Chapter 19
The morning sun woke Fale with a headache. Her eyes were dry and throbbing as she looked at the empty side of the bed next to her. Keron was up early, or she had slept late. She glanced at her watch; nine o’clock. She had slept late. She changed into denims and a deep blue t-shirt that would hopefully make her look better than she felt. She couldn’t wait to start this journey. She was finally ready- there was no turning back now. Lucien was taking forever. The sooner she could leave, the sooner she could begin to heal.
Smelling much- needed coffee coming from the kitchen, Fale headed that direction. If he looks at me with pity, I swear I will punch him in the throat, or at least flip him off. Fale entered the kitchen to find her three companions around the table chattering about their journey, drinking coffee, and eating toast.
“She rises,” Lisle said.
“You look terrible,” Izzy remarked.
“Want coffee?” Keron held up a cup and smiled like nothing had happened. Had she dreamt last night?
Fale sat between Izzy and Keron, taking the cup. “Thank you,” she said, confused. He poured her cup and added two sugars and one cream but didn’t kiss her or touch her in any way. A piece of toast was soon in front of her and Fale loaded it with blackberry jam. “Is everyone packed but me?” she asked.
“No,” Izzy said. “We were just having breakfast and waiting for you, princess.”
“Quit calling me that,” Fale replied much harsher than she’d meant.
“Sorry, Fale. It was a joke,” Izzy said, looking heart-broken.
“Geez, Fale. Way to overreact,” Lisle said.
“I’m sorry. I had a hard night,” Fale explained.
“Too much information,” Izzy sang.
“It’s not like that, Iz.” Fale sighed. “I have a headache.”
And I need to go rescue my people before I kill something.
“Oh,” Izzy said blankly.
“I can rub your neck,” Lisle said. “If Keron doesn’t mind.”
Keron opened his mouth and Fale smiled sweetly, “He doesn’t care at all, Lisle.”
Keron schooled his features and said, “Go ahead, if it’ll make her feel better.”
Izzy narrowed her eyes at Keron and Fale. “Is something up?”
“Nothing at all,” Fale said. She didn’t feel like explaining the breakup to Lisle and Izzy. Her heart was breaking, and she couldn’t deal with the questions that would follow, or the pity in their eyes.
Keron frowned. “Nothing,” he agreed.
Izzy obviously didn’t buy it by the expression on her face, but she finished her toast. Then she packed her bag in the living room. Fale soon followed and was packing her clothes when Keron entered and shut the bedroom door.
“Are we pretending?” he asked.
“So, I didn’t dream it? I didn’t think so when you gave in to Lisle so easily,” she said.
“No, you didn’t dream it.”
There is the pity look. Damn.
“I didn’t feel like making a breakfast table announcement,” she said.
“We can’t keep it a secret long.” He crossed his arms and leaned back to rest his shoulder against the door.
“It’ll come out,” she assured him.
“Oh, and I do care if Lisle touches you,” he said, his jaw clenching.
“Well, you don’t get to care anymore,” she said. “Sorry.”
He crossed the room and grabbed the back of her head, pulling her into his kiss. Keron kissed her as if she were his last breath, desperately wanting more. He broke away. “I had to do it one last time,” he said. She slapped him across the face. Hard.
“If you EVER do that again, it’d better be because you’re staying forever." She turned away from his stunned face and began packing again.
~*~
Lisle and Izzy had already packed. They were sitting on the couch playing cards when Keron left the bedroom. He walked blindly into the kitchen to bag up their fresh food to take to the mages. He could hear Fale in the living room. Had she really slapped him? Where had that strength come from? From the living room, he heard her moan in pleasure and memories of her in his arms floated through his mind. What was going on in there? Keron peeked his head out of the kitchen to see Fale sitting on the floor between Lisle’s knees with her head back, eyes closed and mouth open. Lisle’s hands were on his girl, rubbing her head and neck. Keron saw red. No, not his girl anymore. She was her own now- and a woman. Had he made a mistake? He went back to bagging up food. There was nothing he could do about it now. He had a job to do. Get the princess to the machine- after that he would see where they stood. But he couldn’t make her hold onto her hope. What if someone better came along for her? He wouldn’t stand in the way. Keron would be damned if it would be Lisle right in front of him, though. It was too much. Still, if it was Fale’s choice… this was going to hurt like hell.
