Chapter 3: Benora

   The city walls rose about fifty feet above the ground, unbroken (with the exception of the south gate, where a huge opening arched halfway up and within the wall above held a portcullis). In contrast to the capital’s white rock walls, Benora’s were grey, almost prison like, with battlements in the top layer for archers to shoot out of. Clearly the city had been built to easily defend itself from a siege. About the city were a few farmhouses dotted every so often, where farmers attended the fields in the nearby area, to supply the city with food of its own.

   ‘Welcome to Benora,’ Bordan introduced, as he beckoned Kelar into a trot. They approached the opening and Ina saw two guards watching the road ahead for strangers. Kelar slowed down to brisk walk. When they were about to go under the archway the guards slanted their long spears in front of them to halt their progress.

   ‘What business do two young people have in Benora? Asked the soldier to their right, he sounded as if he had asked the same similar words many times before. He wore silver coated armour and a silver helmet and boots. Underneath the torso armour hung a chain-mail shirt made of many small loops of metal.

   ‘We are here visiting relatives who dwell within these walls and our business is to see those who we have dearly missed,’ replied Bordan.

   ‘What be your names?’ asked the other guard.

   ‘Brandon and Nia, we have travelled a long way from Lor Hairen.’

   ‘Very well, be on your way,’ said the first and the two drew back their spears to make way for Kelar to pass.

   ‘The soldiers here are a bit slack about letting strangers enter. However, for two such as us, it’s a great weakness,’ admitted Deland once they were out of earshot of the wall, for it was very quiet. Inside the walls the conditions were vile; the cobble pavement street was covered in mud and straw. The houses were made of the same stone as the outer wall, with thatched roofs, no glass windows, just holes left in the house walls. Ina felt embarrassed of what she saw. She had been thinking of a much better place than Jerash, she believed that people were treated and lived better in other cities. Now that her expectations had been obliterated she saw a new side of authority and poverty. The people they could see looked seriously ill and treated like forgotten animals.

   ‘Why is it so horrible?’ whispered Ina.

   ‘Although the king rules the whole kingdom he allows separate cities to be ruled as their lords’ want, but he has laid down certain laws even they can’t break.’

   ‘What kind of person would let their own people live like this?’

   ‘The lord and lady of Benora are the worst of all the aristocracy in Forenai. They only care for the rich in this city.’ He turned his head and (to Ina’s surprise) wore a wide smile as he had done before. ‘Fortunately, I know a man who lives nearer the centre of the city.’ At this Ina became confused, but it all revealed to be clearer as they rode deeper into the city. They turned down a road that led off the main one, just on the inside. This next street told a different story about its residents than the gloomy horror of the road before. The people here were more finely dressed and didn’t take any notice of the new-comers. They carried on through this street for five minutes and they passed a few various shops. There was a smith’s, where sparks were flying in the air as the flaming hot metal was being shaped. There was a medicine and herbal store, a baker’s, a butcher’s and a few inns, which were all different and strange in a warm, welcoming way. After they had passed a small book store Bordan stopped them outside a large brick house. It looked as if the owner took great pride in keeping the place perfect. There were four pairs of windows at the front, all were wide open and had carved patterns of grape vines around the edges. They climbed off Kelar and Bordan took the reins and led him down a side gate. This led to stables which clearly belonged to the house as the same grape vine pattern was etched on each separate stable door. Bordan put Kelar into the furthest away from the entrance. He beckoned Ina to come to him, she approached.

   ‘I need to change us back or Raico won’t notice me and he’ll need to know he can trust you,’ he said in a half whisper. She understood and straightened herself as she had done before. She shut her eyes and, as Bordan changed her, felt her hair grow back to its former length.

