WeatherMaker Hearts Desire Prologue
Chapter 43: An Old Friend

They arrived on shore and docked at the harbour of Elton; Arlen spoke to the dock master and signed the correct papers, returning shortly after to the others on the ship.

‘What do we do now?’ Shawn asked him.

‘I have to replace my friend’ Arlen replied. ‘The journey is a bit of a long one I’m afraid. I’ll meet you back here when I return. I might be a while.’

‘I’ll come with you’ Shawn told him. ‘I don’t want to hang around here for ages, I’ll get bored.’

‘Then I’m coming too’ Annabel spoke up.

Arlen glanced from one to the other.

‘Fine’ he answered shortly. ‘If you’re sure.’

The men who were to remain on the ship were told of the situation. They had enough food to last them a while, and after a brief explanation, Arlen, Shawn and Annabel made their way.

They walked to the nearest town where they found an inn that rented out horses, a town called Slikver. They took three of them, then rode the long distance to replace Arlen’s friend, leaving Cam and Tala and all the others back on the ship to wait for them.

‘What can you tell us about this man then Arlen?’ Annabel asked him as they rode. ‘Who is he?’

Arlen frowned uncertainly, ‘well’ he sighed, ‘I’m not too sure myself.’

‘I thought you knew him well’ Shawn said.

‘I do….of sorts.’ Arlen frowned in thought. ’He is a mysterious character, and very dangerous. He has many identities, and lives many different lives…I don’t think even he knows who he truly is.’ Arlen gazed out at the lands around them. The earth was dry and rocky, tall grasses with little purple flowers grew around them in patches, shaking back and forth in the light breeze. Upon one of the rocks near them, Arlen saw a bright yellow fleshy lizard, with jet black eyes staring at them as they went by. ‘He is an assassin’ Arlen continued, as they walked their horses slowly onwards along the deserted road, ‘and a veteran, a body guard, a master of deception…a master of lies and poisons and secrets and shadows…’

‘He sounds like quite a character’ Annabel said uncertainly. ‘What makes you think he will help us?’

‘Because he is my friend’ Arlen said. ‘I am one of the very few, that he truly trusts in this world.’

‘Then how will we replace him?’ Annabel asked with a hint of worry in her voice.

‘He’s retired’ Arlen replied. ‘He stays in one place now.’

‘Why?’

‘He’s been retired’ Arlen answered, ‘ever since his son was born.’ He glanced sideways at Shawn and Annabel beside him. ‘But that’s supposed to be a secret’ he told them. ‘As far as either of you two are concerned, he doesn’t have a son. Can you remember that?’

‘Sure’ Shawn replied. ‘But why?’

‘He is a dangerous man’ Arlen repeated, ‘his enemies would use his loved ones against him if they could, that’s why he keeps his son hidden and away from him. Most of the time he doesn’t even dare to visit him, but that boy is the most precious thing in the world to him. He loves him more than he does his own mother.’

‘And you know where his son lives?’ Shawn asked him.

‘Yes.’

Shawn nodded thoughtfully to himself. ‘He must trust you a lot then, if he is as you say he is.’

‘Yes’ Arlen replied solemnly. ‘He does.’

That evening they slept uncomfortably on thin mats rolled out on a relatively flat piece of earth, away from the road and hidden from view for safety beneath the open sky.

Annabel in the middle of the night woke abruptly at the sound of a shrill screeching coming from nearby, sitting bolt upright and gazing all around her for its source.

‘It’s ok’ Shawn whispered as he lay beside her. ‘It’s just a sand-crawler.’

‘You mean one of those freaky owl-like creatures’ Annabel replied. ‘I could never get used to that, what a horrid noise.’

Shawn sighed deeply, reaching out to take her by the shoulder and pushing her back down to lie beside him.

‘Don’t worry’ he said to her. ‘They don’t like the taste of people.’

Annabel breathed deeply to calm herself, blinking slowly and staring up to the cloudless yet warm sky above.

‘Just try to get back to sleep’ Shawn muttered to her.

Annabel shuffled closer to him, grabbing his arm and laying it across her body as if it were a blanket.

‘I won’t get any peaceful sleep until we’re indoors’ Annabel whispered back to him.

Shawn’s heart skipped a beat as she had moved closer and taken his arm. He watched her, the light from the moon in the clear sky above made the night bright around them, and he saw her clearly, thinking of how beautiful she was.

Shawn held her close to him, nuzzling into her and resting his chin against her shoulder. He glanced across at the sleeping profile of Arlen nearby. The strange calls of the foreign creatures in the night had not seemed to faze him at all, and he appeared to sleep peacefully.

Shawn allowed himself to relax again, holding Annabel and feeling her body heat against his. He closed his eyes, trying to sleep.

Beside him Annabel glanced back at him and smiled, closing her eyes too. She slept peacefully the rest of the night by Shawn’s side, feeling safe beneath his arm. The next she heard a cry of a night creature, it didn’t bother her so much. She felt safer now.

The next morning, Arlen woke with the light. He ate what little food they had brought with them, and waited for Shawn and Annabel to wake.

When the sun was fully above the horizon, he decided to wake them himself.

‘Hey’ he said loudly, shoving Shawn with his boot. ‘Get up.’

Shawn blinked in confusion, waking suddenly, then glared in annoyance up at Arlen as Annabel rose to stand. ‘Alright’ he said in exasperation. ‘I’m awake.’

‘We’re not far now’ Arlen told them. ‘Just a few more hours ride. Eat then we can go.’

Arlen waited patiently while Shawn and Annabel ate their meagre portions, then rolled up their sleeping mats and readied the horses to go.

‘Ready?’ Arlen asked as they each mounted their own horses.

‘Ready’ Shawn replied.

Arlen gave a nod of satisfaction, tapping his heels into his mare and sending the beast into a trot, heading back to the road and to relatively even ground.

Behind him, Shawn and Annabel exchanged a look before following. Annabel grinned at Shawn, as he kicked his horse on to follow Arlen’s.

They reached their destination, a small village immediately on the outskirts of a large city. The city known as Darktonian. It was an unusual layout. Before them was a thriving city with stone buildings built atop of stone buildings and masses of people between, bustling and called out to one another as they walked upon the stone streets. And immediately on the edge of this city, separated as if by an invisible wall were wooden houses with thatched roofs, built spaciously around paddocks of sheep and goats.

’Do you know where this man lives? Shawn asked Arlen as they walked on foot beside their horses. ‘Does he live in the city?’

‘No’ Arlen shook his head as they lingered on the border between the stone and wooden buildings. ‘His is one of the houses on the edges.’

‘Such a strange place’ Annabel noted as she took in her surroundings. ‘I’ve never seen anything like this before.’

They walked for only a short time before Arlen slowed to a stop before one of the houses.

‘It’s this one’ he indicated.

Annabel and Shawn stood one step behind either side of him; together they saw the house Arlen pointed out. It was small and unremarkable, just like the many others that surrounded it. From an outside glance it looked as if there was only one room per floor, with four floors. The glass windows were small and beneath them growing in little baskets were a collection of flower that grew of many colours.

‘Cosy’ Annabel beamed. ‘I like it.’

‘It’s not the kind of place I expected to replace him’ Shawn mused to himself.

‘What did you expect?’ Arlen shrugged at him. ‘A dark cave at the bottom of a mountain? Or perhaps some hut in a swamp?’

‘No’ Shawn answered back. ‘I thought it would be …bigger.’

‘Hm. What for? He doesn’t own a lot of things, being on the move all the time. Or at least…that was the case before he retired.’

Arlen’s eyes travelled down the house to the front door, where there was a little old lady sitting in a chair by the front steps.

‘Come on’ he said, opening the tiny wooden gate that led to the house, leaving his horse tied to a post behind them to wait, ‘and don’t make eye-contact with the lady.’

‘What?’ Shawn scoffed.

‘Just trust me’ Arlen replied shortly.