~*~
Lucien and Ash appeared at ten ‘til noon, in the living room. Ash grinned when Izzy shrieked.
“Whoa,” Lisle said slowly.
Fale smiled wanly. “That was so cool. You just appeared out of nowhere.”
Lucien asked, “Where’s Keron?”
“In here,” Keron came from the kitchen carrying bags of food and offered them to Lucien. “For you. We can’t eat it. Maybe it will help make up for some of our supplies.”
“How thoughtful of you,” Lucien bowed his head.
“Are you all ready to go?” Ash asked.
“We are.” Fale anxiously switched from one foot to another. The others watched her with their excitement mounting. The sense of urgency permeated the room.
“If everyone would hold the items they intend to take with them, we will be on our way,” Lucien directed.
Fale and Keron both reached for her bags, but she took them. Even though they were heavy, she stood on her own. She had promised to herself to be independent and now Keron was giving her the ultimate test of that vow.
Fale had two large duffel bags and a backpack, plus her shoulder bag. Keron had two large duffels and his guitar case, Izzy had a large and a small duffel, and Lisle had a soft suitcase and a full backpack.
Lucien spoke into a communication device. “Tell Madam Alesina we are ready, please.”
“Is she your sage?” Fale asked.
“Yes,” Lucien smiled. “Alesina Sevedge.”
“Will we get to meet her?” Fale asked.
Fale’s entire body tingled like the circulation had been cut off. Fractals of various colors appeared around her in interlocking octagons. Sounds of windchimes rushed past her ears, increasing in volume until she thought she could bear no more. Instantly they were transferred to a dark cavernous room, all carved out of black rock, but smoothed to a brilliant shine. They stood in front of what looked to be a black marble throne; the room dimly lit with hundreds of white orbs in various sizes, resembling stars in the night sky. On the throne perched a small woman crowned with silver hair, laced in streaks of fiery auburn. She slid from the polished stone seat and stood a great four feet tall. As she looked at all four in the party, Alesina crooked a finger at Fale and said, “Come child.”
The woman wore a turquoise blue dress down to her bare, tanned feet. She grasped Fale’s hand in her deceptively silky soft vice grip. She touched her other hand to Fale’s forehead.
“Ah, the queen has returned." At the announcement, people Fale hadn’t noticed along the periphery of the room began to applaud.
For me.
“Yes, for you,” cackled the older woman.
Fale stepped back to break her connection with the woman. “Who are you?” she asked.
The woman bowed. “Alesina Sevedge, Your Highness.”
“You don’t have to call me that,” Fale said.
The people murmured amongst themselves. “Are you not Queen Effailya Aeromin Oakenhearst?”
“Technically I was, I guess. But right now, I’m just Fale Argohdian.”
“So, you
do not choose to be queen?” Madam Alesina asked.
“I choose to do the duty of the queen, but remain Fale,” she said. She didn’t want to have to become Effailya to be the queen.
“Can this be done?” Madam Alesina asked again.
“Can’t you tell me?” Fale sighed. “I don’t have the answers. I’m willing to fight this battle. I just want to do it on my terms.”
“Ask your Wardsman if a person can have two identities at a time,” Madam Alesina said.
Fale thought the statement cruel and was done talking to the old woman. Keron had already told her he couldn’t be a boyfriend and a Wardsman at the same time.
So, the answer is no?
“The answers are one and the same," Madam Alesina said not to her, but to Keron.
Fale didn’t want to think about her broken relationship right now. So, she asked Lucien, “Are we inside the mountain?”
“One of them, yes. Let me show you around our estate.”
