Life of a Phoenix - Chapter 3 - Enlightenment

Aryun bristled, glaring at her. "I have done no wrong and yet you mock me!" She spat out in rage. "Not even your lord has treated me with such discourtesy as to call me a fool!" She stood, brushing off her pants in anger and started to walk away from her.

"Wait! Please!"

Aryun paused and turned her head, glancing at the person who called out. Her eyebrow arched when she saw Erdric standing in the doorway, his hand out stretched. The pain, almost tangible as it clung to him. His sea green eyes shimmered with emotion.

"Why should I wait? She has insulted me, mocked me, and yet you ask me to wait."

Aryun heard a sigh from Erdric. "Because she shall apologize to you, and I humbly ask you to stay. If not for your own thoughts, but out of hospitality. It is my duty to see that you are taken care of before you leave us."

Erdric watched her as she turned, a slight shock upon her face. "And what if I leave?"

"Then you not only insult her, but me as well."

Aryun watched him with unblinking blue eyes, and he returned the gaze, a slight hope in them. "All right. I agree. I will be here as long as you wish, Lord." She gave a bow that completely shocked all present. A slight smile played upon her lips as she rose and looked at Erdric. "I knew who you were not what you portrayed yourself as being, Lord Erdric."

There was a smile lurking within the sea green depths of Erdric's eyes as appraised her again. Finally, he turned to Lucria and his eyes narrowed in annoyance. "Lucria. You will apologize to the Lady Aryun. She has my favor, and do not forget that."

Lucria's eyes flashed in anger before she bowed herself, spreading her wings slightly to maintain balance. "Forgive me, Lady Aryun. I meant no disrespect."

Aryun gracefully inclined her head, and slowly walked back to the bench. "Accepted."

Erdric smiled, stepping away from the door and sweeping his hand forward. "Please, join the rest of us. We would be honored. After all, you are part of this as well, Lady Aryun."

Aryun stopped the smile that threatened to tug at her lips. 'What the hell am I thinking?!' She frowned in thought, not exactly understanding her response to the young man. She wanted to smile at him, to ease the pain that was within, just under the surface. There was something within his eyes as well, when he begged her to stay. There was a connection that she couldn't fathom, and she was worried, confused. She looked deeply into his eyes, seeing the shine of some emotion. She didn't know what, only that it would hurt him more if she didn't accept his offer.

Erdric inhaled as she walked past, catching her soft scent. She was like a quick breeze of spring rains, cool yet fragrant and warm. He sighed to himself, walking up beside her as they meandered through the hallways of Zenthia. Why did he feel so strange? He never felt the urge to keep someone within his grasp. Never before until now. Feelings long dead stirred within his tortured soul, and he glanced shyly at her from the corner of his eye. She was indeed, beautiful. Her profile was strong, regal in her baring. Her body moved with liquid grace, and he watched as she walked beside him, almost immortal in the beauty of her steps.

He sighed, running his hand through his hair before turning to watch Aryun again. "Where did you come from? You can't be from around here. Your accent doesn't fit anything I've ever heard. It's quite lovely." He felt his cheeks develop a slight burn and he looked shyly away, watching the hallway.

Aryun felt flattered, her own blush covering her cheeks. "Thank you . . . I, well, I'm far from home, and I doubt that anyone would know my native tongue . . . I think all are dead now . . ." She stopped to look out one of the windows that adorned the hall. Her eyes took in the beautiful view of the silver clouds that surrounded the castle. "At least, hopefully they are all dead."

Erdric was content to stop. He knew that they would reach Master Dragon's chambers, so he had no worries. "You wish death on people, Lady Aryun?"

She didn't turn from her view; instead she tilted her head, listening to his soft breathing as he stood behind her. "Would you not wish death upon those who have shattered your life?"

Erdric closed his eyes, praying he didn't hear that question. His mouth tightened in a white line as he stood behind her, ridged. "I wish that you had not asked me that, Lady," He whispered softly. He opened his eyes as Aryun turned around, her arms crossing under her breasts.

"Why not? You seem to be quite well off, quite loved and respected. I have not. What little respect I have is through fear."

