"Who has heard of the princess Elsie?" Genffaine asked looking around.
"The whole kingdom knew her- she was the princess of the land. Why?" Abigail asked.
Genffaine turned to Barsithe, "Do you remember what I told you on the night she died?"
"I remember everything. You said Alaidalene killed her. Was it you?" Barsithe said after a while, "Her body was burned to the bone"
Tikan stood awestricken. "Of course, who else kills that way?"
"In every society, there should be someone willing to do the dirty work." Genffaine said.
"So you killed the princess-" said Tikan.
"No I didn't. And don't think it doesn't bother me, that you always think the worst of me, when everyone avoids me like some disease" Genffaine said shaking from anguish.
Barsithe said, "What really happened to Elsie?"
"There she is" Genffaine pointed to Delinre.
"You turned her into a boy...to protect her" said Tikan incredulously after Genffaine narrated the story.
"I had to keep her where I would be able to keep an eye on her. I gave him to Alice to raise him as her son" Genffaine said.
"Cool" said Sarffin.
"I thought you hated her for what she did Genffaine, but you helped her, why?" Tikan asked.
"When a child climbs onto your laps, you suddenly have this obligation to protect the child...even at the cost of your own life" Genffaine replied, "She placed all her hope in me to protect her"
"You have a unique way of showing her that" Tikan retorted. Genffaine passed him a look.
"There's something of hers that I hid in the catacombs, I used it to produce a vivid illusion to fool Spike years ago...I need someone to help retrieve it so that I can transform him back," Genffaine said looking around.
"Which catacombs are you talking about?" Sarffin asked.
"Is there any other? I needed a place people did not like to go, Spike was too clever I did not want him to suspect" Genffaine replied.
"The royal catacombs... I've heard stories...The evil there never sleeps, the inhabitants of the province endure this den of fear, shrills and loud cries day and night..." Tikan said.
"Oh for goodness sake, it's just a ghoul. You appear to know the place, which is good. Take some men there and get it. I hid it in plain sight, among the bodies at the bottom shelves," said Genffaine.
"I should lead them to hassle with the ghoul...I-I beg your pardon?" said Tikan swallowing.
"What are you talking about, I'm no woman," Delinre said.
"Of course boy, you are not a woman... You are a queen" said Genffaine with a dreamy gaze, "A very powerful queen. Now someone has to go. Unless you'd rather tackle Alaidalene yourselves in the castle I can't stop you, someone has to deal with her before she comes looking for me. As much as I would like to pretend that Alaidalene has no idea what I am up to, I have to admit the queen is no dunce" Genffaine had sat down.
The room was quiet.
"If nobody wants to do it...I'll go. Most of you are bachelors anyway I don't know what you have to lose.I wonder who will serve as your eyes and ears in the kingdom when I die" Genffaine said and turned towards the door.
"I'm not a bachelor by choice. Its an occupational hazard" Barsithe said.
"He is amazing isn't he?" said Sarffin when Genffaine had left.
"If he had kept it in the city he wouldn't have to go through all this" Tikan scowled and rushed outside calling after Genffaine. "Fine I'll do it...I'll go with the men. What is it we are looking for?"
"Hair..." said Genffaine, "A lock of hair. I believe you of all people will remember the colour of Elsie's hair, judging by how you used to stare at her"
"Do you know what dwells in the catacombs?" Barsithe asked those left in the house.
"A banshee, we all herd him," said Ereic.
"Even with tears in his eyes Genffaine is still devious," said Barsithe, "we are going to need a lot of mirrors or shiny shields"
"Why?" Sarffin asked.
"You are going to hustle, with creatures that breed like snakes on those grounds. When a royal dies and the Order buries them anywhere outside the catacombs, the body turns into a gorgon in the full light of Aryan and hunts in the province. In other for that not to happen, a dead royal has to be buried within the catacombs. The problem is you can only do that if you get by those that are already there"
"Oh come on, so how do we get the hair" said Ereic.
"They say they are all over the place there's no telling when you'll meet one," said Abigail from behind them.
"Gorgon, what's that?" Sarffin asked looking at Barsithe.
"You still haven't learnt your lesson?" Barsithe replied.
"Didn't stay long enough to catch em' lessons, whenever they took me to the scribes I bolted" Sarffin said laughing.
"Well, we better be prepared for a fight," said Barsithe.
"If I get to punch the faces of some queens, I'm in" Ereic said, "Just get that gorgon on the throne off and give it to the - lady over there" Ereic said.
"You are all serious about this?" Delinre said.
"We need to turn you back, because Feltus like yours is what we need to save this kingdom, and boy or woman you will have to help us" Barsithe said and went to Delinre. "Desperate times require desperate magic,Genffaine gave me back my Feltus with that of my de-winged brothers, but its not the same without my staff"
"Hey! Why not pass some off to me?" Sarffin asked.
"Aright then" Barsithe said shoving past him.
"I thought we were pals", said Sarffin.
"Business before pleasure my dear Sarffin, there's no risking magic with whatever talents you have. Be careful, remember we are fugitives," said Barsithe. " I think you can all handle a bunch of bewitched women,"
"We are even struggling with the sane ones, you cannot be so sure of that," Ereic said.
Tikan came back into the house "Genffaine has a plan, we first need to infiltrate the castle; he will brief us in the evening"
YOU ARE READING
ARYSARNIA
FantasíaThe powers they had acquired were not meant for their mortal beings...They had acquired magic fit for gods...Ancarta!" She saw rivers pouring out of the outstretched arms of bonny infants, the earth screaming with chasms at the touch of old men ,fir...
