Chapter 10
Lenore later returned to Illian’s office to see him, but the guards at the door turned her away, telling her that he was unavailable. Grumbling, she headed for the tower prison, intending to visit Ren.
Rounding a corner, she found herself face-to-face with a hooded figure.
Lenore yelped in surprise.
Brenin lowered his hood, saying pleasantly, “It’s just me, Princess Lenore.”
“Brenin!” She threw her arms around the rugged old man, and he stiffened, his good eye widening in surprise. “I’m so glad to see you,” Lenore said impulsively, ignoring his discomfort. “I had heard you died! Why didn’t you tell us?”
“Ren knew,” Brenin said calmly. “Blame him.”
“Oh, you bet I will! But what brings you back here? Are you going to save Ren?” Lenore looked up at him pleadingly.
He smiled and patted her on the head. For once, she was too intent on her goal to mind. “Of course. And actually, I could use your help,” the old man said.
“You’ve got it! What do you need?” she asked enthusiastically.
Brenin raised an eyebrow. “Since when did you care so much about Ren, my lady?”
“Since he and that oaf of a sister of mine took my place in Navinor.” Lenore lowered her eyes in shame. “It should be me in trouble right now, not them. It’s my fault.”
“Don’t blame yourself, my lady. It seems all you children have been caught up in something far beyond your capabilities to control.”
“I’m hardly a child,” Lenore protested. “Though I should have expected an old man like you to think of me as one. Now, what are we going to do? How do we make Father see they’re innocent?”
“Your Father is no longer in control of what happens here,” Brenin told her grimly. “There’s no point in trying to appeal to him, and I question whether Illian has any interest in saving your sister either. Now, my lady, I must ask you to put yourself at risk for the young fool and Princess Kathryn. Can you do that?”
Lenore nodded seriously. “Gladly. What’s our plan?”
“I’ll let you know when I have one,” Brenin muttered.
Half an hour later, Brenin stood at the door of the tower prison, half-concealed in shadows as he watched the strange scene within.
Ren was busy doing situps and pushups in his cell despite his injured shoulder. The guards watched and counted his sit-ups. “That’s gotta be a record, General!” one of them said enthusiastically.
Ren grinned up at him, perspiring heavily. “I’m not finished yet. Why aren’t you fellows matching me anymore?”
“You’re too strong for us, General,” the other guard said flatly. “I don’t think any of the guards can-Oh, General Brenin!” One of them noticed the shadow at the door, and they stood at attention.
Ren sat up quickly. “Sir! What are you doing here?”
“I have permission to play Paxel with the prisoner,” Brenin told the guards.
They let him into the cell, and he started setting up the board he had been holding under his arm.
Ren watched him with a doubtful expression on his face. “Is that really necessary? Can’t you leave the torture to Gregory?”
“Play,” Brenin ordered.
Rolling his eyes, Ren moved a pawn. Brenin leaned forward slightly to speak in a low voice the guards couldn’t hear. “While we play, I want to talk to you about something. I am not going to leave you here. But committing treason is a little bit outside of my usual illegal activities. Do you think there’s any possibility that if the king is declared incompetent, Illian will help you?”
Ren seemed surprised by the question. He hesitated and glanced at the guards, who were trying to look like they weren’t listening. Then he said, “I don’t think so, sir. A lot has changed between us since you were here last. I can explain, but it will take a while…”
“Explain,” Brenin said shortly.
“You’re just trying to distract me, aren’t you, sir?” Ren asked mock-suspiciously. “I won’t fall for it. I can tell a story and play Paxel just fine.”
Brenin rolled his eyes. “Then tell me.”
Ren paused to gather his thoughts. “It started right after Illian was called off to fight in the First Azure War.”
Six years ago…
Ren would have considered Illian one of his closest friends; in fact, Ren, Illian, and Kathryn were virtually inseparable. They were always seen together at social gatherings, and when Illian and Kathryn did their lessons, Ren would hang around and pretend to be vaguely interested while exercising or training. When there were no lessons, Ren and Illian sparred together.
The boys were only two years apart, and Illian seemed to look at Ren like a younger brother, though they were very different. Illian was always graceful, regal, and authoritative. Ren was all bluster and good cheer.
Ren couldn’t understand why Illian was called off to fight in the war at just 16 despite his high position, but he told the older boy, “I’m jealous. If I wasn’t supposed to be the princess’s bodyguard, I’d come with you and make short work of those people!”
