Chapter 5: 5: Into Darkness

Vir never knew that three hours could feel like such an eternity. After agonizing alone in silence, Rudvik had finally shown up with Apramor and Maiya. Now they all huddled over the dining table.

“Well? Why’re all these knights really here? I don’t buy this ‘routine inspection’ grakkery they’re spouting,” Rudvik said.

“Hmm, why indeed…” Apramor paused, giving Vir a worried glance. “I fear they’re here for your son, Rudvik. For Vir.”

“Huh? What do dey want with my boy? Unless…” Rudvik’s eyes went wide.

Apramor shook his head. “No, no. Not that. It appears that they’re hunting for Ashborn.”

“Why though? Are Ashborn dangerous or something?” Maiya shouted.

Apramor held his finger up to his lips. “Quiet, Mai! These knights are everywhere, and they know where Vir lives. Maiya clamped her hands over her mouth and voicelessly mouthed ‘sorry’.

“But to answer your question, it’s… unknown. Not much is known about Ashborn, but I have heard rumors among my priestly circles.”

Apramor had every eye on the room on him—even Neel’s. The small house was more silent than the village’s grave.

“The new religious advisor to King Rayid may be colluding with the Pagan Order. These are just rumors, mind you, but it seems they are rounding up Ashborn to be brought to the capital.”

“Makes no badrakking sense,” said Rudvik. “Pagan Order hunts demons. Why’re they targeting Ashborn now alluva sudden, hmm?”

“I do not know, Rudvik. They claim they are bringing the Ashborn in for ‘protection’, but I am skeptical.”

“You’re grakkin’ right! Protection,” Rudvik scoffed. “Why’d they bring so many soldiers, then?”

Apramor nodded. “Indeed. Whatever their reasons, it does not change the fact that we must act. And fast.”

“Any way to convince those tinheads Vir ain’t Ashborn?”

Apramor shook his head. “I’m afraid not. His appearance matches the Ashborn in scripture to a T. Even if they can’t prove it, I fear they will still take him in the name of holy duty. Janak only knows what they will do to him.”

The room fell into a long silence. Vir was the one to break it. “I’ll flee to the Godshollow. Alone.”

Rudvik grunted. “Yer outta yer mind if ye think I’ll let ye go alone, boy. Ain’t nobody knows the woods better ‘n I do. If you go, I go. I’d like to see those knights just try to find us there.”

“And where would you go from there?” Apramor asked.

“Viridian Coast,” Rudvik said. “I’ve a bit of coin saved up. Plenty o’ships bound for Saran or Zorin that put in near the coast. Figure we work sumfin out.”

“Zorin would be your better bet, even if it is Pagan Order,” the priest replied. “Best to escape Hiranya entirely. Though, fleeing would be an admission of guilt, Rudvik. You realize this, yes?”

“Guilty of what!?” The lumberjack roared, his face flushing red. “Refusing to hand my son over to some highborn chals from Daha?”

“Logic does not work on the government, Rudvik. It’d be seen as an obstruction of knightly affairs. The punishment will be severe…” He paused, “Rudvik, you don’t have to do this. You have fulfilled your end of the bargain. If that four armed giant ever returns, he can have no qualms about how you’ve raised Vir. And that is a big if.”

“What?” Vir asked. “What four-armed giant? Father, what’s he talking about?”

“Not now, Vir,” Rudvik said, waving him away. “I promise I’ll tell ya, but now’s not the time.”

Rudvik looked the priest in the eye, his rugged expression etched with conviction.

“Vir is my son. What father abandons their child in his time of need?” He said.

Vir had never seen Rudvik speak so strongly before, and if he was honest, he was more than a bit happy to see his father sticking up for him like that.

But to leave the village was something he could scarcely even imagine. Was this truly the right decision? He’d be leaving behind everything. He’d be walking away from his dreams of fitting in and helping Rudvik. Would he even be able to survive in the outside world?

“I say let ‘em come!” Rudvik continued, “if that’s what it takes ta ensure Vir’s safety, den ‘n count me in. But if we do dis, we’d best be quick. Not like’n we got much time now, do we?”

