When I Order, One Listens

The castle was a vast well filled with labyrinths of corridors and rooms, which more unnerved Arialin than dazzled. For humans – a fortress filled with places as dark as their hearts. For elves – a vicious trap where a true child of the young world couldn’t breathe.

He was curious, though. Trying to look stronger and more confident he felt, he observed the corridors, sometimes passing humans or elvin servants. The first was reacting with hard hidden scorn and maybe even fear. The elvin people though… there was a certain and unusual amalgamate of fear, hate, and hope hidden behind their gaze. Arialin supposed they still placed hopes in Raithea, but for them, he was lost, too bound with human invaders, touched by their darkness.

Even, if as he supposed, Raithea many times was helping enslaved elves, just as he helped him. But his demeanor wasn’t likable or easy. Even him, had a hard time fully trusting him. But he was seeing those cogs in his brain, as they work, fast and efficiently.

For a purpose, which Arialin couldn’t embrace.

Raithea stepped with grace and easiness only a young child could muster. One didn’t see the black hole that was filling him. It was so easy to underestimate him. So easy to make a mistake.

We are in the heart of a bloodthirsty dragon.

Yes, and it breathes fire, Arialin responded to his shadow.

There was no need to soothe her. She knew it as well as him. One tiny tiny little betrayal from Raithea and they are dying a painful death.

When Arialin felt a gust of wind on his face, his muscles twitched. He thought he will never feel the air again as a free person. He was still free. And he wasn’t an elf anymore. He was a human and he realized that if he wants to help Raithea to help himself, he must act like one.

The watchtower held a commander’s chambers and for Arialin, the tower was a test for his nerves. Raithea was the lord advisor and the guards had to make way for him, but they looked with such disbelief at them both, that a huge ball was coming to his throat.

He is a racist. They are aware of it. The dark lord chose a racist to accompany him. They are surprised.

How do you know what he is?

I feel it in his shadow. The aura. It’s potent. Very strong emotions, negative emotions. This guard is a bad human.

All humans are bad.

This was a statement that was grounded in him by years of witnessing all that humans done to this land. But no. There were good people. His adoptive parents.

But they were dead.

He was so lost in thoughts that he almost stepped on Raithea’s cloak when he opened the door without knocking and entered the large room. Once again, Arialin was impressed by the bright confidence of his host. If he was less confident and less filled with inner power, these humans would step on him, especially since he looked like a child. Humans sense weakness too easily and prey on it.

The commander seemed surprised but quickly braced himself. He was a middle-aged man, with a light beard and short blonde hair, his pale blue eyes seemed to pierce them both.

He was holding a document, which he quickly put down and pinned with an empty chalice.

“Lord advisor,” he said with a deep and battered voice, fitting more to a much older person.

Raithea bowed his head for a welcome and grinning at the man, he tossed the first verbal coin before him.

“We are having a bad day for all people occupying the position of a guardian.”

The commander blinked almost non-visibly, but Arialin caught it.

“Why?”

“Because I am going to steal your most skilled, most cherished, and most liked guard. Isn’t it a bad day? A mournful day for this noble congregation.”

“Who?” then seeing Arialin, his eyes widened and he almost lost the trail of what they were even talking about. “Eh… him?”

“Yes,” Raithea still smiling nodded at Arialin. “Rog was the first and most perfect choice for my guard. Who could not admire his strong personality and balanced opinions?”

Arialin almost laughed, observing the colors the commander’s face took.

The commander knew, yes he knew, that Raithea jokes from him and his colors blended eventually into the deep color of red.

“Now” Raithae’s expression darkened in one second, and his voice became harsher. “What papers do I need to sign and what bureaucratic nonsense do I need to go through to take this man and do with him as I please?”

The commander’s face became almost black.

“What you want from him… I know Rog. If you didn’t want him for personal revenge, I don’t know what for.”

“Yes, I know Rog’s fame too” Raithea smiled darkly. “And because of that, he will be the perfect candidate to assist me in dangerous tests and magical experiments” seeing that the man wants to protest, he added. “He will be well paid. Should I remind you, commander, that I have all power given by the king, to dispose of workforce that inhabits this castle? Experiments I do are vital for the future of a human kingdom.”

The commander started to add two to two and suddenly – and Arialin was almost sure he just realized he can get rid of the problematic subordinate – he smiled wide.

“If you think that your experiments and tests will gain because of him… and if he will be paid well… I just hope he returns to us in one piece and in the same shape he possesses now…”

The man looked suspiciously at Arialin. Ah yes.

“He is ordered to be silent” added Raithea, like hearing Arialin’s thoughts. “And when I give orders, one listens.”

That one sentence was enough for Arialin to chuckle internally. Just because it was so true.

The commander looked after them, still, Arialin felt his burning gaze on his back, when he opened the door before Raithea, as a good guard and- let’s name that – servant.

And when they left, the bearded man took the chalice and lifted the documents from the table, tossing them into flames, which immediately started to lick pages and devour the message.

Behind the door, Arialin whispered to Raithea.

“He didn’t really care what will happen to this Rog. I would show even small dose of worry in his place.”

“Ah yes” Raithea’s eyes pierced him even harsher than commander’s one. There were lightyears of pain in this angry gaze. “Because this is not forest and we are not celebreating solstice anymore.”

It took many months for Arialin to understand what he meant.