The Dragons Egg : XXXIII : Alignment of Stars: Maethilda : Draft

XXXIII

Alignment of Stars

Maethilda

“We’ll never get to the flag this far behind!”

Maethilda turned to Evalean and nodded. They had been riding for a full day and her wounded leg burned, whilst her heart broke. She had found herself unable to speak as they headed westwards towards the lake, a day behind the other groups, behind him.

“And it’s getting late,” Sabia interjected as she bit down on an apple. “We should make camp for the night.”

“What do you think Aabe?” Innis asked the aloft wizard, whose eyes were upon the sky. Aabe turned to the women, his eyes a little perplexed as though he had completely forgotten the context of the conversation. His eyes fell on Maethilda, whose own sea green eyes were dim.

“Let’s rest here a while,” he said, looking about the area. They were riding through farmland, the fields now cut back, the crops gathered and the soil tended. “Maethilda, we need to speak.” Maethilda turned her eyes to him and then looked up at the sky. An unusual light was radiating from the stars. It surprised her that she cared little for the changing stars, and surprised her further that she cared nought for Celestine. She felt only sadness and rejection. She had agreed to Morad’s word the previous night, but never had she thought him so low as to actually leave her when the sun rose without a word or without care. The pickets jumped down from their horses and preceded to deploy their cloaks upon the short grass, falling upon them in exhaustion. Maethilda followed suite and instead of falling down upon her own cloak, followed Aabe across the field until there were out of ears shot.

“What is it?” Maethilda asked as she stretched her arms.

“I understand that something serious has passed between you and Morad, but I would ask that in this moment you forget your woes, can you do that?” Aabe asked, his back to Eveline and his head tilted upwards.

“Alright,” Maethilda said simply. “You are worried about the stars?”

“They are aligning Maethilda,” Aabe said. “Celestine is travelling through time and will be with us soon, but the eyes of our world are upon those stars,” he turned to her with dark eyes. “The eyes of the enemy are upon her and this island. We need to move now, I believe I know where the light is directed and we can be there in a days’ time.”

“You mean give up the cup?” Maethilda argued with puffed cheeks. “Now when we have two flags already?”

“Maethilda!” Aabe said loudly as he came to stand before her, obviously angry. “The cup will mean nothing if Celestine is captured by the enemy! You know our mission!” Maethilda growled and kicked away a stone with her foot, biting down on her lip as a searing hot pain soared through her toes. As she bent over herself, her eyes on her pickets who were busy eating and drinking, she felt a hand upon her shoulder. “Maettie it is time, we must be going. If you want, then let Innis, Sabia and Marini go on without us, they may yet surprise you.”

“And leave them to fight off those bastards alone?” Maethilda turned with wild eyes. “Not on your life! They come with us.”

“How will you explain to them our diversion?” Aabe asked with a shrug.

“Don’t worry about that, I will deal with them,” she said with another growl as she shook off his hand and headed in the direction of the pickets. It was as she had thought, they were confused and angry.

“But why?” Innis shouted so loudly her horse leapt away from her.

“I’ve told you, the stars are aligning and we are to rescue someone!” Maethilda shouted back.

“But who?” Sabia added, her eyes a dramatic shade of sarcasm.

“Listen...” Maethilda began but was gently pushed aside. Evalean knowing the truth was already tending to her horse.

“The pickets are notorious for their honour and valour, is that so?” Aabe said regally as he stood tall before the scorned women.

“Tis,” Sabia said with a nod of her head. “We would never betray each other, and if one were too well we would cut out their tongue without hesitation.” At her words, Maethilda smiled proudly.

“What I am about to disclose to you all is top secret, if you so much as speak a word of it to another living soul, I will do more than simply cut out your tongue, understood?” Aabe said with confidence, watching the stubborn eyes of the women suddenly melt away into fear. They nodded in response, no words to be found. With a sigh Aabe told them the truth of the situation, their eyes widening and their mouths opened in shock. “Now are you ready to leave?”

“Yes my lord,” Sabia said quickly, turning to her friends. “This is much better entertainment than that pesky cup for fucks sake! Those lords in their leather saddles will never guess who we are about to rescue!”

“Haha!” Innis cried with satisfaction. “How true your words are Sabia! To hell with those foul smelling, buttocks wiping bas….” She was as always cut off by Maethilda’s black stare. “You know what I mean,” she said with a roll of her eyes as she grabbed her cloak and made for her horse.

“I will admit,” Sabia said once atop her horse. “I am a little disheartened at the prospect of Muta taking the cup…it just irritates me.”

“I agree,” Evalean said with a smile as she pulled her hood up over her head, the white rains beginning to fall. “Maybe when the world has settled and our island is safe we can take part in the games once more?”

