"So what brings you here Othren?" Arian hadn't seen the old man about recently, and if he wasn't as busy as he was, he would've been worried. "Did I forget to sign something again?" The King noticed that Othren couldn't help but stare at the young monk, something he wanted to do as well, what with all of the stories flying about. This boy had done some amazing things, and coming from Karsis, that is no small feat.
"Well sire, as you may know, I have been charged with the first ever census of the castle. I have painstakingly compiled a list of everyone's name that has stayed here this year and I am almost finished." He took out an ink jar and a quill. He set them on a small table and produced a piece of parchment, unrolling it and holding down the corner with the ink vial. "All I am missing at the moment are the newcomers and of course the elusive Karsis."
"Don't you already know his name if you just said it?" Rhoe closed his mouth the minute he finished but it was too late. He didn't know any of the courtly etiquette, and was used to just speaking his mind.
"Why I guess you are right, but I would also need his last name, and he is quite unreachable for one such as I. Your name would be Rhoven Whiteheart?" Othren wrote as the boy nodded
"I could always ask Karsis if you want?" Rhoe thought he could be helpful, and if that made him look better to King Arian then why not try.
"Why that would be a tremendous help to an old man such as myself." He smiled to them both then put his tools of the trade away and got up slowly. The King was looking out of the window with a far off glaze to his eyes. "I'll take my leave now sire." He bowed and left unceremoniously.
Rhoe noticed the King lost in thought and walked over to him by the window. "Copper for your thoughts?" He said playfully
"My daughter is married, and I can't find fault with the man she choose. You would think that would be a happy thing, but you have no idea about the courts and treaties we have." He turned and looked at the young man, not a boy at all....."Don't worry though, I won't let anyone come between you two if this is what you both want. They still fear me a little."
Arian smiled, but in the back of his mind he knew that the nobles would have a hissy fit you could see from the Northern Belt about the boy being a commoner. Well isn't that just too bad, the boy is a legacy from the Companions of Everknight, and that ought to count. He thought, and right then he knew that he had found his loophole. They couldn't say anything bad about the Companions, so the kid was in. Of course that wouldn't stop them from trying.
Rhoe couldn't believe that the King was saying this. He thought the man was going to hate him. "Why thank you sire.."
"Please call me Arian."
"Sorry. Arian." They both turned towards the door as it opened slowly, creaking as if mice were pushing it open.
Overlook Bridge, Castle Everknight
Liss couldn't help but scowl as her mother led her up to the bridge that crossed from the east wing to the west wing. She didn't want to leave Rhoe with her father, Gods know what he could be saying right now. He wouldn't hurt him...would he? She thought as she felt the wind pick her hair up and spin it like a children's toy. She couldn't see but it felt so good.
"Don't worry honey, your father will be on his best behavior. He just wants to get to know the boy that married our daughter." Saying it still made her stomach do that funny upside-down thing. Maressa took a deep breath and felt the wind course by her. This is where she went when she needed to really think. Not 'What do we do about this or that Lord' type of thinking, but real serious issues like this. The Overlook used to be where she would come to await Arian's messages, back when they had to sneak around his own father. "Besides, after this it's your turn anyway, so I would start thinking about how you are going to handle Tierra."
"Shouldn't I be worrying about the mountain she is married to?" Liss quipped while trying to fix her hair. She stared right into the wind and it blew her hair back like she was flying. This was so relaxing.
"You mean Gareth? No. He is one big teddy bear. The one that will be coming at you with daggers drawn will be the boy's mother."
"Man, mother. Rhoe is no more a 'boy' then I am a 'child'." Liss was tired and just wanted some sleep before this big council meeting they were going to have. She couldn't deny that she loved being here with her mother though. Her mother had never brought her up here before, it felt really special to her. Now if she could just stop worrying about Rhoe.
