Private Tales The Legend's Heir

[Solgrin]

Solgrin made his way across the camp, his gaze flickering back to the camp as he pulled himself up into the saddle of one of the wargs.

"He'll return." He said flatly again.

Necromancy was a taboo in many places, and in the Kingdom that he and Nasaar had served in it was no different. The man had been clever even then though, and his practices had been well hidden until Solgrin had revealed them to the court.

It had been a part of his coup of course, an attempt to usurp Nasaar's place. While Solgrin had been the greatest General of the Kingdom, Nasaar had been the Kings favored adviser. Getting rid of him had been paramount.

Unfortunately, the man had a habit of not staying dead. "The magic of the gem is not the only power he wields."

Just as it was with Sol himself.

"He is a necromancer...of sort." Lips thinned to a grimace. "His soul will journey to one of his men, snuffing out that mans life and taking his place."

 

[Serafina]

Sera's face drained of colour the more he spoke and her eyes flickered nervously to the dead men who littered the field. The walking dead were a horror story her father had told her when she was young and never something she thought she would have to encounter. Was that a hand she saw begin to move?

"Well... no need to give him the gem to add to that," she was practically the first person to kick their mount onwards. Whether he intended it or not it firmly dismissed any small desire she had of being taken by Nasaar again and wielding the magic for herself. She would be sticking even closer to Solgrin from now on.

The mood was subdued as they rode through the rest of the day and most of the night till the beasts began their usual snapping and snarling which indicated they were tired. Sera carefully undid the leather straps around her thigh and swung her uninjured leg over so she was sitting sideways on the warg. Tentatively she lowered herself to the floor so as not to just her leg.

"Can you show me how the saddle works?" She asked then bit the inside of her cheek realising it probably sounded like a naive request. "My father always said it was important to tack and untack your own horse..." her voice trailed off under his gaze.

 

[Solgrin]

Solgrin slid from his mount, glancing over at Serafina as she asked her question.

For a few moments he did not answer, and then he nodded his head. "Wargs are different than horses."

That was of course rather stating the obvious. The beasts behaved differently, held different mindsets, and were clearly more aggressive than most horses. There was an edge to them, and dealing with them could often be dangerous.

"Watch carefully." Solgrin said as he undid some of the straps on the saddle, shifting and pulling several small metal clasps before the saddle came undone. Then he came to a strap, one that could barely be seen through the fur. "Don't ever undo this."

He told her. "They have to grow into it, adjusted as they get bigger."

Otherwise it would be painful.

"It sits on a nerve on their neck." Solgrin explained. "Without that pressure they fall into The Blood Haze."

Under certain circumstances anyway, but when in combat that was something no rider wanted to risk.

 

[Serafina]

Sera watched curiously as Sol undid the straps and listened intently to every word. The warg itself every now and then looked back at her with impatience for not getting it done quicker but a small scratch and he seemed content to let her learn slower. Sera might not have appeared particularly bright: she was a young girl, naïve, preferred pretty things to getting her hands dirty. But she did have a quiet love of learning installed in her by her father. He had also taught her the benefits of hard graft and had always tried to ensure she could stand on her own two feet.

"Thank you," her finger ran over the last strap curiously. She didn't need to be told what the particular were of a Blood Haze, the description was enough for her to know it was bad. "Can I ride him again?" she looked up from the warg to Sol. She only managed to hold his gaze for a moment before her eyes slid off of him like any animals did in the presence of someone who they were aware was in charge. But something had been bothering her...

"Nasaar said you two used to run a kingdom together... is.. is that true?"

 

[Solgrin]

Solgrin considered for a moment, and then nodded his head. Wargs were pack animals, they followed the leader. It took years of training and a skilled rider to make them part from their own. That was why they had put the two girls on their own Warg so long ago.

Convincing the creatures to run from their pack was hard. "Sure."

The Bandit Chief said eventually.

She would have to be watched carefully of course, but steps had to be taken. Trust had to be built now. A leash fitted around her neck to make sure that things went well. Solgrin took a step back as he watched the beast, frowning slightly as she asked her other question.

"In a way." He admitted. "I was a General, he was an Advisor to the King."

Sol explained. "We sat on the King's Council along with two others."

The King himself had been a weak man.

