by Suzanna Lynn
The words brought both joy and fear to Luana. Since she had been brought into the castle, her dream was always to get out of the room and have her freedom. However, since the threat of war was upon them, she feared for her life, and that of her son. “Are you certain it is safe?”
“Is there anywhere safer than by my side?” he asked.
“What of the baby?” she asked. “Many still feel he should have been taken away from me when he was born. What if someone—”
“We will take him with us. He needs to get to know his home as well.” He smiled.
“Baylin, he doesn’t recognize his own hands,” she laughed. “I think expecting him to familiarize himself with a castle is asking a bit much. Even for a future King.”
He laughed and picked her up in his arms, embracing her tightly. “He will learn with time. Now get dressed so you can see your home in all its glory.”
*****
Baylin walked Luana through parts of the castle she had never even dreamed existed.
He showed her the indoor hot spring that supplied warm, steaming water, even in the cold of winter.
Then he took her through winding hallways that cut deep within the mountain. Baylin explained that they were built because the Kingdom had once been far vaster and required the extra room for all the additional servants and nobles who lived there before the Battle of Embers.
Though seeing the castle was a dream come true, the long walk made Luana tired. “The baby will need to be fed soon. Perhaps we should return to our chamber.”
“As you wish,” Baylin said, placing his hand on the small of her back and leading her down a hallway.
She looked down the hall and found herself confused. “Honestly, I don’t know how you can find your way around. I don’t think a lifetime in this castle would be enough to learn all the twists and turns.”
“Don’t worry,” he laughed. “It gets easier with time.”
As they walked down the hallway, Luana noticed a small staircase leading up to an ornately carved door. “Where does that go?”
“Let’s find out,” Baylin said with a playful smile.
Luana handed the baby to him and climbed the six stone steps up to the dark wooden door. She pushed her weight against it, giving a loud huff. The door groaned as it slowly opened, revealing murky darkness.
She stepped into the dusty room timidly. Luana could see the glow of light peering from behind a set of heavy curtains across the room. Windows? We must be on an outside wall of the mountain. She crossed the room and yanked the thick dark curtains open, allowing the sun’s warm light to spill into the room. The dust floated through the air like tiny pixies dancing on a breeze. She turned around and saw that the room was filled with books, paintings and sculptures.
“What is this place?” she asked, studying the art as she spun in place, getting a good look at everything.
“This room holds all the history of Grasmere,” Baylin replied. “Actually, most of the history of all the Keld Kingdoms.”
The room was octagon shaped with high ceilings. Three of the eight walls were covered in shelves stacked high with books, scrolls and parchments. A tall ladder leaned up against one wall. It would allow someone who dared to trust its rickety rungs to reach the top shelves where large piles of rolled parchment threatened to tumble.
She walked over to the nearest shelf and grabbed a well-worn book. Its binding had snapped sometime in the past. She studied some of the pages, holding them together so they wouldn’t fall out. “This is from the first age! Before the castle was built. This is truly amazing!”
“Yes, this is one of Father’s favorite spots in the whole Kingdom,” Baylin said, looking around the room. “The entire history of my people is housed within these walls.”
“Have you ever studied any of these books?” Luana asked, placing the book back on the shelf and walking over to him.
“Oh yes,” Baylin said with a dry laugh. “Father used to bring me here when I was a child. My lessons consisted of learning the history, the land, traditions. While most children were out running and playing, I was being tested on the history of the Keld.”
“Now, if I’m not mistaken, you did quite a bit of running and playing when we were kids.” Luana smiled, running her fingers along his arm. “Or have you forgotten?”
He smiled down at her. “Oh, I assure you that those days were the highlight of my youth.” Baylin leaned in and kissed her tenderly. The baby in his arms wiggled as his mother’s hair fell across his face.
Luana laughed. “We should probably get him back to his bed.”
She made her way over to the window to close the curtains when she noticed a picture of a beautiful woman with long brown hair. “Who is that?”
“Her name was Devina.” Baylin walked closer to the painting. “She was the very first bed wife.”
She stood, staring at the painting. The woman’s rich brown eyes, though beautiful, reflected the sadness Luana had been feeling for more than a year. “Devina. So she was the bed wife for King Aron?”
Baylin nodded.
“Did she give him sons like he wanted?”
“Yes, she was successful in giving him two sons,” he said. “And a daughter.”
“So many?” Luana’s eyebrows rose. “So the Queen did not cast her out?”
Baylin shook his head. “No, she lived and died in the castle.”
“In her chamber, you mean,” Luana said, a little too sharply. “I’m sorry. I know you do not agree with the practice. It’s just…”
“It’s just that you feel like a prisoner,” he said sadly.
“I’m sorry,” she said. “I know you’re trying. And being able to walk around the castle is wonderful. It’s just going to take time, I guess.”
Luana looked back up at the painting. She felt connected with this woman, as though, in some strange way, they were related. Not by blood or birth, but by the burden they both had to bear. She let out a heavy sigh.
“I believe I will have a painting made of you as well,” Baylin said, smiling.
“Of me?” Luana asked. “Whatever for?”
