"Time´s End" by Nicoline Badenhorst

Dragon Lore

Prologue

It was the magical time just before dawn, when the cold of the night sets into the bones of those foolish enough to venture into its secrecy. As the stars winked out one by one, a single rider wound her way through the forest, picking her way as one born of the wild would. A strange timbre hung in the air, a timbre of triviality mixed with the dread of change. It was the kind of night that makes human beings remember their mortality. Nights such as this would have dwarfed greater people than the rider was, would have made even those with important roles to play in this world feel uncomfortable. But she was so used to belittlement that she didn’t even notice.

She halted her horse, gazed into clearing darkness… a wakeful dreamer dreaming the dream of all dreams. A dream of liberty, of boundlessness, contentment, maybe even happiness. A sense of profound loneliness washed over her. It was the kind of loneliness that comes with being different, apart from all others, distinguished in form and position. A single gaze into her ever-changing eyes revealed her little tortured soul behind the mask of trustful strength, of unwavering loyalty. A soul that yearned for nothing but freedom- the chance to abandon everything. Abandon her position, her family, her people, for the sake of her own, puny life. Sometimes, she wished herself into others’ lives, anybody, as long as she didn’t need to pretend being somebody she couldn’t be... These treason thoughts! She loathed herself for them, and hated that she had to loathe.

But it was not her way to regret what could not be changed, and the few moments of bitterness vanished. She took a breath, bent down and whispered a word to her horse, which in turn set off at a trot, apparently knowing exactly where its mistress intended to go.

A few minutes later -the first rays of the sun were already peeking over the horizon- she arrived at a little hut, just outside the Banning Circle. The one she had come for was pacing to and fro impatiently, his horse already saddled and waiting.

“You’re late.” He said, almost reproachfully. “What took you so long?”

“I’m not late. You’re early.” She slid off her mount and leant lightly against it. “Care about a proper greeting?”

He grinned. “And what makes you think you deserve it?”

“I wonder which of us two got up in the middle of the night to ride right though the darkest part of the Marin forest and all just because-“

He crossed the space between them with two large strides and sealed her mouth with a kiss. “Satisfied?” He asked softly.

“Almost.” Her horse pushed its nose into her back.

“Aure.” He commanded. “Leave my queen in peace. Five minutes, all right? Then you can go home immediately.”

“Do you think one of the faerie followed you?” She asked, sudden concern marking her voice.

“No. Why should they?”

“Then call me by my name.”

“You know I can’t... Names are power best unspoken.”

“Then you say I can’t trust you.” Her voice was a little bitter.

“I thought we’d discussed that already. It’s good to be with you, while it lasts. No undue attachment, no pretence... I’m not the one for you, and I don’t want it to get messy.”

She smiled, a warm smile right from her heart, but her voice was cold. “Of course. You know that’s not what I meant. You’re still of faerie, which makes you so difficult to understand... Call me Lanouri, please.”

“I wouldn’t want to endanger you... faeries’ love can kill, you know...” His forest green eyes glittered strangely, making her want to avert her eyes.

“I suppose Aure’s right. We’d better go. They’ll already be waiting.” She sighed.

“Always the conscientious daughter. I wonder if you ever think about anything except duty…”

“Of course.”

“Really? About what?”

“I’ll tell you when we’re back at the castle… If I lose the race!”

“You bet!” With these words he swung himself on the horse and cantered off, only glancing back to see her already hot on his heels.

“No magic!” she shouted at him. A sound that didn’t belong in her forest startled her, made her stop her horse. Cursing herself for giving Robin the lead so easily, she jumped off with the urge to investigate. She quickly oriented herself, gave Aure the command to wait and moved noiselessly off into the shadows of the forest beyond the paths. The muffled sound of human voices led her right to a group of unsuspecting Conf peasants- or so she thought- right inside the Banning!

The men were clad strangely, in things ostensibly made for travel, but with a make she had never seen before. Before she could decide whether to confront them or to fetch the guards and teach them to break into Marin grounds, one of them noticed her. Oh, no, she wouldn’t bolt like a coward, afraid of protecting her homeland, no matter what the cost. She stepped out from behind her tree boldly, drew herself up to her full five feet three and, using the harsh language of the Confederate States, hissed: “What do you think you are doing here, hunting on Marin grounds, are you not?”

The men looked at her, perplexed. “Don’t take me for a fool!” Her hissing became more vicious, her hatred more obvious as she readied her mind for battle.

One of the men detached himself from the group, opened his hands as if to show he was unarmed and said something in a language Lanouri had never heard before.