CHAPTER 6 - FREEDOM - Part 2

Cullen walked with Sonia into the garden of the castle. The two of them had been silent for the entire walk, as they traveled through halls and doors, until finally they reached a stopping point near a fountain that had a long bench beside it.
Cullen had witnessed the lingering interaction between Tik and Sonia as they separated and he had taken the observations of Idylls, putting them together to have some idea of what awaited him.
“Sonia,” he began, “First, I am sorry I didn’t send you home earlier. I shouldn’t have made you stay at all and none of this would have happened.”
Sonia sat a short but profound distance away from Cullen and kept her gaze at her feet. “This all happened for a reason and I am grateful to be free again. You must understand, I never thought we would escape, I thought I’d never see you alive again.”
Cullen shifted on the bench to face her. “I know Sonia; I know you thought you had nowhere to go. I wish you hadn’t felt like that, but I do understand.”
“Do you?” she asked.
“Why don’t you say what you mean instead?” he asked her in return.
“I thought we were stuck, I thought our lives would be spent serving the Host and Tik was there for me. He’s always been there for me, since the day I met him.”
Sonia remained staring at the ground, as if she couldn’t face him. Cullen listened and tried to hear the message between the words.
“I know Tik has always been there for you, and in many ways, he’s been there when I have not,” he said, as gently as he could.
“Yes!” she exclaimed. “I thought that I would see you die in that Pit, I thought I would never see you again! So I turned to the one person who had always protected me!”
“Sonia, I know that things between us have changed, and that things between you and Tik have changed. I’m not blind, just distracted.”
“And then when I saw you change,” she stumbled out. “That was more than I could handle. You’re different from us Cullen. You come from a different world and its one you belong in but I don’t.”
She looked up and tears ran down her cheeks. He still thought she was beautiful, but this was no longer a thing he could say to her.
“I’m a simple girl, who wants simple things. A regular life, with a man that loves me and children one day. I want to work at the Orphanage and teach children to be good adults. I don’t want to fight, or fire magical arrows at enemies! I don’t want to free people or raise armies!”
“Sonia!” he exclaimed. “I know! I know all that! And you can have those things, I swear. I’m sending you and Tik home today. And I also swear, you have my blessing.”
“You know?” she asked, finally looking him in the eye.
“Of course I know. I’ve been close to both of you,” he admitted. “I said I was distracted, but I’m not a fool. If this is what you want, I love you enough to let you go.”
For that moment, Sonia remembered why she had loved this man for the years they had been together. Just for a second she wanted everything back the way it was, before they had come on this adventure, but she knew it could never be. But she would always love him still.
“Thank you,” she said, almost breathless.
“Don’t thank me Sonia. I had no business bringing you here. I should have let you stay home. But you leave today, with a group of Xho that will guide you through the desert and back to the mountains. Tik will go with you and keep you safe.”
Sonia rose and took the three steps between them and stood in front of Cullen. She put her arms out to invite him in for a hug and he rose into her arms, one last time. They held each other in that embrace for many minutes, but eventually they had to let go.
Cullen walked her back towards the castle. “What will happen to the girl I saw you with?” Sonia asked.
“She’s free to do as she pleases,” Cullen answered. “She’s not like the rest of the Host. I hope she’ll come with us so she can see more of our world, but I just don’t know what she’ll decide.”
“Be careful Cullen,” Sonia warned. Cullen smiled and continued walking. They would always have a connection, that couldn’t be severed by new love or friendship. They had a bond that Cullen knew they would honor. She was already worried about his next moves.
They found the rest of their friends all eating in a large room in the castle. Cullen walked Sonia over to Tik and put out his arm to his friend. Tik took his arm in the warrior’s hand shake and Cullen pulled him in for an embrace.
“Watch over her Tik, keep her safe,” he said into Tik’s ear.
Tik stepped back in surprise but he had an awkward smile for his friend. “I will Cullen.”
