Alphande'

Twilight had fallen yet the sand of the desert still seemed to glow orange from the left over heat. Andreas said nothing to me when he saw me return. He simply tapped me on the shoulder once and then nodded.

“About what I had said…” I started to apologise.

“It is all forgotten.” He said as he led us into his tent, Noräin trailing behind us.

Gathered there was Sonis, Raegon and another stern faced man whose name I was unsure of but from his colouring, I could tell that he was probably from Sebán.

“Now our council is complete,” said Andreas. “Evander you wouldn’t have met Lord Alehondria one of our main supporters in Sebán.”

“My Lord,” I said tilting my head slightly towards him. “Thank you for joining the fight.”

“How could we not, when we heard of your return and the wonders that you have performed since your emergence. I look forward to fighting with you.” He said in a heavily accented tone.

“Well all the credit is not mine alone. In fact, none of it belongs to me.

Noräin shifted slightly, “Evander you probably shouldn’t…”

“No Noräin these men have a right to know the truth, all of it. They plan to risk their lives for us. They should at least know the truth about who they are siding with.” She nodded in agreement but she was still very apprehensive about what would happen next I could tell.

“Evander, Noräin?” started Andreas, “What are you two talking about?”

“My name,” I said. “It is not Evander it is Gareth. Gareth of Tel Anir, or more correctly Ivaner of the house of Calabar. Evander was my brother.” The room became absolutely still as all eyes locked on to my face. I decided to use the silence to continue speaking. “In the battle of the Catacombs I bested my brother in combat and I then I took his place here among the Nuwanhe.

“I will not insult you further with lies to say that my intentions for doing so were pure. I intended to use this position to destroy you from the inside out. I intended on wedding Noräin to gain control of Sebán, but when I heard she got married, my ambitions grew as through her I would have access not only to Sebán but Rá Leat. That would be achieved of course after I managed to kill both Rammon and Bastian.

“Things didn’t however play out in my favour. One, I found out how Asher really got to the throne and how he murdered my real parents. The second being I made friends among the Nuwanhe and I came to understand what it was that you fought for.” I said as I looked at Andreas. “The third being was that I fell in love with Noräin and no matter what I do I could never go against her or let harm come her way.

“I know what I did was wrong and I can understand if you all don’t trust me, but the truth needed to come out and it needed to come from me.”

The silence still held for a few seconds after I was done speaking.

“You bested Evander?” said Andreas.

“He had the chance to retreat, but he decided to take me on alone. In short, I maimed him, blinded him, scalped him and gagged him and sent him on a ship to Morirgates.”

I heard Noräin take in a sharp breath as this was the first time she heard in any detail what I had done to Evander.

“So you didn’t kill him then?”

“None of us were able to kill the other although the opportunity presented itself to each of us.” I confessed. “But from the injuries he received I doubt he would make it to Morirgates alive.”

I could see the fury and betrayal that stung at Andreas’ brow but he didn’t say anything to me as he turned to Noräin directly.

“You knew about this?” she nodded. “For how long?”

“Awhile now,” she mumbled out, looking very much like a child being scolded by her parent.

“And you didn’t say anything to any of us?”

“Yes. I thought it was best for…”

“For whom,” he said as he took her by both arms and started to shake her. “For whom Noräin?” he said with rage issuing from every pore. “You’ve brought a traitor amongst us and you said you thought it was best, best for whom?” This was the first time I had seen Andreas lose any form of equanimity.

“Stop, you are hurting her.” I said as I came around and pulled his hand off her.

“Don’t you dare tell me what to do with my daughter!” He said letting go of Noräin and turning to face me directly.

“I have no right to her, that is true, but I will not stand aside and watch her being hurt even by you. This isn’t her fault, but mine so it would be better if you directed your anger towards me.”

“Fine,” he said and this was immediately followed by a sickening crunch as his fist crashed into my nose. A small trickle of blood streamed through my nostrils but it stopped almost immediately as I felt the pain subsiding. By the time I adjusted the bones in my face and turned to him it was completely lulled.

“I guess I deserve that, but that still doesn’t solve the problem currently facing us.”

“And why should we trust you now?” he said still bristling with heat.

“Because we have to.” said Noräin after regaining some amount of composure. “Like it or not he is our best chance against Asher. As with the gems, they are the only evenly matched opponents in this battle.”

“I hate to admit it, but she is right.” said Sonis who reminded us that there were other people privy to this conversation. “We have word that Asher’s army is about a league south of here. From the figures we have been hearing, he has about three hundred thousand strong, including the Verdans and bloodwolves. Even with the help of the Sebánese only have two hundred thousand soldiers. We will need all the help we can get regardless of who it comes from.”

“The hell we do!” he bellowed.

“Andreas be reasonable,” said Alehondria.

“I am being reasonable. He is a traitor, he admitted to killing the rightful king of Gé Addar and you wish for me to stand and fight with him. So when the war is over, what? He gets Gé Addar to rule. How is that any better than what Asher did to Lacore? Only this time the Nuwanhe will be aiding and abetting the culprit. I for one refuse to be a part of this.” He said brushing past both Noräin and me and strode out of the tent.

“Andreas!” Noräin called out after him and I could see the pained look across her face as she wanted to follow after him. I took her hand and she wound her fingers through mine. “If anyone else wishes to go it is within your right to do so.” She said regaining her stately demeanour.

“That would achieve nothing. If we all go the war ends and we would have lost. Andreas knows this as well, but right now he feels betrayed by you both. Especially by you Princess Noräin.” said Sonis.

“I know,” she said quietly but still un-rattled. I admired even more for her courage and nerves of steel. I was right for wanting her the way that I did and it made me proud that it was my hand that she held at this moment.

