|
|
A few days later, I returned to the inn. It seemed like the events of that night had never transpired to most. But it changed some of us. Myself in particular. I'd never really thought about caring for anyone but one of my own. It was the way I was raised. Elves, humans, dwarves; they were all inferior to the might of the Tyberan Nation. They were to us as they thought animals were to them.But, as I sat here in the Inn, watching the ebb and flow of the patrons, I realized that these people were no better or worse than myself. The way the Tyberan thought was wrong. The humans were not animals, they were sentient beings just like we ourselves were. And, as I had come here to stay among them, I found myself beginning to care for them. To show compassion for them.
It was then I realized how different I was from them. And how much I wanted to be home. Every day the Amulet, that hung so heavily from my neck, reminded me of home and all that I had lost. I knew I had to go back. I had to or I would lose all sense of who I was. I had discussed this idea once with Cal, and he had been all for the idea. I knew that if I had discussed it with anyone else, they would have kept me from going. Had I the gift of sooth-saying, I would have stayed.
I studied several maps of my homeland that I had stored away in my travel bags. Every detail of my route and journey was planned out. On the eve of my departure, I told Cal of my plans. He wished me luck and godspeed. Unfortunately, Krol, Dark, and Quinn were not present to wish me good journey.
With the coins and jewels that I had, I was able to buy a Gate spell from a wizard and get him to open it near the Tyberan border. I told him that I would like to be able to summon him for the same Gate back, so he gave me a gem. "Shatter it and the Gate will open, but you must be outdoors." I nodded as I stuffed the gem into the pouch at my hip.
As I stood before the glowing portal of the Gate, I chanced one backwards look to the horizon where I knew the Inn was. That could very well have been the last time I was seeing it, but I had to know. I had to go back.
* * * The night was dark that I arrived on the Tyberan border; there were no stars and no moon. The clouds that hovered along the treetops were fat and full of the precipitation they would soon release. Thunder rolled in the distance, foretelling of the storm to come. I paused as the lights of the Border Guard Station came into view. This would be the first obstacle on my return home.
"Halt," the guard at the gate said, "Who are you?"
"My name is Lianda Soldovir," I said, pulling my cloak tighter around myself. The guard raised his torch over my head, glaring at me, "What is your business?"
"Just travelling, sir."
He drew his sword, "Are you Tyberan?"
I pulled back my hood to let him see my face, "I am."
He resheathed his sword and nodded, "You may pass."
I pulled my hood back up and made my way past the Guard Station. I trudged up the road. Not so weary as I was frightened. My fear ate away at my strength, leaving me unnerved. I jumped as small animals scurried through the underbrush. I almost screamed when a covey of quail took flight from a small tree. No matter how much I tried to calm myself, I just couldn't seem to do it. I made my way up a steep hill, steadily plodding my way up. I stopped at the hill's apex and looked down into the valley below. It was Tybir, the capital of the Tyberan Nation. In one section of that city, my family still lived. Most likely near the Palace, seeing as how most of my family was in the Queen's Service. My brother, Olan, was a Knight. My sister, Ylena, was a Priestess. My father, Garador was once a Knight. My mother had been the only one who had never served the Queen or the Nation. I had once been the personal bodyguard of the Prince, but when he died, I had been cast out of that profession.
I shook my head, Dwelling on the past will not make this any easier.
I made my way slowly down the hill, and through the city gates. Tybir had no need for guards on her walls. All of her defenses were magical. They would recognize all Tyberans, but should a human or any other besides our own people attempt to enter without the blessing of the Queen or King, they would be destroyed by the spells themselves.
I slipped into the city, making my way to a small inn in a relatively good part of town. I settled there, content to continue my search in the morning. I ordered a glass of tigerwine and began relaxing near the fire, thinking of my friends back at the Green Dragon Inn. I never thought I'd miss them, but I did. As my thoughts turned to that, now very, far away place, I did not notice the new patron enter the Tyberan Inn.
Table of Contents
© 1999 E. Angeli Mansfield