Storm Without End (Requiem for the Rift King Book 1)

by RJ Blain

  Silence answered his words. Kalen’s lips twitched up into a smile. “I’ve been across most of it. From top to bottom, north to south, east to west. I may rule from a study, but my throne is a saddle, my crown is made of dirt, and my court is made of serpents, horses, and men as rough as the land we call home.”

  “It sounds like a beautiful place,” his mother said. She hung a pot from the hook above the fire. “Not at all like the rumors.”

  “There’s almost always truth in rumors. Just because something is beautiful doesn’t mean it’s safe. Enough of that. Delrose, if you want my cooperation, I want my Guardians. Both of them. Intact, unharmed, and kept where I can see them.”

  “I was wondering when you’d start making your demands, and I thought you’d ask for something like that. If that’s what you want, then perhaps an arrangement can be made. If they catch up with us, then they can join us. They found you once, surely they can find you again. If they want to.”

  Kalen ground his teeth together and forced a smile. “What aren’t you telling me?”

  “All I want is for you to come with me to Elenrune before I take you back to the Rift.”

  “I told you I’d consider it, and I will. But, I’ll consider it on my own terms. I’m still not convinced the answers I need are in Elenrune. I’d rather go there after I’ve learned what there is to know. Then I can deal with the problem.”

  “And how do you plan to deal with the problem?” his sire asked, his eyes paling to a frosty blue.

  Kalen lifted his cast and gestured at his left shoulder. “Life or limb, Lord Delrose? I think the answer is obvious, don’t you?”

  Chapter Twelve

  A weight settled over Kalen’s stomach and chest, pinning him to the porch bench. Panic choked off his breath. He tensed.

  Someone giggled and the weight holding him down squirmed and wiggled. Fighting to keep his breath even and feign sleep, he cracked open an eye and peeked through his lashes.

  “Kaaaallleeen,” Welis sang Kalen’s name in his ear and the child’s finger poked his nose.

  “It isn’t even dawn yet,” he mumbled. Relief left him limp.

  “Why are you sleeping on the porch?”

  Kalen lifted his arm and draped his elbow over his eyes. “Who could sleep in there with all of that snoring?”

  “Father is quite noisy,” Aden said. “We wanted to ask you some questions.”

  “We?”

  Welis hopped off of him, and Kalen lurched upright. He rubbed at his eyes with his finger and blinked. The rumble of a snore drowned out the sounds of the night and he glanced toward the door without bothering to mask his disgust.

  In the flickering light of a candle, all ten of his siblings stared at him. The darkness hid their expressions. “Very well. I’m up. Let’s talk then. Near the horses?”

  One of his sisters thrust his boots at him, but he couldn’t tell which one with the dim illumination. “Thanks.” He shoved his feet into his boots and stuffed the laces inside without trying to tie them.

  He followed the group to where the horses slept and leaned against one of the hitches. In the pre-dawn gloom, the animals were all dark colored. He wanted to imagine that one of them was Ferethian, and that he wasn’t alone among strangers.

  Even if those strangers shared his blood. Some of them, he suspected, wanted to acknowledge him as family. He didn’t dare let them get too close, but at the same time, he couldn’t quite force himself to shove them away, either. “What do you want to know?”

  “Are you really a king?” Welis asked.

  “Yes.”

  “With a crown and everything?”

  “You know, I never bothered asking if there’s a crown. Who’d want to wear one anyway? I do have a sword, though. I normally wear a replica of it. The real one stays in my study more often than not. And no, I don’t have a throne. I don’t want one either.”

  “Oooh.” Welis stared at him with wide eyes.

  “Are you married?” one of his sisters asked.

  “No. We don’t have marriage in the Rift. Closest we have are court-mated pairings, and those are rare. Breton’s sire and dam were court-mated.”

  “What does that mean?” she replied.

  Kalen squinted in the darkness at the girl and struggled to remember her name. When his memory failed him, he covered it with a smile and a shrug. “It means they dedicate themselves to each other. Should their attentions of affections wander, the penalty is death.”

