The King's Knight (Royal Blood Book 5)

by Kristen Gupton

  As he continued down the main road, people in town came to a stop and stared as the stranger passed. He was the first traveler to have made it from the north in months.

  He found an inn with an adjacent stable and stopped. There was a young boy there who offered to groom Patrice before putting her up. Jerris didn’t protest the price the boy asked for, given how dirty the poor horse was. He passed over a few silver coins before going to get himself cleaned up as well.

  A few hours later, he felt decidedly more human. The town was preparing for some sort of festivity and most of the people living there had gathered in the town’s square. Large bonfires were lit, several spits with assorted meats roasting were scattered around.

  Having been offered a sizable amount of food by the revelers, Jerris finally settled back against a tree, a bottle of ale in hand. He’d asked what the occasion was, finding out they were celebrating the coming opening of their mines for the season. While Tordan Lea had suffered greatly over the winter, Edinau had fared well as the snow hadn’t come as heavily to their side of the mountains.

  He’d been asked by several how far he’d come from, and when he’d said he’d started in Tordan Lea, they were surprised to hear it. When he told them about the condition of the road, they generally agreed it was awfully early for anyone to have made the trek.

  Jerris found out there had been a few travelers who’d made it to the town from the south, however. They were going to remain in Edinau until the passage north was more suitable for travel. He couldn’t find any fault with their reticence in heading further north for a while.

  There were a few of the locals around who’d survived the invasion the year before. While most of them didn’t recognize Jerris, one finally did.

  Jerris looked up to see an older man standing before him, his hat held in his hands. “Can I help you?”

  The man crouched down before Jerris, nodding to himself. “I thought it was you! You were the one who let us into the castle last winter so we could tell the king about the Sadoris!”

  The redhead nodded, recognizing him. “I do remember you! I’m glad to see that you made it back home.”

  The man moved around and sat next to him, looking out over the crowd. “Aye, aye. I remained near the castle until better weather, then I and the others returned here to help rebuild. It was a miracle that any of those left behind survived at all.”

  “You getting to the castle saved them. You and your friends are heroes,” Jerris said. “It’s quite a bit different than when I was here last.”

  “We’ve worked very hard and much has changed.” He shook his head and motioned toward the others. “A year ago, we were nearly eradicated by the Sadori invaders. Now, we trade with the same people. Why, there’s even two Sadoris here in town, awaiting passage to Tordan Lea when travel is more agreeable. Who would have thought Sadoris would ever be going that far north?”

  Jerris leveled his gaze at the man. “Sadoris traveling to Tordan Lea?”

  “Aye,” he replied, shaking his head. “They claim to have business with the king himself.”

  The former guard found his curiosity piqued. He knew Keiran and Betram had been communicating via couriers since trade between the two nations began. “Messengers?”

  He snorted. “I don’t believe so. In fact, the older of the two is delusional. He says a vampire has taken over the Sador Empire, and he claims to be the emperor himself. He hardly looks the part, though.”

  Jerris laughed, but it was stilted. He and Keiran had discussed the dangers of Ahman Danier still being alive at length. He didn’t like the idea at all. “Well, I can put that fable to rest if I see this supposed emperor. I’ve met Emperor Betram before, and I’d recognize him.”

  The man pushed himself up and motioned for Jerris to do the same. “Well, I think I and the rest of the town would like to put such rumors behind us. Come, I’ll take you to them!”

  Jerris had nothing better to do before retiring for the night, and he got up to follow the teetering old man through the square. They walked across the small town to another inn.

  The man stopped a distance away, motioning toward two others sitting before the building. “There they are.”

  Jerris nodded and continued forward, straining his eyes in the darkness.

  Etras and Betram saw his approach, both standing up from the bench they occupied. The younger of the two immediately recognized Jerris and jogged forward to meet him. “Jerris!”

  The redhead stopped and looked Etras up and down, assuring himself of his identity. “Etras, what in the world are you doing here?”

