by Mike Shelton
“What you mean is who will rule the Realm next?” Liam said. His eyes were dark, and he stared down at his lame foot. “Breanna will be the next queen while I limp around and accomplish nothing.”
“Liam!” Breanna exclaimed. “That is not true. You had the idea of how to save their ship today. What you did was wonderful.”
Bakari smiled broadly and clapped Liam on the back—much to Liam’s surprise. “I am glad for your power, Liam—and I wouldn’t worry too much about not being a king or thinking you can’t do much. I have a feeling that you will accomplish extraordinary things in your life that few others will ever experience.”
As Bakari looked over at Kelln and smiled, the governor seemed to get Bakari’s meaning but was fine with holding the secret in.
“Whatever,” Liam said, though his frown had faded. “For now, I would just like a warm meal in a dry room.”
“Now, that is one thing we can all agree on, I think,” Kelln said. “I’m always one for adventure, but I am hungry.” After a brief pause, Kelln clapped the twins on the back and added, “This is so fantastic!”
They all laughed together. Even Liam gave a brief smile.
Then Bakari noticed the two horses for the first time. So he reached his hand out to touch one.
“Be careful,” Breanna said. “They are temperamental.”
“Ahh, the famed Cremelinos,” Bakari said. The closest horse stood almost as tall as himself and was pure white.
The twins turned toward each other in apparent surprise.
Bakari caught their looks and said, “I am a scholar wizard and read a lot.”
“I thought I felt something familiar when our powers touched,” Liam said, regaining a more jovial mood. “I am a scholar also, a wizard of the mind we call it here.”
Bakari nodded and continued to reach out to the closest Cremelino. He rubbed his hand along its side and then smiled, saying, “Her name is Crystal.”
Breanna’s green eyes opened wide. “How did you know?”
“She told me,” Bakari said matter-of-factly.
“She spoke to you?” Breanna almost whispered. “They usually only speak to their own rider.”
“I am a rider too,” Bakari said, though rather cryptically. “But let’s get dried off first. I am here on important business, and you might be able to help me.”
Liam mounted his horse, and the rest of them walked as they moved together toward a grouping of buildings off in the distance.
“We attend the wizard school here,” Breanna said. “We have a place for you to change, get dry, and have a meal. Then you can meet the headmaster.”
Liam frowned. “If he is well today.”
Breanna nodded. “Yes, he hasn’t been seen much lately.”
Bakari felt a growing sense of unease in his stomach. Reaching out his mind toward the school, he felt around with his powers. Something dark approached him, and he pulled back. Stumbling on a walkway, he almost fell.
“Bakari, you all right?” Kelln put his arm around Bakari. “You look pale.”
Bakari only nodded and tried to smile. But he sure wished that he had Abylar with him.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
For two days, Alli and Jaimon stayed hidden from the men looking for them. The Followers of the Dragon, if anything, were overly protective of their dragon rider. Jaimon had sent his dragon away from the city so as not to attract any more attention than needed. Rumors were sent out of the Sanctuary, by Leopold and the rest of the Followers, that the dragon rider had left abruptly in the middle of the night.
It was now early in the morning of the third day, and Alli pulled a hood over her head and walked down a long tunnel, away from the rooms where they had been hiding. The tunnel went northward, under the short strait of water that separated the island from the mainland—an old safety measure for the Sanctuary. With the ease of using boats on the water, the tunnel was little used now, and she was able to walk the distance without meeting anyone else.
After emerging inside a small cave on the mainland, she continued walking up a road that led to Margarid itself. The sun had just risen, and only a few shopkeepers were beginning to open their stores. But things were still too quiet for a city of this size.
Hugging the sides of the buildings, the young Battlemaster moved with quiet steps toward the king’s castle at the eastern edge of the city. A vendor selling hot pastries stopped her and engaged her in a running commentary on the benefits of his baking over his neighbors’.
