by Luna Lais
Half way down the page he saw what he was looking for. Before dawn breaks the Daughter of the Moon must leave the Soul or perish. The wise man will wait for her in the South and she must remain with him until the end of harvest. Only in his care will she be safe. He was no longer reading the passages out loud, there was no need to Lissandra already knew the words. "Will you leave me after the harvest?" Eranen asked reading the passage again. "It only says you must remain with me until the end of harvest."
"No," Lissandra said looking at him for the first time since he began reading. "Not unless that is your wish, I mean. I will not hold you to your vow of marriage unless that is your desire. The terms of the prophecy have been met." She could not tell by his reaction to her words what he was thinking. Marriage had never been necessary for her to fulfill the prophecy only to keep their honor. She would understand if he wished it absolved after reading the book.
Eranen turned to look at her, "Marriage is a sacred vow between two people, binding them forever. I have no desire to cast my vow aside or to see you do the same." He took her hands with his own. "I still want you, but will not hold you against your will. I will leave the choice to you, but regardless of your decision I will not leave you to face your destiny alone. I will remain with you at least until the Order seeks you no longer." Her eyes met his and then she smiled. She could conquer kingdoms with her smile.
"I still want you as well," she spoke softly, "I will honor my vows as your wife as for long as you will allow me to or death takes me from them." Eranen released the breath he had been holding at her words as relief washed over him. He leaned to her and seized her lush lips with his own. The vow they made to each other meant more than the words spoken at the Temple.
"Forever then," he whispered ending the kiss and losing himself in her eyes. "Forever," he repeated smiling. She was blushing under his intense gaze and lowered her eyes smiling. "Forever," she said softly nodding.
Eranen satisfied with her decision released her hands and returned to the book once again, flipping to the next marked page. A small passage at the bottom of the page caught his attention. After the death of the eldest Raven and his family the third son will return. Death and destruction will follow in his wake. Makren, Eranen thought quickly turning the page. At his word the Daughter of Raven will reveal her secrets and the wise will share his setting both on the path to their destinies. At this moment they were fulfilling the prophecy he was reading. Eranen felt a chill run down his spine. Centuries ago someone saw him sitting with Lissandra in his barn reading this book. Lingering for only a moment on his thoughts he continued to the next passage. Having met the Moon and the Sun will guide their paths not always together, but always the same. "Did the Moon meet the Sun?" Eranen asked turning his green eyes to Lissandra and raising his eyebrows.
"It sure felt that way to me," she said blushing. Eranen laughed and kissed her forehead. "Me too, but it feels like we are missing something." The way the book read it seemed like it would be an obvious event. One easy to recognize, but nothing had changed with their marriage that he could tell other than where Lissandra slept.
"I was hoping we would find the answers in one of your books," she answered feeling there must be something more. Eranen rose and headed towards the small door by the fire. "Where are you going?" Lissandra questioned puzzled by his actions.
"To get the books I've kept hidden from you," he said opening the door and leaving the barn.
Chapter 24
"Psst," Cate turn towards the strange noise he heard coming from Alli's door as he walked down the hall on his way to the dinning hall for the morning meal. Her head was poking through the small slit of the open door.
"I have been waiting for an hour for you to walk by," she snapped. "Since when did you take to sleeping in?"
"The sun is not up yet," he said confused by her words. "What are you doing awake so early?"
"Come in quickly," she said ignoring his words. She pulled back into her room leaving the door slightly ajar. Cate shaking his head at her behavior walked in and closed the door behind him. Her chamber was similar to his. There was a large bed with a light blue stuffed chair next to it. In front of the fireplace sat two more chairs that matched the one by the bed. A small table sat near the bed next to a large window with blue drapes. A couple of wardrobes lined the walls and a dresser with a mirror sat on the wall next to the door. There were paintings on the walls including one over the mantle of the fireplace. All in all the accommodations were more than adequate he thought.
"Well," she said nervously.
Cate took several minutes to look at her, suppressing a smile of delight. If only Harold could see this, it had been at least ten years since she had looked like this. "It is very nice," he said indicating the blue dress she was wearing. It was a bit low in the neck in his opinion, but he did not tell her. He did not want her embarrassed enough by his words to change. The embroidery along the bodice was expertly done and the gathers of the skirt made her look as if she floated on a cloud of blue. The long sleeves where trimmed in only a small amount of lace preventing it from looking to formal from everyday wear. Alli had not braided her this morning. Instead it fell to her waist in waves of glorious golden curls. Yes, Harold would definitely be disappointed he had not been here to see her, she was a vision.
"Just nice?" she asked frowning. She leaned down and raised the hem of the dress revealing her feet. "Did you see the shoes?" Cate had not seen the little satin slippers she was wear, the length of the dress had hidden the from view.
