The Third Red 1: The Enemy Within

Eric rode back to Soyagone with a scowl as he thought of Taro Volk. The man had labeled his mother a traitor for staying alive! She didn’t deserve that. Eric knew she didn’t. He’d always valued honor, and he knew that taking one’s own life rather than serve evil was a tenet of the Soron Knight’s code, but he couldn’t accept this as right. His mother had fought and saved him from Corgo. She was a hero, not a traitor.

“Lord Chosan!” a loud merry voice sounded as they entered through the walls of their castle.

Looking ahead, Eric saw a man in a hunter’s tunic, green and brown to provide camouflage in forests. On his back was a bow and arrow. He also had a short sword, dagger and harp on his belt.

“Bragar, you are back!” Chosan said.

“Aye, mi lord! And I am pleased to say that this fine marksman, bard, and his hunting party have caught you ten deer for the feast mi lord!” the man said.

Chosan looked at Eric and directed him to the archer. “Eric, this is our bard, best hunter, and occasional fool, Bragar!”

“Oh ho! Wonderful to finally meet you, Lord Eric!” Bragar said in his merry voice as he took Eric’s hand and shook it rapidly. “I hope you and your mother are looking forward to your welcome back feast tonight!”

Eric pulled his hand free and sadly told him. “My mother’s dead.”

The words caused the bard to lose his merry. He put his hand to his mouth. “Oh, oh dear! That is not good! I was sent to bring a happy meal! Now it shall be a sad one!”

“Aye. Tis not a happy time like we hoped for, but I’ve been planning this feast for over a year now,” Chosan said. “The jugglers, singers, and dancers will be here soon. Margery is gone, but she would want us to celebrate. She’d want you to be happy, Eric.”

Eric sniffled as his anger mixed with new sadness, his eyes beginning to water. “How can I be happy right now?”

“Surely there is something you would like to do?” Chosan asked.

Eric thought of something rather quickly as his lip curled.

“Give Taro Volk a punch in the face!” he said.

Chosan jumped, “I-I understand your anger, Eric. But-but you have to be careful. Taro could easily use that as an excuse to draft you! Don’t-don’t do anything foolish.”

Eric frowned at his uncle but relented. “Fine, I won’t attack him.”

He looked away as a tear began rolling down his cheek. The faces of Corgo and Taro appeared in his head, and he formed a fist as hatred began to burn in him like a fire.

“You could probably use something to take your mind off this,” Chosan said. “You want to go for a ride around Soyagone for a while? I could show you how to ride a horse better.”

Eric looked at Snowshine and turned away. “Nay. I’ll just stick with Granny Ruby.”

He walked across the bridge that connected Soyagone to Rubara’s island to the north. Even at this distance it was hard not to see her. She was clearly visibly in the clearing among the trees. Her face turned to the ground for a moment, then she rose her head and saw him coming. As Eric got closer, he saw a half-eaten deer carcass in front of her.

“Little one!” Rubara smiled, showing a set of bloody fangs. She got to her feet and walked up to him with heavy steps.

Her forked tongue ran all the way up his stomach to his face, leaving a little saliva on his robe as well as a red streak from the deer’s blood on his white Sortar robe. Eric usually smiled when he got a kiss from his grandmother. It was the only wetness he didn’t mind, but today he didn’t smile. Too much sadness had occurred.

“How do you like your new home?” Rubara asked.

“Well, the beds are softer,” Eric said in a neutral manner.

She looked at him. “Something is troubling you, isn’t it?”

Eric sighed. “What isn’t?”

“It’s alright to be sad. I know you loved your mother as I did.” Rubara looked down to the ground.

“They’re calling her a traitor,” Eric told her.

“Who is?” Rubara asked looking back at him.

“People in the city, the Queen, this man named Taro Volk.”

Rubara growled. “They should be thankful I was not there. I would have crushed them like insects for saying such a thing about Margery.”

