Mwyr - Chapter Eight

[lady_mab]

 

Arika had to untangle her legs from her skirts every few steps. Luka bounded around her, kicking up dirt as he went. “I’m glad one of us still has that much energy.” She regretted not taking Chan up on his offer to let her borrow his horse. 

While she wasn’t sure she could ride a horse, the plan was to return to the farm with one. But the five mile walk to Wellfox turned out to be far more taxing than she thought. 

The weather was warm without being uncomfortable, the occasional cloud passing over the sun. She could almost make out the pale ring that cut across the sky, and the glimmering fat wedges of two of the three moons. Such a strange and beautiful sky. She wanted to learn more about it, how it affected the seasons and the oceans. 

She wanted to learn everything about this planet. Even though she had no point of reference to compare it to, the need burned as strongly as the lingering aftertaste of metal. 

The first hour took her past the ends of Chan’s farm and into the land belonging to his friend Cassia. She heard the distant shouts of people working, and she lingered by the side of the road. Listening to the sounds of life. It made her jealous, not that she would be able to tell Chan. Not when he was so convinced that she was something she could not be by any logic. 

A handful of horse-drawn carts rode past her as she walked, the drivers calling out greetings. She hid her face at first, crouching down to hold Luka and ducking so the short brim of her hat obscured their view. No one seemed to think it strange that she was walking along the path on her own. No one said anything to her beyond the hail as they passed, although one did ask if she wanted a ride. 

These people didn’t recognize her face. They didn’t expect her to be the Goddess. By the time the third cart rattled past, she held her head high and returned the greeting. 

The confidence brought about by the anonymity put a bounce in her step. She didn’t have to tread lightly down the path, because there was no one to judge her every footfall. 

Still didn’t change the fact that it was a very long path. Not even that spring could remain for long before it slowed back to a calmer pace. 

The town clock signaled the hour, louder than she had become used to at Chan’s farm. The first boom made her jump, and she pressed a hand to her chest as a laugh escaped her. Only her pulse never slowed after the third and final boom. 

The sound reflected off the hills, and only doubled back down to where she stood. It carried an uncomfortable, barely discernible ringing that filled her ears. 

Luka crouched over the dirt road and a low growl echoed in his throat. His hackles raised, focused on something behind her. For a brief moment, a foreign current stirred the air and tugged the ends of her loose hair and her skirts. The wind whispered against her neck. 

Luka’s growl erupted in a ferocious bark as Arika whipped around. 

Down the road, a safe distance away, a lone rider crested the horizon. She couldn’t make out any of the details, save for the shock of dark red hair, garnished by the midday sun. 

“It’s nothing,” she murmured, more to herself than to the dog. She moved to the side of the road, clicking her tongue to get Luka’s attention. 

His ears perked up and the concern in his stance evaporated. He trotted to her side, and sat beneath her hand as she crouched down alongside him. 

She watched the man approach. He had a bandage wrapped around his eyes, so the chances were he didn’t even know that she was there. But before he had even gotten within twenty feet, he reined his horse to a stop. She couldn’t be too sure from the distance, but she felt like his face turned in her direction. 

Arika kept her grip on the scruff of Luka’s neck, rubbing his ears to keep him distracted. When the man didn’t move, she cleared her throat, expecting him to jump in surprise. He sat still in his saddle. “You can pass, sir. The road is clear.” 

“Are you the Goddess?” 

Her stomach dropped onto the dusty road beneath her feet and her hands loosened their grip on the dog. “Excuse me?” 

“Am I not addressing the Goddess?” 

“It depends on who you are asking.” 

He tilted his head a degree to the side. When he furrowed his brows, they disappeared behind the edge of his bandages. “I am asking you.” 

“Then no.” She straightened and nodded toward the town. “You’re not addressing her. You can pass.” 

Instead, he did the opposite, and swung down. He fumbled with the reins as he led the horse across the distance between them. His steps contained a strong confidence for someone who couldn’t see. “If I were to ask anyone else, My Lady, would they say that you were the Goddess?” 

Arika bit her cheek. Luka panted at her side, head tilted back to watch her face. 

“Don’t try to lie to me, Lady.” 

“I’m not. You asked me, and I gave you the answer that I believe to be the right one.” 

The young man, no older than herself, stood so that he was backlit by the sun. His face remained angled somewhere above where she crouched. Despite the bandages around his eyes, he knew exactly where she was. 