“That was how you had convinced Margaret. She knew that it was you didn’t she?” said Raegon.

“Yes, but that still didn’t help us any as she still turned me in.”

“Yes,” he mused silently.

“She is dead now, by the way. Asher didn’t give me much of a choice.”

“That was to be expected. He is incapable of loving anything beyond himself. Margaret made her choice and she unfortunately had to die by it.” He said this with a stern face but I could see hints of pain cracking through his mask. I knew how much Margaret meant to him.

“So many layers of hurt you have brought to the people in this room.” said Alehondria. “We are giving you a single opportunity Gareth of Tel Anir to fix this.”

“I will do my best.” I said.

“That and better Gareth,” said Sonis.

...

The atmosphere had an eerie calmness. It was like I was trapped in a soundless world.

Asher’s army of three hundred thousand was just up ahead. On the fringes were the Verdans who didn’t quite blend in with the humans. While the humans seemed restless, they were absolutely still as they anticipated the battle which would bring both glory and destruction of their kind.

Our men too prepared. All were decked in armour with weapons being bandied about. Most of the expressions were determined, others grim and all fearful. This was either going to be the start of a new beginning or it would be the end. I knew my uncle well enough to know that no prisoners would be taken in this fight.

The soundless bubble was shattered by the baying of wolves in the distance. One wolf’s voice I heard above the rest as it seemed to call directly to at some unforeseen connection between the two of us.

I heard many things in that animalistic bellow: sorrow, pain but above all, tearing rage.

“Gareth, it is time.” said Sonis who came over to touch me on the shoulder.

“Alright,” I said.

I rode over to where everyone else stood and waited. I jumped down, stirring a small cloud of red dust around my boots Even Andreas was there, which was a good sign. Sonis was right, he did come around.

He took off his helmet and walked up to me. “I am sorry for deceiving you, but you must know that I fight truly for the Nuwanhe now.”

“Gareth,” he said. Holding up his hand for me to stop. “I was angry earlier, but not so much anymore. Maybe because I wasn’t really angry, if I am to be honest, I was more disappointed.”

“I am not Evander. I could see why you would feel that way.”

“No you are definitely not Evander. You are manipulative liar and a cheat and you are what we have to work with.”

“Andreas,” Noräin started to protest.

“He is right,” I said cutting him off. “I am all those things and worse. Those are the things that put me here in the beginning, which is why my uncle and I are the perfect opponents as both of us are the same in that sense. We use others to get what we want. But what you should know is that I have changed in one way, which is I have learned how to love. I love your daughter and through her you and these people that follow us. You might have a hard time believing that but…”

“I believe you.” He said cutting me off.

“You do?” I said surprised.

“I have observed you around my daughter and I see how you regard her, which is the main reason I returned. You love her and she loves her subjects. You can’t hurt one without hurting the other.” He drew in a deep breath.

“Well that clears up all the unpleasant housekeeping matters. We have a war to win.” said Sonis. “Everyone knows their role, some are more difficult than others,” he said as he looked at me. “Avandor be with you all.”

“And with you.” we replied. Andreas, Raegon, Sonis and Alehondria all turned in different directions, leaving Noräin and me behind. Her handmaids all dressed similarly in the black veils stood waiting for her in the fore ground.

“What you proposed to do is suicidal at best.” she said.

“But it has to be done.” I said as I came closer to face her.

“No it doesn’t, not by you.”

“Why not me? Why does it matter if I am the one who dies?”

“It matters,” she said quietly.

“Why?”

“Because…” she said turning her head away.

“Because what?” I said as I cupped her face in my hand.

“Because,” she bit her lower slightly trembling lip and started to walk away.

“You love me too, is that it?” I said stepping in front of her. “Is that what you are trying to say?”

She ducked her head and silent tears started to streak her face. “Yes Gareth that is exactly what I was trying to say.”

“Then say it.” I said as I tilted her chin up to mine. “I want to hear it from your lips so that I know that it is indeed so.”

“Why is it so important to say the words? You know how I feel.”

“Do I?”

“Yes you do.” She said starting to leave again.

“I am only guessing at it right now. Are you honestly going to let me go into a battle where I may very well end up dead leaving me with nothing more than an assumption of what you feel for me?”

She stopped, “Why are you being so difficult Gareth?” she twirled to face me.

“Just say it please, so if I die I can die in peace.”

“Fine, I love you! Is that what you wanted to hear?”

“Yes,” I said quickly closing the distance between us. I crushed my lips against hers with satisfied hunger as I was thrilled that she responded in kind. We stood locked together for what seemed like an eternity. When my lips stopped moving hers still moved against mine.

“I love you, as impossible as it is, but I do.” She whispered.

“Now I can die in peace.”

“Stop this talk of dying.” She said pulling away slightly, but only enough to allow her to place her hand along the side of my face. “I know what you have set out to do is difficult, but you must come back.”

“I don’t want to give you false hope. I may not come back alive.” she placed her fingers on my lips.

“Promise me that you will.” She said earnestly.

“Noräin…”

“Promise,” she said shushing me again.

“I promise,” I said taking her hand and kissing each of her fingers and then her forehead. I chuckled slightly.

“What is so funny?” she asked.

“I think I saw a flying pig.” I said and she too started to laugh.

“Maybe you did, more impossible things have happened today.” she said as she placed her head against my chest.

“I have to leave now.” I said hating to interrupt the moment.

“I know,” she sighed. “Just make sure you come back.” she said softly.

“I will try my best.” I brushed my lips against her forehead and then pulled away from her. “You should go with the decoys now.” I said as I pulled the black veil over her face making her indistinguishable from the other women. I called forward two of the women who came and each took her by the hand and led her away.

I mounted my horse and pulled the steel helmet on. My quiver was full and my sword was sharp; it was time for battle.