Eric felt some pleasure in hearing that, managing to form a smile which he hadn’t been able to do for a couple days now.

“Are you hungry?” Rubara asked. “You can have some of my meat if you wish.”

Eric shook his head. He sat down beside Rubara as she continued her meal. Then-

“Hello?” a small voice asked.

Eric jumped, surprised as he looked back the way he’d come and saw Myra there. Rubara looked up from her meal.

The girl looked at Rubara with a timid but amazed look. “Whoa! You are big!”

Rubara didn’t say anything. She merely looked at the girl with a pair of large violet eyes. Myra looked nervous seeing the blood on Rubara’s fangs but took a step forward.

“Um- would you mind taking me for a ride?”

Rubara blinked in surprise. She looked at Eric. “Is this little human a new friend of yours?”

Eric looked at Myra. Was she a friend? He had only met her yesterday. But she’d been friendly with him and showed him around part of the castle. “I suppose so.”

“Very well, come girl.”

Myra smiled. Managing a smile back, Eric climbed onto the saddle and helped her up. He secured her in the seat, wrapping the safety straps around her. Once he was done and secured himself, Rubara flapped her wings and ascended into the sky. Myra screamed in delight and grasped Eric’s arm. They circled Soyagone. Eric could see Sortar and the massive palace. He’d been in awe of that place when he first looked at it, now he felt only spite looking at the place in which his mother had been named a traitor.

They flew around Sortar now, Eric could see a great deal of the city below. Hundreds, if not thousands of houses, shops, and people. Some looked up at them and Eric even heard them call, “Look! A dragon!”

Rubara took them up higher. Myra grasped his arm tighter as they went into a dive. When they landed back on the island Eric heard a sound like a strange bird call let out three rings.

“What is that?” he asked.

“A horn of course,” Myra said.

“Horn?” Eric repeated with a frown.

“Not the horns on bison or deer,” Myra explained. “These horns are used to create sounds to signal. That one sounded like it came from the front gate. We must be having visitors.”

“But for what?” Rubara asked.

Eric suddenly remembered. “The feast! Chosan said there was going to be a feast tonight!”

Eric didn’t really want to go to the feast. But Rubara insisted he go.

“You shouldn’t disappoint your uncle. He’s happy to have you back. You should go little one, I’ll be here if you need me.”

Eric slowly nodded as he climbed off the saddle with Myra. As they walked back across the bridge, someone approached. It was the Hunting Bard from earlier.

“There you are! The party is starting! Better-“

Bragar broke off as he saw the bloody saliva stain from Rubara’s lick on Eric’s robe.

“Oh, you certainly can’t go to the party with a robe like that! Ah well I came to get you to change clothes anyway. Best come with Bragar! Yes, he’ll fix you right up!”

Eric sighed and followed Bragar back across the bridge, to the courtyard in the middle of the main castle. They went into the storeroom where they kept a collection of fine clothing for emergencies or guests. Eric picked a fresh shirt, a blue button up one made of silk. It had a silver flame around the buttons and shoulders were embroidered with a thick set of golden cloth bearing the Yagaro symbol. Eric also put on a set of black loafers and fine socks on his feet. Bragar then escorted him to the Tourney Grounds on the west side of the castle. The empty stands Myra had shown him this morning were now packed with people. Chosan stood in the pathway.

“Ah there he is!” Chosan said. “Let us have a warm welcome for my nephew Eric Yagaro!”

“Welcome home, Eric!” all the people in the stands shouted at once.

Chosan stood in the middle stand, along with the rest of Myra’s family. He waved at Eric who slowly made his way there alongside the girl. As Eric climbed the steps, his uncle spoke in a loud voice that rang throughout the grounds. “I have long planned for this party! Though it was not under the happy circumstances I had hoped for. I intended to celebrate the return of my nephew and wed sister. But I can only celebrate the former. In times of sadness, though, celebration is all the more important for us to heal!”

