Chapter Twenty-Nine - Nymph Song

It had been two days since the end of the battle on the Westerlyn plains. Like Gaden had predicted, there was a memorial service for those who had fallen during the battle, but a second service was still scheduled to honor Elric. He was the second in command of Alldel when he had died. The position merited the honor of the service. Thale had made it clear that nobody was obligated to attend. But Adric hadn’t spoken to anyone who wasn’t planning to go. Elric had touched the lives of almost everyone in the nation of Alldel.

Adric and Karina walked, hand-in-hand through the woods with Gaden and Haela behind them. Adric and Gaden had been filling everyone in on their missions before the battle. They agreed that they had allowed their duties to consume them beyond what was absolutely necessary, and there was downtime during the day before the memorial service was to be observed.

Adric had just finished describing in great detail the effects of the tamtan Wystan created. He described the memories left by Wystan, the relationship between Wystan and Amos, the whisperings eh experienced, and the abilities left to him through the tamtan. They spent most of their time discussing the necraphym. Gaden had come face to face with one just as Adric had done in Gnostgate. Gaden’s encounter had been less fortunate, but all things considered, Adric hadn’t been successful either, he only managed to run away from the beast.

“What about the whisper stones?” Gaden asked. “When we were imprisoned in Lorlea, I called for your help. You never answered.”

“When your message came through, I was in that cave in Gnostgate. I didn’t have time to answer, and then when I got back to Alldel, they told us you had been freed, so at that point, I didn’t see what good it would have done.” Gaden nodded.

“Bad timing, I suppose.”

“I’ve actually been meaning to talk to you about those stones. They could be broken down and used to create more swords like the one I have. Then maybe the field marshals could defend themselves against magic.”

“Doesn’t Thale already have extra stones put away somewhere?” Gaden asked.

“He does.”

“They’re yours. Keep them. Wystan obviously wasn’t too concerned about it either.” Adric was glad Gaden took this view. He didn’t want to share them with anybody. As Gaden said, they were his. If he wanted to keep them, then why not?

“So, we set out on another wild chase, and this one turns out to be true.”

“Are you disappointed? You were always disappointed when we debunked a legend.”

“You know, I think I am. It’s odd, but I never wanted all this pressure.”

“You don’t have to do it you know?” Karina said.

“I know that. But after all that’s happened, would it not be the height of dishonor if I didn’t follow through?”

“Maybe. But it is your choice.”

“I know. But I made my choice when I took the staff. I can’t turn back now. We still have to destroy these things. Only then can peace flourish.” Karina nodded. “Amos will be here. As will the wood nymphs.”

“I heard that,” Gaden said.

“Amos will be conducting my coronation.” Adric had not told them that he had planned to assume the throne. He had thought about it for quite some time. He had decided that if he was going to follow through with his plan, then he should do so fully. And now that the tamtan was able to guide him through the areas of the unknown why not assume that responsibility right away. They stopped upon hearing the news.

“Your coronation?” Gaden asked, as though unsure of this idea.

“Yes. Tomorrow evening it will be official. I am assuming the throne. The line of kings will be reinstated in Alldel.”

“What about Thale?” Gaden asked.

“I have asked him to remain as my advisor. I will need help. I didn’t grow up knowing how to be royal. I didn’t learn from my father how to rule. I can do it. The tamtan guides me more than you can know. But there are things I’ll need help with. Thale can help me. He was happy to accept. The announcement is probably being made now. That’s why you didn’t hear about it. I asked them to keep it quiet until tonight. I wanted to you tell you in private.” Adric looked at Karina. She seemed very unsure about everything.

“Congratulations, Adric,” Haela said.

“Yeah. I mean… We’re still pals, right?” Gaden asked, almost clumsily.

“Are you serious?” Adric said with a grin. Gaden smiled and clapped him on the back. Karina was still very suspiciously quiet. Gaden and Haela must have noticed this because Haela spoke up.

“The service will be starting soon. We’ll go on ahead and save you your seats.” And then she guided Gaden back toward the citadel.

“See you there,” Adric said. They watched them walk away for a short time, and then they turned around and walked the opposite way. Karina was not holding his hand anymore. She was silent.

“Are you okay?” Adric asked.

“Yes,” she said, simply.

“You don’t seem okay.” Rain began to fall. He pulled his jacket off and placed it around her shoulders. She sighed through the sound of the rain pattering around them. Something was definitely not right. If she were truly okay, they would be making their way quickly for shelter.

“Karina…” Adric said.

“I don’t know Adric. I just don’t know.”

“What don’t you know?” He asked.

“A king? You tell us you’re being crowned as King of Alldel, and you don’t know why I’m concerned.”

“I thought you wanted me to follow through with it,” he said. Her voice was becoming unsteady.

“When I said those things, we weren’t involved,” he couldn’t tell if tears were rolling down her face, or if it was just raindrops. They stopped and looked at each other directly in the eye. Rainwater was dripping from her hair. Her eyes were red, and her chin was puckered up from straining to maintain her composure.

