by Anna Kashina
As they neared the door, there was a loud popping sound. Smoke filled the hallway and dissipated in a few moments, as suddenly as it came. Kyth stared.
The hall outside was empty. The Kaddim Brothers, their men, and even the bodies left by Mai and Raishan during their rescue run to the throne room, were gone.
“Bloody hell,” Egey Bashi said by Kyth’s ear.
Kyth turned. Behind the Magister people were stirring, raising their heads and wiping blood off their faces.
“They’re gone,” Egey Bashi said.
“What do you mean, gone?” Mai demanded, approaching.
The Keeper stepped aside, letting them see the emptiness of the hallway.
“Blasted h–” Mai stopped, throwing a cautious glance at Princess Aljbeda in his arms. The child was coming around. Kyth was relieved to see that the Kaddim Brothers’ blast had done no permanent damage to her. She turned, holding on to Mai’s neck and surveying Kyth with bright-eyed curiosity.
Everyone else was now looking at him too. But he only had eyes for Kara. He stood still, peering into her face.
He saw it all, the strain and fear of her death fight, the calm concentration of a warrior trained to deal with it, and a special detachment behind, showing how hard it was for her to keep this incredible control. He was so glad to see her alive that he could just stand there forever, holding her gaze. He felt so weak he was barely able to stand upright, but he didn’t care. She was alive. She was all right. It was enough to know this, to realize he still had a reason to live.
“Are you all right?” he asked.
Her smile was guarded as she looked at him. “Yes. And you?”
He nodded, too weak to talk. Raishan’s arm supported him.
“What did you just do?” Egey Bashi demanded.
“I’m not sure.”
“It was bloody stupid to let them go.”
Kyth threw another glance at Kara, her face drawn, her torn dress stained with blood. She looked calm, but he could see the emotion underneath. She’d almost died. If it hadn’t been for Mai.
He swallowed and looked back at the Keeper.
“I couldn’t hold them anymore,” he said quietly. “Not when they stopped using their power.” He swayed and Raishan’s arm grasped his elbow. He reached out and steadied himself against the Majat, finding the balance to stand on his own feet.
“Are you sure you’re not hurt?” Egey Bashi asked.
“I’m fine,” Kyth heard himself saying. “Just fine.”
50
ROYAL BONDS
Evan looked at the approaching group, feeling the deadly strain of the past few hours slowly release its grip, giving way to fatigue. Kyth was in the lead, closely followed by Raishan and Egey Bashi. Watching him, Evan reflected that he would never again think of his son as a boy who needed guidance to understand the ways of the royals. Kyth was a man, his equal, the rightful heir to the throne.
His eyes itched. But kings didn’t cry or rush forward to embrace anyone, even their only sons returning from a deadly battle. He smiled instead.
“Well done, son.”
Kyth nodded. Their eyes locked, blue on blue, and a long private look passed between them.
Evan looked further to Raishan and Egey Bashi, his gaze inadvertently pausing on the Keeper’s face. Staring closer, Evan realized he wasn’t sure if it was the same man he knew.
“Magister Egey Bashi?” he asked. “What the hell happened to your face?”
The Keeper gave him a dark look. “It’s a long story, Your Majesty.”
Mother Keeper brushed past Evan, stopping in front of the Magister. She reached out and touched his face, running her fingers along the barely visible line where the scar had been. For a moment she looked fragile and vulnerable like a little girl.
“I, for one, look forward to hearing this remarkable story, Magister,” she said. “And I’m so glad to see you.”
“Likewise.” Egey Bashi gave her a slight bow, his eyes burning with an intensity that made Evan feel he was prying just by witnessing it. He looked away to Mai, who stood at the back holding little Princess Aljbeda in his arms.
“Aghat Mai,” he said. “I was beginning to feel concerned about you.”
The Majat bowed. He looked like he was about to say something, but at that moment Princess Aljbeda lifted her head.
She was pale, but seemed unharmed. Her eyes shone with bright curiosity as she surveyed Mai’s face, first from up close, then drawing further away to see him better.
