“You thought I’d always be a warrior on crusade in Talar Eldralin’s name?”
“Yes.”
“So did I, but Talar Eldralin has many champions. Somehow the charm of a man long dead evaporated in the cast of his daughter’s emerald eyes.”
Jarrett looked down. “Why didn’t you and Tyla ever...” He hesitated, unable to finish the thought.
Kendrick stopped walking and lifted a wooden bowl for inspection. “You know, in the ten years that I’ve been in Tyla’s service, I’ve learned to love her.” He looked at Jarrett directly. “I mean really love her. She’s the most intelligent, cunning woman I’ve ever met – aside from being the most beautiful.” He set the bowl down and started walking again. “As I began loving her, I realized I no longer wanted to possess her and more than that, I learned I couldn’t possess her. I also learned she truly and devoutly loves you. For Tyla, as for you, there was only one person who could have her heart in that way.”
“I think you’re wrong there.”
Kendrick glanced at his companion. “I heard last night didn’t go well. I’m sorry, Jarrett, I tried talking to her a dozen times. When she disappeared from the banquet, I knew where she’d gone. I thought it best not to follow.”
“Good decision, she was furious with you. Not as furious as she was with me, but very nearly.”
“She never returned to the banquet. That isn’t in character for her, she takes her duty as Leader of Temeron very seriously, and at breakfast this morning, I was prepared to get it, but she said very little.”
“You share every part of her life, you’ve been a father to Kerrin, yet...”
“Yet? Do you know how many men have asked for her hand in the last ten years? They’ve journeyed from as far away as Terra Antiguo, Jarrett. They’ve brought her jewels and furs, they’ve thrown the wealth of kingdoms at her feet. The Prince of Denortosal, Gauvin, has been the worst. His wife left him the first time he asked Tyla to marry him. Since then he’s been alone, but he makes a point of asking her at least fifty times a year. And at least fifty times a year she turns him down. The other declinations probably amount to the thousands, but the point is, she’s never once accepted the attention of anyone since you left.”
Why did Kendrick keep trying to instill hope in him? “I wanted to thank you for what you told Kerrin about his father.”
“I told Kerrin the truth.”
“Not completely, but I thank you for the elaboration. And you’ve done a good job with him. He’s a fine boy.”
“He is. I love Kerrin like my own son, much as you treat Tyne.”
“Tyne? This trip has been a blow to his jaded Nazarien senses.”
Kendrick moved away from the display of wooden bowls. “If you leave Tyne with me in Temeron, Jarrett, I’m going to try dissuading him from the Nazarien.”
“Really?”
Kendrick laughed. “Surprises you? Like I said, I learned what life is about when I came to live in Temeron, and living is not what the Nazarien do well. So if Tyne stays with me, I’m going to show him the most hedonistic, indulgent sides of Temeron to be found.”
“If you could be turned away from the Nazarien, Kendrick, I don’t think Tyne stands a chance.”
Kendrick’s eyes flashed with mischief. “Isn’t that why you brought him here?”
Jarrett looked away, a smile touching the corners of his mouth. “What are we going to do about Tyla?” he said, deliberately changing the subject.
“We’re going to keep trying. In fact, I want you to attend the ball tonight.”
Jarrett stopped walking. “No. She basically told me to leave Temeron last night. I can’t...”
“You have to. She expects Tyne to attend. If you don’t show, she’ll figure she’s won. One thing I’ve learned with Tyla, you mustn’t let her know she’s won too often or you’ll never get your way about anything.”
“I think you need to work on her yourself. Throwing myself in front of her is only going to make her more determined to fight me.”
“Eldon’s star, Jarrett, you’d think you were going up against the Sarkisian army by yourself again.”
Jarrett’s eyes drifted away. “No, this is more difficult.”
“And this is more important.”
Jarrett shut his eyes, but he knew he’d already lost. “Fine, I’ll attend the ball, but you’ve got to reason with her like you just did with me.”
“I’m going to,” he said, then turned toward a display of pottery.
