Tales of Regventus : Adalwen

Max walked slowly by Issa’s side back towards the stable. The late afternoon sun was starting to set, signaling that the days were getting shorter and shorter as they headed towards Harvestide and then into the cold winter season. A wind blew around them, making them both shiver as Issa pulled her cloak tighter around her, and she moved a little closer to Max.

“We will have an examination coming up in a week. Lessons are almost over, so I imagine we will be examined quite a bit over the next few weeks. Do you want to find a time to look over all the material together?” asked Issa.

Max thought this was rather strange as neither of them had any trouble passing exams in the past. Maybe she suspected it would get harder as they got to the end.

“I might be able to in a few days. As the nights get colder fewer people travel and need their horses less so besides normal feedings and exercise, I should have some time.”

Issa looked pleased. “Harvestide will be soon. Are you looking forward to the celebration?”

“Oh, I suppose. Food is usually good.”

“And the decorations are nice, and the music….and dancing can be fun,” faltered Issa, turning red. “Max, would you… would you…”

“Hmm, would I what?” asked Max as they both came to a stop.

“Well, maybe we could go together to Harvestide?” asked Issa as she looked at the ground. She paused a few moments and gave Max a sheepish grin. “It could be fun, and people our age usually go with someone.”

“Oh,” said Max as he kicked a stick on the ground. “I mean, I…”

“Oh, it’s no big deal or anything. I just thought since we were friends and most people were going with someone, it would just be an easy thing to do. I didn’t mean…,” Issa said quickly as she waved her hands around.

Max smiled at her as he caught one of her hands to stop her. “Issa, I would love to go to Harvestide with you if you really want to go. I was just going to say if someone else asked you, or you want to ask someone else, I understand.”

Issa smiled back, “I’d really like to go with you.”

Max didn’t let go of her hand as they walked on towards the stables. They didn’t speak again, but neither seemed to be uncomfortable with the silence. As they got close to the stables, Max felt a weird sort of energy in the air. Something was different.

“Issa, perhaps you better go on home. I have some chores to do before dinner, and I know your father is probably expecting you home soon.”

Issa looked hurt. “Oh, I thought I might say hello to Danin and Nora. Father wanted to thank Nora for the bread she sent over the other night.”

For some reason Max really wanted Issa to go somewhere else. He wanted her to be safe, and there was definitely something going on at the stables.

“Maybe stop by the cottage then and see Nora first.”

“Max, what is wrong?” asked Issa.

Before Max could respond, Danin stepped out of the stables. He had a grim look on his face, and he wasn’t alone. Max was shocked to see the man he had seen earlier. He was taller than he remembered. His hat was tight on his head, almost shielding his eyes, making his face unreadable.

“Hello, Max. Someone is here to speak with you. Issa, you probably need to go on home,” said Danin as his eyes shifted from Max to Ansel.

“Who is that?” Issa whispered to Max.

Max was too stunned to speak.

“Hello,” said the man raising his head to where Max could see his face. “My name is Ansel, and I need to speak with you.”

“Why do you need to talk to Max?” asked Issa, stepping in front of Max. “What do you want with him?”

Ansel gave a half smile. “And you are?”

“My name is Isolde Finn, and I am Max’s friend. What do you want to talk to Max about?”

“It’s a private matter, but I can assure you I mean him no harm. Why don’t you go to the cottage? Once we are done, you can see for yourself that the young man is well,” said Ansel gesturing towards the house.

Danin stepped towards Issa. “Why don’t you go visit Nora with me, Issa. I’m sure she could use your company. Max will be along in a bit.”

Max stared at the stranger called Ansel for a moment until he found his voice. “Go on, Issa. It’s ok.”

Issa looked doubtful, but she let Danin lead her away towards the cottage.

“Is there somewhere we could talk privately around here?” asked Ansel. “I promise you will be safe with me.”

Max didn’t know why, but he didn’t doubt the strange man’s intentions even with the strange air that seemed to surround him.

“I have a small room at the top of the stairs I stay in to be close to the horses. We can go there.”

Ansel nodded his head and stepped to the side to let Max lead the way. When they got to the small room, Ansel shut the door and made himself comfortable in a small chair in the corner of the room.

“Would you like to sit?” asked Ansel gesturing towards the bed. Max shrugged and plopped down on his mattress.

Ansel studied Max for a moment and then took off his hat and laid it on the small table by the chair. He shook his head and his shoulder link dark brown hair fell in waves around his face. Max saw that the man had large brown eyes that were sharp but not unkind. His nose was straight and long and his lips full. Max supposed most would call the man handsome.

