“Good morning, Your Highness. Take a seat.” He nodded at the wooden chair beside his bed.
Tyla crossed to it and sat, Kian lying down at her feet. “You seem to be enjoying your…ah, treatment,” she said, casting a glance at the women.
Earon’s eyes closed dramatically. “It’s a suffering I’m willing to endure to get better.”
Tyla laughed. “Honestly, how are you feeling?”
Earon made a face. “They keep making me drink this nasty concoction. I don’t have any idea what they’re saying, but I feel like retching whenever they bring it to me. However, I think I have more feeling in my legs and I was able to make it to the bedpan without the crutches this morning. I had to hang onto the furniture, but it’s something.”
“It is. The concoction’s probably a detoxifying drink. It’ll probably clean out your system in a few hours.”
“Clean out my system?” he asked, but when Tyla nodded at the bedpan, he grimaced. “Crap.”
“Exactly,” Tyla answered with a laugh.
Earon gave her a speculative look. “So how are you faring? Married the Nazarien yet?”
Tyla frowned. “No, but I did meet my grandfather.”
“That must have been something, eh?”
“It was.”
“Isn’t this place fantastic?” He closed his eyes in bliss. “I’ve never seen so many beautiful people.” He opened them again and winked at her. “Present company excluded of course.”
“Of course.”
“And the city – gorgeous. Everything a man could ever want is here.”
Tyla’s expression sobered. “It’s lovely,” she said.
Earon frowned at her. “That didn’t sound at all sincere.”
Tyla looked out the windows on the other side of Earon’s room. She could see trees and the distant mountains stretching away behind the city. The sun shone through the trees, filling the room with light.
“It’s hard to see all of this opulence and not think of Nevaisser – of the hunger and suffering there.”
Earon made a scoffing noise. “I haven’t thought of it once.”
Tyla looked back at him. “Not once? What about the Lawries? What about revolting against Rarick? Fighting his tyranny?”
“Let other people do it. I’ve no interest in sticking my neck out like that again. Why should I? Let Rarick beggar the entire region. Who the hell really cares?”
Tyla studied his face for a long while, unable to speak.
Earon frowned at her again. “What? You can’t honestly tell me it bothers you that much.”
“They’re our people, Earon. They’re no different from us. They suffer and they die and they starve. You cared about it once. What happened?”
“I never cared the way you did. Certainly, I’d like to see someone lop off Rarick’s head and stick it on a post, but I’m not going to keep fighting a battle I don’t have a chance in hell of winning.” He gave Tyla a pointed stare. “You might think about that a little. Have you forgotten why Rarick was all hot to get his hands on you? You’re better off here. Just forget about Nevaisser. That land was made to suffer.”
Tyla didn’t answer. She reached down and ran her hand through Kian’s fur.
“Tyla?”
“What?”
“I’m serious. Forget about Nevaisser. We should make this home now.”
“So you’ll never return?”
“Hell no. I’m staying right where I am…well, not right where I am, but I’m staying in Temeron. So are you. Remember, you’re marrying the Nazarien.”
Tyla nodded absently.
Earon awkwardly reached over and grabbed her hand. “Tyla? Your Highness?” She met his gaze. “Forget Nevaisser, okay? That land is done, finished. The future is here. All Nevaisser ever held for both of us was suffering. We’re free of it. We’re free.”
Tyla nodded, but she couldn’t speak past the lump in her throat.
* * *
The Stravad Leader’s chamberlain led her to a door at the back of the house. He knocked and a voice from within sounded. He opened the door and peered inside.
“Tyla Eldralin,” he said.
The Stravad Leader’s voice came in answer.
Tyla was waved into a masculine study with a bank of windows that opened over the back porch. She could see the lawn leading down to the stream and the forest beyond it. Farad rounded a large desk and held out his hand, taking both of hers.
“Good morning,” he said in Nevaisser.
“Good morning,” she answered, allowing him to draw her toward a couple of armchairs placed before an unlit fire.
