by Bridie Blake
Hamalia’s body stiffened, and her voice cracked as she spoke. “Never think that, your hear me? I chose my death. No one chose it for me.” She cradled her daughter until her sobs subsided. “They thought it best that I come to you,” Hamalia whispered in her daughter’s ear.
“Who’s they mama?”
“Sit dear, and I will explain.” Tempani obeyed and grasped Hamalia’s hand as she too sat. “You’ve been hard to reach. Why don’t you dream anymore?”
Tempani blinked away her tears. “The nightmares,” she whispered. “I saw that day over and over. I was scared to sleep so papa took me to a healer, and he gave me herbs to take.” She shook her head. “I forgot to take it tonight.” Her conversation with Nic had rattled her.
“I have been trying for so long to see you.” She shook her head sadly. “They grew impatient and sent me to hurry things along, but I couldn’t reach you.”
“Who is impatient?”
Hamalia cupped Tempani’s cheek in her hand. “You have a destiny.”
Confused, Tempani shook her head.
“I can’t tell you what it is. You must come to the understanding on your own so you can choose the path for yourself.”
“What do I need to understand?”
“The Goddess is growing anxious. You must find your destiny and choose your path. When you do, find the black and white woman and learn to use your magic properly before it’s too late.”
“But I have nothing beyond my healing powers, and I’m not even allowed to use them.”
Hamalia smiled proudly. “You have great power. The black and white woman will guide you. She will give you the answers you seek.”
“I don’t seek any answers.”
“You will. You will have many questions once your identity is known.”
“I don’t understand.”
“I can say no more. I have passed on what I was meant to and that is enough. The rest you must discover for yourself.” Hamalia rose and began to walk away.
“Mama, don’t leave me!” She cried and ran after her.
“I will see you again. I am not lost to you forever.”
“Mama, no!” Tempani was still running after her.
“Forgive me, Goddess, but I must tell her one last thing.” She waited for Tempani to catch up. “My dear girl, you must stop running.”
“I have,” she said, trying to catch her breath.
“No, you misunderstand. You must stop running from life. From love. You have closed your heart. You are holding yourself back from true happiness.”
“But I’m scared.”
“I know. But don’t let that hold you back. You have allowed it to stop your dreams. Don’t let it take anything else from you.” She reached down and hugged her daughter. “I must go. The Goddess is calling me. I love you.”
“Mama, don’t leave! Don’t leave me!” She cried, but Hamalia had disappeared.
Tempani woke to find her face buried in Tilaw’s fur. She brought a hand up to her face and felt her wet cheeks. It had been so long since she’d dreamt. It had all seemed so real. Her mother’s voice and smell. All of it. But what of Hamalia’s message? Could it be that she had to choose the path that led to Nic. He had said himself he had wanted her to be his queen. Perhaps then she would be able to change things so she could use her magic. By opening her heart, could she be going down the path to her destiny?
Maybe Nic did deserve a second chance. She had seen the good side to him. Had found herself falling for him but then the riot had broken out and people had gotten hurt. All because of her.
But weren’t there riots before she’d even arrived in Fenella? They had been going on for years. Maybe her father’s information was wrong, and it hadn’t been about her. And she had been pushing away a man who made her happy because sometimes she didn’t like the things he said or his actions. Was Nic right? Were her expectations of people unreasonable?
Is it too late, Tilaw? She thought as she hugged him. His only response was to lick her face.
—
They were seated at tables draped in white linen and covered with exquisite dishes. Wine and brandy circulated the room, and glasses were raised in celebration, for a few days earlier Xanthir had announced his betrothal to Lady Famette of Jinop.
The happy couple was discussing their wedding plans with Tempani, who had only just been introduced to Famette.
“A messenger is carrying word of our news to Jinop. I expect mother will arrive here shortly to begin preparations,” Famette said excitedly.
Their courtship had been short. The young couple got swept up with the impending threat of war and decided to wed before Xanthir rode off into the sunset to fight for their freedom. A very romantic tale indeed. Well it would have been, had the peace talks with Galiena not begun that afternoon.
“It will be a short engagement,” Famette said. “The duke thinks that’s best, in case the peace talks fall through.”
“Is that a possibility?” Tempani asked Xanthir.
“I doubt it, but it’s best to be cautious.”
“And if we are forced to fight it will give you extra strength and courage to know that you have a beautiful wife to return home to,” said Madoc as he tried to hide a grin.
Xanthir patted Famette’s hand affectionately, her cheeks now as red as her hair, and all doubts Tempani had in her head about the pair floated away.
“I have come to offer my congratulations,” Nic said as he took the seat beside his cousin. “I would have come sooner, but mother had me chained to her table asking how her wild nephew found a bride before myself? I must ask you Famette, how did you tame my cousin’s wandering eye?”
“By stealing my heart before I had any inkling as to what was happening,” Xanthir laughed.
“Once you find the one, you hold on for dear life,” said Famette.
“True,” Nic muttered under his breath. “Are you enjoying yourself, Lady Tempani?”
