Chapter 1:Eda
The light had faded from the kingdom. Not even the ever-present sunshine could help the people see brighter days. Silence that loomed over the city became so loud that the birds ’chirping could no longer be heard. All because on that fateful afternoon, Queen Bethah was found on her bed stiff as a board and no longer breathing. Her body was an ashy grey colour, her hair, strands of steel and her eyes, filled with grey of smoke, could no longer be closed. She had been turned to stone.
News of the queen’s mysterious death did spread fast and far. “The Llards are being killed off one by one! Soon none will be left for sure.” people started murmuring as they were now convinced that the royal family was under a curse and so was the entire kingdom.
In the outskirts of the city, Queen Bethah’s older sister, Mildred was anguished upon getting the news. She wailed loud enough to cause the ground to shake but no one dared to comfort her.
“What did you get yourself into? You silly girl…” Mildred sobbed. “I told you no…not t…not to get involved with them,” she continued sobbing. It was just a year since Ronald the Warrior king was declared dead, together with their twins Aring and Jetra. The only one left was the eldest son Thomas, who would carry on the Llards’ name as he takes his place on the throne.
“Those foreigners! This is their doing. Or are they looking for …”
Mildred stopped crying for her sister when she remembered of the only treasure she had left, her daughter and the dangers that she would face if she did not act in time.
“EDAAA,” Mildred called out for her only child. She could only imagine the kind of pain that Bethah had gone through and cringed at the thought of losing her own.
“EDAAA,” Mildred called again but still no reply.
“LUCIUS,” she called and a middle-aged man who had skin that was darker than most and a rough beard which was best preferred shaved, answered.
“YES… my lady” Lucius ran to meet Mildred who was in her chambers. The room was big and spacious. A post-bed was at the farthest end from the door with a huge wardrobe and dresser to the right of the bed, a desk and a small table surrounded by chairs did sit close to the windows on the left. The white colour and sweet fragrance that filled the room was pleasant but the feeling was nowhere near. Being called to the room was never a pleasant event for all that lived in the manor and Lucius trembled as he entered.
“Have you seen Eda?” Mildred asked bearing great urgency in her voice that masked the stutter she had from crying.
“I…I…I...haven’t s….s…seen her, my lady, perhaps she’s at the… ”
“She is at the academy, isn’t she?” Mildred interrupted. She was angry. “That girl never listens.”
“We were tending the horses l…l…like you said, b…but she left me and went for a walk... a …about an hour ago” Lucius defended himself with a slight drop of sweat trickling down his head.
“Take Alon and go find her. I need her back immediately.” Mildred ordered.
“Bu…but my lady, I...I…don’t need A…A… Alon… to go to t…to the Academy” Lucius pleaded but Mildred was having none of it. She was well aware of Lucius’ troubles with animals but her need for Eda was greater than any petty squabbles between Lucius the caretaker and Alon the mutt.
“What if she strayed elsewhere?” She said as she left her room heading outside her manor.
Mildred was no longer her usual self and she could not help it. She felt more bitter, more demanding but completely terrified. The thought that kept on running at the back of her mind was that someone or some people were practising forbidden sorcery once again and she knew that she would be the next victim if she did not act quickly. Mildred headed towards a grave whose tombstone had the name of Jonah Adnea, her father. Like a mad woman she took a shovel and began digging up the grave. All her employees just looked on as they witnessed the mental break-down of their master.
From the grave she picked up a dirty, old, brown, leather bag whose contents were unknown but it did seem like it could be money. Mildred shook the dirt of the bag and began stomping back hastily towards the manor making all the employees scatter like exposed rats.
“She is surely losing it.” One of the maids claimed.
“What would you have done if you lost a sibling you love?” another maid asked.
Mildred went into her room, ordered for some chamomile tea as she awaited her daughter. She began to look at the bag, examining it to check if it had been tampered with. “Sorcery… back again. But stone is Terran magic for sure,” she sighed looking at the setting sun and growing ever impatient. “WHERE IS EDAA?” She yelled continuously.
There was a knock on her door which brought her back from a world of thoughts.
“Come in.” quickly hissed Mildred.
The door opened slowly and a girl, with olive skin and a cloak draped around her neck came in. Her black hair were a bit messy as strands did stand out like they were dancing on her head and her hazel brown eyes which were looking downwards due to fear were placed perfectly on her face. Behind her was Lucius with a smile wider than the earth looking all accomplished.
