“Well alright then. But possibly he might be willing to make it up to me by offering me your hand?”
Topaz frowned, for a moment she was genuinely uncertain about what he meant. He spoke of turning her life upside down without even the slightest hint of interest in his own proposition.
“My hand? As in marriage?”
He shrugged, “Your manners could do with some polishing I admit, if you are to be an ambassador’s wife your hosting skills will most surely need some work, but… your presence races my heart with excitement. Surely I could do with a woman who stirs me in a way that an icy bath does.”
Topaz’s eyes widened, “pardon me!”
He smiled, “Now now, do not get upset if my words are too raw with truth for you. But your father will surely understand how much of a favour I am doing him. Princess or not, you do not possess the graces that will catch the eye of a prince of equal or greater stature. You too will do well to consider my offer.”
Topaz felt a familiar heat rise to her face as her hands balled into fists at her sides.
“You… speak… out of turn…Ambassador,” she said through gritted teeth.
“Oh come…” he started.
“No no,” she interjected, lifting a warning finger, “you do not dare come into my city, be welcomed into my home and insult me in such a way. I do not care about the importance of your position. My father can strip you of your title and benefits like that…” she snapped her finger above her head. The sound echoed throughout the empty hallway, even as he looked at her with wide eyes. The guard barely moved.
“Let me tell you something about manners oh ambassador, manners are controlling oneself regardless of whose presence you are in. Something I have not seen you do at all since you have come here. You speak to me like I am beneath you, but you dear sir are beneath me and you will pay handsomely for your disrespect. I trust you can find your way to your quarters without a sitter?”
With that she stomped past him towards her own quarters, feeling that delicious heat pump through her veins. She had longed to tell him so much more, but by the look in his eyes, she knew that she had trampled on a lot of boundaries with the little she did say. She was so upset that she forgot that she was the one who had been waiting outside her father’s chambers. Rolling her eyes, she turned around and stomped back to where the man stood, still shellshocked by her outburst. She took up a place on the other side of her father’s door as if she was an addition to his guard detail. The king’s guard at his door, finally shifted to shoot her an amused look. The ambassador continued to glare at her.
She knew her father would be displeased, but she was not one of those women who accepted being treated like property and she was confident that once she explained to her father, he would understand her reaction. Cromby’s comments only ignited an anger that had been brewing since she listened to that so-called prophet in the woods. She had to tell father, this Ajorel character had to be taken care of before his poison seeped too deeply into the foundations of Stone Vale.
Crombey’s glare was becoming uncomfortable; she wondered what it was that was keeping him frozen to that spot, shaking with anger. Finally, he spoke.
“You have no idea who I am or why I am here. It is I who holds your sister’s fate in my hand.”
Topaz paused and turned to look at him, knowing she would regret giving him her attention.
“One word to Prince Narvis and her engagement would be nullified and all her hopes of ruling the south would be gone forever. Do not test me princess. You have no idea who I am!”
Topaz kept her expression unreadable but his words stirred up worry in her and anger with a bit of hurt. Seeing this, satisfied Crombey and he finally shuffled away.
✽✽✽
He approached the area where he had seen some movement a little while ago and took his horn that was strapped to his hip. It always gave him great joy to use his war horn. His mother had purchased him a simple grey horn with hand made gold trim. He knew it must have cost her at least two months wages. But she insisted on giving him a parting gift at the start of his quest.
He lifted his horn to his lips and blew, one short and one long; the Aldorian peace signal echoing through the trees. They had left the desert lands about a day ago, and had returned to the soft moist soil of the forest. Green trees stretched out protectively above him, their tall trunks extending a great distance from the ground. As beautiful as they were, Deswald was wary of them. He kept looking up, expecting to see a creature jump down upon him.
A horn answered back and Deswald hurried towards the sound.
“Identify yourself!”
He stopped short at the command and turned to the left. A soldier wearing an unmarked uniform, stood with an arrow drawn pointing to his head, but he couldn’t miss an Aldorian knight.
“Deswald Arnell, from the company of Questers,” he replied quickly.
The man narrowed his eyes, still holding his bow string taut. Until a ringed brown hand reached out and lowered it.
Deswald breathed a sigh of relief as Jasper stepped into view from behind a tree trunk. A small smile on his lips.
“Prince Jasper.”
“Deswald,” Jasper greeted as he walked towards him cautiously.
“Are you alone?”
“I was scouting with a Tyattaran ally.”
“Tyattaran you say?”
Deswald nodded at the disbelief in Jasper’s eyes, “Yes, Tyattar is compromised. We rescued a young woman, who fled.”
Deswald pointed upward, “I thought I saw movement from above, so I came to investigate.”
Jasper arched a brow, “you’re a dragon rider now,” he said with a grin.
Deswald chuckled, “I am so glad to see you. We have no idea what we are up against, and many of our men are wounded. The foe we are up against is… unlike anything we’ve ever seen.”
Jasper looked solemn, “so I’ve heard. Did you manage to… acquire the item?”
Deswald patted the bag strapped across his chest, “you can have it.”
“No,” Jasper lifted a hand, “keep it safe. I trust you.”