* * *
Tyne held the polished piece of wood, while Jarrett drew the sinew across the length of it. Kerrin watched in rapt attention. Jarrett’s back and chest were bare, a light sheen of perspiration glistening against his bronze flesh. Kerrin marveled at the taut lines of his father’s muscles and the white of his many scars.
“What are you making?” he asked, lifting his eyes to Tyne’s face.
Tyne glanced at him, drawing back on the wood. “A long bow.”
“A weapon?”
“Yes, a weapon.”
“Can you fire an arrow?”
Tyne frowned at him. “Yes, I can fire an arrow. I have my own bow. The Nazar made it for me.”
“And your own sword? Do you have a sword?”
“You can let go,” said Jarrett, moving the bow out of the young man’s hands. He took a seat on the edge of the table, his eyes drifting out into the gardens, while his fingers felt along the length of the wood for any missed slivers.
“Yes, I have a sword. Don’t you?”
Jarrett’s eyes passed between the two boys as he reached for a knife and began working on the wood once more. Kerrin watched his father for a moment, then sighed. “No, I’ve never even touched a weapon before.”
“Haven’t you started battle training?” asked Tyne.
Jarrett narrowed his eyes on Tyne and the boy clamped his jaw shut.
“No, have you?”
“When I was your age. Next Valhall, I’ll participate in the manhood ceremony and then I’ll be a full Nazarien warrior.”
Kerrin stared at the older boy. “Do you know how to swim?”
Tyne gave him a wide-eyed stare. “Of course, don’t you?”
Kerrin shook his head.
“Well, don’t you have some friends who could teach you?”
Kerrin tilted his head and grimaced. “I didn’t want them to know I couldn’t swim.”
“Eldon’s star, Kerrin, they all had to learn how to swim too. Who do you think taught them?”
“Their fathers.”
Tyne stiffened and Jarrett’s eyes flashed to the boy’s face. Kerrin met his gaze unwaveringly.
Jarrett set the knife on the table behind him and slipped down into the chair so he was level with his son. “Well, it seems like we’ve got our work cut out for us, then, doesn’t it?”
“What do you mean?”
“I mean we’ll just have to teach you how to swim, won’t we?”
Kerrin’s eyes danced. “You’ll teach me?”
“Of course,” said Jarrett.
“And show me how to fire an arrow?”
Jarrett considered the matter a moment. “All right, but we’ll have to start first thing tomorrow morning.”
Kerrin felt his smile stretch clear across his face. Without inhibition, he threw his arms around his father’s neck and hugged him fiercely.
Finally Jarrett put his arms around him and pulled him close.
CHAPTER 4
Jarrett stepped into the parlor of the main house and drew a deep breath. Stravad dignitaries and the emissaries from Denortosal were milling about, drinking wine and engaging in conversation. His eyes made the circuit of the room and he spotted Tash and Thalandar talking with the King of Denortosal.
Searching the group, Jarrett spotted Kendrick in a finely tailored uniform of black with gold buttons. The Stravad’s hair looked almost as gold as his buttons in the light of the oil lamps. Beside him was Tyla, as breathtakingly beautiful as ever, in
a deep emerald green dress with a long train. The bodice was tight around her well-formed bosom, the sleeves accentuating the fine lines of her slender arms and ending in white lace at her wrists. As always the Karhartadon emerald glistened against her breast.
They were talking with a man, nearly Jarrett’s age he figured. The man was tall with sandy brown hair and dark eyes. He was a handsome man, but something about his overly full lips seemed almost feminine. The Prince Gauvin, assumed Jarrett. So this was the man who’d pursued his wife for the last ten years.
Tyne stirred beside him and Jarrett looked down. The young man seemed uncomfortable in the brilliant display of boisterous Stravad, but when his eyes strayed to Tyla, Jarrett figured he understood some of the discomfort.
“She’s beautiful, isn’t she?”
Tyne glanced up. “Nazar?”
“Tyla Eldralin, she steals a man’s breath away.”
Tyne dropped his eyes, a touch of pink igniting in his cheeks. “She’s beautiful, Nazar.”
“Tyne, while we’re in Temeron, you don’t have to call me Nazar. Please use my given name.”