Arika rose to her feet and drew herself to her full height -- though he still stood several inches over her. His head shifted as she did, and this time settled closer to where her eyes were. “How are you doing that?” 

“Doing what, My Lady?” 

“Can you see me?” 

A small smile twisted across his mouth. “Not in the way that you are thinking. I can see truths, and that is how I know who you are.” 

Agitation pricked her shoulder blades and she squared them in an attempt to make herself taller. “Then why did you ask?” 

“Because I thought it would be polite.” The smile thinned, amusement gone from the expression. “You are the one that the Church believes to be the Goddess.” This time, it wasn’t a question. He was confirming it for himself as much as he was for her. 

She heaved a sigh and licked her lips. “I suppose I am. Are you here to ask something of me then, or do you just want the prestigious company as I walk into town?” 

His mouth crumpled into a frown, and she wondered for a brief moment if that had been a rude thing to say. “The Deacon was right. There will be much to do.” Before she could get the chance to react, he held out his hand to her. “Come. You will walk with me. Please lend aid to a humble blind man who finds himself without a guide.” 

Arika stared down at the offered hand, but didn’t reach out to take it. If he could be blunt while attempting to disguise it with formality, then so could she. “I might not be able to see truths in the same manner that you can, sir, but do understand that I know when I’m being lied to.” 

He tilted his head to the side, the bandages obscuring the expression he might have been making. “I have not lied to you.” 

“But you haven’t been honest with me, and that is the same as lying.” 

A sound that might have been a laugh escaped him. “And you tried to argue that you are not the Goddess. Alright then. My name is Taen, former Prince of Raeq. I have come a great distance in order to ask for your assistance.” Without waiting for his words to sink in, he turned and looped his arm around hers. “I will talk as you walk with me.” 

His behavior made a lot more sense. A prince, former or otherwise, accustomed to getting what he asked for. While she couldn’t be completely certain, she didn’t think she had ever been in the presence of royalty. And yet, she didn’t feel nervous. Only put off that he would be so demanding. 

“Well Prince Taen of Raeq,” Arika said, putting on the same airs she detected in his speech. “What can I help you with?”

The frown that twitched at the corners of his mouth indicated that he picked up on her change in tone. Seconds passed in silence as they walked. 

Then his posture dropped. Despite his best effort to keep his head level, she watched his entire countenance change. “My family has always been loyal to the Church, Lady. Since you first walked Mwyr, the Kingdom of Raeq grew alongside Hullenscir. We worked together on many occasions, defending the land and your name.” 

She remained silent, waiting for him to continue. She much preferred this version of him. Asking for her to listen instead of demanding her attention. Although, she wondered if should bother her -- that this would be what the Goddess preferred. 

If Taen picked up on her hesitation, he didn’t say anything. “The neighboring Kingdom of Gi’Han attacked when we least expected it. Despite the treaty that we had with their king. They allied themselves with strange, ancient magic that we had no way of defending ourselves against. Magic that, by all rights, only the Goddess should use.” 

He fidgeted with his bandages, tugging at the edges of the strips where they parted around his ear. “King Hyen had long been after our land, and when our defenses were divided and weakened, he took it. My country succumbed to his forces, but he would not accept surrender. We were destroyed and I was reduced to as you see me now.” 

A distant part of her heart ached, and anger stirred inside her chest. The idea of someone misusing something that belonged to her-- Where did these emotions come from? They weren’t hers. “How long ago was this?” 

“Five years ago, My Lady.” 

Arika held in the sigh of relief. At least it wasn’t another tick under the ‘things that happened when the Goddess failed to reappear’ column. “I’m sorry for your loss.” 

He bowed his head as they walked. Taen allowed the silence to drag on for several minutes, and she wondered if he even wanted anything at all. If he didn’t just seek her out to air his grievances with the Goddess in order to relieve the weight on his chest. 

But then he lifted his chin and squared his shoulders, and Arika slowed to a stop. He took several more paces before turning to face her. There was a moment of hesitation before he dropped onto one knee in the middle of the road. “I do not wish to be a nuisance, Goddess, but I would like to humbly request your help in the matter.” 

Arika glanced around, hoping that no one would be around to see this. “Excuse me?” 

“You have the power to reclaim Raeq for the Church, Lady. To reclaim it for me.” 

“I’m sorry, but I can’t just rally some sort of mystical army.” 

