The Third Red 1: The Enemy Within

Chapter Seven The Queen’s CourThe soft bed was Eric’s only comfort. He stayed in it most of the day, leaving only for meals or use the bathroom as he reflected on the tragedy over and over. At times he sobbed. At one point, Rubara came and checked on him. When night came, Eric lay awake, his room illuminated by a candle on his bedside table. This was the first time he’d ever slept by himself in any place. He’d always had Rubara or his mother nearby in the cave. It felt strange, but he could-

“I think it’s great!” a voice suddenly said. “We’re finally out of our grandmother’s nest and have our own!” Clauwing shouted. “It’s a nice soft nest too.”

“It’s called a bed not a nest birdbrain,” Eric said.

“Whatever!” Clauwing chirped. “Now that we’re here in Sortar we can go hunting like you promised.”

Eric hesitated. He had promised Clauwing that they would go hunting sometime after they got to

“Alright, but I don’t know when that will be,” Eric told him. “I-we just lost mother after all!”

Clauwing snorted. “Who cares about that? We should have left mother a long time ago I say!”

“Hey!” Eric exclaimed. “Don’t you speak about our mother like that!”

“She’s your mother not mine!” Clauwing stated.

“Oh, shut up!” Eric said.

He slammed his head onto the pillow and went to bed. The anger he felt at his inner opinicus served as a decent distraction from his current predicament a least. Soon he fell asleep.

Bang!

“Ow!” Eric clutched his head as something blunt hit it. He opened his eyes and saw he was on his own two feet, the door to his new room wide open and just a few inches away from him. Had that been what hit him?

“What in Sorceria?” Eric asked.

Captain Orvalor squeezed through the doorway in his armor.

“Oh, I’m sorry Lord Eric! I was just coming to wake you but it seems you’re already up!”

Eric grunted. He hadn’t woken up, until just now. Unless- Clauwing had taken him for another walk!

“That right! I wanted to go outside but I don’t know how to move that wood path blocker!” Clauwing said.

Eric guessed he was referring to the door. Eric himself had never handled a door knob before. He sighed, rubbing his head. At least he hadn’t gone outside and attacked any horses or anything.

“It’s alright Sir Orvalor,” Eric said. “Wasn’t your fault.”

“Good to see you are willing to forgive,” the old knight said.

Eric nodded. He’d forgive that since it had been Clauwing’s fault he wasn’t in bed. But Corgo… no. He’d never forgive that monster. A fire seemed to erupt in Eric’s heart as hatred began to fester and he shook in anger at the thought of the bat.

Orvalor escorted him back down to the Great Hall for breakfast once again. Everyone at the table talked, while Eric remained silent. Eventually Myra, Orvalor’s granddaughter, looked at him.

“Have you seen the castle yet Eric?” she asked.

“That’s Lord Eric young lady!” Lorala said.

“It’s alright. Doesn’t matter,” Eric said before answering Myra. “And yes, I’ve seen it. It’s rather hard to miss.”

“No, I mean have you actually seen every part of it? Like the kitchens, library, barracks, and the other towers?” the girl asked.

“Well, no,” Eric shook his head.

“Then you ought to see it. Can I show Eric around the castle, Papa?” Myra asked.

Vikal looked at Eric. “I suppose. Right after breakfast. But Rikal and Dikal go with you.”

“I don’t need them to come with me!” Myra said.

“We look after you little sister!” Rikal said grinning at her.

“And torment you!” Dikal added with a similar expression.

“Boys!” Vikal warned. “Be nice to your sister.”

“Yes father,” they said.

Myra sighed.

“I think that is a mighty good idea. It will be good to get to know your cousins Eric,” Chosan said.

Myra gobbled up the rest of her breakfast before getting up and grabbing his hand.

“Come on! Come on!” she said pulling him eagerly.

Her mother Lorala shook her head. “Myra, wait until he and your brothers are finished.”

