Chuckling to himself Edric leaned forward, distracted by the memory of his sister. So many times he had chided her for her reckless nature. More and more he was beginning to understand why she behaved the way she did. Her passion for life and love for those around her made Aiva the strong woman she was. In a way, he wished she was there with him. To offer that strength which he had come to rely on over the years. She would understand Edric’s feelings better than anyone.
Slowly Callum relaxed against his father’s embrace, lifting his uninjured arm to return the gesture, hesitant at first, fighting with the troubled thoughts he had kept bottled inside since hearing of his orders to come there. If only Cadell knew what Callum was thinking. The disappointment it would cause him to learn of Callum’s decision to leave the military. After all these years, it felt a shame to see a man like Callum give up when he was so close to accomplishing a dream so few boys could even hope to achieve. But his reasons were sound. No one could fault him for desiring the happiness of his wife. Edric found himself filled with a greater respect for his friend at realizing just how much Callum was willing to sacrifice for Aiva.
“Now, Callum – I do hate to bring things back to business, but I have little choice,” Cadell frowned, gently pulling away to look his son over with a scrutinizing gaze. Searching for additional injuries which might have been overlooked before. “As General – and as your father – I must inquire further details for your report. The three of you boys look a bit worse for wear. I will accept your preference for me not to remain, but I refuse to go anywhere without a full understanding of what we have sent you into here.”
“You very well may have sent us into Sytlea’s grasp,” Gadiel grimaced, shifting his weight uncomfortably against the wall. “How much have the Ovatai explained since your arrival?”
“The Chief showed me a few journals. A sketch of something they called an Avaern. It appeared a formidable opponent if the actual beast is anything like that on the vellum.”
“It is much worse,” Callum frowned. “Beyond that, we have no starting point in knowing how to defeat it. Our efforts have been hindered by the Ovatai themselves. While I was led to believe their people wanted our assistance, it has become obvious that only the Chief desired our presence. We have met resistance since our arrival and I fear our reputation among them has not improved. This may possibly be my fault, however.”
“Don’t listen to him, General,” Edric stated loudly, standing up straight at Neomi’s side. He couldn’t let Callum continue to kick himself for his actions. Everything he did had been honorable, and from what Edric could see, it had been more of a boost to their reputation than a hindrance. “While I agree with his opinion of the Avaern being worse than the sketch implies, I’m not going to allow Callum to take the blame for the negative reception we received. We would not be here now if it hadn’t been for him.”
Cadell’s brow furrowed, glancing between Edric and Callum before letting his gaze settle on his son once again. “Tell me what happened and I will decide if you should be faulted for anything.”
Meeting Edric’s steady gaze Callum held his attention. His eyes spoke a great deal without having to say a word. Callum was obligated by duty to tell his father everything. A full report required mention of all interaction they had with the Ovatai since their arrival, right down to the relationships they had formed with those amongst the warriors, no matter how personal it may be. Silently Edric pleaded with him, wishing there was something he could speak out loud to reinforce his concerns without giving his secret away. He would never ask Callum to lie to the General. Merely to forget a few key pieces of information. If Cadell became aware of Edric’s intimacy with Neomi, he would be sent home immediately. He longed to stay by Neomi’s side to make sure she remained safe. Edric didn’t trust those who were allowed close to her. Regardless of the strength he knew she possessed, there would be little she could do against those of her own kind. She would trust them at their word because that was the way of their people; and that would make her an easy target from an enemy she believed to be her friend.
“Callum?” Cadell urged again, snapping his fingers to break into his son’s thoughts. “I am asking you to tell me what has happened since your departure from Tanispa. The King and Queen require the information just as much as I do. What will you have me tell them?”
“This is not the place to discuss it, if you want me to be honest with you,” Callum nodded. “If Ehren can assist Gadiel back to camp, I will tell you everything you want to know while in the privacy of the command tent.”
