“You’re very beautiful,” Samantha said and actually found the courage to reach up and touch the woman’s glossy black hair. “I can see why Gwaynn is attracted to you.”
Vio blushed. “No…oh no Gwaynn...well Gwaynn loves you obviously,” she said and gestured to Samantha’s bulging abdomen.
“Yes Gwaynn loves me,” Samantha replied and just saying the phrase somehow made it all the stronger. “But he loves you too…maybe not romantically, but he loves you. I can see it when he looks at you.”
Now it was Vio’s turn to frown. “Not romantically,” she said with such obvious sadness that Samantha actually felt pity for the girl. “Isn’t that the only love that matters?”
Samantha shook her head and took one of Vio’s hands in the only one left to her.
“No…Gwaynn and I…we lost so much love in our lives, family love, friendly love, love that endures and does not question…such love is far less fickle than romantic love. Gwaynn has such love for you and it is not without its rewards. Romantic love will come to you Vio Valencia and then it may leave you, but the love Gwaynn…Gwaynn and I offer you, will never let you down.”
Samantha hadn’t meant to offer love or even friendship to the young woman of Noble. The words just felt right to her and when Vio looked at her with misty eyes she knew her instincts were true.
“Gwaynn’s a lucky man,” Vio said softly, then jumped as another knock came at the door. Samantha patted her hand gently then rose and answered the door once more. Tar Kostek waited patiently and smiled at her.
“Hello Samantha. Are Vio and Gwaynn here? We’re going to start our morning run.”
“Gwaynn is out inspecting the Scar,” Vio answered, suddenly appearing behind Samantha.
“Well then, shall we go?” Kostek asked and both women could see his carefully concealed disappointment. “Would you care to join us?” He asked Samantha suddenly. She snorted a laugh and placed a hand on her belly.
“I’m afraid I’m not in much condition to run,” she said.
“A walk-run then. Exercise would do you good,” Kostek said persuasively.
“Well…” Samantha hesitated and was actually far from
tempted.
“Yes,” Vio interjected excitedly. “Please join us,” she added and grabbed Samantha’s bad arm. Samantha expected her to jump back in alarm at her mistake, as nearly everyone did, but Vio showed no signs of anything out of the ordinary and just looked hopefully at her. Surprisingly Samantha found that she liked Vio just as much as she liked her cousin Van. They both seemed to be exceptionally open and kind people.
“Alright, I’ll go,” Samantha added impulsively, not wanting to let the two people before her down. “I’ll just get dressed. It won’t take a moment.” She made to close the door, but Vio surprised her again and slipped back inside, while Kostek coughed and moved down the hall.
“I’m glad you’re going,” Vio said. “Do you need any help?”
“No,” Samantha answered, holding up her wounded arm. “I’m getting used to only having one hand.” And to prove her point Samantha wriggled out of her night dress quite gracefully despite her handicap.
“Oh!” Vio said softly again…gazing at Samantha’s naked belly. “How far along?”
Samantha looked down and patted her belly. “Just over seven months the doctor thinks, though Van thinks I’m farther.”
“Van!” Vio snorted. She couldn’t get over the respect everyone paid her flighty cousin…Van…a doctor. It was an odd thought for someone who’d known him only as a squirrely boy.
Samantha tilted her head. “Van saved my life you know,” she said and held up her arm. “He cut the rest of this off and sealed the wound before I bled to death.”
“Van?” Vio asked finding it hard to believe.
Samantha nodded her head. “Van.”
“Maybe he’s right. You are getting big,” Vio added and Samantha smiled.
“Your belly isn’t the only thing that grows when you’re pregnant,” Samantha commented. “These get big as well,” she added and lifted one breast with her hand and then giggled and slipped on her shirt.
“Oh!’ Vio answered with a timid smile of her own.
“And Gwaynn is sure enjoying the fact,” Samantha commented and with practiced ease pulled on a pair of trousers.
Vio blushed and then let out a high pitched giggle that surprised both girls. They looked at one another for a moment then burst out laughing all over again. They left the room smiling and laughing all the way to the courtyard, making several guards and Tar Kostek wonder just what they were up to.
