Fallen Warrior (Fallen Trilogy book 3)

by Williams, Tess

  In fact, after looking her over, I didn't think it was going to take any time at all.

  "You're good with your sword?" I asked her.

  She looked at me, a little entertained, but quickly frowned. "I told you, it's different."

  "Right. I get that. Will you draw it then?"

  "Draw it now?" she asked.

  I nodded.

  She frowned.

  "It couldn't hurt to give me a chance, could it?" I pointed out.

  She stared, then scowled, drawing it out. While she did, I went to grab my own sword from the barrel of weapons.

  "You'll just win," she told me, confidently, now holding out her Byakoan sword. "I don't need to fight you to tell that."

  "I'll take that as a compliment," I replied, "But you haven't let me finish."

  I grabbed her free hand, then, ignoring the wide eyed expression she grew because of it — but appreciating her pulse speeding faster for my touch, just beneath her skin. I held out my sword with my other hand, and flipped it over so that I was holding the blade, then slid the blade into her hand and wrapped her fingers around it. Swallowing now, and not daring to look at her face while touching her, I stepped back. Then I put my hands on my hips and nodded approval at the picture I'd created.

  Ellia Solidor, princess of Shaundakul, wielding two blades, in her Cirali armor. All we needed now was Luffie.

  By the stars, if I was Cyric, I would have made such fun of her. How could she not have thought of it?

  "Have you tried it?" I asked skeptically, just in case.

  But she was narrowed, stuttering a little, looking between the two weapons.

  "You haven't, have you?" It was so hard not to laugh. What were years of daydreaming for if she hadn't even put them to use? Next she'll tell me was afraid to fly a chimera for her first time.

  I went back to the barrel of swords, to grab my own set, one for each hand.

  "You don't think," she began, stopping when I turned around. Then she laughed. "Cole, please."

  "What? I'm going to prove it to you."

  "You're not going to prove anything. You'll lose on purpose."

  I held back a laugh again. Cyric, lose on purpose. Then again, I suppose I had that once...

  "I promise I won't," I said, swinging both my swords around for good measure. "Isn't it worth trying at least?"

  Ellia looked between me and her own two swords. "Well, I suppose,..." then her eyes went distant, "You know, it actually..."

  She didn't finish what she was going to say. But she didn't have to. I knew she was thinking of all her daydreaming, and I liked that I knew, and I liked that I wasn't so stupid anymore that I didn't appreciate the fact that I knew. I knew, and I used what I knew to make her happy; and these things made me happy.

  She shook off her distant gaze; she swung one then both of her swords in test, then she looked up at me. "If you are right, you'd better be careful. I could actually hurt you."

  I smiled.

  And so it was that the next day, Ellia was as happy as I'd ever made her, and my pride was hanging in there, despite the fact that my girl had beaten me at swordplay. Especially once I got to watch her fight at least a dozen other Warriors, and with her winning out, and subsequently telling everyone that I had helped her find it.

  It was at that time, that I saw Amalia Denathar standing at the sidelines, watching Ellia as I was. And maybe because of how successful I was feeling, I got the idea to try this new method on her. Not, help her find a Cirali Weapon of course, she already knew hers. I just thought, that if there were small ways I could do anything to make her happier, I would try.

  As Cole, and having not even been introduced, there weren't a lot of opportunities, but one thing I did consistently. Flowers grew in Yanartas, not far outside the city where the farms were, even in the winter. Every few days, I would wake up early, gather and bundle and leave them on her windowsill.

  The weeks following the battle of Karatel passed in this way, and they made me forget I'd ever lived as an Akadian Lieutenant, or aimed to please a man named Malatos Lox, or ever left the side of the girl I wasn't meant to part from.

  Chapter Fourteen

  ELLIA:

  We had princes visiting from Democedes, and chieftains from Ghaund, so the dinner this night in the Warrior's Chamber was a standing one, with tables around the edges, set with foot, and everyone crowded in the middle. Similar the banquets we held on the south platform each month but it was still too cold for that.

