He turned when he heard footsteps outside his door and climbed down the narrow bed to investigate. The door swung open and standing in the doorway was a figure fully clad in white. He arched an eyebrow, that was no Aldorian guard, nor could it be a thief or a spy. He had nothing of value and kept no secrets. The heavy metal padlock that held his door in place fell at the feet of the intruder, bent and crumpled.
His gaze travelled from the padlock on the floor back up to the figure standing in his doorway. He arched an eyebrow, but didn’t move. Waiting to confirm what he believed was standing in front of him.
As if hearing his thoughts, the figure lifted its hood and looked right at him. A fire like blaze burned within dark eyes.
Ajorel chuckled, “so that’s the form you have taken,” he said.
He bowed slightly, “it is an honour that El should spare you for this cause.”
This was not the first time he was in the presence of a Guardian. But the last time, he had only figured it out when he had disappeared. He knew that there were different kinds of guardians fulfilling El’s different purposes. In the early hours of the morning, he found himself in the presence of an Infiltrator: The kind that would appear in times of war and captivity, when force was needed.
“It’s time,” the guardian said. In a petite voice that matched her small frame.
Ajorel was not fooled however; he knew that that being had the power to level the entire castle if El willed it. He moved quickly, snatching up his coat and then grabbing his writings up in his arms. He shuffled towards his rescuer, while trying to put some order to the chaos in his hands; he could not risk leaving his writings unattended.
“Come,” she commanded and stepped out into the dark hallway.
Ajorel needed no light, for she shone brighter than any torch or lamp he could carry.
Chapter 32
The king stood over the table map, looking grim. His chest was starting to burn as the faces of his councilors continued to blur before him. Two of them were crowding his war room, earning them annoyed glares from his generals. But he was too preoccupied to ask them to leave right now. Ajorel had escaped and a company of Dravians had crossed the border, but not quite where they had expected them to. Their numbers were not more than one would expect from Dravia. But that was not Kalgary’s concern now.
They had anticipated that Dravia would try to approach closer to the South Territory and had sent in reinforcements there. Fully expecting the East to hold their own. Unfortunately, they did not consider the integrity of the East being compromised. His sources had confirmed that the East Territory had formed an alliance with Haddin and that Dravia’s army had breached the border via the east. He could not believe such deceit had been happening under his nose; he was a fool to trust Governor Hague of the East. The council as usual were doing what they did best, tossing out accusations and suggestions that required everyone else’s sacrifice but their own. On the up side, he had not lost the south; Araken was rallying there. He wondered if his support would have remained if he had already informed him of his decision to deny him Ruby’s hand.
“There is no need to panic,” Thayne was saying, “the Dravian army crossing the border is not an outrageous feat. We know that the border is only impermeable to dark magic. If Haddin’s army is made up of mere men, of course they will cross it.”
“But they’re marching towards Stone Vale, through the East” Mbede countered, “that’s the concern. Who knows who else is compromised?”
General Mathis chimed in, “our men can crush Dravia’s pitiful army, even if they get help, they are no match for our numbers.”
He pointed at a spot on the map between the East and Stone Vale, “I say we let them come through and we meet them at Four’s field. We’ll have a better advantage on our side of the border anyway. And our armies will stand between them and the city.”
Thayne growled in annoyance, “if they didn’t think they stood a chance, they would not be marching on us. The fact that they’ve crossed means Haddin isn’t with them. He’s got something up his sleeve. I mean, we only found out he had turned the East after he crossed the border via the east. What else does he have planned?”
Amidst the blur of his troubled thoughts and his half-hearted attention to his councilors, Kalgary noticed his son enter the room with urgency in his steps. He looked up expectantly. Jasper had someone with him, a young woman; beautiful and bold. The way she looked right at him with those heathen eyes. He straightened up and narrowed his eyes.
“Jasper what is the meaning of this?”
Jasper stopped and bowed quickly; his companion followed suit. Kalgary could feel the councilors’ disapproval over being interrupted. But he’d had enough of them today.
“Father,” Jasper said, “I know this is not the time, nor the place. But I am afraid we will soon run out of both.”
The king ground his teeth, “speak your mind son.”
Jasper stood up and extended his hand to his companion, “Father I would like to introduce you to someone. She has been a great help to me and I believe that she will be a great help to us.”
The king looked at the young woman, she had deep blue eyes, that reminded him of clear skies and sun, her raven hair pouring out from beneath a hooded dress. She was dressed like an Aldorian woman, but there was no denying that she was Dravian.
“Clear the room!” he bellowed.
“Your majesty…” Thayne started to object, but one look at his thunderous gaze and both councilors bowed and joined the others hastily leaving the room.
After the hurried shuffling had faded, he turned his attention to Jasper’s companion.
“Who are you?” he addressed her directly.
Jasper and the young woman exchanged glances and then she took a step forward and cleared her throat.
“Your majesty. It is indeed an honor to be in your presence and in your land. I have wondered what this place would be like since I was a child…what you would be like, despite all I had heard. And then I met your son and he showed me that everything I have ever been told about Aldor was a lie.”
