Erin spun round to face Seth. “The cow! You know, I’ve really tried to like Kezeah. I’ve worked hard to see things from her perspective. But it’s just not happening. And you know what’s even worse?”
Seth grinned at her outraged face. “Calm down, Sparkles. Getting worked up about dead people is a complete waste of time.”
“But you don’t get it. Kezeah could be Mia talking. It’s just the sort of thing she would say as she helps herself to your boyfriend.”
“I don’t have a boyfriend,” Seth said, laughing at her now. “But I get the drift. You don’t like your sister. And judging by Sophia’s face, I would say she feels the same way about Kezeah.”
Sophia’s eyes flash angrily at Kezeah. “Daniel is now your husband. Show some loyalty.” A bored sigh oozed out of Kezeah. It infuriated Sophia even more. “I don’t see Daniel hanging around you. Maybe you weren’t so wonderful last night either.”
“He’s looking for Caleb,” Kezeah hissed. “To save your butt.”
Sophia took a few steps away from her sister and scanned the crowds, praying that Caleb would come. No matter how much she was dreading it, she had to face him today. Somehow she had to convince him that nothing – much – had happened between her and Jared, regardless of what lies Marlthas had probably told him.
The babble of conversation suddenly stilled. The crowd parted. Someone of rank had obviously arrived. Erin felt Sophia’s heart pound, but her fearful hope was ungrounded. It wasn’t Caleb but Daniel who walked towards them.
“No sign of him, Sophia,” Daniel whispered when he reached her. “I checked all the places I know he likes to go, but nothing. I’m sorry, really I am.”
Sophia swallowed hard. “What do I do, Daniel?”
“I know it’s crazy, but I even tried to find Jared, thinking he could take you on the hunt. But he’s busy with his father and Lord Alfred. Heavy discussions going on about his new promotion.”
Sophia’s heart skipped a beat. “Jared? Promoted?”
“To Warlord. He should have been made Warlord years ago, but Rustus always blocked it. He’s . . . how can I put this? Protective. He even pulled Jared out of Ammarod when things started getting bloody there.”
Is this why Jared lied about me? So he could get this promotion? Sophia’s legs trembled. Scared she would crumple in front of everyone, she stumbled out of the Fortress gate, and sank onto the grass.
Misunderstanding Sophia’s shock, Daniel followed, crouching down beside her. “Rustus has sent dozens of Pledged to look for Caleb. Someone will find him.”
Sophia forced a smile to thank Daniel for his concern.
Daniel stroked his hawk, not making eye contact. “You and I are in the same boat with our marriage partners, Sophia, so it would help if we can be friends.”
“I’d like that very much.”
Kezeah stormed over and grabbed Daniel by the shoulder. “Surely if Caleb’s not coming, you can lead this hunt? I’ve been watching the sky and it looks like it’s going to rain this afternoon.”
A quick glance at the cloud-castles building in the sky confirmed Kezeah’s words. Daniel stood. “We must get going. Hunting in the rain is never much fun.”
“I’ll stay here to wait for Caleb.”
Daniel squeezed Sophia’s shoulder.
“Where’s your bow and quiver, Daniel?” Kezeah asked. “Don’t tell me we all now have to wait while you go and fetch them.”
Daniel turned to face her. “I will be hunting with my hawk.”
“You can’t be serious. That stupid bird only raids other birds’ nests. She won’t bring back an impala for our wedding feast.”
“Our wedding feast?” Daniel asked, not taking his eyes off Kezeah’s face. “I didn’t realise you were in the mood for celebrating,”
Kezeah pointed at all the other teenagers “What will they think if we sit down tonight to a . . . what? A few broken egg shells!”
Daniel gave her a grim smile as he stroked his hawk’s back. “I’ve had Light-Being since she was a chick. The Outcasts raided the wrong nest when they were looking for hunting birds. When the gamekeeper saw her he wanted to kill her, because she’s utterly useless to man. But I kept her, even though everyone thought I was a weakling who didn’t have the guts to watch a fledgling being killed. And you know what?” – he gestured to listening teenagers – “I don’t care what they think of me. But I do care what you think of me. Because, idiot or not, somehow I see a flicker of something in you that means something. So, when you’re ready to let that girl escape from this heartless, grasping creature I see in front of me, I promise I’ll bring you the greatest treasure I can find to celebrate our marriage. But until then – nothing.” Daniel didn’t wait to see the scarlet flush that ripened Kezeah’s face. “Come,” he called. “Let’s get this hunt going.”
