by Narro, B. T.
Then there was a torrent of other feelings gusting around his heart that he had no hope of stopping long enough to distinguish the difference between them.
“What about you? Did this change anything for you?” Cleve asked, dearly hoping it hadn’t.
Jessend pursed her lips, studying Cleve’s face with a slight squint. “I’m not sure.” She approached slowly. “But I think we should find out right now, right here.” She stopped just before him, putting a hand on his shoulder and then sliding it up. He felt the chill when her small hands found the same position they had before—meeting at the back of his neck.
A fear passed through his skin, rattling his heart. It reminded him of Reela, when they’d first met and he was still scared of what she did to him. Jessend moved her hand to his cheek, clearly wanting a kiss, but he wouldn’t lean down. Luckily, she was too short to reach him without his cooperation.
“Don’t you think it’s worth it to see if things have changed between us?” Jessend asked.
Cleve didn’t, yet he couldn’t pull away. The thought of hurting Jessend was painful, especially when he wanted the same thing as she did. But the fear that came with losing control of himself was even worse.
He felt his heart continuing to speed up. Dizziness came next. She’s making me weak, just like Reela.
Jessend put a hand over his heart, showing a face of shock. “It’s beating so hard.” She rolled her eyes at him. “It’s just a kiss, Cleve. How can you be fearless when a madman aims a crossbow at you, yet you quiver in terror at my approaching lips?”
He felt himself calming. It could’ve been her touch, maybe her mocking look, or perhaps her words alone had done it. Whatever it was, all the fear had been drained. It’s just a kiss, stupid. Cleve could almost hear her voice in his head.
He let out a relieved smile, moved his hand behind her small head to grasp it firmly, and leaned down. She went to her toes to reach him, but she turned away and fell back to her heels with a laugh before their lips touched. He started laughing as well, unsure why.
She shook her head and tried moving her hands to a different position on his chest. She gazed into his eyes and smiled. “Sorry, I don’t know why I’m so amused.” He leaned down again, and they kissed just for a blink before she erupted in laughter again and stepped away. Cleve couldn’t stop himself from laughing with her.
“It feels like I’m kissing my brother again!” Jessend was doubled over in hilarity, shaking her head.
Cleve suddenly felt like himself again, strong and in control. There was no yearning to lock lips with Jessend. All of the hot desire had cooled.
“Does it feel that way for you?” she asked.
“It does.”
“Well, at least we know now. Come on.” She started toward the door. “Let’s find out what happened with Kasko.”
Chapter 12
A summons from the King brought Cleve, Jessend, and Lisanda to one of the many grand dining rooms. Although it was the middle of the night, Danvell still wore his crown over a white and gold gown. Servers brought in crackers, apples, cheese, and wine.
“Kasko still hasn’t been found,” the King said in a solemn tone. “He’s either hiding somewhere in the palace or he escaped before the exits were sealed.” He turned to Cleve. “Can you describe what happened?”
Jessend folded her arms. “I already told you what happened, Father.”
“I’d like to hear it from Cleve.”
Jessend leaned toward Cleve and whispered loudly enough for everyone to hear, “My own father doesn’t believe me.”
“I do,” Danvell explained. “I would just also like to hear it from Cleve.
“I don’t make up stories anymore. I would never lie about something like this. I haven’t ever lied about Kasko!”
Cleve put his hand on her arm and said, “I’m sure whatever Jessend told you is the truth. But here’s what happened through my point of view.”
He recounted the story, receiving emphatic nods from Jessend that he noticed in his peripheral vision.
“And you’re sure it was mekio poison?” Danvell asked Jessend.
“You make me spend an inordinate amount of time studying with Chemist Guss, so I’d like to think I can recognize the most illegal poison in Greenedge.”
The King put his palm flat on the table. “Curb your attitude, Jessend. I know we’re tired, but I’m just making sure I have all the details. I fear for what will happen with Kasko’s father when he hears about the demand for his son’s arrest.”