On that day, the coldest of the winter, the two boys trained together once more, hacking away at training posts with their wooden swords. Illian paused and wiped the sweat from his brow. “The war will be over soon,” he said calmly. “Father says that my tactical expertise will be invaluable.”
“Yeah, yeah. Everyone says you’re a genius. But I’m my own kind of genius, so I think I should go too,” Ren argued, knocking the snow off the post with a violent blow.
Illian laughed at him. “Ren, you’re a good fighter. But a war takes more than one man, don’t you think? It needs leaders. Are you going to lead the men?”
Ren grumbled under his breath. Then he paused and turned to Illian. “You’ll take care, though, won’t you?”
A smile lit up the older boy’s face, and he nodded. “Of course. I’ll be back soon. I promise.”
After Illian left, Ren was proud to hear more and more tales of the prince’s strategic genius on the battlefield. Then one fateful day, two years after the war had begun, terrible news came. The enemy prince, prince Gregory, turned up at the wrong place and the wrong time, destroying Illian’s battle plan, surrounding Iridalys’ forces, and dealing a devastating blow. Illian had been wounded twice, and the losses were in the thousands.
This was right around the time of the Viper Massacre and the death of the queen. It was the worst moment of the war. Iridalys’ generals considered surrendering, and they came together for a vote. The vote was five against five, with a tiebreaker. Ren, as the youngest General, broke the tie when he voted against surrendering.
As if it was an answer to prayer, Illian led the next battle from his bed and miraculously won. His men deliberately lured the enemy forces into an area that was overseen by a giant dam and then blew up the dam. Gregory’s forces were almost entirely swept away, and just like that, the war had turned around. Yet it still dragged on for another year, with Navinor determined to continue fighting a miserable war of attrition that cost tens of thousands of lives.
Illian remained in the field until the last vestiges of Gregory’s army were sent packing out of Iridalys and Navinor finally signed a peace treaty. By the time he came home, his wounds had of course long since healed.
But the 19-year-old man who came riding back on his battle horse was a different person than the fresh-faced 16-year-old boy who had left. He was colder and harder.
Ren wanted to hear all about his war stories, but Illian was too busy attending meetings, discussing matters of strategy, and helping rebuild the devastated Iridalys. Another month passed before Ren had an opportunity to talk to Illian.
The prince went to the training grounds to practice, and Ren found him there.
The younger boy started by saying, “Congratulations, Lian! Everyone says you saved the whole kingdom!”
Illian glanced over his shoulder at him. “Do they?” he said with a smile. “Well, they’re right.” He kept hacking at the post.
Ren watched him for a minute. Then he said, “How was it in the war? What were they like?”
“They were animals.” Illian paused, and his eyes were dark with the memories. “It was the most brutal thing I have ever experienced. Everyone was falling around me, stricken by arrows or frozen in Azura. The Death Mage cut down dozens of men with his sword, and he seemed to be enjoying it. There was blood everywhere. Screams. All at once I realized that they were coming for me. And then I felt this pain, and I looked down, and…”
He stopped short. He seemed to be having trouble breathing, and his hand clenched around his sword hilt.
Ren didn’t understand why Illian looked the way he did, or why he struggled to talk.
The younger boy said, “Illian, did you do any fighting yourself? Or were you just giving orders?” Illian didn’t answer. He seemed to be staring intently at nothing in particular with an expression of both hate and fear.
Ren tugged on his arm, and Illian lashed out and nearly hit him. “Hey! What’s wrong with you?” Ren snapped.
Illian stood still, struggling to catch his breath. “Nothing. Just go away,” he said shortly.
“Fine, whatever!” Ren turned on his heel and stormed away.
But two days later, Ren saw Illian sparring with one of the guards. The guard called out that he surrendered, but Illian continued attacking him, aiming for vital areas with the hardwood sword. Illian’s eyes were strangely glassy, and the guard was covered in cuts and bruises. Blood streamed down his face as the hardwood sword struck him in the temple, sending him staggering back.
Ren snatched up a staff and interposed himself between them, blocking the sword. His knees buckled under the weight of the blow. “Illian, stop!” he yelled.
Illian seemed startled and confused. “What?” he began. When he realized several guards were watching uncomfortably, he became embarrassed. He lowered his sword and averted his eyes.
