Return to Caer Lon Read online

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  They followed the servant’s staircase to access the kitchens, which allowed them to go without encountering any guard. Derek took a mental note to add some patrols to those passages when they returned. Not only would it strengthen an obviously weak spot, but hopefully it would also prevent some reckless lady’s nocturnal escapades in the future.

  Sacha tiptoed across the vast room, careful to avoid the helpers who slept on the bare floor near the hearth. She had tugged her long cloak around her so it didn’t swipe the floor tiles, and Derek quickly imitated her.

  The kitchens’ backdoor opened on a rear courtyard and the stables. They walked swiftly through the yard and found their mounts ready, held by Sacha’s maid. The girl bowed to her mistress and confirmed that the northern door was free. Derek frowned; he really needed to talk to Geraint about security.

  Already on her mount, Sacha spoke softly, “Remember, Agnes, you have to buy us as much time as possible. If someone asks about me in the morning, inform them that I had a bad night and I am resting. As for Prince Derek, should anyone wonder, simply say you don’t know, or suggest he might have gone hunting.”

  “I will, my lady. Be careful!...”

  Sacha nodded and kicked her horse, immediately followed by Derek.

  The moon had finally set, which would cover their departure. The path to the northern door was unpaved and the bare ground muffled the noises from their horses’ shoes. Once outside the castle Sacha immediately turned toward the woods, hoping the canopy would cover them. They progressed slowly until they reached a good distance from the walls. Then she urged her mount forward.

  To ask where they were going was irrelevant. Derek knew where he wanted to go and apparently, Sacha had the same idea. They headed toward the Dark Woods.

  Chapter 4

  Elwyn returned to consciousness and instantly wished he had not. His entire body ached, from his wrists clasped in iron to his ankles, which felt like they were forming some unnatural angle with the soiled ground. He was pretty sure his chest was a rainbow of bruises; even breathing was painful.

  Blinking several times, he was surprised to find out he could actually distinguish forms through one of his eyes. The other was too swollen and throbbed alarmingly when he tried to open it.

  His prison was exactly what he could have guessed. It had bare stones walls, including the one he was chained to, absolutely no windows, and a massive iron fence forbade him to go visit the dungeons if he ever felt desire to do so. Only a rat would pass through that fence. A slim rat that was.

  Without windows, he had no means to tell if it was day or night. The dim light seemed to come from torches outside his cell. He had no idea how long he had been here. All he could tell was that he was hungry; and maybe thirsty too. His tongue felt like parchment paper in his mouth. Sacha’s trademark smirk crossed his blurred mind while her laugh echoed in his head.

  ‘You are always hungry and thirsty.’

  “Well, this time, Sacha, I really am.”

  Probably speaking aloud to his absent sister meant he had started to lose his mind, too. Words croaked out in an excruciating cough and he did not recognize his own voice. When he found his breath again, Elwyn was quite sure he might have sustained a broken rib or two, in addition to the rest.

  The past events were a fuzzy blur. He recalled discussing with Sebastian the plunder they had come across, while the cook complained the wood was too damp for a good fire. And then darkness had fallen upon them. Afterward, he remembered only pain.

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  “We never saw them coming. I am not even sure how many they were... Men dressed in animal furs and armed with short axes... They killed half of us before we even realized we were under attack... I recall the horses were terrified and they broke free, at some point… Elwyn… Elwyn and I tried to reach Erik, but we were cut off from the group, and… I don’t know what happened afterward... I remember being dragged on the ground. But…”

  Ylianor helped Sebastian up and brought a cup to his lips. He gulped some of the liquid with difficulty. The tentative grin on his battered face looked like a grimace.

  “I am sorry to say, it smells better than it tastes, Lady Ylianor…”

  She smiled at the poor banter, trying not to wince as her heart squeezed for the young man.

  “You will tell that to Derek when he-”

  Geraint snorted loudly and Ylianor lost her smile.

  “We let you rest now, Sebastian. You did well.”

  “I wish I had done better, Uncle, I-”

  “Shush… Rest…”

  The smooth caress on his forehead lulled him to close his eyes, and the young man lay back on his pillows without a protest, helped by Ylianor. Soon, the painkiller acted, and he dozed off.

  Geraint glanced at his nephew from the door, before he escorted Ylianor out of the room. They walked in silence to the Great Hall, where a few knights were waiting. The duke quickly gave his orders and then turned to Ylianor, visibly fighting to keep his calm.

  “I cannot believe Derek threw precautions to the wind like this! Does your son have any idea how much it has cost us to keep both of you safe all these years?”

  Igraine faced him calmly.

  “I am sorry, Geraint… I fear that when his friends are concerned, Derek tends to listen to his heart rather than his head.”

  Geraint breathed heavily.

  “Please do not hear me wrong, my lady. William and I were as close as brothers in arms could be, and I will never regret giving you sanctuary, never. Derek is brave and honourable, just like his father was, and a great warrior. But my priority must be the security of this land and its people.”