  The questions reminded him so much of the past, of when he’d been learning how to survive as the Rift King. He tried not to grin at the Delrose family, but his mouth refused to obey him. How many times before had he answered these same questions with Arik’s youngest children? “Anything else you want to know?”

  “Do you have any children?” Aden asked.

  Kalen hesitated. How much did they really need to learn about him? The question was innocent enough. He swallowed to sooth his dry throat, and wondered how many of his foals had even noticed he was gone. “I adopted Arik’s, but I have none of my own. My youngest is fourteen. Her name is Ara. She was born seven months after her sire died.”

  Kalen’s smile faded. Ara had been the first to call him father. Had any of the others been the first, perhaps he could’ve denied it. Perhaps his desire to cling to the solitude of Vekakati would’ve worked. “What of you? Are any of you wed?”

  “I am,” Aden said. “As are Bevin and Rorick. Glacia and Aerelle are betrothed.”

  “I get married in a year,” Glacia said.

  “My turn for a question, then. If so many of you are wed, why aren’t your families here with you? Why is it just you? Would you not have brought your wives? Children?”

  “They stayed in Elenrune for the Makings and the festivals. Father said he wanted to have a meeting with the family at the end of the harvest. We were getting ready to head back to the city when…” Aden stared at him and shook his head.

  “When the Danarites came,” Kalen supplied. “I will do my best to ensure that this cursed foolishness doesn’t spread that far, but that isn’t something I can promise will succeed. It may be in your better interests to secure your father’s wealth and head to the south or the northeast. If I were the Lord Priests, Elenrune would be the first place I would strike.”

  “I feared as much,” Aden replied. “Thank you for your honesty.”

  “I’ve no interest in seeing more people die than necessary, and all that war between Kelsh and Danar would bring is bloodshed, and a lot of it.” Kalen draped his arm over the wooden rail and stifled a yawn. “But considered yourselves warned. I’ve spent the past fifteen years trying to prevent this. Unfortunately, reason is something neither side wants to listen to.” Aden opened his mouth to speak, but Kalen interrupted him by clearing his throat. “Don’t argue. Listen. Think. The only threat isn’t war. What do you think will happen to the rest of the Six should Kelsh and Danar join sides? Not even Mithrias could stand up to them for all it boasts the strongest military force.”

  “We’d never join sides with them,” Bevin snapped.

  “No? Then explain to me why a Knight of Kelsh rode in ambush with a Lord Priest of Danar. Explain to me why a Yadesh will forever carry the scar made by his Rider, err, Knight. Explain to me why that Knight stood and watched over the slaughter of a young Knight, his Yadesh, and his own people. When you have a satisfactory answer to that one, I’ll hear you out. Until then, remember well that you’ve a traitor on your throne. I shouldn’t be the one to cut away the sickness in your land. That should be the responsibility of your Lords, your Ladies, and your Knights. Not mine.”

  Kalen shoved off of the post and stalked back toward the cottage, spitting curses and stomping up the stairs. The first boot he kicked off hit the side of the building with a satisfying thud. The second fell short. Neither his dam or sire roused as he stalked into the kitchen.

  Footsteps pattered behind him and a hand tugged at his empty left sleeve. He fought again
st the instinct to strike out. Instead, he let out a long, slow breath and twisted around. Welis stared up at him with wide eyes.

  “What can I do?”

  Kalen blinked and forced a smile for his youngest brother. “Do what you think needs done.”

  “Are you trying to make everyone hate you?” Aden asked from the doorway.

  Kalen’s laugh was low and dry. “Most of the world hates me, Aden. You’d be surprised at how many people hate hearing the truth, and hate hearing it spoken directly to their faces. Don’t worry about it. I’m used to it.”

  ~~*~~

  Kalen scraped his cast against the frame of cottage’s door. White dusted the unpainted wood. A chunk of the plaster fell away to reveal the underlying splint. Biting the inside of his mouth, he glared at his arm and tried to will away the itch. The itch was in the tips of his fingers, the palm of his hand, and it worked its way up his wrist, creeping steadily up to his elbow. To make matters worse, his skin crawled with the need for a bath.