Erdric drank in her form, the arrogant tilt of her head, and let all his pain fill his gaze as he captured her sapphire view. "Because I was not always so. There might have been a time, when I was younger, that I would punish those who hurt me, but now . . . Now I realize that it is not my path to hurt, but to defend. I accept the truth of the pain and move on. It's all I can do to keep myself sane." He tilted his gaze upward, ignoring Aryun for the moment and sighed. "My life has been hell. This is the first chance at peace I've gotten, and I don't intend to let it slip free from my grasp." His sea-green eyes now blazed, sparking with the fire within him. "I am the Chosen, and I must protect my world, regardless of my own peace."

Aryun's mind reeled. He just said that he was the Chosen! Her blue eyes went wide, and she watched him, her face revealing nothing other than what lurked beneath her eyes. "You . . . You are the Chosen?" There was a slight hint of fear within her voice that she couldn't quite contain.

Erdric nodded his head gracefully. "Indeed. I was born for one purpose, and that is to guard Wa'soire Valgreth. Lucria and Master Dragon seem to have different opinions on the matter, but they both agree that I am the One." He sighed and looked out the window, not really seeing her. "It is a burden I wish I did not have." He shrugged gracefully, his eyes coming to rest upon Aryun's blue again. "We may talk later if you wish, but after you join us in the conference with Master Dragon." Slipping his hands into the sleeves of the robes, he walked away, leaving Aryun to play catch-up with him again.

Aryun was thinking as she caught up to Erdric, walking silently along side him. She glanced at him out of the corner of her eye, taking in his regal baring, and the gentle carved features. All in all, he was quite attractive. His eyes seemed sad, almost melancholy, as they stared straight ahead, watching the halls. His sea-green hair fell boyishly over his face as walked, his baring was as regal as she believed he was. His hair was lovely as it fell; a few wisps floated across his face as his hand automatically brushed it back behind a delicate ear.

‘He is the Chosen,’ she thought as she looked at him. ‘He doesn’t seem that bad of a person. I’ll admit, I nearly killed him in the Tower, but . . . There’s something that bothers me about him that I can’t place . . . I wonder what Lucria meant by ‘merging’. It didn’t seem to be something she enjoyed, but . . . I don’t know. I’m just confused with this whole business.’ She sighed and tucked a strand of her red-gold hair behind her ear. She glanced back at Erdric, still studying him. ‘The pain in his eyes . . . It was nearly unbearable . . . How can he shoulder that pain?’

An admiration sprouted deep within her as she looked at him, finally realizing that he was indeed the warrior he showed himself first to be. His body moved like a cat, the muscles moving fluidly beneath his skin. As she looked him over, she noticed more and more, the pale silver scars that marred the perfect, pale flesh. Several adorned his slender hands, and a vicious one marred the right side of the base of his neck, disappearing into the folds of the robe that hung loose about his thin frame. There was a pale one, almost invisible unless the light struck it just right upon his cheek. It was delicate, and accented his face, the same as hers did.

Erdric finally stopped at a set of golden doors that stretched at least fifty feet high, if not more. Decorated on it were scenes of the life of the Chosen and the Heroes. Most noticeably, were those that looked like Erdric himself on several of the plaques. One of those was the most comical picture of him being hefted by the seat of his pants and carried off by a dragon. He did not look too happy.

The engravings were the most life-like Aryun had ever seen and she reached out to trace the face of the young man on the panel.

Erdric smiled softly, murmuring, “I don’t think it looks a thing like me, but Master Dragon swears it does.”

Aryun blinked in surprise. “That is you?”

Erdric nodded. “Indeed, Lady Aryun. It is me, at least, from three years ago.” His smile grew impish, and he pointed out the others. “That’s Taloun, whom you’ve already met, is a wandering merchant. Has a really bad habit of winning poker games.” A small smile graced his handsome face. “Here are the Gypsy sisters, Mara and Nara. Mara’s a dancer who studies the old traditions, and Nara’s a fortune-teller and the Daughter of Prophecy, and you’ve met her too.” A smile lit his eyes at the mere mention of the Lady Nara. “Alena, Xristis, and Brey from Stantos. Alena is princess, Xristis is a priest of the Holy Order, but I bet he’ll be leaving soon.” There was a smile upon his lips as he said the last. “Brey is a wizard. Nice and all, befuddled and gentle, but he’s completely devoted to Alena. He’s a wise advisor.” The smile slipped off his face as he turned to the last picture, but he hastily pasted it back on, but she could tell it was strained. “This is Raynar, a Royal guard of Kaosu. He’s . . . well, you’ll meet Raynar . . .” Gently, he tapped the tip of his middle finger upon the doors, and they swung open. “Come, let us face the other Heroes.” He shot Aryun a shy smile. “Hopefully, you will like them.”