As they approached the door, Shawn deliberately stared at her, to see what would happen. The lady was weak and frail looking; she had hair that was as white as snow, and eyes that were blood-shot red.

As they approached her, they could hear her mumbling.

‘….decrease the population….no….not like that…..’

Her eyesight was poor, and she only noticed them when they were almost at the door. She opened her mouth to address them.

‘Go fuck yourself you filthy wretch! I’ll see you drown in a pit of poisonous lava!’

‘Heavens above!’ Annabel declared, stepping back in shock, hand going to her mouth.

Immediately a younger lady rushed out of the house to confront them.

‘I’ll see you flayed alive you inbred swine!’ the old lady ranted on. ‘Go eat your own entrails you demon-spawn.’

‘Gods have mercy’ Shawn mumbled to himself as he watched her.

The young woman who had left the house glared at him.

‘There is only one god in this kingdom that we worship’ she told him bluntly. ‘And he does not concern himself with foreigners.’

Arlen shot a dark glare towards Shawn, a look that said he knew Shawn had deliberately disobeyed him.

‘Just keep your mouth shut and do as I say’ Arlen mumbled under his breath, before turning to the woman and ignoring Shawn. ‘Eilliah’ he said. ‘You don’t know me, but I know you. Tell me where the master of this house is.’

‘Is he expecting you?’

‘No.’

She narrowed her eyes suspiciously.

‘He would be more than happy to see me’ Arlen told her. ‘After all, fish are hard to catch with bare-hands.’

She visibly relaxed at that.

‘Talut is in the market’ she told him.

‘Thank you’ Arlen dipped his head.

‘It’s a big place’ the woman replied. ‘If you don’t replace him there, come back and wait for him here.’

‘Of course’ Arlen nodded.

Arlen marched swiftly away, heading to the city that was right on the doorstep of the home. The three of them left their horses tied up outside the small house; they entered the city.

‘What was that about?’ Shawn muttered after him when they were out of earshot of the woman who watched from the doorway them as they walked away.

‘What?’

‘What was that about the fish?’ Annabel whispered to him as they hurried after him.

‘Code’ Arlen answered simply. ‘Talut has many. It’s a good method for him to keep track of those he trusts, and those who wish to betray him.’

‘I hope it’s the right code’ Shawn asked dryly.

‘What if he means to kill us?’ Annabel worried aloud.

‘He doesn’t.’

‘He sounds a bit scary to me’ Annabel mumbled.

Arlen shook his head. ‘I think you’d be surprised. He is an approachable man, usually…at first. He uses a friendly demeanour to lull people into a false sense of security. Most people who meet him instantly like him. You’ll be the same’ he told them, ‘you’ll see.’

When they reached the edge of the market within the city, they found that the man they sought was already waiting for them.

‘Arlen my good friend!’ the man cried throwing his arms open. ‘It’s been a long time, a very long time!’

‘Talut’ Arlen acknowledged. ‘I should have known you’d be waiting for us.’

‘Was I waiting for you’ Talut asked, ‘or did I bring you here?’ he smirked at Arlen. ‘And who is this fine young couple?’

‘Shawn and Annabel’ Arlen told him.

‘Are they lovers?’ Talut asked instantly. ’They are lovers!’ he cried at their reaction to his words as Shawn and Annabel glanced awkwardly at each other before looking away. ‘No’ Talut corrected himself. ‘They want to be….but perhaps are too afraid to admit it to each other. Take my advice’ he said wagging a finger at them. ‘Take the chance while it’s there, or else it might just be too late.’

Shawn hissed at him, baring his teeth and snarling.

‘Talut’ Arlen frowned seriously. ‘Leave them be.’

‘Alright fine’ Talut sighed turning his back on both of them. ‘Now what was it you wanted?’

‘Well…’

‘Before you tell me’ Talut interrupted Arlen, ‘first let me show you the market. It is a most splendid place indeed. You’re not in a rush are you? Good’ he answered quickly when he saw Arlen hesitate. ‘Then come and let me show you all, this wonderful place.’

‘I’m telling you’ Talut was saying, leading the way through the crowd as they explored the market, ‘you can buy anything here. From food….to demons…..to diseases….’

‘Why would anyone want to buy a disease?’ Annabel asked with disgust, wrinkling her nose.

‘Why would anyone want to buy a poison?’ he countered.

She fell silent.

‘There are all sorts of folk who come here’ Talut explained. ‘They come from far and wide, all to be in this one place, this market that is held once every three months only.’

‘I guess we came at the right time then’ Shawn said meekly.

‘You did indeed’ Talut beamed back at him. ‘This place exists for only eight days before the merchants move on. People try to make the most of it.’

They came across a curious thing on their way through the market. In a section of street that widened out into a small square, they saw a creature. It was large enough to be able to potentially ride, with enormous leathery wings, a long whip-like tail and the head of a bull, with massive horns pointed forwards and downwards.

‘What is that thing?’ Shawn asked.

‘It’s got many different names in many different languages’ Talut answered, ‘and many in the same language. Most people just call it a flying cow.’

‘Flying cow?’ Annabel repeated sceptically. ‘That’s a silly name.’

‘It’s just a nickname that stuck’ Talut shrugged happily.

The creature was heavily chained where it stood, crouching down low with wings bound and eyes dull. Its colour was the most beautiful black and vivid red stripped, with a shaggy black mane running down the nape of its neck.

It didn’t resist the chains, or try to free itself from them, instead swayed on the spot where it was, slowly back and forth.

‘What’s wrong with it?’ Arlen asked.

‘Oh. It’s been drugged’ Talut answered casually. ‘You can’t expect to bring a thing like that to a place like this without taking such measures’ he waved his arms away at the creature dismissively before moving on.

‘Who would someone buy something like that?’ Shawn asked. ‘What possible use could you have for it?’

‘My dear boy’ Talut chuckled back at him. ‘You lack imagination. That thing is worth more gold than you’ll ever see in your life. It’s a status symbol, for only the very richest few who exist in this world. They are very rare indeed. You’re lucky to even see one today. No doubt there are a few very rich folk wandering around here today. Someone might even buy it.’

‘It makes me sad’ Annabel mumbled, ‘to see such a beautiful creature chained up and treated like that. It should be flying free in the skies.’

‘You’ll get over it’ Talut smirked at her. ‘And it can’t actually fly. The wings are only for display. It’s like I said’ he beamed, ’you can buy anything here. Even children.’

They all slowed to a stop, Annabel accidentally walked into Shawn who had stopped in front of her.

‘Sorry’ she stumbled back. ‘Did you say children?’ she asked Talut speaking to him.

‘Take a look’ Talut pointed.

He indicated further down the crowded street, where there stood a woman with three small children, one she held by the wrist, the other two hid behind her timidly.

‘Wait here a minute’ Talut said to them. ‘The stall I’m looking for is just over there’ he pointed. ‘I’ll be right back.’

He left their side. Arlen watched Talut as he headed to a tiny and unremarkable looking stall a short distance away.

The three of them waited in the middle of the street, the other people passing by them, Arlen turned his sights back upon the woman with the children. She noticed his attention and moved towards him.

‘I have some fine children here if you’re interested’ she said to them. ‘They can work around the house or learn any trade you teach them. They’re still young’ she said. ‘You can make them what you want.’

The children were aged between five and seven; the middle child was a girl.

‘Why are you selling your own children?’ Shawn asked her repulsed.

‘I can’t afford to keep them anymore’ the woman said promptly. ‘The husband’s gone and wants nothing to do with them, and what I work barely affords food for me alone.’

‘How much are they?’ Arlen asked.

‘A thousand marks each’ the woman replied.

‘Seems a bit expensive’ Arlen noted. ‘How much is that in crowns?’

‘You’re a foreigner?’

‘Wasn’t that obvious?’

Arlen then spotted Talut coming back towards them.

‘I’m not buying them’ Arlen said as he watched Talut coming closer.

The woman scowled at him as she moved off, dragging the children with her.

