by J. M. Kearl
Soon Enden will have to leave the safety of his castle, of Kezington, and make for battle with his soldiers. Delhoon will not be defeated easily, if at all. He’s waiting for news of Saveena’s father, of Collweya. He needs to know if he’ll be fighting against them or if they’ll join him in the fight.
Saveena crawls across the bed and slides her hand over his shoulder and down his chest. Her lips nibble his ear before she whispers; “Enough worrying about battle.”
Enden tosses a grape into his mouth. “That’s easy for you to say. I’m not winning in the north so I need to devise a better plan.”
“Don’t you have men for this? To figure these things out for you?” Saveena asks, resting her arms on top of Enden’s shoulders.
Yes but so far they haven’t come up with anything. Enden may have to go there himself to raise the fighting spirit of his men. A knock sounds on the door and Enden is immediately irritated. He’d asked his guards to leave him alone. He strides to the door and throws it open. “What is it?”
It’s Peter. “My apologies, Sire. I’ve just gotten word that we have a man here. Someone I think you really want to speak to.”
“Who could I possibly want to speak to right now?” With his eyes already heavy, he doesn’t want any added stress tonight.
“He claims to be a defected Delhoon warrior and has important information that could help us win the war.”
Enden glances over his shoulder at Saveena. “I’ll be back shortly.” Then looks to Peter. “This better be worth my time.”
Peter and Dean escort Enden to a room where the man in question sits handcuffed to a chair. Enden sizes him up; he’s dark haired, average height and build, middle aged and wears leathers of a typical man of Kezington. He could easily pass as Hesstian. “You have five minutes to convince me not to kill you.” Enden folds his arms and blinks lazily.
“First, your highness, I am not a magic user. I wasn’t born with the ability, although I am from Delhoon. They betrayed me-- tried to execute me.”
“Why?” Enden asks.
“I have lived in Hesstia for some time now,” the man replies. “I have become loyal to your cause. I even turned in a fellow soldier; he was a magic user. You know the man I speak of. He is Daelyn Magnevera’s father.”
“So that is her true last name,” Enden says. He’d believed it to be O’Tessa, just another lie she told. “If you’ll so easily betray your own people then why would I trust you?” It hits Enden that it may be because of this man that Daelyn even attempted what she did. If he had never turned her father over, would Enden have ever met her? Would she have volunteered to be a part of Queen Kyria’s plan?
“Sire, I attended the academy in Delmar, in Delhoon’s castle where Queen Kyria and her father Lord Everon live. I know the ins and outs of that city. I know its weaknesses.”
Enden holds up his hand, silencing the prisoner. “Tell me something I don’t know about Delmar.”
The man presses his lips together. “The castle and the land across the bridge is protected by a magical wall which will be impenetrable to you but I know how to disable it.” He swallows nervously. “If the queen dies or the crown with the emerald stone is removed from her by an enemy the magic fails.”
“So she can’t leave the castle?” Enden asks. That doesn’t seem right.
“She can. As long as there is a queen in Delhoon the castle is protected. The magic of the stone is tied to her or any queen who wears the crown. It’s done through a ceremony.”
Enden muses over this. Getting to the queen will be nearly impossible unless she fights on the front. If she never leaves the safety of the Delmar castle, they might never get to her. “That’s all well and good but how do we draw her out?”
“I assume you two will meet to negotiate in the Gap of Freeole soon enough.”
This man knows what he’s talking about. They’ll meet in the Gap if there is no progress on either side or if he takes enough of her cities, she’ll want to negotiate but he never knew of the crown being connected to the castles magical barrier. He underestimated the importance of Queen Kyria. Every ruler is important but another can take his or her place easily when magic isn’t part of the succession. If he can draw the queen out, and kill her then they can take the capitol, they can take the heart of Delhoon. “What is your name?”
“Midlan, Sire.”
“Well Midlan, you’ll stay under guard, and let’s hope you are of more use.”
Midlan bows. “Thank you, your highness.”
