Wizard's Call

by Luna Lais

  She did not respond, instead she took another sip of tea. Darien's smile widened in memory of another woman who uses similar tactics to avoid certain topics of conversation. Kiala gave him another little smile. "Thank you Darien. I will remember that."

  A noise outside the door drew their attention. Darien felt his body tense. Until he saw her safe and free of harm he would not believe it. Not even a single stone of the temple had been found. The door opened slowly. She glided through looking more beautiful than he had ever seen her. As soon as he saw her he rose and embraced her in a tight hug. "Thank the spirits you are safe. I had begun to fear I would never see you again."

  Lissandra embraced her brother as tight as she could. It was good to be home with her family. The events of the last month had taken their toll on her spirit and body. She need her family and a moment of peace within the safe walls of the castle to rest. Eranen followed her in the room and quietly closed the door behind them. When Darien saw him he extended his hand in welcome while still hugging his sister. "Welcome friend. Thank you for bringing her back safely."

  "I am glad to see you again too," Eranen said to Darien.

  Darien took Lissandra's hand and led her to the sofa. She sat on the opposite end from Kiala, leaving Eranen to sit in between them. Darien did not waste a moment returning to his seat. He was anxious to hear of the temple now that Lissandra had safely returned. He also wanted to know why it took a month for them to come home when two days was all that had been planned.

  "You both look well," Makren said. "Since neither of you seem to have any injuries why don't you tell us where you have been for the last month!"

  Lissandra glared at Makren. She had been home less than five minutes. Surely he was not still upset with her. She glanced passed Eranen to Kiala. "Darien if you please we would like to speak to you and Makren in private. Kiala met her cold gaze with one of her own.

  "We have no secrets here," Makren protested.

  "No it is okay, Makren." Kiala said rising from her seat. "It is nice to see you home safe," she said to Lissandra. "Thank you for allowing me to sit and have my tea with you my lord." She turned and bowed to Darien.

  "Kiala sit" Darien said before turning to Lissandra. "Speak and tell me what you will. I desire the company of all in the room and since I am king I think my comfort should be the only one of any concern.

  Kiala bowed deeply and slowly headed for the door. "Kiala!" Darien called after her.

  "Goodnight, your majesty." She said before slipping from the room.

  Makren wanted to follow her, but he didn't. Trying to explain Lissandra's actions would only strengthen Kiala's reasons for them being apart. He would deal with Lissandra first, the handle Kiala.

  Makren looked to Eranen. "Isn't there some trunks or something that need to be brought in." he said pointedly. Lissandra glowered at him before placing her hand around one of Eranen's.

  Eranen merely chuckled before rising. Lissandra tried to stop him, but he stilled her hands then placed a kiss on her forehead. "Talk with your brothers Lissandra. I will wait outside."

  Darien watch with satisfaction as Eranen left the room. Eranen had always been the smartest man he ever met. Darien could have kept both Kiala and Eranen in the room, but that would have only encouraged Makren and Lissandra's childish behavior.

  Lissandra watched Eranen leave and then turned to Makren. "That was uncalled for," she fumed. "He is my husband."

  "And Kiala will be my wife," Makren shouted back. "She would be already if not for your meddling."

  "I was not meddling. It was sisterly affection. You can not marry a maid." Lissandra's tone indicated she was done with the conversation.

  "She is not a maid." He said angrily. "She is an adjutant to the King of Calandoria.

  "Still she is not the right girl for you." Lissandra said quietly. "There are things about her you do not know."

  Makren struggle with the urge to strike Lissandra, "I can assure you I know more about her than you think."

  "What is it? What is it the Makren does not know?" Darien spoke for the first time. Lissandra looked first to Darien, then to Makren.

  "Tell us. If there is a reason she is unacceptable I as king should know about it. If there is no reason to justify you actions, then I expect your protest to end now and for you to embrace her as your sister." Darien was frustrated with the both of them.

  "Fine," Lissandra said lean back against the sofa. "I would have spared Makren the pain, but if it is the only way to get him to see reason." She was pouting Darien noticed. "Kiala is a fine person but not suitable as your wife. She could never be the wife of a Prince. Maureen sent me several letters regarding Kiala over the years." Lissandra paused trying to think of the best way to tell this sort of thing to her brothers. "I do not want to go into details, but Kiala has had a child."

  Darien stared disbelieving at Lissandra. Makren only glared at his sister. "The details you left out are the reason I can marry her." Makren said. "Tell us the part where our finest soldiers brutally attacked and raped her when she was only fifteen. How for weeks no one even knew if she would survive what had been done to her. Or how about when Maureen took the baby that resulted from the attack and killed it right after the birth." Makren stared at his sister before continuing. "I told you she has no secrets from me."

  "Lissandra, I never thought you would be a person who believed a victim guilty for the crimes committed against them." Darien said bluntly. He was not sure how he felt about what had happened to Kiala. He did know his opinion of her had not changed. If anything he was more determined to keep her safe. If Kiala and Makren had moved pass it then so could he.

