Chapter Four

“Oh, Amelia. What a pleasant surprise”

“I could say the same” I stood up slowly, not wanting the wine to rush to my head and curtsied politely.

Alessandra began to smile in a way that made me wonder if the both of us being here was really a coincidence.

“Take a seat Abran, ill grab you a bowl of stew and a goblet. I’m sure you two have plenty to catch up on” She turned and disappeared into the kitchen.

I pointed out a spare seat and then sat myself back down and continued eating without saying a word. A few minutes had passed, I began to ponder on the thought of whether Alessandra really needed to take that long. I looked up and noticed Abran watching me, when he realized I had noticed. He smiled.

“How has your week been Amelia?”

He has put my mind through torture for the last week and he wants to know how it feels?

“It has been fine, uneventful” I lied.

He nodded his head, “Everything fine back home? Your commander hasn’t given you too much trouble has he?”

I sighed, “I was treated as expected”

He sighed too, and nodded his head. “I never meant to cause you issues Amelia. I wanted to see you and I needed to know why you left Oenardil for Rircaex. I just can fathom a reason that would make sense.”

I noticed Alessandra’s feet at the lounge room entrance and chuckled. Abran looked at me with a puzzled expression, so I pointed towards the door. He smirked and got out of his seat silently. He glided across the floor towards the door, I watched him eagerly.

I saw Alessandra’s feet edge closer to the door as the time since Abran and I had spoken drew out further. Then I heard a shrill and a smash as Alessandra noticed Abran. She had dropped the bowl of stew on the floor. With a chuckle Abran began picking up the pieces of the bowl and took them into the kitchen. She bent down after grabbing a cloth and started cleaning up some of the stew she then looked over at me with a slightly concerned look then disappeared into the kitchen behind him.

I finished up the last few scoops of my stew and the rest of the wine before standing up and heading in the same direction. I stopped as I got close to the door. I heard them talking.

“You didn’t bring up her city status did you?”

“I may have……”

“Abran! It has been extremely difficult for her since you left. I doubt you know half the problems she has dealt with. Let her be happy”

“It needed to be said, no one else was game enough to do it. An as for her being happy, she isn’t. I can see that, why can anyone else?”

“Maybe you just want to see her as being unhappy. That way you won’t feel as guilty when you get her banished from her city”

I slowly entered the room and cleared my throat softly. They both turned around and looked at me. Alessandra smiled politely then noticed the bowl and goblet in my hand.

“Did you like it?”

I nodded my head at her, “It was fantastic, thankyou”

She smiled again as she took the bowl and goblet from my hands. She then handed a full bowl of stew to Abran and picked up hers as she nodded towards the lounge room again. Abran nodded his head and followed after her. I stood in the kitchen for a moment before I too followed them out. I sat back down in the chair by the fire and remotely paid attention to the conversation with the occasional smile and polite nod. I watched the flames on the fire dance between the logs again. I slowly drifted back into my own reality, filled with his memories.

I remembered the day in my shop when he told me about Evelyn for the first time. The conversation had started when I asked him about the pendant he wore around his neck.

“Why do you wear that?” I pointed towards his neck as he looked down.

“This?” he said as he ran his hand across the pendant. I nodded my head.

“It’s a long story”

“I have all the time in the world, would you tell me?”

He took a seat and nodded his head.

“You see, back before I had come to Oenardil I used to reside in Palarayden. I was with Fildema, we were happy. One day Evelyn came to Palarayden. I had run into her around the lands before, she was a nice young girl. Slowly things became difficult with Fildema and Evelyn was always there. Eventually things completely fell apart with Fildema, and not long after Evelyn and I became an item”

At this point in time, I was slightly regretting asking bit I was still interested.

“After a while, Evelyn and I became engaged. We were happy. She opened a store not far out of town. It was getting close to the end of the month and those in the hunting party were getting ready. It was very typical of us to head out as a group at the end of the month. I kissed Evelyn goodbye. We weren’t gone for long when we ran into another group. They had a woman with them. This was unusual. We decided to merge our groups together, this way we could get enough food with half the time. A few hours in, and something began to not feel right. We all decided to head back towards the city, just to check. There was smoke everywhere, we all separated and went looking for our families. I rode towards the house that Evelyn and I shared. She wasn’t there. So I went to her store.”