“I suspect the knights will make their move by tomorrow at the latest,” Apramor said. “I’m afraid it’s only a matter of time before the villagers confirm their suspicions. The only reason they haven’t acted already is because they do not want to foster ill will with the locals.”

“Well then, let’s hop to it!” Rudvik declared, slapping his knees.

The priest hesitated. “I think we should let the boy have a say in this matter, don’t you?”

“Ye. He should.”

“Vir?” Apramor said, turning to him. “What would you like to do? Will you stay? Or will you flee?”

Vir hadn’t gotten a word in this entire time, but that was because he’d had few objections. He wasn’t about to let some strangers from the capital dictate his future. “We’ll flee. Tonight.”

Apramor gave him an appraising look while Rudvik set his jaw and nodded.

“That is… I admire your determination, Vir,” the priest said, “but you do understand what this means, yes? You may not be able to come back to the village. Perhaps not even after the knights leave.”

Vir nodded. “I get it. It does scare me, you know. It scares me so much it’s taking everything I have not to shiver right now. But I’d rather take my chances in the Godshollow than with these knights.”

One look at how the Knight Captain had treated Apramor told him all he needed to know about those people. There would be no happiness in his future if he followed them. Only misery, and Vir suspected that even the village bullies wouldn’t hold a candle to what the knights would do to an ‘Ashborn freak.’

Neel sidled up to him, whining. Vir smiled. “We’ll take you too, boy. Don’t worry.”

“If that is your decision, then we shall support you,” Maiya’s dad said with a sigh. “Rudvik and Vir will flee the village tonight. Meanwhile, I shall stall the knights for as long as I can.”

Rudvik grunted. “Godshollow ain’t no place ta be after dark, but well,” he smacked his chest, “you’ve got the best badrakkin’ lumberjack in these woods right ‘ere! We’ll do alright. Vir, go ‘n get yer things!”

Vir was already moving to retrieve his rucksack and whatever clothes he owned. It didn’t take long; he didn’t have much.

“Come on, Mai. Let’s go home,” Apramor said. But Maiya shrugged him off and stepped away. “I’m going with Vir.”

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“No challin’ way ya ain’t, Crimson!” Rudvik roared.

Vir had to agree. “I think that’s a terrible idea, Maiya. You’d be hunted just like me if you come with us.”

Rudvik nodded vigorously. “You tell her straight, Apramor!”

“Hmm,” the priest said, deep in thought. He kneeled down and looked deeply into Maiya’s hazel eyes. “Are you sure about this, Maiya?”

Maiya nodded vigorously. “What kind of friend would I be if I abandoned Vir now?”

“Apramor, ya outta yer mind? Tell her straight! Tell her she can’t come with us! It’s far too dangerous!”

The priest turned his gaze to the lumberjack. “You understand, don’t you? You know why I wish for her to go with you, yes?”

“Wha—I…” Rudvik’s words caught in his mouth. “S’pose I do,” he said at last, his expression grim.

“What do you mean?” Maiya said. “What does he mean, dad?”

Maiya’s father spoke with a sad smile. “You’ll understand, someday. But not today. Go with your friend. Support him when he falls. Protect him in this dark hour. Be his anchor in the sea.”

Maiya nodded slowly. “I will.”

“Rudvik, my daughter will meet you and Vir at the forest’s edge as soon as she’s retrieved her things. We shall now make our leave. May Adinat favor you.”

Apramor and Maiya left shortly thereafter. So much had happened in the past half hour that Vir’s mind still hadn’t caught up.

I’m really leaving… he finally realized. It hadn’t really sunk in yet. Yesterday, he thought he’d live out his entire life here. But now? Now he might not spend another cycle in this house ever again.

He gazed around the modest log house. It wasn’t much, but it was home. When he realized he may never see it again, he suddenly appreciated its coziness. He felt its warmth and the sense of security it had always given him. Why had he never noticed these things until now?

