The Lies that Made Us

Amelia

She awoke early, almost forgetting where she was. It was strange not to sleep on her soft bed and wake up to see the gray circular walls around her. She stretched and sat up, feeling the cold wind hit her as it whipped around the trees they were scattered in. The fire she lit the night before had long gone out. All around it was sleeping royal guards and Owain. She saw that two guards were missing as well as Brynn. She guessed the guards were patrolling the area, but she had no idea what Brynn could be up to.

Deciding she didn’t wish to sleep longer, she got up and folded her blanket. She walked into the forest to relieve herself, finding a small stream when she was done. She washed her hands and face in the cold, clear water before taking a few sips. Standing up, she closed her eyes as sunlight started to invade the forest.

She stood there, listening to the sounds of the new day. The birds chirped in the trees as the stream made a gentle noise as it ran between the stones on its bed. She heard a few small creatures scurrying in the tall grass and bushes. Opening her eyes, she smiled with tears running down her cheeks. It was silly to feel so sentimental about a normal morning in an ordinary forest, but she no longer took for granted the mundane.

Her hands tingled slightly as she moved them around, feeling the air. Her power longed to be free, to do something. Deciding to let it have its way, she raised one of her hands and felt herself grow warm. The wind picked up around her, blowing her skirt and hair. A shower of leaves fell around her as she moved the breeze up the trunk to the limbs.

Next, she pointed her hand towards the stream, and the water rose up in the air. She swirled it around before letting it splash back between the banks. She laughed a little, feeling so free, and brought both her hands up. The leaves around her rose into the air. Before she could do anything with them, they flew away from her in a line towards another who walked closer to her.

Brynn circled the leaves around himself before letting them fall. He moved closer to Amelia and held up his hand. The clouds in the sky parted, letting the rising sun shine down on them. Amelia watched him as a sunbeam hit him perfectly, making him look like he was glowing. His dark brown hair looked almost red in the light, and as he stared at her, his brown eyes appeared gold.

Amelia raised her hand and brought the water up again. She sent it spraying like a fountain into the stream, making a rainbow appear over it in the sunlight. She held up her other hand, and the dead grass along the steam came to life with red flowers sprouting all around. It went on past her and Brynn into the distance in both directions.

She put her hands down as Brynn looked at the flowers. He bent over and picked one. “I see you haven’t stopped practicing with your magic these past few years.”

“I’ve had little else to entertain me,” said Amelia. “Though that went on much further than I meant. I think I felt your magic work with mine.”

Brynn nodded. “Light Bearers and Guardians of the Moon have come together before to strengthen their power. It was how the Achillians were pushed so far south.”

Amelia raised her hand, and a bit of water flew into it, resting in her palm like a small ball. She played with it as Brynn watched her. “Your magic has grown powerful.” She tossed him the ball, and he caught it. “I hear you excelled as a Guardian.”

“I enjoyed my training, but much like you, I had little to else to occupy my time.”

“But you were in Erialla. It is said to be the most beautiful kingdom. Did you not enjoy the sites of the place?” asked Amelia.

“I did at first, but it wasn’t very long before most of it lost any attraction to me. The world has seemed a bland place for a while now, no matter how much beauty is before me.”

Amelia looked away as Brynn threw the water back into the stream. “I know losing your father was hard,” she whispered.

“I wish I could have seen him one more time, talked to him, but I think my dissatisfaction with the world came before his death,” said Brynn.

Amelia glanced at him. “What do you mean?”

“It is no matter,” he answered. “The past cannot be changed.”

“No, it cannot, no matter how hard I have tried to find a way.”

He moved even closer to her. “What happened that day, Amelia? How did my father die? Where you there as my brother and the others say?” She took a deep breath, trying to read his expression as he reached out to her. “Let me see, please.”

She moved away from him. She wanted to tell him, but the thought he would have to read her thoughts to make him believe her infuriated her. “If my words aren’t good enough, why should I show you my thoughts? I tried it that night with my master, and I was betrayed. It will do no good to show you anything. I am sorry your father died as he was the best man I ever knew, but it is done, and as much as I wish I could go back and change it, I cannot.”

She turned and started walking back to the others. She heard Brynn hurrying after her, and he caught her hand before she could get away.

“I would believe you if you told me, but I thought it might be easier for you not to have to speak it,” he said.

“There are many things I could show you or speak about, and either way, it would be equally hard. All I want is to forget at this point. I want to forget that night and all the nights after it. I might wish to forget every night before, if I am honest. I plan to win my freedom and then become someone else. I am tired of this life as it is nothing but pain and mistrust.”

“What did he do to you, Amelia,” Brynn said softly.

She took her hand away from him. “Whatever he wanted.”

She turned again from him before she was forced to cry. Tears never did her any good, and why should she let them fall now. There was nothing for her in Evalmore, and especially not in Brynn. He had left her for dead in that tower all those years, and to now act as if he cared was too much. She could not save the young prince fast enough. Wandering the world was all she craved now as she knew she would never again have a home.