“Indeed I am. And yourself?”
“Very much so. I was fortunate enough to be the prime witness in a conversation between your father and Lord Darby. The poor man has had far too much to drink and is ranting and raving more so than he usually does. Your father can’t help himself and refuses to cease provoking him. It is rather entertaining.”
“Well this I have to see.” Xanthir rose, taking Famette’s hand in his, and strode gleefully over to a red-faced Darby, Madoc in toe.
Tempani and Nic sat silently at their empty table, each avoiding making eye contact with the other. She felt the tension building up, felt the heat her body conjured whenever he was near. The dream of her mother was at the forefront of her mind. Hamalia was right. It was time to stop running scared.
She cleared her throat. “Would you care to dance?” She held out her hand.
“So you can have me think I’m in with a chance once more? No, I can take no more disappointment on that front.” He shook his head and got to his feet. “Enjoy your evening.”
She grabbed his hand, forcing him to turn towards her. “I am sorry. For everything.” She took a deep breath. “I do expect more from you than anyone else. But I do it only because I know you can be more.”
“And if I disappoint you again, what happens? My heart can only take so much.”
She got to her feet and placed her hand against his cheek. “And I can’t ignore mine any longer.” Her heart raced with nerves. “Will you accept my hand in an official courtship?”
“I thought the man was supposed to ask the lady,” he teased, his warm eyes sparkling.
“If you would prefer, I can race you for the honor.”
“And prolong holding you in my arms?” He asked, shaking his head, and leading her by the hand to dance.
He held her gently as they danced in circles, and she appreciated the warmth and comfort his embrace offered. Their eyes locked, but the intensity in his scared her. She lowered her gaze and turned her head to the side.
Her flustered state caused her knee
s to slightly buckle. His hold on her strengthened as he gripped her waist and escorted her to the empty terrace.
“Look at me,” he said hoarsely.
She obeyed and forced herself to glance into his eyes once more. His gaze sent a shiver through her body as she realized she was looking into the eyes of a man who loved her. He cupped his large hand under her chin and covered her lips with his. His kiss was hesitant, unsure, as though he expected her to pull away. She wrapped her arms around his waist and pressed her lips firmly against his. He relaxed under her arms, and she knew he now believed her.
She gasped for air when he finally pulled away, and she nestled her head against his chest.
“Can I call on you tomorrow?” He asked hopefully as he held her close in his arms.
She felt his heart beating quickly in his chest. “I would be offended if you didn’t,” she whispered.
~5~
PRINCE HALLAM OF LENTHIR
Tempani had decided to take their relationship slowly. If she hadn’t made that clear to Nic from the beginning, she had no doubt he would be pushing ahead with wedding preparations.
She did not feel as though she was ready to make such a lasting commitment for she knew that once she did it would mean she’d given herself completely to Nic and Kamara, and she wasn’t prepared to lose her identity yet.
The nobles of the kingdom had not taken the news of their courtship well. At court events, the only people who would talk to her were her friends. Heads would roll the other way when she walked past, and conversations turned to whispers.
The riots had stopped. She could only guess that word of the baker’s death at the hands of Lord Ricton had spread, and they feared another reprise.
Yet she still felt the eyes of the commoners on her whenever she was in the city. Their stares followed her every movement.
She wanted to believe Nic when he said it would all change one day, but she wasn’t holding her breath. They would always be against the odds and would have to fight to prove their relationship to everyone.
—
Tempani nestled against Nic as they sat under the trees at her manor. He linked his fingers through hers and brought them to his lips.
“Time alone with you is a rarity,” he complained.
She sighed and rested her head against his chest, loving the feel of his heart racing against her cheek. “Speaking of, where is our chaperone? It is quite improper for you to be touching me like this.”
He laughed and kissed the top of her head. “Another silly custom I will abolish when I am king.”
“Do you give any serious thought to what you will do when that day comes?”
“All the time,” he said. “I want to make changes, but it’s going to be hard. The people of this kingdom are very set in their ways.”
“You will make them see it your way.”
He gave a sad laugh. “I’m glad you believe so. The nobles are hard to persuade.”
“And the commoners?”
He shrugged. “They don’t need to be persuaded. I need the nobles backing to pass any new laws. The commoners have no say.”
“And that’s why you’re fighting them as well as my people. Aren’t you tired of the fighting?”
“Father said the commoners get noisy every few years, and then it dies down. The riots have already stopped.”
“If you’re not careful, they’ll revolt.”
“Against my father’s rule or against us?”
“I don’t know.” She looked up at him. “If us being together is going to cause further problems for this kingdom, then perhaps we need to think about that.”
He sat up and held her out at arm’s length. “I’m not letting anyone dissuade me from being with you. I will not be selfish as a king, but I will be as a man. I’m not giving you up.”
She rested her forehead against his. “I hope you know what you’re getting into.”
“When we’re married and produce an heir, it will all be fine. I believe it.”
Her heart stopped at the mention of marriage and babies. She wanted to scream out that she wasn’t ready.
