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Prince David was pacing in his room. His dark eyes flashed in anger. His brother was making a nuisance of himself again. David would have to deal with him permanently. As long as his father was alive, his younger brother will keep acting up.
He would have to find another solution... and fast.
David called his most trusted servant, and Mortimor came into the room. Mortimor had an elegance about him, with his pale skin and delicate profile, but underneath the elegance was a sharp mind and an icy heart.
“Catch my little brother in the act. We need to show our kingdom what a threat he is,” Prince David said.
Mortimor smiled. The wicked witch’s spell was working brilliantly, he thought. David trusted him completely.
“Do you understand what you have to do?” David asked.
His servant smiled indolently. “Yes, Prince David. I understand completely.”
David smiled at him. He knew he trusted Mortimer for a reason. He understood his commands, both explicit and implicit.
“I trust you won’t be found out,” Prince David said. “Remain anonymous, if you care for your life.”
“Yes, my prince,” Mortimer replied with a malicious smile. “You can count on me to finish the job. After I am through, your brother will have no place left to hide in the kingdom. No place where he could show his face.”
“See that it is done,” Prince David said grimly. “My brother must be stopped.”
——-
“We should leave now,” Aurora said.
“Now? But I just came here,” Devon said, with slight disappointment.
“I don’t want to waste time,” Aurora said impatiently. “We must leave immediately.”
“I don’t know about you, but I would like to catch up on some sleep,” Devon said, yawning. “I was out all night.”
Aurora looked at him, annoyed. Devon knew very well she woke up after sleeping for a hundred years, so she wasn’t eager to go back to bed.
“Let me rest for a few hours, and then we can go,” Devon said, reading the frown on her face. “If you are hungry, I have some fruits in my bag. There is also a book when you are bored with waiting.”
With that said, Devon went to the sofa to sleep. He took off the sword and weapons he was carrying.
Aurora sighed. Just because she was in a hurry didn’t mean he would be too, she thought. She was feeling hungry, so she looked in his bag. There were some dried fruits and some apples.
She was eyeing the apple when she heard Devon say, “Don’t worry, princess, it isn’t poisoned.”
Aurora turned to say something, but saw that Devon’s eyes were shut. His breaths were slow and even. He was already fast asleep.
He must be tired from staying up all night or whatever he was doing, Aurora thought. She searched his bag for the book and settled to read it while she waited for him to wake up.
The book was about the ‘Fall of Camelot’. She didn’t think Devon would be interested in such a book, but then again, she didn’t know him. The first page of the book had an inscription:
To Devon,
My heart will always choose the brave knight.
Yours,
Emily
Aurora wondered vaguely who Emily was and why she wrote that inscription.
The book was about King Arthur. The story about how his kingdom fell, which happened soon after Queen Guinevere betrayed him. Guinevere fell in love with his most trusted knight. Aurora didn’t know what to think about Guinevere’s love affair. She did like Arthur’s Knights of the Round Table, however.
Aurora finished the book long before Devon was awake.
Maybe that was why this Emily person gave Devon the book? Maybe she was hinting he could become a knight? That rather than being a rogue and a thief, Devon could get into a more honorable profession... Aurora looked at Devon. He seemed a stubborn, unruly sort, she thought. Someone governed by his heart, rather than reason. Good luck to anyone trying to change his mind.
Devon was still sleeping. Aurora wondered how much longer before he woke up again.
The irony of the situation is not lost on me, Aurora thought, smiling. Here I am, waiting for someone else to wake up. Her smile took some effort... like she had forgotten how to.
With nothing else to do, Aurora looked out the window to see the town at the foot of the castle. She estimated it was probably a couple of miles away. Aurora wondered what the townspeople thought about the creepy old castle, now covered by thorns. Did they ever wonder who lived there? Did they remember anything about her or her parents’ kingdom? Did grandparents share stories about the cursed princess to their grandchildren?
