by Luna Lais
Whichever is plotting against me I have learned that they are receiving aid from foreign lands. I also suspect that they are behind the deaths of the acumen females. I have not the time to give you all the details only to beg your trust in these matters.
I am sending Cate with you not truly knowing where his loyalties lie. I do not believe in my heart he would ever betray me or you, but I would have never thought Moraken would be my enemy. It will be for you to decide and deal with if he plots to put Moraken or my nephew on the throne. It pains me to write these words. I always loved Moraken as a son. I wish I could tell you more of your cousin so you might find him. If he is not our enemy he might be a strong ally.
Take the dagger I gave you and give it to the king of Calandoria. It is rightfully his; at least that is what my step mother told me long ago. True peace will only come when he has all three. Only in the last century has it become a status that the ruler of Hokaren should wear it. I do not know its history, but I can tell you the King of each land has one. Perhaps the King of Calandoria will know its purpose and bring peace to us all.
If I do not see you again I leave not only my crown, but the lives of the people of Hokaren in your hands. Protect them!
Love your father,
Harold
"Take these to Darien," Alli told Cate as she handed her fathers dagger to Cate. Cate read the words of the letter again. "Why did you not show this letter to me before? I never believed your father would truly put Moraken on the throne. He told me it was an act only to make you grow up and accept your responsibilities. Did he truly think I could ever betray him?" Cate was saddened that he would never have a chance to let his king know his heart was always with him.
"Now is the time to prove your loyalties," All said coldly. "I am going to Moraken, alone." Cate started to protest, but Alli lifted her hand to silence him. "I need you to give that letter and the dagger to Darien. I should have done it before I left, but I thought there would be more time. Tell him the time has come for him to keep his promise. He will know what that means."
"I can not leave you to Moraken." Cate said.
"You have to. This is how you prove your loyalty to me and my father. Do what is asked of you. If you are captured by Moraken than there will be no hope to save me."
Cate knew that if he did not get to Darien then Alli might die and if he went with her who would be left to send for aid. There was another alternative Alli had not mentioned. "Why do we not both go to Darien? There is no need for you to go to Moraken alone."
Alli wished it was that easier. If she were not acumen it would have been. "I had another vision." She said softly. "I must confront Moraken. Please get the letter and dagger to Darien."
"You will be safe until he arrives?" Cate asked knowing that she could not reveal the future to him. If she could only guarantee she would be safe he could do as she asked.
"If Darien does not kill me himself, then I will live. He is the only one I fear might seek my death."
Cate was confused by her words, but knew she would give him nothing more. He knew Darien. He had seen the man look at Alli. There was nothing in the world that would drive him to kill her. "I will do as you ask. We will leave at first light."
Chapter 47
"I am sorry about Perjak," Tobias spoke out loud in his cave high on Matalia's Mountain.
"I know," she said softly from her chair in front of her fire far below the peak. Her little cottage nestled at the base of the mountain was a few Moran from the ancient road that led through the mountains to the barrens on the other side. "I know your thoughts and feelings."Kale whispered softly.
"Knowing them is not the same as hearing them."
She smiled, he felt it. She did feel better hearing his words.
"Did those men come near you?" he asked.
"Yes and you know that as well. You also know that I was watching for them since they passed so close to your cave."
"It is late in the year for him to send a raiding party. There were only six, he always sends seven." Tobias said.
Kale moaned. He had thought of nothing else all day. Her head ached from his thinking.
"You are right," he laughed. "I will go to bed now and leave you to your own thoughts."
"No we can talk." Kale said not wanting to be alone just yet. When one of them slept she could no longer feel him. There dreams were their own. It was the only reprieve they had from each other.
"I was not tired anyway." Tobias said.
"You are cold," she said. "It makes me cold."
"There is a storm coming. By the end of the week the passage through the mountains will be almost impossible to cross."
"It is only cool at night here," she said. "Autumn has just begun."
"Will you go to the nearest town tomorrow?" he asked.
"I will see what news there is for you. I should buy supplies anyway."
"Who is Tom Hawkins and why do you care if he thinks your smile is pretty?" Tobias said agitated by the thoughts of this unknown man that filled his mind.
Kale blushed. She knew he could not see her blush, but he could feel it. That made her blush even more. "Just a boy who works at the general store. Since my nose is such an eye sore, I was hoping my smile might compensate."
"Your nose is lovely, really" he said.
"I know you are lying, remember."
"I am not lying. Just because I do not find your nose attractive does not mean another would not."
