The Claiming of the Highlands

by Wacht, Peter

  Thomas’ comment secretly pleased Kaylie. She had sensed an energy in Thomas, a strong power that surpassed her own, and now she had confirmed her suspicions. The fact that she, too, could sense the Talent in him made her even happier. And she was a bit awed. His apparent strength in the Talent stunned her.

  “The additional lessons have helped quite a bit.”

  “I have no doubt about that,” replied Thomas. “Your instructor is excellent though quite exacting and precise.”

  “Last time we spoke, you never really answered my question. How do you know Rya? How did she become your instructor in the Talent?”

  Thomas smiled. At first, he thought about how to respond, then decided that there was really no reason to hold anything back.

  “Rya Keldragan is my grandmother. She and my grandfather raised me.”

  The revelation shocked Kaylie. All she could do was stare at Thomas as she processed this unexpected knowledge. First, Keldragan was an ancient name, one that had circulated through the stories and legends of the Kingdoms for millennia. A Keldragan had been involved in almost every major event in the Kingdoms as far back as the histories were written.

  Second, Keldragan was synonymous with the Sylvan Warriors, the family helping to found that warrior society. Thinking about it more deeply, she realized that based on his display while fighting the Shade, he, too, likely was a member of that legendary group.

  Third, Thomas had the blood of the Kestrels and the Keldragans in his veins. Rodric was attempting to assert his authority as High King, returning the Kingdoms to the time of Ollav Fola and a single Kingdom. Yet the young man riding his horse next to hers had the strongest claim of any living monarch if he chose to take that path and seek to unite the Kingdoms. It was almost too much for her to think about at once. Needing time to take in the conclusions she had just reached, Kaylie decided to push most of that to the side for now.

  “Rya is your grandmother?”

  Thomas nodded, amused that Kaylie was somewhat surprised by this new information.

  “She’s a wonderful teacher.” Kaylie took a few moments to center herself again, her mind still a jumble of disparate thoughts. “I know I still have so much to learn, but I’ve enjoyed every second I’ve spent with her.”

  She chose not to share that having grown up without a mother, it was the first time that she had felt such a strong female presence in her life. The guiding hand of a confident, accomplished woman had given Kaylie something she desperately desired and needed, though she didn’t realize what it would mean to her at the time.

  “She is,” agreed Thomas.

  He gathered there was more to the relationship between his grandmother and Kaylie than she wanted to reveal, and he chose not to pry.

  “So, what was it like growing up with Rya?” asked Kaylie.

  Thomas smiled, thinking of how best to answer that question. He gave himself a moment to gather his myriad possible responses as he remembered all that had happened in just the last decade.

  “It was fascinating, challenging, fun, frustrating …” Thomas’ voice trailed off as his memories threatened to overwhelm him.

  “I can see how that could be the case. My father expects me to act like a queen someday. But Rya? There’s a power and presence to her, beyond that of the Talent, an inner strength that at times can be frightening, but also quite useful. I learned just as much from her with respect to the Talent as I did in terms of what will be expected of me when it’s time to rule Fal Carrach.”

  “Yes, she’s good at that,” replied Thomas. “She’s always trying to teach you something, even if you don’t realize it at the time.”

  “So where did you grow up?”

  “The Isle of Mist.”

  “I thought that island was haunted.”

  Kaylie knew the tales. She had spent a good bit of time wandering the docks of Ballinasloe with her friends, exploring the markets that sold strange and exotic goods from every corner of the known world. The sailors spoke of that forsaken island often, about how those who were unfortunate or stupid enough to land there usually didn’t return, or if they did, they were never the same.

  “It is,” said Thomas, slightly amused at how his grandfather’s efforts to spread rumors and innuendo about their island home had been so effective. “But just by my grandparents. All the stories are just that. If a ship lands on the island, my grandfather Rynlin takes particular pleasure in making the stories come to life.”

  “It must have been quite a childhood.”

  “It was. They found me during my escape from the Crag. I had made it to the eastern shore near one of the branches of the Southern River. I was carrying Beluil, having found him along the way.”

