Chapter 12

As the Aneiran blossom unraveled before her, revealing Alec, Talia began to relay the latest news to him.

“Did you see me fight today? I poured all of my energy into it and left nothing behind. Everyone is fighting vigorously to make sure that we make it to the finals.” Talia began to focus on those things, which had begun to plague her mind as of late. “I am scared Alec. I am scared of what is coming; I am worried that you will not be here with me when the time comes. You were supposed to be back by now, back with me.” Talia rested her head on Alec’s chest and closed her eyes until she could hear the familiar song of the aria flies. Talia lifted her head from Alec’s chest and watched as three buds on the Aneiran blossom opened and produced a corresponding number of the small pixies. Tears began to form in Talia’s eyes as she heard the pixies sing the aria of lovers as they danced in midair around her and Alec.

“Thank you, Alec.” Talia leaned in, embraced Alec and kissed him on the lips. “I will be alright as long as you are watching over me. I will protect you, I promise.” Talia sat by Alec’s side until she heard the final announcements for the jousting games.

“Oh my, what a miraculous recovery by Sir Giles in the final round. I do believe Team Kaldur have found themselves quite the lucky rabbit’s foot in the young Sir Giles. Never would I have expected the small lad to take down the mighty Tatianna. Team Kaldur has won the jousting games and will be advancing to the final trial along with Teams Zelus, Tatianna and Caitha. Congratulations to all of the teams who competed and good luck to all of you who are advancing.” Talia looked back to Alec and kissed him again.

“I am sorry Alec, but I have to leave and meet with Eliza. She and the others will be expecting me. I will see you again tomorrow.” Talia rose from Alec’s side and quickly made her way back to the barracks where she was to meet Eliza. Talia stood looking around as masses of people flooded the streets, ruining any hope Talia had for quickly finding Eliza. After several minutes had gone by, Eliza appeared out of the crowd.

“Come on, we need to head to the festival as well. We have been designated a special place to sit as one of the teams to advance to the final round.” Talia smiled as she nodded and followed Eliza through the crowd and found the rest of her teammates. “Come on, you two hurry up, I’m starving.” Colette hollered at Eliza and Talia. She was standing beside Giles who was continuously thanking the passerby as they congratulated him on a job well done.

“Alright, we’re here, calm down.” Eliza replied. “It’s not as if you had to wait for us.” They all walked together toward the festival, which was enriched with singing, dancing, tomfoolery and all manners of food. Within moments of entering the portion of the nobles’ quarters designated for the festival, Colette and Giles had vanished.

“Don’t worry about them. We’ll see them at the feast.” Eliza waved off their absence after Talia asked. Talia, Rowan and Eliza walked the streets, taking in the sights. There were many people in bright, elaborate costumes who performed various, entertaining acts . Talia became particularly entranced by a torch juggler when she was pulled on by Kristiana.

“Come now dear,” Kristiana spoke as she pulled Talia in for a hug then released her. “We need to get the two of you ready.” She glanced at Eliza. Both girls turned around and eyed Rowan.

“Don’t worry about me,” he spoke with his hands in the air. “I need to speak with Anton anyway. I will just see the two of you later tonight.” As they parted ways, Kristiana quickly led the girls towards Kaldur Manor.

“Alright, both of you upstairs quickly. You have separate pails of hot water; you will just have to scrub off quickly so we can get you dressed.”

Eliza spoke as Talia made for the stairs.

“Mother, is this absolutely necessary?”

Talia began walking up the stairs.

“Eliza! There is no time!” Think about how uncomfortable you can make Zelus by being the envy of the ball?” Talia was almost halfway up the stairs as Eliza came bolting passed her and quickly veered around the corner. Talia laughed to herself and shook her head as she made her way to the washroom.

Several minutes later, Talia emerged from the washroom, freshly scrubbed. She did not feel as refreshed as she would have had she taken a bath, but she was glad to be rid of the sweat, dirt and grime of the day. As she dried herself, she thought of the things to come. Tomorrow at midday, she would have the close of the tournament.

She would be thrust into the labyrinth and put to the test against wild beasts and the other teams simultaneously. With Team Kaldur’s dominance of the archery and close second in jousting, the only thing holding them back had been Talia’s little mishap with Tatianna.

Though anxiety welled up inside of her, Talia was convinced that she would not fail her team. Taking first place in the trials would secure her team as the champions and she greatly wanted to claim that honor. She decided that she would focus on the events of the . First, she would finish getting dressed, then after eating and mingling, she would sneak off into the night to visit Alec.

“Talia dear, are you ready?”

“Quite nearly ma’am.”

“Alright dear, come down when you are ready and I’ll help you finish.” Talia hurriedly dried and brushed out her hair then marched downstairs for help with her dress and makeup.

“You both look absolutely lovely,” Kristiana exclaimed with a tear in her eye as Eliza and Talia showed off their dresses. Eliza wore an emerald green gown decorated with frills, while Talia wore an eloquent blue with white lace with her long braided hair flowing behind her. Both girls spun in their dresses to show them off. Talia was surprised to see the almighty Eliza acting as she was until she said.