“Someone needs to stay here with the girl in case she regains consciousness.”
“I will stay with her.” Edric winced at his outburst, the words coming from his lips before he could stop them. He was doing a poor job of concealing his feelings. If he wasn’t careful, Cadell would start to question him. “It seems the most logical choice. Chief Okivra already knows I am here and appears to trust me. I’m sure Callum can give an adequate report without my presence.”
He wasn’t comfortable with the way Cadell’s eyes lingered, squinted somewhat, as if peering into his very soul. Swallowing hard Edric cleared his throat, busying himself by checking Neomi’s vital signs, the tips of his fingers brushing her wrist in search of the pulse he already knew he would find. It was something to do. Anything to avoid Cadell’s piercing gaze.
“Fair enough,” Cadell nodded, motioning Ehren to where Gadiel remained propped painfully against the wall. “Your Highness, see that the commander finds his way to camp and do not let him get back up. I will be there shortly to discuss what we are going to do with him. Commander,” he shifted his eyes to Gadiel sternly, “I suggest you think long and hard about what your intentions are for the future of this mission. In your current condition, it would be wise for you to return with us to Tanispa and leave Commander Tamas to handle the men in your absence. No one would think less of you for doing so.”
A strained smirk crossed Gadiel’s lips as he allowed Ehren to wrap his arm around his waist, guiding him carefully away from the wall. “I don’t require time to consider my answer, General. I am not leaving Prince Edric or the Captain, and nothing anyone says will sway me otherwise.”
“We shall see about that,” Cadell replied calmly, his hand lifting to wave Callum toward the door. “Let us be on our way. There is a great deal of business to complete if I am to return home so soon. Edric, I will return to check on her in a while. Notify me or the Chief immediately if there is a change in her condition.”
“Of course, Sir,” Edric said, his head bobbing in an obedient gesture of agreement. Deep down, he dreaded Cadell’s return. It was impossible to know what all Callum would divulge in the privacy of the command tent. Callum was a loyal friend, but he had learned his lesson in the past about withholding information from the General. He couldn’t be certain that Callum would be willing to take such a risk again after the trouble it caused before. It was still within Cadell’s power to remove him from this mission. The question was whether or not he would do so at the risk of leaving his son without Edric to look out for his safety. If Cadell tried to send him back to Tanispa, he would find the task more difficult than he might expect. Edric wouldn’t go without a fight. He had made a promise to Aiva that he would watch over Callum until he was returned home safely – and a promise to himself that he would never leave Neomi’s side again. Above all else, Edric was a man of his word. And he intended to keep it, no matter the cost.
Hours passed slowly in the silence of the spacious room. Left alone with his thoughts, Edric rehearsed in his mind what he would say to Cadell when the time came, prepared for an argument unlike any he had before. In the back of his mind a constant fear nagged at him. What would he say if Cadell confronted him about Neomi? It was the only thing he wasn’t ready to fight with the General about. His parents would be displeased at his disregard for the mission by focusing on romance during a time like this. But he hadn’t lost focus. Not entirely. He remained vi
gilant over Callum to make sure nothing happened to him. The broken arm was unavoidable. Even if Edric had been with him at the time of the Avaern’s attack, he would have been powerless to prevent the injury. Cadell had to understand that.
When footsteps outside the door alerted Edric to someone coming, he was surprised to find Callum’s face appear in the entrance instead of Cadell’s, drawn and pale, the uncharacteristic frown turning down the corners of his mouth. Curious by his unexpected arrival Edric looked him over in hopes of determining what was going through his head, noticing something on his right hand that hadn’t been there before. A ring, polished to a dull sheen, lacking the brilliance of the wedding band that adorned the ring finger on his left. It looked old. Well cared for. Callum’s hand seemed drawn to it, twisting it idly around his finger, deep in thought.
Callum stood in silence for a moment before seeming to realize that he had entered the room, nodding to Edric in greeting. “I have come to relieve you of your watch.”