Myra sighed and sat back down. Her brown eyes didn’t leave Eric until he put the last piece of food on his plate into his mouth. She got up again, grinning eagerly. Eric got to his feet slowly, not returning the smile as she took his hand and led him to the door. Her brothers followed them.

“Slow down!” Eric said as she dragged him to the door.

She paid him no mind, stepping outside into the front of the castle where a long stone path led to a lowered drawbridge. On either side of the path lay a long row of soil filled with cabbages and potatoes. That must have been where Margery had gotten the seeds for her garden back on Dragoran. She’d said Soyagone had a lot of crops within its walls, so they could be self-sufficient, use what they needed to feed their soldiers and sell or donate the rest. Across the bridge, Eric saw a small part of the white walls of Sortar which dwarfed Soyagone’s own gray walls. Eric didn’t have the luxury of being able to see as clearly as he would when he’d been on that island with Rubara.

In front of the drawbridge were Yagaro guards. Other soldiers walked the castle grounds, Eric even saw some on top of the wall as well. Their armor varied between leather, chainmail, brigandines, and plate armor. Most of the soldiers carried spears. Swords weren’t as common for soldiers as they were more expensive, though Eric spotted a few swordsmen. All the guards had daggers either on their left hip or behind their back, men at arms carried shields in their hands or on their backs to use with their melee weapon. There were also archers with bows and arrows.

“That’s the drawbridge that leads to Sortar,” Myra said pointing ahead.

She then led him toward the drawbridge where there was a door at either end of the wall beside it, “And in here are the barracks where our soldiers sleep.”

Eric looked at the walls, knowing there were rooms inside.

“How many men do we have?” he asked.

“About five hundred and twenty altogether,” Rikal said. “A hundred and sixty spearmen, a hundred and twenty archers, forty swordsmen and axemen each, a hundred cavalry, twenty hunters. They all live in the barracks, then the knights and sorcerers live the beach houses. We have twenty of each of them as well.”

If not for the empty feeling in his chest, Eric would have gone, “Whoa.” He simply nodded in understanding.

Myra led him and the bear boys inside. The barracks were rather simple. A long row of around twenty beds on each floor with a long table in the middle for the soldiers to eat. After viewing the barracks, the Presteeg siblings led Eric back over to the stables that he’d passed yesterday.

“We have over a hundred horses,” Dikal told him. “And some other animals as well like dogs and ones the beast sorcerers like us own.”

“Hey! I’ll handle the information here, Dikal!” Rikal said.

“No, I will!”

“I will!”

Amidst the twin’s fighting, they proceeded. Stables were on the north, east and south. Each wall had an opening in the middle leading to another area of the castle, and some more crop areas in the middle containing food. Eric had already been to the small island where Rubara and the Nature Shrine was. The west side of the island held the tourney grounds.

“We hold our tournaments here for times of celebration,” Rikal said. “Knights from Sortar come to compete and throw each other off their horses, one day that will be me!”

“And me!” Dikal said.

“I’m going to get a Soron Knighthood first!” Rikal objected.

“I’m the better skilled of us!” Dikal said.

“Says who? I’ve beaten you more!”

“I’m gonna be a better knight then either of you someday!” Myra said.

The bear boys looked at their sister and scoffed. They suddenly turned on her! Rikal took hold of her arms while Dikal grabbed her feet, they lifted her up and swung her between them.

“Hey! Rikal, Dikal stop!” Myra said, trying to break free.

“You think you’re gonna be a knight huh, little sister? Well let me tell you, you’re not!” Rikal said.

“Yeah, your role is to look pretty, get married, have children, and take care of them. The only thing you’ll ever do in combat is provide extra shielding with your sorcery, or heal.”

Letting go of her, they allowed her to fall on her back into the soft dirt which formed a small cloud as she hit it with a grunt. She pulled herself up and looked over herself. Her dress was now filthy.

