“You’ve met Captain Ferras,” Adrian began the introductions. Leilas nodded in the captain’s direction. “This is Captain Dren,” he began to move around the circle, pointing to a tall, thin man with a dark beard that ended in a point, He wore the red and black uniform of the royal soldiers of Preterlandis. The captain nodded his head toward her at the introduction. “Captain Twill, his wife Moina,” he continued pointing to a middle-aged man with a salt and pepper beard closely cropped to his face. He wore the blue and crimson of the soldiers of Barat. His wife was much younger with a round porcelain face and blonde curls. She wore a demure gray dress. Leilas could see that she adored her husband and that she had no opinion that he didn’t approve.
“Pleasure to meet you, my lady,” said the captain. “I’ve heard good reports about you from the men who have traveled here from Dirth.”
“I did my best to help the people in my Father’s city,” replied Leilas. “I only wish I could have done more.”
“Captain Adams and his wife, Sylvia,” Adrian curtailed the conversation, continuing his introductions. Captain Adams was a man in his prime, well-muscled and handsome. He also wore the blue and crimson of Barat. From her encounter with the guard at Barat, Leilas had to believe they were fierce warriors and loyal. Adrian could do worse than to have these men for his captains. His wife, a plain, mousey, brown-haired woman, scowled in Leilas’ direction clearly threatened by her presence.
“Captain Adams,” Leilas inclined her head in their direction.
“I have to add my admiration, my lady. You look most enchanting tonight.”
His wife’s scowl intensified and Leilas was certain this wasn’t the only time Captain Adams had paid too much attention to the other ladies in the room and not enough attention to his wife.
“Thank you. I have to admit I’m more at home in fighting attire.”
“I’m sure even in leather and mail, you make a charming picture.”
Leilas wasn’t sure how to answer the obvious flirtation. Adrian came to her rescue.
“This is Master Reyan of the Sea and Master Scillan of the Sky. They are in charge of the fighting crafters who are in the camp.” Adrian finished his introductions, just as the first course of the dinner arrived.
“I’d like to speak with you about my journey before I continue, if you would allow me,” said Leilas to the two masters.
“We’d be honored to discuss your plans with you,” replied Master Scillan. “Please seek us out before you go.”
“I will,” replied Leilas.
The servants served those at the table with a thin soup, then disappeared into the kitchen. Leilas would have attacked it in her usual fashion, but caught herself in time, when she saw the others sipping it politely. Trying her best to do her mother proud, she followed the other’s lead.
“I’m pleased to see that there are so many who’ve answered the call to fight against the Dredracians,” she began the conversation, when the others threw uncomfortable glances at each other across the table.
“There aren’t so many of us,” replied Ferras. “We can use all the help that comes our way.” Leilas knew he was once again chastising her for choosing not to stay and join the fight.
“As I said before,” replied Leilas. “Were I free, I’d have already joined your ranks.”
Adrian frowned at Ferras and the captain let the subject drop. “We have almost two divisions hoteled in the temporary camp,” Adrian told Leilas. “They’re actually starting to look like an army.”
“Just two?” asked Leilas, trying not to let her dismay show. How could two divisions fight against the multitude of dark soldiers she’d seen in Dirth and outside of Crysalis?
“There are more men on the way,” replied Adrian confidently. “They’ll arrive before spring.”
“We have a great deal of work to do in planning our attack against the Dredracians,” said Captain Twill.
“Why just today, we had to completely revamp the attack by the mounted soldiers,” agreed Captain Adams. Most of the men have never fought on horses. The attack we were practicing was too advanced for them. We’ll just have to work on what they can do and leave the advanced techniques until we get more mounted soldiers.”
Leilas’ disquiet at how few men there were and how unprepared they were grew. These men needed someone to rally them and those who hadn’t yet joined the cause. But she didn’t know who that man was, nor did she have any idea when she would know. All she could do was hope that she would discover the identity of the champion before it was too late.
