My Crown for Your Heart

Chapter Five

EDIN

Long after the celebrations have ended, the old woman's words continue to ring in my head. I saw Elentiya during the celebrations, looking bright and happy as she explored the grounds with Hilda and other people from my household. Our engagement has not exactly been publicised but the people speculate after she continues to stay in my household long after the death of her entire family. The old woman's words trouble me, what did she mean when she said that Elentiya's time is running out?

Something happened, something very bad that took away both her father and mother as well as her brother. Ever since that day, she has not been the same, and not only because she needs my blood to live. She must take blood every once in a while, or she becomes a thing, a creature borne of nightmares that I try my best not to think about. I have figured out the timeline around that, and I think we are holding off her illness pretty well. So what did the woman mean by those ominous words?

I have dismissed her words many times. Surely it was merely the ramblings of a woman who has nearly lost her mind. I felt like a fool for taking her words seriously in the first place, and blamed it on the previous unsettling talk I had with my men. But her words stayed on my mind because of something else that she said, that my own time is running out.

As much as I have tried to ignore it, what she said resonated hard with me because if I am being completely honest with myself, I feel it too. Like a precious hourglass, I can feel my time trickling incessantly down the drain with every passing minute. I feel like a ticking time bomb and even though I have tried hard to place the vague feeling, barely anything comes to mind that should be troubling me so. There is only one, the persistent feeling of something breathing down my neck. I believe her when she says my time is running out because I feel it too and that is the only reason I am seated behind my desk in my study, ruminating on her words instead of going through the correspondence stacked neatly on my table.

The place where the moon hangs lowest, she said.

I puzzle over her words, wondering where on Earth that could be, if such a place even exists anywhere in Bynkars.

A knock sounds at my door and it is pushed open, Hilda stepping in. She looks at where my back rests against my high backed chair and I surely have a thoughtful expression on my face, to the neat stack of correspondence lying untouched on my table.

She strides forward, a tray balanced on her hand.

"You have been in here for long, my lord." She says. "I brought you refreshments."

"Where does the moon hang lowest?" I ask. She stops mid-motion with the suddenness of my question but then she steps forward and sets the tray down in front of me.

I pick a chocolate cookie and pop it into my mouth. As usual, Hilda's baking is exceptional. The cookie tastes creamy and refreshing.

"Do you want me to answer that?" She asks.

"Of course. Why else would I ask the question?" I say.

She steps to the side and folds her arms behind her, getting a thoughtful expression on her face.

"Hmm. When the moon hangs lowest? That will be at dawn or dusk." She supplies helpfully.

"Where, not when." I say.

"Where?" She reiterates, brows lowered as she thinks deeply. "That will be at the top of a mountain. The mountain on the East is pretty high." She says.

I sigh as I wave her away. "Leave me."

"Or could it be a figure of speech? Maybe the question is not really the moon but perhaps referring to someone with as much beauty?"

I groan and point to the door. "I think that is enough guessing. Out." I say.

She obeys, still looking thoughtful. When she reaches the door, she turns back yet again. "Are you sure I shouldn't stay back? If given time I am sure I could figure out this riddle."

"You have done enough." I say with a tight-lipped smile and she finally and reluctantly steps out.

I sigh as I grab another cookie and take a sip of her calming tea.

Where the moon hangs lowest.

There is no such place like that in Bynkars. If there was, I would know and the entire city would know. Unless if... As Hilda suggested, I should not be taking the words quite so literally.

Where the moon hangs lowest. It has to be a place where I can find the old woman so... Moon's Touch?

Moon's Touch is an inn at the outskirts of Bynkars. My men and I have bunked down there many a time after a trip outside the empire when it is too late to make our way further in. It couldn't possibly be so easy... Could it?

I rise suddenly and stride to a hook from which I grab my coat and my hat. If I am right, I will find the old woman and she will explain her cryptic words to me once and for all.

