Chapter 36: Truth and Lie

Orellia kept a stone face while she listened to the Elven princess speak, but inside she was buried under the rising torrent of emotion. Saerina had no reason to lie, no one with the mark did.

“That’s quite a story,” Orellia said, forcing calm into her voice.

The four Saerina traveled with offered them some privacy. Kellar went with them to help repair the wagon Shina destroyed—something she’d be disciplined for later.

My poor Shina, Orellia thought. She’s such a wonderful girl, but I’ve still got my work cut out for me with that one.

Kellar jumped at the opportunity to spend some with not only the Kingdom’s prince, but the Elven one as well. It was clear neither Princess Saerina nor the men she traveled with had any intention of harming Kellar or herself, but there was something more going on here, something she wasn’t being told.

The princess made Orellia feel uneasy. There always seemed to be a great deal of mischief hidden behind her eyes. “I know how powerful you are, Saerina. If you wanted to, you could’ve knocked Shina out of the sky with the snap of a finger. Why did you allow her to flee? You screamed after her, you ordered her down, but now I get the feeling it was all for show. You wanted her to go off after Sehn, didn’t you?”

It was small, but noticeable. The lower corner of Saerina’s lip lifted ever so slightly, forming into an unsettling, crooked smile. “She’s his sister, after all. If there are two of them, then it’s all for the better.”

Orellia knew how foolish it was to raise her voice to the princess, but anger jolted through her spine as if zapped by Shina. “You do not have the right! Shina is an acolyte of The Order of Magia. You’ll not be using her in any of your convoluted plots, Saerina!”

Orellia waited for Saerina’s backfire, yet none came. The princess only shrugged, and then placed her hands gracefully at her sides. “Shina is like Sehn, my good Mage. You know what that means. I’d like her to travel with them for a while, without either of us interfering. Don’t worry, that other Elven woman, Cah’lia, she will take care of them. I have seen into her heart—she’ll make sure they continue on the right path, and eventually we’ll catch up to them and follow from out of sight. For now, however, they must be allowed to go off on their own, we cannot hold them back.”

“Words cannot express how much I care about Shina,” Orellia whispered. “Is she really a Cursed?”

Orellia was sure the sympathy in Saerina’s eyes was genuine. “I’m afraid so. Know that I am truly sorry for the loss you will face.”

Orellia held back the sadness attempting to overwhelm her, and forced her words out in a detached calm. “So then, she’ll…she’ll…”

“Die by her twenty-first season, yes. Still, that is the least of your problems. If either one of them fails to grab the item, or worse, if that man gets to them first, well—Shina, along with you and I, will be dead inside of a month, the rest of the world following soon after. If we should succeed, then at least Shina will have a good ten years of life, and you can ensure they are special, and that she is loved. If we fail, then you’ll join her and be united in death. The choice is yours.”

Orellia tried to make sense of things, but the unexpected revelations were becoming too much to take in.

“How can The Order not know? The whole reason The Order even exists is to settle problems like these. Had they the slightest idea what Sehn was, or even Shina, a score of Mages would be swooping in on him as we speak. We make it a point not to involve ourselves in political wars, but if what you’re saying is true, we’d have bombed this army from the skies. Every Mage of The Order would be offering up their lives to stop them.”

“Oh, they know about the army, rest assured.”

Orellia rubbed a soothing hand over her eyes, both to stop her arms from trembling and to keep her grounded in reality. Somehow she knew that nothing the princess said was a lie, yet her words were causing Orellia’s world to shatter around her. “How…how can they know? Why would they send us after Sehn if they knew what he was? Why are we not halting this army?”

“They don’t know about Sehn or Shina,” Saerina answered. “Like you said, were such the case they’d be hauling Shina back to Magia, and you along with her. They don’t know, and I intend to keep it that way. Your silence would be appreciated.”

“You’re asking me to lie?”

“Lie? No, I’m asking you to say nothing. Speaking of which, I need you to do a few things for me.”