“You both leave today. Go back to the Dwarves and I’ll find you when we return. I don’t know how long I will be, but I promise, we’ll return.”
“You’d better!” Tik laughed, putting his arm around Sonia. The others in the room could tell something had transpired between the three friends, and all of them were mature and experienced enough to not comment on what they observed.
In a corner Cullen spotted Idylls by herself and with another quick nod, he left his friends to go speak to her. She looked up as he approached and he noticed again, that she was beautiful, like Sonia but with a different, otherworldly beauty.
“Are you well?” he asked, coming to stand before her.
“Have you settled things with your mate?” she asked in return.
Cullen smiled and flushed, a little embarrassed. “Er, yes, everything is fine. I’m more concerned about you.”
“Your friends haven’t attacked me, but they don’t seen interested in speaking to me.” She glanced at the different groups in the room, all of whom were pointedly not watching her and Cullen.
“It takes some getting used to, having a member of an enemies tribe come to a different side. But they trust me, and I trust you, so eventually you’ll be accepted.”
“You trust me?” she asked, surprised.
“I do. During our talks, I think I learned about you, just as you learned about me. I don’t think you mean us any harm and I hope that you’ll come with us when we leave.”
“To go to your home?”
Cullen smiled and nodded. “Yes, when we go home. We have to free the last of the Xho in the third city, but after that, we’re going back over the mountains.”
“You seem so confident. The Dark Master lives near the third city. It is heavily guarded and half inside a mountain. You can’t sneak in this time and place your bombs! You can’t gather outside and rush the gate!”
“We have a plan Idylls,” he stated confidently. “But will you come?”
She looked at him, looking into his eyes that were the most delightful shade of green. His hair was dark brown with red highlights she could see in the sunlight that she still wasn’t used to.
He was strong and fit, well muscled from fighting most of his adult life. He wielded magic as well as the Queen of the Host, and around him gathered devoted friends and family. And she discovered he was a prince in his lands, from both lines of parents.
This was a man of honest ambition and power. Not a tyrant or overlord, but a simple man at heart that believed strongly in what was right and wrong, and he would fight to see it done.
She looked over his pale tan features and her eyes followed the swirling tattoos on his arms and neck. She wanted to learn more about him. She wanted to see his home and see his world. She wanted to spend time with him.
“Yes, I’ll come with you. I may be able to help.”
“Excellent!” Cullen said happily. “Then come with me and eat before we march! This is the last we’ll see of Tik and Sonia until we return home. We should try to have fun while we can!”
Cullen boldly put his arm around her shoulder and brought her into the crowd of people. He made it clear to them, by putting his arm around her that she was to be accepted and protected.
Tris’tan was the first to speak with her, sharing some delicacies with her, and soon the rest of them began to speak to her. She was formal and respectful and nervous, but Cullen stayed by her side and soon she felt more comfortable with his friends.
They were alive and happy to be so. They were filled with hope and bravery, they believed in freedom and justice. They fought together, bled together and this made them stronger. Idylls could see the bonds between them, where her mother said they were weak, they were in fact strong.
This was a new world for her, but she eagerly soaked it in.

***

The Dreamweaver entered the large room from the high bridge he had just crossed from a different set of trees. The Daoine Sidhe had welcomed him and Grimm into their city as friends and allies. They had stayed in rooms in another one of the giant trees that were interconnected by wooden bridges.
The room they entered was carved out of the center of the tree and polished to a deep red color with carvings all around depicting elven warriors fighting Dragons and other mythical beasts.
This was the King’s less formal meeting place, that the old man and Grimm had been invited to, in order to hear what elven spies had learned about Holdfast. The room was occupied by King Dagda and Vivien, as well as several high ranking elves.
The room was mostly filled with long couches and covered in lush pillows where everyone could lounge about while talking. The Dreamweaver guided Grimm, who was still almost senseless with grief, to one of the couches facing the King.
