by J. M. Kearl
“How the hell did you come through a portal like that?” the ginger haired woman asks, stabbing her spear tipped staff at the ground beside her.
The other blonde haired woman holds a sword in hand like she’s ready for a fight. “Did the queen send you?”
Boaden hands Daelyn Hess’s reins and steps forward. “We’re not here for a fight.”
“You don’t speak,” Ginger says, pointing the tip of her spear at him.
Boaden’s face hardens. “And why wouldn’t I be able to speak.”
Ginger now directs her speech at Daelyn. “You, tell me why you’ve come and how the portal was opened.”
Daelyn gulps, wondering why the hell they want her to do the talking. “We’ve come to speak with Warlord Asger. I opened the portal.”
The blonde struts forward at Daelyn aggressively. “That’s not possible.”
Daelyn clenches her jaw and readies her magic to knock the woman away. Then Boaden steps in front of her and hits the woman’s sword out of her hand. “Back off.”
Her glare melts to surprise and she takes a step back only to pull a dagger from her waist belt, the blade of it begins to glow red.
Ehvas rushes forward and Ginger smashes into her with her shoulder. Presten and Kendoa draw swords and sparks erupt from Daelyn’s hands as anger burns inside of her. If these women want a fight they’ll be sorely mistaken. She lifts her arm aiming for Blondie and Boaden grabs her wrist.
“Enough!” Boaden shouts in a booming voice that causes everyone to pause. “We came peacefully on behalf of the queen. Unless you wish to start a civil war right here and now, take us to Athena.”
Ginger purses her lips and nods to Blondie. The blonde sheaths her dagger and picks her sword up off the cobblestone and they walk back through the gate without a word. The path to the double front doors is at least a hundred yards and on either side women are training. Some sparring with swords, others shooting arrows at targets, another group throws spells at a pack of stuffed straw men. They’re definitely preparing for war, Daelyn just isn’t sure against who. Those women guarding the front gates were ready to fight their fellow soldiers.
Ginger turns, her long braid swinging over her shoulder when they reach halfway to the front steps. “Leave your horses here, someone will take them.”
Daelyn let’s Asha’s reins hit the stone path and continues on. Many of soldiers turn as the group passes. Daelyn only spots four men out of hundreds of women, and finds it to be a strange sight. Colden had told them as much but in the other places they’ve been the ratio was fairly even.
Presten walks up behind Daelyn and Boaden and says just over their shoulders, “I think I’ve died and gone to heaven. The chances of more than one wanting me is imminent. I’m slightly jealous of that man there.” He nods to male soldier standing at the top of the steps.
“They’ve got to be craving male attention around these parts.”
Boaden chuckles deeply. “I’m sure you’ll be more than happy to give them that attention. I’d stay away from those two however.” He nods to the women leading them.
“You know me well, boss.” He peeks back at Kendoa. “I bet even Keny boy has a chance.”
Kendoa grimaces. “Don’t ever call me that again.”
“What?” Presten says with a smirk. “I bet that’s what you want the women to call you in bed.” His voice raises a few octaves. “Keny boy, you’re so dreamy.” He flutters his eyelids and puckers his lips.
Kendoa swipes a hand for Presten but he maneuvers out of the way, slipping in between Daelyn and Boaden. “You’re getting slow in your old age, Kenoda.”
Kendoa lets out a huff. “I just didn’t want to embarrass you in front of all the ladies.”
“Act professional,” Boaden says and grabs Presten’s shirt. Boaden pulls Presten back and nearly shoves him into Kenoda.
Laughing, Preston straightens up and nods at the guards beside the front doors.
Daelyn shakes her head, but is happy that Presten is there to lighten the mood. Even Ginger cracked a smile. Their footsteps echo inside the massive open chamber. Daelyn looks up to the paintings on the ceiling of winged horses and women in fighting positions holding different weapons. Ginger and Blondie lead them down a long corridor then push open heavy sounding doors to three women and one man sitting at a table conversing.