  "That is not what I was doing. Kiala's story is not unknown outside the walls of this castle. I am surprised the protest of her being an adjutant has not reach your ears. If she married you I have no doubt you would weather the talk just fine for a while, but eventually it would begin to separate you. It would start small. Invitations will not be sent to you for balls and hunts."

  "Like I care if I ever go to any balls." Makren tried to interrupt, but Lissandra continued.

  "Families would refuse to host your sons for training. Your daughters could not find husbands with respectable families. I love you Makren and I do not want to see you hurt, but the pain a situation like this can cause could easily destroy your love for one another." Lissandra said softly. "You would end up trapped in a marriage full of resentment and regret."

  "So she tells me," Makren said somberly, "but that does not stop my loving her. If not her, then I will never marry. I will die loving her."

  His words reminded Darien of Makren's prophecy. His brother was destined to die at the end of the war. While Darien was ready to battle the fates for his life there was still the possibility that he would fail. If Makren did die then Kiala would be the only happiness he would ever know. "Marry her," Darien said. "Whatever it takes marry her." He then turned to Lissandra. "We have not told you all of what is happening. You were only here for a few days and the temple had to come first. The rest of those on the council know most of what we have not told you, but there is one thing that we have kept hidden. Only Makren, Kiala, Alli and I know of it. Now I tell you. Makren's death has been prophesized by an Acumen who has proven very accurate in the past. Within a year our brother may be dead. If Kiala will make his time left happy then I intend for him to have her."

  Lissandra stared at Makren tears welling in her eyes. "Why didn't you tell me?" she asked. "How could you not tell me?"

  "Our concern was the temple," Darien said again. "We thought there would be time for other things later."

  "Do not cry Lissandra," Makren reached over and put his hand on her knee. "Cry for me when I am gone. For now please accept Kiala. She is more worthy of the name Raven than I." Lissandra wiped her eyes with her blue cloak and nodded.

  "What of the Temple," Darien asked. Now that his family's problems were solved it was time to get back to those of his kingdom. "Our reports confirme
d the destruction." Darien thought it wise move fully into the conversation of the temple before thinking of Makren's death drained them all.

  "The temple," Lissandra whispered. "I destroyed the temple."

  "Yes we know" Makren said, "but what of the sisters. What of Norah, Rose and Claudette."

  "Norah and Rose died at my hand," Lissandra began.

  Chapter 42

  "Go Away!" Kiala shouted at the knock on the door. She was sitting in front of the fire fuming. She did not want to see him. He had proven how deep his love for her was tonight with his sister. To think she had been worried about her well being this last month. The knock sounded again. "I said go away. I do not want to talk with you." He could have a least ran after her. Instead he waited nearly two hours to come and apologize for his and his sister's actions.

  The door slowly opened. Kiala rose at his audacity. She slipped a shoe off her foot ready to throw it as soon as he came around the door. At the first sight of him she launched it right for his head. It was only after she had released the shoe she realized it was Darien's dark hair not Makren's she had aimed for. Darien was too shocked to see a shoe flying for his head to think about ducking. The pointed heal hit him square in the forehead.

  "Sorry your majesty," she exclaimed as she moved to retrieve the missile from its landing place next to the door.

  "No apology necessary. I deserved it and more. That was quite a throw," he said rubbing his head.

  "No really," Kiala said. "I am sorry, my lord. I thought you were somebody else." They both knew she was talking about Makren.

  "I sent him to bed," Darien said. "I thought it best to let your temper cool before he saw you again. I learned long ago that saying things in anger only brings misery to yourself and those you care about."

  Kiala watched him as he closed the door and walked over to one of the chairs by the fire. "Come sit with me Kiala. I wish to speak with you"

  Kiala moved to the chair next to his. She really shouldn't be surprised she thought. It was only a matter of time before he found out about her and asked her to leave. Her own behavior this evening justified his actions. She had deliberately disobeyed and order from the king. She only hoped he would allow her to say goodbye to Makren. "I am sorry for my actions this evening," she sounded as defeated as she felt. "I was unbelievably rude. I will make my apologies to Lissandra first thing in the morning."

  "It is I who should apologize to you," his words brought her eyes up to meet his. "In one breath I proclaim us family and in the next I allow you to be tossed aside. Can you ever forgive me?"

  "There is nothing to forgive you for," she said earnestly. "You were not supposed to be my champion."

  "As you point out so often however, I am the king. If I can not rule within the castle walls how can I hope to rule beyond them." He took her hands in his. They felt so fragile. She seemed so fragile to him. He fought the images of her trying to defend herself against trained soldiers with these small hands. "That is why I am here. Perhaps I am not supposed to be your champion, but he feels as if he is losing this war and like any warrior in the face of defeat he is considering giving up."

