[Shining light]: 28.Toryll Tales.Book 1.Chapter 1

The sunlight beamed through the open window, lighting up the boy’s sleeping face. With a loud groan, Iyaf rolled over, away from the light. He sat up, and immediately a throb of searing hot pain arced up his back. He squeezed his eyes shut, willing the pain to go away. As soon as it had gone, he stood up, and faced the tall mirror across the room.
Iyaf was short for his age. Only thirteen, he stood below most others his age. He flicked his light brown hair out of his eyes, and slowly turned around, keeping his gaze on the mirror. As his back came into view in the mirror, Iyaf gasped, and traced the thin, bloody scars that ran in jagged streaks down his spine.
Sighing, he bent down to pick his shirt up off the floor, when he heard a noise behind him.

Adah stood in the doorway, eyes glued to his back. Her mouth was half open, and she seemed lost for breath. ‘Oh… Oh, Iyaf! He’s done it again, has he?’
Iyaf stood up quickly and spun around to face her, blushing furiously.
A hand flew to Adah’s mouth, and she dropped her basket, scurrying into the room.
Resourcefully, she pulled a roll of cloth from her pocket, and immediately began bandaging him. ‘Iyaf, you should have learned by now to stay out of your father’s way,’ Adah admonished gently. Iyaf only blushed more, embarrassed at being chided by someone a year younger than him. ‘No, it’s fine, please, you don’t have to—’
Ignoring Iyaf’s protests, Adah finished bandaging him, and patted him on the shoulder, smiling.
Iyaf shrugged her off, and immediately turned away to slip his shirt on. Turning back, he grinned sheepishly at Adah, who had remained standing while Iyaf dressed. ‘Err, well, thanks.’ He grinned again, and waited awkwardly for Adah to reply.
Adah smiled again, and bowed. ‘It was my pleasure, Prince Iyaf.’
At those words, Iyaf sighed and ran a hand through his hair. ‘Adah, please, you don’t need to be so formal around me.’
Adah laughed softly, her white teeth glistening in the sunlight. ‘Prince Iyaf, it is my duty to be formal.’ She patted him on the shoulder again, and this time Iyaf did not turn away. ‘Well, uh, I suppose you should be…I mean, do you have any work to do?’
Adah nodded once, turning to pick up her basket. ‘By the way, I feel that it would be to your benefit to spend the day outside… the King is to spend the day attending to his subjects.’
‘My father, spending time with his people? Since when has he had anything to do with them?’
‘Since they started sending him gold.’ With that short answer, Adah stepped out of the room. ‘Enjoy your day, your Highness.’

Outside, the warm air of the courtyard was comforting, and made Iyaf feel drowsy. A breeze was blowing between the buildings, lifting the dead leaves and scraps of parchment that littered the ground. Looking to the north, he saw a cluster of fluffy white clouds hovering invitingly on the horizon, bringing the promise of rain.
Wandering aimlessly, Iyaf found himself at the base of the tall, rough stone wall, which encircled the castle. With a quick glance back at the castle, he grabbed at a nearby shrub whose branches were climbing up the wall’s surface, and hoisted himself up.

He landed with an ungainly thump. Standing up, he shook the dust out of his hair, and off his shoulders. Whistling merrily, he began the short walk to the village.

The village of Osian was small, untidy and just outside of the castle walls. Iyaf liked to spend time there, as his father, the King, almost never went down to the village.
Osian was situated next to a large lake, where fat fish frolicked in the sunlight, leaping from the water and snapping at insects.
Iyaf couldn’t help but grin widely, flexing his bare toes on the soft, moss-covered ground. Nearly all of the lowlands were covered in moss, owing to the softness of the ground, and the dampness of the area. Breathing deeply, he entered the quiet village, slipping between two houses to reach the central market.
A boy several years older than himself was working in the square; laying out fresh carpets onto the muddy, wet ground. Upon hearing Iyaf’s footsteps, the boy looked up and over his shoulder.
As Iyaf grinned down at the crouching form, the boy leapt up and laughed. With a great shout of welcome, he barreled into Iyaf, wrestling him to the ground.

The two boys wrestled on the freshly carpeted ground, their laughter echoing between the houses.
A triumphant yell, and the older managed to pin Iyaf’s arms down. ‘Iyaf! Great to see you!’ He laughed again and somersaulted off him.
Iyaf, panting heavily and grinning, nodded back, propping himself up on his elbows. ‘Nice to see you too, Tahi.’
Tahi smiled genially, and took Iyaf’s hand, pulling him to his feet. ‘Come home and have some breakfast with us!’
Iyaf nodded, and let Tahi guide them through the streets, eventually stopping right next to the lake.
Reyi, Tahi’s twin brother, was swimming in the lake. As soon as he recognized Iyaf, he waved, and swam to the shore. ‘Iyaf!’ Reyi shook the water out of his short blond hair, and took Iyaf’s hand in his own. ‘Great to see you! It’s been a while, eh?’
Iyaf grinned and nodded, accompanying the two boys into the house. Inside, he was immediately swathed in cloth, as the twin’s mother hugged him. ‘Oh, Iyaf, it’s been too long! I heard you all coming from a mile away, I swear you boys won’t let anyone have a nice sleep-in at all!’ She thankfully released him, and Iyaf stepped back.
Etah was a large woman, tall and rounded. She smiled fondly at Iyaf, and turned away, busying herself over the stove.
Very soon, the smell of fried fish and rabbit wafted invitingly through the house. Iyaf had seated himself at the small table in the kitchen, Reyi and Tahi on either side of him.
‘Eat up, there’s more than enough.’ Etah said, and Iyaf grinned broadly, before taking a bite out of a piece of fish. ‘Thanks a lot!’ he said gratefully.
As he looked around, though, Iyaf’s heart fell: as much as his friends refused it, he could see that they were struggling to survive.
He smiled across at Etah, but it was a strained, false smile. Awkwardly, he excused himself, heading outside.
Turning his back on the lake, he looked over to the castle. He shook his head sadly. His father had a lot to answer for: while he was busy basking in the personal glory of having power over an entire Kingdom, he was letting that Kingdom fall to ruin. The increasingly steep taxes left the people little to live with.
Etah’s voice interrupted Iyaf’s thoughts, her face etched into a mask of concern. ‘Iyaf, what’s the matter? You look ill.’
‘No, I’m fine. I… I have to go.” With that, Iyaf left, heading back to the castle.