“And just imagine how fierce and famous we shall be!” Innis said with a wave of her sword in the air. “Our opponents will bow in our presence as the great pickets of Summe take them to task!” Maethilda cast her gaze over at Aabe and smiled a little, she knew the pickets would never again as a group take part in the games, at least she knew that she herself wouldn’t, for when the battle for Summe was over, the battle for the North would begin and her quest to protect her Queen and regain her throne would take priority over everything else. Bursting with anticipation and excitement, the pickets turned their horses about and headed south west, in the direction of Eel Cove, which lay twenty leagues west of the city Summe. There journey would be tough and there would be no rest until Celestine was found, even if the white rains poured from the heavens continually. They would journey past the western edges of the forest of Mayr and from their head south past the great town of Novi and through the great plains that bordered the second largest lake on the island, Saios.  By Aabe’s reckoning, they would make for Eel Cove at sunrise and from their scour the coastline, looking for Celestine and when found, take her back to Summe City, where he and Maethilda would receive council from Anvin. The journey and the rapid speed in which the group made did not bother Maethilda in the least, in fact it gave her the time and space to forget about her personal woes and concentrate on a matter of great concern. The group stopped for a half hour when then came upon the town of Novi and together they sat in relative silence eating their pre prepared dinner. Maethilda was amazed at the darkening sky, for the first time in her life she bore witness to the coloured nights. It was a rare phenomenon that only happened every other century and was recorded at great length by the priests of old. The skies would turn into great streaks of colours, dancing upon the winds of the night and illuminating the earth below. As they rode south and made their way through villages, Maethilda was astounded at the sheer amount of peasants out on the fields despite the white rains, their eyes upon the sky. Many feared the lights and believed them to be a sign of times to come and others simply marvelled at how majestic the Gods must be. Maethilda rather agreed with the superstitious believers, she knew it was a sign of things to come, it was a sign that a great Queen was about to break through the seals of time and return. That Queen would take up her sword, unite the lands and (Maethilda closed her eyes in prayer) bring peace and stability back to the Southern lands and take back her throne. The people of Calnuthe and Summe would unite behind Celestine, Maethilda knew this and envied her power, but still Maethilda was duty bound and believed in honour, she would serve her master even if her own path would not lead her back to Taer.

The journey through the night was long and arduous and even the magic of the skies had lost their spark of amazement. The group became sullen and quiet as they passed along the great lake, passing through small towns, villages and hamlets, all of them ablaze with excitement and fear. The domesticated animals it seemed were not of excitement but horror, the great herds of sheep and cows cowering in the corners of their fields, huddled together, their moans and cries echoing about the countryside. Maethilda rode close to Aabe, whose eyes never really left the stars, the light being brought together only becoming more intense as the hours went by. Soon they came to the ancient town of Eraught, were the great burial chambers of the northern priests lay. A little tired and in need of a moments rest, the group slowed their horses down and when they came to the centre of the town, came to a well and stopped. Maethilda jumped down from Art and stretched her legs, her buttocks inflamed and sore, her back rigid and ready to snap. Usually the residents of towns and villages would be filled with curiosity and at times reverence at visitors, but on this occasion they seemed uncaring, all of them grouped together, their eyes on the sky with many a hand in the air.

“My mother used to say that the colours in the sky were a sign of the Gods anger,” Innis said soberly as she drank from her satchel. Sabia, pulling her cloak about her cold body nodded.

“My mother used to tell us that the first Kings of men were born of the lights and that’s why they live longer than mere peasants.”

“It’s true that the northern Kings do live longer than us, much longer,” Aabe said as he wrapped an arm about Evalean, who was quiet and a little troubled. “But that is due to their bloodline, they are descendants of the great guardians of Heiden. It is said that a great war broke out in the Heavens and Heiden gave his people the freedom to flee from his Kingdom and make home elsewhere. Nathaniel, the son of Michael came here to this earth and many followed, it is said that he is the direct ancestor of the late High King. Another great guardian of Heiden named Gabriel sent his son also and he resided in the North and that is why the Northern Kings live a lifetime longer than us.” As he spoke many of the men, women and children turned to him and listened quietly. “My father believes the lights do indeed act as a sign of what is ahead, but the path of the future can take any form, it can lead to great happiness or…” he looked down at the small children, their frail faces filled with terror. He was about to finish his sentence when an almighty noise ripped apart the skies above and shook the ground below. The sound was so crippling that everyone flung their hands to their ears and began to scream. The ground shook so violently that the small houses built from mud and straw began to crack and the peasants, a feared started to run about haphazardly, making for their homes as fast as they could, leaving behind those who were curious and the company. Maethilda held onto the rim of the well and looked up into the sky. A brilliant light beamed down from the three stars and was so bright that Maethilda had to shield her eyes. As she held onto the well, the rest of the company close, she lifted her gaze and saw a great red light burst through the colours and speed through the air, off into the distance.

