Lingering Shadows-Chapter 14

Notes:

• Yay, we finally made it to the hollows!

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Chapter 14- An Unusual Welcome

A little over an hour and a half had passed, and Esben had gone below deck to his cabin because it was getting very cold. Artham however, stayed out, a piece of paper against the rough rail of the deck and tapping a pencil against his chin.

The cold didn’t bother him, in fact, the very feeling of the wind thrilled him. On a normal voyage he would have climbed the rigging and the rat lines to the highest point of the mast, not holding on tightly, but with absolute confidence that he wouldn’t fall.

Up there above the world, the mast would swoop and dive wildly, driving the wind into his face. Most people hated it, including Esben. But it was amazing to Artham. He knew it was the closest he would ever get to flying.

He almost decided to go start climbing, but then remembered that practically everyone on the ship was determined not to let him do anything. Also…his shoulder still hurt pretty badly and he wasn’t crazy. He didn’t want to risk going up there if he wasn’t sure he could hold on.

So, he remained on deck, staring at the line where the sky met the sea, and where the grey smudge of Anniera was fading out of sight. His thoughts wandered, and soon he was thinking of many, many other things.

A few minutes later, he heard a door slam hard, and stomping footsteps across the deck. He turned around to see Esben plunk down, lean against the wall, and bend his head over a book. Artham frowned, shoved the paper and pencil in his pocket and walked silently across the deck. The only sound was the splash of waves on the hull. He stood right behind Esben and looked over his brother’s shoulder.

“Hey,” Esben muttered without looking up.

“What’s the matter, Es?” Artham asked.

“What makes you think something’s wrong?” Esben grumbled.

“I can tell by the way you’re reading,” Artham said, reaching over his brother’s shoulder when Esben looked back at him and raised an eyebrow. He turned the book over in Esben’s hands.

“It’s upside down,” Artham said with a smile. Esben laughed ruefully, then scrambled up to lean on the rail next to Artham. They stood in silence for a long time, and Artham was pretty sure he knew what Esben was thinking, but for a few minutes he didn’t want to say just in case he was wrong. Just in case he was wrong and started Esben on the awful train of thought he had been trying to avoid for the last half hour of the voyage. Finally, Artham decided to break the silence.

“It was right around here, wasn’t it,” Artham asked softly.

“Yeah,” Esben answered. “No one has mentioned it. I don’t know if I hate them for it or if I’m relieved.” Artham nodded.

“I remembered, I just didn’t know if you did,” he said, feeling slightly ashamed.

“Artham, we're just out of sight of Anniera!” Esben erupted. “The Sea Queen sank somewhere in these waters we’re passing through right now. It was over a year ago!” Esben cleared his throat, looked away from his brother, and was silent. Artham looked out at the sea, and the familiar ache filled him, but he didn’t try to stop it. He turned and looked at Esben, who had his back to him so that Artham couldn’t see his face and resting his forehead on his hand.

“I know,” he whispered. “I know, Es. It still hurts.” He turned and pulled Esben into a hug. “I’m pretty sure it always will. But we’ll see them again.” Esben leaned on his brother, for once accepting all the love and protection Artham was trying to give him, silent, but grateful for the strength his brother wrapped around him. No matter how huge and empty the space that his parents had left behind, the Maker hadn’t let him be alone. As if Artham had read his mind, his older brother whispered,

“You’ll never be alone.” Esben hugged his brother tighter, then straightened up and tried to smile.

“I know. Thanks.” He took a deep breath and his expression returned quickly to normal.

Artham’s shoulder hurt, but he didn’t care at all.

Seeing the rapid transformation of Esben’s face from that of a vulnerable sixteen year old directly back to that of a mature king saddened Artham. Esben hadn’t been able to live like a sixteen year old for a long time. Esben shook some of the hair out of his eyes and shivered.

“It’s cold out here, Artham. How have you been out so long?” Esben asked, shakily trying to change the subject. Artham smiled.

