The Dawn of Malice

Cryptic

Elaine had just spoken with that insufferable man, who dared claim to be the cousin of Caerus. Of course, she had paid no heed to the man's warning. But something was off when she had spoken to him. He sounded frightened and his mannerisms seemed a bit strange.

Perhaps it was because he looked like Caerus that she had even cared to listen. But her mood quickly turned sour upon hearing the man's words. Caerus would never tell her to leave the city in peril. He was not the man who thought of women so shallowly. But Elaine still had her doubts, that Thomas looked too much like Caerus.

As her mind raced with thoughts of Caerus, Marseille stood next to her, passing out loaves of bread to the homeless. She breathed a sigh pushing the thoughts of Caerus to the back of her mind. She knew that if left unchecked her tears would fall and only serve to worry her father. Pushing against the raging torrent of emotions, she managed to plaster a smile on her face and handed a loaf of bread to an old man. Marseille looked at her, eyes filled with worry. Elaine turned to her father and shrugged. It's been a long day.

"Elaine..." Marseille said gently, he spoke with such gentleness that Elaine immediately knew what he was thinking. He still blamed himself for Caerus's death.

"If only I had waited for you outside the tavern. If only –"

"Father," Elaine said quickly. "No one blames you for Caerus's death. And I will never blame you. So please, for the life of me, stop reminding me of the other possibilities, what I have now is enough for me. And now is not the time to grieve.'"

"I'm sorry Elaine. It's just... Caerus was like a son to me..." Marseille whispered then looked away. Elaine knew her father to be a strong man, but underneath all that muscle was a heart as fragile as glass. She held this knowledge close, drawn from the vivid recollection of her father's response to her mother's passing. The memory was etched into her mind, a portrait of Marseille gripped by shock, his features hollowed as the weight fell away and his usual vivacity faded. It stood as a testament to the depths of his despair, a time when his spirit seemed almost extinguished. The memory was seared into her, a constant reminder of a moment she couldn't bear to witness him relive.

Elaine leaned in, a soft kiss gracing her father's cheek, a gesture infused with love and concern. With a gentle press of her lips, she conveyed a silent reassurance, a message that spoke of unwavering support. As she turned back to her tasks, a palpable tension settled between them, a weighty silence that hung in the air like a storm about to break.

Elaine did harbor some resentment toward her father, but the majority of her guilt was turned inward, a weight she carried on her shoulders. She couldn't escape the nagging blame that clung to her like a shadow, a relentless reminder of her perceived shortcomings. Regret knotted in her chest – a heavy ache fueled by the what-ifs that replayed in her mind. If only she hadn't been so wrapped up in her desires. If only she had chosen differently or heeded the call of responsibility.

The familiar grip of anguish returned, wrapping around her heart like a vise, and with it came a surge of anger, raw and unfiltered. The intensity was overwhelming, a torrent that threatened to overwhelm her. A single tear traced a path down her cheek, a testament to the turbulent emotions that raged within her.

"Ahem," said a voice, quickly jerking Elaine from her melancholy.

Her eyes searched for the person who'd spoken and quickly found the source. In front of her stood an older gentleman with a pleasant face and gentle grey eyes. His eyes seemed almost penetrating as he watched her with concern. Elaine felt self-conscious immediately, as the person in front of her had a look of consolation on his face.

"What is wrong my dear?" The man said. "You seem troubled."

"It is nothing, sir," Elaine replied. "I remembered a friend of mine."

"Tears shed for a friend are not as lamenting as yours."

"It's nothing, sir, really," Elaine wiped the tear from her face. "It's nothing."

"Well, if you insist." The man said and he smiled. "May I introduce myself?" Elaine's eyebrow rose at the odd request, but she obliged with a gesture of her hand.

"My name is Lucian." The man said. "I come with a message from your friend Caerus. I'm sure my associate had come and spoken to you."

"Ah. Yes, it seems he had." Elaine turned and stared at the road she had seen the young man use. "I'm sorry if I had seemed rather rough on him."

"No, no. That fool deserved your contempt." Lucian's smile was colored with mischief. Elaine wondered why the gentleman was amused. "In truth, I have a favor to ask of you."

"Of course, if I can lend a hand then I would not hesitate," Elaine replied.

"Thank you, my dear. I've noticed that most of the city's supply of horses had gone. Where could I find some horses for purchase?"

"Sir, I believe there are no horses left. The nobles had taken them all and fled."

"I see." Lucian frowned. "Nobles do tend to run off when the occasion calls for their guidance. Oh well, we can find another way." Then he slowly turned and attempted to walk away. Something about the old man grabbed at Elaine's curiosity and she knew that she wouldn't get another opportunity to sate her curiosity. She grabbed Lucian's arm not noticing what she'd done until Lucian turned to her.

"U-u-um..." Elaine stuttered. "May I ask? What are you going to use the horses for? And how do you know Caerus?"

"Quite the inquisitive young woman, aren't you? Well, the horses are for our escape, of course. We can't make good distance from the Laresian army on foot." Lucian gently pulled his arm free and smiled. "As for Caerus, let's just say that he met me a long time ago, although, he doesn't seem to remember."

Elaine's eyes widened. "Escape? There's no escape from our city sir. You can still leave but you'd need to walk through miles to reach another city, although, if you cut through the mountains, you'd reach a city in half as much time." Elaine pointed to the jagged peaks of Dioses Mano.

"My dear, escape is a fluid concept. You simply do not understand what I am implying." Lucian smiled. "I must depart now. My associate will be waiting for me. Farewell, Elaine Hesperus, daughter of Phoebe and Marseille Hesperus. As for Caerus's message: He wishes you well."

Elaine felt a shudder run through her as she realized she hadn't introduced herself. She stretched her arm to grab Lucian once more, but he'd moved far beyond her reach. She only managed to ask one more question before a crowd of people passed her by. "If you knew Caerus when he was younger it doesn't explain why you'd be here now!" But even as she yelled after Lucian, the crowd had already blocked his receding image.

Marseille took quick notice of his daughter standing there, one arm outstretched to the thick crowd of hopeless people. "Elaine?" Marseille said as he laid a hand on her shoulder. Elaine jolted from his touch, her head swinging around confused as to who'd touched her. "Are you all right? You look pale."

Regaining her bearings, Elaine answered Marseille in a hollowed voice. "I'm fine, Father... just a little on edge."

"We all are my love." Marseille turned his head toward the waiting army. "May God have mercy on us."

"May God indeed," Elaine affirmed and returned to her work. But the unusual encounter with Lucian remained in her thoughts.