by A D Lombardo
“Make whatever arrangements you need. I am happy to accommodate.” Iver agreed.
Kai stretched to look around the room. Tolan was not present. And of course, if Tolan Raebun was missing, so was Landon Maxwell, Tolan’s best friend. They were probably at the stables spending time with Tolan’s new horse. Suddenly Kai felt jealous, he did not have a horse he could call his own.
Kai watched his father’s expression lift as he approached his twin sister Helena. Iver wrapped her in a big embrace, sweeping her up off her feet. “Good morning, little sister! So good to have you at the palace.”
Helena was a little shorter than Iver but had all the majestic presence of a queen. Her long black hair flowed like silk down her back and tiny braids on either side of her temples looped up and fastened with a silver seashell accented with blue jewels.
“Good to see you, dear brother. Do you mean to spin me like when we were children?” She laughed. “Put me down.”
He let her down. Helena took her husband’s hand. “Kaeco and I are very happy to be here for the Master General’s ceremony. It gives us a chance to visit our son Gideon. We are looking forward to having him home full-time.” She pressed a smile and curtsied.
Duke Kaeco bowed slightly, “Good morning, Your Majesty. Good morning, Queen Nola. Thank you for having us.” Kaeco clasped a hand on his son Gideon’s shoulder.
Both Kaeco and his son Gideon had long curly brown hair and olive complexion. Ever the businessman, Kaeco wore tailored clothes typical of the merchants in Port Anahita. “Sire, Gideon has two more years of formal education until he is sixteen—however, I would like him to start making trips home as well. I have yet to arrange for a horse, but if I may speak with the Grand Duke Carmelo and your stablemaster.”
“Certainly, Kaeco. The Grand Duke can help find a proper horse for your son.” Iver motioned his arm toward the other side of the room. “Dante, see here. How many unassigned horses do you currently have in the stables?”
Grand Duke Dante Carmelo was not an exceptionally tall man, but what he lacked in stature he made up for in brawn. He gave a small bow toward the king. His red hair was buzzed short, and his face shaved clean. “Your Majesty. Queen Nola. Sire, I only have nineteen now, with Roark’s purchase for his son. I prefer to keep at least twenty spare horses on hand. I will speak with Haygan, my stablemaster. He can acquire two more this season.”
“Dante, make that three. Stop by my study, and we will discuss this further.”
“Yes, Sire. Thank you, Sire.” The grand duke stepped back with a bow.
Envy was not a positive trait. Still, Kai was envious. His cousin, Gideon, and Tolan were about to embark on an adventure. They would both be moving on with their lives. For them, the world was full of choices, their futures undecided. Unlike them, he would follow a plan mapped out by others.
Chapter 6
Green Eyes
Four rooms set empty on the family wing, alternatively used as guest rooms during special occasions. The first was next to his father’s study across the hall from his parents, a room with one window. Kai peered inside; this room would not improve his situation. The next room was on the other side of the nursery. He looked out the bedroom’s window; it overlooked the great banyark tree and garden maze. Not a good choice.
The third room was small, with one window, nothing special. In the hallway, Kendra caught up with him. “Not impressed?” She motioned to the far end of the hall. “One room left.”
Kai entered the last room on the right. He peered into the dim, shadowy space. It smelled old and dusty. Kendra stepped toward the windows and threw back the curtains. “What we need is light, so we can see what we have to work with.”
Light poured into the room; a large four-poster bed set prominently between two large windows. The walls were ebony wood paneling halfway up with white-and-blue wallpaper the rest of the way. Kai opened a door beside a tall armoire—a large private bathroom.
Beside the grand fireplace were huge paintings. On the other wall a great view of Thade Mountain, Eagles Peak jutted out of one side in the distance. Confused, he turned to Kendra. “I have never been in this room before.” Around the corner, he found a large desk surround by dusty bookshelves.
Smoke sniffed with interest the chests and crates littered around the room.
“This room is incredible! But…but are you sure I can have it? This room should be for someone… I don’t know … someone important. Father will never agree to it.”
