Shrouded Kingdom
Lost Queen of Althea Book 1
By Rachel Medhurst
Copyright 2018 © Rachel Medhurst
Please note that the author is English so spelling is in British English.
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CONTENTS
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
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Chapter One
The hiss of an arrow missing my head made my stomach plummet to my feet. The thud of the sharp tip ploughing into the ground next to the tree nearby forced my body into action. I didn’t even pause to look behind me.
“Wait!” someone shouted.
As if I would wait for the same person to shoot me with an arrow.
My threadbare leather shoes attacked the dry earth like acorns when they thudded against the ground. A slight breeze caught my hair, making it fly behind me. The skirt of my ice blue dress almost got caught under my feet, so I grabbed it up into my hands and ran as fast as I could.
“Go away,” I whispered between laboured breaths.
The whistle of another arrow brought on a yelp as my heart leapt into my throat. It landed behind me, the echo of it piercing the earth far too close for comfort.
Trees were silently strong around me as I kept my focus on the village. It was only a short distance. I would be safe there.
Silence suddenly surrounded me, the whisper of wind gone, the patter of my feet slowed down, as if I was moving in slow motion. What was happening?
A split second later, I was running at full pelt through the gap in the trees. The woods disappeared behind me as I thrust into the village square, my panting harsh in my ears as Dorian, the butcher’s son, stared at me from where he rested his meat cart.
“Are you well, Layanna?” he called as I came to a stop.
His light brown eyes watched me as I straightened my skirts and cleared my throat. A quick glance over my shoulder confirmed that no one had followed me from the woods. I still couldn’t shake the feeling of foreboding that rushed over me. A shadow moved past the gap in the trees, so I strode further into the square.
“All is well.” I plastered a fake smile onto my face. “Have you seen my father?”
Pointing towards the inn, the butcher’s son spun on his heel and went back to work. I couldn’t help but check behind me again as I made my way over to the inn.
The village of Ramedia was one of the smallest in the kingdom of Mediya. The people never threatened one another, especially not in the woods. It was a sacred place where the villagers gathered the fruits that nature had grown for us. It had been a tradition throughout history. Men and women either picked the nuts and fruit, or went hunting for deer, boar and rabbits. A simple, yet enjoyable, life.
Trying to even my shaky breath, I ran a hand through my loose hair, frowning when a thick strand of dark brown caught my fingers. It was knotted again. Father wouldn’t be best pleased considering he’d been trying to marry me off for two years.
Ignoring the knots in both my hair, and my stomach, I pushed through the heavy oak door of the inn. There were ten stone buildings in the village. Naturally, there were more villagers, but they lived in wooden huts just outside the main square. The stone buildings were mainly establishments. An inn, a grocer, a clothes maker, a bookshop and an apothecary. A town hall stood prominent, the big red doors only open when a village meeting took place. The other houses belonged to the elders of the village. We were advanced with our structures. Many places across the land only used wood for their buildings.
The stench of unwashed men and ale crept up my nose as I edged inside the inn. I hated coming into the dark dingy stink-hole, but my father, the advisor of the village, often hid inside its walls.
“Well, hello, Layanna,” the barkeep called as I tried to stay hidden in the shadows. “How are you today?”
Although I didn’t like coming into the place, it wasn’t because it was hostile. In fact, the men that frequented the inn were simple folk who enjoyed an ale. The innkeeper was actually one of our family’s firm friends.
“I’m well. Thank you.” Admitting defeat, I strode over to the bar as I looked around at the faces of the men who nursed their jugs of ale. “Is my father here?”
One man caught my eye, but I quickly looked away. His striking features made me swallow as I plastered my gaze on the barkeep. He shook his head, his eyebrows raised in the direction of the newcomer. I’d never seen the man before, and apparently, neither had he. I wasn’t one to gossip, but when someone we didn’t recognise showed up in the village, it was hard to ignore.
“I’m afraid you just missed him. He left ten minutes ago. Said he had a meeting.”
Inclining my head, I turned to leave. The brush of a hand against mine made me pause. Almost spinning, I stared up at the newcomer as he towered over me. How had he moved so quickly? Just a second ago, he’d been sitting halfway across the room, and now he was standing directly beside me.
“I beg your pardon, miss, but I wondered if you could help me? I’ll only take a moment of your time.”
Indicating his table, he glanced at the barkeep and ordered more ale with a click of his fingers. Glancing at the thickset barkeep, I licked my lips. He watched us, his gaze darting from me to the man.
“What do you want with her? She’s not a lady of the night.” His shoulders squared as he narrowed his eyes on the man.
My inquisitor was tall, his lithe figure dressed in a fine navy blue tunic. The gold seams reflected in the candlelight, but I couldn’t tell if they were real. Gold was not a material that would be found in this village. In fact, the whole kingdom was short of riches. It had never been a place of wealth due to its people only desiring a simple life. We didn’t know the lands beyond our borders, preferring to live in ignorance of the whispered tales of bustling cities filled with gold, silver and jewels.
