On my word, Dagon, Clan Leader of the Dolmath Tribe, Yarden.
P.S. I hope after this, my debt will be paid in full. I would like to think that my tribes and my axe are payment enough for the debt not yet paid. If not, we will need to discuss a new arrangement when I arrive. Have a warm bed and some hearty ale waiting for me.”
Dain smiled a bit at that last part, remembering back six years ago and the aid he’d given to a younger, but more reckless, Dagon. It was good to know that amidst a time of war and strife, Dagon could keep his wits and his humor in check. It might come as a welcome refreshment in a weary time.
A relief spread over him, but only for a moment. He was asking for help from all of the inhabitants in Aelethia who had, up until this point, kept to themselves and been at peace with man. Now he was asking them to fight, to put themselves in harms way to fight alongside people they had not stood with for over five hundred years. Things were grave, and, in times such as these, he knew sacrifices had to be made by all in order for the kingdom to survive. Fallon would have no mercy on anyone that stood in his way.
Where was Melenthia? Didn’t she know he was home. He wanted to see her. It amazed him that his want to be with her grew stronger with each passing day.
He realized, for the first time in a few minutes, that the squire was still in the room waiting for dismissal.
“I’m sorry, Henri, you’re free to go. Thank you for your haste in bringing this to me.”
He bowed deep. “You’re welcome, Sire. I’m here but to serve.” He started to leave, but Dain stopped him. “Henri, please find Emerick and tell him I want to see him immediately. And if you see Melenthia, please tell her I have returned.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
Henri left and he was alone again. He didn’t think it wise that he let his mind wander too much; it made him melancholy and worn. He needed to keep himself busy for a time, to keep himself awake and refreshed. He was looking forward to Melenthia’s company because she was good at doing just that.
Emerick finally entered his office and bowed to his king. “I’m sorry I kept you waiting, Your Majesty. I was dealing with some household problems. Was your trip informative?”
“Not as much as I wanted, but information seems to be difficult to obtain these days. Too many damn tight lipped people. I did receive word that Brogan spoke with the dwarves, and he’s on his way back.”
“That’s good news, Sire.”
“Yes, well, I’ll feel better when he’s actually safe on level ground, away from the hazards of the mountains. I feel guilty enough just sending him in the first place.”
“You did what you needed to do, Your Majesty. If he didn’t feel indebted to you, he would’ve resisted.”
“That makes it harder, knowing he did it just to pay a debt, one that he really doesn’t have. I feel sickened to use that to my advantage when up to now I expected nothing.”
“We all do what we must. He knows that you wouldn’t even ask if not important.”
“Let’s hope I can thank him for it later.” He changed the subject. “Where’s Melenthia? I was hoping to spend some time with her before dinner.”
“I haven’t seen her since this afternoon when she came to me asking for someone to accompany her for a short ride.”
The king absentmindedly answered before Emerick could continue, looking down at some papers he was going over. “I suppose she’s still out then. If I know her, she wouldn’t want to waste a beautiful day such as this one inside. She’ll be along in a bit, I gather. It’s starting to get dark.”
Emerick answered with fear in his voice, “But, Sire, there was no one to take the time away to escort her. Last I saw of her was when I told her she’d have to postpone it for another day.”
Dain looked up from the papers he was going over and stared at him, fear in his eyes. “Did she leave the grounds alone?”
“I don’t think so. She wouldn’t go against your wishes,” he said it but was unsure that he was right.
“I would normally agree with you, but I haven’t been around as much lately, and I’ve been getting the feeling that she’s bored and lonely. If she felt rebellious enough, she would. Find out!”
Emerick bowed again and hurried from the room. Dain left his papers and went the opposite way down the corridor, the task he was engrossed in now forgotten.
He went down the hallway to the back stairs and up to Melenthia’s apartments. He knocked on the door, but there was no answer. He turned in time to see Bianca standing in the hallway, a load of linens in her arms.
“Bianca, have you seen Melenthia today?”
“Yes, I saw her this morning after breakfast. She played some rounds of lawn ball, then spent a few hours helping me with my embroidery. She said she was going for a ride.”
“Did you actually see her leave?”
“No, Sire. Is something wrong?”
“I don’t know.”
He left her and went down the stairs to the kitchen and out into the inner bailey. He entered the stables and approached a stable boy who was cleaning out one of the stalls. Dain looked around and didn’t see the bay mare that had been assigned to her since her arrival.
“Where’s Melenthia’s horse?”
“It’s been gone since early this afternoon, Your Majesty. The princess must have taken it.”
“You didn’t saddle it for her?”
“No, Sire. It was here this morning, then it was gone when I returned from the smithy.”
He stormed out of the stables and strode across the bailey to the guard tower. He stood in front of Alastair and demanded, “Where in the hell is Melenthia?”
“I haven’t seen her since this morning, Your Majesty, when she was playing lawn ball. She asked if anyone could escort her for a ride, but I had Emerick inform her that I had no one I could spare for the day. She didn’t pass this way.”
“Her horse is gone, has been since early this afternoon. Are you certain?”
