It was early morning, when a knock on the door demanded Daniel’s attention. Already awake, he had been lost in his thoughts regarding all that had transpired in the last twenty-four hours and especially Hëna. Ever since he saw her the day before, he just couldn’t stop thinking about her, about those big and beautiful black eyes, wavy long black hair resting on her delicate shoulders, her soft white skin, spotless and shining with youth and beauty. He had been giddy with excitement, thinking he would get to see her again at her father’s house while they attended dinner as his guests, but to his dismay, she had not been present.
Instead he was introduced to her twin brother, who Daniel decided looked nothing like her at all. To begin with, Heli was completely blond, something no doubt he had gotten after his mother, who Daniel would have thought Swedish or Norwegian, had they met in his world. Also Heli was quite big, easily the tallest person he had met in Endërland, with broad shoulders and built up muscles. Unlike serious Hëna, he always had a cheery look on his baby face, which despite his size, it made him look like a young teenager. His eyes were the only thing he seemed to have in common with his sister; they were also big and dark black, yet full of a light and life that felt out of this world.
Daniel watched not without jealousy as his mother doted on him, constantly doing little things like straightening his brown leather vest, or removing his stubborn yellow hair from his forehead, as if she didn’t see him very often.
Soon, Daniel found that he felt at ease in Heli’s company. He was quite pleasant to be around and talk to. True, he did not really say much, but he was very attentive, and every now and again would ask a question or two about the other world.
Daniel had begun to limit his answers when it came to telling people in Endërland about his world. Life here was so very different from what he knew, but if Winter had his way, pretty soon that would no longer be the case. And Daniel didn’t know what effect his words might have in that possible future. So instead of talking to them about wars and hunger and other things of that sort, as he had previously done with Sarah and Garret, he tried to confine his stories to more personal experiences, or facts that he thought not too revealing.
Yet, whatever he spoke of, he found that he had their undivided attention and he thoroughly enjoyed sharing with them about his home world. If only Hëna had been there to listen as well. There had been no explanation or mention of the fact that she wasn’t there, and of course he hadn’t asked.
Whoever was behind the door insisted, this time with a stronger knock. He had to get up and answer. A second later he wished he hadn’t. In front of him, Hëna stood as tall and beautiful as he remembered her, even though she was now wearing nothing as glamorous as the day before, and her hair was tied back in a single braid. Still, she looked breath-taking in her brown leather trousers, combined tastefully with a white long-sleeved shirt and a vest similar, if not identical to the one Heli wore the previous evening. Daniel instinctively reached for his hair, trying to straighten it down, while growing all red in the face, conscious of the fact that he was still in his pajamas.
He gave her an awkward smile, while she stood serious before him, looking at him straight in the eyes.
‘Good morning!’ She greeted him with a formal tone, which Daniel didn’t find very heartwarming. ‘Your presence is requested in the parlor.’
She then gave him a quick look, concluding his attire was not appropriate.
‘I will give you a few minutes to get ready.’
Before Daniel could say anything, she turned her back on him and moved a few steps from his door. Daniel sensed that whatever was going on was serious enough, so he hurried washing up and changing back into yesterday’s festive clothes.
When he opened the door again, Hëna took another quick look at him, and without saying anything at all, led the way. He followed her, without knowing what to say. Somewhere deep inside him he could feel a heaviness land on his chest, bullishly claiming its place. Something did not feel right.
As they stepped into the parlor, he saw Lord Autumn and his mother sitting next to each other, immersed deep in conversation. Nemo was standing in the middle of the room, facing them with a guilty look on his face. No sign of Heli or his mother.
Hëna escorted him inside, and then she too left the room. Daniel looked first at the grim face of Autumn, and then his mother, who was trying to avoid eye contact with him.
Autumn spoke first. His tone was serene, but that did not help soothe the feeling that something was really wrong and that somehow Daniel was right in the middle of it all.
‘Welcome, Daniel. I am sorry to drag you out of bed so early in the morning, but I’m afraid I have just received some very disturbing news. Something very grave has happened; something that never before in the history of our kingdom has been heard of, and I was hoping you could help us.’