For the first time in years, I saw Abran become emotional. I felt myself becoming jealous. He cared about Evelyn so much, he loved her.

“When I got there, her shop was on fire. I was so worried about her. Once I got inside I found that her storeroom door was locked. I have never kicked that hard in my life, but the door fell beneath my feet. There she was, passed out tied to a chair. It was obvious that someone had attacked her. I grabbed her up from the chair, ripping the ropes. I ran outside with her in my arms and shook her desperately in an attempt to wake her. Finally she did, much to my relief. I desperately tried to get her to tell me what happened. She just kept shaking her head and telling me that she was safe now and nothing else mattered.”

I felt my eyes tear up, I felt guilty now for being jealous of her and he obviously felt guilty now for leaving her.

“We never found out who did it, the whole city was affected. Evelyn was never the same again. We began leaving half the hunting party back in the city when we hunted now, so we needed to hunt more frequently. The group we met up with on our last hunt continued to come with us. Josephine was their best hunter. Her and I became good friends and she would visit regularly. Evelyn became more and more distant as the weeks went on and still refused to speak about what happened. I hardly saw her, she started sleeping at her shop. I was worried about her and often confided in Josephine. We became closer and she always knew what to say. Slowly I realized that I was falling in love with her, but Josephine was engaged to be wed. One day I told her how I felt and that if she would leave her fiancée I would leave Evelyn. She kept telling me that she would leave him, but she never did.”

I watched him shake his head, I knew what it felt like to want someone and to be willing to give up everything for them. I felt sorry for him. I had been so hard on him in the past, even though he knows full well. He wasn’t as naïve as I thought.

“It had been months since I had seen Evelyn, I was really concerned now. It was so wrong of me to fall in love with another when I should be trying to support her.”

I could tell this memory was taking its toll on him and I felt tears run down my cheeks. I didn’t know why I was crying really. Maybe it was because I was feeling her pain.

“A few weeks later I finally gathered up the courage to go and see Evelyn. I didn’t have to look for her. She never left her shop anymore. She had taken the raid worse than anyone else. I knocked on her door once I had arrived. She didn’t answer. I could hear her banging around inside, so I waited. I told her who was out here and I knocked every so often. Hours must of passed, but I didn’t leave. She deserved my time. It was becoming late into the night and I began to drift off whilst sitting against the door. I was suddenly startled by her shriek in pain. I was up so quickly I don’t remember kicking the door down. There she was, laying there on the floor. It wasn’t what I was expecting, Evelyn was pregnant, to be more exact she was in labour. I hurried to her side, I had so many questions, but then was not the time. Four hours later Evelyn gave birth to a beautiful baby girl. She seemed healthy and she was beautiful. Evelyn barely moved, she just spoke.

“I know about Josephine” she had told me.

“She came to see me a few weeks ago, she told me everything you had said to her” I felt so guilty. Not only had I abandoned her, she knew I loved someone else”

I was stunned, I never thought I would hear such a story from Abran, but I too had so many questions so I continued to listen.

“She finally told me what happened that day in her storeroom. What the men did to her. I was so angry but it wasn’t hers nor the new child’s fault. I told Evelyn that I did love her and that I would marry her and make this all right. She shook her head.

Her hands reached up to her necklace and took it off before hand it to me. “Take care of Rachelle. Love her as your own and once you find someone who captures your heart as exclusively as you have mine. Give her that.” She closed my hand over the necklace. Those where the last words I ever heard her say. She passed away right there in my arms. No one could tell me why, but I knew. I broke her heart. I took Rachelle and her and I moved back to Palarayden. I wear this pendant because I am still yet to love someone the way that Evelyn loved me”

As he finished speaking it was as if he turned to me for a response. A response I didn’t have. What on earth could you say or do after being told that? I shook my head

“Amelia! Your scaring me, what's going on?” Alessandra screamed at me.

“Calm down Alessandra, she is daydreaming. Very deeply that’s all”

I came back to reality and realized that these memories must be becoming more frequent and with a longer duration.

“Sorry, I must have drifted off”

“Amelia, you were crying and shaking your head. What were you daydreaming about?”

