Tales of Lerathian: The Puppet (Chapter Two Excerpt)

Here's another little dose of my story Tales of Lerathian: The Puppet for you. This excerpt is the first section in the second chapter. This chapter documents Jân, Elle, and Nika's arrival into the Elvas capital of Marmaírein. They face various struggles, and secret plans start to come to light. This particular section highlights the siblings' last night before they enter the city. As always, there has been no editing or re-working done to the text yet.

The fire pit crackled and sizzled merrily before Elle. Waving flames cast glowing shadows that danced on her face and the trees around her. Elle, entranced by the movement, could almost swear she heard music playing. Then she broke out of her stupor to realize Calor had whipped out his wind flute and Tithran beat against the large rocks nearby to create a very odd sort of music to which they and Tondel and Uralad, as they were prone to doing, made fools of themselves. Elle couldn’t help but to smile as she watched their childlike antics. It was hard to believe only a little over a week ago she thought to impress them at lunch. The four were older than her, but younger still in so many ways. There was no need to impress anyone.

Hydantion was off somewhere. He was as disposed to wandering and exploring as his four charges were disposed to disturb the peace with their “fun.” Elle was fine with him going off. He never failed to be kind, they chatted often when she rode with him, and he always made sure she was well looked after, but Elle had trouble truly connecting with him. Her wish remained to be back at home with Alar, and as the leader and protector of their group she couldn’t help but to compare Hydantion against her father. He had no chance of measuring up in her eyes. And was she being unfair?

Of course.

Elle knew she was making things harder for the Elvas captain than she should be. However, as she adapted and grew comfortable dealing with the insecurity of leaving home Elle believed her attitude had improved greatly. She became sad from time to time, but she no longer sulked every second or punched Jân’s arm when he made her move faster. Tonight was harder to be more cheerful though. This was the group’s last night on the road. Tomorrow they arrive in Marmaírein, and Elle had stopped trying to imagine what kind of welcome would be received. She pictured everything from sneers and glares to mayhem and civil war breaking out. There was a positive idea― if one counted all the Elvas simply ignoring her and Nika positive. Elle did. It was the most she could ask for.

“Aww Nika, don’t you want to dance?”

“Not tonight, thank you. I’m rather tired.”

Elle turned to see Nika joining her from where she had been sitting near the other four. Tondel shrugged off her rejection and went back to what he was doing. Elle poured and handed her sister a cup of the warm cider leftover from dinner. Nika gratefully took it. She gulped it down in a matter of seconds.

“Something must be wrong with you if you don’t want to dance with your admirers.” Elle said with a grin on her face.

“I really am tired.”

“You must be if you’re not even going to respond to me teasing you.” Elle replied sympathetically, “Are you alright?”

“I think…that I’m just nervous. We could see Marmaírein before it got dark. You can still see it if you look hard enough. Hydantion says we remain a good distance away, but I feel as if it’s right upon me.”

“It’s like you never believed we would actually get there, but now it’s more than a name. It’s real. It’s before us.”

“Exactly! I guess I should have known you would understand. I tried talking to Jân, but he didn’t get what I meant.”

“He’s not going through what we’re going through. As dear as he is, it’s impossible for him to understand. Marmaírein was always meant to be his home. He’s returning to it after so long.”

“Do you think that’s why he’s becoming more distant?” Nika asked, “He spends more time talking to Hydantion and the others than he does to us. Somehow he’s become different.”

“I know what you mean. However, I can’t fault him. Imagine what we would be like going home to papa if we ended up living in Marmaírein for over twenty-five years like how Jân spent over twenty-five years living at the cabin once papa and mama married. Don’t you think you’d act a little differently?”

“Yes. I would.” Nika admitted.

She rubbed her finger along the rim of her cup. Elle thought of what else to say while trying not to be distracted the Tondel, Calor, Uralad, and Tithran’s antics. Such antics had been entertaining until tonight. Now Elle wanted silence. Alar told her to be strong. He told her to be brave. Elle had never really had to be either. What did it even mean to be brave or strong? Elle wished she had an idea.

“So…” Jân’s voice came.

