by Bridie Blake
“It’s all right father. I know what I must do for Kamara. Extend an invitation to Princess Naleeni. If we can stand the sight of one another, I will consider going ahead with the marriage.”
—
Tempani thought she would feel a sense of foreboding when she saw the convent but instead she felt a weird sense of calm. She knew this place. And it would always hold a special place in her heart.
Darby spoke quietly to the young nun who had been waiting for them at the gates. Her eyes kept flicking quickly to Tempani and then back to Darby. Tempani was trying to recall if she’d met this girl before. She nodded as he finished and ushered them through the gates.
“Keane!” Tempani exclaimed when she found herself face to face with the stable hand from Fenella.
He grinned at her and took Mincha’s reins from her hand. “Tis good to see you, my lady.”
Darby shrugged. “One of my men,” he said.
“I don’t think I can take any more surprises,” Tempani muttered.
Tilaw jumped out of his holder and ran off to greet his old friends. Tempani watched him go and smiled at how quickly he had settled back into his old life.
“Tempani and Madoc, you are to come with me. We will be staying in the abbess’ house. The others are to follow the sister here, and she will show you to the guest house,” Darby instructed and handed his horse over to Keane.
Bhatia didn’t even wait for the sister and stalked off in search of a room.
“My lady, I am to stay with you. It is my duty,” Zadi said and glanced defiantly at Darby.
Tempani nodded and followed Madoc. She did not have the energy to argue with Zadi at the moment. She had four days of dirt and sweat covering her body, and all she wanted was a long hot bath and change of clothes. She was shown to her room in Mother Chennai’s house and realized how much she had missed the luxury of a bed. She stood before the long mirror hanging on her door and groaned at her appearance.
In no time at all Tempani was splashing about in warm water, taking her time to soak her tired limbs and scrub the grime from her body.
—
Madoc paced his room. Darby had told him that they were going to stop at the convent for a few days to rest and freshen themselves up before heading to the ruins. But for some reason Madoc didn’t believe him. There was something else going on, and he wanted to know what it was.
He wanted to know why they took such a roundabout way to get here. Why Darby’s men-at-arms watched Tempani’s every move, and why her healer friend was along for the trip. And who was this girl Bhatia? He was sure he had seen her before in Fenella but couldn’t place where. And where were these bandits Otto had been worried about? There was no sign that any raids had happened in the area.
And he didn’t believe for one moment that Darby had killed that centaur. Something was definitely wrong. He decided to write to Chae and ask what his thoughts were. After all, nobody knew Tempani like Chae did, and if something was wrong, he would know.
—
Darby slipped through the oak door and entered the abbess’ personal chapel. He found her kneeling before the statues of the God Windel and his sister, the Goddess Allarah, chanting a quiet prayer. He watched as she bowed to kiss the feet of each statue.
“And so she has returned.” She rose and turned to Darby. He rushed forward and kissed her fingers. “I felt her the day she contacted Tritus but much time has passed since. I began to think you may not come. Until Keane arrived with your message.”
“She was not ready to believe.”
“You’ve brought along one who is kept in the dark. Why is that so?”
“A young knight for protection. He is a friend and will bring no harm to our plight.”
“And no one knows she is here?”
“We concocted a story that will be believed. She will be safe here until she is ready,” said Darby.
Mother Chennai’s thin lips broke into a smile and her blue eyes sparkled as her face relaxed. “I held no doubt in your abilities. Come, sit. We have a lot to catch up on.” She sat on the stone pew and patted a spot beside her for Darby.
Darby told her of what happened after Tempani contacted Tritus, how she struggled to grasp the idea of the Power but came to understand she is the blessed one and how she had to sacrifice her own happiness to come here. Mother Chennai listened to his news carefully and nodded her head in understanding when he told her that he had hoped Tempani would come to her own understanding of what was being asked of her.
“She is oblivious to the intensity of her Power and has no idea how to yield what she has. She will need to be shown everything,” he admitted. “I thought it best we leave it all to you.”
“You thought right. Her path is clear, and it is very few of us who can guide her along it,” she said and patted his hand.
“We can trust everybody here?”
“Darby, there is no place safer than here. It is sacred to all.”
“Even the novice priests? They understand it is a secret?”
“One enters a vow upon arriving here. What happens here is kept here. A vow made in the chapel cannot be broken,” she promised and their eyes met in understanding. “And don’t think I haven’t given this place all the protection I could conjure.”
“I shall find Tempani and send her to you. The sooner you get started the better for us all.” He rose and walked away from her.
“Darby?” Mother Chennai rose also. “It is good to see you again. It has been far too long.”
Darby nodded and slipped behind the door, his heart pounding against his chest. He was amazed that she still had the ability to affect him in this way, even after all these years.
—
“Did you know?” She asked when she felt his presence behind her.
Nika sat on the ground opposite her, his muscled arms clenching as he gripped his spear tightly. His dark eyes were watchful, scanning the woods every few moments before flicking back to her face.
She had slipped out of the safety of the walls as soon as the convent fell into a deep slumber. Tilaw was by her side, as usual, as she made the familiar trek to their old meeting place. She knew he would be there.
