“Just what could a young woman like you be thinking by sneaking alone into a stable with a complete stranger who could kill her for all she knows?”
Makilien froze. The man’s back was to her, and she didn’t know how he could have possibly heard her coming. With a wry expression, he turned around.
“How did you know I was here?” Makilien came to only one conclusion. “Magic?”
The man scoffed. “Hardly. There is no such thing. I heard you coming.”
Makilien frowned deeply.
“To a trained ear, you are not nearly as silent as you think you are,” the stranger said with a flicker of amusement in his eyes.
Makilien’s cheeks flamed with embarrassment, but she asked, “Who are you?”
“My name is Torick, but I suggest you leave here before someone sees you. Apparently, I am not permitted to speak with the villagers here and that means you.”
“I’m sure I would not be permitted to speak to you either, but I’m not afraid to do it anyway.”
Torick smirked. “You’re quite a spirited one, aren’t you?”
“I just want to know the truth.”
“Truth?” The man’s eyes narrowed keenly.
“Yes. The truth about what is out there, beyond this village, and whether or not there is any purpose to life.”
Torick paused and contemplated her words. “Were you born here?”
“Yes, and so were my parents, my grandparents, my great-grandparents, and probably my whole family since the beginning of time when Dolennar began,” Makilien answered in a dark and miserable tone.
“Well, I’m sure that’s not quite true.” Torick turned back to his horse.
“Please, tell me what is out there.” Fearless, Makilien walked into the stall with him, determined not to leave without answers. “Is it all evil like I’ve been told?”
Torick looked at her again, finding himself intrigued by this young woman with rich brown hair and striking green eyes that hungered for knowledge. Something about her piqued his interest, something he just could not ignore.
“What is your name?”
“Makilien.”
“No, Makilien, it is not all evil.”
Then it is a lie! Makilien’s heart jumped at the knowledge.
“What else is there?” she asked eagerly, wanting to know everything all at once.
“It is true that evil can be found everywhere, but there is much good also. There are good beings fighting the evil.”
Makilien knew how dangerous her next question would be, but she had to know. “Is Zirtan evil?”
Torick’s eyes were hard with seriousness. “These questions and the answers could lead to very serious consequences.” For both of them.
“I need to know,” Makilien replied, holding his gaze steadily.
“Yes, Zirtan is evil . . . he is the root of all evil . . . evil itself. He is the deceiver of all Dolennar.”
Makilien hardly dared to breathe. “Is he Human?”
“No.”
“What is he?”
“I told you, evil.”
Makilien wasn’t sure she understood this, but one thing she did understand well. “We are his prisoners.”
“Yes, you are,” Torick confirmed gravely. “He does not want you to know the truth and will keep you from learning and accepting it no matter what it takes. He uses his lies to convince people that he is doing what is best for them, but unfortunately, at the end of life, these people will realize they never believed the truth and will be separated from it forever.”
A dreadful chill raced through Makilien’s body. “What can I do? I want to know the truth.”
“The truth is available to anyone who will believe it.”
“Tell me more,” Makilien requested. Gaining answers to the questions she’d struggled with for years only made her want to know more.
Torick glanced uneasily over his shoulder. “Now is not a safe time or place.”
“I need to know more,” Makilien pleaded with him.
Torick sighed. “Tell you what, you meet me here at dawn tomorrow. By that time I will have found a place for us to talk.”
Makilien grinned. “I’ll be here.”
She left Torick and snuck away from the stable with more to think about and consider than she ever had in her life. Makilien wished desperately to share the information, but she kept it to herself for the time being. She would tell her parents after she learned more from Torick. The more information she had, the easier it would be to convince her family it was true.
Word of Torick’s arrival spread through every corner of the village in no time at all. Néthyn had heard all about him by the time he arrived home from work, and the family finally had something to discuss over supper.
“Everyone hopes he leaves quietly in the morning like he is supposed to,” Néthyn said, passing a bowl to his wife.
“So do I,” Hanna replied. “The last thing we need is trouble.”
“Why do you think the stranger would cause trouble?” Makilien asked, trying to keep an innocent demeanor.
“Strangers almost always mean trouble,” Néthyn told her.
Speaking cautiously as she spooned peas onto her plate, Makilien suggested, “Maybe he can tell us things about other lands.”
“Yeah, he can tell us stories like Mornash,” Leiya piped up.
“No.” Their father gave them each a stern look. “No one is to talk to him. Anyone who does will be punished.”
The thought of punishment made Leiya’s young face become sober and fearful.
“What could be so terrible about talking to him?”
Everyone’s eyes settled on Makilien, and she shifted in her seat.
“Strangers like him tell lies,” Néthyn spoke with surety.
“How could you know they were lies if you’ve never left the village to see for yourself?” Makilien found herself asking.
Néthyn’s stern look returned to her. “Makilien, I have already said we will not discuss such things. There will be no more talk of the stranger.”
“Yes, Father,” Makilien murmured, wondering how she would ever be able to convince her parents of what she believed to be true.
