CHRONICLES OF AADYA

Episode Five

ALISDAIR

It wonders me how the boy in front of me is the same as my dreams, the very same little warrior Addya had built. My concept concerning the entire circumstances gives me a strange kind of feeling. "I do not know you and neither do you have the appearance of anyone I have ever come across" The boy returns. Of cause he wouldn't, what was I thinking?

"Hey! Let go of him!" His friend called out and that's when I realized I still had a grip on his collar. I stare at Gunnar for a little while then slowly let go of his collar.

"You are Gunnar, right?" I ask as I took a step back. "A brother to Aadya?" I add.

"You were sent by my father, aren't you?" He throws back, his eyes burned with hatred "You won't be taking me back. You don't scare me"

"That's too bad" I tell him and Bellamy shows up in a distance. "I would grant you a favor and in return, you also grant me a favor, deal?" Reading the doubt in his expression I add "And I can also tell you that your father never sent me. I know him not" He contemplates for a while.

At long last "Deal" He said and I smirked. "But first. How did you know me?"

"Aadya said a lot about you and I overheard your friend yelling your name in the middle of the market" I reminded him.

"So?" He moves his shoulders "They might be other Gunnar" He points out.

"Yeah, although only one Gunnar has a friend named Leif. You forgot you also called out his name" I raised a brow. His face twisted as he stares at me contemplating before he turns to Bellamy and then back to me.

"So, what's the deal about?"

"Would grant you any favor you request only if you can tell me where Aadya is" I request of him in a low tone.

"Any favor" He repeats. "Why not help me find her, because that's the vital problem here"

"You saying you do not know her whereabouts?"

"What don't you understand here, big guy?" He ask a bit too confident for my liking. "By the way, what business do you have with my sister?"

"That's between us, boy"

"How do I know you are telling the truth?"

"Yeah, well, forgive the confusion" I took a step closer to him but he suddenly backtracked, might be how I had moved that scared him. "It is a beautiful and delightful sight to behold the body of the moon. Her words" I stare straight at his hazel eyes and I could tell he was trying so much not to break down. Sadness clouded his features but he still refused to let it swallow him. He's a strong kid, I could see that. "Believe me Gunnar, I also want to find her. I'm grateful destiny brought you to me"

"Aadya brought me to you"

"Clever indeed. I shall find her and bring her to you. I promise" I told him sincerely.

"I'm coming along"

"No, you're not"

"Yes, I am. And not even my father will stop me. I need to let her know the clergyman sent out some men to search for her. All able manhunt sent out with a description of her commanded to search the other lands, to tell them that anyone harboring her... will burn with her. So if she is out there, I'm coming along, don't try to stop me big guy" I was so proud of him for a reason I know not. I now understand how much of a family they meant to each other.

It was silent for some passing moments before I asked. "What really happened on the day of her execution?" I thought it would be better to hear them from him as he wasn't against her.

"I really can't tell. One moment the fire was set to burn her, it grew but she wasn't burning nor exhibiting any form of pain, and the next moment... the fire spread... much, wild... like that of a dragon if you have ever been told a dragon tale. It was just much that people had to run back... and when it seized... she was gone. Just like that" It took me some moment of silence to register everything he had just said. I looked in the direction of Bellamy and Leif, they were in a distance but I'm sure Bellamy had the whole narration.

"And why does this clergyman still want to find her?"

"I understand you were not there when it happened. But the fire which spread out from her killed some of the Clergyman's near servants. Some got burnt but survived. I think perhaps that must be his reason unless he just really wants to see her burn" He let out the last line with much evidence of hatred.

"Are you sure taking the boy along is a good idea? What if they send men after us because of the boy?" Bellamy worried. I watch Gunnar who was at the other side speaking to Leif then back at Bellamy. I know he had a point, although Gunnar's presence matters too. No one knows how we would find Aadya and I have this feeling she knows me not.

"I just think he should come, it would be better easier to confront Aadya with him alone. And you heard the young boy. He is determined. I don't think he is going to back down. Even though we leave without him. That doesn't mean he would stop searching also. I just think he should be by our side" I try to explain.

Bellamy thought for a moment before finally giving in. "I just hope we're not making a mistake, brother" He tells me.

We turn to see the boy returning while Leif kept questioning "What? Gunnar, slow down, you're not making any sense. What do you mean when you find her, your mother would be worried? You don't even know these folks" I thought we had already passed this phrase of knowing us or not.