He pointed to the markings on his back. “You are what connects this circle. Without you we will remain a divided kingdom,” he whispered. “If you believe, you get this.”
Kwahi swooped over them, narrowly missing Tilaw’s head, before perching on the tree above them.
“Not everyone believes?”
He twirled the spear in his hands. “Some of the tribes don’t. They are set in their ways and don’t think there’s any truth behind the prophecy.”
“And here I was thinking it would be easy,” she said weakly.
“You’re Kalaowin,” he said. “Life isn’t meant to be easy.”
“I’m Kamari too,” she whispered. “Is that why they won’t believe?”
He shrugged. “Maybe.”
All her life she had felt her Kalaowin blood was stronger than her Kamari. It had defined who she was. Had helped other people define who she was. Among the Kamaris she would never completely belong. They would never accept her Kalaowin side.
It had never occurred to her that she would face the same problems among the Kalaowins. An ignorant fantasy perhaps that they would welcome her with open arms. If she didn’t belong with them either then where did she sit?
Convincing one race to follow her was a mighty task, but two? How could she possibly do that? But she knew it would take time. She had to try. Besides she had friends among both. They had yet to steer her wrong.
“Why didn’t you tell me?” She asked. “All those years and not a word.”
He rose to his feet and raised his spear in the directions of the woods. “Wasn’t my place.” He inched closer to the woods and pulled his arm back, ready to throw it.
“Drop it,” a gruff voice growled through the darkness. “You are surrounded.”
Nika swore and leapt towards Tempani,
pulling her behind him. She felt him press something hard into her palm and looked down to find his dagger.
Tilaw raised his hackles and snarled into the darkness. A sharp whistle met their ears, and the dog’s tail wagged as he bolted towards the noise. Tempani relaxed and placed a gentle hand on Nika’s arm.
“It’s all right,” she called out to the darkness. “He’s a friend.”
Rando stepped into the clearing, his grey hair a stark contrast against the night sky. His sword was in hand, his eyes wary, as he stared at Nika. Tempani stepped around him and introduced the two men, neither of them daring to drop their weapons.
“There was no need to follow me,” she told him. “I have made this trek many times before and come to no harm.”
“I am here to protect you,” he replied. “You do not leave the walls without a guard.”
“She has protection,” Nika hissed. “Do you think we would leave her unwatched?”
The two men eyed each other until Rando nodded and sheathed his sword. “Thank you,” he said. “You have served her well.”
Nika scowled at Rando’s offered hand. “She is safe. That’s what matters.” He walked away, patting Tilaw’s head as they passed one another. “I will be watching.”
“I don’t like him,” Rando growled as he ushered Tempani away.
—
Madoc folded the letter and threw it into the fire. He shook his head, cursing Nic for not standing up to his father. And now it was up to him to break the news to her. How did you tell someone that the person they love is courting another?
He walked across the courtyard and bumped into Bhatia coming out of the infirmary. He noticed her eyes were red as she tried to walk past him.
“Everything all right?”
She halted and scowled at him. “What do you want?”
“I was being a gentleman and making sure you were all right,” he snapped. “Clearly a mistake.”
“Let’s not pretend we keep company with gentlemen.”
“If you think so lowly of men why sell your body to them?” It had not taken him long to remember her. Always standing at the door to the inn, holding herself proudly.
She glared at him. “Spend a day in our world and then tell me what option we have. But that’s all going to change.” She snickered as he looked at her with a puzzled expression. “You don’t know. Wow, she has more guts than I gave her credit for.” She walked away laughing.
Madoc watched her. What was she talking about? What didn’t he know? He knew they were hiding something from him, but he hadn’t thought Tempani would be in on it. Weren’t they friends? Well, if she was keeping him in the dark about something he would find out what it was.
He found her in the stables, rubbing Mincha’s nose. Tilaw’s head rested in her lap. “What’s going on?” He asked. “What are you keeping from me?”
She glanced up at him with swollen eyes, and he forgot his anger.
“Is it true? Is he courting her?”
Madoc sighed and wrapped an arm around her shoulder. “I’m sorry,” he said. “Maybe he’ll change his mind.”
“He won’t. He was so mad when I left.”
“We’ll only be gone a short time. I’m sure when you get back he’ll be over it.”
Tempani gulped. “Maybe.”
He knew she was lying to him right now and was about to push her on it when a fresh wave of tears hit her. He hugged her tight and watched the grey clouds roll in over the convent.
—
Beads of sweat poured down Tempani’s rosy cheeks as her brows knitted together in concentration. The sleeves on her sky blue shirt were rolled up and exposed her trembling arms as the strength of the spell took its toll on her already tired body and mind. She felt the last trace of her Power escape through her fingers as the log she was concentrating on burst into flames.
“It shall be,” she muttered to end the spell before feinting.
“Why push her so hard?” Zadi demanded as Rando lifted Tempani from the floor and carried her to her room.
“Tempani is the one demanding that we keep going. She knows what needs to be done,” Colbert explained.