Enden leaves the room with new ideas of killing the queen. She should have never started this war. She will live to regret it and then die as her beloved kingdom burns and her people are enslaved alongside all other magic users.
Enden returns to his bed chambers where Saveena sits, running a brush through her long dark hair. The fireplace lights and a small piece of paper floats up and into his hand. The note reads: A small company of Collweya riders under their banner have crossed into Hesstia. No army. No dragons.
Enden folds the note. His men have been instructed to allow them to pass unharmed. From their location it will still be several weeks before they arrive but with no army and no dragons he can assume that they are coming peacefully. “Your father is on his way. He seems to have taken your advice to come without a war.”
Saveena jumps up and rushes into his arms. “I knew it.” She kisses him hard on the lips.
“Do you want to wait until he arrives in a month or so to be married or should we just do it—in a week?”
Saveena grins. “You truly mean to take me as your wife?”
Enden places a hand on her belly where he knows his child grows. “I do.”
Saveena takes his hands and kisses his knuckles. He likes how affectionate she is with him and he’s beginning to actually fall in love with her, but something bothers him. His love doesn’t feel nearly as strong about her as it once did for Daelyn. Shouldn’t he love her more? He’s spent more time with her than he did with Daelyn; he’s bedded Saveena and she’s having his child but still his feelings wane in comparison. Maybe it was the high of the chase, the fact that he couldn’t have Daelyn when he wanted her so badly.
“I think my father would appreciate if we waited but I’ll soon be showing and I think it best if we’re already married when he finds out I’m having a child with you.”
“I agree.” Enden pulls her towards the bed and undresses. Saveena’s warm lips press to his bare chest but he stops her. “I’m exhausted, Saveena. We’ll pick up this up in the morning.” He kisses her cheek, climbs under the blankets and is asleep soon after his head hits the pillow.
34. Daelyn
Boaden left the house to meet with Presten and Kendoa at sunrise. Daelyn stayed to pack for the road and she didn’t say but she’s tired of always being on the move. She misses the days of lying in her bed reading a book. When her only problems were what plant she had to locate that day or when getting fifty gellians from Mrs. Luvlace was her biggest challenge. She regrets nothing but she wants just one day to relax.
Madison and her father had said their goodbyes and left with Nebba. Madison took the spell book and changed her hair to a dark brown. It took Daelyn by surprise when she came down the stairs with a starkly different hair color. She almost didn’t recognize her but it suited her somehow-- the dark. Yet it made her eyes stand out even more but there was nothing to be done about it.
Daelyn sits in the tower room enjoying the quiet when a whisper catches her ear. The feminine voice says her name and she looks around the room. “Is anyone here?” no one shows themselves but the voice repeats her name. A book on a shelf catches her eye; it’s faintly glowing. She pulls the black book that appears to be new with no dust on it like the others have. It’s silver lettering titles it: Hexes & Binding Magic or at least that’s what Daelyn thinks it reads. She still isn’t fluent in reading the Delian language. She flips it open and a light wave of power pushes out from the book, blowing her hair over her shoulde
rs and knocks over a candlestick on the table beside her. Daelyn blinks a few times looking at the black handwriting on the page. She doesn’t understand the words, it’s in the language of magic but as her eyes flutter over the black ink, more whispers come from nowhere in particular. Whispers that sound as if coming from several people now. Daelyn’s heart begins to race searching for the source of the voices. “Is someone there?”
The whispers grow loud, speaking in a foreign language, somehow she knows it’s a spell. She slams the book shut and drops it, backing away slowly. I don’t know what that magic was but it must be evil. Feeling like her skin is crawling, she leaves the book sitting on the floor and heads down the stairs.
Their bags are packed and ready to go so Daelyn takes a stroll around the property. Her parents have been given thirty acres of land and seven horses came with. She strokes the soft neck of a white beauty and the horse gives her a whinny. Asha digs her hoof in the dirt throwing her head up and down. “Oh, don’t be jealous,” Daelyn says. “You get my attention plenty and come with me everywhere.”
