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Camaria thanked Apollyon once more before Saffira ushered them from the throne room. Cam cast one last glance over her shoulder to see Riah smiling after her. Saffira led the new arrivals to the third level where they were to be shown their chambers. While Terra rested, Cam, Adria, and Mista joined Saffira at the river to swim the hours away until evening crested the tops of the endless pines. Ira proved to be quite talented at swinging on vines in order to fly through the air before crashing into the deep current.

  Once they were all quite worn and hungry, they reentered the castle, drippingwith river water andin highspirits. “Iwillhave food brought to your rooms. Theparty begins in an hour.”Saffira left the castle. Where she was off to, Cam did not know for certain. She assumed that the young woman lived elsewhere.

  Thethrone room was filling with Riah’s companions when

  Gnosi’s heir finally decided to enter. Heads turned as the doors swung open, and Riah appeared with a smile pasted to his lips. Many clapped him on the back in greeting. The room was bright with firelight, and festoons adorned the walls and pillars. Sofas were set up between the pillars and many were lounging upon them. At the west side of the room was a long banquet table filled with refreshments and drinks.

  Riah was presently offered a goblet to which he eagerly accepted. As he raised the wine to his lips, he caught Saffira’s glare in the corner of his eyes. After he had drank, he flashed a grin in her direction.

  Riah watched Saffira for a moment as she turned to speak to the young new Royal who had arrived in the early afternoon. The girl who resembled a raven was also present along with the young man who had been their guide. He noticed that the other three were missing. The second one was missing. He had seen her sickly expression, and...remembered.

  When a young woman with golden hair approached him with a flirtatious smile marking her expression, he shook his head and wove away from the crowd which had formed around him. Saffira did not move towards him but only stayed in her place as he approached. “How much did you drink before finally making such a grand entrance?”

  “That entrance was far from grand,” Riah said with a smirk, remembering the one year he had turned twelve and had insisted on being carried in on a litter. Saffira’s eyes also twinkled with the memory.

  “Whatever you say, prince,” Saffira dipped into a mocking bow.

  Riah suppressed the grin that threatened to flicker on his countenance. Only Saffira was allowed to mock him in jest. “Care to dance?” He gripped her arm without awaiting her reply and led her towards the center of the throne room just as the haunting music of flutes began floating about them. Saffira cast an apologetic glance at Cam who remained fastened beside a pillar.

  Riah gripped Saffira’s waist as she swung her arms around his neck, and they began swaying to the music. “Has my father consented to your desire to train the new Royal?”

  Saffira nodded, and a small smile appeared in her eyes. “Camaria is a pleasant person. Perhaps you should get to know her, being prince and heir of Gnosi and all.”

  “Doyouplan on takingher tothetempletomorrow?”

  Riah asked.

  Saffira nodded once more. “Duringthe afternoons, Caleb andI plan on taking her and her sisters to the sparing fields to train them how to handle blades. They encountered mad men in the forest on their journey here.” Saffira said the last words quietly, knowing they would strike a chord within Riah. He tensed. His hands gripped her waist tighter.

  “Do not speak of the forest or its inhabitants,” he ordered sharply. They were silent for a long moment. Riah shoved the thought of his insane mother driven mad by the forest, fleeing back into its supposed refuge.

  Ten years ago…

  But he guessed that it might not have just been the forest. No, it had begun three years before the forest.

  Saffira broke the train of Riah’s thoughts with a question. “Who is the guest you and your father have been keeping secret for the past month?”

  Riah peered down at her, his expression set in a near scowl. He shrugged, and his brow smoothed. “Just an old acquaintance of my father’s. I don’t know much of him.” The lie only stung Riah for a brief instant. He thought it better to not yet reveal the purpose of Leviathan’s presence to her; for the time being at least.

  “He handles theblade with skill. I sawhim in thegallery last night on my way out of the castle. Tell me, why is it he wears an eyepatch?”

  Riah shrugged again. “He lost it in a fight I believe.” He saw the smile flicker on Saffira’s face and knew she had caught him off guard. He sighed. “So you do know something of him!” she whispered with triumph.