ǂ
Gwaynn returned with Lonogan, happy that the area to the west of Manse seemed to be free of any threats. There was also no activity out on the plains as far as they could see. As he rode past the western bailey he spotted Vio, Tam, William and a few other students from Noble milling along the very edge of the Scar a little farther to the east. On impulse Gwaynn turned his mount and rode out to meet them.
Vio saw him coming and skipped away from the others to greet him. She was smiling happily as he approached.
“Good morning Vio,” he greeted, relieved that she seemed to have shaken off the melancholy that surrounded her after the battle.
“Hello Gwaynn. I’m sorry you missed our run this morning,” she said coming close to his horse and looking up at him with those dark eyes of hers. “But perhaps we could spar later…I’d like that,” she added and placed one small hand on his knee.
Gwaynn smiled, feeling slightly uncomfortable. Instinctively he glanced about for Samantha, realizing her tendencies toward jealousy. “I’ll try,” he added as William and Tam came over.
“She’s coming!” Tam said excitedly, pointing farther down the Scar. Gwaynn looked up and spotted two figures approaching. It took him a few moments to recognize the smaller of the two as Samantha, who was running very slowly next to his old master, Tar Kostek.
“I can’t believe she’s doing so well,” Tam exclaimed with wonder and though all of the students of Noble finished their runs over a half hour previous, Samantha’s delicate condition was readily apparent.
Gwaynn made to go to her, but Vio read his intentions and reached up to grabbed the reins.
“Let her finish,” Vio said then added. “She’s remarkable.”
Gwaynn looked down, surprised and pleased at the praise coming from Vio. “Yes, she is,” he agreed and dismounted, absently handing the reins to William, who took them with a grin.
Gwaynn walked forward with Vio at his side. Tam and William trailed excitedly behind. They all watched patiently as Kostek and Samantha slowly approached.
Samantha was still a hundred yards away when she noticed Gwaynn and smiled and she continued to smile all the way to the finish. She reached the group at little more than a walk, but she was dripping with sweat, her hair hanging darkly from her scalp. She was breathing hard as she stopped by Gwaynn and bent slightly at the knees.
Gwaynn patted her wet back and felt her heat. “Keep walking, it will help you cool down,” he said and after a moment she straightened and began walking. She reached out and took hold of Gwaynn’s hand as she went.
“I’m….” she began but couldn’t catch her breath enough to finish for several long minutes. “I’m going…to be an archer again,” she finally said and squeezed Gwaynn’s hand. Her hand was still slick with sweat as he returned the pressure.
“How?” He asked, confused.
“Tar…Tar Kostek, when he was a boy, knew an old one armed Tar, who fashioned a specially designed bow. The bow itself is attached to a thick wooden shaft that has a cup on the end made of wood and leather. The cup will fit over my forearm,” she said quickly catching her breath. Gwaynn could feel the excitement radiated from her. “He says he can make me such a bow,” she finished then turned and smiled so brightly he couldn’t help but get caught up in her enthusiasm, though he tried not to think of her rejoining the fight.
Gwaynn glanced back,
thinking the others were following, but they were far behind.
“If you’re going to spar with Vio, I’d like to watch,” Samantha said startling Gwaynn. “She’s amazing. She’s an incredible runner and Kostek claims she’s even better with her kali.”
“If you wish,” Gwaynn answered tentatively, clearly confused. Samantha smiled then leaned up and kissed his cheek.
“I like her,” Samantha added. “Oh!” She added and her hand went to her belly. Gwaynn stopped concerned, but she just shook her head. “The baby moved…there it goes again.” She reached out and took his hand and guided it to the spot of the commotion. Gwaynn felt nothing a first but then something from inside her struck his hand.
“I think your daughter is trying to run already,” she said.
“Son,” Gwaynn answered automatically. They gazed at each other in wonder. Tam came running up quickly.
“The baby’s moving isn’t it?” She asked and without invitation placed her hand on Samantha’s belly. The others soon joined them and then they were all trying to feel the baby.