The king narrowed his eyes at her but remained silent, urging her to continue.
“My name is Shadaya Quadin, I am… was a member of the Pillar families of Dravia. As I stand before you now, I stand as a member of the community of believers in Arduway, an unashamed follower of the new way and a believer in El and all His ways…”
“And the woman I love,” Jasper added.
Kalgary’s eyes snapped to his son, who held his gaze with a stubbornness he was not quite familiar with.
“This is the woman… you choose?”
Jasper nodded.
Kalgary returned his gaze to Shadaya, who stood her ground bravely.
“You stand like a warrior,” he observed, trying to hold Jasper’s confession as far from his consciousness as possible.
Shadaya looked at Jasper and then nodded, “I fought against Haddin even before he assumed the throne. You’ll be surprised to know that more Dravians hate him than he lets on.”
“And she was instrumental in rescuing Ruby… and getting me safely out of Dravia.”
“I see,” the king said, “so what do you want young lady?”
She took a deep breath, “only to help you fight Haddin and the freedom to love your son.”
The king stood up now and sighed so hard he felt his nose hairs tremble. His grip on his scepter tightened as he looked down at his son, standing beside this woman. He watched Jasper reach out and take Shadaya’s hand; his brown hand intertwined with her slender porcelain fingers. The constriction in his chest worsened.
“If this is the woman you have chosen, then so be it,” he said through gritted teeth.
He knew that look in his son’s eyes, and with the little time they had left, he did not want to waste it arguing over something he may not even be around to see. “
“What matters, I have come to realize, is what you have found Lady Shadaya. You have fo
und a way out of darkness, a way that I have denied for a very long time. But now I know that I was wrong.”
He looked at Jasper and smiled sadly, “not that it might matter in the days to come, but you have my blessing.”
Jasper looked back at him fiercely, “it will always matter.”
Kalgary nodded and returned to his chair, “now young lady. How exactly can you help me?”
“Haddin has been underestimated by many leaders, and that’s why many of them serve him now. He wields a powerful magic that both Jasper and I have seen firsthand and he has the backing of a secret society of sorcerers who pledge loyalty to the not-so-mythical Maldeev. He has a powerful army and allies from here to Tyattar. And he wants Aldor. He doesn’t wish to destroy the city, he wants to put and end to your reign, so that when he frees his mother, he can hand her what he deems to be her rightful throne.”
The king arched a brow, “if Luska is back in play, then he must be after the map... and key. That means he is coming for me… and Demas.”
Jasper was shaking his head, “he’s not coming for Demas, he already has him. High priest Demas is working for Haddin, at this very minute Geoff is trying to convince him to not perform the offering.”
“Too late.”
They all turned around to find Geoff standing in front of the door, “sorry to barge in, they told me I could find you here.”
“Good to see you Geoff, I never got to thank you for saving Ruby.”
Geoff waved him away, “no need. I love Ruby like a sister.”
“What did you mean by it’s too late?” the king asked.
Geoff looked over at Jasper and shook his head, “my father, he uh… he’s been addicted to arc stones and helping Haddin all this time for a steady supply. I was too late… he uh…, he performed an unsanctioned offering at the temple…”
“He what!” Kalgary exclaimed, “when I get my hands on him…”
“There’s nothing you can do,” Geoff said, sadness in his eyes, “his actions have rendered him… useless. And well… that offering is another dent in Aldor’s defenses.”
The king felt worry rising in his chest again, his head grew light and he felt sick, “If he has Demas, he has the map and all he needs is the key,” he looked down at the scepter in his hand.
“Don’t worry father. Haddin isn’t getting anywhere near Stone Vale. The men are ready,” Jasper said.
“And if that’s not enough, we found some of the hidden scrolls of the prophets,” Jasper continued, “the kind of magic Haddin wields is only counteracted by the white light stone…”
He saw the excitement in his son’s eyes but he could not join him, “the white light stone is very rare, possibly a folk tale. And with the Nerubians gone there’s no way to know for sure.”
“Isn’t your scepter powered by it?”
The king shook his head slowly, “that is a story people tell that we never saw the need to correct,” he lifted his scepter, “this is only a concentration of the light stone we know. It was a gift to my father from the Nerubian chief when they signed the treaty.”
“We’ll have to do this the old-fashioned way. According to General Mathis, Dravia’s army should reach Four’s Field within a day. We’ve lost the East, but even with their army they’re still no match for us. We’ll face them there.”
“Your majesty,” Shadaya spoke up again, “what I wanted to tell you, is that I have a small company of men to offer. My own men who left Dravia with me and would never serve Haddin.”
“We don’t need your men on the field,” the king said gruffly, regretting his tone the moment the words left his mouth.
The truth was that he still didn’t trust this Dravian woman. He looked at his son and sighed, “but we will need help with the city’s defense and keeping the people safe.”
Shadaya bowed, “my men are on it.”
Kalgary turned to his son, “Are our men ready?”