’What was that all about?’ Shawn sneered in disgust. ‘This place is not that far from our own home and yet it is so different.’

Talut returned to their side.

‘I’m back’ he declared. ‘Now should we get something to eat?’

‘What did you buy?’ Annabel asked him.

’Medicines for my dear sweet mother, and by god does she need it. We’ll see how well they work. ‘Now come on’ he said briskly to them, ‘I’ll show you a nice place to eat.’ He led them way. As they went he asked them briefly, ‘you weren’t thinking of buying those children were you?’

‘Now this is the place to be’ Taut said to them a short while later as the four of them sat around a tiny table with four tiny bowls of food placed before each of them. ‘What do you think of the food? It’s pretty good isn’t it?’

‘It’s better than it looks’ Annabel told him, poking the grey stuff mixed with green stuff that sat at the bottom of the bowl, with the tiny headed long handled spoon they had been given.

‘It’s a fish’ Talut informed them. ‘A special kind of spiky fish that lives in deep waters in rocky places, it’s very hard to catch, a real delicacy.’

‘And what’s the other stuff mixed with it?’ Annabel asked.

‘Seaweed.’

‘I could have guessed’ she said. ‘The green was a bit of a giveaway.’

‘Oh no’ Talut corrected. ‘The grey is the seaweed, the green is the fish.’

‘Is there anything else I can get for you?’ a passing servant bowed to them.

‘No thank you Fitz’ Talut beamed. ‘Wait. I should have asked you if you wanted anything else’ he spoke to the others. ‘Do you guys want anything else?’

‘I think we’re fine’ Shawn replied, struggling to get his green sloppy fish on his tiny headed spoon.

‘I think we’re fine’ Talut relayed the message to the servant, who bowed again and moved on.

‘Dammit why are these spoons so small?’

‘To make you savour the food’ Talut told him. ‘It’s a very rich dish. You just don’t realise how rich until after. If you were to be given a larger spoon, it would make you quite sick indeed. Remember’ he said wagging a finger at them, ‘eat it slowly.’

‘Isn’t this place expensive?’ Shawn asked pushing his bowl away, having had his fill.

‘It is.’

‘Does that mean we owe you money?’

‘Nope.’ Talut leant forward slyly, speaking to Shawn in a seductive whisper. ‘I know people’ he said simply, before leaning back and falling silent, with no further explanation. ‘Now what did you want to speak to me about?’ he asked Arlen in a regular tone.

‘Well’ Arlen spoke slowly. ‘Where do I begin?’ He thought for a moment. ‘My daughter is missing. I want you to help me replace her.’

Shawn turned to him. ’Your daughter?’

Arlen shot him a warning glare.

‘Ah yes’ Talut said knowingly. ‘Amaia. The girl with two fathers. She was taken by your king twelve years ago wasn’t she? I thought you had found her.’

‘I lost her again’ Arlen replied shortly.

‘Well’ Talut sighed, reaching forwards to his glass of water and drinking deeply before placing it carefully back down. ‘That is unfortunate.’ He ate several of the small savoury biscuits sitting at the centre of the table before addressing Arlen again. ’And what do you need my help for?’

‘I…’ Arlen began, dropping his eyes in thought before continuing. ‘I want you to kill the king.’

Annabel stiffened at that, and Shawn frowned.

‘Kill a king?’ Talut repeated. ’That is no small task. I presume you presume that the Weather Makers will stop being kidnapped once the king is…should we say…gone?’

‘That is what I presume’ Arlen concluded. ‘So. Can you help?’

‘No.’

‘Why not?’

‘I am bound to these lands’ Talut answered vaguely. ‘I cannot leave my home.’

Shawn who was listening silently narrowed his eyes, glancing from one to the other.

‘I cannot help you’ Talut repeated. ‘But……I can take you to someone who may be able to help you instead.’

‘Who?’ Arlen asked.

‘The royal family.’

‘Why would the royal family help us?’ Shawn voiced.

‘I am a busy man’ Talut murmured to him, ‘a man with many skills who knows a lot of people. Even royalty. Some of the people I know even owe me favours.’

‘And you would use one of those favours to help me?’

‘Arlen’ Talut said sounding dejected. ‘You wound me. Haven’t the two of us been friends long enough?’

‘Are you serious about this?’ Arlen asked.

‘Yes’ Talut nodded. ‘But first, before anything else I must return home. I need to give these to my mother’ he said, patting the pocket where lay the medicines he had just bought. ‘By god does she need them.’

‘Fuck off and die you bitch-pig son of a whore!’

‘Now mother’ Talut frowned affectionately down at her. ‘That’s no way to speak to your son now is it?’

‘Burn in a pit of fire you demon-scum!’

Talut sighed in exasperation.

‘I love you too mother’ he said wearily.

Talut marched past her and into the house, handing the medicine to one of the servants. ‘I wish you the best of luck with these’ he told Eilliah.

‘I’ll try to mix it with her food’ the young lady told him, ‘and see if she doesn’t notice.’

Talut nodded at this idea. ‘Just…’ he began, ‘don’t hang around too long when you give it to her……if she suspects there is something in it……well…’ he broke off. ‘Just don’t hang around for too long. Eh?’

‘Understood’ Eilliah nodded.

She took the medicine and retreated to another room.

‘Now’ Talut said clapping his hands together and speaking to the others now. ‘Where were we?’

‘Amaia?’ Arlen prompted.

‘Oh yes.’

‘What’s wrong with her?’ Shawn asked him, glancing about the room around them which was small and cosy.

‘What?’

‘Your mother. Why is she like that?’

‘Oh’ Talut bowed his head. ‘It’s a very sad thing that happened.’ He moved over towards the mantelpiece as he spoke, lifting one of the pictures that rested upon it. ‘She only used to be this way’ he said to the picture, ‘in the last few years. Before that….she was happy, used to smile….she used to make me oat cakes….and orange buns….they were good….those were the days.’

‘What happened?’ Annabel asked carefully.

‘Her mind changed’ Talut replied. ‘I can’t explain it. I don’t understand it myself. Despite all my knowledge and skills….even I cannot help her.’ He sighed deeply. ‘All I can do now’ he said, ‘is to accept her the way that she is, and care for her until she dies.’ He looked down at the picture. ‘I do this’ he said, ‘because I remember how she used to be, and I remember how well she looked after me when I was young and growing.’ He showed them the picture he held. It was a portrait of a woman, old but still pretty, and healthy with colour in her cheeks. She was smiling. ‘This was her before she changed’ Talut told them.’

‘She looks completely different’ Arlen said.

‘Yes’ Talut replied sadly. ‘She was happy back then, friendly. Not the ghost she is now. I’ve spoken to so many people about her condition, and no one can help me. All I can do now is buy medicines to suppress the symptoms and make her more….manageable.’

He placed the picture back on the mantelpiece and turned to speak to them again. ‘Now’ he said in a happier tone, ‘the royal family….’

‘You really think they will help us?’

‘It’s like I said before’ Talut replied to Shawn. ‘Favours.’

‘So when do we see them?’ Annabel asked him, seated at the table. ‘Will we go to the royal palace?’

‘No’ Talut laughed shaking his head. ‘The princess does not like her own home all that much I’m afraid. She tries her best to spend as little time there as possible. No’ he said again. ‘We will replace her somewhere else. After nightfall, she will be deep within the city.’ He smirked. ‘I will replace her’ he reassured them. ‘Don’t you worry. Now in the meantime’ he said, ‘would anyone like some gin to pass the time?’

That evening under cover of darkness, Talut led them back into the city, through the streets which mere hours ago were brimming with busy folk, but were now deserted.

‘I don’t mean to doubt you’ Annabel began tentatively, ‘but are you sure we’re heading to the right place?’

‘Of course’ Talut sang back confidently as he marched ahead of them. ‘If anyone knows the princess……….I know where she is’ he finished.

They came off the main street, heading now onto narrower side-alleys. They walked for some time, zigzagging back and forth along the path, Annabel quickly losing track in her mind of which direction they were heading.