“We should start thinking about our future. Once we make it official, mother will want you to move into the palace right away so we can begin preparations.”
She covered his lips with hers in a desperate attempt to stop him talking. She knew it wasn’t fair on him to distract him with her kisses, but she’d already run out of topics of conversation that would distract him. This was her last option. And it worked. He lifted his hands to her face and held it in place against his as his tongue parted her lips. She wrapped her arms around his waist and clung to him as he lowered her back down to the ground. She slipped her hands under his shirt, running one across his stomach. She loved the feel of his sigh against her lips.
They jumped when Tilaw barked and streaked across the garden to them.
Nic let out a strangled laugh, his blue eyes bright. He ran a hand through his hair as he stood. “I can’t decide whether I want to strangle your dog or thank him.”
“Thank him?”
“If he hadn’t come along, I don’t think I would have been able to stop.”
“Is that such a bad thing?”
He smiled and pressed his lips against hers once more. “Once we’re married, no.”
“Well, no doubt Rando will race out here at any moment to put a stop to this. Shall we head inside and save him the effort?”
Later that evening she was seated beside Chae at the palace, trying not to pull at the high neck of her dress. It was too constricting, making it difficult to swallow her food comfortably. She cursed Nic for suggesting she wear more conservative gowns. She had to take care to ensure her long sleeves didn’t land in her soup with each spoonful she took.
She knew people were watching her tonight. She felt their eyes on her, burning her skin with their disapproval. She prayed to the Goddess Allarah that she kept her composure.
“Relax,” Chae whispered to her. “You look as though you’re marching to your death.”
She forced a weak smile on her face. “I can’t help it. They’re all waiting for me to do something foolish. I know it.”
“Not everyone,” he said and nodded towards Nic, who was beaming at her from his place at the High Table.
“He doesn’t seem to understand the pressure we’re facing,” she whispered. “He thinks it will all blow over once people get used to the idea of us together.”
“Maybe it will.”
Tempani looked at her brother, the disbelief clear in her eyes. “You’re as naïve as him.” And as if on cue Lady Miriah walked by on the arm of Lord Kiro and sneered at the girl before turning to her husband and whispering in his ear.
“See,” she said to him. “It’s pointless. No matter what I do or wear it’s not going to change their opinions. They won’t even touch the banister on the staircase after I do. I saw one lady demand it be wiped down before she descended.”
“Once you are married they’ll have no choice but to accept you.”
“I fear we’ll be defending our relationship for the rest of our lives. I can’t help but wonder if it’s worth it.”
Chae gripped her hand. “If you’re having any doubts, you must talk to Nic. The heir to the throne doesn’t court someone unless he intends to marry.”
She felt her insides recoil once more at the thought of marriage. She wasn’t ready for that. For the politics of marrying the heir. She wasn’t sure if she was in love with him yet. How could she commit to be his wife if she wasn’t sure how she felt? She had never been in love before. She had no idea what it felt like. What if the feelings she had for him now disappeared? She didn’t know him well enough as an adult to say her feelings would stay strong. And it drove her crazy that he was so sure of himself. That he could tell her he loved her without a second thought. She wished she could say it in return, but the words got lost on her lips every time.
“May I have this dance?” Nic asked as he ap
proached their table.
She accepted his hand and ignored the sneers of others on the floor as he spun her around. Instead she focused on his eyes as they bore into hers. The intensity of his gaze and the feel of his hands on her made her heart skip a beat, and she hoped that meant love.
—
“There have been reports of more deaths, your Majesty,” Darby said as the Parliament meeting convened.
Due to the nature of the reports, Lord Ricton was present as was the Chief Healer. Darby had called an emergency meeting upon receiving correspondence from a friend of his who worked on the Neare estate in the far west.
“What was it this time?” Aubrey asked.
“A clan of ogres. They have taken up residence in the cliffs, just down from Neare,” Darby explained. “The people are begging for protection.”
Lord Ricton coughed and lifted his head. “May I, your Majesty?” When Wimarc nodded the man continued. “Our protective charm is stretched thin as it is. If I extend it to the outer reaching estates, we will leave the city vulnerable.”
“Three people were killed,” Darby said. “One, a child.”
“And what is three compared to countless others if the city is penetrated?” Lord Ricton fixed his cold stare on Darby. “A handful of commoners is nothing in the grand scheme of things.”
“Perhaps we need to find someone more powerful than you, Lord Ricton, who won’t shy away from the task,” Darby growled.
“Darby.” Otto’s voice was calm yet it carried the slightest hint of warning that only his old friend could detect. Once he knew Darby would not push it further, Otto cleared his throat. “Were they clean kills? Did any of them stand a chance?”
“I have gone over the reports thoroughly, and these people could have survived had a healer with enough training been in the vicinity,” the Chief Healer responded.
“Or if we allowed our commoners to defend themselves with magic,” Nic said.
“Absolutely not,” said Wimarc.
“They deserve a chance. We can’t leave them defenseless. I believe that we need to allow our commoners more liberties. Why shouldn’t they learn to use the gifts they’ve been blessed with?”