The nerve of this woman, Orellia thought. Attempting to order around me, a Mage of The Order!

Orellia did not voice her protest. “At least tell me this, princess. Why then, will The Order not act? If what you have told me is the truth—and I believe it to be—then why are the Mages not being informed?”

A look of contempt crossed Saerina’s face, her lips wrinkling in disgust, or perhaps distaste. “Because they cannot win, and they know it. Not even all the Mages of The Order combined can stop this army. Your Archmages, High-Mages, even your Magus, they all plan on hiding in the clouds, believing themselves to be safe. They plan to sit back and allow the world to be destroyed, if it would only mean their continued survival.”

Orellia spat on the ground near Saerina’s feet. “You’re a liar! My order would never behave that way!”

At once she regretted her show of disrespect, remembering who it was she’d just insulted. Saerina’s posture tensed and her eyes darkened with the look of anger. With unexpected haste, Saerina dashed forward, and placed a tight grip on Orellia’s shoulders.

Orellia let out a cry. “F-forgive me!” Orellia pleaded. “I-I just—”

Saerina pulled at her shoulders, and before Orellia realized what was happening, she ended up neck-in-neck with the Elven princess, her head resting on the woman’s shoulder.

She’s hugging me? Orellia thought, bewildered.

“This anger is not for you,” she cooed. “I do not judge beings on words, only on heart. This anger is for yours, which in the coming days you shall find broken.”

Saerina pushed her back, and gazed into her eyes. Orellia was confused by what she saw. There were so many facets to the Elven princess, a net of millions of intertwined dreams. For a brief moment she wondered if she was staring into the very eyes of a Goddess.

“I want you to do something for me.”

Orellia didn’t know why, but staring into those haunting, yet beautiful eyes, she felt compelled to obey. Somehow innately she knew that to do otherwise would result in tragedy. “What do you want?”

“Mages, lots of Mages. I need you to return to Magia, and collect fifty of your most trusted colleagues, people you know are likeminded, and capable of keeping quiet. Bring them to Hahl as fast as you can. We must hold this army off, at least long enough to give Sehn more time. What we need now is time. Oh, how desperately we need it.”

“If what you said is true, and I am discovered—”

“Then don’t be!” She released Orellia’s shoulders, and the slight warmth in her eyes returned to their sharpest, piercing gaze. “Right now all that matters is time. Time, time, time. Find me Mages, and bring them to Hahl. I have a very strong feeling that man will invade Hahl next, even if Patrick believes him to be heading north.”

“You mean you don’t know?” Orellia asked.

“Know what?”

Orellia explained what she, Kellar, and Shina, had seen several miles away on their way to the Valley of Hahl, of the black armored soldiers that terrorized nearby villages. Saerina tensed, and her features tightened, taking on a look of deep worry.

“Then we have less time than we thought. So, I was right. Patrick! Saerith! To me, at once!”

The two princes came running, and in detached fascination, Orellia watched them dash to her side. It amazed her. Two of the most powerful men in the world—one even belonging to a different race—and yet both of them obeyed her without a second thought. They were completely and utterly under her control.

What a powerful, commanding woman, Orellia thought.

“What is it?” Patrick asked.

“Is everything all right, sister?” Saerith shot in.

Saerina spun around, and pointed a warning finger at Patrick. “I’ll not have you freaking out,” she said. She proceeded to do the same to Saerith. “Or you, either.”

“What I’m about to say will disturb you both, and I ask you to please keep your composures. This Mage, Orellia, has spotted advancing armies along the Hahl border. This can mean only one thing. The army has changed course, and they’re heading to Hahl.”

The shouting started at once. Both princes hammered Orellia with questions, and she felt pity for them. They stood to each side of her, tugging on her clothing, pleading for her to answer questions to which she didn’t have the answer.

“Boys!” Saerina shouted. “What did I just say?”