Aryun’s eyes were wide as she walked into the room behind the sweep of Erdric’s robes. The room had to be as large as the doors, and a wide, wooden table sat in the middle of the room. The furnishings, besides the table and plush chairs, were fluttering silk scarves that were suspended from the flying buttresses, and flew in the gentle breeze of the openings between pillars on either side of the room. She noticed that there were only two sets of doors: the ones she came through, and the ones at the far end of the room.

Her appraisal was broken by the cry of Erdric’s name, followed by the woman Aryun remembered as Nara, wrapped her arms around his neck, hugging him tightly. Erdric, his face burrowing in her hair, an extremely friendly greeting, hugged the pale lavender-haired woman back nearly as tight.

“Erdric! Where have you been? Master Dragon said that you’d be here soon, but that was a half hour ago!” She playfully swatted his arm as she stepped back out of his embrace, and Aryun felt a twinge of jealousy at her being able to make him smile so freely.

He laughed lightly, smiling as he wrapped her arm about his and escorted her back to her chair. “I was detained. Lucria about insulted our guest away.”

Nara’s ice colored eyes widened. “She was the one! I knew it!” She was grinning widely at a man to her right whose black hair was shortly cropped, and a thick, black mustache drooped down past his chin. His eyes were shards of emerald, and sparked with his emotions. Obviously, he didn’t like the thought that he was wrong.

He was growling as he turned to look at Aryun who had stopped after Nara’s warm greeting to Erdric. “She’s still a woman! She has no place on the field!”

A pale redhead snorted and rolled her eyes. “Have you forgotten how easily I bested the monsters in Lorithin’s arena? Or am I still considered a ‘pathetic woman’ in your eyes?” Her pale, frost-green eyes flashed with the same furry as springtime. “Well, Raygnar? What say you? Will you insult her on the basis of her gender, or accept her as readily as Erdric and Nara have?”

Aryun blinked at this. ‘Accepted? They’ve already accepted me? They don’t know me!’ She was startled out of her thinking when the knight’s rough voice replied.

“She is a woman, and therefore nothing to me.” He snorted, and glared with contempt at Aryun. “She probably doesn’t even know how to hold that sword she’s carrying.”

Aryun finally snorted in distaste. “Why, sir, do you think I do not know how to handle myself with my sword?” She unsheathed the glimmering length of Soul Stealer, and smiled tightly. “I carry the sword, and it was destined to by mine. No other hand can force it. So why do you say I do not know how to fight because I am female?”

The man identified as Raygnar glowered at her again, his mustache quivering. “You are female, and you are the weaker sex of the two. So saying, you are weak, and are stupid if you do not understand that.” He snorted at her, but it was cut off as Aryun quickly leaped within a blink of an eye, and was crouching down on the table, shining blade pressing against his throat.

“Now, man, who is the weak one?” Aryun’s deep blue eyes sparked, hardening into shards of lapis. “I beg to differ upon your assessment of the situation. I was raised in a society that permitted the royal family to learn arms work. We were a warrior society, and the best Blade Master in the Realms taught me, Lord Zahken. Now, do you deny my right to hold a sword, or shall you continue to taunt me until I must challenge you to defend my honor?”

Raygnar was most possibly the fastest warrior on Wa’soire Valgreth, Erdric was faster, and now this . . . woman was mocking him and taunting him. She had moved far faster than he had even seen Erdric move. His eyes slid down the length of the sword, and he looked her over, openly appraising her body.

Aryun gave a low growl, pushing back with all her might, sending the man in the chair sprawling upon the ground before she hopped off the solid wooden table. She shifted the blade to rest above his heart. “Do not seek to claim me, for I belong to no man.” She sneered the words in Raygnar’s startled face. She quickly hopped back, sheathing her sword, but standing in a ready position to fight.

Erdric barely had time to pace over there before Aryun was up and upon Raygnar like the bastard he was. He’d not admit it publicly, but he was thrilled to see someone knock the knight down a few notches, and even better that it was a female who did so. Erdric hid his smile of pleasure as he walked up to Raygnar, sneering down at him with all the distaste he felt.