"What is the occasion?" he asked still fighting the urge to smile.
"There is no occasion," she said quickly. "I just want to see what the big to do is all about." She dropped the hem of the dress and moved to the small dresser next to the door and looked into the mirror that was hanging just above it. She began studying her profile earnestly.
Cate watching her asked, "And have you discovered what the big to do is?"
"No, not yet," she said turning to him. "I feel naked," she laughed before turning serious eyes towards him. "I do not want anyone to see me like this." She said. "I am going to work with Molly and Karegh this morning in the throne room. If they do not laugh at me, then I may continue wearing it for the remainder of the day."
"It is only a dress," Cate said. "Women have been known to wear them."
"Well I have not put one on since I was twelve," She looked back to the mirror and spun in a circle causing the skirt to fluff and swirl.
"I wish your father could see this," Cate said finally smiling at her. "It would ease his mind." Alli stopped spinning and glared at him. Chuckling, Cate turned and left the room.
After eating Cate had decided to go to the throne room to see how Alli was doing in her new attire. He paused when he heard his name called and turned to face the man walking down the hall towards him. Darien quickened his pace and stopped before Cate. "Have you seen Alli? I have been searching everywhere for her," he asked.
"What do you want with her?" Cate asked suspiciously. Darien and Alli had been having far too many private meetings lately.
"I had some questions for her regarding prophecy. I had hoped to have the answers before the council meeting this afternoon." Darien said raking his hand through his hair.
Cate started to speak, but hesitated. Darien looked awful. Sure his clothes were clean and his face shaven, but it was obvious looking at his face that he had not slept well during the night. "Well," Darien snapped impatiently.
"She is in the throne room with Molly and Karegh." Darien nodded at Cate' words and stalked away towards the throne room. "So it is going to be one of those days," Cate whispered to himself shaking his head. He began walking in the opposite direction as Darien. Perhaps he could find Lawwe and convince him to play cards until time for the meeting. That would help take his mind off of other parts of the castle.
Darien stood staring through the doors of the throne room watching Alli, Molly and Karegh. The doors were only slightly aj
ar and he stayed hidden from their view. The size of the room carried the echo of their voices to him so he could easily hear what was being said. Alli had the two children sitting on a throne reciting the alphabet while she paced in front of them nodding her approval. When he had first seen the children it had taken him several minutes to realize what they were doing. He had been to stricken by the woman before them. At first glance he thought perhaps one of the maids had been with children. He was sure he had never seen the woman before, but what maid would wear a dress of such fine quality. It was blue silk and made her blue eyes glow. That was when Darien had realized who the woman was, not a servant, but Alli. She had not worn her hair in a tight braid today, but let it fall free in a shower of golden curls. It swirled around her small waist with each step she took. He had been mesmerized by the gentle swaying. "That was wonderful," her melodic laugh filled the room when the children had finished the last letter. "You will be reading before harvest at this rate."
"Why do I need to learn to read?" Karegh asked puffing out his chest. "I am going to be a great warrior of what use will reading be to me on a field of battle? A true warrior has no need for reading."
"Really," Alli said turning her eyes to the boy. "What of Lawwe, Cate and Darien? Have the not each proven their skill in battle, yet all three read," she said pointedly. The look of disgust on Karegh face made it apparent he saw no connection between their skill with a sword and the ability to read.
"I want to learn how to read and write," Molly said rolling her eyes towards Karegh. "Then I can take a job teaching the rich people's children." Her eyes darted side to side before she whispered loudly, "Not in Calandoria, of course. Only men can hold a position like that here, but in Pearoandorn or maybe even Hokaren," she nodded. Darien winced when he heard her words.
"Why would you want to be a stupid thing like a tutor when you are an adjutant?" Karegh asking rolling his eyes back at her. "They are poor," he said turning to Alli. "Have you ever heard of a rich tutor?" Alli did not respond, but looked at both of them hopelessly. They would both already know how to read if they did not have to stop ever fifteen minutes or so for them to argue.
"Do you think we will be adjutants forever? Sooner or later the king is going to realize that I am a maid and you are just a stable boy and boot us out of here." Molly said. She remained seated on the throne, but tried her best to turn her back to Karegh. "It is different for you," she pouted. "You are a boy. You can be anything."
"True," Karegh said turning his back towards Molly and crossing his arms in front of him. "If you were a decent Calandorian female you would do your duty and marry so you could produce sons for Darien's army."
"Why you," Molly jumped from her seat and headed for Karegh. He saw her approach out of the corner of his eye and jumped down from the throne running away from her. Molly began chasing him around the room.
