Lost in the Light Ch. 09

"That is not why I am angry." She continued and chose now to let her anger show in her voice. "I am angry because my life was saved by an Yvarna! Not once... but TWICE!" she boomed. "My beloved died from the Yvarna mark keeping my identity a secret from his commander!" she bellowed. "My friend, slew a Zecairin scout that ambushed Twenyl and I on the way back!" she gestured to the panting Lysia.

"Where were you...?" she growled icily, and pointed an accusing finger at Knight Captain Iala. The woman melted to her knees, and dropped her head to the ground in a submissive bow. The entire camp, shamed, followed her to the ground. Iala dared to glance up at the old Cleric, the deepest apology in her eyes, but he subtly shook his head disapprovingly.

"I understand," Riyarra sighed, her anger gone. "Rise my kinsmen." She commanded. And slowly they did. "Your hearts were heavy. You were given a great burden. You lost hope of it ever being lifted. I understand." She reached out to the Knight Captain and offered the Lady Knight her arm. Iala took it eagerly, but with the poise of a disciplined soldier. "Thank you for finding me. Thank you for helping to save me." she said, and made her way around the camp, clasping arms with each Knight.

"I do not need to ask where your allegiance lies," She said with a smile as she spoke to them. "I was the Runaway Princess, a corrupted, honorless slattern of Zecks... But you caught me. You purified me. And so now I must be the Renegade Princess... because I choose to abide by our traditions and not to submit to my brother's tyrannical, misguided rule. As a member of the Royal Family, it is your duty to escort me to Eltheir in bonds for my defiance..."

"Your bloody nuts, we will!" one of the twins blurted out in defiance of her request. He immediately slapped his hand over his own mouth as he realized his vulgar challenge was in the earshot of his princess. But not soon enough to earn an elbow from his brother. Riyarra could only smile.

"As a Knight myself, I have no right to ask you to rebel with me. But as your Renegade Princes, I am afraid that I must ask." She said.

"You are our Queen." Iala scolded her with a tearful scowl. Riyarra gave the woman and heartfelt smile, and put a hand on her shoulder.

"I do not want your loyalty," she said in all seriousness as she approached the offending twin. "Loyalty can change hands."

"I ask for your trust," she placed a hand on his shoulder. "Trust can only be broken,"

"You have it," he blurted out without a thought. She looked around and met the faces of each person there.

"Aye!" came their calls one after another. Riyarra kept her regal composure despite the warmth and pride in her heart from their confessions, even Lysia was awestruck at the transformation in her friend. A hand presented itself to her, and she looked up to find Iala's kind gaze. She was reluctant at first, but eventually took it and stood up.

"You did well," She commended her. "If you want to continue your training-" it was the sharp finger jab to Iala ribs, in the same spot Lysia had been stabbed, followed by the knowing, damning glare she gave the Knight Captain as she backed away that shattered Iala's resolve. "I am an Yvarna..." she whispered eerily. "We're not worth the effort..." she whispered again as she walked away.

She left the Knight Captain frozen in shock as she vanished and left them to their celebrations of camaraderie.

It was well into the night before Riyarra found her friend again bathing in a quiet, moonlit pond. She was alone, as none of the Knights were allowed out of their posts. It was a clear night to be out and the moon was a bright crescent above them. Lysia heard her approached and moved to cover up, but when she saw who it was she relaxed and resumed her soak.

"There you are," Riyarra said casually. She had dressed herself in a robe of sorts -- Twenyl would need time to make something more tailored, assuming it wasn't too lavishly regal for his queen. She lifted up the hem, and stepped into the cool waters with a deep, blissful sigh.

"I've come with others, but I told them to wait until after I have spoken with you." Her queen said casually as she flexed her toes in the soothing waters. Lysia had a growing knot in her stomach what it was about. "I was upset that you had been dismissed, but most of the knights did not know you had been... most." The knot grew bigger in the girl's gut and she sank under the waters until it came up to her chin. Riyarra sat down until the water covered her waist, and pulled her legs up to her chest. Her robe was getting soaked, but she didn't care. The calmness of the night air was their only company, and it was soothing as Riyarra tried to find the words to say. "We've been through some terrible things haven't we?" She sighed. "Thank you, for all you've done for me, Lysia. I feel ashamed that I forced you into our travels. Will you forgive me?"