A cheer arose as he led the eager phalanx down the hill. With a scowl at Sophia, Kezeah followed after them. Unsure of whom to follow, Seth and Erin hesitated, but the pull to remain with Sophia was greater than the push to follow the hunters.
“Let’s just chill,” Seth said, stretching out on the grass next to Sophia. “Every holiday needs some R-and-R built into the schedule.”
“And the view is dramatic,” Erin said with a smile. The sun in its pre-storm death-throes cast a vivid light across the plain below, intensifying the colour of the dust stirred up by the hooves of fleeing animals.
Seth suddenly sat bolt upright, listening.
“And now?” Erin asked.
“We have incoming. And he’s in a mood fit to kill.”
Erin saw Caleb striding towards Sophia. “He looks calmer than when we saw him last.”
“Don’t be fooled by the packaging. He’s so mad. But the thing with his father terrified him, so he’s doing his best to keep it together.”
Caleb stopped in front of Sophia. “You have some explaining to do.”
“I know.” Sophia stood to face him. “And I’m sorry. I promise, from now on I’ll be a better wife to you.”
“You’re not my wife. And you never will be.”
In desperation, Sophia took his hand. A charge of current surged through him. As ridiculous as he knew it was, he ached to hold her, to kiss her, to have her. Just in time he remembered Phineas’s words: “Sophia has been offered to you as a test – an exercise in self-control, if you will . . .” He found the strength to pull his hand away from hers. “You leave me with a real problem–”
“Caleb, please listen to me. I admit it’s an extraordinary thing to have to say to my betrothed, but my interest in Jared has waned. Gone, to be more precise.”
“And you expect me to believe that?”
“I’ll make you an oath on my life, Caleb. Jared is the last person in the world I would ever want.” She looked down, hiding her eyes, searching for the will to tell him that she wanted him, but the words refused to form. Finally she whispered, “It’s you I need.”
He stared at her with a puzzled expression. Then he asked Phineas for help. An oath on her life! Why would she risk that? Decipher this for me.
“That I cannot do.” Phineas stepped out of the Fourth Dimension. “I’ve told you everything you need to know about Sophia and Jared. If I tell you more, it will rob you of your right to reason. I’ll just caution you to consider all you know about your father and his brothers.”
Wonderful. Ever helpful, Caleb thought bitterly.
Phineas’s eyebrows bunched over his nose. Like Erin and Seth, he could see Cassandra’s smoky form hovering between the Dimensions, waiting for her chance to attack Caleb.
Unnerved by Caleb’s long silence, Sophia pleaded, “Let’s put yesterday behind us and join in the feast tonight, Caleb. If we give it a chance we might even grow to like each other.”
Caleb hesitated, torn between his longing to be with her, and his absolute desire to shun her. “I first need to speak to Jared. There’s just too much at stake here.”
Sophia threw back her head in
frustration as Caleb turned towards the Fortress. He had not gone far when an ear-blasting crack of thunder split the sky. Rain spiked with hail came lashing down. Sophia jolted with fright and started running after him.
Seth leapt up, grabbed Erin’s hand, and broke into a run, quickly overtaking Caleb. They saw Jared standing in the doorway, smiling at Sophia. Seth’s face burst into a grin as he read Jared’s thoughts. “He knows nothing about all the lies,” he shouted to Erin above the roar of the storm. “He’d have come to Sophia ages ago if it hadn’t been for his meeting with Rustus and Alfred.”
“So he really does love her?”
Seth didn’t get to reply. A bolt of lightning struck the ground close to where Caleb and Sophia were running. Caleb sped up, throwing himself into the entrance hall. Seeing him coming, Jared stepped aside. It was obvious that Caleb was oblivious to him.