ǂ
The army began to arrive the following morning though it took over two hours for all the troops to march into Manse. There was a great roar from the townspeople who felt perhaps now the imminent danger of attack was over.
“What are they waiting for?” Prince Phillip asked as he stared out at Temple Knights. There was some movement throughout the camp, but it was very quiet and clearly the little activity going on was not preparation for another assault on the walls.
“I think I know the answer to that,” Queen Ramona Toranado said straining a little as she climbed the ladder to the ramparts.
“Mother!” Phillip said, surprised at her appearance. She’d spent precious little time out of her quarters since the fall of Eno. The Speaker Zebo Sorbello and the young Traveler Laynee climbed in her wake.
“They’re waiting for the High King,” Laynee reported excitedly in her small, girlish voice.
Ramona smiled at the young girl’s need to break the news. “Yes, but Captain Wicks reports that Lord Mastoc will not be attending this little party.”
“What do you mean?” Gwaynn asked, glancing briefly at Jess na Gall and then Lonogan.
“Captain Wicks has informed me that a fleet of Rhondono troopships were intercepted by the Cassinni,” Ramona said happily. “Not one of the ships made it safely to Massi soil.”
“The Cassinni?” na Gall asked as if she didn’t quite believe it.
Ramona smiled. “Yes, we are in debt to King Marc and all the Cassinni,” the Toranado Queen said, her affection for na Gall obvious.
“So the Knights are stranded,” Bock said and then turned to look back out at the enemy camp.
“Yes,” Gwaynn said but kept his eyes on the Toranado Queen. “You mentioned that the High King will not be attending…was he with the fleet?”
Ramona smiled and shrugged. “We do not know, but Captain Wicks reported sinking a Rhondono vessel flying the flag of the High King.”
“If the High King was truly on…” Prince Phillip said then stopped; the implications of the thought were too immense to contemplate.
Everyone stood silent for several long moments and in the hush Laynee moved to Prince Phillip’s side and stood very close to him. Tabernas shifted to make room for the young Traveler, smiling at her blatant infatuation.
“I think it is time to go home,” Ramona said to her son, who nodded.
“Yes, I think it’s time to see King Weldon and make our demands,” Phillip answered and looked to Gwaynn, who agreed.
“Traveler na Gall, could you and High Tarina Monde meet me in the main room of the eastern bailey in an hour?” Phillip asked. “My mother and her guard will need a head start on their way home.”
ǂ
“His General is with him,” Bock said as he and Gwaynn waited in the main courtyard of the western bailey. Tarina re N’dori plus Tar Kostek and Endid waited with them. Shortly, a column of guards entered, leading the Palmerrio King through the gates. They were followed by a small group of Palmerrio servants and then another column of Massi guards.
Gwaynn sat silently until the Palmerrio King was forced to stop some ten yards away.
“Prince Gwaynn Massi,” Weldon said scornfully with only a slight bow. “Queen Ramona,” he added with a deeper bow of respect.
“King Gwaynn Massi!” Lonogan Bock corrected and started to rise, but Gwaynn waved him down.
“King Weldon,” Gwaynn said calmly, then paused. “You’ve invaded my country.”
“It’s not your country,” one of the Palmerrio escorts piped up loudly.
Gwaynn’s eyes moved to the one who spoke. The man was young with an arrogant look on his face and anger in his eyes.
Gwaynn stared at the man for a long time, thinking that there was something familiar about his attitude, his stance, his very being.
“King Weldon,” Gwaynn repeated. “You have invaded my country.”
The Palmerrio King shrugged. “At the request of the High King,” Weldon answered.
“And you invaded mine,” Ramona shouted. “You will now order what’s left of your armies from Toranado.”
“I cannot,” Weldon answered.
Gwaynn said nothing for a moment then shifted his gaze to the large man just to the right of the King.
“You are Sanchez?” Gwaynn asked.
The man nodded. “I am.”
Gwaynn stood and moved forward. “It was your strategy we met at the mouth of the Aleria Pass?”