Patrick and Saerith released Orellia, and each took labored breaths. The men were not calm, however—the two only appeared to be on the outside. One look at their jittering postures, their burning eyes, or their shaking legs, and it’d be enough to see the unrest boiling within them.

“If they’re attacking Hahl,” Saerith said in a forced, uneasy whisper. “Then that means they’re not heading to the Kingdom’s capital after all. Which means,” the Elven prince tried—and failed—to keep his voice conversational, rising instead into a shout, “they’re heading to Elvadin! Patrick, we have to find Sehn, he has to go to Elvadin immediately! Oh, oh Gods, my people. No, no, no! This time It’s going to be my people that are burned, and my children that—”

Saerith was silenced as his sister’s whirling palm slapped him across the face. “Brother, mind your hysterics. No problem has ever been solved with loud voices and demands.”

Patrick took a deep, audible breath. “Mistress Orellia,” he began formally. “You are certain you spotted this army heading towards Hahl?”

Orellia nodded. “Yes. In fact, Kellar over there,” she pointed. The boy was practicing swords with Rillith. “Put an end to quite a few of them. Several were attacking a village a few miles back, but we made quick work of them.”

There were many things expected of a prince, but what Patrick did next shocked Orellia. He went down on one knee, and grabbed her hand, kissing it without shame. Orellia had been with The Order for many years, but she had still been born in Kingdom land. There was a part of her that was flattered, and she blushed as the prince to her race knelt before her.

“Thank you,” he said, his eyes growing moist with gratitude. He stood to his feet, and placed a reassuring arm on Saerith’s back.

“I won’t abandon you, friend,” he said. “You kept your promise back in Koringrath, and allowed me to take Sehn, and lose one of your nation’s most precious assets. I will do the same. We’ll catch up to Sehn, and we’ll change course and bring him to Elvadin.”

“Thank you, Patrick.”

“Save your thanks,” Saerina demanded. “Neither of you is going anywhere near Sehn, not yet at least. He shall continue on.”

“But sister!”

“Silence! Listen to me, and listen to me carefully. Right now, we’ve but one priority. We must gather together everything we can in the area, and we must hold Hahl for as long as we are able. This is a war that will be won with time, and time alone. Orellia, I want you to leave as soon as possible and bring me my Mages. Patrick, you must go to all the nearby garrisons, and grab every single soldier, down to the cooks and muck-cleaners.”

Patrick shook his head. “I can’t just leave my garrisons undefended. Have you forgotten that the Elven cities border around Hahl? If the Elves invade, then -” he stopped short, realizing he was speaking to an Elf. “Forgive me, Princess Saerina, it’s just that I’ve been traveling with you two for some time now, and I’ve come to think of you as something akin to family.”

Saerina nodded. “That’s a good thing. Then trust us as family, Patrick, and know that my people will not attack you during this time of weakness. Do not forget that you now stand united with the princess and prince of the Elven people.”

“Very well, I’ll rally the men. We cannot win this battle, though. If the enemies number even half of what has been reported, then my city will fall.” A look of sadness crossed his eyes, and once again Orellia felt pity for him in her heart.

“I know that,” Saerina said. “But like I have repeatedly said, we’re fighting for time, not victory.”

Patrick looked over his shoulder, and pointed into the distance, over looming mountains, where the beginning of a forest could be made out. “I mean no disrespect, but why do you not bring in your elves? The Elven city of Helena is not far from here.”

“Leave them,” Saerina said. “I’d rather not send Elves off to die.”

Patrick flared in outrage. “Are you mad? My men should die, but not—”

“Don’t worry, Patrick,” Saerith growled. “I don’t care what my sister says. I won’t leave you to fight these men on your own. I’ll head over there and grab every able-bodied Elf I’ve got. Sister, I’m putting my foot down on this one. I am still prince, and this is still my decision. The men and women of Helena will fight, and you’ll not countermand this.”

Orellia looked at the two princes, and then at the confident face of Saerina.

She’s playing them, Orellia realized. And they don’t even notice it.

