“How…” her voice hitched even as tears welled up in her eyes at the overwhelming encounter.
For the first time the man’s expression softened, he did not smile, “N’akle non woyao” he said solemnly.
The tears fell freely now, drenching her face, she knew what he said. It was from the Nerubian creed, it was written all over the valley she had been visiting. The books she had been pouring over trying to learn a language she had never heard spoken. Her pronunciation of their words might have been somewhat different but she understood enough to know what he had said.
“Favour over riches,” she translated proudly.
He nodded, “we have been watching you.”
“We?”
He lifted a hand, “yes very quickly, I explain. Many thought that you had perished many years ago, until you returned to the village remains. There was no denying who you are, you are the lost princess of Neru. Your grandfather was the reigning chief at the time of the attack.”
“But how are you… I was told you had all been murdered.”
Even in the dim light she could see his eyes darken, “not all of us,” he said firmly.
“But I cannot explain it all here. It seems that you have made enemies in this place you call your home.”
“People here just do not like what they do not understand.”
“Have we been so easily forgotten?” he asked, not masking the animosity in his voice.
“I only knew you existed mere months ago.”
“I know, I have been watching you since then. I needed to be sure, but after watching the way they have been treating you and the trouble that came upon you tonight, I could no longer hide in the shadows.”
“Princess!” a loud voice boomed in the night; it was Stafford.
“That is my guard. You must come with me, back to the palace. My father would be thrilled to see you.”
The man shook his head, “we will not make the same mistake twice. I am here to take you home, to where you truly belong and will be accepted.”
Ruby frowned, “No I… you cannot do that.”
“Do you not want to be reunited with your people. To finally be the princess you were meant to be.”
Ruby frowned, “yes but… not like this. I love my father; I cannot just leave.”
“Princess!” Stafford called again. He was closer now.
The man took a step back, pulling his cloak over his head once more.
“It is your decision. But do not take too long to make it, princess Nketa.”
She frowned, “wait what?”
He turned to leave and she called out after him, “Wait! What shall I call you?”
He bowed slightly with a fist across his chest, “Odi is what I am called.”
With that he slipped into the shadows and disappeared. Instantly his absence brought a sense of vulnerability to her. She turned and ran in the direction of Stafford’s voice.
“Stafford!” she cried breathlessly.
“What is it?” he asked reaching out to hold her.
She looked up into his concerned eyes, “Some… men… tried to… to attack me. A stranger, he saved me but…” she struggled to catch her breath, there was so much she couldn’t say.
“I think they are all gone now.”
The knight looked in the direction where she had come, “stay behind me,” he said, drawing his sword and hurrying towards the alleyway.
The alley way was still littered with the groaning bodies of her attackers. Stafford and Ruby exchanged glances.
Stafford asked in disbelief, “Did you get a good look at who did this?”
Ruby shook her head, “I do not think he wanted me to.”
The lie rolled so easily off of her tongue it made her cringe.
Stafford sighed, “alright, well. I am just happy that you are safe. I will get some men to round up these menaces. I am so sorry I was late in coming to escort you.”
“It’s fine,” she replied distractedly, “it was an eye-opening experience.”
✽✽✽
Ruby burst through the doors of her bed-chamber and almost ploughed into Topaz, she screamed and shoved her away, before realizing it was her sister.
Topaz lifted both hands in surrender, “why are you so jumpy?”
“Why are you here?” she growled angrily.
“Sorry,” Topaz replied begrudgingly, “I just thought that you would want to hear what I had to say.”
Ruby sighed, “I’m sorry. I’ve just had a… crazy night,” she said as she tossed her cloak aside and walked by her sister.
“They are here,” Topaz said, “Deswald and the others.”
Ruby froze. When she turned around her eyes were wide in excitement.
“What?”
“The questors arrived tonight. Father was looking for you, but I told him you went to temple.”
“And he told you?”
Topaz smirked, “you know no one has to tell me anything. I overheard him talking to General Mathis.”
“I must be there to receive him, there is no time to get ready,” Ruby said quickly, as she rushed to the wash basin situated on the counter of the adjoining room.
She could feel Topaz’s gaze on her as she dabbed a wet cloth against the cut on her neck; she was too eager to see Deswald to care what her sister would see. Already her encounter with Odi had slipped to the recesses of her mind at the thought of seeing Deswald again. It was great to know that she was not alone in this world as she had thought, but what Odi was asking of her was too great to even consider right now. She felt Topaz edge close and could almost feel the pending question radiating off of her.
“What happened to you?”
“Long story. No time. I will tell you later.”
Topaz frowned, “alright, you better. I think we both have some long stories to share.”
Ruby turned to her sister with a smile, “and we will both have time to share them, once we know Deswald is safe.”
Topaz looked pensive, “what will you tell him?”
Ruby frowned, “what do you mean?”
Topaz looked sad, “I know about the engagement Ruby.”
Ruby’s eyes widened, “you do?”