“I would rather not…”
“I’m not giving you an option.” Callum sighed, shaking his head apologetically. “If you do not occasionally walk away from her, you’re going to add to the rumors already circulating. It’s best you be seen among the others to quell any suspicions they might have. With Ewei being at the camp, he has likely already begun to speak out against us, and you know he will mention his allegations against you at every opportunity he has.”
Damn Callum and his logic. It always had a way of defeating Edric despite his decision to stand firm. He didn’t want to leave but it would be harder for him to watch over Neomi if the Chief forbade him to go near her. It was better to walk away for a short while to avoid drawing attention. If Ewei chose to bring his accusations to the Chief, it wouldn’t do Edric any good to have given him the proof to back up the claims. Begrudgingly he let his hand slip away from Neomi’s limp fingers, staring down at her as he spoke. “Has your father already left? I was expecting him to relieve me.”
“He will start for Tanispa tomorrow morning. I insisted he not try to venture out in the dark. With the Avaern having been more active in the past week, I didn’t think it safe for him to traverse at night. He gave no argument in remaining with us a little longer.”
“I’m surprised he agreed to depart at all.”
“As am I,” Callum’s lips twitched into a smile, a soft, humorless laugh escaping them. “The man has lived and breathed the military since he was a boy. I don’t think he knows how to act not being a part of this battle. He will go absolutely mad after he retires.”
“I think his reasons for coming here go deeper than anxiety about not being with the soldiers,” Edric gazed at Callum, watching his fingers still fiddling with the band around his finger. His curiosity was growing as to what it was. He had no recollection of having seen the object before. “He cares about you a great deal. I don’t doubt that you’re not the only one who has difficulty separating business from personal affairs. If what he said was true about Aiva’s concern having played a role in his coming here, then I have to believe that he shared a similar fear in regards to your well-being, otherwise my sister wouldn’t have been so successful in convincing him to travel all this way. Were you anyone else, he would have simply sent a small scouting unit to verify the progress of the troops rather than making the journey himself.”
“I know. But seeing him is killing me.” Callum’s teeth gritted, clenching his fists tightly in frustration. “I don’t have the heart to tell him… it’s going to crush him when he learns I no longer wish to take over his role as General. It was all he could talk about. The King and Queen allowed him to come here with the understanding that he would stay and fight so that I would not be left here with only half an army. No one wanted to send us here by ourselves. It was pure formality that they allowed it. For my sake. For my reputation.” His head lowered, overcome by some unseen burden that weighted his shoulders. “It would have been so easy to tell him that I no longer care about my reputation and to send me home… but I couldn’t bring myself to do it.”
“That’s because you would have been lying if you told him you no longer cared. I know you too well, Callum. Succeeding in this mission means everything to you.”
“Perhaps, but it doesn’t mean more to me than my wife.”
“Then consider her. Do you think she would want you to walk away from this? Do you think she would stand idly by and let you give up on your dream of becoming General? From the moment you were old enough to carry a sword you spoke of nothing else. It breaks my heart to think that you’re going to walk away when you are so close.”
Moving out from behind the table Edric made his way to where Callum stood. He couldn’t let this go. It had been troubling him ever since Callum first made mention of his decision to step down. Now that he finally had a chance to tell his friend exactly how he felt on the matter, he wasn’t going to pass it up. Callum was an intelligent man and rarely did anything Edric considered foolish – but walking away from the military would be the biggest mistake he could possibly make.
Callum lowered his eyes, staring down at the ring on his finger, the umber glow of his eyes dimming. Edric could see the pain written on his face. Every line of his sharp features creased from the torment of his own mind, deepening the frown he already bore. “Do you see this ring?” he asked suddenly, sliding it off his finger to hold it out for Edric to observe. “Do you know what this is?”