After what seemed like an eternity, the man asked, “What do you know about the history of our kingdom?”

Max thought it was a strange question. “Uh, mostly just what I have heard in Lessons. We were founded by the Ancients after a time of chaos. The war was fought to take the land away from those who would abuse it. Once we were brought into peace, the Council of Ancients selected a ruler to watch over us and guide our laws. Since then, they have selected a Lord of the Kingdom from the high class each generation.”

“And you believe all that is the truth?”

Max looked at the man, puzzled. Of course, he believed it was the truth. Isn’t that why he took lessons, to understand the history of Regventus? Suddenly Max had a memory of Nora telling him stories when he was young. The stories were filled with kings and queen, protectors, and people who used magic.

Ansel seemed to sense a change in Max’s expression. “So, you have heard other things about the kingdom besides your lessons.”

“I mean, Nora told me stories, but I didn’t actually believe they were true. I thought it was just a way to entertain children.”

“How much do you remember of the stories you heard?”

“Not much, honestly. I remember a little of people who used magic and something about a queen who gave up everything to save her people, but that’s it.”

Ansel rubbed his face with his hands. “Do you follow the way of the Ancients?”

Max looked perplexed as he had no idea what that meant really. In lessons, he learned a little about the way of the Ancients. Rules that had to be followed, how people had to behave. How everyone had their place, and they needed to learn to be satisfied with it. He also had heard a little about what happens to people who don’t fit into the way.

“No, I mean I don’t think so. We learn about the in lessons, but they aren’t really followed much here in Clarton. I have heard things about people, children like me without proper parents, and what happens to them. I don’t think it’s really something I want to be involved with.”

Ansel seemed to relax a bit in his chair. “Max, I’m going to try to tell you the true history of our kingdom. At least enough to help you understand. There isn’t much time, but you have to know the truth.”

Ansel took a breath and looked at Max.

“Over thirteen hundred years ago, magical and non-magical folk lived all around our land apart from one another. They lived in small villages, in forests, in mountains, and valleys. All in the same land but not united. Then the sickness came, and it infected the non-magical folk, the non-gifted. Many caught the disease and at least half of the time it was deadly.

“The non-gifted folk were desperate so they, for the first time, started reaching out to magical folk asking for help. Some magical folk were resistant to helping the non-gifted. They saw the sickness as a curse brought to the non-gifted to eradicate them from the kingdom

“Another group led by the great family of Adalwen believed they should help the non-gifted. They saw this as an opportunity to join the people of this land together. They started working on potions and spells to alleviate the disease. The non-magical folk started getting better, and they started flourishing again.

“The magical group who opposed the magical assistance was angry. They saw this working with the non-gifted as against the will of their gods. They started referring to their gods as the Ancients. They built up an army of magical folk and enslaved all the non-magical people they could. A great war was fought. Many people on both sides died, but in the end, the family Adalwen and their allies were victorious. The kingdom of Regventus was formed with King Nathin from the family of Adalwen on the throne.

“A peace of almost one thousand years lasted, with kings and queens coming from the line of Adalwen ruling over the kingdom, but in the shadows, always lurking were those who followed the ways of the Ancients, believing that they would one day be able to truly purge the kingdom of all those unworthy.

“They grew in power through sowing mistrust and discontent all over Regventus. They pitted magical and non-magical people against each other. Somewhere in their devious ways they convinced many with magical powers to hide their powers, to bury them deep to gain the trust of the non-magical people. They were able to befriend non-gifted people and pit them against magical folk and the family of Adalwen. The unrest grew until a force was formed to storm the castle to kill the line of Adalwen and take over the whole kingdom.

“The family of Adalwen had a great ally in the family of Raya. A man of the line of Raya was always the great protector of the kingdom and the King or Queen of Regventus. The protector is bound by magic to his king or queen. Before the forces came to kill the family of Adalwen, the protector warned the queen to leave. She took her husband, young son, her protector, and his wife away from the castle. Using their magic, the small group managed to hide away in the kingdom.

“Over the years the line of Raya has been unbroken. A new protector born each generation waiting for the right moment, waiting for the diviner to say the time is right.”

Here Ansel paused.

Max was caught up in the story. “Waiting for the time is right for what?”

Ansel rose from this chair. He walked around the room, rubbing his hands to warm them. Max thought he looked like he was in great thought. Ansel looked like he was deliberating what to say next, and Max waited patiently, wondering what all this could be leading to. He wondered where he fit into all of this. Eventually Ansel stopped pacing and returned to his chair. He fixed his deep brown eyes on Max.