Daelyn finds a bag of grain and scoops some into a bucket. The horses that had been grazing out in the pasture come jaunting toward her when they hear the sound of the grain hitting the pail. Daelyn laughs as they all begin to make eager noises. “I’m coming. I’m coming.”
Each of the horses gets a few mouthfuls before she moves onto the next. Up and down the line until the grain is gone. A sorrel colored gelding nips at Asha, and she bares her teeth back. “I missed this,” Daelyn speaks aloud, feeling the comfort of simple farm work.
The chicken coop is full of fat hens and Daelyn gathers the eggs, which no one had done in days, it seemed they hadn’t been fed either. She had met a man who took care of the grounds but hadn’t seen him around lately. He needs to be found so she can explain that they’ll all be gone and he’ll be needed again. The horses and chickens can’t be left to starve.
She assumes it’s a neighbor so after setting the eggs in the kitchen she heads off toward the only house within sight. It’s a fifteen minute walk and as soon as she crosses the fence line of their property dogs begin to howl and bark wildly. A pack of six race toward her and she stills. They quickly surround her and although they don’t seem mean, they’re still intimidating.
“Get back!” a man shouts from the entryway of the house.
At first Daelyn isn’t sure if he’s talking to her or the dogs.
Then he says, “Get in the house, you mangy old mutts!”
The dogs all turn and run inside, he slams the door shut and jogs out to greet her. “Sorry about that,” he says rubbing his light beard. He’s young, and good-looking likely to be her age but it’s difficult to say about people in Delhoon, so many of them are magic users. He runs a hand over his long hair and then smiles. This isn’t the same man who’d been taking care of the house so she’s isn’t sure if she’s in the right place.
The young man swallows hard and fidgets with the bottom of his shirt. “How can I help you?” he asks, evidently nervous about something.
“I’m staying at the house just over there,” she says and points across the field hoping she spoke the right words in Delian.
He smiles. “Where are you from? I detect an accent.”
Daelyn pauses. She doesn’t want to say since they are at war with the kingdom she is from. “I—I’m Delhoon like you but...” She stops, trying to find the words. “I grew up in Hesstia.”
He nods. “Are your parents spies?” he asks in Heshan.
Daelyn breathes a sigh of relief. “Yes. I’m learning Delian. I understand more than I can say but I was scared to learn while we lived in Hesstia. It’s dangerous there. Anyway, I came over here because we’re going to be gone for some time, likely months, and I was looking for the man who takes care of the property. He hasn’t been by the house in a few days.”
The young man’s mouth curls and his cheeks dimple. “That’s my father. He’s been ill. But I can come help you. He told me to get over there yesterday, I apologize that I didn’t.”
“Oh, no I can do it while we are home. But we’ll leave tomorrow so can you come then?”
He nods and then begins walking toward her parents’ house. “It’s my duty to help. You don’t need to do anything. I’ll get the chores done.”
Daelyn steps in sync beside him. “It’s really not necessary. I’ve already fed the chickens and got the eggs.”
“Aye well, the horses need fed and you’ve got a garden too, if you didn’t know. And there’s also bees at the edge of the property. Best honey in all Delhoon in my opinion.”
Daelyn hadn’t seen any honey jars in the house. Where is this honey kept or maybe this young fellow takes it home with him. “Did you take care of this house when the previous owners were here?”
“Yes,” he answers with a scrunch of his nose. “I, for one, am glad they’re gone. The lady was rude beyond reproach and the man lazy as can be.”
∞∞∞
Daelyn sits on the top of the fence while Victus tosses chunks of hay to the horses. He insisted that she not help him so she decided to keep him company while he worked. He wipes his forehead with his sleeve.
Daelyn kicks her dangling foot. “So did you attend the academy?”
He tosses in another large chunk of hay. “No, I wish I would have but my mother got sick and my father needed the help at the time. Plus I would have had to fight my way in and, I’m not sure if I’m good enough.”
“Are you magic?” she asks.