I could tell she was getting concerned, I felt bad. I didn’t mean to worry her, but I couldn’t help it. I looked over to Abran, I couldn’t help but look at him with love. All these memories were over powering my thoughts. I glanced back at her.

“I think I should go” I stood up slowly to gather my balance. I didn’t realize they had both gotten to their feet before I had.

“I don’t think that is a good idea Amelia”

“Relax Allie, I’ll be fine. I promise”

“She is right Alessandra, because I’ll walk with her. You don’t like the dark anyway”

Both Alessandra and I turned towards him with a puzzled expression, but I didn’t say no. I nodded my head. I headed towards the door. I overheard the two of them speaking again, but I couldn’t make it out. As I reached forward to open the door Abran grabbed it first, then opened it slowly.

“After you” he said with a smile.

I looked at him confused again but walked out the door before him anyway. I wasn’t looking forward to the trouble that this would cause, but I wanted to get him alone. We needed to talk. As we began walking down the path he grabbed me by the hand, suddenly I was dragged into the bushes.

“What on earth are you doing?”

He put his finger to his lips “Shhh”

Moments later one of my city mates marched past with a small army. They were obviously on a routine patrol of the area. We waited there, hiding.

“Stay here” Abran crept out of our hiding space and discreetly looked around before signalling for me to follow. I quickly picked myself up and crept out after him.

“All clear”

We continued down the path leading towards the Crosland’s. If we walked past the Crosland’s towards Rircaex together we would have a personal war on our hands.

“So, do you really want to go back to your dreary city now? Or would you like to stay and talk for a while?”

I couldn’t help but smile, “I think it would be nice to talk”

He nodded his head and took hold of my hand again, “This way then”

We walked back through more shrubs, though this time it was a semi worn path. It wasn’t long into the walk when I decided to break the silence.

“Was that planned? Back at Alessandra’s”

He smirked, “It wasn’t planned no, but I’m not exactly complaining about it.”

I noticed him look down at our intertwined fingers and smile.

 “So are you staying for good this time?” I needed to hear the answer, I felt myself slowly slipping back into the way things used to be. This would only be a good thing if he was really going to stay.

“At this point in time, yes. There are a lot of things I need to make up for. You, obviously are one of them”

I sighed, “At this point? What could change that?’

He stopped walking and turned around to face me, it was only then that I realized where we were. It was a beautiful field, there were Vedic, Gamine and Laic flowers everywhere. The contrast in colour and scent was magnificent. All the years I had lived amongst these lands and I had never been here until now.

“Only you. You’re the only thing that will change how I feel about staying here.

I pondered over that sentence, I had heard it before.

One of the places he and I used to spend a lot of time when we used to be together was a secluded tower in a small village called Walshwere. It had an amazing 360 degree view of the lands we lived and worked in. Off to the north there was an old Castle that had been abandoned for years, yet still maintained. To the south the dark forest was a surprising contrast. Then amongst the middle and spilling off to the sides were acres and acres of farmland and smaller villages framed by the three cities. It was beautiful.

I remembered one time we were up there. It was the very early months of spring. We were just sitting and talking like we usually do and got caught in a sun shower. It was a nice warm spring day so we stayed seated and enjoyed it. The sun was shining, the rain glistened across the surrounding landscape.

“I love you Amelia”

I turned around to look at him, I was stunned.

“I never want to hurt you, and I always want to be here for you, as long as you want me”

“Forever and a day then?”

He nodded his head, “As long as you want princess”

“Wow! Allie wasn’t kidding about those daydreams”

I shook my head, “I can’t control them anymore, I don’t usually want to either. I’m still yet to have the ones that really hurt”

“Like the one you had back at Allie’s, I would assume shaking your head and crying usual means you would be having a bad one?”

I looked down, “Not bad for you, though memories of Evelyn do usually hurt yes”

“Why would you be having memories of Evelyn?”

“Well, since the day we ran into each other. I have been remembering a lot of our history. Which includes our conversations”

He nodded, “That makes sense. I have been thinking about you too. Except, its been longer than just a week.” He drew me in towards him, I held my breath subconsciously.

