The Dragons Egg : XXIX : The Kings Judgment : Sebeen : Draft

XXIX

The Kings Judgment

Sebeen

The cell was dark and small buds of dripping water splashed against Sebeen’s drenched hair. She had been stripped of her gown and put into a simple black dress which was two sizes too big, made of a harsh material which plagued her skin and fell to her knees. Her hands and feet were bound by heavy iron chains and she was curled into a heap in the corner, the cries of other prisoners filling the palace cells with only a little light from the lamps reaching her. Large rats scuttled across the dark ground, stealing the measly roll of bread which had been given to her some hours past along with a goblet of ale. It had been two days since the death of Lady Murtha and the royal blessing and Sebeen had found her tongue useless and unable to function. No one had visited her, not even her brother Lord Ada. She had been left isolated and alone and in the morning she would face the High King and her death would be sealed and before the sun set she would be dead. When her tears had dried up, she went through the same scene over and over again, her hatred for Lady Eithne and who she assumed was her brother increasing. At least her conscience was clear and it was a comfort to know that Lady Murtha had died knowing the truth. Still the world outside hated her and most of all, the man she loved, the man she was about to marry despised her and she would never have the chance to tell him the truth, never have the chance to plead her innocence, for the anger and hatred she had seen in his eyes had only confirmed her fate. Her stomach ached for lack of food, her throat was dry for lack of water and her soul had withered away into nothing but a ghost. Yet, despite everything she had placed her hope in her brother, she knew that he would have never believed her capable of such a heinous crime and yet he wasn’t here trying to protect her, he had left her abandoned to this hell. How did it happen? How had such a beautiful day turned into such a horrific night? She had ruined without intention her family’s reputation, broken the prince’s heart and forever marred his life and worst of all she had fallen victim to what she believed was an act of kindness by Lady Eithne. As the drips of water kept falling, the noise and feeling causing her to feel deeply irate, she felt her fists roll into firm balls of anger and for the first time since her parents death she felt a deep and white rage against the world and the Gods, for who was here representing her innocence? No one. As she bite down on her hardened lip she felt a fire deep within her rusting body and she cried, this time not with regret or sadness but with anger and a wicked wicked hatred towards life. There was no hope left, there was no one whom loved her left in this world and for the briefest of moments she felt a happiness at the prospect of death, even if it was unjust and undeserved; to know that the misery of this world would soon be over with made her feel contentment. She knew that before the Gods she was true and innocent; believed with all her heart that she would be received with open arms and understood above all things that Lady Eithne and her brother would burn forever in the dungeons of Hellnuthe.

As Sebeen wept miserably she heard the sound of footsteps echo within the cells and lifted her brown eyes a little from the depths of her cell. The guards were heading towards her, followed by someone who was hidden beneath a dark cloak.

“You have a visitor,” the elder guard said with disgust as he opened the cell door and let the hidden visitor in. Sebeen sat up slowly and moulded herself into the wall of the cell in fear. “You have ten minutes,” the guard said to the visitor before turning on his heel and returning to his station alongside a younger man, whose eyes did not hold any hatred towards Sebeen but sympathy. The visitor waited for the men to move away from the cell before coming over to Sebeen and falling to their knees.

“I don’t have much time,” his voice said quietly. Sebeen sat up at once and looked into her brothers eyes.

“Ada?” she whispered as she fervently flung out her arms and wrapped them about his neck. “I thought you had forsaken me,” she said with emotion.

“Never!” Ada said darkly as he drew his sister back from her rough embrace. “Sebeen we are in a perilous situation here, you know that yes?”

“I didn’t do it,” Sebeen pleaded desperately, her face haggard and dry as the tears rolled down her cheeks. “You must believe me!”

“Of course I believe you!” Ada said firmly. “I need to know what happened, can you do that for me?” As quickly as she could, Sebeen told her brother everything that had happened that night, including the letters and Lady Eithne’s words of intent. “I should have seen this coming,” Ada swore under his breathe. “With all the tension in the kingdoms, it wouldn’t be ridiculous for some lord to want to place his daughter on the throne.”

“What is going to happen to me Ada?” Sebeen whispered as she dragged herself forward, her body close to her brothers.

“You will be brought before the High King in the morning and he will make his judgment,” Ada returned with a sigh. “I won’t lie to you Sebeen, it doesn’t look good.”