“I will see you again, child,” Madam Alesina reminded Fale, much to her chagrin. Fale didn’t get a warm feeling from Alesina, and the woman spoke in riddles. She didn’t know if she liked this sage. Alesina made her feel like a foolish child, and Fale wanted to scream at her. She had a feeling this woman could be trouble for them. She heard the sage laugh as they left.
The view from the guest cabin was breathtaking. Blue mountains capped with snow surrounded them and tall wildflowers grew in spurts among fields of trees as tall as any building Fale had seen in Alloy City. There was so much color. Fale wanted to hold Keron’s hand and walk through it all, share the beauty with him, instead she stood at the window longingly.
“Why don’t you take a walk?” Lisle asked coming up next to her.
“I don’t feel like being out there alone,” Fale answered.
“I’ll go get Keron.”
“No,” she said quickly. “Please don’t.”
“Why not?” Lisle questioned.
“We broke up, Lisle,” she whispered.
“Oh.”
To his credit, Lisle didn’t try to say everything would be all right or it would all work out. He simply put his arm around her and said, “Let’s go, then,” and led Fale outside.
Lisle was quiet and let Fale talk. She explained how Keron had broken her heart three years ago and what it meant for her to trust him again, only to have him choose to be her guard over being her lover. Lisle held Fale’s hand and picked passing flowers, making a bunch to cheer her up.
“Don’t worry, Fale. You have Izzy and me here. We’ll be your companions and he can be your guard. And if another lover comes along, then we’ll make him jealous.”
“We’re probably making him jealous as it is, Lisle. He’s not particularly good at sharing,” she rolled her eyes.
“He can’t share what he gave up. And I’m not about to let you waste this journey of a lifetime. I mean, look at this beautiful place. Have you ever been to the mountains?”
“No,” Fale looked around her at the lush grass, bending trees and soft, bright colors surrounding her.
“Have you ever ridden a horse? Been to the coast? Seen the ocean? Been in a boat?” he asked.
“No,” she laughed.
“Me neither.” He smiled. “And I am not going to let Keron ruin it for either of us." Lisle grabbed Fale’s hand and raised it, spinning her around. She laughed out loud.
“Thank you, Lisle. I needed that.”
“What, this?” He spun her again and again.
“Stop. I’m getting dizzy,” she cried. “I meant I needed your friendship and support. And the pep talk. So much has happened, I feel like my heart has a scab that keeps getting picked off before the gash can heal. I’m wounded, but I’m so glad you’re here.” Lisle handed her the bouquet of flowers he picked, and they strolled back to their cabin hand in hand, taking the long way around to tour the estate on their own.
Lucien met them on a side path and informed them supplies would be ready soon.
“Should we leave today?” Fale asked
“You should discuss it with your Wardsman,” Lucien advised.
Fale’s temper flared. “What did you say to him last night, Lucien?”
“Did he not tell you? I suggested he do so.” Lucien looked concerned.
“He said he couldn’t be my boyfriend anymore because he was my guard and you were trusting him to do a job,” Fale explained.
“Oh dear,” Lucien exhaled. “Perhaps I should…”
“You won’t change his mind,” Fale said. “He is too stubborn. Leave it be before you make it any worse.”
“I see. I would suggest, young Fale, you leave in the early morning to get the most out of your traveling day. It will take two days to get down the mountain and another five days to reach the coast,” Lucien said. “I have given Keron all the information he should need to make it, since this is your first experience in the wild. He is a wildly successful student.”
“A whole week?” Lisle asked.
“It won’t be an easy journey,” Lucien warned.
“Why can’t we just teleport?” Fale asked.
“First, we don’t know exactly where to teleport you, that’s why you are seeking the machine. Second, the only one with the ability to teleport you is the sage. She believes this journey is one the queen must make, and she refuses to use her teleportal gifts,” Lucien replied.
“Oh, great. I knew I didn’t like that woman,” Fale groaned.
Lucien gave Fale a fatherly look, “We trust her. You should, too.”
“How dangerous can it be?” Lisle said. “It’s like camping out. I’ve heard some people do it for fun.”
Lucien chuckled, “We will prepare you for the environment and provide any supplies you will need, like survival gear. It can be harder than you realize to go camping in the mountains and the jungle. The air is thick and hot at the base of the mountain.”