“If I wasn’t so distracted with that… shepherd-bard,” Topaz growled.
Ruby had expected her to be upset when she found out she had kept it from her, but she didn’t expect her to be so mad at herself.
“Wait… Shepherd-bard?”
Topaz lifted a hand sternly, “don’t change the subject. We don’t have much time. I am so sorry this is happening to you Ruby and when everything is… it’s total madness in Stone Vale now. I could only imagine what is happening in the outer territories, like the South. Why would father even want to send you away?”
Ruby regarded her sister’s troubled pacing with a smile.
“Top please don’t trouble yourself with this.”
“You deserve better!” Topaz blurted, “If anyone deserves to be with the man she loves, it’s you. You’ve wanted true love forever. Are you going to let a bunch of old cold men take that away from you?”
“Father approves.”
“Father has his hands tied. Since you’ve been at Neru lot has changed here you know.”
“I think I have an idea of how much,” Ruby muttered.
Topaz sighed.
“I don’t know when I will tell Deswald,” Ruby said, “I have some time before Araken comes… can I not enjoy the company of the man I have longed to see for months.”
Topaz pursed her lips, “I guess so,” she said sadly.
Ruby smiled “Cheer up Top, all will be well. Now come on already.”
Their running feet echoed along the hallways of the palace, as they rushed outside to the palace court where a great company of soldiers were gathering. The streets of the city were crowded with people, shouting and waving in excitement at the return of the young centuries. Clad in not so shiny armour and bearing the flag of Aldor proudly, the
honoured soldiers marched through the city, holding their lit lanterns high against the darkness of the late night. They headed towards the palace courts where the king waited to welcome them home. It was late and dark but it did not stop people from coming out to greet the soldiers, the sound of excited families hoping to be reunited with their own, filling the streets.
Ruby stopped at the balcony and peered down at the group, from there she could see the weight of their experiences on their drawn tired faces as their feet barely lifted off the ground. They must have been marching for miles, after having endured months of treacherous training and unexpected delays, their weariness was understandable. Ruby tried to locate the love of her life among them, she had so longed to see him. But it was a fruitless exercise in the dim light of the torches lining the path to the court yard. These past few weeks had been harder than she had anticipated and despite the recent turn of events, she still missed him to the point of insanity.
“Do you see him?” she asked her sister, who was leaning over next to her.
Topaz shook her head, “I do not and there are no other Questers fitting his description.”
Ruby shot her a look, Topaz never failed to remind her that Deswald looked different. Both his parents were Dravians and so Deswald wore the characteristic features of an outsider, not the olive to dark complexion and brown or silver eyes that were characteristic of Aldorian natives. Like Ruby he did not quite fit in here, but with the refugee treaty there were more of his kind here than they were of Ruby’s.
“Look there is Nyla!” Topaz shouted, “Nyla!” she waved at her ex-guard and role model; a pointless gesture since Nyla could not hear nor see her from down below.
“Come on!”
They hurried down into the courtyard and pushed their way into the crowd, where the returning soldiers were being greeted and congratulated by those who had remained, pledges, guards and seasoned centuries alike.
“Nyla! Ben!” Ruby called, happy to see them because she knew that Deswald must be nearby.
The two turned to them but instead of the excitement she expected to see upon their faces she saw… pity, worry… fear.
“Oh no!” she gasped.
Nyla rushed to her, “Princess?”
Ruby lifted her hands to stop her, “something happened,” she said, “where is he?” she demanded.
Nyla and Ben exchanged glances, then nodded sombrely.
“There was an incident…” Nyla started, just as Ruby’s gaze picked up a stretcher being carried from a caravan a little way off.
“Deswald!” she shouted and dashed in that direction, she had almost missed him because of the mess of hair that now graced his head. But before she could reach him she was intercepted by her brother Jasper. He stood like a brick wall between her and the love of her life.
“Get out of my way!” she screamed, trying to push past him and not wanting to take her eyes off of him.
She noticed that he was not just lying on the stretcher, but there were ropes across his chest and legs, binding him to it. Outrage ignited in her, mingled with confusion.
“What are they doing to him!” she cried, “Please let me go!”
Jasper reached out and held her, “you will see him soon enough. Let us not make a scene tonight,” he said calmly, a grim expression on his face.
“How bad is it? What happened?”
“They were attacked on the way back, in the flurry a fight broke out among the men,” Jasper said.
“One of our own hurt him!”
Jasper nodded.
“I want his name!” Ruby demanded, “he will surely pay!”
Jasper’s sullen look deepened, “it was me Ruby.”
Ruby froze and looked up at him with disbelief in her eyes, “what? I do not understand.”
Jasper turned her in the direction of the caravan where they were still offloading wounded men, and pointed.
“I hurt him, because he did that.”
Ruby’s eyes widened. At the sight of bloody broken men being escorted to the barracks. Deswald would never hurt his own, the members of the royal army were his family, it did not make any sense.
“That makes no sense Jasper.”
Jasper nodded, “it won’t to you. Quests have changed many men.”