“My dress! Look what you’ve done!” she yelled. “I just got this!”

Her brothers smirked and chuckled. Seeing this seemed to make Myra cry, she sniffled and looked away. Seeing this caused Eric to forget about his own pain for a moment.

“Here,” he said reaching out a hand to help her up.

She took it and he pulled her to her feet, casting a frown at the bear boys as he did so. A big brother shouldn’t laugh at their sister’s misfortune. Eric wasn’t exactly experienced with siblings, but he knew that. The brothers lead them back into the Great Hall where they left Myra with their father.

Vikal frowned at his son’s. “I told you to be nice to your sister. Both of you go to your rooms!”

“Father she was saying she was gonna be a knight that’s better then us!” Rikal said.

“Doesn’t matter! You can’t do that!” Vikal said.

“Husband, she needs to learn her place!” Lorala said.

“Quiet woman!” Vikal snapped at his wife. “While it maybe true she needs to do accept her role, using aggressive methods is not something I can approve of. Boys… to your room! Myra don’t fret, a simple wash should clean the dress.”

Myra calmed down as her brothers left. She went to change her dress while Vikal took over showing Eric the rest of Soyagone’s outside.

South of the tourney grounds were the gardens that doubled as a party area. Fruit trees, a collection of herbs and other plants used to make potions grew here. It also had tables for social gatherings, and a dance floor. That concluded the interior of Soyagone, now all that was left was the south beach outside.

Twenty or so well sized houses lay on the beach for the Yagaro knights and sorcerers. Docked there were some ships and small boats for fishing. Vikal Eric back up the steps to the inner wall and passed through it. The last thing Eric was shown of the outside were the Lord’s personal stables on the south end. That concluded the outside of Soyagone, now came the inside. It was sure a lot to remember!

The four sides of the castle each had three floors divided into three sections. The Great Hall was part of Soyagone’s East Wing. It was on the ground floor along with the Kitchen and Storage room. The first floor above held a Sewing, Crafting Room, and Potions lab, the second served as quarters for the servants (which was lucky for them, since most servants were housed in straw houses outside the main castle rather than in the castle itself). The North and South Wings were both hallways that served as galleries to past Lords of Soyagone. Paintings and tapestries of Eric’s ancestors filled the walls.

Lastly, came the West (or Lord’s Wing) where Eric and Chosan’s towers were both located. It provided sleeping space for any of their kin at the top on the second floor. Most of the Presteegs made their home there. Vikal, Lorala, and Omulus on one side. Orvalor, meanwhile, had the Head Captain’s Tower on the East side above the servants. That left Myra, Omaron, and the bear boys at the northern end of the rooms on the opposite side. Between them was the banner room where the Yagaro’s kept their flags and decorations. Below that was the Lord’s Armory, which housed a number of weapons and armor, and the Soron Seclu where they sheltered their enchanted items. There were also a second floor to the library, with the bottom floor below it on the ground floor. Only two rooms left, the bathhouse, and forge.

Eric sighed in relief when they were. “Phew there’s a lot of places around here.”

Vikal, instead of answering, merely nodded his head.

“I think I need a break,” Eric said feeling ready to collapse.

That was where Chosan found them, Orvalor, Omulus, and Lilar were with him.

“Break eh Eric? I like to lounge about myself. But I’m afraid we have trouble,” Chosan said.

“Trouble?” Eric exclaimed then asked with a hint of anger. “Is Corgo on his way here?”

“What? No! No!” Chosan waved his hands. “A messenger came by. Queen Razana has summoning us.”

Eric frowned. “How is that trouble? I thought you meant danger when you said trouble!”

“Oh, I call anything that requires effort and work trouble,” Chosan said. “Well, come on. Let’s go.”

He led Eric to the south stables where they kept their person mounts. Two saddled horses waited at the front. Chosan climbed on the first one, a black stallion. The other was white with a golden mane. Eric widened his eyes.

