War's Ending

by A J Park

  Slowly, Kalleck nodded. “He had it with him when he went away.”

  “And that’s why Sinnar was so angry when he saw it?”

  “Yes,” Kalleck said. “But he shouldn’t have acted as he did that day on the bridge. I know what he’s like when he’s angry.”

  “Did he give the stone back to you?” she asked.

  “Yes, and I am going to give it back to my mother. She wore it for many years. She blessed it and gave it to him as a token of her love and the faith of our people when he went away.”

  “I didn’t know. I’m sorry, Kalleck,” she said.

  He saw a tear on her cheek and brushed it away with his fingers. “Thank you for what you have done for me and for my people,” he said. “Rest now. You won’t want to face Kern if you ignore his instructions. I will leave you to sleep, but I will come back later.”

  “You will come back?”

  “Yes.” He rose to leave.

  “Kalleck?”

  He turned back to face her.

  “Am I… safe here? I’m afraid.”

  “Sleep now,” he said. “It’s still day, and I have left guards outside your door.”

  “And you will come back later?”

  “I promise.”

  CHAPTER 13

  Lady Shalyrie Almorin

  Shalyrie fought her way out of a deep sleep. She was surrounded by darkness. How long had it been? She could still feel the fever. Her body ached and she was so tired. But with an effort, she sat up. The room was dark, except for the last few glowing coals in the fireplace. Out on the balcony, she could faintly make out the shape of someone standing.

  Kalleck?

  He’d promised he would come back, but she couldn’t see who it was. Maybe it was one of the followers of the man with the feathers. A wave of fear swept over her. She tried to push it aside. If it was someone who wanted to attack her, he would already have done so. She wouldn’t have been able to stop him. Slowly, she pulled her sore muscles into a standing position. Silently, she crept through the door.

  “Kalleck?” she asked uncertainly.

  “What are you doing awake?” His voice was familiar, and she felt relieved.

  “You came back?” She felt so much safer when he was there.

  “I told you I would.”

  “But you should be resting,” she protested.

  “I’m fine,” he said. “I’m ready to ride. You?”

  “No,” she groaned. “I’m never riding again. It hurts too much.”

  “It’s not meant to be like that.”

  “I can still feel the fever.” She leaned heavily on the railing, shivering in the chill night air.

  “You’re cold, too,” he said. “And I know you’re still in pain.”

  “I’m all right,” she protested. But it was true—she was still hurting.

  “You did it to save me,” he said, taking off his cloak and wrapping it around her shoulders. “If I could take the pain for you, I would do it.” He was standing close to her now.

  She turned toward him. He was only a black outline in the dark. “Kalleck…” She reached out and touched his face. Expecting to feel the mask under her hand, she gasped when her fingers met his skin.

  He pulled away from her touch.

  “I’m sorry,” she said, taking her hand away. “I didn’t know that you…”

  She couldn’t see him, but she heard him inhale deeply, as if to delay his response while he searched for the right words.

  “We are… forbidden to show our faces to outsiders. It has been the way of our people for a thousand years.”

  “Must I always be an outsider? Is there no way in?” she murmured.

  “Shalyrie,” he whispered.

  She reached out to touch his face again, and this time he didn’t pull away.

  “I didn’t want you to die,” she said. “You should live a long life. Go back to the hills and high valleys that you love.”

  “I have sworn my life to protect my people,” he said. “I must save them if I can.”

  Her fingers traced the line of his jaw, prickly with stubble. “Do they require that you be the first one to die for them?”

  “Many men have already died to protect our people. I would never ask something of them that I am not willing to give myself.”

  “Is that what it means to be First Guardian?” She ran her fingers through his hair.

  “Once, it was not that way. But now…” He bowed his head.

  “But there would be hope if we could end this war.”

  “It might not be possible.”

  “The king will do it. All we need to do is get to him. Maybe Olthorin is nearly there already.”

  “I hope so,” Kalleck said. “I hope he is safe.”

  Shalyrie leaned against the railing. She was still so tired.

  “You need to rest,” he said. He put his arm around her back to support her and helped her return to her bed in the darkened room. “Here,” Kalleck said, handing her a cup.

  “What is it?”

  “Water.”

  She drank it all. Sometime, she would have to ask him why they had such wonderful water here.

  When Shalyrie woke again, the morning sun was shining in her windows. She could see rooftops not too far away and a beautiful blue sky. It looked like a wonderful day outside.

  She was alone in the room still. What had happened last night? Had she dreamed it? She shook her head. No. It had been real. She had touched his face, and he told her he would die to protect his people. A terrible image came into her head, of him lying lifeless on the ground, crumpled and broken.

  No. She could not let that happen. She tried to force the picture out of her mind.

  They would find a way to stop the fighting. Maybe it was already over. Maybe what Olthorin had done would be enough. But if not, then Shalyrie would do whatever it took to stop them. If Galenor attacked again, she would go to the king herself. She had to. It was the only way.

  But for now, she would rest and try to regain her strength.

