Child of Hope (Prophecy Series Book 4)

by T. N. Hayden

  “Let’s go then.”

  The ride through the mountains was dusty, hot, and breathtaking. Kaleb had never seen anything so beautiful in his life. He didn’t know exactly where he was. The mountains of Waden were vast and mostly unexplored. Or, apparently only explored by the rebellion.

  Waterfalls were like tapestries, and the rocky mountains were full of pine trees, colored flowers, and streams. Everything was so different than life in Owlet.

  Brent and the Sorceress seemed to be speaking the entire ride through the wilderness, as did Ryl and Nate. Riding alone suddenly didn’t seem like such a great idea. Kaleb glanced around. Would he be able to kick his mount into a full gallop before they realized he was trying to escape? Would they harm his friends if he managed to escape from them? Would he be able to find his way back to civilization?

  “Here we are, Lake Paz.” Sorceress quickly dismounted.

  Brent followed her, and Kaleb’s feet found solid footing quickly.

  “We thought it would be nice to get you out of those stuffy rooms and into something fresher.” Sorceress explained.

  Kaleb walked to the edge of the small lake, knelt, and dipped his hands into the crystal-clear water. He’d seen a few lakes during his hunt, but he had never seen one so clear. It was perfect.

  “We’ll let you three spend some time in privacy.” Ryl stated and went to the Sorceress. They spoke quietly between themselves.

  “Alright.” Kaleb stood and looked at his friends. “Now that we’re all together and out of that dismal city, I say we run to the horses and get out of here.”

  “We don’t even know where we are.” Brent shook his head.

  “We’re in the mountains.” Kaleb gestured with his hands.

  “But where in the mountains? They’re huge, and we can’t see anything past the mountains. All we can see are peaks and wildlife.” Nate added. “We’d be lost for weeks, probably recaptured before we got even close to help.”

  “Have they harmed either of you?” Kaleb asked.

  “No.” Nate answered.

  Brent shook his head. “Quite the opposite really.” Brent paused. “They helped me understand the truth about why I’ve been feeling like I’m going mad.”

  Kaleb looked at his friend. “What happened?”

  “I was finally ready to know the truth about what happened when I joined the soldiers, and one of the women here is a healer. She cleansed my mind from magic, and I remembered the truth. I was kidnapped by soldiers, and I fought them. I didn’t want to be taken. As punishment, they murdered my mother in front of me.”

  Kaleb’s heart plummeted. “What about you Nate?”

  “I was enchanted to be loyal to you and your father.” Nate admitted.

  Is it possible I have magic controlling me too? Kaleb glanced back at the Sorceress and Ryl. The sun reflected off her hair, and she seemed to shine. His heart clenched tight as he thought about killing her. Would he ever forgive himself if he was able to fulfill his duty? Would his father forgive him if he didn’t? Was the king even his father?

  “You seem troubled.” Brent stated.

  “I am.” Kaleb admitted and walked past his friends to sit on a tree trunk.

  “The healer can help you too.” Nate looked at his friend.

  Kaleb shook his head. “No one can help me.”

  ~ Chapter 16 ~

  Kaleb was surprised to be allowed outside and traveling again so soon after going to the lake, and he wasn’t surprised to see Ryl and the Sorceress accompanying them on their next outing.

  He couldn’t help but stare at her streaked, golden-blonde braid as they rode through the mountains. The Sorceress seemed to shine like the sun, and Kaleb wanted to run his fingers through her tresses.

  His hands nearly shook as the Sorceress and Ryl reigned their horses in.

  “We’re here.” Sorceress called to them.

  “Where?” Brent looked around. “The only things here are boulders.”

  “Exactly.” Ryl dismounted. “My cousin and I used to climb boulders all the time as kids.”

  “Such a strange childhood.” Nate jumped from his horse.

  Kaleb was silent as he found footing on the ground. He looked at the Sorceress. She was dressed in her normal black, form-fitting outfit. Instead of covering her face and head, as she did while he was hunting her, her streaked, golden hair was woven back in a braid. Her braid fell halfway down her back.