* * *
Tossing and turning, Makilien could hardly find sleep for fear of not waking at dawn. All through the night her mind raced with the questions she wanted to ask Torick and the answers she’d already gained. For a long time she dwelled on what he’d said about believing the truth. The thought of being separated from it forever scared her. She had to find out what it was.
At last, the barest hint of light peeked through the windows, and Makilien threw back her covers. She dressed quickly and snuck out of the house, careful not to wake anyone.
No one was around this time of the morning, yet Makilien used all caution on her way to the stable. She was willing to risk punishment to see Torick, but she certainly wanted to avoid it.
Creeping into the stable, Makilien looked around. Torick’s horse stood where he had left him, but she could find no sign of Torick.
She whispered his name.
Only the soft snort from his horse came as an answer. Maybe he’s on his way, she thought, realizing in her eagerness she had arrived a little early.
Makilien walked over to the horse who watched her curiously, but with calm eyes. Gently, she ran her hand down his smooth face. She had only seen a couple of horses in her lifetime. No one in Reylaun had any use for them. All they had were ponies and donkeys for pulling carts. Makilien longed to ride a horse and dreamed about what it would be like to ride Torick’s magnificent, gray stallion.
A long while passed, marked only by the steady breathing of the horse and straw rustling in the corner from mice, but Torick did not appear. Makilien frowned and looked out the window as the sun climbed up over the trees. Where is he? Maybe he didn’t actually think I’d come, she grumbled. Or he never intended to come in the first place.
The stable door creaked open, and a shaft o
f pale sunlight poured in. Makilien’s heart jumped, and she ducked down out of instinct. A stableman walked in to feed and care for the stabled ponies. Makilien grimaced. Staying low, she crept out of the stall and to the back door. Holding her breath, she slipped out and pressed herself up against the building. After a moment, she blew out a sigh when no one came after her.
Looking both ways, she dashed away from the stable. Once the building was out of sight, she relaxed and slowed. In the middle of the main street, she paused, wondering why Torick had not come to see her. Well, if he won’t come to see me, I’ll find him.
Makilien hurried to the inn, which was really just a gathering place for the townspeople since it was so rare to have visitors. Inside the large, gloomy building, Makilien spotted Keni, the innkeeper at work. She searched the room, and when she saw no one else around, she walked up to the bar.
“Hello, Keni,” she said cheerfully.
“Hello, Makilien, what’re you doin’ in here?” the bald and somewhat short and rounded man asked.
Makilien shrugged. “I was just taking a walk.” She purposely let a moment of silence pass. “Hey, Keni, did the stranger leave yet like he said he was going to?”
Keni sent her a serious look. “You ought not to be askin’ questions ‘bout him.”
Makilien shook her head as if it was of no importance. “I was just curious if he was gone since everyone was hoping he would leave without trouble.”
“Oh, he’s gone all right,” Keni answered with a quick nod.
Makilien frowned. “But I thought I saw his horse still at the stable.”
Keni leaned closer to the bar and spoke in a low voice. “Late last night, guards came in and took him away.”
Makilien’s stomach twisted. “Why?”
Keni shook his head. “Guess they thought he was stirrin’ up trouble.”
“What did they do with him?” Makilien asked breathlessly.
“Who knows? Maybe they took him to Lord Zirtan.”
Remembering what Torick had said about Zirtan made Makilien shudder. If Zirtan was nothing but evil, what chance did Torick have of surviving?
“Somethin’ wrong, Makilien?” Keni asked when he noticed her look of distress.
“No,” Makilien lied, quickly hiding her emotions. “I’m fine. I think I should be getting home for breakfast.”
She turned and left the inn with an awful feeling of hopelessness. Now that Torick had been taken away, how would she ever learn the truth?
Chapter Three
Escape
The news of Torick’s capture pulsed at the very center of Makilien’s mind; however, her family had no reason to believe her sullen mood to be anything more than what she’d been suffering for days. But to Makilien, it was worse than ever. Now that she knew about Zirtan and the true state of those in the village, she wanted desperately to do something, but what could she do? If only she had been able to speak more with Torick!
Later on that day, Makilien followed her mother and sister to the town square to do their market day shopping. It was one of the only days that offered any change or a chance for entertainment, but this day Makilien’s mind was not on their task. Hanna continually had to reclaim her attention, and even then Makilien was preoccupied.
Only a short time after their arrival in the bustling center of town, a sudden commotion startled everyone. Makilien looked up. Several guards stormed into the square. Between them, they dragged a young man. Makilien gasped and horror gripped her.
Hanna and Leiya turned at the sound.
“Aedan!” Leiya cried with the same distress that ran like ice through Makilien’s body.
Everyone who had gathered in the market grew still. Gasps and murmurs punctuated the stillness before everything became deathly quiet. The guards dragged Aedan into the center of the square and halted.
Sweeping his cruel eyes over the crowd, one of the guards declared, “This man was seen speaking with the stranger, an enemy of His Majesty, Lord Zirtan, after warnings were issued not to do so. He will therefore face the consequences.”