They packed up and went on their way, riding around villages to avoid drawing attention. Amelia stayed close to Owain and kept silent for most of the day. She noticed Brynn looked back at her several times, but she did nothing to encourage him to speak with her. After a break for lunch, Amelia remounted her horse with Owain’s help when her head started to ache. She felt sick to her stomach and almost lost what she had just eaten.

“What is it, my lady?” asked Owain. “Are you ill?”

“I don’t know,” said Amelia. “It just hit me all of a sudden. Has it gotten colder?”

Brynn rode over close to her. “Does your head feel heavy and your stomach unsettled?”

She nodded as she pulled her cloak tighter around her. “And I am so cold that I might start shivering at any moment.”

“Use your magic, Amelia. Spark a small fire in your hand or send some light ahead into the forest?”

“Why?”

“Just do it,” said Brynn urgently.

She stared at him for a moment before raising her hand, causing a small flame to appear in her palm. She stared at it as Brynn pointed a finger towards her. He swirled it around, and the flame in her hand grew. She started to feel a warmth spread throughout her as her stomach settled.

“Is that better?” he asked.

Amelia nodded. “What did you do?”

“I combined our magic and sent some through you. I hoped we would be able to avoid any shadow lands, but I am afraid they have grown recently. Dark magic seems to be spreading in Evalmore, though my brother denies it.”

“You think we are close to shadow lands?” asked Amelia. “It thought they just existed on our southwestern border. I didn’t expect we would have to deal with them until we were much closer to Achillia.”

“I had the same hope, but it appears we will have to deal with it now. We can try to ride around it, but it will take some time.”

“We don’t have time,” said Amelia. “We will go forward as planned and travel quickly. Hopefully, we will make our way out of it and not meet with any trouble.”

Brynn nodded. “If you start to feel ill or cold, let me know. I’m afraid this will not be easy for you. Light Bearers are never comfortable in shadow areas.”

As they traveled, Amelia knew he was right. Her anxiety heightened as she felt they would be attacked at any moment. It didn’t help that the clouds started to gather in the sky. Before long, thunder rumbled in the distance.

“Should we find somewhere to set up camp, your highness?” asked Dugan.

“We cannot stop out here. Lady Amelia would not sleep here, and she may become ill if we stop for too long.”

“The woman will have to deal with it if a storm is brewing. It will not be safe to be amongst so many trees. We should find an open area and set up some tents,” said Dugan. “If she has any issues with it, she can ride ahead with her own guard.”

“We will not separate,” said Brynn. “I need her to complete this task. You will not suggest her leaving this group again.”

Dugan bowed before riding ahead.

“Your highness, we can find somewhere safe to stop if needed,” said Amelia. “I do not wish to be the cause of any misfortune.”

“It will not be safe to stop for any of us. If we are stationary in the shadows, we will be found. Only by continually moving can we have any chance. There is a village we can reach a little after dark if we keep on. It is too filled with people and temples to have been overcome with the shadows.”

They rode on, and it felt like Amelia’s mind filled with every bad thought she ever had. She knew she didn’t kill the king, but she should never have left him that night. If she had stayed in the parlor, she could have caught who threatened him. She was wicked and weak for what she had allowed Gareth to do to her. It would have been better to have been beaten to death than give herself to him. She even found pleasure at times with him.

She looked up at Brynn riding a little ahead of her and realized she never deserved him. She would have disappointed him had he married her. Her weakness would have shown up at some point, and he would have grown to despise her. She closed her eyes as she started to shiver.

“My lady,” said Owain to her with concern. She barely heard him as her heart felt as though it was slowing, and something heavy covered her.

“Amelia,” said Brynn urgently, but she could not respond. He said her name again louder, and her eyes opened.

She looked past him into the trees as a loud rumble of thunder shook the ground around them. She could see something moving, almost like shadows. She could hear them whisper. “They are here. They have found us.”

“Who?” asked Owain.

Brynn looked where she stared. “Shadow warriors, they are coming for us.”

“Should we run?” asked Dugan.

“There is nowhere we can run. They are all around. All we can do is fight,” said Amelia as she stopped her horse.

Brynn pulled up next to her as she jumped down. After everyone dismounted, Amelia held out her hands, sending the horses running into the trees.

“What good will that do/?” asked Dune. “If we need to get out of here quickly, we will have no chance.”

“The prince or I can call back the horses at any time, but they need to stay clear of the shadow warriors. They will either fall or be turned,” said Amelia.

She shivered, pulling her cloak close as Brynn took her hand. She felt his magic move through her. It was like a warm breeze mixing with the fire that was her own power. She felt it swirl together as he looked at her.

“Stay close to me. It is our best chance.”

She nodded as they both turned, hearing the terrifying screech that told them danger was close.