Rudvik rested his giant hand on Vir’s slender shoulders. “Every child leaves da nest some day. Jes’ yer day’s comin’ a bit earlier than expected, eh? S’ides, seein’ the world’s not a bad thing. Haven’t seen much of it me’self, but it oughta be a whole wagonload more exciting ‘n this boring village life, eh?”

Vir smiled, but his heart wasn’t in it. Rudvik clapped his back. “Don’t worry, boy. I’ll be right here. Not goin’ anywhere now, am I?”

A melancholic fifteen minutes later, Rudvik, Vir, and Neel stood at the edge of the Godshollow. The forest was spooky enough during the day, but the voices only grew louder at night. Vir was having a hard time staying calm, and the bizarre sounds only he could hear just added to his worries.

“Where are they?” Vir asked, pacing around as he searched for Maiya.

“Relax, Vir,” Rudvik said, dropping a heavy bundle of lashed firewood. “We only just got ‘ere. Maiya’s got ta pack her things ‘n then come all the way back. Sit tight.”

Sitting tight was the last thing Vir wanted to do at that moment.

A whole half hour passed in nervous silence before Maiya and Apramor finally arrived. Neel noticed them first, perking up the instant he caught a whiff of their scent.

“This is it, then,” Apramor said as he hugged his daughter. They stood that way for a good minute before he broke the embrace. “Be well, Maiya. Be strong. I love you, dear.”

Maiya looked away. “Not like it’s set in stone that we’ll never come back, yeah? Why’re you acting like this?”

Apramor laughed, wiping away his tears. “You’re right, Mai. You’re quite right.”

He turned to Vir. “Remember what I told you at the temple. Hold your head high. Protect those close to you, and never feel ashamed about who you are. You bow to no one, Vir.”

Vir gulped. He nodded. “Yes, sir.”

“And finally, to you, Rudvik, I bid goodbye and godspeed. May Janak watch over you,” he said as the two clasped arms.

Rudvik whispered something to Apramor, but Vir couldn’t hear it. The priest smiled sadly. “I’m afraid nothing will change that now, old friend,” he said, leaving Vir and Maiya scratching their heads.

— —

Apramor watched his daughter and the boy who he treated as his own son disappear into the darkness of the Godshollow before returning. The priest had many thoughts during his long walk back to the village.

He contemplated his life. He remembered his daughter and his beautiful wife. He gazed up at the stars and thanked Adinat for all that he had been given in life. And he prayed. For Rudvik’s success in evading the knights. And for his daughter’s safety.

But he did not pray for himself. Not even when the steady clacking of hooves grew louder and louder, coming to a stop right in front of him.

“Priest! Odd for you to be out and about at this hour?” Knight Captain Vastav said from atop his steed. “Where were you?”

“Just taking a stroll. Lovely night, wouldn’t you agree, Knight Captain?”

“A lie. We know about Ekavir. You helped him escape, didn’t you?” The captain didn’t wait for a response. “This is a grave crime, Apramor. A grave crime. Don’t think for a moment that your station protects you from the law. I just wish…” the knight said with a sigh, shaking his head. “We already know that they’ve escaped to the woods. Your actions have amounted to naught.”

“You do not know those woods like Rudvik does, Knight Captain. You have no hope of catching them now,” Apramor said. He kept his tone even, but panic welled up inside him. Something wasn’t right. Why would the captain casually reveal his plans? Unless…

“Oh, I am quite sure you’re right, priest. But you see, we planted operatives within the forest well in advance, anticipating this very outcome. Did you not notice how we approached the village from the west?”

From the west? Apramor’s eyes widened. It was true. They’d approached from the direction of the Godshollow, not the Daha-Saran highway.

“You have led them right into our trap, priest. They will not get far.”

Apramor looked up at the sky with a deep sadness. “You are playing with fire, Knight Captain. That boy is larger than me—than even you. Vir is more special than you could possibly imagine. Cease your pursuit before you get burned. Let sleeping wryms lie.”

“Burned! Us!?” Vastav scoffed. “We’ll just have to see about that, won’t we?”

Apramor smiled grimly. “I suppose we shall.”

Rudvik, Vir, Maiya… My prayers are with you.

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