The Third Red 1: The Enemy Within
Chapter Twenty Three Party in the Palace

CEric returned to Soyagone with his friends on Rubara’s back. Tarair flew back to Volkaron by himself. Morum and Karia were escorted to their own homes by Rikal and Dikal. Eric, Dargin, and Myra, all exhausted from the battle with Bloodfeather, went straight to own their rooms. Eric climbed the steps of his tower and fell into bed. When he awoke the next morning, he saw the sun was up and thought for sure he was late for training with the Volks! He wondered if maybe that was canceled after what happened with his inner demon, but that was probably hoping for too much. He immediately got out of bed and put on his armor, he headed to the Great Hall for breakfast, or at least to see goodbye to everyone. He expected it to be the same as every other day so far. But it wasn’t. When he got to the bottom, he found the hall empty, there wasn’t even any food on the table.

Eric looked around. No one in sight. That was unusual. The tables were always filled in the morning.

“Uncle Chosan? Sir Orvalor? Dargin? Myra?” Eric called out.

No response. Where was everyone? Eric headed to the front doors and pushed it open to replace-

“Happy Aging Day!”

Eric’s mouth fell open as he saw a large crowd in front of Soyagone. Many of whom were people recognized. Karia and her family, Dargin and his goblin kin, the Presteegs, Morum, all of Eric’s teachers at Castle Scholar such as Madam Garlifa who stood beside Chosan, holding hands, Lilar at his Lord’s side, Karia’s friends Belena, Nedela and Linara, the Volks and Greddies had come as well, Eric even saw Queen Razana and her royal guards.

They had all come for Eric’s Aging Day! Eric had completely forgotten about that, being drafted by the Volks had driven it out of his mind. He gaped at them in astonishment.

“Well, Eric, you are now four and ten years of age!” Chosan said as he approached his nephew. “Two more years and you will be a man by law!”

“Indeed,” Queen Razana said. “You’ve only been in Sortar a fortnight, and already you have accomplished a great deal. Today, there will be a celebration. Your Aging Day Party shall be held in my palace!”

Eric was silent for a moment, “Well this is a surprise!”

They headed to the palace where many tables had been laid out with food on top of them. Eric, Chosan, Karia, Dargin, Morum, and Myra all sat at the head table with the Queen.

“I can’t believe I’m sitting at the same table as Queen Razana!” Karia whispered to Eric.

“I think she likes you,” Eric whispered back. “I’ve seen her looking at you.”

“You have?” Karia asked. “I wonder why? I’m just a simple sorceress who’s the daughter of peasants.”

“Well you helped save Sortar,” Eric pointed out.

“Me? You saved Sortar, or at least me!” Karia said. “Thanks again.”

“You’re welcome. But it was because of you I was able to defeat Bloodfeather, hearing your voice gave me the strength I needed to fight back.”

“Oh,” Karia said. “I’m glad I could help.”

Eric smiled at her.

The Queen stood and raised her glass, speaking loudly. “Today is a day not only for the Yagaro’s to celebrate their heir’s birth. But also… for our kingdom to celebrate the day its destined savior was born! Eric Yagaro is now ten and four years of age! Though he is another two years away from becoming a man, he has done a great deed already! Just last night he saved a…a girl from a demon. At great risk, but he triumphed in his endeavor. The girl is safe… as are our hopes for the future.”

As she finished, Razana seemed to be looking at Karia. Eric then stood up.

“I wouldn’t have been able to defeat Bloodfeather if it weren’t for everyone else that came with me,” Eric said. “My friend, the Goblin Knight Dargin Saru! My grandmother, the dragon Rubara, the beast man Morum, and my cousin Myra Presteeg!”

Eric gestured to each individual as he spoke. Several people gasped and looked at Myra when he did so. A few men seemed to frown at her.

“That little girl helped defeat the demon?” one mumbled.

“He’s probably exaggerating. No way a girl could do anything.”

Eric frowned as he heard these words thanks to his beast sorcery. It was true Myra hadn’t done anything in this recent event since she’d been on Rubara’s back. But Eric had seen the girl’s strength.