But he had a strange accent that sounded like there were marbles in his mouth, so Alli had a hard time following everything the man said. Finally, she pulled out some local currency and paid the man for a sugared pastry.
A street later, Alli found herself licking her fingers. She had to admit that the pastry had been worth the money. Her stomach growled for something more substantial—she had left the basement of the Sanctuary before the morning meal had been brought in.
The look of the ornate gates, manicured yards, and multi-storied buildings let her know she was in the nobles’ district. There were fewer people out this early in this part of town than in the merchant district in the morning. And, those who were out were servants, running errands for their masters.
Turning a corner, Alli ran into a rather bulky woman, who spilled a pot of breakfast porridge all down the front of Alli’s clothes.
“Oh dear, I’m sorry,” the woman muttered.
Alli froze for a brief moment, wondering what she should do.
But the woman took care of it for her. She grabbed Alli’s hand and began dragging her along with her, saying, “My dear, I have ruined your clothes. You must come with me. I will get you all cleaned up.”
Alli mumbled her thanks. As she tried to stop the woman from pulling her onward, she said, “I’m fine, ma’am.”
The woman glanced over but never stopped moving. Even with her large girth she was quite quick, her short legs almost running along the cobblestone street. Then she said, “Oh, poor dear, you don’t sound like you’re from around here.”
Alli felt fear prick her heart. She couldn’t give away who she was. Luckily, she had kept her swords at the Sanctuary when she had left that morning. Oh, she still had weapons hidden all over her, and her magic was more powerful than most. She wasn’t sure, however, how to respond.
Once again the woman made Alli’s choice for her, saying, “You must be from Alaris. We’ve had plenty of young ones here, seeking the world around them now that the barrier is down. Is that what you are doing?”
As short as she was, the woman was still an inch or two taller than Alli. At times, Alli’s height worked to her advantage, making her seem even younger than her sixteen years. Today might be one of those times.
“My father came to do business here, and we got separated.” Alli hated lying, but the woman just made it so darn easy.
“Oh, you poor thing.” The woman pulled her along still. “You must be no older than fourteen or so—about the same age as my master’s daughter, I would guess. We’ll get you all cleaned up, and then my master can help you find your pa.”
Alli bristled at the mention of her age and blushed, but she kept her mouth shut. Let the woman wonder. Her size had given her the advantage before, as people seemed to underestimate her abilities—it was usually the last mistake they ever made.
Palm trees grew in pots around one particularly immense home. It stood at least four stories tall, covered with white plaster, and was one of the largest single homes Alli had ever seen.
They turned a corner and entered a side door of the formidable structure.
Seeing inside the small entrance, Alli could tell that the home was furnished with all the niceties that life had to offer. Artwork covered the walls, decorated golden vases lined the glass shelves, and a soft carpet sat under her feet.
The woman put down her pot in a back kitchen and then proceeded to bring Alli down a long hallway. Coming to a foyer, they had turned to the right, when someo
ne yelled out from the left.
“Hannah!” a young but deep voice called out. The accent was from here but sounded more refined than Alli had heard before. “What have we here?”
Alli turned and looked, becoming self-conscious of the food stains on her clothes. She tried to brush down her dark black hair with one hand and, without thinking, stood up as tall as she could.
Standing in front of her was one of the most beautiful people she had ever seen. Olive skin, full lips, twinkling brown eyes, and brown hair that hung just past his collar. He was similar in height to Roland, but broader of shoulder. With a small breath through her nose, the light scent of cinnamon filled Alli’s senses, and his white teeth showed a sparkling smile that froze Alli in place.
Taking a few steps toward her accentuated his style—his colorful blue robe swirling around his white shirt and dark blue pants. He almost made the grace and beauty of the elves seem merely human.
Alli was comfortable and at ease on a battlefield, but she was not prepared for this.
The man bowed low in front of her. Then, taking her right hand in his, he lifted her hand to his lips and kissed it softly. Alli knew she must have reddened profusely.
Hannah turned to Alli and said, “This is Kaspar Von Wulf, the teenage son of the Wolf.”
