Chapter 14 - Sedalia von Crystalburgh

 Music Inspiration

Chapter 14

 Sedalia von Crystalburgh

Several men dressed in robes stood in front of the stopped carriage.

The Inquisition of the Empire.

"Where do you want to go and what is your cargo?" one of the men shouted.

In the carriage, Duke grasped his sword, ready to use it.

"I am on the road on behalf of the librarian of the realm, Master Lysander. New books for the royal library are my cargo," Sedalia said calmly.

"Don't you recognize her, you fool," said another Inquisitor. "This is Sedalia Von Crystalburgh."

"Lady Von Crystalburgh, please forgive me for my ignorance." The Inquisitor bowed and took a step back.

Sedalia nodded to him as the Inquisition made way.

She set the carriage in motion again and passed the order.

Then we continued in the direction of the capital.

Sedalia's face was serious.

Her thoughts went back to the past.

To a time when there was no respect.

A time when they ... was a thief.

YEARS AGO

Sedalia was breathing heavily. 

She had barely escaped the city guard.

Exhausted, she looked at her prey.

An apple.

Sedalia lived in the alleys of the city since birth and was left to fend for herself after the death of her mother.

Her father had died in the war before Sedalia was born, and then her mother had lost everything and ended up pregnant on the streets.

Sedalia bit into the apple hungrily. She hadn't had anything to eat for days.

"Have we finally found you?" someone said.

Sedalia jumped up and found herself surrounded by 4 men.

She had become inattentive from hunger and now they had her.

"A place awaits you in the deepest dungeon of the city," laughed a guard and pointed at her with the halberd. 

"No!" Sedalia shouted, trying to find a way out between the guards, but one of the guards pushed her hard against the wall with his halberd.

"Why put ther in the dungeon, it's full enough. Let's free her from her misery and us from a problem," shouted the fourth guard.

Sedalia was frightened.

At that moment, a hand grabbed the fourth guard's head from behind and slammed it against the wall.

Unconscious, he sank to the ground.

The other guards swung around, ready to fight, but they stopped when they saw who was standing in front of them.

"4 guards against a petty thief. How proud you must be of yourselves," said the newcomer.

In disbelief, the first guard looked at the hand, the hand that had beaten the 4th Guardian unconsciously, and then at the owner of the hand.

"How.. Do you have? I mean... you are not a fighter, but a...."

"Librarian?" the man added. "Indeed. Now get out of here, I'll take care of her. Or must I first tell the king about you?" 

"No, no." The guards hurriedly left and took the unconscious man away.

Sedalia looked at the stranger in fear, she pressed herself against the wall. Pain in her leg prevented her from running away.

The man crouched down in front of her and stretched out his hand. The clenched fist opened and a pear appeared.

Pears were very rare in this part of the world. Sedalia looked at the pear with wide eyes.

"Enjoy it. My name is Lysander." A smile flitted across his face.

"Thank you..." Sedalia hesitated at first and then she took the pear and took a hearty bite.

"Don't be frightened. I've been watching you for a little while," Lysander said.

"Me? But why?" Sedalia enjoyed the pear.

"Because I think you're very smart and helpful. I would need a right hand and I think you are the right one." He held out his hand.

Sedalia hesitated, but then she took his hand.

And so a special relationship began.

NOW

Sedalia spurred on the horses.

She looked up at the sky and she felt the wyvern above them.

Invisible, but protective.

Only 2 more days, then they will reach the capital.