"We'll be fine on the one horse, she's been good and I've been using magic to help her keep going without exhausting her." Janna couldn't get that feeling, that something was wrong, out of her head. Better check the bridge, just in case. She sent out her Sight towards the bridge, trying to keep her head straight on the moving horse. There, waiting for them, was at least twenty men and a commander of some sort. "Ok that's not good. Dren how is your sword arm?"
"Why? How bad is it?" Dren was pretty good, being a captain of the guard and all, but he was no King Arian. That man could fight.
The question became moot when she saw them lift up their bows and ready a volley. Another couple of seconds and they would be in range. "Never mind, hang on!" She pulled the reins to the left and angled the horse towards the river. "Ash'anti wan hadar dosit roan wanel!" She all but screamed at the water, begging it to keep the horse afloat. She wasn't sure if it would do as she asked, but they had run out of choices.
Commander Ellis had seen them coming, but couldn't tell who was on the horse. He was fully confident that his plan would work, but he couldn't be sure till he saw them. Splitting his already weakened force to catch them here at the bridge was a gamble. They had to ride the horses almost to death to get here, but now there wouldn't be a chase. Then he saw them pull towards the river. "What in the Hells?" He squinted and when they didn't plunge into the water he all but choked. They were getting away. "Fire at the target! All arrows!"
"Sir they aren't really in range." Franc wasn't usually the voice of reason but...
Ellis turned a hateful gaze upon his second and held his eyes. "I. Said. FIRE!" The arrows flew up and over in a high arc, higher than normal to reach such a distance with any sort of accuracy. They were moving farther away, and soon they would be lost. The horses were too weary to give chase, this was his last gamble. He would follow at a pace that the horses could manage, but only to the other side of the river. If they weren't there he would have to go home empty handed. He didn't have the force for a confrontation with Everknight guards as yet.
Janna couldn't believe that they were riding over the river. The horse was panicked, but steady, and they were almost home free. Then she heard a small 'zip' sound and a sharp pain in her back. Dren gurgled behind her then another sharp pain hit her in the leg. Arrows! She couldn't fathom how they had hit her this far out, but at least three more splashed around her into the water to either side. Lucky for them, very bad for us. She thought, as they neared the other bank. That's when she felt Dren slipping off the horse. "Dren!" She called, turning and trying to hold him on. He looked pale and quiet. "Almost there, hang on!" Janna was losing blood, but she would heal. She always did. They touched down on the other side and she immediately stopped the horse and slid off, helping Dren down as she did. He had taken an arrow to the back, and it looked like it went into his lungs. She could guess this because of his labored breathing, that and she had seen this a time or two. Janna could heal things, but not that. She snapped off the arrows that were in her and draped him over the saddle. Leaping up next to him, she kicked the horse into a gallop and used the wind to speed them. "Hold on old girl," She whispered to the horse. "Just a couple more miles..."
Commander Ellis watched her ride away like some kind of demon. He had no choice but to head back to Keragan Hold and see how the attack had gone. The way his day was going he didn't plan on having much of a force left anyways. He turned his company around and headed back, cursing that messenger with all his heart, while he still had one.
"Think the Queen is going to have us skinned?"
"Shut up Franc."
Chapter Seven: Reunions
The wagons limped into the city of Everknight two days after their storytelling night, and everyone's spirits were high thanks to the music and stories of Karsis. The folk of Caerlyn Hold were looking forward to getting a nice warm meal, and Allissana had promised them all that and more.
Both Graf and Rhoe were nervous, both for very different reasons. Rhoe was worried that once they arrived, Liss would be too busy with the affairs of the Kingdom to have any time for him, and Graf just plain out hated people. He hated the last two days, and often hid under blankets in the wagon when no one was looking. At one time they lost him for three hours.