  His open smile quickly faltered, and he rested a hand on Jerris’ shoulder. “My friend, I’m afraid I come with terrible news. Can I hope that your king is here as well?”

  “No, I’m quite alone,” he said, looking over toward the shorter man lingering a few paces away. “Emperor Betram?”

  Betram lit up upon Jerris’ recognition and quickly joined them. “Ah, the king’s guard with the funny hair! Such a relief to find a familiar face in this country!”

  Jerris’ expression went deadpan. “I’m afraid I’m not the king’s guard anymore, just a man away from home.”

  Etras shook his head. “We must talk to Keiran as soon as possible. It is grave. Why no longer his guard? You two seemed close, yes?”

  “We were.” The redhead inspected the two of them, knowing Betram certainly wouldn’t be out of his own country and dressed as a commoner if things weren’t completely upended. Even if he wasn’t the King’s Knight anymore, he understood the implications of what was going on, and he wanted details. “Perhaps we can go somewhere to talk?”

  Etras swept his arm toward the building behind him. “Please, come to our room and we will discuss things, yes?”

  Jerris signaled his agreement. He looked back at the man who’d escorted him across the square. He gave him a gesture verifying the emperor’s claim, and the old miner immediately looked shocked.

  * * *

  A fourth lap. A fifth…

  Thana had repeatedly searched the entire building for her husband. Frustrated, she stormed out into the courtyard and looked around. Everyone seemed to be going about their business without any regard for their missing king.

  She fixed her gaze on the stable at the far end of the courtyard and headed toward it. If nothing else, visiting the horses always helped calm her nerves.

  She entered the long corridor of the stable and started down it. Assorted horses stuck their heads over their stall doors, knowing that Thana generally brought treats for them.

  One stall’s resident, however, was notably absent.

  It took all of her resolve to not scream out loud in frustration once she looked into Porter’s stall to see that the horse was, indeed, missing.

  Though he’d continued to make slow improvement, the idea Keiran was out riding around somewhere still didn’t please her. After seeing the amount of trouble he’d had simply going into Tordan Lea not long before, how in the world he was at it again baffled her.

  She heard someone clear their throat at the opposite end of the stable and she spun, her hand clenched at her side. “Sygian?”

  “Hello,” he offered back with a meek wave. “You seem a bit…distressed.”

  Thana cocked her head back toward the empty stall, frowning. “The damned fool is out, and he’s still in no shape to be doing so.”

  “Ah,” he replied, looking uncomfortable. “He left rather early this morning, I’m afraid. I would have expected him to have informed you.”

  Her expression went slack. “How early?”

  “Before sunrise.” The older man gave an awkward grin, showing his less than pristine teeth.

  Thana rolled her eyes and went closer to him. “Well, at least someone knows something. I don’t know what to do with him since this business with Jerris began. Keir’s gone out there to look for him, hasn’t he?”

  Sygian gave a small shrug. “I would imagine so. He allowed a few g
uards to go with him, took a small haul of provisions, and off he went.”

  She ran her left hand down her face. “Great. That means he’s gone up into the mountains, I suppose. It will serve him right if the rain over the past three days hasn’t put that fire out all the way.”

  “An observation, if I may?”

  Thana huffed and nodded, crossing her arms over her chest.

  “Our young king is impulsive,” Sygian said. “He doesn’t do what he does to upset anyone. Jerris and Keiran have been inseparable since Corina first sat them together on a blanket as infants. Just as he was willing to run right into the Sador Empire to hunt you down, so, too, is he unable to resist going after Jerris. He’s loyal…to, perhaps, a fault.”

  Some of her anger and frustration was knocked out of her at that and she dropped her arms to her sides. “You aren’t wrong.”

  “You and Corina have worked yourselves to the point of exhaustion trying to help him. Take the opportunity while he is out on his errand to do something for yourselves. Rest.” He gave another smile. “He’ll be all right.”

  Thana went forward and patted him on the arm before walking away. “Thank you, Sygian.”