“I also owe thanks to Tarair Volk. He and I became enemies from the moment we met,” Eric continued, struggling to ignore the unnamed men speaking ill of Myra. “But he saved my grandmother and for that I’m grateful. So please… don’t call just me a hero. Call all of them heroes as well. They all helped me save Karia, and she saved me too. It was her voice that gave me the strength to continue fighting against Bloodfeather when he tried to possess me. We did it together.”

“Very well. A toast to all of these young heroes then!” Razana said raising her glass.

“Here here! All hail the heroes!” Many shouted, raising their cups and drinking. Eric and his friends did the same. They were not served wine like the others, but a tasty red punch.

“Now let us have a mighty good feast for my nephew, his heroism and that of his friends!” Chosan said.

Eric was soon stuffed. He’d not eaten so much in all his life. Chosan continued to eat while Rubara drank an entire tub of wine. Then Eric was met with a large pile of gifts. From Chosan he received a new set of canvases, a tent from the Presteegs, Dargin gave him one of the horns from the demon he had killed in the Proving Times.

“I think it be good trophy since you can’t keep Bloodfeather’s horns,” Dargin said.

Karia gave him a lute. Rubara, a carved face of Margery. The Greddys a sorcerer lord’s gold medallion in the shape of the Yagaro Crest. It six gemstones of every sorcery color on it. A ruby, sapphire, emerald, citrine, yellow diamond, and amethyst.

“Now you have even more sources of extra magic,” Richan Greddy said.

Eric grinned. “Thank you, all of you.”

“There is one more to come,” Razana said.

“Oh? From who?” Eric asked.

“Me young sorcerer.”

“You?” Eric had never thought the queen herself would offer him a gift. She had already given him a party in the grounds of her own palace.

“Of course. I had it sent here all the way from Beastival. It should be here soon.”

“Well! Until it gets here why don’t we get up and dance?” Ritara Greddy asked.

“I think that is a mighty good idea!” Chosan agreed. “That shall pass the time before the cakes are ready! Eric, who do you wish to dance with? It’s your choice.”

Eric heard Ritara, mutter “Me me! As long as you’re better than last time.” He looked at her, seeing her grin hopefully and a lustful look in her eyes. But he turned away. If he were to choose between the spoiled brat and a goblin, he’d take the goblin.

But he didn’t have to go with a goblin girl. There was one who had been there for him in his darkest moment. He offered his hand to Karia.

“Would you like to dance with, Karia?” Eric asked with a smile.

She was silent for a moment then smiled back and took his hand. “I would love to Eric!”

He smiled a bit wider, and more nervously at her words. Love. It warmed his heart. He extended his hand and gently pulled her up from the chair and lead her to the center of the palace grounds. She put her hands on his neck, while he took her by the waist. They began to step side to side, starting out slow then moving faster. Eric took his hands off her waist and grasped her own. He spun her. Soon the entire area was filled with dancing pairs, Karia’s parents, Rikal and Belena, Dikal and Nedela, and Chosan and Madam Garlifa. As he turned back toward the head table, Eric saw Ritara scowling.

He also saw that Dargin hadn’t gotten up.

“What takes your smile?” Karia asked, looking over her shoulder to see Dargin. “Oh. Let’s go see him.”

They walked over to their goblin friend.

“Why don’t you dance Dargin?” Eric asked.

“Goblin not dance,” Dargin said.

“You’re a knight,” Eric reminded him.

“Knights fight.”

“They also practice chivalry, which you certainly need to work on.” Karia giggled.

“And who I dance with?” Dargin asked. “There no girl goblins here and I too ugly in human girl’s eyes.”

“I’ll dance with you, Sir Dargin.” Myra offered.

Dargin scoffed as he looked at her. “You too small.”

“Excuse me, Sir Dargin?” a voice asked from behind them.

Eric turned and was surprised to see the speaker was Grella.

“What you want?” Dargin asked.

Eric wondered that as well. “You better not be here to insult him, Grella.”

The Yagaro servant girl shook her head. “No. I-I wanted to apologize to you, Sir. I was wrong about you, Sir Dargin.” Grella curtsied. “When I heard you helped save Miss Karia, I realized even goblins can be noble. I blamed all of your kind for the death of my parents, but I see now that was a mistake. Not every goblin is too blame for that.”