   ‘There we are, now me.’ He stood perfectly rigid, his hands opened and lines appeared on his forehead which revealed how much concentration he had to go through. Like Kelar before, he became shielded by an unknown air. She watched his appearance melt into the form of the man who she was familiar with. He was fully back to normal and shook himself as if coming out of a trance. He walked over to Kelar and whispered something in his ear; Ina knew it was the speech. Kelar showed he understood by nodding his head. Bordan reached into his pack and pulled out a cloak which he passed to Ina. She put it on and Bordan checked his own to make sure it concealed his sword. He pulled his hood over his head. Ina followed suit.

   ‘It would seem strange to see two different people appear out of this building than those who entered. Also, if someone were too curious they would enter here and notice that a much grander horse was stabled than a simple farm animal,’ he explained, Ina considered this for a few moments and Bordan had already started walking to the house. She started following then turned back to look at Kelar, who stared back with a seemingly bothered expression. She bowed her head and ran to catch up with Bordan, making sure her hood didn’t flow off her head to reveal her true image. They walked to the front door side-by-side and, when they reached it, Bordan gave a rather loud knock on the oak. They waited for about a minute. They heard footsteps coming closer and the door creaked open. No one was there, then the two strangers looked down and a small head with widened eyes was staring at them with a frightened glow.

   ‘Hello…’ started Bordan but the child slammed the door shut and they heard it crying down the house. ‘Oh, dear.’ They again heard footsteps approaching the door. This time the door swung wide open.

   ‘Hello, sorry about that. Who might you be?’ asked a broad, blonde haired man who was as tall as Bordan and seemed to be in his early thirties.

   ‘A friend who seeks residence at an old friend’s comforting home,’ replied Bordan, who had lifted his hood slightly to reveal his face to the man.

   ‘Bordan? My, how long has it been? Come in, come in, you’re just in time for dinner.’ When the door closed, and Ina and Bordan had taken off their cloaks, the two men embraced each other in a bear-hug and had started laughing. After this little reunion had passed away, the broad man only seemed to notice Ina for the first time.

   ‘And who is this young lady to be coming here with you, Bordan?’ He gave them both a quizzical look.

   ‘Don’t start thinking ahead of yourself, Raico. This is Ina. Ina meet Raico, a very good friend of mine.’ Raico bowed his head to her and her to him. ‘Although he’s very crafty.’

   ‘You should watch Bordan,’ Raico said to Ina. ‘He always seems to have trouble close behind when he comes into this kingdom,’ he warningly advised.

   ‘I’ve already found out.’ Raico raised his eyebrows.

   ‘It was a morg. Anyway, if not for me she would have been in the hands of the Dremas. But I still can’t find the answer to why they were after you in the first place?’

   ‘You can think about that later. Dinner should be ready about now. You can eat then we can catch up on the latest news.’ Raico led the way down the hall then turned into a room on the left.

   ‘Sandra, you remember Bordan?’ As Ina came in, behind the men, she was met with a glorious sight. An open fire crackled loudly in the far wall. In the middle of the whole room, stood a huge table with many seats, most of which were filled by cheerful occupants. Bordan and Ina seated themselves and Raico introduced them to his family.

   ‘My wife, Sandra; my daughter, Jenna; my son, Jason; my brother, Owen; and his wife, Michelle.’ He pointed in turn to his kindred. ‘Everyone, this is Bordan and Ina.’ They nodded to them all and joined in the meal. There was corn, beef, mushrooms, carrots, beet, roast potatoes, cabbage and onions. Ina was emblazoned at having a proper meal since her birthday. It seemed like a feast compared to the simple bread and meat she had eaten every day since travelling with Bordan. She sat there eating and listening to Bordan’s conversation with Raico, which had now taken up the topic about the Dremas.

   ‘Do you have any idea of why they would be after a mere servant?’ inquired Raico.

   ‘No, I’ve thought about every possible reason, but none seem to fit with the situation. The worst part is that they’re the servants of the king; they couldn’t have been sneaking around without him knowing. They also risked the king’s reputation by murdering Ina’s carer.’

   ‘No! What became of them?’