“Aabe!” she called out to the wizard who had Evalean wrapped in his embrace. The young wizard turned to her. “Aabe is that her?”

“Yes!” he cried out. “She has come!”

“The light, it is exactly located where you predicated!”

“Maethilda we must make for the Cove before the spies of the south and north get there first!” Aabe shouted, his eyes squinting against the great light. Maethilda struggled to her feet.

“Innis! Sabia come we must hurry!” she ordered. The pickets turned to her with astonishment on their faces.

“We can’t ride now!” Sabia argued hotly, the ground still shaking.

“We must, it is imperative!” Maethilda argued back as she stumbled towards Art, untied his reins from the well. “Now!” she hollered to the rest of the company. Struggling, falling and stumbling the pickets found there scared horses who were letting out great cries. Maethilda tried to tame Art, but it was of no use. “Aabe you need to do something to calm them!” Aabe stumbled over to Art and placed a hand upon his black head and muttered something under his breathe. Maethilda watched on as the horse instantly abstained from his frightful behaviour and was instantly calm. Quickly, Aabe attended the other horses and when they had all be calmed, the pickets and the wizard swung up onto their saddles and kicked their horses into a rapid gallop. They fled the village and rode through the great fields and over the small hills, the coast only a short way ahead. As they rode, the violent shaking ceased along with the frightening noise.

“Celestine most defiantly knows how to make an entrance!” Sabia said aloud as she rode alongside Maethilda, her sword drawn for fear of attackers who were in the same moment pursuing the Queen.

“I doubt she had much of say!” Maethilda returned with a slight smile on her lips. Sabia laughed wildly along with Innis who thought the whole scenario enlightening and soul encouraging. The group galloped like the wind until finally they reached Eel Cove. Aabe put up his hand in warning and the rest of the group slowed their mounts down.

“There has been a tidal surge!” he said as he turned his own horse about and faced the group. “We must wait here until it recedes back to the sea.” Maethilda looked down the hill and found that Aabe was right, the sea had indeed rushed over the beach and through the light forest.

“I hope she is alive,” Evalean said from behind, speaking for the first time in hours.

“She will be,” Maethilda returned with confidence. She wondered what it was that was bothering her friend and wished she had the time to ask. The group waited for a half hour, Innis and Marini keeping an eye out for any signs of riders. When the sea had eventually receded Aabe began to ride down the hill, the rest following.

“Keep guard, spies will be upon our heels as we speak,” he forewarned loudly. Carefully the company made their way through the dark forest, the sea water having ruined the moss covered ground, leaving great piles of sea weed behind. The stench of salt was so intense that Maethilda felt sick. It didn’t take long for the group to break free of the forest and find themselves upon the white sand of the bay. Aabe turned to Maethilda. “You and Innis search the southern part of the bay, everyone else follow me.” Maethilda and Innis turned their horses about and began to gallop at a gentle pace along the beach.

“Celestine!” Maethilda cried out. The colours in the sky above were beginning to fade as she scanned the beach with her eyes.

“Maettie look!” Innis cried out, her gloved index finger pointing up ahead. “Do you see that?” Maethilda followed Innis’s hand and spotted the figures up ahaead.

“That’s her!” she said with a smile. “It’s her!”

“There are two figures Maettie!”

“Two?”

Her stomach was a swirl of excitement and anticipation as they made for the two figures. When at last they had reached them, Maethilda jumped down from Art and ran over to the lifeless bodies.

“Oh God!” she whispered as she noticed a young woman slain across the body of a fallen man. Without a thought, without a word, Maethilda lifted the young woman from the man and searched her. She brought her fingers to her throat and searched for a pulse. Innis attended to the man. Maethilda brought her ear down to the woman’s mouth and listened. With a sigh she lifted her face away and felt a tear fall from her eye in relief. “She alive barely!” she said to Innis.

“The man is dead,” Innis said with a saddened face. Maethilda looked down at Celestine’s body and found her left hand side had been pierced. Quickly she scoured the area and found a dagger.

“Quickly she had been stabbed!” Maethilda said with haste. Gently she lay Celestine back down upon the sand and got up onto her feet. Standing away from the bodies she turned and faced the north. “Aabe! Aabe I’ve found her!” Again she cried out to the cold air before turning to Celestine and Innis. Innis was wrapping a long piece of cloth about the woman’s waist.