“What does that matter? You want me to follow through unless it’s too inconvenient for you?” He asked, and then immediately wished he had not.

“No, Adric… You’re so frustrating, you just don’t get it!”

“Then tell me,” he pleaded.

“You aren’t going to have t-time for me.” She stuttered, struggling not to cry. “How are we supposed to make this work? You’ll be under such scrutiny. I’ll be under scrutiny. They won’t leave you alone. We’ll never be alone. And I’m just a normal average person. I’m not a suitable wife for a king.”

“That doesn’t matter to me, you know it doesn’t,” he said.

“That’s not the point, it just doesn’t work this way, Adric, I’m sorry, it just doesn’t. You’ll be expected to pick someone of nobility, someone noteworthy to elevate the status of Alldel, someone who can be the king’s wife. That’s not me.” Adric took her by the shoulders.

“Listen to me,” he said, and he waited for her to calm herself a little bit so she could listen. “You come first. If I tell whoever it is you suspect of not leaving us alone to get lost for a while, then that’s what they’ll do, and forget about what people expect me to marry into. I’m an average person too. I wasn’t raised by kings.”

“You can’t make that promise.” She half laughed at his choice of words.

“Karina, all I could think about while I was on that battlefield was coming home to you. When we approached the city gates, and I saw all those women out there to greet their husbands, and I couldn’t find you, I was disappointed. I needed you to be there watching for me to come home.”

“I know, but if we’re going to have each other, then we can’t have titles and government standing between us. And I just don’t know how that’s going to be possible. You’ll be the busiest one. You’ll be the one everyone wants to see. You’ll be the one everyone wants to protect.”

“And if I say you’re mine, then you’ll be protected as much as I will.” She had stopped crying. “Plus, I’m not an ordinary king,” he said, with a lighter tone.

“What’s that supposed to mean?” She asked. He smiled. He could feel the tamtan urging him forward.

“Save her,” it said in his head. Maybe a touch of Wystan’s personal life preferences wasn’t such a bad thing after all. He gave the Staff of Alldel a little flick, and the rain around them slowed to a halt.

Thousands of water droplets surrounded them. He took his hand and wiped a few of them from between their faces, so nothing obstructed them. Karina looked around them and marveled at the phenomenon. Indeed, it was beautiful. Finally, Karina smiled. Adric reached out with his free hand and pulled her closer to him. Their wet faces met, and he felt her warmth consume him as it had done in the past as their lips collided with a blazing passion.

One by one, the water droplets began to fall from the air. The spell was lifting as Adric’s concentration waned. And soon, they were caught in the rain once more. The rain drenched them, as they wrapped themselves in each other. They seemed not to notice. They placed their noses together and looked into each other’s eyes as rainwater ran down their faces. They smiled.

“Okay,” Karina said, finally. “I trust you.”

“Then let’s go dry off.” Karina laughed and pushed him away from her.

“It wouldn’t do for the king to arrive at the memorial service soaked in rainwater.”

“I’m not king yet. I’ll show up however I please.”

“Walk,” she said commandingly. They held hands once more and ran back to the Citadel.

They arrived at the Citadel drenched. They each went to their own cabins and dried off. Adric put on his uniform and met Karina outside her door for the ceremony. They would go together. They made their way back outside and onto a courtyard. The rain had stopped. Alldelan flags had been placed around the area, and wooden benches had been placed along either side of a black rug up and down the center.

At the end of the runner, on top of an ornate pillar lay the body of Elric Landryson. He had been garbed in his finest Alldelan uniform. Adric and Karina walked up to Elric, as though they were going to wish him farewell one last time.

The service wasn’t so much a service as it was a come-and-go visitation. There was no established order of activity. It was simply an open window for citizens to come and pay their last respects. In the end, the field marshals would rise together, and ceremonial flaming arrows would be fired into a bed of kindling around Elric’s body. The body would be burned on the bed in Alldelan tradition.

As they approached the bed where Elric lay, he noticed the gold stars that decorated his collar. He had first noticed these at Elric’s house when he had woken from his ordeal at the library at Eladin. He knew, of course, that it signified his dignified title of grand marshal, second in command over all of Alldel. Adric wondered briefly who would inherit the coveted title. He thought perhaps it would be Verrik, Avan was too young to replace his father. Ivar and Garrin came to mind as well, but neither of them was as well-to-do as Verrik, nor as highly decorated. Verrik had also taken initiative on the battlefield and assumed Elric’s role after he had died, and he had done so spectacularly, but then, he always did fill in for Elric. Who then would replace Verrik as field marshal?