He surged to his feet and grasped both of her hands before she could retreat to keep the distance. “I’m not asking for a mystical army--” 

“I’m afraid you don’t understand--” 

“You are the Goddess. I am imploring you, as a humble servant, to grant me this boon.” 

She tasted iron on her tongue and wondered if she had bit it. But when she spoke, the sensation flooded her mouth and coated her throat. “I don’t have that kind of power. I’m just... I’m just someone who ended up here with no idea where here is.” 

Taen’s mouth twitched and worked around words he wouldn’t say. “I thought I told you I could see truths, Lady. You are the Goddess. Though your lack of faith in yourself is clouding your abilities to discern what is true or not.” 

Arika yanked her hands away from him and took a step back. When he reached for her, she held up a hand even though she knew he couldn’t see. 

He stopped all the same, wavering in his spot. 

“I can understand why Chan and Sera would think that I am the Goddess. They knew the girl who was to be the host. They can see her in me. But you, Lord Taen of Raeq, you don’t know what you see.” 

His chest heaved, and she could feel the air stirring around them. “What I see, Lady...” His faint voice quivered, but the sudden wind carried it to her ears. “What I see when I look at you is a light far stronger than my memory of the sun. And I fear the darkness that will take its place when we must part ways.” 

A sound escaped her before she could pull it back. It could have been a sigh, but it could have also been a sob. “You have to understand. I can’t help you. I don’t know how.” 

Taen’s shoulders slumped, and he put distance between them. “There will be a time when you can, Lady.” Remorse echoed heavy in his voice. “I hope that you won’t deny me then.” 

Arika had no idea how to respond. Her mouth opened, ready to return with some sort of quip or apology. But the words died in her throat, and with them, the breeze that swirled around her ankles. She strode past Taen without sparing him another glance. Her legs trembled, but she did her best to summon what little confidence she could. “Come on, Luka.” 

The dog woofed and returned to her side. 

Before she could get too far, though, Taen called after her. “You should stop trying to fight it, Lady. It will be easier on you and those who look to you if you learn to accept it.” 

She paused, glancing at him over her shoulder. He wasn’t looking at her, but it did little to alleviate the knot in her stomach that only tightened at his words. Arika lifted a hand to her own face. “What happened? To your eyes.” 

A smile formed on his lips, the most honest expression he had made in her presence. “Perhaps I will tell you when you are willing to listen, Lady.” 

“Perhaps, then.” She lifted a hand in parting, and he startled her by doing the same. 

#

“No, no, that doesn’t go there!” Sera groaned and waved away the trellis. “That goes by the fountain!” 

The men carrying the wooden arch looked at each other, then back at him. “There’s a fountain--” 

“The one in the main square. When have we ever had those here?” He did his best to rival their glare of frustration. Perched atop an overturned crate gave him an advantage of mere inches. 

“Having some trouble being Mayor-in-charge?” 

The voice registered in his head and he whipped around. “Arika!” 

She smiled as he jumped down and joined her. “Hey.” 

“What are you doing here? Did you come all the way out here on your own?” Concern replaced the thrill of seeing her. He did his best to keep his worries from his tone. 

“Luka came along, if that’s any consolation.” 

The dog barked from the other side of the fountain, splashing around in the water for a moment. He trotted to their side and nudged Sera’s hand. 

“Hardly.” Still, he bit down the rest of the comments that came to mind. If Chan let her go, then he had no reason to keep questioning her. She wouldn’t appreciate his nagging. “Is everything okay? No one bothered you on the road?” 

Her smile, which had fit on her face until that moment, slipped and almost fell. “I got paid a visit by royalty, so I guess that’s something.” 

Sera stared at her in confusion, trying to decide how sarcastic she was being. “Royalty?” 

“The Lord Taen of Raeq, if what he said held any truth.” 

He almost dropped his stack of papers as his hands fluttered about in the space between them. “What?” 

“Lord Taen--” 

“No, I heard you the first time, but I didn’t believe it.” He raked his free hand back through his hair, ignoring her hint of a frown. “Really? Lord Taen? What did he want?” The former prince had been a ward of the Church ever since the attack on his kingdom five years before. No one had seen him in public since he took up asylum. 

Chan’s letter must have reached the Church and so the envoy would be on its way. Only he doubted that they would have let Lord Taen leave on his own. 

