There was once an old couple who lived quite humbly and simply in a hut in the outskirts of a small village. Now the village where they lived was full of cruel people, thieves, criminals and idolaters. All they thought of were merry making and drinking.

One day a fierce storm blew over the village. The wind howled like a wild beast and the cold rain drenched a person to the bone, chilling the already ice-hearts of the villagers. That was the same day that a dirty vagabond appeared in the village. The vagabond tried to find shelter in the village from the ferocious storm but the hardened hearts of the villagers turned against him. They kicked him away from their houses and the children threw stones at him, laughing at his misfortune as he stumbled and fell.

When the vagabond was almost at the edge of the village, he saw the small hut where the old couple lived. With one last spark of hope, he knocked on the door. He was greeted with welcoming smiles that warmed his soul, draining the cold effect of the storm, as they escorted him to their home.

The old couple introduced themselves as Eman and Temele and invited him to sit by the fireplace and warm himself. Eman prepared a meal while Temele sat by the vagabond and chatted with him.

When the meal was prepared, they led him to the table and set the food before him. The old couple was apologetic since they didn’t have much to offer other than milk, cheese and bread. The vagabond accepted the meal gladly, saying it was more than enough.

After they prepared for him a makeshift bed and a blanket. As the vagabond snuggled up the covers, he thanked the old couple for their kindness. The old couple just smiled at him and bid him to sleep well.

In the morning the old couple woke up to find the vagabond gone. Instead they found a fairy where the vagabond used to be. They stood in awe at the beautiful creature as it started to speak, “I have been sent here to judge the people of this village and to punish or reward them accordingly. I have found them to be cruel and greedy. But because of the kindness you’ve shown toward a vagabond, I will spare this village and give you a gift.”

“A gift?” the Temele echoed.

“I will give you one wish,” the fairy answered.”Anything you want you can have. Wealth, power, anything.”

The old couple looked at each other and knew at once what they wanted.

They both smiled as they said, “we are old weary. What use is wealth or power to us? What we want is when the time comes that we will die, the two of us die together so that the one left doesn’t have to mourn for the other.”

“It is done,” the fairy said before disappearing.

The old couple lived a good many years more before they both passed away at the same time, fulfilling the fairy’s prophecy. For once, the townspeople’s ice-cold hearts were moved because of the old couple’s devotion to each other to the very end that they gave a service for the couple and buried them in the old couple’s backyard in one grave.

A few days later, the villagers were surprised to find a full-grown tree where the old couple was buried. What was even more surprising was that there were two kinds of trees emanating from one stump, symbolizing the old couple’s love for each other. Two souls intertwined as one.

Licorne D’Argent: I first read this story eight years ago. I couldn’t quite remember the whole story but one sentence stuck to me all these years.

There was a sudden murmur among the members of the Royal Council. “The Leda farm? Wasn’t that one of the farms that was attacked?” asked Hadar.

“Aye.”

“Would you be able to tell me what happened there?” Levant asked. He couldn’t keep the eagerness from his voice. Blessed Adrasthea! There might still be hope in catching the culprits after all! Then he almost felt guilty for his eagerness when he saw the pain in the boy’s face.

“Aye, Your Grace. Old Leda, the owner of the farm, and I were already tidying up for the evening when we heard disturbance among the animals. We went out and saw the outlaws letting the animals loose every which way. There were about a dozen of them, all in horseback, with masks to hide their faces. We tried to gather the animals as best we could but the culprits saw us and, seeing us as easy prey, concentrated on us instead.” The boy swallowed.

“They surrounded us and we fought them as long as we could but wooden staffs were no match for steel swords. We are farmers, the worst we ever fought were wolves and those could be driven off. These couldn’t be driven off so easily. Besides, Old Leda got wounded so we started to fall back to the forest.” The boy’s voice was starting to become a whisper.

“We tried to make it to the nearest farm but we never got there.” The boy was choking tears at this point. “Old Leda said that I must try to warn the people, as far as the capital city, Cressida, if possible. He couldn’t go on. He asked me one last favor and then he died.” Altair raised his hands to wipe out his tears. “I buried him then and there.”