  Kaleb followed the rest to one of the boulders.

  Sorceress was quick as she pulled herself up the side of the large rock. Ryl climbed a steeper side of a giant boulder, and Nate and Brent followed him. Kaleb glanced up at the Sorceress as she stood.

  The side of the rock was rough, but it had several hand holds for Kaleb to use. He wasn’t as quick up the rock as Sorceress had been, but it didn’t take him a long time. He stood as he reached the top, and he turned. Sorceress wasn’t on the same boulder anymore. She was on the one beside his, and she smiled.

  He went to the edge, took several paces back, and ran to jump onto the next boulder. Sorceress was already on her third, and Kaleb followed. The race brought beats of his heart to his ears, and Kaleb laughed as she finally waited for him to catch her on their seventh boulder.

  “Do you want to climb more?” She asked.

  Kaleb still found her gaze unnerving, but he was becoming more accustomed to it. He looked forward to seeing her white eyes. “Is this what you do when you’re here? How much time do you spend here, and how much time do you spend protecting the people of Waden?”

  “Protecting the people?” A blonde brow rose.

  “I’m not so ignorant to ignore everything I saw while I was hunting you.” Kaleb answered. “You do protect the people far better than any one of my father’s soldiers. Better than I protected the people.”

  “I heard you freed the prisoners in Kagu.” She brushed a stray hair behind her ear. “You protected those people, even the rebel who you were trying to imprison.”

  “It wasn’t right to keep anyone in a prison as bad as that.” Had Zared found her and told her what happened? He must have. Zared knew he was the prince, so he had to have told the Sorceress who he truly was!

  “You did the right thing, even though you defied the king.”

  “I have a lot of questions when I go back home.” Kaleb paused. “If I go back home.”

  She laughed, and he wanted to hear that noise all the time. “We do plan on releasing you back to your former life, but we hope your former self will not return home.”

  “I need to speak with my mother.”

  Sorceress nodded. “That you do.”

  “Do you have family?”

  “You will never know anything about me.” Sorceress turned her back on him.

  “But I already know so much.”

  She spun around.

  “You give starving people food, protect those who would be imprisoned and forced into my father’s army, have incredible power but can still fight without it, and you are kind enough to not let harm or humiliation come to my friends and me. I don’t know exactly what those people threw at us, but you refused to let them continue their assault. You even took it upon yourself to protect me, your executioner.”

  “You haven’t killed me yet.”

  Kaleb’s hand moved without him thinking, and his fingers touched her left thigh. He wondered if she had a scar. Her warm fingers covered his, and he thought about all the power locked inside her skin. He glanced into her eyes, and he somehow knew she returned his gaze.

  “Come on.” Ryl was suddenly behind Kaleb.

  The prince jumped, and he turned to see Brent and Nate watching them.

  “We should keep on moving.” Ryl’s dark eyes were trained on the prince.

  Kaleb didn’t want to join the others, and he was surprised how much he wanted to be alone with the Sorceress.

  Kaleb rode the borrowed stallion beside the Sorceress’ mount. He watched her out of the corner of his eye as the
y rode silently together. Where was she taking him? Why was she trusting them to be alone? Could it be possible that she felt the same connection he did? She didn’t know he didn’t want to kill her anymore, so why was she taking him out on a private excursion? Maybe she wanted to kill him, but he hoped she didn’t want him dead.

  “So where exactly are you taking me?” Kaleb’s voice was hard to his ears.

  She turned, and he felt lost in her white eyes. “I wanted to show you my favorite lake.”

  “Just how many lakes are in these mountains?”

  “Hundreds, but only about a dozen are named.” She pulled her mare to a halt, and he stopped beside her.

  “Wow.” Kaleb whispered. He stared at the small lake. It was surrounded by waterfalls on three sides, and there was a small pool that gathered the water before it fell farther down the mountain.

  “Come with me.” She took his hands and gently pulled him to the edge of the lake. He didn’t understand how her gestures could be so tender.

