Chapter 9

Drip...Drip....Drip.

Water was dripping from the ceiling into cell where Ky sat leaned against the cold wall appearing worn down. He was covered in bruises and had a bowl of water beside him.

In his hand was a rag he had used to wipe the blood of his wounds. It had been a week since he had been placed inside the cell.

He spent most of the time wondering what Thana had meant about a deity intervening in his death. Why would a god do that and why was she so interested in him?

It was amongst the many things flooding his mind. It wasn't long before he heard footsteps and someone yelling. Unfortunately, he didn't care so his eyes remained focused on the floor.

He could now hear the guards laughing, while speaking in the Astrari language and the voice of a foreign woman. They tossed her in the cell across from him and locked her inside after placing the binding rune on her shackles.

Once they left, she continued yelling and cursing at them until the door closed to the dungeon. After a while she finally grew silent.

"Bloody fools are going to get killed." The woman said out loud causing Ky to finally look at her. It was Amara who had been interrogated for the last few days.

She had warned the queen to not send her knights, but she did so anyway. The result of which they hadn't returned since.

"You're a Vesper...why are you here?" Ky choked out causing Amara to seem surprised. She crawled over to the door of her cell.

"I'm a prisoner, what else would I be doing here?" Amara questioned rudely as Ky remained silent. He shifted his body as folded his arms and looked away.

"Never seen a Vesper in this part of the world." Ky shrugged as he shifted his body uncomfortably.

"Everyone hates Vespers, and it infuriates me. The Espers depict us as violent people when we're not all like that." Amara said angrily as Ky glanced over at her.

"Why do you think I'd care about that?" Ky said coldly causing Amara to frown.

"can see it in your eyes that you're looking at me with disdain, despite the fact you're sitting in a cell across from me." Amara said, sounding frustrated. Ky grinned as scoffed at her statement and leaned forward.

"Aren't you judging me now? You don't even know me, yet you assume that I'd care what you are or what your people have done. Besides, this is the first I've ever met a Vesper before." Ky said with a serious gaze that stared deep into Amara. It frightened her and stunned her.

She wasn't sure what to say as she slowly lowered her head. "What's your name?" Amara asked as she slowly looked up to see Ky was now laying down facing away from her. She frowned sadly as she turned away as well.

"Kyrenic Virkas... Some people call me Ky, some even call me a peasant boy or scum of Eshelon. Pick whatever you'd like, it doesn't matter to me." Ky said without looking over at Amara. He stared at the bowl of water silently.

"I'm Amara Beldros. Between you and me I'm also known as the shadow thief." Amara replied as she stared at the wall. She heard Ky do a brief chuckle before going silent. "Why are you way down here, Kyrenic?" Amara asked curiously, hoping to get an answer.

"I'm a careless fool, and a thief that's why." Ky replied and quickly became silent. After a while the door to the dungeon opened and footsteps could be heard. Ky didn't turn to see who it was, but he could tell it was one person.

A few seconds went by before the footsteps stopped. He could tell someone was standing outside his cell looking at him, but he didn't feel like looking.

"I forgot to inform you that you won't be getting executed. Unfortunately, you're paying for the things you stole a few days ago." The person said, causing Ky to frown. He realized it was princess Syndra who had been frequently visiting him since he was put in this place.

"I didn't steal anything." Ky replied as he heard Syndra sigh.

"You're the only person in the kingdom of Astria that knows ice magic. No other Astren has ever performed that kind of magic." Syndra said, sounding slightly irritated.

"The outer region of Astria is filled with dying children. The middle region and the inner region have plenty of resources to survive. Me stealing a few things won't change that." Ky responded as he sat up but still remained facing the wall. One thing he hated was that support was never sent to the outer land of Astria.

They always had to fend for themselves. He also despised the jobs peasants were given and how little they paid.

"Forgive me for I've never been that far out of Astria." Syndra said, sounding slightly ashamed causing Ky to slightly laugh.

"Makes me wonder who the real prisoner is between us." Ky said coldly as he heard Syndra gasp.

"A few days in here really broke you, didn't it?" Syndra asked as Ky slightly turned his head but looked away.

"You hardly have ever spoken to me so what do you want?" Ky asked abruptly which surprised Syndra but put a smile on her face.

"You've always been a good thief since you always managed to sneak into places and to escape. It's only been recently that you've been so careless. If you can go back to your old habits, I could use you." Syndra said which prodded Ky to turn around to face her appearing curious.

"What are you scheming?" Ky asked with a suspicious look on his face. Syndra stuck her hand in between her bosom and slowly pulled out a key. It was the master key that unlocked the cell doors.

"I can't allow mother to foolishly sacrifice more of our knights when we don't even know what we're truly up against." Syndra said as she began to insert the key into the lock of Ky's cell door. Ky was surprised and weary to trust her.

"What makes you think I wouldn't just run away once you let me out?" Ky asked with a serious look on his face. Syndra leaned close to the cell door with a mischievous smile on her face.

"I'm certain you'd want to see Saria again and get to the truth of why Vesryn tried to have you killed." Syndra said, causing Ky to look surprised.

