A buzz of whispering went through the ranks. Joshuas gave the boy the signal to stop and looked to see what was causing the stir. A lone rider leading a pack horse was slowly coming into the village. The rider was huddled in his cloak. All Joshuas could tell for certain was that the rider was a crafter. Brenth was already moving in the direction of the stranger, Joshuas and Erion followed.
Letting out a whoop, Brenth broke into a run. Grabbing the rider off the horse, he wrapped the crafter in a bear hug. The rider hugged him back, letting Brenth drag his feet off the ground. By the time Brenth put the rider down, Joshuas was close enough to recognize the crafter. Leilas had barely gained her balance before she was wrapped in another smothering hug. She clung to him. He held onto her a few moments too long then reluctantly let her go. She smiled a shy smile then turned to Erion.
“You as well, my friend. I was afraid I might not ever see you again. I’m going to get my hug while I have the chance.” She wrapped Erion in a hug, smiling at his discomfiture when she let him go.
“It was I who was afraid I’d never see you again, my lady. I’m afraid I haven’t been a very good protector.”
“You had no choice, Erion,” said Leilas, placing her hand on his shoulder. “I know you would have stayed with me had it been possible.”
“Did you accomplish your quest?” asked Brenth, impatiently interrupting. “Do you know who you will name as the Champion?”
Leilas glanced around at all the curious eyes staring at them. “We can discuss my trip when we have a bit more privacy,” replied Leilas. “I do need to discuss some matters with you.”
“We’re leaving for Kyris in a week,” said Brenth, gathering the reins of her horses. “You’ll come with us, won’t you?”
“I wish I could, Brenth,” said Leilas, longingly. “But my path lies elsewhere.”
Erion looked at Joshuas in concern. Joshuas rubbed his face wearily and shrugged. They’d find out soon enough what Leilas had learned and what she needed to do.
“Then I’ll go with you,” said Brenth, impetuously.
Leilas cast her eyes to the ground and didn’t answer her brother immediately. “I wish you could,” she finally said.
Joshuas stopped to instruct the men to practice on their own while Brenth found a stable hand to take the horses. Leilas grabbed her pack off the horse before it was led away.
“Mother will be so pleased to see you,” said Brenth, pulling Leilas along toward the main building in the village. “She told me this morning you’d be arriving soon.”
Leilas had to smile at his exuberance. He’d certainly come into his own in Menas. She let him chatter on about life in Menas as they walked toward her Mother’s house. Joshuas and Erion followed behind. She would have liked to spend a few minutes with them, but Brenth had other ideas.
Opening the door to the long, low building constructed from logs that served as the main hall and quarters for the royal family, he led Leilas inside.
“Mother,” he called, opening doors and searching. “Mother,” he called again, “look who finally showed up.” He opened a few more doors before Daina appeared from the opposite hallway.
“What in the world are you carrying on about, Brenth?” asked the queen then stopped when she saw Leilas. She ran across the distance separating them and folded her daughter in an embrace. It was Leilas’ turn to be embarrassed. Her mother had never shown such affection before. “It’s good to see you well, Leilas. I was so worried. Even after Joshuas arrived and told us you’d been healed of that poison.” She released Leilas and gave her an assessing stare. “But I see you brought more trouble with you.” Her countenance fell a little then brightened. “But I’m not going to let that diminish my happiness at seeing you.” She hugged her daughter again. “You must tell us all about your journey.” Daina stopped and laughed. “After we find you a place to stay and you have refreshed yourself.”
“I’d appreciate that,” replied Leilas thankfully. “It has been a long trip.”
Walking over to a bell pull, Daina rang and a servant appeared in minutes. She was a young girl, shy, with dark hair and blue eyes. Brenth blushed when she entered the room. Leilas pretended to cough to cover the smile that crossed her face at her brother’s infatuation.
“Teratha, please show my daughter to a room. She’ll be staying a few days.”