  Sorceress unclipped her armor and laid it on the grass. Slowly, she removed her boots and nodded at the prince. Kaleb swallowed hard as he removed his own foot protection.

  “Come on.” She took his hand and pulled him into the sparkling, crystal water.

  As he slipped into the water, it was far colder than he expected, and Kaleb gasped. His grip on her hand tightened. He took a step closer in the cool water. Her skirt seemed to fan out around her like a wave, and he gently cupped her neck. She bit her lower lip and took a step backward, bringing her body through one of the waterfalls.

  Kaleb was happy to follow, and the water beaded her hair as his fingers gently stroked her skin. She was warm. Sorceress brought her hands to his shoulders as his heart sped. He didn’t know what to say, and she seemed to have the same issue. Was there anything to say?

  “Who are you?” Kaleb’s whisper seemed to echo off the walls of the cave.

  He knew she wouldn’t tell him, and she nearly whimpered. He could feel her locket through his shirt. She closed her eyes, and his hands unexpectedly tightened around her neck.

  Sorceress’s eyes flew open, and Kaleb’s hands forced her under the water. Stop it! He tried to loosen his grip, but he wasn’t in control of his actions.

  Sorceress thrashed, but her hands couldn’t contact his body. Kaleb cried out, but he couldn’t pry the iron-hold his hands had on her neck. He stood, helpless against his actions, as he watched her. She slowly stopped fighting.

  “Don’t.” He whimpered. “Keep fighting. Don’t let me kill you.”

  ~ Chapter 17 ~

  Abruptly, she was free, and Whitney coughed water as air seemed to rush back into her lungs. Someone dressed like a pirate held her as someone else carried Kaleb away.

  “Breathe.” The pirate smacked Whitney’s back.

  Whitney coughed, and the breath slowly returned to her lungs. She gasped, and she glanced at the two people.

  “Drew, get us to dry land.” The pirate stated as she touched his shoulder.

  The man clapped his hands, and the four were once again by the horses. Whitney continued to cough and gasp as the pirate gently laid her on the ground.

  “Who are you?” Kaleb’s voice was soft. He was tied in something like rope.

  “Sorry to ruin your mission.” The pirate shook her long, dark hair. “She has a destiny to fulfill, and we will do everything in our power to protect her.”

  “Are you Ruccis?” Whitney gasped as her lungs burned.

  “Rickie.” The pirate bowed. “This is Drew. We’re two members of Ruccis. The others are kind of busy right now.”

  “Weddings, reunions with parents, engagements.” Drew shrugged.

  “Thank you.” Whitney whispered.

  “Best not let this man get another chance to end your life.” Drew glared at the prince. “Don’t you know she’s destined to protect the people of this country? She’s a force for good, something you want to be.”

  “You should make sure he can’t harm you before we leave.” Rickie stood.

  Whitney nodded and grabbed Kaleb’s hand, her magic sparking from her to him.

  “I’ll get him on your horse, but you’ll have to ride back with him.” Drew lifted Kaleb.

  Whitney nodded as she tied Kaleb’s mount to her mare. “Thank you for saving my life.”

  “It’s our personal mission.” Rickie smiled. “I’m sure we’ll see each other again, Sorceress.”

  Whitney turned to ask Drew about Llempac magic, but they were gone.

  Whitney sighed and mounted behind Kaleb. They were both wet, and she had to wrap her arms around him to steer her mare. His skin was warm to the touch, and she blushed as she kicked her mare to ride back to Pheant.

  Ashlie had never met a man like Brent before, and she found herself enjoying every moment she spent with him. All of the Soldat trainees at Krijar Castle were too serious, and few of the trainees truly had a heart for the people. Brent was a brave soldier, but he was also kind and funny. He made her laugh, and laughter had been missing from her life for far too long.

  “Are you sure about this?” Ashlie set the odd-shaped pin into place.

  Brent nodded. “We used to play Skirtles as kids all the time.”

  “You and your sister?”

  Brent nodded.

  “You must be so happy to be back with your family now.”

  “Yes, but I don’t know what will happen when the rebels release Kaleb.” Brent paused as he held the ball in hand.