He lunged forward toward her but fell back because of the chains that bound him. It was clear that she knew something about what happened.

"You gave him the idea, didn't you?" Ky asked frustratedly as Syndra shrugged. Slowly, she opened the door to Ky's cell which surprised him. He'd expected her to change her mind about letting him out.

"I didn't tell him to kill you, but I told him there was a way he could get rid of you. I told him to give you an anonymous letter that told you the truth." Syndra said with a disgusted look on her face.

Ky was surprised by her statement, but he was still untrusting of her. There was another motive for conspiring to get rid of him.

"A way to get rid of me? What threat am I to anyone here? What truth are you talking about?" Ky asked angrily, causing Syndra to stare at him silently. She rolled her eyes as she knelt before him.

"I'm well aware that people see me as the cruel and conniving sister. The thing is Saria has kept something very important from you and if you ever found out we feared you'd retaliate." Syndra said as she placed her hands on Ky's chains.

He remained silent as she pulled on the chains causing him to lean closer to her.

"What the hell are you talking about?" Ky asked with a suspicious look on his face. Syndra leaned close to Ky's face and brushed her lips against his pointy ears.

"Our father had your family targeted to cover up his plans of treason." Syndra said, causing Ky's eyes to widen with surprise.

She pulled away from him to see him trembling as he tried to process her statement. "Your mother worked as a servant here in the castle and overheard my father plotting to kill my mother. Apparently, my father didn't like that our people had a matriarchal power system. If something unexpected happened to mother, he could change how our society worked." Syndra spoke, sounding disgusted and ashamed.

"Saria...knew this?" Ky could only ask because he didn't know what else to say. Syndra sighed as she placed her hand on Ky's face.

"She had already started spending time with you and the people of the outer region when she found out. I'm sure she didn't tell you because she didn't want you to push her away." Syndra continued in a reassuring tone. Ky was devastated and didn't know what to believe.

"Do you know where my mother is? As far as I know she was taken while I had to watch my father die." Ky said as Syndra frowned as she slowly shook her head.

"She may well be dead as well." Syndra replied as she lifted Ky's chin so he could look at her. "If I let you out of here your next action determines your future. You can run away, try to kill my family or help your people." Syndra said in a serious tone as Ky looked at her silently.

"What do you want from me?" Ky asked as Syndra bit her lip.

"Oi, don't be a bloody fool!" Amara yelled from across the hall. Ky tilted his head so he could see past Syndra. "She's plotting something and plans to use you." Amara said as Ky looked at her coldly before returning his attention to Syndra.

"What do you want from me, Syndra?" Ky asked again to Syndra who was looking over at Amara.

"A group of demons have settled somewhere near a village called Cruuxford which is outside the country. We sent six of our top royal knights to help Vesryn but they never came back. Apparently, Vesryn was ordered to return so he's alive. I want you to go to this village and see if you our knights are possibly alive and maybe steal the sword if it's there." Syndra said in a serious tone.

Ky sighed unhappily as he looked at his hands which were covered in bandages. "I don't think I'd be able to do much magic if I had to fight." Ky said as Syndra placed her hand on his.

"I'll get some weapons and magic artifacts for you." Syndra said as Ky then leaned over to peek around her. Amara sat silently near her cell door.

"What kind of magic can you do, Amara? Ky asked, causing Amara to look surprised.

"Um... shadow magic and a bit of thief magic, why?" Amara asked suspiciously as Ky grinned mischievously.

"You'll be coming with me." Ky said as his expression quickly became serious. Syndra looked at Ky with a confused look on her face.

"Excuse me? She was with them so she'd only ruin this for you." Syndra said as Ky glared at her with a serious look on her face.

"If she was with their envoy then it makes perfect sense for her to come with me. I'm not going to be foolish a trust someone again, there is a magical artifact that would be useful if you can find it. It's called the binding bow which is a set of rings that bind two people's lives together." Ky said with a serious look on his face.

Syndra looked annoyed and slightly displeased. "I suppose you're smarter than you look." Syndra said with a slightly pleased expression as she stood to her feet. "I'll go find the binding vow rings of yours and be back." Syndra said as she turned away from him and exited the cell.

Ky turned around and laid back down. After he heard Syndra shut the dungeon door he slowly let out a deep sigh.

"What makes you think I'm going to help you, Ky?" Amara said, causing Ky to laugh which made her confused.

"The binding vow will tie our lives together so if I die then so do you, unfortunately. I'm having you come along because I assumed you'd want to get out of here." Ky said without looking over at Amara.

She sat intrigued and slightly annoyed. "Here I thought I was going to have to manipulate you like she was doing." Amara said, sounding disappointed.

"Can't manipulate someone who is aware of your intentions." Ky replied before closing his eyes and growing silent.

*****

Princess Syndra was walking down the hall nervously as she was carrying an inventory pouch. It was a magical tool used to store multiple things such as extra weapons, potions and elixirs.

As she was making her way back to the dungeon hoping to not be seen by anyone she heard yelling around the corner. She slowed down her pace hoping whoever it was wouldn't notice her.