Ren gently pried the wooden sword from his fingers and tossed it aside. He put an arm around his shoulders. “Let’s go talk,” he said.
Illian shook him off. “I’m fine,” he said. “If I need your help, I will ask for it, General Ren.”
Ren was genuinely bewildered. The next day, he saw Illian sitting by himself, watching the king talk and laugh with Kathryn in the garden. The prince’s face was expressionless, but his fist clenched at his side.
Ren said, “Hey, Illian.” He sat next to him.
Illian smiled at the younger boy. “General Ren,” he said.
Ren winced. “I don’t like it when you call me that,” he muttered.
“What, General Ren? It’s just out of respect. That’s what you are, after all. It doesn’t mean anything bad.”
“Illian…you’re a hero. You should be happy. I don’t get what’s going on with you.”
Illian stiffened. “I should be happy? My mother is dead. My place has been supplanted. Why should I be happy?”
Ren frowned. “What do you mean your place has been ‘supplanted’?”
Illian gestured in the direction of Kathryn and her father. “Didn’t you hear? Father was teaching her strategy and the duties of a queen while I was away, to replace me if I died. She even won over the commoners with that trade deal, putting her in a perfect place to lead the kingdom in the event of my death.”
The words gave Ren a chill. He tried to comprehend them. “Well, I mean, everything was so awful, I guess he just wanted her to be prepared for anything,” he tried to say.
“Of course. Specifically, for my death.” Illian smiled grimly. “Do you know why Father didn’t call me back when I got wounded?”
“Uh…no,” Ren admitted.
“Neither did I. Until I realized that he has been spending more and more time with Kathryn, and she desperately wants to be queen. You know that; she’s told you many times.”
Ren turned bright red. “You don’t really believe that,” he protested. “Kathryn was talking about marrying someone from another kingdom! Not taking your place!”
“Ha. I wouldn’t expect you to understand. You take her side, just like everyone else.” Illian turned away. Ren caught his arm.
“I’m trying to understand, Illian. But I just don’t agree with you. Something happened in your head while you were gone,” Ren said firmly. “You’re mixed up!”
“Are you trying to say I’m crazy?” He pulled away. “General Ren. Why don’t you go do your job and guard Kathryn? Then perhaps you can make some use of yourself.” Illian left him standing there.
Over the next months, they hardly saw each other, and Ren did not have another opportunity to talk to Illian about his strange behavior. But the King started spending more time with his son as Illian neared 20, and Illian’s erratic behavior gradually faded. He even began to warm up to Kathryn a bit more.
Three days before Illian’s 20th birthday, Navinor invaded the small border state that was a major ally of Iridalys. The prince was immediately dispatched to fight. He didn’t return home again until after another year had passed. And by then, the coldness and pragmatism that Ren had begun to see in him was fully formed. He no longer tried to extend the slightest hint of warmth or kindness to his sister. What’s more, his erratic behavior had worsened. The relationship that Ren had enjoyed with an older brother for years was gone, and there was nothing left.
Present day…
Brenin bit his lip and thought about what he had heard as Ren focused on the board, trying to find a way out of the trap he’d fallen into. Brenin said, “Then we may be dealing with someone who is unhinged. There’s no point in reasoning with him, then.”
He glanced over at the guards, who hastily coughed and turned away, trying to pretend they hadn’t been listening. Then he bowed his head close to Ren’s. “Listen carefully. Princess Lenore and I have a plan for you to escape. But you have to trust me.”
“What about Kathryn?” Ren began.
“Forget about her. She will only be exiled to one of the minor palaces. They intend to kill you.”
Ren pushed the board away. “No,” he said. “I won’t leave without her.”
Of course he won’t.
“She will slow down your escape,” Brenin warned. “Do you think if your positions were reversed she would hesitate to allow you to sacrifice yourself for her sake?”
“I don’t care. Sir, I know you don’t like it, but it’s who I am. I have to protect her.”
Brenin growled in frustration and stood up. “Fine,” he grumbled. “I’ll talk to the princess as well. I’ll send you all the details later in my own way, so just wait until then.” He paused and looked at the cuffs around Ren’s wrists. The anger seeped through in his voice as he said, “I’ll have you out of here soon, boy.”
He left before Ren could reply.
Brenin wasted no time in finding Kathryn’s room. The girl sat at her dressing table with Lenore at her side as Lenore told her excitedly, “Brenin is here, and he said he’s going to – Oh, there you are, Brenin!”