Deswald grimaced, these days he was not so sure he trusted his own self.
“Please it is a great weight on me,” he still could not shake the old man’s words from his mind and his dreams.
Jasper nodded, “alright, give it to me. You have done so much already for your kingdom.”
Jasper’s eyes held his, they both knew what he was referring to. But Deswald was not sure Jasper understood what Ruby meant to him. Everyone assumed that when he had left Aldor to rescue Ruby, it was all for fame and glory, no one could know that even then he had loved her and what they still believed was the lie he had told himself. Until he could hide it no longer. He sighed and handed Jasper the bag.
“We must hurry,” Deswald said, “I can direct you to the others from above.”
“Yes, that will work.”
Jasper extended his hand and Deswald reached out and gripped his arm in a heart felt shake.
“It’s good to see you brother,” Jasper said.
Brother. Jasper’s words rung throughout him, warming him with the excitement of being part of something big. A dream being fulfilled.
“You too,” with a smile, he turned and ran, “keep your eyes up.”
Deswald joined Eylisia on the back of her dragon once more and the clung to her as they hurried back to meet the others. He knew that Jasper and his men were riding hard to catch up to them but they were no match for Ike’s powerful wings.
“Oh no,” he heard Eylisia say.
“What? What is it?” he asked, trying to look down against his better judgement.
She said something to her dragon in her language, that he was realizing was a command to get lower. The dragon started to move closer towards the ground and Deswald forced his eyes to see what had caught Eylisia’s attention down below.
She must have felt his grip tighten on her waist as he flinched at t
he sight below. The creatures were closing in on his men.
“Can you take me lower and hover enough for me to jump?”
“Jump?” she asked in surprise, “I can’t get that low without those things hurting us.”
“I’ll tell you when,” Deswald said, swallowing his own fear, now that he could see his friends in danger.
The creatures were moving slowly towards the band of men, who were standing bravely in the clearing of the woods with swords drawn. He released Eylisia’s stomach and managed to pull his feet up so that he stooped atop the dragon behind her.
“Deswald,” she warned.
“Keep going,” he said.
“You can’t make that jump.”
“On my own I can’t,” he said, reaching for the dagger and squeezing it tightly, instantly he felt that familiar rush of power. To his surprise he could feel its strength moving towards his legs as if it was aware of his intentions.
“Steady,” he said.
Ike moved lower over the standoff and Deswald bent his knees in preparation.
“One, two,” he counted, for his own sake, “three!”
He heard Eylisia’s gasp as he leapt off Ike and fell through the air mere inches from the top of the trees. He landed lightly behind the red devils, who had turned their heads upwards when Ike passed by. Now all eyes rested on him. He smirked and with his dagger alone drawn bound towards them.
He moved swiftly through them, metal slicing flesh as he moved towards his own men. As expected, his actions broke the standoff and a loud messy battle ensued. When Deswald made it to Ben’s side, he had blood splattered across his shirt and cheek. Ben looked at him with wide eyes briefly, before loosing his arrow in the direction of an attacker. The action caused him to buckle over with a groan.
“Don’t force yourself,” Deswald said, just as Nyla sidled up to Ben’s back.
With her back pressed against his she deflected her attackers, as fast moving as they were Deswald found that the men were handling them well.
“You alright,” Nyla asked Ben.
Ben grimaced, “fine,” he grunted.
“He’s not,” Deswald replied, his sword was drawn now as he blocked the downward thrust of a spear aimed at his chest.
“Stay with me, I’ll cover you,” Nyla shouted.
Ben rolled his eyes and fired another shot, this time his quiver fell from his hand on his cry of pain. Nyla elbowed him.
“Don’t be so stubborn,” she warned.
Deswald found himself fighting to continue to follow their conversation over the roaring in his ears. Like a giant wave crashing against his ear drums. He shook his head and tried to breathe through the overwhelming feeling threatening to drown him. Tightening his grip on his dagger, his gaze shifted in time to fine one of the red creatures looking at him with curiosity in his eyes. Deswald held his yellow gaze and he heard the waves roar louder. As if on their own accord his legs moved him in the creature’s direction as a swelling rage surged within him. The creature smiled and slammed his speak into the ground tauntingly.
Desward roared as he ran towards him, and so did the raging storm in his head, drowning out all reason, all direction save for one… death.
Chapter 15
Ruby pulled her overcoat tighter as she hurried towards her home and the warmth of her own fireplace. In addition to the chill in her bones, she could not shake the feeling of being followed. She cast another fearful glance over her shoulder as she walked; her feet could not move fast enough. She was starting to regret going against the attending priest’s advice to not walk home unattended. The knight who usually accompanied her had been called off while she was at the temple, and although he had told her to await his return, the high priest was making her very uncomfortable. It was bad enough that he delayed her time of offering until it was so late, but he kept looking at her with disgust in his eyes. It was an expression she had become very familiar with, though she did not expect it from her father’s friend.
