The Eden Series: The Complete Collection

by Stalder, Janelle

  She felt guilty then. It hadn’t occurred to her they might be tired or bored from following her around as she discovered this new city. “Thank you,” she said genuinely, taking the treat from him. “I was starting to feel a bit hungry. Is there somewhere we can sit for a moment while I eat? I don’t want to go back to my rooms just yet.”

  “Of course, my lady,” Samuel replied. She followed him and the other soldier who rarely spoke to her. She believed his name was Gabe. They led her to a small water fountain. Rose sat on the edge and ate her caramel apple happily. Her eyes searched the stars above as they began to pop out in the night sky. Soon the twin moons would show their blue faces, and Rose would feel content to think of her parents and brother looking down on her as she slept.

  “Samuel,” she called out, a thought occurring to her.

  “My lady?”

  “Do you bury your dead here?” she asked.

  “Of course, my lady,” he answered.

  “Even those lost at war?”

  “Yes, my lady,” he replied in a smaller voice. She saw understanding and pity in his eyes as he realized what it was she was asking and why. “They are buried behind the Sanctuary gardens, my lady. Just the ashes, but each man or woman has a marker.”

  “May we go there?” Her heart skipped hopefully.

  “You may go anywhere you’d like, my lady.” She smiled thankfully up at him, then stood and brushed her skirts off.

  “I’d like to go now, if possible.”

  “Yes, my lady.”

  The marker was just a small, smooth stone with Felix’s name and birth on it. Rose fingered the engraving gently, tears pooling in her eyes. If she had known, or even thought to ask before this, she would have been to visit him sooner. She wondered what Felix had thought about Capital City. The fast pace and crowds of people were so different than where they grew up. He would have loved it, she knew. Felix was a lot like her in some ways, and very different in others. But one thing they had always had in common was their restlessness with the village. Both of them always wanted to get away and see more of Eden, and now they both had. She more than him; more than he’d ever be allowed.

  “I’m so sorry,” she whispered. “All I wanted was to see you again, and now all I can do is sit here and pray that you can at least hear my words.” She leaned down and kissed the marker, letting her forehead rest on it for a moment. “Please forgive me. He makes me happy and he loves me. I wish you had lived long enough to see what kind of a man he truly is.”

  Rose sat back on her ankles, looking down at her brother’s name. She would come here every day from now on, she decided. All she had wanted when Callum first took her was to reunite with her brother. And she had been too late. But she would not leave him alone again. He would have his family close by every day, until her bones were too old and weary to make the trip. Her hand rubbed her belly.

  “I will tell him about you,” she promised. “He will not grow up knowing nothing of his brave and loyal uncle. And he will know you are watching him, keeping him safe.” She sniffled, wiping more tears from her face. “I love you, Felix.”

  “My lady,” Samuel called out hesitantly. Rose dried her face before turning to look at him. “I’m sorry to interrupt you, but we have a situation that needs your attendance.”

  Rose looked at him, confused. “What sort of situation?”

  Rose climbed the stairs to the walkway on the city walls. Chancellor Ottman waited at the top, pacing back and forth.

  “Chancellor,” Rose greeted as she reached the last step.

  “My lady,” he bowed. She sensed his relief at her arrival. “I am sorry to disturb your evening, but with everyone else gone, you’re technically in charge of such decisions as these in their absence.”

  “Chancellor,” she laughed. “I am a young, simple farm girl from the north. Surely you see how ridiculous this is.”

  “My lady,” he said seriously. “You are Callum’s wife, and carry the future heir to the throne. There is nothing simple about you.”

  Rose swallowed awkwardly, nodding her head. “What would you like me to do?” she asked.

  The Chancellor rubbed a hand down his weary face. She could see the stress in the tightness around his eyes in mouth. She wondered how difficult this man’s job must be when he was always left behind to keep things in order. She didn’t envy him in the least.

  “Our laws have always been the same,” he told her. “Only the King may bend them.”

  “Then what is the problem? Just tell him no,” Rose affirmed.