He paused and looked at Diane, who sat there with a calm expression on her face, even though he could see the worry behind her green eyes.
Daniel decided not to ask what had happened and let Autumn do this his way.
‘I need to ask you; where were you yesterday afternoon, before you joined us here for dinner?’
This felt like an interrogation and Daniel didn’t like it. What had happened that they needed to know what he did the day before?
‘I spent all afternoon with Nemo in the garden, watching the celebrations. Then we went at the beach for about an hour, before we came here. Nemo missed the sea.’
‘Did you see or speak to anyone there?’
‘There were a lot of people everywhere, but we did not speak to anyone. We swam for a while and then just rested.’ He was now growing impatient and wanted to know what was going on. ‘May I ask what’s happened?’
Autumn ignored his question and continued with his own.
‘You own a bow, a gift from the Lady of the Seas, do you not?’
‘Yes, I do.’
‘Have you ever used it?’
Daniel’s brain was now working on full capacity, trying desperately to connect the dots.
‘Of course not, I haven’t even been trained with it. Can you please tell me what has happened? Why am I being asked all these questions?’
He looked at his mother again, trying to steal some sort of explanation from her, but she continued to avoid his gaze. Autumn pressed on with his questioning.
‘Is it true that some time ago, you and Nemo had a confrontation with three young wingmen?’
Daniel recalled the incident clearly as it had happened yesterday. He still felt very angry whenever he thought of them, even though he never spoke to Nemo about it. He wanted his friend to forget all about that unpleasant experience.
‘Yes. They were …’
He was interrupted by the door opening to let Hëna in again. She went straight to her father, whispering something in his ear. He nodded and turned again to Daniel.
‘Well, it appears my brother and sisters are gathered in the courtyard and are waiting for us. This matter appertains to all, and I’m afraid I cannot leave them out of it. But before we join them, would you allow someone to retrieve your bow and quiver from the castle for us?’
Daniel agreed, surrendered to the fact that he could not do much else. He was now beginning to have some vague idea as to what might be going on.
Autumn left the room first with his mother, and he, Nemo and Hëna followed behind them.
‘This is how it begins then?’ Nemo said, probably feeling as frightened as he looked.
‘It would seem so,’ Daniel replied.
They walked in silence the rest of the way, with Hëna trailing behind them like a prison guard. This was not how Daniel had imagined spending time with her. On top of his worry and fear over the direction things were taking, he now felt embarrassed enough, imagining what she might be thinking of him.
As they entered the oval courtyard, he felt again the same celestial presence in the air, strong as the day before. Yet, something was differen
t this time. It felt colder, as if summer had truly gone and autumn was already turning into winter.
There were no people around this morning; everyone was on their way back home, leaving behind an empty garden.
The three Lords were sitting in the same places he had seen them yesterday, though dressed less festive now and more formal. Also on their thrones sat Eleanor, surrounded by her faithful foursome, and the Sky-Queen with Séraphin standing by her side.
Holding the ruler’s scepter in his right hand, Autumn took his place on the Silver Throne without delay, just as Diane sat on her own throne. Daniel and Nemo were led both in the middle of the courtyard, were they stood by the Eternal Clock, facing the Lords. The two boys were now the center of everyone’s attention.
It was still the early hours of the morning, but the sun shone bright in the sky, as it would in the middle of a summer's day. For some reason though, its warmth failed to reach Daniel.
‘It is with a heavy heart that we are all gathered here this morning on such a short notice,’ Autumn began, without standing up from his throne. ‘In all our history there has never been a reason as grave as this for our Council to meet.’
The look in everyone’s eyes seemed to agree with his statement. He continued.
‘As most of you know by now, I was informed in the early hours of the dawn, of what can only be described by one word, a crime, committed in this very citadel. Yes, an unimaginable crime. One of our beloved wingmen, a member of the Northern Tribe visiting over the festive season, was found lifeless late last night at the beach. It appears he was shot with an arrow that pierced right through his heart.’
