Cassandra: Here She Rules: Book One

by Kat Brewer

  Cassie compressed her lips and refused to answer, staring once more into the fire. Darien rose slowly and came to stand in front of her. Lifting her chin, he looked into her stormy eyes.

  “I hope you regain your memory soon. I miss the Cassandra I once knew. This meek woman before me has her own brand of charm and attraction, but she is a pale shadow of her former magnificence.” Cassie sighed and dropped her eyes as he released her and walked from the room.

  Her mind spun in a million different directions, and her stomach was gripped by nausea. For over two months, she had been a loving partner to Prince Nall, and now she found it was all a fabrication and that she was, in fact, some kind of über warrior.

  It was too much to process, and she buried her head in her hands as pain began throbbing across her forehead. She sat unthinking for a time, and as the shadows began to settle, she rose, threw more wood on her fire, and then lit candles absently before returning to her seat in front of the flames.

  Darien’s rider met Kara when she was nearly halfway to Nyles’ court. He handed her the parchment and relayed his King’s message and watched as amazement and joy lit the Lady’s beautiful face.

  Kara whirled her horse to face her warriors, a grin splitting her face.

  “We ride for Serlenn’s outlying fortress! Our Commander lives and dwells safe there with the Prince!” The women responded with a shout of joy and eagerly kicked their horses into a hard gallop, following Kara.

  They arrived shortly before dark as Darien predicted. Kara jumped from the saddle and all but ran to the great doors of the main house. Flinging them open, she encountered a gray-faced Nall.

  He had been alerted to their approach by his guard, and he had come forth to meet Kara, reluctance written all over him.

  “Prince Nall! I have the news from King Darien! My Commander is here? What happened? How did you find her?” Kara grabbed him in a rough embrace, and her beaming face sent lances through his heart.

  Stepping back, she looked at him expectantly. She looked away only to scan the darkness of the passageway for signs of her friend. Nall stared speechlessly at Kara, he was unsure how to start or even what to say. Kara’s smile faded, and worry etched her features.

  “What is it? Is she hurt?” She grabbed Nall’s upper arms, shaking him slightly.

  “Lady, I have done you a great injustice. I have no idea what to tell you…” He dropped his eyes from hers as his voice trailed off.

  “What are you talking about? Is my Commander well? Does she live? I took it from Darien’s message that she was alive and well. Is this not the case?” Kara’s voice rose an octave, and she gripped his arms tighter, shaking him in her distress.

  “She lives. She is well physically,” he said.

  “Physically? What do you mean?” Still holding his arms, she shook him again.

  “She has lost her memory. She doesn’t know who she is,” he said, still not meeting her eyes.

  Kara’s hands dropped away from him, and she stood open-mouthed.

  “She does not remember anything? What happened to her, My Lord?” she gasped out.

  “I cannot say. Perhaps it would be better for you to go to her, Kara,” he said, and Kara nodded, following Nall as he led her to the bedchamber. She frowned in confusion when he made no move to enter, but nodded to her and left.

  Shaking her head slightly Kara drew in a deep breath and opened the door. Sitting by the fire, bathed in candlelight, was Cassandra. She was garbed in a long, woolen dress, and her hair was pulled back from her face, lying loosely down her back.

  Had Kara not known that face so well, she might have mistaken her for a noblewoman. Cassie looked up at Kara curiously and offered a sad smile. Kara’s breath caught in her throat. This was Cassie, but not the Cassie she had known so well, and it made her feel sick.

  Cassandra considered the beautiful female warrior who strode into her room.

  The woman was tall and very strong. Her dark hair was pulled back into a braid, and her sharp eyes assessed everything around her. She exuded strength and dominance. There was a sword at her hip, and one on her back as well as various daggers on her person.

  A flash of this woman laughing ran quickly through her mind only to recede back into the darkness therein.

  Kara stopped in front of Cassie and knelt on the fur rug at her feet, head bowed.

  “Lady Cassandra, praise the gods you are safe! I have searched for the past two months for you and had nearly given up hope.”

