Erriene gazed at the sunset in Kalise.
He was at the top of the temple where he could see far in the distance. It was a beautiful place, with a hidden herb garden and glass windows and it worked as a greenhouse in the winter.
He opened one of the windows a little, and the evening breeze blew in.
Out in the distance, between the trees, he could hear a wolf howling. It was what brought him there.
The wolf was not real; he was sure of it. There were no wolves in the Land of Kalise, and unless one of Alarick’s giant wolves had followed him there, the wolf howling was just in his imagination.
There was another possibility.
It could be Alarick. Not HIS Alarick, no, but the Maudian Wolf God.
He wanted to go back to Maud desperately now. It was a longing that has taken over him.
The problem was, he know Alarick would not take him. He thought Erriene was holy or some other nonsense.
Kalise’s sky was golden and quickly darkening as the sun disappeared when Alarick reached his destination.The normally three to four days’ travel shortened into just a whole night and a whole day for him in his haste. He travelled without stopping aside for a few moments of rest for his horse.He unmounted in the small stable of the temple, and walked up to the doors with no formality. He is with a few companions as Kalise was well patrolled by his soldiers now.The temple was quiet as it was close to nightfall and near time to lit the candles. He entered, seeing only the usual dwellers who greeted him in fear or surprise. Or both.“Where is he?” Alarick asked no one in particular.They all knew exactly who he was searching for, and a woman with long and brown braided hair meekly responded.“Heisat the top of the temple, my lord.”Alarick nodded and he turned to the soldie
The first thing Erriene did when they got to the castle was to ask to see the child.Alarick smiled at him and followed, hopeful that Erriene was already missing Uldrik. He wanted Uldrikto have someone like Erriene in his life, and he hoped the elf would naturally care for the boy.Erriene smiled at the sight of the child who was being watched by a servant.She bowed when they entered and greeted, “Dalli meg, Xiath meg,” she stepped back andwentaround them as she made her way out.(My Queen, my King)“He looks so much better,” Erriene gushed, walking closer to the crib.Seeing the child in person was so much better than just seeing him in his vision.Uldrikwas up and talking nonsense, and Erriene picked him up easily. He had way more experience than Alarick, apparently. The boy laughed when Erriene's long hair tickled his face.“Of course he does,” Alaric
“Are you really going to leave, Aefstine?”Aefstine smiled at Erriene as he ruffled his hair. They were sitting by the garden and watched as Uldrik played not far from them. Randal and Alarick had went hunting that afternoon.Aefstine nodded. “Do you know that I’ve always wanted to be a traveller? I plan to go to different places and see the world with my own eyes after I finish my apprenticeship at the temple. But unexpected things happened along the way.”Unexpected things like being married to Randal and suddenly becoming Maud’s Dalli and Alarick’s mamkka.Erriene watched as Aefstine’s pretty face turned solemn as if remembering something and he had no doubt that he is remembering the past.“I will miss you. Alarick and Uldrik will surely as well,” he said emotionally.He couldn’t help it, he had grown close to Aefstine and despite his young face, Maud’s
SummaryA travel back in time to when it all started...*****The only daughter of the Elsyanne Noble House is set to marry the Warlord King.Aefstine, the youngest child of the Elsyannes along with his family is set to arrive in Maud for the wedding. Naive to the ways of the world, he has nothing but bright eyes and optimism in this new land of adventure.For him, it was like a dream…What Aefstine did not expect is that it will soon turn to be his worst nightmare.*****Randal has it all- the bravest warriors, a massive castle, and unmeasurable riches.Except for a queen.With a heart as cold as ice and hard as stone, the Warlord King didn’t think much of it when his soon to be Dalli arrived for their upcoming wedding. It was nothing but a political marriage anyway, and he had no intention of getting involved emotional
Aefstine could barely contain his excitement.Inside his chamber in the mansion, he saw the servants packing his clothes and books. With nothingelseto do, he paced back and forth. Now and then,he would pause and offer help, but theservants would only reject his offerand frownat him.The sun was peeking in the horizon, the household awaken with shouts and loud talking.He walked to the windows and gazed at the dawn behind the slightly dusty glass.Gytha was such a warm country. Not only the weather, but most of the people too, always hugging and smiling. He wondered what the cold would feel like."Kid!"Aefstine turnedawayfrom the window and saw his brother leaning on the door of his chamber.He scowled."I told you not to call me that, Kynan."Kynangave him a crooked smile. The second bornand his older brotherat eighteen years old, was an awkwa
A bell rang three times before the gates of the fortress opened and Aefstine was desperatealreadyto see the inside.Rain was falling down from the sky in buckets. His body was turning blue inside the carriage because the temperature was so low, Aefstine was sure it couldn't be normal.The guards seeing the party coming shouted and called names to and fro.Won by curiosity, he stuck his head out the window, leaning on Kynanwho cursed at him offhandedly. The wind and rain hit his face but he managed to see two guards gesturing for their carriageto enter, waving a banner.Under the rain and the disarray, he couldn't really tell what any of those people looked like.When the carriage finally stopped, servants, Aefstine assumed, came to help them. He and his siblings put on the coats with the hoods they carried on travels and one by one they got off the carriage.Aefstine's boots hit the muddy ground and he s
Aefstine’s room was by a corridor that was up a very big stair,but he was too tired to inspect it.If the castle was weirdly warm, this part was for sure the warmest. It was as if the sun itself was living inside these walls, making Aefstine very comfortable. If this was how the castle was kept the whole winter, Maud didn't seem so bad.He went to the window and gazed at the landscape, the horizon full of spruce and pines, and he could see the mountains in the distance even with the rain, pouringmuchtamer now. It was so comforting seeing the cold outside knowing he was all safe and warm behind these walls.He shivered at the warmth and for a moment, wished to stay there, looking at that scene forever.I'll never see this again after my father’s business is done here and we leave.He shook his head. It doesn’t seem right to call his oldest sister’s marriage a business, but he was lost
The dining room was big and had a rectangular table in the middle, with all kinds of decoration on the walls, from armors to big red curtains.The table was adorned with carvings on the wood and nice tapestries, upon which lies all kinds of food. But the smell of red meat made Aefstine's stomach cramp and suddenly, he wasn't very hungry anymore.The warlord king was there as well, at the head of the table, looking powerful as always. His eyes zeroed in on him when Aefstine entered and followed his moves. Seated on his left was his father, a vacant seat on his right and next to that is Cheana.Aefstine was about to sit beside Cheana’s right, away from the warlord king, wondering where Syteiner was and assuming that the vacant seat on King Randal’s right side was for the old manwhen Randal reached for the chair on the said unoccupied chair and pulled it back, calling him by that strange name."Dallikath."Unable to den