The world suddenly felt a very small and dark place for Daniel. He knew the matter was serious, but did not expect this. His heart began to race with fear, as he realized he was the one being accused of murder. He looked at the Sky-Queen and her son, whose eyes were filled with hatred and anger, and then turned to Nemo, who kept looking down as if he was guilty. His gaze travelled on to Diane’s expressionless face, then Eleanor’s worried look, ending up at the High Lords in front of him. He stopped at the White Lord, who appeared genuinely shocked and outraged.
Autumn continued.
‘This is the arrow that was found at the scene and our dear Lady of the Seas was kind enough to identify it for us.’
Autumn lifted his left hand, in which he was holding a single arrow with a blood-stained tip and a carved ‘D’ on its body. Daniel had no doubt that it was one of his. Yet for the life of him, he could not understand how it had ended up in the heart of a wingman.
‘This arrow belongs to the Visitor, who received it as a gift from the Lady of the Seas when they first met. Is this not true, Daniel?’
With his face burning hot and his entire body now trembling, Daniel tried to find his voice, but it failed him. A feeble ‘yes’ barely came out of his lips, just as the Sky-Queen jumped out of her high ivory throne and cried: ‘Justice, I want justice,’ pointing a neatly polished claw towards him. Séraphin placed a hand on her shoulder, trying to comfort and calm her, but withdrew it quickly, thinking better of it.
The courtyard grew silent. Daniel could feel everyone’s eyes piercing through his skin, like darts aiming for the center of his heart. This was insane. How could they believe he would do something like this? He knew this was all a set-up, but that didn’t lessen the fear or chances of him being punished anyway. How could he prove to them that he was innocent?
Before he could even utter a word, he heard Nemo speak next to him.
‘It wasn’t Daniel, it was me. I did it.’
‘No,’ Daniel shouted instinctively, at the same time as Eleanor cried her son’s name aloud. They both knew what he was doing.
‘He didn’t do anything; neither of us did,’ Daniel continued without a clear idea of what else to say.
‘Is this not your property, then?’ Lord Autumn asked.
‘It looks like one of my arrows,’ Daniel answered, ‘but I couldn’t tell you if it really is, or how it ended up where it did. I have no quarrel with any wingman, and even if I did, I would not resort to killing him, or anyone else. It’s not how I was raised.’
He stole a glance at Diane, who sat there with an inconspicuously proud look on her face.
Autumn took a moment to whisper something to Hëna, who left the courtyard immediately. He then turned to Daniel and continued with his questions.
‘Isn't it true that the same day you were given this weapon, you encountered three young wingmen on the beach, south-east of the forest of Mirë? Did not an incident take place that day?’
Daniel and Nemo looked at each other, but dared not speak. Clearly the whole thing was very well thought up. They had the crime, the weapon and now the motive. How could he fight that? Embarrassed, he looked back at Diane, who continued to appear serene, much to his frustration. He had told no one, not even her about what had happened at the beach that day. Would she doubt him now; would she still believe that he and Nemo were innocent?
‘The three dropped down on us,’ he began, ‘and started picking on Nemo, laughing at him and calling him names. It appeared to be something they did all the time. In fact, the day before, I found Nemo tied up on a pine tree out of the sea, left there to dry up and die. I realized that day that these three were the very ones who had done such a thing. When they were done insulting him, they picked him up and flew away with him, dropping him from high up into the sea. He might have been killed by the fall, or drowned, but they were just laughing about it.’
There was anger now in Daniel’s raised voice and he realized this was not going to help his cause. Eleanor looked on with tears in her eyes, as she heard of these new happenings concerning her son. Nemo had now lowered his head even more, not daring to look at anyone.
Autumn was about to ask something else, when before them reappeared Hëna, this time followed by two young wingmen, who Daniel recognized right away. One of them, the tallest one with the goatee, walked in with his head down, looking guilty and ashamed, while the other, Daniel recognized as the one who had not said a word the entire time that day. He guessed, it was the ‘stocky’ one who had been shot.
The boys were led by Hëna in the middle of the yard, not two feet away from them, and bowed down before the Lords, until told to resume their posture again. Autumn wasted no time in continuing with his questions.
‘Azariel and Nathaniel. This Council thanks you once again for bringing this matter to our attention right away. We are deeply saddened by the loss of your close friend, and will do our best to find out who is responsible. The Visitor has told us what happened at the beach the day you first met. Do you have anything to say about that day?’