“I’ve missed you Amelia. I haven’t not thought about you a day I was gone. There isn’t a single place in my heart nor my mind that you don’t consume”

I didn’t speak, I just stood there silently. This wasn’t real, this couldn’t be real. Not now, I had never imagined him like this before so I had to memorize him while I could. The sound of his voice, the feel of his arms wrapped around me, his smell. I never wanted to forget it, until now I never thought I had before.

“Amelia! What the hell do you think you are doing?”

I pushed myself out of Abran’s arms and spun around. Davina was standing right behind us and her claws were protruding from her wrists.

“I-I, I don’t know mistress” I curtsied down immediately and stayed there until she spoke again.

“I think you should leave Palarayden scum and you Amelia, you better get yourself beyond the city gates before I drag you there myself”

I nodded my head, I didn’t turn to say goodbye to Abran. I began to walk towards Davina when I heard him speak and wished he didn’t.

“She isn’t your slave Davina, and as for the scum remark. I suggest you don’t start a battle you obviously can’t win” he took two steps towards her and I froze. Davina is my City’s Mistress and my Guildmaster. She is probably the only female I can talk to that is in Rircaex, and Abran is well…. Abran. I didn’t like this situation at all.

Davina took two steps towards him, “Its been a long time Abran, a lot of things have changed. Especially Amelia here. For the better, finally”

He scowled as he turned towards me, then back to Davina, “Amelia, come here. You don’t have to follow her orders. Make your own mind.”

I looked towards him and eyed him head to toe.

“We both know he will just leave you again Amelia, Just like last time. We in Rircaex won’t leave you, we are your home”

I turned to look at Davina now. What do I do? Do I follow the man I love, or do I keep to my promise of unshakeable loyalty?

“Amelia, you can make your own decisions. Rircaex doesn’t own you” I hated it when he put me on the spot like that. I could hear more people coming towards us from behind. I turned towards Davina and she smiled her crooked smile at me. I turned back again to look at Abran, I attempted to tell him I was sorry with my eyes as I stepped into line behind Davina.

He sighed, and she smiled. I didn’t want to hurt him publicly like that, but he would understand. I hoped….

“She has made her choice, now I suggest you leave before you force her to defend her city members when they arrive at any moment”

I cringed at that thought, could I really be capable to do anything? I could hear them getting closer, she wasn’t bluffing.

“I can see that, and I respect her decision. Maybe you should try that every once and a while”

“Stay away from her then Abran, if I catch you two together again you will have no idea of the issues you will cause for her”

He rolled his eyes as he started to walk towards us, he stepped to the side so he could walk near where I was. I kept my eyes down, I didn’t want to look at him. I heard the city group enter from behind us and as I looked up I saw him stiffen.  Davina chuckled, she turned around towards him, I copied her. There stood the entire city circle members. Anyone who had the power to make a decision in Rircaex was there. Not to mention the city guards they brought along with them.

“Amelia…” I looked towards Carlow. He looked at me with a look of disappointment, but relief at the same time.

“It is good to see you have made the right choice” I nodded my head at him and dropped my eyes to the ground.

The group continued to step closer towards Abran, my heart rate increased. Surely they wouldn’t attack him. It was against the laws of the lands to jump someone without just cause. As I thought about it I became more concerned. Rircaex wasn’t the best city for following laws and rules. Except those that they create to control their city members.

“Going somewhere? You’re a little late for that don’t you think?” Without looking up I knew that was Demetrius. I began to shake. I felt arms wrap around me, they weren’t familiar so I looked up. It was Duane.

“Come Amelia, you don’t need to see this” I looked up at him with a sheer look of panic stricken across my face.

“Go Amelia” Davina and Carlow ordered simultaneously.

Duane took hold of my hand and I didn’t take my eyes off him. I heard Abran growl under his breath.

“What's the matter Abran? She didn’t tell you?”

I suddenly felt a thousand eyes on me.

“The city is organizing for us to be wed. Rircaex is aware of the ‘catch’ that Amelia is and we are doing what is needed to keep her happy and within our walls” He wrapped his free arm around me, in an obvious attempt to force Abran snap.

My eyes were widened as I looked at him, I turned towards Dimetrius then back to Duane. Dimetrius looked furious, and Davina began to laugh.