“Tea?” he asked.
She nodded. “Thank you.”
He gave orders to his chamberlain and the chamberlain bowed. He left the room, shutting the door behind him. Farad motioned her into a chair and took a seat in the one across from her. “I trust you slept well.”
“Very.”
“And you found your friend in the infirmary with little problem?”
“Yes. Although it would help if I could read Lodenian,” she said with a laugh.
“I should have accompanied you.”
“No, it was fine.” She gave him a pointed look. “How is it you speak Nevaisser so fluently?”
Farad leaned back in his chair and smiled in memory. “I made the first formal expedition to Nevaisser with your uncles and your mother many, many years ago.” He laughed. “When you’re thrown into such a situation, you learn the language rather quickly. Besides I had an excellent tutor. Your uncle Shad taught all of us, just as I’m sure he taught your companion Jarrett how to speak Lodenian.”
Tyla leaned forward. “You knew my mother?”
“Very well. And your father. That was the journey where your parents met.”
“Will you tell me about it?”
Farad laughed. “It’s a tale of many hours, but I can tell you one thing. Your father saved our lives.” He shook his head at the memory. “We were so ill-prepared. We knew very little about Nevaisser and we certainly didn’t know it was as challenging as it was.”
“What do you mean?”
“We lost our food supply and we were starving. If your father and your uncle Shandar hadn’t come along, we’d have died. We couldn’t even find water very easily. But they knew that land like no one else I’ve ever seen.”
Tyla smiled. “You thought a lot of my father?”
“Who wouldn’t? He saved my life, in particular, twice.”
“How?”
“We’d broken the group up into three parties. My party went in search of game and we found it – a huge buck with a rack of antlers like you can’t imagine. During the hunt, I was gored.” He touched his side. “I would have died if your father hadn’t helped me. He was quite the healer.” Farad’s smile widened. “I hear you take after him in that regard.”
She shrugged.
The door opened and Inze came in, placing the tea tray on the table between the two of them. Farad leaned back and waited for the chamberlain to pour the tea. Then with a bow in Tyla’s direction, Inze left the room, pulling the door shut behind him.
Farad sipped his tea a moment in silence, then settled it on the table again. “Tyla, I sense you feel a bit disoriented here in Temeron.”
Tyla lowered her own cup. “I don’t know. Temeron’s incredibly beautiful and everyone I’ve met has been unfailingly kind. I just feel…”
“Displaced.”
She thought for a moment, then nodded. “I suppose so, but it’s more than that.” She placed her cup beside his and shifted in the chair to face him. “Like you were saying, Nevaisser’s very different from Loden. There’s so much abundance everywhere I look here, but it’s not that way back home.” She drew a deep breath. “I was Queen in Adishian…”
“And you worry you won’t find the same purpose here?”
“No,” she answered quickly. “No, that’s not it at all. In Adishian, I could help people. I could feed them and give them me
dicine. I could bring them clothes.”
“I’m certain we can find something here of that nature.”
Tyla shook her head. “You misunderstand me,” she said gently. “I left my people. I ran away. Who’s going to help them now? Who’s going to make sure there’s food and shelter?”
“I see.” Farad thought for a moment. “It seems to me you had no choice. From what I’ve learned from Kendrick, Rarick wanted to use you as a weapon against those very people you once helped. You couldn’t have allowed him to do that.”
“No, but maybe I could have fought him more. Maybe I should have tried.”
Farad reached over and took her hand. “Tyla, Rarick has never stopped wanting the weapon he thought he had in your father. He isn’t a man to trifle with. Becoming his pawn could only have caused unmentionable harm.” He tightened his hold. “This is where you belong. This is your home now. Please trust me. In time, I know you’ll see that. In time, I know you’ll think of the Stravad as your people too.”
Tyla forced a smile for his benefit and squeezed his hand in return. “You’re right,” she said, but nothing could dispel the nagging doubt deep inside.