“I know who you are,” she said. “You’re Aghat Mai. The King’s bodyguard. My ladies talk about you a lot.” Her gaze became thoughtful, as if she was trying to recall the words. “They say things about your body. They like it, I think. They call you… dashing and dangerous, I believe. But I think they only mean to say that you are attractive and handsome. They say that too, sometimes. They also say you look good enough to eat.” She gave him an appraising glance. “I don’t think they really mean this last bit,” she added.
There was an awkward silence.
“I think they do,” Egey Bashi said under his breath.
Evan suppressed a smile, watching Lady Lavinia step forward and take the child from Mai’s arms. As she did, she gave him a meaningful glance. “You’re very good with children, Aghat.”
Mai bowed. “You’re very kind, my lady.”
She smiled and measured him with another long look before receding to the back of the group.
Evan’s gaze moved to Kara, who had kept very quiet during the entire exchange. Even after her ordeal, wounded and disheveled, she still looked stunning. The lilac silk brought out the deep shine in her violet eyes and accented her dark smooth skin, so that it gave off a faint suffused glow. The lines of her shoulders and breasts, carefully emphasized by the low cut of the dress, were so perfect that Evan found it difficult not to stare. It took a second look to notice the deep crimson streaks staining the precious cloth, and a rip in front that exposed the bare skin underneath. He hoped that some of this blood belonged to her enemies and that she wasn’t hurt as badly as the state of her dress suggested.
“Are you all right, Aghat?” he asked. “You gave us quite a fright.”
She smiled. “Sorry, Your Majesty. It was too late to devise a better plan for saving the Princess. Getting into her retinue was the only thing I could do.”
Evan nodded. “It was a very clever disguise. You had everyone’s attention completely distracted. You looked so–”
She stiffened. Mai and Raishan by her sides stood up straight, fixing their eyes firmly ahead.
Evan took the hint.
“–so much in control,” he finished smoothly.
The tension in her neck relaxed. “My disguise was Lady Lavinia’s idea. She’s really good at such things.” She turned to the Olivian, who stood calmly by her side, holding the Princess in her arms.
Lady Lavinia’s smile held the approval of a teacher looking at a very talented student.
“You’re kind, my lady,” she said, “but I really didn’t do much. With your looks, I didn’t need to.”
“I am afraid I ruined this beautiful gown, Lady Lavinia.”
The Olivian lady smiled. “You did it credit, my lady. It was as if this gown was made for you. You should always wear dresses.”
“Regretfully, it’s not my style, my lady.”
Lavinia shook her head, the golden ringlets of her hair scattering seductively over her bare shoulder. “Of course it is, my lady. You have a beautiful body. You shouldn’t be shy to show it.”
Kara went very still. Her eyes darted to the two Majat, who stared ahead, their faces so straight that they seemed wooden.
“Not if I can help it,” she said through clenched teeth.
Daemur Illitand approached, his eyes darting between Evan and Kyth with an expression of uncertainty.
Evan smiled. “You’re under arrest, Lord Daemur. For high treason. As well as you, Tanad,” he turned to Eli Faruh, who traile
d behind the Duke, trying hard to blend into the background.
Daemur lifted his chin. “You’re still in my castle, Your Majesty. I regret what happened between us, and I no longer intend to keep you here against your will, but on this soil I command a greater force than you. None of your guards are even here. You can’t hope to apprehend me all by yourself, can you?”
Evan looked past him, meeting Mai’s gaze. The Diamond stepped forward and lowered on one knee in front of the King.
“Your Majesty,” he said. “With your permission, I’m here to resume my duty on the Pentade.” He held out his Diamond token. Evan reached forward and took it.
“Welcome back, Aghat Mai,” he said.
A look passed between them. Then Mai’s hand shot up, drawing his weapon from the sheath at his back. As he rose to his feet, the tip of his staff touched Daemur’s throat.
“I probably could apprehend you all by myself, Lord Daemur,” Evan said. “I’ve always been a better swordsman than you. But since Aghat Mai is here, it won’t be necessary.”
Daemur’s eyes darted between Evan and Mai with the look of a trapped animal. Before he could speak, the door at the back of the room flung open, letting in a procession led by a slight, elegant figure in a green dress with a golden trim.