Unable to resist the urge to reach out and take the band from Callum’s hand, he snatched it up, turning it in the light to get a better look at the design. The crest it displayed was familiar, though he hadn’t seen it in years. Outside the royal family it was uncommon for it to be spoken of. “It is the seal of the Losuva family. That line has been gone for centuries. How did you come to possess this?”
“My father presented it to me. This ring has been passed down through the lines since Therek Losuva organized the official military in Tanispa under the reign of the first Queen of our people, Kaori Levadis herself. It’s a timeless heirloom – and it is presented as a gift from the current General to the next when passing on the title.”
“This is incredible…”
“No, this is awful,” Callum exhaled in defeat. “Don’t you see? My father intends to retire and leave his legacy to me. Next to Therek, there has never been a General so revered for his accomplishments as my father. If you speak the name of Cadell Zerne in any country, you are met with instant recognition and respect. When he gave this to me, he told me that he has already submitted his request to the King and Queen. Upon our return to Tanispa, I am to be promoted – and I don’t know what to do.”
“If you have no desire to become General, why did you accept the ring?”
“I… I don’t know.”
“I do,” Edric replied, handing the ring back to Callum in a confident motion. “You accepted it because in your heart, it’s what you want.”
“How was I supposed to tell him no?”
“You would have simply said it – if you really meant it. But you don’t. You wanted it. Inside you know you still do.”
Callum stared down at the ring, fighting an internal battle against himself. Edric knew he was right. He had Callum backed into a corner. Callum wanted to be General. The trick was going to be convincing him that he couldn’t give it up.
“I cannot do that to Aiva. Not now. If we survive this war, I could never leave her in that palace to care for our child alone. I have other responsibilities that I must consider which go beyond my childish dream of becoming General.”
“And again I ask you – what do you think Aiva would say if she knew what you were planning to do?” He had to keep pushing. Aiva was Callum’s weakness. If he could make his friend see that Aiva would disapprove, it would be easier to break through Callum’s stubbornness. “She knows how much this means to you. If she didn’t, she would have said something years ago when you started training under your father to prepare for the promotion.
But she said nothing.”
“Yes, and she has suffered for it!”
“That may be so, but do you really want to make her torment have been for nothing? She endured it for you! Because she knew how much it meant to you, and she would never dream of being the reason you didn’t accomplish it. A long time ago, not long after the two of you moved to Escovul, she confided in me that she worried you would hold it against her that you would have to relinquish the position of General once our parents decided to step down. A King cannot also serve as General, and you know that. Your time in the military has been limited ever since you accepted the marriage. So while you are thinking to give up the chance at becoming General because you want to make her happy, she has already sacrificed too much for that to be possible. You risk not only crushing your father with your decision, but your wife as well.”
Callum stood there, mouth agape, lost for what to say in reply. A flash in his eyes told Edric that he understood. There was more riding on his decision than just his relationship with his father. It was Callum’s dream. And it was Aiva’s dream for him. “Edric –” he started, losing his breath momentarily while searching for the words. “It was never my intention for Aiva to suffer this way. Honestly, I’m not sure I would get any enjoyment out of achieving my goal if I knew it was at the cost of her happiness. At the cost of her continued happiness until the day I become King. Even if Tanispa remains at peace, my presence will always be needed elsewhere. I will be a stranger to her by the time we ascend to the throne.”
“It doesn’t have to be so! You have a good replacement for yourself in Gadiel for the role of Captain. He would do anything for you, much the same as I would. Let us help carry the burden.”
“I could never ask that of you.”
“Then don’t ask. I’m willing to do it whether you like it or not. The General wasn’t always the one in charge of training the soldiers. It wasn’t until the war against the Ven’shal when our numbers became so depleted that the responsibility fell on your father’s soldiers. My mother and father were there to help him until he got the military back on its feet. If even the great General Zerne was willing to accept assistance, why can you not do the same?”
The Myatheira Chronicles: Volume Three: Crown of Ice Page 65