A long silence ensued. Levant felt the sudden discomfort of the Royal Council. They were always discussing plans on learning the culprit’s identity and now that they already have a witness it seemed they were still at a loss. There were more questioned raised than answers given. They were now only realizing that the problem was very real. He didn’t want to think about the Royal Council; rather he concentrated on the boy. He felt sorry for the boy and altogether sympathized with his loss. He was the first to speak up. “That was a brave thing you did and you mustn’t try to blame yourself. You did what you had to do.”

“But he still died!” Altair put his hands on his face and sobbed. “He risked his life to save me and he died.”

“He did it because you had a better chance of surviving the journey than he did, you said he was already wounded,” Levant soothed. “And now, because of the two of you we now know something about the culprits, whoever vague it may be, and how to protect the city. Don’t think I don’t know how you feel because I do. I lost my parents when I was just seven years of age and I know the pain doesn’t go away. But it does mellow in time and that’s all I could tell you. Give it time.”

Altair remained silent but Hadar still had questions. “Tell me boy, was Leda also an outlander? If he is then is he your father? Where did the two of you come from?”

Levant cursed himself for forgetting the other charges and was ashamed that Hadar remembered. He was supposed to be the one to pass sentence to the boy and he let his curiosity run away with him!

Altair bowed his head. “Old Leda was not an outlander. He was a Procryonian through and through. He took me in one winter when I was shivering and alone and almost starving.”

“I see,” Levant nodded. He had a feeling Altair was not really comfortable in discussing the subject any longer and he didn’t want to push the boy seeing what the telling of the story did to him.

“I see now that you are justified for your actions but there is still one that needs explaining. What did you say to insult one of the Royal Guards?” He had to make up for forgetting the purpose of this hearing earlier.

He saw the boy wince before answering. “He asked me what right do I have to wear weapons in the city. I couldn’t part with them since Old Leda gave them to me before he died. The guard said that he doesn’t know where I come from but since I’m in Cressida that I should follow Procryonian laws. He said one of the laws was that no one who is not of legal age is permitted to carry weapons.”

“And what did you say to this?”

“I said that he’s a great one to talk. He didn’t look like a person of legal age to me, much less a Royal Guard. In fact, I said he looked like his mother would be coming around the corner any minute, turn him over her knee, and smack his bottom hard for impersonating a Royal Guard.” All the while guard was frowning.

The boy had spunk. Levant had a hard time trying to hide a grin. The guard in question really didn’t look much older than Altair. With an effort he put on a straight face and asked the guard, “Is this true?”

“Yes, Your Grace. And the reason I look so young, Your Grace, is because I just got out of training,” a disgruntled guard explained unnecessarily.

Levant smiled. Bless Pyxis! He was actually enjoying this! He looked at the Royal Council and saw Hadar nodding. “This boy has given us a great deal of help, regardless that he is an outlander. I cannot punish him for being in the city when we needed his help most.”

“Regarding the incident with the guards, I can see that it was a result of both parties letting their tempers flare up. I therefore recommend both parties to practice patience, among other things, to prevent this event from ever happening again. This I decree.”

The Royal Council was already standing up and heading for the door when Pyxis spoke up, “Tell us one last thing. What was the last favor that this Old Leda required of you?” Levant jumped up. He had forgotten his advisor was there. He had been so quiet the whole time.

“He wanted me to go back to the farm and get something,” Altair answered. “He said that I needed protection if I was to reach the city safely. He asked me to get the weapons which your efficient Royal Guards confiscated.” Altair ignored the warning glance he got from the guards.

Levant looked at his adviser and frowned. Pyxis was up to something.

Pyxis raised a questioning eyebrow at Levant. “With His Grace’s permission, may we be allowed to see these weapons?”

“Whatever are you driving at?” he hissed. “What does those stupid weapons have to do with anything?”

His advisor shook his head at him. “You’ll see,” he whispered. “You’ll see.�

“Fine.” If the only way to shut up Pyxis was to allow this little whim of his then so be it.

The guards came out carrying a bundle draped in cloth and laid it in front of Levant. Levant heard Hadar’s sharp intake of breath. The High Seat never felt so frightened in his entire life as when the bundle was revealed. It contained two swords both decorated with swans at the hilt. Twin blades with the markings of Cygnus, The Swan.