 

[Serafina]

Sera smiled when he granted her request and turned her attention back to the warg and ensuring he was comfortable. It butted at her elbow impatiently for food but she ignored it in much the way she would dogs who begged at the table. Instead she tugged down the bundle of items and hugged them to her chest as Sol, surprisingly, answered her other question to. Shock had her head snapping up when he admitted to sitting on the King's Council. It did go some way to explaining the way he walked and acted in the band. Like a God among men.

"Is that what you want to do with my power?" she hugged the bundle closer to her chest. "Take revenge? Burn that kingdom to the ground?" Kill innocent people? the question was unspoken but it hung there. Sol might have arrived before Nasaar could fully get into Sera's mind and play his careful tricks, but he had planted one seed. One crucial seed. The girl had no stomach for violence and the idea she might be the cause of thousands of deaths...

 

[Solgrin]

"No." Solgrin said, letting the answer hang in the air for just a few seconds.

She likely would think it a lie. Some sort of deception meant to make her feel safe, letting her feel a bit more secure in what was going to happen. The Bandit Chief couldn't blame her for such things. She was young, naive.

The world had never swept her up, never tossed her around.

If things were different she could have lived a happy life, peaceful even. Had her blood not betrayed her she might have gotten away from all of this and been a simple serving girl. Unfortunately for Serafina, fate was often cruel.

Solgrin knew that better than most. "I already did that."

With that he walked away towards the tent that had been set up for Sera and Violet.

 

[Serafina]

Numbly, Sera followed.

His answers had not eased her concerns but rather heightened them. If he was capable of doing that without her magic then what great, master plan did he have for the future? A part of her screamed and begged for her not to pry. Ignorance in this situation would definitely be bliss but, there was a part of her that knew that even if she had not cast the spells herself, if she had not been the one to direct the elements towards her foe, that it had still been drawn from her. Any destruction or pain or death was because of her.

You could take it away. End it.

Her eyes drifted to the dagger at Sol's hip. If she slit her throat then the gem would be useless. Who knew what other faint tendril of the tree was out there, if any? Another shattering thought came soon after. If she was the last... how would be ensure there was another? Force a child upon her then take it?

It felt like every step took an hour with such melancholy thoughts.

"SERA!" Violet hurled herself past Sol and into her friends arms as soon as she was through the tent. For a moment all she could do was stand there in bewilderment. Then slowly her arms wrapped around her friends waist, bundle discarded on the floor, and hugged her tight. Maria had been sharpening a blade and looked up when they both entered. She didn't say anything but there was a nod to Sol and then she left.

"I thought you were dead, I thought..." she sighed and cupped her friends cheeks then properly looked at her. "All the while you were shopping?!" Sera couldn't help a small bark of a laugh at her friends attempts to cheer her up. Her eyes flickered to Sol and then back to Violet.

"I brought spares, it should fit you. They're warm, too."

 

[Solgrin]

He let the two girls have their moment, staying quiet for a few seconds as they spoke of shopping and enjoyed the safety of one another.

Quietly he was happy that the other girl had survived. Not because he cared for her safety of course, but because she would be intergral in making sure that everything would go right. He just had to ensure that the timing would actually work the way he wanted.

"Well be stopping at another town soon." Though smaller than Illia.

He had two pieces of the gem, now but that left two more. Solgrin knew where the next one was, and it would see their journey twist into cooler climates. Even what Sera had taken from Nasaar would not be enough.

"You can buy more there." He told them, granting them that small freedom.

Small lengths of rope offered. Something to cling to.

Something to look forward to. "Shoes too."

 

[Serafina]

Both girls looked at Solgrin as though he had just told them he was going to buy them ice cream. Disbelief, trepidation, confusion, but also underlying it all a small bit of excitement at the prospect of something normal. Violet looked down at the boots she was currently wearing and when she lifted a foot the sole sagged half off. Though she looked the more wary of the two girls even she wasn't going to question his sudden kindness if it afford her the chance of not having wet feet.

"Thank you," Sera said slowly when she had recovered from the shock. "Yes... thank you," Violet added though her tone suggested she knew it was going to come with a price for them both later on. Her eyes flickered to Sera and the way the girl looked at the chief now. The more she lost the fear the more she worried for her friend. Fear was healthy in certain circumstances.

"Girl!" Maria shouted from beyond the tent and Violet grimaced. "Maria says I need to help with chores now I'm better," she said by explanation then with another glance between the two, ducked out of the tent.

