away. He felt himself being dragged along a sandy shore, next to the sound of seagulls and waves and heavy breathing. A sharp pain. Something was pulled out of his right shoulder. He heard the ripping of cloth, and felt it over his forehead and shoulder. “You didn’t even notice…” a voice said. A heavy thump next to him, steel on sand. His head turned towards it. A young knight slept peacefully, covered in sweat, sand, and blood. He reached out for her. Warm, breathing. She would be fine. She would be fine. He turned his head towards the sky. The Moon still watched. The Moon which he grasped at, cursing it. And his arm dropped down, as if its strings were cut.

Under the moonlit sky, the prince cursed the fates of him and the knightess. And the moonlit sky talked back, returning a soft breeze, and giving him a warm summer dream.