I find Hilda resting a hip against the center table, looking thoughtful. Immediately she sees me, she perks up.

"Master, I think I got it!" She says, coming back to life.

I hold up a palm, indicating for her to seal her lips.

"Hold it." I say, casting a glance at her when she hurries after me, hot on my heels.

"But I think I know where it is! There is this inn called Moon's Touch at-"

"I know." I say and she deflates.

"Of course, all wise Master. If you were going to figure it out what was the use in asking me the question in the first place?" She grumbles. I smile.

"I am impressed though, you figured it out a little faster than I thought.

"You know, I am unsure if that is a compliment or an insult." She says but she has perked up again.

I exit my manor and stride to the stable. The stable boy hurries forward to me.

"My Lord! Will you be needing your horse?" He asks and I nod shortly.

"Yes. Get my horse ready to ride immediately " I say. A short while later, Fighter is saddled and rearing for a ride. I climb onto her back and then we are racing down the path. I will give the woman one chance to explain her words. She had better be in Moon's Touch as I have predicted. If she is not, I will not spare one more second in giving her a thought.

The Empire of Bynkars with its several kingdoms united under one banner flourishes. There has never been a ruler with as much of a magic touch as Emperor Mormont does, and each Kingdom conquered under his name flourishes, the people becoming safer, richer and eventually much happier. Even if I was not bias as his Commander, I would think that none of the kingdoms are unhappy and if asked to go independent, back to the situation they previously were with their corrupt leaders, they would refuse. The Saints themselves have also blessed the lands. Abundant greenery lines the cobbled paths, producing almost all the fruits and foods needed by the empire. The few foods not found in our lands are easily imported and many of the kingdoms that possess such valuable resources have either been conquered by Emperor Mormont or are in a strict, mutually beneficial agreement with us. The Saints have protected our lands from the worst of each plagues and our animals are healthy and filled with vitality. Under Emperor Mormont 's hand, we have all flourished indeed.

It takes me about an hour to get to the inn and I finally slow my horse as I come across it. The words "Moon's Touch" are boldly written on a huge signboard and hung above the entrance to the inn, with the depiction of a full moon.

I get off my horse and hand the reins to their stable-hand before approaching the inn, a little hesitantly due to what I might find inside. For a second, I wonder if I have been foolish by coming to chase answers that will bring me nothing but misery, for if anything is obvious it is that the woman's words did not denote goodness but bad news. But it is because of what it denotes that I cannot brush it off effectively. Good news, I can wave off as the rambling of an old woman but when it comes to foretelling of bad things to happen, my thorough personality could never ignore it blissfully like a fool. Foretelling in itself is also forbidden by the law under the Saints but I did not become Commander by plugging my ears from hearing difficult news. In fact, each day that passes, I breathe and live in the language of difficulty, nothing has ever come easy to me.

When I stride into the inn, the bar-tender immediately recognizes me and leaves his post to hurry forward, bowing deeply.

"Commander! We were not expecting you." He says in a hurry.

"I was not expecting to come here either." I say, looking around. There are several people sitting by the bar and around tables, halfway into their cups but the old woman is nowhere to be found.

"Please tell me how I can make your stay here comfortable." The bartender says eagerly. I glance back down at him.

"I am looking for someone." I say. "An old woman, about this tall." I say, holding my hand below my chest level. "Wore a dark grey cloak the last time I saw her."

"Old Marguerite." The bartender says. "She said she was expecting a visitor and to direct him in when he comes."

I straighten. So she is here afterall.

"Where is she?" I ask.

The stairs leading to the sleeping chambers creak under my weight as I make my way up, having withstood ages gracefully. A few minutes later, I am standing in front of her door. Casting away the light case of nerves that has attacked my belly, I give the door a hard rap and make my way inside. The room is completely empty, not even boasting the customary thin bed that each room normally has. There are only curtains over the opening windows, billowing in now and then with the breeze. It does not look like anyone sleeps here at all. She stands at one of the windows and at the sound of me entering, turns around, a bright smile on her face.

