The Wanderer's Lament: Chapter 5

A single, slender needle of sunlight lanced through the lazy dust motes, and right into Kailen’s face. Despite his grumpily formed curses, it did not cease. For almost twenty minutes, he managed to ignore the light. But at that point, the needle was transformed into a flood of light as a shutter was thrown open.1

“Mother’s BELLS! Close the window!” he shouted groggily.2

Laiseon’s voice, calm, clear, and diplomatic, responded.3

“I think not, sir. You’ve slept for nigh on ten hours now, and to sleep any more would appear unseemly to our hosts. And I will not have any associate of mine known as a laggard. Now rise, you limp layabout, for we have much to do, many people to meet, and many things to discuss.”4

A single hand appeared from the mess of blankets and sheets, one finger extended upwards. Laiseon sighed. 5

“If you insist on making this difficult, you will soon come to regret it. Surely there’s some motivation I can offer you, other than the chance to maintain independent control of your limbs?”6

“I demand a fountain of wine, and at least three beautiful princesses.” Kailen respond petulantly from within the tangle. Though he could not see it, Laiseon’s expression brightened considerably at that.7

“I can promise you no fountain, but there will be wine. Unfortunately, last I checked, only two beautiful princesses were slated to attend the council however…”8

“I almost died last night, did you know that? I had to face down a maniac swordsman, unarmed myself. My feet still hurt, I have hardly any skin left on my elbows from being thrown down an alley, and the sun is shining right in my face. Surely, after all of that, the least you could do is have the decency NOT to pollute the air with your ridiculous lies?”9

Laiseon adopted a face of mock offense, not because it was seen, but merely on principle.10

“But I assure you, there WILL be wine.”11

Now another hand, another single digit.12

“Oh, you meant the princesses. Well, that part is also quite true. After all, we are guests in the Citadel of Teykoss, and our hostesses could hardly refuse to appear for a council of such importance…”13

A single eye appeared in the midst of the downy fortress.14

“Say what now? We’re where?”15

“Get up and see for yourself lazybones. Just look out the window.”16

Slowly, the stacked pillows and intertwined blankets fell away as Kailen rose, not without his fair share of grumblings, and shuffled to the window. 17

A rarity occurred, then: Kailen, wanderer, teller of tales, perpetual talker, was struck silent by the sight.18

For stretched out, an eternity beneath him was the forest, outer portions of Teykoss, and, it seemed, the entire world. They were situated in the trunk of the great tree, higher than seemed possible. It suddenly dawned on Kailen that the entire room was wooden, carved out of the living tree itself. As he stared down at the treetops and bits of road and roof far below, Laiseon stepped up next to him.19

“Quite the sight for skeptical eyes, eh? We’re at a height you’ll most likely never again attain in this lifetime, in what is probably the single highest building, if you can call it that, in all the world. Cut into the heart of a small tree, in times so far past as to defy memory, and maintained and expanded with the growth of the tree. This place -- the Citadel it is called -- is, in fact, constantly rising, as the tree grows, year by year. You should feel honored; few men are ever allowed the honor to see this place, much less sleep in it.”20

Kailen shook his head vigorously, as if shaking something off, and turned to Laiseon.21

“That’s fabulous, really it is, but I need to clean up and change. I have princesses to meet.”22


=----=----=----=-----=23


The Boy was beginning to worry about Tamalay. Her spirits had rallied briefly, leading to their brief argument hours before, but since then, Tamalay had yet to speak again. He feared she was dropping into depression, and he couldn’t say he blamed her. All that she knew and believed in had, in the past six hours, been ripped out from beneath her. 24

The world is a hard place, when you don’t know anything for certain. Without the assurance of some set-in-stone knowledge, there’s very little to for a person’s spirit to rally around, and an irreversible plummet into despair is the only obvious choice. And Tamalay, the boy knew, was perched, ever so perilously, right on the precipice of that decision. If he allowed her, he had no doubt she would curl up right then, in that rough-hewn tunnel, and weep for days; for all that she had lost, or thought she had.25

But that was the one thing the boy could not allow. If not for Tamalay, then for himself, and if not for himself, then for the city. Because on the slender shoulders of that young noblewoman rested a great deal more than she could begin to imagine. The fate of her city, of her loved ones, and perchance even more, was up to her to decide. But the Boy couldn’t tell her this. He had not the words, nor the requisite knowledge to inform her of this wyrd. 26