“All right,” he muttered, but his expression didn’t seem sure.
Jarrett suppressed a smile and turned as Allistar approached them. The Stravad was in his uniform as always, his handsome face lifted in a smile. A beautiful Stravad woman was on his arm.
“Jarrett, this is my wife, Zia. Zia, this is an old friend and the Nazar, Jarrett.”
Jarrett bowed low to the woman. “Jarrett Trauner,” he said. “I’m pleased to meet you. This is my brother, Tyne Trauner.”
The young man tried to imitate his brother’s bow.
“The pleasure is mine,” said Zia with a smile.
“Allistar tells me you have four children?”
Her eyes danced and she glanced at her husband. “Yes, three sons and a daughter. I’m quite busy.”
“I’ll bet.”
“I didn’t think I’d see you here. Sources tell me your meeting with Tyla didn’t go as well as it might,” remarked Allistar, glancing over his shoulder at her.
“Your sources were being overly kind then.”
Zia clasped her hands before her. “I hope you can convince her to accept your help. Allistar has told me much of your skill as a warrior.”
Jarrett met the woman’s gaze. “I hope I can too. However, I’m afraid that there’s a lot of past to work through and I don’t know if there’s enough time.”
“Sometimes people have to forget the past and go on with life. I know Tyla and she isn’t one to allow life to slip by her. You can’t give up.”
Jarrett’s eyes shifted to Allistar. “You’re a lucky man.”
“Yes, he is,” she answered.
Allistar laughed. “Let’s go charm some of the merchants from Denortosal,” he said, drawing her away.
“Good evening, Jarrett and Tyne. Perhaps you’ll both save me a dance,” she said over her shoulder.
“Of course,” said Jarrett, inclining his head.
Tyne bowed again.
Kendrick appeared beside the two men. “You look good, Jarrett,” he said. “Hello, Tyne.”
“Hello, First Advisor,” said the young man.
Kendrick frowned. “My name is Kendrick and my title is boring. Let’s agree not to use it, shall we?”
“Certainly,” Tyne answered, but he tugged at his collar. Jarrett knew he was uncomfortable with Temerian familiarity.
“Do you see that man with Tyla?” asked Kendrick.
Jarrett nodded. “He’s the Prince Gauvin, I assume.”
“Correct, and he’s a bore. Tyla almost burned me with her eyes when I slipped away, but I couldn’t stand listening to him anymore. No wonder his wife left him.”
“You said that before. What do you mean his wife left him?”
“I mean his wife left him, ran out with a traveling musician, but I wouldn’t pity him. At the time, he was sending flowers to Tyla here in Temeron. He’d even gone so far as to ask for her hand in marriage. I guess his wife figured she ought to leave before Tyla accepted.”
“Doesn’t he know that Tyla’s married?”
Kendrick glanced at him, then laughed. “Feeling a little possessive, Jarrett, and after you told me there would never be anything between you and Tyla again.”
“I didn’t say there would be, but Tyla and I are still legally married. She can’t take another husband until I’m dead.”
“Well, at any rate, I’ve just come up with an idea. She dislikes Gauvin, although she’d never admit it. If you were to escort her to dinner so she wouldn’t have to sit next to him, she might warm up to you.”
“Or she might gut me with another cutting remark.”
“She might, but not likely in front of Gauvin. She’s your wife, Jarrett. You don’t want her spending the entire meal with him trying to tempt her into his bed.”
Jarrett’s eyes flashed to the Stravad’s face. “I liked you better when you were Nazarien,” he said as he walked away.
He drew a deep breath and squared his shoulders as he came abreast of Tyla and Gauvin. The man glared at him, but Tyla seemed relieved to see him. Her eyes surveyed the cast of his uniform.
“Lord Gauvin, may I introduce the Nazar?”
Jarrett held out his hand. “Jarrett Trauner.”
Gauvin accepted the hand. “You’re a long way from home, Nazar.”
“Jarrett is in Temeron on business...” offered Tyla.
“...and to see my wife and son,” Jarrett interrupted, narrowing his eyes on the man.