  Kaylie laughed, finding it hard to believe that the massive wolf, all black but for a strip of white across his eyes, had once been small enough for Thomas to hold in his hands.

  “I had this massive sword dragging in the dirt behind me.” Thomas gestured to the blade that was now strapped across his back. “And I walked into a clearing with Rynlin and Rya sitting at the far end, a small fire between us. My grandfather was the scariest person I had ever seen, even more frightening than the reivers pursuing me. Tall, thin, imposing. Piercing blue eyes that could see the truth no matter how hard you tried to hide it. I would have bolted, but I was too tired.”

  “How did they know where to find you?”

  “Because of this.”

  Thomas reached beneath his shirt and showed Kaylie his silver necklace, the horn of a unicorn spiraling to a sharp point carved into the gleaming metal. A necklace that matched Rya’s and was a marker of a Sylvan Warrior, just as she had surmised.

  “It had belonged to my mother. My grandfather Talyn gave it to me before he helped me escape the Crag, and Rynlin and Rya tracked me with it.”

  “So, it’s a beacon?”

  “In part, yes. When I wear the necklace, they know where I am.”

  “They can keep track of you,” teased Kaylie.

  “Well, you have met my grandmother,” answered Thomas. “When I was younger, yes, it was a bit irritating. Although when I reached a certain age Rynlin and Rya gave me a good bit of freedom, allowing me to wander the island or the eastern coast of the Highlands with Beluil. But you probably already guessed that since that’s how we met that first time in the Burren.”

  Kaylie did remember that incredible day. In fact, she would never forget it. She had wanted an adventure and had gotten more than she had bargained for. Sneaking off to a hidden pool in the Burren, against her father’s wishes, had almost cost her and her friends their lives. If not for Thomas and Beluil, who had appeared seemingly out of nowhere to kill two Ogren, she and her friends would be dead. Nevertheless, though the excursion had been a mistake, she had learned several valuable lessons that day.

  “Now with everything that’s going on, it doesn’t bother me. It’s good to know that they’re there if I need them.”

  “I imagine it is. I get the sense that Rya has a bit of a temper.”

  “That would be an understatement,” laughed Thomas. “And you, Kaylie Carlomin. What was it like growing up in the Rock of Ballinasloe?”

  Kaylie smiled, her face warming and not because of the afternoon sun. She enjoyed how her name rolled off of Thomas’ tongue.

  “Confining.”

  “How so?”

  “You’re the Lord of the Highlands, yet you can go and do whatever you want. I, on the other hand, have had to act like a princess ever since I was a child. You cannot imagine how many boring dances, balls or social affairs I have had to attend, simply to play the part of my father’s daughter. My mother died when I was young, so I understand my father being somewhat overprotective. It just became tiresome after awhile.”

  “It sounds like you didn’t have any fun at all.”

  “I did,” Kaylie corrected quickly, realizing that she had sounded a bit ungrateful. With a life of privilege, her plight was certainly better than most. “My father spe
nt as much time with me as he could. And then after meeting you that second time with the Fearhounds, that’s when he allowed me to begin learning the blade. I guess he realized that trying to use a dagger against a Fearhound was a losing proposition.”

  “That it is,” confirmed Thomas. “I’m glad I could help. So how good are you with that blade?”

  “There’s only one way to find out,” she replied with a grin, the challenge clear in her voice.

  CHAPTER THIRTY THREE

  Frustrating Experience

  “This will be a fair contest,” said Kael. “Just as we would have if we were on the training ground at the Rock. Three points for the win.”

  The two combatants nodded their understanding, brandishing the wooden swords Fal Carrach’s Swordmaster had provided to them to prevent any major injuries.

  The rest of the day had gone by uneventfully. Using the Talent, Thomas knew that there was no one around them for several leagues other than traders, farmers or villagers, something that the scouts confirmed. All seemed normal with no touch of evil on the land. That, for some, made for a slow journey. When word spread among the Highlanders and soldiers of Fal Carrach that there would be a friendly duel, they finally had something to get excited about that would break the monotony of their travel.

