The Decoder - Chapter 33

Avery

“She requested for an off day today. She’s at Falborg Forest.”

“Why did she request for an off day today?” Avery asked as he eyed Edith’s friends, who were also starting to be his friends, though he was not entirely close to them. More importantly, why hadn’t Edith told him that she had requested for an off day today? The thought was disconcerting.

Granted, that he’d been busy the whole of two days after the weekend, occupied with reports on his activities at Yvyle Forest for the High Commander and organising his team as well as his thoughts. The High Commander was growing impatient as he hadn’t acquired the said ‘note’ and Sir Alcoft’s personal journal, which he hadn’t the guts to ask from Edith, yet. Him asking her for the journal would rouse her suspicions.

And, he had been having second thoughts about the High Commander. Though the promised ‘promotion’ still occupied part of his mind, he was more concerned about the High Commander’s behaviours now. What was the High Commander hiding from him?

“She needed to focus on her…task.” Merille faltered for a moment, her eyes averting from his. Avery could guess what the ‘task’ referred to.

“Anyway, you need to talk her out of it. She hasn’t been getting adequate sleep and she doesn’t look well.” Merille continued, darting her gaze from Avery to Caden and back to Avery.

Avery had spotted Caden and Merille at their usual lunch spot, but there was no sign of Edith. He had been looking for her and couldn’t find her anywhere until he spotted her two friends.

“Alright, I will look for her.” Avery agreed. He was beginning to worry about Edith’s health, too. This…obsession of hers to decode her father’s message was worrying him.

“Thank you.” Merille smiled.

“Don’t mention it.” Avery returned the smile and stepped away from the couple.

Avery headed straight to the Militia’s stable and saddled his favourite horse, Max. An Andalusian breed with a sleek dark brown coat. He stroked the horse’s forehead as the horse nuzzled into his other gloved hand.

“I haven’t seen you in some time, pal.” Avery murmured. He rarely rode his horse during winter and most of his task does not required him to ride his horse as he patrolled the city at night. Avery was used to prowling around the city on his feet. Today, he thought walking to Falborg Forest was going to take some time, so he decided riding his horse was the fastest option.

Avery swiftly mounted his horse and exited the Militia through its east gate, which was closest to the stable. The guards did not spare him a second glance as he rode past the gates. Being a captain had its benefits as the upper ranks have the benefit to freely leave the Militia anytime, they wished.

He brought his horse to a slow gallop as he neared the City Square, mindful of the citizens who were going about with their daily businesses. The citizens paid him no heed as they do not wish to mingle with Militia’s officers.

An approximately twenty minutes ride brought him to the arched entrance of Falborg Forest. He did not dismount from his horse, instead, he urged Max passed the archway and onto the forest’s wide pathway. Dried leaves filled the ground and he could feel the crisp wintery air as a soft gust of wind blew. The trees’ skeletal branches baring heavenward and he felt as if time had stopped here in this peaceful forest, the place where he had been recuperating with the Alcofts and it was where he’d obtained his happiest memories.

Avery did not need to search the entire forest to locate Edith. He knew just where she would be if she wanted to be alone. Alcoft cottage was out of the question as he remembered her reaction when she thought of the house and her father.

He dismounted his horse when he reached the intersection of the forest that led to the lake if he were to turn left. He tied the ropes at a nearby tree trunk before heading to the lake, making his way through the narrowing pathway.

When he emerged, the lake stood frozen before him, surrounded by skeletal trees and shining in its glory under the late afternoon skies. He remembered the days when he and Edith had skated over the lake, laughing and giggling away like carefree children. They had fell numerous times and obtained bruises, but the memory was one that he treasured the most.

He searched the entire lake before his eyes fell on a petite figure sitting against a large tree trunk to his far right, bundled in a black overcoat and her cobalt-blue flare skirts pooled around her feet. A black and white striped scarf was wrapped around her neck and her braided hair was slung over her left shoulder. The sight of her alone gave rise to the flutters in his belly. She was staring ahead at the lake, seemingly unaware of his presence until he was a meter away from her.