It was obvious, but the two princes were clueless. Saerina was tactfully uniting them, bringing them closer together. Orellia didn’t know much about the woman, but already she could see how much of a shrewd tactician she was. It made sense, too. The closer the two princes became the better cooperation and higher chances of victory their united armies faced. Still, it astounded Orellia how easily the two princes were being manipulated.

Saerina winked at Orellia, and a shudder was sent down her spine. She knows I know, Orellia thought. She knows, and she’s trying to tell me to keep quiet.

“I think it’s time to get going,” Saerina said. “Make haste, for the army will arrive in less than a week. Orellia, call your gryphon and be off to Magia, fly as if your life depends on it. Would you mind if we borrowed Kellar?”

“What for?” Orellia asked.

“Nothing major, I admire the concern you feel for those that serve under you. I’d like Kellar to head out to the outlying villages, and rally any men willing to fight for Hahl. Word travels quickly from farmer to farmer, and I have no doubt that by now his exploits are being discussed in most of the surrounding villages. They’ll trust him, and that, coupled with fear, and a desire for revenge, should bring us a hundred extra men.”

“I understand,” Orellia said. “I’ll go tell him.”

“No, I’ll take care of that. Every second counts. Off with you!”

Orellia mounted her gryphon and flew off into the bright sky.

War, she thought. How terrible will it be?

*******

Shina stomped on the ground and pouted. “You expect me to believe all that?”

Cah’lia left out the part about Sehn’s health—Shina didn’t need to hear that. Otherwise, she’d told the girl everything, holding nothing back. “I’m telling you the truth, Shina, would I lie to you?”

Shina looked up at her. “You always were honest with me back at home...but what about my orders?”

Cah’lia struggled to keep her voice from cracking. “You can take Sehn when we’re done. Then you two can return together.”

Shina smiled, and pumped her fist in victory. “I’m finally gonna have something over my big brother. Man, I can’t wait to see him get brought to the discipline chamber the first time he talks back to an Archmage. Then I’ll make him pay more attention to me. Sehn used to always ignore me, and never let me come along on his adventures.”

That’s never going to happen, Cah’lia thought. I’m sorry, Shina. Enjoy the time with him while you can.

Cah’lia looked over her shoulder. Sehn and Nero were scribbling something down, while Rina and Wolly played with the Dwarf’s personal set of throw-and-catch. The sun was past its noon position, and it was time they got a move on.

“I guess I’ll go with you,” Shina said. “I’ll keep my brother out of trouble, but then you’ve gotta give him to me.”

“I don’t know if that’s such a good idea. It’s dangerous, Shina.”

She laughed. “Don’t worry, I’m super strong. Oh, and I’ll teach Nero a thing or two about Magic.”

Cah’lia ruffled her hair, and together they walked back to rejoin the rest of the group. Seeing their arrival, Sehn and Nero looked in opposite directions, glancing around at the clouds, then back to the floor. There was a clear look of guilt on their faces. They were up to something.

“All right, what did you two do?” Cah’lia asked. “I was only gone for twenty minutes.”

“We didn’t do anything,” Nero said. “Go away.”

Rina and Wolly packed up the equipment, and joined Cah’lia. “Did you two see Sehn or Nero do anything stupid?” Cah’lia asked.

“Rina was not paying attention, Mistress Cah’lia. Rina is sorry.”

“Old Wolly ain’t been watch’in as well, Mrs. Cah’lia. Ye don’t be blaming him, I be sorry!”

Cah’lia waved off the apologies, and bent down to retrieve her travel pack. “It’s fine, let me just—”

Cah’lia paused, noticing something a bit off. The bag wasn’t tied properly. Cah’lia was careful to seal their travel packs, preventing anything from falling out. She hadn’t opened it, so why did it look like it was sealed in a rush?

She peered inside, and at the same time Nero and Sehn continued to flutter their eyes around, looking at rocks, clouds, anything but her.

Oh, they definitely did something, Cah’lia thought.