“But surely you can council the King and vouch for me?” Sebeen urged as she grabbed her brothers hands tightly. “Please! I don’t deserve to die tomorrow!”

“Relations between Ballour and myself are frail as it is, especially with the lack of funds coming from Drae- in truth he should be marrying Loaki off to a wealthy lady of the court,” Ada said as he ran his fingers across his mouth in frustration. “But because of his loyalty to our father and my friendship with Loaki he has overlooked such issues and been directed by his goodwill instead of his good sense.”

“Surely being in his good graces is an advantage?” Sebeen asked as she wiped her brow with the back of her mud covered arm.

“I wish it were so,” Ada hummed. “As it is, his royal highness and I have been at odds in recent months over the governing of Dulthe and Lord Leer. Leer I believe is in contact with King Islaer of Ruarr, I have heard rumours in the court that he is planning some type of coup which is why he has been leading a rebellion in the city of Ballor.”

“You have evidence of this?” Sebeen enquired, her mind distracted by this news.

“No, I have tried to speak with the King but he refuses to believe that even Lord Leer would stoop so low as to aid King Islaer, but it makes sense in a way,” Ada said as he got to his feet and began to pace to and fro. “The kingdom of Meer is in disarray, why shouldn’t Islaer wish to rule over Dulthe? It is the richest of the three kingdoms and would bring him great power. Beon’s kingdom of Galgor is ready to unleash war upon the rest of Meer, with Dulthe under the influence and power of Islaer, it would only be a matter of time before they would eventually go to war over Fiar.”

“But Loaki wouldn’t allow Fiar to fall into the hands of Beon or Islaer surely?” Sebeen whispered aloud. Ada stopped in his tracks and turned to Sebeen.

“There is more to this than meets the eyes sister, what has happened to Lady Murtha has utterly broken the prince, he cannot see reason and will not receive anyone,” Ada said with distress. “If this is a part of Leer’s plan to topple Dulthe and in the future Fiar, then he is succeeding. And then there is….no I shouldn’t tell you.”

“Tell me what brother?” Sebeen asked as she looked up into his dark face, his eyes filled with distrust and concern.

“Ballour has announced that Loaki will now marry the Lady Eithne of Dulthe city,” Ada said slowly, his hard eyes soothing slightly.

“No it cannot be true!” Sebeen whispered with shock. “She killed Murtha. If she marries him then Fiar will indeed fall into the hands of Islaer as you have said.”

“Ballour’s eyes have been blinded by the need to create stability, Lady Eithne’s family are the richest in Dulthe and he needs the money and army if he is to go to war against Beon,” Ada said as he once more came before Sebeen, kneeling down and taking her hands within his own. “The world of men is falling; reason and sense have fled the three kingdoms and given rise to madness. If I council the King tomorrow as you wish, he will banish me from the palace and take Drae city from me. I cannot risk that, Drae city is one of the last free cities of the north, we have the men to stand up and fight Leer if he invades from the East. We can create a buffer zone between Dulthe and Fiar, we can save the three Kingdoms.”

“But I am your sister…” Sebeen whispered in disbelief. “Surely your love and loyalty for me comes before anything else?”

“Do you trust me?” Ada whispered as he heard the footsteps of the guards.

“Should I not?” Sebeen asked seriously as she sat away from her brother, her eyes wide and her lips shaking. “You would sacrifice me for the King? Despite his changing nature towards you?”

“Never, but I cannot be seen to be on your side, do you understand?” Ada said as he lifted his hood over his face once more and stood up. “I will not let you die, I promise you that.”

“Times up!” the older guard commanded as he unlocked the cell door and flung it open, his sagging face sour and displeasing to the eyes. Ada looked down at her and nodded his head slowly before turning on his feet and exiting the cell. Sebeen watched as he left her behind. When he had left the palace cells she threw herself back against the wall and ran through their conversation. She was the pawn in a game bigger than she had previously imagined. She had thought at first that it had been mere jealousy that had driven Lady Eithne to kill Lady Murtha, but after her conversation with her brother she now understood the danger that Lady Eithne’s marriage to Loaki would have on Meer and its future and she simply stood in the way. The great cities and Lords of Dulthe, ruled over by the presently unconscious Prince Galean were about to betray him and Meer and in return with their eyes solely focused on Galgor; those loyal to Ballour had grown blind to the threat in the east and had now fallen prey to the plot between the Dulthian Lords and King Islaer. Did she mean that little to the world around her? Was her life to insignificant? Sebeen curled up into the comfort of the corner and listened to the dripping of the water and wondered, what had been the purpose of her life? She would never again be able to roam the beautiful lands of her country, draw and paint the beautiful birds to which she so loved and she would never again walk arm and arm with her brother.