   ‘I destroyed them, yet I regret not helping Ina’s carer, there was nothing I could have done. There was no time and I had to get out of there, but I couldn’t just leave her there with that scene.’ Bordan’s voice held sorrow and pity, but Ina felt that he really trusted Raico, by telling him of their situation.

   ‘Where will you go from here? Back to Mishlar?’

   ‘No, I was sent on a mission that will last many months. The rebellion…’ He whispered from here until the meal finished. Ina couldn’t hear another syllable uttered by the two men. She tried hard to hear but the more she tried the more she was pushed back. Bordan was blocking the rest of his conversation from the rest of the table. She respected this and probed no more.

   ‘So, where do you come from, Ina?’ asked Sandra, a short, thin woman with long curly, sandy hair. Her green eyes sparkling, like stars beneath water, in the firelight. Ina, looking up with a kind smile forced onto her lips, became aware of the family.

   ‘I come from Jerash,’ she replied. The two children whipped their heads up to look at her. Ina began to blush, although she didn’t see any problem with this. She continued. ‘Yes, I was a servant there for seventeen years.’

   ‘So you’ve met the king?’ squeaked Jenna, a girl of about seven years with long, straight, light brown hair with her mother’s eyes.

   ‘Yes, but I’m glad I got away, with Bordan’s help, of course.’

   ‘What do you mean? Is he that awful and cruel, as the story says?’

   Story? thought Ina. ‘He’s not cruel, just harsh. I’m not happy to escape just because of him. Something awful happened on the night of my birthday.’ The two children let out a gasp of horror.

   ‘What happened? Tell us,’ asked Jason. He had the same coloured hair as his sister but his father’s eyes. Ina didn’t answer, she looked sideways at Bordan but he was too deep in conversation.

   ‘If you do not wish to say you don’t have to, Ina,’ said Michelle gently. She had blue eyes and shoulder-length, blonde hair. Ina shook her head and Jenna and Jason let out a disappointed moan.

   ‘Now you two, if Ina doesn’t wish to have us know something, let her be. She’s only been here just under an hour.’

   After the pots had been cleared away, Ina was shown to her room upstairs.

   ‘The bathroom is down the hall on the right,’ said Sandra as Ina placed herself on the bed, which was velvet soft and very comfortable.

   ‘Thank you.’

   ‘You’re welcome.’

   Ina was so tired she felt like falling asleep that very minute, but she also felt sticky and dirty after her journey through the Mosh Range and travel up north. She was in desperate need of a bath. She got herself up and went downstairs to get her dress from Bordan’s pack.

   She came back upstairs and locked herself in the bathroom, yet it didn’t seem like a bathroom. Instead of a tub there was a shallow pool in the floor and along one of the walls there were bottles of different coloured oils. Ina picked out one that she liked the smell of and poured it into the water, which was warm as if it had just been heated for someone to use. She stripped off the clothes Bordan had lent her, then lowered herself into the sweet-smelling water. The feeling was sensational and Ina felt refreshed and relaxed there. After ten minutes she regretfully dragged herself out and dried her body with a woollen towel from near the door. She slipped into her dark green dress, picked her dirty bundle of travel clothes and made her way back to her bedroom. She walked in, chucked the filthy pile onto the floor and shut the door. She turned to get into bed and saw a night dress lying there. She then changed her clothes again, folded her dress and placed it in a draw of the chest by the bedside. She climbed into the warm covers and fell into a dream world of mysterious turns and watchful, glaring eyes.

*****

   The sun rose over the fields and spilled its rays over the world. It rose higher and higher until the light flowed through the window onto her face. Ina woke up but lay there in the morning’s welcome. She lay there for five minutes before rising out of the cotton sheets. She changed from her night dress to her green dress; she brushed her hair free of the knots, and then made her way downstairs. She entered the dining room where Raico’s family were already eating breakfast.

   ‘Toast?’ asked Sandra.