Devon woke when the sun reached past the middle of the sky. It was probably late afternoon, with a few hours of daylight remaining.
He woke up, and she saw him smiling.
“It wasn’t a dream then,” he said. “Sorry to keep you waiting. I work best at night, anyway.”
He reached for an apple from his bag and took a bite.
“Thanks for the book and the breakfast,” Aurora said, remembering. Devon infuriated her. But that didn’t mean she should forget her manners.
She returned his book in his hand, but Devon shook his head and said, “Keep it, princess.” He then said, “I will need to know more about your plan.”
Now that Devon had agreed to help her, Aurora would have to let him know. Her fairy godmothers had given her specific instructions, if she ever needed help, or was in trouble and couldn’t find them. Aurora thought they probably hadn’t wished for her to sleep for a hundred years.
“So, what are you going to do now?” Devon asked when he saw Aurora was lost in her thoughts.
“I am going to find the mirror of truth,” Aurora replied.
“The mirror of truth?”
“Yes. It will give me the answers I seek,” Aurora said.
“Where can we find this mirror?”
“In the lake of fears,” Aurora said.
“And where is this lake?” Devon asked again.
“Near the forest of no return,” Aurora said.
“The mirror of truth.. in the lake of fears.. by the forest of no return,” Devon said, amused. “You are like a living fairytale.”
“A dark fairytale, perhaps,” Aurora said. “Maybe not even that.”
“Why not?” Devon asked.
“Because my story does not have an ending,” Aurora said.
“We can solve that,” he said. She saw his eyes light up. “We can find your happily ever after.”
Aurora said nothing. She didn’t know what to expect in her life anymore.
“Why is it called the forest of no return?” Devon asked. “It sounds ominous... should I be concerned?”
“That is up to you... but it is not as deadly as it sounds,” Aurora said.
“How deadly, exactly?”
“You can get lost for a very long time, if you didn’t know how to get through the forest,” Aurora said. “People have gone mad looking for a way out.”
Devon raised his eyebrows.
“How do you get out?” he asked.
“It is a straight path. You can only move forward, and you can only go through the forest once in your life,” Aurora said.
“Can people find the lake without going through this forest?” Devon asked.
“Yes, they can, but it could take months, maybe even years,” Aurora said. “The forest is the quickest way.”
“But if we don’t go back through the forest, wouldn’t it take a long time to return?” Devon asked.
“No. We can ask the mirror to tell us our way back,” Aurora said.
Devon was still trying to figure out how it would work.
“The forest and the mirror work like portals,” Aurora explained. “They are magical in origin.”
“Ah, I see. A magical explanation, not a logical one, in the human sense,” Devon said. “Makes sense now.”
“We will need horses and food for the journey,” Aurora said. “If it is possible, I would like a change of clothing too.”
“I know where we can get all that,” Devon said, serious for once. “We will have to meet my friend.”
“Your friend? Is he of the same profession as yours?” Aurora asked.
Devon laughed. “Yeah, we are as thick as thieves, I suppose.”
“What is your friend’s name?” Aurora asked.
“Castian. I haven’t met him in a while,” Devon said. “I am sure it will surprise him to see me. Him and the others.”
“There are others?” Aurora asked. She wasn’t sure how many of Devon’s friends she could tolerate if they were anything like him.
Devon seemed to read her thoughts.
“You will love the gang.” He added an impish smile. “I can’t wait for them to meet you.”
Aurora smiled politely. She would have to meet them to see it for herself.
Surely having a gang of thieves on her side wouldn’t hurt? Aurora thought. She had nothing of value they could take anyway, and she could use their skills. They probably know more about what was going on in the kingdom than ordinary people. They probably got to hear and see things others wouldn’t.
“Where does your friend Castian live?” Aurora asked.
“Close to the town you see out the window,” Devon said.
“How about the rest?” Aurora asked.