“Waiting for the time of the line of Adalwen to return. The line has never been unbroken. There are still those out there with the blood of King Nathin running through their veins. There always has been. When the time was right, the true heir would be revealed, ready to take his or her place back on the throne of Aurumist to be the ruler of Regventus,” said Ansel, still staring at Max.

“Why are you telling me this? What have you or I to do with this?” asked Max.

“We all have a part to play in this. I am Ansel of the line of Raya. I am this generation’s great protector of the kingdom. I have always known this, and I have studied, trained and lived this my whole life.”

“If all this is true, what can I have to do with this? I don’t even know who my parents truly are. I am a stable boy who lives the furthest from Aurumist as one can. What part can I have in all of this?”

Ansel looked at Max, and Max couldn’t quite make out the look. Was it annoyance, pity, anger, or something else?

“You are all of this, Max. You are the reason I was born. You are the reason I was trained. You are Maxwell of the line of Adalwen. Your parents were both descendants of the line of Adalwen, and your blood runs true with the line of kings and queens. You were born for this time.”

Max stared at the man, sure someone was playing a joke on him. This man couldn’t be serious.

“What?” exclaimed Max. “What are you talking about? I am nobody. My own parents didn’t even want me. I was abandoned in this village and taken in by Danin and Nora. I am no one.”

“No, you are someone. Your parents didn’t abandon you. They knew they were hunted and in danger. They gave you up to save you before it was too late. They gave you to me to protect you, and then they were hunted down and killed by soldiers from Aurumist.”

Max made a disbelieving noise and exclaimed, “They gave me to you? What were you nine? You can’t have seen more than twenty-five years.”

“I was young. I was barely of the age of majority. Magical folk don’t age the same as non-magical, not when you claim your magic and know who you are.”

Max jumped off the bed. There were so many questions in his mind. He didn’t know if he even believed what was being said, yet there was something in him that told him to believe it.

“Wait, if they gave me to you to protect me, how did I end up here?” asked Max looking at Ansel.

“The Ring of Nine, the leaders of our people, told me to go get you. The great diviner in the ring said you should grow up somewhere safe and foresaw Nora and Danin raising you. I was instructed to bring you here.”

Max circled the room and sat back down on the bed. He played with a hole in his heavy blanket.

“Danin and Nora have kept you safe. You don’t seem unhappy or mistreated. They did as they should, but now it is time to become who you really are. We need to leave tonight.”

Max’s head shot up.

“Leave? Leave Clarton, tonight? Where would we go?”

“To be amongst your true people. We will go to the village of Abscon deep in the forest. You will stay with me, and you will meet with the Ring of Nine. The village is hidden from all except those who know it. We will have to travel by foot or on horseback if we can find horses. I won’t be able to take you there by magic.”

Max was very confused, and Ansel seemed to pick up on it.

“Oh, sorry, I can’t take you by magical travel. You have to trust and know where you are going for me to take you somewhere by magic. You have never seen or heard of Abscon before, and you don’t know me. It will be too risky to travel by magic.”

“But I don’t want to leave. I don’t even know if I believe what you are saying. Who says I even want to be a king if that is really who I am.? I can’t just leave everything. I have work, Danin, and Nora, and lessons, and Issa. I can’t just leave.”

Ansel sighed. “Lessons don’t matter to you anymore. You won’t need the poisonous things. I know it will be hard to leave those you care about, but it doesn’t have to be forever. Once you understand more of who you are and you are trained, you can come visit. We will need everyone we can to join the cause. It is good you have non-magical allies.”

Max put his head in his hands. He wondered what this could all really mean, and if Danin and Nora knew about this. It seems like they did. Danin was speaking with this man before Max got to the stables.

“I want to talk to Danin and Nora. I need to see them,” said Max standing up.

“Of course, you will want to say goodbye, and you will need to gather some things. Maybe Danin can loan us a horse to two.”

“I didn’t say I was going with you. I just need to talk to them.”

Max didn’t wait for Ansel’s reaction; he bolted down the stairs, out of the stable, and into the cottage. Nora quickly stood up with her sewing in her hand at the sound of the door opening. Issa was sitting in a chair next to her, tears in her eyes. Danin was by the fireplace, and he looked at Max with sadness in his eyes.

“You did know. All along, you knew, didn’t you? You believe him. You believe that I’m really this king. You’ve been lying all along to me. Why?” shouted Max.

“Oh, Max it’s not that simple. Sit down, and we will talk about it,” said Nora with tears in her eyes.

Max looked at Issa who was openly weeping now.

“Issa, it’s not true. There is no way all this can be true. I’m just Max. I’ve always been Max. We will straighten all this out. Don’t worry,” insisted Max going over to Issa.