Levant felt Hadar’s eyes on him but he couldn’t return his gaze. The beginning of a painful headache was starting to come in. So many thoughts came to him all at once but he couldn’t process them all.

Pyxis must have sensed his emotional turmoil and decided to step in. “Thank you. Since His Grace has already pardoned the boy, it is expected that he be made welcome and be treated as a guest.” He said to the guards, “Take the boy Altair now to his quarters,” and to the Royal Council, “This deliberation is adjourned. May the Scared Light of Adrasthea shine on all of you.”

As people started piling to the door Pyxis said, “It might not be him, you know.”

Pyxis voice invaded Levant’s thoughts. He looked around and was surprised to find that they were already alone in the Great Hall. “He’s a boy,” Pyxis whispered, as if just seeing it for the first time.

“I can see that! I’m not blind!”

His friend sighed. “I’m going to ignore that since I know you’re upset”.

“Upset? Who said I’m upset? Do you think I’m upset? I am not upset!”

“Fine. I’m going to leave you in your thoughts now. Maybe you’ll be in a better mood later.”

Levant must have been thinking for hours for when he finally looked up Desdemona, the cook and somewhat guardian, was bringing his lunch to him with a disapproving frown on her face. “Tsk, tsk. Tisn’t gud for thee t’ mis a’meal, yes tisn’t. Thou’d be as tin as a stik if thou kip tis’up, yes thou ‘ill”.

He smiled. Desdemona served his parents and during that time he learned that if there was a person that could truly be considered as gold, it was her. “I’m sorry. I was thinking. What time is it?” He hadn’t noticed that his stomach was growling.

Desdemona shook her head and tsked again. “Ah, thy a fine’un t’ forg’t d’ time. Can’t say ain’t surpris’d when thy’ve eat’n ‘nuf t’ ’tisfy a mouse for d’ past fu’days, yes thee have. But’f thy must ‘no tis a quart’r t” ‘un”.

Levant grimaced. The rest of the morning wasted all because of the silly boy! Well, he wasn’t a problem yet. After he finished his food under the close scrutiny of his overprotective maid, he decided to head for the garden, hoping to make sense of all the chaos of today.

Author’s Notes:
Sorry about the gibberish of Desdemona. I just had to put in a little of her upbringing into the mix. Please, please give me a bit more time to work on the next chapter. I’m still editing it. Thanks for the patience!

Same year, June 7
9: 48 am

Levant stared frustratingly at the maps in front of him and sighed. Another three marks decorated them since the last report. Vandals have attacked five farms on the western border the past few months. He already dispatched patrols within the area but so far it was nearly impossible to know who the culprits were especially since they leave no witnesses. Or their reasons for reeking havoc.

In normal circumstances he would have handled this problem easily but this just wasn’t to be. It seems that one crisis after another struck the people of Procryon since the last summer and it was making the veins on his head pulsate. Crops failing, trade diminishing and every possible sickness to afflict the people. Not to mention the fact that the nobles were bickering and shouting at each other, saying their solutions were the best but in reality all they wanted was attention. He felt like he was being pulled in every direction at the same time.

He returned his attention to the task at hand and heard a tap at the door. Levant growled. It was probably one of the nobles again, kissing up and asking favors. They have an uncanny way of knowing where he was at any time of the day. How can he think with so many distractions? “Come in.” There was no use in hiding.

Pyxis popped his head in the door and said, “Um, Levant? Will you still be long with those reports?”

Levant looked up at his best friend and familiar and was startled to find his friend looking. . . troubled. He kept looking left and right. Levant’s forehead furrowed. Something’s up. “Just a little while longer,” he answered. “Why?” His friend was acting like a conspirator on top of everything that’s been going on. He groaned inwardly. He didn’t know how much more he could take of this.

“The morning watch found something,” Pyxis answered cryptically.

Levant stood up instantly. “What is it? Did they find the culprits? Blessed Adrasthea! How many? They’re already here? What are they doing this close to the city? It’s too early!” He couldn’t help it. He wanted answers and fast. The welfare of the people was his primary concern.