"And then after the town...?" Sera waited until her friend was gone to ask what Sol's kind trip really was in preparation for.

 

[Solgrin]

"The mountains." Solgrin decided to tell her the truth. Small lengths of trust would go a long way, but that did not mean he wouldn't make sure to eat h her every moment.

The coming days, weeks, would change form how things had been before.

"Up the Old Road." Not the Spine, but instead the Rhagar Mountains. Those peaks were not quite as tall, but impressive enough when looking at them from the plains of the steps. "There is an old Fort there. We'll spend a bit of time there."

Just a little.

Solgrin looked at her up and down for a second, then half turned. "Get some rest. Tomorrow you will join your friend in doing chores."

Everyone in the group did them. Even himself.

 

[Serafina]

Sera nodded and a small frown knitted her brows together as her mind worked the information over. She hadn't seen many maps, or rather, she had seen one almost every day but never bothered to give it more than a cursory glance. It wasn't that she was not interested in such things it was more just Yarrin didn't see the point in having them. What could people possibly want with the lands beyond their small group of territories? They were far removed from the world and enjoyed the peace their little bubble brought them from the strife of the world.

"So, warmer clothes," she half said to herself before glancing to the bundle at her feet. Though what she had taken was warm it was not mountain top warm. For that they would need thicker wools, furs. Probably even shoes for dealing with ice and not the smooth souls she had on now.

She did blink, however, at his last comment. Her cheeks coloured. Was the look because he did not think she was used to hard labour? Her chin jutted in the air slightly and she folded her arms over her chest.

"I can cook," her father was the Household cook and he had been using his daughter in the kitchen for most of her life.

 

[Solgrin]

Solgrin shrugged. "I'm sure you'll learn other things too."

Maria was the one who generally handled the dolling out of chores. Everyone took a turn doing most everything. It helped keep an equilibriam with everyone, no one was above keeping them all alive and healthy.

He had figured that intergrating the girls I to that would also eventually keep them safer.

At least make them feel that way. "Think of it as an opportunity."

He told her.

"Pay close attention and you'll learn everything you'll ever need to survive." A prospect that he imagined was more than a little appealing to her now. "Not just what others have told you is important to know."

 

[Serafina]

Another deep frown cast her eyes into a dark haze.

As much as Sol's tiny bits of kindness, his little bits of freedom, were beginning to make her feel more at ease even she wasn't quite at the point where she could see this as an opportunity. How to survive was appealing, yes, but there was a sombreness to the fact she even needed to learn. If it hadn't been for Sol right now they would be preparing for a ball. There would be laughter, a warm fire burning in the great hall, a feast, dancing, romance. She saw it dance all before her eyes then dissolve as she refocused on Sol's face.

Bitterness was a bad taste in her mouth as she dropped his gaze and turned her face away as though she were suddenly interested in what else was in the tent.

"I'm sure I will."

 

[Solgrin]

Solgrin did not say anything more as he left, simply letting Serafina get the rest that she required.

The next few days were strangely ordinary. The group traveled together, their pace slowed from what it had been before their time in Illia. Each night they made camp, and each night a certain amount of paranoia hung over the Bandits.

Yet even with that things went smoothly. Both of the girls were further integrated into the group, shown how to cook over open flames, clean the Warg's saddles, and even taught to play some of the small instruments carried by the men.

Some still stayed away from them, but none treated them as harshly as before. Those that would have were forced to stay away.

Solgrin did not approach either of the girl, unless they spoke to him first, save for Violet on a single night. With her he offered a few whispered words. No threat as Ari would have made, no painting of violence or horrors to be done to her, but a word of advice.

A simple guidance on Serafina's well being, her need for companionship.

It was short, quick, and over before she could even ask a question.

A few days after that the small group of Bandits crested a hill, and the Rhagar mountains came into view. They were white, almost entirely cloaked in snow, and even the forest around it's base held pinpricks of a winter sheen. The air began to grow cold, and the group slowly made their way towards the village laying at the foot of the mountains.

 

[Serafina]

"See, look, I told you there were eagles."

Sera shot a playful glance to Luka as he pointed to the birds circling in the sky above them. The Bandit was the closest to her and Violet's age and he had been a part of the group who had cared for her when Violet was on the brink of death. Since then the two had grown closer and their bond had deepened into a friendship. Aside from Violet it was him she spent most of her time with.