Alastair shifted to the other foot but didn’t answer. He cleared his throat. “We had some commotion at the gate this afternoon with some merchants. A wagon full of supplies that were not recorded by the kitchen staff to have been ordered. She may have slipped passed when we were occupied.”
“She may have!” He was angry.
He cleared his throat again. “Yes, Your Majesty. It’s very likely she could have slipped past when we weren’t looking.”
Dain leaned in closer, his face practically touching his. “Then I suggest you send a scout to the inner border gate and find out!”
“Yes, Sire.”
He went inside the tower, and a young squire exited almost immediately, running to the stables for a mount. The king was just heading back inside when Alek galloped into the courtyard. Dain turned and saw Alek dismount and throw the reins to a waiting stable boy. “Belay that order!” he yelled to the guard. Then, “Alek, thank God you’re back. We have a problem.”
“Melenthia is missing.”
“How do you know that?”
“I got word when I passed the border. She was headed this way, and she has escort.”
“Escort? Who?”
“Sol, and an elf from Vallis?”
“What’s an elf doing this far south? They usually don’t travel into the inner kingdom.”
“No, they don’t. If he’s doing so, then there’s a reason. I suspect things are more serious than we have guessed.”
“That’s all we need, things to fall apart now, when we’re not even close to getting any answers from anyone, about anything.”
“Maybe we’ll have the answers we need when they arrive.”
“Perhaps.”
“How did Melenthia get by you?”
He frowned. “I wasn’t here. I went into town to talk with Garden. He had some information he thought I would be interested in. It turned out to be nothing. When I returned I found her gone. I was just sending out a scout to the inner border when you showed up.”
&n
bsp; “She slipped passed Alastair and the guards?”
“Apparently they were dealing with a problem at the gate, and she took that precise opportunity to slip by. She didn’t even have a stable boy saddle her horse. She did it herself in order to not attract undue attention, and she rode out of here right under everyone’s nose.” He growled and kicked a stone across the bailey.
Alek touched his shoulder. “Calm yourself, Dain. She’s difficult, you know that.”
“I thought we had an agreement.”
“I suppose telling you my news will only aggravate your temper further, but you should know nonetheless.”
Dain frowned at him. “What?”
“I’ve been into Amaris. The city has been overtaken, nothing is left. Giants came through and took those too cowardly to fight, leaving the rest to burn along with Amaris’ walls. There were around five hundred survivors, mostly women and children, living down in the aqueducts. They were safe, but I didn’t know how long they would be so. It would only have been a matter of time before the armies came through again and finished off those opposed to them. I sent for wagons to be brought in from the garrison commander in Mercer. I had them bring decorated transports to make it look like a royal cortege. I had them take the survivors into Mercer and make sure they had place. The convoy included cattle and horses. I tried to talk the farmers out of it, but it’s their livelihood, Dain. It’s all some of them have left. I don’t know if it will work, but I knew I had to take a chance. I thought if Fallon’s goons saw a royal cortege, they would be more apt to skirt it. I doubt even Fallon’s bold enough to strike a royal entourage. I hope it was not in error.”
“It was a good plan, and obviously all you had. “ He gritted his teeth. “Fallon dares strike me right in my own backyard.”
“There’s more. The giants are headed south into the coastal region. Witnesses say they think they’ll barter passage, or take it, from the jetty through the Corlane Strait and into Boones Ferry.”
“I heard that too, but I heard it was Sailor’s Bluff. Why would they want to go into Boones Ferry? It’s small and mostly abandoned since the fishing traders have moved into Sailors Bluff.”
“Just the reason to go there, not too many eyes or people to fight against them. They plan on going into the Triple Cities and overtaking them, which will give them control of the border into Aaralyn.”
“Damn him to hell!”
“I think it’s too late for that. He’s already sold his soul. I’ve sent a young lad, one of the remaining survivors, to Pembroke with message regarding Boones Ferry. He’ll see Alban Thorne and then Alban will ride to Boones Ferry and set up a garrison there. We have to make sure the giants don’t make it past or the Triple Cities will fall.”
“Why would you send a boy?”
“He is the grandson of Nalo Ellbert.”
“The knight from the guard who retired shortly before my father died?’
“Yes. Maddon was an integral part in keeping all those people safe and also in keeping them alive all this time. He’s an extremely strong and brave youth. He’ll deserve a squires rank for his bravery.”
“I’ll make sure he gets it, if he makes it.”
“He will. He’s been taught well.”
“I have heard from Kevaan since you left. Both of you must have gotten the same information about Fallon’s movements. He is distributing troops into McLain and Charbonneau in order to keep any ships from docking and trying to ride into the capital and taking it. The closer Fallon gets to Kingswell, the harder it will be to keep the castle in one piece. His father’s health is failing. He becomes more feeble with each passing day. He can no longer make decisions for his province, but it hardly matters. Fallon has gotten what he wanted from Randor, safe passage for his mercenaries up the river. If Kevaan leaves, he feels Fallon will take that as a perfect opportunity to take down Lachlan Castle and put himself on the throne. As long as he has to deal with Kevaan, the throne is safe. He must stay put until we have more aid in place. Any word from the elves?”