When morning arrived and Sebeen had eaten the mouldy roll of bread thrown at her, she was collected by a group of four high guards from the palace and dragged from her cell, her hands and feet bound to the great hall. She felt the eyes of the royal court upon her and listened to the whispers, laughs and foul language as she was dropped before the throne, her hands falling to the ground with such force that she cried out. She kept her eyes lowered, and felt for the first time as though she had been stripped naked before all the eyes in the world. The guards who had blown upon their horns at her arrival became mute and the hall fell silent.

“Lady Sebeen, you know why you are here?” Lord Adan of the House of Dulthe said aloud. Sebeen looked upon his silver clad feet, feeling his presence before her and raised her murky brown eyes and nodded. “You must speak before the King!” he said with disgust, his green eyes illuminated with curiosity.

“I do,” Sebeen said with gentleness, seeing a forlorn looking Prince Loaki sat upon his own throne to the right of his silent father, his eyes also upon the ground.

“You are charged with the murder of Lady Murtha, daughter of Lord Gultha of Tavan, how do you plead?” Lord Adan declared, his hands filled with a great scroll of parchment. Sebeen drew in a deep breathe, her eyes rising from Adan’s silver clad feet, over his deep green gown and stopped upon his sharp edged face and deep green eyes. She felt her now thinning body shake slightly, for behind Prince Loaki’s throne stood Lady Eithne, clad in a beautiful gown with a silver crown upon her head. She was the granddaughter of Lord Adan, who was the High King’s head lawmaker of the lands and she stood poised with determination and cruelty in those cold blue eyes. A sudden rage took a hold of Sebeen and she scuffled about, her eyes feeling dark and intense.

“I plead not guilty!” she said aloud. A great wave of talk took a hold of the hall as those behind her began to cry out words of hatred and slander.

“She killed the princess!” a man voiced loudly.

“She had the knife!” another proclaimed. Sebeen looked about her, her eyes searching the crowds for her brother and found him to be nowhere. Her heart dropped and once again she lowered her eyes.

“My King,” Lord Adan turned to the quiet Ballour, who was gowned in the court robes of wine red, his great crown upon his silver hair. “I ask that the witnesses come forth and bear testament so that you may make you judgement?” The hall again fell silent and Ballour waved his hand in response. “Lord Killith come forth,” Lord Adan proclaimed. Sebeen watched as the young Lord from the small city of Luthe upon the eastern coast of Dulthe stepped forward. She knew him to be one of Lady Eithne’s friends and frowned for she had never before spoken to him. “My Lord, what is it you wish to tell this court?”

“Two weeks ago, the Lady Sebeen came to the hall and was in our company throughout the great feast of Sunder,” Lord Killith said aloud, his brown eyes never meeting her own. He was small in height and without good looks, his nose bent, his lips fish like and his eyes small and narrow. “She was a little impassioned maybe due to the laman and spoke of how unjust and untoward the behaviour of the Prince and the Lady Murtha was, and said I remember quite clearly, how her life would be made easier if the Lady were taken by an illness of the gut.” Sebeen shot her eyes to the King and cried out.

“He lies my Lord! I said nothing of the sort!” she said before the hand of her guard collided with her face, the full force throwing her to the ground. Lifting herself up from the ground she felt the hot tears fall from her eyes and she lifted her pleading eyes to the High King, whose own gaze refused to meet with her own.

“Be silent before your King!” Lord Adan said with authority. “Your turn to speak woman will come shortly!”

“Lord Killith, who else was in your company that evening?” Lord Adan enquired regally. Sebeen wiped the blood which trickled from her nose with the back of her hand and looked toward the young and distasteful Lord.

“Lady Eithne, Lord Logmar, Lord Brethian, Lord Gutred and my brother, Lord Efelwulf my Lord,” Lord Killith answered boldly. Lord Adan turned to his granddaughter who came forth from behind Prince Loaki, coming to stand a few feet from Sebeen.

“Is this true Lady Eithne?” Lord Adan asked aloud.