“Hey that’s the horse I tried to attack yesterday when Clauwing possessed me!” Eric said point.

“Aye, she got put in the other stables by mistake a couple days ago,” Chosan said.

“Don’t flatter yourself Chosan, you just didn’t want to lead her to the Lord’s stables at that time,” Omulus said.

Eric frowned. That wasn’t very respectful. A comment like that could be qualifications for punishment.

Lilar snarled, Eric was able to see him baring his teeth at the non-sorcerer knight. “How many times do I have to tell you to respect Lord Chosan, Omulus?”

“I call it as I see it,” Omulus said. “He’s not going to do anything.”

“Aye, he’s right. I was lazy,” Chosan admitted, not seeming to get angry with Omulus. He then looked at Eric. “You probably haven’t met Lilar like the others, he’s been…”

“Your guard since you were young,” Eric finished with a nod. “I’ve heard.”

“You certainly are mighty well informed,” Chosan remarked.

“If its alright Lord Chosan, I would like to have permission to switch positions as Eric’s bodyguard now,” Omulus said. “He needs one as I recall.”

Eric looked at the non-sorcerer knight in surprise.

“That is up to Eric,” Chosan said.

Eric turned to Omulus. “Um… thank you for the offer. I don’t know right now, but you can ride by me if you wish. Once I get on.”

He now looked at the horse.

“Hello,” Eric said to the mare.

“You’re the human that tried to kill me!” she said.

“Sorry about that. It was my inner beast,” Eric said as he reached out and scratched the creature’s neck.

The horse smelled him. “You smell like a bird and a cat.”

Eric didn’t reply, merely climbing onto the horses back.

“Her name is Snowshine, Eric. She’ll be your stead for the time being,” Chosan said. “Perhaps we will get you an opinicus soon.”

“I already have an opinicus in here,” Eric replied tapping his head.

“I mean a physical opinicus… not one in your head. You know Beast Sorcerers are stronger with a physical companion, right?

“Oh, right.” Eric replied.

“Well, let us be off.” Chosan told him.

Chosan led, his horse’s feet made clomping sounds with each step, Lilar walked by his side, axe at ready.

Eric looked at Snowshine. “Well follow them girl.”

But she did nothing.

“Give her a kick!” Omulus told him.

“Kick?” Eric repeated. “I’d rather not be cruel to her, especially after yesterday.”

“Oh, don’t worry Lord Eric. You didn’t hurt her then you won’t hurt her now!” Omulus said. “You don’t have to kick hard, just a little nudge with your foot. Like this.”

The knight tapped his armored foot against his horse’s side. Eric did the same to Snowshine, trying to be gentle. The white horse began to walk forward. Chosan lead in the front with Lilar walking beside him, Orvalor behind them, Omulus and Eric in the middle, and Vikal behind them. They walked around Soyagone toward the front gate and over the lowered drawbridge to the east. Eric now saw the massive walls of Sortar up close, the sun peering over them along with several large golden towers that he guessed belonged to the palace.

He was right. They entered the city and Eric got a good look at the palace. Shaped circular and painted gold, with large pointed triangular towers reaching high into the sky, and stain glass windows designed to look like gemstones. The entire structure resembled a giant crown.

As they approached the door, a group of red clad Soron Knights approached.

“Welcome, Lord Chosan. We’ll be happy to take your horses for you.”

Chosan dismounted and lead the way into the palace. Eric followed along with Orvalor and the others. They crossed a hall to an immense staircase and climbed until they reached the throne room. The queen sat at the back on her throne next to another empty one that was no doubt meant for the king. But the king was long dead from what Eric understood, since before his father Derair had been born. The Queen was old, with wrinkled skin, still, she had a certain beauty. Her hair was white as snow and formed into two long braids kept in place by several ornaments going down either shoulder. Her gown was a mixture of white, purple, and gold fabric laden with gemstones. Razana had a strong gaze, her violet eyes sent a chill into him as they met his blue ones. Resting on her head, Eric saw the gold crown of Sortar.

