Five to three. That was the score between Emon and Leolyn in Flagwar. Leolyn had come every day, and that made Emon's time in the cell better. The "good" Queen blesses me with better conditions, eh.
The bed here was larger and stronger, with drawers on each side. There was no mirror in the room, though. Why would I need a mirror? My hair in particular, has seen better days. And for weeks now it has refused to grow. There were two wooden chairs and one stool where the board lay. Emon was also provided a chamber pot and a maid who would empty it thrice a day should it be filled.
In all his visits, Leolyn had offered to take Emon out of the castle for air.
And each time, Emon had rejected him. I will not be used for a victory parade. In normal circumstances, word of his capture would have spread throughout the kingdom.
Emon paced about the room before settling into a standing position beside the bars. He must have some "important tasks" if he is keeping late. Emon was wearing a brown robe with two black stripes running down its length on both sides.
Nobles always wore richly designed cotton mantles. The Royal Family were the only ones allowed to wear a design of green and gold. The voice of the wind, the Queen, she wore a pure green mantle. Only she could wear a green mantle.
For his footwear, Leolyn had given him the option of sandals or leather slippers. The sandals looked like they would barely fit him—though they were more beautiful and fitting than the slippers. The slippers were brown to match the robe. In the end, he decided on the sandals after long thought—should I need to run or fight, they'll serve me better.
Still, Emon would look awkward out there wearing a Lonarym on his neck. I can feel its presence. I calls, but when he stretched out to take it and mould his lifeforce with that which is divine, he just couldn't seem to touch it. Lifeforce was intricately mixed with divine traits. For those who were blessed, manipulating one meant manipulating the other.
Daemon had told Emon that the Lonarym functioned as a shield in blocking the moulding of lifeforce together with the divine trait. He said it blocked a human from controlling his lifeforce—though the lifeforce would still perform its functions, and divine trait wasn't one of its natural functions.
A few paces away, Leolyn approached with quick steps. Emon had not noticed as he was contemplating his circumstances. "Emon, hurry up. The skies look cloudy today; it might rain," Leolyn said.
Leolyn had taken Emon aback with his expected but unexpected arrival.
Tears beaded and rolled down Emon's face. Forgive me, father. With the Lonarym on his neck and his hand absent a sword, Emon was vulnerable. Daemon had taught him to always keep a watchful gaze, but Emon was Emon. And Emon was usually distracted.
Metals jangled as Leolyn brought out a bundle of keys hooked to his left waist. Leolyn, without any sense of urgency, gently glanced at the keyhole to find the corresponding key. All the keys looked alike and he proceeded to testing each one in the lock.
Emon looked impatient and unsettled. Leolyn paused and gave Emon a glance. "I'm sorry, High-Prince Emon Lesleryn Clovis."
Emon rolled his eyes. "It's Emoryn Leslyn Clovis. But don't call me Emoryn in public," said Emon.
At the seventh try, Leolyn finally found the right key. The sound of the lock opening gave Emon relief. Leolyn stretched out his arm to Emon, who slapped it away. "Emoryn, you should be pleased. The last two letters represent royalty. Many would kill to have a name like that," Leolyn said as he rubbed his aching arm.
Emon gave a look of relief as he stepped outside the cell. I would have made a run for it, if only I wasn't collared. "Did the Queen really agree to this? I could run and spoil her plans for me. Have you no fear? Or maybe you think I'm powerless," Emon said confidently.
Leolyn laughed. "I won't underestimate one who lived in the same house as Daemon and the same city as the Knights of the Bones." Leolyn laughed again. "Besides, I don't think you'll run. Your father's men will be here tomorrow."
Emon's eyes widened. "What about that woman? Is she with child?"
Leolyn's face saddened. "Yes, she is. We'll be sending her home with you. Your father would not want Clovis blood in enemy lands."
Emon's fists tightened. "I bet it was the Queen's decision to—to disgrace me in such a manner," Emon gasped. What would Talia think?
Leolyn looked downcast. "I wish I had more control here. I'm sorry." Despite his countenance, his voice was calm.
"Enough. I would like to spend my last day here in joy," Emon said, turning his back to Leolyn. "From tomorrow, I'll be duty-bound to kill you—or at least try—if we meet again."
Leolyn brought out a blindfold, which stunned Emon. That witch. Letting Emon get even a small detail on the palace layout would have been unacceptable. Clearly, Emon understood and looked pleased. It was definitely a sweet feeling to be the object of such wariness.
After what must have felt like an embarrassing walk, Leolyn finally removed the blindfold and released Emon into the sunlight. Emon lay down on the paved road and took in the warmth of the sun.
Emon stayed like that until he noticed he was being watched by people. He stood up and gestured for Leolyn to dust the dirt off his robe.
Vestelle was the most unique kingdom on the continent. Its people had different facial features and skin tones from the others. Most notable was that they all had green eyes. They were also fixated on the worship of the wind.
Leolyn chuckled. "I felt the same when I first saw all this. Not one average-looking person. Most of the males are taller than you," Leolyn said, glancing at Emon with a smirk to check his reaction. Father would give a lot to study these people.
The streets were paved with granite. The houses were beautifully constructed with wood that looked as strong as brick. There was no comparison in terms of beauty; the architecture had more elegance than anything Emon had seen collectively in Velecor.
Exotic trees and flowers lined every street and each house had a small garden. "Come, follow me," said Leolyn as he grabbed Emon's hand. "Good morning, my Lord Prince Consort," a man taller than Emon called out. "Good morning, good fellow. May the wind guide your day," he said to Emon.
The man was dressed in a grey robe and a richly designed red and brown cotton mantle over it. "Oh, it is the Emon Clovis everyone has been talking about," the man said as he gazed at Emon's neck. Emon touched the Lonarym, seemingly trying to hide it.