  There wasn't much room to maneuver, and I was grateful that I wasn't wearing a dress as so many others, though I did notice strange looks from Vartus, and Kais, and Toran, and all the others that knew me best.

  I'd finished up by now with all such political greetings though. I stood near the edge where I could watch the display. Losing my thoughts for a moment with Luffie, until I heard two familiar voices making conversation closer to the door.

  It was Cole and Minstrel, and they were bantering back and forth in rhymes. Minstrel had started it with Cole a while ago. It wasn't the same as they did with me. As Minstrel told it, he was teaching Cole to improve his rhyming, and to be sure that's what it always looked and sounded like. Minstrel stating something simple. Cole stuttering over a response. One or both of them laughing. He was getting better at it. So good that sometimes I couldn't' tell when the both of them started on, but I supposed it wasn't something to complain over that they got along.

  They were, after all, who I spent most of my time with. In fact, Cole had earned himself a nickname since we'd gotten back from Karatel, though it was too silly for a princess spend her time considering.

  "Umm, princess?" I heard at my side, and I was glad to turn and see Cole there, his hands in his pockets. Minstrel, it seemed, was gone, moved off to speak with Estrid.

  "Didn't I tell you by now you could call me Ellia, Cole?" I countered.

  He nodded, but went on without correcting. "I was wondering, since there were visitors here, if you're going to have a meeting tonight?"

  It wasn't hard to sense his concern; he did a poor job of hiding it in his tone.

  I smiled a little. "Are you worried I'm going to leave to attack Akadia, tomorrow?"

  He didn't answer. And this may have been one of the things I liked about him most of all. If I teased about most things, he would join along, but whenever it had to do with fighting or the war, he grew very solemn.

  "We're meeting," I explained, lightly. 'But don't worry. There's nothing like that."

  "You remember you said that you would tell me."

  "Yes, I remember Cole. I will."

  "I wouldn't ever give it away you know. Even if you're worried because you think I'll make you let me come along, please don't keep it from me. I won't make you let me—, well, just don't alright."

  "I know perfectly the way you behave when I don't tell you ahead of time, Cole. I won't risk that again." I started to giggle a little, and I thought maybe he was going to join me in the laugh. His chest had begun to shake that way, but before he could, I heard a voice just beside us.

  "Behave?" it repeated, authoritative but soft. "When you don't tell what?"

  I recognized Amalia's voice, and made to look over bowing, but I'd barely seen Cole glance that way, when he jerked, sharply and sudden, back away, towards the wall.

  I narrowed at him; Amalia only sparred him a glance. "I must be growing too silent in my approach. Did I scare you young man?"

  Cole didn't say anything. And then he stuttered a little bit. I broke in for him. "He's not used, to parties, I think. At least not inside. In Kanth, they're outdoors, aren't they?" I said, prodding him with my eyes, and wanting to see, in part for myself, if this might be the reason. I certainly didn't want any sort of confirmation to the fact that I always seemed to catch him staring at Amalia.

  "Yes," he confirmed, in a rush, "Right." Then more calmly. "We have huts there. They're smaller."

  "Ah. So I have heard tell of," said Amalia, glancing hi
m over. Then to me, "About what I asked before, I hope you weren't speaking of anything to do with the war..."

  I took a short breath, having had enough distrust from Amalia over what I did and did not choose to do. Between her and I, it was one thing. She thought that I should not have loved Cyric when I had; I thought I should have loved him better. And seeing her, always brought a hush of questioning that was never present otherwise. That Cyric had done evil things in Akadia, killed people, killed in the war.

  "I wouldn't risk anything, Amalia," I told her.

  "So I heard you say. But is it really—"

  "If we must talk about this," I cut her off, "shouldn't we do it at another time?" I tipped my head over. "Have you even been properly introduced? This is Cole. He's from Kanth. Cole, this is Amalia Denathar. She'd Lucian's mother, and descendant to Marius Denathar."

  Amalia swallowed, then turned to Cole, holding her hand out. "Cole from Kanth. It's nice to finally meet you."

