Velwrith spent every morning training for the next few months, his afternoons filled with manual labor and his evenings rich with books.
Each iteration brought one gradual change; The prince grew marginally more familiar with the Lightbringer's presence. Finally, in what felt like no time at all, he could summon forth the power at will.
Another year flew past, feeling like the Lightbringer in earnest, Velwrith determined to set out.
He timed his departure with the final days of summer. He would travel until winter froze the roads, then take shelter in a village until spring.
The flowers would accentuate his arrival in the city, and he would have plenty enough time to meander. Thus it was a surprise to find not just one mount reined and saddled, but three.
The muddy gold gelding named Sandbucket was his. He had bought the horse from a farm as a foal; the name had come from the family's little girl. The beast stood obediently, waiting and ready.
Beside the dimwitted gelding danced the shimmered white Mustang, Mercy. The stallions' silver hooves made no discernable sound nor disturbed the hay on the floor. He was a prize Valtra had won in her days adventuring. Old rumor had it; The Divine Constructs had stolen horses from a demigod. She'd owned the noble beast longer than Velwrith had been alive.
Last in line waited the colossal sandy yellow iguana. It looked hungrily between the elf and horses. A traditional mount for dragonkin, better adapted to the desert than most mammals but serviceable in any climate.
"Didn't think you'd be going all by yourself, did you?" The crimson-haired woman asked as she passed.
She walked to the reptilian steed, stroked its snout affectionately, and smiled before feeding it a whole chicken. "Lady Valtra would never let you do something like that, you know. So Daisy and I'll be at your side for all four trials, and the lady herself will be with us for the first."
"What an honor." came out of his mouth, but he wanted to tell them off. He loathed to give up his solitude.
Valtra smiled at him as she entered, but it was the echoey alien voice of the blue moth luna that filled his mind. "Trust us not to tarry you, my prince. We, too, have business in Aldrey. The council beckons us to craft a portal. We do not wish to restrict you in any way."
Velwrith scowled, keeping his mind blank as he stepped onto the stirrup. He resisted considering the words nobody heard, transmitted directly to him, as he settled in his saddle.
Then, when he was ready, and both women were busy with their mounts, he spoke. "Well then, I'll be off. The southern crane is all ready for Sandbucket and me. But, we will see you both in the roots soon enough."
With a light crack of reins, he began the next adventure. To his merit, He only let himself start considering his disdain for the situation when he had reached the elevator.
#
Expectedly, the rest of the day went without incident. They reunited at the base of the tree, then clopped on for miles in abject silence. Velwrith kept his mind free of unruly thoughts, knowing Luna would hear them.
Having resigned to traveling with pias companions, he made no attempts to stop at his favorite brothel, "The Southern Wench," as he usually would when leaving The Tree of Stars. Instead, he directed his thought to remember the more savory establishments he had stayed at in his travels too and fro.
The next three months rolled past—hard months of traveling and wintering. They spent several weeks snowed into inns. Just as often, they slept in tents by the road. The constant rain slowed them. Rarely Clear weather hastened their travel but came rarely.
With the city in sight, bandits fell on them, threatening them with violence and worse. That was until they recognized Lady Valtra. Then they sounded a full retreat and bound away. The heroine made no efforts to catch them herself. Instead, she instructed Luna to follow them back to their camp. She pledged to report them to the city officials when the time arrived.
On arriving back home in Aldrey, they found roaring fanfare.
Instead of indulging in the ecstatic crowds, the travelers went straight to the castle, ignoring the winding roads stuffed with vendors and shops. They stayed ignorant to the beauty of the illustrious towers and cathedrals they passed. They even avoided the swaths of well-tended parks, museums, and cultural districts scattered throughout the city.
A hard sweat took the prince when they reached the castle gate. His hands shook while he stabled Sandbucket. His stomach clenched at the familiar yeasty scent of herbaceous bread wafting from the kitchen as he crossed the tended gardens from his childhood. He could not look directly at the main hall swallowing him up in its echoey maw.
Images of Shingee's sneering face, judging him for choosing the path of a clergyman instead of that of a wizard, filled his mind's eye. Anticipatory dread for the needless rituals of court settled into his stomach.
Valtra, however, plunged onward. He thought she was intentionally leaving no choice but for her disciples to follow.
#
Quel'Valoe Silverwind, Queen of Thennia, his mother, vibrated about her dais inside the vast hall. Scores of the upper classes lined the walls muttering to each other. The council of elves sat in tall chairs at the lowest step, each lord unique and majestic.
