The Lies that Made Us

Amelia

Amelia spent the next day as she usually did. She studied and tried some new spells. She wrote letters she would never send, keeping one in her journal and burning the others. She stood and looked out her small window at the courtyard below and the city beyond it. She could see a few birds flying in the gray sky, and she wished she could be like them, free to go where she wished.

After her lunch, she spent some time walking around her room for exercise. She went through the different stances she learned as one of the order of Alinia, holding them to keep her strength up. As the light outside started to turn to night, she began to dread Gareth coming to see her. She cleaned herself using the cold water in her bowl and brushed out her long golden brown hair, letting it fall free down her shoulders.

She waited, but Gareth never entered the room. Her supper came along with Owain. He saw with her while she ate.

“You look well,” he said after she had poured him some tea.

“Thank you, but what does it matter how I look? No one sees me but you and a few others,” said Amelia bitterly

“I meant it looks like you are taking care of yourself, and no one is harming you,” said Owain. “It was not always the case.”

“True, but I have decided to choose life whatever that means being in here, and if I am compliant to the king’s commands, I can avoid most pain.”

Owain took a sip of his tea. “What of Master Elgan? Has he come to see you?”

Amelia shook her head. “I have not seen him in a few months, thank my goddess. Perhaps he found out all he needed from me and moved on.”

“He did not harm you permanently, did he? You can still use your magic?” asked Owain.

“He only caused me pain and added to my already full collection of scars,” said Amelia as she held out her arm to him, showing the fading line near her wrist where her master had taken a good deal of blood. “But enough about my sad life. What of yours? How are your wife and son?”

“Jack is growing taller every day, and Grace thinks she might be with child again,” said Owain.

“How wonderful,” said Amelia, trying to smile. She tried to remain somewhat pleasant to the one friendly face she saw regularly. “If she has the same problem with sickness as last time, I can make her some more of that tea. Did you bring me what I asked for?”

He nodded and pulled out a small bag from his cloak pocket. Amelia took it and brought it to her desk. They spoke a bit longer about Owains’s son and his hopes for a daughter this time.

“And how is my father?” asked Amelia.

“Much the same. He is busy, as is your brother. I think something must have happened at the royal banquet last night as your father has been at the palace almost all day.”

“What do you think it is?” asked Amelia.

“I don’t know, but I should be going in case your father needs me. Is there anything you need the next time I come visit you?” asked Owain.

“Unless you can sneak out some of the cook’s apple jam, there is nothing,” said Amelia.

“I will see what I can do. Try to find something to hang on to, my lady. You never know when your fortunes might change,” said Owain as he stood up.

“I doubt they ever will, but I appreciate your visits. I know they cannot be pleasant for you.”

“I like seeing how you are so I can let your father know,” said Owain.

“I know my father never asks about me, Owain. You don’t have to pretend.”

“That is not true, my lady. He likes to know you are still with us, that you haven’t given up hope.”

“I am still here, but I have no hope, Owain.”

Garreth did not come to see her that night, nor the next, and she decided that something must be happening in the palace just as Owain said. It was not until a few evenings later that the lock of her cell rattled, and Gareth walked in.

“Good evening, my lady,” he said as Amelia stood.

She walked over to him, ready to dive right into the evening’s activities to get them over, but he stopped her when she got close.

“I have something to speak with you about. Will you sit with me?”

Amelia looked at him warily, wondering what trick he was pulling on her, but she did as he bid, sitting down before the fireplace. He sat across from her and leaned forward.

“Something awful has happened, Amelia,” said Gareth with unusual gravity. “Prince Aayden has been taken.”

“Taken? Who has taken your brother-in-law?”

“The leaders of the Achillians have stolen the boy from his palace and taken him back to their kingdom. They are demanding many things for his return,” said Gareth.

“The users of the dark magic have him? That is awful, your majesty. What do they want for his return?”

“They want money, of course, our allegiance with them against a few other kingdoms, and a Light Bearer or two to use as a sacrifice to their goddess,” said Gareth.

“Oh,” said Amelia. She could see where this conversation was headed. At least it would be an end to her hellish life, and she would see the outside again as she was transported. “I understand what you must do.”

Gareth leaned back before giving a half-laugh. “Amelia, no one wants to send you as a sacrifice. We are too civilized for that. Besides, I do not want to give in to their demands. They will want more and more if they think we are such easy prey.”

“So, you will sacrifice your brother-in-law, the next king of Annelia?”

“We will get the boy back. My council and I have been thinking of a way to do it for the past few days. It is decided a very small force should go and sneak into the kingdom to rescue the boy.”

Amelia nodded. “You will need at least five powerful Light Bearers in the dark kingdom to have a chance.”

“Or one very powerful one,” said Garreth.

“Even Master Elgan himself could not fight such darkness, your majesty. He would be overcome.”

“I believe we have someone here even stronger than Master Elgan, though she may not admit it.”

Amelia shook her head. “I do not belittle my strength, but I know my limits. I could not face all the darkness in that place, not by myself.”

“I am not asking you to go by yourself,” said Gareth. “I will send another magic-user with you, one who will amplify your power. He has volunteered to go.”

“Who?” asked Amelia

“Before I tell you, do you agree to do this? Will you travel to Achillia and save the boy?”

Amelia considered her options. She could go and risk her life to try to get the boy. There was a good chance she would die, but what did it matter. Still, she was comfortable where she was and who was the boy to her? Three years ago, she probably would have jumped at the opportunity, wanting to save an innocent life, but now, it gave her pause.