"Are you going to try and have your lascivious way with me anymore?" Lysia said, offended. Riyarra couldn't help but smile.

"No, not unless that includes dunking you under for being a pest." She retorted.

"They you're forgiven." Lysia smiled. "My Queen," she added formally.

"To you my friend, I will always be Riyarra."

"That's not appropriate, My Queen." She scolded Riyarra. Her queen sighed in exasperation and put her chin in her hand and shifted a bit.

"I told Twenyl the same thing... but this will take some getting used to."

"Oh I don't know," Lysia mused and leaned back to stare up at the night sky. "You sounded like you mastered it earlier."

"You really think so?"

"I was ready to go to war for you."

"Would you still?" Lysia paused to think about that.

"I cannot forgive them for what they did, but..." she started to say. "But I can't kill them so coldly. I had him in my sight for awhile, but I couldn't do it. I had to get really worked up to loose the shot. Shooting a target dummy is one thing."

"It's not easy to take a life," Riyarra nodded knowingly. "It's nothing to be ashamed of, even if they are Zeks. I let them both go, remember?" Riyarra watched her, sizing Lysia up in a way as the girl stared off into the distance.

"You were looking out for Twenyl and me. If I had just shot them both, you wouldn't have had to. I'm... I'd be a burden in a fight."

"Do you think that is why they dismissed you?" Riyarra said, finally hitting the target she had been dancing around all evening. Lysia stood up in the water and touched the bottom of her beast where the scar still was. "I know about that as well, you don't have to tell me." She said, trying to make it easier on the girl. Lysia tried to hold back, but the pain was still too fresh, and she started to sniffle.

"That hurt more didn't it? Worse than what the Zeks did to you... Worse than what I did to you..." Lysia only nodded, barely keeping her composure, already her shoulders started to shake with silent sobs. Riyarra rose gently and went to her. "Do you want me to have him whipped?" she asked, half joking. Lysia broke a sob and threw her arms around her friend.

"No," she whimpered, but manage to fight back the emotion. Riyarra held her.

"I never had a sister, just brothers," Her queen admitted." I grew up a little rougher than perhaps a princess should be." She stroked the girls head. "I will always think of you as the sister I didn't have." Lysia lifted her head in shock.

"That is not appropriate!" she protested.

"You keep saying that," Riyarra chuckled. Then she let her countenance turn serious for a moment and she whispered. "Then here is something that is very appropriate." A soft glow started to emanate from behind Riyarra. Quickly it brightened into a myriad of colors as she released her wings to the open air. They sprouted out majestically behind her, and stroked the air whimsically. Lysia was struck in awe of the sight and couldn't help but stare. "Lysia of the Yvarna," Riyarra began in an official tone of voice. "You have been my faithful companion. You have protected my secrets from our enemies at great personal risk to yourself from the curse of your mark," Lysia's broke away and lifted her hand to her mark on her neck. "you protected me from danger and sacrificed the peace of your own heart to do it. You showed bravery in all these feats, and a service to the Royal Lineage." A soft blue-white glow surrounded her Queen, and she lifted out her hand to Lysia.

"Lysia, I hold your duty fulfilled." Riyarra spoke as she touched the mark on the girl's neck. There was a flash of purple light, as the tattoo came alive and started to evaporate from her skin. When it was gone, Riyarra's glowing wings receded back under her robe. They were ethereal, unhindered by the presence of the fabric, but disappeared underneath it none the less. Riyarra left the awestruck girl alone then, she would need a moment to herself. Lysia was still in shock when her Queen rose from the water and started to walked calmly back towards camp. When she was sufficiently out of earshot Riyarra whispered.

"Never again. My first royal decree." She didn't need to say it, but Valel needed to hear it. She put an understanding hand on his shoulder as she turned to leave. "Our ways need to change to save what is left of us."

"Never again, not while I live." He acknowledged. He watched his Queen leave them.

"I could use an apprentice," Twenyl mused to himself thoughtfully, as he stroked his chin. "I'm not getting any younger, and it would be easier on her they being a knight." He put his hand on his son's other shoulder. "You should mention that to her. I have our Queen's royal battle wear to stitch." And with that he left his son to face one of the hardest struggles Twenyl knew Valel had ever faced. Forgiveness was not always an easy road; having spent a century bonded to their Knight Captain was proof enough Twenyl had learned that.

