by Luna Lais
"Why were you crying?" His voice was gentle now. She turned to look at him. There was the concern and compassion in his eyes she had been looking for before.
"What do you care?" she said stiffly.
"I care," he said softly. "So why were you crying?"
"Because I was sad you dolt!" She exclaimed. " Have you not ever been sad?"
"Of course I have been sad," He took her hand with his, "but if you plan on taking the path you have set your feet upon, you are going to have to learn to master your emotions. You can not give in to their every whim. The time to cry would have been when you heard the news of your brother's death, not hours later upon seeing me." He gently rubbed the hand he was holding with his thumb.
"I am sorry." She said relaxing just a bit. She certainly could not tell him that she sought comfort from only him. "I was just so relieved when you returned. The events of the last few weeks just came pouring out all at once."
He took his free hand and used it to turn her chin towards him. "How did you convince your brother to leave you here" He looked into her eyes, "alone with me?" She did not answer she was to overwhelmed by the warmth his gaze made her feel. "Do not apologize," he whispered. "Between now and the harvest will we both do things the other does not agree with, but that is who we are and neither should expect the other to change." He briefly glanced at her lips. "We will just have to learn to live with each others faults." He leaned in and gave her a quick kiss. The fire began to flare and spark. Startled she pulled away from him. He did not try to pull her back, but instead he released her hand and rose.
"That reminds me I brought you some presents," he said as he walked to retrieve the bags he had tossed in front of the empty stall. He rummaged through the bags and drew out two large bundles wrapped in paper and bound with string. He tossed them to her.
"What is it?" she asked as she picked the packages up.
"I told you presents." He smiled at the look on her face. She looked so surprised he wondered how long it had been since someone had given her a present. "They are not as fine as you are use to, but the choices in Heartsfield are limited. It is a very small village." She made no move to open the packages and Eranen thought she might not with him watching her so closely.
"I will be back in a few minutes. I need to gather some vegetables for dinner while the sun is still up." He turned and walked out of the barn leaving Lissandra to herself.
Lissandra looked at the plain brown paper packages in her lap. She was curious about what they contained. What would Eranen buy for her? Not being able to think of anything she began tearing into the first package. She examined the contents and began to redden. The package contained ladies undergarments, a bar of scented soap and a hairbrush. She inhaled the soft lavender fragrance of the soap, than began to examine each article. She carefully set them aside so she could open the other package. In side she found a pair of sturdy black boots, a few pairs of hose and two dresses. One dress was dark green and the other deep blue. They were made out of a thick sturdy material, but were not overly coarse. Neither of the dresses had any adornments or embroidery and both were rather plain, but to Lissandra they were the finest garments she had ever owned. She stood to hold one of the dresses in front of her. Both dresses had sleeves, which caused her to smile. After setting the dress down in the other chair she rummaged through the package more. She found hair ribbons, a white night dress and a thick green robe. Self-conscious she tried to rake her hands through her hair, but there were too many tangles. It had been almost two weeks since she had a decent bath and been able to properly brush her hair. Darien had loaned her the use of his comb, but it could not tame her long thick hair adequately.
"I have a tub out behind the shack if you want me to bring it in." Eranen said from the entrance of the barn where he had been watching her. "I also have some work in the field that I need to finish before dinner, so I can afford you at least an hour of privacy."
She smiled at him. No that is not what she did; she smiled because of him. It shook Eranen to the core. This smile was just for him; it lit up her entire face. "I would like that very much," she said beaming.
An hour later, Eranen stood at the entrance of the barn watching Lissandra. She was sitting in front of the fire drying her hair with its warmth as she ran the new brush through it. She had her back to him so he was able to admire her for a few moments before speaking. "Are you not able to just remove the moisture from your hair or warm it internally to dry it faster" he asked curious about her abilities. That afternoon after her crying spell was the first time he had ever seen her use them purposely.
She turned just enough to glance at him. "I could, but what would you watch?"
He laughed and walked into the barn. "I think I will start a stew and then we can talk while you finish drying your hair, the view will be better from the table." Her only reply was another of those smiles meant just for him.
As he cooked Lissandra told him of Makren's letter and what news it brought. She then told Eranen of how she and the rest of her family had believed that Makren died twelve years before. "I only hope Darien will arrive home in time to prevent a civil war," she said ending her story.
He studied her for moment, "Lissandra will you tell me of the prophecy that brought you here?"
"I can not," she paused brushing her hair. "Not yet anyway. After I hear word from Rorgrim the time will be right."
"So you expect to have another message," he questioned. She did not answer; instead she began brushing her hair again. "Fair enough, " he said knowing it was to soon for her to trust him completely, regardless of the trust Darien placed in him. "You do not seem shocked that your brother who was thought dead for twelve years is now safe at home." It was a statement not a question, but she commented any way.
