Wayne Batson - The Rise of the Wrym Lord

Ebenezer reached for the sword, held it aloft, and stared. “Now, this… this is a worthy offer,” he muttered. “Never in all my years have I seen-wait! Yes, I have seen craftsmanship like this before. Naysmithe was the name. Naysmithe, once Sentinel of Alleble. It was he and none other who forged this blade!”

The thin beady-eyed Glimpse frowned, hands on his hips.

Ebenezer swallowed and stared at Antoinette. “You would part with this priceless blade?”

Antoinette felt suddenly guilty, for it was not really her sword at all. It belonged to Gwenne. But then again, she thought, Gwenne is noble. If she were here in my place, she would do it. The girl’s life is worth far more than a piece of metal! The crowd muttered.

“Done, then!” Ebenezer said, and he handed Antoinette the end of the chain.

“Seventy-five!” yelled the old Glimpse. Ebenezer shook his head.

“One hundred gold!” He tried again.

“Did you not hear me?” Ebenezer yelled. “This blade is priceless! Take your gold and go home. This market is closed!” And with that, Ebenezer started to leave.

“Wait,” Antoinette said, tugging on his robe. “You gave me her chains, but you did not give me a key to unlock them.” The slave girl looked up suddenly.

“Here it is,” he replied, handing her a long gray key. “But I would not release her until you have trained her well.”

Ebenezer walked away, still marveling at the sword. The crowd began to disperse, except the old Glimpse. He stood there glaring at Antoinette as if he could cause her great bodily injury with his eyes. At last, he shook a cane at her and shuffled away.

Antoinette turned to the slave girl. “Follow me,” she said. “As soon as we get out of town, I’ll get these ridiculous chains off you.” The slave girl nodded. Her eyes were so dark, like polished coal. But they glinted green.

Antoinette carried as much of the chain as she could manage. The two of them moved quickly through Edge-town-proper and finally into the Outskirts. Once beyond the city, Antoinette and the girl ducked behind a grassy hillock. Immediately, Antoinette took the key and began to unlock the shackles. “What is your name?” Antoinette asked.

“I am Trenna,” she replied. “Trenna Swiftfoot.”

“I’m Antoinette,” she announced as she turned the key in the last lock. The heavy chains fell away to the grass. “Well, Trenna, you are free!”

Trenna fell at Antoinette’s feet and wept openly. She began to kiss the tops of Antoinette’s boots. “Hey,” Antoinette said, kneeling and lifting her chin. “Don’t do that! You don’t know where my boots have been.”

“You do not understand,” Trenna replied, tears streaking her face. “Three years of my life I bore those chains! I had given up hope of ever being free. Then I saw you in the crowd. There was hope in your eyes, and behold! You paid a great price to redeem me! Why did you do this?”

“I was angry,” Antoinette replied. “No one should be enslaved! We were all made to be free. In a way, that’s what I’ve been fighting for since I’ve been in The Realm.”

“You are a warrior then?”

“Yeah.” Antoinette laughed. “I guess I am. I serve as a knight under King Eliam the noble ruler of Alleble.”

“I know of Alleble,” Trenna said. “The famous twin archers from my homeland went there and won great glory!”

“Nock and Bolt,” Antoinette confirmed. “That’s right, you’re from Yewland. Did you know them?”

“How could I not? I made it my business to know every brave or huntress who possessed such skill. I learned from the masters whenever I could.”

Antoinette nodded and asked, “Trenna, Yewland is a free land. How did you end up in those chains?”

“I was distracted while hunting a clever wolvin in the forest on Yewland’s southern border,” Trenna replied, rubbing her wrists. “A dozen spearmen lay in wait for me. The hunter became the prey. But, Lady Antoinette, may I ask you something? You said that all must be free, so why do you then serve King Eliam?”

“All who follow King Eliam do so willingly,” Antoinette said. “There was a time when King Eliam gave up something precious to save his people, and they have not forgotten it. I serve King Eliam because he loves me and wishes only to bring peace to The Realm.”

“Then I will serve him too,” Trenna said.

“What?” Antoinette stared.

Trenna’s eyebrows arched high, reminding Antoinette of Nock. She looked at Antoinette quizzically. “You have set me free, Lady Antoinette!” Trenna said. “I deem that you did this in keeping with the precepts of your homeland. You follow the example of King Eliam, so I will follow him too. Just tell me how.”

Trenna stood there, waiting. Antoinette wasn’t sure what to say. She tried to remember how she first believed in Alleble. It wasn’t really a specific memory though. Her parents had taught her, and she just accepted it. Then she thought about the ceremony where Kaliam invited her to make the good confession. Yes, that’s what we’ll do! she thought.

“Trenna,” she said, “I think following King Eliam is the work of a lifetime-at least that’s what my parents told me. But, it has to begin somewhere. So, let it begin here, now.

“Trenna Swiftfoot, do you give your service to King Eliam? Even if you are threatened by enemies who want to kill you, even then will you trust King Eliam? Answer aye only if it really shows what’s in your heart.”

Without a moment’s hesitation, Trenna answered, “Aye!”

Antoinette grinned. “Then, Trenna, kneel before me.” Trenna knelt on the grass and looked up expectantly. Antoinette reached down to her side, but then she remembered her sword was not there. She loosened her belt, removed the sheath, and laid it on Trenna’s shoulder. “Trenna Swiftfoot, by your making the good confession, I now dub thee a willing servant of King Eliam the Everlasting!”

Then Antoinette watched as something wonderful happened-something she would never forget as long as she lived. Trenna’s dark eyes gleamed green, but the color began to change. And suddenly the purest blue shone forth.

Antoinette embraced Trenna. “Welcome to the Kingdom of Alleble!” Antoinette said, and it was her turn to cry.

Back in the farmhouse, the white dragon sniffed Trenna from head to toe and honked twice.

“I think that means it likes you!” Antoinette said.

“You mean she likes me,” Trenna replied. “Do not forget. I was raised in Yewland where beautiful steeds like this one abound.”

“She, huh?” Antoinette laughed. “Will she bear the two of us?”

“With little trouble. We are both light, and she is a powerful creature, grander than many I have known.”

“Good,” Antoinette said. “Then we can go to Yewland together, and I can drop you off.”

“What do you mean by ‘drop me off’?” Trenna asked, her eyebrows arching again. “You will not drop me from the sky?”

“No! Of course not.” Antoinette felt very awkward. How could she explain that she had left Yewland in secret to pursue a mission of her own-outside King Eliam’s plan for her? How could she explain that to Trenna, who had just chosen to serve King Eliam? And Antoinette simply would not lie to her.

“Trenna, I can’t stay with you in Yewland,” Antoinette said. “I am chasing a soldier of Paragory, and his trail is already growing cold.”

“One of the many who came through Edge?” Trenna asked.

“Yes,” Antoinette replied. “He is one of their commanders. His name is Kearn.”

“Has this Kearn harmed you?” Trenna asked. “Are you seeking revenge?”

Antoinette felt the dull throb in her side. “He has harmed me,” she said. “But I don’t want revenge. Oh, it’s really hard to explain.”