  “One does not tell the leader of the Sun People no, my lady. Especially not someone in my position.” He looked pointedly at her. Rose sighed, signalling for him to precede her. They walked along the wall to the platform above the front gates. The soldiers stationed along the wall greeted her and bowed as she passed. Rose decided she was never going to get accustomed to that.

  “Lady Rose is here to address you,” Ottman called out.

  Rose stepped up to the low wall and looked down at the army beneath her. Their black and gold uniforms looked dark and menacing in the fading light of the evening. Instantly she got a bad vibe.

  “My lord,” she greeted, finding Markus sitting ahead of the rest.

  “Lady Rose,” he called up in his deep, rich voice, “a pleasure to see you again.”

  She nodded in thanks. “Chancellor Ottman has informed me you’ve requested entrance to the city.”

  “We have, my lady. My men are tired from the long journey, and wish to rest before we join your husband and the King’s army.”

  “I can imagine it has been a strenuous journey, but the laws of the city are that the gates close at nightfall and remain closed until dawn. Surely you are aware of this, my lord,” she replied diplomatically.

  Markus smiled, splaying his hands in front of him. “We are allies, my lady. I assumed such a law could be bent for us. My men mean no harm to the citizens of Capital City.”

  Rose looked over the army, the same feeling she’d had before still stirred in her gut. There were no friendly vibes coming from his men as they waited for her decision. They seemed tense, at ready to move on a signal. That didn’t bode well in her mind.

  “I’m afraid with the King gone we need to ensure such laws remain. I cannot allow you or your men to enter at this time,” she declared.

  Markus shifted on his feet. She could see the displeasure on his face even from her vantage point.

  “You would deny shelter to those who fight alongside your husband?” he challenged.

  “But you’re not fighting alongside my husband, are you? Our men left days ago. You are here,” she pointed out, “where you should not be.”

  She could practically see the effect her words had on the army before her. None were pleased, and a few angry looks were being exchanged. Yes, she thought as she watched them all closely, something is not right here.

  “Would it not be better to keep moving, my lord?” she continued. “Perhaps if you ride quickly, your men will reach the King’s army in time to aid them in their fight against Aziz.”

  Markus looked up at her stonily. Rose smiled sweetly, her eyes remaining hard. “If your men need to rest, however, feel free to setup camp outside our walls. The men here will watch over you.”

  He nodded stiffly at her, but remained silent. Rose turned, keeping her voice low so it would not carry down to unfriendly ears. “Watch them,” she ordered. Ottman nodded in agreement. “Let me know when they leave.” Rose suspected when they did, it would not be in the direction of the King’s army. Come morning she would learn she was right.

  Rose walked along the wall, leaving the men to deal with their unwanted guests. Samuel and Gabe were waiting at the stairs, both tense until they noticed her.

  “Is everything okay, my lady?” Samuel asked. Rose opened her mouth to reply when a sharp pain erupted in her stomach. She cried out, reaching for the wall for support. “Rose!” Samuel called out in alarm, the sound muffled
beneath the roaring in her ears.

  Two arms wrapped around her, helping her to straighten just as another pain lashed through her. She cried out, gripping the arms tightly.

  “We need to get her back to the palace,” she heard Samuel say.

  “I have her,” came a deep voice beside her. Suddenly Rose felt herself being lifted, one arm supporting her back while the other hooked beneath her knees. She moaned as the pain began to subside but not disappear altogether. “Move!” Rose looked up to see it was Gabe who held her, his face tight with worry. He had dark eyes like Callum, but his were much harder than Callum’s. His strong jaw was clean shaven, his black hair cut short to his head. Yet she could see the same strong capability she identified with all the King’s men. He looked down at her, having felt her eyes on him. “Don’t worry, you’ll be fine,” he said firmly.

  It was the first time he had ever spoken directly to her, and she instantly wished he hadn’t. Because even though her mind was clouded with pain and fear, she could see in his eyes as he spoke that even he didn’t full believe his words. She closed her eyes as another wave of pain hit her. Too quick, she thought. They were coming too quick and strong. She had months still to go in her pregnancy. She was only seven months along. Something was definitely wrong. Please don’t make me lose this baby, she sent upward to anyone listening above.

