Esveldza: 'The Lonely Child of Fire'

Chapter XXXII- Hailynn and Ameiil

Chapter XXXII

Hailynn and Ameiil

Rippleave, like Areach and Kirrahh had been hibernating in the cave, after the war between Irtlevra and Arveltri, Rippleave almost drowned in the great waves created by the land of water. Rippleave washed ashore Neskun, the land of energy where he slept for a few years to try and save strength before he flew his dying body to Arveltri where he made it only to the borders where Half-Moon mountains stood.

I only became aware of the fairies in my lair recently, I watched as they prepared their rituals and the coming of the Marasob soldiers that would take the fairies power back to their king and repay them with more body parts from what they called ‘Eyei Islands’. I had not heard of the King of Marasob, when I was awake there was only one King of Arveltri and that was King Gaven whom Salvator and I served, I awaken again to more war and more foolish people declaring their right to rule over another. Rippleave was retelling what he knew to the Dwarven leaders, some were very angry to know that they were simply pawns in the plans of Elven affairs but most were just tired of fighting. They shared in Rippleave’s weary of fighting.

We were to use the teleporter and be taken back to Tivess with the elves, some of the wounded were coming to receive more advanced treatment from the top mages in Tivess and the dwarves had agreed to a peace between the two cities.

Daarken, Sarben and I waited with Noomkiara and Volcarn for the spell that would send us back home to be ready. Rumours of Marasob’s soldiers spread quickly throughout the city, I just wanted to leave so that Daarken would not have to deal with the looks people gave him, as if he was to blame for their city’s destruction.

“Daarken,” Sarben began, none of us had spoken in a while, we were weary and I turned sleepily to look at Sarben, “None of us blame you, we know that you have nothing to do with your father…”

Daarken sighed heavily and he covered his face in his hands, leaning against Volcarn. I didn’t think I had ever seen him so tired. “I never told you how my mother died, did I?” He mumbled, lifting his hands from his face and staring vacantly above him.

I tensed, it was true, although I had always wanted to ask Daarken as he knew everything about me yet there was so much he never told me, I never had the courage to ask him. I looked at Sarben; he was trying to politely hide his eagerness.

Daarken continued, “Her name was Hailynn (hey-lin), when my father found out my mother was pregnant he became obsessed with the idea that I could be used to shift the war, he told my mother that he knew I could grow to bring King Gaven’s destruction. My mother had always followed my father, she had been in love with him since he was a loyal warrior for Tivess but as she became pregnant with me it was if she began to see my father for what he had become, he was no longer the man she loved. She feared for my safety and fled to the outskirts of Zaldara, close to the Zaldex temple where the priests and priestesses watched over her. My mother’s sister, Ameiil (a-meal) was a priestess of Zaldex and in between her duties would look after my mother. My mother had become sickly in Marasob a few years prior to her pregnancy and it only grew worse, she died two months after giving birth to me. My aunty suspended her duties as a priestess to take my mother’s role. I do not remember my mother except a faint image of her long silver hair, grey eyes and her beautiful song she would sing to me. My aunty looked very similar to my mother, only that she had short hair and she too would sing the same song to me, as it was what her parents had sung to her and her sister when they were children too. We lived in peace for a few years, my mother had been the calm one between her and her sister, my aunty was the grumpy one, so she told me off a lot but she cared for me as best as she could. Then one day my aunty woke me in the middle of the night, she told me to run to the temple and to not look back. I was so young, I panicked but she shushed me by singing and shooed me out the window, telling me it was a game. I ran up the hill towards the temple but then I smelt the smoke and heard her scream. The house was burning with black flames that seemed to blend in with the sky, swallowing my home into it’s dark fiery depths. I don’t know how long I stood there in shock but then I felt a strong grip on my shoulder. For the first time I looked into my father’s red eyes, it terrified me yet I didn’t scream. I was only living in Marasob for a short while, my father had me learn to fight straight away, I had to know all of the politics and all the war strategies. My Master took me to Tivess for a short while, my father said I needed to know what the city looked like in person and my master needed to speak with the spies in Tivess. I… wandered off on my own and that’s when I met Akaiya.” Daarken’s eyes met mine, “You became my best friend but then so much happened so fast, they took you away and my master took me back to Marasob and I…” Daarken suddenly stopped, his eyes were wide and dry tears were on his face.

His voice wavered, I had been so engrossed in his story that I had shed my own tears, Sarben too and we were almost beside ourselves with tension to know what happened next. Daarken closed his eyes and sighed heavily, “…I ran away to Rannen. My father…never came after me… he just tried to send me notes… birthday presents…” Daarken stopped, he could not say anymore.

I stepped over to him and put my arms around him, holding him close to me like he had done for me when I told him of Forban. He returned the hug and after a few moments Sarben joined in too.

“We will always believe in you.” I whispered and Sarben agreed.

+++++++

The day after the first night back in my bed was glorious. I felt more refreshed than I had in weeks and for one day, I was free from my classes to recover, although I guessed it was also because Salvator had a lot of catching up to do with Rippleave. They were visiting Diyamond, Rippleave’s old mate. The times Jem visited us, she did not come with Diyamond and so Salvator never realised himself that Rippleave had fathered one egg. However, Jem had not hatched for years, as if she was waiting for a rider until deciding instead that she would hatch on her own. Therefore, Rippleave was unaware of his daughter.

Daarken, Sarben and I seemed closer than we’d ever been. Daarken and I played games together all day, Sarben even put down his books for a bit to play with us and although the quest had been great, we were happy to be home.

My parents were notified of King Frajher’s actions and he was called to court but of course, being a ‘king’ he declined, denying any association. The threat of war between Marasob and Tivess had lessened over the past few years but with the news, people began to fear again and they began to hate.