  I watched Cole carefully as he reacted; bowing a little at first, then taking her hand for only a second, then bowing again. "He's not usually mute," I pointed out, "but it comes and goes."

  Cole looked sharp in my direction, only I switched my gaze first to Amalia.

  "The other Warriors have said that you're a great help to the princess," she said to Cole.

  "Were you involved with training before you came to Yanartas?"

  I knew for Amalia's sake this was simple polite conversation, which she rarely neglected. Perhaps, maybe, she was a little curious about his constant presence. As Gael had been, though I hoped she would not express it in the same manner.

  "Some," Cole replied, his voice still careful.

  "I'm surprised that news of the war has reached all the way to Kanth," she said. "Though... I think I do remember, now, seeing some of them myself, my years in Akadia."

  I thought this might spark some surprise in Cole (Maybe another into the wall!) But he only stayed very still, watching her.

  "They were invaded the same as many places," I answered for him. "When Akadia went into the west."

  "Yes," she followed, nodding. "Earlier on. I remember."

  We both grew quiet.

  I stole a glance at Cole, and put effort into holding back a scowl.

  "Well, Ellia," Amalia said brightly, "I only came to..." she looked at Cole again, then back to me. "To say hello. And to warn you of Vartus. I think he really is trying to match you up with one of his brothers now. You wouldn't want it to get out of hand, as before."

  "No," I agreed, too distracted by Amalia's words to grow angry at the Democedians—who'd been the ones to cause the trouble with Lucian—but was Amalia really speaking of the prior suggestion as something negative? "Thank you," I added, "I'll put a stop to him."

  She nodded. Then, in a rare, very rare, display of humor, Amalia added, even tipping her head to Cole. "Perhaps you could have your shadow handle it," Then she bowed and left, actually wearing a smile.

  Shadow. No, that wasn't something that she'd come up with herself. The princesses's shadow; that was what everyone was calling Cole lately, but I certainly hadn't thought it had travelled even on to Amalia.

  I looked at Cole, who was still staring as she walked through the crowds.

  After a few seconds like that, long enough for me to think how I used to wear dresses as beautiful as hers, and how I could make him stare if I put on one, I punched his arm, drawing his attention back with a snap. "What's the matter with you?"

  He looked down at his arm, then back to me, then rubbed it. "I thought there was no hitting in Shaundakul," he said.

  "Didn't I tell you not to bother her? She's had too much to deal with, and there you are stuttering, and jumping."

  His head turned back in her direction, and I imagined, like I sometimes did that he was frowning, but those were just instant images that came to me sometimes; I quickly righted it for now. I wasn't sure that he was frowning at all.

  "I didn't know that those things would make it harder for her," he said unhappily. "I mean, of course I didn't mean to. She just surprised me. I've never spoken with her before."

  I looked to her, because he still was. She was speaking with Estrid now, as I'd seen her do more often all the time. I swallowed, then I spoke in a low, and careful tone. "Do you... think she's beautiful?" I asked, almost assured of the answer.

  He didn't answer. And even once I'd turned to watch him, he didn't look back at me. I forced my next words out. "How old are you, Cole?"

  "What?" he said, looking back at me in a quick movement, his ragged voice cracking the way it did whenever he spoke too suddenly.

  "Didn't you hear me?" I replied.

  "Yes, I heard you. Why are you asking?"

  I narrowed a little. "Why would you care if I did?"

  "I didn't say that I cared."

  "Then why haven't you answered?"

  "Because I want to know why you're asking first."

  "I'll tell you once you've told me."

  "I'll tell you once you've told me," he countered.

  "You sound like a child," I told him.

  "I'm not a child. I'm the princess's shadow. Didn't you hear?"

  "Oh, now you're really something."

  He pointed at me. "Blushing here, princess? In the middle of the Warriors Chamber? Prince Vartus won't be able to resist thinking you've fallen in love again."

  My eyes went wide, then livid. "You've been spending too much time with Minstrel."