“I’m simply a researcher, working for the King. He’s asked me to interview several people in various villages.” His comely light green eyes flicked between the barkeep and myself.
His slightly longer dirty blonde hair brushed the collar of his tunic, the thick strands curling at the ends. I’d never seen a man with such a strong jaw and sharp cheekbones. His expensive cut clothes, precise speaking voice, and clean face, screamed nobility.
The King lived in a castle five days ride away. He ruled the kingdom with a kind heart, not bothering to tax the commoners, instead, preferring to send his traders out to barter for him. Many people respected the King’s fairness, which led to a tranquil kingdom.
“That sounds innocent enough,” the barkeep said. “What do you think, Layanna?”
Heat flooded over my skin as they looked at me, the handsome newcomer catching me staring. Stammering an affirmative, I nodded quickly, my cheeks flaring with warmth, which meant my blush could be seen by the others. Now, that was extremely embarrassing.
“Shall we?”
Taking a deep breath, I went over to the man’s table and sat down on the hard wooden bench. The coolness of the wood on my behind made me glance longingly at the fireplace. The dark beams overhead lit up as the flames of the fire danced.
“What’s your name?” I asked c
autiously as the tall handsome stranger lowered himself opposite me.
Pouring ale from a jug, he indicated that I drink. Taking a tiny sip, I watched him over the lip of the tankard, my gaze unable to break from his as he studied me. The rake of his eyes over my face made me shudder.
“Please, don’t feel afraid, I’m…” Cupping his hands around his tankard, he shrugged. “A mere mortal man.”
Something about his words shouted liar. Why was he giving me the creeps at the same time as intriguing me beyond anything I’d ever been curious about before?
“My name is Jor-hain.” The slight pause as he pronounced his name sent chills to the back of my neck.
“I’m Layanna,” I said quietly, checking over my shoulder. The barkeep was still keeping an eye on us. That was reassuring.
Nodding, Jorhain, as he’d called himself, ran his tongue across his teeth. “Layanna. Such a pretty name.”
My throat gulped as I swallowed. His stare pierced my gaze, forcing me to look him straight in the eye. His handsome features weren’t enough to make me turn soft. However, the way he looked at me, as if I was the most beautiful woman in the kingdom, might have turned my heart a little mushy. No one had ever made me stir like that before.
“What questions do you have?” My directness jolted him from his staring.
“Sorry,” he muttered. “Your dark eyes are almost black. They kept me captivated for a moment.”
My father had always encouraged me not to be ashamed of my complexion. It was uncommon for young girls to have dark eyes, dark hair and pale skin in this part of Madiya. In fact, no one in our village looked the same as me. Most of them were light haired, either brown or blonde, with light eyes in all shades. When I was a girl, the other children would comment on my colouring, but the village elders were quick to squash those taunts. It still ran deep, the shame of being different. Not that I had let it show in my twenty years.
Coughing, Jorhain took a scroll from the dark brown leather satchel that lay on the ground at his feet. I watched him flick out a quill, the feather a brilliant white. How had he managed to keep it so pristine on his travels?
“What would you say was the best feature about your village?”
The quill hovered over the parchment. The ends of the scroll curled up, longing to reroll. A man who could write was a treat to behold. Hardly anyone in the village could form their letters, except for my family. My father had noticed that I had a natural flare when teaching me. As the advisor of the village, my father was the only man educated amongst the people. He had been sent away to a superior town when he was a young man. He learnt much while away, although he rarely spoke about his experiences.
“Our commitment to inclusion. No one is ever left out. If someone is struggling with their trade, we help them. If someone is poorer than their neighbour, we give them coin or food. No one is left behind.”
Lowering his eyebrows at the same time as he wrote, Jorhain watched the quill as his hand moved it.
“Where did your ink come from?”
He hadn’t dipped the nib of the quill in an ink pot, and yet, black letters formed on the clean cream paper. How?
“I’m a researcher of the King. We have many things not available to the common folk.” He waved his hand in dismissal, which made me sit back slightly.
Oh, I understood what he meant. We were too lowly to know of these things. No. I wouldn’t allow the gentleman’s off-handedness to turn me bitter. That’s not what the elders taught. We appreciated others, never judging them for their choices.
“I can read,” I said as my gaze traced his words.
His gaze shot up to mine, his eyes widening when I raised my eyebrows and crossed my arms over my waist. The ends of my long sleeves draped on my lap, the light gold embroidery lining the edges of the seams.
“You are of noble birth?” He dragged his paper closer to him and covered what he was writing with his free arm.
Shaking my head, I almost scoffed. “There are no noble people here. We’re all equal.”
“You are?” His head was bent towards the table, but his eyes looked up at me from under his thick dark lashes.
