Erdan
Serai tossed the High Priest’s white overcoat onto the couch, on the colorful pillows, and unbuttoned his vest, trying to enjoy the freedom afforded by his infrequent visits to Lord Kendall. He rested his elbow on his knee and listened as Kendall talked about the lords of Taaria and politics.
From the open window he could hear howling and the bleating of animals from the castle yard. In the north, in the Temple of the Sun, the priests had not yet begun to bless the herd, but despite the cold weather, the peasants here, in the south, had already driven the animals to the fields. He doubted whether the peasants here cared much about the priests blessing. While traveling in Erdan, he had seen signs of dried blood on the foreheads of cows and oxen. The people here had already placed bets with the forest gods that they, and not the Sun Priest, would keep the evil spirits away from the herd this summer.
Kendall sat across a low table piled with platters of colorful sweets and spoke with energetic gestures. The man’s shoulder-length honey-colored oily locks framed a long square face and plump lips on a shaved chin. He wore a brown overcoat with fine embroidery over a simple white top and dark trousers. Kendall seemed to think that adding a few finer clothes to the linen clothes of a peasant would give him enough authority to call himself Lord.
He sipped the last drop of wine and handed the goblet to Kendall with a smile. Without intervention, the man could talk for hours without getting to the real reason for their meeting.
“I had the more expensive drinks brought out for your arrival,” Kendall smiled, accepting the goblet.
Kendall poured the wine and leaned closer to hand the goblet back, and he could smell the faint scent of sweat. He often wondered how one of the master’s bastard sons, who had been brought up equally with his brothers, could be so attached to poverty. It will be at least another ten years before Kendall learns to behave like a lord and wash himself sometimes.
“It’s good that you invited me,” he laughed, pulling the neckband looser. “Ismair has strange moods again. He forbid all drinking in the Sun Temple and forces us only to pray. Soon he will forbid us from eating. I guess he hopes to get us closer to bliss by starving us to death.”
“He can do what he wants,” laughed Kendall. “He will never get south out of you.”
He emptied the goblet in one gulp and handed it back, laughing: “Pour, pour. Don’t skimp. I know you have a whole wine cellar stuffed full of barrels. I have to drink several months in advance.”
Shaking his head, Kendall filled the goblet: “You, temple people, are strange. Saints and believers. But show you a barrel of wine, and you’ll forget all this temple nonsense and start living.”
“You’ve got it all wrong,” he sneered, wagging his finger. “We don’t deny life. We take it more realistically than any of you non-believers. And no one can say that good wine has ever done them any harm.”
“Don’t give me that Sun Priest nonsense,” Kendall snorted, handing the goblet.
“Don’t whine,” he laughed, taking the goblet. “You should be grateful to Ismair.”
“Do you think I should feel indebted to him for the rest of my life?” Kendall said, leaning his elbows on the table and stared at him. “If he were so noble, he would think of the starving people of Taaria before filling his pockets from the treasury. At whose expense do you think you live so comfortably in that temple?”
“How do you know what he’s thinking?” he laughed. “Perhaps he thinks about the people of Taaria every time before he fills his pockets? Do we need to talk about that now? I haven’t seen you so long. Better tell me how your wives are doing. Does Lady Amanda feel better now?”
“Yes! We need to talk about this now!” Kendall gasped. “A great war is coming, and we all have to choose sides!”
“There is no big war coming,” he rolled his eyes and drank.
“A great war is coming!” said Kendall. “A war that cleanses Taaria of evil and injustice! And then even you can no longer sit between the temple walls and pretend that this world does not concern you.”
“Kendall…,” he said, trying to interrupt.
“The Keepers determine the fate of this world!” Kendall said. “They are the ones who decide who will win this war! Serai! I have to ask you for help.”
“If I can, I’ll help,” he said, throwing himself on the pillows and sipping his wine, trying not to show too much interest. Then everything would have been over for him. He would play all the trump cards for Kendall hands.
“The King sent me an invitation to come to Dajan with my army to show him my favor,” said Kendall.