Nor was he entirely certain of it. He knew what he had been told: Rescue the girl in the Blue dress, rescue the young noblewoman in the alley, she’s important, she can stop this. But listening to her quietly sob and stumble behind him, the Boy had trouble believing that. This girl, tentative and fearful, seemingly frail and weak, didn’t seem fit to oppose anything, much less a full blown invasion. 27

And not for the first time, the Boy questioned Joshua’s wisdom. 28

But he had not much time to weigh these issues in his mind, because they were nearing their objective. Ten minutes walk would bring them there. The Boy hastened his steps, and heard Tamalay increase her speed as well, still wracked with grief. They approached another doorway.29

And suddenly, out of the darkness rushed…30

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=31

The story of Tamalay and her Boyish companion, and whatever rushed out of the darkness at them, will have to here be suspended. For at that very moment, leagues away, a meeting was taking place, of minds and persons, in the Highest Hall in the world. And, the author of this story being both cruel and skillful feels the need to narrate now that event. Impatient readers here be warned: this author is not a kind man, and should you feel the need to eschew the following illustrious passage and seek the continuance of fair Tamalay’s tale, you will suffer some consequences of extremely questionable pleasantness, including an utter inability to comprehend the further events of the story, and possibly an unpleasant skin condition. So readers should persist diligently, and studiously adhere to the chronology chosen by the esteemed author, in full faith that he, in his wisdom and omniscience regarding this narrative, knows best. And if not in full faith, then in full fear of what sorcelations and machinations he would set upon you, being both just and merciless as he is.32

Readers should now consider themselves duly and thoroughly warned, and, if wise, will continue onward in the prescribed method.33


= = = = = = = = = += = = = = = = = 34

Laiseon, it should be mentioned here, was a somewhat cruel man. For while he had promised princesses and wine, he suspected that the only one of these promises that stood a chance of being fulfilled was the wine. 35

Teykoss did, in point of truth, contain two princesses. And they were, as promised, quite beautiful. Not merely the superficial beauty of the rich, either. They were beautiful not because their skin was carefully tended and their tresses considerately arranged, but because they were born undeniably so. Their features would be the subject of sculpture and paint for centuries to follow. They were, simply and concisely put, the two most beautiful young women the city of Teykoss, and the surrounding lands, had ever seen. 36

Quite disparate in appearance were the princesses as well. Ehlia, the elder, was raven haired and fair skinned, Blue-eyed, tall and willow thin. She was eminently graceful and refined, the perfect example of Royal Self-Possession. Ehren, the younger, was crowned with strawberry golden ringlets, the antithesis of her sister’s cascading straight hair. She was fair skinned as well, but her face was speckled with a myriad of tiny freckles, evidence of long hours in the bright sunlight. Her green eyes sparkled with unrestrained mischievousness. It would be preferable to say here that she, too, was refined and self-possessed. But it would also be a lie to say that. She did have grace, but hers was the grace of physical awareness, and muscle toned through hours and days of rigorous activity. 37

And, as has been stated, she was not refined. Ehren was a creature of passions. Whatever she did in her life, she did it wildly. She laughed too loudly, talked too quickly, and walked far too fast for the courts of a palace. She would argue with any man alive for hours on end, and would sooner die than compromise a conviction. She had little sense of propriety or social class, mingling with commoner and aristocrat alike, provided a sharp mind was contained within. The paradigm of enthusiasm and girlish abandon was Ehren.38

Between them, the two princesses had quite completely stolen the hearts of their people. Those who did not love Ehlia loved Ehren, and those who preferred refinement and poise over passion loved Ehlia. Their subjects would gladly follow them to the ends of the earth, and beyond, if they but spoke the word. So, in point of fact, Laiseon had spoken true, that there were two beautiful princesses, who were obligated to attend such a meeting.39

But, Ehren cared little for stuffy meetings, and even less for perceived obligations, and it was doubtful that she would appear. Ehlia would attend, but there was one minor detail regarding the elder princess that Laiseon had failed to mention to his companion, who was prone to assumptions: Ehlia, the elder, graceful, black-haired beauty, was quite happily married.