A Warrior's Dance

XXVIII – The Gift

It was almost sunrise when Estelle tapped Raiden’s shoulder to wake him. Cold dew damped their skin as fog glided throughout the forest. Raiden stood, checking himself and his throwing knife, the only weapon he had with him. Looking around, he saw thick old trees, a red cross was marked on its huge body.

“We have to keep going, young prince,” Estelle said as she led the way.

Chill ran down his spine as he looked up, seeing hanging skulls from the branches. The mesmerizing fireflies which served as their light the night before made him think they weren’t in a grave yard.

“I see that the Krigers still keep their tradition,” he commented as he trailed behind the witch.

“They hung the skulls of their heroes,” she said, gracefully walking through the muddy ground. “It is said that they are the only match with the Valkans.”

Raiden smiled to himself. “We all have a match, don’t you think?”

“Is that what you really think?”

He jogged to catch up with her, trying not to look above at the dangling skulls. “That’s what I believe. We all have an equal. No matter how strong we think we are, somewhere out there, someone will match our strength. And I think the Sea Serpent has a match.”

Estelle glanced at his direction. “You talk like a man now,” she said. “You are the monster’s match, Raiden. You will defeat the undefeated. It has been written in your star.”

His steps slowed down, still trying to make sense of that part of truth. “Are you certain, Estelle?”

She ushered him to continue walking. They started to cross a narrow river, crows flying above. “You don’t trust yourself, I see. But like you say, we all have a match.”

Raiden shook his head. “Yes, but I am just a man.”

Estelle halted as she stared at him, a playful smile on her lips. “You are just a boy, young prince. But the phoenix saw your bravery and maybe that is the reason why you woke up again.” She started to walk and so he followed. “Someday, you will find your gift. And I hope you will make a good use of it.”

Raiden wanted to ask about the gift but he wasn’t sure he was ready for that kind of conversation yet. All he wished for at the moment was to know how his mother was.

“They locked her in the cellar as a punishment but she’s doing okay,” the witch uttered.

That made Raiden threw her a nervous look. “Please don’t tell me you can read my mind.”

Estelle smiled again, shaking her head. “No, silly,” she said, making him relaxed. “But I can hear the beat of your heart.”

He tensed at her response. He felt a tinge of fear thinking it was his fault that his mother had been put in danger.

“Prince Matthews is doing fine at the moment.” she added. “And the little girl… well, she’s doing okay, far from trouble, as we speak.”

“Lucky them,” he whispered. He suddenly felt an ache in his chest. Just a thought of his cousin betraying him stung hard. He now wondered if what he did for Sanne worth all the trouble.

“I will have to come back for that girl, Raiden. Once we reach River Lights, I will leave you.”

“Why?”

She looked at him again. “You are not ready to know why.”

***

The whole kingdom had never stopped talking about what happened. Madam Lariza was her savior. She gave her a new chance to start over, far from harm.

She had witnessed her magic, back when the madam fought the valkans the night they escaped, but she couldn’t accept the idea that she was gone now, disappeared without a trace.

“People come and go, Sanne. Live with that,” she muttered to herself, getting emotional as she delivered a tray of foods for the Lady Rainlee.

The woman she looked up to had been locked in the West Tower’s cellar and only the White Tower’s Maidens were allowed to enter to serve her foods. Once the royal guards opened the metal gates, she headed at the far end to where the she was. The guard trailing behind her unlocked the chains, letting her in, before standing outside to guard.

“My Lady,” Sanne greeted. “I have what you need.”

Rainlee felt weak, anxiety eating her up. “Thank you, Sanne.”

The little girl closed their gap before subtly glancing behind her to check if the royal guard was watching. When she knew it was safe, she pulled out a piece of paper she hid beneath the scarf in her head and a thin stick. From her white robe’s pocket, she put out a small container.

“There is a powdered charcoal in that,” she whispered.

Rainlee looked at her, seeing her warm eyes, still trying to place the familiarity of her stares. She knew she was putting her in danger for what she was planning to do, but she was desperate now.

She needed help.

“I can’t thank you enough, my little dove,” she said in a low tone, caressing her face.

She shook her head. “Madam Lariza speaks highly of you, my lady. And I know what it’s like to be kept in a dark cellar. I know what’s it like to seek help.”

Rainlee’s brows furrowed, not expecting that at all. “You’d been locked in this kind of place before?”

Much worse, she wanted to say but didn’t. The horror of torture rushed through her head, the excruciating pain of the mark they burned in her skin seemed to pulsate at her back. “Yes.”

Rainlee’s eyes saddened. She couldn’t fathom the idea of a child being held captive in a cellar. Especially not to Sanne, the free-spirited girl.

“What kind of a horrible person does that to a girl?” she asked.

Sanne kept her mouth shut.

“I am glad to see you free, Sanne. Free from harm. Free from whatever past you have.”

She smiled a little and dropped her gaze. “Am I really free from all that?”

That struck her. Maidens were servants of the kingdom. They were paid, yes, but they couldn’t just walk away, unless the king himself allowed them.

“Please, eat,” Sanne said after a while. “I will take your message with me.”

Rainlee looked away as she blinked back her tears, her stomach twisted, not from hunger, but because of appreciation. She felt the same kind of helplessness before, back when she thought Thaeros was dead.

“You are so brave, Sanne,” she said as she took a bite of the bread. “Like my son.”

That lit her up. “Raiden?” she whispered.

Rainlee glanced at the door, checking on guard. He was still standing there, a good distance from them, not moving.

“You knew my son?”

Sanne nodded her head. “He was my first friend here in the palace, my lady.”

She smiled, elated to know he had been making friends aside from Matthews.

Sanne suddenly reached out from her side pocket, handing the her a necklace. “He accidentally left this the last time we met. I was about to call him back but he’s already too far for my voice to reach.”

She placed the moonstone necklace on the table. Looking at the moonstone, it answered one of Rainlee’s many questions. That’s the reason why the mad witch’s magic worked on Raiden. He didn’t have the stone with him. A blessing in disguise, she thought.

The king’s sister held it out to Sanne. “For all the trouble I am causing you, you must have it, little dove.”

Eyes wide, the little girl was taken aback. “I- I can’t accept it.”

“I insist, Sanne. Please.”

The little girl thought for a moment. “I will keep it for the moment and will return it to Raiden. Io amalt.”

Rainlee froze for a moment, realizing Sanne said ‘I promise’ in Valkan language. She wanted to probe but chose not to.

Finishing her bread, she scribbled a message in haste on the piece of paper and handed it over to Sanne.

“Thank you, child,” Rainlee said as she wrapped her arms around the girl’s body. “I’ll be in your debt, forever.”

After she exited the cellar, Sanne climbed the stairs going to the room where Lady Rainlee used to paint. From the small table at the corner, she opened the drawer and saw a silver candle. As instructed, she lighted the candle and burn the piece of paper where she had written her message.

When the paper touched the white flame, glittering dusts emerged instead of ashes and the wind gently blew them away from her. What happened amazed her but what took her breath away was seeing her little hands illuminating as well.