Elle and Nika nearly jumped off the log they sat on in fright. Jân appeared from nowhere to sit next to them.

“It’s always a good idea when you’re talking about a person to make sure they’re not within earshot.” he reprimanded with a raised eyebrow.

Elle and Nika turned sheepish despite the clarity that Jân was not actually mad. He grabbed a stick close by and began burning the end in the fire.

“You were hiding behind that tree, weren’t you?”

“If that’s the case then you were eavesdropping.”

“You are both correct. Congratulations.” Jân replied jauntily.

“You know we didn’t mean anything by it, right?” Elle asked hesitantly.

“No, I know. I’m really not upset. It might come as a surprise, but I already figured that’s how you two were feeling. It is not as if either of you said anything insulting anyways. You were merely telling the truth. I have indeed been distant since the prospect of returning to Marmaírein was granted to me. I was happy to leave it because I was going to have a new family. I never missed it until Hydantion arrived. I forgot though how much I had there, and how much I held those things dear. However, I shouldn’t have forgotten this is a pretty traumatic experience for you two. I won’t make that mistake again.” Jân promised.

“We know you care, Jân. We’ll be fine as long as you stick around to tease us like you always do. That’s the one thing we can’t go without.” Elle joked.

“I can do that, as long as you stop punching me.”

“I have stopped punching you.”

“You did it yesterday!”

“That was a long time ago.”

“It was yesterday!”

“That’s what I said. A long time ago.”

“And now I feel like I’m home again.” Nika chuckled.

“Does it? What else will make you feel like you’re at home” Jân asked kindly.

Nika thought before shifting herself onto Jân’s lap where he wrapped her with willing arms. He rocked her back and forth to the erratic beat Calor and Tithran were still making on the other side of camp. Tondel and Uralad were trying, and failing miserably, to put words to the music.

“Sounds like papa’s singing.” Elle laughed.

“Oh come on, they’re not that bad.” Jân added.

Nika giggled. Jân swung her harder to the music.

“Remember now, she’s tried.” Elle told him.

“Is she? She looks like she’s got plenty of energy to me.”

“Oh, now that you said that I am tired again.” Nika whined, suddenly relaxing completely against Jân’s chest.

“Good job, Elle.”

“Yes. Good job.”

“My pleasure.”

She took her brother’s stick from his hand to continue burning its end herself as Jan changed his rocking to soft, subtle rolls. Nika yawned loudly. She closed her eyes.

“Hey, Jân?” she asked quietly.

“Hmm?”

“Tell us about Marmaírein. Hydantion and the others keep saying it’s an amazing place, but that’s all they say. What is it really like?”

“Well, um. It really has been a long time. The time I’ve been gone isn’t long at all given the immortal lifespan of the Elvas, but I’m sure the city has changed some.” he started quietly.

“That’s fine. Just tell us what you remember. What it looks like should be relatively the same.” Elle prompted.

“That is true. From what I was told growing up Marmaírein changed a lot after it was first built, but once it got settled it became blasphemous to suggest altering it at all. Most of the city is made out of marmaírein, which is obviously where the name came from. It’s a white material mined in the earth that sparkles and sometimes glows in the sun. When heated it is easy to craft with, but when cooled and formed it’s almost as tough as diamond.”

“So it really will be beautiful.” Nika said.

“It is breathtaking, especially during the sunrises and sunsets when the radiant colors in the sky reflect off of the buildings. What makes it even more beautiful is water the creators worked through the city. Aqueducts, fountains, ponds, suspended rivers and streams, pools, canals― Marmaírein has it all. At times you feel as if you’re living underwater. All the waterways are connected. They flow out of the city until they make their way to the Stretching River that leads to Lanithian.”

“Lanithian?” Elle asked.

“That’s the name of the Elvas island to the southeast.”

“Oh, right.”

“What about the Center,” Nika asked, “That’s where we’re going to live, right?”

“Right. The city is built on flat land, but multiple layers were built raises the city higher until you get to the middle. There are many tall buildings. However, the Center overlooks them. It’s the largest building in all of Marmaírein. The bottom floors are used as a cultural hall, the middle floors are used as studies and planning rooms where the council members meet to discuss and run city affairs, and the top floors are the living quarters for the council members and close families. There is one and grand bedroom at the very top. That belongs to great-grandfather since as the oldest Elvas alive he is the head of the council.”

