The Emerald Dagger

by Barbara Hodges

  "Everything will be all right," Ben whispered into her ear. "They love each other."

  "Regan, sit down so I may better see you," Margeaux said. Regan leaned against the fallen tree instead.

  Kelsey saw the elven healer stare hard into Regan's eyes, then touch her forehead and cheeks. "You seem fine." A pouch hung from a belt at her waist. Margeaux loosened the drawstring and pulled a small bottle from inside. "Drink this. It will help the pain." Her gaze swept Regan's body. "Do you bleed heavily?"

  Regan shook her head. "Not like with Daniel."

  Margeaux took Regan's hand. "I will make you a poultice to soothe you."

  Regan's gaze sought her daughter.

  "The babe is with her father. All is well. We will be but a moment. I saw what I needed as we approached," Margeaux said, leading Regan into the trees.

  Kelsey watched Rourk, but he looked at everything except her. Was this the way things were going to be? Yes, I left without saying good-bye, but damn. He is the one with the wife and son.

  Ben hugged her again.

  "There's lots to talk over," he said.

  She looked into his dark eyes and shrugged. "Things change in seven years, for instance, Peter and Regan. I have a niece and a nephew."

  Peter glanced toward her. "Welcome, sister. It is good to see you well once again."

  Kelsey smiled. "You can't know just how wonderful it is to see all of you, too. Peter, how can I thank you?"

  "To have you here is enough. When Regan and Margeaux return, we will go home. I have a coach at the King's Road." Peter frowned. "I hope Regan has no problem crossing the Queen's River."

  "I'll be fine," Regan said as she and Margeaux walked from the trees. "The river's low. I won't even get my feet wet."

  "The bleeding has slowed, and the potion will dull the pain," Margeaux said.

  The healer approached Kelsey. "You look wonderful," she said, grabbing both Kelsey's hands. Margeaux's eyes narrowed at seeing the engagement ring on Kelsey's finger. "You have many things to tell us, I see."

  "Like all of you," Kelsey said, pulling her hands away. She bent and grabbed her backpack. "Let's go."

  Delilah stepped from the shadows.

  "Who is this?" Ben said.

  Delilah walked toward him. "You're Ben Samson."

  He nodded. "You have me at something of a disadvantage."

  "I'm Delilah." The girl hesitated, and then added, "Samson."

  "Delilah Samson?" Kelsey heard amusement in Regan's voice.

  Ben said nothing for a long moment. "You look like your mother." He turned away from Delilah.

  Kelsey couldn't believe what she'd just heard. You look like your mother. That's it? She looked from Ben's broad back to Delilah's stricken face. Come on, Ben. Turn around. This is your daughter.

  "We'll talk later," Ben said.

  Margeaux moved toward the girl, threw a reproachful look at Ben as she passed him. "Welcome to Daradawn."

  Gilda walked into the clearing, straight to Regan and thrust her nose into Regan's hand.

  "Yes, we ride," Regan said. She mounted gingerly and settled back into the saddle. Her lips tightened, but she forced a bright smile and reached toward Peter for their daughter. "Let's go home."

  *****

  They rode through Fertile Isle Valley. Kelsey turned in her saddle, first one way and then the other. Was all of Daradawn enchanted? Nothing seemed to have changed. Shoulder-high corn flanked the road and ahead she saw vines heavy with purple gourds. Her mouth watered at the thought of the sweet beans inside. People walked along the rows and cut the gourds from the vines and dropped them into large woven baskets. Some looked up as the small party passed and waved before resuming their work.

  If they only knew, Kelsey thought.

  They halted on the bluff overlooking Raya. Just beyond the walled city, the sapphire sea glimmered. Atop the ten gray turrets of the castle, pennants whipped in the wind. A deep peace touched Kelsey's soul. I really have come home. Only for four days, a voice inside reminded her. A sudden impatience washed over her. She had to ride the streets of Raya, now.

  Kelsey urged Freya into a swift gallop. She heard voices yell to her from behind, but ignored them. She heard the sound of pounding hooves and glanced to her right as a rider came abreast. It was Rourk on his gelding, Cloud. He matched Cloud's pace to Freya's, but did not look in her direction. This can't go on.