Once they hit the city gates, Karsis knew that word would reach the castle and the parents of both kids would come running down that hill faster than dragons could fly. Scratch that, Rhoe's mother was a monk, it would be even faster. He looked over at Rhoe and frowned. The boy was in a funk over Liss being the Princess. He probably had this absurd notion that she wouldn't bother with a farm boy once back in the courts. Little did he know that she had it worse than he did. He had watched them for two days and now that there was no pressing danger, their bond grew stronger. It bothered him more than a little. Mainly because he couldn't seem to detect anyone influencing them.
"It looks just the same as when I left." Liss was staring up at the massive castle on the hill. It was looming over them like an overprotective father, ruling over all it surveyed.
"You thought they would change it?" Rhoe quipped nervously. He was trying to be witty, but it failed miserably.
"No. I thought that something might have happened, I've been worried since River Vale that they may have attacked here, but I don't see anything." She knew he was trying to lighten the mood, but she was nervous about her father meeting him. Oh and finding out that we got married by the faeries..that should go over about as well as his daughter running off after an ancient Incarnation of Evil. She laughed at her own thoughts, and nudged Rhoe to make him smile.
"Well I for one am looking forward to the family reunion. I promised your father that I would get you home safe, and I'm a man of my word." Karsis put away his lute and straightened his long coat as they started the long climb to the castle. This road was packed gravel and wound up in a 'S' to prevent all out charges by cavalry. Situated between the road were large mounds of earth to help prevent erosion from heavy rains. He knew that the reunion was going to be more than just the King and Queen. He also expected Gareth and Tierra, whom Rhoe thought were dead. Any minute now.....and there she is!
Tierra had seen her son from the high parapet and no one, not anyone was going to stop her. She went by the King so fast that he almost drew his sword, thinking that they were under attack. Gareth just laughed and plodded after her, patting Arian on the shoulder and letting him know that the kids were home. She heard them, but was already gone. Down the stairs, around the courtyard, vaulting over the short gate, despite the protests of the knights guarding it, and onto the road.."RHOE!" She screamed, running full speed with tears streaming down her face. Her twin braids were flying in the wind and were as dangerous as daggers going this fast.
Rhoe looked up at the sound of his name being screamed like that. At first he looked towards Liss but her eyes were on the road ahead, and they were wide with shock. He followed her gaze and then he saw her. His mother. Tears sprung to his eyes as he slid down off of his horse, already running faster than most men could. "Mom!?" He couldn't believe it. He passed Karsis and gave him a look, and the bard was smiling smugly. He was probably behind this, and enjoying it too. He would get a hug later. He closed the distance quickly, and they came together like a hurricane hitting land.
Robes and hair tangled, mixed with tears and kisses as they spun around and around in circles trying to burn off their momentum. Not one person watching had a dry eye, except for maybe Karsis. He was laughing too hard to be crying. Rhoe couldn't even think straight, then he saw Gareth come down the hill as well and the tears started again. He hadn't lost them! He dragged his mother with him as he ran for his father, hitting that massive barrel chest at full speed and not moving the man once inch.
"I've missed you son." Gareth said through misty eyes, he hugged him back, a little harder than usual, but he had to make sure he was real.
"I love you dad, mom....I can't....how?" He just couldn't fathom how they were alive.
"Oh, nothing. We will talk later, you're right." He turned and waved to the wagons and saw that Caerlyn was frantically waving with both hands.
"You've brought more refugee's, that can't be good news. At least Caerlyn is here, we were going to have to send for her anyway." Tierra didn't want to tell Rhoe about Innal and Rythal. Not yet. She tried to change the subject, but Karsis saved her at the last moment. As usual.
"Last one to the castle has to wash the saddles!" He yelled as he raced past on his horse. He saw their faces as he went by and it made his heart soar. This is why he had waited to tell Rhoe, and it was worth it. All the frustration and pain that the boy had gone through on this trip was washed away by the relief of seeing his parents alive. Gods above I'm in a good mood, I may even have to find Carana tonight. He thought as he sailed into the inner courtyard. Just then a horse passed him and flew into the stables at a canter, barley stopping before it went through the back wall. He looked and saw Caerlyn laughing and trying to catch her breath. She beat him. Crap.
