Dark One Rising

by Leandra Martin

  Alek looked over at the guard that approached. “Sir, we’re ready to move out. Is there anything you need?”

  He looked at Maddon for a moment, then back at the guard. “As a matter of fact, there is. Do you have extra mail in the weapons chest in the cargo wagon?”

  “Yes, sir.”

  “Any that would fit the lad?”

  The guard looked at Maddon and smiled. “I believe we can dig some up. We should have a leather doublet in there as well.”

  “Perfect.”

  The guard left. Alek smiled down at Maddon. “If you’re going to do the job of a knight, you should look like one. It’s not official yet, but I doubt there’ll be any balking in the ranks. You’ll be a squire soon enough.”

  “Thank you, sir.”

  “Alek. I’m not a knight or a noble. You don’t have to address me so formal. Besides, I think we’re going to become quick friends, you and I. I haven’t met a child as precocious as you since I met Princess Melenthia many years ago. She too had a stubborn streak about her, and you couldn’t tear her away from anything she wanted to do. She did everything for honor and because she cared about her people.”

  “I’ve heard of her. She’s being hunted by Fallon as we speak, is she not?”

  “Yes, but she’s safe from him. For the moment anyway.”

  “I hope to meet her.”

  “I’m sure you will. She’d be most impressed of your bravery and willingness to risk yourself for your neighbors and family. I’m sure you would get along well.”

  Maddon smiled; Alek could see a slight flush to his cheeks. Alek could’ve sworn Maddon was embarrassed at the thought of meeting a lovely lady such as Melenthia. Maybe he wasn’t as old as he pretended to be.

  Alek ruffled the boy’s hair just when the solider was returning with the mail and helm in his arms, as well as a scabbard and the doublet he promised. He handed the wad to Alek and showed Maddon how to put it on and where the weak spots in the mail were in case he was attacked. He placed the doublet over his shoulders and tied the laces. He then put the helm on the boy’s head and stood back to admire the scene. The mail was slightly looser than it should be, the shoulders not quite even with the boys, and the doublet hung slightly below his hips, but Alek agreed that it would do for now.

  He gave Maddon a sack full of coins and tied the supply bag to his saddle strap.

  “There’s enough money in there to pay for room and board when needed, and to pay someone for information if they are inclined to offer. You should also have enough in there to buy new supplies if you run out. When you reach Pembroke and give the message to Alban, you stay with him, and he’ll make sure you’re escorted to Eston safely.”

  “Okay. Thank you, Alek, for believing in me and for getting my fellow townsfolk to a safer place.”

  “You were a big part of that, Maddon. You were a part of leading all your kinsfolk to safety in the aqueducts, and you kept them safe. I don’t doubt your courage or your strength. I just want to make sure you stay alive long enough to commission you with a real rank of Squire.”

  “I’d be honored to join the king’s ranks, just like my grandfather had.”

  “It’ll happen. Now get moving. I want you halfway to Lakendra before dawn.”

  He mounted his horse and got himself adjusted and comfortable in the saddle.

  “Make sure you hole up somewhere where prying eyes can’t find you, and stay there until morning light. When you reach Lakendra, then and only then, is it okay for you to be seen. Stick to your story no matter who asks. Send word when you reach Alban. Give the message to no one but him, and make him prove who he is before you speak.”

  “How will I do that?”

  Alek rubbed a gloved hand across his chin in thought. “I know.” He motioned for Maddon to lean down so he could whisper a message in his ear. “His answer should be Salma. If it is, it’s Alban. Tell him I send greetings.”

  “Yes, sir.”

  “Now go.” He slapped the horse on the rump and watched as Maddon trotted off into the darkness.

  After he made certain the wagons were packed and everyone and everything was accounted for, he mounted his horse and rode over to the lead wagon. An older knight, in his fifties, sat astride a beautiful brown bay, it’s silver bells on the bridle tinkling in the night air. He had ordered the guards to be in full regalia and to have the horses caparisoned. They were decked out with bells in their manes and the colors of the House of Grayson on their backs. A flag bearer rode along between the knights, and the coaches, which held the old and infirmed, were decorated, the curtains pulled down to hide the occupants.

  Alek was not too sure this plan would work, but he had no choice. If a convoy such as this was seen traveling as is, it would give any of Fallon’s men a chance to strike. But if it looked like a cortege of the king, they would think twice about attacking. Fallon is easing himself into Dain’s realm, but even he’s not stupid enough to attack a royal convoy in the open. He hoped. Alek reined in next to the knight and saluted. “Captain Valdor, I presume.”

  “Yes. You must be Alek Morgan, the king’s right hand man.”

  “The position is a lot less glamorous than you make it to be, Captain, but I’m he. Is everything set? Everything accounted for and ready to move out?”

  “Yes, sir. All five hundred and sixty-three people, twenty horses and sixteen cattle. All here, and ready to move.”

  “Take it easy, Captain, for the well being of the infirmed, but don’t tarry too long in one place. The sooner you reach Mercer, the better.”

  “I agree.”

  “I think if you take the lead in shifts, you can travel continuously without stopping too much. Do you have enough supplies for the entire trip?”