"Fine. I owe you one dance," Violet had let slip that her friend always danced when there was music and when the Bandits had tried to get her on her feet around the campfire she had refused out of embarrassment. Luka brought his warg closer and smirked.

"It's okay, I'll get you back to your tent in one piece," Sera rolled her eyes but a smile played about her lips. Eventually her eyes turned to the town they were quickly approaching and she took a deep breath. The last two times they had been in a town hadn't exactly gone well and she was nervous.

 

[Solgrin]

Serafina would find Quna, as the town was called, quite a bit more sleepy than either the Maw or Illia.

The people of this town did not tend to ask many questions, mostly because they saw more bandits and raiders pass through than they would have liked. So close to the Maw and thrust into the middle of three Kingdoms that had constantly warred with one another, the people of this village were used to people with more...shady intent.

A silent agreement had been formed between the people of this town; no one would ask anyone any questions, and in returned the townspeople were left alone.

It was criticized by some, but in a world that was as selfish as this one it had kept the two hundred or so residents alive and even thriving. Travelers brought business, even if those travelers were of a more sordid sort.

Quna tried to keep a more positive outlook on things, and for Solgrin that was especially true.

He had been here before, lived here in fact. A short while after his exile almost ten years ago. After his coup, before he had returned to raze the Kingdom that had cast him aside. He knew many people in this town, and they knew him.

For many of the Bandits it was a much friendlier return, and as they rode into town Sera and Violet would notice the happy smiles and gleeful waves offered by the townspeople.

Solgrin himself, shockingly, wore a smile. Apparently not paying any attention to Sera and her new friend. Violet rode surprisingly close to him.

 

[Serafina]

"Why are they waving...?" Sera asked quietly, moving her warg a little closer to Lukas. Her eyes flickered between the people suspiciously, looking for some sign that there was something wrong here, but there was nothing. Even the wargs seemed to relax here in a place they knew the scent of well. She half turned to glance at Sol and Violet who looked equally bewildered. When she saw her friend looking she just shrugged her shoulders. "Why is he smiling?" that was perhaps the most disturbing thing. Lukas just laughed though.

"That'll cost you another dance."

They made their way through town until they reached an inn and the group dismounted. Sera had become quite deft at undoing the saddle now and she gave her mount a good pet once it was done before turning to Luka and Violet who were chatting near Sol.

"Are you our shopping chaperone?" Sera smiled towards Luka.

 

[Solgrin]

"Thank, my old friend." Solgrin finished speaking as he clasped the man opposite him by the forearm and pulled him into half a hug.

The moment was shockingly friendly, human, far more than anything Serafina had ever seen the Bandit Chief do before. Yet it seemed genuine enough, and the man opposite said a few more quick words before he stepped away and headed off.

Solgrin watched him for a moment, then he turned towards the others. "You won't need a chaperone."

He said with that same smile.

There was no reason given for that of course, just another small length of rope graciously handed over. It helped of course that the entire town was theirs, and if the girls decided to run they would be hunted down faster than they could take their first free breath.

From his belt Solgrin pulled a bag of coin, dangling it in the air in offer.

 

[Serafina]

Sera wasn't sure what was shocking her more; Sol's smile or the fact he was letting them out of his sight. He might not have said a word to her since that night three days a go but he had always been close, no doubt keeping an eye on her. Violet seemed to recover before her.

"Excellent," she snatched the bag of coins from his hand before he could change his mind and threw him a tight smile. That just deepened Sera's confusion. "Come on," her friend looped her arm through Sera's and strode off into town, having clearly already seen the shops she wanted to visit on their way in. She threw a pleading look at Lukas over her shoulder but the lad just laughed and called.

"Get something nice to dance in!"

"You two are getting quite friendly," Violet said in a low murmur and flashed her a smile. Sera's cheeks reddened and her friend began to laugh. For a moment they forgot their situation and their day was a blissful one.

 

[Solgrin]

The rest of the day practically ran by.

Solgrin was nowhere to be seen for most of it, though as they made their way from shop to shop the two girls would spot the Bandit Chief every now and again chatting to some villager or another. Each time they seemed genuinely entranced by him, drawn in, as though they were quite enjoying the conversation as a whole.