The one with the red cape, who Daelyn assumes is Athena Asger pushes up from her seat, and eyes the newcomers.
“Who are they?” She demands, in a voice that could cut though kirune.
Ginger speaks, “Envoy’s from the queen.”
Asger struts around the table, dressed in full armor and stops a few feet away from them. Her lavender eyes fall to Boaden and freeze. “I should have known she’d send you, Boaden Exavior. The very man who started this war I was against and will not be joining.”
Daelyn doesn’t like the way the Warlord is glaring at Boaden, like he’s scum on the bottom of her boot. “Kyria started the war. She gave the commands,” Daelyn says.
Warlord Asger turns her dark gaze to Daelyn. “I didn’t give you permission to speak.”
“I didn’t ask for permission.” Daelyn’s magic flares up just below the surface of her skin, like coals burning, waiting to catch a flame. Boaden’s hand grazes Daelyn’s, a silent gesture to calm down.
Ginger steps forward. “Warlord, this woman claims to have opened a portal which brought them here.”
Asger’s angry eyes never leave Daelyn’s face. “That’s not possible.”
Ginger folds her arms with the staff resting against her body. “That’s what I said.”
Boaden and Daelyn glance at each other. “This is Daelyn Magnevera Exavior. She is the one who assisted in Hesstia. I’m sure you’ve heard the rumors.”
Asger’s eyebrows shoot up. “You are the woman who knocked down all those people in Kezington?”
“Yes,” Daelyn replies.
“And you’re his wife now?”
Daelyn nods. “If you’d like me to show you, and remove your doubt, I will open a portal.”
Athena glances at the people sitting around the table. She turns back with a grin. “I would like to see that since it should be impossible. And what’s the distance you are capable of?”
“We came from Filda.”
Athena chews on her lip for a moment, as if questioning that statement in her mind. “Open the portal back to Filda then.”
Daelyn closes her eyes and repeats the spell, the words quietly passing through her lips. Her body temperature rises and the ground they stand on begins to lightly shake. Hushed voices from those around her can be heard and then the sound when the portal opens, like a piece of parchment being torn in half and her eyes open. There is the now snowy battlefield where the Hesstian’s can be seen in the distance still clearing their dead, and the massive wall surrounding the city of Filda.
Asger looks at Daelyn in astonishment and steps toward the portal with an outstretched hand. She pushes her fingers through then pulls them back. “It’s cold.”
“It’s snowing in Filda,” Boaden says.
“And that is the Hesstian army removing their dead from the battle two days ago?”
Boaden looks into the image of the portal. “It is.”
Asger steps through, and Daelyn can feel a pull on her magic. Daelyn’s magic may not cost physical energy but it takes a lot of concentration to hold this spell. If something happened that caused her to panic or surprised her, the portal would close. It’s not something she could do for an extended period of time.
They watch Asger scoop snow and roll it into a ball; she walks back through and tosses the proof at the man sitting at the table. He catches it with a grin and packs it more. Daelyn can feel the portal wavering and decides to release it.
Asger places a hand on her belt. “I am officially impressed. We will hear what you have to say. Make it quick.” She turns on her heel and sits between the others, folding her hands on top of the table.<
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Daelyn looks to Boaden. This is where he comes in.
Boaden gives the leadership a curt nod. “As you well know we are outnumbered by the Hesstian’s, and if you don’t know, they have taken Sanlaiya and will move to Galantee next. That should be punishment enough for the queen, don’t you think? At least for now.”
Asger shifts in her chair leaning further into the table. “You think the queen should be punished for going against the warlords?”
“I know that she broke our laws.” Boaden takes a step closer to the table. “But all of us losing our freedom or lives because you are angry with her isn’t right either.”
Low mumbles erupt and then Asger slams her hand on the table. “No one speaks but Boaden and I, until I say otherwise.” She glares up and down both sides of the table then at her two guards across the room. “I have thought about this, Boaden. I know what is at stake.”