  The morning wore away and Kellji came, bringing food on a tray. The Yalkur girl handed Shalyrie a cup and motioned that she should drink it.

  Shalyrie tasted it. It was more of Kern’s bitter medicine. She made a face but drank it, and Kellji laughed at her.

  “Happy to see you,” Shalyrie said in her clumsy Yalkur. It felt good to have a friend again. In the past, Lorelei had always been there to keep her company and to laugh with her. Shalyrie still missed her, but she appreciated the growing closeness with Kellji.

  “It tastes bad,” Kellji said, pointing to the cup.

  Shalyrie agreed. She ate her breakfast and then continued her language lessons with Kellji for most of the afternoon.

  Finally, Kellji stood.

  “Don’t go,” Shalyrie said.

  “Kalleck is coming,” Kellji promised at the door. “I will come again soon.”

  Night was falling when Kalleck finally came. He was wearing his armor again, as well as riding boots and a sword. But Shalyrie thought from his walk and the set of his shoulders that he looked tired. She got out of bed, crept to the table, and sat down. He sat opposite her.

  “How are you feeling tonight?” he asked in her language.

  “I’m feeling better. But you look tired,” she said. “You nearly died. Don’t they give you more rest? You should get some sleep instead of taking care of me.”

  “I promised I would guard you,” he said.

  “Thank you.” She was very grateful. It seemed like a long time ago that her life had been peaceful, free of fear, danger or pain. Before she had needed someone to guard her.

  “May I eat with you?” he asked.

  “I’m glad you’re here,” she said sincerely. She looked into his dark eyes, trying
to read their expression. What was he feeling? She wanted to know what was happening behind his mask. Would it be a mistake for him to know that she was enjoying their time together more and more? Was it because he was the only one in the city who could understand her? But it wasn’t just that.

  He sat down opposite her, and they ate. When they had finished, they sat in silence for a while on the balcony. The night was very dark, and the mountain air was cool. The sky was cloudy now, but here and there a star shone through.

  “Is it always so cold here?” she asked.

  He touched her forehead. “You’re still feverish,” he said. “We have to keep you warm.”

  He disappeared back into the room for a moment and returned with a blanket, which he wrapped around her.

  “Thank you,” she said, huddling into it gratefully. She tucked her cold feet up underneath her.

  “Does it bother your people… that you are here with me?”

  “No,” he said. “Only a few unbalanced people, Farak for example, are offended by it.”

  That wasn’t exactly what she’d meant. “Is there…?” She stopped. She couldn’t say it. But she wanted to know.

  “What is it?” he asked quietly. When she didn’t answer after a time, he said, “Shalyrie Almorin, I give you permission to speak freely.”

  She shook herself mentally. Why was it so important to her? But it was. “Is there a woman who would be unhappy to know you were here with me?”

  “No, Shalyrie.”

  She couldn’t read the emotion in his voice, and she didn’t dare ask him anything further. He didn’t press her with questions about why she was asking. But he didn’t answer the unspoken part of her question either. There was another long silence. He must have realized why she had asked. If he hadn’t responded, there had to be a reason.

  “Are you getting warmer now?” he asked after a few moments.

  “It’s better,” she said, still shivering.

  “But you are still cold?”

  She nodded, not even trying to deny it.

  He stood up and unbuckled his armor, then took off his sword and leaned it against the wall. Then he sat beside Shalyrie and put his arm around her. With his armor gone, he seemed much more like a real person.

  She could feel the warmth of his body through his shirt. All her fear of him was long gone. “I want to see your face,” she murmured, sleepily.

  His fingers caressed her cheek and she leaned into him, laying her head against his chest. She could hear the steady beating of his heart.

  CHAPTER 14

  Kalleck, Son of Gallidack, First Guardian of the Yalkur

  Kalleck ran his fingers over the smooth skin of Shalyrie’s face. She had asked him if there was another woman waiting for him. For a moment, the question had startled him. The pressure and demands of his position left little room to consider romance. And the danger his people were in had driven it even farther from his thoughts. There was no reason she would ask him that, no reason she would care… unless she felt… But no. That was impossible. There was no real reason to think she might care for him.

  The Yalkur were a reserved, private people. Just because she allowed strangers to see her face and wasn’t bothered by his touch, there was no reason to assume anything. Her people were very different.

  She moved closer, curling her body against him, and resting her head on his chest. In the beginning, she’d been so afraid of him. Now she was so close, and she seemed so comfortable.

  “I want to see your face.”

  Her voice was indistinct, just on the edge of sleep. She knew that he was forbidden to show his face to anyone outside his own people. They had just spoken of it yesterday. His mask was a barrier between them. Did she wish to have the barrier removed? Would she join his people if she could?

  But why would she want that? She had been brought here against her will. She had been a captive. Kalleck had never expected to keep her. He had expected to return her to her own people. But that hadn’t happened, and she was so much closer than he had expected her to be.

  Her soft breath had become slow and even. She’d fallen asleep. He touched the silky softness of her hair. Did she guess how it made him feel to have her so close? That he wanted her to be closer still? He didn’t want to let her go.

