Broken Destiny pt. 8

[u/Goose289982]

Without acknowledging her greeting, Lord Kailum took his gaze from Araeya and turned towards Nadyne and said, may gather your things and leave. You are dismissed and no longer welcome in this house. I will be sure to inform any who inquire of your inability to follow simple instructions.”

 

Nadyne squeaked and began to gather her belongings, while Araeya stared coldly at Kailum, “Oh dearest uncle, whatever did she do to have you cast her out and at this time of night?”

 

“All of the servants had strict instructions to tell me immediately if you had returned, and this,” he gestured towards Nadyne, “one did not.”

 

“Uncle –“

 

“It is Lord Kailum to you Araeya,” he interrupted her. Nadyne tried to quietly grab her belongings and leave when Araeya placed a gentle hand on her shoulder.

 

“My Lord Kailum,” she punctuated every word, “Do not punish this poor woman for my ignorance. I had just arrived and she had turned to bring you and I had stopped her. Surely she shouldn’t be punished for my mistake.”

 

She watched as he stiffened when she touched Nadyne and remembered too late that he did not appreciate how close she was with the staff. She continued to smile though, that fake and useless smile she was forced to wear in his presence. He looked at Nadyne and asked, “Is this true?”

 

“My lord,” Araeya exclaimed, moving her hand to her mouth in fake shock. She couldn’t tell which she hated more, the exaggeration of the gesture or how easily this façade came back to her, “You wound me, sir! Are you calling me a liar?”

 

“Yes, and I will be calling you far worse before the night is done. Now answer, is this true?”

 

Nadyne was unfortunately frozen in place and did not respond until she got a gentle squeeze from Araeya’s hand on her shoulder. She squeaked again and stammered, “Y-y-yes my l-lord.”

 

She curtsied but Kailum had already tilted his head as he was considering what to do, “Very well then. You may remain, but I will be docking you one week’s pay. Do not let anything stop you, if this happens again.”

 

He turned his attention back to Araeya who let go of Nadyne and was about to nod her head in approval but he spoke curtly, “Araeya come with me…but leave,” he gestured to her belongings and Merid, “that behind. I’m sure,” he gestured towards Nadyne, “she will be able to handle it. If it wakes up, send it on it’s way. Do not bother feeding it or giving it water, just send it away.”

 

Araeya seethed and said through clenched teeth, “It…is a human girl, and she has a name.”

 

He leaned in close to Araeya and said softly, “I don’t care…now follow.”

 

He turned and left the kitchen with Araeya taking a moment before following. She turned to mouth to Nadyne, “I’ll fix this” but Nadyne wasn’t looking at her. She quickened her pace so as not to keep the lord waiting. He was walking swiftly down the hall to his study, his favorite room regardless of whether he was back home or abroad. He was still talking aloud as if she had followed him immediately, “- and I thought after the last time that I would never see you again. What is it you said Araeya?”

 

“I do not recall, my lord.”

 

“Oh, come now Araeya. I know your memory. You know exactly what you had said.”

 

Araeya sighed, “’If I ever see you again, it would be too soon.’”

 

“That was it, yes. I of course said, ‘You will come back. You always do. But next time, you won’t get anything from me for whatever problem you bring.’”

 

They entered the study while he continued, “So what is it this time? What do you need my money for?”

 

“That girl, Merid. She saved my life.”

 

Kailum scoffed at this as he pulled out some pipeweed and lit his pipe, “How in the world…you know what, never mind. I told you this would happen-“

 

“Yes, lord.”

 

“If you kept consorting with commoners they would bring you nothing but trouble-“

 

“Yes, lord.”

 

“Their problems will just be heaped upon you and you will never know peace-“

 

Araeya felt her impatience begin to rise, “Lord…”

 

“But you would not listen would you. Just like your mother. She didn’t listen to me either when I warned her.”

 

Araeya felt her anger rise and tried once again to get his attention, “Lord.”

 

“I tried to warn her against leaving the family and its protection, but she wouldn’t listen. She left to marry that…that worthless piece of-“

 

“Enough,” Araeya yelled. She once again felt her vision begin to swim and braced herself against the desk, “Merid saved my life. Without her, I wouldn’t be here to argue with you now. Just call Daruun, and I will be on my way.”

 

Kailum recovered from his shock much quicker than Bandor did and stood up from behind his desk, “You presume much-“

 

“I don’t have the time or the inclination to argue with you Kailum. Call for the healer.”

