The Inheritor of Light

Prison Break (Part One)

The King's chambers were as large as any home. The ceiling rose up three times the height of Sãra, and a lush, crimson carpet deafened their footfalls. Centered along the back wall was a large bed, covered in fine silk blankets and soft goose-down pillows. It was a bed that Sãra knew well, for when her mother was alive she, then at a very young age, would often escape the custody of her nurse and sneak in to sleep with her parents. Now, that same bed contained the haggard body of her father, The king. The room, darkened by the drawn curtains, was lit by several lamps. They emitted a bright glow that seemed to cast eerie shadows on the aged king's worn, wrinkled face.

It was hard to believe that he was once the heroic warrior that saved Alvirith from the synthetic forces of Izaleous. Not only that, he had overcome Izaleous himself, even though the villain was empowered by that mystical tome: The Hamashlis. The memories of the strong man her father was flooded into her mind as she looked upon his sleeping form. For some reason, one of them crawled its way to the surface of her mind and took vivid form there.

* * *

"Father, would you tell me about the Ersatz War?" a young Sãra in a white night gown asked.

Shmay looked up at her from his large leather reading chair. The shadows on his face danced in the shifting light of the lantern. "I've told you that story a hundred times, will you ever not want to hear it?"

Sãra put her hands on her hips. "That was when I was a little girl. I'm twelve now. I want to hear the real story, not the one you were just telling me as a child."

The king smiled, bemused by Sãra's attempted adultness. The smile faded and his eyes wandered back down to the tome that lay open in his lap. "If I were to tell you, it would give you nightmares. There was nothing good about that war."

Sãra put her hands on her father's lap, causing him to look up at her. "I told you, I'm not a child anymore. I can handle it."

Shmay sighed. He shut the tome and set it down on the table next to him. "I see that I won't be able to change your mind. Just remember though, you were the one who asked me to tell you."

Sãra sat down before her father, ready to hear his account in all its glory. However, she had misjudged the saga he was about to tell her. Unlike what she had imagined, it wasn't a tale of her father heroically and majestically riding in to save the world. Instead, it was a nightmare of blood and gore: bodies without heads, limbs without torsos, fields of corpses, rivers of blood.

Shmay spoke of how the mechanical soldiers, synthetics, killed any human and every human in their path. Whether they be the highest king or the lowliest of serfs, none were spared. Then, her father described how he climbed the great tower that had been built by the Foundry. Finally, he told Sãra how he fought and defeated Izaleous, ending the terrible war.

Somehow, Sãra managed to stay through the entire gruesome tale. However, it was not courage that bid her to remain, but pure paralyzing terror. When her father finished the story, Sãra nodded slowly and said goodnight before walking slowly out of the room. She didn't dare show her father how fearful she was; she couldn't. Sãra shut the door slowly behind her.

"Milady?"

Sãra's heart nearly jumped from her chest at the sudden voice. She turned to see her friend and personal knight, Talia, her face illuminated by the candle she held. "Oh, thank the Exalted it's just you, Talia. Have you been waiting out here this whole time?"

Her friend nodded. "I know you told me to go, but I . . ." The young girl shifted uncomfortably in her nightgown. "I couldn't just leave you. Captain Riald said—he said it was my duty to protect you, always. So, I can't just leave you wandering the halls alone."

Sãra smiled softly. If she had ever had a sister, Sãra would have wanted it to be Talia. She reached out and grabbed the young knight's free hand. "Thank you, Talia."

Talia smiled too. "Of course. Now, let's get you to bed."

The walk from Shmay's study to Sãra's room was a short one. In several short minutes, the two of them had arrived at the door. Sãra opened it slowly, the dark room loomed before her. Even with Talia illuminating her back, Sãra's mind filled with the horrible images her father's words had impressed upon her. "Talia," Sãra said hoarsely.

"Yes, milady?"

Sãra turned around, trying her best to not let the fear show on her face. "Would you like to sleep in here with me tonight?"

Talia swallowed hard. She looked into the room and then back to Sãra. "I don't think I should."

"Talia, you are my personal knight—and my friend. Please."

Talia looked into Sãra's pleading eyes. Any misgivings she had crumbled. Sãra was right, they were friends. The walls that normally separated lady and vassal had long since been destroyed by their friendship. Talia looked Sãra in the eyes. "Alright."

Sãra smiled and led the way into the room, her friend a step behind.