The village that they rode through before traveling the road that connected it to the fortress was half again the size of Oralia’s and a further distance from the fort as well.
Lexin dismounted in the inner courtyard and helped Cerise from her horse. They went up the short flight of stone steps and entered the main hall. Servants halted to see who had arrived and then quickly returned to work, recognizing Lexin.
He called to one serving girl who came to him at once, darting a curious glance at Cerise.
“Yes, my lord?” she murmured in response to his summons, dipping her head in greeting and twisting her hands in her apron.
“Has Yeager retired for the night?” he asked, although it was not yet sunset.
“No, my lord. A tray was recently sent to his chambers. I believe he is in with his chamberlain.”
“Would you please tell him of my arrival with my lady and that I request an audience with him as soon as it pleases him?” he asked her as he pulled off his gloves.
The girl bobbed her head quickly. “At once, my lord,” she said and was off in a flurry of brown homespun skirts.
He turned to face Cerise when he heard her low laugh and raised an eyebrow at her.
“Do you always get that sort of response here?” she asked, amused.
“Of course,” he answered in a tone that said it would not be any other way.
“Of course,” she repeated, amusement still rich in her voice.
It was only a brief wait before the girl returned.
“King Yeager asked that you attend him at once, my lord. If you will follow me?”
Lexin nodded and strode confidently behind her. Cerise went with him, brushing nervously at her linen shirt and soft leather breeches, both travel stained.
“Shouldn’t we clean up first?” she asked Lexin as they went down a corridor that sported lit torches down its length.
Lexin did not slow his pace. “I do not think Yeager will care what we look like at the moment, only what news we bring him.”
They halted in front of a closed chamber door. It opened suddenly in front of them and a flustered looking man emerged.
“My Lord Lexin, it is good to see your return. Our liege awaits you,” he said as he pushed past. Cerise couldn’t tell if the man was frightened or frustrated and he did not give Lexin a chance to reply as he continued on his way.
“Are you ready, ehmar?” Lexin asked Cerise as he gently thumbed away a smudge of dust from her cheek.
“As I ever will be,” she answered, although she wasn’t as sure as she tried to sound.
Lexin smiled gently down at her and then took her elbow to escort her into the room.
Yeager stood as they entered, his eyes wide with anticipation.
Lexin stopped in front of him and dropped to a knee. Cerise followed suit, keeping her eyes down.
“Please Lexin, rise,” Yeager commanded gently.
They did as the king asked, Cerise taking in the king’s expression, nervous and hopeful at the same time.
“Tell him now, Lexin. Introductions can wait,” she said softly, smiling at the older man.
“My liege,” Lexin began. “My quest for your son has been successful. I have found him.”
Yeager’s knees suddenly gave way and he grabbed for the arm of the chair he had so recently vacated. Lexin and Cerise both helped him back into his seat.
Lexin leaned in to hear Yeager as he whispered. “He is alive?”
Foreheads nearly touching, Yeager’s hand came to rest on Lexin’s cheek as tears suddenly came to the older man’s eyes.
“Aye, my lord, he is alive and well,” Lexin whispered back, his hand covering Yeager’s.
Yeager pulled back slightly to see over Lexin’s shoulder. “Where is he? I want to see him.”
“My lord, he is still at Oralia. He sent this message to you though. When the grass turns green again, he will come to Bellmore and start a new life with his father.”
A sob tore at Yeager. “With his father,” he repeated with a gasp. “Tell me of my son, Lexin. Tell me everything that you know.”
Lexin told his liege and kinsman of their journey and finding of Riordan. He described Yeager’s son to him, and his impression of the man.
Yeager sat quietly, absorbed in Lexin’s words. When Lexin finished, Yeager sat back in his chair, looking at Lexin studiously.
“I sense something else you need to tell me Lexin. What is it?”
Lexin glanced over at Cerise who gave him a barely noticeable nod. He cleared his throat roughly.
“My lord, I have knowledge that hurts in the telling,” he began but recited all that he knew anyway.
He found he was unable to take his gaze away from Yeager and watched as a gamut of emotions crossed the king’s face. Shock warred with anger first, then sadness.
Yeager put a hand on Lexin’s arm, his grip tight. Lexin dropped his eyes, dipping his head as the old shame washed over him. He waited for condemning words.
“Lexin, I have always thought of you as another son,” the king said in a hoarse, emotionally low voice. “I could not openly treat you as such or you would have lost some of the edge you had as my war chief, but you have always been special to me.”
Lexin looked back up in surprise, having expected to be accused, but Yeager’s tone was gentle and loving. He ducked his head once more to hide his confusion.
“What your mother has done is treason, my boy,” Yeager began. There was a touch of the earlier anger that Lexin had seen. “But Arahtok has taken her fate into his hands and I would guess she now resides in the darkness with Zakar.”
His grip eased on Lexin’s arm, but he did not release his hold. “He is welcome to her, and while I am sorry for you the loss of your mother, I welcome you as my nephew.”
Yeager’s grip tightened briefly once more. “And I thank you for finding my son.” He took a deep, ragged breath. “I will never be able to thank you or reward you enough for that.”