“Have Oleya look at the potion, then,” Jessend said, taking a breath to calm herself. “It’s still in Cleve’s room.”
“What does the poison do?” Cleve asked, hoping it might disrupt the burgeoning argument.
“Memory loss, anger, aggression, confusion.” Jessend held up her hand as she listed each side effect. “It basically causes you to act like a madman.”
“How long does it last?” Cleve asked.
“It depends on the amount,” Jessend answered. “But if you drank that whole bottle, there would definitely be some permanent effects.”
“So it would look like I’d just gone insane,” Cleve realized. “And Kasko would leave the palace without anyone knowing he’d poisoned me.”
“Then I'd be forced to marry him,” Jessend said, glaring at her father.
The King ignored her, looking at Cleve instead. “We’ll find another room for you. Make sure to keep your door locked when you’re sleeping.”
Cleve nodded, thinking that would be it. But the King took a sip of his wine and waved Cleve over to his side of the table. “Come here.”
Danvell stood as Cleve approached. “Cleve Polken, I’ve never met a man I’ve been as quick to trust as you. You continue to prove yourself through honorable actions. So, I’m proud to officially grant you permission to marry my daughter, Jessend Takary.”
From the King’s emphatic voice and the use of Jessend’s last name, Cleve figured Danvell was giving some sort of royal announcement that was customary when granting a man permission to marry his daughter.
It only made the situation more awkward, especially when a dense silence followed.
“We’re not going to marry, Father,” Jessend stated plainly.
Danvell looked as if he’d heard a bad joke.
“Why not?” he muttered.
“We don’t think of each other in that way.”
Danvell held out his hands to each of them. “You’ve seemed to get along nicely.”
“We do,” Cleve answered. “But not romantically.”
“Well, that just takes time.”
“Father! We’re not pigs you can throw in a sty and expect to mate. We both care for someone else.”
We both? Cleve wondered if she was just saying that, or if there really was another man…or woman.
“Who?” Danvell seemed to be getting ready to be upset. His eyes were slits, holding harsh judgment.
“Cleve loves someone back in Kyrro.”
“And you?”
“It doesn’t matter right now. Can you just agree that we’ll put an end to my arranged betrothals? Look what you almost made me marry.”
“I made a mistake with Kasko. But your birthday isn’t too far away, and I can’t have a seventeen-year-old princess unmarried. What will people think?”
“It doesn’t matter—” Jessend began.
But Cleve interrupted. “May I answer?”
She nodded eagerly. Cleve met eyes with the King, who tilted his head in curiosity.
“I haven’t been here long,” Cleve began, keeping his voice as humble as possible, “but it seems to me that nobles will always find something to gossip about. If Jessend marries someone, they’ll find something about her husband to mock. In the rare chance they’re satisfied with the choice for Jessend, they’ll find something else, maybe with Lisanda. And everyone else who isn’t a noble will only find honor that the Princess hasn’t wed yet. Marriage at her age is uncommon here for
the middle and lower classes, isn’t it?”
The King nodded. “It is.”
“They’ll find a princess is easier to relate to the more she’s like them. They’ll appreciate their king’s wisdom for allowing his daughter to choose when she wants to wed and to whom. At least that’s how I would feel.”
“He’s right, Father.” Lisanda spoke for the first time. “The nobles will always find something to complain or gossip about. And everyone else will understand. It won’t hurt the family.”
“You both are forgetting something important,” Danvell said, his voice tired. “We’re at war. We need support where we can get it. A husband with the right family can give us the advantage we need.”
At that, Cleve noticed that Jessend’s shoulders had slumped.
“But…” The King had a hopeful tone, pausing so he could smile at his daughter. Jessend straightened her back. “You and Lisanda have been through so much. And I really have made a grievous error with Kasko. I’ll make an agreement with you both. If Cleve and his psychic Elf fight with us, I won’t force anyone upon you or Lisanda. I shouldn’t need any other advantages, and we can even call back your brother and mother from recruiting early. I don’t like them being in Chanren so long.”