Air caught in my throat as our gaze met. The lids of his eyes grew hooded as we stared, unable to look away. Tingles in my stomach grew as he stuck his tongue out and flicked it across his lips.
“Yes,” I blurted, wrenching my gaze away from his. “We’re all equal.”
“But, you live in…” His sentence trailed off.
Wait, did he know where I lived? That was too much. Maybe whoever had tried to shoot me in the woods was connected to this man. What did they want from me?
“I have to go now.” Jumping up from the bench, I knocked the table with my knees and gasped in surprise when Jorhain rose with me, steadying me with a firm grip on my elbow.
“Careful there.” He pulled me closer to him, his gaze slowly going to my lips. “We wouldn’t want you to have an accident.”
Taking hold of his wrist, I squeezed as I bared my teeth. “You will release me at once. I don’t care if you work for the king, you will not-”
“Layanna?” the barkeep interrupted as he strode from behind his resting place.
Jorhain let go of me, pulled away, and smiled broadly. “Thank you so much for your help.”
My friend heard his words as I scrambled out from behind the bench and retreated to a safe distance. I didn’t want to draw attention to our exchange. It was bad enough that the few men in the inn had observed our encounter. How stupid it was of me to allow him to question me.
“Will you be wanting a room for the night?” the barkeep inquired.
Jorhain glanced past the man, straight at me. His bright green eyes blinked slowly before he shook his head. “No, thank you. I must be off to the next village. The king expects me back in a few days.”
Gathering his things, Jorhain kept glancing at me, the intensity of his gaze making me feel like he could see through my skin and into my soul.
I stayed beside the barkeep, too afraid to go out before the stranger. If he should catch me outside, I wouldn’t have anyone to keep me safe. It had just started to get dark. I would wait until he had gone.
“Thank you, kind lady, for your time.” Picking up a scabbard, Jorhain placed it around his hips, watching me as he tightened it.
Of course a king’s man would have a sword. Our own blacksmith had been commissioned to make several for the king.
Nodding, I tried to smile, but his energy unnerved me. I couldn’t find the words to reply, even though it was rude of me to stay silent.
“Good day, sir,” the barkeep said as Jorhain strode by, his long black boots stomping across the stone floor.
As he neared the door, those in the inn went back to their business. I watched the stranger until the door closed behind him, hiding his broad shoulders and stiff spine. It was getting colder out, the nights drawing in. I would wait a few moments before I headed home. Surely, he would hurry away, not wanting to stay in the woods overnight? It would take him only a few hours ride to reach the next village. And yet, my heart pounded in my chest as I took two steps towards the door.
“Layanna?” the barkeep called.
Breathing a sigh of relief, I turned to him. “Will you see me home?”
As much as I hated to ask anyone to accompany me in my own village, something about the stranger had unsettled me. Our village was the safest in the kingdom, our philosophy making even thieves feel bad about stealing from us.
“Of course.” Throwing his grubby cloth at his assistant, he came back around the bar.
Joining me, he grinned as he opened the door and gestured for me to go before him. My muscles relaxed as I led the way, thanking him when we were out in the square.
“I think you need to tell your father about our visitor.”
Agreeing with our friend, I set across the square, waving at him as I went. Our house was in the far corner, near to the town hall. The barkeep would be able to see me
until I was safely inside. Although a cool breeze lifted my hair, just knowing he was there calmed my nerves. The last hour had set me on edge.
Reaching the front door, I turned and waved goodbye to my guardian, who promptly went back inside the inn. My hand took hold of the handle of the door when a rustling sound at the side of the house drew my attention.
There was a gap between our building and the town hall where a small walkway led into the woods. My gaze landed on the bright green eyes of someone who stood next to a horse. My heart shot into my throat. What was he doing right next to where I lived? How had he known that I was heading in this direction?
“Goodnight, Layanna.”
Throwing himself into the saddle, Jorhain came closer. His beautiful black stallion huffed, the air expelling from his nostrils throwing steam into the air.
“You need to leave me alone!”
Glaring at him, I pushed open the front door, ready to run inside. Before I could go in, the smell of flowers wafted strongly up my nose. I paused.
“Don’t forget me,” he said as he kicked his horse.
I stared open-mouthed as he turned and merged into the shadows of the woods behind the house. Flowers of all shapes and colours littered the ground at my feet. How had they got there? What did they mean?
Thrusting indoors, I slammed the door shut behind me. Leaning against the cold wood, I took three deep breaths as I surveyed the one storey building. The living area was empty, my father’s snore loud from his bedroom.
No matter what I did to try and calm my erratic heartbeat, I still couldn’t shake the fear that gripped me. Not only had someone shot at me today, a stranger had probed me about the village. I wasn’t sure what it was that made me afraid of him, but I knew that something was about to change.
Our perfect village was in danger.
Chapter Two
Jordeek
“You came close to telling her your real name?” Jin, my second in command, muttered as I dismounted from my horse.
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