  "He does like to tell me all your secrets," Cole replied fast.

  "Does he?" I snapped angrily. And unfortunately, loud enough to draw the attention of all the nearest Warriors.

  Cole looked my way, then at them, then ducked his head down, snorting with laughter.

  I swallowed, and took a breath, till I was sure I appeared calmer, then smiled a little for the nearest Warriors—so that they went back to their eating and speaking.

  Free from attention, I pointed a finger at Cole. "You, meet me on the platform near my cabin. After the banquet. Don't bring anyone else."

  Then I strode off, set to go find Vartus and put him right once and for all, but before I'd made it feet away from Cole, I heard his reply, "If that's supposed to be a penalty, princess, I won't stop teasing you."

  He had to call to speak over the crowd. I smiled as I kept my attention resolutely forward.

  #

  "You've brought a torch, I see," I said, seeing Cole coming up the spiraling steps leading up to the platform above my room. This was the same one Luffie and I so often visited, with no trees blocking our view of the sky, and too out of the way to be visited often—especially since it was a dead end. "Is that because you're afraid I have something horrid planned for you, or are you actually finally cold?"

  Cole turned on me, seeming surprised for a moment, that I'd already arrived. But he went on quickly enough, his tone casual. "Actually someone handed it to me while I was walking. I thought I might give it to you as a prize."

  "I don't want a torch," I told him, "Then I can't see the sky." I nodded my head up.

  Cole made a sound, something I couldn't determine, maybe a laugh, or a scoff, or maybe just a cough. Then he put the torch up against his robes. "Well in that case..." Before I could tell what he was doing, or reach to stop him, he pulled an extra length of his robes around and doused the torch with them.

  I let out heavy sigh. "Cole, you scared me."

  He dropped the torch, then stepped forward, only to run into my hands, which had been outstretched, planned to stop him from hurting himself. For a moment, I didn't think that he'd intended to walk into me, but then his hands came up much too quickly, clasping mine, then shifting me aside. "Afraid I'd light myself on fire, princess of princesses? Just because you rejected my prize?" He moved my hand straight up above our heads.

  I scowled.

  He only let me go to walk to the rail, his hands clasping around it. The sky was cloudy, and with a half-moon, there was plenty of light t
o see him as he swung down from the rail to sit on the platform, hanging his legs over the edge.

  I didn't particularly like that he'd moved so quickly to facing away from me, but now that he'd sat there, it looked like it was a rather smart way to sit.

  I settled in beside him, not using the rail to swing as he had, for I thought it was likely I'd swing myself right off.

  "Will you tell me how old you are now?" I asked.

  It was too dark, definitely to see his eyes or anything, but I heard a slight breath in the silence. "Is that why you called me here?"

  "No. Well, not completely."

  "What happened with Vartus? Is there a union in your future?"

  "Didn't I tell you that the princess of Shaundakul doesn't like to be unioned?"

  "Unioned," he echoed, his head shifting up from where it had been aimed, out ahead of us. "Is that an official term, princess?"

  "Yes. It's from Shaundakul," I lied fluidly. "But that's not what I've called you to talk about. I asked you to come because... I thought, well, I thought... I don't take this lightly, but I thought you might like to hear about Amalia's past."

  Cole made no reaction, except that if silence made a sound, I thought he would have made it. He'd gone perfectly still. Even his breath, I couldn't tell at.

  "Cole?" I repeated.

  "Why would you think I wanted to know about that?"

  "I don't mean about her sons and everything. I know you probably know that. Everyone does. I mean before. She's... well, she told me. I'm not sure how many people know of it. But I wouldn't want you thinking, in case you did, that she was wrong for going to Akadia."

  "Do you have a habit of thinking people that join with Akadia weren't wrong in doing so?"

  I twisted my features to a scowl. "If you're going to be rude, I'll just not tell you."

  He let out a ragged breath. I bit my lip. Normally I would be angry with someone for saying such a thing, referring to Cyric, but I knew that Akadia had hurt Cole. How wouldn't he be sensitive about it?