₰Traugott₰
Aside from a small skirmish at the forest line near the pond truncating the River Rapha, we crawl under the shadow of the feared Agleton mountains unchallenged. The sun burns through the tips and into our eyes as Lord Cadfael and Lady Carys and I step onto the loose dirt path.
“Traugott, come ride next to me,” Lady Carys beckons, sliding behind her husband, for only two can ride abreast.
She takes my hand and clasps it gently. “This year has been unusual for you, Traugott, unusual and rather stressful. Unfortunate circumstances have followed you doggedly and framed you unfairly. I was not there, but I know this to be true, for I have watched you become a man.”
I watch her pegasus strain at the steep slope but cannot bear to face her.
“Traugott- look at me.”
The world becomes a bit bleary as I peer up into her shining face. Her braid is askew, and her face has a smudge or two of dirt, but every fiber of her exudes the gentle lady of the castle that she is.
She begins again, “Don’t let the past grind at you, dear one. Enion, and Briallen, and your parents, would want to you be happy. One day, once things have settled down, Kaitra will let down her walls and accept your friendship. You have done better, Traugott, than we hoped, than we could have asked.”
I cannot bring to syllables the swirling thoughts in my heart and instead clasp her hand more tightly.
∞Kaitra∞
The darkness cloaks the streets even as we make our way up them with swishing skirts and snapping starched shirts and hair scattering a damply over our shoulders. It is still a bit odd to me when we stroll into the castle of the Master like we were asking a schoolmate for the math assignment from yesterday. Does he not require the pomp and circumstance of kings in the other world? Why does he not demand it of me, a girl brazened to the delicate customs of this country, who has snubbed her parents, her friends, and even him?
We knock at the stable door- a secret entrance of sorts, I suppose- but instead of a servant, Madame Rhiannon herself loosens the bolts and bids us enter. We three bow deeply, cheeks inflamed, before scraping our boots and slippers on the outer stoop and crossing the threshold.
“Madame, pardon our untimely , unannounced intrusion please. If we had known we would disturb you, we would have not come,” I explained, rushed, and already turning to go out again.
“No, Kaitra,” Madame Rhiannon says, her hand touching my shoulder lightly. “We have been waiting for you, all of you. Master lies in his chambers. Please come speak with him, for the days are short and the hours wane.”
Calanthe nods at me to follow Madame, and I tiptoe behind her, feeling rather small in the long, large halls. We are to go into the very chambers of the master! If only they knew my shortcomings, the hateful thoughts I have hurled towards those they love and the country they rule, surely they would draw the dagger themselves to send me back, never to return.
The doors open, and Madame takes my hand and leads me to Master Hulderic’s bedside. I can but kneel in his presence.
“You come with great timidity and guilt, dear one,” Master Hulderic says, eyes still closed.
I feel Calanthe and Maxen kneel beside me and grip Calanthe’s arm for support. “I am not the brave, sure Daughter your country deserves.”
“Nowhere did the prophesy ever say the Daughter would be a perfect, fearless warrior. Not every battle is won by steel and blood. The mind and the will are both powerful weapons, if they are united and not bound by fear and confusion. Your walls will only hurt you, Kaitra.”
I know not what to say. I want to claw his words out of my ears and my mind. I want to leave up my walls, not tear them down, for to lose the barricade would be to let Yuragwyn into my mind and my soul.
“There is a bitterness in you, a bitterness that blindly wields a rusty blade around and around in circles, keeping those who love you most far away and dizzying you. Those who try to come in and save you from yourself only get painful gashes. “
“Of who do you speak?” I ask, barely above a whisper.
“Of your parents, of your dear friends kneeling here beside you, and of Traugott. He has thrown himself into the fire for you to realize who you are and what you’re worth. He has lost much for your sake, and yet he still comes to your rescue whenever he can, for I have asked him to.”
The guilt of my words and my actions bears heavily on my shoulders, but even still I grind my teeth at the callousness of his manner the very first day I came.