“They are scattered everywhere. Once Castian knows though, they will know too,” Devon said. “We should leave now. Just stay close to me once we go through the trapdoor, as it isn’t safe.”
Aurora nodded. Devon put on his travelling cloak. She saw him arm himself again with different weapons, from knives to a sword.
Was it really that dangerous going outside? she wondered.
“I like to take precautions in case we run into unsavoury or unwanted company,” Devon said, reading her expression.
Something made Devon pause. He was looking at Aurora’s dress.
“What is it?” Aurora asked.
“As beautiful as you look in that dress, it will draw attention to us,” Devon said. “Here, take this.”
He shrugged off the travelling cloak from his shoulders and gave it to her.
Aurora blushed at his comment, but she quietly put his cloak over her dress. His cloak was still warm and smelled like apples. On Devon, the cloak reached to his knees, but on Aurora, they hung barely an inch from the ground.
Devon is quite tall, Aurora thought. And handsome, too. She quickly ignored the last thought.
Devon lit up a torch and gave it to Aurora.
“The hallways will be dark, so this is to light up the path ahead,” Devon said. He gave a lazy smile before saying, “But you already light up my world, princess.”
Aurora sighed. Devon can’t keep addressing her as just princess.
“It’s Aurora.”
“Aurora... as in ‘dawn’?” Devon asked. “Your name is lovelier than I imagined... and my comment still stands. You brought light into my dark world, Aurora.”
Aurora rolled her eyes. She hadn’t known him long, but she expected his flirting.
Devon went through the trapdoor first, and Aurora noticed the ladder. She climbed the ladder down to the dark hallway below. He was right; her torch was the only source of light. There were no windows anywhere.
Devon drew the sword he had in front of him, the silver of the sword glinting in the dark. It was a beautiful sword and looked out of place for someone who claimed to be a thief; it looked like it belonged to a knight, or even a king. The sword was elegantly carved at the hilt, with an engraving of two roaring lions facing the other. Aurora wondered where or whom Devon got the sword from.
They quietly went through the different passageways. The path seemed endless in the dark, with different twists and turns. The only sounds coming from their quiet steps that echoed in the empty hallways.
Aurora and Devon reached the end of one hallway, without only one path in front of them. Aurora started walking ahead, thinking it was the only way out, but Devon stopped her. That is when she noticed the cursed branches on the far end wall.
Devon pointed to a hole in the side wall where they were about to climb through. From there, it was a few more turns before they reached the side door that led out of the tower. They extinguished the torch as soon as they got out as they did not need it in the bright sunny day.
Aurora felt the ground underneath her feet and saw the open sky above.
She took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. She soaked in the sunshine.
Aurora was no longer a prisoner of the tower. Devon smiled like he understood how she felt.
"We are going this way," he said. He then walked to the main road leading into the town and Aurora followed him.
They walked in silence for twenty minutes before Devon took a path off to the side of the road. They kept walking in silence as Devon stayed unusually quiet. Their path lead to a shabby looking small cabin, half an hour later.
Devon paused and took a deep breath before knocking on the cabin’s door. He seemed nervous.
Aurora wondered why Devon was nervous to meet his friend.
They heard the shuffling of feet inside the cabin.
“Who’s there?” asked someone with a deep voice.
“It’s me,” Devon said. “Open the door, Castian.”
Aurora held her breath.
The door opened to reveal a rugged and handsome man. Castian was as tall as Devon, with tanned skin, dark black hair, and dark eyes. He was perhaps a few years older and only slightly broader. Castian had a slight stubble on his chin and a scowl on his face. He looked more like a ragged soldier than like a petty criminal.
“Did you miss me, my friend?” Devon asked quietly.
Castian swore loudly at his question. He then punched Devon in the face.
Aurora gasped as Devon took the blow from his friend.
If it had been any other person receiving Castian’s blow, it would have knocked them out cold. Devon only staggered back, but stood standing on his feet.
“I guess I deserved that,” Devon said, laughing.