"There is prophecy written about Makren in my book. I have known for a while he would return to us.", Lissandra turned to look at him. "The writings stop suddenly shortly after the death of Jimreth. I do not know what will happen next, except that Makren will send word to me before the harvest."
"Perhaps we should not discuss it tonight," he suggested sensing she was uncomfortable. "Tomorrow we will begin looking through the books again. Tonight we will be two ordinary people without a care in the world," he said smiling at her.
"Will you tell me the story of your childhood and of the many battles you fought for Maeorus," she asked.
"Only if you tell me of being a princess and the reasons you gave it up" She stuck out her hand to shake his and seal the agreement. "It's a deal," she said smiling back at him.
Chapter 12
"Are you sure this is the spot?" Sir Cate De Groue said as he gazed down the deserted road surrounded only by fields and grassland.
"This is it." Allista Forstar, princess of Hokaren replied as she stood with the General of her men in the middle of the road seven days south of Calandoria's royal city Rorgrim. They were still within Hokaren, but it was less than a two-day ride from the border of her country. Sir Cate up until being appointed General of her men had been the Captain of the Royal Guard in Hokaren. Alli absently rubbed the pocket of her pants where the letter her father had given her the night she left the Palace in was hidden. He had asked her to come to him before leaving so he could give her something that had been her mother's. He had given her a dagger adorned with emeralds and the letter. He told her to guard the letter and the dagger well.
The dagger had been not belonged to her mother or her mother's family. It was the King's dagger, a symbolic item for the one who ruled Hokaren to carry. In ancient times it had been believed to hold some mystic powers, but in more recent centuries it has become nothing more than a status symbol of the king. To Alli it was just a beautiful dagger to be worn as decoration, not in battle. She sensed nothing special about it, except the fact that it belonged to her father not to her. The letter was another matter and one that plagued her thoughts. She must hurry with her task and return to as fast as possible.
"Have t
he men camp out of sight," she told Cate.
"And how are they to accomplish that? How can a thousand men hide from view on an open plain?" He asked her waiting to see what her answer would be. She had been acting stranger than usual since they had left the palace.
"Then send them east ten Moran to camp. I do not want it to appear as if Hokaren is preparing to invade Calandoria. An army this size so close to the border will make the man uneasy." she answered. "Once the king agrees to our aid you can go and get them."
"I will not leave you alone with a man to go traipsing across the countryside. Your father would have my head. I am here to protect you and make decisions for you when the decisions you make for yourself put you in harms way." Cate said sternly.
"Well then I suggest you figure out how to hide a thousand men then." She retorted. Cate gave her a seething glare. She was the most exasperating woman he had ever met. Since being convinced by King Harold that she needed him more than Hokaren he had twice considered becoming a deserter and fleeing to Pearoandorn where only half the kingdom was insane.
"When will he be here?" Cate asked trying to figure out how he was to accomplish the feat of hiding so many men.
"A couple of hours I think," she said looking down at her traveling clothes. "Cate I am going to go take a quick bath in the stream we past a mile back and change into something more female." She kissed his cheek and ran for her horse to gather more clothes.
"No, No, No," Cate yelled chasing after her once the shock of the kiss had worn off. She stopped and turned to stare at him with a blank expression on her face. He was panting when he caught up with her. "You are not going to do any such thing. What has come over you? Did you bump your head when I was not watching?"
Alli stuck out her bottom lip, "I do not wish to offend him by wearing britches," she pouted. "I need his cooperation. Being from Calandoria he has certain expectations on how a woman should act. Regardless of how ancient his way of thinking might be, I did not want to offend him before I even open mouth."
Cate gave her a good looking over. Her hair was golden and quite curly, but she had it pulled into a braid so tight you would have never guessed it had any curl. It was a little fly away around her oval face from the journey, but most of her hair remained in the braid that hung down to her waist. She was wearing a tan tunic made from soft leather that fell just below her waist as well. There were no tears or a stain on it and it was of good quality. Her britches were made of dark brown leather and hugged her skin. They revealed more of her the he thought wise, but the tunic hid most of her womanly attributes. He remembered biting his tongue that morning when she had first put them on. Beneath the tunic was a white shirt, not even a speck of dirt could be seen on it. Her brown boots were freshly polished; she had stayed up late last night seeing to the job herself. She wore a matching brown belt with the a dagger her father had given her hanging from it. Her face was dark, but from her deep tan, not smudges of dirt.
"You look fine enough," Cate snapped, "We are not inviting him for tea, but lending him aid to secure his crown." She turned those brilliant blue eyes towards him and smiled. "There is more to it than that and you know it."
Darien was pushing Nog beyond his limits he knew, but more than ever he needed to get home. He was still a week's ride from home and nothing was going to prevent his return this time. If he rode through out the night he could make the Blue River by dawn and cross into Calandoria. He would refill his bottles and ride a few more hours, and then he could rest for a few hours before riding out again.