When she saw that her escort did not return and how late it was getting, she started feeling a sense of urgency. Every day that she was away from the castle she worried that she would miss Deswald’s return. Eager to keep the promise she had made to him when he had left, to be waiting for him at the court, she hustled to get back. The streets of Stone Vale were surprisingly lonely for a celebration week and she felt even more vulnerable walking in the shadows by herself. She hustled through a narrow street lined by stone cottages that was a bit of a short cut to the castle. But when she was halfway through it, she felt a sense of regret in her decision to take the short cut.
Standing at the end of the path were two heavily cloaked individuals, their hood was pulled so low over their face, she could not make out whether it was a man, woman or threat. Cautiously, she continued to walk. When the strangers passed next to her, the person near her nodded in greeting and she returned the favour, feeling a sense of relief when she safely passed by. But with her sigh still on her lips she felt strong-arms grab hold of her, pulling her midsection towards a hardened body and locking her arms to her sides. She cried out, instantly struggling against her attacker’s firm grip.
“Let go of me you…” she grunted as she lifted her foot and stomped her heel down onto the stranger’s toes.
“You gonna have to do better than that,” came the gruff reply.
“What do you want? Gold?”
The man chuckled again and she felt something cold rest against her neck, “no amount of gold could fix the damnation your presence has brought to this kingdom… princess.”
Ruby’s eyes widened in horror as she remembered the terrible threats Miss Pringle had received on her behalf. Tears of panic sprung into Ruby’s eyes at the realization of how futile her struggling was against a man who wanted nothing but to end her existence.
“If you think killing me will bring Aldor redemption then you know nothing about the God you serve.”
“Oh yea, well the god I serve always wants a worthy sacrifice. And since you would not leave this kingdom, you will have to do.”
Ruby forced herself to calm down enough to think, “and how can a curse such as I am be a worthy sacrifice. El always requires a pure, stainless sacrifice. According to you I am an abomination in his sight.”
The man chuckled drily, “who said anything about El?”
The man’s cold words gave her chills, even as he flattened the knife against her skin.
“It is because of you and your kind our crops are dying, the soil won’t yield as it used to and our animals are sick. Your father is too blind to see that it is your presence that brings a curse here. So I will just have to end you tonight, like the….”
His words were swallowed up in a bloody garble and she felt his grip loosen from around her. Ruby cried out as the hand that held the blade to her neck slipped, drawing a slim cut on her skin. Regardless, she managed to shove him away from her. His partner lay on the ground beside him, groaning in pain. Her attacker stumbled backward, holding onto his stomach as blood trickled from his lips. Standing calmly behind him was a carefully covered figure, a bloody dagger in hand.
“Hey!” someone shouted from the other end of the alley way, Ruby could see two more men running towards her rescuer.
“You gonna pay for that!”
Ruby’s rescuer turned to face them, then glanced back at Ruby. She could make out the strong jaw of a man beneath the thin cloth he wore over his mouth and chin, but nothing more.
“Stand behind me your majesty!”
Her rescuer spoke calmly, his command was carried on an accent Ruby could not place. He turned his back to her to face the new contenders. Ruby hesitated for a moment, wondering if she should trust him or try to make a run for it.
“Princess, on me now!” the man shouted, again his accent intrigued her. She edged toward him and angling her body so she could keep her eyes on him and the other end of the alley at the same time. Without taking his eyes off the men a
dvancing on them, he sheathed his dagger and he drew what looked like a staff from beneath his long cloak. He twirled it hypnotically before him. Ruby held her breath, even though he appeared highly capable of taking care of himself.
The man’s skilled movements with that staff had her attackers on the ground at his feet in minutes. Their drunken rage was clearly no match for his focused fighting style. Once the men were down, the man turned and drew her away from the narrow alley before more of them could come. They went around the block of stone houses and stopped short beneath the shadows of the tree line just at the edge of the square.
Ruby distanced herself from the stranger then. Clearly, he was a stranger to Stone Vale, his mode of dress was like that of a man seeking to hide his identity, his accent was foreign to her ears as was his general demeanour.
“Did they hurt you?” he asked, with a passion she could not understand.
“No…” she replied, “who are you? Why did you help me?”
The man maintained the angle of his head to keep his eyes hidden, “I am a servant of your household, it is my duty to protect you.”
Ruby frowned, had her father hired another guard for her detail. He hardly seemed like a member of the Royal Guard, he hardly seemed Aldorian.
“You are going to have to do better than that. There is no way my father hired you. I have a guard.”
The man’s stoic expression barely shifted, “You think I speak of the king of Aldor, well I am sorry if I was unclear.”
He took a step toward her, to which she responded with a corresponding step back. He reached up and withdrew his hood from over his head and pulled the scarf from over his mouth. Ruby’s eyes widened.
Standing before her was a sight she had never dreamed she would see but had desperately longed to. For the first time in her life Ruby was standing face to face with someone who… looked like her.
Even in the silver moonlight she could make out the rich hues of his long red hair, worn in a single braid with an extravagant pattern cornrowed at the front. The slant of his forehead, the shape of his nose, the shape of his eyes made her heart soar and race in ways she never knew it could.
Kingdom's Darkness (Gemstone Royals Book 2) Page 12