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“I found her in the town.” Lucius said with great confidence before Eda subtly hit him in the gut with her elbow.
“You can leave us now.” Mildred told Lucius as she waved him off.
“Close the door.” Mildred told Eda in a more calm tone which came as a shock, Eda was expecting her mother to lash out against her. Her mother’s calmness made Eda feel even more uncomfortable as she was no longer sure of what her mother was going to do.
“I was just passing by the academy…” Eda started pleadingly.
Mildred let out a sigh looking down. She raised her head towards Eda and looked her deep in the eyes. There were tears which had been welling up in Mildred’s eyes which she used all her strength to keep back.
“I believe you have heard of what has happened?” Mildred asked.
Eda shook her head with a look of confusion as well as guilt on her face.
Pointing at a chair beside her, Mildred asked Eda to sit and immediately Eda knew that bad news was coming.
“The queen, your aunt…” Mildred said and paused as she took in a deep breathe. “Has passed on to the Light.”
“No, no it can’t be true.” Eda’s eyes were welling up and Mildred knew very well that her daughter already heard of the news and chose to ignore.
“The queen was found dead three days ago.” Mildred said as she saw how much Eda was holding back her tears. In a spring of the moment Eda’s eyes were flooded and she could no longer hold back her pain.
“She’s with the Light now, at peace with the Light.” Mildred comforted Eda by taking her into her arms and embracing her with a tap on the back.
“How did it happen?” Eda asked while dropping tears all over. Mildred looked away in silence.
Eda looked up at her mother and saw the vague expression. Her mother was unmoved which caught Eda’s attention.
“What’s wrong? “ Eda asked still sobbing.
Mildred seemed to no longer be moved by the sadness of the queen’s death. In fact she had gone back to her strict demeanour, making Eda’s weeping feel more like a nuisance than emotional expression. Mildred let go off Eda and walked towards the windows. She closed the windows, pulled the curtains and then swiftly turned towards Eda again.
“The queen’s death was no accident. It could be the beginning of many.”
“What? Why would you say that?” Eda asked drying the tears from her face.
“People are practicing forbidden sorcery and I am sure as day that the foreigners are responsible. This kind of power has not been seen in these lands and the queen’s death is just a mere speck of what these people can accomplish.” Mildred said harshly.
“Forbidden sorcery?” Eda asked in disbelief as she wiped the receding tears from her face.
“Eda, the queen was turned to stone.” Mildred moved closer towards Eda and sat opposite her.
“But the Watchers will find who did it,” Eda said trying to soften the shock of the queen’s cause of death.
Mildred held Eda’s hands and managed a slight smile. “The Watchers will find whoever did it and many more who dare to engage in such practices.” Eda also managed a slight smile. “You still want to become one of them?” Eda averted her eyes for a moment.
Mildred picked the leather bag that she had dug up, reached inside and pulled out an old necklace with the same leather strap as the bag and a white rock for the pendant.
Eda looked on bewildered, not sure of what to say but her curiosity got the better of her, almost making her forget about the tragedy that had befallen them.
“Take this.” Mildred took Eda’s hand and placed the necklace.
Eda looked at the necklace in her hands in contempt. The necklace was battered. Its leather strap, was severely worn out, only being held together by barely visible strings and its pendant, a rugged piece of rock, small enough to be used as jewellery but large enough to fit perfectly in her hands. It looked more sentimental than it was valuable because from the way her mother handled it, treating the necklace like some priceless, fragile good.
“It is your time now to protect it. Never let it out of your sight and when ready it will help you through what is to come.” Mildred placed the necklace around Eda’s neck hurriedly and with trembling hands.
“What is to come? And how is this thing going to help me?” Eda asked seemingly frightened by her mother’s tone.
“A war my dear and it seems like I am caught in it. I will need you to take the stone and leave this kingdom immediately. You’ll have to travel north to Mezos, in the capital, we have family there.”
A war? Had her mother finally succumbed to her delusions of evil foreigners? And how was she to protect herself during a war with an old necklace?
“What do you mean you are caught in a war?” Eda inched closer to her mother. “Let us just wait until after the Queen’s burial then we can leave together? I mean, it is the proper thing to do.”
“My time is up Eda. Lucius will prepare your luggage tonight. He will accompany you there.” Mildred said without even considering what Eda was saying.