  Kelsey leaned close over Freya's neck and urged her to even more speed. The mare obliged, but Rourk easily kept pace. Only when the city gates lay just before her did Kelsey slow the mare to a trot, and then to a walk.

  Raya's left gate was open. From the tower a guard called out a challenge, then went back inside at Rourk’s hailing. Inside, the market square crawled with people. Wagons filled every available space. The sounds of bleating lambs and squawking chickens assaulted her ears and, rising above even them, shouting farmers urged shoppers to come sample fruits, breads, and roasting meats.

  Tinkers waved copper-bottomed pots and pans in the air, swearing that any meal would taste sweeter when prepared in their wares. It seemed that everyone's offerings were better than the ones next to them.

  Kelsey breathed in the odors of animal dung and overly ripe fruit, and her lips spread into a wide smile.

  "Must seem primitive to your world, doesn’t it?" Rourk said and cast a quick glance at her.

  "It's wonderful. Lack of running water wasn't why I left."

  Rourk urged his horse forward without acknowledging her words.

  "Rourk, we have to talk."

  "The time for talking is over," he threw back over his shoulder as he continued on.

  She urged Freya up beside him. "No, the time is now. We left so much unsaid." Kelsey searched his face. "My life has changed in seven years. I'm sure yours has, too."

  He turned to look her straight in the eyes. The aloof coldness deep within his chilled her. "If you wish it, then we will talk, but not now. Later in the queen's solar. We will meet after the last meal. Then you may talk."

  Not just me. Kelsey's fingers tightened around Freya's reins. They both had to talk, or nothing would get solved. "Okay, in the queen's solar."

  She heard a shout from behind her and turned in her saddle.

  "The queen's coach approaches," the tower guard called. "Hasten to open the gate."

  Farmers and tinkers alike sprang forward.

  The gates opened wide and the horse-drawn coach entered. Men bowed and women curtsied as the coach passed. Peter rode beside the coach door.

  A red-liveried soldier nodded to Kelsey as he passed, then spun on his heels and strode back to her.

  "Commander?" he said, doubt in his voice, then, "Yes. It is you."

  "Jonathon," Kelsey said, her cheeks flushing. "It is good to see you."

  "Commander," he said in a louder voice, and then crossed his right arm across his chest. He paused, his fist across his heart for a moment, and then stretched his arm straight out toward her.

  "Commander?" Another voice picked up the word, and then another. The queen's coach was forgotten as the word spread. People began to move toward her.

  "It is true," a woman cried. "It is the Queen's-Commander. She has come home."

  Freya halted as people surrounded them. Hands reached to touch Kelsey's booted feet. Ahead of her, Rourk stopped. His gaze met hers, and she silently begged him for rescue.

  "People of Raya," he said in a loud voice. "Queen Tessa awaits her commander. We must journey on to the castle."

  "Step back," Jonathon said, spreading his arms wide. "Are you silly fairies to show such disrespect?"

  "Fairies?" A man spit on the ground. He thrust his barrel chest out toward Jonathon. "Do I look like a flighty-winged fairie to you?"

  "Nay, master farmer, you do not. You are a man of the soil, for I see it liberally upon your face."

  The man swiped at his reddening cheeks, then chuckled at the jest as they came away clean. "You heard the man; let the commander through."<
br />
  The crowd parted, and Kelsey rode on toward the castle and Tessa.

  *****

  In the coach, Regan cradled Catherine close to her breasts. She drew in a warm breath, and fanned her flushed face with her free hand. They'd closed the curtains as they neared the city, and not a breath of wind cooled the coach. Across from Regan, Margeaux shifted upon the wooden seat and wiped sweat from her brow.

  Regan had tried to talk the elven healer into mounting her horse as Raya came into sight, but Margeaux refused to leave her side.

  "I know it's almost unbearable," Regan said. "But I don't want any of them to see Catherine until I present her to the queen."

  "As it should be," Margeaux said. "But it would have been much cooler for all three of us if the birth had taken place in the castle."

  Regan sighed. "I know. But I told you why I had to leave. Zara's in a rage. I don't know what she might have done if I hadn't gone to her."