Sitting quietly, eating the food that was being placed before her, one course at a time, she listened as the men talked. The talk revolved around how few men there were and how poorly prepared they were for battle. There was little hope here in Kyris.
As she listened, she began to let her thoughts penetrate the minds of those around the table. She was fairly certain no one here was the man she was seeking. Still, she needed to be sure that the champion wasn’t sitting at this table.
After letting her thoughts join with each of the men at the table, she pulled her thoughts back into herself and sighed. If the champion was here, then she wouldn’t recognize him just because she’d met him as she’d hoped. As far as she could tell, these men were just soldiers. Some of them were good men, some not quite as good. It did ease her mind a little that all of them were men who’d chosen to follow the light. There didn’t appear to be any of them who were tempted to turn to the darkness, yet. Leilas let her gaze rest on Captain Ferras. Even he followed the light. Still, he made her uncomfortable.
“With men arriving every day, I’m not sure how we are going to mold them into fighting units,” said Captain Twill, worry settling on his brow. “We have our hands full now. We could use some seasoned warriors joining our ranks and helping with the teaching. But it seems they would rather ignore the call to arms and take their chances with the Dredracians.”
“We’ll have to do our best,” answered the Duke, doing his best to rally his captains. “The Dredracians will be upon us as soon as the weather breaks.”
“If I find Gidron Frey, I’ll run him through with my pike,” stated Captain Adams. “A greater traitor the world has never known.”
“You’d do well to leave Gidron Frey to the crafters,” said Master Reyan. “Your pike would have little effect in stopping him.”
“It would make me feel better,” muttered the captain, acknowledging the truth of Master Reyan’s statement.
“What of this champion we’ve heard so much about?” asked one of the women. “When are we going to meet him?”
Adrian looked to Leilas. She shook her head and shrugged. “When the time is right,” she replied. Adrian scowled at the answer. Leilas knew he’d been hoping that she would proclaim herself as the Chosen One to this group and name him the Champion. She also knew now, that her vision had been warning her against that course of action. She needed to look elsewhere for the champion.
She wasn’t inured to the fact that her answer didn’t do anything to inspire these men. They were more than cognizant that they were in what looked to be a lopsided fight that they couldn’t possibly win. For them, the time was right, now, for the champion to arrive and bring hope with him.
“Too much longer and it won’t matter. We’ll have lost before we’ve begun,” remarked Captain Ferras.
“There is always hope, while we’re alive,” answered Leilas. The crafters at the table murmured their agreement.
“That’s easy to say when one is not going to stay and fight, Princess,” taunted Captain Ferras.
“Geran, that’s enough.” Adrian rebuked the Captain. “You don’t know whom you are addressing.”
“I am addressing the daughter of King Leyhan, one of the most evil kings Preterlandis has ever seen.”
“Also the daughter of Queen Daina, one of the purest Menas,” countered one of the crafters.
“That doesn’t change the fact that her father is responsible
for thousands of men dying and for punishing those who follow Jovan. In my book, like father, like daughter.”
“You’re free to choose what you believe, Captain Ferras,” replied Leilas, the red rushing to her cheeks the only telling mark that his words had their intended effect.
“What I choose to believe is that all of you put too much faith in this prophecy of Greyan’s,” said Ferras, rising from the table. “I prefer to look at reality. Reality is, we have no champion, the balance has been broken and many good men will die, if not all of the good men left in Preterlandis. They will all die while we wait for the Chosen One, who will never arrive, and some nonexistent warrior.”
Throwing his napkin down on the table he turned to leave. “I have work to do. I don’t have time to waste socializing with the dishonored Princess of Dirth.”
Leilas felt the heat rise to her face. A hush fell over the room. Captain Ferras strode from the room without looking back. “You must forgive him,” said Adrian when Ferras was gone. “He lost many good men fighting your father in the Northern Provinces. I know you spent many years in opposition to your father. I also know that the Sky masters would never have accepted you if they saw that you took after your father.”