"I'm sorry Allissana, It's just so weird to us. We know of him, but thanks to the feud that your father and Gareth had all these years, we missed seeing him grow. We don't know if he is a good man, or even what kind of man he is." She saw her daughter's face twist and knew a tirade was coming, so she just plowed on through without much of a break. "Don't get us wrong. He is probably the best there is, but your father wanted to talk with him alone." They both heard someone clear their throat politely behind them and turned to see Karsis.
"While this is cute and all, and I'm sure there is a whole barrel of girl stuff to come, but we are needed downstairs. One of your guards came in severely wounded with a very beautiful bard and they need either the King or Queen. Arian is busy grilling my student so you are going to have to do." He spun a full circle as he finished and bowed like a Lord.
"Karsis, you never cease to amaze me." Maressa smiled and walked by him, slapping him on the shoulder playfully.
"He does that a lot, at least he has since I met him In River Vale." Liss laughed at his shocked face and followed her mother. They left him behind pouting all by himself. Once they were out of view his smile broadened. He had learned some things as he sat here listening to them. He was shocked that at least Maressa never heard him approach, or even saw him as he stood here. He really was getting better with age. Liss was still worried about Rhoe, but not as bad as when she was near him. Distance was a small factor, that much he had learned. Small steps are what gets you to the destination...He thought of the old saying that his teachers used to tell him. He skipped after the girls and headed to see this supposedly beautiful bard.
Outside the King's Room, Castle Everknight
Gareth paced back and forth, wringing his hands in frustration. He knew that the King would be angry, Hells below, he was angry and it wasn't even his daughter, but he also knew Arian wouldn't take it out on the boy. So what was taking so long?
"Dear, if you keep doing that you are going to wear a hole in the carpet all the way to the foundation." Tierra was anxious too, but not for her son. She had taught him all the control that she had and she had no worries about how he would handle himself with the King. The only problem would be him speaking his mind. No, what she was anxious about was getting that girl alone and finding out what made her tick.
"I know, but I need to be doing something, not just sitting here." He kicked the base of a marble column that held a vase and sent the expensive art object tumbling down.
Before he could even try to reach out and miss catching the vase, steady hands caught it and lifted it back up onto the pedestal. A figure stepped out from behind the curtain. "Gareth, please be careful of the art, it is very expensive and I would hate to steal another one for Arian." Tanan laughed at the scowl on the big man's face. He loved sneaking up on Gareth. It never got old.
"Tanan!" Tierra ran over and grabbed him in a big hug. She hadn't seen him in days, what with one thing or another keeping them both busy. It felt odd at the same time to see her old companions together again. A good odd though. "What have you been doing these last couple of days?"
"I've been sneaking around the lower castle trying to see if I can pick up anything for Arian on these spies and assassin's he has lurking around." He was disappointed that he had found next to nothing, but that just meant he would have to dig deeper. He saw something out of the corner of his eye and reflexively ducked behind the curtain, stilling it and ceasing his own breathing.
Gareth didn't know what was happening. One minute he was talking to Tanan, and the next, when he turned to greet whoever was coming around th
e corner, he was alone. He saw Allissana meekly peek around the corner and smile at them, and he instantly loved her. She was the spitting image of her mother and father, and it swelled his heart that he could finally meet her. "Come over here and meet your uncle Gareth." He called out, trying to take the focus off of Tierra, since he knew his wife was just waiting to get her claws into this young girl, so to speak.
Liss saw the great big man and smiled, walking faster than she should have, but she saw the look that the woman gave her, and it scared the breath right out of her. She knew warriors by looking at them, and this woman could eat half of them. "So nice to meet you. Rhoe has spoken highly of both of you."
"I doubt that. He thought we were dead until recently, remember?" Tierra was annoyed. No, not annoyed. She was livid. This girl had taken her son.
"Dear..."
"Not now Gareth."