“We savage I admit,” Dargin said. “Battle is our life.”

“It’s everyone’s life now because of me,” another familiar voice said, this time male.

It was Taro, his wife, and Tarair.

“Lord Volk! Lady Volk!” Karia exclaimed.

“What are you doing here?” Eric asked suspiciously.

“Here to deliver my son for his atonement,” Taro said. His gray eyes were not the stone ones Eric had grown accustomed to seeing. They seemed low and sad.

“Are you alright, mi lord?” Grella asked.

Taro shook his head and sighed. “Everything I did was with the intent to defeat the Demorians. I’ve spent my entire life trying to fight them. But I nearly gave them victory. I… I don’t know what my purpose is anymore.”

His face fell. Eric felt sorrow for the man whose life had been spent fighting for a cause, only to have it nearly backfire on him.

“Perhaps you need a new purpose,” Karia suggested. “Instead of being a weapon, maybe you should try being a man. A happy one. You have a duty to fight the Demorians but that doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice your own happiness or the happiness of others.”

“I don’t know.”

“Well, I dancing. Maybe you too?” Dargin suggested as he got up and took Grella who yelped.

“Ah! You didn’t ask!” she screamed as he dragged her onto the floor.

“You try get away?” Dargin asked.

She sighed. “Just this once. To make up for how I treated you. But next time ask please. And this is just a one-time thing.”

The goblin and servant girl began to dance as well.

“Oh, I love dancing,” Lady Volk said.

“You do Shakala?” Taro asked his wife. “We’ve never danced.”

“You’ve never held a party once in your life,” Shakala reminded her husband.

Taro was silent for a moment, “Well… shall we?”

She sniggered. “After fifteen years you finally asked? Well, better late than never.”

And the Volks entered the ground as well. Eric and Karia resumed their dance too. Nearby Dargin kept stepping on Grella’s feet by accident, causing her to grunt. Taro and Shakala spun around clumsily, and after several turns, Eric saw Taro’s face turn into what looked like a genuine smile.

“Why did you try and comfort him?” he asked Karia.

“Because he’s lost. War does that to men,” she said. “I’ve seen that underneath all the older warriors is immense pain. That brings out the worst in us.”

Eric understood what she meant.

“You’re right. I thought my inner beast was bad, but it was nothing compared to that demon.”

“Bloodfeather was cruel,” Karia agreed. “Like this world. I’m only thirteen, but I’ve seen a few bad things and heard of them. All the battles, people dying. This cursed war has caused so much pain for all of us. We need to do something about it.”

“We?” Eric repeated.

“Of course we…. you, me, everyone. We have to try and end the war, and I don’t mean wiping out the Demorians like everyone says. There has to be another way.”

“What do you suggest we do then?” Eric asked. “Try and talk things out? They want to bring this world under the command of demons like Corgo.”

“Maybe, but there has to be a better way than just slaughter,” Karia said. “They’re people just like we are. Yes, people that have done terrible things to us and their own, but we’ve done the same.”

Eric thought back to the day Taro nearly executed Onro.

“You’re right. We shouldn’t be killing our own.”

“If there is ever going to be peace we need to change, both of us. People of the Sorcerer Kingdom and the Demorians. Taro has changed… at least a little.”

Eric couldn’t deny it as he cast another glance of Taro, who was much like a stone before. He saw a different man than the one who’d labeled his mother a traitor. Eric then thought back and realized he too had changed a great deal since arriving in Sortar. He wasn’t the boy who’d sneak off into the jungles of Dragoran and wished to return to the Sorcerer Kingdom to make friends while not caring about training that much. He was now an Eric who lived in Sortar in a castle, he had an uncle, cousins, and friends. He took his training seriously. Who knew how he’d be later?

“Well, we’ll try. I promise,” Eric said, taking her hand.

“I know there will be fighting. But if we can bring peace to this world, things will be better.” Karia agreed, giving his hand a light squeeze.

They danced until Taro approached them again.

“Eric Yagaro, I believe I owe you an apology.”