She peered around the corner to see Vesryn talking to Saria who looked extremely upset. "Why won't you leave me alone?" Saria asked angrily as Vesryn had a serious look on his face.

"I was the knight assigned to protect you and I failed. All I wanted to say was that I'm sorry." Vesryn said in a gentle tone that made Saria's expression soften. She sighed unhappily as she looked away from him.

"It doesn't matter any more, I simply want you gone." Saria said, causing Vesryn to seem surprised.

"You have no place to try banishing me!" Vesryn yelled angrily as he stepped closer to Saria.

She was surprised and took a step back feeling threatened. "You have no place to look down on me when you surround yourself with peasants and consider them your equal. Not only that you have the nerve to look down on me when you were lying to that peasant to cover your own arse!" Vesryn yelled as he slammed his hand against the wall beside Saria.

She jumped and began trembling in fear as she looked at him confused. This was the first time he ever truly lost his temper when it came to her. To her this was slightly out of character for him.

Before Vesryn could do anything else he heard footsteps. He turned his head to see Syndra approaching with a serious look on her face and two guards were following her.

"Step away from my sister. Sukiri kamu Vesryn go kar iro!" Syndra said in the Astrari tongue ordering the guards to escort Vesryn from the castle with a serious look on her face. Vesryn scoffed at the guards who approached him.

With a swift movement she drew his dagger and slit the guards throats. Blood splattered across the walls and Saria screamed causing him to look at Syndra angrily.

"You have some nerve showing your face around me acting high and mighty when it was your idea to get rid of Ky!" Vesryn said, pointing a finger at Syndra. She sighed deeply as she raised her hands to acknowledge her guilt.

"I never told you to try and have him killed. I told you to give him a letter. A letter that would inform he was being lied to and needed the truth. Your selfishness and arrogance made you do your own thing." Syndra said as she looked to see her sister Saria staring at her.

Syndra knew her sister would be angry and she felt guilt. Although, she believed it was best for Ky to know the truth. She didn't care about being seen as a villain as long as Saria wasn't lying to someone she cared for.

"The fact you're acting so out of control must be due to not getting your way. You also suffered multiple losses from what I understood in your report of what happened. Vesryn the mighty slayer....unable to slay an enemy." Syndra said as Vesryn roared with anger as he raised his hand.

Magic energy began to form as he was preparing to tear a rift in the space before him. Syndra frowned as she started walking toward him with magic energy flowing around her.

He pointed at her and then moved his arm to the right drawing a line in the air. An invisible force slashed through the space causing damage to the castle but not her.

The spatial distortion phased through causing him to appear surprised. "Now you're trying to murder your princess you swore to protect?" Syndra questioned as she continued approaching him.

"Impossible!" He said as she stood before him. Syndra waved her hand for Saria to go away.

"I've never revealed to anyone what kind of magic I practiced. Which ironically has made many to believe I'm a weak princess. If I was weak then I wouldn't be the heir to the throne." Syndra said as she placed her hand into Vesryn's chest. He was frozen and unable to move.

"I could kill you but that would be cruel. You and many of the other knights here have called me cruel. Would you say if I killed you like this it would be fitting of my character?" Syndra asked in a serious tone as she glared at Vesryn.

He was still frozen as he was gasping for air and unsure of why her hand was in his chest. It wasn't long before they were surrounded by guards on both sides. She pulled her hand away causing him to fall to his knees.

He was breathing heavily as he broke out in a sweat while holding his chest still confused as to what had just happened. Had she done a form of spatial magic? He was unsure because it was a type of spell he had never seen or used before.

The guards grabbed him and hauled him away. Saria was now approaching Syndra. Syndra sighed as she was preparing herself for the worst. Instead Saria embraced her which surprised her.

"Thank you for protecting me. I don't know what he would've done if you hadn't shown up. I've never seen him like that before...he's not the person I once knew I suppose." Saria said as she stepped away from Syndra.

Syndra bit her lip as she pondered on telling her sister that Ky was alive. Would she be happy or feel ashamed was all she could wonder. Inevitably, Syndra decided that she'd asked Ky if he wanted to see her before she sent him on the quest she had in store for him.

"You're my sister and I'll do anything to protect you. That also means I'm willing to be the cruel one if it means keeping you honest." Syndra said as she stepped past Saria.

"He's dead because of me...if I hadn't lied to him he might not have even wanted anything to do with me. Maybe he'd be alive if that was the case." Saria said as she began to shed a tear. It was the first tear that she shed since the day she parted from Ky.

She was now broken and guilt ridden. Syndra groaned with annoyance as she continued walking.

"He's alive." Syndra said without turning around to see the shocked look on her sister's face.

"What?" How do you...

"I just know but give him time because right now he doesn't seem like he wants to see you." Syndra said as she continued walking. Saria started to run after her but stopped.

"Where is he?" Saria asked but Syndra said nothing and kept walking. She knew that it was messed up to tell her sister he's alive and lie about what Ky wanted. At the moment she still believed that this was to protect Saria but she believed it gave her a glint of hope.