The Secrets of Serised

The room was just slightly larger than one of the stalls where their horses were to be bedded down, and a thick layer of dust covered the bed, the floor, and the small table. It was obvious to Lily that no one had stayed here for quite some time. She wondered why the barkeep had been so unwilling to let them stay. She shrugged it off and went about lighting the lamp, absently sweeping the dust from the table onto the floor. When she sat on the bed, a cloud of dirt rose into the air, only to settle slowly down around her once again.

Xander eyed the boy warily as they both sat at the table, facing each other. Not once did the boy look at either of them, but he instead spoke to the floor, as before.

“My name,” he said at length, “is Julian. I am a wanderer. Where I came from is not important. But I am headed south. I have not stayed in one place for many years. I seek adventure, but no matter what challenges I find, they never seem enough to thrill me. I have no friends, only the wolves for companions, and the forest as my home. To see others like myself, without a home to return to, aroused my curiosity. Forgive my intrusion, but I beg you do not try to pay me back. It is a gift in exchange for your story.”

Julian was pleased with his pathetic sob story. He was nothing if not an actor. It seemed to satisfy Lily, who was about to speak, but Xander was quicker.

“That’s quite a purse for a nomad.” He couldn’t be sure, but he thought he saw the boy’s eyes flash, and it made the hairs on the back of his neck stand on end. Pretty full of himself, but he doesn’t want to talk about that, does he? He had no more time to ponder before Lily chastised him for his brazenness, giving Julian no time to reply.

“Xander, please! That is no way to treat the man who has saved you from sleeping in the rain beside the horses this night!” She turned to the stranger, and her face softened. “Please, sir, forgive my friend. We have both lost a great deal, and he is still hurting from the loss of his family, as am I.”

Julian nodded. “It’s quite all right, perfectly understandable. Perhaps I should go . . .” He rose as if to leave, but Lily motioned for him to sit.

“No, no, it’s fine, really! You see, we too are on an adventure, though not of our choosing, and it gives us no thrill. We were in the woods when the dragon attacked my village, but we arrived back in time to see the end of the destruction. The dragon took my brother, alive, and flew off with him towards the south.”

So that’s where you were hiding. No matter. This is a better plan anyway. He glanced up for just a moment at the quivering in her voice, then quickly looked back at the floor. She had not seen him do so, but he had seen the sadness in her eyes, which had clouded over with tears.

“We’re off to find him, Xander and I. We just don’t know where to look. We were hoping to find help in the village but . . .” She let her voice trail off. All three of them knew what she was thinking. Julian made a scornful noise and finished her thought for her.

“There’s no help for you here. These men are no more than ghosts of who they might have been, so monotonous and dull are their lives. They’re as likely to spit on you as to talk to you, so jealous have they become of anyone whose manner speaks of a life with meaning.”

He continued, his words dripping with disgust. “No, these men are not what you seek.” Though his purpose there was a lie, his words rang true. He had seen the filth and wretchedness of the villagers here, and it simply added to the hatred of mankind that lay heavy on his heart. But he had a role to play, and so he did his best to soften his tone. “But perhaps . . . should you both be willing, I could accompany you. I am familiar at least with these woods, and I know a great deal about the south. I could tell you what I know about the dragon. Maybe it would be of some aid to your just cause.” He laughed inwardly. No amount of knowledge could save these two fools.

“You know of the dragon?” cried Lily and Xander simultaneously. The statement made Xander briefly forget his dislike for the boy, but he was ashamed at his outburst and withdrew again, sulking. Julian continued as if he were speaking only to Lily, though he still refused to look her in the eye. His humble act was already getting on Xander’s nerves, but Lily was eating it up.

“A bit, yes.”

“Well, then,” said Lily after a short time, “though not because of this information, but simply because of your generous offer, we would welcome your help.”

Xander shot her an unbelieving look. Had she really fallen for this guy’s fake charm? His “oh-pity-me-I’m-a-lone-traveler-with-nowhere-to-turn” act? Sure, he reasoned with himself, we need help, but certainly there’s someone better than him. Anyone.

Julian didn’t wait for Xander’s rebuttal but rose with a flourish. “I shall take my leave of you and let you get some rest. We will have a lot of traveling and plenty of time for stories later.” He nodded politely to Lily from the doorway. “Until tomorrow, then.” Before they even had time to inquire as to where they would find him in the morning, he was gone.

Xander and Lily were both too tired to talk it over, and Xander let his anger churn in his stomach. He loved her, but her problem was that because their lives had been so sheltered up until then, she saw good in everyone, even when it might not be there. He wrestled with himself, trying to understand his feelings. Could this Julian character really want to help them, for no reason other than to further his adventures? Why? It just seemed too convenient. Where had he come from? What kind of crazy idiot traveled alone through these woods without cause?

Outside in the dark, Julian was also struggling. The boy was a surprise, certainly, but how could he have expected the girl to travel alone? Valiance in people of their upbringing most likely extended only as far as their circle of comfort. He allowed himself a wry smile. He knew that Xander didn’t like him, but that didn’t bother him. Lily was the only one who needed to follow him, and if Xander didn’t agree . . . there were a number of unfortunate events that could take place in the forest. For now, though, he would suffer the lovesick young man in order to gain the girl’s trust.

Julian did not require sleep. He walked towards the trees, where the inky blackness of the woods split his face in two, like a mask. One side lit from the faint moon, the other bathed in the shadows. For a single moment in time, he was two people: half a human boy and half a slave of darkness. Then he stepped completely into the forest, and the moment was gone. He melted into the shadows, becoming one himself.