“Are their many who feel as he does?” asked Leilas. “That the prophecies are foolishness and that–,” she stopped before she added, “and the Chidra is evil.” Adrian had gone to some lengths to keep the fact that she was the Chidra a secret. It wasn’t her place to blurt it out because Geran Ferras had wounded her pride. “That there is no hope,” she finished.
“Enough to be worrisome,” answered Master Scillan. “Ferras incites them with his beliefs.” Adrian shot him a quelling look.
“Ferras is my best captain. If he has doubts, he will keep them to himself,” said Adrian. “If there are doubts, it’s not because of Geran, but because the Chidra and the masters have done nothing to avert this war.”
Once again, Leilas felt her face burn. Adrian’s face flushed as well when he realized what he’d said and to whom he’d said it. But he didn’t apologize. The crafters looked at each other and then at Leilas. “We realize even if you don’t Adrian, how difficult the path has been for the Chidra and how little time she’s had to prepare.” They stood to go. “If the masters couldn’t avert war, it wasn’t because they did nothing. But because it was destined to be.” Bowing to Leilas, then to Adrian, they turned to leave. “Under the circumstances, I think perhaps our talk will have to wait until some other day. We wish you well on your journey. We don’t know which way you are planning on traveling, but we have heard it said the Crystal Caves are beyond the Glen of Destruction. The valley protects the caves from all but the most dedicated.” Turning to Adrian, the Sea master spoke softly. “Discouragement comes in many forms, from discouraging words to tearing down those to whom the people look to for hope. It would be wise to understand the damage Ferras does to your men, as well as to yourself. We have warned you of this before.”
“So you have,” said Adrian, his chin tilted in defiance. “And as I told you before, you worry about the crafters. I’ll worry about the men.”
“We do look after our crafters and teach them to hope. We don’t lose hope because the odds have turned against us.”
Leilas listened to the exchange with interest. There was far more going on here than was apparent at first blush. If she’d been having second thoughts about Adrian being the Chodra, the last few minutes had expelled them. He wasn’t the man to mold the army into the force that could defeat the Dredracians of Land and Fire. He was too easily led astray by the need to be accepted.
The other guests sensing the tension in the room rose to leave, as well, until only Adrian and Leilas remained.
“That didn’t go exactly the way I planned,” admitted Adrian, pouring himself a glass of wine. “I was hoping to impress you with how much we’ve accomplished in such a short time.
“I am impressed with how much you’ve done. I know that you have a great deal of work ahead of you to mold these people into a cohesive group, and a short amount of time. I have faith that you’ll have a fine army by the time spring comes.”
Adrian drained his glass and turned to face her. “Clearly, I’m not the man to accomplish that task,” replied Adrian, “though I’m doing my best to do what I’ve been charged to do. If I were, you would have said something to me before now. It seems you’ll have to look elsewhere for that man.”
A faint smile flashed across Leilas’ lips at the familiar words. “You are the man to put this army together, now. But no, you aren’t the one I’m seeking. I need to keep looking for him.”
“I’d try to be your Champion, should you ask it of me Leilas. I’d try to be whatever you wanted me to be.”
Leilas was surprised by the passion in his voice. She wasn’t sure that she was comfortable being the person who inspired such loyalty and trust. “Then what I would want you to be is true to yourself. I’ll ask no more of you.”
Adrian poured another drink and downed it. Leilas knew he’d been hoping for more from her. She had nothing to offer him. “You do look beautiful tonight.” He shook his head as if clearing away unwanted thoughts and turned to go. “I pray your journey is successful. We’re outnumbered and factious. We gather in desperation to fight, not hope. Our scouts come back every day with news of thousands rising against us.”