“If she dies from exhaustion she will be of no use to anyone,” Zadi hissed and pulled Tempani’s sheets up and tucked them around her warm body.
“And if she does not learn everything then she will be of no use either,” he retorted.
“Enough,” Mother Chennai said as she walked in behind them. “The pair of you needs to stop talking of nothing but the prophecy and look at what else is happening around you.”
“The prophecy is why we are here. There is no time for anything else,” Colbert said defensively. He had noticed in the last few days that Mother Chennai and Darby were distracted by something, and he was beginning to grow tired of them postponing their lessons with Tempani and not explaining why.
“We must make time for life Colbert, otherwise what are we fighting for?” Darby asked and ushered them out of the room. “The poor girl needs some rest. She has not slept a wink since she heard the news from the palace.”
“What news?” Colbert and Zadi asked in unison.
“Princess Naleeni has arrived in Fenella,” Darby explained. “It won’t be long before the king makes an announcement.”
“She’s going back, isn’t she?” Colbert exploded and rounded on Darby. He had often felt that Darby’s heart was not entirely in their plight. His ties to the nobility were sure to get in the way, and Colbert had said as much when he found out Darby would be their leader. “You can’t let her leave, Darby. She’s the one we’ve been waiting for. There is no other opportunity for this.”
“Hold your tongue, Colbert,” Zadi scolded. “This is not Lord Darby’s fault. We just need to remind Tempani of what is important.”
“No, we don’t. We need to give her space and let her broken heart heal. If we let this consume our lives, we will lose our plight. We all need to slow down and take a break every now and then or we won’t see this through,” Darby said.
“But we need to act before we’re discovered. It won’t be long before they’re on our tail,” Colbert reminded them. “She has not progressed far enough to start defending herself.”
“I agree,” Mother Chennai whispered and patted Colbert’s shoulder. “She has come a long way since you all arrived here, but she is not ready yet and time is short.”
“Chennai, we discussed her need to slow down. She will run herself into the ground.”
“I have accepted my destiny, Darby,” Tempani whispered and smiled weakly at her old friend as she limped out of her room. “I have accepted that I will be working hard to convince the kingdom that we should be united and that women with magic are not evil. And to convince people that I am worth following.”
“People believe you are,” Zadi reassured her.
She shook her head and sighed. “I’m a young, half-blood female who was being courted by the heir to the throne. I will have my doubters.”
“They will come to follow you,” Colbert said.
“Colbert, you need to understand that I am not going to shy away from my path. Taking a break from my studies will not distract me from what is important. I need you to trust my commitment.”
He ducked his head, clearly embarrassed that she had learned of his doubt in her.
“Darby, I need you to stop treating me as a fragile woman. Yes, my heart is broken, but I will overcome that in time. I will face many obstacles on my path, and it is time I start to deal with those myself. I appreciate that you worry for me, but I don’t need a father. I need you to be my friend and confidant and understand that I need to stand on my own two feet. It is time I begin to guide myself.”
The two men stared at her in wonder, and for the first time since she had discovered who she was, they saw not an uncertain noble, but a woman on the verge of becoming the first sorceress since Serenite.
Tempani had her first peaceful sleep since hearing of Princess Naleeni’s arri
val. She had been expecting it, but it still hurt to hear. A little part of her had hoped that he would stand strong against his father and wait for her to return home. But then Darby relayed the message, and she truly knew it was over.
As angry as she had been at him, she still missed him. Missed talking to him. She knew he would understand the burden she felt now as he would have similar burdens when he became king. Tempani had tried writing to him, but whenever she went to jot something down, her eyes filled with tears and she remembered the last time they spoke and how horrible he had been.
Tempani couldn’t bring herself to talk of her fears and doubts to those at the convent with her. They were too excited about what was happening, and she couldn’t bear to burst their bubble. She had given her speech and tried to be brave, but on the inside she was a mess. She longed to have Chae or Teddy or Dahlia with her. Or to even be able to tell Madoc of her secret. She knew he was getting suspicious, and it wouldn’t be long before they would need to tell him the truth. And then he would need to choose.
—
“Do you still practice with your sword?” Mother Chennai sat beside Tempani in the chapel. She looked up in surprise from her silent prayer and stared at the abbess. “Don’t be so shocked, my daughter. Did you think I was so blind?”
Tempani blushed and hung her head in shame. She hadn’t enjoyed sneaking around behind Mother Chennai’s back. “I’m sorry,” she muttered. “I should not have risked my safety like that.”
“Your remorse is appreciated but unnecessary. We made sure you were always safe.”
“One might think I was of some importance,” Tempani chuckled.
“It is nice to see you smile,” Chennai said. “You are not finding this easy are you?”
Tempani shook her head and glanced at Mother Chennai, tears swimming in her eyes. “Do you think poorly of me?”
“It is some responsibility you are carrying around with you. Any other person would have run at the sight of it. Colbert and Darby included. It takes a special person to take on what you have. I would be concerned if you did not find it hard.”
“I hardly have a choice do I?”
“We always have a choice, my daughter. You can choose to walk away at any time.”