“It is all true. You are the true king of this kingdom,” said Ansel as he came into the door. He came and stood next to Max, grabbing Max lightly by the arm, and Max felt a bolt of something hit him. He could almost feel his blood flow through him, creating a song within his mind. Ansel seemed to feel it too. He said, “I think you know it’s true, Max. I think you really know who you are, my king.”

Max wrenched his arm away. “I don’t know, and don’t call me that. I haven’t asked for any of this. I am fine just working in the stables. I like my life now. I don’t want this.”

Danin came over and led Max to the small table in the kitchen area of the room.

“Sit down, my boy,” said Danin.

Max sat down as Danin drew the other chair out for Ansel, and Ansel sat as well. Danin pulled out three tankards and filled them with mead, putting them on the table. “Drink, Max. It will help you calm down.”

Max didn’t really want to follow Danin’s command, but he took a swig out of the cup.

Danin sat down between Max and Ansel. “If this is all true, I don’t know, but I think you need to go with him for a bit. You aren’t a child any longer. You are almost a man, and you are too clever to work in a stable. You need to figure out who you are, Max. This man brought you to us when you were a babe. He has sworn to keep you safe, and he has promised we will see you again.”

It was all too much for Max. Danin wanted him to go. Nora did too. He turned to Issa who was still crying.

“Issa, what should I do?” He knew it wasn’t fair to ask her that, but she was his oldest and best friend. She was even more than that. He trusted her completely.

“Oh, Max. I don’t want you to go. I don’t, but Nora told me… She told me who she believes you are. You can’t stay here Max. It isn’t safe for you.”

Max slumped down in his chair, deflated.

“My king,” started Ansel, but Max gave him a dirty look.

“Don’t call me that,” ordered Max through gritted teeth. “My name is Max.”

“Fine, Max. You aren’t safe here, but what’s more if you stay here, no one in this town will be safe especially the people in this room. There are those out there who could be looking for you. Now that you have been declared as ready by the Ring, the secret will get out eventually. Getting you away from here is the best way to ensure everyone you care about is safe.”

Max looked up at this. Danin, Nora, and Issa weren’t safe because of him? If there was even a chance that they would be harmed because he stayed here, shouldn’t he go?

“But I promised Issa I would go to Harvestide with her.” It seemed a stupid thing to bring up, but Max was looking for any kind of control at the moment. “It’s only four weeks away. Can’t I stay here and go after four weeks?”

“No, we must leave tonight.”

“But I promised her, and I can’t break that promise. I must be here for Harvestide.”

“Oh Max, don’t….,” started Issa.

“No, I promised, and I will go with you to Harvestide,” insisted Max as he turned to Ansel. “If I go with you tonight, you will promise to bring me back here in four weeks for Harvestide.”

Ansel narrowed his eyes. “We don’t have time to travel for silly festivals. You will only have time to train and to learn.”

“I will only leave here tonight if you promise me, I can come back for Harvestide.”

Ansel paused and seemed to weigh this statement. “Fine, if I can find a way to bring you back here safely, we will come back for Harvestide, but your safety and the safety of this town will come first.”

Max closed his eyes and took a deep breath. He couldn’t believe this was actually happening.

“I will need to pack,” sighed Max.

Nora jumped up and helped Max find things to pack for his journey. She included a few clothes, a knife, and a second pair of boots. She also packed some food and drink in a neat little basket, enough for Ansel and Max to share for a few days.

Danin asked to see Ansel out in the stables, and Nora left to go to the small room where Max slept in the stable to get his usual blanket to take.

Issa and Max were alone in the small cottage. Issa had stopped crying, but her eyes were still wet.

“I can’t believe you are leaving,” she said sadly. “I don’t know what I will do without you around.”

“It won’t be forever, Issa. I’ll be back soon.”

“But you’ll leave again. Max, you must realize that everything is changing. If you really are who they say you are, you will become someone else.”

“No, I will still be Max. Issa, you will always be a part of my life as long as you want. I will be back and next time I will find a way to stay or take you with me or something. I will figure it out.”

“Oh Max,” said Issa, throwing her arms around him. “Just be careful. Promise me you’ll be safe. All I want is for you to be safe. If you have to be gone forever, I could bear it, if I knew you were safe”.

“Of course, I’ll be safe, but I promise, Issa, I will be back.”

Issa smiled, and she quickly stood on her tiptoes and placed a quick kiss on his cheek and let go of Max.

“I have to go. My father will be wondering where I am.”

“I will see you soon, Issa. I promise.”

Issa wiped a few tears from her eyes and smiled one last time at Max, before she opened the door and left.