The Dreamweaver had stayed with the old warrior all through the night while he wept tears of anguish after fleeing Holdfast with Glivagar. The Dreamweaver felt it had been the best move they could make considering how many Rathians he saw near the High King when they left.
“Thank you Sire, for having us and keeping us safe. I don’t know where else we could turn if not for you,” the old man said as he bowed towards the unearthly beauty of the elves.
The King was gold in color and had long white hair that was braided into one thick braid that came around his shoulder and fell across his chest. His eyes were yellow as well, and looked like liquid gold.
Vivien was buxom and a reddish gold color, both hair and body. Her eyes were a white gold color that contrasted beautifully with her skin. She smiled invitingly at the Dreamweaver and he flushed with feelings he hadn’t entertained in a long time.
“We are always glad to host friends of Cullen’s, and we were allies with your former High King. You are welcome to stay here as long as you need,” Dagda replied with a voice that sounded like distant song.
The Dreamweaver loved to be there despite the reasons, he felt awed every time he was near the Daoine Sidhe. Their grace and beauty was second to none. Just being near them made him feel more youthful.
“I’m afraid nothing we have to tell you is good however,” Vivien said, her delightful smile changing into a look of sadness that touched the old man’s heart.
“We need to know whatever you’re discovered,” the Dreamweaver admitted, turning to look at Grimm who just stared, red eyed at the two important Faeries. He still seemed lost.
“We sent some of our people to Holdfast as quickly as we learned from you that something had happened. We have learned much and more. Are you prepared to hear it?” the King asked, his voice solemn and sure.
“I am,” the Dreamweaver spoke, leaving out any views of his warrior friend. Grimm was listening but still separated from what was happening.
“Then this is what we have learned,” Vivien intoned as though this were ritual in some way. “High King Remus the First was murdered by King Nicu.”
The Dreamweaver knew it was coming, but it was still surreal to hear it. The man he had known since he was a boy, who had fought to become High King, fought to unite the Known World, had been murdered. He had died without his friends close to him, killed by an upstart King.
“It seems that during the melee the Rathian used real weapons, not the blunted ones everyone else was using. Many of the men from all the different Kingdoms have been wounded, especially the Knights of Seawatch,” Vivien continued.
“They planned this from the start!” the old man exclaimed.
“It seems that way,” Vivien agreed. “So the Kingsguard tried to fight the Rathians but they were overwhelmed. Nicu took the castle and the city within hours of killing the High King.”
“We have to gather the Kingsguard from the other Kingdoms and strike back!” the Dreamweaver said in a rush, looking at Grimm as though he would leap up to send word out.
“I’m sorry Dreamweaver, but this plan goes further. We sent our people to the other Kingdoms as well. Nicu’s men have killed the Kingsguard stationed in each Kingdom. He has successfully taken the High Kingdom for himself.”
The Dreamweaver’s mouth opened in shock. The thought of hundreds of men, slaughtered and killed, it was mind numbing. He just couldn’t imagine the amount of destruction this one man caused.
“Has he killed the other Kings as well?” he asked, breathless with grief.
“They live,” Vivien reassured him. “They have been kept captive, first by magic, but no just by the Rathian’s guarding them. They have been told to accept the new reign of High King Nicu and he will let them live.”
“The audacity of that man!” the Dreamweaver raged, anger finally coming. “What won’t he dare?”
“He has also demanded that the Daughters of Simon and Adrian marry his sons, thereby tying the Kingdoms together more permanently. The Kings have argued against it, but they cannot stop Nicu now, not without an army. He has given them the rest of the year to prepare, but he says that come the New Year, they will be married.”
The Dreamweaver sat back in his piles of pillows. He was stunned at this. “Are you sure of all this? I mean how did you come by this information, what if –“
“We have stayed hidden for centuries because we are careful and can go places without being observed. I promise you, this information is correct. This has really happened, and you two are the only ones free of his influence.”