Gauvin lifted his chin and Tyla glared at him. Behind them, Kendrick announced dinner would be served in the dining room and people began to mill towards it.
Without taking his eyes from Jarrett, Gauvin offered Tyla his arm. She hesitated, giving Jarrett enough time to capture her hand and pull it through his own. She was startled by his bold move, but she didn’t pull away.
“After you, my lord,” she said.
Gauvin glared at Jarrett, but nodded, moving into place beside some of the more important merchants of Denortosal.
Jarrett drew Tyla up beside him, placing his free hand over hers so she wouldn’t be able to pull away. “I hear he’s asked you to marry him,” he said under his breath as they walked through the parlor.
“He has, and one of these times I may accept.”
Jarrett looked down at her with amusement. “You forget you’re already married,” he answered, pulling a chair away from the dining table and helping her into it.
She took a seat and reached for her napkin. “What do you think you’re doing?” she muttered, forcing a smile for the King and Queen of Denortosal who sat across from her.
“Escorting my wife to dinner and taking my place at her side as a husband should.”
She glared at him. “Don’t push it, Jarrett. You’re my husband in name only and if I wanted that annulled, I don’t think anyone in Temeron would argue with me.”
“Why haven’t you done so then?” he said as he brought his glass of wine to his lips.
She followed his movements with her eyes. “Maybe I will tomorrow.”
He brought the glass down and fixed her with a stare. “I don’t believe you.”
She turned away from him, her dark hair falling over her shoulder.
Throughout dinner she ignored him. Thankfully Allistar and his wife had taken the seats next to him. When he’d escorted Tyla to Temeron ten years before, he and Allistar had struck up a friendship. He was pleased to know ten years hadn’t dampened their ease with one another. He found Allistar’s wife to be charming and he envied the Commander. Allistar had found happiness. It made Jarrett realize how empty his own life had become.
He glanced at Tyla throughout the meal and frequently looked up to find Gauvin glaring at him. Once he looked for Tyne and found the young man in an intense conversation with two Stravad women.
Glancing back at Tyla, he noted that her conversation with the King and Queen of De
nortosal had cooled. “Where’s Kerrin?” The question had been on his mind all night.
“I gave him a choice. He could attend the banquet or finish his studies in his room. He chose to finish his studies.”
Jarrett suppressed a smile. “Doesn’t sound like much of a choice?”
“Kerrin’s nine, Jarrett, and he’s decided he doesn’t like banquets. Still, it doesn’t hurt him to attend. What would you have me do, reward him for disobedience?”
“I don’t like banquets either, Tyla. I can’t say I blame him. I don’t think it’s disobedience.”
“You are also excused from this banquet then.”
He gave her a rakish look. “And miss seeing you furious with me. I forgot how gorgeous you are when you’re angry.”
She dropped her napkin in her plate and rose to her feet with the rest of her guests, who were moving into the ballroom. She leaned over him. He could smell the clean, wild scent of her hair as it spilled over her shoulder and touched his arm, and his eyes fixed on her lips.
“You forget yourself, Nazar,” she said. Then she moved past him.
He clenched his hands into fists on the table.
Allistar leaned close. “You certainly believe in tempting fate, don’t you?” he said, pushing himself to his feet.
Jarrett watched him walk away with his wife and then rose to follow them. The ballroom was already crowded with Stravad and Humans, some dancing across the polished floor to the cheerful music of the quartet. He angled through the press of people toward Tyne, who stood staring at the dancers with astonishment.
The young man looked up into his brother’s face. “Jarrett, do you see how close those men are holding the women?”
“You’re in Temeron now, Tyne.”
“But...so close, Jarrett? You can’t see any light between them and they’re in public.”
Before Jarrett could respond, Tyla glided up beside him and smiled at Tyne. “How did you like the meal?”
Immediately Tyne dropped his eyes and bowed his head. “It was wonderful, my lady.”
“I saw you engaged in conversation with two very attractive young women.”
Tyne looked up at her, astonished. “I was only...”
The World of Samar Box Set 3 Page 58