‘Are you sure we’re not lost?’ Annabel asked him after a time.

‘Of course we’re not lost’ Talut scoffed. ‘I know this entire city as well as I do my own home, every nook, every cranny…’

They came to an alleyway that was so narrow, a normal sized person was only just about able to walk it, though they were not even able to lift their arms up to the side. They walked in single file through this alley, one after the other.

‘Are we nearly there yet?’ Annabel asked Talut who walked ahead of her.

He paused only to glance back, a few seconds later slowing before a small door. ‘It’s through here’ he said cheerily.

‘I don’t like this’ Annabel replied instantly.

‘I don’t know what you’re so afraid of’ Talut said turning to the door.

‘I’m not afraid’ Annabel said indignantly.

‘Yes you are’ Talut replied. ‘I can tell.’

He opened the small door which swung inwards, having to duck low to fit through it.

‘Come on’ Talut encouraged, his voice echoing back to her. ‘It’s perfectly safe, look I even went first.’

Annabel glanced at Shawn who stood behind her, and to Arlen who stood behind him.

‘Its fine’ Arlen said to her from the back. ‘I trust him.’

Annabel faced to the door again, and entered, following after Talut and ducking to fit through. Shawn and Arlen followed after her.

The room inside was small and completely empty, but there was enough space for all of them to stand comfortably.

Arlen closed the small door after him, and Talut led the way through to the only other door in the dark and silent room. He opened this door and noise suddenly filled their ears. The room beyond was large and brightly lit and filled with people cheering and shouting to one another. They stood on a balcony of some sorts, looking over at a pit below them.

‘There are many entrances to this place’ Talut explained to them, raising his voice so that he could be heard. ‘I prefer the more secretive ones. Come now Annabel’ he said to her, ‘you can relax now.’

‘What is this place?’ Shawn asked loudly.

Talut glanced towards him, flashing a grin. ‘Fighting pits.’

The four of them approached the rails where there was a small gap for them to stand, seeing below them a pit sunk into the earth where two men fought viciously. Bare-chested, they were both thickset and heavy men, one was bald with tattoos all over his body, the other bearded with long dark dreadlocks. They fought with bare fists in the most brutal and barbaric of ways, resorting to clawing with their nails at each other, and ripping each other with their teeth at every chance. The sand around them was dark and already heavily stained with blood from fights that had ended previously that evening.

Annabel winced in distaste as she watched the spectacle, the crowd of men on the balcony around them cheered and hollered as the fighters below them tore at each other with primal rage. Annabel glanced up.

‘What are they doing?’ Annabel asked Talut, seeing a small group of men a short distance away. They seemed to be arguing, or haggling, or debating, and money was being passed between several of them.

‘They’re taking bets’ Talut answered loudly back. ‘These folk will bet on anything that involves blood and pain and violence.’

‘That’s horrid.’

‘Not to these people’ Talut winked at her.

‘Have you taken bets before?’ Shawn asked him.

‘Taken bets?!’ Talut echoed, incredulous. ‘I’ve taken part in the fights themselves, that’s how I got this scar’ he said pulling his shirt down, revealing a grotesque scar that ran across his shoulder and chest.

Arlen leant over the railing slightly, watching the fight below him. He saw as one man head butted the other, knocking him onto his back and lunging for him. They wrestled on the ground for a short time, before one man gained the advantage, climbing on top of the other and grasping his head, forcing his thumbs through the man’s eyes. The man on the ground began to scream.

Arlen watched as the man in the pit crushed the head of the other man with his bare hands, killing him instantly.

He turned away as the dead man was strung up by his feet and hung at the edge of the pit, joining the many other hanging corpses that circled the fights. The bodies of the previous fighters that had entered the pits that night, the ones that had not survived. The winning man thrust his fists into the air to the sounds of cheering, striding out of the pit through the iron gates.

Arlen spoke to Talut. ‘Where is the princess we seek?’ he asked.

Talut glanced up to the balcony opposite them. Within the crowd of men baying for blood, they saw a woman dressed all in black. Like those around her she was leaning over the railing, screaming and shouting at the fighters below, calling out for more.

‘And I thought I was the only woman here’ Annabel said dryly. ‘Never mind.’

’That…is the princess?’ Shawn asked incredulous.

‘It is’ Talut nodded. ‘Why? Is she not as you were expecting?’ his eyes glinted as he spoke. ‘Come’ Talut said, moving away from the railings as two new fighters entered the pits below them. ‘Let’s introduce ourselves shall we?’

The princess was a tall and slender woman who dressed more like a man, with black trousers, worn and filthy travelling boots and a long black trench coat. Her hair, black like the clothes she wore, was short and scruffy, as if she had cut it off herself.

Talut approached her and spoke to her briefly. The princess did not look at him, but leant towards him as he spoke directly into her ear, she waited silently as he told her what he needed to say.

The princess glanced up at last, seeing the others waiting behind Talut.

‘I will be very glad to receive them’ she spoke flatly. ‘You may bring them to the palace tomorrow at midday.’

Talut bowed and left.

‘Was that it?’ Shawn asked him as they left the place the way they had come in, stepping out into the moonlight and the open still air again. The silence felt good.

‘Yes’ Talut answered shortly. ‘Now she knows we want to see her. She will be waiting for us tomorrow at the palace.’

They returned to Talut’s home and each was given their own room to sleep.

‘Goodnight’ Shawn whispered to Annabel when they were alone. ‘I’ll see you in the morning.’

She grabbed his wrist as he made to leave.

‘Wait’ she whispered in the dark. ‘Don’t leave me.’

He turned back to her.

‘This house is so strange’ she said to him. ‘I don’t think I could fall asleep on my own.’ She lifted her eyes to his. ‘Could you stay with me tonight? And keep me warm?’

She let go of him, letting her hand fall back to her side as she waited for an answer.

‘Please?’

He smiled at her, brushing her long black hair back and tucking it behind her ear.

‘Of course’ he whispered to her.

They moved over to the bed and Annabel sat down, withdrawing beneath the sheets and shuffling back as Shawn climbed in beside her.

Annabel snuggled into him, resting her cheek against his shoulder.

‘This is nice’ she said to him.

‘Yeah’ Shawn whispered. ‘It is.’

She breathed a heavy sigh, running her hand over his bare chest and closing her eyes.

‘Anna?’ Shawn spoke quietly after a while. But she was fast asleep.

Shawn sighed deeply, holding her to him.

‘Sweet dreams’ he said to her, turning to kiss her forehead, before relaxing his body, and giving himself up to sleep.

The next morning, all four of them rode to the palace, with Talut leading the way, mounted upon a bronze and white stripped stallion, a strange creature, with bright blue eyes.

‘I simply love these lands’ Talut was saying, throwing his arms out as they rode. ‘The air is always so pure, and the mountains so beautiful. Perhaps one day when you are not so busy, you should wander these wilds, where there are many wonderful things to see. You know’ he said, glancing back at Annabel and Shawn, ‘if I were to ever get married, it would be here.’

They reached the palace a few hours later. It was a grand building, striking and beautiful with many tall spires. A great path of pale stone was built for many miles, leading all the way to the entrance of the building. The palace itself when they reached it at last, was surrounded by lush and thriving gardens, overflowing with fruit and flowers and bees and birds.

When they came to the entrance of the palace and dismounted their horses, they found the princess already waiting for them at the top of the steps. Several stable hands stepped forwards to take their horses as she spoke to them.

‘Follow me’ she said promptly before marching away.

They picked up their pace to keep up with her stride as the large double doors were held open for them by the palace guards. She led them through the grand entrance hall, made of pale and shining stone, and through an archway that led to a long corridor. Annabel took in their surroundings as they went. The columns that held up the ceiling were beautifully carved in depictions of vines and twisting roots set at eye-level. Intricately detailed and painstakingly sculpted were delicate flowers carved from the very stone itself. Each petal was individually chiselled, and painted in glossy coats of bright colours to protect it. Around some of these columns, grew actual plants and flowers that overflowed from the garden nearby, some of which were creeping into the building and clinging to the edges of the corridor they walked.