There were many nods from the guests and the party began. The first event was a jousting tournament. Knights in shining armor rode upon horses and tried to knock each other off their steads to win.

Eric sat beside Chosan in the stands, while Myra sat next to her grandfather, taking his helmet onto her head again as he laughed. They watched as the first pair of knights rode onto the grounds. Eric didn’t know who the knights themselves were, but he knew their family crests they carried on their shields. One a white dove with the letter D on a cloud below, House Delva. The other a hand offering an apple up to the Crown above, House Genrose. Both of them were among the Thirteen Noble Knight Houses of Sortar.

The two knights walked up to the seats where Eric and Chosan sat. They lifted their helmets to show their faces. The Delva knight looked to be a warrior who had seen his fair share of battles, for Eric could see a scar across his face and an ear with a chunk missing on the right. The Genrose looked young, perhaps only twenty at most, a lovely head of blonde hair on his head and a rose in his hand. Both their helms showed no fists at the top, so they weren’t Soron.

“Those are Sir Malcom Delva and young August Genrose,” Chosan whispered. “Genrose has been a loyal vassal to our family for a long time.”

Eric nodded. One day, he might be fighting alongside these people.

“Why don’t you go and knock someone off their horse, grandfather?” Myra asked Orvalor. “You’re a knight too.”

“An old knight, my dear. Too old to be partaking in these jousts,” Orvalor said he stroked her long dark hair. “But your uncle Vikal is going to partake.”

The two knights collided, and a horse cried out. The Delva knight had missed with his lance and caught the Genrose horse in the neck rather than its rider. Many of the onlookers, including Eric, gasped and got to their feet. The horse had fallen but fortunately was still alive. The lance had not gone in deep enough to kill thanks to the armor around the it neck, but Eric could still smell the blood.

Sir Malcom frantically got up.

“Oh no! Please, I need a sorcerer! My horse could bleed out! Someone help!”

“Hold on! I’ll heal it!” Lorala said, getting to her feet and rushing out while holding up the rim of her dress.

Eric’s teeth clenched as he could still smell the blood from the horses wound. His mind was on fire as Clauwing stirred.

Prey! Prey! The inner opinicus said.

Eric groaned as he felt the pain in his head. Clauwing’s influence spreading through his body.

“Arrgh! Panarus!” Eric yelled putting his hands on his head.

Chosan heard Eric swear and looked at him.

“Eric, what’s wrong?”

Eric tried to tell him, but his tongue and mouth were no longer under his control. His lips curled back into a snarl. He then felt his legs begin to move with meaningful steps as he began to descend from the stands toward the wounded horse.

“Eric, what are you doing?” He heard Myra’s voice.

“Oh dear!” Orvalor followed up.

Stop me! Stop me! Eric wanted to scream.

Time to hunt! Time to hunt! Clauwing said in Eric’s head as he continued toward the horse.

Then suddenly everything went black. Eric couldn’t see… just like before. He felt a moment of relief, guessing it was Orvalor using a blinding spell on him like before.

Can’t see! Can’t see! Clauwing said.

Eric felt himself looking around. Heard snarling sounds. If he’d been in control of his hand, he probably would have put his hands to his head in embarrassment. Armored footsteps pounded against the wooden base of the stands and came close. A hand touched Eric’s shoulder, and suddenly the beast’s control over him receded. His sight returned and he saw Orvalor behind him.

Eric sighed. “Thanks, that’s twice I owe you for stopping that beast.”

He looked around the crowd. The spectators were seemingly too occupied with the wounded horse. No one apart from the people in the Yagaro family stand were looking at him. Eric made his way back up the stands and next to Chosan.

“Close call,” his uncle said. “We certainly wouldn’t want to make a scene here.”

Eric nodded. He watched Lorala finish healing the horse’s neck. Soon the animal was back on its feet, though the blood remained on the ground.