She looks about thirty years younger.

I stare at her, uncomprehending. It is surely the same wizened old woman, the same cunning brown eyes rest in her face but her skin is smoother, more youthful.

"I can see you are confused with my looks. Are you more comfortable with this?" She asks. In a blink, she ages thirty years, becoming stooped and truly wizened as I saw her last.

"What is this?" I ask but there is only one answer. "Magic." I throw the word down between us. She dares much, revealing herself to me like this.

"Do not cast stones in glass houses, my Lord." She says and my eyes narrow at her. Surely she is only taking a guess, surely she does not truly know...

"Relax." She says and rests her back against the window. "If I wanted you dead, there are easier ways to go about it. By calling you here, one can even say I am trying to save your life." She drawls.

She has some sort of magic, either shape-shifting or time-sifting but as she has so clearly pointed out, so do I. I shall call a truce then. We shall both ignore the albatross in the room, skimming dangerously close to treason and I shall get the information I want and be out of here as soon as possible.

"Your words. Explain." I command.

She bows her head and obeys.

"I told you that your time is running out, my Lord. You must have felt it too." She says.

"Of what concern is it to you?" I ask.

"It is not." She says with a shrug. "But her time is running out too, and that concerns me alot."

I take a step deeper into the room. "How do you know Elentiya? And of what concern is she to you?" I ask.

She does not say anything, but stares at me intensely with a frown creasing the already deeply creased lines of her forehead.

"Answer me." I say, more than a little frustrated not to be getting all of the answers I seek.

She finally straightens and nods to herself.

"Your time is already running, my Lord, you must make haste. I am afraid I will not be able to answer all of the questions you surely have but you must trust me this once." She says.

"What?" I say. She is rambling on and on. Why would I trust a woman I met only yesterday?

She steps forward to me urgently, eyes looking deep into me, like she is looking into my soul.

"There is a woman. You must head East, you will find that the winds carry news of her. Find her, she is the key to saving yourself and Elentiya."

"What?" I ask. Another journey? This time to find a woman I have never seen? "What madness do you speak?"

She leans in, her hot breath bathing my face as she lowers her voice. "Elentiya is dying. Soon, your blood will no longer be enough. She will need your blood more and more until your blood can no longer sustain her. Unless you find this woman, she will die and it will be by your hands. If you do not kill her, then the people close to you will die."

I process her words in the space of a fraction of a second. I can feel the truth in them. I felt it when I watched Elentiya.

"How will this woman save her?" I ask.

"Not just her, but yourself as well. Her blood you see, it is strong magic, you shall see for yourself.” A smile graces her lips as she becomes lost in thought for a moment. “All you have to do is feed her to your fiancee, give her every last drop of her blood and everything will be as it was once again." She says.

Everything can never be as it was. No magic can bring back Elentiya's family but if I can do this one last thing for her, if I can do this most important thing for her... My body shudders to think of the weight that will be lifted off my shoulders. The woman sees the resolution in my eyes and she cackles wickedly.

"How do you know so much?" I ask. She knows more than any other person does. It crosses my mind briefly, the danger of this woman living. She not only knows my biggest secret, my magic, but she also knows my other dark secrets. The sword at my waist hangs heavy but my hand makes no move to grab it. I have never killed an innocent, I will not start now just to protect my secret.

I do not know what the woman sees in my eyes but she steps back with a nod. "Your secrets are safe with me." She says. "As I said, if I wanted you dead, Commander, you would be long gone."

My defenses rise at such a challenge and she raises her palms up to indicate that she means no harm.

"Who is this woman? How do I find her?" I ask, bringing us back to the matter at hand.

"I told you, head East." She says. She suddenly springs into motion and grabs her cloak from the hook and pulls it over her shoulders.

"I hope to see you again, Commander." She says. Then she shoves past me and leaves the room.