Leilas could see the damage Captain Ferras had done. He’d spread his doubt and fear and infected those who needed hope the most. She knew now why he disliked her. She brought hope with her. “Where good men are gathered there is always hope, Adrian.” She touched his shoulder lightly. “Light magic is purer than dark. I’ll find what I’m looking for and send you a champion to lead you.”
“But will you be in time?” asked Adrian dispiritedly.
“It will be at the proper time,” said Leilas, not exactly sure how she knew.
“I pray you are correct.” Adrian bent over and kissed her cheek. “Goodbye, Chidra. Take care on your journey.”
“And you on yours,” she paused, then continued. “Ferras is a good man, but perhaps not the one to be your strength.”
“You’ll add your voice to those who question my judgment?”
“I don’t question you or your judgment, Adrian. I’m sure Captain Ferras is a good captain and commands respect from the men. But you need to find your strength, not rely on his.”
“I’ll let you be my strength, Leilas. I haven’t felt as much hope in months as I feel now that I’ve met you.”
“Perhaps you should look within yourself, rather than looking to others,” replied Leilas.
“If you won’t be my talisman, will you at least offer me your kiss for luck?”
He didn’t wait for her to answer. Lifting her chin, he kissed her lips. Leilas closed her eyes and let herself be kissed for the first time in her life, then gently pulled away.
“I feel great strength within you, Adrian,” she whispered. “I know that you’ll find it, too.”
Smiling wryly, he let his hands drop to his side. “Good night, Princess Leilas.”
“Goodbye, Duke Cheran.” He walked from the room, not looking back. Once he was gone, Leilas touched her hands to her lips. Adrian Cheran was a handsome man and she was not immune to his charms. Nor was she a child, she was a woman and she had the same needs as any woman. Part of her had longed to let herself go and find the comfort Adrian had been offering her. But she knew she would have regretted it. Adrian wasn’t the man her heart desired and he wasn’t the man she wanted to share that discovery with for the first time. Though she had to admit to herself, the man she desired didn’t seem to share the same feelings for her that she had for him. One day, she might have to decide that another man could take his place. Sighing at where her thoughts were headed, she turned and followed the Duke out of the room. Making her way up the stairs to her new accommodations, she took off the dress that Elga had prepared for her and placed it carefully in the chair, so that it
didn’t get wrinkled or damaged. Then she dressed in her freshly laundered tunic and breeches. Once she’d donned her mail and her weapons, she slipped from her room and headed for the stables. She had a long trip ahead and had no reason to stay in Kyris any longer.
She’d been on the road east for hours before the sun crested the mountains. She would have liked to stay and prepare for the war and fight by the Duke’s side. Instead, here she was, on the road alone, headed for the Glen of Destruction, where only the foolhardy dared to go. She replaced the last half of what the crafters told her with her own version.
The morning passed as slowly as had the last few days without Cephom’s constant chatter. At least the weather was warm here in the plains. Tall grass lined the road and had turned to yellows and browns with the season. The grass was all she could see in three directions. The Drakmoth Mountains loomed on the left side of the road, rising up out of the field of gold.
She didn’t meet anyone on the road all morning. In fact, the path she was following was overgrown with disuse. Captain Ferras had been correct in his assessment that there wasn’t anything beyond Kyris. Few made the trip around the mountain from Kyris to Montshade.
As she rode, her thoughts wandered to Joshuas. She’d lost touch with him after she’d reached Barroon. The distance was too great for her thoughts to travel, or perhaps he was blocking her thoughts. It was probably for the best. The feelings she had for him were a distraction and she needed to focus on her goal. She purposely didn’t think about what she’d find when she reached her destination.
Evening eventually came and she found a spot to camp. She made her camp along the road in a small ravine that the road had been following. It was the only sheltered area for miles. Her bed of dry grass was a far cry from the feather bed she’d rested on the day before, but it was more familiar. She made a small fire and ate some of the jerked venison Adrian had supplied her. Then checking on the animals, she wrapped herself in her blanket and tried to sleep.
First Comes The One Who Wanders Page 29