“And what is he like?” Elle questioned.

“Oh boy, that’s a question. Great-grandfather is incredibly intimidating. That’s to be expected with how old he is and how much he has lived through. He’s seen a lot of death and heartbreak. It has made him rather harsh, but he retains his good and kind heart underneath. The trick to getting close to him is to simply give it time. He has his rules and expectations. If you follow them he will open his heart to you. Even if you can’t do everything correctly right away and make mistakes, great-grandfather will still appreciate the effort. He is not heartless.”

“And Remorlent?”

“Uncle Remorlent, Elle. He is still your uncle despite what he had to do. His own life would have been taken away if he had refused great-grandfather’s orders. I remember him well. I do not believe at all that his part in mother’s death was done willingly in any way. Uncle and mother were always incredibly close. Th―”

“Would you kill us if great-grandfather ordered it?” Elle interrupted.

“What?”

“If great-grandfather ordered it, would you take our lives?”

“Never.”

“Even if you had to give up your own?”

“I wouldn’t do anything to harm you.” Jân confirmed, “This line of thought―”

“Yes. I’m going exactly where you can see I’m heading with it. Remorlent is not as innocent a person in everything as you’re trying to make him out to be. You wouldn’t kill us even if your life was on the line. He must not have cared as much as you’re saying he did if he was that cowardly that he would rather murder his own little sister than give up his life to protect her. All he cared about was what would benefit him.”

“Don’t say another word. You’re belittling the truth of how hard and honorable it is to sacrifice your life for someone else’s. It is a horrible thing to pain the situation so black and white. There was more that was on the line than merely his life. Great-grandfather would have had to step down from his position. Perhaps the other council members have become more proficient at running things since I have left, but I firmly remember that great-grandfather was the key to keeping everything from falling apart. That doesn’t mean Marmaírein alone either. He is in charge over the entirety of the Elvas lands. If things fall to chaos at the capital then things fall to chaos everywhere. The Dowarks are only just being kept at bay as it is. The Elvas would be overrun at the first sign of dissention.” Jân explained crossly.

“Good. Like Lerathian needs a bunch of narrow-minded, self-centered, prideful Elvas who will murder anyone who doesn’t meet their standards.” Elle mumbled.

“Unbelievable!” Jân exclaimed, “You’re making yourself no better than what you’re accusing the Elvas of being by saying that! You’re thinking that it would be fine if innocent people who are simply trying to live their lives would be killed simply because of what they are!”

“There’s a difference.” Elle mumbled again

“There’s no difference at all!”

“Stop it! No fighting! Not tonight!” Nika cried.

Elle fell silent, but glared back at Jân out of the corner of her eye as he did the same to her. The tension was awful. Tondel, Calor, Uralad, and Tithran were completely unaware anything was going wrong. They continued making their discord music louder and louder. Elle would have started yelling at them if Nika hadn’t quickly grabbed her arm as she jumped up.

“No! Don’t go away,” she begged, assuming Elle was leaving, “I don’t want anyone to be angry. We’ll let it go. I want to listen to more of what Jân can tell us. Why don’t you tell us about your father father?”

Nika refused to let go of her arm. Elle reluctantly sat back down although she turned away from her brother. Jân started talking again. He tried to hide the anger in his voice for Nika’s sake.

“There’s not much I can tell. The Elvas forces were weakened at the time of his death. A huge group of Dowarks invaded the city where Desython died protecting the Center where mother and I were hiding. I was barely more than a toddler. I do somewhat remember the devastation afterwards. That was one of the too many attacks made on the city. There was even one on the day I was born that killed Desython’s parents along with his older sister and her husband. Mother’s father and mother, our grandparents, were killed even earlier in another when mother was a little younger than you, Nika.” he explained.

“I guess that’s why you never talk about him, huh?”

“I can’t say anything that I know nothing about.”

“I always thought you didn’t want to upset papa.”

