by J. R. Castle
Regent Leon smiled shyly as he entered the barn where the geese were kept during the night. A new goose-herder had been given her old job. Kardia had packed all her belongings into a backpack that Hilda gave her as a parting gift. One she’d used on her own trip to Aloblase.
“For saving my Kellie-girl,” Hilda has said as she hugged her tightly. “I know my baby will be well cared for with you there. Try your best to keep Nellie in line, too, if you can.” Hilda had shaken her head, muttering, “That girl, I just don’t know sometimes.”
Kardia was pleased both sisters were going with her. And Jael Azazel. Along with ten other people from Rodon. After word spread of the wizard’s infiltration, more parents had signed up for their oldest children to make the journey and those who’d been making excuses about waiting now found a reason to stop putting off the trip.
“Are you ready to go, Kardia?” Regent Leon asked, reaching into the pen to tap one on the head. “How are you today, my strawberry eating friend? Did you promise your mistress that you’d write? I’m going to miss her, too, you know.”
Kardia smiled. “Hilda promised to send notes when she could. But she says it’s a long trip for messenger birds.”
“Indeed, it is.” He leaned against one of the posts, his arms crossed over his chest. A small leather book was tucked under his arm. Probably his journal that he jotted his thoughts in. She’d seen him making notes in it before. “Unless you have access to a portal. Which, is next on our agenda. I’m hoping to have a proper one built inside the Hall soon.”
“Will that make it so you can visit Aloblase easier?” She started to head out of the barn. When he nodded, she said, “Be sure to make time to visit me, if you are able to visit. I’m going to miss…everyone. I’ve grown very fond of your city, Regent Leon.”
“Please, just call me Leon, as my friends do.”
“Very well. Leon.”
He followed her out of the pen area. She stopped long enough to scratch behind the pig’s ear and pluck some grass that was just out of its reach. “I should stop diddling. Riyah said to meet him by the fountain when the sun was straight overhead.”
“There will be a lunch for everyone before you get started on your way. It’s a beautiful day for it. I wanted a moment with you before… I…”
Kardia stopped, wondering why he was stammering over his words. It wasn’t like him. “What’s on your mind? Leon.” It would take a bit to break the habit of calling him, Regent. But she’d be leaving soon, and it wouldn’t really matter, would it? If only her chest wouldn’t hurt so much when she thought of leaving this place. She’d had no such feelings of regret when she walked away from Goia.
“I wish I could come with you, dear Kardia. I’d love to be with you when you finally reach Radiance. From there, you’ll be able to portal to Aloblase with Riyah. I’m a little jealous that it’ll be him who escorts you into Shaydon’s throne room. I would have enjoyed watching your experience firsthand. I’m hoping, that, you’ll be willing to keep in touch? Now that you can write with more ease? I’d love to hear about your experiences in Aloblase.”
Kardia grinned. If they wrote, she’d not lose him completely. “And you’ll write back about what you are doing here?”
“Absolutely.” His features softened as if washed in a river of relief. “I very much value your opinions. And your ideas. Did I tell you that we have a pool of instructors who are willing to travel across the province to start classes that’ll teach the children about Shaydon? I believe you are right. If we teach them early, the King will not be such a mystery to them when they grow into adulthood.”
He had told her. A few times. But the news still excited her. “The children in Goia will be so excited. They loved Miltie’s stories.” She was finally getting to a point where mentioning the Healer no longer caused a stab of pain to her heart. “I know you are going to do great things for Rodonal. You’re a good leader.”
“Thank you, Kardia. That means everything coming from you.” He fell in step beside her.
“Really? Why?” Kardia wasn’t in a hurry. She still had time before they were to leave and had intended on stopping by a few of her favorite places so she could make sure to study every detail and keep Rodon firmly in her heart. She wasn’t sure what the future held, but… perhaps, returning was no longer as undesirable as she’d thought when she first arrived.
“Your opinions are important to me.” He answered. “You are important to me.”
They stopped beside the pond where she normally took the ducks. Their new caretaker would probably bring them out later this afternoon.
She was afraid to look at Leon, fearing her own emotions would get the better of her. This was what she’d wanted. To make the trip to meet King Shaydon. After two encounters with the Wizard Fajer, this trip was necessary. Despite how much her heart was breaking in two over leaving.
“You’ve been very kind, Leon. I appreciate all you’ve done. I treasure the friendship you’ve offered me, even more.” Why was her heart racing so? She’d never had anyone look at her the way Leon was looking at her at that moment.
He reached out and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, his touch gentle, yet searing as his finger traced the line of her cheekbone.
Clearing his throat, he removed a small leather book from the pocket of his jacket and held it out toward her. On the front were two embossed circles, looking like ropes that entwined together.
“When you write to me, use this.” He took another similar book from another pocket of his jacket. Opening it, he wrote something on the first page.