“Avery!” Edith shot to her feet, surprised by his presence here, her brilliant hazel eyes widened.

He stopped before her, separated by several inches.

“What are you doing here, Edie?” Avery asked gently. The dark circles under her eyebags were worse compared to the time he saw her during Caden’s party, and her complexion was pale. Merille had been right. Avery could guess that she did not sleep at all last night and had been working on her father’s message as he glanced at the journal, two sheets of paper and a pen on the ground.

“That’s my question.” She teased and smiled.

“I went looking for you and found out from Caden and Merille that you’re on leave today. I feel sad that you did not bother to tell me about this.” Avery gave a playful grin.

“I’m sorry…I did not see you for two days and I was occupied with…my father’s message.” Edith cast a guilty expression and averted her gaze to the lake.

“You need rest, Edie. I’m worried about your health and so is Merille and Caden.” Avery took both of Edith’s bare bandaged hands in his and he winced slightly at the ice-cold feeling that seeped through the leather of his gloves from her bare fingers. Just how long had she been sitting here in the cold?

“Hell, your fingers are like blocks of ice, Edie! Why didn’t you wear gloves?” Avery frowned.

“Never thought of wearing them. My fingers feel more comfortable without them.” She said nonchalantly and shrugged.

“You could get frostbite!” Avery fussed and begun to rub her hands to produce some warmth before placing them into the pockets of his black leather double-breasted coat.

“Edie, you really need to start looking after your well-being. Just how long have you been sitting here?” He suddenly felt he was fussing over a child.

“Since early morning.” Edith chewed on her bottom lip.

“Heavens! You need to take a break from your father’s message. I will ensure you do so.”

“How? You don’t mean to sit by my bedside?” Edith widened her eyes at him.

“I will do just that, and I mean it.” His eyes glittered and the corner of his mouth lifted into a mischievous smile. Heck, he was willing to sit by her bedside all day and had every intention to do so. Rules of the Militia be damned.

“No way.” Edith said and pulled her hands out from the pockets of his double-breasted coat. “I need to complete decoding the message, at least before ‘Operation Z’.”

“I beg your pardon. Before ‘Operation Z’?” Avery said in disbelief. The way she mentioned ‘Operation Z’ implied she knew the details of the operation. How? When he clearly mentioned to her not to stick her nose in it.

“Yes, I know about the operation.” Edith said and turned away from him.

“Who told you about it?”

“Stop keeping me in the dark, Avery Sykes.” Edith fixed her gaze on him again and grimaced before rubbing at her left eye with the back of her fingers. Without another word, she walked to the bank of the lake and sat, bringing her knees close to her chest, her hands resting in between her abdomen and thighs, giving her back to him.

Avery only stared speechless at her slumped back. How did the conversation took a 360 degrees turn? And she had blurted his real family name. He hadn’t heard wrongly, and he was curious how did she know. He had never once mentioned his identity to her or to anyone for that matter. The only persons who knew of his real identity were High Commander Ekker and Ira. Her father’s coded message. It had to be. Sir Alcoft had known of his real identity and he was sure he had never mentioned it to his daughter either.

He continued to stare at Edith’s back, his heart squeezed at her hunched posture, so vulnerable and small. He could sense her frustrations, which reminded him of their argument in his room. Hadn’t they promised not to keep any secrets from each other on the night of their confessions? It was repeating all over again and Avery felt guilt gnawing his insides. She had told him bits and pieces of Sera, though he suspected there were more left unsaid. But he was still keeping secrets from her.

Avery took a step forward and another and another till he stood behind Edith. Each step he took, the guilt in him grew bigger and he just wanted to pull her into his arms. It saddened him to watch her retreat to such a state.

He lowered himself to the ground, and gently curled his arms around her shoulders, pulling her toward him, so that she leaned against his chest. His long legs spread on both sides of Edith, cocooning her. He could feel her body going still in his arms, but she did not say a word nor did she push him away. He rested his chin on her right shoulder, feeling her warmth enveloping him and shut his eyes, breathing in her scent that smelled of lavender. Memories of their happy childhood swarmed in his mind, keeping away all his nightmares. She was his sunshine, his light in the darkness. It was long moment of silence before he opened his mouth to speak.