“We’ll be careful,” Fale promised.
“We’ll all be together,” Lisle said, smiling at Fale. She smiled back.
Lucien cleared his throat. “Don’t be too hard on your Wardsman, he has a good heart.”
“I know,” Fale said. “It’s just not mine to worry about anymore.”
Lucien nodded once. “I will come to your cabin when everything is ready, and let you know.”
“That’s not necessary,” Fale said. “We can tell Keron and Izzy about leaving in the morning, and we’ll talk to you at supper.”
“Well done, thank you. We will be expecting you for a banquet, then. Your mounts will be ready in the morning at dawn in the square outside the main hall,” Lucien told them.
“Isn’t it where we’re eating tonight?” Lisle pointed down the path toward the open yard surrounded by community buildings.
“Yes, very observant,” Lucien smiled genuinely at Lisle.
“We’ll be there,” Fale said.
Keron and Izzy had already showered and changed for supper by the time Lisle and Fale returned, laughing and pink cheeked. “Where have you been?” Keron demanded.
“We took a walk in the field.” Fale held up her fistful of wilted wildflowers. “Then we toured the campus and talked to Lucien.”
“Again?” Izzy asked. “Keron was worried.”
“Well, I’m sorry you were worried, but I was perfectly safe with Lisle,” Fale said to Keron.
“Next time tell me where you’re going when you leave,” he said.
“You’re my guard, not my father. I’ll tell you if I need you to go with me. Now I am going to take a shower. Alone,” she said as saucily as she could.
“What is with her?” Izzy asked as Fale left the room.
“Nothing,” Fale called.
“Nothing.” Keron sighed.
Lisle finally understood the conversation from breakfast that morning. “I’m going to get my clothes and shower, too." He went into the other bathroom and quickly showered, putting on dark blue denims and a crisp white buttoned shirt, open
over a t-shirt. He wore his brown hemp necklace and black leather shoes.
Fale appeared twenty minutes later in her royal blue kimono, her hair brushed to a sheen and straight as a pin. It was parted down the middle and her complexion was ruddy from the afternoon sun. Keron was staring and looked away.
“Dang, I did a good job making her beautiful. What do you think, Keron?” Izzy asked.
“She looks nice,” Keron said.
“Nice?” Izzy asked.
“I think she looks gorgeous,” Lisle said and offered Fale his arm. She took it.
“Oh, Lucien says we should leave at dawn. Our horses will be in the square,” Fale announced to Izzy and Keron.
“Thank you,” Keron said.
“No problem,” Fale answered. Lisle led her out the door and Keron’s jaw flexed. He offered his arm to a very confused and suspicious Izzy who took it and they followed. Fale avoided Izzy’s gaze.
She couldn’t tell Izzy about the split just yet. Fale was humiliated by Keron’s actions once again, and she didn’t want to hear Izzy say, ‘I told you so.’ Or worse, the pity on Izzy’s face would make Fale unable to take this trip. Her pride kept her mouth shut. She would tell Izzy soon, if Iz didn’t guess it on her own.
Chapter 20
The mages had planned a special supper for the queen and her small court as they passed through. They had roasted duck. The mages raised their own livestock and produce. It was the first time Fale had ever had fresh meat. It was delectable, with roasted potatoes and peas and a carrot salad. The rich meat practically melted in her mouth, saturated with flavor, and served with sauce. The food was so good, Fale wondered what the kitchen was packing for their journey. It almost made her want to stay, but she had responsibilities now.
Fale looked around at all the people, her people. They were all banking on her. It was paralyzing. What if she was unsuccessful? She looked at her friends and wiped sweaty palms against her hips. At least she wasn’t on her own. Fale still didn’t know if she was cut out to be a queen, but it was that or ignore the plight of the slaves. She couldn’t leave them there. Besides, it was her key that would be the one to set the people free. She had to go.
The Key of F: a young adult fantasy romance (Freedom Fight Trilogy Book 1) Page 29