The Dreamweaver looked at Grimm, who looked worse than before. The massive warrior just hung his head between his shoulders and stared at the floor. The old man put his hand on his back to try and give him some comfort.
“We need the boy,” he mumbled. The Dreamweaver wasn’t sure he heard him.
“What did you say?” he asked.
“We need the boy, Cullen,” Grimm said louder. “He could raise an army and with his power he can take on Nicu’s magic. We have to go find him”
The Dreamweaver looked up at the elves. King Dagda was nodding his head. Vivien smiled, “I’d like to see him again. And we would follow him in battle. But only him.”
The Dreamweaver glanced back at Grimm. He knew it was true as well. They needed the boy who had grown up in War with the Host. But he was gone, somewhere over the mountains, in another world. He’d had no word since he crossed the Everwinter Mountains.
“We’ll have to go to the Dwarves then. And either wait for Cullen there, or go after him.”
Grimm stood then, all of a sudden, almost leaping to his feet. “We thank you for your hospitality King Dagda, Lady Vivien, but what he says is true. We need to find the boy and bring him home. You’ll excuse us?”
“Of course,” Vivien said, her playful smile back. “And you’ll need a guide to get you there. Glivagar will take you, since you already know him. Go with our blessings and bring the boy as you call him home. We will gather our people.”
The Dreamweaver groaned as he climbed to his feet to follow. Grimm suddenly had purpose and was striding out the door leaving the old man behind to rush and catch up. Soon they were on the ground again, mounted on horses and Grimm was urging them to be gone.
The Dreamweaver shook his head and thought, please come home Cullen, you are desperately needed.

***

Cullen had marched with what was no the Xho army and they were headed towards AluChet, the City in the Mountain. It would take over a week to reach the base of the mountain, which had once been a volcano Abd had informed him. A mountain that shot fire and ash out of its top. Abd swore it had been dead for ages though and the heat from inside warmed the city.
Cullen had been told that the mountain had been carved into a city that had some parts visible on the outside of the mountain, while other parts were hidden inside. A river ran from the top of the mountain to the bottom, with its water rushing over the top of the city and guided past with a carved slide.
People farmed the outside near the river where the land was green and not sandy, but they also farmed other growing things inside, in the shadowy inner farms of mushrooms and lichen.
Cullen didn’t know enough about this last city, it was definitely different, reminding him more of the Faery cities back home, carved out of the mountains or made in the trees.
Sending Tik and Sonia back made him think about home. As they walked through the sands, Cullen looked up at the wide expanse of sky above him. He wondered if anyone at home was looking up at the same sky as him.
Cullen wondered how the Dreamweaver was. He was an old but vibrant man that was busy and active throughout the day. He missed sitting down with the old man to tell him new things about Faery culture he had learned.
And he missed hunting with his father, the High King. He had grown to like the man as he learned more about Kingship and what that entailed. Cullen wasn’t sure he wanted to be King but fortunately his father wasn’t that old and would be there for years to come.
That made him think about himself and his own age again. Sonia was right in thinking they were too different to really have a life together. Tik and Sonia would grow old together, while Cullen remained young still. His mother had confirmed his fears and told him she was sure he would outlive most of the humans he knew.
Thinking that was made him more grateful to have found Idylls. He looked back to see her walking with Tris’tan and they were involved in an animated discussion. His brother had decided to like the Host Princess right away and Cullen was grateful for his support.
Cullen wondered how old Grimm would have handled this next attack. This was going to be a real test of the training they had given the Xho. Could they mount a full assault on a guarded mountain fortress?
As the sun slowly sank to the horizon, Abd and Fakhri called a halt to their march and men started setting up camp to rest for the night. Cullen made his way to Abd and stopped near him to talk.
“Any word back yet from the men you sent ahead?” Cullen asked.
Abd turned from watch men set up tents for the commanders. “No my friend, and now I am beginning to worry. A runner should have come back to at least tell me they haven’t found the old tunnels!”