Mildred’s attention had drifted from the current situation. She stood and headed towards her wardrobe where she began to remove her clothes and throwing them everywhere. Mildred was searching for something, she even seemed desperate. She went through all her drawers, removing everything but finding nothing. Mildred turned to her bed which although big she managed to turn it over with the last of her strength. She retrieved a small piece of paper which she read silently. A flash of white light emerged from the stone shining around the room for a moment. The light dimmed and revealed Mildred collapsed on the floor.
Eda who watched in terror was now on the floor by her mother’s side trying to wake her.
“Mother? Mother?” Eda cried.
She shook Mildred in attempts to bring her back but in vain. Mildred was still breathing but she was in a deep slumber.
Eda placed her mother on the mattress before rushing out of the room shouting for help. The maids quickly rushed towards Eda who took them to Mildred.
“Oh my!” the eldest maid, Mrs Winston exclaimed.
“What happened here? “Mrs Winston asked scampering towards Mildred.
“She read from a piece of paper then…” Eda broke into tears. She felt like the world was turning against her, it wanted to tear her down, let her suffer with sadness until she gave out.
Lucius came in quick to find a crying girl, a room in messes and maids trying to resuscitate their mistress.
Eda turned to Lucius who took her into his arms in comfort. “It… it… it’ll b… be fine.” Eda could see the frown and disbelief on Lucius’ face. More and more of her family was being attacked, but Lucius stood by them and he was the only comfort Eda could go to. Eda hoped he would not succumb to the pressures of the family and leave.
“Get me some warm water quick.” Mrs Winston opened the bedroom window and commanded a younger maid who was about Eda’s age.
“Is…is… she going t…t…to be alright?” Lucius asked.
Mrs Winston gave him a look that said enough. They were trying but just for show, her mother was not waking up.
Mrs Winston stood after laying Mildred on the bed and covering her with numerous blankets. She walked towards Eda and tried to give a comforting look that failed in every way.
“What is wrong with her?” Eda asked in a shrill voice.
“She’s breathing but barely. I’m going to send word to the doctors, who will be here first thing in the morning to check on her. Don’t you worry dear, she’ll be fine.” Mrs Winston gave Eda a disapproving smile and moved closer towards Lucius and whispered something in his ear.
“This is the same thing that happened to the queen. She’s been touched by darkness, only The Light can get her out.” Mrs Winston then gave a nod to Lucius and Eda before leaving as the other maids followed. Eda felt unsure of what to do but she could not leave her mother, not at that moment and overhearing what Mrs Winston whispered did not give her any reprieve.
“Will you be ok?” Lucius asked.
Eda briefly nodded in agreement as she sat beside her mother. Eda’s eyes were swollen, her nose red and cheeks sunk, it was as if life had been sucked out of her body and all that remained was a carcass. Then something dark and quick moved from the bed. It looked like a shadow but it disappeared through the open window.
“Did you see that?” Eda asked Lucius who was about to leave.
“See what?” Lucius responded in a low curious voice.
“There was a shadow right at the window that came from the bed.”
Lucius’ eyes widened and his lips did tremble a bit.
“N…n…no …you…you must be tired, j…just get some rest.”
Not wanting to dwell on what she was not sure of, Eda, who had already reached at the window, went back to the bedside to watch over her mother. Mildred made a small gasp for air before opening her eyes for a brief moment and going back to slumber, this gave Eda hope.
“We’ll be alright,” Lucius said and closed the door leaving Eda and Mildred inside.
Eda sat looking at her mother, wishing that she could get up and scold her. She loved agitating her mother who was more than willing to comply and runt about how irresponsible Eda was.
“Are the rumours true?” Eda thought to herself after remembering of what was being said on the streets. There was hear-say that the queen had been turned to stone, some said that she was frozen in ice, all alluding to the royal family being cursed but her mother was convinced that it was the work of foreigners with forbidden sorcery.
The bedroom door was knocked hard enough to break through it. Eda woke with a jolt looking all confused. She immediately headed towards the door only to find Lucius panting heavily.
“What is it?” Eda asked.
Lucius looked at Eda and a smile could be seen behind his beard. He pointed at Eda’s mouth signalling her about some drool that stuck on her face. Eda quickly wiped off what was on her face then asked again, “Are the doctors here?”
Lucius nodded with what felt like forced excitement.
“Let them in,” Eda said straightening her clothes. She tried to comb her hair and sat by the bedside awaiting the doctors.
Two women dressed in violet robes that had green lining around the sleeves entered. They had hoods on which they removed as they entered the room. Both of the women had their hair cut short right above the neck. One of them went without warning towards Mildred and began examining her. She held out her hands above Mildred and closed her eyes.