“Yes, my lady,” said the girl bowing slightly. Her gaze slipped to Erion briefly, before she turned and started down the hallway. Leilas followed, wondering at the game of love. A game she knew little about, she admitted to herself.
Leilas found a spare change of clothing in the wardrobe when she opened it to put her pack away. Slipping out of her dust-covered tunic, she sat it aside to wash. Then pouring water into the basin, she did her best to wash away the miles of the road. “Come in,” said Leilas, braiding her hair as best she could with the shorter length. Teratha opened the door. “Her Ladyship would like to know if you’re ready.” The girl smiled shyly. “She’s impatient to hear about your journey.”
“I’m as ready as I will be,” replied Leilas, taking a last look in the mirror and attaching her insignia to her collar. It was silly she knew, but she wanted to look nice for Joshuas.
Following Teratha through a series of passages, they made their way to the main eating hall. Plates of food had been hurriedly prepared and brought to the table. Joshuas, Brenth, Erion and Daina sat waiting for her. Erion was sampling the berries while they waited.
“It’s about time,” complained Brenth. “We could have starved to death waiting for you.” He grabbed one of the platters and began to shovel food onto his plate.
“Growing boys,” remarked Daina, fondly.
“So what is your excuse?” Leilas teased Joshuas as he piled his plate high with food, as well.”
“Are you trying to imply I’m not a growing boy?” countered Joshuas, grabbing a piece of bread.
“No, you’re not a boy. You’re definitely a man,” replied Leilas.
Joshuas looked up at her, for once surprised into silence. The others at the table fell silent, too. Leilas realized what she’d said and blushed. Looking away from Joshuas, she searched for something to say.
“Tell us what happened after you disappeared in the forest, Leilas,” Brenth came to her rescue. Leilas looked at him gratefully. While they were eating she weaved her story in true storyteller fashion, embellishing the fights and the escapes. She left out many of her deaths in Neothera and downplayed the dangers. She also left out what she’d learned in the Crystal Caves.
“This Adrian Cheran sounds like quite a man,” said her mother when she finished her tale.
“He’s going to be a great asset in the war,” remarked Leilas. “I believe you’ll be able to depend on him,” she turned to look at Brenth as she spoke. “I can’t say the same for Captain Ferras.”
Brenth grew serious and he aged before her eyes into a young man destined to be the leader of her people. “I’ll remember that when we reach Kyris. I trust your opinion of people. Joshuas has set me in charge of the Menas soldiers.”
“He is a natural born warrior,” remarked Joshuas.
“So he is,” replied Leilas.
Joshuas gave her an odd stare and then looked at Brenth as if he’d never seen him before. “That does fit, doesn’t it?”
“There is something unique about Brenth and me,” agreed Leilas.
“What are you talking about?” demanded Brenth. “How are we unique? And why does it matter?”
“There are many who won’t accept this,” said Joshuas, ignoring Brenth’s question.
“It will be his burden to convince them otherwise,” said Leilas. “If he chooses.”
“Ah,” interjected Erion. “Was I right in assuming this was all about choices made?”
Tears came to Leilas’ eyes and for a moment she couldn’t speak. “It’s about choices that have to be freely made,” she whispered at last.
Erion saw her distress and didn’t p
ursue it any further. “I’ll be with you, my lady, if it is possible,” he added with a faint smile, “if dark magic doesn’t separate us again.”
“Yes, I can see that you will be, Erion,” said Daina her eyes unfocused as if looking into the future. “The Chidra is lucky to have a friend such as you.” Daina closed her eyes. When she opened them again, she was back in the present.
“What exactly are we talking about?” demanded Brenth again, breaking into their conversation.
“We are talking about a prophecy,” began Joshuas.
“The one about the Chidra, I know it,” said Brenth.
“The part about the Chidra naming the Champion,” asked Joshuas.
“Yes,” said Brenth, a bit puzzled.