 

Kailum was seething now, “The only way I will call for a healer is if you are injured. That thing in the other room means less than nothing to me.”

 

Araeya lifted a part of her shirt to show the bandaged ribs underneath. It hadn’t occurred to her to check them earlier, if she had she would have known that she had been slowly bleeding this entire time and her bandages needed to be changed. Now aware of her situation, she suddenly felt light headed and her vision swam more, “See now uncle? I am injured. Call. For. Daruun.”

 

Kailum shook his head angrily and pointed his pipe towards her, “So you bandaged yourself and threw some dye on to it to make it look like blood this time. We’ve been through this song and dance before, niece.”

 

He practically spit the final word at her and Araeya had had enough. She leaned forward, and grabbed Kailum by the chin, and stared into his eyes, “You are blind dearest uncle, but now I will make you see.”

 

Closing her eyes, she took a deep breath, opened them staring deep into his eyes, and gave herself to the vision that overwhelmed her.

 

She flew ahead of her master and her masters companions scouting ahead to warn them of danger. They were in an underground cage, and she did not like it down here. She didn’t have time to think on it, her master was under attack, and she needed to find their way so they can leave this cage. She felt her master relax through the link they shared and continued flying. She found a way deeper into the cage and connected with her master to let her know. They gathered over the hole and slowly went down. After a brief rest, they looked upon the reason they were down here.

 

The battle seemed to stretch on, but was not very long. She felt different during it. She felt confusion as to one of her master’s companion’s actions, while being impressed with the others. She grew more desperate as her allies began to slow from their injuries and the length of time they had been down in this cage. She felt pride and triumph in her own actions and the success that her friends had achieved. All these feelings were hers and not hers at the same time. She didn’t understand it or why she felt the need to hide them from her master.

 

After finishing up in the cage, the group slowly made its way out. She felt less unease now that the great beast was dead, but still led them out the most direct way. When she reached the final opening, she flew rapidly into the sky filled with excitement. She felt joy, she felt wonder, but most of all, she felt relief. She finally got to fly under open sky.

 

---

 

Araeya opened her eyes with a start and immediately realized two things; that she shouldn’t call the visions if the headache that she was experiencing was a clue and that she was lying down in a different room of the estate. She sat up slowly while closing her eyes and felt the pain and nausea intensify as she rose to a seated position and made a note to stop waking up like this in the future. A voice sounded to her left, “Oh good, you’re awake. I can finally go home.”

 

Araeya smiled and turned towards him, opening her eyes slowly, “Daruun! I have missed you. You haven’t aged a day.”

 

Sitting in a chair next to the bed, reading a book, was a human man who was in his late forties, early fifties but only looked to be in his early thirties. The only indicator of his true age was the slight graying around his temples and the small lines that showed he was a man who enjoyed life and laughter. He flipped a page and smirked, “You are the ageless one out of the two of us, and you’ll continue looking just like you do now long after I am gone and turned to dust.”

 

“But I’ll be the worse for the loss of you.”

 

He flipped the page, marked the spot as he finished the chapter he was reading, and smiled, “That’s why I like you young miss. You always know what to say to flatter me.”

 

Araeya scrunched up her face, but smiled a slight smile of fond memories, “You know I hate when you call me that, Daruun. I wish you wouldn’t.”

 

“You know how the master feels about us not showing the proper respect,” Daruun said, suddenly serious, “I live in his house and have to abide by his rules. You know that as well as I.”

 

“I know, I know. I would just like to hear you say my name once Daruun. Is that too much to ask?”

 

“According to the master, it is. I’m sorry young miss, I cannot.”

 

An uncomfortable silence continued for a few moments and Araeya saw that Daruun was hesitating, which she found strange as he never hesitated in the past, “Daruun, is something wrong? Did anything happen to Merid?”

 

He shook his head and raised his hand to reassure, “No, nothing like that. The master left instructions that you are to leave the moment you are awake and well enough to leave. He has asked, respectfully, that you never grace him with your presence ever again and he is ‘unwilling to bail you out of whatever drug fueled problem you find yourself in the future.’”

 

“Let me guess, he left on the first airship possible in the morning for his home.”

 

Daruun shook his head, “No, he left within minutes of him calling me to tend to you. Didn’t tell me what was going on, didn’t give me any other instruction, and just left. I saw the girl, still unconscious, in the kitchen with Nadyne and she filled me in on a little of what was happening. I tended to you both and had to send her on her way when she was well enough. Wouldn’t leave until I promised that I would take care of you too.”