She shrugged, though her hands fidgeted with the hem of her apron. Somehow, even though the skirt was on the right way, she looked even more out of place in that outfit than usual. “Oh, you know, just asking me to restore his kingdom and all that.” 

“Goddess,” he swore, unable to form any other coherent response. “And?” 

Arika’s head tilted to the side. “And nothing, Sera. I don’t have that kind of power.” 

He wanted to tell her that she did --that he felt the magic in her words and in her posture. It ran through her blood, if only she knew how to use it. “I’m sorry.” 

“For what?” 

His shoulders heaved in a helpless shrug. “I feel like we should have prepared you better. Now that you’re out where people can see you... you don’t know what to expect.” 

Her expression softened. For a moment, she looked so much like Tallah that his heart ached. “Here I am, out in the public, and I’m not hiding my face. Can’t say I’m about to give in to a panic attack just yet, so that’s a bonus.” 

“I’m more surprised that people haven’t recognized you. They’re all working hard, I suppose.” Sera glanced over his shoulder. The workers continued on their own, moving the remaining two trellises out of the plaza. “Speaking of, you never told me what you’re doing here. Have you come to relieve me of my boredom? To save me from mayoral duties?” 

“Well...” 

“I don’t like the sound of that.” 

“I’m here to talk to your father.” 

Sera’s stomach made a strange flip and dropped to his feet. “What? Why? What can he do that I can’t?” 

“You mean beyond being responsible for a township?” 

“Hey--” 

“I’m kidding. I need to ask for some help.” 

He made a valiant effort to not show how offended he was. “You won’t tell me if I ask, would you?” 

She shook her head, and stepped in closer. After a moment’s pause, she reached for his hand. Any argument died in his throat at the brush of her fingers against his palm. “It’s hard to explain, but I feel like I’ll be in your debt if I ask this of you. And I know... I know you will just laugh at me for saying that, but I’m not going to change my mind.” 

He gulped down the words of protest as he studied her eyes. Her gaze was so much more intense than Tallah’s. Despite the similar facial expressions, all he had to do was watch her eyes to know the difference. 

It took longer than necessary before he could tear his gaze away and focus on a spot across the plaza. He noticed one of his younger brothers speaking to a worker. “Well, the least I can do is take you to him, right?” 

“Don’t think you can use me as an excuse to not do your work.” 

“Of course not, Goddess.” He winked just to show he was teasing and was rewarded with her torn between frowning and laughing. “Didn’t I say it before? I’m acting as official ambassador between you and Wellfox. This is my job.” He cupped his hands around his mouth and shouted. “Baer!” 

His brother jerked to attention at the sound of his name. A displeased frown colored his already stern expression as he noticed who had called. He crossed the plaza to join them as Sera waved him over. “Who’s she?” he asked, glare shifting to Arika. But as soon as the question left his mouth, his eyebrows jumped and his jaw dropped. “You’re--” 

“Baer, this is Arika. Arika, this is my brother -- second son, third child, far too responsible for his own good.” Sera shoved his sheaf of papers into his brother’s chest. When Baer failed to move, he had to adjust his hands across his chest to pin the papers in place. “I’m going to take her to see Father.” 

“You’re--” he tried again, and Arika smiled. 

“It’s nice to meet you.” 

Baer nodded, still staring. 

“You’re in charge. No pressure.” Sera clapped him on the shoulder and gave it a reassuring squeeze. Before Baer could snap out of his daze and catch up to the conversation, Sera waved Arika ahead of him. “After you.” 

She stepped away and whistled for Luka. The dog hopped out of the fountain, fur dripping, and hurried to catch up with her. “He knew who I am, didn’t he?” she asked as they strolled between half-erected stands and carts ladened with wares. 

“I’m afraid people are going to be recognizing you from here on out. A lot of the region is here for the fair, and everyone in Wellfox proper knew Tallah.” He walked at her side, his hands folded behind his back. 

Her shoulders shifted, like she was trying to roll them to crack her neck. He had noticed her doing that back on the farm whenever something came up that made her uncomfortable. “I know. I’m just... thinking of something that Taen said.” 

It was odd to hear her refer to the former prince by his name. But since Lord Taen was no longer heir to a throne, or at least on a lower status level than the Goddess, he supposed it made sense. 

She pressed her hand over her heart, the tips of her fingers turning white under the pressure. “He said that it would be easier if I stop trying to fight it. Every time I try to deny the Goddess, I taste iron in my mouth and I feel like I don’t line up properly.” 

