Of Ancient Passages: Chapter 20: The Forgotten Scion

Sol is thrust back. He stares into golden eyes. “Who are you? Where am I?”

“My name is Maleen. Your voice sounds so familiar, you must be him.”

Sol sits up confused. “Do I know you? Where are my friends?”

“Just in the next room. I am surprised you do not know me. Why don’t you remember me, I remember you.”

“I have never….” A great pain presses in his head.

He sees a boy in a white tunic, hand in hand with a small girl. They play in a field. A crown of lavenders is placed on his head. He makes one for her too. The laughter is stupendous and innocent. The images dissipate and he snaps back to now.

“What is wrong?”

The ache is not cooled and a dry throb takes beat. “I remember now. How could I forget? I suppose living as I have can do that.”

“You remember. That is great. I am happy lord Sol.”

“L-lord Sol?”

She places her hands on her hips. “Still do not remember everything? It was a long time ago.” She stands up. “I remember the first day I saw you. Your mother brought you here. We played as children….”

The confusion works him over. “I was just a farmer, a hermit, no one.”

Maleen chuckles. “You are Sol Blackwood of the great Blackwood family. Just as I am of the Hanorah family. Direct blood of two great lines.”
“The last blood.” He shakes his head. The idea stumbles around, he cannot examine it well. “None of this makes sense. If all of this is true then why did no one tell me? I have lived alone for so long. Are you telling me that it could have been different?”

Is she telling me that I have been in agony for no reason. That my mother left me to my own destruction. I could have been happy. I could have been without this weight on my heart and mind. I might have had a real life.

“Yes. In the end all that matters is that you have been brought back to me.”

No. That is not all that matters. A great many more things matter. Very many more questions without answers.

He gets up. “My whole life I wondered what waited beyond my narrow world. This was not part of my daydream.”

“You never thought of me?”

“No. I had no idea you existed.”

The door is wrenched open and D’ereen rushes into Sol’s arms. The two women share sharp glances. They both think the other is not good enough for Sol. If only they knew their futures as I do. Alunda and Tsuk look relieved, as the boy looks well enough.

“I feel better.”

“You must stop worrying D’ereen.” Tsuk says.

“We will leave soon?”

Sol looks to Maleen. “I suppose we have to.”

“You are leaving?” Maleen questions. “Why?”

“I am a wizard in training.” Sol says.

“You’re a wizard.” She whispers. “Do you have any idea what they are doing to wizards? They burn them.”

“What?” Says Alunda and Sol together.

“Some new law is making mages revolt.”

“This news is terrible. Either way we have no choice backwards.” Alunda says.

Sol’s knees wobble. “Woah.” He catches himself against the wall.

“You need to see a doctor.” Maleen is adamant.

“I actually agree with her.” D’ereen adds.

“It’s not necessary.”

‘Of course it is.” Tsuk says.

After a moment he gives in. “Fine but let us hurry and be done with it. I am not fond of the idea.”

I hate doctors. I always have had a fear of them.

“Come on. Follow me I know the way. It is not that far.” Maleen dragoons.

Through a dining room they go. Out of a door and down the steps out of the palace.  As Sol looks back, he can see a maid in the window. She folds and fluffs the bed. Next, the room is dusted.

I am noble. From a great family, apparently. This should have been my life. It was supposed to be my life. But why? Questions bleed into new questions. Will there ever be solid answers.

“Sol.” Tsuk presses.

“What?” He says back.

“Stop looking at the maid and come on.”