* * *
Kalas turned as the two Guardsmen entered the audience chamber, dragging a shackled man between them. Behind them came the Adishian soldiers appointed to guard the door. Kalas raised a hand to stop the soldiers as the Guardsmen threw the man into the middle of the floor.
Dolan moved to a spot at Kalas’ shoulder. He didn’t recognize the man on the floor, but by his torn clothing and bloody nose, he suspected he knew who he was.
“Rebel commander,” sneered the Guardsmen to the right. He reached down and grabbed the man’s hair, forcing his head back. “Want me to slit his throat for you, Your Majesty?”
“No!” said Kalas, too quickly.
The Guardsmen cocked their heads at him.
Kalas tilted his chin at an imperial angle. He was learning to school his emotions with these dogs. For some reason, this thought gave Dolan a flush of pride, but he quickly forced it away.
“How would I question him about the rebels then?” answered the Princecoolly.
The first Guardsman smiled. “You’re right, of course, but let me finish him when you’re done.”
“You’ve done well. Leave your names with your commander and I’ll have commendations put in your records.”
The one made a mocking bow. “You’re most generous, Your Majesty.” He rose to his full height and slapped the second on the shoulder. “We’ll take our leave and report back to our patrol.”
Kalas nodded, but he watched them walk to the door. He shifted his attention to the Adishian soldiers. They bristled at the dismissive way the Sarkisian Guardsmen treated them, but they waited for Kalas’ command.
“Bar the doors,” he said in a low voice. “Only emergencies get through, yes?”
The soldiers saluted and turned smartly on their heels, striding to the doors and closing them.
“Dolan,” said Kalas.
The Nazarien removed the master key from his belt and went to the man, unlocking the shackles around his wrists. Then he hooked a hand under the man’s arm and helped him into a chair the Princeplaced behind him. Kalas stood over them as Dolan searched the man for wounds.
“How bad is it?” asked the prince.
“Black eye, broken nose, and probably a few bruised ribs. Nothing life threatening.”
“What’s your name?”
The rebel glared at Kalas, but he didn’t respond.
Dolan leaned back on his heels. “This isn’t the time for stoic displays of heroism.”
The rebel pursed his lips as if he would spit on Dolan. Dolan’s hand shot out and wrapped around the man’s windpipe, startling him into a gasp. “Not here,” he hissed.
The rebel made a stiff nodding motion.
Dolan released him. “The Prince asked you your name.”
The rebel’s eyes shifted to Kalas with absolute hate. “I don’t answer Rarick’s dog.”
“He just saved your life.” Dolan was surprised at how the rebel’s disrespect rankled him.
Kalas reached for another chair and straddled it. “It’s all right, Dolan. Understandable really. What have I done to earn his trust?”
Dolan positioned himself between the Prince and the rebel.
The Prince struck a carefree tone. “Rarick left me here to flush out the Lawries. If I remember right, the Guardsmen said you’re a Lawry commander.”
The rebel refused to speak.
“If so, you’re just the man to strike a bargain with me.”
The rebel commander frowned. “What?”
“I’m sure you’ve heard the rumors, haven’t you? I’m building an army.”
“No one believes that.”
“Understandable, but it’s true.”
“I’m sure the Guardsmen would like to hear this.”
Kalas shrugged. “They already suspect it. It’s why they behave the way they do. They’d report to Rarick if I didn’t have them under constant surveillance.” Kalas held out a hand. “At any rate, if you’re truly the man to negotiate with, I think you’d be interested to hear my terms.”
“What’s in it for me?”
Kalas leaned forward. “A chance to end Rarick’s dominion over Adishian. A chance to protect your people in the open, not sneaking around underground.”
The rebel wiped the blood from beneath his nose. “Why the hell would I trust you?”