  Cassie stared at the top of the woman’s head for a long moment, unsure of how to proceed. She made a quick decision and put her hand on the bowed head, softly caressing the woman’s hair.

  Kara looked up and met her eyes.

  “Have you any memory at all?” Kara asked, and Cassie shook her head.

  “An image flashed through my mind when you came. In it, you were laughing, but nothing more, and even that is fading,” she said sadly and then motioned for Kara to rise.

  “We laughed often. We are very close friends. Do you know how this happened? The last report of you was that you were chasing down a Trevian and were not seen again. We searched everywhere for months. I cannot believe you have been here the whole time.” Kara looked at her closely.

  “Yes, I have been here the whole time…sewing cloaks for the liar who calls himself Serlenn’s prince.” Kara’s mouth dropped open again.

  “Sewing cloaks? He has kept you here as a servant! Erla’s Commander?!” Kara shouted, turning dark red and leaping to her feet, she reached for her sword. Cassie rose, and extending a trembling hand, she stopped Kara from unsheathing her weapon.

  “No, not as a servant. In all honesty, he has treated me well. He did not bother, however, to mention he knew who I was. He made up a name to give me, and I have lived here as his lover and prospective bride.” She stared into Kara’s horrified eyes.

  “I will kill him! I will hand him his still beating heart! How could he? Aargh!” Kara bellowed and turned away snarling, drawing her sword as she made for the door.

  Cassie ran after her and grabbed her arm to stop the headlong charge.

  “Please, Lady. I would rather you stay here and tell me about who I am. Leave the Prince’s fate to me.” Kara spun around and searched her eyes, and seeing determination there, she sheathed her weapon.

  “My Lady, Cassie, he has done a great disservice to your country and your Queen. I have searched tirelessly for you since the day we found you were missing. You are not only my Commander, you are my dearest friend. We have suffered greatly from the fear of your death. I cannot tell you how much pain Nera is in.”

  “I am so sorry. It saddens me to think of your distress. I thank you for your friendship and dedication. I wish I could remember you, you and my life before. You must help me. I cannot return to Erla as less than I once was, and I will not remain here and become Nall’s wife after his deception. You must teach me who I am.” She clutched Kara’s hand and begged her with her words and her eyes.

  “Cassie, I will do anything you ask. I will tell you of your life, and I will train with you to regain your strength. It seems as if sitting on your behind sewing has not done much for your muscle tone.” She tried to smile, but a killing rage still burned inside of her.

  Cassie smiled weakly in return.

  “Thank you, my friend. This has all been very frightening for me. I honestly don’t know what to think anymore. Here, sit by the fire. I will ring for refreshments, and you can tell me the story of my life,” she suggested and gestured to the comfortable chairs in front of the fire.

  “Wait!” Kara said, “We found this in the forest, and I wish to return it to its rightful owner.” She reached behind and plucked Cassie’s sword off her back where it had rested for two months.

  Cassie’s eyes widened and she stepped back when the warrior pulled the sword. The frightened look in her eyes made Kara’s desire to kill Nall stronger than ever.

  He had taken her fearless Commander and turned he
r into a meek lapdog. Kara struggled to fight back the snarl that came to her lips.

  Walking slowly towards Cassie, she laid the sword in her hands. As Cassie stared down at the weapon, her stomach lurched as gory visions of warfare flashed through her mind. She dropped the sword, and it clattered loudly to the stones.

  Wavering, she reached out for something to steady herself with. Kara took her arm and helped her to a chair. She spun and scooped up her Commander’s sword before setting it across Cassie’s knees.

  “Are you all right?” Kara asked.

  “Yes, I think so. I had a memory when I touched it, a very bloody memory,” Cassie said in a very weak voice.

  “That sword has saved many lives and has taken the lives of many fools.” Pride tinged Kara’s voice. She had pride both in her Commander and in the work that they had done together.

  Cassie stroked the sword softly. Her fingers caressed the carvings on the sheath. She grasped the hilt and pulled it from its sleeping place.

