Cobalt Crown - Book One

7 Formality

     Kyrael opened her eyes to a room dimly lit by a pair of lanterns. The only window in the room displayed a nightscape. Her head pulsed with blood, and waves of pain ushered forth into her skull.

     "Ahh, my head," said Kyrael out loud, rubbing the bridge of her nose. She had no idea where she was. She sat up and began looking around. Kyrael saw that there was a pair of beds in the room, with various belongings placed on and around them. She was still wearing the same clothes she had on when those thugs attacked her.

     "What happened then?"

     The door began to open and before Kyrael had time to react, two men with cloaks entered the room. First was that blonde man she had seen in the square. His bald companion soon followed him in.

     "Oh, you're finally awake. Great, now we can have a discussion," Said Astor, holding a tray with three cups on it.

     "I have a feeling that you have a headache from that scuffle, is that true?"

     Viir closed the door, walked over to the center desk, and pulled up a chair to the bed. Astor approached and placed the tray on the desk beside the bed. Kyrael defensively curled backwards as he approached, and eyed him with bewilderment.

     "Yeah."

     "Ahh thought so, li'l lady. 'Ose bastards knocked you on your noggin pret-ty 'ard."

     "Viir, I'm feeling a little weary, would you be so kind as to give her some aid in my stead?"

     "Yeh, no problem. Too many healing hands?"

     "I'm afraid so, I overdid it a bit."

     Viir's face softened from his normally gruff exterior, as he pulled out a metal icon hanging from a chain around his neck. He approached Kyrael, and beckoned for her hand, then placed a small vial into it.

     "Drink it," said Viir. "It'll help a lot, trust me."

     She did so reluctantly. It tasted strangely like many things and nothing at all. Within moments Kyrael's headache began to dissipate until finally there was no longer any pain. She knew that there was no natural remedy that worked that quickly.

     "How's 'at? Feel better?" questioned Viir.

     "My headache is gone... you know magic – you both know magic!"

     Kyrael's eyes were afire. Magic was something she had only ever known in the tales her mother used to tell her and her brother in their youth when one of them had a bad dream, or felt ill. Occasionally, some travelling merchants would enter town selling some small magical trinkets, but they were always too expensive for them to afford. It was always something off in the distance of her life, but now here it was in front of her, curing her pain.

      "A'right, now settle down, it's what we need to talk wiv you about."

     "Viir's right, we must discuss the events of the last few hours. You know our names, and you know that we have magical ability. But we know nothing about you. What is your name?"

     The silence that followed bore Kyrael's hesitation. These were strangers. She wasn't sure if she should say what her name was. Her reluctance was clear on her face, and Astor saw it.

     "I'm sure we've made it apparent that we don't intend to harm you. We just want to be cordial to a young lady. I should have said this earlier, but if we're being forthright then I'll tell you that Viir and I are knights from Aurum."

     "Astor! You sure she should know where we come from?"

     "I think it'll be fine, plus she already knows our names. I trust her. I can see it in her eyes that she's got a trustworthy sense of direction"