“It is true my lord,” Lady Eithne replied grandly with a small smile upon her thin lips. “On many such occasions before the royal blessing when we were being fitted for our gowns, my Lady Sebeen often in a state of high passion declared her hatred for Lady Murtha and how slighted she felt and how disloyal the Prince was, his often intimate friendship with Lady Murtha being cruelly manipulated and scorned by Sebeen.”

“Liar!” Sebeen cried out before she was brutally struck once more. Sebeen wept heavily as she clung to the ground for comfort.

“Why may I ask why you did not come forward when such words were being said?” came a tough voice from behind. Sebeen lifted her head and turned to watch her brother come forth from the great doors, robed in black and navy blue. Beside him Sebeen’s maid followed, her face filled with fear and terror, both of her hands folded tensely before her as her head was lowered.

“My Lord Ada, you are forbidden to speak within this court, being the brother of the accused,” Lord Adan said with a trembling lip. Sebeen took the brief distraction and looked up at Lady Eithne.

“May the Gods curse you!” she whispered so lowly that no one but herself and Lady Eithne could hear.

“Under the laws of our Kingdom Lord Adan, I have the right to speak and defend the accused,” Lord Ada said grandly as she stood beside Sebeen. “If my sister is to be accused of murder, then I expect her to be properly cross examined by those whose interests do not only lie with their own personal interests.” The hall fell silent as did Lord Adan who looked taken aback by Ada’s proclamation. With a slam of his hand, the High King Ballour stood up from his throne, those within the great hall falling to the floor in submission.

“Lord Ada, you are warmly welcomed among my court as you have always been,” he said aloud, his eyes raging and his hands shaking. “But you hold no power over today’s session no matter the historic link between your family and my own. Your sister was found at the scene with the knife in one hand and the lifeless body of Lady Murtha in the other, in my eyes there is no other evidence required in which to make my judgement.”

“My Lord if I may speak,” Lord Ada intervened. “My sister is entitled to make her case as the law states, even if you and the rest of the court have made up your minds.”

“You dare to speak against me boy!” Ballour thundered loudly as he stepped down before Sebeen and Ada, his eyes filled with anger and bitterness. “I made the laws of these lands, I gave a voice to the voiceless and handed democracy to my people! But I have the ultimate say over all matters until my dying breathe!” Sebeen felt her body tremble at the harsh words spoken by the once rationale and forgiving King. “War brews in the West, enemies infiltrate our lands and this very court! Too lenient have I been, too forgiving and too merciful! The time for mercy and kindness has passed, I will not be made a fool any longer! You may whisper in my ear, hoping to gain influence, you may kiss my feet in the hope of recognition and advancement, you may have a seat upon my council, but you may not tell me how to think or influence the thoughts within my own mind! I am your King and you will obey me!”

“Your majesty my sister is innocent, never would I dare to stand against you unless I believed you to be in the wrong,” Lord Ada said with courage. Sebeen looked up at her brother and watched as he stood tall and proud. “You have watched my sister grow from a babe to a woman, never has she caused harm and never would the thought of harm cross her mind. If I believed her to be rightly accused I would stand with you before this court and agree with your judgement, but she is innocent!”

“She was seen! By no more than a dozen guards and my son!” the King hollered loudly. “Tell me my Lord, do their eyes deceive them? Does my son lie?” Sebeen felt her brother still in response to the Kings anger. Her eyes on him, she watched as his own dropped to her face. He smiled tightly before raising them to Loaki, whose own red lined eyes found his.

“I would ask you my Lord to think about what you saw and to remember the gentleness of my sister,” Lord Ada asked with emotion as he grasped Sebeen’s hand within his own. “She is pure of heart and has ever only thought of you in the way a woman who loves her husband may think. Never has she harmed another being or used ill words against those she dislikes. And above all, she has always looked up to you with such kindness and devotion.” Prince Loaki stood up and walked over to Ada, his face fraught with grief and his eyes filled with shadow. “Despite all she had has to face.”

“You may be my friend,” he said sharply. “But my father is your King, and his judgment of this matter is correct.”

“It would matter not one way or the other,” Ada said with a heavy nod of his head. “You have been blinded by your enemies and in consequence the innocent bystanders will be persecuted and killed. And when you open your eyes,” he stepped forward to his oldest friend. “Such devastation will you observe.”

“I would council you to keep your forked tongue behind those sharp teeth, friend,” Loaki whispered darkly. “For you too may find yourself before the court on charges of treason.”