After a long meditative moment, when he heard his charge resolve herself of her happy moment and resume her bath, he calmly steeled himself for what was to come, and proceeded to the pond. But not without putting the customary blindfold over his eyes. H hoped it would earn him some points towards redemption. His approach was stealthy, and he came to sit at the water's edge. He gave her a few moments to see if she had noticed him. "Lysia?"

"Where is my lord's knife?" She said coolly, yet respectfully.

"Absent," He stated matter-of-factly. He was about to say more but caught himself. "Would my lady grant me the undeserved request of listening to my plea?" It was a carefully spoken request.

"My lord has the honor of being above such requests, as he is of the Children of the Leaves" She responded with equal formality, and a bit coldly.

"I resign myself from such honors. Where my lady is concerned, I am unworthy of them." He managed to work out.

"Speak," she sighed, annoyed. She knew he was blindfolded. The gesture, although meant to be endearing and reminiscent of their first meeting, made her anger more the worse. And yet she kept herself submerged below the waterline despite it.

"We were distraught at finding our Queen so far gone, we thought there was no hope left." He started. "There was no going back to Elthair, we could not rise up in rebellion and we could not stomach the injustices we heard tales of and witnessed. We had decided to attack an enemy strong hold, and to avenge ourselves on the villains that were somehow connected to our homelands trouble. We did not expect to survive. We gauged their strength in arms to be greater than ours." Lysia listened and took it all in, but said nothing. "You would have perished as soon as the fighting started. We couldn't afford to protect you without sacrificing the strength of the whole. I didn't want you to die thinking you had failed... I asked my mother what would be best. She simply said, 'End her misery'."

"It was not the noblest of choices." He admitted. "I deeply regret having made it."

"You were right," Lysia said softly, and Valel paused in his confession to regard her. "Your sin was in bringing me back." She couldn't look at him now. "How could I live now, knowing the noblest man I knew, the kindest soul to whom I would gladly shield him from his enemies swords with my own body... would do something so cruel? To give me peace, only to take it away and inflict a life of knowing of his betrayal?" Valel had no words for that.

"I am weak, cowardly creature." Lysia admitted. "I was afraid of death before I met you. I thought our people were doomed to the evil infesting us. But I am not a fool. When I meet you, I saw hope, but I knew I would just be in the way of it. I would have understood, Valel, and I would have gladly gone before you to the Great Spirit. You didn't understand that part of me. The strong part of me." Valel's whole body crumbled and he sank forward. "Please leave me Valel," she managed to choke out, before the tears finally came. He abided her wishes and rose to his feet.

"My mother, still extends her offer to be your Master should you wish." He said over his shoulder as he turned to leave. "My father, also extends an offer to take you on as his apprentice. He admires your skill in magic, and thinks you will find it a more peaceful path."

"Thank you, My Lord," She said quietly, and hugged her knees to her chest. Valel left her then, and Lysia finally had peace. The pain in her heart subsided then, she found could deal with him now. They had said their peace, and if he had pursued it any more, she would have fallen apart. Lysia took a deep breath and let loose a long, relaxing sigh.

"I am sorry for your loss," came a gentle, disembodied voice. It was deep, melodious, with a slight flavor of predatory nature. Lysia looked, but couldn't place the speaker.

"Who are you?" She said aloud. A bit perturbed at being disturbed a third time.

"We've met before..." it cooed. She tried to place the voice but it wasn't coming to her. There was only one person that used such theatrics in his greetings.

"Grelwulf?"

"If you like," he responded. Lysia wasn't sure it was the Furrell. "You are right. He doesn't see how strong you are. Forgive me, I watched your Queen remove your mark. It was the most beautiful moment I have ever seen. Congratulations, dear Lysia."

"What do you want?" she asked. Disembodied voices were not to be trusted.

"A friend," He stated off handedly. "I would like someone to share my nightfire with, and to swap stories. Someone to share my pain... but only a special someone that would understand it."

"Where are you?" she swam out into the water away from the pond's edge. Somehow she felt safer there.

"I will tell you, but you might be afraid once you meet me. I don't want you to be afraid. I won't hurt you."