Jasper nodded, “yes, they are ready to march at your command. We have archers on the wall and men positioned at the gate. But if we meet Haddin’s army before they reach the citadel, we won’t need them.”
The king’s eyes grew hard, “Our victory is sure,” he said firmly, “Tell Mathis, gather your knights. I’ll be right behind you.”
“Okay,” Jasper turned to leave and Shadaya was about to follow.
“Not you,” Kalgary said.
She froze and exchanged looks with Jasper, who shot his father a warning, “it’s okay,” he assured her and left with Geoff.
Shadaya turned to face the king. He looked at her carefully, taking in her features, the confidence in her stance, the boldness in her gaze. So this was the kind of woman his son desired.
He chuckled as he shook his head, “to think that all these years I’ve been parading gentle women, with pretty dresses and captivating smiles in the hopes that one would catch his eyes. Only to find that he prefers the kind of woman who doesn’t smile at all… or isn’t in the least bit gentle.”
Shadaya’s unreadable expression did not waver, instead she said, “it was a surprise for both of us. I didn’t think I would be captivated by an Aldorian man, the prince of a people I was cultured to hate.”
“In my experience hate does not disappear so easily. Nor does the allure of magic.”
Now her gaze faltered, she blinked quickly and swallowed hard, “you know of my past.”
“No… not really. I know Dravians. It was an educated guess.”
“I have given up my old ways,” she said, “I wish I had the time to convince you that I am committed to Jasper and to the way.”
“And to Aldor?”
He did not let her reply, he noticed her hesitation anyway. “my son trusts you, he loves you. That means that you have influence, you have the power to sway his heart. He will be king, but you will be the most powerful presence in his life… as long as he loves you. And knowing my son, if he says he loves you, he means it.”
Shadaya continued to stare at a spot below his chin.
“If you love him as much as you claim to. I pray that you will have the kindness to do what is right to safeguard his purpose.”
“I do love him,” she said firmly.
“Good, then you must protect him from himself, and you must protect him from you.”
Shadaya lifted her gaze now. “Can you give me your word?” Kalgary asked.
Shadaya hesitated, then nodded slowly, “I promise, I will do what must be done… when he won’t.”
The king nodded, kindness finally showing in his eyes towards her, “good, now go. Prepare your men.”
✽✽✽
Night had fallen by the time the group heading to the North reached Thames pass. Topaz could feel her eyelids growing heavy from the long journey and the unexpected burst of adrenaline she had experienced when they had been attacked earlier. Her grip tightened on the reins of Nyla’s horse as she shook herself awake.
Zenhall glanced over at her and gave her an awkward smile. It was strangely comforting, coupled with the bright light of the full moon and the weight of all Topaz currently felt. He had been his usual quiet self on the ride to the pass, but Topaz knew that he too was mourning the loss of his men as she mourned the loss of her sister. Yes, she knew that Ruby was where she was supposed to be, but it did not take away the hurt of knowing she may never see her again. The Nerubians had existed secretly for all these years and not even her father had realized it. If they could accomplish that, then Ruby was as a good as a memory as they had been.
She looked up when she noticed that Ben had stopped the carriage and was turning his horse about with a concerned frown. Zenhall approached him.
“What’s the matter?” he asked. They were all eager to get off the road and to the safety of the North city.
Diamond poked her head out just as Topaz maneuvered her horse near the carriage, she had that odd look in her eyes that after all these years, Topaz was yet to understand.
“What is it?” she aske
d, “is Nyla okay?”
Diamond nodded, “something’s wrong,” she whispered.
“Sure right,” said Ben, “it’s too quiet here. Where are the guards?”
Topaz looked around her now with fresh awareness and their concern became real for her as well.
“Do you think Serin got them too?” she asked.
Ben shrugged, “would he be so brave?”
It was then that Nyla stumbled out of the carriage, she was doubled over in pain but that stubborn set of her jaw was in perfect place.
“We need to get off the road,” she groaned.
Ben leapt off his horse and rushed to her.
“No time,” she grunted, “out here in the open… not safe.”
Ben pulled her close to help support her weight and she looked at him with a silent plea in her eyes, that said she knew how powerless her wound had rendered her. Nyla had always been a few inches taller than Ben, but now she that she was leaning into his frame Topaz could see how much stronger Ben’s stout build compared to her.
“Listen to your gut Ben,” Nyla whispered.
“I’ve always trusted your instincts,” he said softly after a moment’s hesitation.
He turned to the others, “Leave the carriage, get off the road. Nyla will ride with me. Diamond get up on that horse with your sister.”
“No,” Zenhall said firmly. “I don’t know who put you in charge, but it sure wasn’t me. And now I’m putting my foot down.”
The most senior soldier had been killed saving Ruby, leaving Zenhall as the next in line to make the decisions. But Ben had taken up the role of informal leader since they had left Stone Vale. It must have been because of his connection to Deswald and Ruby that he felt the responsibility to keep them safe fell heavily upon him.
Ben glared at him, “you have a better idea? Look around, can’t you feel that something isn’t right.”
Kingdom's Darkness (Gemstone Royals Book 2) Page 26