  Ylianor considered his declaration for a moment before she put a friendly hand on the man’s arm. His posture was still the one of a soldier, strong and rigid. His thick hair had greyed over the years, but the blue eyes were still alert and piercing. He had said nothing of Sacha, but she knew the father worried for his daughter, for both his children, just like her heart trembled for her only son.

  Foolish, foolish Sacha who always did what she thought was right, and damned the consequences. She had little doubt that the impetuous lady was the mastermind behind their disappearance. Derek was quick-tempered, but he valued obedience and generally followed orders. Geraint had clearly commanded him to stay put.

  The former queen gave a tight smile. That Sacha had managed to convince Derek to come with her was of little surprise. He never resisted a challenge from the fierce Lady of Haven, and if she had chosen to ply his resolve with coy eyes and trembling lips, there were even less chances he denied her anything. Especially if it meant going to his best friend’s rescue. Ylianor wished she had not advised her to charm instead of demanding to obtain what she wanted. At any rate, whatever the weapon Sacha used, now both were gone.

  The duke silently covered her hand with his before he glanced up to the blonde woman by his side with a humourless grin.

  “I fear our children chose the worst moment to finally give into each other.”

  Finding nothing to answer, Ylianor nodded courteously before she took her leave. The memory of Sacha’s dream worried her.

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  They stopped by midday to eat some bread and dried meat, and water their horses. Derek took a few minutes to check on their supplies. Sooner or later, he would have to ask Sacha about her plans, but he was not in a hurry to discover she had none. She always rushed head first toward whatever waited ahead, and thought later - generally too late - about trouble. The only difference was that generally, he let Sebastian deal with her.

  In some ways, Elwyn was the same troublemaker. Except that Elwyn used to drag him along - mostly - against his will, and this time he had agreed to come. Correction: she had tricked him into agreeing. He dismissed the thought with a frown and focused on their packing.

  Her maid had bundled about three days' worth of food; they'd have more if he was lucky on the hunt or they bought more supplies in the way. Examinin
g the second bag, Derek found a map, visibly older than the ones Sebastian had shown him the week before, and several phials he recognized.

  “Did you go through my mother’s stock?”

  Sacha put away her gourd.

  “I did not know what we… What Elwyn would need.”

  He uncorked one and smelt it, suspicious.

  “Well I hope you know how to distinguish cure draught from poison.”

  Her eyes gleamed dangerously, but Sacha kept her mouth shut. They were only a few hours from Haven and she could not afford to alienate him just yet. Or ever. If Derek did not accompany her, her chances of success were null. The young woman pursed her lips, irritated, and stood to stretch her legs before she walked to her horse to caress its soft nose before she mounted it.

  Surprised by her silence, Derek put his discoveries back in the bags, save for the chart, which he unrolled.

  “We should reach Worth Hall in about two hours; I prefer we avoid villages afterward. We will stop by a farm for the night.”

  “We could go farther. It is barely noon and-”

  Derek let the chart roll up again, and cut in.

  “We are tired and I have to draw our courses of action. You have a lot to explain, too. We will stop in three hours.”

  Sacha felt annoyance prickle the hair on the nape of her neck. Of course, he assumed the lead was his. It did not matter to him that she had organized their getaway by a safe road, nor did he prize her thinking about the food, the chart or the medicines. He simply implied she had stolen from his mother - borrowed without permission, if you please - and considered that being the male, he was in charge.

  “Fine.”

  One word was all she could give him without shouting her frustration. She was not - that - tired. She had nothing to explain. They had to go to the Dark Woods and then… Of course, because he was talking about resting, she needed to yawn.

  Derek shot her a quick glance, maybe astonished by her docility then he climbed on his horse.

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  It took them nearly the rest of the afternoon to reach the small town, and another hour to find a farm that Derek deigned to consider.

  The first two were dismissed because of their proximity to the small city, while the third looked more like a ruin than a farm; “The perfect trap for unwise travellers,” he declared, when they trotted away. The woman weeding the land near that one had a rooted smile that disclosed that more than half of her teeth were missing.

  The fourth building they saw more than half an hour later was small, but apparently in good shape. The farmer nodded briefly at them before resuming his work, and his sober attitude suited Derek, who finally stopped. A man more interesting in farming his lands than in travellers felt safe.

  After a short exchange, the man agreed to let them use the barn for the night. Sacha refused Derek’s help to unsaddle her horse and did her best not to grimace under the load. By the time they had tended to their horses she was yawning so hard she could not mask it. Derek announced he was going to speak with their host to get some fresh food, and Sacha vaguely nodded, already eyeing the hayloft. She nestled against a big bail of straw and sleep took her quickly after she arranged her cloak around her.

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  The light was dim around him, but he was getting use to the semi-darkness by now. It was not as if his cell offered the nicest view anyway.

  The headache was still there, pounding in his head and making it heavy. Elwyn fidgeted to activate blood circulation and the movement nearly sent him overboard. Only his instinctive grip on the frame saved him from falling. He was not chained anymore and the hard floor had transformed into a bed, as comfortable as his own. Maybe he was back in Haven. Or maybe he had developed a strong fever and he was still in his cell, and delirious.