"So say they all," She scolded him skeptically. The voice laughed.

"True, true," he laughed. "I like you Lysia, you're very clever. I will trust you, as I hope you will trust me. Dive down... and follow the cave." The voice grew quieter. Lysia waited a moment, unsure of how to proceed. But she did as instructed and plunged down below the water's surface.

"I want to show you something beautiful," the voice reached her under the water. The moon's light didn't penetrate this deep, but Lysia had learned a few tricks recently. She summoned up a glowing whisp of light and searched the pond's floor. There was a small opening in the ground just large enough for her to swim through.

Lysia surfaced, and quickly retrieved her hunting knife from her clothes. She thought to dress as well, but she wasn't sure they would survive without tearing in that tight passage. Armed with knife alone, she dove back in and made her way through the cave. It was a tight squeeze at first, but it opened out immediately and she soon followed it down until it opened into an underground cavern.

Lysia was awestruck The room was filled with natural glowing crystal formations. Small ones dotted the walls, larger ones on the floor, and even a few skinny ones protruding form the ceiling. They gave off a pinkish-purple light that illuminated the whole room brilliantly. They were breathtaking to behold, as Lysia had never seen such a formation before. She climbed out of the pool's edge, and strode boldly to the nearest crystal and touched it.

"Beautiful, aren't they?" his voice came from no where in particular in the room to greet her.

"Yes," she breathed appreciatively. "Come out, but be warned. I'm armed."

"I know," He said. "Come, I'm waiting for you on the other side of the largest crystal. I wanted you to see I was telling the truth first before we met."

"What are you so afraid of?" she asked as she cautiously walked around the crystal. On the other side, she saw the Zecairin swordsman from earlier that day leaning against a crystal on the ground. He sat motionless, wearing a dark blue shirt unbuttoned halfway down, and dark charcoal leather leggings. But no boots, no weapons she could see, almost as bare as he dared to be. She startled at first when she saw him, but he still wasn't moving.

"I'd open my eyes, and greet you," He said with a hint of dry humor, speaking from his own mouth this time and not the disembodied voice. "but you are naked. And I must admit that even though you have a very attractive figure, I believe you would be very upset at me if I looked without your permission now that we are face to face." Lysia started to panic, she brought her knife up defensively before her. She tried to take a step back, but her legs were shaking too much. "It's not easy is it? Living with people that want you to be something you can never be? Having to suffer their attempts to constantly mold you into something that goes against your pure nature? Forcing yourself to lie to them in order to be respectful of their efforts, all the while wishing you could just scream and yell at their unfairness and stupidity?"

Lysia subconsciously dropped her knife. His words had resonated with her true feelings and completely disarmed her for the moment. She stood transfixed on him.

"I understand," he stated matter-of-factly. He slowly rose and walked around one of the crystals only to reappear a moment later with a dark silken gown with long sleeves. "Would this make you feel less naked?" He mused and looked at her. His eyes were a rich blue hue, the color of sapphires, and the specifically looked at her eyes and avoided her bare flesh. As mesmerizing as they were, she forced herself to look away as reached out for the gown against her better judgment. He lifted it over her head and stood back as it floated down to cover her gently. "Silly isn't it? I have seen your soul, but it is your exposed flesh that bothers you."

"Very silly," Lysia admitted, a bit breathlessly. His charm was having a powerful affect on her. At her very core, was a violent urge to act -- to attack him, or to flee back through the water tunnel -- but her stubborn reason was not allowing it. He had not given her a reason to do either, yet. Her hands smoothed the fabric of the gown, it covered her nicely, although it was cut too low in the front for her comfort. The light material clung to her damp skin, and soaked in the moisture, leaving only mostly dry and only her braid to drip water on the stone floor.

"Will you join me?" He offered his hand. "You can take your knife if you like." There was something off about this man. His features were nice enough to look at, despite being Zecairin, and his demeanor was non-threatening almost casual, and charming. He had disarmed her despite herself. But Lysia knew Zecairins firsthand. She had suffered their evil in many different ways. There must be a trap here. But this... was not exactly evil, yet.

She took his hand, and he guided her around the crystals to a camp of sorts he had made in the back. There was a fur lined bedroll, some fish on spits over a red glowing crystal, an assortment of traveling gear satchels, and his sword.