‘Through here’ the princess spoke when they reached the end of the corridor, holding a door open for them to enter the next room. ‘After you.’

The four of them filed in, Talut moving first and the rest following after him. They entered a room, which was plain in comparison to the stunning hall they had just left. The walls were smooth with no depictions, with one large oval window set in the wall at the back of the room, overlooking a garden that grew at a lower level. The view through the window was far more interesting than what was inside the room itself, where there were only several chairs surrounding a plain oval table. Sitting at the table, were two figures, one male, one female. They were finely dressed and mature in age. It was clear at a glance as the princess entered the room after them, closing the door behind her, that these were her parents, the king and queen. They shared the same physical features, even though they presented themselves quiet differently. The royal parents looked ‘normal’, while their daughter looked like she had been raised on the streets in violence and in turmoil.

‘Please sit down’ the princess spoke shortly, and the others obeyed. She herself remained standing, while her parents looked on silently. ‘Now’ she began. ‘I believe you wish to ask something of me.’

‘Yes’ Talut said briskly. ‘These fine folk here’ he indicated Arlen, Shawn and Annabel, ‘seek to ask you favour.’

‘I owe them no favour’ the princess said raising an eyebrow at them and sneering slightly. ‘Why did you come before me with this?’

‘Arlen here’ Talut went on, ‘is a good friend of mine.’

‘That means nothing to me’ the princess continued. ‘You could be sharing the same bed and that would make no difference to me.’

‘As I understand it’ Talut went on, ’you owe me a favour. And for the record’ he added hastily glancing towards Arlen, ’we do not share the same bed.’

‘So you would use your one favour we owe you’ the princess spoke slowly, ‘to help these people?’

‘Yes’ Talut nodded once.

‘Very well’ the princess crossed her arms. ‘I agree to this.’ She addressed Arlen then. ‘What aid do you wish of me?’

‘We need an army’ Arlen told the princess.

‘For what purpose?’

‘To fight against the king and kill him.’

‘Why do you want this?’

‘Because…’ Arlen bit his lip in thought. ‘Because…’

‘The princess is familiar with the Weather Makers’ Talut told him. ‘You can tell her.’

Arlen glanced at Talut, before speaking again.

‘My daughter is a Weather Maker’ Arlen began. ‘She has been…kidnapped by the king.’

The princess cocked her head curiously as she listened.

‘The king is a dangerous man’ Arlen went on, ‘my daughter is not the only one who has been taken. There have been many before her, and will be many more to come…unless something is done.’

‘Why does he take the Weather Makers then?’ the princess asked.

The royal parents, the king and queen listened silently.

‘The prince’ Arlen said, ‘has told us that he kidnaps them, believing they have the power to save his wife.’

‘Save?’

‘She is…in a coma’ Arlen told her. ‘Or so the prince tells us.’

‘And the prince tells you that the Weather Makers can save her?’

‘That’s what the king believes’ Arlen mumbled.

‘And you trust the prince?’

‘No.’

‘Then why do know him?’

‘He is helping us.’

‘Why?’

‘He has his reasons.’

The princess shared a glance with her parents. Something passed between them, and the princess turned back to Arlen.

‘Who are these who accompany you?’ the princess asked Arlen.

‘This is Shawn’ Arlen explained. ‘He is my nephew.’

‘And the lady?’

Annabel raised her head.

‘This is Annabel’ Arlen said after a pause.

’Why is she here?’ the princess asked.

‘For her safety.’

‘Safety?’ the princess said to Arlen.

‘She is a Weather Maker also.’

The princess’ eyes instantly lit up.

‘Is she?’ she spoke slowly.

The edge of her lip curled in a smile and her cheek twitched.

‘I would very much like to see your powers’ she said to Annabel.

Annabel hesitated. Arlen glanced to Talut, whose eyes flickered to his. There was something strange about his demeanour then.

Arlen realised suddenly with a twinge in his stomach what it was.

Uncertainty.

‘I don’t know if this is such a good idea’ Shawn spoke up as Annabel stood to obey.

Nearby Talut clenched his jaw.

‘Nonsense’ the princess scoffed. ‘If you have powers, I want to see it, or else I might not be so willing to offer you my support.’

Annabel and Shawn exchanged a hesitant look.

Shawn did not try to stop her as Annabel took a deep breath, turning to face the window at the back of the room, beyond which was the garden.

The others within the room all diverted their attention towards the glass then, as Annabel performed her magic.

Ivy grew just beyond the window, before their very eyes it crept upon the glass, blotting out the light until the room within was cast into shadow.

‘Remarkable’ the princess breathed. ‘A Weather Maker brought to me, before my very feet.’

The princess then strode to the door, shouting out a command in a foreign tongue. Instantly, two guards that had been stationed outside the room marched in. They descended upon Amaia, each grabbing her by an arm and dragging her. She screamed, trying in vain to free herself. Shawn instantly rose to his feet, grabbing one of the guards in an attempt to stop them. In one swift move the guard drew forth a sword, pressing the tip into Shawn’s belly.

Shawn raised his hands in submission, stepping back as the other guard dragged Annabel away. Unarmed, Shawn was powerless to protect her.

‘Where are you taking her?’ Shawn demanded in a wavering voice.

‘That is none of your concern’ the princess answered curtly as the guard sheathed his sword, straightening and marching out of the room after the other guard that held Annabel.

She called out to him, and he called out to her, standing there helpless and lost.

‘Anna!’ he cried.

‘Don’t try to use your power!’ the princess ordered her as the guard closed the door behind him. ‘Do so and I will make you regret it.’

They were gone from sight now, and silence filled the room. At least for a short time.

‘What are you doing?!’ Shawn rounded on the princess. ‘Where are you taking her?’

‘Watch your tongue or I will cut it out’ the princess replied, leaning forward with her hands rested upon the table. Nearby the royal parents sat ever silent, and on the other side of the table, Talut and Arlen had not moved.

‘This is your fault’ Shawn spat at Talut. ‘You let this happen!’

‘Calm yourself’ Talut replied levelly back. ‘I’d hate for you to be told again.’

‘Talut’ Arlen spoke calmly. ‘What’s going on here?’

‘I owe you one favour’ the princess said straightening again. ‘You have a decision. Receive an army and let us have the girl, or leave here as you entered.’

‘And let her suffer what fate?’ Shawn demanded.

‘That is not for you to know’ the princess glowered.

‘What will you do with her?’

‘Your persistence annoys me’ the princess said to Shawn, her upper lip curling in a snarl. ’If you insist on knowing, then I will tell you something.’

She cupped her hands before her. Within her palms sparks formed, like little dancing fireflies, they crackled, quivering in the air briefly before fading away into nothing.

‘I have the powers of a Weather Maker, but I was not born this way. Your Annabel can help me in ways you couldn’t even imagine.’

‘If you were not born that way’ Arlen voiced. ‘Then how did you….?’

Talut looked on silently. The princess glanced behind her, to a figure the others had not noticed before. It was a mysterious figure, dressed all in black with black gloves, and a bird’s mask which covered the face. The figure stood there silent like a spectre, and did not move.

‘I give you until tomorrow to make your decision’ the princess said straightening. ‘I have much to do. Excuse me.’

She strode out of the room briskly, shortly followed by the mysterious masked figure. The figure paused for a moment, staring at them, as if deeply intrigued, before moving on. After them, the royal parents, the king and queen went, silent as they had been.

‘What have you done?’ Shawn spat at Talut the instant they were alone.

‘Relax’ Talut said casually. ‘Everything’s fine. God you’re so impulsive, and overemotional. That will get you in trouble one of these days.’

Shawn grabbed him by the arms suddenly, shoulders hunched and muscles tense.

‘Let go boy’ Talut said dangerously back at him.