Sir Malcom Delva, though disappointed at losing, left in relief that his stead was no longer in danger, he stroked it as he led it away. However, young Sir August approached him as he was leaving.

“I’m very sorry Sir Malcom, I didn’t mean to do that!”

“It’s alright son, don’t be too hard on yourself now. These things happen,” Malcom told the younger knight. “You won fair and square, now do your House proud by winning the rest of the tournament!”

“Yes sir!”

Eric smiled at the show of sportsmanship. They then moved onto the rest of the Tournament.

Another pair of knights came forward as August left the main arena for the moment. They trotted around the grounds, waving to the spectators. Eric saw one bore the Yagaro symbol. That had to be Orvalor’s son Vikal. The other had a circular shield with what looked like a gold coin bearing the letter G on it.

“That knight serves the Greddys,” Eric noted aloud.

“Aye,” Chosan said. “He is actually the heir of the House. Sir Rick Greddy, his father Lord Richan Greddy is there.”

He pointed to the stands across from them. Eric saw a flag with the same coin symbol on it. A pair of knights guarded their Lord and his family. A woman that must have been his wife, and four other children, a girl around Eric’s age, and three younger ones all the same age. Triplets.

“I imagine you’ll be meeting them soon enough,” Chosan said.

Soon the next pair of mounted combatants took their places and charged. For the briefest moment Eric saw their arms glow with sorcery glow. Both knights dashed past one another as they blocked each other’s strike on their shields. They went to the other end and turned back around before exchanging another go.

The Greddy Knight failed to block this time. He was knocked from his horse, rolling into the dirt. With that, Vikal won.

“That’s my boy!” Orvalor shouted as the crowd cheered and clapped. “For the Presteegs and Yagaros!”

The young Soron Knight from the Greddys stomped the ground and angrily made his way off the field.

“Must be his first defeat. Well, he’s likely to have plenty more. Defeat is part of a warrior’s life. No matter how good a fighter one may be, there is always be someone better,” Orvalor said.

“My father was strong, wasn’t he?” Eric asked Chosan.

“Aye, Derair was a mighty good warrior,” Chosan said. “But he never partook in jousting competitions. He was always looking with his sight sorcery for some village in trouble and would fly off on his Pegasus as soon as he found one.”

The next pair of knights entered the field. Vikal left as his match was over.

“Oh, how I miss the days when my body was young and strong. I miss being able to test myself against other skilled warriors,” Orvalor whispered as one knight defeated the other.

“You are lucky to still be alive and with all your limbs old friend,” Gilber the steward said. “Many boys don’t live to be past thirty in this world of war.”

“Luck had nothing to do with it. My skill is the reason I’m still alive. You of course remain here where there is far less danger,” Orvalor pointed out.

“Indeed, being a steward is a safer station than that of a knight or any other warrior. It is more peaceful, but not without sadness. I’ve seen many faces leave this castle and never come back again,” Gilber said sadly.

They watched knight after knight fall off their horse. Fortunately, there weren’t any injuries like in the first bout. The last knight standing was someone from a family Eric had only heard ill of, House Dominas. Like the Volks, whom the Dominas’s were vassals to, their main Patron was the Conqueor, their crest a heavy boot standing on a shield guarding a screaming woman. Eric remembered their motto was Men Be Dominant. They prided themselves on the idea men were superior.

“Well Margery wouldn’t be pleased to see them win,” Chosan told Eric. “They always had a problem with her being a Maiden of Mayhem. Attacked her once and started a vile rumor after she married Derair.”

Eric frowned at that, and watched with disdain as the Dominas knight took the winner bag of gold.

With the tournament done, a feast took place in the party grounds of the garden. On the stone dance floor, five girls in bright flowing dresses put on a show. Eric sat down with Chosan at the table placed in the middle of the yard. He expected Orvalor’s family would be seated with them, but the head knight went to another table instead with his sons, half-brother, and nephew. while Lorala lead Myra away for something. Soon enough, they were joined by Richan Greddy and his wife and eldest daughter. Sir Rick Greddy and the young triplets were nowhere to be found.