  Margeaux frowned. "I still do not know of what the dragon speaks, fairies and wolves killing dragons? How is it so?"

  Regan felt her daughter's lips move across the upper slope of her breast. "Soon, little one, soon," she whispered, kissing the child's silken hair.

  Margeaux had given her a potion to make her milk flow and even now she felt it wetting the front of her tunic. She heard a muffled order and felt the coach slow, then stop. She sighed in relief and readied herself to stand.

  The coach door opened and Peter stuck his head in. "Do you wish me to take her?"

  Regan glanced down at her chest. The wetness had spread. "No, I will carry her." She stood. Pain washed through her and a groan escaped her lips.

  "Give her to me," Peter said.

  "No," Regan snapped. "I must carry her."

  Peter flushed, then stepped back. "As you wish," he said.

  Damn. This was all she needed. "Peter, my tunic is drenched with milk. I just want to keep that fact private, if you don't mind." She didn't wait for his response, but instead stepped from the coach and, hunched over her daughter, hurried toward the castle steps.

  At the topmost step, Regan saw Kelsey. She glanced at her sister, but did not halt her quick pace. "I need a bath and so does my daughter. I will see you afterwards."

  Kelsey watched her sister's retreating back. In her wildest imaginings, such a reunion had never crossed her mind.

  Peter followed slower.

  "I had thought Tessa would have been here to greet you." He looked beyond her to the empty hallway. "Some homecoming this is for you."

  She smiled. "It's wonderful. It's like I never left." She hooked her arm through his. "Show me where I'm sleeping. I'm sure everything will come together soon."

  Peter smiled and kissed the tip of her nose. "Come, sister, I will show you your chamber," he said. "Even though I am sure you can find it on your own, since it is the same one you had before."

  She followed him up the narrow turret stairway. Breathing hard, she took the last three steps and came out into the hallway. She pressed a hand against the stitch in her side and shook her finger in front of Peter's nose as he opened his mouth to speak. "Don't say a word. I've already had too many tell me how pale and weak I am."

  "I was only going to say that I would send a maid to let you know when we are to dine," Peter said.

  Her cheeks warmed. "Fine. Will I have time to clean up a little?"

  "I am sure you will." He swept her a bow. "Until we meet again. Now I am off to become better acquainted with my daughter." His brows drew together. "That is if I can dislodge her from her mother's arms."

  He turned and started down the stairs once more.

  Was there trouble in paradise? She hoped not. With a shrug, she opened the door to her old chambers and walked inside. It was like stepping back in time. The four-poster bed, spread with a leaf-green silk comforter, still dominated the room.

  On the right stood the same freestanding screen depicting its unicorn and flower-laden valley, offering privacy for bathing and the chamber pot. The pale oak wardrobe stood next to the bed on one side, and the small nightstand, still with the same jade vase, graced the other side. Tapestries draped the walls, and oval woven rugs in shades of mint and peach still provided warm footing on chilly mornings.

  She crossed the room and then went out onto the balcony. The sunlight reflected like glass shards off the expanse of cerulean sea. Seagulls played tag among wispy clouds and shrieked challenges to each other.

  Leaning against the sun-warmed stone of the wall, Kelsey took a deep, brine-tinged breath, closed her eyes, and tilted her face toward the sun. Its warmth seeped into each pore, radiated to her inner core. She soaked it up, stored the feeling for when she returned to the other world, back to Duncan.

  She'd left the door to the hallway open, and now she heard the click-click of nails upon stone. A smile curved her mouth. She'd wondered how long it would take Maggie to find her. She heard a whine of excitement and opened her eyes. The tri-colored basset hound stood before her, her body quivering from nose to tail. Her limpid brown gaze sought recognition, and Kelsey knelt.

  "Maggie."

  The dog squirmed with welcome and Kelsey laughed as she scratched behind soft ears and avoided wet, sloppy kisses.

  "Yes. I'm happy to see you, too."

  "Maggie? Maggie," a child's voice called, and then, "No. We're supposed to wait before seeing Aunt Kelsey."