  Letting out a wordless growl, he thrust his arm against the frame. Pain raced from fingertips up to his shoulder, but it did little more than distract him. Then the itch returned, stronger than ever. Muttering curses, he shoved away from the door and paced the length of the porch stretching along the front of the cottage. Like the Delrose villas, the cottage was nestled in a clearing deep in the woods. That was the only thing they shared.

  Kalen eyed the rough-hewn railing. Instead of slamming his arm down on it like he wanted, he settled with scraping the plaster against its edge again, leaving flecks and streaks of plaster in his wake.

  “Kaaaaaalen!”

  Kalen turned in time to see a blue-clad streak thunder up the stairs and plow into him. The air rushed out of his lungs, and he fell beneath his youngest brother. The cast creaked beneath Welis’s weight. His vision turned gray and lights burst in front of his eyes. He blinked up at his sibling. Welis wiggled free and snatched at Kalen’s collar.

  “I found a horse in the forest! It’s stuck in the mud, and it can’t get free. We have to help it.” Tears gleamed in his brother’s dark blue eyes.

  Kalen struggled to catch his breath. “Where?”

  Welis released him long enough to point into the forest. “That way.”

  “Get off of me and go tell your father,” Kalen replied. “Then I’ll help—”

  One of Welis’s elbows dug into Kalen’s stomach, and he let out a pained wheeze. Without looking back, the boy disappeared into the cottage. Startled exclamations came from within and Welis emerged moments later, wide eyed. “Where is Papa?”

  Kalen jerked his throbbing hand to point to the end of the porch. “With the horses.”

  “That looks like it hurt,” Aden said from the doorway. “Want a hand?”

  “I’ll take two,” Kalen replied. He shook his head and shoved off of his elbow to sit upright and hissed at the pain. “Hellfires.”

  “Are you all right?” Aden lifted him up by his upper arm.

  Kalen nodded. “I’ll live.”

  “What was that about?”

  “Welis found a horse in the woods, and he wants help rescuing it,” he replied.

  “And?”

  Kalen had to tilt his head back to look up at Aden. At three years younger and at least a foot and a half taller, he suspected he’d be a lot like his younger brother if life hadn’t happened to him. Maybe if he hadn’t found his way to the Rift, he’d be that tall, too. Then again, he’d be dead. Death was pretty good at stunting growth. “I thought it was obvious. We rescue the horse.”

  “Father isn’t going to like that, not with him so eager to leave as soon as he can.”

  “I’m sure he’ll survive. We all have to make sacrifices.” Kalen stretched his hand in the cast and was satisfied when he could move all of his fingers. He inspected the cast for damage and grinned. The plaster was cracked halfway to his elbow. The split was also broken and splinters of wood stuck upright.

  “It itches, doesn’t it?”

  “Will it rain today?”

  Aden laughed. They glanced up at the dark skies and listened to the faint rumbles of thunder in the distance. “Point taken.”

  “May as well get this over with. He isn’t going to see me eye to eye on this, and the sooner I start fighting with him, the sooner I can go check on that horse.”

  “Horses are really important to you, aren’t they?”

  Kalen pointed at the clouds overhead before stepping down off of the porch to circle the cottage. The horses were picketed near the tree line. Lord Delrose stared down at Welis with his arms crossed over his chest. Welis shifted his weight from foot to foot.

  “Which horse can I take?” Kalen asked. His sire stared at him. Welis stared too, and tears welled up in the boy’s eyes.

  “He says we can’t.”

  “I wasn’t asking him for his permission.”

  “We can’t go rescue some farmer’s horse. You made a bargain with me, and we do not have the time to waste.”

  “I never agreed to abandoning a horse in need. We don’t abandon horses in the Rift, and I’ve no interest in breaking the Code for any bargain I’ve made with you.” Kalen braced his hand on his hip. Each breath sent jolts of pain up his arm, but he ignored it and met his sire’s eyes.

  “It isn’t a Rift horse. It’s probably some farmer’s horse that escaped from the fields. It isn’t your concern. There are a lot of little hamlets near here.”

  “That doesn’t matter to me. I said it once, I’ll say it again, so maybe you’ll understand it this time: We don’t abandon horses in the Rift, and I’ve no intention of starting that habit here.” Kalen stared at the animals in the line. “We don’t steal horses either, but I’m willing to make an exception for the cause.”