“It should stop the bleeding,” she said, with blood staining her hands.

“We need to get her warm!” Maethilda said as she took off her cloak and laid it over the unconscious body of Celestine. In the distance she could hear the sound of hoofs. Gently she lifted Celestine and brought her body to her own, rubbing at her arms so as to keep the blood flowing. The rest of the group came to them and dismounted their horses. Maethilda looked up and found Aabe’s eyes. “She has been stabbed with a dagger, the man is dead.” Aabe looked across at the man and blinked before falling to his knees and gazing over Celestine’s pale face.

“Look, she brought two bags with her,” Marina announced with surprise as she held up the soaking bags.

“We must get her to my father!” Aabe said softly as he wiped away a heavy strand of wet auburn hair. Evalean knelt down at the opposite side.

“She is so beautiful,” she whispered with a smile. “I cannot believe she is really here.”

“Will she make it?” Maethilda asked Aabe with pleading eyes, for in the moment that she first beheld the young woman she felt herself intricately bound to her in a way she had never before felt. She had to ensure Celestine would live.

“If we are fast and do not ride into any enemies along the road,” Aabe said with a knowing gaze. “Evalean bring me my bag if you would.” Evalean gently withdrew her small hand from Celestine’s and rose. For a moment she simply stared down at the young woman before turning away. When she returned she handed the bag to Aabe. Quickly the young wizard searched his bag and brought forth a small bottle.

“What is it?” Evalean enquired as she once again took up Celestine’s lifeless hand. Maethilda smiled across at her friend, she was so very caring in ways that she was not, too see her so selfless and worried brought tears to her eyes an event that rarely occurred to Maethilda.

“It is a healing potion, it is designed to embalm the heart and purify the blood,” Aabe said he uncorked the lid. “Can you sit her up a little Maettie?”

“Of course,” Maethilda replied, the eyes of the company now on Celestine as Aabe opened her mouth and slowly poured the contents into her mouth and down her throat. Maethilda shook with shock as Celestine spurted out some of the potion and coughed heavily, her eyes opening.

“Oh my,” Innis whispered with disbelief.

“Her eyes…” Sabia added with a small gasp.

“They are gold…” Marini said with a small smile. “I have never seen golden eyes before.”

“Who…who are you?” Celestine whispered as she batted her eyelashes slowly.

“I am Maethilda your highness,” Maethilda announced slowly, her eyes gazing into Celestine’s. Celestine looked up at her, her eyes widening.

“Maethilda?” she said with a small smile. “It’s really you?”

“You know my name?” Maethilda stuttered, her thick brows furrowing with confusion.

“I carried you when you were a babe,” Celestine whispered weakly. “I was there when Anvin saved you.” Maethilda’s heart stopped thudding and her breathing slowed as she listened to the woman’s words. “You…you are in her image.”

“You’ve met my mother?” Maethilda whispered, her eyes filled with unspoken tears.

“She loved you very much,” Celestine returned, lifting her free hand and placing it on Maethilda’s cheek. Maethilda looked up at Evalean who was also crying softly and then turned her gaze to Aabe who simply smiled.

“Your friend, who is he?” Maethilda asked as Celestine coughed violently, her eyes shutting against the pain in her body.

“My husband,” she said with a cry. “He tried to kill me.”

“Why?” Evalean asked with horror.

“Ladies, we need to move her before her wound becomes infected and she loses too much blood,” Aabe said, breaking the gentle moment between the women. “Come help her up, Maethilda can she ride with you?”

“Yes, of course,” Maethilda said quickly as she and Evalean helped Celestine to her feet. Without asking, Maethilda lifted the tall woman into her arms and brought her over to Art.

“Hold onto the reins,” she instructed Celestine, whose golden eyes were upon her husband.

“We will return for him when you are safe,” Aabe said aloud as he helped Evalean onto her mount. Maethilda caught Celestine’s pained expression. Quickly she jumped onto her saddle and placed an arm about Celestine.

“Put your head back against my shoulder and rest my lady, Summe is not far off, we will be there as sure as the sun rises,” she said gently as she made herself comfortable and ensured that Celestine wouldn’t easily slip off whilst riding. When the company was ready they turned from the beach and headed east through the forest to the city of Summe. Maethilda held her arm about Celestine tightly as she wound her way through the trees.

“I’m home,” Celestine said with a smile, her eyes upon the sky above, the colours now gone leaving behind the starry night. Maethilda felt a hand fall upon her own.

“Yes your majesty, your home.”

“My name is Celestine,” Celestine said with a smile, her eyes closing against the pain.

“Rest now and keep your strength, Celestine.”





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