The Warrior Mage: The New Age

The Birthday Ball

~ 10 ~

The Birthday Ball

            It was fall in Raven; Audreana noticed how the leaves had changed to pretty colors and laid on the road that lead into town. They had made a special trip that way so they would be able to pass by the river. Audreana had asked him to stop that way. She had learned on their trip that it was going to Elijah’s first day back to Raven in a year. He had been away on business for Raven. He was up in Vangouren trying to settle the fish supply problem. It turned out that they were not trading because their fishermen had rebelled. Elijah stayed with the King as Erix had asked until the matter was settled.

            In Raven they enjoyed their fish especially shrimp, which came from Vangouren. It wasn’t the only reason why Elijah went over to Vangouren; Erix had taken Elijah’s advice when he said that he should start tying alliances with other kingdoms. So, Elijah went up there to get an alliance signed. To get Vangouren to sign Elijah had to settle the matter with the fisherman first. Needless to say, the papers had been signed.

            They walked down the dirt road in silence. They had spent most of the trip catching up on the thing that had happened while they were in different parts of Tegan.

When they came to the half burnt down house, Audreana dismounted and walked near the house. Other houses were not far, but they ignored the house still as if she still lived there, as a ghost.

            She walked to the door. It was the place where she had kept dreaming about, the place that haunted her days. She wanted to let it all go, wanted everything to be right again. She walked to it and felt the cold dry wood beneath her hand, she could feel a pain hit in her chest, and she sighed deeply. She thought of all the days in the house. Elijah was in her memories there; she could remember the stories he told her there.

            “Elijah?” She whispered.

            “Yes?”

            . It was in this house that Elijah had taught her so much about Elixir, he talked about it like it was a haven, a placed blessed with magic, and she believed him. She turned to him, “Where was it that you lived before Raven?” He had told her when she was young that he always lived in Raven. She knew it wasn’t true. It was seeing the old house that she thought of it.

            A sad smile crossed his lips, “Someday, Audreana I will tell you all of my secrets, as for today I think someone wishes to see us,” and he was right she knew.

            Erix was in his throne room, one of the Protectors at the gate told them. They were just as she remembered them, when she was young, tough, tall, strong, and wearing the same red uniforms. The castle too, was another thing she could still remember. It was tall and radiant. The stone was almost as new as Elixir, but not quite.

            The King was just where they said he’d be. He looked so much older to her. He was no longer was the eleven year old boy he once was. He’d been afraid of her. She frowned, as they walked the long hallway to her brother. She wondered if he would remember her when he saw her.

            He stood, “Ah…Elijah glad to see…” he stopped and looked at his sister as they came closer. He seemed to just see her for the first time, “’Dre?” he asked slowly before he came forward.

            “Hello, brother,” whispered Audreana. She was afraid that if she spoke louder that everyone would be able to hear her voice tremble, she was scared. She blamed herself for everything that happened, and she would understand if Erix did too. She half expected him to turn her away, banish her forever.