  The vertigo from his sharp jolt dissipated and he risked opening one eye again. He was not in his personal chambers. But this didn’t look like the dungeon he had awakened in the last time. The room was small, yet agreeably furnished. In addition to the bed he was currently lying in, he spotted a chest and a large chair by a fireplace.

  Elwyn blinked. The chair was occupied by a young woman with straight blond hair, and she was looking at him with interest. When their eyes locked, she grinned happily. She was pretty. He scolded. This had to be the fever. No one woke up with a cute girl as a nurse after being beaten up into a pulp then chained with rats; not even Derek. Well, maybe Derek…

  “You are awake! I am Fillin. How are you feeling?”

  She had a nice voice. If this was a hallucination, why not make the best of it?

  “I am not sure. Where am I?”

  His voice was coarse from being unused and he coughed. The blonde helped him with a drink, unfortunately not wine. For a dream, it needed improvement. The beverage was vaguely acid, and sweetened, like lemonade; refreshing. Maybe it was better than wine.

  “You are in Caer Lon of course.”

  Her small laugh cascaded joyfully in the air. Elwyn closed his eyes. The name rang a bell, but he could not place it. He had probably read it somewhere on Sebastian’s charts and his overworked imagination plotted a fictitious world around it.

  “Why am I here? What about my cousin?”

  His companion sighed. The sad little sound forced him to open his eyes again.

  “I could not do anything for him. He was sent back. But I saved you…”

  And just like that, the young woman bent over him and kissed his lips. All in all, it was a pleasant fantasy…

  Chapter 5

  Sacha straightened up, startled. She moved a little and realized her face and her hands were cold, whereas she felt hot with the nurse of a headache. Her eyes adjusted to the feeble light, and she finally noticed Derek. He was seated by the opening in the gable that served as an upper door, looking outside. He stayed immobile with his sleeves rolled up despite the cold air coming in, apparently deep in thought.

  She moved to get up and join him but his voice stopped her. “There is some stew and bread if you are hungry. The stew is probably just warm by now.”

  The bowl was some feet away from her, close enough for her to smell the food. Her stomach growled in approval. The bread was a little crunchy from poor grinding but she devoured it to the last crumbs. The food helped to clear her head and she felt better, though still a little dazed from her nap.

  Derek had put a clay jug beside the now empty bowl. It contained some home-made ale and she sampled it carefully, nearly choking when the bitter taste grazed her tongue. The ale was strong and savoury, so she drank more. The alcoholic beverage succeeded in warming her.

  Sacha did not remember covering herself with her blanket, but it was spread over her legs. She curled under the thick cloth, propped up on one elbow, and squinted at Derek.

  “How long did I sleep?”

  He did not turn his head to answer her question, still watching the darkening fields.

  “You took in only a few hours. The farmer confirmed he saw our troops passing by a few days ago, then no one else save an isolated rider or two. Sebastian was not taken back this way. We will head northeast tomorrow. I want to arrive from the back at…”

  “Elwyn is in Caer Lon.”

  Derek stared at her in befuddlement and she calmly held his doubtful gaze.

  “We have to go there.”

  Irritation perked through his answer.

  “That is impossible. How would you know where Elwyn is anyway? We will ride northeast at dawn.”

  He did not believe her. How could she explain? He would simply laugh and dismiss her vision. Sacha took another swig of ale and immediately regretted it. The beverage was far stronger than what she was used to. She inhaled deeply to chase away the dizzying sensation. Derek chuckled and walked to her shelter to take the jug from her hands.

  “You want to be careful with that.”

  She glared but her displeased glance was lost to him as he sat away from her, his attention entirely devoted to the recipient he started
playing with, making it turn between his knees on the dusty floor.

  Sacha took his pensive attitude for an opening and tried again.

  “Derek, I know I am right. Elwyn is in Caer Lon. We need to go there…”

  He continued his little game in silence, though she was sure he had heard her. Why could not he rely on her? Frustrating, stubborn, idiotic specimen of a…

  “Sacha, Caer Lon is a myth. It was where the High Kings of Camelot held their court. The place was lost three hundred years ago. Elwyn cannot be there or it means he is dea-”

  “He is not dead!”

  She nearly screamed in anguish. He was her twin, her other half. If he had died, a part of her would have died too. He was alive. He was. She knew he was.

  Surprisingly, her outburst brought Derek closer and he put one hand on her arm to comfort her, though he took it off almost immediately. When he spoke, she recognized Ylianor’s reassuring intonations in his voice, soothing and warm.

  “Where did you hear of that name? No one talks about the High places anymore.”

  His voice lacked the characteristic sarcasm that annoyed her so much. Maybe he would listen if she tried…

  “Fillin told him. She is taking care of him; she had him removed from his cell and tended… She… She kissed him.”

  Disclosing the last part was a mistake, as she realized too late.

  “Kiss?”

  The prince roared in laugher. Sacha instantly jerked away from him to retreat into her lair of straw; bringing her cover up to her jaw, she turned her back on him. Derek was obtuse and closed minded. She should not even have bothered to try and tell him about her vision. She was going to Caer Lon, wherever it was. He could ride north or east or back to Haven for all she cared!

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