Stillborn 2 - The Fire Within: Chapter 11

 

11.

While walking down the main street of his home town, Angwar enjoyed the view of flaming forges and crowded inns. The entire street was full of different kinds of establishments from simple pleasures of food and drinks to the finest craftsmanship of gems and steel. Most well known smiths had their stores in there, but only the smaller workshops located entirely by the main street. The large family businesses preferred to have workshops inside their enormous stone manors, located farther away from the crowded center.

The great watchtowers were standing tall at both ends of the street and around the central square, where entertainers and dancers were amusing the passing folks. The Darfins were a head shorter than an average Arathan, but the beauty of their women and the sturdy build of their men was pleasant for the eye. The skilled bards and tricksters did their best to overcome the massive background noise caused by the lively crowd, but it was like struggling against the tidal waves of the sea that undeniably wash upon the shore.

Angwar was on his way to the gates that led back into the dark labyrinth of Everdeep. He was going to see that his friend would be released to his personal custody, which would give Aniceth the freedom he had fought so hard to achieve. It would be challenging to persuade the king to grant permission for an Arathan to live free inside the walls of Othrond, but Angwar was going to do everything he could to ensure that.

The plain and simple jail building was standing alone near the gates. At least twenty feet was reserved on all sides as a safety measure, which greatly eased all practical arrangements for the guards. A tall iron fence surrounded the house at the outskirts of the yard, preventing random travelers from approaching the structure without being noticed.

The guards greeted Angwar respectfully as he reached the heavy door. He was wearing his family seal around his neck now, and his clothes were the finest wool and cotton. Silk was not popular in Everdeep because the combination of coldness and humidity penetrated through such fabrics very easily. Angwar's thick black cloak was embellished by a complicated silver pattern, and his warm and comfortable tunic had a blue and golden torch, the emblem of his family, sewn onto it. His entire appearance was declaring the position he had in Othrond, a wealthy member of the family of merchants, and among all the skilled smiths of the city, Frostfire was known to be one of the best.

Angwar stepped inside the shadowy cell and saw Aniceth lying on the poorly made bed. The prisoner did not even recognize the Darfin who entered the cell at first, but once he did, he was up and standing faster than a panther leaps after his prey.

”Angwar! Is it really you?” Aniceth sighed, doubtful of his own eyes.

”Yes, it is me,” the Darfin replied and winked cunningly. ”I thought I'd come and get you out of this stinking hole.”

Aniceth laughed warmly, gaining the attention of the Darfin guards outside. They were peeking inside to witness this most unique bond between races that had always been considered as nemeses to each other.

”I knew you would come,” he then said as they shook hands firmly. ”I owe you one.”

”Nonsense!” Angwar exclaimed. ”After all that we went through together, you don't owe me a thing. Come with me, I have documents here signed by Commander Galdri, your time here has come to an end. ” Then he glanced at his friend again. ”I'm also pleased to see that Daarli has done excellent job by treating your wounds,” he added, smiling contently.

”She has been most kind,” Aniceth verified and followed the Darfin outside. He looked like a dirty beggar when standing next to Angwar, wearing his grey robe and nothing else. The guard examined the note of release carefully before handing it back to Angwar and nodding as a sign of approvement.

”I will take you to my house where you will be safe,” he declared, ”I am afraid my fellow Darfins in this city will not gaze upon you with same fondness as I do. I will have to begin the treatment to wash my body clean from the bluedust fungus, and after that we will have an audience with the king to discuss about your presence in here.”

Angwar spoke of the treatment like it was just necessary evil he had to go through at some point, but he knew - and Aniceth knew as well - that it might end up costing him his life.

”When are you planning to begin?” Aniceth wished to know.

”Probably tonight,” the Darfin shrugged carelessly. ”The sooner I get started on it, the sooner I will be free from the chains of this curse.”

Aniceth was slightly shocked by the rushy schedule, but he completely understood the reasoning behind his decision. Every new day under the influence of the fungus reminded the Darfin about his past, and he was willing to do anything to break free once and for all.

Aniceth's face was covered by a deep hood as they walked through the crowded street. The Frostfire manor located near the front gate of the city, and as the massive iron gate grew taller in his eyes, shivers ran through his spine and bottomless curiosity seized his mind. All the stories he had heard of the surface came back to haunt him at that moment, but he quickly shook them away. Now was not the time for such things, but he promised to himself that one day he would take a look outside and see how broad and vast the outside world really was.

