by Luna Lais
"Alli" she cut in, "We go with you as friends and not as representatives of Hokaren. My friends call me Alli."
Darien smiled at her words. "Tell me is this the way all women in Hokaren dress" he asked as his eyes passed over her figure. She ignored the question looking a offended.
"I will accept your aid Alli, but not the aid of your army unless it becomes necessary to battle for my crown." He said changing the subject.
"Fair enough, " she replied stiffly, "but by order of my father Cate must accompany me at all times."
Darien could not help but laugh at her temper. She was trying to hide how upset she was by his comment regarding her dress. "He does not trust me with his daughter?"
"No," she said shaking her head, "It's me. I have a way of getting myself in the middle of complicated situations."
"That comes from letting a women were britches," he said allowing his eyes to roam over her again. He could not help but tease her. "Although I must say certain female attributes are more appealing in britches."
"Is it Calandorian custom to speak so crudely to royalty or is it because I am female that your tongue is so loose?" She was still wearing the blush his words had caused as she spoke.
"Neither," Darien smiled. "I was just testing to see how much fire you had in you. If I am going to rely on you I need to know your strengths and weaknesses, besides certain parts really do look better in britches." He laughed again at the anger in her eyes. "Fear not Alli, your virtue is safe with me. I have more important matters than chasing women to attend to, I was merely making an observation."
"Do you have a plan once you arrive?" Cate said riding up beside them. He had heard little of what they discussed, but he had been close enough to hear Darien's last comments regarding her virtue. He hoped he was not going to have trouble with this man.
Darien, Alli and Cate made camp for the first time ten Moran north of the Blue River inside the kingdom of Calandoria. Thus far on the trip they had rested no longer than an hour. Darien would have ridden further, but they were all exhausted and Alli had twice almost lost her mount. Tomorrow they would turn east and head for Rorgrim. They would need their strength if things were not well in Rorgrim. It would take them three more days if they rode hard and camped for only a few hours each night. Alli's men had been ordered to cross the Blue River into Calandoria and make camp in the dense woods to the South of the capital. If needed they would only be a couple days ride from Rorgrim.
Darien was feeling frustrated at having to stop; it had been a long time since he had been in Calandoria and his kingdom was in danger. After securing Nog and rubbing him down, he sat down on a fallen log enjoying the peace of the countryside for few minutes before getting his bedroll.
"Your majesty" Darien turned to the of sound Cate' voice.
"Call me Darien, Sir De Groue, I do not feel very kingly at the moment, besides we are friends remember, no titles."
Cate nodded and sat down on the log next to Darien. "We are close to the Temple of the Moon's Soul are we not." Cate was not interested in the Temple only making conversation. His eyes moved to watch Alli gather firewood close by.
"Yes, it is only another day and a half ride north from here," he replied aching to remove the boots from his tired feet.
"Alli has unique ideas on how the world should be," Cate said softly still watching her. "You have not really had a chance to speak with her since we met due to the pace we kept. I feel I should warn you, her father indulges her because of her gift. He fears she will perish before completing her pinnacle. Like I said she is idealistic and may offend you with some of what she says, but I can assure you it will not be intentional. She knows very little of the world outside of Hokaren and I am afraid she has not really even seen much of it."
"I will keep that in mind," Darien assured Cate as he stood. He watched Alli for a few moments her arms now full of wood as she walked back towards them to build a fire. She was not unattractive. If she dressed more womanly she might even be pretty. "Surely Harold would shake the heavens to find her soul mate?" he said casually.
Darien did not see the grim look on Cate' face. He was still looking at the woman. "He would, but still the odds are against her. With every new vision comes the chance of death. I was sent to protect her. That is a difficult job when I am not sure what she must accomplish." He said with a heavy sigh.
"So she is not able to tell you her prophecy?" Darien knew that this meant Cate' could be of no assistance in fulfilling the vision.
Cate did not answer , but instead stood and walked past Darien on his way to his and Alli's horses. Darien moved to his own packs looking for food. "You are welcome to share our meal," Alli said from behind him. He had been lost in his own thoughts and had not heard her approaching. "Thank you, but I am well prepared."
Alli just shrugged, "Suite yourself, but my men killed a deer just before you arrived and we have plenty of meat if you change your mind." Darien glanced had the fire she had built. Cate stood over it placing a haunch of meat on a spit he had fashioned from fallen limbs.
"Perhaps I will join you," Darien said. "Conversation over the meal would be a good way to acquaint ourselves with each other. Trust is the key to a successful alliance."
She smiled at him, "Come and sit by the fire with us and we can spend the evening sharing stories. You and Cate can trade war stories and I can educate both of you on the benefits of treating women as equals." Darien followed her back to the fire chuckling.