The young man gasped. "I am Lord Heldris. The wind blows for everyone. I eschew violence, but what must be done must be done," Heldris said matter-of-factly. "The Regnivore is to blame for this. I despise him and his descendants for turning our people to the way of violence." Perhaps everyone deserves to live on their own. But what would happen if House Clovis lost? Would we be safe? It's uncertain, but I won't gamble with their lives on an uncertainty.
Emon felt a chill breeze blow over him. "Perhaps the wind has blown away your distaste for violence," Heldris raised an eyebrow. "You could have gone about trying to break the chain in a more peaceful way, you know."
Leolyn straightened to listen. "Father made no attempts to—" "Keep shut!" Heldris cut Emon off angrily.
Heldris adjusted his mantle to show that he had calmed himself. "Vestellan lives are long. I may look twenty-five but I'm fifty-three. In that time I've watched my father tirelessly work to counteract the pursuits of Clovis spies. Now—"
A messenger running towards them stopped Heldris. The man was dressed in a plain blue robe and a plain red cotton mantle. Like Heldris, he was taller than Emon and had green eyes. "A message from the Queen. The prisoner is to be taken beyond the fog." He glanced at Heldris. "It is good that you're here, my Lord. You're to help in navigating it."
Emon looked shocked. "Am I to be slain now?" Leolyn looked away. "No, Clovis. Your father's men have come to take you home," the messenger answered.
Emon looked confused and relieved at the same time. I would have liked to see more of Vestelle. Leolyn's face was blank. Heldris looked bothered. "I guess it is time to leave, then. Leolyn, it seems the Queen doesn't completely trust you yet. Or mayhaps the 'wind' sped my entourage's journey."
"Follow me, Clovis," Heldris said as he set their path. Their march to the fog was not all that boring. There were things to be seen and wondered about. But Emon's head was bowed, perhaps in thought of the woman who now bore his child.
After a long walk of more than an hour, they reached something: a tall wall of fog as high as the eye could see, as wide as Vestelle itself. "Wait," Heldris called out. "Stay close, unless you want to wander here till you die."
Heldris led the way through the fog. As they entered, their countenances changed. They felt something, even Emon. "The Fog of Parity. In here, no one can even sense the presence of their divine trait," Heldris said.
Emon touched the Lonarym around his neck. Before, he could sense but not touch it. But here, he couldn't even feel its presence. Was this how Leolyn always felt?
They passed through the fog in silence. They were within a forest and the only thing that broke the silence was dead twigs snapping under their feet. Suddenly, light—the sun shone on the other side of the fog. They had reached the end, but Emon and Leolyn would not have expected such an abrupt end. The fog was thick throughout and let no real light in.
An army of ten thousand would be lost here. An army of a hundred thousand might have some men succeed by chance, but they would have been drained of energy. The fog surrounded Vestelle all around; it was the defence that had probably deterred Denryn Clovis's efforts on this end.
There was a large ship at the docks. Its sails bore the banners of House Clovis, A black Dragon, a Brown Falcon and a fiery Phoenix forming a circle with their wings. Emon touched his chest and noticed he could now finally feel it again, but he removed his hand from his neck after sighting someone.
It was the Queen, under a large umbrella-like structure. She was with Candor, and someone Emon did not want to see. The three walked towards them. Heldris bowed while Emon and Leolyn stood straight. "Did any of them see how you navigated the fog?" she asked. "No, my Queen. I did as my father taught me," he answered. "Good," she said in commendation.
She removed a key from a pocket in her green mantle. "Come now, Emon. It's time to remove the Lonarym."
Candor's grip tightened as he heard it. "A Lonarym? Where did you get one? And why did you—is capturing him not disgrace enough for Velecor? You're a cruel woman."
Candor stood in anger. He snatched the key from her and threw it at Emon. Suddenly, an arrow struck just an inch in front of Candor's leg. About fifty archers hidden in the trees revealed themselves, their arrows nocked in their bows.
The Queen gestured for them to relax, but the tension did not end. "The Lonarym's original purpose was to protect people from their divine trait. The Lonarym—Lona ar rymie in the old tongue—means 'spear shield'," Emon finally unlocked it and it fell to the ground, interrupting Candor.
"When we use our divine trait, it fights back like a spear piercing our lifeforce. For some people, even without trying to use it, the divine trait attacks their lifeforce. So the Lonarym, the first type of imbued tool, was created to protect them," Candor said sadly. "I shall not speak to your father of this. You have sullied yourself, Emon."
Emon looked dejected. "And now I hear you're to become a father. It's all a mess. We're leaving now." Without another word to anyone, Emon followed Candor to the ship. Though he gave the occasional glance to Leolyn.
Halfway through, Leolyn's family were released by Candor's signal. Hyster and Kellyn ran to Leolyn after sighting him while Geldryn seemed to be telling Candor something. "It all went according to your plan, right?" The Queen asked. "What do you mean?" Leolyn replied.
Emon had now finally boarded the ship and was almost out of sight. "What you've done to Emon, and everything you asked me to help you do to him. I hope it's to your satisfaction?" Leolyn laughed sadly. "I think most of it went according to plan. But I won't revel in something like this," Leolyn replied.
His two siblings had now finally reached him. Leolyn received them with smiles as he patted their heads and touched their cheeks.
After about a minute, Geldryn reached where he was. She gave a glance to the Queen and gasped. "So you allowed this girl to control you," she said without minding the Queen's presence.
The Queen laughed. "I'm not a girl, child. I fought the Regnivore. Did more than fight him, to be honest," she said amusingly, leaving both of them shocked.