“Because everyone will want to know the beauty of the last bed wife,” he said. “They will want to know of the bed wife who became Queen.”
Chapter Six
It was just after sunup when Baylin received word that Lord Cadman arrived at the mouth of Fagin Forest. He was alone, as promised, on horseback, and was being escorted by a heavy guard of Grasmere men to the castle to meet with the King.
When Cadman and the guards arrived at the castle gates, Baylin, Ferric and a dozen more Grasmere men were waiting for him.
“Prince Baylin, as I live and breathe,” said Cadman, bowing low and fanning out his riding cape at his sides. “I’m so relieved to see that you and your men made it out of Mirstone unharmed.”
“You son of a troll’s lo—” Ferric made a quick move for Cadman, but Baylin was prepared.
The Prince threw a hand up against his friend’s chest. “No. He was promised no harm would come to him.” He looked at his uncle. “Not today, at least.”
Cadman smirked at Baylin. “Now, now, nephew. Be careful, that almost sounded like a threat.”
“Merely a promise,” Baylin retorted. “Now, as I stated in my letter, I will take you to see the King in his war room. You will be surrounded by guards at all times but will otherwise remain unharmed as long as your intentions are sincere. Should you make any attempt to cause harm to anyone within this Kingdom, you will be immediately struck down and your head set upon a pike.”
The color drained from Cadman’s face. The fine lines around his eyes reflected the worry he was feeling.
“Good, it would appear we understand one another,” the Prince said, turning and motioning for his uncle to start walking. “I believe you know the way.”
*****
They arrived at the war room to find King Ashmur already seated in his high seat. Baylin knew his father was still very ill. Earlie
r that morning Baylin had tried to convince his father to meet in his bed chamber. However, Ashmur was proud and refused to let Cadman see him weak and confined to his bed. He had insisted they would meet in the war room.
The guards escorted Lord Cadman to a single seat placed a safe distance from the King. Baylin climbed the five steps up to his own seat next to his father, while the guards lined up across from each other, creating a protective line between Cadman and the King.
“Really, brother,” Cadman spouted. “Is all this necessary?”
“It would appear it is,” rasped Ashmur. “Do you care to explain yourself?”
“Explain?” Cadman questioned. “I thought you brought me here to explain your actions. I went to Mirstone as you requested and made arrangements for Baylin and Isla to marry. Again, just as you requested.”
“Stop being a fool,” Baylin barked. “He knows of your treachery.”
“My question is,” Cadman continued as though the Prince had not spoken, “why are you allowing him to back out of his understanding with Isla? I have been working tirelessly to appease King Gideon.”
“Tirelessly, indeed,” the King murmured.
“You’re not listening to this troll dung are you?” Baylin snapped.
“Nephew, you shouldn’t speak to your King in such a way,” Cadman mocked.
The Prince jumped to his feet and drew his sword. “I’ve had it with your games. Let’s end this!”
“Enough!” commanded the King. “Baylin, you will sheath your sword and sit down or I will have you removed. We promised he would remain unharmed.”
His father’s words made him feel like a child being scolded for disobeying. He clenched his teeth, biting back the anger, but did as his King commanded.
“Good boy,” Cadman whispered with a wink, causing Baylin’s blood to boil.
“Now, Cadman,” Ashmur said, “please explain your actions in Mirstone. And please, no more lies.”
“Explain myself?” Cadman sneered. “It is not I who needs to explain anything. You are too soft. You always have been. You were handed the crown because you were the firstborn. No one ever considered if you had what it took to be the High King of the Keld.”
Baylin ground his teeth together; his jaw aching from the tension. He dares to speak to my father in such a way?
“Where is this coming from?” Ashmur asked, brow furrowed. “I raised you as a son. I put your welfare above my own!”
“You put everyone’s welfare before mine!” Cadman screamed, standing and taking a few heated steps.
Baylin stood, putting himself in front of his father.
The guards drew their swords and converged on Lord Cadman. He struggled against several of them as they grabbed his arms and pulled them behind his back.
“Stop!” called the King. “Do not harm him!”
“But Your Grace—” started one of the guards.
“He is my brother. He will be treated as such,” Ashmur commanded.
The guards slowly released Lord Cadman and got back into formation between him and the King. Baylin reluctantly took his seat.
“You see, you’re soft,” Cadman hissed. “You can’t even defend yourself. How are we to expect you to defend the entire realm?”
“What is it that Mirstone wants? What do they expect to gain from their treachery to the crown?” Baylin asked. “Your element of surprise was lost when I escaped Mirstone.”
“Baylin is right,” said the King. “Whatever your plan was, you have lost the advantage. Grasmere’s forces outnumber that of Mirstone’s.”
Cadman took a few steps back and sat in a chair, crossing his legs. “Yes, I suppose they would be at a bit of a disadvantage… if they were alone.”
Baylin looked at his father then back to his uncle. “Do you mean to imply that Mirstone has reinforcements?”
“Perhaps,” Cadman said slyly, examining the silver ring he wore.