Kathryn stood up quickly, twisting her hands with a nervous expression on her face. “Is Ren all right?” she burst out.
“All right as can be expected when he’s chained up like a dog,” Brenin said coldly. “Your highness, some friends of mine told me Prince Gregory is only hours away. What are you going to do?”
“You don’t have to worry. I won’t ask Ren to sacrifice himself for me,” Kathryn replied.
“Then what will you do?” Brenin repeated impatiently. “I could get him out myself, but Ren insists he won’t escape without you.”
Kathryn shook her head. “An escape would be nearly impossible, Brenin. How did you think we would manage it?”
“I thought you might use your oh-so-clever strategic mind to solve the problem, your highness. Or at least, that’s what Ren thinks will happen. Is he wrong?” Brenin kept his eyes fixed on her face.
Show me that what he sees in you is real, girl. Make yourself useful for once.
Kathryn hesitated. She glanced at Lenore.
Lenore saw the look and exclaimed, “You do have a plan! What is it? I’ll help.”
“It could end up being very dangerous for you, Lenore. I can’t ask you to-”
“Enough with the theatrics,” Brenin interrupted. “You need Princess Lenore’s magic. What comes next?”
Kathryn turned and opened up her wardrobe. She pulled out a sizable sack of opals.
Lenore exclaimed, “Where did you get all of these?”
“They were a gift…from Illian, before the war,” Kathryn said softly. “I doubt he remembers they exist. But they will be useful now.” She pulled out one of the opals and held it up.
Lenore took it from her, exclaiming, “Boulder opals? How many are in there?”
“More than 100. But you won’t want to use all of them. The whole castle would go down if you did, and you might experience severe side effects.” Kathryn handed her the sack. “You know better than me how many to use, I suppose.”
“That will take care of the distraction,” Brenin said approvingly. “What’s next?”
“We’ll need to make the escape at the last moment. The closer Gregory gets, the more they’ll worry about him, and security on the inside of the castle won’t be as tight as it is out there. We’ll need fresh horses saddled and ready.”
“I’ll take care of that,” Brenin said. “I know the stableboy.”
“Once the tower starts shaking, it’s the last place the guards will want to be,” Kathryn continued. “They’ll likely clear out fast, which means Brenin will be able to get Ren out.”
“What about you?” Lenore asked quickly.
“I can handle myself. I still have some verdant opals left.”
“But you don’t do magic!” Lenore exclaimed. “You’re just as likely to hurt yourself as them.”
“I…I do a little more magic than I usually tell people,” Kathryn admitted with a faint smile. “Really, don’t worry. After that, you, Brenin, Ren, and myself will go to Trista’s place first. She will keep us safe for a while until we can decide where to go next.”
“What? I’m not going,” Lenore exclaimed. “You all are the ones that need to escape. I’m going to stay.”
“But Lenore, if they find out, you’ll be accused of treason,” Kathryn protested.
“I won’t. Believe me, Kat, Illian would never do that to me. You and him don’t have the best relationship, but he and I do,” Lenore said easily. “Besides, I’ve still got to finish my training. I will be Head Warden one day.”
“I imagine Dorian will have something to say about that,” Brenin said wryly. “Speaking of which, he is the biggest threat to our plans. My friends told me about him. It seems he’s an even more skilled mage than you are, Princess Lenore, and by a wide margin. He’ll feel it right away if you use boulder magic.”
“Even if he does, boulder magic is much harder to counteract than blinding magic or verdant magic,” Lenore told him. “It’s not as smooth or focused and it spreads out over a wider area. He might suspect it’s me, but there’s no way to trace it back for sure. Besides, I’ve been wanting to wipe that smug look of disdain off his face.”
“Lenore, if you’re not leaving with us, I can’t agree to any of this!” Kathryn interjected. “It’s too dangerous for you to remain.”
“You don’t get to tell me what to do,” Lenore shot back, tossing her curls with a contemptuous look. “I’m going to do this one way or another. It’s up to you if you want to escape or stay in here. Now, I’ll wait until the moment word comes that Gregory is near the castle and then I’ll make my move. Make sure you’re both in position.”
Hope rose in Brenin’s heart at the words, though he kept his face neutral. They were going to save Ren. That was all that mattered.
Loyalty Fallen Hub 