“So out of spite you will have us all die? If Hesstia defeats the rest of the kingdom they will come here and you won’t be able to beat their numbers, and if we win without you, Kyria will come here and crush the soldiers under your command for mutiny. A true leader would never—”
“What do you know about leadership, Exavior?” Asger says, standing. “You have but a small company under your command.”
“I know that I wouldn’t have my soldiers fight their own without provocation. When we arrived at your gate, your soldiers were all too willing.”
Daelyn’s heart begins to race. She doesn’t think this is going well. By the look on Asger’s face they’ll have to battle their way out of here. Boaden hadn’t even given them a real plan. He only said that he’d handle it and that it hopefully wouldn’t come to violence. Daelyn can feel Presten and Kendoa shift behind them and Ehvas steps up beside her.
She leans in toward Daelyn’s ear. “If they are not with Delhoon, they are against Delhoon, understand?”
Daelyn whispers, “Yes,” and readies her magic.
Asger notices the exchange and narrows her eyes at the pair, she opens her mouth but Boaden cuts her off before she can get a word out.
“Are you with us? We can deal with Kyria’s consequences after we win the war.”
Asger’s mean gaze, a look that reminds Daelyn of Madison, shifts back to Boaden. “Only if the consequence is that Kyria is removed from the throne.”
Boaden grumbles. “You know that isn’t something I or anyone can promise. That will be up to the vote of the warlords and the people of Delhoon. In the eyes of many, she will be celebrated for winning the freedom of magic users and they will disregard her breaking the law.”
Asger purses her lips. “By law, the most magically powerful woman is rightfully queen. From what I have seen that would make your wife that woman. If I am thinking it so are others.”
At those words eleven pairs of eyes fall on Daelyn. She shrinks back a step, her heart hammering in her chest. Now she understands what Colden was talking about; it isn’t Kyria’s jealousy for Boaden that is the real danger, its the threat to her crown. “I have no interest in being queen. I may have strong magic, but I know nothing about ruling a kingdom.”
Asger folds her arms and walks around the table. “That is something we’ll worry about later. You’ll have to prove yourself of course.” Her eyes fall to Boaden. “I’m assuming you haven’t heard because you didn’t mention it. King Enden has married the daughter of the King of Collweya. They are said to have dragons.”
Daelyn’s mouth drops… her mother’s vision…
Boaden is silent for several moments before responding. “So he’s gotten himself an ally potentially with dragons.”
Asger gives a curt nod. “The chances of a Delhoon victory just plummeted if this king in Collweya has dragons.”
“We know nothing about Collweya,” Boaden says. “We don’t even know if they have the beasts or an army.”
Daelyn wipes her clammy hands on her pants. Boaden should know that they do have dragons and an army, her mother has seen it.
Asger laughs. “You think Enden would have married this woman if they didn’t? Why else would he bother choosing a bride in the middle of a war?”
Daelyn feels like there is a rock sitting in the pit of her stomach. Hesstia is going to win this war. Her eyes well with tears thinking of the events that started this, and picturing all of her friends and those she loves dying on the battlefield. This thought never worried her before, she always had confidence that Delhoon would win because of magic.
“So what is your plan?” Boaden asks.
Asger taps her boot on the ground a few times before replying. “I think we should negotiate a peaceful agreement with Enden before it’s too late.”
“He’s winning in the south, what makes you think he will?”
“He’s not winning the north,” Asger counters. “And if I were to bring my soldiers to the south, he wouldn’t be winning there either.”
“Then you must, Warlord Asger.”
Asger drops her arms and sighs in frustration. “No.”
The silence in the room is heavy as everyone watches Boaden and Asger. Daelyn is ready to attack the woman for her stubbornness. She can’t believe that she is willing to let her fellow Delhoon countrymen and women die over spite. She also remembers Boaden saying that they are to get Asger to comply by any means necessary. Daelyn’s magic seems to be agreeing with that statement as her skin feels like it’s going to catch fire.