"Wait!" I say. I am not done questioning her. But when I step out, she is nowhere to be found.

...

I stand in front of the Emperor and the numerous members of the court.

"Commander Edin!" Emperor Mormont's voice booms from his throne, sounding most delighted to see me. "My favorite man. It is so hard to get ahold of you these days." That is surely an exaggeration. If the Emperor wants to see me, all he has to do is summon me and I will be with him.

"Pardon me, Your Majesty but I have been back only two days. Surely you did not miss me terribly in that time." I say and he guffaws.

"I trust you to always speak your mind freely with me. You are right, I have missed you terribly. I miss you every second that I cannot see you, more than I miss my wives and my mistresses I reckon." He says. The men and women around him laugh at his statement. Prince Caerl sits on a smaller throne on a lower dais beside the king and he stares at me looking faintly bemused. He must have noticed the men that I have appointed to trail him. He cannot complain publicly about that without incurring further scrutiny on himself and his movements from everyone in court. What he does not know is that the tails are only a decoy. The real people appointed to trailing him will never be seen or noticed. Behind the bemusement is a faint glint of cunningness that makes me my eyes narrow at him. He is planning something, I am sure of it. It is a pity that I will not be here to unravel it but I trust my men and Vinel in particular to do as much in my absence.

"What has brought you here, Edin?" Emperor Mormont asks.

"If I may have a word with you in private.." I begin.

The court members lining the room glance at each other, wondering if they are being dismissed, which they are.

The king waves them off. "Please. Excuse us. My Commander and I will have a word in private." He says.

There are unhappy frowns on the faces of the people that feel entitled to know the every business of the Emperor but they cannot refuse to obey and they thus, shuffle themselves out of the room. Prince Caerl hesitates, unsure if he is also included among the people but the Emperor smiles and motions him onward and he huffs but he follows the rest of the people out. The prince’s gaze narrows on me on his way out and I look back at him pleasantly. I wait until the entire hall is emptied before I stride forward and stop at the bottom of the dais, dropping onto a knee.

"Your Majesty, if you will, I have a favour to ask."

"Rise, Edin. You and I have come too far for such stiff formalities." Emperor Mormont says and I rise to my feet. "What favour is this?" He asks.

"I would ask for leave, Your Majesty." I say.

"A leave? Whatever for?" He asks.

"I have private business to sort out, Your Majesty." I say.

"I see." He replies, looking thoughtful. "This is the first time you are asking for a leave so I cannot very well refuse it." He says and I bow my head. "However much I dislike it because I like having someone I trust completely close at hand, I know you wouldn't be asking if it wasn't extremely important. How long will this leave be?" He asks.

"I am not sure. I hope it will not extend beyond reasonable time but I estimate something between four to six months." I say and he nods.

"Look at me, being all sentimental." He says and rises from his seat before making his way down to where I stand. "Take as much time as you need. The Saints know if anybody deserves a good long break, it is you." He says. "Don't mind this old man and take care of whatever that needs taking care of."

I take a step back and bow deeply, glad that the leave has not been made into a big deal.

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

...

When I leave the castle, I go on to take care of all of my other business that needs taking care of before I leave. The whole time, a sane rational part of my mind cannot believe I am doing something so impulsive as following the words of a strange old woman, on a merry chase around the world in search of some other woman rumoured to be able to solve all of my problems. It feels like something that could be done by young inexperienced boys who know no better. I can be quite impulsive sometimes but something on such a large scale definitely does not make sense when looked at from a sane, rational angle. But then, nothing about my world is sane or rational. I can call to animals and animals can call to me. I can control them and nudge them to do my bidding. Nothing about my situation screams rational and sensible so perhaps I should stop expecting it to.

Am I really going to go on this ill-advised quest with hardly any information or direction? Perhaps if given time, I would have convinced myself out of it. But that is already too late as I have already set myself upon the path. It only remains to see where it takes me.

I ignore the small part of my mind that tells me I am going to regret the decision drastically.