  After establishing their camp for the night, the patrols tasked, and dinner started, several of the soldiers helped Kael clear a space near where they tethered the horses so that Thomas and Kaylie could engage in their combat. The Princess of Fal Carrach had been insistent about going forward with the challenge, wanting to test her rapidly improving skills against Thomas. Gregory had talked with Kael about the wisdom of allowing the session. Kael had found some spare practice swords in his travel bag – what was a Swordmaster if not prepared – and he had convinced Gregory to allow the duel to proceed under his strict training rules. Whatever the result, though he was fairly certain that he knew what the outcome would be, it would be a valuable lesson for Kaylie.

  “Remember, no strikes to the head. And what I say goes. If one of you isn’t listening when I tell you to withdraw, I’ll join the combat myself and whip the both of you.”

  The soldiers who had stationed themselves around the hastily created training circle laughed at that, as did Kaylie. Thomas stood there quietly, legs slightly apart, wooden sword pointed to the ground and held comfortably in his hand. Kael concluded that Thomas had decided that he could likely beat Fal Carrach’s Swordmaster in a duel, and the Swordmaster admitted much the same to himself, though he would never confess that to anyone.

  “Good luck to both of you then. Begin!”

  Kaylie started circling Thomas slowly, wooden blade held at the ready. She had seen Thomas fight several times before, so as soon as she had issued her challenge, she had begun to worry about not thinking things through, her nerves coming to the forefront. She hoped that she wouldn’t regret her impetuousness. But then the butterflies that flitted around in her stomach burned away as her irritation started to grow. Thomas just stood there, motionless, not moving a muscle, not even bothering to track her movements with his eyes. It was close to insulting. Wait. He had closed his eyes! Her irritation quickly turned to anger. She had used her anger to her advantage when training against the boys she had grown up with in the Rock at Ballinasloe, besting Maddan, Rohn and the others. She had even beaten Eric, who was twice her size and as strong as an ox. She sought to use her pique now as she had done then.

  Screaming in fury, she lunged toward Thomas’ back, sword arm outstretched. She immediately found herself on her hands and knees, wooden sword knocked from her hand, murmurs from the soldiers around them grating on her nerves.

  “Point to the Lord of the Highlands,” said Kael, keeping a straight face and appreciating how Thomas had used Kaylie’s ire against her.

  Thomas had deftly dodged Kaylie’s thrust, appearing to have eyes in the back of his head. With her overextended, he had flicked the blade from her grasp with an upward swipe. As she stumbled past and fell to the grass, he had lightly touched his wooden blade to the small of her back.

  Kaylie pushed herself to her feet, her face red with embarrassment as she picked up her practice sword. He had toyed with her! Her anger increased even more when she examined her opponent once again. His posture hadn’t changed. Thomas simply stood there, expressionless. She lunged forward again, but Thomas easily deflected the blow, having turned himself sideways, sword at the ready.

  He stayed on his toes, maintaining his balance, as he defended against several of Kaylie’s attacks. She started to recognize a pattern as the seconds dragged into minutes. Every time she lunged or swung her wooden blade in attack, as soon as Thomas defended against the blow, he stepped closer to her, pushing her back. For every step forward, she took two steps back. Was he trying to get inside her guard?

  “Point to the Lord of the Highlands. Return to your places.”

  Kaylie stared at Kael in bewilderment, not understanding his decision. Kael nodded to her feet. Looking down she realized Thomas had forced her out of the circle. Shaking her head in frustration, she stalked back to her place, blade at the ready.

  “Begin!” yelled the Swordmaster.

  This time Kaylie waited, standing her ground, studying Thomas. She thought she caught a quick glimmer of a smile from him, but she couldn’t pursue the thought as she raised her blade just in time to deflect the blow that Thomas had directed at her ribs. The speed of his strike amazed her. But she didn’t have time to dwell on it. She backpedaled, getting her blade up just in time again as he swung toward her chest, then again as he came in low at her knees.