Below, Graf waited until the wagons had started again, then slid out of the wagon and slipped into the city un noticed. He had no plans to go to the castle, and the voice had said to get the Princess here safely. That he had done. Now he was going to find a nice filthy alley and hide from this incessant wind. It was worse here up on the hill and it was making his skin itch and his eyes water. You have done as I asked, enjoy your reprieve for I will have need of you in the days to come, but for now....rest. The voice echoed in his head as he shook it back and forth, somehow thinking that he could make it stop by doing that. In the end he gave up and continued to walk in the shadows, looking for a pile of blankets.
Liss rode up to the gate in quiet awe. She had seen the raw emotion come raging out of Rhoe when he saw his mother, and it had overwhelmed her. For him to care so deeply for someone surely was a testament to his depth. Could she compete with that? And she was so pretty! She thought as she tried to climb out of the cavern of self pity she was falling into. Then she forgot all about Rhoe's mother, as her own came into view.
Maressa came through the gate in a rush. She looked around and then saw her daughter. "Allissana!" She ran over and all but pulled the girl out of the saddle, showering her with kisses upon her brow. "Oh Gods above, you're all right." She pushed her back at arms length to really get a good look at her, then noticed how mature she looked. Maressa let her go and stepped back calmly. She was treating the Princess of Lythinall like a child, and In full view of townsfolk as well. "I'm sorry honey, It's just I was so worried." She never got to say anything else.
Liss was stunned that her mom pulled away, she had traveled so far to get back here and this is all that she wanted to do, that and apologize to her father. So when her mother started apologizing to her, she just tackled her in a big hug and squeezed her tight, whispering in her ear. "I love you mother, never, ever forget that. No matter what I've done, or how I acted, I've always loved you." Tears fell as she let out her feelings, and then she noticed her father standing there.
Arian came out of the castle slowly. First he saw Karsis and Caerlyn over at the stables, but passed them by. They weren't the ones he was looking for. Then he passed Gareth, Tierra, and a young man that could only be Rhoven. He shook his head as he contemplated how fortunate they all were. He couldn't wait to catch up with them later also. When he passed the gate, he saw them, his wife and daughter. He stood there and watched their exchange like a statue on a mountainside, vigilant and patient. When Allissana looked up and saw him he smiled at her. Look at her, so grown up. She really looks like her mother in those leathers and that damned sword at her side. He thought as he stepped closer and placed a hand on his wife's shoulder. "May I?"
Maressa stepped back and let her husband in. He had been so strong in her absence, but he had been worried just as much. The Queen patted them on the shoulders and walked down to the approaching wagons, which were having a hard time with a missing horse that Caerlyn had unhitched to race Karsis. She missed stunts like that. She waved to the people and got them calm and ready to enter the castle, after all someone had to be responsible around here.
Liss slid into her father's arms and started crying. "I'm sorry father, you were right." She tried to control herself, but all of the stress of all of the time she had been gone rushed in and swamped her.
"For what dear one?"
"For thinking that your job was easy. That I could do the same thing without even trying. I can't. I had to make decisions that made me want to curl up and just cry, and if Rhoe wasn't there, I wouldn't have been able to get it right." She was babbling now, through tears, and not even really thinking about what she was saying.
Arian held her tighter and leaned down to whisper in her ear, so that no one would hear him confess. "Little one, how do you think I do things around here? I have your mother to guide me. The fact that you made those decisions even when they were tough means you can do this, probably better than me." He was so proud that it didn't sink in right away. Something was trying to tap his brain on the shoulder...Then it hit him. "Wait, are you and Rhoven.....?"
She knew she couldn't say anything else but the truth to him, and not just because he was her father. He had this way of knowing when he was being lied to, and the only one to get away with that was her mother. "I love him, and I'm fairly certain he loves me. It's a long story, but technically we're......well, married." She didn't close her eyes, she wanted to see the lightning bolt when it came out of his eyes to smite her down.