“Well, as I see it, you have no other choice. You’ve been captured. I’m prepared to let you go; however, that’s provided we come up with an agreement. If you don’t keep your part of the bargain, I’ll just send the Guardsmen after you again, and this time I won’t be so quick to stop the slitting of throats.”
“You’re gonna let me go?”
“Yes.”
“And all I have to do is agree to form an army for you?”
“Exactly. Well, that and stop harassing my people. No more theft, no more black-market, no more horse stealing.”
“And what do we get?”
“Better armor and weapons. A steady supply of food.”
“You’ll give us weapons?”
“How else will you fight for me?”
“You must want something more.”
“Your name for starters?”
“Revis.”
“Good. And are you the commander of all the Lawries in the whole of Adishian?”
“No, the Baron is and he’s in Kazden. You’ll never catch him. He’s more protected than you are.”
“I don’t want to catch him, Revis,” said Kalas. “I want to get word to him. Rarick will be coming back. Make no mistake. But when he does, I want an army prepared to meet him – an army like he’s never faced before.”
Revis laughed, blood dripping from his nose. “You’re a regular back-stabbing bastard.” Dolan’s hand dropped to his sword. Revis marked the motion, but he just smiled. “I like it. It actually makes sense.”
Kalas returned the smile. “Glad you approve.”
Before the rebel commander could say more, one of the doors opened and the soldier poked his head inside. “Urgent message from Sarkisian,” he said.
Kalas motioned him through and rose to his feet. The soldier brought Kalas a letter bearing the seal of Sarkisian. The Princeopened it, then scanned the contents. For a moment, he simply stood, no expression on his face. Then he crumpled the letter.
“Write up the agreement, Dolan,” he ordered and started walking for the door.
* * *
Thalandar greeted Tyla and Jarrett at the door to his house. The outside was understated, creamy gold in color with a simple garden leading up the walk. The past Stravad Leader was a tall man with snow white hair and brilliant blue eyes. Tyla marked the lines around his mouth, but other than that, he was still the picture of Stravad beauty.
She dropped into a curtsey before him, but he reached for her hand and drew her upright.
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“The pleasure is entirely mine,” he said in Nevaisser, drawing her into the house. “Welcome.”
Tyla’s grandfather was waiting in the hall. His face lit upon seeing her. Unlike Thalandar, Tash was beginning to show his age. Silver streaked his long black hair and the lines around his grey eyes crinkled with pleasure.
She hurried to him and let him enfold her in his arms. A laugh rumbled in his chest beneath her ear. For a moment it was enough to stand there in his embrace and feel like she had a family, a home.
Behind her she heard Thalandar greet Jarrett. The cadence of Lodenian sounded beautiful and she was surprised to realize she knew a few more words than she thought. Maybe Jarrett’s new way of communicating was helping her learn the language.
Thalandar led the way into the dining room. It was a bright, sunny room with yellow walls and dark furnishings. Tash drew Tyla into a chair beside him and they all sat around the oval table. A servant smiled at Tyla and showed her a teapot, indicating she wished to pour. Tyla nodded at her, then turned so she could look out the floor to ceiling windows that marked the back of the room.
The windows showed the rear garden of the house, much smaller than the Stravad Leader’s and ringed by a stone wall. Trees and low lying shrubs dominated the space with enough room for a domed pergola in the center of the yard.
She turned back to face the men. “Does the wall run around the perimeter of the whole city?” she asked, thinking of the Stravad Leader’s house. Jarrett translated.
“Most of it. A few of the houses around the Stravad Leader’s house don’t abut it. They were built to allow access to the stream, but if you follow the stream for a distance either way, you’ll quickly come to the wall again.”
She gave Jarrett a discreet nod to let him know she’d gotten the whole translation. It amazed her that she could read his thoughts with such ease. Immediately, she tamped down on that avenue of thinking.
“How was your first night in Temeron?” asked Tash, squeezing her hand where it lay on the table.
“It was wonderful to sleep in a bed.”
The men laughed.
The World of Samar Box Set 3 Page 38