Kendra pulled sheets off the furniture and folded them into a neat pile. “I already spoke with Iver about it. I assured him it was a good fit for a young royal who needs to find his independence. Not to mention, I reminded him just how far this room was from his.”
Half listening, Kai looked out two large glass doors. He glanced down at the two handles. “Wait, is this a balcony?” He grabbed both handles, pushed the doors open, and stepped outside. “Have you seen this view?” he asked, mostly to himself.
He stepped back in the room and asked again. “How could you possibly know I would pick this room?”
Kendra grinned. “I believe you’ve answered your question. Now, go to class and let me get this room in order.” She took him by the shoulders and directed him toward the door.
Late for class, he dashed out of his room. The family wing stretched out before him. He never realized how long it was before. He was now on the west corner, the opposite end of the palace from the others. There was no need to traverse to the east stairwell. Kai made an about-face; the arch of the west stairwell waited proudly in front of him.
On his way downstairs, a weight lifted inside of him. He leaped to the second-floor landing, Smoke right behind him. Darting around the corner, Kai nearly ran straight into a cabinet. He dodged and spun, his steps less than graceful. Mid-stumble, he stopped.
A woman dressed in all black stepped out from the shadows, arms crossed. “Slow down, Prince Kai. Observe your surroundings. You might miss something important.” Her dark green eyes glared at him.
“Riome Timika!” he froze in place, his mouth gaping.
Her dark auburn hair had been pulled into a tight bun, giving her features a fierce intensity. He knew who she was—Diu spy. They had never spoken more than a few words. Kai took note of her choice of clothing. Is black the uniform of a spy, or is it the only color she owns?
“Are you lost, Your Highness?” Riome interrupted his contemplation.
Snapped back to reality, it dawned on him. The west corner; his room was now beside the Master General’s tower. Adrenaline coursed through his veins. The Master General and his spies always fascinated Kai. If he could choose his future, he would be a spy rather than a king.
No time to think about the tower, Riome or his new room. “Sorry, Miss Timika, thank you. Good day,” he nodded politely and darted off.
Before Kai could enter the library, someone grabbed his arm. Sigry, the palace physician, glared down at him with his dark beady eyes and stern face. The man’s grip tightened around his arm. “Not so fast, Prince Kai. Thought you’d skip out on seeing me this morning, did you? I spoke with King Iver. He informed me you need a sleeping tonic.” Sigry’s expression was sour.
“No, sir. Sorry, sir.” Kai tried to hide his disdain for the old man with a smile.
Smoke hesitated by the library door, confused.
“Smoke, come.” Kai patted his leg as he followed the physician in silence. He stared at the back of Sigry’s nearly bald head, rimmed with snowy white hair. An uneasiness ebbed in his stomach.
When they reached the door to the clinic, Sigry stopped and pointed at Smoke. “IT stays out here!” he commanded.
Did the man ever smile? Kai twisted his brow. “Yes, sir. Smoke, stay.” Smoke obeyed and lay down outside the door.
The physician’s room smelled of minerals, dried plants, and bubbling potions. Kai covered his mouth and coughed at the smell of the herb-covered walls. The back table was covered in crystals, ores, and powders. He
’d never see so many varieties.
In the corner, there was a tall shelf lined with a variety of oil-filled vials, each bottle neatly labeled and facing outward. The arched fireplace on the opposite wall held curved metal arms with a dangling pot, frothing and oozing white steam.
“Have a seat on the table and take off your shirt.” Sigry directed him to a narrow table in the center of the room.
Eye level with Sigry, Kai waited. The physician pressed a strange instrument against Kai’s chest. It had a small funnel on one end and a metal piece which Sigry placed by his ear on the other. “Now breathe in deep and let it out slowly.” Sigry continued moving the device around Kai’s chest. “Again. Again.” Then he moved to Kai’s back. “And again. One more time. Good, sounds good.”
“Now open your mouth wide and look up. Let’s see how your throat looks this morning. No, redness.” Sigry tugged on Kai’s chin, turning his face left and right. “Your eyes look clear, not bloodshot.”
Finished, Sigry opened his cabinet and selected various jars to hold up to the light. “Why have you stopped taking the tonic I gave you for sleeping? It will help with the night terrors.”