Jessend’s eyes fell to her food. “I’m sorry, Father, but I can’t make that agreement. I can’t be responsible for Cleve and Rek staying. I already spoke to you about giving them a ship and letting them go. You told me you would think about it. This is the decision you came up with?” Jessend kept her head hovered over the table, only looking up at her father for a blink.
Lisanda put her hand on Jessend’s shoulder and whispered something. Jessend nodded in a serious manner. Lisanda’s brow furrowed, and she met Cleve’s eyes. Again she whispered something to Jessend.
“It’s true,” Jessend muttered.
Cleve figured Lisanda was asking if there really was no romantic interest between them. She must be confused after what she saw back in the bedroom. Even Cleve was still confused when it came to Jessend. But compared to Reela—how his whole body ached for her—he knew it would never be the same with Jessend, and that’s really all he needed to know.
“I don’t like it when you two whisper around me,” Danvell said.
“Sorry, Father,” Lisanda said, taking her hand off Jessend’s shoulder and sitting up straight. “Cleve, is it true you have no interest in marrying Jessend?”
“In another life, in another time, maybe Jessend and I could’ve been together. But I need to get back to Kyrro.”
“Even though your king is likely to throw you in prison?” Lisanda asked incredulously.
“Even with that risk, yes. My life is there. My war is there, and it’s happening right now without me.”
Danvell extended a hand at the empty seat. “There’s something you should know, Cleve. Please sit.” The monarch’s soft voice made Cleve realize he was about to hear something important.
Jessend interlaced her fingers with his under the table. “I’ve been worried about this moment,” she told him.
“What is it?” Cleve asked, feeling regretful he hadn’t had more wine. He took a gulp.
“I’m not sure how familiar you are with the history of Kyrro,” Danvell Takary said, leaning back to make himself comfortable. “But it was founded by Gen Takary exactly one hundred eighty-five years ago. He traveled from Goldram looking for land we could use for when the desmarls took over the continent of Greenedge completely. Gen Takary was the first of a line of Takarys who ruled for nearly a century before the rebellions started. But the last time we heard from Kyrro was twenty-eight years ago—that was, until Jessend came back from there.”
He looked to his daughter with a nod. She sighed and nodded back, as if giving him permission to continue.
“Rinn Takary was king, last we’d heard,” Danvell said. “We found out that he’d managed to retake control of Kyrro after a series of rebellions. But the year after that, which we didn’t know until now, Westin Kimard took over—the father to your current king. Jessend discovered this when she was sent there to recruit men and women for our upcoming war.”
Cleve noticed his stomach tightening along with his hand. Jessend slid her fingers out of his with a soft grunt of pain.
“Sorry,” he whispered.
Danvell continued. “There are many more Takarys than just our immediate family, and we’ve sent out letters to the other Takarys about this change in leadership in Kyrro.” The King exhaled deeply, showing his frustration. “The majority of our family is not pleased. People in Greenedge believe that our children’s children will have a safe future, not here, but across the Starving Ocean where they can live in Ovira without fear of the desmarls. However, that was under the belief we had control of Kyrro. Now there’s the fear our kin won’t even be welcome there. This war between Kyrro and Tenred needs to end with a Takary in charge of the winning territory. After we’re done fighting our own war, we’ll be sending an army to Ovira.”
Cleve was surprised by the lack of pride in Danvell’s voice compared to its usual tone. It was meek, like a boy admitting he’d broken a vase.
Anger stiffened Cleve’s body, and he stood abruptly. “The only reason a Takary wouldn’t be welcome in Kyrro would be if you sent an army there. I can’t understand this idea! Why must your family control the land just to live there?”
“Cleve.” The pride came back into Danvell’s tone, his voice deep and loud as he rose to his feet. “Remember who you’re talking to. Sit back down.”
Cleve gulped down his annoyance as best he could and sat. Jessend took his hand again, and he felt some anger diminish.