Boaden must sense this because he turns his head to look at her and takes her hand nearest him. It trembles in his.
“Calm down, Daelyn,” he whispers.
Daelyn’s breath comes faster. She hasn’t felt like her magic was going to overwhelm her since the black magic book cursed her.
“Leave, now. This discussion is over.” The leaders at the table begin chatting in low voices and Asger turns her back.
Daelyn grips Boaden’s hand as hard as she can when her magic surges.
“Don’t.” Boaden’s face is pleading with her to keep control.
“Any means necessary,” Daelyn whispers.
Boaden shakes his head slowly. “This is not the way. With more time I can get her--”
Daelyn can’t stop the next words that come out of her mouth, “Don’t turn your back on us, Asger. This is not over.”
Maybe it’s because Asger reminds her so much of Madison but she can’t let it go.
Asger whips back around with a villainous look then a slow smirk spreads across her face. “And you don’t think you have it in you to be queen.”
51. Enden
Enden adjusts himself in his saddle to try and relieve the numbness of his behind. He’d been riding for hours after not being able stand being cooped up in the bumpy ride of the carriage any longer. He had been on the road a week and finally ordered they stop at the village in the Outlands, Rennarda. They’re close to the battlefront near Filda, and his troop of a thousand are to meet up with Entari Agvaldr’s men in Boonlet, which they’ll reach in half a day’s ride.
Saveena had cried and begged but he wouldn’t allow her to accompany him to the battlefront. He won’t risk his new wife or the child she carries in her belly. Had she not been pregnant, he’d have given it some consideration but it’s too much of a risk. He wants her safe at the castle in Kezington.
Enden glances back at the Delhoon traitor, Midlan, who rides in a prison wagon. The man may be giving information but he could be a spy, telling lies and reporting to his queen about their movements. He has a kirune manacle on so he can’t send messages; claiming he isn’t magic doesn’t make it so. Enden won’t be fooled again like he was with Boaden and Daelyn.
“Set up camp here. No one is allowed in the town unless given permission by me,” Enden says to Peter, who then relays the message onto the next man. The small town is a few hundred yards away. His men have their own tents and food, Enden can’t allow them to overwhelm the people here. They would clear them out of provisions in minutes. However, he and a small
group will not. Enden dismounts and stretches his arms toward the sky. It feels good to be out of the saddle.
Enden turns to Dean. “Let the prisoner out to eat but make sure someone keeps an eye on him. He did come to us willingly after all.”
“Yes, Sire.”
“Then let’s go get a hot meal.”
Enden walks into a small eatery named, Finn’s with Peter, Dean and another guard of his named Hesstor. The woman who approaches the table is wearing a light blue dress with a white apron. She tucks her dark blonde hair behind her ear, and is already blushing. When he was younger, he found it fascinating that he had this effect on women. It was so easy to get them to bed, even if they didn’t know who he was, that he started looking for a challenge. That is one reason he was so attracted to Daelyn. She outright refused him several times and it only made him want her more.
“Good evening, gentlemen. What can I get you to drink?” Her dark eyes keep trailing to Enden.
They’re wearing their uniforms so she knows they are soldiers but Enden doesn’t like to stand out from the others, it makes him an easy target.
“Some ale, please. And what are you serving tonight?”
“Your choices of meat are: roast chicken or pulled pork. Sides: bread, yams, black beans, cheese, and mixed nuts.”
“We’ll take a little of everything, Miss.”
“Right away,” she says and curtsies.
Not long later the woman and a bald man who Enden assumes is the owner, bring two trays of food. They set the plates on the table and the smell of the meat makes Enden’s mouth water. He still had good meals on the road, they brought many chickens with them but pork he hasn’t had in awhile.
“We heard that some of the army might be heading this way,” the bald man says, picking up the tray and tucking it under his arm. “I hope the food is to your liking.”
“It’s smells good,” Peter says and picks up his fork. “As good as the castle cooks.”