With a heavy heart, Iyaf sat on his small bed. The sun streamed through the window, lighting the room up. He sighed again, uncertain about how he could help the villagers.
He looked out the window, down at the small, cramped houses beyond the castle walls.
Thinking of something he had overhead in the village’s sole tavern, Iyaf was hit with a sudden, crazy idea. He sucked in his breath, amazed at how simple it was. A way to help his friends, and everyone else in Sengas at the same time!
Excited, he hurried off to see his father.

The main audience room; a huge, imposing room decorated more lavishly than any other room in the castle save the King’s chambers, was quiet. Iyaf peeked his heads round the door, to see that the room was empty; his father sat idly on the lush polished-ruby throne, the Royal Adviser at his side.
Swallowing nervously, Iyaf entered the room, and slowly approached the throne.
The King looked up abruptly, making Iyaf flinch. A savage gleam of pleasure glinted in the King’s eye, noticing Iyaf’s hesitation.
Routinely, the adviser stepped forwards, announcing the King. ‘His Majesty, King Vaas, ruler of all Sengas.’
Iyaf knew he was expected to bow, and he did so unhesitatingly. Once the advisor had moved back, Iyaf took a small step forwards, bowing again. He looked up at his father, and hastily looked away; the king forbade anyone to look him directly in the eye.
‘Your Highness. Father… I- I wish to ask a favor.’ Iyaf swallowed again, looking at his feet.
The King eyed Iyaf appraisingly. ‘A favor? What favor would you ask of your King?’
‘Well, sir- Your Majesty- the people in the villages are struggling to survive. Houses are falling to ruin, people are leaving for other lands. Food is expensive and scarce. And yet, the royal assets are the envy of nations. I—‘
‘Spare me the analysis, what do you want?’ the King snapped irritably.
Iyaf gulped again, and continued. ‘All I really want to ask for, Highness, is a cut in the tax rates, I mean, you don’t really need the money, do you? And the village people need money for food and clothes. I mean, it doesn’t need to be a huge cut…’ Iyaf knew he was rambling, and quickly silenced himself.

The King rose out of his seat, red in the face. ‘You…want…what?’ His words were slow, deliberate and filled with ill-concealed anger.
Iyaf mumbled vaguely, shrinking away from the intimidating figure of his father.
Iyaf’s failure to supply a suitable answer encouraged the King, who stepped forward and raised a gloved hand.
Iyaf stepped away, keeping a distance between himself and his father.
With a howl of rage, the King grabbed Iyaf’s arm, gripping painfully hard, digging into his flesh. His other hand came down across Iyaf’s mouth, splattering blood across the floor.
Before Iyaf could respond, another punch glanced off his temple, and his head span.
King Vaas maintained his grip on the disoriented Iyaf’s arm, raining blows to every inch of Iyaf’s skin that could be reached. Finally, thankfully, a punch landed on the back of his head, and Iyaf fell into darkness.


The flickering light of a candle came into focus, along with a terrible throbbing tenderness all over his body.
Adah was sitting next to him, along with a few other servants from the castle. Iyaf tried to turn his head, but found his neck to be too stiff. He opened his mouth, tasting blood. ‘A-Adah? What happened? Where am I?’ Iyaf turned his head as much as his neck would allow, and closed his eyes. Slowly, vaguely, it was coming back to him. An audience with the King. Tax cuts. Pain…
He opened his eyes, looking straight at Adah. ‘Did you patch me up again?’
She nodded, smiling sadly.
‘Thanks. Don’t know where I’d be without you.’ Iyaf smiled, cracking the dried blood that had caked around his lips. He looked across the room, in time to see the other servants filing out of the room, leaving him alone with Adah. ‘How long have I been… asleep?’
‘Only one night. What did you say to him? His Majesty was absolutely incensed! I have never seen him that angry.’
Iyaf chuckled ruefully. ‘I was asking for a tax cut… I sure learned my lesson.’
Adah only shook her head, not laughing with him. ‘Iyaf, how much longer will it be before he kills you? He was close enough yesterday, you might not be so lucky next time. You cannot take that chance, Iyaf. The best move you can make is to escape. Run away from this, from him.’
Iyaf nodded thoughtfully. He had considered running away before, but didn’t know where to go, or how to set about leaving. ‘Yes, but…where would I go?’
Adah winked mischievously. ‘It just so happens I know a little town far away from here; it’s not even on the royal maps, it’s fairly new.’
Iyaf nodded excitedly, but a part of him was still doubtful. f he were to run away, it would mean turning his back on everything he ever knew, turning his back on his friends, his home, and his entire way of life.
‘Ok. But… I want to say goodbye to- to my friends.’
Adah nodded. ‘We should leave tonight. That should give you time to say goodbye.’