Her own book vibrated and began to glow. Upon the blank page appeared handwritten words. She read them out loud. “This book is called a Ledge-o-graph. Back when I lived in Aloblase, I met this Logorian family of bookbinders. They crafted these special correspondence journals for people to use to keep in touch. You needed to be a Logorian in a high position to order a set of Ledge-o-graphs. I pestered Riyah tirelessly over the past few weeks until he finally put in a word for me.
So, with these joined books, we can write to each other any time we wish and the message will be delivered once the author signs their name to the note.”
Kardia gasped and held the book to her chest. This was too much. Yet…absolutely perfect. She’d not be so separated from Leon after all. “May I try it? I’ll need to borrow your—” He was already handing her his graphite stick.
“You may keep that one. I have more in my office.”
Her heart was bursting so much, she wasn’t sure what to write. No words seemed adequate enough. So she wrote, “I don’t know what to say, Leon. Thank you isn’t enough. So, I hope I’ll not be overstepping any boundaries when I do what I’m about to do.” She signed her name.
His brows rose as he read her note. Before he could ask, she wrapped her arms around his neck and hugged him tightly. His own hands moved slowly around her back as he returned the hug. In his embrace, she felt as if she’d found her home.
Except, she couldn’t stay. She’d waited too long to give up on seeing the King now.
No, she needed to leave. She had to do this.
When she pulled away, Leon pressed a kiss to her forehead, then offered his arm before they headed for the courtyard. Her heart felt ripped in two. As they walked, they watched each other. His smile made her feel as if he cared more than he was willing to say.
She’d tuck that bit of hope inside her heart and it would carry her over the many miles she would need to travel to make sure she would be safe. Safe to live her life. Safe to choose where she would go. Safe to love someone.
Leon grasped her mechanical hand all through the parting ceremony. Several people had come to bid the travelers goodbye and wish them a safe trip. The faun stayed by Kardia’s other side, promising to keep her safe for the regent.
When it was finally time to mount their horses and ride from the city, Leon helped her onto a smaller chestnut mare. His gaze remained locked on her face as if he had something th
at he desperately wanted to say, but held back.
Riyah called everyone to move out. Kardia hesitated, watching him, wondering if he would be brave enough to speak what was on his mind.
Finally, he smiled and shook his head. “I’m really going to miss you, Kardia. I feel like a part of my heart is leaving with you.”
She understood, completely. Removing her glove, she pressed the palm of her hand to his cheek, needing to feel the warmth of his face. “I feel like I’m leaving part of mine behind.”
He pressed a kiss into the palm of her hand, holding her for a second longer, then stepping away. “I look forward to your letters. Take care of yourself, my dear.”
With a nod, she slipped her hand back into the glove he’d so lovingly made her, then turned and joined the others. Already, her mind was working out what she’d write soon as they stopped for the night. All the words that she wished she could have said, but hadn’t. She hugged the journal to her chest, glad that she had the means to stay in touch. He was important to her, as she was to him.
Once she was safely under King Shaydon’s protection, then maybe she’d be free to love Leon freely and completely.
Before You Go…
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Blessings and Peace
Ephesians 4:32
Jackie Castle
Sample Chapter One
of Gold and Fire
The trip through the mountain gorge that followed the Leukos River for most of the way, took two weeks to travel. Kardia was amazed that the narrow waterway eventually turned into the vast body of water that surrounded Rodon.
Every day held new amazements for her. There was so much of the world she had been sheltered from while nestled in her tiny hamlet. Every night when they stopped, she wrote Leon about all the wonderful things she’d seen. Mainly because everyone had grown weary of her exclaiming over various rock formations, or a new bird she’d never seen before, or the wild deer and goats they’d pass.
Only Riyah listened to her gushing with infinite patience and his usual, “you’ve seen nothing yet, child.”
When they finally reached the entrance of Radiance, Kardia realized that Riyah was right. The city loomed atop of a sheer mountain with its pale gray buildings, white cobblestone streets and pristine gardens that grew along each level amongst houses and quaint shops.
They were given rooms at an inn where they could rest and prepare themselves to enter the grandest Meeting Hall that Kardia had seen yet.
Jael and the sisters couldn’t stop talking about the people and stores they’d passed as they entered the township.
“Centaurs, dwarves, and elves!” Jael exclaimed. “I can’t believe they are all living here. With humans!” He sat back on his haunches, his little tail wagging like a reed in the wind. “I must go out and explore. Would you like to come with me, Little Bit?”
She found it amusing that he still used his pet name for her. He’d changed since she’d been ‘rescued’ from him and she no longer found him frightening as she had before. But she’d grown, too. Her courage and sense of belonging had given her a peace she’d not felt in a long while.
Leon had told her that he would understand if she wished to remain in Aloblase. He’d had a hard time leaving the White City when he was called back home, too. Then he’d told her that she would always have a place in Rodon, and had left it at that.
Kellie and Nellie insisted that he was saying that he hoped she’d return to him.
Jael merely shook his head and said he’d never understood humans. If that’s what he’d wanted then why hadn’t he simply said so.
Kardia often wondered the same thing.
