Amberlynn was placed in Angelina's tent. Lady Elise helped Angelina calm Amberlynn and get her washed and put into Angelina's bed.
"Don't worry Amberlynn, we'll be on the road tomorrow and we'll be home in no time. After all, it only took us fourteen days of travel to get here and this time we won't be stopping so often or traveling so slowly," reassured Angelina as she tried to convince Amberlynn that everything was going to be alright.
By the time Angelina got Amberlynn to sleep, Elise had gotten the fire burning bright and had poured two goblets of wine for herself and the princess. "Sit by the fire and drink some of this before you go to bed," encouraged Elise as she handed a goblet to Angelina.
"Thank you," she whispered so as not to disturb her sister. She then sat down on a chair near the fire and beside Elise. "I'm not sure I could sleep though. I'm anxious to get going. Father told Phillip and I that mother wasn't doing well and I'm afraid that she's not going to recover this time." She began to cry.
Elise got up from her chair and went over to Angelina and embraced her. "I'm sure your mother is going to be just fine," she said as she hugged the crying princess, trying to console her. When Angelina calmed down, Elise went over to the pitcher of water and poured the water into the basin and wet a cloth. "Take this and wipe your face then finish your wine," she said as she handed the cloth to Angelina. "Try to get some sleep. It's going to be a busy day tomorrow and we probably won't get much sleep on the journey home."
Angelina and Elise said their goodnights and retired to their beds. Angelina rested beside the sleeping Amberlynn. It was a long time before she drifted off to sleep. A while later, she heard Elise's steady breathing as she had already fallen asleep. It was a restless night. Angelina kept waking up then drifting off to sleep then waking up. She was relieved, yet weary, when Sir Taz stood outside their tent and called for them to wake up. It was still dark, but by the time they would be ready to go it would getting light out. Angelina softly called out to Sir Taz to let him know that she had heard him. She then proceeded to wake Amberlynn and Elise.
Since they would be riding horses, the girls dressed in leggings and tunics as well as leather boots. Their leggings and tunics were made of soft wool. Amberlynn's outfit was light tan in color and Angelina and Elise had on outfits of light gray.
When Angelina, Amberlynn and Elise emerged from the tent, Phillip was waiting with Sir Taz and Lord Akbar. In the light of the burning torches, Phillip did not look like he slept well either. He was wearing a dark blue tunic and leggings.
"My ladies," greeted Sir Taz, standing there under the torches in his usual leather vest, leggings and boots. "Lord Ripley asked that we breakfast with him before our journey. If you're ready, we can head to his estate directly.
Lord Akbar noticed the look that Angelina gave Phillip when she heard that they would not be departing immediately. As the group began making their way quietly through the tents, Lord Akbar made his way to Angelina's side.
"Don't worry princess," he said as he tried to ease her impatience, "the horses and supplies are being gathered as we speak. By the time we have finished our meal everything will be in order and we can depart then."
Angelina smiled at him and gently squeezed his hand in appreciation.
When the party reached the estate, Lord Ripley had pastries, meat pies, bread, fruit and cheeses as well as nectris and hot tea ready for them. "I apologize. I know that each of you is eager to begin your journey home, but I felt it necessary for you to have a good meal before you left," he explained as everyone was taking a seat at the table.
"You do not need to apologize, grandfather," insisted Phillip as he took a seat next to Lord Ripley. "It is thoughtful of you to be thinking about us at this time and we probably won't have the opportunity for a decent meal during our travel." He smiled at his grandfather, "Thank you." His grandfather and grandmother did not look like they slept any better than he did. The only one that looked rested was Amberlynn and that was only because she wasn't aware of how serious the situation was. He would let his father explain it to her when they arrived home.
"No need to thank me. Please help yourself," he invited as he sat in his seat at the head of the table. Lady Corine took the opposite seat across the table.
"Grandfather, where is the rest of the family?" inquired Angelina looking around as she noticed that her grandfather and grandmother were the only two present.
"I felt it would be quicker for you if you were able to eat and depart," he explained as he ran his hands over his face as if to erase his wearyness. "Tolmac is resting and I do not know when he will awaken. When he does and is ready to travel, your grandmother and I will ride with him to Talenvar."
The rest of the meal was eaten in silence, each person lost in their own thoughts.
When it looked like everyone was finishing their meal, Lord Akbar broke the silence. "If everyone is finished, we should be on our way," he rose from his seat.
"Thank you again grandfather and grandmother," Phillip said as he stood and clasped arms with his grandfather.
"God speed on your journey," replied his grandfather.
Phillip then proceeded to the other end of the table to hug and kiss his grandmother farewell.
"Thank you and may your journey be swift as well," Angelina said as she gently kissed her grandfather's cheek and hugged him.
She then went to say her farewells to her grandmother.