  “Let’s not speakofit,”hesaidbrusquely.Saffira frownedbut did not press the subject further. The diminishing music signaled the end of the first dance of which only three couples had actually participated in. The torches were snuffed out until the moonlight peered through the glass walls and illuminated the throne room with nighttime splendor. The pipes picked up a livelier tune the second time, and Ira seemed eager to dance.

  “What is wrong with you?” she asked when Riah had ceased swaying and stared at the far wall. She turned to glimpse a hooded figure huddled against the wall. Though the creature could not be seen distinctly, Riah new the eyepatch was there as well as a bristly jaw and a single icy eye.

  “Leviathan,” he murmured.

  “So that’s his name.” Saffira turned so that her back was pressed to Riah’s chest. He nearly slid his arms about her waist as if to hold her. He decided against such an action and pushed her away from him.

  “I must speak to him.” He made no apologies for his departure. Riah did not glance back at Saffira, for he already knew she was staring after him with crossed arms and a shaking head.

  “The Gnosi leaders say l ittle of their magic. Apparently, it is seldom used. Or perhaps…they are saving it. From what little I have been able to learn of it, the magic ‘Gnosi’ means knowledge and when the substance, whatever it looks like, is taken, allows the eyes to scan a map, document, or anything for that matter and memorize its features, words, and figures and so on in an instant. This knowledge is stored for a lengthy time and proves useful to spies and other such servants of the realm. The Gnosi people seem as talented with their magic as they are with their words.”

  -From the writings of Daniel Adriel on his travels in Mirabelle, written during the Third Age.

  Ten

  “Did you ever meet Peter Adriel while you were in the Royalty

  Realm?” Cam’s eyes snapped back to Saffira who had been standing with her for the past few moments after her princely partner had suddenly left her side. Fiera had wandered off to look at the food selection, andCaleb haddisappearedaltogether. “Yes. Do youknow him?”

  Saffira laughed. “I am an Adriel. He is my brother. I do hope you can tell me what you thought of him. It has been over a year since I last saw him.”

  Cam began to see why Ira had struck her as familiar upon their first meeting. Cam related to Saffira her conversations with her brother but decided against mentioning the Spirit Followers. "Has his dancing improved?"

  “Nearly perfect. I can credit him that.” Saffira smirked. "He was always quite clumsy in that department. Or perhaps he tripped on me on purpose." Cam found she liked Saffira much more than her brother. "Ever since he left, it has been just our mother and me." Saffira paused. "Did Peter tell you of our father?"

  “Very little.”

  “I was too young to remember him or his death, but Peter does. It is his constant burden.” Saffira was solemn for a long moment until Cam finally pushed a small goblet into her palms.

  “We might as well enjoy ourselves,” Saffira smiled, and the two presently began to dance. The next hour passed in a whirlwind of colors and lively voices mixed with trilling sounds of windpipes and the plucking of strings. Cam and Saffira spoke of their home realms as well as the others. Peter was mentioned a few times, and Saffira shared stories from her younger adolescent years with Riah.

  When
they had finally become too weary to dance any longer, they collapsed onto the sofa at the far end of the room and finished off the drinks they had begun before. They remained for a lengthy time. As the night declined towards the midnight hour, Cam’s focus was drawn towards the prince and his company.

  He had reappeared from the shadows an hour ago and was now lounging on a sofa with a young woman upon his lap and several young persons flitting about him. He was offered goblet after goblet of which he gulped down eagerly. He laughed and stuttered with his companions. Cam noticed that Saffira was also watching them. “This is a common occurrence,” Saffira said in adry tone as if she had read Cam’s mind.

  “Why is it that Lord Apollyon allows such behavior?” Saffira reflected for a long moment. “Our realm values freedom, Cam. But Apollyon values excessive pleasure, as does his son.”