“There was that too.” Jân admitted.

Their conversation then stopped as the music suddenly faltered. The three siblings turned to see that Hydantion had returned from where he had been. He gave Tondel, Calor, Uralad, and Tithran instructions before walking over to them.

“It’s getting on the later side now,” he started, “We can make it to Marmaírein around lunchtime if we get up at the crack of dawn and travel hard. We’ll all need to be rested to make that happen. In short, it’s time for bed.”

“Understood. Our conversation was practically done in any case.” Jân said.

“That’s good timing then. Will you need any assistance in getting your sleeping gear set up?”

“We can do it. Elle and I are experts now.” Nika replied brightly.

“I have noticed. I will fully expect you to be all snuggled up and sleep by the time I return then.”

“Are you heading off again?” Jân asked.

“Yes, to patrol. This area is very safe, but now that we’re on the eve of the three of you entering Marmaírein I must admit I am a little more on edge. If anything bad were to happen it would happen to be ironically right before we approach our ultimate goal.”

“Would you like me to join you?”

“No, Jân. I have Calor coming along with me, and I’ve made sure that the other three will have rotating watches. All I want from you and your sisters to for you to get the best rest that you can.” Hydantion instructed.

Jân looked crestfallen, but nodded in agreement. Hydantion gave a small parting wave as he disappeared once more through the trees. Calor darted after him a couple seconds later. Elle eagerly walked away from Jân and Nika to set up her bedding gear on the softest dirt she could find. She could feel Jân’s gaze on the back of her head multiple times. He made his own space on the other side of the fire. Nika made her way over to her.

“Can I sleep next to you” she asked.

“Of course. Put your things right here.”

Elle patted the ground next to her. Her anger vanished as she watched her little sister eagerly unroll her gear, slip herself into it, and cuddled up right against him. With a smile, Elle laid her arm over Nika’s shoulders.

“The lullaby?” she requested softly.

“I hadn’t forgotten.”

Elle sang. In the now quiet clearing even her soft melody rang loud and clear. She would have felt more embarrassed if she hadn’t already gotten used to having the others listening. Nika demanded the lullaby every night as she always had, and Elle’s singing became expected. Normally Elle sang the whole song. Tonight Nika couldn’t keep her eyes open past the first verse. The clearing truly became quiet after that. Tondel tended to the fire while Uralad and Tithran sat on opposite corners watching the area nearby. Elle tried to push aside all her bothersome feelings to find sleep herself.

She failed miserably. The night grew later and later. Tondel and Tithran eventually went to sleep while Uralad alone kept watch. Hydantion returned with Calor where the members of the guard and patrol were switched. This happened so many times that Elle stopped paying attention to who was around. Nika’s chest rose slower as she had entered into a deep sleep. Elle lovingly brushed stray hairs away from her face. Watching her little sister sleep soundly was the only thing that helped put her own mind at ease.

Then there came the bang.

It was distant, but clear and frightening. Elle sat up in terror jolting Nika awake.

“What’s going on?” Elle asked in panic.

The bang came again. It sounded like distant thunder, but too short. Another one came quickly followed by more and more. Tithran walked over with a smile on his face.

“Everything is fine. Come with me.” he instructed.

Elle and Nika looked hesitantly at each other, but they complied and stood up. Jân had awoken and followed Tithran as well as he led them a little ways away from camp where they could see from the top of the cliff they were on the sea of tree tops below and a dim glow in the distance that was Marmaírein. Small flashes of light appeared above the city with each one accompanied by a bang. A large smile erupted onto Jân’s face.

“It’s the start of the Celebration of Birth, isn’t it? I had completely forgotten about it.” he said excitedly.

“What’s the Celebration of Birth?” Nika asked.

“It’s the day when the Elvas celebrate our birth and creation on the world. The festival that lasts all day is welcomed in at twilight with a grand showing of magic bursts.”

“Magic bursts?”

“The strongest magic users in the city gather at the top of Central. They form tight orbs of energy that they shoot into the air to explode in large bursts of color and sound. They are much more spectacular close up. We had hoped to bring you to the city in time to see them, but we had more trouble finding you than we anticipated. There will be some more this evening though. We’ll also arrive during the busiest and most exciting time of the festival. You’re going to have a treat.”

