5. LOST CHAMPIONS

 

Aletheia immediately goes to the Archives to search for the Veiland Compendium that Abigail had mentioned. She is unable to locate it at first but finds that the Veiland Compendium had been checked out but never returned by the Royal Alchemist. The Alchemist is Sam's mentor who died several years ago in an alchemical accident that killed him and almost killed Sam who was burned severely on his right hand. She finds the compendium in his lab after investigating some of Sam's latest experiments.

Aletheia finds the book and discovers that most of the pages has been badly damaged. She finds that the page of her mother, Theia of Charis, had been completely burned out as well as many of the others.

The only name that is legible in the book reads Velu of Charis, and he is indeed the brother of the Queen.  On an appended page, she finds that Charis is a village in the country of Meridian. Aletheia is not familiar with the village but discovers that Velu has black hair. This is the most common color of Fawn Elves along with silver hair. It is rare for them to have any other hair colors. Only Flora Elves have brown or green hair. Aletheia doesn’t remember the color of her mother’s hair but knows she didn’t get her red hair from her father. She has to make sure.

Velu resides in the Silvayne Manor and still does as of 3 years ago. The Manor is near the town of Ophelia about two days ride southeast of Selene. She begins to truly suspect that she is not the King's daughter but wishes to find out more regardless and she resolves to find Velu near Ophelia. She remembers that the Mithose sisters had mentioned being from Ophelia, and prepares to meet them before they leave.

The Pyromancer

Early the next morning, Aletheia leaves a note on her dresser and sneaks out of the castle once again. She leaves the major city of Selene on horseback and enters Skyvale Hamlet just outside of the city. The sisters mentioned that they had decided to stay at the inn at the edge of town. Aletheia intends to travel with the sisters to Ophelia to find Velu of Charis. She reaches the Inn and attempts to walk inside before hearing some commotion across the street. Three riders have entered the town and begin to harass the villagers.

One man in a mask goes to a merchant setting up shop. The man in the mask calling himself the PyroMancer claims to be the new High Champion of Selene and has come to collect the taxes for his servitude. Few had heard the rumor that the Lunar Guardian had been killed and don't believe him. The man states that without the Lunar Guardian around Selene has begun its inevitable downfall. He carries the Silver Feather of the Lunar Guardian. The merchant is hesitant and the thugs with swords begin to wreck his shop.

Aletheia calls out to the Mancer and tells him to leave these people alone.

The Mancer is intrigued and asks who she is. Aletheia states that she can ask him the same thing because she knows he is not the High Champion of Selene. The PyroMancer insults her claiming how would a woman know. As Aletheia begins to speak again, a man behind her stops her and states that he will handle it. The man is an older burly man that is the blacksmith of the town. He says that he also believes that the Pyromancer is no Champion and warns him to leave as he is brandishes a sword.

The thugs advance on him but the Mancer stops them. He plucks a small piece of wood from his staff and it ignites in his hand. He throws a fireball at the man, knocking him down and setting his clothes on fire. The PyroMancer and his thugs laugh as the man puts out the fire on his clothes. Aletheia tries to help and singes her glove but a splash of water falls from above them and puts out the flame. Right then, a spear clashes against the swords of the thugs, knocking them back.

Morgana and Susanna have arrived and stand in front of Aletheia and the blacksmith. Susanna has her spear out and Morgana is holding a small dagger. Aletheia notices that Morgana’s hand is wet from the water. Susanna confronts the thugs and she too tells the thugs to leave. Aletheia pulls off her singed glove and picks up the man's sword. She then stands next to the two girls. Susanna gives them one last warning to walk away. The Mancer is surprised at the brazenness of these women but states that they are evenly matched. He unsheathes a sword and ignites the blade with his hand.

Susanna calls out to Morgana who uses her power to create a wide blast of water she throws at the men catching them off guard. The thugs get knocked over but the PyroMancer is still standing. Susanna strikes the blunt edge of her spear on the PyroMancer's mask knocking it off revealing a man with horrible burns on the side of his face and neck. Morgana grabs Aletheia's hand and they run to her horse. Susanna follows as the Mancer yells for his goons to go after them. The three girls ride out of Skyvale and into the open field. Aletheia protests that they can't just abandon the townspeople to those thugs. Susanna turns to see the three men in pursuit of them. She tells Aletheia to hush up as they enter the forest.

Return to the Keep

The three women, hidden in the brush, see the three pursuers ride past them and continue away from them on the trail. Morgana had jumped to Susanna's horse so the Mancer would continue to follow hers as it continued to run. Susanna indicates that they will need to stay off of the road for now. She then looks to Aletheia and angrily asks what she was thinking.

Aletheia states that she couldn't let the men terrorize her citizens like that. Susanna scolds her by stating how foolish she was for putting herself in harm’s way like she did. Aletheia continues to defend herself by stating that she is not afraid of them. Susanna, aggravated, states that it isn't about being afraid, she didn't even have a weapon and asks her what she intended to do. Aletheia realizes that she may be trying to prove to herself that she isn't afraid. She ignores Susanna and simply states that she had to do something.

Susanna exasperatedly asks what she was doing there and Aletheia explains that she wants to accompany Susanna and Morgana back to Ophelia. Susanna protests and tells her that she has seen first-hand that it is too dangerous. Aletheia claims that she can handle herself but Susanna reminds her that she was kidnapped not more than a month prior. Aletheia is quiet at this. Susanna continues and states that besides this, they are not going to Ophelia, they are going to the Starcross Keep. She won’t babysit a princess and tells Aletheia to go home. Aletheia sees an opportunity and asks Susanna how to get to the Keep from there if they are going to stay off the road.

Susanna looks at her and the princess claims that she knows the way without the roads. There is truth to this since that was the way she was taken when she was kidnapped. Morgana smiles and tells Susanna that they do need to stay off the road and it might not be safe for Aletheia to travel back home on her own. Susanna sighs and says that she can accompany them to the Keep but warns that they are escorting her home right after. Aletheia agrees for now and says that they should be off. The women then head toward the Starcross Keep.

As they ride, Aletheia asks why the sisters are going to the Keep since it was destroyed. Morgana tells Aletheia why they were so interested in the story of her kidnapping at the Moon Gardens. She informs her that there had been disappearances around Ophelia and other towns and there was a rumor that a Jester in a white mask was behind it. There father was also one of the missing persons. They were soon informed by the King that their brother was killed rescuing the Princess. Only after they spoke with Aletheia did they realize that the Jester was involved.

Aletheia recounts that the Jester did kidnap her but the Lord of Faces was responsible so it could be that he was connected to this as well. He had attempted to replace Aletheia before seeing an opportunity in Michael. She catches herself and apologizes to which Susanna replies that it is ok. She then asks how the Lord of Faces died.

Aletheia admits that he was killed by her which is how she knows that he’s dead. Susanna is surprised at this and she reassures her that she would have done the same. She admits to Aletheia that she didn’t expect the Princess to be capable of doing that though. Aletheia mentions that she was only saving her friend. Morgana then reassures her that she only did what she had to. Susanna agrees just as they approach the Keep.