Karina placed a bundle of white flowers at Elric’s bedside. He noticed that someone had set a bundle of Lorlean Dance next to him. It quivered peculiarly. He smiled as he remembered Elric telling them in his house,

“As the oil reaches the blooms, it causes them to quiver. It looks like they’re dancing.” Elric had laughed at the thought. He had a way of finding joy in many of life’s simple things. Perhaps that was what made Elric so pleasant. To laugh at something as simple as a flower took a uniquely kind spirit. Adric hoped he could train himself to find such joys in life. Life was too short not to find joy in the simplest things. Smiling still, Adric stepped back, released Karina’s hand for just a moment, saluted Elric and then turned to find a seat.

He found Gaden and Haela already sitting near the front. Gaden wasn’t officially a field marshal, but Verrik had asked him to assist in the duty since they would be one short. Gaden agreed without hesitation. He wondered if, perhaps, Verrik would make the promotion official. Even without the title of grand marshal, Verrik held the authority to do just that. The more likely scenario was an official induction as commander. While not quite the glamor of a field marshal, commander was still a high honor. Since Gaden would have to sit here for the duration of the service, Adric and Karina had agreed to sit with him.

“Did you see the Lorlean Dance?” Adric asked Gaden.

“Yeah, that was us. I thought it was fitting.” Adric smiled and nodded.

“Where did you get Lorlean Dance?” Adric asked.

“I snatched some on the way out of Lorlea. I was going to plant it at home,” he paused for a second and then shrugged his shoulders, “I can go get more some other time,” he said, and then smiled.

“Everything okay with you and Karina?” He asked Adric in a whisper.

“Never better,” he said. Gaden clapped him on the back.

“Look at this,” Gaden said, and he held up a black and red bow with the word, Thunderstring etched across it.

“Where did you get that? Adric asked.

“Gaila asked me to use it in the ceremony as a sending off with his respects.

“That’s a big honor, for Elric and for you.”

“I know,” Gaden said, seriously. Adric looked across the way at the other side of the runner to the right. He saw Avan sitting on the front row with his mother. He noticed Elric’s ring wrapped snugly around Avan’s middle finger. His fingers must have been smaller than Elric’s. Elric used to wear it around his last finger. Avan was on the far left. His left elbow was propped on the armrest of the bench, and his head was resting on his fist. He was staring blankly at the ground, looking forlorn.

They sat for a long time, saying nothing. The sun was beginning to set. As the sky turned a dark orange, the benches started to fill. People were showing up, paying their last respects and taking a seat. While they were not obligated to stay, it was a testament to Elric’s popularity that people chose to stay anyway. The benches were full. Many people stood in the very back of the courtyard. They merely waited, as though suffering through the evening with the family might somehow bring a ray of comfort to them.

And then, just before the ceremony was about to wind down, a parade of wood nymphs made their way down the aisle. Gaden noticed that one of them was Gaila. They walked up to Elric’s bed and laid a crown of alder over his head. The five nymphs formed a circle around the head of Elric’s bed. Gaden watched them closely and curiously as they folded their hands in front of them in their respectful salute. They looked directly at Elric and began to sing.

It was just like being back in Alderhaven. The nymphs sang with precision. The song filled him from the inside. Hums and tones of sadness and mourning echoed and boomed across the courtyard. Dissonance ricocheted into the woods. No words were discernable from the nymph song, but as always, words did not seem to be needed. The emotion and penetrating power of their music took him to a time and place far away from the bench in the courtyard.

Tears were wrenched from their eyes without regard for composure. The mournful tune was elevated to a degree above anything words could ever express. And then their tone began to shift. The sorrowful music began to melt into a song of praise and honor. Gaden could feel his heart pounding from the sounds of praise issuing from the mysterious nymphs. A smile began to creep across his face, and the nymphs quietly ended their short ballad.

Gaden looked over at Avan. They were still crying, but their faces looked different. They had a look of satisfaction and resolution on their faces. Gaden smiled in appreciation for the nymphs. He knew the gift of song was just as much for Elric’s family as it was for Elric himself. They had honored Elric by singing their song, but they had also comforted his family.

“No nymph has ever sung for a human in all of history.” Gaden leaned over and whispered to Adric. “Gaila told me it’s their highest honor.”

“They must have had a lot of respect for Elric,” Adric said.

“It would seem most people agree with the nymphs.” Adric looked around and noticed the courtyard was full to bursting.

And then Verrik took center stage. He called for the aisle to be cleared, and Elric’s family were escorted from the courtyard. Verrik lined up the field marshals at the rear of the seating. Adric turned to watch them. Verrik used only hand gestures to complete the ceremony. At his first signal, the arrows were lit. He waited only a couple of seconds before signaling again. The archers nocked the arrows, pulled back their strings, and aimed upward. And then Verrik gave his final signal, and the arrows were released. A loud crack could be heard from Thunderstring. That arrow was the first to land in the bed of the late grand marshal.

The flames ignited immediately upon landing. In a matter of seconds, the bed of the grand marshal was engulfed in flames, and the faithful grand marshal was relieved from his presence and duties of his office.