  The jostling from being carried barely registered with her as she tried to breathe through each contraction. She could hear Samuel speaking urgently to others, but other than the feel of Gabe’s arms and his chest beside her face, she had no awareness of anything else around her.

  “Hold on, Rose,” Gabe said softly. The entire way to the palace he had been whispering to her encouraging words. When she cried out from pain he’d grip her tighter, as if he were trying to take some away from her.

  “Hurry!” someone called out. “Lay her down here, gently!”

  Rose felt herself dropping, then softness was at her back and Gabe’s arms disappeared. She reached out blindly, grabbing onto his hand before he could leave. She didn’t want to do this alone, and for some reason he had become her tether in all this.

  “Don’t leave,” she bit out before groaning against the agony erupting in her abdomen.

  “Get her some water!” the same voice from before ordered. Rose felt Gabe squeeze her hand reassuringly.

  “What can I do?” Samuel asked. Rose could hear the panic in his voice.

  “We need rags, lots of them. And someone rush that healer! She’s almost ready!”

  Rose wanted to protest. She wasn’t ready and neither was the baby! The next moments were a blur of activity. Someone was forcing her to drink some water while another put a cool cloth on her head. Voices were talking rapidly, but she couldn’t manage to focus on any of it. Throughout it all, she still had Gabe’s hand to anchor her. When the urge to push came she started to cry. She knew how unlikely it was for a baby to survive when born early like this. Many women in her village had lost theirs in such a way.

  “Rose,” someone was saying. “Rose I need you to focus okay? We need you to push now,” they instructed.

  “Okay,” she agreed weakly. Two hands pulled her up so her back was elevated a bit, while two more sets held on to her legs firmly.

  “Alright, Rose,” said the male voice that had entered a while ago. Rose assumed he was the healer. “When you feel the need to push I want you to do it.”

  Rose nodded, trying to see his face through the tears clouding her eyes. Time escaped her at that point. She felt like she pushed for hours as voice after voice said encouraging things. She squeezed Gabe’s hand each time as she put all her energy and strength into it. The cool cloth on her forehead would be replaced between pushes. Finally, after what seemed like forever, she gave one last push and the room erupted into a joyous outburst. Rose waited, on edge, for the sound that would be most important.

  And then it came. A small wail filled the room, and Rose began laughing and crying at once. She watched as the baby was bundled and taken away as someone called out for her to keep pushing. She obeyed, finding whatever energy she had left. When it was over she lay back, her brow drenched with sweat, her dress sticking to her.

  “You did well, Rose,” Gabe whispered. She gave his hand a final squeeze before letting it drop.

  “She needs to rest,” someone said sternly.

  “I will leave shortly, I promise.” Rose turned to see Chancellor Ottman standing beside the bed. He looked down with a smile that did not reach his eyes. “Congratulations, my lady. You have a strong, healthy baby boy.”

  Rose laughed. “A boy?” she asked happily.

  Ottman nodded. “The healer will bring him back once you have rested. He is small, but they believe he will be just fine.”

  “Thank the Gods,” she said. “And Markus?”

  “Gone, my lady.”

  “To?”

  “They headed south, my lady.”

  Rose nodded, letting her eyelids close. She drifted off into a much needed sleep.

  Chancellor Ottman stood looking down at the young girl for a moment before turning to leave. Franca pushed him out, closing the door behind him. He looked to the healer standing in the hall, his face pinched with worry.

  “What do you think?” Ottman asked.

  “She has lost a lot of blood,” he replied gravely. “The baby will live, but the mother…I cannot be sure, Chancellor. Only time will tell at this point.”

  Ottman nodded, taking a deep breath. “She is so young,” he remarked softly.

  “Aye, she is,” the healer agreed. “Callum will be distraught should he return to find she has passed.”

  “At least he will have a son to love in her place,” Ottman offered. “Perhaps the Gods will find it in themselves to save her.”