With their bellies full the three weary travelers sat around the fire. Cate was elaborating his role in the Hikirian victory against Pearoandorn thirty years before. "It was the most beautiful battle I have every seen, men from both sides fighting with all they had to win the day." Cate paused to make sure he still had his audience's attention. "I was nothing more than a foot soldier in those days."
Darien grinned, "Surely you jest Cate. I find it hard to imagine you a mere foot soldier."
"I will admit I was the best of them on the field that day if it will make my tale more palatable to you." Cate said jokingly.
"Indeed it does," laughed Darien. He could not imagine a younger version of the man before him barely able to wield a sword.
"It was early morning when my battalion was ordered to enter the fray. The fighting had already been waged for hours. The Blood River was renamed after this battle. Before that we called it the Moors River." Cate added. "When we crossed the river to join are comrades in arms the river had already turned red with the blood of the fallen."
"Let me clarify this," Darien had always loved to hear tales relating to the last Great War. His father and countrymen had joined with the young King Harold to drive out and defeat the Pearoandorn armies that sought to rule the entire world. "You were part of the reinforcements brought in at the end to deliver the final blow to Pearoandorn?"
"Yes I had just finished training two weeks before and not considered seasoned enough to fight in the front lines." Cate looked embarrassed by the fact. "We surged through the Pearoandorn army hacking away at any on the opposing side we could find. I had just broken through the line when I saw him." Cate paused for dramatic effect and met both Alli and Darien in the eye, "Riding atop a white horse, shouting orders and fighting combatants off with unmatched skill. Even now any who practice the art of war strive to be as he was."
"Who was it?" Alli asked unable to bear the suspense Cate was creating.
"It was Vernon the Great, King of Pearoandorn." Cate answered surprised she had not guessed. "I rushed him as was my duty to do so. All of us were ordered to fell him if possible. His death would be the only way to end the war for good."
"If I recall correctly he did fall in that battle," Darien added.
"I will tell you I was truly terrified. The son of a blacksmith, I had been drafted into Harold's army. I did not enlist like many of my countrymen. I guess I was lucky to have been drafted during the last weeks of the war. I had no skill with a blade, but still I fought for Hokaren. I wish
I could at least tell you I fought valiantly against Vernon, but during my charge I stumbled and my blade entered the belly of his horse."
Cate looked at the two young people listening to his tale. Their eyes were wide waiting to hear what he would say next. "The horse reared and threw Vernon. He fell through the air towards me just as I pulled my blade free from the animal. When he crashed into me the angle of my blade entered his chest; his own sword entered my leg. I passed out from the pain. I was found after the battle with my blade still clutched in my hands. The other end still lodged in Vernon's chest. King Harold despite my protest, declared me a hero and promoted me to lieutenant in his own Royal Guard." Cate laughed. "And that is how I the son of a black smith became a soldier."
"So you are the one who killed Vernon!" Darien said impressed.
"No," Cate said quietly. "I killed his horse, the rest was just dumb luck."
"And you remained in my father's service after all these years?" Alli questioned.
"My ambition in life may have been for something else, but being a soldier pays well." Cate said smiling.
"And what of you," Alli asked turning to Darien, "Is the life of a soldier what you would have chosen for yourself?"
"Yes," Darien said honestly. "I find comfort in my sword. My skill gives me the ability to defend those who can not protect themselves and aid a just cause. It's more than that though. I like the rush of a battle, you can not imagine the feeling of it." Darien smiled at her; "I also enjoy the bond with the other men and the celebrations after each victory."
"I have heard many tales of both your victories and your celebrations," Cate said. "How is it the women of Pearoandorn allowed you to escape them?" Darien chuckled at Cate humor. During the war in Pearoandorn he had kept a mistress in ever city the frequented, but he had like none of them enough to keep.
"Funny how we never seem to end up how we wished," Alli mused ignoring what Cate had been implying to Darien. The ways of men, especially those at war were not foreign to her. "Instead of being a blacksmith, Cate is a general. Darien wanted to live the life of a warrior, but he is a king instead, and I just wanted to be a normal girl. Instead I am a princess, heir to the throne in Hokaren and an Acumen which practically guarantees I will die before I am thirty."
Darien sobered at her words. For the first time ever he was talking to an Acumen about something other than prophecy. "What is it like to be an Acumen?" he asked.
Alli stared at him hard; "It is all I know so I can not tell you the differences in my life compared to other women's. Every moment I live is spent doing the will of the Gods. I have thought of little but prophecy since I was ten. My life is devoted to leading others to their destinies, never being allowed one of my own," until now she thought to herself.
"Do you not ever believe you will be freed and allowed to have your own life?" Darien asked.
Alli laughed, "Perhaps one day I will no longer be an Acumen, but in its place I would be forced into marriage with someone picked by the Gods, not me. That might be worse than being an Acumen."
"At least you would have your life," Darien said. "As long as you have that things can get better."