The passing Darfins were curiously glancing at Aniceth for he was a head taller than any of them, but they could not see his face from the depths of the hood. The Darfins are proud and never degrade themselves by something as silly as being nosy, thus Angwar and Aniceth were not bothered even once during their journey through the main hall of Othrond.

 

* * *

 

The painful truth reminded about itself to Aniceth at the dinner table. They were having roasted lamb, which was a completely new and exotic meal for him. The food tasted good, but the company left a lot to hope for. Angwar's younger brother, Comri, his aunt, Helin, and Aladra, were all sharing the same table, and everyone did their best to ignore the obviously disturbing guest. Angwar was surprised and embarrassed that even his mother dared to behave like that in his presence, and finally, the new master of the house had had enough and slammed his fist down on to the table, creating a sharp clang as the silvery dishes jolted from the force of his blow.

”This is just unacceptable!” he roared at his family, who all interrupted their meals and turned their eyes to Angwar, shocked by his sudden outburst. But he cared not, for he wanted to make his stand clear immediately.

”We have a man in our house who saved my life more than once while we fought our way to Othrond from the depths of the Dark Kingdom, and you dare to ignore his presence and disregard him like thin air?” Angwar's face turned deep red from barely controlled rage.

Aladra's eyes turned icy. ”I cannot speak for the others, but I do appreciate the efforts he has done to bring you here, but still, he is an Arathan. Do you really expect us to just throw out the old grudge and welcome him with open arms. The pure fact is that without you, this Arathan would lie dead in the Crypt of the Kings. Do not fool yourself even for a second that Commander Galdri would have saved him if it was not for you.”

There was thunder in the air as Angwar and Aladra stared at each other in terrible silence.

”My friend here was the one who defeated the Draugar,” Angwar whispered balefully, breaking the silence. ”Commander Galdri is a good man, but do not praise him for deeds he has not done,” then he turned to his friend. ”Come, Aniceth, let me offer you a good mug of beer, or perhaps some wine. The food served in here has turned foul in my mouth.”

Aniceth followed his friend quietly; he did not really know what to say or how to act in this awkward situation, but had it been possible, he would have gladly chosen to disappear.

Angwar took his friend to a small library, where his father used to study and spend a lot of time in his childhood.

”I am terribly sorry about that,” he said while pouring the wine.

Aniceth sat down on a comfortable chair and shook his head. ”You have no reason to be sorry. The Arathans and Darfins have been enemies for longer than anyone can remember. Do not hold that against your family. After all, they are the reason why you went through everything,” he reminded.

The Darfin's face looked worn and tired as he brought the filled glasses to the table, then he sat on another chair by a small fireplace that was casting soft and fluttery shadows around the room.

”You are right, my friend,” Angwar agreed and sighed heavily. ”I just had this fool's hope in my heart that my family, as well as the entire city, would accept you without any doubt or distrust, but unfortunately the world does not work that way.”

Aniceth tasted his wine and nodded. ”I am not sure what I was expecting when we made it this far, but I realize now that there was no way I could have expected much more than this, and yet I can consider myself lucky, for I found at least one good friend along the way.”

Angwar smiled warmly. ”And in couple of weeks you have found a new home as well. I am still confident that I can make King Barin to grant you full freedom within our city walls.”

Aniceth had no words to answer, but secretly he was quite certain that he would never be accepted as a part of the Darfin community. It was simply too much for these people to handle. The fact that he was sitting in Angwar's house in the middle of Othrond was a miracle by itself. Winning the trust of the king and becoming a full member of the society would require something much more than saving one Darfin slave from the Dark Kingdom - no matter how wealthy or exalted he happened to be.

They had another glass of wine while enjoying the safe silence for a moment. There was nothing that would threaten them inside the walls of the manor, and that alone felt special after the long journey. Finally Angwar drank the last drops of his wine and stood up, smiling lightly at his friend.

”We need to go now,” he announced. ”Daarli is waiting for me at the temple,” he said, meaning the withdrawal process that was waiting for him.

”Lead the way, my friend,” Aniceth urged. He would gladly follow his friend to escape the unwelcoming atmosphere of the manor. Besides, he knew Daarli Skyforge did not resent him for what he was - or if she did, she knew how to hide it far better than Angwar's relatives.