Angelina and the rest of the party said their good-byes and departed the estate. Their horses were ready and waiting for them when they left. There were twenty guards that would be riding with them. Phillip and Angelina each had their own horse but since Amberlynn was too young to be riding by herself, she would be riding in front of Sir Taz on his horse.
Julia was waiting to speak with Phillip when he came out. "Phillip," she called as he was heading to his horse. He stopped and turned when he heard her voice. "I wanted to wish you a safe and speedy trip home and to tell you again how sorry I am about your mother," she said as she took his hands in hers. "I also wanted to tell you that I love you and I'll be there for you as soon as I can," she whispered so that the others would not hear. "We need to stay to finish out the celebration as your family wishes," she continued but was thinking that the real reason they needed to stay was so they would not offend the Daskars. "We, as well as the others that are able to, will journey to Talenvar as soon as the celebration ends."
"Thank you and I love you with all my heart," he whispered as he leaned over and brushed his lips against hers. "I must be going," he continued as he looked at the others who had already mounted and were waiting. "I'll see you soon and may you have a safe and speedy journey as well." Phillip then pulled Julia to him and hugged her. He released her and giving her a final look, he turned and mounted his horse.
The group made their way to the gates of Eldorfess to begin their journey home. A large group of people had gathered near the gates to give the party their farewells and well wishes. It was a somber group and most of them, men, women and children did not have a dry eye. The Queen was highly regarded and well loved by all and her passing would be a great loss indeed.
Phillip reigned in his dark chestnut mare has he approached the crowd. The rest of the party also stopped when Phillip did. "Friends, thank you for coming to see us off this morning," he began as his eyes sweep over the crowd. "My mother and father would insist, as I do, that this celebration continue. This is an important part of everyone's life each year and to cut it short would not be what Talenvar would want. Please be reassured that we will have word sent of the Queen's condition as soon as possible. Enjoy the celebration and have a safe journey home." Phillip waved to the crowd, spurred his mare into a trot and headed out of the gates of Eldorfess. The sun was just breaking over the landscape as the party began their journey.
A steady pace was kept by trotting the horses then walking them until it was shortly before noon. Sir Taz brought the party to a halt so that the horses could be rested and
watered and everyone would be able to get a quick lunch of dried meat, cheese and bread. The horses were led to a small watering hole to drink as everyone ate. Not much was said and when the meal was finished, they again mounted their horses and were off.
Much of the day's scenery was of a barren land with a few scattered bushes and patches of grass. As the party continued on, the foliage began to thicken as well as the areas of grass until they reached the edge of the Sinder Forest. They did not travel very far through the forest before the trees and foliage thickened. Kendrick easily picked out a pathway through the trees. It was not until the sky had darkened that the party stopped for the night. Kendrick knew the area and had already figured out approximately where and when the party would stop throughout their journey. He had traveled with the royal family as a member of the guards for many years and was familiar with the roads and pathways leading from one place to another. You could always pick him out of a group because of his silver hair. His hair had begun turning silver gray when he was only twenty.
They stopped at a small clearing. Everyone dismounted and a few of the guards gathered the horses and took them over to a line that had been strung between the trees. Some of the other guards were putting the feed bags on the horses and others were gathering wood to build a fire. Kendrick went over to a spot in the clearing that had already been used to build a fire. There were rocks in a circle and he was cleaning out the center of the circle so that he could put some of the small kindling in it to begin building a fire.
Angelina was glad to be off the horse and because of her restless night, would have just liked to crawl into a blanket by the fire and fall asleep; however, the fire was not roaring yet and they still had to get something to eat. Amberlynn came over to stand by Angelina. "Come on Amberlynn," she said as she took Amberlynn's hand and led her to a rock near Sir Taz and Lady Elise. "Sit here and relax while I help Sir Taz and Lady Elise with our meal." Angelina walked a short distance to where Sir Taz was pouring ground oats into a pot that Elise was holding. "Is there something I can do to help?" she asked as she joined the two.
"Yes," responded Sir Taz. "Would you please hand me that pouch with the honeycomb in it and then the pouch with the baka spice."
Angelina handed the honeycomb to Sir Taz and watched him break off a chunk and put it in the pot with the oatmeal. He then took the baka spice and sprinkled some on top of the contents in the pot. Angelina closed both pouches and returned them to their proper place.
Kendrick and Phillip had the fire burning brightly by the time they were finished mixing the oats and getting a pot filled with water for tea.
Sir Taz took these over to the fire and placed them to the side of the burning wood. The guards had arranged blankets around the fire and the three girls gratefully sat down. It wasn't long before the meal was ready and everyone ate. It was a tiring day for all. Two guards remained awake while everyone else settled in their blankets and fell asleep.
They were up early the next morning, ate a quick breakfast and were on the road. They continued to journey this way so that they could reach Talenvar as soon as possible.