“Not directly, but I would assume the warrior accompanying Sol was sent from the elders. Hopefully the council has agreed to aid us.”
“I don’t know how much longer we can wait to dispatch a representative to Isamar to talk to Chancellor Jaxon. We must make sure we have an alliance with the Isamarians. If we can get them to keep the borders clear, Aaralyn will have a better chance at holding off Fallon’s troops.”
“I’ll go.”
“Not until we have met with Sol and the elf. I want to make sure we have the alliance before I send you out yet again on another quest. Let’s deal with Melenthia and her escorts first.” He went back to the previous subject. “ I just don’t understand what she was thinking.”
“Obviously she wasn’t. She’s safe. She and Sol and the elf are on their way here. They sent a message by bird. They passed through the border about half an hour ago. I took the old mining trails to get here before them. I wanted to talk to you and make sure you were prepared.”
“I need to change out of these clothes.” He rubbed a hand over his tired eyes. “I’m sweaty and tired and mad!”
“Go. I’ll send word when they arrive.”
Dain started to leave, then turned back to Alek. “I care about her deeply, Alek, but I need to know she’ll obey the rules. I won’t lose her to Fallon because she had a whim to ride. I can’t protect her if she can’t be trusted.”
“Tell her, Your Majesty. You have to make sure she understands that it’s only for her life.”
He knew Alek was right, but he didn’t feel any better about the situation. He turned back toward the Keep and went inside to change.
CHAPTER 26
When the horses thundered through the gate an hour later, Dain met them in the bailey just as they were dismounting. He grabbed the reins of Melentha’s horse and threw them to a stable boy, then grabbed her arm. She was not quite ready for his ire.
“What’s the matter with you? You left the castle unattended? What were you thinking?”
She glanced down at his hand, squeezing her arm, and scowled. She was tired and sore and that just made her rebellion stronger. He realized what he was doing and let go.
“I wanted to go for a ride. I needed some air.”
“You should’ve had someone with you.”
“I doubt they would’ve been able to keep up.”
“This is no time for jokes.”
She scowled more, arms now crossed over her chest defiantly, but he saw tears coming to her eyes. He calmed and sighed. He shifted her chin to the side so he could look at her swollen and bruised face. She winced at his touch. He also noticed the tunic she wore over her torn blouse.
“What in the hell happened?”
The sorcerer recalled events. “She was attacked by Fallon’s soldiers.”
Dain looked at him. “What! So, they’ve made their way this far East.”
“Apparently. They tracked her in town and went after her. She managed to fight off two of them, with only the few cuts and bruises you see, but then they were joined by three more. If we had not just happened to come by, she would’ve been taken.”
He seethed, looking back at her now. “I’m sworn to protect you, and I cannot if you’re not in my possession to do so.”
“I didn’t ask for your protection.”
“Yet I do so nonetheless.”
“I can protect myself.”
“Partially, with one or two. But five of Fallon’s armed guards would’ve turned out otherwise. If it had not been for the elf and the wizard, you’d be in the hands of Fallon now. Is that what you want?”
“No.”
“You and I had an accord. You promised you wouldn’t go past the gates without an escort.”
The wizard interrupted. “Your Majesty, I would be wrong if I didn’t point out that Fallon probably already knows she’s here, and we have to assume that if he doesn’t already, he will soon.”
“Yes, I know.”
Her insubordinence subsided and concern took its place. “If I have put you in danger, perhaps I should go.” She started to leave but he grabbed her arm again, not hard this time.
“You’ll stay right here where I can keep watch over you. From now on, you will not go past the front gates. Are we clear?”
She stared at him, and he could see the need to rebel in her eyes. He didn’t want to threaten her, but he felt for her life he had no choice. She didn’t answer right away so he said, “If you don’t answer, I will have to assume that we don’t have an understanding and that puts me in a terrible predicament. I gave you free reign of this castle for you to feel comfortable to do what you please, but if I can’t trust you, I’ll have to resort to unpleasant measures. Don’t force me to make you a prisoner, Melenthia.”
Her face conveyed a mix of emotions. She wanted to resist, to fight him, but something inside could not. She was quiet for a moment or two more, then, “We are clear, Your Majesty.” She was tired and sore and confused by her feelings.
She quickly curtsied, not in respect but in a final mocking gesture of defiance and left him standing in the bailey. He watched her walk away and felt heavy in his heart. He turned back to look at Alek. “Just when we were getting along so well.”
“You did what you had to do, Your Majesty. She’s petulant, but she must cooperate or this whole thing is for naught.”
Dain nodded his head, running a hand through his hair. He motioned toward the squire at the gate. “Henri, send Alastair to me at once.”
He bowed and left. A few minutes later the Captain of the Guard approached and bowed to his liege. “You called for me, Your Majesty?”
“I want you to assign a guard to keep an eye on the princess at all times. She’s not to leave the castle walls. Make sure you pick the right man, because you will take the responsibility if something happens. If you like your head where it is, I suggest you don’t let her out of your sight again.”
The guard swallowed and bowed. “Yes, Your Majesty.” He left them. Alek was staring at him, a slight smile on his face.
“What?” Dain asked him.
Dark One Rising Page 31