“What has happened to you friend?” Ada declared with shock. “Can you not see what is before you? Look at my sister, do her eyes plead her guilt or innocence?”

“Enough of your words Lord Ada!” the High King bellowed as he stepped before his son. “You are banished from this palace and lose your seat upon the council! Collect your belongings and be gone from this island before the sun sets upon pain of death!”

“My Lord please!” Sebeen begged as she grabbed the hem of his gown and kissed it wildly. “Please my Lord do not dismiss my brother, he has done no wrong! He has only honoured his promise to me as any brother would!”

“Be silent!” Ballour declared as he pulled his gown away from Sebeen’s grasp. She looked up into his hard face, now so unrecognisable that she felt pity and sadness on his behalf even if it were not deserved. “I declare you guilty of the murder of Lady Murtha of Tavan and sentence you to death by the way of sword!”

“No!” Sebeen cried out as the guards lifted her from the ground roughly. “I am innocent!” Ada, his anger seething walked over to Loaki and took him by the arms.

“Our friendship is broken, for this day I shall never forget!” he said before turning on his feet and making for Sebeen, stretching out his hand. “I am sorry sister!” he said as the men and women of the court rushed outside the great hall and followed Sebeen as she was dragged away from her brother for the last time.

“Ada!” Sebeen cried out with desperation as she was torn away from him. “Don’t leave me!” She kept her eyes on him until he was gone from sight.

*

Sebeen wept uncontrollably as she was once more thrown into her cell, the older guard spitting on her face. The world had turned dark and she had but a few hours to spare before she would be brought forth before the High King and the court and executed by the sword. She cried so deeply for the injustice and unkindness not just of the High King but of his son. But worst of all was the cruel lies which had sprouted from the mouth of a man she had never before met and the lingering cold smile of her once allied friend. As she wept she began to feel the anxiety of her impending death and the pain and humiliation she would have to endure before the end of his miserable existence. She wondered what would happen to her brother once he had been banished, what would he do? Would he be punished? Would his seat and seal be taken from him? What was the world coming too?

The hours passed miserably and when the hour came, Sebeen was given a white gown in which to put on and when dressed, having to strip before the gawking guards, a maid was rushed into her cell, a bowl and cloth in one arm and a pair scissors in her other hand. Plying the guards away, the maid turned to Sebeen with flushed cheeks, she was of the same age.

“Please sit on the stool,” she ordered gently. Sebeen, her face and lips numb followed the order and sat upon the wooden stool. Behind her the maid set her bowl of water upon the ground alongside the white towel. Quietly she took the thick brown locks of Sebeen and began to cut away at them until her hair had been cut back to the roots, leaving her scalp bare and her deepening sense of humiliation pungent. Tears fell silently from her eyes as she folded her hands within her lap and kept her eyes on the black stone wall of the cell. As she sat, the guards some twenty feet away the maid came to stand before her with the towel. She knelt down upon the straw laden floor and dipped the towel into the bowl. “There is little time in which to speak,” she whispered. “Keep your face straight and do not answer,” she said with wide grey eyes. “Nod instead.” Sebeen did as she was instructed and nodded so faintly that the guards would never guess of the conversation that was now taking place. “Your brother sent me with word,” the maid said under her breathe as she cleaned her arms with the warm cloth. “You are to stay calm, aid is on its way. He will be unable to flee with you to Drae, as he is afraid the King will suspect he is plotting to free you and so you are to flee with your rescuer and head to Drae. He will meet you there in eight days’ time.” Sebeen’s eyes lit up with relief and surprise as the maid spoke. “The High King will send out riders to find you and so you are to keep yourself under disguise, which is why I am cutting your hair. You are to take the name of Porr Nomand and to take the disguise of a man, you must rid yourself of your true identity until you are safe. Last but not least you are to speak to no one on the road, the King will most likely put a price on your head and so you can trust only your rescuer, understand?” she said with haste as the guards made their way back to the cell. Sebeen nodded. “For god’s sake get rid of your smile or they will know something is up!” the maid said with an angry look as the guards unlocked the cell door. Sebeen stood up in her chains and nodded to the maid as she exited with the empty bowl, wet towel and scissors. She watched her walk away before running her fingers through her newly cropped hair. She could not pace far in her chains, but as she did she smiled to herself, she knew her brother would not let her down. Her heart was racing so fast when seated in her corner, she played with her fingers and felt her undernourished body come alive with anxiety, so much so that she hardly noticed the figure in black enter the cells. Sebeen caught the motion of the figure out of the sides of her eyes and pushed herself forward, watching as the tall figure, hidden beneath a dark cloak danced about the cells with two short swords, slaying the guards with such speed that Sebeen felt a little terrified at her saviour. The inmates of the cell clapped loudly as the figured person used the keys from the guard’s waist and freed the dozen or so men before coming to her own cell and unlocking the door quickly. Without speaking, the hooded figure quickly unlocked Sebeen’s chains from her feet and hands and brought forth a large bag from their bag and flung it to the ground.