“Yes, that’s strange, to have no word at all. Should I have the Asrai go ahead to check on them?”
“No friend, please keep your men close,” Abd said instead. “I worry for the men but I will not send anymore. It’s best to stay together since we don’t know enough about their Dark Master.”
“Yes, even Idylls has only seen shadows and his eyes. She says the eyes are huge, but it could just be magic, that makes him appear large.” Cullen looked back to see her and the Asrai coming closer.
“We’re stopping for the night?” Tris’tan asked.
“Yes, this is as good a spot as any. The desert is all the same.”
“Actually the desert is different in many places, in many ways,” Fakhri corrected him. “There are different kinds of sand, different dunes, all manner of creature and growth, you’d be surprised!”
Cullen laughed, “I already am! I had no idea!”
“You’d know if you fell into quicksand!” she laughed back.
“Good thing we sent guides with Tik and Sonia!” Cullen joked. The others laughed and started to unpack their tents and belongings.
Deep and his men were quick to set up a circle of tents that would surround Cullen and the Faeries. They all slept in one tent together, while the Kingsguard slept two men to a tent and kept a careful watch.
All around them the Xho set up more tents, thousands of them, and the sounds of camp grew louder, mixed in with the scent of food being prepared.
“I’m hungry now that I’ve smelled food!” one of the twins exclaimed. He and his brother started getting their own food out to eat.
Idylls had insisted on being the one to cook for Cullen and he watched her set up a small stove and created a fire while she prepared food items that she had learned about from Xho cooks in the castle.
Cullen watched her graceful movements and he decided that she was quite lovely to look at. She had such smooth skin that faded in the twilight. She could hide in shadow like no one else. Just her eyes would glow in the dark, a rosy violet color against her pale white hair.
Within the hour, the camp had settled in to eat and some soldiers began sleeping so they could rest before their watch. The Kingsguard had eaten and Cullen had talked to them while they ate. He had made sure none of them were wounded or sore and that all would be ready for climbing, and possibly digging once they reached the mountain.
Then he returned to eat with the Faeries, sitting down on a small folding chair, right next to Idylls. Roarr was noisily eating his second bowl of curried rice and meats while Aki was delicately eating next to him.
The Asrai sat together, eating and watching the camp, always aware and prepared. Anton ate with the Fae group, since he and Tris’tan had become closer during their planning of the attack.
Cullen enjoyed Anton’s company as well. He was a quiet unassuming man, that could battle as well as any, but often chose to find a peaceful route if he could. And he had greatly enjoyed speaking to the Curates in the two earlier cities.
“Do you know if there is a mosque in AluChet?” Anton asked Cullen.
“I asked Abd about that for you and he said yes, but there are strange rumors about that city and the church may be non functional,” Cullen answered, finishing his bread and cheese.
“I have not spoken before, but perhaps I should now, before we get there,” Idylls said quietly, her voice musical like other Fae, but her tone was dark this hour.
“Do you know something about the city Idylls?” Cullen asked gently.
“Queen Hrim is not like the other two Queens. And her Hive is different as well. She does not let the humans occupy her city like the other did.”
Cullen eyed her carefully. She was sharing her knowledge but she feared the reaction of her words.
“Go on,” he said.
“She keeps the humans in pens like cattle. They live in large groups, and are kept watched by the Hive soldiers. They are allowed out during the day to farm and work, but at night they are brought back into the city and kept in pens that are filthy.”
Idylls looked around the circle as she spoke, looking into the faces of each warrior around her as she shared with them her knowledge of the atrocities of her people.
“There is no choice then, other than to take that city as well, no matter what stands before us!” Anton said, alarmed and outraged.
“I agree Anton, but we must keep our heads,” Cullen said carefully. “They know we’re coming and they have a good idea of our power. They are waiting for us this time, and it won’t be nearly as easy as the last two.”
“We’re going through tunnels, is that right?” Gwydion asked.