  “Just because pleasure is to be had doesn’t mean it should be used beyond…certain boundaries. Despite the fact that wine exists does not mean one should intoxicate themselves. I drink when I want, but if I were to be lost in a dizzying world to forget myself, I would feel quite unsatisfied after the fact.”

  “You speak wise words young one. However, you haven’t seen the full extent of it.”

  “You are but only a year older than me,” Cam returned with a small grin. Cam only saw the slight widening of Ira’s eyes. From the corner of her eye, she saw the young prince leap off the sofa at the prodding of his friends and amble his way towards them. Cam thought that he intended to swing Ira off into a dance again. Therefore, she was quite shocked when his lips melted to hers, and his hands pushed her shoulders back to keep her pinned to her seat.

  She barely perceived the intoxicating taste of his lips before she was writhing to push him away. He was jerked back. Cam glanced upward to see Saffira scowling and all others laughing and holding aching sides.

  "What the hell, Riah?" Saffira shoved him backward so he fell among his fellow mockers. Riah's amused expression vanished under Saffira's disapproving glare. The latter gripped Cam's arm and hauled her up. "We're leaving." As Saffira guided her towards the throne room door, Cam wiped at her lips as if to rid the incident away.

  “I understand that flirtation is common among your…people…but-”

  "He shouldn't have done it, I know. He was drunk," Saffira cut in with ice in her tone. "I'll be sure he apologizes." Saffira left Cam in the hall to leave by way of a side door. Cam stood for a long moment in the hall, shivering despite the warmth that radiated from the throne room. Finally, she took to the winding, marble stairs and wove her way among the corridors until she heard familiar voices drifted towards her. She slipped inside her chamber to find Terra running a brush through Fiera's tangled hair.

  "You're back early," Fiera said, craning her neck to see Cam.

  “What time is it?”

  “Never mind that. It is quite late and the party isn’t to end for at least another hour,” Terra replied.

  Cam noted that the clamor from below was quite distinct from the second level. She wondered how Adria and Mista, who were in the adjoining room, had fallen asleep. “I am weary from the dancing,” she said shortly as she plopped onto the bed.

  “Have either of you seen Caleb since this morning? He seems to have disappeared,” Terra inquired. She was now separating Fiera’s hair into three strands so she could braid it.

  "He left during the party. I do not know where" Cam replied. "You left early as well. I expected you to stay longer." She glanced at Fiera.

  The latter shrugged. “I too was…weary.” Little more was said as Cam slipped beneath the bedcovers and found she was soon drifting to sleep despite the clatter below.

  Before sunrise the following day, a soft knock sounded at Cam’s

  bedchamber door. She sat up groggily before she forced herself to her feet. Saffira stood outside fully dressed in tan trousers, a thin, white tunic, and an overlaying vest. She appeared both awake and alert. “It is time to begin your training,” she whispered. “This early?” Cam groaned as she sagged against the door

  frame.

  “I want to take you somewhere. I’ll serve breakfast.” “Is breakfast going to be a common occurrence for training?

  I am quite talented at eating.” With a grin, Cam closed the door softly and hurried into the comfortable clothing she had worn the previous day.

  The two walked in silence towards a small door concealed beyond a lavender curtain at the base of the winding marble stairs. Ira fished a key from her pocket to insert into the door’s rusty lock. “Only one key to this part of the castle exists. Apollyon entrusted it to me for your training.” Before Cam ascended a narrow staircase into darkness.

  Cam and Saffira felt their way up the pitch-black stairs. Cam graspedtheflimsyrailing.“I takeit not many peopleclimbup here.” Her words echoed through the staircase.

  “This part ofthecastleis reservedfor special…viewings. You will see,” Saffira replied. Presently, Cam caught a glimpse of a pale yellow light. They emerged into a small room, or balcony as she soon saw. Between the pillars, which supported the roof, drifted an early morning breeze. The source of light came from the sun which was slowly crawling over the mountains into the valleys and forests below. “This is the best view of our realm you can find.”

  Cam gasped at the sight set below her. The land sprawled out like a beautiful blanket dotted with trees and grass. The silver river resembled a curving snake. The valleys were deep and lush, infested with greenery.