Yeager released Lexin and sat back. He took another deep breath and looked over at Cerise. A smile slowly spread on his face, giving him a slightly carnal look.
“This must be the woman you will leave Bellmore for. I never imagined her to be so beautiful.”
Lexin returned the smile with a carnal look of his own. At Cerise’s little noise of impatience, the smile turned into a more bland expression. “My liege, this is Cerise MacKinnon…”
His introduction came to a stumbling halt and he looked at Cerise, paused for a second and then seemed to reach a decision. “…Lionblade,” he said, “Cerise Lionblade, my bond mate, and kinswoman to the Lord MacKinnon.” He smiled with pride at her then.
“So you will carry the name Lionblade?” Yeager asked the younger man.
“If you will allow it, my liege,” Lexin answered.
“I will allow it and will be honored as well,” Yeager replied. “My family has grown this evening by three. Arahtok is blessing me.”
“Tala has blessed us as well, as Cerise is with child,” Lexin informed him with no small amount of pride in his voice.
Yeager stood, bringing Lexin and Cerise to their feet as well. “That is excellent news. My congratulations to you both.” He took Cerise’s hands in both of his. “You must be exhausted. We can talk more in the morning after you have rested.”
Taking their leave, Cerise and Lexin went to Lexin’s usual chamber where a meal was served. Water was provided for bathing, and immediately put to use by Cerise.
“Yeager is not what I expected,” Cerise commented as she washed one long leg. Steam rose from the tub and she gave a sigh of pleasure as she moved down to her toes with the cloth.
Lexin watched her as he raised a forkful of roast beef to his mouth. He took the bite and then talked around the food. “In what way?”
Cerise paused in her ablutions, looking thoughtful for a second. “He seems human.”
Lexin raised an eyebrow
as he continued to work with gusto on his meal. “Yeager is not a human,” he remarked in a slightly insulted tone.
“I just meant he’s approachable, despite the fact he is the king,” Cerise returned, shooting him a dirty look. “Besides, I’m human, so tread carefully when you use that tone, cat man.”
Lexin grinned at her as he laid his fork down and then wiped his mouth with a cloth. He tossed it down on the table as he rose to his feet and approached the tub. He stripped as he walked and ignored the water that sloshed onto the stone floor as he stepped in with her.
“The problem with humans are that they are selfish,” he commented dryly as he repositioned her so that she sat cradled between his thighs once he sat. “They want all the water for themselves.” He nuzzled her neck making her squeak. “Until it is cold, that is. Do you know what cold water does to a man?”
Cerise could tell that there were no issues with the water temperature at the moment. In a breathy voice she whispered, “What other problems do you find with humans?”
“The females are teases,” he murmured against her skin as his hands moved to cup her water slick breasts. “They distract a man until he can think of nothing else but their charms.”
“Oh really?” Cerise sighed, resting her head back against his chest, giving him freer access to her front.
Lexin touched her in a way he knew would make her melt. “Really.”
They were in the courtyard checking their saddles before they started the journey back to Oralia when Cerise touched Lexin on the arm to get his attention. “Lexin, look who’s coming to see us off.”
Lexin bowed slightly to the king when the older man stopped in front of him. Around them the rest of the men bowed from their saddles and all casual conversation halted.
Yeager gently took hold of the reins of Cerise’s horse as he glanced at her and then fixed his attention on Lexin.
“Already the days are cold,” he said. “Winter will have us in its grip very soon.”
“Yes, my lord king,” Lexin replied, steadily returning the older man’s gaze.
“Travel safe and return my son to me when the land wakes again.” It was more plea than command.
“It will be my honor, my lord.” Lexin took Yeager’s offered arm in a firm grip and it was returned. “And my pleasure.”
Yeager nodded at that and released his hold on Lexin. He turned to Cerise and surprised her when he gave her a leg up to mount her gelding. “I am pleased that you are the woman Lexin has chosen. You are a pleasant surprise for a human female and I can see that Lexin is very happy with you.”
If it had not been the high king of all Kismera addressing her, Cerise would have rolled her eyes at his comment. Instead she nodded her head graciously at him. “Thank you, my lord. I will try very hard to see that he remains that way.”
Yeager surprised her then by grinning up at her in a slightly smug way. “I think you are the woman for the task, my lady. Travel safe.” The pat he gave her knee was fatherly. Then he stepped back to see them off.
“May Arahtok bless you with a strong, healthy babe, my lady, and may he grant you all a safe return to Oralia,” Yeager said. With one last nod in Lexin’s direction Yeager turned on his heel and went back up the steps into the main hall without looking back, animation in his step for the first time in years.
As the gates of Bellmore disappeared behind them, Lexin finally acknowledged Cerise’s muttering.
“If there is something on your mind, ehmar, would you like to share it with me?”
Cerise gave him a sour look. “You are a pleasant surprise for a human,” she mimicked grumpily. “And yesterday you were defensive when I made that comment about Yeager being human.”
She frowned when Lexin burst out laughing. It took him a moment to regain his composure.