The queen spoke in a strong voice.

“Lord Chosan. The day has come for your fate to be decided.”

Chosan stepped forward. Razana kept her eyes on Eric.

“Are you Eric Yagaro?” she asked, beckoning him with a wave of her fingers.

Eric stepped forward and bowed. “Yes, your highness.”

“Show me your sorcery.”

Eric hesitated, surprised by the request, but raised a hand and produced a glowing red ball. This caused several in the crowd to gasp as they had likely never seen anyone with red sorcery before.

Queen Razana’s eyes softened as she looked around. “It is good to see you have returned. But I do not see your mother, Lady Margery.”

Eric grimaced at the mention of his mother’s name, while Chosan said, “My wed-sister gave her life to save mine while we escaped from Corgo.”

“Escaped?” a voice repeated. The speaker was an enormous bald man with scars covering his face. Like the Yagaro’s he’d brought a group of knights for protection. Their shields showed two daggers forming the letter V above a steel boot. Eric recognized this symbol as House Volk’s.

“So, Corgo is still alive, is he?” the bald man asked.

“Yes, Taro. I’m afraid so,” Chosan admitted.

Many gasps and mutters filled the room.

“Then your gamble has failed!” Taro Volk shouted, his face twisting in rage. “You allowed Corgo to escape. If you’d let Margery end her life while he was trapped inside her, she could have taken him down with her! Seize him!”

Two Volk knights stepped toward Chosan, only to have Lilar step forward, his battleaxe raised to protect his Lord. Orvalor pointed his spear out while Vikal and Omulus drew their mace and sword respectively. In response to the suddenly hostile confrontation, the Volk knights readied themselves as well. The sound of unsheathing swords filled the throne room. The Yagaro and Volk knights faced each other.

“Step aside!” Taro said to the Yagaro knights and soldier. “This man committed treason, hampered the war effort and endangered the kingdom! He must feel the pain he has caused by doing all this!”

Eric knew what Taro meant. Dismemberment. That was the way everyone captured by the Demorians was punished. Being captured by the enemy meant they would be forced to serve them, bewitched into fighting for their side, killing the people they once considered allies or even friends. A fate worse than death.

“No!” Orvalor said. “Do you forget that treason by survival means being captured by the Demorians? The law says nothing of having demons trapped within you.”

“I will not let you harm Lord Chosan, I’ll die first!” Lilar said in a voice full of conviction that could leave no doubt he meant it.

Taro didn’t back down. “The code says that you must take your own life rather than serve evil! She may not have been captured by those monster lovers, but she was a threat to the kingdom all the same and needed to be eliminated! Now we’ve lost that chance because of him and defeating our enemy will be much more difficult!” Taro pointed at Chosan.

Around them rang a series of agreeing shouts from the other attendants. Fingers pointed at Chosan.

“Slice a dishonor mark on his head!”

“Starve him!”

“Cut him to pieces!”

“Enough!” Queen Razana shouted.

Her voice so strong it rose above the mob. Her body glowed with all five common sorcery colors as she sat on her throne, Eric felt a wave of energy push against him with great force as though he were in a heavy storm. Everyone in the throne room fell silent.

Taro Volk turned to face his queen with a look of fear. “Y-your highness you-you said Chosan would be executed if his plan backfired.”

“Yes, I did Lord Taro,” Queen Razana said. “I swore that I would have him beheaded if Corgo took our only hope. But he didn’t. Chosan has brought that hope back.”

Taro looked at Eric.

“Corgo may still be alive, but he did not get your nephew, Lord Chosan. For that I will spare your life,” Razana said.

Chosan let out a sigh of relief and bowed. “Thank you, your highness.”