Danvell’s mouth moved, but no words came out. He sat back down as well, letting out another long breath.
“I actually agree with you, Cleve,” he said, his voice now calm. “I don’t believe we need to control Ovira. But I have other family members—many of them. And nearly all wish to send an army across the Starving Ocean once we’ve won this war against Waywen and Presoren. I wanted to warn you about this. If that decision remains when our war is over, I’ll need to support the rest of my family and oblige.”
“How many men?” Cleve resisted standing as he blurted out the words.
“Excuse me?”
“How many would you send?”
The King rubbed his cheek in thought. “Maybe twenty to thirty thousand. And many would have swords crafted from Bastial steel. We’d have horses as well. The few brought to Ovira over the years died out long ago, so we know they don’t have any.”
Danvell held out a palm. “Cleve, whoever controls Ovira at the time will be warned before we come. They’ll realize they don’t have a chance against us…as long as they’re smart. Taking control should be a simple process, without any death, as long as whoever is king at the time steps down.”
Cleve felt a dry swallow run down his throat as he knew it wasn’t his place to say what he was about to tell the King of Goldram. But he wasn’t about to let that stop him.
“Men and women should be sent to Kyrro now to stop the Krepps and end the war, not years from now just to take it over.”
Danvell looked as if he wanted to stand, his palms pushing against the table. With an angry look, he uttered through his teeth, “We would, Cleve. But we need our men and women here for this war. You can help with the transition when it happens. Convince whoever is leading Ovira not to resist, and it can be done peacefully.”
A warm tingle swam through him, burrowing deep in his chest and putting him at ease. “So, you’ll let me go back?”
“I hadn’t decided that until now,” Danvell said. “But I will.” He raised a finger to stop Cleve’s budding excitement. “However, I want you and the psychic Elf to do something while you’re here. Then I’ll give you a ship and a crew.”
Cleve jumped to his feet. “Anything.”
“I want you to remember what I’m doing for you is a favor…a great one.” Danvell raised an eyebrow. “I expect yo
ur continued cooperation in the future, even after this task. You’ll help with transitioning Ovira into the hands of the Takary family when we need it.”
Cleve took a breath to think. “I’ll cooperate with you, as long as I’m also cooperating with Jessend and Lisanda. If you believe something is right…if all three of you believe it, then I’ll go along. Only then will I follow your exact orders—when your daughters agree it’s the best decision.”
The sisters stood, as did Danvell, each of them sharing glances.
“My daughters don’t make decisions that have to do with our military, especially overseas, which is what we’re discussing here.”
“They don’t have to make the decision about what the Takarys’ involvement will be in Ovira,” Cleve elaborated. “They just have to agree with whatever you and the other Takarys decide. And then I’ll do whatever is asked of me, be it tomorrow or ten years from now. As a family, I trust the three of you as I would trust my own.”
“Father,” Lisanda said. “I haven’t spent nearly as much time with Cleve as Jessend has, but I can still tell he’ll keep his word.”
“Please agree, Father,” Jessend added.
It seemed as if both sisters were eager to be more involved.
The King let out a breath with a subtle nod of his head. “I don’t suppose it’s the worst idea. I’ll get Micah Vail to write up the contract if I still think it’s a good idea tomorrow morning. Now, let’s get some rest.” He took a step away from his chair.
“Your highness?” Cleve said to stop him. “What task is it you have for me and Rek?”
“Oh.” Danvell grunted out a laugh. “I’m so tired, I’d forgotten about that. Since you and Rek won’t be staying with us to fight, Rek can take this opportunity of reprieve before major battles begin to travel to Meritar for a couple of weeks. When he comes back, I want you both to escort my wife and son home. They left for Chanren months ago, and the territories surrounding us have grown dangerous since then. I fear for their safety when they return. There have already been attacks. Just yesterday an enemy army of five hundred were killed trying to travel across Zav—our new allies. We don’t even know where they were going or what they were doing.”