“We didn’t ask you here for cryptic messages,” Baylin shouted, standing to his feet. “Who have you aligned with?”
“Why would I show you our biggest asset?” Cadman said smugly. “Just be sure that they will wash over you like the waves upon their white shores, but certainly not as calmly.”
“White?” Baylin questioned.
“What?” Cadman’s face screwed up in confusion.
“You said white shores. As in, white sands?” Baylin continued.
The color drained from Cadman’s face while he tried to fake an air of indifference. “White, yellow, red… It doesn’t matter.”
“But it does,” Baylin shouted, crossing the distance between them and grabbing Cadman by the collar of his tunic. “Kardell is the only Kingdom in Wintervale to possess white sands upon their shores.”
“Kardell?” piped in King Ashmur. “Mirstone has aligned with Kardell to betray us?”
Lord Cadman glared eye to eye at Baylin. “This doesn’t matter. You will still loose!”
Baylin pushed his uncle back down in the chair, letting go of his collar, and walked back toward his father.
“What is it that you want?” Ashmur rasped. “What will it take to avoid such needless bloodshed on all sides?”
“Your death,” Cadman hissed. “Your death, the death of your son and his bastard heir!”
“Seize him!” called out Baylin.
Cadman threw up his arms. “If I do not return, unscathed, Mirstone and Kardell attack. They will spare not one man, woman or child.”
The Prince looked to the King. Ashmur feebly made it to his feet. “In that case, please escort Lord Cadman through Fagin Forest to ensure his safety.”
Cadman sneered at two guards who walked toward him.
“And,” Ashmur continued, “should Lord Cadman make any action that your men feel endangers their lives or the lives of anyone in the Kingdom—”
“What?” Cadman shouted. “You’ll have them bring me back and lock me up? Throw away the key?”
“No, my dear brother,” Ashmur said. “What I was going to say was, if you should so much as cause one of my people to stub their toe, I will have my men string you up along the shores of Rivermouth to show Kardell what awaits them.”
Chapter Seven
Luana had never seen Baylin more on edge. After Lord Cadman’s visit to Grasmere, the Prince wore a constant frown. With the threat of Mirstone and Kardell attacking at any given moment, the entire Kingdom was preparing for the worst.
The evening after Cadman’s departure, Luana sat in silence as Baylin picked at the food on his dinner plate. She could see the burden of the Kingdom weighing heavily on him.
“You’ve hardly eaten in a week,” she murmured.
He looked up, blinking, as though he had only just realized she was at the table. “I’m sorry, my dear. I know I’ve not been very good company as of late.”
“I understand,” Luana said. “You worry for your people.”
Baylin’s gaze fell and he smiled, but it did not reach his eyes. “I worry for you.”
“For me?”
“Yes, Cadman sees you as a way to hurt me,” Baylin said, his face flushing with anger. “He knows that I will worry about your well-being, so he will try to come for you as soon as possible.”
Let him try. Luana hated the man just as much, if not more, than Baylin did. After Cadman attempted to force himself on her and take away her dignity and virtue in one motion, she was unable to hear his name without the taste of bile rising in her throat. A shiver fell over her at the thought of the man. She didn’t believe in killing, yet she would not mourn his passing.
Baylin’s eyes were heavy on her, as though he could read her thoughts. She did not want to give him reason to worry. “Don’t burden yourself with such things. I’m sure I have nothing to be uneasy about.”
“Still,” Baylin continued. “It would give me peace to know you were more prepared.”
“I’ve taken down wolves before,” Luana said, referring to her times as a goat herder.
&nbs
p; “Yes, but a snake can be much more dangerous.” Baylin sneered at the thought of his uncle. “Allow me to train you. We can start tonight.”
“Tonight? Train me to what?” Luana asked.
“Train you to kill,” Baylin said.
*****
Baylin took Luana to a small field outside the castle gates, near the forest edge. The sun had begun to set, and the moon was already beginning to rise in the sky.
“This is much different than the games we played with wooden swords, Luana,” Baylin said, handing her a heavy metal sword. “I want you to learn how to use one and be prepared to take a life, should you need to.”
Luana held the hardened steel in her hands. The sword felt awkward—foreign to her. Even on her goat farm, she never used large weapons to defend her herd. She only ever carried a small knife and relied mainly on her cunning and the element of surprise to scare off the beasts that hunted her flock. She avoided bringing death to any living creature, even one as loathsome as Lord Cadman. Yet now she was being told her only option to defend herself and her child was to kill.
Baylin faced Luana, placing his hands on her shoulders. “I know you are apprehensive, but it is vital you learn how to defend yourself. Women of the Keld are raised carrying a sword, even if they never use it, they know how. She may appear prim and proper, but you can rest assured that Isla was taught by the sword.”
A cool breeze blew through the air, lifting Luana’s silvery blonde hair around her face. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath in through her nose, releasing it slowly through her mouth. She opened her eyes and looked down at the sword in her hands. It has a beauty to it. Its long, silver blade gleamed in the moonlight. Just like Princess Isla, this sword is beautiful on the outside, yet its purpose is one of destruction. I will not allow her to harm my child.