“Do you think that Zelus will notice?”

“He will be left speechless.” Kristiana replied. Later, once they had returned to the festival, Zelus proved to them how much of an improvement “speechless,” would have been.

“I cannot believe that he said that to me!” Eliza raged as she entered full on beast mode and began to decimate her food. “I mean exactly who does he think he is?” She continued through a mouth full of emaciated ham. “Wow Eliza, I can’t believe it…You look like a girl.” She growled to herself with her best mocking impression of Zelus’ voice. Talia scooted away from Eliza out of fear that the intensely fearsome heat radiating from her might cause her to spontaneously combust. As Eliza continued to stew, Talia happened to notice Talic and Kristiana across the hall.

“It serves him right.” Kristiana said defiantly to her husband. “All of that work, the time, the effort and trouble she went through, all to look nice for HIM, mind you and that’s all he has to say to her?” Talic did his best to argue the validity of his case whilst remaining on his wife’s good side.

“I do not disagree with her reasoning, only her methods. I mean did she absolutely have to hit him so hard? I understand our healers will be able to prevent any long term damage but Valascaana needs him to compete and be presentable tomorrow. If it had been the face, he would have just kept his helmet on. What will happen if he shows up tomorrow and cannot walk?”

“I suspect that if he cannot walk then he won’t show up at all tomorrow.” The look of worry on Talic’s face intensified. Kristiana dismissed Talic’s worries with a wave of her hand.

“Please, the worst she may have done is crack a rib,” Kristiana tossed her head from side to side as she thought to herself. “Or maybe two, but that would be the absolute worst case. She inherited my small hands after all and it WAS only ONE punch.” Talic dropped his head even more worried than before.

“I’m never going to have any grandchildren if she continues to incapacitate every eligible suitor.” Kristiana tapped her troubled husband on the arm.

“Don’t despair dear. Eventually when she’s ready, she will be as a black widow and let one live long enough to give you a grandchild.”

As Eliza slowly grew less openly full of rage and began to chew her food. Talia looked away and continued to scan the room.

She looked around and saw the other competitors from today’s games, seated around the banquet hall. As she glanced, she caught Nathan eyeing and waving at her. She anxiously scanned over him, trying to appear as though she had not noticed. Continuing down the line of tables, crossing over Annette, and the rest of team Calnus, she could not help but lock eyes with Tatianna who was glaring at her menacingly.

“Did you hear about the black knights?” Talia heard a voice from nearby. Talia turned and saw Colette and Giles conversing with some of the Dormeeran and Tartarian cadets.

“Yes, my uncle was out sightseeing and visiting some friends who moved here from Dormeera years ago. He told me that there is talk in some of the towns about strange black armored men walking the roads at night, led by some metal faced madman dressed in king’s attire.” Colette looked at the Dormeeran boy and asked.

“How do you know that the king is mad if the only people who know about him are too afraid to go approach him?”

“Well, for one, he’s a metal faced man, wearing a thorned crown and armor bearing the royal emblem. Second, my uncle told me that he keeps moaning something.” The boy thought for a moment. “Something on the lines of, “I am so sorry,” and then there is mention of a woman. I think her name was something strange, Aena, Aeno.”

“Aenora?” Talia let out a small shriek and jumped as Rowan passed by her and loomed threateningly over the Dormeeran. “Was her name Aenora?” He growled. Talia had never seen Rowan so angry in the time that she had known him. The Dormeeran boy, terrified spoke after a hard swallow.

“Yes, that was it.”

“Where were these men sighted?”

“I’m not sure, but the man my uncle spoke to is from Ternia.” Rowan’s eyes grew wide as he looked around at all of the people watching him. As if waking from a vivid dream, he stepped back from the boy and changed his demeanor.

“Please accept my humblest apologies. I meant you no ill. Please enjoy the rest of your evening.” Rowan turned and walked away, disappearing in the mass of people moving towards the dance floor.

Talia began thinking to herself what it could have been that would have caused Rowan to act in such a way. She had heard the name Aenora before, but could not place it. Her mind was soon free of the ordeal as the latest battle for her life began.

“May I have this dance?” Talia turned and saw, to her horror, Nathan’s outstretched hand.

“I fear that I do not know how.” She answered trembling, which he took as a sign of her accepting the invitation.

“No worries milady. I, Nathan Cardeel, your gallant knight shall instruct you. You shall be the envy of the ball.” Nathan carried on, but was interrupted by a slap to the back of the head sneak attack from Eliza.

“She’s spoken for!” Eliza yelled at Nathan as she provided cover for Talia to scurry away. As she escaped across the room. She bumped into Zelus, who had just arrived in what must have been his finest garments.

“I swear the nerve of that guy!” Eliza growled as she appeared beside Talia and locked eyes with Zelus and became as stone.

“Good evening, Eliza. I wanted to start anew by telling you how beautiful you look this night and apologize for my inability to perform a cohesive sentence earlier. The sight of you caused for my heart to burst and stole away my every thought.” Zelus spoke as he took Eliza’s hand, bowed and kissed the back of it and presented her with a flower. Eliza stood befuddled for a moment before responding with her own unintelligible remark.