Eventually though the sun was beginning to set, and the cold air became more and more crisp.

Luka came to Violet and Sera, finding them in one of the last shops in the little town. He wore that same smile as before, but a new coat hung off his shoulders. On its shoulder was a strange patch, what appeared to be some sort of Dragon swiveling with it's wings.

"Ah there's the two beauties of the band."

The young man called out to them, waving his hand as he stepped into the shop.

"It's getting to be pretty late, thought I'd see you to your lodgings. There's monsters up here and such. Gotta be careful."

 

[Serafina]

As Lucas entered Sera turned in the beautiful velvet red dress she had been trying on. The bodice hugged her slender curves then from her hips pooled to the floor like a waterfall. The bodice itself was decorated and the sleeves draped about her shoulders exposing the elegant sweep of her neck. Tiny patterns decorated the neckline and hem in matching gold braid which gave it almost a military look. Lukas let out a low whistle and motioned for her to spin which she obliged him with.

"This is perfect for the dance tonight," he grinned and offered out a hand which she took daintily. Her head listed to the side curiously.

"Dance?"

"The town is throwing a big party tonight in the square. There will be drinking, good food, music," her spun her as he spoke and her skirts flared out dramatically. "It's a kind of tradition when we visit," he smiled and glanced to Violet and clutched his chest. She wore a gown in the colour of her namesake with beautiful sapphire detail instead. Hers was entirely strapless and the corset was patterned further. "How ever am I going to dance with you both all night?"

"We were just trying these on for fun really..." Sera said shyly, cheeks heating. Nothing so beautiful would be practical for the mountains like the rest of the clothes they had brought but Lukas waved it off.

"For Sols crew you can loan them for the night," the tailor smiled and bowed. "Two beauties like you wearing my gowns will bring the whole town here tomorrow morning. Go, go, enjoy the night."

 

[Solgrin]

As they moved through the Town it was very apparent that what Luka had said was true.

Everyone was setting things up and preparing for a party, though in a village like this that was not so much to speak of. They were by no means poor, but they were also not as Rich as true merchant cities or things of that sort. The festival was a small affair, though it meant more to many in the bandit crew than could have been said.

Most of them were vicious, violent murderers. They had been soldiers, thieves, outlaws for years. It was not often that they were hailed as the good guys, so when it happened, there was a certain sense of glee to it.

This was not madness on the villagers parts either of course. Solgrin and his men had earned this in their eyes, long ago.

Eventually they wandered through the preparations and to the large Inn from before. A few of the bandits were standing outside, chatting or smoking. The doors swung open, and Solgrin was sitting at one of the tables speaking with a woman who was clearly from somewhere in the village. There was a scent of smoke in the air, mixed with the pleasantness of roasting meats and fragrant herbs.

"Ah. There you are." Solgrin said in greeting as the trio made their way inside.

 

[Serafina]

After the ordeal the girls had suffered the last week or so the soft twinkling lights and bunting that was being strung up was practically magical. Despite the chill the three were laughing and joking with one another as they made their way back to the inn. Once inside and as the smell hit her, Sera realised just how hungry she was.

And how much she had missed good cooked meat.

She tore her eyes away from the food when Sol spoke and stiffened somewhat. Should they have been back earlier? He hadn't said anything about a time limit to their shopping. Luka gently ran his hand across the small of her back and leaned down to murmur in her ear then disappeared upstairs to stash away the clothes they had brought for the journey.

Violet handed back the spare coins.

"These are just on loan... the tailor said we could for the party..." Sera said awkwardly.

 

[Solgrin]

Solgrin watched Luka for a moment, his expression blank for a moment before he slowly pulled his gaze away and let it fall back on the two girls.

As they tentatively explained the state of their dress and handed back the coins Solgrin nodded. He considered the metal in his palms for a second, and then slowly shrugged his shoulders. "Keep them."

The Bandit Chief insisted, gently pulling Sera's palm back out and depositing the coins.

"Make sure the tailor gets his payment. If they're more have him come talk to me." More kindness, more of that odd seeping caring that was now coming from the Bandit Chief. A softer touch, another slow manipulation.

"There may be occasion for them in the future." He explained, leaning back in his chair. "Just make sure to pack them away carefully."

Otherwise they'd be swiftly ruined by their trek on the mountain.