A Soul To Receive - 1. Chapter 1

Chapter 1

Ardmere, Kingdom of Tenivari

The flames burnt quieter now, the smoldering town laying spread out before my eyes. The trolls had left chaos in their wake, their God-King raining fire down on the innocent of Ardmere. No one thought the beasts had it left in them, their grubby armies smashed so short a time ago.

Hundreds had paid for that mistake with their lives.

I sighed and slumped against the wheel of a wagon. The King was a fool, nothing like the Emperor of old. He wouldn’t have let this happen, he wouldn’t have held a party to celebrate premature victory while his citizens died because he was cocky.

I stroked the worn cover of the book clutched in my hands, staring at the title. The Silver Tales. I lovingly traced the embossed words, knowing every sentence between its pages. It was all I had now. My home was down there, burning. My family was gone, their blood on the cobblestones.

I felt a tear run down my cheek and I angrily swiped it away. I couldn’t cry, I had to be strong like my father had told me to. “Never give in, Sabien.” He had urged me whenever something went wrong. A bad grade at school, a lost battle at sword training.

It only made me miss him more and I sobbed, clutching my book to my chest. I was holding back the tears but I couldn’t stop the gut wrenching cries that came from my mouth as I curled up against the wheel and let my misery out.

I don’t know how long I lay there, my small body shaking in despair, but eventually someone came to investigate the noise. I barely noticed as a kindly soldier carried me to the medical tent, laying me in a bed. I swiped at my blurry eyes as I watched the man talk to man in white, a doctor? I couldn’t hear them this far away but the doctor seemed to be agreeing with whatever the soldier was saying.

I pushed myself back into the hard bed, thankful for the thin blanket that I tugged over my head. I just wanted to close my eyes and make this all disappear. The quiet murmur of the world faded away as I shut my eyes and slept.

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I awoke far too short a time later, bolting upright with a scream. I gasped for breath, sucking in lungfuls of the cool air, slowly coming down from my fear induced high. I went to stand and moaned, clutching my head and curling up in a ball, the memories rushing back as a physical pain. Flames, screams, the stink of burnt flesh, the coppery tang of blood. I sobbed as the horrors I had seen swirled in my mind.

With sticky garments clinging to my skin, I finally managed to clamber from the bed. I grabbed a mug and pulled a cup of water from the barrel by the tents opening, gulping the cold water. The air nipped at my skin as the water cooled my insides. It was summer but Tenivari was never truly warm.

The kindly soldier from before spotted me at that moment, having been standing at the other end of the tent. He hurried over to me with a worried expression and I blushed, embarrassed by his attention.

“Why are you up boy?” He asked gently, reminding me I’d never given him my name.

“It’s Sabien.”

“What?” He raised an eyebrow, confused.

“My name.”

“Oh.” He nodded. “Well Sabien, I am Aric.” He shook my hand with unnatural formality. Trying to impress me by treating me like a man I guess.

“Thank you Aric.” I smiled faintly. “Thank you for bringing me here.”

“Did you have family in Ardmere?” He sat down on the edge of an empty bed and leant back on the palms of his hands. I studied him, having not truly taken notice of him before. He was of an average height and build, with blond hair and a gentle smile. He reminded me of my oldest brother and it made me want to spill all my worries like I used to with Luca.

I nodded eventually after a long silence, only just noticing I’d been staring for so long. “All my family, everything is gone now.” I let out a weary sigh, dropping to the bed next to him. Tears pricked at my eyes unbidden.

Aric’s arms slid around my shoulders as I hugged his chest, letting the tears flow. He patted my back reassuringly as I sobbed, unable to stop my emotions that were running all over the place.

Several long moments later I pulled back with a blazing red face. “Sorry.” I shivered, looking down at the grassy floor. I’d given in and let the enemy have what they wanted. I held in a whimper, curling up into a ball protectively.

“Sssh… it’s alright.” Aric stroked my back, leaning down to look me in the eyes. “There is nothing wrong with crying. If you don’t cry, you’ll just bottle it all up inside and go mad.”

I nodded weakly but I didn’t really believe him.

Aric smiled sadly. “Come on now, why don’t you get back to sleep?”

“Nightmares.” I mumbled, looking away. I didn’t understand why this man was helping me … I’d been taught that he should do the opposite. The King’s soldiers didn’t help defenceless little boys. Everyone knew that all that counted was strength.

“Ah.” Aric seemed to understand. “Well, try reading. I always sleep better after a story.” He patted my back on last time and stood. “Come on, lets tuck you in. Do you want me to read you something?”

I nodded numbly, letting Aric lead me back to the hard campbed. I hopped up onto the worn mattress and pulled my copy of the Silver Tales from under my pillow. “Can … you read this?” I whispered timidly, still unsure about this man and his intentions.

He nodded and smiled, opening the book and sitting on the neighbouring bed.

I settled in and pulled the blanket up to my neck, watching him intently.

Aric began, his voice deep and strangely soothing as he read. “There was once a man. Now, this man was strong, and he was handsome and wise, he was honourable and powerful, famous and rich. He had everything, for this man was the Emperor.

He lived in a grand palace and he had legions of faithful servants. They fed him and dressed him, scheduled his day. They guarded him and helped him in every way. But despite all this, the Emperor was miserable for he had no one to tell about his day, or to ask for wise counsel or to trust with his secrets. He had no one in his heart….”

My worries seemed to seep away, leached by tiredness and I yawned, my eyes getting heavy, snuggling against the blanket. I slowly nodded my head as my eyes dipped closed and I let them, sleep taking me - a peaceful retreat from the pain.