“Undress now and put the clothes on,” the feminine voice commanded as she paced the cell. Sebeen quickly shrugged off her white robe, her body naked against the cold air and plunged her hand into the bag, bringing forth black leather pants, heavy black boots, a black shirt and a black cloak. Without so much as a look she hurried herself into the items and when dress pulled the hood of her cloak over her face. “Stay close to me and do not speak!” the woman declared as she turned and ran out of the cell, Sebeen following suite. Above them the palace was in a stir, the freed men running this way and that, forcing the soldiers to run after them like headless chickens. The distraction was such that Sebeen and her rescuer slipped through the mass of commotion and made their way through the great palace, until the tall woman came to a side door and opened it. Sebeen followed her saviour through the door and out into the great city of Summe which lay to the north of the palace. Together they ran down a flight of steps and into the thick crowds of people, now stirred into curiosity as soldiers ran forth from the great doors of the palace, their swords high in the air. Sebeen, her body weak and tired fed off the adrenaline as she followed her rescuer through the narrow roads of the city, descending downwards towards the great wall. When the gates of the wall came into sight, she noticed that the guards were now beginning to close them over on orders of the palace soldiers who were upon their horses. When they came to the fifty foot tall fortified wall, Sebeen felt the woman take her hand, directing her in the opposite direction. Together they calmly walked there way along the wall until they came to a sewer in which led to a small opening in the wall. The stench of the sewage water made Sebeen feel light headed, but with determination and the flashing eyes of her rescuer, she jumped into the swamped stream of urine and excrement and followed the woman until they came to the small opening. She watched as the woman snuck her long and lean body through the hole and closely followed, her clothes drenched in the polluted water until they both came to the other side of the wall. Before they was the great northern road which led to the great bridge of Meerethe, which connected the island to the mainland. Grabbing her hand, the woman led Sebeen over to the edge of the road to where two great black steads stood tied to a tree, both of them munching on the lush green grass below. The great road was bustling with traders, soldiers and citizens. Once upon the horses, the woman untied them from the trees and without a word gave Sebeen a lift up onto the smaller horse. Atop her horse, Sebeen took the reins and waited for the woman to jump atop her own. When she did, she turned to Sebeen.

“We head East through the forest, ride hard, we do not stop until nightfall!” she declared as she turned her horse about onto the road and instead of guiding it up the great road and towards the bridge which was located about ten leagues North, she kicked her horse into a gallop, away from the road and into the forest of Meer. Sebeen kicked down hard and followed her guide through the forest. The trees were thick and closely together, but Sebeen found herself galloping fast and hard after the woman, and cared not for the pain that soared through her body, she kept her eyes focused on her guide and followed her without stopping for what seemed to be hours. Behind them the sun began to set and air became rigid and cold and her head a little light headed. When the moon was high in the sky and the trees began to part, Sebeen spied the waters of Lake Meerethe and soon came upon the shores of the lake. With haste she slowed her horse down until it came to a stop beside the dark waters. Her rescuer jumped down from her own horse and came to Sebeen.

“Quick!” she whispered as she helped Sebeen down from her hard breathing horse. A little to their left, Sebeen spotted a boat and followed the woman until the came to the small boat, which was filled with bags and rugs. “Jump in!” the woman ordered sharply. Sebeen rushing through the cold water, grabbed the side of the wooden boat and hauled herself into the boat. Behind her the woman with all her force, guided the boat into the open waters and with a great swing of her legs, jumped into the boat. Sebeen looked down and found an oar and lifting the heavy wooden instrument, propped it into place and alongside her rescuer began to row, her muscles weak, her back aching but her mind free and her heart racing. As they rowed for a good thirty minutes, Sebeen watched the island of Meer begin to disappear into the darkness, the tips of the palace alight by the rays of the moon. In the distance she could see the great mountains of Calnuthe and to the north she only saw the vast waters of the lake. “Give me your oar,” the woman asked this time her voice calm and gentle.