  Kiala nodded in understanding. She did not know how much Darien knew of her and Makren, but they really had not tried to hide anything. They did not even realize there was anything to hide for the longest time. It would be easy for Darien to know things were different now.

  "I have also noticed that you are ready to give up as well," he continued.

  "You are mistaken," she said. "I never choose to join the fight. I gave up before it began."

  "No you didn't" Darien chided. "Had you given up you would be married now. Instead you have fought your heart and his at every turn." Evidently Makren had confided much in his brother. "That is why I am here as both of your champions. I have decided that it is time for both of you to call a truce, before you hurt each other even more."

  "I would never intentionally hurt him," she said softly.

  "Yet you do it everyday. I do not need to hear your reasons. You may keep them to yourself, but it pains me to see the two of you suffer so I am here to negotiate terms of peace." Darien smiled expecting a grateful response from her.

  "I will not marry him," she said forcefully taking her hands from his.

  "I said peace not surrender," Darien ran his hand through his hair in frustration. "He is going to die sooner than my own heart can bear. I will not see his last days filled with sadness. Do you love him at all?"

  "Yes, I do" she said. "And I refuse to believe he will die. Futures are not set in stone, his fate is not sealed. It is because he is going to live that we can not marry. If he were to die it would be easy to marry him."

  "Do not miss understand me Kiala. I do not plan on letting him die, but what if I can not stop it. For all my power what if I can not protect his life. Will you deny both his and your own happiness in an attempt to prove the fates wrong?"

  "He will not die," she repeated. "He can not or I can not live." She wiped the tears from her eyes with her hands. "Since he will not die, I can not marry him. I love him too much."

  "If you are not willing to marry him what are you willing to give?"

  Kiala looked at him wondering where this conversation was leading. "What is it you want me to do?" she asked.

  "I will not see my brother dying with his heart full of regret. I can not tell you what you must do. Only you know how much you can give to end both of you suffering. No matter how little it will never be enough for him, but he will accept anything you offer if he knows it is all he can ever have."

  Tears continued to slide down her cheeks and she listened to Darien's words. She was causing Makren more pain than marriage to her ever would. Darien rose to leave her with her thoughts. He turned to her before opening the door. "Not so long ago I saw a broken girl in need of care. I knew a gentle heart would heal her. I charged my brother to care for her knowing that they could help each other heal the sorrows of their loss. I did not expect anything more to come of it. I charge you now with his heart. Do not allow death to take him with it broken."

  Darien left Kiala sitting by the fire with her thoughts. As soon as he closed her door he spotted his brother-in-law down the hall leaning against the wall next to the room he shared with Lissandra. He was still wearing his sword. Darien knew Eranen had been waiting for him. Darien sighed as he moved towards him. Might as well have this confrontation out of the way and start tomorrow afresh. He had been harsh with Lissandra. After hearing Claudette's words, the death of Jimreth and Rachel on her hands he wanted the woman dead. The fact the Lissandra had let her live was unforgivable.

  "I know it is late, but I was hoping to speak with you," Eranen said when Darien was close enough to be heard without raising his voice.

  "Of course," Darien said waving for Eranen to follow him. Darien led them down the hall to his chamber. He needed a drink and to get his boots off. He opened the double doors and allowed Eranen to enter first. After closing the doors he headed straight for the mantle and retrieved the bottle of fire spirits he kept hidden behind a clock.

  "Would you like to join me?" Darien asked.

  "No" Eranen said taking a chair near the fireplace. "A friend once told me it was unwise for two drunken soldiers to try and decipher prophecy. I will stay sober until we are done."

  Darien sat the bottle down at his words. "Then you are not here because of Lissandra?"

  "No" Eranen said raising an eyebrow towards him, "Is there something about her we need to discuss?"

  "I thought that was why you were here to talk. I was not exactly nice to her this evening." Darien said. He was still upset with her.

  "I assumed you ranted and raged. She suffered less than I had expected. She deserved at least a night in one of the cells below. I think you must be getting soft. Her tears were completely dried up before she went to bed." Eranen smiled at Darien. "I told her next time to kill everyone in sight innocent or not and let you sort through the pieces afterward."
>
  Darien sat down on the edge of his bed and began removing his boots. "Claudette was not innocent."

  "I did not say she was innocent," Eranen replied, "but because of Lissandra's mercy our eyes have been opened to a great deal of treachery. Claudette was merely a pawn. She listened to an Acumen and did what she felt she had to do in order to keep Calandoria safe. We are no less guilty of the same thing. The differences being the families of those we have killed do not have the power to seek revenge upon us."

  Darien wiggled his toes on the cold stone floor listening to Eranen speak. "Does your emotion ever cause you to be blinded by the truth?" Eranen did not answer the question. Darien had not expected him to. "Alli told me you knew everything and were incapable of mistakes. I tried to convince her you were just as human as the rest of us, now I wonder if I was wrong."