“The Wolf?” repeated Alli, not knowing what else to say.
“My father, the minister of trade, has built quite a reputation for his fierceness in negotiations and was nicknamed the Wolf years ago by the king,” Kaspar said and then laughed at Alli’s reaction.
What must this man think of her? She shook her head and drew upon her magic to steady her thinking. Upon seeing Alli do so, Kaspar drew in a quick breath through his lips and tilted his head at her.
“This young girl is from Alaris—oh, what was your name?” Hannah asked.
“My name is Allison—or Alli.”
“Well, Master Kaspar, I spilled porridge on her and only thought it right to bring her here and get her cleaned up,” Hannah explained. “Her father is doing business here, and she got lost. Poor young thing.”
Kaspar stared at Alli without blinking and cocked his head to the side again. “I don’t think she is as young as you think, Hannah,” he said. “I see much in her eyes—and her soul is troubled.”
Alli was taken aback. Who was this man? And what did he mean…that he could see her soul? He had no right to do that to her. Her mouth tightened, and she glared up at the man.
His looks almost made her back down, but Alli steadied herself and said, “I am sixteen years old and can take care of myself just fine. And you have no right to look into my soul, Kaspar.”
A bright smile crinkled the corners of Kaspar’s eyes. He nodded his head and then let out a small laugh. “Call me Kas.” He turned and said to his servant, “See, Hannah—she has some spunk in her. I think she is more than she seems.”
Hannah looked worried for a moment and then said, “I’m sorry, Master. Should I take her back out? I shouldn’t have brought a stranger into your father’s home.”
“Nonsense.” Kaspar waved a hand in the air. “I sense no danger in her—at least, no danger to us. Help her get cleaned up.” He then turned to Alli and added, “I invite you to join me for our morning meal.”
“N…no, that’s fine,” Alli stuttered. “I need to be somewhere.”
“I insist,” Kaspar said. “My father will be joining us, and I am sure you would enjoy meeting the minister of trade and heir to the throne of Quentis.”
Alli gulped and barely kept her composure. She had been on her way to spy out the castle and the king, whereas now she could talk to his son. Then it dawned on her who Kaspar was.
“That makes you…” Alli said.
Once again Kaspar smiled with his pearly whites and stunned Alli by his beauty. “That’s right,” he said. “I am the grandson of the king and second in line as heir to the throne of Quentis. Welcome to our home.” He bowed again to her and then bid her farewell.
Following Hannah back down the hall, where they had been originally going, Alli stumbled once.
“He has that effect on people.” Hannah laughed and patted Alli’s arm. “You are not the first girl to be smitten by his charms and good looks.”
“I am not smitten by him!” Alli said with force. “And, what’s all this about looking into my eyes and soul?”
Hannah took Alli into a room with a sink and a tub. She turned a knob and waited a moment, until hot water came out. Alli gasped in delight. The Von Wulf’s were wealthier than anything she could imagine.
Hannah motioned for another servant, a girl younger than Alli, to help Alli disrobe, clean herself up, and find some new clothes to wear. Before Hannah left the room, she turned back to Alli, her face serious, and said, “Kaspar sees things others don’t see, Miss. I hope you are not hiding anything that would endanger him or this household. They are good people and good to all of us.”
Alli turned back to the young servant, and together they began to get Alli all cleaned up. The young girl gasped when she saw the assortment of knives and other weapons that came out from under Alli’s clothes. Alli knew that, soon, all the servants in the house would know about them too. She put on her meekest face and explained them away as wanting to be careful in a foreign city.
After Alli was clean, she borrowed a light blue dress robe that cinched tight at the waist. A colored pattern adorned the hem and the end of the sleeves. Her hair had been washed and dried, now hanging just over her shoulders. Looking into a full-length mirror—another luxury she’d had a hard time believing—she enjoyed how the robe’s color offset her pale skin and dark hair.