“What is in it for me?” she asked.

Gareth smiled as he moved his cloak. “You won’t do it just to save the boy?”

“I’m not saying I wouldn’t, but I want to know what you will give me to persuade me to probably die on this foolish mission.”

“Your freedom should you wish it,” said Gareth.

“You aren’t serious,” said Amelia.

“I am. I talked with some of my lords, and we agreed. If you are successful in bringing the boy back safely, we will set you free. You can go wherever you wish. You can even leave the kingdom.”

Amelia took a shaky breath. It was what she wanted for so long, a chance to leave, to start again. She could forget about everything she would leave behind and find a new way forward, perhaps become someone else entirely.

“Will you do it?”

“I will. I will go if you sign something and give it to me saying I will have my freedom should I be successful,” said Amelia.

He pulled an envelope out of his pocket. “Here, I have already done it.”

She took it and read over the writings on the paper, finding it just as he said. “You would really let me go?”

He laughed. “Do you think I would miss you? I can find three others to satisfy any urges I have as well as you, probably better and more willingly. Can you bear to leave me?”

“Gladly,” she said.

“Then it is settled,” said Gareth as he stood. “Now, let me introduce you to your traveling partner, though I think you know him. He is a well-trained Guardian of the Moon and will pull his weight.

Gareth went to the door as Amelia’s stomach dropped. She knew who he would bring into the room before she saw him, and she was right. Gareth motioned with his hand, and Brynn walked quickly into the room, wearing the white and gray of a moon guardian. He looked her up and down as Amelia stared at him.

He still looked like Brynn in some ways, but he was much different in others. He had grown taller and broader, so he looked more like his brother. His face was not as round as before, his cheeks looking sharper and his chin more pointed. She had always found him handsome, but he had grown into something more even eclipsing his older brother.

His dark brown eyes, which were once always bright and filled with love as he looked at her, now seemed cold and calculating as he continued to stare at Amelia. She finally looked away as her hands twitched nervously at her side.

“Do I need to reintroduce the two of you, or are you still able to recognize one another? Brynn, you should greet your old friend.”

Brynn walked forward a few steps closer to her. “Lady Amelia,” he said with a bow.

She returned it with a curtsy, “Your highness.”

“Why such formality?” asked Gareth with a half-smile. He paused for a second. “I guess much has happened while you two were apart, a dead king and all. You must not hold it against her, Brynn. She didn’t know what she was doing. She and I have made more than amends these past three years. Isn’t that right, my lady.”

Amelia said nothing as she swallowed, her mouth feeling dry and her throat tight.

“We will leave tomorrow at sunrise,” said Brynn. “If there is anything you need for the trip, you can write them down, and I will see it is packed for you.”

“I have everything I need here,” said Amelia. “If someone will bring me a bag, I can pack myself.”

“Very good, my lady,” said Brynn. “Do you have any questions?”

She felt tears cloud her eyes. He was so cold and formal with her. She could not take it. She wanted to ask why he never wrote to her. Why he never came back when he heard what happened. She wanted to grab him and tell him she did not kill his father, but she could tell by the look he was giving her he probably wouldn’t believe it. Any love he had for her was gone, and she was surprised to see there had to have been some hope within her because she felt it die at that moment.

“No,” she said quietly. “I will be ready.”

“The guards will get you at dawn. I will see you then.” Brynn walked out the door and closed it.

Amelia let her tears fall where she stood, and Gareth walked up to her. “Do not cry, my lady. You must have known how it was between you by now. He has long forgotten you, perhaps even before you killed our father. There is no reason to cry.”

“Leave me be, Gareth. If there is any decency in you, just go.”

“How can I leave you when you are upset, and you will be leaving tomorrow. I might never see you again, my dear. I need to make the most of this night.”

“No,” she said as she wiped the tears from her face. “Not tonight, not ever again.”

He grabbed her chin and made her look up at him. “You do not make the rules, not yet. You are still in my palace under my commands.” He leaned down and kissed her as she tried to pull away, but his arms went around her.

“I should have let you kill me before I ever let you touch me,” said Amelia as he finally leaned up.

“You don’t mean that, Amelia. You like our times together,” said Gareth. He reached behind her and pulled at her ties.

“I dread them and hate myself after they are done,” said Amelia.

“Then what can one more night hurt,” said Gareth as he yanked down her dress.

She tried to push him away as he grabbed her hard and kissed her. Feeling her power build, she decided she could not take it anymore. It was all too much, and none of it was fair. Everyone she thought loved and cared for her had abandoned her. Her father acted as if she didn’t exist, and Brynn left her to her fate and came home treating her as if he didn’t know her.

Gareth had used her for his twisted pleasure the past three years and beaten her to get his way. Her body filled with fury as she felt her hands grow warm. She spread them on Gareth’s chest and almost released everything she had. She had been found guilty of killing a king. Why not do the deed? Yet, as she let her power go, she knew she could not kill him. It was not who she was, and as angry and bitter as she felt, she knew it never would be.

Her power came out weak, making Gareth jump back as his hands flew to his chest. Amelia put her arms down, feeling defeated as Gareth gave an angry growl and slapped her with the back of his hand. She had no will to fight back as he shoved her to the bed. He used her roughly as though wanting her to fight back. She did not give him the satisfaction. She closed her eyes and went somewhere else in her mind as she did when he first came to her tower. When she finally opened her eyes, he was done. He left her without saying a word.