Original Stories Fan Fiction ❯ Tales of Intempia ❯ Chapter Nine ( Chapter 9 )

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Chapter Nine

“It can't be.”
He looked up, the glazed over expression he'd worn throughout his story vanishing. She was on her feet, moving away from him.
“It's not possible. Your father cannot have come from Algora!”
He remained where he was.
“Why is it not?”
She whirled around, eyes wide.
“Because… Because… Because they would have searched for him, and rescued him!”
“Rescued? Maybe he did not want to be rescued.”
She shook her head, backing away from him.
“It's not possible.” She said simply. “They would have found him.”
“Many died. Many vanished. The armies fled. They daren't face the ambushes that surely awaited them.”
“No.” Her hands had found their way to her hair.
“Alsentia.” The word was a gentle purr, making her pause. Slowly, she turned to him. Silver hair had fallen across his face, framing his eyes. Those endless lilac eyes, so soft and tender. They seemed to drain her of all uncertainty. She blinked, snapping back to reality and seeing the small smirk forming on the edge of his lips. She sighed.
“There's no point fighting against you, is there?”
The smirk just grew broader. Disgruntled, she flopped back to the ground beside him. She allowed him to wrap an arm around her waist and draw her against him.
“There's no point to a lot of things.”
He got no answer, and grinned to himself.

“I didn't know Intempia had a monarchy.” Her voice broke the comfortable silence they had been in.
“There are a lot of things you don't know.”
She shifted slightly in his lap.
“They always told us that it was just a bunch of uncivilised tribes who had no true leader.”
“And none of you would ever know otherwise. For who would question the word of the Elders?”
“I know otherwise.” She heard Estyrn laugh softly, and she felt the cold tremor of fear run through her for the first time since in his company.
“Who will believe you, Alsentia?” His voice was soft and low. “The daughter of an army General kidnapped by the Rebels. They will claim a case of mental breakdown, where you've fallen in love with your captors and they've brainwashed you into thinking like them. Who will believe you?”
No words came to her as he withdrew his arms from around her and moved back a few inches. No words came as she heard him stand and turn away, nor as she stood and approached his back. Touching his shoulder lightly, the only words she found were,
“I can try.”
He glanced over his shoulder and his eyes softened. He turned back to face her.
“You're persistent, I'll give you that. But it won't work.”
“Estyrn, I…”
The thunder of hooves silenced her, and both turned to greet a wild-eyed Masye.

“Estyrn, they've come!”
The silver-headed boy simply nodded, jaw set.
“Estyrn?” The sudden change in mood confused her.
“Time to go.” There was an edge in his voice that she hadn't heard before.
“What…?”
But the silver-coated horse now stood where Estyrn had been, shoulders lowered so she could climb on. Sighing, and once more admitting defeat, she scrambled onto his back and allowed him to carry her where he would.

This new camp was smaller than the first. And listening to the whispers of the soldiers, she began to realise what had happened.
“My father was close, wasn't he?”
Estyrn refused to look up from the sheet of paper clutched in his hands.
“Estyrn?”
“Any price. Any cost.” He muttered. His knuckles were white as she touched his hand. Confused.
“Tomorrow.”
She met his eyes.
“I'm taking you home tomorrow.” Turning, he vanished into the trees, and left her to dwell in her astonishment.