Voice shaky, Kai tried to reply. “I, um…”
“Speak up, boy, I don’t have all day,” Sigry huffed.
“I used it all, and I don’t like how I feel the next day. It is difficult to focus in class, and by the time it wears off, it’s time to take more.” Kai scrunched up his face and stuck out his tongue. “Plus it tastes awful.”
“How much are you taking? Did you not listen to my instructions? Just three drops on the tongue are enough for a boy your size.” Sigry replaced the bottles and closed the cabinet.
Embarrassed Kai wrapped his arms around his chest. “I…umm. Sorry sir, I…”
“Children, they never listen. I will make a diluted batch, and you can take a spoonful each night. Hopefully, you can manage to follow my instructions better this time.”
He watched Sigry select dried herbs and grind them in a large stone bowl. He poured the dust into a black pot of boiling water, along with various drops from other vials.
While it cooked Sigry pulled a small gold box from his pocket and placed it on the table. The gold box had ornate vines and leaf embellishments covering the exterior. From the box, Sigry removed a long silver necklace and held it in front of Kai. “Here, I want you to hold this and tell me what you feel.”
Kai accepted the chain and looked at the charm in his hand; it was an intricately designed silver crescent moon. Nested within the crescent shape dangled a round blue sapphire crystal. Unsure what he should feel, Kai looked at the charm, turned it over, then squeezed it tight in his hand. It was delicate yet durable; to his surprise, the stone warmed to his touch.
He took a second look. Located within the pendant, he noticed a hint of white at the heart of the blue crystal. Kai again grasped the necklace tight, and in his mind, he saw his mother’s face. In turn, he saw the red dragon that killed her. Fear grabbed his heart. Why would this crystal make him think of his mother? Was this hers? Had he seen her wearing it that day? He couldn’t remember.
Sigry was not the sentimental type. Kai didn’t remember much, but he did remember his mother and Sigry were not overly fond of each other. The idea of discussing his feelings about his mother with this man made him uneasy. Kai handed the necklace back to the old physician. “It’s a blue crystal, looks like something a girl would wear. I don’t feel anything. Can I go now?” Kai squirmed.
A loud knock struck the wooden door. Kai turned to see his father slipping into the room. “How’s it going, any news?” Iver asked.
Sigry approached Iver and handed him the small box containing the necklace. “Your Majesty, nothing to report. I am sorry, you should take this back. I am not sure what we should have expected. I had him hold the crystal, and there seemed to be no reaction. I am brewing something for his night terrors; when ready, I will see it sent to his room. He will need to take it nightly to ensure an uneventful night’s sleep,” he assured Iver.
Iver took the box from Sigry, opened it, and placed his fingers inside. He took a deep breath and looked toward Kai. “Thank you, Sigry, keep me apprised of any developments.”
“As you command, my King. Rest assured, I will continue to evaluate him as he matures, in case that makes a difference.”
Iver nodded and left. Kai hopped down from the table, grabbed his shirt, and darted toward the door. He hoped to catch up with his father. “Thank you, Sigry. I will return to class. Thank you,” he said, exiting the clinic.
By the time Kai reached the hallway, his father was gone. He wondered what Sigry intended by his comment—I will continue to evaluate him as he matures. What was the crystal pendant supposed to make him feel? The expression on his father’s face told Kai it was special.
Disappointed, he tucked his hands in his pockets and shuffled toward the library.
Hesitant, he leaned into the tall library door. Faintly he overheard Professor Greydon speak to the class. “Good afternoon, class. Today we have the pleasure of meeting our new Master General, Lord Adrian Cazier, third son of the late Aerin Cazier.”
After a loud round of cheers and applause, he heard his cousin Adrian’s voice, “Good afternoon, class.” Kai continued to listen. “Thank you, class, for the warm welcome. I would first like to introduce my son Aden and my daughter Alana who will be joining you in your studies. Children, please take a seat.”
Kai was hot and fanned his face. His entire body was getting hotter. Head spinning, he pressed his hands to his temples. Kendra appeared on the stairwell, linens draped over her arms. Their eyes locked together, and she gasped. “Kai, your eyes are turning green.” She squinted at him, and her eyes bulged wide. “You are so bright. We need to calm you down.” She reached for his hand.