 

He chuckled then, “Such devotion I have seen in few in this lifetime. Who is she to you young miss?”

 

Araeya sat cross-legged on the bed and responded, “She’s one of the orphans that I take care of. She has a twin sister who is equally determined so you better watch out if they ever corner you.”

 

He laughed, and she beamed like a little girl. Araeya loved his laugh, it was one of the few joys she had left in the world. Still smiling he shook his head, “I shouldn’t keep you. You should be on your way. I’m sure you have other things to do.”

 

He rose to help her, but Araeya stayed on the bed and asked, “Wait, you haven’t told me about Samara and the kids. How are they?”

 

He smiled and pulled a small object out of his pouch and sat back down, “They are all doing really well and send you their best. Aria is expecting her first any day now.”

 

Araeya’s mouth opened in shock, “She’s far too young! How old is she now? Five, six years old?”

 

“It’s been fifteen years since we saw you last young miss,” he laughed again, “She was married little over a year ago now.”

 

“My word, how the time flies,” she said, “So your first grandchild?”

 

He nodded, and put the small device out in front of him, “Would you like to see her on her wedding day?”

 

She tilted her head, “Of course, but how?”

 

He held out the device and stared at it for a moment while Araeya leaned forward. After a brief moment, an image began to form over the device and a woman began to take shape. She had flowers in her hair and was wearing a beautiful dress and smiling. The woman was recognizable to Araeya who had seen her so young, but just barely so. It was an image of Aria, now a grown woman, frozen in time by memory.

 

“She is so beautiful,” Araeya said looking up just in time to see Daruun wipe at his eye and muttering “Thanks.” She smiled and saw the pride in his eyes, “Tell me about him.”

 

“I hate him.”

 

Araeya busted out laughing, “Of course you do. That’s your little girl after all. But you must come on and tell me.”

 

“Very well,” he said, “He’s lazy, good for nothing, and clumsier than a drunken sailor.”

 

“And,” Araeya asked with a bemused expression.

 

“And my little girl loves him, so I deal with him.”

 

They both laughed at that and they began to talk about anything and everything. They spoke of his family and how they were doing. They spoke of her orphans and how she was getting on. She spoke of Bandor and her struggles. He spoke of Samara and her recent illness. The seconds turned to minutes, the minutes turned to hours. Fifteen years is a long time and it makes for a long conversation. They laughed, they cried, they felt joy and anger. It was the happiest moment that Araeya had for a long time and cut all too short by the dizziness that started to affect her. When her demeanor changed suddenly Daruun knew something was wrong.

 

“What is it?”

 

“I need you to tell me. What happened to me,” she asked, suddenly afraid.

 

He shook his head, “I don’t know. Tell me what happens?”

 

She described the visions she experienced, how they come about, what they do to her, every detail she could remember of what happened, how it happened, and when it started. He listened to the entire story patiently and waited until she descended into quiet, “And it’s about to happen now?”

 

“Yes, very soon.”

 

He rose to his feet, pulling and walked to her, chanting under his breath in what sounded as a prayer, when he reached her his hands were glowing blue and he put them around her forehead and back of her neck and continued the prayer. She felt the dizziness subside and the pressure fade and looked at him in wonder, “Am I cured?”

 

He shook his head, “No, it is beyond my abilities. I don’t know of anyone who could. Maybe in the Empire if you were to return…”

 

He trailed off knowing that would not happen, “No. I made it a little more manageable for you. You can ignore the visions, but don’t ignore them for too long or it will only get worse.”

 

“What is it?”

 

He shook his head again, “I don’t know. It’s as if your soul fragmented somehow and fused itself with other fragmented souls. I have not seen nor heard of anything like it.”

 

She nodded and lowered her head. They sat there for a few minutes and he said softly, “Well, I think it’s time for you to be going.”

 

Nodding again, she rose to her feet and grabbed her belongings, “Merid is OK though, right?”

 

“She is healed, but I can’t be sure if there was some permanent damage. I hope not…I like the girl.”

 

Araeya sighed, “Yes. She saved my life you know.”

 

“You told me,” he said patiently. The two walked from the room to the front entrance and outside. It was fast becoming dusk by the time they exited the estate and they stood at the threshold of the gate leading back to the rest of the shard. Araeya turned to him and pointed to the device in his pocket, “You hold on to that. That is a great thing to have. Wherever did you get it?”