  The sword sang as it emerged and flashed brightly in the firelight. A familiar feeling seemed to travel from her hand and suffuse her entire body.

  This was why the clanking of swords tickled her memory. Just holding the weapon was enough to assure her that it was indeed hers and that this was truly who she was.

  Her eyes sparkled as she looked up at Kara.

  “Give me back my life, Kara,” she requested firmly.

  “I will, my friend. I swear it,” Kara replied intensely.

  Kara sat across from her friend and spoke long into the night of Cassie’s life in Erla. Then, shortly before midnight, she rose and embraced her friend and left in search of rest.

  She walked silently down to the Great Hall, and when she entered, she saw Nall and Darien before the huge fireplace. The men rose when they saw her come in and moved to meet her. Kara strode straight up to Nall and threw a punch into his face that landed him on his backside.

  “You are very fortunate, My Lord. I should kill you for what you have done to Cassandra and to Erla. My Lady is more diplomatic, though, and she insists that I restrain myself in order to avoid starting a war.” Nall slowly got to his feet. He knew he deserved whatever she said or did to him. “I will remain here with my Commander for two weeks while I attempt to get her back into fighting form. Then, we ride for Erla. She has requested I not tell my Queen of the circumstances, only that she has been found and is unable to travel at this time. Once again, you are a fortunate man, for Nera would likely ride here to kill you herself. My Lady further requests that you fit a chamber for us to share whilst we are here. She has no wish to be in your bed ever again.” She stared hard into his eyes, and Nall flinched as her words wounded him. He dropped his gaze and nodded.

  Kara crossed her arms over her chest while he called a servant and gave orders for a chamber for the two women to be prepared and for Lady Fara/Cassandra to be escorted there. With a bow to Darien, Kara followed the servant out of the room.

  “Well, I think that went rather well, don’t you?” Darien laughed shortly, ignoring Nall’s angry look. The Prince was silently wiping the blood from his still bleeding lip, waving away a maid who had come to assist him. “Come now, Nall. You are still alive and breathing, and considering the women we are dealing with, that is indeed a bit of a miracle. I will bid you goodnight now.” Darien sketched a sardonic bow and left Nall staring into the fire, holding his abused mouth.

  Chapter Thirty

  The following weeks were difficult for Cassie. She did her best to avoid Nall and worked out from dawn till dusk with Kara and Darien.

  The warriors who had accompanied Kara were outraged when they discovered the Prince’s lie, and it was all Cassie and Kara could do to keep them from seeking retribution.

  Each night, Cassie would choke down her dinner, wash, and then fall into bed, only to be roused at first light to begin again with sore, aching muscles.

  As the days passed, her muscles hardened, and she regained her agility, but with the exception of brief flashes, she had not regained her memory.

  Messages had been sent by Nera to express her joy and beg her to recover quickly and come home. They had not told Nera the details, so the Queen believed Cassie to have taken ill. They had also received word from King Nyles, who was overjoyed at her being found and wished her speed in getting back to health.

  For ten days, Nall watched her progress from a distance. On the eleventh day, he saddled his horse and rode to the Capital, intent on telling his father the truth of the events in person as he had knowingly put his country’s security and alliance with Erla in jeopardy.

  The day before their planned departure, Kara decided they should rest, and a grateful Cassie immediately agreed. The women were in their shared room packing after they secured Cassie some clothing more befitting her station. Tossing her saddlebag on the floor, Cassie threw herself onto her bed and burrowed into the softness.

  “I think it is time for you to tell me about my slaves, Kara. I will be meeting them in a couple of days, and I don’t even know their names.” She watched as Kara finished packing her bag and then threw herself down on her own bed.