Queen Razana smiled for a moment, then the smile vanished, her strong gaze returning. “But while you may have preserved our hope, you denied us a chance to be rid of our greatest threat. Now that Corgo has returned, he will surely kill hundreds of our people. Had Lady Margery taken her life that would have prevented a greater loss.”

“Yes!” Taro agreed. “If Corgo were gone we would have an easier time wiping out the Demorians!”

Eric’s hostile glare deepened to hatred as he looked at Taro.

“My mother’s dead!” he screamed in rage and grief. “She fought against that great threat and died with glory!”

“Glory?” Taro repeated. “What glory? She fought a lost battle and nearly handed us to the Demorians on a silver platter! She wanted to have her name remembered, did she? Well, she can have her wish! She’ll be remembered as a traitor! As will you, Chosan.”

Eric’s mouth fell open and he felt a mixture of dread and rage at this.

“You can’t do this!” he shouted.

Taro frowned at him. “Of course, I can! I am head of the military branch and have direct access to the Traitors Tome! Margery committed treason by not taking her own life and your uncle did so by persuading her to run.”

Chosan stood silent for a few seconds than pleaded, “Please leave Margery out of it, Taro! She would have done it. This is my fault, any blood Corgo spills is on my hands. But she died taking the blow which would have prevented Eric from returning here. Queen Razana, please! She is the real reason we still have hope. Spare her.”

The Queen stroked her chin for a moment then shook her head. “She also risked us in the first place. I agree with Lord Taro. You will live. But you and Margery shall both be remembered as traitors. Be thankful we are not giving you the punishment of other traitors.”

Chosan’s head fell.

“This is not fair!” Eric cried.

“Nothing is fair in war, boy.” Taro said. “Now, we must prepare you for your destiny.”

He approached Eric, his heavy boots pounding against the floor.

“I hereby draft you into my personal recruits, Eric Yagaro. You will train under my eye and reach your full potential. You shall become strong enough to crush any enemy, such is the way of the Conqueror.”

Eric’s teeth clenched in surprise and disgust. He would train with this man who’d just labeled his mother as a traitor?

“You cannot do that,” Chosan said.

Taro huffed. “You dare? As head of the Military Branch on the Sorcerer Council I can take whomever I wish to train! I turn even the smallest of boys into the fiercest warriors in this kingdom. This is what needs to be done with him!”

“You cannot draft him,” Chosan stated, reaching into his pocket. “Because I’ve already enrolled him in Castle Scholar!”

He drew a scroll.

“What?” Rage lit up in Taro’s face again. “How dare you? You would have him wasting his time reading books?”

“I would have him go to a place where he can be happy. I will not have him live a life like Derair! I will have him smile… when he can,” Chosan said. “He needs to heal first.”

Taro formed a fist. “You weak, selfish… you are still putting one person above the kingdom just like you did with your wed-sister. Queen Razana! Override this!”

The Queen sat on her throne, looking from Taro to Chosan.

“Your highness, the boy must learn at my feet! It’s the best choice for the kingdom!” Taro said.

Chosan held up the scroll. “By law he cannot be drafted. Will you break your own laws, my Queen?”

“I would do anything for the good of my people,” Razana said. “But I will do so in good faith with the laws. You are right Lord Taro, the boy needs to be trained. But you cannot draft him while he is enrolled. Tell me Lord Chosan, have you enrolled him in combat classes?”

“Of course!” Chosan replied. “Casting and dueling.”

“Good, I will expect reports from both teachers of those classes on his progress,” the Queen said.

“But they shan’t make him as strong as I can!” Taro objected.

“I’m sure that he will train at home as well. Won’t he Lord Chosan?” Razana asked.

“Yes. My head knight and resident sorcerer will oversee his training.” Chosan promised.

“Very well, you may leave,” Razana said.

Chosan turned and walked out of the hall, with Eric and his bodyguards following. Eric cast a look over his shoulder and saw Taro watching him in dismay. The man looked as though he’d been stolen from. This would not be the end of it.