“Oh, hell you did... You bastard!” Castian roared. “We thought you were lying dead somewhere.”
“No, I am still very much alive,” Devon said, a bit sadly.
“Wait until the Circle finds out. They might kill you themselves,” Castian said. “Who are you?” He asked Aurora gruffly.
Aurora was looking at the two of them, open-mouthed. She quickly closed her mouth.
“I am Princess Aurora,” Aurora said.
“Princess who?” Castian asked.
“It is a long story. Can we come inside first?” Devon asked. Aurora could see a bruise forming on his right temple, where Castian had hit him.
Castian still looked like he wanted to beat up Devon, but he nodded for both of them to go inside. The cabin was even smaller and shabbier inside and had just two rooms. The kitchen they walked in, set up with a table and few chairs, and another small room in the back, which Aurora assumed was the bedroom.
When Castian went in the back room, Aurora asked, “Why did he hit you?”
“I went missing for a long time and I told no one where I was,” Devon said. “That was Castian’s way of saying he was worried.”
“And that you are a bastard even if you are the leader of the Circle,” Castian said, shoving something in Devon's hand. It was a washcloth, that had been drenched with cold water and wrung dry. Castian gave it to Devon to treat his bruise.
Devon was their leader? Aurora thought, surprised. She wondered what other surprises he was hiding.
“It is an honorary title. We all know who pulls the strings of our group,” Devon said, wincing slightly as he put the cool cloth on his face.
“And she won’t be too happy with you,” Castian said. “Even I wouldn’t want to face Anya’s wrath.”
From what she saw of him, Aurora thought nothing could frighten Castian.
Who was Anya? Aurora wondered. If Castian was afraid of her, she must be terrifying.
“Anya’s words are deadlier than her sword, and her sword is plenty lethal,” Devon said. Castian only gave a grim smile.
“You hungry?” Castian asked both of them.
Devon nodded, and Castian started moving in the small kitchen. He laid out fruits, bread, cheese, and slices of meat out in plates in front of them. Devon helped himself to a plate, while Aurora told Castian about herself. When she done telling her story, Devon handed her a plate piled with food too. Aurora nibbled at a piece of bread.
“You are telling me you were cursed for a hundred years,” Castian said. “Now you have woken up and want to get back your kingdom?”
“I just want to find out the truth about the past,” Aurora said. “For that, I need to find a magical mirror.”
“You don’t want to save your people from the witch?” Castian said. “I thought you would want to free them now that you are back.”
“What do you mean?” Aurora asked. “What are you talking about?”
“The witch’s demon minions have been causing chaos and destruction throughout this kingdom. They are not in this area because of the Circle. Everywhere else, the witch’s tyranny goes unchecked,” Castian said grimly.
Aurora was shocked by what Castian said.
“Why didn’t you tell me?” Aurora asked Devon.
“You just woke up. I wanted to give you time to adjust before dropping all that on you,” Devon said. “You have already been through a lot.”
Aurora shook her head.
“It seems my kingdom had it far worse than me,” Aurora said. “I was stuck dreaming while they are living in a nightmare.”
“Does this change your plans?” Devon asked. “What are you going to do now, Aurora?”
“We still need to get that mirror first,” Aurora said, sighing. “I don’t even know if it is my kingdom anymore, or if I have any claim to it. I will still help in whatever way I can to stop the witch.”
“As shall I,” Devon said. “You will not fight this alone, Aurora.”
“If you choose to get back your kingdom, I will be on your side,” Castian said.
Aurora thanked them both and felt a sense of gratitude for meeting them. For a pack of thieves, they were generous and courageous; she thought. Perhaps they were not always thieves?
She wondered what circumstances made them what they were now.
“You keep saying my kingdom... are you not from here?” Aurora observed. “Are you not of Rivendale?”
“You are right, princess. We are not from here,” Castian replied. “Our kingdom is much further north. We are from Lionshelm.”