"Why don't I let you girls have some quiet time." He said, pulling Allissana into a bear hug. He brought her closer and whispered to her. "Don't worry, she hasn't killed anyone in almost ten years. You'll be fine." He let her go and turned to his wife to kiss her on the head. He wasn't getting anywhere near her teeth until she calmed down. "Be nice." He left them without waiting for his wife to answer. I wonder if the Laughing Sprite is still there? He thought as he turned the corner.
Liss had never been so worried in all of her life. This woman was more than just angry. She had people angry with her before and she knew how to handle them. She knew if she tried to 'handle' this woman she would be on the floor faster than sunlight through a window. And I thought Carana was scary. She thought, as the woman slowly walked towards her. "Before you start hitting, what should I call you?" Liss said, getting ready to deflect incoming attacks.
Tierra stopped, honestly shocked at how the girl was standing. She went into this angry at the noble Princess stealing her pristine baby boy, but she could see now that she was blinded. The girl stood with her feet apart and her right foot slightly back, better able to twist to the side if she had to move quickly. Her hands were open, but raised high to deflect anything that came within her range, and she had stopped her deep breathing and had gone into shallow breaths. This was a warrior, and was prepared to fight for what she believed in. "Mom."
"What now?"
Tierra took a deep breath and exhaled slowly, finding her center and washing away the hate and anger. "I said, you can call me Mom, if you wish." She moved in with her arms open and hugged the confused girl. "Come on lets walk and talk about how adorable my son is. Then you can fill me in on how you got to be the warrior I just saw standing in front of me."
Liss smiled, still confused. She didn't know exactly what just happened, but she was going with it. "Oh you would love Carana. She is the High General of Everknight and has been training me since I could hold a wooden sword." They walked down the corridors chatting for hours and after a time, they started harassing everyone that they passed. Once they had gone, Tanan came out and followed Gareth, he wanted nothing to do with women right now.
****************************
Maressa pushed the door open slowly, not wanting to bother her husband. When she looked in, she saw them both staring at her. "I don't want to intrude, but we have a situation Arian."
Rhoe saw the man next to him go from easy going to King in an instant and it awed him more than a little. Then he saw Karsis come in behind the woman and knew something was wrong. The bard wasn't making any jokes. "It's ok, we had pretty much finished up, haven't we sire?"
Arian took two steps and stopped at the young man's words. He sighed and smiled with his head down. "Yes we have, he is a fine man and I'll be proud to call him son. Now, you stay here with Karsis and I'll go with Maressa and see what we have." He put his arms around his wife and escorted her out, "You can fill me in along the way dear, let's go."
"But Arian, Karsis only told me just a minute ago..." Then they were gone.
"So it must be bad if you're still not smiling Karsis." Rhoe felt like he was the only one still happy around here.
"I'm not exactly sure right now, and that's the part that has me a little off balance Rhoe." He was surprised that Arian and the boy had gotten along, but then again, he remembered that Arian had a soft spot for politeness, and Rhoe was raised to be very polite. It was a little sickening really.
"Oh and by the way Karsis, what is your last name anyway?" Rhoe wanted to get this to the seneschal and maybe score some points with the King.
"My last name?" Karsis had too much to think about right now. Normally he wouldn't give his last name out, but it was Rhoe so he wasn't worried. "It's Eversong." He paced a couple more times, then snapped his fingers and twirled towards the door. "All right, it's been long enough for those two to talk about you and fill each other in. Let's go see this wounded man and find out what's going on this time." He dragged Rhoe out the door and down to the temple, praying for answers and not more questions.
Temple of Davalar, Castle Everknight
Lan switched feet again, trying to get the cramps out of his legs. He had been standing guard outside the temple for hours and his legs ached to move. He glanced sideways at his counterpart, Kari had her long brown hair, tied up in a single long braid today with pink ribbons entwined down its length. She was rocking from side to side to keep her feet moving, but she was smiling like it wasn't bothering her. "Did you hear if Griff was ok?" He asked her, trying to break the silence.