  “Perhaps.”

  CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

  “Where are they?” Logan asked for the tenth time. Wolf sent him a bland look before turning back to look in the direction Aiden and Elisa had disappeared to. It was already half past the hour they were supposed to meet back at, and there was still no sign of them.

  “They probably just went further than they thought, so it’s taking them longer to get back,” Moose decided.

  “How long should we wait before we search for them?” Stefan questioned.

  Wolf looked back at the three guys feeling a twinge of unease in his stomach. It wasn’t like Aiden or Elisa to leave them waiting like this. It was Aiden who’d insisted they meet back in an hour.

  “Let’s give them another quarter of an hour,” Wolf suggested. “If they’re not back by then we’ll go looking.”

  Moose stood quickly, his body tense. He breathed in deeply. “Do you smell that?” he asked, brows pulled together in concentration.

  Logan sniffed loudly. “What is that?”

  “Fire,” Stefan answered gravely.

  “Are you sure?” Logan sniffed again. “Could be someone cooking back at camp.”

  “No,” Stefan stated, “fire!” They all looked where he was now pointing, above the tops of the trees. Dark smoke billowed in the sky in the distance.

  “Elisa!” Wolf yelled instinctively. He started, running in the direction they had seen the two of them headed, his heart racing in his chest. Blood pounded in his ears as he skirted his way through the thick bush, heedless of the branches scraping his cheeks as he did. The others were running behind him. He could hear their footfalls, but he didn’t bother looking back to be sure. He called out her name again and again, each time sensing the sick feeling in his stomach grow worse. The others alternated calling Elisa’s and Aiden’s names.

  The air thickened the further they went. Wolf’s eyes burned, watering against his will. He blinked frantically to clear his vision, lest he miss something important.

  “There!” he heard Moose call out. He turned a fraction to see where his brother was pointing. His eyes followed the line to a small form lying motionless on the ground. His heart stopped.
Her hair was spread out around her head, her face hidden behind the thick strands. Wolf moved, feeling as if the whole world had stopped – his eyes never leaving her. He knelt down slowly, reaching to turn her onto her back. Pale lids hid her bright eyes, her pink mouth slightly open.

  “Elisa?” he said softly. Reluctantly he put his fingers to her throat, feeling for a pulse. Everything in him screamed that she be alright. When he felt the weak thump against his pads he let out the breath he had been anxiously holding.

  “Is she…?” Logan stood beside him, looking down at Elisa in horror.

  “She’s alive,” Wolf said.

  “Thank the Gods,” Moose breathed.

  “We need to get her back to the others,” Wolf began, lifting her easily into his arms. He stood, shifting her so he could support her head properly. “She needs a healer.”

  “What about Aiden?” Moose asked, his head darting back and forth. Wolf felt guilt and unease hit him in the chest, but he knew Elisa came first. If Aiden wasn’t with her, something must have happened.

  “I don’t think we’ll find him,” he stated unwillingly. “We need to get back and get her help. Elisa can tell us what happened.”

  “We can’t just leave him out here,” Stefan argued. A loud crash had them all jumping. A large branch had fallen not too far from them, the fire spreading further.

  “We stay, we die,” Wolf countered. “Aiden can take care of himself. Right now we need to get Elisa and ourselves back to camp.”

  “He’s right,” Logan agreed, torn. “Aiden wouldn’t want us sticking around here if he knew we could get caught in the fire. We need to head back. If someone doesn’t stop this fire soon it will likely reach our camp.”

  “Come on then,” Moose said. He turned and started down the way they had come, the others following. Wolf wondered where in Eden Aiden was, but he was mostly concerned with Elisa, still unconscious in his arms. He knew smoke could do a lot of damage if one breathed in too much of it. He only prayed someone back at camp would be able to help her. They hurried along, no one talking. But every once in while Wolf would catch someone looking over their shoulder, as if Aiden would magically appear there. He even found himself doing it at one point. Where in the Gods are you, Aiden? He wondered.