“Throne Wardens must be immune to the cold,” he said with a smirk.

“Hah. I bet you wouldn’t be so immune if I splashed water on you!” Esben threatened with a grin.

“Yeah right,” Artham answered, crossing his arms. “and how are you going to do that without falling overboard?” Esben thought for a minute.

“Well, I guess if I fell overboard, you’d jump in ‘to save me’ so you’d be absolutely soaked.” Artham laughed.

“Es, we’d both be soaked!”

* * *

An hour later, the ship was near to entering the Hollows. Esben had put on a very regal coat and cape, and so did Artham. Artham also caught himself slipping a knife up his sleeve, just in case. The very tangible act of doing so frightened him. He told himself he would never need it, but he left it in his sleeve anyway.

Esben was waiting for him outside, standing straight and strong at the head of the boat as the faint shout of a watchman floated over the water, tiny figures scrambled, and the chain of the Watercraw began to sink. Artham smiled and strode over to Esben’s side, putting his hand on his sword hilt and holding his head high, excited to enter the Hollows, proud of his brother, and overall enjoying the moment.

He wasn’t sure if the moment was better or ruined when Connolin howled loudly and jumped in front of Esben, wagging his tail. With a grin he decided it was better. They sailed slowly through the Watercraw.

Artham stepped to the side of the boat, looking through the deep, murky water to where the huge chain links sat in the water. When he looked up, Esben still stood at the prow of the boat. Artham stood beside him, and they looked everything a King and his Throne Warden should. The other lords that had come with them, including Bonifer, also took their places on deck, along with the servants.

Aro took his place standing proudly a little to the side of Artham. It appeared that he had tried to comb his hair because now the scruffy black thatch on his head swept in (mostly) one direction.

The crowd that had been waiting for them on the street around the dock cheered and shouted, and as the anchor splashed into the deep water, they stepped back to make way for a strong man with a long golden beard who walked through the crowd to meet them. The plank was lowered and the King, followed by the Throne Warden, followed by a multitude of other officials, stepped foot on Hollish soil. The man who Artham assumed immediately was the new Keeper bowed to the King, they shook hands and exchanged a few required words.

“I am Kandir, chief of Ban Yorna, and it is my pleasure to welcome ye to the Green Hollows, High King Esben and Throne Warden Artham.” Artham blinked in confusion as he shook hands with Kandir.

“I’m sorry for asking,” he said quietly, “but, where is the Keeper?” Kandir looked uncomfortable.

“I’m terribly sorry, Yer Highness. The Keeper, ah, he… was unable to come. He had more pressing matters at hand.”

“Oh. That’s alright, of course,” Artham said, but it was not alright. He knew it was a serious breach of protocol for the Keeper not to meet the King, especially when an alliance was being renewed.

“I’ll be escortin’ ye to the Keep,” Kandir said warmly, trying to erase the awkwardness of the moment. As soon as Artham and Esben got into the carriage that was waiting for them, Esben leaned over to Artham frantically.

“Artham! Who’s the new Keeper?” He hissed. Artham opened his mouth to answer, then went pale, absolutely horrified at himself because he didn’t remember. The Banik Durga had been held only weeks before his parents had died, in fact that was why they had been in the Hollows. At the moment, it had been no concern of Artham’s or Esben’s who the new Keeper was. Then, in the rush of ceremonies and paperwork and other duties following their parent’s death, they had completely forgotten. Some part of Artham’s mind had assumed that he knew.

Artham shuffled frantically through a stack of papers he had pulled from his satchel. When he found what he was looking for, he suddenly fell back against the seat, wincing when his shoulder made contact. He let out a long sigh, looking down at his brother with concern in his eyes.

“You won’t believe it,” he said. Esben furrowed his brows.

“Tell me or I’ll make you walk to the Keep”

“You wouldn’t do tha-”

“Just tell me!”

“Fine.” Artham sighed.

“Myndik Bunge. Remember him? Nibbik’s father.”