“I can do magic,” he says resting his hands on his hips. “Though not that well. Simple spells is all.” He lifts his chin toward the house. “You know those men?”
Daelyn turns to see four men in a wagon pull through the open front gate. “No.” She hops down but Victus grabs her arm stopping her.
“I asked if you knew them because they’ve come here before trying to take things from the house. Me, my father and two brothers ran them off last time.”
“Well, I can’t let them steal.” Daelyn pulls from his grasp and marches toward the house. “This is my parent’s home now. Given to them by Queen Kyria herself.”
Victus hurries to her side. “I should go get my brothers.”
“I can handle it.” Daelyn’s magic begins to stir as she watches the men walk straight into her parent’s house.
Victus steps in front of her. “They are armed this time.”
“I said, I can handle it.”
When she moves to go around him he places himself in her way again. “What if they won’t leave?”
“Then they’ll suffer. Trust me.” Daelyn looks up into his hazel eyes and he lets her pass.
“Fine, but I’m coming with you.”
Taking the steps two at a time, Daelyn stands in the doorway of the house and one of the men stops, his arms full of items that don’t belong to him. “Those are not your things and this is not your house. Leave.”
The scruffy looking man sets down the gold vases, candlesticks and a thick jeweled necklace on the armchair. “Listen, these people owed us. So we’re taking back what was owed.”
Daelyn’s fingers twitch as her magic tries to force it’s way out. “The property and the things in it belong to Jordane and Madison Magnevera now.”
Another taller man comes into the room, also with his arms full. “What’s this about?” he asks. His eyes shift from Daelyn to Victus. “You’re that nosy neighbor. Look boy-- and girl, we don’t want to hurt you so just get out of the way.”
Daelyn backs outside; she doesn’t want to destroy anything in the house by accident if her magic takes on a mind of it’s own again when they threaten her.
Victus joins her on the stone path blocking the way to the wagon. Clenching her fists, Daelyn tilts her head toward him. “You should step back.”
Victus shoots her a confused look. “Daelyn, I’m not going to leave you to these men by yourself.”
“My magic is very powerful, and I don’t want
to hurt you.” Maybe it’s the way she’s looking at him but he must believe her because he takes a few steps away. Sparks bounce between her fingertips and when he notices he moves further back.
Three of the men step out and their eyes shift between the two of them.
“I’ll give you one last chance to set the things down and leave.” Daelyn isn’t sure where this sudden confidence is coming from but she isn’t scared. Maybe it’s because right now she has no other choice. Boaden, her mother or father are not here to save her this time.
They all laugh but it’s a nervous laugh like they know they should listen but they don’t want to back down and risk appearing weak in front of each other. The men of this country should know that women aren’t helpless.
The sparks in Daelyn’s hands grow and reach the ground now. She throws her hand out in front of her and a charge of bolts crash into the first man. His arms flail out as his body convulses and the items in his grasp fall to the ground with loud clattering.
The other two slowly set down the Magnevera’s possessions and hold their hands up. “We’ll go,” the one to the right says.
Daelyn’s hands begin to tremble. She’s trying to hold back the magic but it wants out and suddenly the whispers from that evil book are back. The fear she didn’t feel before races in breaking her confidence. Her breaths become rapid and she closes her eyes trying to breathe in slowly but she can’t stop it.
“Daelyn, relax. They’re leaving,” Victus says from too close.
Daelyn looks over at him. “Get away from me!” she shouts and then her magic explodes and a shockwave blows the wagon behind her into pieces, even the horse hooked to it is knocked down. Victus is pushed off his feet and thrown. The three men huddled by the door crash into the house with disgusting thuds. Daelyn drops to her knees, her hands grasping at the stones trying to gain some control. The magic still flows out of her like an open faucet with water gushing out. She screams as the rocks and ground beneath her begin to weather, the pressure creating a crater. Then she thinks of Boaden, and how he pushed her magic down. She envisions what he did in her mind and thinks of putting a stopper on a bottle, the magic slows but won’t cease.