“I can row for a while longer,” Sebeen lied, not wishing to burden the woman anymore.

“You need to rest and eat Sebeen,” the woman said as she took the oar and sat back in her seat. “The small bag at your feet will have some meat and soft bread in it, the satchel beneath it will have laman.” Without a response, her mind only guided by her hunger, Sebeen sought the bags and greedily took the food from the first and filled her mouth with the meat and bread before opening the lid of the smaller satchel and drowning herself in laman. It did not take her long to eat and drink and when she had finished, her stomach full and her throat sleek and wet, she looked across at the quiet woman.

“May I ask your name?” she enquired as flakes of white rain began to fall.

“Do you not recognise me?” the woman returned as she did away with her hood and revealed her identity.

“Lady Buan?” she whispered as she looked into the oval face of her dress bearer, whose blue eyes flashed. Her once long black hair had also been cut back, only accentuating her beautifully oval shaped face, large round enquiring eyes and beautifully sculpted nose and lips. She looked even more beautiful than when she had long hair.

“I know, your brother thought much the same when he saw me,” she said with a wink. “You however look like a boy of fourteen moons!”

“I don’t understand…” Sebeen whispered as she wrapped her arms about her body, the cold air nipping at her.

“I never liked that bitch and when I heard about the events of that night, I knew you would never have harmed let alone kill Lady Murtha,” Buan said with disgust. “And so I went to your brother and I told him just so. It seems your brother and I have a lot in common, hating the Dulthe family being among many. When I was in the court this morning, I erupted with anger and fled to your brothers chambers and together we concocted a plan to rescue you. And so here I am.”

“You believe me?” Sebeen murmured with disbelief.

“Of course I do!” Buan said with pride. “Listen Sebeen, from this moment onwards you are about to become the most hunted person in the north, not only because you escaped death but because you know the truth of Eithne’s actions and those of her family. The King has been fooled and so has his idiot of a son!”

“Please do not speak ill of Loaki, he is not to blame,” Sebeen said with a raised hand.

“I don’t give a fig for that piece of shit! Couldn’t stand up if the wind were to blow over him!” Buan said with disregard. “Meer is in deep trouble now, mark my words. The enemies of the King have surrounded him and with Galean verging on deaths door, I doubt the future of the Kingdom. Dark days are coming, dark winds are blowing and soon neighbours will draw swords against each other and the waters of madness will drench all men with idleness and stupidity.”

“My brother, is he safe?” Sebeen asked quickly as Buan’s words washed over her like an ill ice.

“Of course he is!” Buan said with a smile. “Don’t worry about him, he will be fine. It’s your safety you must worry about now.”

“I cannot believe you would risk your life to save my own,” Sebeen said with a smile.

“Well it wasn’t entirely without selfishness,” Buan admitted as she rowed with smooth rhythm. “I have never been one to stand for injustice, and I will be damned if I have to stay one more night on that island! No it is time for us to fight the injustice of this land and to warn the people of the north of the oncoming storm!”

“You would make a great leader of men,” Sebeen said with a small laugh. “Were I as brave and dedicated as you.”

“I will make a leader of you yet!” Buan returned with a wink of her eye. “Now rest your tongue and mind, we have a long journey ahead of us.”

“Were are we sailing too?” Sebeen asked through a yawn.

“Mul Port,” Buan said matter of factly. “And then we make for Dulgar city, the city of my family. They will protect you until it is safe to return to Drae.”

“You’re the daughter of the Lord of Dulgar?” Sebeen asked with shock.

“Bastard daughter if you will,” Buan smiled. “Still my father loves me the same as my brothers, uncaring that my mother is a maid.”

“How very…liberal,” Sebeen said as she huddled herself into a sleeping position.

“Close your eyes, I will wake you in a few hours when my arms grow weary,” Buan said kindly. Sebeen found she could not answer as her eyes began to close against the flurry of white rain. She felt her lips curl into a smile, never had such good fortune struck her before. She knew in that moment that she and Buan would strike up a friendship akin to that of best friends. With her heart calmed a little and her mind softened, she fell into a deep sleep and did away with her worries, for there would be more than enough time in which to worry tomorrow.




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