Shawn didn’t move; the two glared at each other unblinking. Shawn lowered his head, but did not break eye contact; his body began to shake in anger.

‘I could kill you in one move boy’ Talut growled. ‘If you want your girlfriend to see you again, I suggest you let go.’

‘Shawn’ Arlen spoke up firmly. ‘Let him go.’

Shawn gritted his teeth in fury, lifting his hands slowly and deliberately off Talut’s shoulders and stepping back. He stormed off across the room to stand by the window, glaring out through the ivy at the trees below in silence, anger bubbling away inside him.

Behind him Talut blinked several times before turning casually to Arlen. ‘Do you want to pick a fight with me too?’ he asked Arlen.

‘I’m not here to fight with you’ Arlen replied. ‘I didn’t come all this way for something so unproductive, my friend. And besides’ he added, ‘you would only win.’

Talut bowed his head.

’But Shawn is right. What have you done? This wasn’t supposed to happen.’

‘The princess by law owns all Weather Makers in this land. They are hers by right.’

‘Putting aside the fact it’s wrong for one person to own another’ Arlen spoke, ‘I replace it disgraceful that you would allow this to happen.’

‘No’ Talut said. ‘You didn’t tell me what she was. I could have prevented this if I knew. Speaking of which, if Annabel is really that important to you, why did you bring her all the way here?’

‘She wasn’t safe at home’ Arlen replied. ‘But you already know that. It’s the same for all Weather Makers.’

‘In any case’ Talut said crossing his arms, ‘she is safe until you decide how to use the one favour I own the princess. Set Annabel free, or accept her army and travel back home to kill your king and save all Weather Makers there, including Amaia.’

Arlen hesitated.

‘No’ Shawn spoke up turning to him. ’You cannot even consider….we have to free Annabel.’

‘But’ Talut spoke almost teasingly, ‘if you do that you lose the help you could offer Amaia.’

‘Is this a game to you?’ Shawn growled. Talut could see the hate and raw fury in him.

Talut sighed, closing his eyes.

‘Fine. I see how much she means to you. I do not wish to torture you further.’ He straightened. ‘I will tell the princess that you wish to free Annabel.’

‘Do it now’ Shawn demanded.

‘Can’t’ Talut answered shortly. ‘The princess is gone already.’

‘Where?’

‘I don’t know’ Talut said tiredly. ‘She hates the palace; she makes much effort to spend as little time here as possible. She’s not bound here. We will receive another audience with her tomorrow morning.’

‘But Annabel….’

‘Will be fine in the meantime’ Talut reassured firmly. ‘We’ll stay here overnight until we can see the princess again. I’ll replace a servant. There’s bound to be loads of spare rooms here in this vast palace.’

That night, Shawn did not sleep at all, and the hours and minutes dragged on agonizingly slowly, until at long last the morning came and they stood before the princess once again.

‘Well what’s your decision?’

‘Set Annabel free’ Shawn demanded.

‘Really?’ the queen turned to him. ‘You would choose this girl over receiving an army? You must think the world of her.’ Shawn’s expression darkened over her casual tone. ‘Well…if she really means that much to you, it’s not right for me to keep her.’ She clicked her fingers at a nearby guard who swiftly left the room.

A short time later he returned, with Annabel beside him.

‘Anna!’ Shawn rushed up to her, holding her face in his hands. ‘Are you alright? They didn’t hurt you did they?’

‘I’m fine’ Annabel told him hastily, smiling at him and holding him back.

‘We wouldn’t do anything to her until it was decided she was fully ours’ the princess explained. ‘I assure you she was well looked after. Ask her if you don’t believe me.’

‘Were you?’

‘Yes Shawn. Don’t worry’ Annabel chuckled lightly at him. ‘I was very well looked after. The food was good, the bed was soft, they treated me well…there was even entertainment.’

‘What?’

‘Don’t worry’ Annabel smiled patting his arms. ‘I’m fine, I told you. Everything’s alright.’

Shawn embraced her then, holding her close.

‘Thank the gods’ he whispered in her ear as he held her tightly. ‘I was so scared…’

One night, when they were back at Talut’s home, Arlen wandered through the quiet house alone, unable to sleep. He found the old lady sitting in one of the chairs downstairs.

He watched her for a moment, deep in thought. His attention drifted towards the mantelpiece where there was the picture of herself in younger and better days. Beside this painted picture was another that caught his attention. It was a painting of herself, with a man that must have been her husband. They were both leaning into each other, smiling widely.

Arlen took the picture, slowly lifting it from the mantelpiece. He approached the old lady with it.

She looked up at him, and began to snarl, on the verge of spouting a stream of vile words at him. Arlen held the picture out for her to see before she could do so.

The old lady hesitated. She stared at the picture, and then a gentle smile crossed her face. When she smiled her whole demeanour changed, and she was beautiful once again.

She took the picture from him gently, gazing down at it with tears in her eye.

‘My loving husband’ she sighed. ‘You were the heaven and the earth to me.’

Still smiling she closed her eyes, falling back into her chair and becoming still, clutching the photo to her chest.

‘It looks like you’ve made my mother very happy’ came a voice.

Arlen saw Talut who stood leaning against the doorframe with his arms folded.

‘It was nothing’ Arlen said. ‘Really.’

‘Still’ Talut grinned. ‘It looks like I owe you a favour.’

‘Now that you mention it…’ Arlen began.

‘No’ Talut interrupted quickly. ‘I cannot leave these lands’ he said. ‘I will not.’

Arlen went to his room later to think. He thought long and hard about his next decision before asking Shawn and Annabel to meet with him.

‘Ok listen’ Arlen said to them. ‘I have a plan. We came all this way and we can’t leave empty handed…so I’ve been doing some thinking.’

‘You really think we can convince him to help us?’ Shawn asked him doubtfully.

‘Convince’ Arlen spoke reluctantly, ‘isn’t the word I would use.’

‘You want to force him to help us?’ Annabel straightened. ‘But how?’

‘Well’ Arlen began slowly. ’I’ve been doing some thinking. Like I said, we’ve come all this way, and I can’t….wont…leave empty handed.’

‘I don’t like where this is going’ Shawn told him.

‘I have a plan’ Arlen continued as if Shawn hadn’t spoken. ‘I need your help to do this. But don’t worry’ he added casually, ‘only I will get the blame for this.’

’I really don’t like where this is going’ Shawn said flatly.

‘My plan’ Arlen went on, ‘is to poison Talut, and hold the antidote for ransom until he does for us what we want.’

‘I don’t like it either’ Annabel added.

‘It’s the only way.’

‘Isn’t this man dangerous?’ Annabel frowned at him. ‘Really dangerous? Shawn and I don’t know anything about him, but you do.’

‘Yes’ Arlen agreed reluctantly. ‘I know him very well, which is how I know that he will only suspect me of this, and not either of you.’

‘Arlen’ Shawn said. ’I really really don’t like this.’

‘You won’t help me? For Amaia?’

Shawn glanced towards Annabel.

‘Shawn’ Arlen said firmly. ‘I swear by the seven gods and on my life, that neither you nor Annabel will be put in danger by helping me.’

‘You’re sure he won’t hold us guilty?’ Shawn asked him. ‘You’re sure we can get away with this if we try?’

‘I assure you he won’t suspect a thing’ Arlen told him. ‘He trusts me more than anyone else in the world. Save for one person.’

‘Who?’

‘His son.’

‘And you would throw that away?’ Shawn raised an eyebrow sceptically.

‘For Amaia’ Arlen whispered. ’I would do anything.’

‘So if we poison him and hold the antidote’ Annabel spoke up, ‘he will agree to help us.’

‘No’ Arlen said. ‘He does not care about his own life enough to be controlled like that. Which is why we’re going to poison his son also.’

‘You cannot be fucking serious?’ Shawn spat at him. ‘What kind of people do you think we are?’

‘Keep your voice down’ Arlen hissed.

