Chapter 8

Chapter 8

Mask of their Hope

 

 

                I ran down the halls, trying my best not to look panicked. I walked past Generals reading maps, documents, and all sorts of paperwork. Perfect timing, disappearing during a war. Once I entered the courtyard he was nowhere to be found, no body, no blood, nothing. It’s rather confusing really. How can some on throw themselves off of a balcony and not hit the ground? Unless he ran when he hit the ground, but that’s a forty foot drop, impossible to survive, and if he did he would have broken his legs. The most perplexing part is no one seems to have seen him hit the ground. This courtyard is full of people, yet no one saw him. It might be quite possible that Alessandra might know where he may be, but it might just panic her. How could I have been foolish enough to leave the room? But that’s not the problem, I need to find him.

 

 

                I walked over to where He was, and found the nurse out cold. Seems that fool doesn’t have the heart to kill anyone. I walked out of the room. For some odd reason I’m in the old barracks rooms. Why would I be in this place? Nothing is here, only supplies. As I walked down the halls they feel creepily familiar, like I used to walk them often. Then it hit me, this was where Ricardo’s room used to be, before we were married. The lowest floor, hidden deep within the castle, where not even Sarwar could have found it. Hidden from everyone but us, I wonder if it’s still the same. I walked sliding my hand on the walls that we used to run down, hand in hand. It was simple then, since Ricardo wasn’t married, he didn’t have full power yet. It was fun, we giggled and laughed. When we were in the courtyard, people would just smile at us. No one knew who he was. Before our marriage he only addressed his people in his armor, full masked, known as Knight. He was safe then, living two lives. It was bliss. He never had to worry about rebellions, treaties, and war. I was his only care. He was an image to the people, the mask of their hope. But now, it’s never the same, we do get to be together, but it’s short lived, only a few hours a day. We have the night, but I can’t possible ask him to stay awake. He wants too but he needs to sleep, its better that he’s able to protect everyone. I come second, even if he puts me first.

 

 

                With time I stumble across a door that felt right. I placed my hand on the doorknob, feeling the worn metal. As I try to open it, it locks. Someone can’t be inside? But then again things are getting wired, and I’m in a medical gown. I want to go in, I really do. I felt around the door, looking for the spell he put so I could always get in. It’s still here, right at the bottom near the hinge. I pressed my foot to it and turned the knob to slowly open the door. I looked in to the dusty room. No one’s inside, must have been a self locking spell. I walked over to the tiny bed that we barely use to fit on when I spent the night. It’s the same white sheets. Everything is still here, as if he wasn’t allowed to have his real life come with him. The dresser still has all of his clothing in it. I slid my hand along his shirts hanging neatly, and at the end there hanging softly was a dress. Was it mine? I’m not too sure. As I pulled it put I remembered it, the elegant black dress, with the spindles of red shooting put from the bottom, forming roses as they came up. I changed it to it, since it’s not fit to wear a medical gown. It still fits, a bit small near my belly but I’m not surprised. I walked to his nightstand, and opened. Letters upon letters where neatly placed in there. I pulled them out one by one, clearly noting that there’s no dust on them, and a bit of it is missing from the bed. I sat where there was not dust and looked through them. Most of them where the one’s I had written to him when I had to return to my father’s lands to tell him I was engaged, those where the worst ten days I could remember. I read them one by one, feeling each tear that was dried in to them. How could I have not taken him along, He really missed me. I took out the last one to find it sealed and addressed to me. I don’t remember this one, but it still feels crisp and new. Was it written recently? I opened it and started to read.

 

 

                Dear Alessandra,

 

Good morning or afternoon, I’m not sure what time it is. If you’re reading this then you and Ricardo are married. I’m happy for you two. You two are a lovely couple. I’m not sure when it is you’ll find this letter, hopefully you don’t but you’re reading this so you found it. Listen to me Alessandra things are going to get hard. For some reason or another Ricardo is going to turn in to Knight. I really don’t want that to happen. Knight is cold hearted, and doesn’t think right away, he acts on instinct. If you know Knight is Ricardo’s inner warrior, the beast of battle of to speak. Each of us has one, but Ricardo’s can control him. If for any reason he starts to seem merciless I need you to stop him. Inside the closet in this room is a box to the bottom right, open it and press the button. It’ll open the door the Arches. I know I made you swear never to come in unless he was with you, but it’s time that you get your gem. Go in, grab the ruby from the pillar, and leave. The door will seal behind you. Once you have the ruby, place it in his sword. I know you’ll have his sword. The bottom of the hilt has what looks like a talon missing its gem. That’s where the ruby is to go. Put it in then wait. The rest will be revealed.

Love,

Richard

 

 

                Richard? How is it possible, Richard died before our wedding, before our engagement? He can’t be alive can he? A spell that was spun dies when the spinner dies, yet it still was triggered. He is truly a Master at the gift, but if he’s not dead, why did he leave us stranded in that town? We where almost killed. Ricardo didn’t sleep for weeks after that; he didn’t even touch me once because of that. Richard left his student in a hostile town that wanted to kill everyone that had the gift. I’ll never forget that day, waking up to find that his bed was empty, that his things gone, and Ricardo slummed over a note only saying, Good luck. We where almost killed on our way out, since Ricardo’s gift still wasn’t full controlled. Damn it Richard, even now you still find a way to guide us, but screw us over. I walked to the closet, moving through everything: armor out grown, training gear, a few arrows, a broken bow, until I was a small box in the right. I took the top off and nothing was in it. I pressed down on the bottom, and I could hear the door opening. I stood up, brushed the dust off and walked in. The training grounds, forbidden ever everyone but the most gifted people. I walked to the other end quickly and saw the ruby, nearly the size of a kiwi. It shined brightly as I picked it up. I examined it to find my name written inside, yet it’s once solid piece, his gifts work. I returned to the room, and as promised the door sealed, but the box disappeared. Puzzled, but then again so is Richard. I gripped the ruby in my hand, squeezing it slightly. My other hand found the swords hilt. I pulled it up free from its scabbard; the soft flow of power from it slowly seeped in to my arm. I rolled the ruby, and placed it in place. Nothing happened. I pressed it in more, still nothing. Damn it. I returned the sword home, ruby in place, it clicked in. Then the oddest thing happened. The ruby turned gold.

 

 

                Where the hell is he? I have ever member of Nem hunting him down. Nothing is turning up. How can we not find a single trace of Ricardo anywhere? My gift can’t even find him. It’s as if he has disappeared from the world. I sat down in my office, trying to figure this out. I looked around, trying to think. But then I noticed on my desk, sitting center, was a small sapphire gem, with a note bellow it says, Place me in your Armor. I’m not sure what controlled me to but I did as it said. Placing the little sapphire gem in to the chest impression on my armor, I looked at it before I did and my name was within it. Sarwar, creepy as hell. The moment it locked in to place on my armor, the oddest thing happened. The sapphire turned gold.