“There is another part to the prophecy,” added Leilas. “‘The balance is within her,’ and then, ‘the balance is within him.’” Brenth shook his head, still not making the connection. “Half darkness, half light,” continued Leilas. “Mother is one of the purest Menas there is.”
“And father was an evil king,” finished Brenth, finally getting it. “We are unique in that we are half good and half evil.”
“I am a crafter,” agreed Leilas, “and you are the last son of the King.”
“You are the Chidra and I’m the Chodra. Is that what you are saying?”
“There is more, but I’ll talk to you about that later,” said Leilas, nodding.
“I’m honored to be chosen,” said Brenth seriously. “I’ll do my best to live up to the honor.”
“You’re destined for greatness, Brenth,” said Leilas. “But don’t let it go to your head.”
Brenth laughed. “How could I with you around to keep me humble?”
Sadness passed over Leilas’ face before she hid her emotion behind a smile. “Absolutely right.” They all fell into silence, thinking about what had just taken place in this room and what was to come.
“I’m afraid duty calls,” said Daina, rising from her chair. “As much as I would love to stay, it’s our afternoon for settling disputes. Are you ready Brenth?” Brenth rose from his chair and held his arm out for his mother. Together they left the room.
“One of us should go back to the soldiers,” remarked Erion, looking in Joshuas’ direction.
“We probably both should go,” Joshuas amended. “We only have a week left to whip them into shape.”
“Perhaps I can walk back with you,” suggested Leilas.
“I’d like that,” replied Joshuas.
“I’ll see you there,” said Erion, leaving the room ahead of them. Joshuas held his arm out for Leilas. She tucked her arm into his and they followed Erion.
“I was afraid I wasn’t going to see you again,” said Joshuas quietly as they walked. “We decided Rengailai was trying to keep us apart.”
“So now you believe I did see Rengailai?” asked Leilas. “You seemed a bit skeptical before.”
“I was and I’m sorry,” replied Joshuas. “Ever since Cedric asked me to protect you, I’ve been acting like a fool.” He turned to face her. “I have no excuse for it, nor do I have any explanation.”
“No explanation you’re willing to share with me, you mean,” replied Leilas. Leilas placed her hand on his cheek and looked deeply into his eyes, hoping to see some reflection of the desire she felt for him in them. But his thoughts and feelings were carefully guarded from her.
“I have to go away and I don’t know if I’ll return–,” she stopped, having said more than she’d intended. I didn’t want to leave without telling you that you have touched my heart, Joshuas Greyanson. More than any man ever has.”
Joshuas captured her hand in his, leaving it on his cheek. “Even after the way I’ve treated you, you still tell me this, why?”
“I know who you are inside, Joshuas. I have felt it. I have seen it in your actions. There is more I must do and I wanted to say this to you before I went away.”
“If you must go, I’ll go with you. I promised Cedric I’d protect you.”
Leilas wished it was more than his promise that made him want to go with her, but she wasn’t sure there was more to it than that. “Master Manchu has freed you from that promise. Your path lies in a different direction than mine. Erion will go with me.”
“I don’t want you to go without me,” said Joshuas, pulling away from her, a frown pulling his brow low.
“What does it matter if I go alone?” Leilas pushed him to reveal his feelings.
“I’ve spent almost my whole life wrapped up in this prophecy. I’d hoped to be involved when the events it portended began to unfold.”
Leilas choked back her disappointment. “You are involved, more than you know. As it happens, it’s destined that I must go and you must stay and fulfill your own destiny.”
“If this is so, why do you speak of these feelings now?”
His question took Leilas by surprise, since he hadn’t seemed interested in her declaration earlier. “Because I would have regretted not saying them, if I–,” Leilas turned her head away, blinking back her tears.
I see,” said Joshuas, turning away from her, his thoughts guarded, though she tried to hear what he wasn’t saying. “I wish I had something I could say in return, but there is nothing I can say. You must follow the path you’ve chosen. If you don’t want me to go with you, I’ll respect your choice.” He bowed slightly from the waist in her direction. “May the Creator be with you.”