‘How old is his son?’ Annabel asked.

‘Seven.’

‘Gods above’ Shawn stepped back, hand going to his forehead and brushing his blonde hair back. ‘What is he going to do when he replaces out?’

‘Nothing’ Arlen said. ‘Until he gets his antidote.’

‘And then?’

‘He will kill me.’

‘Arlen…’

‘Listen to me Shawn’ Arlen said seriously. ’Neither Talut nor his son will be in danger. They will both get the antidote, because Talut will not refuse to help us if his son is put in danger. The king will die, no long will Weather Makers be kidnapped….who knows what happens to them once the king has them….but I bet it’s not good. And Amaia…’ Arlen drew a shuddering breath, balling his fists. ‘Shawn’ Arlen said, a darkness falling over him. ’We have to do this. The only one who will suffer for this is me.’ He looked Shawn in the eye, staring deeply into him. ’I have to do this’ Arlen told him. ‘For Amaia.’

‘But Arlen’ Shawn said, looking at him differently now. ‘Will he really try to kill you?’

‘Yes’ Arlen said firmly. ‘I’ve known him for a very long time. I know what he’s like. He will try to kill me’ he drew a deep breath, ’and he will most likely make me suffer before I die. But he will try to kill me, and he will succeed. I am no match for him, and I never will be.’

‘But Arlen…’

‘Shawn listen to me’ Arlen hissed in a low voice, rounding on him and grabbing him by his shoulders, shaking him as he spoke. ’I would do anything for Amaia. Anything. The fact that I believe she might still be alive is the only reason I am standing here. That day I lost Ramana…’ he let go of him, stepping away. ‘The only thing that kept me sane….kept me from taking my own life…or being driven mad by grief, was the fact that Amaia’s body was never found…. She‘s out there somewhere Shawn. She could be scared, in pain…suffering…I have replace her. Don’t you understand? She’s the only reason I wish to live at all now.’

But Arlen….’ Shawn mumbled uncertainly. ‘You will die…’

‘Then I will die a happy death, knowing that I did all I could to replace Amaia.’

‘Arlen…’

‘Shawn…she is the only thing that matters to me in this world. I would willingly suffer the worst tortures everyday if it meant that she would be found, alive and well. She’s my only reason for living…’ he turned his back on them so they would not see the tears in his eyes.

I miss her he thought in his head, gods I miss her so much…

‘You have to help me…’ he whispered to them. ‘Please…’

Shawn stared at his back for a moment before answering.

‘Do you promise me that Annabel will be safe if we do this?’

‘Yes’ Arlen said without pause. ‘And if not, you can kill me yourself. I won’t try to stop you.’

Shawn exchanged a glance with Annabel, who gave him a nod.

‘Alright’ Shawn said reluctantly. ‘I can’t believe I’m agreeing to do this, especially to a boy so young, but I will do it.’

‘Thank you’ Arlen whispered, not turning back to them. ‘Now please leave. I wish to be alone. I will speak to you both again in the morning about what we need to do.’

He waited for the sound of the door to close and footsteps to recede down the corridor, before falling to his knees and sobbing into his hands.

Please…. He prayed to the gods in his head. Please let her still be alive. Amaia…I will replace you if it kills me……I will replace you if it’s the last thing I ever do.

The next morning, Arlen woke long before anyone else, even before Talut. He left and wandered alone the streets in the city on the doorstep of the home. All around him the market was already bustling, the merchants rising early to make the most of their business, filling the air with their calls as they shouted out to potential customers.

When Arlen did return hours later, he was accompanied by three young children.

‘Arlen’ Shawn began in surprise. ‘I didn’t realise you had that much money.’

‘I managed to convince their mother to give them up for nothing’ Arlen explained, glancing back at the two brothers and one sister. ‘It would after all cost to keep them right?’ he said. ‘And who knows what might happen to them if I didn’t take them?’

‘Noble’ Shawn replied, ’but what are we going to do with them?’

‘I think it was a good thing that you did’ Annabel said kneeling before the children and smiling. ‘It’s alright little ones’ she said to them. ‘You’re safe with us.’

‘They could always work around the house’ Talut spoke glancing down at them, ‘or help care for the animals we have out back.’

‘Talut’ Arlen said. ‘There is something I must do with Shawn and Annabel. We’ll be gone for a while. Will we be welcome back where when we return?’

‘Of course my old friend’ Talut beamed back without the slightest suspicion. ‘You are always welcome in my home.’

‘And can these children stay with you for a short while? I’ll collect them when I return. I promise.’

‘Of course’ Talut nodded. ‘Goodbye now, and have fun. Wherever you’re going.’

Arlen walked away with a strong feeling of guilt and a heavy heart.

‘So where are we going?’ Annabel asked him as the three of them walked together back through the market in the city.

‘We need ingredients to make this poison’ Arlen spoke in a mutter back to her in case anyone was listening. ‘Some I need to buy; others we need to replace ourselves.’

They followed Arlen about the market that day as they bought a variety of strange substances and powders and plants. Afterwards, as night began to fall, they travelled on foot to the mountains nearby were they waited for the full moon. Under the glow of the white light they picked a special kind of flower that only emerged at this time beneath the stars. Arlen quickly treated them, then tucked them away in a little pouch, before moving on to their next destination beneath the moonlight.

‘Where do we go now?’ Shawn asked Arlen when all the ingredients were collected and the poison had been brewed.

‘To replace his son’ Arlen grumbled back. ‘Justin…’

They travelled for many days to another place, until they reached a large estate built on open land.

‘Nice place’ Shawn noted as they stood on the lip of the hill overlooking the estate. ‘I thought it would be smaller.’

‘The boy lives here alone with only a few servants and teachers that care for him’ Arlen said in a low voice. ‘I doubt even the princess herself had a better upbringing than the boy is having now.’

Shawn shook his head to himself, muttering under his breath. ‘I still can’t believe I’m participating in this.’

‘I’ve just thought of something’ Annabel spoke up. ‘Who is the boy’s mother?’

Arlen pursed his lips. ‘A woman of great importance’ he replied.

‘Why does she not care for him then?’ she asked.

‘Because of who she is’ Arlen replied vaguely. He considered the two behind him. ‘Are you ready?’

‘No’ Shawn replied.

‘Let’s go’ Arlen said.

They dismounted their horses on the lip of the hill and tied them up so they would not wander, walking the rest of the short distance to the house and knocking on the front door.

Shawn and Annabel waited nervously behind Arlen as he waited for the door to open. Annabel reached for Shawn as he stood beside her, taking his hand and giving it a squeeze to reassure him. Shawn squeezed her hand back, quickly letting go as the door opened a crack.

‘Yes?’ an elderly lady dressed in the black and white of servant’s clothes greeted them.

‘We’re here to see the boy’ Arlen spoke firmly to her.

‘What boy? There is no boy here.’

‘Play no games with me’ Arlen told her, ‘Talut sent us.’

‘Why?’ the old asked suspiciously.

‘To check on him’ Arlen fabricated. ‘Something happened and he fears the boy may be in danger. He can’t come himself obviously. He just wants someone to check to see that he is alright.’

‘We could tell him’ the woman replied. ‘We have messenger birds here.’

‘Yeah well he seems to trust me more’ Arlen said arrogantly back at her. ‘How would I know of the boy if he hadn’t told me?’

‘You could be the one who intends to put him in danger’ the servant replied.

‘And if I was then how would you stop me?’ Arlen asked her.

The servant didn’t reply, but simply peered at them through the crack in the door.

‘Let us in’ Arlen told her. ’I assure you we mean no harm. You can inquire about us with your messenger birds to Talut later. But if you don’t let us in, then I must assume you are the ones who mean to harm him.’

‘Alright’ the servant replied, seeing his reason.

She opened the door fully, stepping back to let them in.

‘Where is he?’ Arlen demanded, striding into the entrance hall, Shawn and Annabel followed silently in his footsteps.

