Dawn painted the winter sky in broad brushstrokes of pink and violet hues across white clouds, casting the mountains into a haze of purple. Birds welcomed that return of the sun with a morning chorus from snow covered pine boughs. Rivulets of light spilled into the sleeping chamber from between heavy blue brocade curtains. Markos lifted his hand to shield his eyes with a murmur. Yawning, he rolled to his left side and saw an empty bed with the covers cast aside.
"Iliana?" He sat up, reorienting himself to who was in the room. It was warm from the fire burning in the fireplace. Caelyn's bed was empty but the blankets had neatly straightened. He remembered the stress of yesterday's encounter and the promises he'd made. He felt out of his depth, he was 17 for a few more months. His main goal was to become a templar of the Order. He wanted to serve the noble cause and protect people but it was a partial truth.
Caelyn was going to become the Pillar to stop this madness. The reappearance of the aphotics heralded the demon dragon's return. He knew it was true, the demon had even appeared in it in his dreams. It just meant that Caelyn had to be the one that slew the thing, if anyone else managed the task— they'd be the next dragonslayer and their plans were for naught. It was still early in the demon cycle but ensuring their victory meant heading towards the northern wastes and lingering there.
That's what the most sense but he wasn't sure what Caelyn had in mind. Today they were to start his training and their plan. Markos swung his legs over the side of the bed, the stone was cool against the warmth of his feet as he stood up. He arched his back and stretched. 'I wonder where they went?'
A short knock against the hardwood of the chamber door drew Markos's attention. He moved to the door, not caring that he was still shirtless. He opened the door to see an anxious pale face with grey eyes staring at him from beneath a mass of unruly brown hair. His visitor was a scrawny young man, not much younger than Markos, dressed in drab grey and holding a large covered tray.
"Yes?" Markos eyed the tray and opened the door wider. "Who're you?"
"AH! Gareth, sire!" The youth's eyes transverse the length of Markos's body before he caught himself. He looked to one side, his voice trembling. "A... a .... pologies for disturbing you. I hope I didn't wake you?"
"No. I was awake." Markos softened his voice to reassure the youth. He remembered being nervous like this when he was younger in his service to the Knight General. "Good morning, to you, Gareth."
"I brought breakfast for y'all." Gareth lifted the tray up to draw attention to it. Markos nodded and stepped aside, gesturing for the youth to enter. Gareth shuffled into the room, placing the large tray down on the table.
Markos shut the door, curiously watching Gareth. "Thank you."
Gareth glanced around the room in wonderment. Markos smiled. "Anything else I can help you with, Gareth?"
Gareth froze, looking startled. "Ah! No." The tops of the youth's ears turned red. "I was just wondering if the Sister was as lovely as the other said she was."
Markos crossed his arms. "Much more so. But you should attend to your duties than bother Helka Iliana."
Gareth's eyes grew large at the mention of "Helka". "S..she's a helka!?"
The templar settled on the couch and raised an eyebrow, appraising the young man before him. He'd been just as curious about seeing Iliana when he'd heard of her arrival at the manor. He didn't begrudge Gareth for wanting to see a legendary beauty.
"Their said to possess the intense radiance of Saule. Their light makes the sun look away in shame."
Markos tried not to roll his eyes.
"Does her hair glow like fire?"
Markos pursed his lips together and restrained his desire to laugh. "As beautiful and powerful as Iliana is, the only thing that glows are her eyes. I don't know when she'll be back, you should head off to your chores before you get in trouble. You don't want to anger your master."
Gareth paled and nodded. "I'll come back later to get the tray." He scurried away and out the door before Markos got back up to let him out.
Markos stared at the door for a long moment before heartily laughing. "It makes sense. I don't think they get many visitors on the Wall and women rarely travel alone." He leaned back against the couch. "Where did they go?" He lifted the lid on the tray and was rewarded with a boiled piece of mutton, warm bread, a wheel of cheese and wine. There was enough food for the three of them with an extra large portion meant for Iliana. He closed his eyes and said a quiet prayer.
He sensed a tug of energy somewhere nearby that was moving towards him. 'Iliana did say that magic users are drawn together but this is new.' He opened his eyes and waited for the sensation to reach its conclusion.
The sensation terminated at the door. When it opened, Caelyn and Iliana were standing on the other side chatting quietly. Iliana smiled brightly at Markos and sat across from him. "Good morning."
Caelyn shut the door before sitting beside her. "How'd you sleep, Markos?" The senior templar's tone was relaxed.
Markos smiled, gesturing towards the tray. "Just in time for breakfast."
Caelyn reached for the wine. "Good. I already briefed Cameron and got the word to the Order." He tore a piece of bread from the loaf and dipped it in his wine. "Turns out there are more sightings here on the outskirts. They want us to investigate."
Markos sampled the cheese before commenting. He watched Iliana to see how she was this morning. She was addressed in a high collared red gown with long draping sleeves with a thick orange fabric belt at her waist tied with a crimson rope. Her thighs peeked on either side of the high slits of the dress. It was strange to see her without the orange overdress but she was as lovely as ever. A little pale, but she was contently eating her breakfast. "Aphotics?"
"It's a mix of elves and aphotics," Caelyn replied once he finished the bite of what he was eating. "There's an old temple dedicated to the First along the cliff face several days' ride north before the Teeth. The Fleur say there're artifacts we need to recover before the elves claim them."