Kale slowly rose from the chair in front of the fire and went upstairs into her bedroom. The fire she had built after dinner had driven the chill from the room.
"Do you have to wear the pink one, it makes me feel like I am wearing pink," Tobias groaned.
"Then I definitely have to wear it." She grinned pulling her pink night dress off the floor where she had left it that morning. Tobias usually forced himself to sleep before she changed for bed. After that first night he found it much easier to live with their connection if he did not have to see and feel her changing clothes in front of her mirror. She evidently had been uncomfortable as well. She no longer moved in front of the mirror to change, that had help some. Tobias had not thought of all the consequences of joining with a woman when he had agreed to it. It had been over eight hundred years since he held a woman. Feeling a woman's breast in his hands was more than enough to awaken urges. Even if the owner of those breast had a pert nose and a sassy disposition, his two least favorite qualities in a woman. He preferred a woman with the classic beauty like Clarrisa. Sculpted cheek bones, a long gently slopping nose, full lush lips. Her eyes were as green as the moss at Kern Lake. Her honeyed colored hair had fallen below her knees. When they were in bed together it wrapped around them.
"Do you mind," Kale said harshly. "It is bad enough to have the memories of you and her in my head at all. I do not need to be reminded of them."
"Sorry," Tobias said. He had not realized his thoughts had wandered so far. "Believe me I had not intending on sharing such of thought."
"Well do not think I will share any such thoughts with you," she said. She moved over to her bed and slipped beneath the blankets. Tobias chuckled. It was that chuckled that annoyed her more than anything.
"You would have to have an experience like that to share one," he laughed.
"Who knows, maybe Tom can take a break when I go into town tomorrow. Then you can share it with me," she said spitefully. Tobias paled at the thought of feeling a man's hands roaming over her body. It would feel like they roamed over his as well.
"Goodnight," he said softly. She blew out the candle next to the bed.
"Goodnight" she whispered.
The little town of Moristine sat at the base of the mountains a day's ride from where Kale's cottage sat. It was the most northern city in Calandoria. It was also one of the few towns that did not sit on land owned by a nobleman. The king truly ruled Moristine. That made it one of the best places in the kingdom as far as Kale was concerned. She had been coming to the town
since she was a child. First with her mother, then after her mother's death a few years ago by herself. The men in her family never left the forest accept to find a bride. That could be accomplished in less than a day. He merely had to pick her out and meet the father's price. Tobias had seen to it years ago. Her family wanted for nothing.
Kale loved her trips to town whether to get supplies or to attend a party. She loved being around people. It was already late in the day when she arrived. She had planned on staying at the Inn for the night and picking up supplies the next day, but the town seemed busier than normal. Merchants still hawked their wares even though the dinner hour was approaching. The small roads were packed with wagons and horses. Kale had never seen so many people running about. With this many people she hoped there would be a room available for her when she reached the Inn. First she had to see to her horses and the wagon for the night. She drove slowly down the street stopping often to wait for those on foot to move out of her way. What should have been a few minutes drive to the town's stables had taken almost an hour.
"Kale is that you," She smiled at the familiar voice.
"Rooster," she said smiling. "Business is going well I see." She motioned to the stalls full of horses. Rooster ran the stables and Kale had known him for years.
"I can't complain," Rooster grinned wide enough for Kale to notice a few more of his teeth had fallen out.
"Where in the world did all these people come from," she asked as she climbed down from her wagon.
"From all over the country side. They have come for the election." Rooster said in a way that told Kale he thought it should have been obvious.
"It has been several months since I last came to town. What election do you speak of?"
"We are electing a magistrate," Rooster grinned again. "Calandoria is on the verge of war. The new King will not have time to hear every grievance so he is allowing us the opportunity to elect a man of our choosing to see us through."
"War!" Kale said.
"From the north. There is evil that seeks to kill us all! One of those Sun fanatics that was sent into the barrens years ago I wager. They have already destroyed the Temple!"
Mention of the temple made Kale nervous. She had seen the temple destroyed. An army is not what destroyed it. "What temple?" She heard in her head. "Does he speak of the school?" Kale ignored Tobias's questions. She did not need to give him answers that were already in her head.
"Do you think there will be a room at the Inn?" she asked Rooster handing him a gold coin from her pack to pay for the care of the horse and wagon.
"Probably," Rooster said pocketing the coin. "Most folks coming to town to vote can't afford rooms. They camp just outside of town."
"Thanks," She said. "I will be back tomorrow to pick them up."
