Chapter 8 – Telerine Betrayed

Telerine Tabuta was getting impatient. She was walking slowly to the Academy but her mind wished she were there already. She would have walked faster, if she was not dressed in a lady’s dress. I suppose I could wear something plainer until I reach the Castle, but…ah well, this is more appropriate. The fact that Telerine was wearing something that famine was a tale in itself. Once she put on the dress, however, she felt a compulsion to act like a lady. This is so embarrassing. What will I do when I wear the evening gown? Harks will definitely laugh at me. Since he’s finally agreed to take me with him to the Castle, I’ll let him laugh all he wants. The Dream Lover Weave will come true.

“Move aside!”

Telerine was startled. She was so engrossed in her fantasy that she did not know what to do. Then something swift past her before she heard the galloping of a horse. By the time she managed to turn back and looked, the horse had made the turn and she could barely see the side of the rider. The voice was a woman’s but Telerine swore she saw a man riding the horse.

The man I saw was sitting way too back. Maybe two people were sharing a ride? A man and a woman? That’s gross! Then again, if the King asked me to share a horse ride with him…Her cheek blushed. She thought some more, then lowered her head and blushed some more. Naughty girl. Mother would not be proud of it…unless, of course, she’s been there. Telerine smiled a sly smile. I wonder if father was really not mother’s dream lover like she said. I hope he was. He’s…he’s…how come I can’t remember? He was holding something…

 

“Father, no! Please don’t!” Telerine held her father back.

 

Jorick Tabuta pushed his daughter back with such force she was thrown to the back of the wall.

 

And then all was darkness.

 

Telerine looked up and the front gate of the Academy was plainly in sight.

No more silly thoughts.

—

“Move aside!” Losinia yelled. It was her skill in horse riding that saved them from crashing into the walker. She muttered something under her breath.

Harks had been closing his eyes the whole time. He was not used to seeing his surroundings pass him so fast. “Who, me?” he asked.

Losinia did not respond.

It must not be me then. I wonder who walks here this time of the year. Harks stole a glance to his sides and regretted it. The bumping alone was getting very uncomfortable already.

“Lady?”

“Losinia.”

“Sorry, Losinia.” He shut his eyes tight. “I….er…” – he swallowed hard – “well…” he hesitated.

“Speak up, I can’t hear you.”

“Nothing, sorry.” He swallowed again.

Losinia stopped the horse. “This isn’t fair. You can’t start something and not finish it. Now tell me what it is?” She turned around to face Harks, whose head was lowered.

Harks looked up apologetically.

“Look at your face,” Losinia observed. Harks’ face was as pale as a ghost.

“I’m…” – he swallowed yet again.

Losinia buried her head to the back of the horse. “Don’t tell me. You get sick riding horses.”

“Only when it’s fast,” Harks protested.

Losinia smiled sadly. What am I to do? “Look, Harks, I don’t want to make this hard for you. If you’ll just take me to the Land Bridge you refer to, at your own pace, I can handle the rest myself. After all, you don’t know your way in that Jurostic Kingdom. I really don’t think you can do me any good dragging along.”

“No,” Harks said instinctively. Her words stabbed deep in him. His heart was so painful he wanted to cry. How far can someone hurt you until your heart bleeds literally? I’m really useless. Master Weaver, what a sarcastic title for me. “No,” he repeated. “I’ll get used to it. The riding, I mean.”

“I don’t have time for you to get used to it, Harks. Frankly, I’ve been disappointed in your help so far. I know you don’t mean to bring me here. You don’t have to try and fix things for me.”

“I can protect you, I have magic.”

“The only magic I’ve seen you do is take me here and there and not anywhere I need to be. I’m never too comfortable with this arcane thing any way. As I said, if you’re doing this because you feel sorry for what you did, don’t.”

“But I love you.” The words hiding inside his heart crawled out without consulting him. Oh no, what did I do?

 

Losinia stroke him off the horse with her arm in rage. “Men anywhere are alike. We’ve barely met. How possibly can you love me? You don’t even know me!”

“Losinia, I don’t know why, but you’ve always been in my dreams since I was a child.”

Losinia was totally disappointed. “You don’t expect me to fall for that, do you? The least you could’ve done was to give me some respect and not try to trick me with this stupid excuse. I thought better of you, Harks. Farewell and may we never cross path again.” The horse started to gallop. “Be thankful I don’t kill you now.”

No, it’s true. But Harks could not speak the word out. It’s no use. She won’t listen. Why have I been dreaming of her? Why hasn’t she dreamt of me? Who’s playing this cruel joke on me? Suddenly he felt very lonely. He had always been lonely, with only Thoron to keep him company and the King as his best friend. But he had never felt lonely. Why do I suddenly feel so lonely? Why? I know why. Loneliness has nothing to do with being lonely. It’s a sense of longing, longing for someone I’ll never have. Bola must be as lonely as I now. If only I knew this is so unbearable… Stop this silly idea! What am I going to do now? Oh why is this happening to me? What did I do to deserve this?