  “You have six, Cassie. Mika has black hair and golden eyes. Arn, my personal favorite,” she grinned, “is a blond giant with gorgeous blue-violet eyes. Kai has deep brown hair and brown eyes. Taylyn is tall with jet-black hair with a sprinkling of gray with blue eyes. He was actually just a field slave when you found him and brought him home. Aidan has russet hair and emerald eyes. Last, but certainly not least, you have Garen. He is a lovely blond with beautiful blue eyes. They all adore you, and you are very fair with them, they are actually quite spoiled, I think. The rest I cannot tell you; you will have to find out for yourself. Rest assured they are all incredibly beautiful and very talented in your bed,” Kara said, eyes sparkling. “I must say I am glad to be going home, I have not slept under my own roof for near three months, and I long for the solace of my own well-loved slaves.” Stretching and yawning, she pushed her hair from her face.

  “I am so sorry for all of this, Kara. For all of the pain and trouble that you went through. I blame myself you know. Going after the Trevian alone was stupid, and I should have known better. If I had kept a warrior with me, this could have all been avoided.” Her stomach ached as she considered this.

  “I, too, wish you had taken an escort. However, what’s done is done. You couldn't have known any of this would happen. It should have been an easy win and a quick return to your warriors. Your thoughts were on the safety of your warriors and of the Princess Danai, and that was noble.”

  “I suppose I am wasting time and energy on regret. By the way, did you know Nall left for his father’s Palace days ago? He didn't say anything to me before he left,” Cassie asked, her eyes tinged with sadness.

  “Are you truly sorry he did not? After what he has done, he does not deserve your thoughts or sympathy.” Kara was mildly annoyed Cassie harbored any kind feelings for the Prince.

  “You will have to be patient with me, Kara. I still love him very much, and it will be a long time before I get over it. I will try to occupy my mind with thoughts of the beautiful men that await me in Erla,” she said with a sad smile at Kara.

  “I am sorry, Cassie. I think I will be angry with Nall forever for this.”

  “I appreciate that. I really do. It lets me know how much you care about me.”

  “I love you, Cassie! You are a sister to me as well as my Commander.” Cassie’s eyes pricked at the heartfelt emotion, but she banished the tears. She had done enough crying as of late.

  “I know when I look at you that I love you as well.” The women smiled at each other.

  Night had fallen as they talked and feeling sleepy, they both put on their nightclothes and slipped between the sheets, Kara leaned over and extinguished the light as they wished one another a good sleep.

  After a farewell to Darien, the women spent the next couple of days on the road back to Erla. Cassie found an easy camarad
erie with the warriors, and she was touched at how happy they were to have her back amongst them.

  It was a pleasant journey, but the closer they got to Erla, the more nervous Cassie became. They were all very happy when the climate became milder and they were able to shed their heavy, fur-lined coats.

  Kara was even happier to be nearing the home she had been away from for so long.

  During the last couple of miles to Erla, they all stripped out of their heavy linen undershirts and wore only their leather pants and vests. Even the horses seemed to sense how near to home they were as they pranced and tossed their manes, moving quickly along the familiar road.

  The women felt it too, and in mutual accord, they urged their horses faster, giving them their heads as they sped through the outskirts of town. They slowed only when they got into the more populated areas.

  Shouts of welcome and joy greeted them when the people realized that it was Cassandra who rode at the front of the group with Kara. The people were overjoyed that their Commander had returned safely. Cassie smiled and waved to the people they passed. Her eyes soaked in the details of their faces.

  All too soon, however, they arrived at the Palace and Cassie dismounted, watching in amazement as a beautiful woman with long, platinum hair and flashing violet eyes ran down the steps. She joyfully launched herself into Cassie’s arms and squeezing her tightly.

  “Oh, my friend! My friend! I am so happy you are home and well. Thank the gods you are home amongst us again.” Nera drew back and laughed happily into Cassie’s eyes.

  The smile slid off of her face slowly as Cassie stared at her awkwardly.

  “What is the matter?” she asked, confused. Nera turned her eyes on Kara. “What is wrong with her, Kara?”

  “Your Highness, forgive me. I did not tell you all that had truly occurred. Lady Cassandra had an accident. She was thrown from her horse and hit her head, and it has caused her to lose her memory. I have spent the last two weeks helping her to train and telling her of what her life was,” Kara said, lowering her head.