  When she finally tore her eyes from the view, she returned her attention to the table set with two chairs that she had noticed upon her entrance. The furniture was adorned with lilies about the dainty platters of food. “I made breakfast myself. I enjoy cooking when I have the time.”

  Cam scooted the chair from the table so she might slide into her seat. “Cooking? My sisters nor I have ever taken much interest in the activity.”

  “Yes, cooking as well as music. Both Peter and I learned from our parents to play on a wooden pipe. I use to take much pleasure in thievery as well. Riah and I stole small possessions when drifting through crowds.” Saffira grinned.

  “What happened to that interest?” Saffira passed Cam the platter of poached eggs. She shrugged. “Riah took pleasure in other events. I do not enjoy stealing when I am alone. There is a certain thrill to getting away with something when you have a partner in crime. I suppose that stealing today would bring me punishment. From my mother at least.” Saffira’s soft laughter rung in the air. The older girl paused while Cam delved into her breakfast eagerly.

  “Stage one of training consists of seeing the realm and becoming somewhat familiar with its ways and people. You have completed this stage. Now, we will discuss the values we hold here. Eventually, I will escort you to the temples and teach you ways of combat.”

  With that, Saffira shoved both her plate and chair back. She leaned against her chair, crossed her arms, and beheld Cam. “If you fall in love with the realm it becomes easier to train. You have to understand what our magic symbolizes so when you consume its magic, the ability to wield it brings less pain and more ease in both speed and flow. What do you believe Gnosi represents here?”

  “I think,” Cam considered, “That Gnosi…meaning knowledge is tied to freedom. Your people believe that knowledge is the gateway to true freedom. Freedom as in not just existing, but living and taking advantage of every moment of life and not allowing strict rules hold you down.”

  Saffira nodded and smiled. “You’re beginning to understand,” she said. “We believe in freedom here, in independence. That each person should make their own decisions and follow their own path.” Cam agreed with Saffira that each person should make their own decisions, but part of her felt that she couldn’t trust herself or humans in general to make all the right decisions. It was impossible. This dawned on her as she recalled Riah’s behavior thenight before. “Just because one is allowed to do things such as intoxicate themselves, does not always mean it is the
morally correct deed,” she mused silently.

  “Do I really understand what she is saying? Should I tell her?” Cam wondered.

  "What does freedom mean to you, Cam?" Saffira asked. Her doe colored eyes were soft.

  “What does freedom mean to me?” she asked herself. Back home in the Medulla Realm, she was always confined to rules set by the leaders, rules they were never allowed to question. Now that she thought about it, there were things the Medulla Realm did that Cam could not expect herself to ever follow.

  “Freedom is having the ability to make one's own choices,” she said finally.

  Saffira’s lips tugged upward in a smile. “You understand Cam, much better than most people do when they come here. In time, you will realize the difference between this place and anything else, and you will see what freedom truly is.” Cam returned the smile, thankful that she understood, though there was still part of the whole concept nagging at her. She didn’t know if she could be trusted with freedom. She had never been granted so much freedom in her life, until now.

  “What do youthink ofyour people’s ideas offreedom?” Cam asked curiously.

  “It’s not that I don’t know,” Saffira replied hesitantly after a long moment. “It’s just that I don’t know if I should tell you. I love my home and believe very much that freedom is a good thing, but I am also convinced that freedom must be balanced with accountability and one must place or accept boundaries on their freedom. Humans cannot be trusted to make all the right decisions.” Her tone was grave. “By the way, I’ve learned that you don’t have to agree with everything a realm says in order to obtain the magic,” she added quietly with a grin.

  “Will you show me the magic?”

  Saffira glanced towards her. “I forgot. I forgot that your magic is just outside your home. That is correct isn’t? Peter told me the tree grows just outside the castle.” Cam nodded. “I am afraid that I am not permitted to show you the magic. Gnosi is kept in a secure place. Its location is known to few people in order to keep it safe.”