here? Has he ever spoken of his childhood, or that of his sister? My guess is that your knowledge of Rhys began when he showed up to live in your village. You probably have no idea what secrets that man holds or what inner demons from his past have haunted him.”
“Well, Rhys is in no condition to speak for himself right now and I’m not sure that I need to know these things if he is unwilling to share them. I only care that he and Elwyn are safe from harm. I love them both more than anything else in this world. They are my only family.”
“There is something else that also needs to be considered. It appears that Elwyn may be the daughter of Rhianna and Lord Azavon of Silvendil. If that is true, she is heir to the throne of two nations in the Known Lands, and therefore an even more serious threat to King Stefan’s rule.”
“I can confirm that Elwyn is Rhianna’s child. I was present at her birth. I was also present at Rhianna’s death a month later when a mysterious illness swept through our village. Rhys has raised her since then.”
“I can see that you care deeply for Rhys and Elwyn, but it is imperative that you accept that they are both in extreme danger and cannot remain here any longer. In fact, every hour they remain in this village the danger to them increases.”
“But why would they still be in danger if your soldiers killed the men sent to assassinate them? It sounds to me as if you’re overreacting, Ayron.”
“I don’t believe I am. There are still some of Crawley’s men unaccounted for, and if they make it back to King Stefan, who I believe is behind this, another attempt could be made on their lives within the day. You may be in danger as well, since you were with Rhys when he was attacked.
I will allow you a short time to stabilize Rhys, now that the dagger has been removed. My men are constructing a litter that will rest on an old wagon frame we found at the blacksmith shop. I believe that for him to make the journey to Silvendil right away would be too difficult and might well kill him, so I am planning to take him to the village of Amarni, which is just across the border in the land of Urafiki. I would like you to accompany him and continue to care for him; both on the journey and after he arrives.”
“Ayron, I still think you are overreacting to this situation. Rhys has lived in this village for the past seventeen seasons and Elwyn was born here. Maybe the attempt on their lives was a warning and this will be the end of it. Besides, Rhys shouldn’t be moved.”
“Clayre, I know that you would like to stay here and hope that everything will return to the way it was. No one likes change when it is thrust upon them, but I promise you that neither Rhys nor Elwyn will ever be safe in this village again. I don’t think that you will either; which is why I have asked you to come with us.”
“Ayron, you just don’t understand. I am the healer in this village and have a responsibility to the people that live here. How can I just leave everything behind? Why can’t we just stay here? Rhys is no threat to that king. Surely he must realize that. And what of Elwyn? How will she deal with having to go to this foreign land?”
Ayron could see fear and confusion rising up in the simple village woman. Since she was vital to the success of his plan and since he believed that her life was also in jeopardy, he knew he had to find the right words to convince her that she should accompany them. He took a deep breath and began.
“Clayre, from what I have seen you seem both an intelligent and courageous woman. I am guessing that you have been through some difficult times in your life. If nothing else, I know that being a healer is a difficult job that requires both courage and determination. I know it is hard for you to believe what I am saying, but it is the truth. I wouldn’t question your diagnosis as a healer and I am asking you not to question my assessment as a military leader. My men
“Well, Rhys is in no condition to speak for himself right now and I’m not sure that I need to know these things if he is unwilling to share them. I only care that he and Elwyn are safe from harm. I love them both more than anything else in this world. They are my only family.”
“There is something else that also needs to be considered. It appears that Elwyn may be the daughter of Rhianna and Lord Azavon of Silvendil. If that is true, she is heir to the throne of two nations in the Known Lands, and therefore an even more serious threat to King Stefan’s rule.”
“I can confirm that Elwyn is Rhianna’s child. I was present at her birth. I was also present at Rhianna’s death a month later when a mysterious illness swept through our village. Rhys has raised her since then.”
“I can see that you care deeply for Rhys and Elwyn, but it is imperative that you accept that they are both in extreme danger and cannot remain here any longer. In fact, every hour they remain in this village the danger to them increases.”
“But why would they still be in danger if your soldiers killed the men sent to assassinate them? It sounds to me as if you’re overreacting, Ayron.”
“I don’t believe I am. There are still some of Crawley’s men unaccounted for, and if they make it back to King Stefan, who I believe is behind this, another attempt could be made on their lives within the day. You may be in danger as well, since you were with Rhys when he was attacked.
I will allow you a short time to stabilize Rhys, now that the dagger has been removed. My men are constructing a litter that will rest on an old wagon frame we found at the blacksmith shop. I believe that for him to make the journey to Silvendil right away would be too difficult and might well kill him, so I am planning to take him to the village of Amarni, which is just across the border in the land of Urafiki. I would like you to accompany him and continue to care for him; both on the journey and after he arrives.”
“Ayron, I still think you are overreacting to this situation. Rhys has lived in this village for the past seventeen seasons and Elwyn was born here. Maybe the attempt on their lives was a warning and this will be the end of it. Besides, Rhys shouldn’t be moved.”
“Clayre, I know that you would like to stay here and hope that everything will return to the way it was. No one likes change when it is thrust upon them, but I promise you that neither Rhys nor Elwyn will ever be safe in this village again. I don’t think that you will either; which is why I have asked you to come with us.”
“Ayron, you just don’t understand. I am the healer in this village and have a responsibility to the people that live here. How can I just leave everything behind? Why can’t we just stay here? Rhys is no threat to that king. Surely he must realize that. And what of Elwyn? How will she deal with having to go to this foreign land?”
Ayron could see fear and confusion rising up in the simple village woman. Since she was vital to the success of his plan and since he believed that her life was also in jeopardy, he knew he had to find the right words to convince her that she should accompany them. He took a deep breath and began.
“Clayre, from what I have seen you seem both an intelligent and courageous woman. I am guessing that you have been through some difficult times in your life. If nothing else, I know that being a healer is a difficult job that requires both courage and determination. I know it is hard for you to believe what I am saying, but it is the truth. I wouldn’t question your diagnosis as a healer and I am asking you not to question my assessment as a military leader. My men
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