  Kelsey stood and walked through the open balcony doors. A small boy stood framed in the chamber doorway. He had a full head of tousled, auburn curls, and bright-blue eyes that scanned her shyly. His lips curved into an impish grin, and she knew he had orchestrated this meeting.

  "You must be Daniel."

  He nodded and marched into the room. Maggie deserted her and trotted to the boy's side.

  "You must tell Momma that I only came here to find Maggie."

  She fought not to smile. "Is that what happened?"

  "I only opened the door to the stairs a tad, and then Maggie ran up them."

  "And you followed."

  He moved to the chest at the foot of the bed and perched upon it. "You're supposed to be freshenin' up. Are you fresh?"

  Kelsey laughed as she nodded.

  "I have a baby sister," Daniel said. "Did you know?"

  "Yes."

  Daniel's lips formed a pout. "I don't think I want a baby sister."

  She knelt so their eyes were on the same level. "Why not?"

  "That's all they ever talk about, the baby this, and the baby that." She saw his eyes fill with tears. "They haven't even let me see her."

  She remembered her own confusion and jealousy when Regan had come home from the hospital. "Baby sisters can be fun. It just takes a while."

  "How can they be fun? They're girls. They don't like bugs and climbing trees. They wear pink dresses and ribbons in their hair, and have dolls." His lower lip came out even more. "If they do play, they want you to be a daddy and drink tea that isn't even there from silly little cups."

  She couldn't help but grin. "Some girls are like that, but then some aren't. I always liked bugs and climbing trees. Maybe your baby sister will be like me."

  Daniel's eyes brightened. "You think so?"

  "Could be."

  The little boy frowned. "Then Patrick's wrong."

  She could see the thought bothered him. "Do you mean Rourk's Patrick?"

  "Yes, Patrick Bannion."

  She saw the light of hero worship spark in the young boy's eyes.

  "Patrick knows everything about everything," Daniel said.

  "Hmm," she said. "Then Patrick has a little sister, too?" The question made her stomach roll and dip.

  "Nope. He's an only, just like me, I mean just like I was."

  "An only child?"

  "Yep."

  Rourk and Caitlan hadn't had any more children? The information surprised her. "Well, then how does Patrick know?"

  Daniel leaned toward her and whispered. "Magic. That's how. Don't tell anyone. He's still
only an apprentice, but when he's done he's going to surprise his daddy. Then he'll teach me, even if I don't have the flame. I just have to prove myself worthy."

  Worthy? Apprentice? The words had to have come from the older boy. Unease itched her spine. "How do you do that?"

  Daniel sighed. "I don't know, but Patrick will tell me."

  She made a mental note to ask Regan about Patrick and the promised magic lessons.

  "Daniel?" a voice called, and the child's expression grew sullen.

  "In here, Papa."

  Peter came through the door. "Son, you were told not to bother your aunt."

  The boy stared down at his feet without answering.

  "Daniel?" Peter's voice had sharpened.

  "He came to rescue me from Maggie," Kelsey said.

  Peter glanced at her. "How did Maggie get into the tower stairway?"

  "I only opened it a little. Then Maggie ran up the stairs."

  "And you came to get her," Peter finished.

  "Yes, sir," Daniel said, still not looking up.

  "Son, look at me please."

  The boy raised his head. Tears streaked his cheeks. Peter knelt and gathered Daniel to his chest. “Don't cry. I know things are a little crazy right now, with your baby sister and all."

  "I loved meeting him," Kelsey hastened to say. "I was ready for company anyway."

  She saw how stiffly Daniel stood within his father's embrace. She switched her gaze to Peter's face, and frowned as his lips tightened into a pale thin line. He released the boy, and Daniel stepped back at once.

  Peter's face reddened as he stood. "It is time to dine."

  "Is Patrick here?" Daniel said.

  "Yes, he arrived but a few.—"

  Daniel didn't wait for Peter to finish, but presented her a short courtly bow, then turned on his heels and raced out the door. Maggie looked from Kelsey to the departing boy, then ran after him, baying in excitement at the new game.

  "Daniel," Peter began in a warning voice, but the boy was already out of sight. He sighed. "The last months have been hard on him. We've tried to prepare him for his little sister, but..." His words trailed off. He placed his hands on his hips and stared over her head.