  “Yes. We may have to stop occasionally for the older ones to stretch their legs, but other than that, we shouldn’t even have to stop too much for watering the horses.”

  “Good. I don’t feel confident about this, but there’s really no choice. Mercer isn’t large, but it’s not heavily populated. There should be ample room for these people to find space of their own.”

  “Even if we win this war, Fallon knew just how to hit us. He’s taking out the cities one by one, leaving few survivors to scramble for safety. There will be years of rebuilding; it will cost much. I fear we may never again see a kingdom shine as brightly as Aelethia once did. There’ll be too many scars.”

  “Just like five hundred years ago during the Great War, people were scattered all over the kingdom, displaced with no hope. We somehow pulled ourselves from the dust. I believe we can do it again.”

  “Aye. We are a resourceful and strong people.”

  “Get moving, Captain, no more time to tarry. I’ll go on ahead and make sure the king is ready for what is coming.”

  The knight nodded to Alek and motioned for his guardsmen to move out. Alek stood and watched as the twenty wagons, with the remainder of able body men and women on horseback, and the livestock following behind, rode out of the ruins of the city and onto the road toward Mercer.

  He kicked his mount into a gallop and headed to the mining roads around the lake and on to Eston. If he pushed his mount hard, he could reach the castle in less than a week. He said a silent prayer to the God of safety that the caravan would reach the walls of Mercer without incident.

  He worried that he had put the people in an open position, and in doing so, made them a target for Fallon’s troops. War was not a safe place for civilians, and there were always casualties that you couldn’t foresee, but he didn’t want to have to explain to Dain why five hundred plus innocent people were lost to a stupid idea. He sighed. The city held nothing for them anymore, and they would eventually die off from sickness, disease, and hunger if he had left them there. Now they risked death by ambush. Was there nothing simple anymore? Was there no way to stop Fallon in his tracks and rid this kingdom of his poison once and for all?

  He hoped he could get to the castle before too much else happene
d. Dain was dealing with so much in such a short time, and protecting Melenthia was the top priority. Alek didn’t want to be the one to give him more challenges. Finding out about Amaris would be daunting. Alek had sent word into Mercer that these people were coming, and it was the garrison commander there that signed the order for the evacuation wagons and guards. Dain would be upset, but, hopefully, he wouldn’t be angry with the decision Alek had made on his behalf. He thought it would save time, and time was not something they could afford to waste, in any capacity.

  ***

  The morning after the picnic, Melenthia came into the dining hall for breakfast and sat down in the chair next to Dain. He looked at her and noticed the ruby and silver pendant around her neck. The chain was long, and the silver heart hung low and sat just above the swell of her bosom. He smiled. She caught the smile on his face and to where his eyes were occupied.

  He said, “The accessory you wear this morning is exquisite. I was correct. It goes with your hair.”

  “My mother.”

  “What?”

  “You said you hoped I would tell you someday why I fancied it so.”

  “So I did.”

  “It reminded me of my mother.” She lifted it up from where it lay and looked at it for a moment, then continued. “She wore it every day. She never took it off. She slept in it, even wore it in the bath. My father bought her trinket after trinket, but she never wore any of it. I asked her about it once. She said it was the first gift my father ever gave her, right after he told her he loved her. She said that was enough for her.” She paused again, as if the memory struck her. “She said that when I was old enough, she would give it to me. Then I would have a memory of her, and my father’s love for her.”

  “What happened to it?”

  “Last time I saw it, it was around her neck at the funeral.”

  He was about to take a sip of wine but put his glass back down. He gazed at her, wondering if wearing it caused too painful of memories. “I’m sorry if it brings you distress. Maybe I should’ve left well enough alone. You don’t have to wear it for me.”

  “It’s fine. It doesn’t distress me. Someday it’ll bring me another memory. One of you.”

  He smiled genuinely, another warm feeling coming over him. He wanted her to have memories of him, and he hoped they lasted long after they were parted from one another. She had already indelibly etched herself on his heart. He hoped he did the same for her.

  ***

  That same morning, she decided that it was time that she get to ride into the city again. There had been no signs that Fallon knew where she was, and for that she decided it would be safe to venture out again.

  After coming downstairs again, she discovered that Dain wasn’t in the castle. He was called away suddenly and didn’t get a chance to tell her himself. He had something that needed his attention and wouldn’t be back until evening. There had been many days like this lately, and she was starting to get lonely. She admitted to herself that she missed him when he was not with her. She understood he still had responsibilities as king, but she felt lonely nonetheless.

  She made her way to the front gate to find Alastair, the Captain of the Guard. She asked him to supply her a man to accompany her for a ride in the countryside.

  He told her he’d see what he could do, but didn’t promise anything. Security was high; he didn’t know if he could spare the man today. He would send someone to get her if he could.

  She spent a couple of hours playing lawn games with some of the household staff and helped her chambermaid Bianca do the needlepoint of a tapestry.