“I know of what you think, Kaitra. Traugott thought you would know about us and who you were. He had watched for years for you, to bring you home to your parents and to see the rejoicing and rescue of the whole country. What he wants, more than anything, is peace, peace you are called to bring.”
My cheeks inflame with these revealing words. “How shall I bring this peace?”
“You have planned well daughter and have learned much from the wise council of Hiltraud and Honorable Urien. Do as you have decided, all of you, and do it fearlessly, for that is the only way it will come to be.”
“How do you know, Master, what we have planned? We have not yet been able to bring it before you,” Calanthe questions, lifting her head and her voice for the first time.
“For many years trusted servants and pages have taken news back and forth between the great house of Llyendal and this castle. Many years ago, a great Master named Arlen and his commander, Eldred, devised the system during a great war with Granziar. It has been used ever since, for those in common outfits do not cause the commotion great lords and ladies do.” He smiles at me and beckons me to lean forward. His thin hand takes a hold of mine, and he clasps his left shoulder with his right hand. “All of Yuragwyn bows to you. Now go, and make haste for the time is short. You will find two pegasuses in the stable for your use.”
₰Traugott₰
A clap of frustrated thunder snaps me to attention, and my groan is drowned out by the pealing rain. We camp on the closest thing to a plateau one can find on this treacherous path, which is open to the weather and now soaked through with the downpour. Pegasuses whinny and squeal at the noise and light, and I can sense them slipping in the gravely muck.
“Traugott!” A faint voice cries out through the din. “Traugott!”
I slip on my boots as a pretense, for I know all of me will be caked in mud before a minute’s time, and step out quickly to keep my bed roll and pack more or less dry.
Lord Cadfael grabs ahold of my arm as he slides towards me. “The pegasuses- we have to get them into the cave up the way before they break their legs.”
I take a lead rope in each hand and cluck to the frightened beasts attached to them. Together we squish up the path, dodging the tents strewn wherever their owners could find dirt enough to hold the stakes.
Along the way I have plenty of time to consider why we have come. I grimace, for I know I have been called on to kill not enemies, but countrymen. Suddenly, I feel like turning about and stomping right down the trail and back to Cordina. I loathe this killing and war. Surely men were not made to slaughter one another and weep all the while.
∞Kaitra ∞
At Calanthe’s insistence we wait until morning to leave, gathering all the rest and comfort we can from the mattresses and sheets. Together we collect many foodstuffs and items of small comfort to take, Maxen smiling amusedly all the while.
“No wonder your packs were so heavy when we stumbled upon each other in Abyss,” he jests. “There are benefits of light packs.”
“Not if we plan to appear regal and convincing. This time we must take dresses and dress shirts along with our army uniforms,” Calanthe replies distractedly. I help her fold the large gowns into rectangles and stack them in the small packs.
I take mine, already full to bursting with clothes, food, and other supplies and gingerly slip in the circlet Eglantine gave me. As if on cue, a small shard of the woven metal pricks my thumb, just as its gifter pricked the nation that raised her.
“I hope this works,” Calanthe whispers.
I squeeze her shoulder and, at her request, braid her dark hair for the trip. “I believe it will.”
“Believing and being are two separate things, certainly,” Maxen butts in. “But I think that this will go smoothly, for with the fabled Daughter of Yuragwyn and the fearless daughter of Honorable Urien leading the charge, all of Yuragwyn should fall to its knees in humble awe.”
Calanthe and I can’t help but laugh as we shoulder our uncomfortably heavy backs and adjust all the straps.
“Calanthe,” I ask as we walk out to the courtyard where our two pegasuses gently paw at the dying grass, “what are blooming costumes for? I only remember wearing them once or twice.”
“Oh, those are for dignified ladies to exercise in,” Calanthe answers. “Truly there is no real benefit to them: they only flap around enough like a dress to be a bit more lady-like.”
I scrunch my nose up as I imagine them again. “They are rather ridiculous.”
“Yes, yes they are,” Maxen says, climbing upon the smaller gelding.
Calanthe’s merry laugh tinkles again through the crisp morning air, and Maxen and I snap the reigns.