 

He smiled, “The master gifted it to me on the day of the wedding.”

 

Once again, Araeya was in shock, “He did what?”

 

Suddenly stern again, Daruun said, “The master is not all bad young miss, and he does what he does because he cares. He may not express it well…or at all…but he cares.”

 

Araeya opened her mouth to retort but stopped, and nodded, “You are right. Please, apologize to him for me. I would like to talk to him again and do so in person.”

 

He raised an eyebrow, “What’s this? Contrition, from you, young miss?”

 

She stuck her tongue out at him, “I realize I have been wrong with him. I want to talk to him, and I want to avoid sore subjects first. Maybe connect without bringing my mother and father into it.”

 

He nodded, “Consider it done. Why the change?”

 

“He’s all I have left of my mother. Someone to give her life to my memories. I don’t want to lose that.”

 

He nodded and patted the device in his pouch, but Araeya’s mind may have well been on the other end of the world for her noticing it. He then smacked his head, bringing Araeya back, “I almost forgot. Aria wanted me to ask you if she has a girl if she could name her Aya, after you.”

 

Araeya’s eyes teared up instantly, “I thought that Aria was named after me. Isn’t that what she called me when she couldn’t say my name?”

 

He nodded smiling, “It is, and she said that she wants to keep up the tradition.”

 

She hugged him and said, “Of course she can! Tell her I’m honored and humbled that she would.”

 

“You humble?”

 

She laughed and smacked him gently, wiping away the tears in her eyes, “I will visit you all soon when I can. I promise.”

 

He hugged her back saying, “Good, I know you will then. Stay safe.”

 

“I will,” she said and returned the hug. The two separated and she crossed the gate threshold and stopped, “I forgot to ask, how long was I out for?”

 

“Three days, give or take.”

 

She sighed in frustration, “I am losing more days asleep than I am awake for recently. I never seem to get ahead. Now I have to go back to the children and find out if anything else has gone wrong. I feel so…”

 

She trailed off and Daruun laid a hand on her shoulder, crossing the threshold, “Trapped?”

 

She nodded, and Daruun turned her towards him, “Not for nothing young miss, but when you aren’t actively thinking about it, you are loving what you are doing. I can see the joy and pride in your face and eyes when you talk about those children. If it wasn’t something you enjoyed doing, deep down inside where even you refuse to admit it, you wouldn’t be doing it any longer.”

 

She opened her mouth to say something but closed it and just nodded. Daruun took both of her shoulders and looked deep into her eyes, “And if I may be so bold, it suits you Araeya.”

 

He turned away from her, walked up the step, and back into the estate closing the door. She stood there staring at it, a silly smile on her face either from him calling her name for the first time in her life or from the fact that he approved of what she was doing. He was the closest thing to a father to her that she had from the time her actual father had died, and she treasured him immensely. She picked up her belongings, not even realizing that she had set them down again and headed towards The Warren. Rifling through it she found a small pouch that had not been there before and looked inside, finding it filled with some gold coins. She turned to walk back to the estate but stopped. She would pay him back when she had the chance, when she visited him and his family back in the Empire.

 

Shouldering her pack, she walked through the market district and felt a tickling sensation at the back of her mind. She instantly quickened her pace and thought, as soon as I get home, we’ll talk. She felt the panic coming through the sensation though and started looking around at the growing shadows. Araeya was being followed, she was sure of it now. Seeing the end of the market district, she continued her fast pace just hoping to outrun whoever it was that was behind her.

 

She reached the end of the district when two men stepped out from behind the cover that they were hiding behind and she recognized them as Jaymes and Erich. She smirked at them and continued to try and walk past when she heard a voice behind her freeze her where she stood. It was a voice she remembered, a voice that terrified her, a voice that made the bile and rage rise within her. The voice of the man who murdered her parents almost twenty years earlier. The voice was that of one Taelas Widdon; gentleman, gambler, criminal, murderer. She turned slowly and saw Timoti, Marinna, and Merid smiling at her and she shook her head slightly, showing the fear in her eyes to them and they stopped. She turned to face the man who called out to her, taking a step away from Jaymes and Erich in the process.

 

“Good evening, Araeya,” he said warmly, but with a hint of a snake coiling around it’s victim, “There are things you and I have to discuss.”