The last day of the journey made each person anxious to get a move on. The party was up extra early and the children insisted that they eat their breakfast of dried meat, cheese and bread as they rode. The rest of the group was just as anxious and readily agreed.
When they were only a few miles from Talenvar, Phillip kicked his horse into a gallop and raced ahead of the group. This spurred Angelina and Elise to do the same and before long, the entire party was rushing the last few miles to get home.
Phillip had to slow down to a walk when they entered the city gates because of the crowded streets. When the inhabitants realized that it was the royal children they stepped back to allow the party to pass. It was such a relief when they rode into the courtyard of the castle.
Phillip and Angelina jumped down from their horses and ran into the castle. Sir Taz had to hurriedly dismount with Amberlynn and rush to catch up.
Lady Elise and the guards were the only ones to take their time. Elise hurried to the kitchen to see her mother as soon as she entered the castle. She didn't want to intrude on the royal family. When she got to the kitchen, her mother was taking meat pies out of the oven to cool. She saw Elise enter and cut a slice for her and set it on a nearby table. They sat and talked and her mother told her that the Queen was getting worse and everyone was hoping that the children made it back in time. Word around the castle had it that the Queen wouldn't make it another week. All the servants were very subdued because they knew that she was dying.
King Kalen was standing in the hall outside his chambers waiting for the children. Lord Farley had informed him of their arrival.
Phillip and Angelina came racing down the corridor to where their father waited.
"Father!" cried Angelina as she threw her arms around him and gave him a hug.
"Thank God," he said as he hugged his daughter, pulling Phillip into his embrace also. "I'm so glad you are here." He glanced down the hall. "Where is your sister," he inquired. "She did come with you didn't she?" He was afraid that she had stayed behind to journey home with her grandparents.
"Don't worry father, she is with Sir Taz and they should be here any second," said Phillip to reassure his father.
Kalen released his children and asked them to sit with him until Amberlynn arrived. He wanted to discuss their mother's condition with them before they went in to see her.
It was just a few moments wait before Sir Taz and Amberlynn came hurrying down the hall.
Amberlynn rushed into her father's outstretched arms. "Thank you Sir Taz for seeing my children home safely," he said as he released Amberlynn to clasp arms with Sir Taz. Kalen trusted Sir Taz with his life and knew that he could always count on him.
"It was my pleasure," he replied with a slight bow.
"Please, Sir Taz, stop in and see Gwen. I'm sure she'll be glad to see you. I'll be in a few minutes, I want to have a word with the children first."
Sir Taz nodded and smiled at Kalen before he entered the room where the Queen was resting. He noticed that Kalen looked tired. He had dark circles under his eyes and it looked as if he had lost weight.
Kalen turned toward the children. "Please sit down over here," he asked as he moved down the hall a few feet to one of the wooden benches. The children followed and each took a seat. He knelt down on one knee in front of them. "I want you to know that I love you and I want you to be strong for your mother," he began as his eyes started to water and he had to blink quickly. "Your mother has gotten worse and we don't think she'll make it through the end of the week."
Angelina started to cry and was trying her best to get a hold on her emotions. Phillip was just staring at the floor.
"Daddy," began Amberlynn who was crying because Angelina started to cry and she was upset because she didn't understand what was going on.
"It's okay," he said as he picked her up and sat down, putting her on his lap. "Do you remember what Terigg said about when people die the angels come and take them to Heaven?" he was looking at Amberlynn as he tried to explain what was happening so that she would understand.
"Yes," she replied. She had stopped crying and was intently listening to her father.
"Do you also remember her telling you about people that are sick or hurt and when the angels take them away they become well and never get sick or hurt again?"
"Like when my rabbit got sick and the angels took him way," she asked sniffing and wiping her tear streaked face with her hands.
"Yes, just like that," he smiled at her and was glad that she was understanding. "Well, your mother is sick and pretty soon the angels are going to come to take her to Heaven," he explained.
"Will she come back when she gets better?" she asked.
"I'm afraid that she won't be able to," he continued as he hugged her tight. He knew that it would be awhile before she fully understood what was happening. "If everyone is ready I think tha
t we should go in and see your mother." He looked at Angelina who had gotten her emotions under control and had wiped her face with a handkerchief Phillip had given her. Phillip was not looking at anyone. He was still staring at the floor.
When Kalen got up, so did the children and they followed him into his chambers to see their mother.
Sir Taz was speaking with Persilla and Leyash was at the Queen's side.
Gwendolyn glanced over when she heard the door and her eyes lit up when she saw the children. "All of you come over here and give me a hug and kiss," she commanded. "I've missed you all so much."
The children each took their turn seeing their mother. It was over an hour later before Leyash came over to tell them that the Queen needed to get some rest and that they could have dinner with her in a bit.
Phillip and Angelina were told that there were tubs of hot water waiting in their rooms and fresh clothes had been laid out for them.
The Uzan Crystal Page 10