“You hesitate?” he asked, eyeing Kendall. It seemed that they were beginning to get to the real reason for the invitation.
Kendall looked at him with sad eyes: “Lord Helmholm also sent me an invitation to join him.”
“You’re not going to betray the King?” he said, rising to his feet and setting the goblet on the table. Was that why Kendall had invited him here? What counselor was he? Kendall had never cared about his opinion. No. It couldn’t be it. The man must have something else planned.
“Lord Helmholm sent his invitation with Princess Celebar. The Princess claims that her uncle, along with the Sun Priest, framed her for the old king’s death,” said Kendall.
“Ah, that’s the point,” he laughed, taking the goblet from the table. “Helmholm sent the Princess to mess with your head. But what does your new lover have to do with me?”
“I haven’t let a woman mess with my head. At first, I didn’t believe her, but then it started bothering me,” Kendall said, shaking his head. “What if it’s all true? I have to make sure I choose the right side. My conscience would not allow me to fight on the wrong side. I wouldn’t bear if I lead my people to death in the name of a false lord.”
“There is nothing to choose here,” he said, spinning the golden goblet between his fingers. It was the first time he heard it: Kendall and talking about conscience. The man must really need something. It seemed that the situation was more serious than he had thought. “The King can keep the lords away from each other’s throats. Helmholm only knows how to cause chaos.”
“Serai, listen to me,” Kendall said, leaning over the table closer, and he could smell sweat again. “Think about it. If Princess Celebar is innocent, then she has more right to the throne than her uncle. Only you can prove his innocence.”
“You haven’t checked his innocence yet,” he grinned and drank.
Kendall glared at him: “The main reason for his conviction was that the Blood Stone shined for her. But the Blood Stone is not always accurate. Only you can check if she actually has some kind of magical power. Only you can bring justice!”
The grin disappeared from his face: “Is that why you lured me here?”
“Yes. I had to lie to you. You wouldn’t have come otherwise,” said Kendall.
He sighed: “Ismair himself judged the Princess. If the Blood Stone was wrong, Ismair is never wrong. If he came to the conclusion that Princess Celebar is guilty, then she is guilty.”
“It doesn’t change the facts!” Kendall said. “The Sun Priest sentenced to death the killer of the King, who happens to be the only remaining heir to the throne, and put his favorite on the throne. He should have let you examine the Princess. But he hides you in the temple like some bastard.”
“How do you imagine that?” he said, placing the goblet on the table. “I stand before the lords and admit myself as a keeper. Before I can say anything, I am pierced to a fence post.”
“I’ll protect you,” Kendall said. “None of them dare raise a hand against you if I protect you. They all listen to me. After all, I have protected you before.”
“Don’t overestimate yourself. Even you wouldn’t be able to protect me from Ismair,” he said.
“I’m not afraid of the Sun Priest,” Kendall said. “The lords have been waiting for such an opportunity for a long time. If Princess Celebar is innocent, then they will all rally against the King and the Sun Priest.”
“This woman has simply bewitched you,” he said. “There is no point going against the King and Ismair because of her.”
“How do you not understand that it’s about justice?” Kendall said. “There must be a ruler on the throne with the blood of kings.”
“In case someone like me decides again that he wants the throne for himself?” he laughed. “What’s the difference anymore? You’ve killed everyone like me long ago. No one will threaten your holy throne anymore.”
“You sit there between the walls of the temple,” said Kendall, “and you pretend that the suffering of the world around you doesn’t affect you, but it does. Stay here and I’ll protect you. I offer you life! Freedom that the Sun Priest will never give you! Think Serai! You could do whatever you want!”
“Well, forgive me for having settled the final score with people,” he rolled his eyes. “The next time they try to set me on fire, I will definitely remember their terrible suffering in this world.”
“The Sun Priest is not eternal,” said Kendall. “None of us is eternal. How long do you think your shelter will last if Lord Helmholm attacks you? So what do you do when you have nowhere to hide? Then you have no one to rely on but me. Life outside the temple is not easy.”
“Do you really think threatening me will change my mind?” he laughed.