Soon Hannah came for her and led her into what Alli supposed was a private dining room. It was bigger than the house she had grown up in and almost as big as the full dining room at the Citadel or at the castle in Cassian. A long, dark-toned table sat in the middle atop a beautiful carpet. Clear glass windows adorned one wall, offering a view of the Bay of Ghazi and its clear blue waters. Tall, crystal chandeliers with hundreds of candles, unlit at this time of morning, ran the length of the room.
Alli was led to a table where Kaspar, a girl a few years younger than him, and an older gentleman—who Alli could only guess was their father—were already seated. Upon Alli’s entering, Kaspar stood and took a few steps in her direction. Words caught in her throat for a moment as, once again, his beauty affected her.
“Welcome again, Alli,” Kaspar said as he motioned Alli to a seat across from himself and next to the girl. “This is my sister, Gabriele.”
Gabriele stood and made a small curtsy to Alli. Dimples adorned the olive skin on both sides of her face, and dark hair hung down her back to just above her waist.
Alli smiled back. “Nice to meet you, Gabriele.”
“You can call me Gabby,” the young girl said. “All my friends do.”
Alli was touched by the simple generosity of Gabby considering her a friend.
Before Alli could sit down, Kaspar brought a hand out and pointed it toward his father. “And this, Alli, is my father, the Wolf.”
The Wolf didn’t rise, but he brought his head up and inspected Alli. A flare of her power flew up inside her—a seemingly automatic precaution against the Wolf’s power. Then she felt something touch her mind, but Alli put up blocks of magic to shield herself.
The Wolf’s serene face didn’t seem to hold any danger, but his eyes bored into hers with more intensity than his son’s had earlier. He was also more broad of shoulder than Kaspar, but Alli could see the family resemblance.
After the stretching scrutiny, the Wolf nodded his head toward Alli. “Welcome, Allison. Good of you to join us today. My wife is out of town on business in Tillimot. I am sorry that she won’t be able to meet you.”
Alarms screamed inside Alli’s head. He had called her Allison. Did the Wolf know who she really was or did he just guess at her full name? Her hands had instinctively moved toward her knives.
“No ne
ed for that here,” the Wolf said. “You are not in any danger at the moment.”
Alli breathed in deeply and readied herself for whatever might happen next.
Gabby looked to her father and shook her head. “Don’t be so intimidating, Father. You know how you scare people with your seeing.” Gabby furrowed her dark eyebrows at her father, but her lips held a hint of a tease.
Then her father let out a loud, booming laugh and slapped his hand on the table, making the crystal goblets shake and spill a few drops of juice onto the table mats. He turned to Alli once again. This time, his expression held amusement and genuine kindness.
“Please excuse my manners,” he said. “In my position, I am not used to dealing with young people so much. I must protect the king from those who would harm him. Please sit down. Let’s enjoy our meal, and you can tell us what you are doing here, so far away from home.”
Alli let out a long breath and did as he had bid her, sitting in the high-backed chair next to Gabby. Gabby smiled genuinely at Alli, and servants began to dish out a meal for the group. For the next few minutes, Alli concerned herself with fried cakes and syrup, fresh fruit—she was told it was mango and pineapple—and spiced pork. She finished her plate and then looked up.
All three of her hosts were looking at her, and Alli blushed.
“Quite an appetite, for a young girl,” the Wolf said, his eyes holding secret thoughts behind them. “You must expend a lot of energy to stay so thin.”
“I exercise a lot,” Alli said. Food always helped her to feel better.
“Maybe a little sparring after our meal?” Kasper said to her. “What is your weapon of choice?”
Alli smiled broadly. Weapons were definitely a subject she was well versed in. “Pick your best, Kaspar. I am familiar with short or long swords, knives, or the staff.”
Kaspar raised one of his dark eyebrows. “Oh, a challenge, huh?”
Gabby laughed, and Alli turned in her direction.
“Don’t encourage Kas, Alli.” Gabby rolled her eyes. “He thinks he’s the best at everything.”