  * * *

  Keiran had spent the previous day and a half riding in the mountains. Though it was agonizing, the worry deep within him over Jerris’ fate wouldn’t allow him to rest.

  The area had been decimated. The fire had burned hot enough to kill all but the largest of the trees, and even those looked in danger of dying back. The underbrush was gone, creating an alien sense of openness in the forest. The smell was overwhelming, the pitch within the burned pines making the air acrid. Smoldering patches and logs remained scattered around, continuing to give the air a ghostly haze.

  The road up had been difficult. While the fire had taken care of the remaining snow, felled trees now crossed the road. With his injury, Keiran wasn’t anywhere near letting Porter simply jump them.

  Often times, he came across the charred remains of animals not fortunate enough to have escaped. Every time he’d pick up the scent of burnt flesh, he’d move toward it, constantly afraid it would be either Jerris or Patrice. The fire had covered a vast area in the few days it ran free and getting overwhelmed by it wouldn’t have been difficult.

  He’d pushed himself harder than he should have, determined to learn this friend’s fate. His shirt was blood-soaked, the constant motion in the saddle breaking his wound open. He kept it hidden as best he could from his accompanying guards, tired of hearing about it.

  Instinctively, he knew Jerris had been up on the trade road. When he ended up in the burned out Maris Trading Post, Keiran struggled from the saddle. It would be as far as he was able to go, his strength beginning to fail him.

  He wandered amongst the ash-covered skeletons of the buildings. With the damage done, he couldn’t tell if there had been recent activity there or not.

  Then, he saw it—a single empty bottle sitting on the remaining post of one of the town’s fences.

  Keiran went over and picked up the bottle. It was black from the soot collected on its surface. He dragged his thumb across the side of it, finding it to be the trademark blue glass of one of Tordan Lea’s brewers.

  Jerris’ personal favorite.

  Keiran brought up his right hand and let his fingers touch the exposed blue glass. His head swam for a moment and he had to catch his balance against the charred fence post.

  Jerris was alive, and he was in Edinau. How he knew it was beyond his understanding, but he’d had a glimpse of the redhead in the mining town deeply pressed into his mind.

  He lowered the bottle and scanned out across the landscape. Uneasy with the vision he’d had and not understanding how it had happened, he set the bottle back exactly where he’d found it. He’d never experienced anything like it before. Occasional bouts of déjà vu had occurred throughout his life, but nothing that clear or absolutely certain.

  As much as Keiran wanted to get back onto Porter and continue to follow the road all the way to Edinau, he knew he didn’t have the strength. As it was, getting home would be problematic.

  Jerris would either return when he was ready or he wouldn’t. He was alive, however, and safe enough in the southern town. Reluctantly, the vampire returned to his horse and whistled to the others.

  Keiran stood beside Porter, dreading the pain getting into the saddle would cause him.

  “My Lord?”

  He turned around and saw one of his guards approaching. “Aye?”

  The man looked uncomfortable, a shoulder bag clutched to his chest. “I found something. Does the queen still fancy a cat?”

  Keiran’s eyes narrowed, and he gave a shallow nod. Thana had been hinting about getting one for the castle under the guise of helping with rats and mice since they’d been wed.

  The guard nodded back and reached into his bag, pulling out a kitten. “Found it under one of the buildings. Looks like its mother didn’t make it, I’m afraid. Rather amazing it’s still alive. Mustn’t have eaten in days at this point.”

  The Tordanian cat was more like a lynx than anything else. Its small blue eyes landed on Keiran, its mouth opening with a tiny mew.

  Though he’d never been a fan of the cats brought into the castle by trappers now and then to help with the rodent issue, something immediately struck Keiran in the chest.

  He reached out and quickly took the skinny kitten, turning away from the guard. The kitten broke into a loud purr, climbing up to settle in against the side of Keiran’s neck. Though he didn’t know why, he felt tears in his eyes that he didn’t want any of the others to see.

  “My Lord?” the guard asked as Keiran wandered a few steps away.