“You…uh…look…good job.”

Zelus smiled at her response.

“Might you honor this poor fool with a dance young beautiful maiden?”

“Okay.” She answered dreamily. “Bye, bye, Relina.” She waved as she strolled away. Talia stood in the back of the room and watched as the ballroom began to fill with many pairs of elaborately dressed people. As she watched, she could not help but imagine this scene were Alec with her. She envisioned herself on the dance floor with the others and imagined the fun that she would have. The in depth thoughts presented by the topic prodded at the open wound in Talia’s heart. Wanting to bare it no longer, she wiped the tears from her eyes and left to get some fresh air. As she walked, she came upon a tall man walking with a child.

“Good evening,” Talia spoke as she passed them.

“Relina, might I have a moment of your time?” Talia turned to see that the tall man was Anton and that the child accompanying him was the very same wild eyed boy she had seen when she first met Anton.

“Well if only for a moment, I was on my way to…,” Anton cut her off.

“I am aware, that is why I must speak with you.” Anton’s young friend produced a shiny gold coin with the seal of Highmooria stamped on its face.

“What do you know?” Talia asked. Anton looked around suspiciously for a moment.

“The only two paws I sense are far from earshot should you whisper.” Talia looked to the young boy curiously. Anton leaned in close to Talia.

“We know who and what you are, Talia Degracia of Highmooria and we know who you are keeping under the tree. We’ve only come to warn you that we are no longer the only ones who know your secret. There are other problems that roam these lands, however. The dead removed from their tombs, rumors of black knights moving about in the dark. Onyx tells me that all is connected.” Talia thought of her dream and could see that her fears were beginning to manifest.

“You have seen it, haven’t you?” This time it was the boy who spoke. “In your visions? You have seen what is coming.”

Talia shook her head.

“Only glimpses, I do not know what is coming.”

The boy suddenly looked depressed.

“That is unfortunate. I was curious to know.”

Talia felt as though she had some questions of her own that merited answers.

“Why are you telling me this?” The boy raised his eyebrows and looked to Anton.

“Onyx is curious about you two and as for me, that’s the simple part. Let’s just say that helping you serves in my favor at the moment.” They turned to walk away. “Oh and by the way. Please thank Giles for me. His tip earlier today proved most beneficial. As such, I feel I should warn you that all manner of traps both magical and mechanical have been strewn out for tomorrow. They will announce tomorrow that we may use magic. I suggest using it to your advantage.” This time Anton and the strange boy left Talia alone. Talia continued to walk to the labyrinth and saw several guards posted in front of it.

“We are sorry miss, but not even you may pass now. They are inside preparing for tomorrow’s games. It is much too dangerous for you to go alone.” Talia heard howling from beyond the gates. “As I said miss, you will be able to enter tomorrow.” Talia only hoped that Oz would be able to keep Alec safe. As Talia walked home, she passed by Rowan’s house. She could see light through one of the windows and knew that he must still be awake. Talia continued on her way, having had her fill of mysteries for one evening. She arrived at the front door of Kaldur Manor and was greeted warmly by Talic.

“Did you have a good time, Relina?”

“I did, thank you. What are you doing back so early?” Talic bore an almost melancholic expression. He closed the door behind Talia and made his way to the main room and picking a small chest off from the table, took a seat. Talia sat down beside him as he answered her question.

“Big fancy parties are for Kristiana and Eliza. It’s just not in my blood.”

“That’s right, Sir Marec told me that you were all born outside of the main towns.”

Talic smiled as he recalled happier times.

“Yes, we were a wild bunch. Myself especially. Those were great days.” Talia looked to the chest that Talic was gripping in his hands.

“Pardon my curiosity but what is that?” Talia motioned her head towards the box. Talic looked down at the box and stroked the lid.

“Some unfinished business of my brother’s. It seems that everything has grown increasingly complicated as of late. I fear it will soon be up to the next generation to carry the torch.” Lion spoke as he massaged the slits in his eyes and, in the dim light cast by the fireplace, Talia could see just how weary Talic had become.

“We both have a long day tomorrow. Perhaps it would be wise for the two of us to retire to our rooms for the evening. Surely Sir Marec’s affairs can await resolution for one more evening.”

“You are quite right. Indeed, it seems that they must wait for some time yet, though I hope not for too much longer.” The Lion paused for a moment until a thought struck him. “On the subject of biding time, how does Alec fair? I am ashamed to say that I have lacked the time to visit as of late.”

“Well, he has been doing quite well.”

Talic smiled, though in the light he still looked aged beyond his years.

“That is some good news. I was always hard on the boy but he has always been a son to me. I am happy that he has you by his side.” Talia blushed as Talic reached over and hugged her in his massive arms. “I know you have seen a glimpse of what is coming. I have my own suspicions. I caught a glimpse of the knight that day and it has haunted me since. Take care of my boy. We need him to help us face this evil.”

Talia stopped at the bottom of the stairs and turned to face Talic.

I will,” she paused for a moment. “Thank you for your approval.” Talic nodded and Talia walked upstairs to turn in for the night.