Azariel lifted his head to look at the Lords, and without daring to stroke his goatee, as he would usually do, he spoke.
‘We are not proud of what we did that day, my lords, but we meant no harm to anyone, I swear. It was just a stupid prank. We sometimes do things like that to entertain ourselves, only I guess this time we went a little too far. I am deeply ashamed and sorry for having acted like a bully and caused harm to my little brother.’
Appearing genuinely remorseful, Azariel turned now to face Nemo as he spoke.
‘I am so sorry, Nemo; I never meant to hurt you. I hope you can find it in your heart to forgive me one day.’
He then turned to face Eleanor and the Sky-Queen in turn to ask for their forgiveness, though neither of them replied to him. Daniel thought his acting very convincing, but he had dealt with bullies long enough in the past to be fooled.
‘What can you tell us about yesterday?’ Lord Autumn continued. ‘When was the last time you saw your friend?’
‘We were singing and dancing with our group until late evening. At some point, he said he was going to the beach and left. We assumed he was running after a maiden, so we did not follow. When it was time to start the journey back, he had not yet returned, so Nathaniel and I went to look for him. We looked for about an hour or so
, until the night had covered everything, and almost gave up. But then, by pure chance we found him lying on the sand just outside water. The sea appeared to have cast him ashore. He was cold and stiff, and was not breathing.’
His voice faltered as if he was too troubled to speak, and he stopped.
Nathaniel remained as quiet as ever on the outside, standing there, not daring to face neither Nemo, nor Daniel. Inside him, however, a fierce battle was taking place. He could not believe things had turned up this way, and he was partially responsible for it. Ghordi was now dead and an innocent man, a Visitor what’s more, was being blamed for it. His queen was furious. She would make sure the mermaids paid for this, and that meant nothing good. From here on, life as he knew it in Endërland would never be the same. But he had the power to stop all this from happening; he could tell the truth. They would believe him, they must.
As if hearing his thoughts, Azariel turned to him and gave him a meaningful look, reminding Nathaniel of all he was promised should he decide to betray his friend. All initial courage faded straight away, as Nathaniel thought of his family humiliated or worse, hurt by Azariel and those he was in league with. He would never forgive himself if anything happened to them because of him. But that was not the only reason that kept his lips shut. He felt ashamed, having always been too weak to stand up to his best friend; Azariel had always been the strongest one and he was no match for him. Now this was the price to pay for his cowardice.
Sensing the tension between the two young wingmen, Lord Autumn turned now to him.
‘Nathaniel, do you have anything to add on the matter?’
Torn between fear and guilt, the kind-hearted wingman took a moment before answering. For the sake of his family he would stay quiet for now, but he decided that he was done with Azariel for good.
‘No, my lord Autumn, not at this time.’
He gave a defiant look to his now former friend, who understood all too well, but did not seem too concerned.
‘Very well,’ Lord Autumn continued. ‘You may both leave.’
The two wingmen bowed their heads towards the Lords and queens, and made for the palace. Nathaniel walked behind, keeping his distance from Azariel. Once far enough from the courtyard and out of sight, the taller wingman turned to face him, grinning with malice.
‘Not at this time?’ he mocked. ‘What do you think you’re gonna do, tell them The Truth? And who’s gonna believe you? You are nothing without me, Nathaniel, don’t you ever forget that.’
‘You had Ghordi killed. You lied to me and to everyone else in there. I wonder what else you are capable of.’
‘You better hope you never have to find out, my friend.’
‘You can no longer call me that; your friends end up being lied to and killed, and I don’t want any of that. You’re on your own from here, Azariel. May the Great Lord have mercy on you.’
Feeling both angry and hurt, Nathaniel turned his back on Azariel and started to walk away from him.
‘Go on, leave if you want,’ Azariel called after him. ‘Just remember, if you’re not with me, you are against me, Nathaniel. And soon you’ll find out what that means.’
Nathaniel kept on walking, ignoring the shouts behind him. It felt good to finally stand up to his friend; he just wished he’d done it a lot sooner.