Lionshelm.. the wintry kingdom with cold and steep mountains, Aurora remembered. A kingdom known for its mighty warriors. Aurora heard the king’s castle was on top of the highest mountain, built in an opening in the shape of a lion’s mouth. The castle was said to be a fortress, strong enough to last a thousand years. The golden bricks of the castle a beacon to those who gazed upon it.
Lionshelm was a sanctuary with a just ruler and just laws. They gave even thieves and robbers chance of an honest life... a do-over and a second chance. Things might have changed from a hundred years ago, Aurora thought. Why hadn't the ruler of Lionshelm send help to save her people from the wicked witch or her demons?
“Why are you away from home?” Aurora asked.
“We can’t tell you the reason without putting your life in danger, but someday we hope to go back,” Devon said. “We fell out of favor with the current ruler.”
They had more secrets, it seemed, Aurora thought. Why were they hiding?
“When we came here, the witch’s demons overran the town,” Devon said. “The Circle drove them away, but we still find them lurking at night. Sometimes, the townspeople pay us to keep them safe. We would still do it even if they didn’t as it keeps us busy and gives us something to do.”
So that is what Devon was doing during the night? Aurora thought. And why he was so tired.
“Where will you find this mirror?” Castian asked.
“There is a river three days’ journey from here,” Aurora said. “We will need to cross it to reach the portal that will take us to the mirror.”
“If you are going further away from town, you will need to be vigilant,” Castian said. “I will go with you too for extra protection.”
“We can manage, Castian. I need you to watch over the town,” Devon said.
Aurora was sure that Castian would disagree with Devon, but was surprised to see him smiling.
“I am sure you can manage a few measly demons,” Castian said with a grin. “I didn’t train you for nothing.”
Devon grinned, too. It looked like Castian was done being angry at him.
“Can the mirror tell you anything you ask of it?” Castian asked, looking at Aurora.
“The mirror is fickle,” Aurora said. “Sometimes it only works for a certain length of time. Sometimes it answers only certain questions. But when it answers, it will guide the person to what they want to know.”
Castian looked at Devon expectedly, “You can use the mirror to ask about your father.”
Devon stayed quiet.
“What about his father?” Aurora asked.
Castian looked at Devon, who gave him a slight nod, before saying, "Devon’s father has been ailing, and we have been trying to find him a cure. We have searched for the best healers but no one seems to have an answer."
“What ails him?” Aurora asked.
Castian was careful with his words. “He received an injury that would have been cured in a few weeks, at most. Instead, he has been bedridden for two years. He can’t speak, nor can he move his body. The healers say he should move and speaking, but don’t know why he isn’t getting better despite their best treatments.”
“I am so sorry,” Aurora said to Devon. “The mirror will work for whoever gets it out of the lake. I will ask for your father.”
“Thank you,” Devon said, quietly. It seemed he didn’t want to talk about his father too much. Perhaps it was too hard for him? Aurora thought.
“I will get you the supplies you need,” Castian said. “Meet me tomorrow afternoon. I can’t keep you two here as I don’t have enough room, unless you want to sleep on the floor. Can you manage until then?”
“We have a safe spot we can go to,” Devon said. Castian simply nodded.
Aurora noticed Castian didn’t ask him where it was. Maybe it was a precaution? Aurora thought. The less he knew, the less he could reveal it to someone else? Both Castian’s and Devon’s movements were guarded in secrecy. Who or what were they afraid of?
Devon and Aurora returned to the tower for the night. They took their usual arrangements for sleeping, with Aurora on her bed and Devon sprawled on the sofa. Aurora saw Devon deep in thought, his eyes looking at the ceiling, with his arms folded behind his head. He stayed quiet about what he was thinking about. Was he thinking about his poor father? Aurora wondered.
The next morning, Devon woke up early to go meet with Castian alone. He left Aurora with the promise he will bring back the supplies they needed for the journey.