   ‘Yes please,’ she replied, also with a yawn. She sat down and a plate of freshly browned toast was placed in front of her. She spread on some butter and, as she ate away, Bordan walked in. Sandra placed another helping of toast on the table for him and he just smiled back. Either he was worried about something or he was too happy to allow himself to talk. Ina had a funny suspicion that he was angry at her listening last night. Everyone was quiet as if a silence was not to be disturbed in the early hours.

   ‘I’d like to visit the main library to check some facts,’ Bordan stated, as he and Ina walked to the front door.

   ‘That means we have to change again,’ complained Ina. She hated this hiding of her identity; she just wanted to be herself. This is what she wanted to be ever since she knew she was free of her slavery.

   ‘Yes, it does. Ready?’ Ina nodded. ‘Good.’ He changed them into the brother and sister that had entered through the gates. ‘Raico and Sandra know we aren’t who we really are when we go out, in cities. I’ve told them everything they need to know. But I suppose you knew that already from our small challenge last night.’

   ‘Yes, sorry,’ she apologised.

   ‘Hmmm, yes. Well, come on.’ He opened the door to the street outside and turned left in the direction opposite the way they had come.

   ‘Bordan. I mean, Brandon. Why won’t you let me know anything about the rebellion?’ she asked, and sounded the last word as a whisper so he could barely hear it.

   ‘It’s not that I don’t want you to know, Nia. I didn’t want you to hear what Raico was telling me,’ he explained but Ina wasn’t convinced. ‘Can you read?’

   ‘Yes,’ she replied, almost as if she had been insulted.

   ‘Good, then you won’t be standing around like a fool, doing nothing,’ he said as they approached the library. This building looked almost new compared to the aging houses that ranked it. It was made of grey and white stone, and the huge maple doors were opened wide for the public to walk in. The many books, within the library, stacked together on the shelves. Ina loved books, especially novels that describe magical worlds and the unbelievable stories that she indulged upon. Somehow, though, it seemed as if she had been dragged into a story, a story that she did not belong in yet she could not escape from. Inside, the bookshelves created a maze full of documents and imagination.

   ‘What are we looking for?’ asked Ina as Bordan led her past shelves and shelves of spines not checking to see what they contained.

   ‘We’re looking for a lot of books under the category Prophecies, which this library should have.’

   ‘Why this library?’

   ‘Because this happens to be the largest library in all of Forenai,’ he said as he scanned through a section of book spines. The books weren’t there, so he moved on to another section. He must have checked through five sections of the whole library before he found what he was looking for. He first pulled out a huge book, about five inches thick, and placed it on one of the desks, followed shortly by another ten books, although this time much thinner.

   ‘These hold every single prophecy and prediction ever made about people, situations and changes in Forenai’s future.’

   ‘What’s the difference?’

   ‘Difference between what?’

   ‘Between prophecy and prediction? I thought prophecies were predictions.’

   ‘They are very similar, yes. However, there is an important difference that some people don’t see. A prediction is a possibility of what may happen in the future or what people expect to happen. They do not have to actually come true. A prophecy is something much more. Prophecies were written down at the beginning of the formation of this kingdom. They tell us what will come to pass. The ones that have already been fulfilled went exactly as the prophecy, of that situation, said. Unfortunately, they do not tell us the identity of the one who is to lead the event. They are things us mortals have to wait and see to find out. Also, prophecies can lay down clues for us to consider and sometimes very clever people figure out the main type of person who is to be the Fated One of a prophecy. That is what we, sorcerers, call those whose destiny is laid on paper.

‘Back to the present,’ he said abruptly. ‘There is one prophecy or prediction, it could be either, that I am mainly interested in.’ He explained this one to her, although he wasn’t sure about precisely how it went. ‘My memory is a bit fuzzy, since I have only heard it once before, a long time ago.’ He began to read through the large book, leaving Ina to search through the smaller ones.

*