“My life with you will never be dull I can see,” he snickered. “Unruffle you feathers, my love. You are as exotic to Yeager and myself as I imagine my people appear to you. No insult is meant and it is all in jest.”
Cerise slumped a bit in her saddle and then straightened. “I know. I guess I’m just out of sorts. I just will be glad when we get home and can focus on us—and our baby.”
Lexin leaned over and touched her cheek gently with his gloved hand. “I know Cerise. I look forward to that as well. We will make that happen when we have returned to Oralia. Take heart for it will not be much longer now.”
Chapter Thirty
Oralia was in an uproar when Lexin and his group arrived eight days later. Warriors were in a flurry of activity assembling in the baileys. Most notably the black stallion that belonged to Drace, which stood with a shield hooked to the back of his saddle, and Ki standing next to a red gold stallion as she pulled on her gloves. She wore chain mail and had an imposing sword strapped to her belt.
Drace emerged from the stable dressed in the same fashion, his hair done up in a battle-ready braid and a frown on his handsome face.
Lexin and Cerise spurred their horses forward to meet with the couple.
“What has happened?” Lexin asked as he swung down from his horse.
Ki swung up on the Andalusian stallion Drace had given her. “Easy,” she soothed him as the horse moved restlessly under her.
“Riordan has disappeared,” Ki answered once the horse calmed.
Cerise gasped at her news. “What happened?”
Drace took the reins from the stable boy who held Pride. “Riordan wanted to go into the village this morning,” he said. “Nothing unusual there, but Marlhowh was found in an alley around noon and he’s been wounded pretty badly.”
“We have searched the village. There is no sign of Riordan. Some women heard Marlhowh scream but were afraid to go into the alley. They ran for help, but when they returned no one was in the alley but the horse. I have men searching for any sign of Riordan’s whereabouts.”
Cerise moved to Lexin. “Go with them. I’ll only slow you down. You have to help them search.”
Lexin nodded to her, already in a battle ready frame of mind. He called to a stable lad to bring a fresh horse. Merrick followed suit, stripping his own horse of its saddle and bags.
Ki sent the other warriors in their party to stable their horses and report to the barracks, wanting to leave a sizable force at Oralia.
Once remounted, Lexin leaned down to kiss Cerise farewell. “Pray to Arahtok that we find Riordan safe, ehmar,” he requested.
“I will,” she replied, tears of fear shimmering in her eyes. “Be careful.”
The group thundered out of their stronghold and down toward the village. They met a lone warrior riding hard their direction.
“My lady, blood has been found on the Trevess road,” he informed.
“Show us,” Ki demanded, already spurring forward.
The sound of twenty horses moving at a rapid trot on cobbles echoed loudly against the buildings, drawing people from their houses.
Pride shied sideways when a woman whose features marked her as at least half lion kin rushed out and grabbed Drace’s calf, holding on tightly even as the horse moved away. The horse drug her several steps before Drace had him under control.
“Please, my lord, please help me!” she sobbed hysterically, still clutching his leg.
Ki pulled up sharply beside Drace and the others came to a milling halt behind them.
“She is one of the weavers,” Ki informed, dismounting as she spoke. She ducked under Pride’s neck and took hold of the woman’s shoulders, gently but firmly.
Ki spoke to her in Werren and finally the woman released Drace’s leg, falling to her knees and clutching at her skirts.
Ki knelt beside her, speaking once more to the woman, this time getting her to reply. The woman gave a lengthy speech in a hoarse, tear-filled voice.
Finally the woman finished and bowed her head, rocking on her knees and making a keening sound through her tears.
“What did she say?” Drace asked
, not yet proficient enough in Werren to make out the woman’s rapid speech.
Clearly surprised at what she had heard, Ki looked up at Drace. “She says men took her daughter and that they used her to make a man go with them. Her child had been playing in the alley by their house and when one of the outsiders saw her, they took her and held a knife to her throat.”
Ki tilted the woman’s head back and gently pushed disheveled hair from her face. A livid bruise streaked the young mother’s temple.
Drace sucked in his breath sharply. “The men who took her child did this?”
“Yes,” Ki acknowledged. “She says the big warrior had tried to fight those men. She thinks he wounded one and his horse attacked another. The horse’s scream is what made her look out her open door. There was so much confusion that she is not sure, but thinks the horse was slashed with a knife.”
The woman on the ground told the rest of her story, taking hold of Ki’s arm as she spoke, desperation clear in her voice.
“Reya says that is when she went to pull her daughter into the house. One man saw her and then the child. When he grabbed the girl, Reya fought for her and the man knocked her down then kicked her. Before she saw no more, she saw the big warrior drop his sword in surrender.”
“Oh Christ,” Drace breathed. “How old is the girl?”
“Four summers, my lord,” the woman answered as Ki helped her to her feet.
There was a shout from behind them as the woman’s husband came running to her, clearly having been working at the blacksmith’s.
The woman fell into his arms, her tears starting afresh. She quickly related her story again and he held her close as distress rode over him.
Lexin's Quest (Knights of Kismera Book 2) Page 21