She turned her head, still bouncing on the balls of her feet to keep them from hurting. She was failing miserably. "Yeah, the nice lady...Caerlyn I think her name was, said he would be fine, just spooked is all." She grew serious as she thought about what they had been told. "Do you think that he was really touched by the God Davalar?" She had known him all these years and never had any clue that Griff was so special.
Before Lan could answer her, he heard footsteps coming down the long hall and saw the King and Queen. They were holding each other's hand and talking quietly, but in a serious tone. Lan snapped his feet together and almost laughed when he heard Kari try the same thing and almost fall over. "My King!" He exclaimed, holding his fist to his heart.
Arian didn't even notice the kids standing guard until the young knight snapped to attention. "At ease young man, how goes it inside?" He was so proud of these children, they had done so well learning to get along in the castle. Another year and they would be ready.
"Nothing yet Lord." Kari spoke before Lan could get all high and mighty. He tended to use 'thee' and 'thou' a lot now when he spoke to the King. "It's been awfully quiet in there." She moved aside when they approached the door and bowed to the Queen. "Radiant as always my Lady." Kari added as they passed. The Queen just winked at her.
The King paused at the threshold and turned to Lan. "Oh and Lan, Karsis should be here any moment, try not to irritate him anymore, I'm rather fond of you and would hate to lose your services." Arian almost laughed at the face that Lan made. Somewhere between incredulous and horror. He slapped the boy on the shoulder and went after his wife. She was talking quietly with Ralavin and Caerlyn.
He walked over, taking care to look around the room just to make sure they were alone. The only other people were Griff, sitting down in one of the benches, and of course Rythal, standing quietly by the statue of Davalar. They had tried keeping him in his room, but he showed up here every morning regardless of the guards posted at his door.
"Oh Arian, just the man we've been waiting for." Ralavin walked to meet the King and embraced his arm in a firm shake. "It's Dren, from Norhil Hold. You sent him and Stard to bring Storn to Everknight."
"Yes, I remember him, and his friend. They were good men. Is he going to be all right?" Arian didn't see any wounds on the man, but he was still out cold.
Caerlyn walked over and hugged Arian and Maressa without speaking. She hadn't been to the castle in over a year, and with everything that had gone on with Karsis inside of her mind, she just needed to let them know that she cared. "He is physical
ly healthy." She started as she let them go and straightened her dress. "It's his mind and soul that have to come into balance now." She still couldn't believe that the young man brought the man back. Not that it was hard, if you knew what you were doing, and had years of training....which the boy had absolutely none of. It should never had happened, but yet here they were.
"What caused him to.....get out of balance? Am I saying that right?" Maressa looked at the man and just had no idea.
"His soul had started to move on, but was brought back. If not done right, then it takes a little time and energy to fix itself." Caerlyn looked over at Griff and smiled, knowing that he was hearing all of this. He probably felt awful, but he shouldn't. He was a miracle worker.
"You usually don't miss things like that Caerlyn, or was it Ralavin this time?" Karsis said as he strolled into the temple. He had heard the end of the conversation and had figured out what had happened. He had seen this before.
Caerlyn scowled at the bard, and that made everyone laugh. Except her. "No Karsis, as a matter of fact it wasn't either of us. The savior of the day was young Master Griff." She waved her hand over to the boy and everyone looked. "This boy did, what took me years to master, without even knowing how, and saved this man."
Karsis didn't know what to say, and that was happening way too much lately. He just nodded to her and walked over to the boy, ignoring the King and Queen entirely. He stared at the young red headed boy and finally smiled don at him. "You feel warm a lot don't you?"
Griff was scared. This man wasn't just frightening, he was death come in person. He didn't know why he thought that. The man was dressed like a dandy, with a long coat and ruffled cuffs, but that's what came to him just looking at this formidable warrior. "Ye.......yes sir?"
The Darkness Within (A Lythinall Novel) (Book 2) Page 17