Lady Celana crossed the hall toward them. Her heart-shaped face, red hair, and porcelain skin were no less striking than Lady Lavinia’s features, but instead of drawing gazes she reflected them like a polished mirror as she walked, her steps so smooth that she seemed to be gliding over the floor. Her deep green eyes shone with a chilling intelligence far beyond her age, which Evan believed to be sixteen.
Two dozen Illitand guards followed in her wake, along with Ellah, Odara Sul and the Rubies of the Pentade. They caught Mai’s gaze and stood to attention, their faces reflecting carefully disguised relief.
Lady Celana knelt on the floor in front of the King.
Evan hesitated. He couldn’t help feeling uneasy about this sudden display of loyalty from someone who had been a party to keeping him prisoner for the past few weeks.
“Rise, my lady,” he said.
She remained kneeling. “I beg for mercy, Your Majesty.”
“If you beg for your father, my lady, it’s not up to you to decide his fate. His crime’s too grave.”
She raised her face to him. “My lord father was influenced by an evil man. You know this man’s power, Your Majesty. You know he can control minds and bend people to his will. My father fell victim to him, just like you.”
Evan looked at Daemur who stood very still, with the tip of Mai’s staff at his throat. He knew the Duke too well to fully believe Lady Celana. Yet, there was sense in it. He and Daemur had grown up together. When Evan came to this castle in disguise, he hadn’t anticipated being held captive. It would have been utterly stupid for the Duke of Illitand to think he could get away with it. Only Kaddim Tolos could have thought…
He stopped himself. Whatever the Duke’s reasons, he would never trust this family again.
“Rise, my lady,” he said again. “It’s not up to you to decide your father’s fate.”
Her eyes searched out Kyth, prompting.
He stepped forward. “Lady Celana helped us, father. She led us into the castle and sent her guards to aid us, so that we could reach you in time. On behalf of her family, she pledged loyalty to our house. And, since Ellah was with us, we know she was speaking the truth.”
Daemur looked up. “She did what?”
Lady Celana glanced at her father calmly and turned back to Evan.
“Our house is loyal to the King,” she said. “Prince Kythar was kind enough to accept my pledge. I am, forever, loyal to him. And to you, Your Majesty.”
Evan looked at her in surprise, catching a reflection of his thoughts in Daemur’s gaze. The Duke of Illitand had called Kyth an abomination and offered his daughter to Evan as a bride. Yet now, when Kyth singlehandedly drove away the deadly force that had attacked this castle and nearly destroyed the entire monarchy in Tallan Dar, the tables turned. Evan could see the thought process going on behind the smooth white skin of the Duke’s forehead.
Daemur Illitant paused, then slowly lowered to his knees in front of Evan. “I join my daughter in begging your forgiveness, Your Majesty. I have been led astray by a powerful enemy. I wasn’t acting of my own will.”
“While I was here,” Evan said, “things have been said between us that would be hard to redeem, Duke.”
“I regret everything that I said, Sire,” Daemur said quietly. “I wasn’t in control of my mind. If you can’t find it in your heart to forgive me, I’ll gladly pay for my mistakes.”
Evan gave him an appraising look. He didn’t believe any of it, but now wasn’t the time to find out the truth. They had more urgent business to attend to.
“Rise, Lord and Lady of Illitand,” he said. “You will come with me to the Crown City. There, your fate will be decided.”
Father and daughter slowly rose to their feet. It didn’t escape Evan how Lady Celana chose a place very close to Kyth, giving him a private glance that Kyth returned with polite indifference.
Despite everything that had happened, Evan couldn’t help thinking how good the two of them looked together, two royal children of the rival houses. They were a match, both in age and in looks, a handsome heir to the ancient Dorn line, and a beautiful, smart lady, fit to rule the lands by his side. The children of their union would bear the bloodlines of the two royal families, ending centuries of rivalry between the Dorns and the Illitands. These children would be undisputed rulers of the kingdom of Tallan Dar.