"I see." He swallowed visibly and kept his emotions in check. He was a master at concealing his anger at things that angered him in court, but this was something entirely different. "Well, I suppose we will hear all about it later, for now let's get you inside and cleaned up."
The parents walked into the castle with their kids, and Karsis watched them go with warmth in his heart. Things were looking up, now they just had to figure out what to do next. Unfortunately he knew what he had to do, and the kids would have to go with him. He watched Caerlyn dote over the refugee's and couldn't help but remember the inner working of her soul. Then he spied Ralavin coming out into the courtyard and laughed out loud. This was going to be spectacular. It's like it's my birthday! He thought as he folded his legs under him, floating in mid air and getting ready for a show. If I only had some dried beef...He checked his inner pockets anyway just to be sure, but no food.
Ralavin walked by the King and Allissana and laughed a bit when she stared at him, trying to place where she had seen him before. He had tried to forget what had happened to him, but he was reminded about it whenever someone new showed up. Tierra just laughed and pushed the kids on saying that she would explain it later.
He smiled at the looks, but he had heard that Caerlyn had come with the refugee's, so he thought he would bring Griff out and introduce him to Lady Caerlyn. "Don't worry young one, believe me, she is the nicest person in all of Lythinall. You have nothing to worry about." He patted the kid on the shoulder and stood a little straighter. He hadn't seen her in years.
Griff swallowed hard and nodded, trying to stay calm. He was worried no matter what Ralavin said, but he would try. He breathed in deep and held it for a couple of seconds, then breathed out again. It was something that he was shown by Ralavin to find his inner light, but it worked in calming him down as well. Then he saw her. Griff had seen pretty ladies before, had even peeked into the brothel once or twice to see them without any clothes on. This was something all together different. She was a vision! She was dressed simply, in a long white dress that had seen days of road travel, and adorned only with a gold belt. Her delicate feet stuck out of her sandals and her long flowing blond hair
that was braided down her back had some ribbons in it, but it was her deep emerald eyes that drew him to her. At thirty feet away he already swore to himself that he would die rather than see her come to harm.
Caerlyn looked up and saw the cutest boy walking towards her with freckles, wavy red hair and green eyes. The man escorting him however was completely new to her.....Who in Davalar's name is that!? She thought as her heart skipped a beat. He had shoulder length raven black hair and ice blue eyes. His pale skin accentuated those features and his cotton robe hung snugly on a well muscled physique. He was no warrior, but he had seen his share of trouble to be sure. That's when she saw his holy symbol and she knew that he was sent from the Gods themselves. It was identical to her own. "Well, who do we have here?" She asked, trying to keep the quiver out of her voice.
"You may not know me anymore great lady, but I've known you for many years." Ralavin chuckled at her incredulous look, but went on before she could ask more. "This is young master Griff, and he has the talent for healing. Actually talent is an understatement, he is closer to Master healer than I care to admit. He's healed broken bones in minutes." He saw her eyes go wide and nodded in unison. He had been there and he still didn't want to believe it.
"Ralavin, I told you, I don't know how I did it. It just seemed natural." He didn't want this woman thinking he was that good, he was just new, that was all.
Caerlyn fell back and clutched the wagon. "Ralavin?!" It couldn't be him, he was closer to eighty winters than twenty. "Can it be you?"
He shook his head and laughed again to himself. "Yes Caerlyn. I was struck down by a traitorous sorcerer and Karsis saved me with a strange potion. It brought me back and restored my youth, but I'm still the old me." He found that he felt a little uncomfortable standing next to her. He had never thought of her as pretty before, more like a little kid, but now...."Anyway, I wanted to introduce you two since he will be going with you when you go back to the hold for training. I've showed him all I can."
The Darkness Within (A Lythinall Novel) (Book 2) Page 15