  Keiran cleared his throat, trying to do his best to keep his voice normal. “Thank you, Jemaine. I suppose we can’t very well leave it out here alone to starve now, can we?”

  “That would be cruel, aye,” the guard replied, honestly feeling some of the emotion Keiran was projecting. “You want to take it back with us, then?”

  Keiran’s eyes closed, lulling his head to the side, his hands both up and holding the small animal in place. “Aye.”

  * * *

  Jerris sat with his two Sadori companions as a massive rain storm drenched Edinau and flooded the streets. They’d taken shelter in a small tavern, staring out through the open doors at the deluge.

  Betram and Etras had given the redhead their recounting of events. They’d covered everything from the Quitam invasion of Takrah until their arrival in Edinau over the previous two days.

  Learning Danier had somehow survived left Jerris uneasy. Seeing how much power a vampire could wield and knowing how unstable Danier was didn’t seem like a good combination.

  “Will this rain ever cease long enough for us to travel up to Tordan Lea?” Betram asked, resting his chin in his hands, eyes toward the door. “I must talk to King Sipesh. Each day delayed will be more lives lost.”

  Jerris had his chair leaning back on its rear legs. “Welcome to Tordania, gentlemen. This is what it does here. You’re going to get wet when you finally head out, and the road isn’t in good shape, but I made it.”

  “Won’t you come with us?” Betram asked, his tired eyes turning toward him. “You would be able to get us into the castle without any trouble!”

  Jerris took a sip from the bottle he held, shrugging. After what he’d endured to get to Edinau, the notion of running back out into the wild didn’t hold great appeal. He did want to go home to Magretha, though.

  “It would be easier for us to wait until the river is clear from Lodain and just ride the current back to Tordan Lea,” Jerris said.

  “I dread waiting much longer,” Etras replied. “Besides, we are being followed. If they find us, I fear what they will do.”

  “Well, I haven’t seen any sign of anyone watching you since I got here.” Jerris glanced at both men. “You’ve been here for how long? If they wanted to have gotten you, they surely had chances before I arriv
ed.”

  Etras eyed Jerris quietly for several moments. The former guard had been tight lipped about his falling out with Keiran. “Is it that you don’t want to go back?”

  Jerris sighed. “I do want to go back. I want to see my wife badly. I just went through hell getting here, though, and I’m not eager to rush back into it. There was a huge fire on the other side of the mountains, and while I hope that’s out, we don’t really know, do we?”

  Betram dropped his hands to the table’s surface and shook his head. “I would feel much better if you did accompany us, Jerris.”

  Tension surfaced in the former guard’s gut. Being responsible for anyone or anything didn’t appeal to him. He knew helping out the two men was the right thing to do, but the anxiety twisting around inside of him over it stopped him from agreeing.

  Etras saw the redhead’s shoulders round, the front legs of his chair dropping to the floor with a thud. “Emperor, we will find our way. We need not drag our friend into our woes, yes?”

  The old man gave a small nod, not used to having his requests denied. However, they were in Jerris’ country, and he had no real authority. “Yes, yes. It is rude of me to make demands. You have been good enough to visit with us while we’ve been here. It is already more than we had hoped for. I’m growing tired. Perhaps I will retire to rest for a time.”

  Etras got up with Betram, giving Jerris a faint smile. “We will see you tomorrow, perhaps?”

  Jerris managed up a smile in return, inwardly feeling like an ass for not volunteering his services. “Aye. It doesn’t look like I’ll be leaving too soon.”

  He watched the two Sadoris depart into the rain before tipping his bottle to his lips and finishing off his drink. Jerris stood up from the table. He hesitated in the doorway, not excited to get soaked on his way back to his room.

  Etras and Betram hadn’t made it very far from the tavern before three men on horseback approached them.

  Jerris didn’t think too much of it at first, but when one of the men had the hood of his rain cloak blown back, it was obvious he was Sadori. Without thinking about it any further, Jerris drew his sword and ran out into the street.