  Trying to keep track of his attacks became mind-numbing. She relied on her instincts. Not having the time to think, she willed her body to move in response to his unceasing lunges, swings and slashes. His blade was a blur. Half-a-dozen times she barely got her wooden blade where it needed to be in order to meet his attack. And then it was over. Thomas’ blade slipped past her defenses, grazing her thighs.

  “Point to the Highland Lord. Winner.”

  The men surrounding Kaylie and Thomas let out a whoop, cheering raucously. The last few minutes had been mesmerizing, many gaining a new respect for the Princess of Fal Carrach as she defended against an attacker faster than any of them had ever seen. Yet Kaylie didn’t perceive it that way, her rising fury clouding her perspective.

  “A good contest, Princess.” Thomas extended his hand, a smile on his face. “Well fought.”

  Kaylie took his outstretched hand. Then she thrust the wooden sword point first into the ground and stalked away, muttering a string of curses under her breath.

  CHAPTER THIRTY FOUR

  Unexpected Lesson

  For the next several days, Kaylie kept to herself, avoiding Thomas whenever possible. Thomas was obviously better with a sword, but she couldn’t help but wonder if Thomas had wanted to embarrass her, seeking some type of revenge, her mind once more stuck on what had occurred in Tinnakilly. Though the soldiers who had witnessed the contest nodded to her with a newfound respect, admitting to themselves that they could not have done as well as she did during the combat, she misinterpreted their looks and words of admiration. Her perspective didn’t change until Oso rode next to her as a cold breeze pushed at their backs and the dark smudge of the Highland peaks became visible far off on the horizon.

  “You shouldn’t be angry, Princess,” the large Marcher said, his gaze always moving in an arc as they rode through the last stretch of grassland before reaching the shore of the Inland Sea.

  “I’m not angry,” replied Kaylie testily, still not wanting to talk and preferring the irritation that continued to course through her.

  “Yes, you are. Anara, a Highland girl I met in the Black Hole, gets like this sometimes. I usually avoid her until she calms down, especially when I’m the apparent cause of her annoyance. But I’ve never seen anyone be able to hold on to their anger for so long as you. It puts Anara to shame.”

  Kayli
e took a deep breath, finding it hard not to smile at Oso’s insinuation. Though physically imposing and a deadly fighter, she had come to learn that Oso had a gentle heart. He wouldn’t have chosen to ride with her unless he had cause to do so. Rather than continue to stew, she instead decided to engage with the big Highlander. She didn’t want to be perceived as someone skilled at holding a grudge.

  “What’s the Black Hole?”

  “It was Killeran’s fort in the Highlands. He used it as a base for his reivers. The Highlanders he enslaved as miners were forced to stay there in metal cages when not working. He kept his warlocks there as well when they weren’t sent off in search of more miners.”

  “You were enslaved?”

  Kaylie was shocked, never having heard of what really had happened in the Highlands while Killeran served as regent.

  “For a short time only. Thomas saw to that.” Oso smiled at the memory. “Killeran and his warlocks attacked my village. I was charged with getting the women and children to safety, and I did for the most part. But when the reivers and warlocks caught up to us, they captured me and a dozen others who couldn’t make it to the higher passes in time.”

  “That’s how you first met Thomas?”

  “Yes. He came for us that first night after we were taken. Killeran couldn’t reach the Black Hole that evening, so he was forced to make camp. Thomas freed me and the other Highlanders, but we were found out. We made sure the other Highlanders escaped, but Thomas and I didn’t. Thomas could have. He could have killed Killeran and gotten away as he had his blade to that fool’s neck, but if he did one of Killeran’s sergeants would have cut my throat. Thomas surrendered instead, trading his freedom for my life.”

  Kaylie took a moment to think about that. She had thought initially that Thomas had approached their duel in a mean-spirited way, but perhaps that wasn’t the case. If Thomas was angry or upset, you knew it. He didn’t appear to have the patience for the schemes and machinations that were a common part of a Kingdom’s court. He was who he was and didn’t feel the need to hide anything, which was very unlike most of the people who inhabited the world Kaylie was used to.