"You do know my sister isn't here anymore, Leif, and I am determined to find her" He halt, turning to the lad. "I relieve you of this burden, allow me to search with them and speak not about them to anyone. Only let my mother know I had gone in search of my sister" He let know to Leif with strength in the tone of his voice. He is a boy with the voice of a man.

"Bellamy, here is the boy I spoke of, Aadya's stepbrother. Gunnar, this is my brother, Bellamy" I introduce myself as the three of us began to walk through the market. Not sure if the introduction was necessary but I think Gunnar needed it.

"And what are you called?" He asks.

"Alisdair"

"Like defender of men? Satisfying. Where are you two from, Alisdair?"

"Irpinia" Bellamy tells him. His face twisted a bit before he asks again.

"I don't know where that is, never heard of it, but I could learn if you'd let me" He says only for me to interject with my question.

"Have you always known about your sister being a-" I didn't know how to end the question, I was hoping to come up with a more suitable word when Gunnar replied.

"A witch?" He looks up at me and our eyes meet after which he focused back on the road "No. She never mentioned such to me, nor did I ever see her demonstrate any form of magic. She did believe in destiny, faith, the goddess of the moon, and things like that, but I never heard her speak of magic. I don't know if I'm sad she never thought to tell me about it, I just believe she got her reasons. You know they say, the older you get the more difficult things become. Maybe she was scared or perhaps trying to run away from that side of her destiny. Do you believe in destiny, Alisdair?" He takes out his hat from his side and began to fiddle with it.

"Believe me, I do believe in lots of things I'm not even sure of now. But destiny? I still don't have a word for what I think of it"

"What about you, by any chance you believe in destiny, Bellamy?"

"It's more a question of how you use the word destiny. I do not believe that there is a set path to one must follow and that its laid out in advance and cannot be changed. Because that's what destiny seems to portray. If you believe in destiny, then keep in mind it is not in the stars to hold your destiny but in yourself" Bellamy turns to glance at Gunnar after the last word. "What we call our destiny is truly our character and that character can be altered. It's a matter of choice. One you make" He finishes.

There wasn't much word as we searched our way to a coin dealer for exchange.

"Ah? These are spectacular quality. How many more of these are you able to get?" The dealer demands.

"For you? None" It is just frustratingly annoying how they desperately beg for more. If it's that great to them why not make the coin more worthy?

"I'm confused. Perhaps you don't understand my accent so well"

"I understand you"

"Then why refuse a paying customer?"

"Well, that's a conversation we need to clear as 35 crowns are pitifully too low-priced for the stone"

"35 crowns is a favorable amount for the stone"

"Well, perhaps you underestimate your standing. I guess I'll take my business to one of your competitors. I believe they'd be more appreciative" He wanted the stone, I could read that through his expression.

"How about 40 crowns" he bargains when I was about to withdraw.

"45" I negotiate. We stared at each other and in the end, he gave in handing the 45 crowns to me.

It was clear we would be needing at least two horses for our journey as we had a young lad with us now. Also, a horse would make the journey less stressful. "I know a dealer" The boy tells us before leading us to an elderly man with a messy devil's fork beard.

"The horses are not for sale. Only for rent"

"We got coin" Bellamy tried to negotiate.

"These aren't for sell, lad" He insists.

"Yes, you already mentioned that. I am Gunnar the son of Lord Hrafen of Dubrovnik. Would you want me to let my father know, that you had refused to lend two of your horses to aid the return of his son? Or the man who aids the return of his son? The two men had come to find me by my father's request and now need two horses to be able to return me faster to Dubrovnik" Impressive Bellamy signaled at me. The man was short of words for a clear amount of time.

"By what right do I've to reject a request by Lord Hrafen? Two can go"

"I will make sure to let my father know of your kind gesture"

"It has been in my knowledge to be thankful. Have this for your horses" I said genuinely expressing my gratitude to the old man as I hand him some coins.

I and Gunnar rode on one of the horses while Bellamy occupied the other and we began to head out of the kingdom. It was then Gunnar put a question to what I had in mind. "By any chance, you might know where we are heading?" He asks.

"We may be heading west. Through every single town, we hear about" I answer.

"You make it sound so easy" Gunnar nags.

"I never said it was going to be easy" My mouth curved into a smile as I told him. It feels so good to have him among us.

Bellamy began to chuckle "The boy reminds me of me when I was younger" He said.

"That is debatable"