"Enough," Alli's voice echoed off the walls of the room. Both Molly and Karegh stopped in their tracks and stared at her. "Molly," Alli said shooting a stern look at the girl, "Karegh," she said sending him a smoldering gaze. "Both of you come sit back down and I will tell you how it should be, no not should," Alli correct herself. "I will tell you how it will be when young people like you open your eyes to the world around you and take destiny into your own hands." The two children hung there heads in shame and slowly walked back to the dais and sat down on the thrones to listen to her lecture.
"In the future, if you have the courage to finish what has been started here," she said looking each of them in the eye, "than Calandoria can be a land both of you can be proud of." Darien watched her pace angrily in front of the children. He was not sure how he felt about her words. He had always felt great pride for Calandoria and its people.
Alli paused her pacing and faced Molly and Karegh again. "This country can continue having the strongest army in the world without sending boys away from their homes to train, but instead by giving them homes to grow up in with loving mothers and fathers." Karegh stared at her with doubt. It was a privilege to be sent to the home of greatest soldiers to train as a boy. It had been his own dream, but he had been denied. He was more than tall enough, but his wiry frame had been laughed at by the men his father had tried to have him fostered with. Instead he took work in the castle stables hoping the labor would add muscle to his lean frame. "It is true," she said seeing the boys doubt. "Heart in one soldier is worth a hundred sword arms that seek only glory. One man who truly desires to defeat his countries enemies in order to protect those he loves, not for honor or duty can thwart ten times as many men as the man who fights for his own glory. I can guarantee the man with heart will be able to read and write." Alli locked her eyes on the boy.
"Why?" Karegh asked defiantly.
"I will tell you why," Darien said entering the room and making his towards the trio. "Because a good soldier's heart always remains with those he loves." Darien moved to stand in front of the boy. "Their letters give him renewed courage in battle and the letters he sends home to his family eases their fears. Without this connection, a soldier's worry for his family would distract him and he would die on the battlefield."
"Really!" Karegh said staring at Darien wide eyed, the boy readily accepting whatever Darien said.
"Absolutely," Darien replied roughing the boy's hair with his hand. He turned and met Alli's eyes a moment before moving to stand in front of Molly.
"And what of my dreams," Molly said averting her eyes from Darien.
"Can you not imagine a world were a female is afforded the same opportunities as a man?" Darien asked softly.
Molly did not look at him; instead she found a spot on the marble floor and locked her gaze to it. The world Darien spoke of did not exist. "I was sent to the castle to become a maid by my father," she said holding back her tears. "I am not pretty enough to bring him more than a cow and maybe a few chickens." Despite her struggle a few tears escaped and she quickly wiped them away with her hands. "He said if I was going to continue living with him I would have to work to help pay for my support. All his money was being sent to my brothers to assist them in becoming officers."
Darien gently took her chin and turned her tear stained face towards his. She was still young, but any fool could see she would not be a plain woman. Darien could not speak of her brown hair because she always kept it tied in several knots on top of her head with red ribbons, but her eyes sparkled blue like the ocean and her skin was flawless. Darien wondered if it was not her father's station, rather than her lack of beauty that made her bride price so little. He did not try to soothe her by declaring her beautiful. Unless she believed what he was saying his words would make no difference. He gently wiped a tear from her cheek before releasing her chin.
"That is ridiculous," Karegh interjected. "Is your father daft? You are more than pretty enough to bring gold coins to his pockets." Darien smiled at Karegh. While his words would not comfort her, Karegh's could. Already Molly was smiling again.
"The choice of who you marry will be yours Molly and your father will not be compensated." Darien said turning back to her. "Women are not livestock to be used for breeding. It is my desire to give them the freedom to choose the path their lives take. Without your help I may fail. That is why I chose you to be an adjutant. That is why I will not ask you to leave the position." Even as Darien said the words he wondered how long Molly would stay. By Calandorian standards she was at the age she should marry. Once she was presented as an adjutant in court several men would begin making offers for her. Darien could only hold them at bay for so long. For her sake he would have to see that the business of the kingdom kept her out of public view as much as possible.
"I think that will be enough for today," Alli said knowing the momentum had been lost and the children would not be able to concentrate now that they had been interrupted. Without giving her to a chance to change her mind both of the children hopped up and ran the distance of the room disappearing out the double doors. She smiled as she watched them leav
ing shaking her head. She had not noticed that Darien had turned his eyes to her.
When she turned back towards him and his intense stare, she remembered her dress. She did not know where it came from, but she could feel a blush warm her cheeks. "I will not deny I do not like it," Darien said staring at the dress. "The pants do show you off better." His comments fanned the blushed. She did not meet his eyes, but she knew he was still staring at her and it was making her uncomfortable. "If I commanded you never to braid your hair again would you obey," he said still watching her.