“For what?” Eric asked. “Labeling my mother a traitor? Refusing to listen when I said Karia was innocent? Telling me to leave her to her fate? Or turning me against my uncle?”

“The latter two I suppose,” Taro seemed uncertain as he said so. “I won’t apologize for your mother. She served evil by living. But I served it as well by pushing you so hard. I don’t think you need my training anymore. You will make a fine War Caster.”

Eric’s eyes widened as he realized what Taro meant.

“I’m being granted the title?”

Taro nodded. “You may not have won in the Proving Times, but you have decent skill nonetheless. You defeated a spawn of Corgo himself. Defeating a demon of almost any kind earns a title.”

The Volk Lord drew his sword. “Kneel if you will.”

Eric hesitated, then did so. For the first time, he felt gratitude toward Taro, who put his blade above Eric’s head. He rotated it from one side to the other as he spoke.

“By the power of the Crown, in the eyes of the patrons. I, Taro Volk, name you a Caster for War.”

He reached into the pocket of his robe and drew a square piece of metal like the one he’d given Dargin at the Proving Times. But unlike Daring’s which had a knight’s helm on it, the War Caster Badge showed a magic hand under a sword and axe crossing. Taro pinned the badge to the top of Eric’s chest.

“Now you may choose a Lend hand. And if you wish, form a team of companions. You’ll have to think hard on who should fight beside you,” Taro said.

Eric smirked. “I know who I want by my side. Everyone who fought with me yesterday. Karia, Dargin, Myra, Rubara and Morum!”

Dargin and Morum grinned. While Myra’s mouth fell open.

“You want me in your company?” the girl asked.

Eric nodded. “You’ll be my Lend Hand. I will train you to be a Maiden of Mayhem.”

There was a moment of silence at this declaration. Many dancing couples looked at him in surprise.

“No!” Lorala screamed her eyes narrowing in anger. “You mustn’t do this! Myra can’t be a Maiden of Mayhem! No girl should be! They should all be supporters and sorcerers, not fighters!”

“With all due respect, Lord Eric, you would be better suited off with a boy as a Lend Hand,” Rikal said.

“Aye! I’d be honored to let my younger son be your Lend Hand, Lord Eric!” a middle aged knight said.

“I’m sorry, you are?” Eric asked.

“Sir Manoc Dominas my young Lord,” the knight said. “I believe you’ve met my son Matthon. I’m also Lady Lorala’s brother, and uncle to her children.”

He then looked at Myra. “Has your mother not told to mind your place?”

Myra shivered as she looked at her maternal uncle. “She has.”

“Then you should listen to her! You girls are meant to heal, bear children, and nurture them. We men are the stronger, so we fight. We protect you and you care for us and the children!” Manoc told her sternly.

“I don’t want to be protected, or have to hide!” Myra said. “I want to be a Maiden of Mayhem!”

“And I will make you so,” Eric said, putting a hand on his cousin’s shoulders. “You’re a brave girl!”

“Lord Eric please! If you value her life you should replace another Lend Hand. I have a younger son. I’m sure he could be a better one.”

“No,” Eric said. “I chose Myra.”

“Oh thank you Eric! Thank you!” the girl jumped up at Eric, throwing her arms around him.

Eric returned his cousin’s hug, but he did notice that several men continued to glare at Myra as well as him. He knew what they were thinking. They wanted to maintain their dominance over woman in this society. A girl becoming a Lend Hand posed a threat to that. With luck, Eric might change that establishment.

“Do not blame me if she is killed in her first battle,” Sir Manoc said before addressing Myra directly. “Watch yourself, you disobedient niece of mine.”

Myra shivered as she looked at him and he walked away followed by his men. Lorala also glared at her daughter but turned away. Eric looked at them. This could lead to trouble in the future. But those thoughts were driven away as Rubara approached him. She caused the guests to move to the corners of the Palace Gardens.

“You certain you don’t mind me around all the time?” she asked. “You got rather annoyed with me!”

“As long as you don’t follow me everywhere,” Eric told her as he walked over. “I love you Granny Ruby.”

“Love you too little one… no matter how big you get… or how far we may ever be.”

Eric hugged her as she brought her head down.