Finally, the Herald announced his approach. "Lords and Ladies, I present to you the party of Tok'Velwrith Silverwind, Prince of Aldrey, prospective Lightbringer, and Lady Valtra the Stargazer!"
All three bowed. Velwrith took the opportunity to wipe sweaty hands on his trousers.
The stout Herald continued shouting introductions. "I present to you the council of Elven Lords: First among them is our Queen Quel'Valoe of Aldrey,"
The beautifully mature, sun blond woman wearing a crown with seven points and bearing a golden scepter bowed. Vewrith smiled at her, a tender glance between mother and child.
The Herald went on shouting. "the second is Tok'Pathris, lord of Fariview, and speaker for the Teklem,"
An older gentleman with a main of silky brown hair, holding a uselessly ornate copper pike, bowed low. He made a point of crossing the pike across his chest while he did so. Velwrith recognized the small gesture, a sign of friendship between them.
Without taking a breath, the shrill voice of The Herald went on. "Third amongst them is Quel'Nivara Demonbane, pedagogue for The Seven, and Lady of Wyarde,
A silver-haired matron, wearing a long black and white robe, and a three-tiered pointy hat, curtsied low.
"Fourth Tok'Avarin Lord of the Wines,"
A portly man, with two chins and no hair, nodded. Then, seating himself the instant, The Herald continued. His fat eyes avoided Velwrith's, searching the ceiling, likely for something to eat.
With a flourish towards the companions, the red-faced Herald shouted on. "Fifth your companion Lady Valtra The Stargazer speaker for the goddess"
Valtra curtsied again, less dignity this time.
In defiance of what should be possible, The Herald kept shouting. "Sixth Ven'Shingee the Archmage to speak for logic and reason."
The final lord standing, a man with short black hair, wearing long red robes bowed, tilting a silver staff topped with a bright blue crystal as he went. Unlike Avarin, his eyes never left Velwrith's. They stayed locked in a cold, hateful stare.
"We regret that neither Valdrath nor Myrmish lords will be in attendance." Finally, The Herald finished with a deep, shuddering breath.
Velwrith put aside the tightness in his chest, drawing a breath to steady himself; he spoke the words he had a thousand times before. "Thank you for your greetings, lords, and ladies. I am honored to be in your presence."
The words were empty. The prince did hold Pathris and his mother quite dearly. But, frankly, Valtra's presence was quite stale, and he would bite off his tongue before fraternizing with greedy Avarin or scheming Shingee.
Without warning, The Herald started again. "Tradition dictates that any who pass the Lightbringer's Right must complete four trials, each to be chosen by one of the lords before you now. Failure means disfigurement or death."
Valtra stepped forward, her musical voice cutting off the squeal of The Herald. "The four trials represent the tests faced by the first Lightbringer when he stood beside The Goddess during her ascension. First comes a trial of faith, second a trial of wisdom, third a trial of endurance, and finally a trial of might."
Seeming to find herself in the middle of the lords, she turned to the Archmage. "I ask you, Lord Shingee, to join me in arbitration." her musical voice and a gentle hand motion cut down the most skeptical amongst them.
Velwrith chuckled under his breath at his master's words, masterful use of traditions to subvert courtly manners.
Smiling, the wizard responded, "Yes, Lady Valtra, I will join you gladly."
A stone fell into Velwith's stomach; The Archmage had anticipated the move.
Shingee continued with a satisfying flourish. "The tasks fall upon the other four lords to decide. Perhaps we might offer the boy's mother the first task. It is, after all, a unique circumstance for mother and child to be in such a quarter. I think we need not force her to place him in harm's way."
Valtra nodded, her face expressionless. Even with her foresight, she had not predicted this.
The crowded room trembled as all eyes came to rest on Quel'Valoe.
Velwrith trembled as he watched his mother frozen on her throne. Her head slightly upturned, chewing her bottom lip.
She examined the ceiling for an eternity before she spoke. "Thank you, Archmage. I cannot hide that my heart burns to protect my son. First, however, I must uphold a sacred duty."
She stopped, locking eyes with her son, and took a steadying breath as a single silver line ran down her cheek. "I would ask this: In three days, you will undertake a trial of hot water, collect a symbol of our faith from a boiling cauldron. Until then, upon any attempt of flight from the city, you will be captured and executed."
Every word visibly weighed on the queen. Leaving her slumped across her throne by the last.
The crowd was all murmurs when Velwrith stepped forward without hesitation, took his mother by the hand, and accepted the task.
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