“You will get to see him as soon as we understand better what we are dealing with,” he looked down at her with preoccupation in his eyes.
“He will be okay Ruby; father and I will make sure of it. I have to go now. The generals and I have a meeting with father.”
As he walked away Ruby became aware of the others standing around her, she could feel their sympathy much like she could feel her sister’s hand upon her shoulder. It took all of her willpower not to shrug it off. She did not want pity, she wanted answers.
“I do not understand,” she said again as Topaz slipped a hand into hers.
“We have never seen him lose it like that. The only explanation I could think of is that maybe we did not save him from Haddin,” Ben said, his voice quaking with restrained anger, “maybe that devilish man still won.”
“No, he has not!” Ruby said harshly, turning an angry gaze upon Deswald’s best friend. When Deswald had come after her to Dravia to rescue her from the prince’s cruel grasp, he had been struck down by the dark Prince’s magic. Ruby and the others had managed to secure a remedy; a remedy that had seemed to work. Deswald had displayed no signs of being affected by the prince’s magic, not when he confessed his love for her, not when he took in his refugee cousin and her unborn child and definitely not when he marched out with the rest of the Questers to pursue his dream to one day become an Aldorian Knight.
“We have to believe that the darkness has been driven from him. If we doubt, who will stand with him?”
Ben nodded, “you are right princess, we should not jump to conclusions here, we shall figure this out… together.”
Ruby nodded, feeling the sting of tears touch her eyes.
“We will not be able to see him tonight,” Ben said, “but maybe this might cheer you up.”
He turned and looked up and Ruby arched and eyebrow, until she noticed a shadow moving towards them, large wings moving rhythmically as it carried the body of a dragon and its rider. Her eyes widened and she could hear her sister’s sharp intake of breath as the creature drew closer to the ground, the crowd of soldiers parting respectfully for it. The dragon landed and dropped low and a woman was helped off it’s back.
Ben was grinning proudly, “your boy went and got us a dragon,” he said.
Ruby continued to stare, dumbfounded, “Deswald?” she asked in confusion.
Nyla nodded, “he bravely went out after seeing her beacon even when only a few would join him. His bravery saved that girl’s life and now she is indebted to us. No matter what anyone says, you should be proud of him.”
Ben patted Ruby’s shoulder, “in the presence of a majestic dragon I say with confidence, all will be well princess.”
Chapter 16
Jahreed ran through the woods near Stone Vale, retracing his steps from last night, to where he had sat listening to the prophet. He had to admit for a moment he had thought the man to be insane but after seeing him use El’s name to heal the sick and speaking hope into the lives of those who gathered around him, Jahreed started to wonder if he might actually be true. It excited him to know that a prophet had arisen in his time, that he was able to see the work of El and hear the words of El through his servant like it was in the time of his parents. But what he wished for was someone who could help him understand his own burdensome gift.
Today was his last day in Stone Vale and he knew his brothers would seek to return home soon. But he could not leave Feather’s father worried and anxious in the town square. He too wondered where Feather might be. He could not forget the man she had been with last night, the man who seemed to be a close follower of the prophet, the man who had bested him without even knowing that he had.
He found the clearing wh
ere they had gathered last night but there was no one around. He sighed in disappointment. He had no idea where else he could look. He refused to believe that Feather would stay in Stone Vale without telling her father, unless it was her new beau’s doing. He felt worry stirring in the pit of his stomach.
“What do you seek Jahreed?”
Jahreed jumped and twirled around to find the very man who had his thoughts all in a jumble last night and all of this morning. He was standing in the shade of the trees, leaning on his staff.
Jahreed bowed awkwardly, “I’m looking for my friend. She is due to return home today and her father is worried sick about her.”
The man nodded as if he knew exactly who Jahreed was talking about.
“That is what your friend’s father seeks. What is it you seek?”
Jahreed frowned and walked toward the man, the sun was sending warm rays through the leaves of the trees hovering over him and where the prophet stood appeared much cooler. But something more than comfort drew Jahreed to the man. Maybe it was those knowing eyes, maybe it was the peaceful drawing presence he felt when he was around him. He had felt it last night too, it was so strong that it had kept him from following Tawnee last night and he really wanted to.
“I don’t understand.”
“Listen to me Jahreed,” the man said with a comforting smile.
“You know my name,” Jahreed interjected.
“El knows your name,” the man replied.
“El knows me?”
The man nodded, “El knows everyone, he saw you in the field, he saw you protecting your flock from the wild animals, he saw you endure the cruelty of your brothers, but most of all Jahreed, he sees your heart for him. The light of El rests heavily around you, you feel his drawing, don’t you? You have been feeling Him knocking on the doors of your heart.”
Jahreed’s lowered his gaze, “I… I don’t know. I guess… well I have been having these… like this sense of what I should do or where I should go. It is annoying sometimes, sometimes it gets me in trouble.”
Kingdom's Darkness (Gemstone Royals Book 2) Page 13