She rummaged through her belongings, checking for any sign of tampering. Her clothing was unchanged, still neatly folded. Cah’lia didn’t think Sehn knew how to fold, his clothes were always one big crumpled mess, and she knew for a fact that Nero didn’t.

She removed her shampoos, her soaps, and her perfumes, none of them had been tampered with. She checked her coin purse, and thankfully Sehn hadn’t thought to rob her—though, she didn’t think he would. He’d threaten her, but Sehn wasn’t the type to steal money from people.

Then she saw it. It was slight, but it was noticeable. Her diary was on its side, and Cah’lia always placed away her books flat, it prevented any damage to them during bumpy travel.

Did Sehn read my diary? I’ll kill him if he did.

Cah’lia hadn’t put anything too dangerous in her diary, because with Sehn you never knew what he was capable of, and flipping through her diary wasn’t something she’d put past him. “Shina,” Cah’lia whispered.

The Elven girl walked over. “Yeah?”

“I think your brother read my diary. Check to make sure yours is okay. I’m guessing you have one, right?”

Shina’s eyes widened in panic, and she darted over to her gryphon. The creature squawked, and a look of alarm crossed her girlish face. “I think he did!” she shouted.

Sehn and Nero continued to look innocently around at nothing in particular. There was a cry from Rina as well. “Mistress Cah’lia! I think Rina’s diary has been violated.” Cah’lia had been teaching the little Human how to read and write each night, and she’d insisted that Rina keep a diary to practice with.

Now Cah’lia was angry. If she found out that her little brother and Sehn were messing with their diaries, there’d be hell to pay. The three girls brought their diaries together, and with a deep breath they opened them together.

“What have you done!” Shina cried. “He didn’t just read it, he changed things!”

Cah’lia opened her diary, and was greeted by the same sight. A shiver from Rina indicated that hers too, had been tampered with. All along the pages, written in red, were corrections, cross-outs, and new sentences entirely.

Sehn cleared his throat. “The Great Sehn merely edited your diaries for fact checking, grammar, and consistency. It is nothing to be alarmed about, and I do expect payment for it. Oh, and by the way, Shina, The Great Sehn now knows all about your crush on this ‘Kellar.’ As we speak, I am sending out messengers from all corners of the world to inform him of your secret crush. He’s going to know, Shina,” he said with a grin. “Oh, he’s going to know everything.”

Shina howled at him, lightning dancing from her fingertips. “How dare you, Sehn! I’ll kill you!”

Cah’lia put down her diary, and tried to calm the raging Shina. She couldn’t touch her, not without being shocked. “It’ll be okay, Shina, just calm down.”

“Calm down? Look at what he did.” She held up her diary, which miraculously remained unaffected by all the lightning. It was clear what Sehn had changed. Where once a line read—‘Kellar is so dreamy, and I think about him every day,’ there were now lines crossed out, and words added in. If read with Sehn’s “edits,” it now said—‘Kellar is an insignificant fucking worm, and so is anyone that has a crush on him, especially if their name is Shina.’

Shina had good reason to be upset, but this was no time to be fighting. “Look, I’ll take care of this, okay? But Shina, please, we can’t be fighting right now. You know why.”

Shina sighed and then nodded. “All right, fine. I guess if you, Cah’lia, can manage to be calm,” she said glancing down at Cah’lia’s diary on the floor, “well, then I guess I can too. He got you way worse, anyway.”

“Hmm?” Cah’lia bent down and picked up her diary. She knew it would be a foolish thing to do. The smart thing would be to throw away the diary and start fresh, but curiosity won out. “What in the Gods?”

Almost every line was crossed out or rewritten entirely. Dear Diary, it said. Today was a wonderful day. The Great Sehn permitted me to lick his shoes, which I declined, because I’m not worthy of even that. I have an ass that is too big for my back to carry. I have trouble sleeping at night, because I am sad that I’m not as good as Sehn. Sehn is so great. Sehn is perfect. Sehn is God. I smell like Babbalith ass