The General smiled and began to nod, but before he was able to finish the movement, Gwaynn slowed time and flashed forward, drawing his kali with blazing speed. Before even a second past he’d cut the General’s head from his body. It hit the floor and rolled away, a smile still etched on its face.
By the time King Weldon flinched Gwaynn was already taking his seat once again. Weldon stared at the stump of his General’s neck as it pumped blood onto the dusty floor of the courtyard and then his focus moved to the head that had rolled a few feet away. Slowly his eyes moved up to Gwaynn, his expression slowly changing from shock to anger.
“You! You would kill an unarmed man?” Weldon shouted at the boy Prince who sat before him. Weldon glared at Gwaynn despite the fear that now ran through his body. ‘No one can move that fast…it’s not possible,’ he thought and the young assistant who challenged Gwaynn was thinking much the same thing.
“It was regrettable,” Gwaynn said, “but he killed my best friend, who needed to be avenged.”
“You will order your armies from my land,” Ramona repeated once more as she tore her eyes from the head of the former Palmerrio General. The amount of blood upset her, but she hoped it upset Weldon more.
“I cannot without the permission of the High King,” Weldon answered with a smug smile.
“We do not think the High King will protest,” Ramona answered with a smile of her own.
Weldon frowned.
“You’ll order your armies out of Toranado,” Gwaynn repeated.
“And if I don’t?”
Gwaynn stood. “Then you will join your General,” he said and slowly began to stand. He was hungry now, but he would slow time again if need be. The young man who challenged Gwaynn earlier took a quick step forward to block the way to the King. Weldon’s eyes grew slightly bigger, but to his credit he did not retreat.
“The High King will not stand for it,” Weldon said defiantly.
“We shall see,” Gwaynn replied, and then in a flash he recognized something in the King’s vocal companion
“Hold,” Gwaynn suddenly said and stared at the young man guarding the Palmerrio King. “Your name please?”
Weldon started, and the man looked a bit surprised. “Calbrick,” the young man answered.
“You’ve the smell of Sinis on you,” Gwaynn said. The man smiled, then quick as a cat lashed a kick at the nearest guard and wrenched a kali from his belt all in one motion. He spun half expect
ing Gwaynn to be upon him, but the Prince had not moved.
“Executioner…” Gwaynn said softly and motioned for his men to stand back. The guard who was kicked scrambled up from the floor, clearly angry.
“Are you alright Nate?” Gwaynn asked.
“Yes Sire,” the injured guard replied, rubbing his right knee.
“Toss your other kali to Calbrick,” Gwaynn ordered and the crowd erupted in protests.
“Tar Calbrick,” the young man said, not believing his luck, but as ordered an additional kali was tossed in the air to him. He spun the two weapons skillfully and turned to face Gwaynn with a good deal more confidence than he had a moment before.
“No…no…not a Tar,” Gwaynn corrected and both Tar Kostek and Tar Endid broke into smiles. N’dori just laughed lightly. Gwaynn moved forward off the wooden Dias, his face already furrowed in deep concentration as he began to manipulate time. This kill would not be fair, but it would be designed to instill great terror within the Palmerrio King. N’dori watched everything with a happy sparkle in her eye; the young Massi King was indeed worthy of the great Tar Nev. Calbrick backed away slightly, very confident but as he glanced about at the others he noticed that no one on the Massi side of the courtyard showed any signs of concern. Their King was risking his life. He would obviously be facing a very skilled opponent, but no one on the Massi side seemed agitated in the least. He wondered briefly at it, but then crouched as Gwaynn began to circle him.
“You will order your men from Eno and Toranado,” Gwaynn said as he passed Weldon, glancing briefly at the Palmerrio King. It was at that moment that Calbrick pounced, just as Gwaynn expected, but Gwaynn was no longer where the Executioner expected him to be. Time once again slowed to a crawl and Gwaynn sliced easily through the Executioner’s right arm, the blow coming from a slightly different angle than the young man expected. Gwaynn quickly moved around and stood before King Weldon once again then released time. The young man from Sinis screamed loudly as his hand fell away. Weldon jumped and his mouth fell open. From his point of view Gwaynn’s movements were just a blur, much too fast for the eye to follow.
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