Behind him the large wooden door heaved, Kai stepped away. The library door creaked open, and Professor Greydon stepped into the hallway. The eccentric professor smiled and stroked the corner of his curled mustache. His long black robe with the Galloway crest embroidered into the lapel gave him a stately appearance.
“Your Highness, Prince Kai, I hope you are feeling better. Please join the class. Master General Adrian Cazier intends to escort the class on a tour of his tower’s common areas and the Kempery-man training ground. I will be back shortly.”
Kai kept his eyes down. “Yes, sir. Thank you, professor.”
Kendra stepped forward. “Your Highness, Sigry has your first dose of medication ready. If you would, please, come with me.” She eased Kai’s shoulder toward the stairs. “Forgive me, Professor Greydon. I will see him back to class.”
“Thank you, governess Kendra.”
Sunshine and fresh air bathed Kai’s head and shoulders. They stood enjoying the view from his new balcony. “What brought on this burst of energy?” She pressed the back of her hand against his forehead. “Your skin is hot.”
“A necklace. Sigry gave me a silver necklace to hold. It warmed to my touch.”
Frantic, Kendra spun him around. “What did it look like? The crystal. Was it blue?” she demanded.
“Yes, the stone was blue with a hint of white near the center,” he stammered.
“Anything else? About the shape.” Her eyes turned wild.
“A blue stone with a silver crescent moon. What does it mean? Was it my mother’s? I saw her face when I held the stone.”
Kendra covered her mouth and stepped back. “It’s here,” she whispered through her hand.
“What’s here? Please tell me,” he begged.
“Your mother’s necklace.” She shook her head. “All this time, Iver’s had it. I need to get word to Lucca. We need to find out what this means.”
Kendra’s gaze scanned all around until her eyes came to rest on one spot. Her eyes focused, and she nodded. She had found what she was searching for. Kai wished he could glean like her.
“Kai, if I could take you from Diu to Katori, I would, but Iver would
never allow it. Your departure would create conflict between our two countries. And as a Half-Light, you would not be allowed to live in Katori.”
“So, I have no place in either world.” He could see the conflict in her eyes. “Why do you hesitate to teach me?”
“Fear. I am afraid our secrets will be revealed. Haygan and I were not technically given permission to come here. Your eyes concern me. Changing your eye color is not a natural gift. Without guidance, I am not sure what to do. There shouldn’t be anything to teach. Half-Lights don’t have powers.” Her tone sounded frustrated, and she leaned against the doorway.
“One could expect speed and strength. Bonding, no. Maybe it is because Iver is part Katori too.” She covered her lips with her fingers, lost in thought.
“What? My father is part Katori. How do you know?” Kai searched her eyes for answers.
“Your ancestor, Gianfranca, was Katori.” Kendra pointed to the painting in Kai’s room. “Iver’s great-grandmother. None of this makes sense. Haygan will need to travel home to get answers. I will speak with him first chance I get. For now, Kai, you must learn to control your emotions.” Kendra stepped behind him, her hands on his shoulders.
“I’m ready.” He gazed over the palace grounds.
“Focus your mind on one image. Pick an inanimate object, a rock, a cottage or a stone in the palace wall. Let go of your emotional thoughts.”
Silent, Kai focused on a cannon atop a turret. Sunlight bounced off the metal exterior. His mind relaxed, and the tension in his body eased. The heat subsided. Kendra spun him around. “Better?”
“Yes, much better.” Kai stepped around her. “I’ve missed too much of the day, and I must return to class. I want to talk more about the necklace,” he insisted.
“I should get more information from Katori before I share too much. Please keep your emotions in check. If I didn’t know any better, I’d say you are blooming into a full Katori.”
Cutting across the courtyard, Kai saw Drew exiting the stables. They shared a brief nod, and Kai ran to rejoin his classmates at the training yard fence. A group of soldiers stood, feet shoulder length apart, hands behind their backs inside the fence. Kempery-man Farwick stepped forward.