Seth and Erin turned to watch Sophia. Hampered by her long dress, she was the last to arrive. As she reached the doorway her feet slipped on slushy hailstones. Jared stepped out into the rain, gripped her arm and pulled her into the entrance hall. Erin glanced at Caleb, waiting for his reaction, but he was too busy shaking rainwater out of his hair to notice.
“You creep!” Sophia said, wrenching her hand away from Jared as if scalded. “I would rather be stoned with ice than let you touch me.” She stalked away, deeper into the hall.
Caleb’s eyes darted up, instantly drawn to Sophia’s voice. His mouth dropped as she moved passed him, near naked in the wet silk.
Jared was about to challenge Sophia when he spotted Caleb’s lust-struck face. A quick glance at Sophia’s dress, and he understood. With a hiss of rage, he draped his cloak around her to hide her from Caleb.
“Drop dead, Jared,” she snarled. With a flick of her shoulders, she threw Jared’s cloak onto the floor and stepped on it, grinding her heels hard into it. Then she raced out the room.
Stunned by her reaction, Jared was about to chase after her when Caleb grabbed his arm. “We need to talk.”
With obvious reluctance, Jared pulled his eyes away from the doorway through which Sophia had vanished. “I’ve been waiting all day for this opportunity.”
“Well, now you have it. Come.”
Seth and Erin followed them into a deserted room, clearly the Armoury, given the rows of weapons lining the walls. Caleb slammed the door shut just as Cassandra and Phineas stepped through the wall. Seth, Erin, and the dead sat on wooden chairs, waiting for the showdown.
Caleb was the first to speak. “To say I’m angry with you would be a gross understatement, Jared, but I have something more important to discuss than Sophia.”
Jared cocked his head to one side and waited.
“Talitha. I take it you remember her.”
“How could I forget? You two were all over each other. Like a rash, as I recall.”
Refusing to be baited, Caleb replied, “You told me she was dead. Murdered by Eli and Bastion. But I understand from . . . shall I say, unimpeachable sources, that you . . . that she’s alive.”
“Which brings me to what I wanted to talk to you about today. I have a deal to offer you.”
“I’m not interested in deals, Jared. I want to know about Talitha.”
“Then I suggest you listen to what I’m offering you. It’s a simple trade, Caleb. And I’ll even throw in my considerable influence with your father to sweeten the pot.”
“Jared, as usual, you’re not making sense. No surprise there. Now cut it and tell me what happened to Talitha.”
With a wafer-thin crust of calmness hiding his emotions, Jared said, “I’ll trade Talitha and Elizabeth for Sophia. That’s the deal.”
“Elizabeth? Who the hell is Elizabeth?”
“Your daughter.”
“My daughter?”
“Talitha was pregnant when she left here. They’re both yours. But you first have to publically renounce your betrothal to Sophia.”
Caleb slumped back against the wall, rattling a rack of swords. A daughter? Phineas never said anything about a daughter. So who’s lying here? Seeing his confusion, Cassandra surged towards him, but Phineas brushed her away. Buying time while he thought all this through, Caleb said, “But Sophia doesn’t want you. She even made me an oath on her life to prove that.”
Jared’s eyes widened at this unexpected and most unwelcomed bit of news. But he was not easily side-tracked. “Leave it to me to sort out what our uncles and fathers have done to Sophia. All you have to do is decide if you want to spend the rest of your life with Talitha and your child.”
A storm of thoughts and doubts tumbled through Caleb’s mind, finally crystallizing into a single question: “Why did you lie to me about Talitha?”
“I didn’t lie.”
Phineas chose that moment to whisper into Caleb’s head, “Now’s your chance to sort this out. Grasp it with both hands.”
Before Caleb could react to Phineas, Jared continued, “If word got out here that Talitha was alive, Marlthas would have mounted a campaign to kill her. And the people hiding her. That’s not something I wanted on my conscience.”
“Your conscience! What conscience?”
Jared held up his hands. “Caleb, as much as I love fighting with you, let’s get back to the deal.”
Caleb took a deep breath. “So where’s Talitha now?”