Then came the introductions.

“Eric, this is Richan Greddy. He’s one of our fellow Lords of Sortar and a member of the Sorcerer Council. Lady Juliana, and their daughter Ritara,” Chosan said.

“Good to meet you,” Eric said.

“Likewise,” Richan shook Eric’s hand. “Tis a shame about your mother. In more ways than one. If you ask me, she shouldn’t have been labeled a traitor. True she may have caused hundreds of people to die someday by staying alive, but those will likely be mere peasants or common soldiers. One noble is worth a thousand commoners in my book. She didn’t deserve to be remembered so badly.”

“Umm…thank you,” Eric said in very slight gratitude, though he found some of Richan’s words disturbing.

He looked at Ritara. The girl wore a great deal of jewelry, rings for both her ears and fingers, and a necklace around her neck. Her lips were painted bright red and her hair bright blonde.

“A pleasure to finally meet the heir to the Yagaro family after all these years,” she said extending her hand rather close to his face. “It must be such a relief for you to finally be living in a castle rather than… wherever you were living before.”

Eric took her hand and shook it. “It was a cave. I did want to come here for a long time, but it wasn’t all bad.”

She laughed. “Did your mother not teach you to kiss a lady’s hand when she offers?”

“Oh, um no.” Eric said.

“Well, who could blame her, a mother wouldn’t really want her son to kiss someone else now would they?” Juliana stated as she took a seat. “I feel jealous whenever I see your brother kiss that betrothed of his, Ritara.”

Eric frowned again for a second. His mother had actually looked forward to him getting married, though he didn’t correct Lady Juliana. The Greddys took their seats with the Yagaros then the food arrived.

Eric’s mouth watered as a platter of roast beast was placed on the table. Beef was known as the tastiest of all meats from what he’d heard. The closest thing Eric had to it back on Dragoran was buffalo meat. If it was anything like that though, it was bound to be good. Eric took a large slice of the tasty meat onto his plate. He licked his lips, ready to cut it up and put it in his mouth. Then he remembered his brief lack of manners yesterday. He set the silverware down, waiting till Chosan said it was alright to proceed. His uncle nodded then Eric began cutting his meat.

They ate and watched the performers girls.

“Why aren’t there any boys performing?” Eric asked after a while.

“Taro Volk outlawed it for men years ago,” Chosan said sadly. “He’s been forcing every peasant man or lad older than ten to do something that contributes to the war efforts. As soon as a boy becomes ten, they have to be trained in combat. Taro has taken many into his personal recruits. A pity really, they may become strong, but they’ll know nothing else but battle.”

“Why not woman?” Eric wondered. “Why aren’t they being recruited?”

Ritara laughed. “Could you imagine me learning to wield a sword? A heavy thing like that!” she pointed to the sword at the hip of the guard nearest her. “I’d have difficulty lifting it!”

“Maybe at first,” Eric said. “But you could develop the strength to do so. My mother was able to use a sword, a big one too.”

“Your mother was a strong woman,” Richan acknowledge. “Perhaps too strong for her own good. She would have sacrificed herself without hesitation if not for Chosan’s intervention.”

Chosan sighed. “Maybe I was weak. It’s my fault she didn’t do what needed to be done. Now she’s going to be remembered as a traitor forever.”

“People will call her that,” Richan agreed. “But don’t let the opinions of commoners bother you. They are not as important as we nobles. I think you did the right thing. You need to take care of your family first, help the lesser people where you can but always keep your own importance in mind.”

Eric turned his gaze to the performers. The five girls moved gracefully, twirling threads of magical rope around. They then directed their hands to the ground, magical arms shooting down and pushing them upward like stilts, and they backflipped. Upon landing, the girls blew kisses in various directions. The middle girl, one with orange hair and matching, looked directly at Eric as she blew a kiss. Eric chuckled sheepishly as he looked into her golden eyes.