“My name is Avery Sykes and I’m the second son of the former king of Hathage, Lord Sykes.”

Edith remained silent and he patiently waited for her to speak. Holding her in his arms made him feel at ease as he confessed his real identity and soon, his story.

“What happened?” Edith finally asked in a soft tone.

Avery took a deep breath before telling his story, which he’d kept bottled within himself for eleven long years.

“I was accused for my father’s murder by my very own brother, Noel. On the night my father was murdered, I was unaware of my father’s death until I stepped into his office and found him with a knife planted deep into his chest. My twelve-year-old self panicked, and my mind went blank. Shortly after, my brother entered the office and…” Avery faltered and took another deep breath. Speaking out loud, recalling the entire nightmare was not as simple as he thought it would be. His hands were clammy in the confines of his gloves and cold sweat lined his brows.

Suddenly, Edith rose to her knees and spun to face him. Her expression was one that spoke of pain, and he couldn’t breathe for a moment. Where did I go wrong?

Silently, she reached out and wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling him into her arms. Her right hand stroking his hair affectionately as she lay her head against his.

“You don’t have to continue if it’s difficult for you…” She whispered.

And, he understood her intentions. She was trying to console him through his nightmares. Avery wrapped his arms around her waist and squeezed as he buried his face into her shoulder. Her warmth, compassion and presence comforted him, bringing him out from his nightmares. He wondered what he will do if she was not by his side. He couldn’t afford to lose her. She was his.

But he needed to finish his story. He did not wish to keep Edith in the dark any longer. It had been too long, and she deserved to know. She was his saviour, along with her father. He brought his face upwards and continued his story as she continued to hold him in her arms, giving him the strength to continue.

“My brother saw the bloody scene and out of rage, he accused me of murdering our father. He drew his short knife from the sheath strapped to his hip and before I knew it…He blindly slashed the knife at me. I lost half of my consciousness and could barely remember bits and pieces of what happened. I was thrown out of the palace…Left to die in front of the iron-wrought gates. If it weren’t for your father, I will not be able to meet you and sit here with you by my side.”

“Oh Avery…” Edith cooed, the gentle rhythm of her hand stroking his hair had a soothing effect.

“After you and your father’s disappearance, which I initially thought the both of you did not survive the raid, I was roaming the street and came upon the High Commander one day. He offered for me to join the Militia and promised me a promotion of ‘General’, which would allow me to exact vengeance upon my brother with the power the position held.

“I couldn’t forgive my brother for what he had done…There was injustice, unfairness. He couldn’t even be bothered to know if I’m still alive. You see, I have always been second, left behind the scenes while my father showered him with all the attention. If only…If only…” He chocked and a tear slipped down his cheek, staining the shoulder of Edith’s overcoat.

Confessing all his bottled frustrations and the loneliness he felt over the years left a large hole in his heart. While he convinced himself that he did not care much that most of his parents’ attentions and affections went to Noel, the truth was deep down, he longed for that affection and love himself. If only his parents had paid attention to him even just a little…The only person who had ever paid him attention was his brother and when his brother had accused him, he couldn’t help feeling betrayed.

“Shhh…I’m here for you, Avery.” Edith cooed and pressed her lips to the side of his head.

Silently, Avery buried his face into her shoulder again and sobbed, releasing all his frustrations and pent-up anger. His arms tightened around her waist as his sobs grew louder in the tranquil silence of the snowy forest.

As he sobbed, he felt relieved by the burden that had been weighing him all these years after pouring out his inner feelings. Though it had been a short while, it was Edith and Sir Alcoft who had taught him what it felt like to love and be loved.

Edith held him in her arms, and they stayed that way for what felt like forever when he finally calmed down, and Edith spoke.

“Avery, you need to stay away from the High Commander.”

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