“You don’t want to listen to me,” said Kendall, “but I’m telling you, one day it will happen. You may not like it, but I am your only true friend. You have no one else to rely on but me. I will have Princess Celebar summoned here. Maybe she will be able to convince you.”
“I’m not going to meet her,” he said, grabbing the overcoat on the pillows and getting up. He had been a fool to allow himself to be lured here. Kendall had known exactly what to write to get him to come over, and he had acted exactly as he had thought. He was stupid. So stupid.
“Just listen to her,” Kendall said as he got up. “I’m not asking you for anything else. Just listen to her and then make your own decision.”
“If I do this, it means death for me,” he said, pulling on a white overcoat.
“Serai! I helped you when you needed protection!” Kendall said. “Can’t you just do this little thing for me? Please! Just listen to her!”
“I’m grateful to you for everything, but I can’t,” he said, buttoning the golden buttons of his vest, thinking how appropriate it would be for the High Priest to hit lord. “Just accept that I can’t help you this time.”
“You can!” Kendall said. “I’m going to bring the Princess here.”
Kendall hurried to the door and slipped out of the room before he could react. He felt the door and it was locked. He looked around, couldn’t start climbing out of the window in white clothes. Eres would get upset if he got his clothes dirty.
Kendall always got what he wanted, but he never believed that he could set a trap for him like this. He had thought that Kendall was at least afraid of Ismair. But all was not lost. All he had to do was stay calm. All this could still be improved.
He adjusted the neckband and the hairband that tied his dark hair and waited. The door handle was grabbed, and he straightened his back, making a serious face. Come what may. He had to stay calm and find some solution.
After Kendall, a dark-haired woman entered the room, staring at him in fright. She had left her hair loose and her black-brown curls carelessly flowed over her shoulders, framing her beautiful face, accentuating her cheekbones and luscious lips that blushed invitingly. The woman wore a light blue floor-length dress that accentuated her delicate fit and lush breasts, and a white scarf, which were obviously too modest for a princess. Just as all the stories said, the Princess was blessed with an exceptional beauty. Kendall still dared to come and tell him that it was a matter of justice.
“Venerable High Priest, I am honored to meet you,” said Celebar and bowed. “Thank you for accepting me and helping to prove my innocence. You are generous.”
Celebar had left the door ajar, and he turned to Kendall: “I’ll tell Eres to let the Templar Knights get ready. I will ride off as soon as possible.”
Celebar looked at Kendall in horror, and the man shouted: “Serai! I’m begging you! In the name of justice! You have to help us!”
He filled his lungs with air and shouted: “You think I’ll betray the Sun Priest on your behalf? Honor and glory to the Sun Priest! Long live Sun Priest Ismair!”
“I beg you!” pleaded Celebar. “I am innocent! Help me!”
She fell to her knees and tried to grab the hem of his white overcoat for a kiss. He pulled the overcoat from her arms and hurried out of the room into the corridor.
“Serai! Listen to me...!” Kendall shouted, hurrying after him.
“Listen to what?!” he shouted, turning around. “You are a traitor! I won’t listen to a single word from your mouth!”
He rushed down the tapestry-decorated corridor, up the stairs, past the guards, into his own room, where Eres was currently spreading a shirt on the bed.
“Serai!” Kendall shouted. “You act like a child! You can’t just...”
He stood by the door, waiting until Kendall got close enough and slammed the door shut in his face and pushed the latch on. Sighing, he sat into the carved chair with his arms and legs spread, listening to Kendall banging on the door.
“Put everything back. We’re going back to the Temple of the Sun,” he sighed.
“In the evening?” Eres muttered, raising his eyebrows.
“Yes!” he said. “Inform the knights immediately.”
“What did you do?” Eres asked, putting his hands on his hips.
“Me?” he whimpered. “I didn’t do anything. Why do I always have to be to blame?”
“Have you been drinking?” Eres said with a frown. “I can smell the wine.”
“No! I haven’t been drinking!” he whimpered. “Kendall drank. The smell get stuck to me. Nothing happened. We just have to go back to the Sun Temple. We shouldn’t have come here at all.”
