Chapter XIV

Father

Annea III

Annea heard a quiet sound coming deep from the forest. It was a familiar sound, a birdsong she had heard many times before. It was, however, late at night and such a song should not be sung. Artificial. Must have been. A bait.

Edwin and Julius were already asleep near their campsite. They would reach Alattras tomorrow and needed their rest for the walk. Annea did not. She had never really needed sleep for one reason or the other. She was unsure, but it felt wrong. The word rested meant nothing to her, but neither did the word tired.

Regardless of her current state, she snuck out and made sure no one heard her. Both Edwin and Julius were still, though her prince was unnaturally still. She watched him for a moment, just to see if his chest rose up and down. It did. Slowly, almost unnoticeably. He was alive and well and that was all that mattered.

The sound came from the right. It would have been hard to see, were the Moon not so bright. Everything in front of her was visible and clear. Any wild insect or slithering creature could be observed and removed. Though, among all the trees, there was no life. All was asleep.

The sound came once again. No, it did not come. It was rattling on and on constantly, though it came in pulses of various volumes. It was far louder now. That was why she could hear it. It was close.

Two trees stood in front of her, arched like a passageway. She went between them and found a small pristine lake, walled off from the rest of Fynwood. The lake was perfectly round. All the stars and even the Moon fit into it, removing any difference between the water and the sky.

There was a small hill besides the lake. Wooden stairs led up that hill and towards a large cottage with a smoking chimney. The lights inside were dimmed, but they were there. And the sound that rang out just moments prior came from within.

She walked up the stairs and towards the entrance. Slowly, she pushed the fir door. It did not make a sound as it opened and closed. A large fur carpet was the first thing she saw. Then a fireplace, though this one was cold. There was a long table with three chairs though enough room for twelve. Small trinkets hung from the ceiling, and hunting trophies were placed on the walls. A set of stairs led further upwards. A familiar smell came from above – a sort of stew, she thought.

Up the stairs stood another door. It was just very slightly open and light peered out. The sound of bubbling and clanking was produced inside. Someone was obviously cooking, though whoever it was…

Annea gripped the hilt of her sword and proceeded inwards. There was a bubbling pot inside. Or, rather, the stew within the pot bubbled. A beef stew with onions, garlic, and a hint of spicy peppers. And the whistle came from a man in a quilted red cloak and a gilded carmine coat. His hair was short and blonde, and jaw clean-shaven. When he turned his head to the entering Annea, he fondly smiled and greeted her with his familiar blue eyes.

“Sit over there, the stew is just about done.” He pointed towards a round table in the middle of the room. His voice was warm, friendly. A voice a father should have when speaking to his daughter. “You’ve come a long way, haven’t you, Annealys?”

“I…” She let go of her sheathed sword and sat down by the table. “That birdsong you did. What was it?”

“An ortolan. You had one when you were younger, remember? Only pet you had. Such a nice bird, she was. I thought that mimicking it would bring you here, and it did. Can’t really waddle into camp, can I? Ah, well, no, I suppose I can, but I’m not good with people and introductions, therefore…” He stopped swirling the stew and turned around to face his daughter. “You’ve changed. Grown, of course, but something is different.”

“Mind that you don’t burn the stew.”

“Let me look at you for a moment. Mhm.” He held his chin, observing her. “Yes, you’ve your mother’s nose. Her eyes, too, though my colour. Hair slightly shorter than mine whilst in my youth, though a shade darker. And…” His eyes narrowed. “There is one more difference that I-“

“The stew, father.” She pointed at it.

“Oh.” He turned around and moved the pot away from the fire. “It is done now. No need to stir anymore.” He took out two bowls from a nearby cabinet and started pouring.

“Didn’t know we had a lodge in Fynwood.”

He stopped for a brief moment and looked straight ahead. “We don’t,” he said after thinking for a moment. “But don’t mind that and eat.” He placed a bowl in front of her and himself. “Now then, I trust the plan is going well? If it is, you should be queen within this year. Sooner, even. Mary doesn’t have long left, and since Julius can’t be king without marrying…”

“I know.” She sighed. “We’ve married two days ago.”

He raised a brow. “What? So soon?” He chuckled. “Well done. Well done indeed. I had not expected you would manage it before my predictions, not in my wildest dreams. Though it is too soon for Maryeal to depart… I assume he might’ve realized I’ve a different goal in mind. And the bastard helped further it. Amazing. Valorya will stretch across the continent in a decade, it seems. Well, maybe a bit longer, I believe. After your child becomes twice-crowned. Speaking of children, have you already…?”

“We’ve not.”

“Prime of your youth and you two aren’t rutting like rabbits? Another trait you inherited from your mother, I see.”

Annea nearly choked on her stew. “D-do you have to?” she said through coughing.

“I do.” He cleared his throat and straightened his back. “However, now that you’ve done what I’ve sent you to do, it is time we begin the second part of my plan.” He stood up and grabbed a bottle of wine, pouring himself a cup and sitting back down. “You are going to Alattras in order to open the Garden, correct? Don’t drink the water inside, it will change things for the worse.” He looked her in the eyes. “That is assuming you’ve already taken out your Key.”

She manifested the card in her hand. “My heart.”

“True, it was where your heart should’ve been. You are a bigger Valoryan than most.” He laughed. “Even made out of a sword. Good. You’ve done that as well. Which means that, in a week, I may tear down the walls of Lordem.”

“I… can’t connect the dots here.”

“You needn’t. All will be clear.” He smiled. “After Lordem falls, stage three of my plan begins, which is-“

A chair being pulled out interrupted him. Both he and Annea turned their gaze towards the man who sat down by the table. “By all means, Arraneme, go ahead,” Julius said. When did he… how?

Quietly, her father stared at Julius. Bewildered. “You’re, hm, quite the surprise.”

“Ignore me. Pretend as if I am not here. Say what happens in the third part of your grand design, after you slaughter every Kyrionean in Lordem,” Julius spoke bluntly.

“Slaughter? Why, I haven’t the faintest-“

“Let us not lie to each other, not in front of your own daughter. The third part of the plan – who is part of it? Who is your partner?”

Arraneme stood up quickly. “Your eyes. They’re green. What… what did you see? What do you know?.”

“Choosing not to tell? Fine with me.” Julius stood up and turned around. “Continue with your talk. I merely came here to confirm some things.” He looked at Annea. “Make sure you are back by sunrise.” He left without a sound, just as he had entered.

Arraneme sat back down. “Another warning that I should give you.” He sighed, cleared his throat and composed himself. “Do not, under any circumstance, try to connect yourself to the throne in Dammrias. That is what your… husband did.”

“I hadn’t planned on doing that.” She finished her stew. “I am his knight till the end. I don’t plan on imposing myself as a ruler by doing that.”

“Good. As you should.” He stared out the window. “I will be seeing you tomorrow. There is something I must attempt. You will understand.” He tapped the table with his finger. “You should get going. Simply continue doing what you’re doing. That is the only order I’ve for you today. Actually…” He leaned back against his chair. “Brief me on everything Julius does. I’ll be staying in Dammrias soon, so we’ll have plenty of chances to see each other.”

Annea stood up. “Of course, father.”

“See you soon, Anneays. Dismissed,” he said and returned to staring through the window.

Annea walked down the stairs and out of the cabin. She would have to keep a closer eye on Julius now, and report everything he did. Though that would be hard. Julius became far more wary. His eyes were both different in colour and intent.