  “What do you mean?”

  “Kaleb doesn’t know I’m Whitney’s brother and Telford’s son.” Brent explained. “He doesn’t know I’m home.”

  “Will Kaleb leave if you are not with him? If he does not know the truth about you, he will think you are still a prisoner. Perhaps you should tell him the truth.”

  “He can’t know anything about Whitney.” Brent shook his head. “I suppose Nate, Whitney, and I will have to talk it out some other day.”

  “And you need to teach me to play Skirtles.” Ashlie grinned. She didn’t know what to say. If Kaleb was anything like King Kurtis, he would never leave any of his friends behind.

  Brent smiled. “Alright, let’s play.” He gave her the ball, and Ashlie was surprised to feel the weight of what she had thought would be light.

  “So, from here, you roll the ball toward the pins.” He explained. “You want to knock all the pins down with the ball.”

  “Sounds easy enough.” She found the shape of the ball quite strange. It wasn’t round, but it was rather lumpy. Ashlie took a step forward and rolled the ball. It didn’t roll straight, and she grazed the back left one of the nine pins. She frowned.

  “It’s alright.” Brent jogged to retrieve the ball. He tossed it back to her. “You get another turn.”

  She tried to hit the ball into a rounder shape, and she stepped to the right before she threw the ball again. Her aim was better, but the throw still only hit five of the pins.

  “Six down.” Brent raced to reset the pins and get the ball once again. “Not bad for your first time.”

  “Thanks.” She sighed. “So how many times do we go through this set?”

  “Nine.”

  “Alright.” She was glad she had many more times to improve her aim.

  Brent was good at the game, and Ashlie knew he would easily defeat her. But Brent was patient and offered her little gems of advice to improve her throws, how to put a backspin on the ball, and which pins, if hit, would have a better chance of knocking more down.

  “What was it like when you were in the palace?” Ashlie looked at him. “When you were on the wrong side?” She paused. “I never harmed common folk, but I never wanted to associate with them until the war.”

  “So, you were on the wrong side too?” Brent paused as he held the ball.

  “I was, but I was never manipulated by magic as you were.”

  “But you were manipulated by family, teachers, and nobles.”

  “I suppose
.” Ashlie smiled. “I am trying to atone for my past prejudice by being Delisa’s friend. Luckily for me, Delisa is very easy to be friends with. She was raised to hate nobles, and I was raised to hate common folk. Somehow, we have both been able to look past how we were raised to become best friends.

  “Of course, the fact that her sister was a well-known high noble and that two of the Quint siblings had fallen in love with high nobles also probably helped us become friends. Particularly on her part. You could tell she had her guard up the first day she came to train at Krijar Castle, but she was not so guarded that she did not allow me to be her roommate and friend.”

  “But you also had to be willing to be her roommate and friend.”

  Ashlie smiled as she looked into his light blue eyes. He always made her feel like she was better than she truly was.

  ~ Chapter 18 ~

  Neek 546

  Whitney finished plaiting her hair as someone knocked on her door. She touched her still sore neck, went to her door, and opened it. “Cyril.”

  “Hey.” His voice was grave.

  “What’s wrong?”

  “It’s Kaleb.” Cyril mumbled.

  Had someone found out Kaleb had nearly killed her? Again? “What about him?”

  “He wants to see you. He said he needed to speak with you to explain and apologize.” His dark eyes fixed on her. “What does he need to apologize to you about?”

  “It doesn’t matter.” She felt her magic overtake her skin, hair, and eyes. “I’ll go see him.” She knew what she wanted him to say, but how could he tell her he hadn’t really tried to kill her? They had almost kissed, and she had wanted to feel his lips against hers. But then his fingers… She closed her eyes. She took a deep breath and entered the Sobica. She walked down the hall. Her fingers trembled as they rested against the handle of the locked door. She opened the door and walked inside.

  Kaleb looked up, fingers still running through his dark brown hair. He jumped to his feet. “Sorceress.”

  “Ryl said you wanted to see me.”