“Mondai mondai opou,” the woman repeated. With her eyes were closed, her face would cringe from time to time. There was a layer of dark smoke that started engulfing Mildred but Eda felt safe, she knew that her mother would be saved. There was nothing the Watchers couldn’t do.
“Do you mind telling me how this came to be?” the Watcher that remained by Eda’s side asked.
“Well, she started searching the room for a piece of paper which she read from, but then she just fell right there,” Eda pointed towards the pile of clothing that her mother had disorderly thrown. The watcher then went and began to inspect the clothes as if the cause of her mother’s predicament would be there. Eda thought about telling them about the dark figure she had seen but it seemed unimportant, she was just upset.
The Watcher stopped chanting and turned towards Eda. Her face had a solemn look about it. She stood, covered Mildred once again with the blankets and walked to the other watcher. They had a quick chat before turning to Eda.
“I’m afraid your mother has been touched by an unknown force.” One of the watchers said.
“There is an essence of dark sorcery surrounding this room. Do you have the paper she read from?” The second watcher said.
Eda was perplexed. Her mother had mentioned dark sorcery and that her time was up but it never occurred to her that she never saw the paper after her mother fell. She looked at the rock on her neck which had started glowing dimly and quickly covered it. “Should I show them?” Eda thought but her racing heart and joggling mind was lost for words.
“We will take our findings here and find a solution, but for now keep her warm. We will send someone to watch over her over the course of the week. This might be something beyond our knowledge, may the Light watch over her.” The first watcher said then they bowed in unison and were off.
Eda felt her heart break as the two left. She had nodded foolishly in acceptance. The only chance of getting her mother well was leaving the door yet she had a glowing stone strapped around her neck, obviously a clue to her mother’s condition but she couldn’t move. Her mother was dying and the watchers were unable to provide any actual help.
“I…I’m sure…they will find a cure.” Lucius tried to assure Eda.
Lucius left and Eda went back to her mother’s side holding onto her hand. The stone kept on glowing brighter with each passing moment.
“What is this thing?” Eda wondered. She held the stone in front of her as she looked at it then the light dimmed immediately and it was gone.
The door opened and there was Lucius with a huge smile on his face. He almost radiated hope.
“Are they back?” Eda asked enthusiastically feeling more willing than ever to show the Watchers what she had.
“No. Th…th…there’s m…mail, good mail.” Lucius was gleeful and Eda could not put together why he would be excited by mail, all news at the time was bad news.
“At the door, come” Lucius signalled Eda to follow him to the main door.
A boy, who looked not more than twelve years, had a parcel wrapped in leather and bearing the address of the manor but with a stamp which had the crest of the Kingdom of Terra, a tree whose branches went round themselves.
“Are you the Lady of Greenhill?” the boy asked.
Eda looked at Lucius who still had a joyful smile unable to understand why mail made him so happy, before answering “Yes.”
“This is yours.” The boy gave Eda the parcel and without wasting time he took off.
“That was odd, he didn’t even need any confirmation.” Eda looked on as the boy ran.
“What is it?” Lucius asked focusing on what was left with Eda.
Eda just stared at the parcel unsure of what to say. A smile could be seen forming on her face then she turned towards Lucius.
“I’m not sure.”
Lucius nodded.
“But I have an idea of who it might be from,” Eda said still bearing a childlike smile.
“Well open it.” Lucius said.
Eda stepped back inside carelessly opening the parcel only to reveal a collection of parchment. The parchments had been bound by a green leather cover with the family crest on it making it look like a loosely made book. It had an acrid smell and the pieces of parchment were worn out from age. Eda opened them and she was never more relieved.
“These contain the detailed records of my travels which I wish I could have brought my dear Eda on. I write it so that my little kite will always have a story to fall back on, for it is in stories that the wildest things happen. The real world is boring.” Eda giggled a little before a tear rolled down her cheek. “The real world is boring” reminded Eda of her father and the time they spent together listening to songs and tales of old.
“It’s him” Eda said to Lucius.
Lucius’ eyes widened on seeing the contents on the first page.
“I can’t believe it’s actually Lord Gilliad.”
“He’s alive! He’s alive!” Eda started jumping up and down merrily.
Eda’s mood took a sudden turn back to sombre. She remembered of what was happening. There was no way her joy could last long but she was given hope, her father would know what to do. She just had to find him.