“When the mountain was first used, it was mined for a particular kind of gem that only comes from being in a volcano. The heat in the mountain creates a special stone that the Xho cherish and so they mined for it.”
“We are going to find the old tunnels and dig our way into the city limits and try and attack from behind as well as through the front,” Cullen explained.
“We’re going to attack the front gate as well?” Roarr asked in his gravely voice.
“Yes, some of our men will fight the front line. There is a bridge that crosses from the mountain to the front gate of the city. It’s wide and wooden, but it will hold many men. But they will be the distraction as we climb in from behind and attack there as well.”
“Someone strong has to take the gate. Too bad we sent Tik back with the other Sword,” Tris’tan said glumly.
“My sword focuses my own magic,” Aki said, surprisingly, since he often said nothing. “The Queen will attack with her shadow magic. I should be at the gate.”
Cullen looked into his violet eyes. Fox looked eager as well, knowing he would go wherever Aki went. Ever since Cullen had seen the Spriggan’s ability to swell up to three times his normal size, he had more respect for the tiny warrior.
“Alright, then you go in the front with Fox. Anybody else want to stand in the front?” Cullen asked.
“I’m going in the tunnels,” Roarr said. “That’s where a Dwarf belongs!”
Everyone laughed at that and stopped to eat the rest of their food. After some other discussion, mostly about the upcoming battle and where the Xho would be most useful, they all settled in to sleep.
The tent was vast and everyone could find their own spot to sleep. Cullen waited until Idylls picked a corner and then he lay down in front of her so he could protect her.
With the Kingsguard on watch, Cullen closed his eyes and thought about Sonia and Tik, hoping they were sleeping safely on their way home.

***

Tik and Sonia were lying together in their own tent, set up along the old road that went from the civilization of the cities to the mountains. Nobody remembered why the old road had been built, but it kept one safe from the Wyrms that wandered the dunes in the deep desert.
Sonia was tired from the long hike to their current location and Tik was eager to sleep because the dreams were stronger than ever now that he held his sword again. He kissed Sonia goodnight and laid his head back to sink into sleep.
He didn’t know how long it took but soon he was asleep and dreaming about the nowhere place that the sword met him each night. The landscape was dark, an empty nothing where Tik floated in space.
The man in black appeared some distance away and he walked closer, stepping like he was on a road, but walking through space all the same.
“Tik, you have come again,” the man said in his deep frightening voice. His eyes glowed deep red and his skin was black and shiny. He wore a suit of strange cut, like no clothes Tik had ever seen worn by someone.
“I’ve come to learn more from you!” Tik said excitedly.
“Tonight you shall learn, but not from me,” the man said, his smile extra big and toothy.
“What do you mean?” Tik asked.
“I shouldn’t tell you this, but since we’ve grown so close, I’ve decided I would tell you. You’re going to be attacked tonight. In fact if you don’t wake up soon, you’ll have no guides left!”
Tik was startled by the man’s words. He had always been rather dark and spooky, but he had been teaching Tik how to use the sword with more understand and skill. But this was the first time he’d ever threatened him.
“I’ll be attacked? When? By who?” he asked, starting to grow concerned.
“Now boy, right now! WAKE UP!” he shouted in a voice that was bigger than anything Tik had ever heard. In that moment he was awake and sitting up, moving Sonia aside quickly.
She stirred and mumbled something but then Tik heard the scream of one of the guides. He grabbed his sword and rushed out of the tent with nothing but his underclothes on. He rushed out of the tent and in the light of the full moon he saw shadows, killing his guides.
Two men were already lumps of dark shadows on the ground, while the other three men were running to him, shouting at him to save them with his magic sword. He focused on the two approaching shadows and tried to make out what they were.
Then he saw the red runes on their weapons, and in that moment he knew. These two attackers were Champions, Host killers that had fought Cullen and almost won. And now they were here, coming at him and Sonia was six feet away sleeping.
Tik raised his weapon and charged into the night with a scream.