“Easy Levant. No vandals in the city,” Pyxis said. Then, as if considering his answer, “Not yet anyway.”

“Well, if it’s not the vandals then, what is it?” Levant was getting impatiently. “Why are you acting all mysterious? I’ve never seen you like this before and frankly it’s irritating.”

Pyxis frowned at that. He looked around to make sure nobody was near, as if he was going to impart a great secret. “This is a rather delicate situation. You better see for yourself. Especially since it concerns you, personally.”

That last one got to him and as they made way to the Great Hall Levant could not help glancing at his advisor. Something was definitely eating at him. What could have the morning watch discovered to make Pyxis so jittery?

The court herald announced their arrival at the Great Hall. “The Crowned High Seat of House Fortaleza, Guardian of the Sacred Light, Champion of the People of Procryon, Anointed by our Beloved Goddess Adrasthea, His Grace, Levant Lancer Fortaleza.”

Levant yawned. Pyxis threw him a sharp look and Levant smiled sheepishly. The proclamation of his name always did that to him. It was customary for the High Seat to be announced before any hearing but that didn’t mean he had to like it.

Levant sat on his chair and Pyxis went to his usual position, beside Levant. The Royal Council was already there and Levant greeted them. “May the Sacred Light of Adrasthea shine upon all of you today.”

“And the same to you, Anointed One,” said Hadar, the oldest member of the council. The rest of the council followed suit.

“All is well?” the oldest member asked. “Have you found the culprits yet?”

“Not yet, Hadar. But we will. We will.”

“Let’s get this over with.” Levant’s voice reverberated within the walls. “Bring the cause for all this ruckus in.” Then hissed to Pyxis, “You’d better hope this is worth it!”

His friend smiled a knowing smile and said, “I don’t know if this is good news or bad news but I am absolutely sure you won’t be disappointed.”

As the doors opened the uniformed white guards of Procryon escorted an individual who was clawing the guards like a cat deprived of its dinner. When the guards calmed the delinquent sufficiently, which is to say a considerable time later, the court herald announced in a booming voice, “The morning watch found this unscrupulous character within the city and was acting suspicious, Your Grace. He was also carrying weapons, which is forbidden to anyone who is not of the royal court or of legal age. He is obviously an outlander by his features. When questioned about this, the villain insulted one of the officers of the Royal Guards. With the accusations aforementioned, it is hereby asked that the High Seat pass sentence to this unworthy individual.”

Levant gave the boy a cursory glance. Anyone else would think that Levant was bored at the thought of attending another assembly. And that was how he wanted it. No use in letting people know how frayed his nerves were.

The boy—probably thirteen or fourteen—was dressed in country clothes, which although worn, were of good quality. He was looking at the Levant with as much defiance as he had shown to the soldiers. He was not bad looking, his features a little on the delicate side. What fascinated Levant most was the boy’s dark hair and eyes, which signified him as an outlander. Almost everyone in Procryon had fair hair and eyes. Levant’s curly blond hair and violet eyes were proof of that.

“What is your name, boy?” he asked in a gentle voice. He didn’t want to scare the child, though he doubted anything he’d say would succeed in that.

He saw the boy’s eyes widen in surprise for an instant, then change to amusement then back to defiance. It was all so sudden that Levant wondered if it was just his imagination.

“Altair,” the boy answered and after seeing an outraged look at one of the guards added, “Your Grace,” and shot back an angry look at the guard.

Levant sat back. This boy was the reason for Pyxis’s anxiousness? He gave a questioning glance at Pyxis who just shrugged at him. “Well then, Altair, seeing that you are in farm clothes, what farm are you from? What is a boy like you doing in our fair city of Cressida?”

The boy was about to say something then thought better of it. Levant was about to repeat his question when the boy answered, “From the Leda farm, Your Grace. About fifty miles from the city.”

There was a sudden murmur among the members of the Royal Council. “The Leda farm? Wasn’t that one of the farms that was attacked?” asked Hadar.

Author’s Notes:
Let’s leave the first part of the story behind first. This is where the real story begins. ^_^