"How would the thought of a marriage not of your choosing sit with you," she asked Darien, "not as the man in a marriage, but as a woman." She knew the Calandorian views of women. Had she been born in that kingdom she would never even attempt to find a soul mate, death would be preferable.
Darien had never considered this point of view before. He was a man after all and marriage was just a convenience many men chose. Darien sobered at the thought, now that he was king he would be expected to marry and produce heirs, the people would demand it. "I see your point, but there is always the possibility the man the Gods chose would be a good man and rule you well.
"I have no desire to be ruled, that is not the Hikirian way." Alli said rising and going to her pallet. Both men watched her lie down.
"I told you she was idealistic," Cate said. "She seeks to place women on the same level as a man. Could you imagine women fighting in combat or sharing mugs of ale at the local tavern? Women are capable of a great many things, but a line must be drawn somewhere!"
"I may not agree that all women should be given more liberties, but I too have often felt that those of belonging to the royal family in Calandoria should be given more status. Her fears are the same I have had for my own sisters." Still lost in his thoughts regarding his sisters, Darien rose and went to his own bedroll for the night.
"I guess I'll take first watch!" Cate announced to himself.
The next morning they sat their pace at a more comfortable level, which afforded Alli a chance to converse more with Darien. She was determined to reveal his character before they reached Rorgrim. "Tell me why did you name that noble creature Nog?" They had broke camp just after dawn. There was a light rain falling and each of them had worn hooded capes to keep the water from there eyes. Alli could not tell if Darien looked in her direction or not.
"He has too much pride and often thinks he is the master instead of me. I gave him that name to keep him in his place." As if listening to Darien's words Nog let out a snort and rolled his eyes. Alli gave a light laugh at the horse's antics.
"What do you think we will find in Rorgrim?" Alli was nervous after Darien had told them about his brother, Makren's letter earlier that morning. When word of King Jimreth's death reached them no word was mentioned that it might not have been natural. Alli had only suspected based on what she had seen in her vision.
"I can not say," Darien answered honestly, " I am hoping nothing will be amiss. Few of the noblemen have enough strength to really launch any opposition against the crown and it has been many years since any of the people have tried to revolt."
"Calandorians have tried to revolt before?" Alli asked. She had never heard that the people might not fully support the crown.
"The last time it happened I was just a child," Darien explained. "A group of farmer's in the northwest near Tusknet tried to incite a rebellion. They were unhappy about a drought that was plaguing the land and blamed my father for not forcing the Order of Colondone to bring rains."
"Is that not what the Order is suppose to do? Why did they not help?" Alli was curious about the Order just as most that did not live in Calandoria were.
"Normally the Order would have come to the aid of the farmers, but just a few months before relics of the Sun were found in the city of Tusknet and the Order felt this was the Moon's punishment to the people that lived there." Darien said remembering the events clearly in his mind. His father had taken both he and Jimreth to see how the crown should deal with insurgents. He still had nightmares about what he seen done to those men.
"Your people are very devoted to the Moon." Alli mused. "Does it make ruling the difficult?"
"Not at all," Darien replied. "The Raven's are also very devoted. Most of the laws in Calandoria, including those regarding women are demanded by the Order in return for their aid in times of trouble. While the Order is controlled solely by women, they believe only women of the Order should be allowed any liberties."
"So the House of Raven is not responsible for true rule in Calandoria, the Order is?" She had never expected that the crown was just a figurehead.
"Not entirely," Darien explained. It has been centuries since the Order has been involved in matters of state. The Order remains separated from the daily happenings in the kingdom and only voice their opinions in matters concerning the Moon, they care not for power. Other than my sister I have never met any of the Order and to my knowledge they have not been in the city of Rorgrim for nearly fifty years."
They rode in silence for a few moments, each thinking to themselves. "If I could, I would change many of the laws. I know that there is suffering in my kingdom." Darien said speaking his thoughts out loud.
"Why can you not change the laws, you are king. Why must you bow down to a select group and trust that what they tell you the Moon demands is true and not just an attempt
to keep their control in Calandoria." Alli asked.
"It is not that simple." Darien said sighing. "I would not even know where to begin."
"Why not take the advice of those who suffer the most, the women and children?" Darien said nothing to her advice. It made to much sense to rebuke, but it also was dangerous to cross the Order. Maybe he could discuss it with Lissandra when she arrived and get her opinion. Right now the Order was standing against the House of Raven, at least according to Alli.
Chapter 13
"This looks wonderful," Eranen said as he sat down to a breakfast of eggs, fresh bread, chilled berries and boiled sausages. "I remember boring you to tears when I told you of my grandmother teaching me to make her wonderful stew, but you neglected to tell me how a princess learned to cook. I would have found that story much more fascinating than my own."
Lissandra smiled at him as she poured him a cup of hot tea. "As a Calandorian woman it was expected that I learn how to cook. Girls are taught from a young age to perform all manner of wifely duties."