“Come boys, let the squabble start later” She eyed Abran then smirked at me

“Amelia, is that true?” I could hear the hurt in his voice. Surely he would know this wasn’t my fault. I had no other choice or knowledge of it. It was city regulation. I didn’t respond to him, I just kept my eyes on Duane. I heard the guards begin to laugh and felt a tear roll down my cheek as Duane began to lead me away.

“Good luck to you Duane, guess you finally realized that an arranged marriage is your only chance at happiness”

Duane spun around and released my hand. He marched straight towards him, “You’re not in the best situation to be smart, Abran”

“At least I can pick my situations, not have them forced upon me”

I saw Duane swing and I fell to the ground in a heap. My body had collapsed at the thought of them all fighting. I heard weapons colliding, growls and insults being thrown at each other. I didn’t move. Suddenly someone’s arms wrapped around me and threw me over their shoulder. I didn’t look to see who it was. I didn’t want to know.

My ribs were starting to hurt, and I could feel them beginning to bruise when I was thrown to the ground. It hurt but I didn’t move. I felt a swift blow to my stomach that felt like a solid foot. I rolled over and Davina was standing over me.

“Get up”

I shook my head and rolled over again. Another swift blow into my abdomen. I groaned.

“Get up, Amelia”

“Go away”

“You know that isn’t going to happen, now you have five seconds to get up before I kick you again”

I didn’t move.

“1 - 2 - 3, Amelia”

I still didn’t move

Again, I felt a swift blow to my abdomen. I rolled onto my side and groaned again as I lifted myself from the floor.

“That’s better, now let’s go”

She grabbed hold of my arm and dragged me out the door. The group from before was all outside now. Duane was bruised and had a few cuts around his face. The rest were relatively unscathed. I began to worry about Abran. What if they had killed him? What if he was injured and just laying there?

“Are you happy now Amelia?”

I turned towards Demetrius and shook my head.

“Next time people might not be as lucky, someone could get killed”

Someone could? That meant that someone hadn’t. I needed to get back there to check he is alright,

“Amelia, the circle wishes to speak with you in private”

I nodded my head at Master Carlow and began to follow. We walked up to the tower in pure silence, I was becoming to feel uncomfortable.  As we reached the tower the drop bridge was lowered. Even though I was here just the other day, the fact of walking across that wooden bridge still made my palms sweat.

“Go inside Amelia, we won’t be long”

I nodded my head again, I walked across the bridge and up the flight of stairs before entering a large round room. Torches lined the walls emitting a grim red glow that engulfed my surroundings. All the furniture was jet black and oversized.

“Amelia”

I turned back around to the entrance and curtsied subconsciously. It was Duane, he entered slowly.

“Yes, Master Duane?”

He shook his head, “Just Duane when its just us” He walked towards one of the oversized chairs and slowly lowered himself into it.

“Are you ok…. Duane?”

He nodded his head, “I’m fine. I just wanted to talk to you about what the city is organizing for us”

“I am actually in here waiting, the circle wished to speak with me”

He smirked.

“It was you wasn’t it?”

He nodded his head, “Aye, guilty as charged”

“Well, in that case. What is it you wish to speak about?”

He beckoned me over closer and I obliged. “The city thinks that given the current issues with Abran” I watched his face cringe at his name. “That you shouldn’t leave the city without an escort until everything is finalized”

I tried not to look upset or hurt. One of the things that made it difficult in Rircaex was that, when the circle decided upon something. Its final. There is no point or purpose in arguing the matter. If you do, the restrictions become harder. I had hoped when my marriage was arranged that I would be paired with Dimetrius, at least then it would be with someone I can talk with effortlessly. I didn’t understand why they chose Duane, I need to talk to Dimetrius and figure out what happened at that lunch.

“So you want me on a leash then?”

He shook his head, “Not a leash, just think of it as looking out for your interests”

I rolled my eyes, “As you wish”

He nodded his head again, “So, how are you anyway? How is your study of your new skills coming along?”

To any normal human being, it would be obvious how I was feeling. Most would also know that the person causing the issues is the last person I want to talk with about how I am feeling, but Duane isn’t a normal person it would seem.

“I am fine, my studies are ok. I haven’t been back to the library in a while, nor the training yard”

“That’s a shame, well I’m sure you will have plenty of time on your hands now”

I sighed and nodded. My days were about to get longer.