“Sir Raygnar, Do not insult my guest again, or else I must become involved. I believe she sufficiently cowed you, and you’d best take heed of her warning. Do not test me, Sir Raygnar. The only reason I can tolerate you here is that you did help the cause against Necros.”

Raygnar bristled, growling as he scrambled to his feet, looking down his nose at Erdric. “Do you still weep for the bastard, Erdric?”

Erdric stepped back, a stricken look upon his face. “You don’t understand, Raygnar. You couldn’t.”

Raygnar sneered, knowing he was hitting below the belt on a shattered, and hurt man’s mind. “You were nothing but his bitch, Erdric. You and I, and the rest of them, know this. I wonder if the Center will see you in such a kind light after she knows the truth.” He snarled, pushing at Erdric’s shoulders making him stumble back. “You cried over a cursed, evil man. A bastard who would have killed every last one of us! Evidently you enjoyed being his bitch, since you cried so much over him.”

Erdric stumbled back again, the weight of the words crushing him as he fell to his knees, his hands placed in front of him to keep him upright. “You . . . You could never understand how tortured his soul was, Raygnar. If things had gone differently, if the Lady Rosa had lived, I wouldn’t have had to slay him. You know this, but what you don’t know is that he was just a man, a man who was avenging his loved one’s death, as I was avenging mine.”

“A creature like that can’t love!” Raygnar glared at him before he walked past, his foot striking out to press against Erdric’s fingers, feeling some crack underneath his boot heel. “The same as you can’t.”

Erdric’s eyes closed, and he trembled, visibly fighting for control.

“Raygnar, you are the most despicable man I have ever known!” A small, lithe young woman stood, and her pale peach colored hair swirled around her in curls. Her outfit was that of a dancer, but the older, more ancient style that could evoke magic from the slightest flick of the hand. Her eyes flashed with rage as they sparkled a pale violet color. “You are nothing more than an ass-licking whore for Meikisama, and you know it! She’s got you so wrapped up because she wants Erdric and not you! The true showing of a ‘noble woman’, right, Raygnar? That she would stoop so low as to cast off her innocence for the likes of you between her well used thighs! Go off, play with your whore, and leave us be! You, are no longer welcome here, Raygnar!”

There was a chorus of ‘get out’ by the rest of the people sitting at the table, and Raygnar sent a scathing glance at everyone before he stormed off.

Aryun watched the stiff back of the knight slither out of the room before she walked over, kneeling beside Erdric, who was holding his left hand protectively against his chest.

Erdric gave a slightly, pained laugh. “At least it wasn’t my right hand.”

Aryun reached out, without thinking, and cradled his cracked hand in hers. He didn’t quite flinch, nor did she, but their emotions were plain upon their face. They were both uneasy at the touch, but the hand that cradled his and the other that checked it over was gentle in touch and deed.

Nara knelt beside him, her hand placed gently upon his shoulder, the fingers slightly rubbing circles into the sore shoulder.

“It’s not that badly hurt,” Aryun said, her fingers lightly playing over the skin more than what she wanted. ‘His skin's soft,’ she thought to herself as she rechecked the hand, finding the most damaged knuckles. ‘Never thought a warrior would have such delicate skin.’ “You just need to either get a healer to mend these knuckles,” her fingers bushed against the more damaged ones. “Or you could just bandage them tightly and not use the hand for about two weeks.”

He gave Aryun a slight smile, wrapping his right hand around both of their hands. Aryun started, and stared at him as she felt a soft warmth radiate from his hand, a faint blue aura surrounding the injured hand.

“Thank you for the advice, but now I can actually heal my minor scraps with him.”

Aryun sighed, not moving her hand until she was sure he could move his fingers. “Why do you let him do that? Obviously, I don’t know the whole story, but, he shouldn’t be allowed to do that.”

Erdric sighed, Nara helping him rise shakily to his feet. One of his arms wrapped around her shoulders, as her own arm wrapped around his waist. “Because he is Raygnar, Royal guard of Stantos, and my elder. He was one of the Heroes, but a little pain is tolerable to losing a good swordsman. Despite the peace, it’s chaotic . . .” He sighed, running his hand through his hair. “Now, let us discuss this since we’ll have no interruptions from Raygnar."