“And with you as well,” whispered Leilas, returning his bow. She turned and walked back towards the main hall without looking back. Joshuas took a step toward her, reaching out to stop her, then dropping his hand to his side, he watched her walk away.
Going to the room Teratha had shown her, Leilas took her pack from the closet and inventoried it, preparing it for her journey. Leaving the orb for last, she placed it in her hand. It was such a simple piece of crystal. She wrapped it back in the cloth she’d been using to protect it then placed it back in her pack.
She shouldn’t have come here, she thought in despair. She’d had no choice, she argued with herself. She’d come to name the Champion. That was the first part of the role she was destined to play. Still coming here and facing Joshuas had been hard. Especially since it still appeared he didn’t return her feelings. Or if he did, he wasn’t willing to admit them to her, which amounted to the same thing.
She went looking for Brenth when she heard the bell sound the end of the open court. He was in the meeting hall, listening to the last of the citizens, concern on his face. He will make a good king, thought Leilas.
He came over to her when he finally finished with the last of the townspeople. “I was coming to look for you. I have so many questions.”
“And I have more to tell you, but you alone.”
Brenth led her from the meeting room to a private room behind the chamber. It was a comfortable room, made for waiting or for private talks. The chairs were covered in soft cushions and were placed invitingly close to the fire. Leilas sank into one of the chairs and waited for Brenth to join her.
“You first,” Brenth said, when he’d slipped into the chair facing her. “Perhaps you’ll answer many of my questions before I ask.”
“There’s more to the prophecy about the Warrior. It says he’ll reunite a land and a people.”
“But that’s in regard to leading the armies, right?”
“It’s in regard to being the last son of the last good king.”
“Our father was not a good king, in case you’ve forgotten,” said Brenth, condemningly.
“Or his father before him or his father, back for many generations,” agreed Leilas. “But King Ley was a good king.”
“So he was. He was the reason King Dane agreed to give mother to father in alliance. He believed that any heir of the great King Ley must have good within him. He was wrong.”
“He ruled over all of Preterlandis, not just Solea. That’s your destiny, as well.” Brenth digested this last revelation in silence. “There�
��s just one thing you must do,” added Leilas.
“I knew that was coming,” said Brenth, with a smile.
“There’s an amulet that was given to King Ley by all the masters of all the crafter schools. This amulet signified their acceptance of him as king of all Preterlandis. King Ley’s son could never touch it and so sent it away from Dirth. No one knows where it is now. You must find it and be able to claim it. It will only allow a man who has all of Preterlandis’ good at heart to wear it.”
“So it’s not enough to be the last son of the last good king, I must be worthy as well.”
“Which you are Brenth, I have no doubt of that.”
“I wish I was as certain as you,” sighed Brenth. “I’ll do my best not to disappoint you.” He frowned in thought. “No one knows where he sent it?”
“Trust in the Creator, Brenth. He’ll show you where it is.”
“But first, I must lead the people into battle.”
“And I must go fight a battle of my own,” said Leilas. “You must take Joshuas with you. He’s meant to be your protector and guide.”
Brenth frowned again. “He promised Master Manchu he would protect you.”
“Perhaps he will, before all is written in a song,” said Leilas. “But right now, you need him more than I do.”
Brenth leaned back and closed his eyes. Leilas marveled again at how young he was to have so much responsibility placed on his shoulders. “When will you leave again?” he asked, opening his eyes. “Surely you can stay a few days?”
“I wish I could, but my business is pressing.”
“Then I’ll not keep you from your duty, Chidra. May you go with the Creator.”
Leilas cocked her head at his formality then grabbed him in a bear hug. “And may he be with you as well, my King.”
Leilas found Erion at the practice yards. He skipped lightly through the complicated fighting stances, while his students sweated and struggled to keep up with him.
First Comes The One Who Wanders Page 31