“That’s wonderful,” Nika yawned, “I can wait until tomorrow for excitement though. I’m going back to bed.”

“Can I stay here? I would like to watch for a while longer.” Elle requested.

“I don’t know. You’d be safe since anything that would want to harm you would have to come through the camp first, but I don’t think Hydantion will like it if I allow you to stay here by yourself.”

“I’ll stay here with her then. You can watch Nika at camp.” Jân proposed.

“I suppose. You have more sway over Hydantion’s mind than I do. He won’t mind if you wish to remain as well.”

“Exactly.” Jân nodded.

“It’s agreed then. Come, little Nika. Let’s get you back to bed.”

Nika took Tithran’s offered hand as he guided her back through the trees to the camp. Elle didn’t watch them go. Her gaze remained solidly fixed towards the faint light of Marmaírein. She swore if she listened closely she could just hear the cheers of the large crowd watching the magic bursts. The lights continued flashing higher and brighter into the night sky.

“They can make shapes out of them too. The magic bursts. If the Shooters, that’s, uh, the ones, well, shooting them off, concentrate hard enough they came even have them move,” Jân said rather clumsily.

When she didn’t say anything he cleared his throat in the awkward silence before continuing.

“I remember one year the show was very short. That’s because the Shooters were able to choreograph the lights to form in a shape of two soldiers who fought using the entire sky as their battlefield. It is one of the most amazing things I’ve ever seen. Unfortunately, it was so taxing the Shooters said they would never perform another show again. I know I was very disappointed. Maybe after all this time they’ll change their minds and try something again.”

Elle listened quietly. She glanced up to notice Jân urgently thinking of something else to say. Her heart softened.

“Jân, I’m sorry. You were completely right. I was out of line.” she started.

She exhaled shakily. The lights of the bursts reflected dimly in her eyes staring deeply into the otherwise dark world before her. Elle shivered slightly in the early spring’s cold chill. Jân said nothing.

“I’m terrified,” Elle admitted, “I’m trying to deal with each moment as it comes, but what’s around every corner scares me. I know that I shouldn’t show how afraid I am, but I don’t know how to be brave.”

“Elle, bravery does not mean you are without fear. To be fearless is to be reckless. It is alright to be scared. It is alright to show that you are afraid. Hiding it inside will consume and destroy you in the end. To be brave is to acknowledge what scares you, decide that it will no longer control you, and fight it until you stand victor. It is a struggle within yourself where you alone can determine who will win in the end. Fear cannot hurt you. It can only make you give up.”

“I don’t think I have ever heard you speak so wisely.” Elle said, not being able to help the smile creeping onto her face.

Jân laughed.

“That is because the words are not mine. I wish I could speak out such truth on a moment’s notice. No, what I have just told you is something Desython told me. One of the last things he told me, actually.” Jân explained reminiscently.

“So you do remember him a little.”

“A little, yes. The memories seem to only pop up when I try not to remember them.”

An especially loud boom soared through the sky. Elle really did swear this time she heard the cheers erupt from the city.

“They always add something extra.” Jân chuckled.

“Jân?” Elle said softly.

“What?”

“Do you really think they’ll accept us? What if Hydantion is wrong? What if what the council hopes to come to pass doesn’t come to pass? Can Nika and I truly make a difference?” she asked despondently.

Jân smiled down at her, gently pulling her by the arm into an embrace.

“I believe that you can. You’ve already begun to change the world. You keep taking it one moment at a time. Just keep showing the world what a beautiful soul you are. I’ll keep watch over you.”

“Do that,” Elle mumbled into his chest, “But Jân?”

“Yes?”

“Don’t ever give yourself up for my sake.”

“I refuse to make that promise.”

“But―”

“Instead, I promise that I will never let it get to that point. I will keep both of us, no, all of us safe”

Elle paused. She fixated on the glow of Marmaírein again. The city was so happy. How would it be tomorrow when the mixed-bloods it had sentenced to death walked through it gates?

“Alright.”