Sera stopped, his hand stretching after her as she took several more steps. His fingers grazed against her elbow before she halted just out of reach. “Arika...” 

A tremor ran down her spine, but she didn’t turn around. 

“Arika, look at me.” 

She did, slowly. It took another beat before she could lift her eyes to his. “Who do you see when I look at you?” 

His hand twitched at his side, resisting the urge to reach out for her. “I see the you whom I believe to be the Goddess,” he admitted. “All things considered, you’re nothing like I expected the Goddess to be. But at the same time, I couldn’t imagine you as anything else.” 

Arika’s jaw shifted without any automatic rebuttal. “As much as I hate the idea of not knowing who I might be beyond the Goddess... I think that at least the Church would be able to help me figure out how to be this person that everyone expects me to be.” 

Activity swirled on both sides of the street, a current that ebbed past them as they stood frozen. Sera breathed and he felt a tremor in the air that echoed from her. She stood like a rock in the middle of a river, and the waves parted at her presence. 

“You are her,” he said, barely conscious of the words falling from his mouth. “You wield power without knowing that you do. Your words alone will move mountains, if only you trust those who believe in you.” 

This time, her mouth dropped open and her expression crumbled. But before either of them could react, her attention jumped to the side as a hand landed heavy on his shoulder. 

Sera ruined the moment by yelping in surprise.

“You know,” his father said, tone heavy and regretful. “I thought I could trust you in charge for just a few hours--” 

He groaned and shrugged off the hand. “Dad! I’m in the middle of an important conversation here.” 

“I’m sure the lady will understand if you postpone your date until you finish your duties.” Tyn glanced at Arika, then did a double take. “You’re the girl from the farm the other day?” His question came out slow, hesitant.

She shook herself and plastered a smile into place. “I am.” Her gaze jumped to Sera, and she inclined her head in a slight nod.

He didn’t need to ask her to clarify. He held out a hand toward her, and her shoulders straightened. She was putting her trust in him. “Dad, this is Arika. She’s the Goddess.” 

A snort of laughter escaped Arika despite the seriousness of the situation. The tension around her eased, and the smile rested easier on her lips. 

Tyn’s eyes widened a degree, but then he rubbed his jaw in thought. “I thought you looked like Tallah. My Lady, I apologize for not coming to greet you sooner.” 

She shook her head as he started to duck into a bow and held out a hand. Just like she had when she introduced herself to Sera. “Don’t worry about it. I’m still trying to keep a bit of a low profile. Not too sure I’m ready to go about doling out blessings to the masses.”

His father appeared taken aback by her way of talking. “Of--of course, Lady. Will you be staying for the fair? Has the Church been contacted? Is there anything I can do for you--” 

“Dad, calm down. Or do you think I’ve been neglecting her?” 

Tyn whirled on him, and Sera retreated with his hands held aloft in defense. “Don’t even get me started on you keeping this to yourself. You just let the Goddess remain at that farmhouse--?” 

Arika cleared her throat, making no other move until she had both pairs of eyes on her. Several of the stall owners watched as well. They wanted to know what the Mayor and his son would be doing in the middle of the street. “I wish to ask several requests of you, sir.” 

He stuttered, straightening his posture and smoothing out his waistcoat. He might have forgone the fancy wig for the day, but Sera knew that it would be in place for the fair. His father would never pass up an opportunity to pretend to be something more than the leader of a small town stuck somewhere between the foothills of Erimed and the plains of Raeq. “Yes, Lady. Anything you ask.” 

She extended her hand again, and Tyn stepped forward to take it. “Can we speak in private? They are personal requests.” 

“Of course. This way...” 

Arika cast a final glance at Sera over her shoulder. She offered a small smile and a mouthed sorry. That meant that his disappoint showed on his face. It hurt that she wouldn’t let him in on her requests, or that she wouldn’t ask anything of him to begin with. 

But, more than that, she stepped into the role with inherent ease. When she trusted herself, and put aside her doubts, then there was no evidence of hesitation. She became the Goddess, confident and in command. 

Sera watched her walk arm in arm with his father. A strange, unfamiliar feeling swelled in his chest. There was wonder and pride, but something else he couldn’t identify. 

Arika was his chance at a new life, one outside of the tiny backwater town he called home. Yet even that was too small a descriptor for how much she changed him in the two weeks that they had known each other.