Ritara glared at him. “Don’t let their movements and outfits fool you. They’re all poor girls that have to show off in order to put food on their table.”

“So, tell me Eric. Where did you spend your days hiding?” Richan asked.

“Hiding?” Eric repeated in an insulted tone. “I was not hiding!”

“Oh of course not. Your mother was merely keeping you and herself in a place safe from prying eyes. Well, where was it?’

“Dragoran,” Eric told him.

“The island of dragons?” Richan said in surprise. “Hmm, no wonder no one could find you. Even the bravest Soron Knights are reluctant to go there. I haven’t heard of a hunt there in years!”

There was silence for a while. Eric popped some grapes into his mouth, he would have moaned in delight as he squished the delicious fruit with his teeth, but his joy was still on the low side.

Soon though, a familiar blonde knight approached him.

“Lord Eric,” Sir August said with a bow. “Good to finally meet you.”

“You fought well today, Sir,” Eric said doing his best to address the knight properly.

“Thank you. It was my first time in Tourney. I only became a knight a couple months ago, so I have much to learn,” August said. “Well, I thought I would at least introduce myself to you, my Lord. If you ever need my services, you and your uncle have but to ask. I will not turn my back on your family even if some of you made mistakes. You are our hope, and you must be protected.”

“Thank you, we will keep that in mind Sir August,” Chosan said.

The Apple Knight returned to his table. As people began to finish the meal portion, they moved onto the dance floor as the performing girls bowed and left to make room.

Noticing this, Ritara asked, “Have you ever danced before?”

Eric shook his head.

She offered her hand. “Why don’t I show you?”

Slowly, Eric took it. They got up and tried to dance, but it didn’t go well with him stepping on her feet several times.

“Ouch!” she said the third time he did this. “Why don’t you find another girl until you learn better. Hmph!”

She walked off with her nose in the air.

“Hey wait!” Eric called to no avail. He watched her walk away for a few steps then sighed.

“Don’t worry about her,” a voice said.

Eric turned and saw Myra. The young girl had changed into a frillier blue dress, she still wore her silver flower hair ornament. Eric managed a smile at her.

“Well, don’t you look beautiful!” he said.

She blushed and fidgeted with her dress. “Thank you. I… I could teach you how to dance if you want.”

Eric shrugged. “Sure, why not?”

Myra grinned and took his hands in her own.

“First, you need to try and match your partner’s pace. Don’t be too fast.”

They moved from side to side, Eric kept his eyes down to make sure he didn’t step on her feet.

“Now lift me!” she said.

That was easy. He bent down and hoisted her up by the waist. She weighed nothing. As he set her back down, she leaned in close. For a moment Eric thought she might kiss him!

To his relief, though, it wasn’t a kiss. Just a whisper. “I heard you say you thought woman could be just as strong as men.”

Eric nodded. “My mother was a great warrior. Taught me everything I know.”

“Would you teach me?” she asked.

Eric hesitated. “I don’t know. I still have much to learn.”

“Please! Please! Please!” Myra begged. “No one else will! I’ve asked my grandfather, father, and they all say that girls and women are supposed to stay away from swords.”

Eric couldn’t refuse the girl as she looked him in the eyes.

“Oh, alright. But we’ll have to do it secretly.”

“Yes!” she beamed and hugged him. “Thank you, thank you, thank you!”

They resumed dancing, as they did so, Eric noticed the knight that had won the Tourney, the Dominas knight, watching them. Eric could not see his expression, but it gave a chilling sensation.

The party soon ended. Chosan thanked the attendees and performers for coming then bid them all goodnight.

“We’d best get some sleep Eric. Tomorrow we’ll be going to get you things for school and anything else you’d like that you can think of,” Chosan said.

“Right.” Eric walked up the stairs of his tower to go to bed.