Darien was just topping a hill when a sea of black in front of him caused him to pause. When he had thought nothing would stop him he had never imagined that the Hikirian army might be camped in the middle of the road. Darien looked around. Here he was, King of Calandoria, on a deserted road inside the kingdom of Hokaren facing a large army alone. He looked skyward, "I am sure you are having a great laugh at my expense right now. Where was the Acumen to warn me of this?"
Darien looked back down the road shaking his head, two riders were approaching carrying a flag of truce. Darien was amused, "Do they think I can defeat them all." He laughed to himself.
He dismounted and waited for the riders to reach him. He would not meet them half way; he after all was a king.
The riders stopped fifty yard from where he stood. Darien noticed for the first time that one of them was female, but she dressed as a man.
"Greetings King Raven" the female voice said.
Darien looked at the man, dismissing the woman; she was not a threat. The man stood as tall as Darien, but had a wider girth. He wore a beard and had a head full short brown hair peppered with gray. Darien guessed his age near fifty years. Darien also noticed the man wore no weapon. That fact alone relaxed him and he turned his attention back to the woman whom had addressed him.
"I find myself at a disadvantage, my Lady," Darien bowed slightly. "You know my name, but I have not been given yours." She blushed at his words.
"Forgive us your majesty," she returned the bow. "This is Sir Cate De Groue General of my army." Cate made a slight bow of acknowledgment, "and I am Allista Forstar, daughter of King Harold."
"It is a pleasure to meet you princess. Will your army allow me to pass I must return to Rorgrim with haste," Darien mounted his horse as the woman begin talking again.
"Wait," she called. "I must speak with you for a few moments."
Darien looked at her suspiciously. He had no doubt that this was more than a chance meeting. "Then ride along side me princess, I will not be kept."
Alli quickly ran to her horse and mounted, Cate followed after her. Once she had brought her horse along side Darien's she motioned for Cate to hang back and afford them some privacy. "We are here to offer you aid," she said hurriedly trying to match his pace. "There are rumors that your brother's death was not as it appears."
"Murder, " he said stopping his horse abruptly. "Why would you think that?" Darien remembered that Makren had said almost the same thing in his letter.
"Our spies in the north have brought us reports of an army readying to cross the Northern Mountains into Calandoria. With King Jimreth gone, Lissandra branded traitor and you missing, a civil war is expected to erupt any day," blushing she averted her eyes from his. She had made up the spies. It was the most believable lie she could think of. The truth of her being Acumen would not be shared until she had some measure of his cooperation. "I receive reports from Rorgrim every three days," she said glancing back to him. She ignored his look of ire at hearing Hikirian spies where settled in Calandoria.
"Lissandra a traitor, what is this about?" Darien questioned.
"The decree came down from your own sister acting as your Regent. At this moment every soldier in Calandoria searches for her." Alli looked him in the eyes, "Rest easy, no harm will come to her while she is in Hokaren. Only Calandoria is being searched."
Darien nodded in response not asking how the princess knew where his sister was. He continued his horse down the road at a slower pace than before, "What is the payment for your aid?" he asked knowing if her words were true the aid might be needed.
"Only that once Calandoria is secured for Raven that you listen to my prophecy and help me fulfill it if possible," she waited nervously for his response. She had heard in his tone that he was going to accept her offer of aid. Now she prayed the price would not be to high.
"The Acumen plagues you as well?" Darien asked.
She winced at his words, "No, I am Acumen," she said softly.
Darien looked to the sky and uttered a curse under his breath at the Gods. He could not decide if he was cursed or if the Gods were trying to help him. He looked at Allista and considered his own family. Like her he had been willing to leave them to aid a king in keeping his throne. The difference was he had done it for glory, she did it for life. Not just hers, but her country's as well. If she perished then Hokaren would find itself without a ruler. She was Harold's only child. "How is it that I have not heard be
fore that you were an Acumen?"
"It has been kept secret to prevent a lack of faith in the continuation of the Forstar line." She looked around to make sure Cate was still keeping his distance. "The House of Forstar has many enemies who would use my status against my father. For this reason only four people, including me know of my gift."
Darien had never before heard anyone call the visions of an Acumen or all the things that came with being an Acumen call it a gift. "Then how do you deliver your prophecies?" he wondered out loud.
"I had a maid, who delivered prophecy for me until two years ago," her face looked saddened by the thought. "When Acumen girls were being slaughtered she perished. I am the only female Acumen in Hokaren over the age of ten that survived."
Darien stopped his horse and sighed. He really had no choice in the matter. Once again he would find himself responsible for the life of an Acumen. If she sought his help it meant that only he could help her to fulfill her vision. "I will accept your aid Lady Forstar."