Harks did not know when he started sobbing, nor was he aware of the moment he fell in the darkness.

—

Hm…Harks is not in his hut, Telerine thought. There can only be one other place he’ll be.

 

Telerine could hear noises coming out of the library. It seemed like a conversation was going on. Must be Harks and Thoron. She opened the door while announcing her presence. “Harks, I’m here. Are you ready?”

“How many times are you going to ask me again? I said I haven’t seen him.” Telerine heard Thoron say. It was then that she noticed there were more then two people in the library. A few soldiers were searching the library. One of them was sitting with Thoron. Harks was nowhere in sight.

Apparently Thoron heard Telerine. “What are you doing here? The library is closed. Come back in two months.”

He sounded as if he didn’t know me…Strange. These should be the escorts from the King. But if they were, why are they searching the library? Where the hell is Harks anyway?

The soldier heard her too, very clearly, unfortunately. “You know Harks? Who are you?”

“Everyone knows Harks, General.” – no harm making his soldier seem important – “He’s the Master Weaver, after all.” Thoron said before Telerine could answer.

Telerine had decided to keep silent until she knew what was going on. It seems like they’re looking for Harks. Why would he be missing though? He really wants to visit the Castle.

 

The soldier looked at Telerine, obviously waiting for an answer from her.

Oh I really hate the way he looks at me. But I must not be angry. It would not do to act anything that the King might find unattractive now. She smiled and curtsied.

“When you came in, you sounded as if you and Harks had planned to meet now,” the soldiered stated. He was still staring at Telerine.

“You must be mistaken…” Thoron started.

“Hush. I want to hear it from her.”

“Harks has promised to teach me some Weaving tricks,” Telerine lied without a moment’s delay.

Thoron buried his face in his hands. That lie’s no good? Telerine thought.

“Cease her!” the soldier ordered.

Telerine had no idea what gave the lie away. She would find that out later. At the moment, though, the very thought of being ceased was not comfortable. She made some quick gestures in the air. Nothing seemed to have changed, however.

The advancing soldiers winced and jerked back as they came within two arms reach from Harks’ sister.

“What’s going on?” the commanding soldier asked.

“It’s hot, very hot,” one of the soldiers replied. The others agreed.

Battle-Weaving? Thoron thought.

Telerine was quite satisfied with the responses from the soldiers. She was proud of applying a simple domestic Weave – one Weavers used to start fire in a fireplace – to a different medium to become a protective spell. What she did could only be done by one with a very thorough understanding of Weaving and an ingenious mind. Those two qualities, according to Headmistress Corelle, was what gained Telerine the title of Mistress Weaver then.

The commanding soldier was startled. He had never thought much of Weaving. One could not blame him, however. Not many really thought much of Weaving after the Mage War. But he was no fool either. He quickly but calmly placed his sword around Thoron’s neck.

“Wait!” Telerine yelled and unraveled her spell. “What do you want from me?”

“The truth, is that so hard to do? I need to know where Harks is.”

“I’m looking for him too,” Telerine replied. “He’s promised to take me with him to Castle Wevis. I’m his sister.”

“I see that we must use another ‘persuasive method’ to wring the truth out of you.”

“No, I’m speaking the truth. Why do you say I lied?”

The commanding soldier sighed. “If you must play innocent, very well, I’ll tell you why. Your timing isn’t right. Harks has been to the Castle. He just fled from there, in fact.”

“What?” The news caught Telerine totally by surprise. She looked at Thoron, who nodded slightly to confirm the soldier’s words. “He lied to me! That worthless piece of dirt never really planned to take me to the King!”

“I’m not so sure I trust your word, woman.”

“I don’t blame you, soldier. Even a brother can lie to his sister. Who can trust who anymore?” Telerine could not hold her temper anymore and her face had turned all red.

“Let’s not get philosophical now.” The commanding soldier was as cool as ever. “If you insist on your story, which I doubt very much, I have no choice but to take you to the High Queen. I just hope your claim as his sister is true, or you’ll be sorry you’re ever born.”

The High Queen? Why not take me to the King? What has Harks done? I’m not going to suffer the consequence of any mishap he’s done. But what’s happened? Why did he leave so suddenly? What if he’s really in some trouble? Mother Corelle never likes the High Queen, even though on the surface she seems to do the High Queen’s bidding. There have been too many rumors about the High Queen anyway, how she’s the real power behind the Crown, or how she plans to take over the Academy. If she has anything to do with Harks, I’m sure Harks is in a lot of trouble. She sighed. “Take me to the High Queen then.”