  Emerick came to find her later in the day. He bowed to her. “I came to inform you that Alastair can’t spare the man for you today. He apologizes for the disappointment, but there are problems he’s dealing with right now and cannot spare anyone. I’m afraid you’ll have to postpone your ride for another day, Your Highness. Perhaps Dain can find the time later this week.”

  She sighed. “I understand. Thank you for letting me know. I guess I’ll find other ways to amuse myself.”

  He bowed and left her alone. She was too restless to stay inside. It was a beautiful day. The cold would come soon, and the clear sunny skies were few as autumn approached. She couldn’t pass up a day like this. She needed to feel the sun on her face and the wind in her hair. She decided that a short jaunt into the surrounding grounds would not hurt anything. She’d be close enough to the gates to come back quickly if needed. Everyone was so busy, they would never even know she was gone. She went back to her room to change into riding clothes.

  ***

  She took the back stairs down to the kitchen and through it out the back door. She went across the bailey and went into the stables to find her horse. No one was in the stable at the moment which was propitious. She would get an argument from someone for asking a horse boy to prepare her mount, and since she needed no help in saddling and bridling, without anyone there, she could do it herself.

  When her horse was ready, she mounted and rode through the side stable door and out into the bailey. She rode forward slowly, approaching the gate. A wagon pulled forward, stopping at the outside of the portcullis, and the guards checked his manifest of supplies. While they were distracted by the visitor, she rode out through the side gate, and turned left toward town. She rode hard for a good distance to make sure no one could catch up to her and stop her, then slowed a bit so her horse wouldn’t get too tired too quickly.

  The sun was high in the sky, and the light waning summer breeze touched her face. The sky was blue with a few small wispy clouds scudding their way lazily by, but she knew the autumn storms would be rolling in soon. The lush green countryside was speckled with multi-colored flowers still, but the leaves on the trees were starting to change colors and soon would fall. A late season blue butterfly flitted by as she passed. She felt free when she was riding. She knew that she probably shouldn’t have left without telling someone, but she had been cooped up way too long. It was starting to get to her.

  Her mind wandered a bit to the conversation she’d had with Emerick weeks before. Emerick had known Dain his whole life, and there was a possibility that he saw something she didn’t. Was there something there? Was he falling in love with her? She had to admit that since getting to know him and spending time alone with him, her feelings on the matter of love with a noble was starting to wane. She was definitely confused, but she didn’t know if the feelings for him were real, or just because he had been so kind, or because she needed someone to be close to. She missed Kevaan desperately, and she had no one else to talk to, but she doubted that was all there was to it.

  She admitted that she found herself drawn in by his charm and good humor. She remembered the brief kiss they shared. There was no doubt in her mind that he had felt something at that moment. He responded to her when she kissed him and did nothing to pull away. But he had said nothing to her about it since, had never mentioned it or even tried to broach the subject. She’d had too much to drink, that was true, and maybe the spontaneity was from that, but the longing wasn’t.

  She also admitted that when he was near, her heart started to pound faster and her body felt flush. These were feelings that she hadn’t encountered with any other man, and although she wanted to hide those feelings, she felt that soon she would no longer be able to do so. She sighed. She was in love with him, but she couldn’t say whether or not Emerick was right. She’d had no indication from him, other than the response to the kiss, about how he felt about her. Maybe the kiss was just his desire for the physical with her and nothing more. Her feelings were hard to determine too sometimes. She thought she was in love with him most of the time, then thought maybe she was just in love with the idea that a handsome rogue was protecting her, and that’s all it was.

  By the time she pulled herself out of her thoughts, she realized she was approaching the gates of Eston. She was surprised that she’d been daydreaming that long, and that she had ridden so far. Well, she thought, she
was here now; might as well have some fun. She went under the gates into the city.

  CHAPTER 24

  She spent the afternoon browsing the merchant carts and storefronts and took some time to have a bite to eat in the city square near the fountain. As the sun was starting to descend in the late afternoon, she retrieved her horse from the public stable and headed out.

  She wended her way through the city streets, humming a tune. She didn’t see the man watching her from an alleyway. He waited until she was past, then slunk out, heading around a corner to where his horse was tethered. He mounted and followed her, making sure to keep well enough behind. He didn’t want to make her nervous, and he didn’t want to make a move too soon inside the city walls where there would be too many eyes.

  As she left the city proper and got into the outer part of it, where the buildings were sparse, and he was sure no one would pay attention, he picked up the pace. He was almost on top of her when she finally glanced over her shoulder.

  She saw him approaching and nervously picked up her pace. He didn’t wear Fallon’s colors, but she was trained enough to be suspicious nonetheless.

  She couldn’t gallop. The streets here were still narrow; the cobbled roads would make her horse unstable at a hurried trot. She needed to keep going. She kicked her mount on, wanting to reach the gates before he caught up with her.

  He was able to take a short cut behind a set of buildings, and just when she thought she had only been paranoid for nothing, he stepped out in front of her, blocking her path toward the gates. She was nervous, but decided not to panic until she found out what he wanted. “Who are you and why do you block my way?”

  “I’ve been following you for awhile. Do you always wander from your home without escort, Princess?”

  She was startled. He knew her. “I’m a big girl and can take care of myself.”