“I told you right away that it’s all suspicious,” said Eres a satisfied glint in his eyes. “Nothing good will ever come of Kendall. Never! But you never listen to me.”
Eres always had to be right. It was stupid to come to Erdan without Ismair’s knowledge, but what else could he have done?
He got up and walked to the bed and started folding the clothes: “I’ll put things together myself. You go tell the knights.”
*
Dressed in the black uniform of the Templar Knights, he walked, beside Eres, along the cobblestones towards the castle square. The air was already chilly, and the sky was darkening, and he would have preferred not to set out before nightfall, but he couldn’t risk Kendall coming up with some plan to keep him here.
They came through the vault to the castle square, where twenty Templar Knights on horseback and a carriage with traveling equipment were waiting for him. The knights wore black leather armor with black capes on their shoulders with a red sun on their backs. The men chatted merrily, but when they saw him, their faces grew serious, and they led their horses to the row, preparing to leave. Kendall stood in the square in his peasant simplicity, next to a sullen-faced Celebar wearing a long light blue cape.
Swearing in his mind, he walked across the castle square to the horse, pulling on black riding gloves. There were few of them. Too few. Heimrich should have given him more men. Guess he should try to behave better with Heimrich in the future.
Eres climbed into the saddle of a light horse and led the animal into the row of the Templar Knights. He patted the black horse’s neck in greeting, shoved his boot into the stirrup, and pushed himself into the saddle. He was ready to yell permission to ride, when his gaze fell on Celebar.
Ismair had passed judgment, and he was not wrong. He was sure of that. The Princess was to blame for the King’s death. But he felt sorry for her. Celebar had done all Taaria a favor by murdering his own mad father. But now she had to run and hide so that the same lords who came to power with her help wouldn’t kill her for fear that she would take the throne for herself. He sighed. He couldn’t leave like that.
He climbed off his horse and walked over to Kendall and Celebar.
“Let’s part in peace,” he said, stopping in front of Kendall. “What happened remains between us. You don’t have to worry about anything. I won’t tell Ismair anything.”
“You’ve made your decision and I respect that,” Kendall said.
He held out his hand to Kendall, and he shook it with a sad smile.
“Princess,” he addressed Celebar. “I wish you to find peace in your soul despite everything. You deserve it.”
Celebar took a step closer and smiled: “Venerable High Priest. You may not believe me, but I understand your decision. It is easier to remain blind to evil than to oppose it. But please understand me too. All that’s left for me now is revenge.”
He looked into Celebar’s yellow eyes, and she took a quick step closer, grabbed a dagger from under her cape, and stabbed. A pain feed ran through his side, drilling deeper and deeper into the body until it reached the spine. His legs went numb in an instant, and he fell to his knees, grabbing Celebar’s hand, which drove the blade into him. The woman’s face showed no emotion. Not even anger. Celebar pulled the blade out and stood in front of him, holding a bloody dagger.
There was a bright whir of metal and the Templar Knights screamed as they jumped off their horses with dull thumps. Kendall wrestled the blade from Celebar’s hand and slaped her.
He put his hands to his side, trying to stop the blood from spilling onto his pants. Everything was red and wet. He wanted the bleeding to stop. He wiped his hands on a robe and pushed them back to his side, looking for Ere to come to his aid. As if through a mist, Eres raised his sword to slay Celebar. The woman slumped, pale blue cape flowing, kneeling on the pavement, her face condescending with relief, her hands covered in blood. With his blood!
“No!” he shouted, raising his hand in defense of Celebar.
Eres’ hand stopped and looked at him in surprise.
“He is innocent!” he exclaimed, seeking Kendall’s gaze. Everything was true. The Princess was innocent!
“She’s innocent,” Kendall repeated in a whisper, barely moving his lips.
Eres turned to Kendall in confusion. Celebar’s face was both relieved and scared. He collapsed on his back on the pavement with his hands on his stomach. The sky was clear. The moon shone like a huge lantern. It was all so simple and clean. He had imagined his own death differently. He gasped as he heard men yelling and swords clattering all around.