  “You can’t just do what you want!” Lord Delrose bellowed.

  “Papa…” Welis sniffled and rubbed at his eyes.

  “You should be grateful that His Majesty is such a considerate person, darling. You’re not going to win this one, so why fight it? It isn’t their fault they paid attention to what you taught them.” Lady Delrose emerged from between two of the picketed horses, slapping a curry comb against her riding breeches. “Please stop antagonizing your father, Satoren.”

  For all his mother wore a smile, her dark blue eyes were harder than stone. He wrinkled his nose and said nothing.

  “You’re in for it now,” Aden whispered in his ear.

  Kalen glanced over his shoulder and flashed his brother a grin. “She won’t kill me. Imagine how much political turmoil that’d cause. You, on the other hand, she—”

  “Quiet, boys,” Lady Delrose ordered. “Well, darling? Which horses are they taking?”

  Kalen choked back his laugh.

  Snorting and tossing his head, Satrin trotted forward. A golden-dyed bridle hung from the Yadesh’s mouth. The reins draped over Kalen’s head, and the Yadesh glared at him until he lifted his hand to take the tack. “Thank you, Satrin.”

  His sire snatched the bridle, and Kalen hissed as the straps caught on the cast and pulled at his wrist.

  “That settles that. Satrin agrees with me. Do be careful, boys. Come back as soon as you find out if the horse can be saved.”

  Kalen shivered. His mother’s smile was still fixed in place, and while she’d turned her stare onto his sire, he struggled against the urge to hide behind Satrin.

  “Go get your other brothers, Welis,” his sire said with a sigh. “We may as all go. If the horse is alive, I don’t expect Kalen—”

  “Satoren,” his mother corrected.

  “—will be willing to leave until the animal has been rescued. We’ll need rope, too.”

  “Yes, Papa!” Welis ran to the cottage.

  “Clever way to buy a little time for one of your Guardians to find you,” Lord Delrose muttered.

  “This has nothing to do with that. I said it three times. We don’t abandon horses in the Rift. I meant it. It’s a part of the Code, and I won’t
break it.”

  “And this Code is so important, then?”

  Kalen watched Lord Delrose bridle and saddle Satrin. When done, the Yadesh stood at Kalen’s side and stared at him.

  “It doesn’t help that I like horses,” he admitted.

  “Just like your mother.”

  “And Mother is always right, isn’t she?” Lady Delrose’s smile didn’t quite turn up in a full grin, but amusement sparkled in her eyes. She stepped forward and rested her hand on Kalen’s shoulder. He stiffened and struggled against the urge to pull away.

  “The correct answer is ‘Yes, darling.’”

  Lord Delrose sighed. “Yes, darling.”

  “I’ll stay here with the girls and finish gathering our things. Try not to be too long.” His mother’s grip tightened on his shoulder before she let him go.

  It didn’t take them long to prepare the horses. Satrin knelt down so Kalen could mount without having to use his hand to get into the saddle. Riding the Yadesh didn’t feel right. While the animal was slender, Satrin lacked Ferethian or Honey’s more slender build. He lacked their smooth, graceful movements. Kalen struggled with his posture, but couldn’t force his muscles to relax.

  “It isn’t far!” Welis sent his pony cantering through the trees and disappeared into the shadows. His brothers took chase, letting out whooping calls. Kalen shook his head. His sire stared at him.

  “Old men first,” Kalen said.

  “Oh, by all means, after you, Your Majesty. Someone has to pick you up when you fall.”

  “That’s Breton’s job, not yours.” He tightened his hold on Satrin with his legs. The Yadesh cantered after the other horses. It didn’t take long to catch up, and Satrin slowed to a brisk trot, staying back just far enough to keep them in sight.

  “There!” Welis called out, pointing through the trees.

  Kalen looked where his youngest brother pointed. A small brook cut through the moss and blanket of decaying leaves. Beyond was a clearing. He squinted and searched for the horse. It wasn’t until the animal lifted its head that he spotted it. It’s nostrils quivered before it rested its head back on the exposed roots of a tree.