Finally, Riyah said the true love allowed one to have free will, to be free to make their own choices. True love wasn’t greedy or controlling. True love was patient and enduring in hope and trust.
Perhaps, Leon wanted her to make the decision to return on her own.
Perhaps.
He always wrote her back, if not right away, then early the next morning. He’d promised to keep his book in the pocket of his jacket where it would be near his heart.
“Come with me,” Jael urged. “The giggly girls are coming, too. That lightening bug wants to see everything, just like you.”
The giggly girls were what he’d dubbed Nellie and Kellie. The name fit them. Of course, Kellie was the lightning bug because she’d send up floating balls of light at night when they sat around the campfire. Such a show-off, Nellie, or flower-girl as Jael called her, would say.
Kardia had wanted to stay in her room. After two weeks of sleeping on the ground, she wished to enjoy sleeping in a real bed. Who knew what she’d encounter once they took the portal to Aloblase. Her heart raced. After the past year of learning and traveling, she was finally almost there. However, the pleading expression on Jael’s face broke her and she reluctantly nodded.
Many of the shops they visited reminded Kardia of the ones in Rodon and her heart ached a little. She truly had become fond of the city over the past season.
Jael stopped to meet every creature they passed, even the strange little tree-like Okbolds who were gracious and offered to help them carry their purchases to wherever they were going.
“No need,” Kellie said, her cheeks blushing over their fawning and flattery. “We still have a lot of exploring to do.”
At that, the Okbolds graciously offered to be their guides. Jael stated that he was their guide and they were on their way to a Centaur gathering. The Okbolds left muttering about uppity hoofers.
Kellie and Nellie stared wide-eyed at each other, then broke into laughter that had them both doubled over.
“Are all Okbolds like that, Jael?” Kardia asked.
“Ah, they’re all right. The woodland ones are a little more suspicious of humans, but you have to understand, few humans venture into our woods and those that do, are usually running from something and are up to no good. The thing you need to remember with Okbolds is that they’re utterly dedicated to those who are kind to them. But you do one little thing to upset them and they’ll swiftly and surely pay you back triple for what you did.”
“Oh my… good to know.” They all continued along the road that left the heart of the township and wove into a patch of thick woods. Eventually, they came to a river. Through the tops of the trees, they could still see the Meeting Hall towering over them.
They soon crossed a bridge over a river before reaching an open field where autumn wildflowers grew in abundance. Nellie was beside herself, rushing ahead to explore the various wild herbs and other greenery she loved so much. “I can gather a few seeds. Do you think anyone will mind? I’d love to see if I can get flowers like these growing around Rodon.”
A band of five centaurs, two female and three males entered the clearing. “Take whatever you can find a use for, are you a Herbalist? Healer? Or—”
“I work as the head Gardner in Rodon,” Nellie answered, tucking a few flowers into the pocket of her skirt. “I’m not sure what Shaydon will give me to do, but I do hope it’ll involve growing plants. That’s my passion.”
The head centaur, a tall male with golden hair that fell into his friendly face and ran down his back to the pale brown horse part of his body responded, “The good King often takes your passion and makes it his.”
“Well,” said a female with fiery red hair and dark chestnut body, “some would say that our passions are gi
ven to us by the King.”
“Either way,” the blond centaur said with a chuckle and a shrug, “Shaydon will take into account your heart’s desire when he fashions your Medallion.” His hand rested on his own that lay upon his bare chest.
They spent the rest of the afternoon discussing the Academies in Aloblase versus the one there in Radiance. The blond centaur, named, Causio, was actually an instructor in Herbology. His mate, the red-headed female named, Kala taught the class with him.
“What was it like,” Kardia interrupted, “to meet the King? I’ve asked people before and they are always vague about their experience.”
Kala answered, “That is because, little Sano, everyone’s experience is deeply personal and unique. There is no common ceremony. Or a structured event. You will see very soon. Have patience and I promise it will be greatly rewarded.”
“Right, that’s the one thing others have said.” Kardia’s shoulders slumped. She was both eager to go, yet hesitant all the same. Glancing down at her mechanical hands, which were usually the first topic of discussion when she met someone new, Kardia wondered what the King would think. Would he see her as damaged because of the wizard’s contract she’d been under? She could only wonder.
Riyah had never indicated that she had anything to worry about. The worry came from her own fears. She would have to work hard to get past them, or she might never willingly step through that portal.
When the sun had set, Causio and Kala walked them back across the bridge to the edge of town. They invited Jael to visit them again if he returned to Radiance and wished the girls a safe trip to Aloblase.
Kala placed her hands on each side of Kardia’s head, then rested her forehead against Kardia’s. “May you always walk upon safe paths, child of the King. May your Sano gifts be used to heal many inside and out. And may you find everything you’ve dreamed of as you finally meet your King. Your bravery and tenacity will always be your greatest qualities. Go in peace, dear one.” Then she moved on to Kellie and Nellie, imparting her parting words on them, too.