‘In the next room’ the old lady indicated, staring at Shawn and Annabel suspiciously as she spoke.

Arlen could tell she wanted to ask about them, but thought better of it, knowing perhaps that she if she did ask, she would be lied to anyway. Arlen glanced towards the kitchen in the room behind the old lady, where he saw several more woman dressed in the same black and white.

‘Thank you’ Arlen replied shortly, before turning on his heel and marching towards the other room the old lady had indicated.

He paused when he entered the room, seeing the young boy sitting on the sofa and peering at them curiously. There was an open book on his lap.

Arlen half-turned back to the two behind him, seeing the servants watching from the hallway beyond, they had all stopped what they were doing to watch the strangers.

‘Close the door’ Arlen mumbled to Shawn.

Shawn felt a twinge in his stomach as he obeyed.

Arlen approached the boy with a smile.

‘Hey’ he said taking a seat next to him. ‘You’re name is Justin isn’t it?’

‘Yeah’ the boy replied.

‘Justin’ Arlen went on. ‘I’m afraid I have some bad news. I don’t mean to scare you, but right now your life is in danger.’

‘Why?’

‘You’re father sent me’ Arlen explained.

‘I don’t know my father’ the boy replied.

‘He is an important man, who works in a very important job. But what he does is dangerous also, and it because of this that you’ve been put in danger.’

‘Why?’ Justin asked again, his eyes wide like dinner plates now.

‘There are those who wish to hurt your father’ Arlen went on, ‘and to hurt him, they’ve gotten to you.’

Justin glanced towards Shawn and Annabel who waited silently by, before looking back at Arlen.

‘How?’ Justin asked.

‘Last night, an assassin crept into your room....’

‘Am I safe here?’ the boy worried.

‘Yes’ Arlen answered quickly. ‘He was an exceptional man, there are no others as skilled as him, save for your father. But he’s gone now, your father killed him to protect you, but he has already poisoned you.’

The boy paled.

‘Am I going to die?’

‘No’ Arlen said reaching into his coat and pulling out a small vial. ‘But you have to drink this’ he told him. ‘It’s the antidote. It will save you. I rode here as fast as I could when I found out what happened.’

’Who are they?’ Justin asked, staring at Shawn and Annabel with a confused expression.

‘They’re alchemists. They make medicines’ Arlen explained to the boy. ‘They made this antidote together, and they’ve come with me now to make sure you drink it.’

‘And my father trusts you?’ Justin asked.

‘Yes’ Arlen nodded. It was the first truth he had told since he entered the place. ‘Here’ he said handing the boy the vial. ‘Drink it all.’

The boy unscrewed the vial and drank the entire contents. The poison inside was clear, colourless, odourless and tasteless.

‘And this will make me better?’ the boy asked when the liquid was all gone.

‘Yes’ Arlen told him, taking the vial back. ‘Everything is fine now.’

He rose to his feet and made to leave.

‘Before you go’ the boy spoke up, Arlen paused, ‘am I safe in my bed?’ the boy asked. ‘There’s not going to be another assassin in my room is there?’

‘No’ Arlen shook his head. ‘That assassin is dead now. This house is the safest place you can be.’

Arlen strode out of the house without another word to anyone, followed quickly by Shawn and Annabel.

On their way back to Talut’s home, they moved through the city again. It was the last day of the market, and Arlen spotted something of interest. A weapon that strapped to the wrist, it was a tiny device where if the trigger was pulled, a dart would shoot out. It was high powered and with a good aim could be potentially fatal.

‘Talut has one of these’ Arlen said examining it. ‘He never takes it off. He always hides it beneath his sleeve. Maybe I should get one.’

He bought it, alongside three other small items. Three bombs small enough to sit in the palm of your hand. Twist the top, and the fuse would light, twist the centre and the ball would open, spilling the flammable liquid that could be used to light fires.

The three of them returned to Talut’s home, where he was waiting for them.

Arlen slipped his hand onto his pocket before approaching him.

‘Talut!’ he cried jovially, approaching him with arms wide open. ‘It’s good to see you again.’ He grabbed Talut by the hand, shaking it vigorously. ‘It’s so good to see you again.’

Arlen immediately stepped back and turned around, slipping into his mouth a small tablet and swallowing it whole. The antidote to the poison he had just smeared on his hand.

He faced Talut again, who was watching him closely with an uncertain look in his eyes. Arlen had dropped the act suddenly, his expression became stern.

‘Arlen’ Talut said seriously. ‘Why did you visit my son?’

‘When I just shook your hand a moment ago’ Arlen told him, ‘there was poison on my skin. You’ve got it now.’

Talut lifted his hand, staring at his palm in shock, then back at Arlen.

His head lowered, his shoulders moved back, and his eyes darkened as he clenched his fists.

‘You poisoned my son to force me to help you.’

‘You love your son very much’ Arlen said, ’as I love my daughter. We would both do anything for our children. Help me, and I will tell you the name of the poison so you can make the antidote. You won’t see its effects until after six months, when it will slowly begin to kill you, and your son. Try to guess the antidote, or take the wrong one, and it will quickly begin to kill you.’

‘You’ll die for this’ Talut threatened. ‘Mark my word.’

‘This was my decision’ Arlen told him. ‘Know that. Shawn and Annabel had nothing to do with it.’

Talut narrowed his eyes dangerously, but said nothing.

‘You will come with us across the sea to kill the king’ Arlen told him. ‘But before we leave, I want you to convince the princess to send a small army to aid us, we will need the extra men.’

Talut didn’t answer.

‘I will be waiting for you back at the ship in Elton harbour’ Arlen said. ‘In three days time, I want you to be there.’

Talut still said nothing.

‘I’ll be waiting’ Arlen said walking away without looking back.

He left with Shawn and Annabel, and with them went the three young children he had left behind in Talut’s care. All of them began their journey back to the waiting ship.

Three days later, and Talut arrived at the shore. With him came two hundred men, on a ship of their own.

‘How in god’s name did you manage to convince him to do this?’ Shawn asked in wonder, watching nervously Talut on the ship beside theirs as he glared their way.

Talut turned and stalked off.

‘And where did he get the men from?’ Shawn added. ‘They look like they belong to the king himself.’

‘They do’ Arlen told him. ‘Those are royal soldiers.’

‘How did he…?’

’The princess is the one who rules this country, not her parents. She tells them, and they do. In reality this is her army.’

‘Then how on earth did he manage to convince the princess to give us these men?’

‘Because Talut and the princess are secret lovers, they’re infatuated with each other, and his son, the one we poisoned, is her son also’

Shawn instantly paled. ‘We poisoned the princess’s son?’

‘Yeah.’

‘You could have told me!’

‘Why?’ Arlen glowered at him. ‘It would only have made it harder.’

‘Are you absolutely sure Annabel is safe?’ Shawn pressed, glancing back at Annabel who sat further away on the deck with her blue violin on her lap.

‘Yes’ Arlen replied. ‘I know Talut all too well. It’s me he will punish for this, and only me.’

‘I hope you know what you’re doing’ Shawn replied dryly, not in the least bit comforted.

‘I do’ Arlen told him sadly. ‘I have known Talut for over ten years, and I know what he is capable of.’

‘Arlen’ Shawn said seriously. ‘If Annabel is hurt because of this, I will never forgive you.’

‘I know’ Arlen mumbled.

The ships set sail, and they returned to the place where they had agreed to meet with the others. But not all went with them. Cam and Tala had stayed behind, having found each other, they wished no longer to be a part of war.

‘Goodbye’ Arlen had said to them; and thank you for all you’ve done.

‘I hope you replace what you’re looking for’ Cam said to them.

Behind Cam stood Tala, around her were gathered the three children.

‘We will raise them like a true family’ Tala had said. ‘As if they were our own.’

When their ship reached their homeland, they found a messenger waiting for them, a messenger bearing the crest of the king, a wolf eating a half-moon.

‘The king wishes to see you’ the messenger said. ‘He is waiting for you in the mountains.’