"They will be well fed and watered for you," he said as she walked out onto the street.
"Where to now?" she thought. "Find someone and get answers." She heard the answer in her mind. "You know sometimes I am not talking to you," she said out loud. A couple walking by stared at her then quickened their pace. Kale began walking along the street towards the Inn when she saw something she had never seen before in her life, Calandorian soldiers. She stopped and watched them. Their armor was beautiful, they were beautiful. She never thought soldiers would be so large. One of the soldiers she was watching took notice of her stares and approached her.
"Hello," the man said.
He was not what she thought of when she thought of a soldier. This man was young and handsome. His face was not scarred from battle. She wondered if that was because he was inexperienced or very good with a sword. The black leather armor he wore bore the royal blue symbol of the House of Raven on the chest. His hair was neatly trimmed and his face was clean shaven. Kale looked at the sword he wore on his hip. It was freshly polished, not even a single scratch to remind him of the fierce battles it had surely seen.
"Are you okay, Miss?" the man's voice brought her attention back to him.
"Fine, thank you," she smiled given him a slight bow of her head. She then began to walk around him.
"Are you lost," he asked grabbing her arm.
"Not at all," she said pulling her arm free from his hand. "Just on my way to the Inn." She turned to continue down the street, but the man fell into step next to her.
"I will walk with you. The streets are not safe for a woman to walk alone."
"Really it is not necessary," Kale said and meant it. She had been trained to handle both a sword and a dagger at a very young age. While she had to wear a dress to town it did not mean she wasn't well armed. She had several knifes tucked here and there.
"I am afraid it is necessary. Several young ladies have been assaulted since so many people have arrived in town. At least one a week, I have to order the drunken fool who did it hung. By letting me escort you to the Inn you would actually be saving a man's life."
She smiled up at him noticing for the first time his eyes were blue. She really loved blue eyes on a man. "This is making me sick," she heard Tobias say in her head. "Shut up!" she screamed back at him in her mind, all the while smiling at the soldier.
"I am Lieutenant Alridge," he said giving her a deep bow, "At your service."
"Kale," she said offering him her hand. He smiled as he took her hand and lightly kissed her fingers.
"It is a pleasure, Kale," her name sounding almost foreign rolling of his tongue. They began strolling down the street again side by side, her pace slower than it was before. "What is a girl like you doing walking the streets alone," he asked emphasizing the alone.
"Just picking up a few things," she said.
"Surely your husband should be with you," The lieutenant was being obvious, but Kale did not mind, so few men paid her any attention.
"If I were married Lieutenant Alridge, I am sure my husband would be with me. Since I am not and my grandfather to ill to escort me, I am left to being my own escort."
"I am honored to be able to step in," he smiled at her again. The man had absolutely perfect white teeth. "Tell me Kale, do you have a name that goes along with Kale or is that all there is to it?"
"Cordeau" she said seeing no reason to hide her identity.
"Sounds noble," he said. "Is there perhaps a middle name as well?"
"Why do you want to know?" she questioned growing a little suspicious.
"So tonight when I dream of the most beautiful woman in the world, I will at least have a name to give her."
She giggled at his words the idea of any many finding her beautiful was preposterous, but she was flattered just the same. "Matalia" she answered.
"Matalia, like the mountain?" He questioned.
"It is a family name. All the females in my family share the same middle name." she ignored Tobias's sarcastic advice to tell the man her whole family history while she was at it.
"Kale Matalia Cordeau," he said softly, "have you had dinner yet?"
She shook her head in response.
"I was planning on eating at the Inn this evening; would you like to join me?"
Despite the protest echoing in her head she answered," I would love to Lieutenant Alridge, on one condition?"
"Anything," he said. He really was the most charming man she had ever met.
"Tell me your first name; I can not spend all evening calling you Lieutenant."
"It's Menas. Menas Wallace Alridge," he smiled taking her arm with his.
Despite the sarcastic statements and protest she kept hearing in her head, Kale was enjoying herself. Never had she dinned with a man, other than those she was related to. She had never even known men as charming as Menas existed. She had laughed more in the last hour than she had in her entire life. After finishing their meal, they waited for the desert neither had room for just to make the evening last a little longer. That was when a man approached their table. "Lieutenant," the man said with authority.
"Sir, I did not know you where still in Moristine." Menas said rising.
&nb
sp; "Please do not get up," the man said to Menas. "I do not mean to intrude upon your dinner," he said looking at Kale. "I need a favor."
"Of course," Menas replied still standing.