With a rough shove, Aedan stumbled toward a tall post, and Makilien knew what was coming even before she spotted the whip in another guard’s hand. Her throat and chest tightened. Could she just stand there and watch her best friend be punished for something she too had done? Without knowing what she could possibly do, Makilien rushed toward Aedan.
“Stop! Please don’t!”
The iron grip of one of the guards clamped down on her arm and jerked her back.
“Stay back, girl!” he growled.
Makilien struggled against him. “No! Please!”
Her eyes caught Aedan’s. He shook his head with grave urgency. “Makilien, don’t.”
But Makilien had to do something. She had to. She pulled hard against the guard, but she was no match for his strength. Before things could escalate to the point she might share Aedan’s fate, someone took her by the shoulders.
“Makilien, come with me,” Néthyn said firmly.
The guard released Makilien to her father, but her eyes stayed fused with Aedan’s as Néthyn half-dragged her back to where her mother and sister waited. But she could not bear to stay, and the moment he released her, she ran for home, tears blurring her vision. When at last she reached the confines of her bedroom, the tears spilled over, pouring down her face. Overcome with frustration and pain, she beat her fists against the wall until finally she slid down against it, spent. Burying her face in her arms, she wept bitterly.
“This isn’t right!” she choked out, hardly able to bear the despair that crushed her heart. “It shouldn’t be this way!”
She cried in agony for a long time and barely noticed when her family returned home. Quietly, her parents stepped into her bedroom, and her mother knelt beside her.
“Makilien,” she coaxed, laying a hand on her shoulder. “Will you come downstairs and have lunch with us?”
Makilien gave no response. Hanna glanced uncertainly at her husband, and Néthyn said, “Makilien, you must understand. Aedan chose to ignore the warnings we are all given for our own good and had to face the consequences.”
“No, the warnings weren’t for our own good!” Makilien burst out. She rose, eyes flashing. “We are prisoners, and Zirtan is just trying to hide the truth from us.”
“Makilien, what has gotten into you?” Hanna asked, shocked and frightened at what her daughter’s behavior could bring upon her in light of what she had just witnessed in the square. “How can you dare to say that?”
“Because, it’s true! I talked to the stranger too,” Makilien declared, and her mother paled. “He told me Zirtan is evil and we are his prisoners. He’s deceiving us into thinking he’s doing what is best for us, but he is just hiding the truth. It isn’t just evil outside our borders. There is good out there fighting the evil.”
“The stranger told you lies,” Néthyn tried to make her understand. “That is why we were warned not to speak with him.”
“No,” Makilien insisted stubbornly. “That is exactly what Zirtan wants us to believe. Torick was telling the truth.”
Néthyn just shook his head, frustrated at his inability to make her understand and as fearful as his wife of the consequences. “Makilien, unless you stop this right now, you will not leave your room until you do.”
But Makilien would not be swayed. “I won’t stop searching for the truth.”
“You are going to get yourself punished just like Aedan or worse,” Néthyn warned her. The last thing he wanted was for that to happen to his daughter.
“If I find a purpose to my life it will be worth it.”
Néthyn didn’t know what else he could say. Hoping time would bring Makilien around, he and Hanna gave up and left the room, closing the door behind them.
Tears still falling, Makilien sat by her window and stared out at the forest, past the palisade. For hours she did not move. Evening crept into the village as the sunlight faded. At suppertime, Makilien’s doo
r opened again, and she glanced back. Her mother stepped into the room with a tray of food.
“I’m not hungry,” Makilien murmured almost inaudibly.
“Makilien, you haven’t eaten since breakfast. You must eat.” Hanna set the tray of food down on Makilien’s bed and looked pleadingly at her daughter. “Please eat it.”
Makilien didn’t reply and turned her face back toward the window. With a sad sigh, Hanna turned and left the room again. Still, Makilien did not move. From her chair, she watched the stars appear and the moon rise above the trees, but her mind was far from idle.
At last, Makilien stood and opened her window wider. She crawled through it and climbed down the tree growing next to the house, something she’d done frequently over the years. With all caution, she crept through the village, careful to stay well away from the patrolling guards. Shortly, she came to the small cottage where Aedan, Rommia, and their mother lived. Makilien snuck around the back of the house to Aedan’s bedroom window. The curtains were closed but light peeked through. She stepped up to the window and whispered, “Aedan.”
When no answer came, she tried again a little louder. Finally, the fall of footsteps approached. The curtains parted, and Aedan looked out. He wore no shirt, but most of his torso and shoulders were wrapped with bandages. Makilien’s stomach churned.
“Makilien, what are you doing?” Aedan asked, frowning down at her.
Makilien shrugged a little. “I wanted to see if you were all right.”
Thinking she was acting very strange, Aedan looked at her oddly. “I’ll be fine. You could have used the front door. Mother would have let you in.”
“I know, but . . .” Makilien hesitated and looked to be certain no one was around. “Aedan, when did you speak to Torick?”
At once, Aedan turned very serious. “How do you know his name?”
“I spoke with him too,” Makilien murmured.