  Kalleck started out of sleep at the sound of the door banging open. He hadn’t meant to sleep. Shalyrie was still curled against him, wrapped in a blanket. He jumped to his feet and grabbed his sword belt. His armor was still leaning against the wall. If it came to a fight, he’d wish he had never taken it off.

  His sudden motion and the heavy tread of many booted feet woke Shalyrie, and she stared at Kalleck, her eyes round with terror. It was Farak, the priest, attired in his formal robes, mask and feathered headdress, in spite of the pre-dawn hour.

  “Guardian Kalleck,” Farak said.

  “How may I assist you, Farak?” Kalleck asked, buckling on his sword belt and eyeing the large troop of heavily armed men that Farak had brought with him. They were staring accusingly at Kalleck.

  “We have come to transport your guest to a more secure location.” He said the word as if it were a curse. “Our people cannot support her being kept here as if she were an honored visitor.”

  “First Guardian, don’t you care anything for the purity of our people?” one of Farak’s followers asked.

  “Purity?” Kalleck replied. “What do you mean?”

  “Doesn’t the touch of one of our sworn enemies bother you?”

  The Yalkur were a fiercely traditional people, but Kalleck had never learned anything like this from his parents. “Nothing in our law forbids the touch of another person,” Kalleck said. “What has she done to you, that you would hate her so?”

  “Our law forbids outsiders here,” Farak said.

  Kalleck could feel Shalyrie’s hands clutching him. He glanced at her and saw her face desperate with fear. She didn’t need to understand everything that was said in order to notice the malice in Farak’s tone. He had hurt her before—no wonder she was afraid of him. And Kalleck had promised not to let Farak near her.

  “She is to be confined here, for the time being,” Kalleck said coolly. “This was the agreement of the Council. You may bring the matter up with them if you choose. Now, you have my leave to go.”

  Farak stared back at him. “I am outside your command, Guardian Kalleck, but I still stand behind the laws of our people. This girl has bewitched you. You would do anything she asks. Is that what we need from our Guardian?” He directed this last question at the men surrounding him.

  “No,” they muttered. They hung on every word Farak said.

  Farak went on. “And what are you doing here, First Guardian Kalleck? Why are you here with her at this hour? It does indeed appear that you enjoy her touch. Why did we see you replacing your belt? Did you dishonor yourself with her?”

  “You may be a priest, Farak,” Kalleck said, “but that doesn’t give you the right to insult my honor. Go now, and I will forget what you said.”

  “And if I don’t?” Farak challenged. “Perhaps you will send for your mother to help you?”

  “You are not here by the command of the High Priestess, or with her permission. I am First Guardian, and the Council supports me.”

  “You cannot remain First Guardian! We cannot tolerate dishonor from our leader. Your loyalty should be to our own people. Not to her!”

  “There has been no dishonor,” Kalleck said firmly.

  “What other reason does a man have to be here with her at this hour?”

  “I came to protect her. Why should you bring an entire company of men to take one unarmed girl? Unless you really came to attack me?”

  “We came to defend the oaths of our people. She has no place here. But you would put her needs before the needs of our people. We cannot let an outsider have suc
h influence over the leader of the Yalkur. You would do anything for her.”

  “That’s not true, Farak.”

  “No? Then prove it, Kalleck, son of Gallidack, First Guardian of the Yalkur. Let me lock her up.” He took a step toward Shalyrie.

  Kalleck stepped to block his way. “I will not let you touch her.”

  “You see his devotion to her?” Farak asked his men. “It’s a disgrace!” He turned back to Kalleck. “You claim you have not dishonored yourself, but we saw you replacing your belt when we came in. Did I catch you at a bad time, Guardian Kalleck?”

  The man was an idiot, and Kalleck had had enough.

  He drew his sword. “I told you before… Do. Not. Challenge. My honor.”

  Farak drew his own blade. “As you wish. It will be a duel of honor. No one may interfere.”

  Kalleck didn’t feel ready to fight. He was still tired and weak. Farak knew this too, and that was why he had chosen this time to attack.

  As their blades met, Kalleck felt like his arm was slower than it should have been. His sword was heavier than usual and, without his armor, any slip in his defenses could mean a serious injury. Farak’s men stood by, honor-bound only to watch. At least, they were keeping that much of Yalkur tradition. The clash of metal on metal rang in the room, and Kalleck was breathing hard.

  Farak darted in and kicked Kalleck’s leg, right where the poison dart had struck. Pain erupted along his leg, and Kalleck found himself on the floor. Farak was raising his sword to finish him.

  Suddenly, he saw Shalyrie grab Farak’s sword arm and pull him back. “Stop!” she cried in Yalkur. He tried to shake her off, but she refused to release his arm.

  Kalleck got back to his feet, favoring the hurt leg, and stepped toward Farak. Just as he moved, Farak struck Shalyrie with his other hand, knocking her to the ground. She lay crumpled at his feet, and he raised the sword to strike her. Kalleck blocked Farak’s blade with his own. “Leave her alone, Farak. She has nothing to do with this. Does she? What you really want is me gone.”