“That information isn’t on the table until you publically renounced your claim to Sophia. Then I will personally row you to Talitha.”
“I’d like to see that.”
“Consider it done. Just fulfil your part of the deal.”
“You expect me to fall for your ‘deal’ after you’ve already lied to me. What kind idiot do you take me for, Jared?”
Jared resisted the urge to reply to that question, and said instead, “It’s all in the definition, Caleb. You say I lied. I say I’ve protected your girl and your child. Twice. Not bad for a Pledged, is it? Now, in return, all I’m asking for is Sophia. A fair trade, I would think.” Jared paused. “Especially seeing as the only way to get your father to agree to all this would be to slit him open. So, in effect, you even get the title of Overlord out of the deal. Don’t say I’m not generous.”
Caleb’s face flushed and his pulse raced. Then searing doubts beset him. As much as he wanted to believe that Talitha still loved him, his logic told him it was impossible. He would have struggled to forgive her if she had betrayed him. He had known it was wrong to make love to her, but they had wanted each other so much that passion had won over morals. He’d regretted it every day since then. How much more would she hate him for what had happened? Added to that, his army had murdered her mother, and half her Family. That same army still occupied her Family’s lands and were even now hunting for her father. It was inconceivable that any human would ever forgive that. Although alive, Talitha was as lost to him as if she had been dead. But he would never give Jared the satisfaction of knowing that. So he hedged. “Trust is a real problem, Jared. I need something more to work on, to make me believe that you’re not lying.”
“Why would I lie?”
“Because you’re lusting after my Norin whore,” he said to infuriate Jared. “And lust makes people do crazy things.”
“You, of all people, dare to call Sophia a whore!” Jared’s fist came from nowhere, smashing into Caleb’s jaw, catapulting him back against the wall. The crunch of his body sent the display of swords clattering in every direction. It jolted Jared out of his rage. He looked down at his bruised knuckles, unable to believe what he’d done.
But it was too late.
White-faced with anger, Caleb fumbled for a sword, clambered to his feet and slashed the weapon at Jared. He leapt back and grabbed the closest sword, cutting and thrusting at Caleb. It was clear that the last five years in the military had given Jared an edge in the skills department, but Caleb was much quicker on his feet.
“No, boys! No! No! No!” Phineas shouted into their heads. But his boys ignored him. Cassandra threw back her
rag-like head and laughed. “You mustn’t fight,” Phineas pleaded. “You need each other too much. Neither of you can win without the help of the other.”
Phineas’s words steadied Jared. For a split second he saw himself and Caleb laughing and playing together, back in the days when nothing mattered more than their friendship. It was wrenching. Breathing hard against his sorrow for all that had been lost, he lowered his sword, and then flung it onto the floor. “Deal or no deal, Caleb? Last time I ask before I walk out of here.”
Caleb also dropped his weapon, but when he spoke there was no surrender in his voice. “No deal, Jared. You are as responsible for this mess as I am. You don’t just get to walk away as if nothing happened. If you want Sophia, you now have to earn her. And you do that by rebuilding my trust.”
With all the venom of Reuel’s Curse pounding in his veins, Jared shot back, “Then, Caleb, I suggest you find someone else to help you rule Shenaya when you come to power. I no longer believe you have the will – or the guts – to implement your vision for Shenayan freedom you sold me on when we were kids.” He strode to the door, then turned, stopping long enough to add, “I look forward to the birth of your son. The one Gideon prophesied about, and whom Namar has predicted will be born within the year. The son who will wipe you off this earth forever. And trust me – I, for one, will be fighting right there by his side.”
The slamming of the door behind Jared reverberated through the Armoury, rattling every weapon.
“Why are you so unforgiving, Caleb,” Phineas pleaded in Caleb’s head. “You know he’s cursed. With all your fine attributes, just this one terrible weakness!”
“Phineas, how dare you say that to me! I didn’t start this. It’s Reuel and Gideon and all you manipulating dead who are to blame. And I’ve had enough of all you. I will never pledge to Reuel. But I’ll never support Gideon either. This is my life and I’ll live it the way I want to. Now go, and never come back.”
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