Evan knew that Kyth was in love with Kara, but there was nothing good that could come of this unnatural affection of a crown prince for an elite warrior of the Diamond rank. One day, she could perhaps become the leader of his Pentade. But she could never be a queen to rule by his side.
Evan met Daemur’s eyes.
“We must travel back as soon as we can,” he said. “We have a High Council to hold.”
51
FOCUS
Kyth made his way across the camp to Alder, sitting alone at the edge of the glade. It was dark, but his foster brother’s gaze, directed into the bushes, was alert, as if watching intense activity. Three large spiders perched on his left shoulder. Kyth’s skin crept as he settled on the log next to his foster brother.
They sat for a moment in silence. Then Alder spoke.
“I heard what you did back at the castle. Amazing.”
Kyth smiled. “I keep hearing some amazing things about you. Can you really talk to trees?”
Alder’s gaze became distant.
“They’re my kin,” he said quietly.
Kyth hesitated. It was the first time that Alder hadn’t included him when talking about anything that concerned him closely. He looked searchingly into his foster brother’s eyes.
“Garnald says you’re a Mirewalker now,” he said.
Alder nodded. “Yes. But that name doesn’t really mean much. It’s not about the Mire at all.”
“What is it about, then?”
Alder met his gaze, but didn’t speak.
“It’s about Ayalla, isn’t it?” Kyth asked quietly.
Alder’s eyes became dreamy. “Yes. But not in the way you think. At least, not only that way.” He paused, color slowly rising to his cheeks. Kyth waited.
“She’s not just a beautiful woman,” Alder went on after a moment. “She’s the mother of the forest.”
Kyth hesitated. He knew what she was. And yet, the way Alder said it made him wonder if he really did.
“You mean,” he said carefully, “the trees are her real children.”
Alder looked at him in exasperation.
“Not just the trees. The forest. Life. All of it.”
Kyth still didn’t understand. He felt as if he was falling into an abyss, too big for him to comprehend. Perhaps he wasn’t really meant to know a truth so important that catching a glimpse of i
t had made Alder so mature and so different in such a short time. Perhaps Kyth simply wasn’t ready for it.
“So, what happens now?” he asked quietly.
Alder smiled. “Life. Ayalla says we all have a chance, because of your gift.”
“A chance?”
“Our enemies serve the Cursed Destroyer. They’re against life, against everything Ayalla stands for. It will get worse before it gets better, but Ayalla says there’s hope.”
Kyth continued to hold his gaze. He still didn’t understand, but again, he had a feeling that perhaps he wasn’t meant to.
“What’ll happen to you?” he asked. “After the council’s over, will you go back with Ayalla?”
Alder hesitated. “She says you need me”
“I do,” Kyth said. “I always feel better with you by my side. But it’s not about me. You must follow your heart. I’ll never ask you to stay with me if it isn’t what you want to do.”
Their eyes met. Just like in the old times, a private exchange that only the two of them could understand. “All is well,” their eyes said. They smiled, sitting next to each other, looking into the dark forest.
Egey Bashi looked around the camp. Everyone was settling down to sleep. In the distance, four large tents rose out of the grass, housing King Evan, the Olivians, and the Duke of Illitand with his daughter and servants. Setting the tents up every night was a waste of time. But matters of etiquette demanded that the royal ladies, including little Princess Aljbeda, remained hidden from the men’s eyes during such intimate times as sleep, and the King couldn’t possibly be extended less courtesy than his highborn guests. Needless to say, the Duke of Illitand, despite being the King’s prisoner, couldn’t settle for anything less than his royal counterpart. Things tended to get out of proportion where royals were concerned.
It would have been better if they had stayed at the inns, plentiful along the main road. But there were no inns large enough to accommodate their entire party that, with the Cha’ori, the Illitand guards and the Olivian ladies came close to six dozen people. Besides, Mai had insisted that it would be safer to camp, so that the King’s deadly escort of seven gem-ranked Majat could maintain a safe perimeter around the entire group by spacing themselves evenly on the outside of the tent circle. Evan was eager to go along with it. After recent events, he seemed to trust his bodyguard unconditionally.