Emily appeared from the bathroom, “What’s going on?”
“Not sure.”
“You going then?”
“No, this type of lockdown we all stay where we are.”
“How do you know which kind it is?” she asked, and disappeared into the wardrobe to get dressed.
“They announced it,” he explained.
Just as Emily came out of the wardrobe, the door burst open and Kralen appeared, “Now.”
Chevalier nodded and disappeared from the room.
“What’s going on?” Emily asked.
“You need to come too, Commander,” Kralen told her, and disappeared.
She started to argue, but followed him out instead. Halfway down the stairs, the palace came out of lockdown and she saw Silas standing on the fourth floor waiting for her.
“What’s up?” she asked him when she got closer.
“There’s a briefing,” Silas told her, and opened the door to the council chambers.
Emily walked in and stood among the entire Cavalry that was facing the Council. Mark was standing up front, and when the door closed, he began, “We just found Wilson, out west of the city. He’s been murdered.”
The Chief Investigator stood up, “I have searched the area and there are subtle clues that point to the Encala. We don’t, however, know why they killed him.”
Emily listened carefully, and could feel the anger rise.
“It could be in retaliation to our attacks,” Zohn suggested.
“They wouldn’t risk that,” Quinn said. “It’s something else and I want to know what.”
“Put the Cavalry out there in the trees. Keep looking for evidence,” Zohn said.
“I’ll go talk to the Encala,” Kyle said, and stood up.
“I’ll go too,” Emily told him.
“We need you here,” Mark said, turning to her. “His horse won’t let us get near her. She’s skittish and runs when she sees anyone.”
Emily sighed and looked up at Kyle, “Fine, but you tell the Encala, from me… Deal’s off.”
Kyle glanced once at the Elders and then nodded, “I’ll relay that.”
“I’ll go,” Dustin said, and he and Kyle left the room.
Emily followed the Cavalry out. They already had her horse ready and she grabbed a lasso off of the wall before following Mark out to where Wilson’s body was found. It was just east of the leech pond, and the grass was still stained red. She looked around the clearing, ignoring the blood and focused in on Wilson’s mare off in the trees. Her ears were pressed back against her head and she jerked back when Silas entered the clearing.
“Stop,” Emily whispered, and took the lasso in her hand.
Silas froze and looked over at the mare.
“You…” Emily frowned and pointed at the heku next to her. His name was on the tip of her tongue and she studied him while it came to her.
“Kralen,” he said, and looked over at her.
“Yes, Kralen, blur around behind her and see if you can scare her toward me.”
“Did you forget my name?”
“No, just do it.”
He glanced at Mark and then disappeared. Emily edged her horse slowly forward.
“Damnit!” she yelled when the mare jerked and ran the opposite way she was supposed to. Emily kicked her horse hard into a gallop and raced toward the mare. Her stallion quickly caught up with the frantic horse and she lassoed the mare and slowed her down. When the mare walked up to her, she reached out to pet her and suddenly brought her hand back.
Emily slipped off her glove and looked down at her hand. It seemed almost unattached and when she tried to grasp the rope, nothing happened.
“Something wrong?” Mark said from behind her.
“No,” Emily said, and pulled her glove back on.
“We’re going to stay here and comb the area. Do you want to stay or do you want to head back?”
“I’ll stay. Another set of eyes can’t hurt.”
“We’ll put you with Silas and Kralen then.”
“Have someone take this horse back. She needs put in her stall and a hood put on until she calms down.”
Mark nodded and one of the Cavalry appeared and took the mare from Emily. They walked over and she started moving with the two Captains as they meticulously searched the area assigned to them. Tension filled the air as they searched for some reason to explain Wilson’s death. Nothing infuriated the Cavalry more than when one of their own died in the line of duty.
Before night fell, the Chief Investigator walked up and began talking to Silas and Kralen while Emily continued to search the ground.
“We’re heading in, Em,” Kralen told her, and she turned toward him.
“What did they find?”
“It was the Encala. As soon as Kyle and Dustin get back, Chevalier wants to pay them a visit.”
She nodded and returned to her stallion. As soon as she was mounted, she waited for the others and then rode silently back to the city. No one spoke as they put their horses away for the night. When Emily shut the stall to her stallion, she turned and saw Silas and Kralen waiting for her.
“Are you sure you’re ok?” Kralen asked.
“I’m fine, why?”
“You forgot my name and you’re not using your left arm.”
“I didn’t forget your name, and nothing’s wrong with me.”
“We’ll see,” Silas said, and leaned back against the wall. “Let’s go out tonight, it’s been a while.”
“You aren’t going to go to the Encala with Chevalier?” Emily asked, sitting down on a bale of hay.
“Not Kralen and I, we’re staying here.”
“To make sure I don’t go?”
Kralen chuckled, “Yup.”
“Seems odd. Why not put city guards as my babysitters so you can go pick on the Encala?”
“Because you keep slipping the city guards.”
Emily grinned, “I bet I can slip you two.”
Kralen chuckled, “You can’t slip me, you promised you wouldn’t.”
“True, however, I can slip Silas.”
“Hey now…” Silas said and crossed his arms. “Let’s not, shall we?”
“Doesn’t matter, I don’t have anywhere to go.”
“Now let’s get down to it,” Kralen said. “Tell us why you are acting like you don’t belong here.”
“I don’t know what you mean.”
“Yes you do. You used to be confident and assured. Now you are quiet and stand-offish.”
“I’m not either.”
“Then let the chefs make your dinner.”
“I’m perfectly capable of cooking for myself.”
Silas shrugged, “Before you left, you let the chefs do their job.”
“You mean before I was kicked out?” Emily asked.
“You used to let the tailor do his job, the chefs do their jobs, and let housekeeping do their thing.”
“Yeah well, maybe I don’t plan on relying on anyone else again. I learned one thing while I was away… one can only rely on themselves.”
Kralen frowned, “That’s not a way to live life.”
“That’s how I survived for a year.”
“Not sure I would call that surviving.”
“It was.”
“It’s over though. You need to get over what happened and get on with your life. Stop walking around here like an outsider and stop acting like at any moment we’re all going to turn on you and you’ll be alone again,” Kralen said.
Emily frowned slightly.
“It’s over is all we’re saying. If you’re going to spend an eternity with us, you’re going to have to trust us again,” Silas told her.
“Stop acting like a martyr…” Kralen started.
Emily stood up, “I don’t have to take this. I did the best I could.”
“We’re not saying you didn’t… but now it’s time to let us take over. You’re not alone anymore,” Silas told her, and put a hand on her a
rm.
Emily turned suddenly and walked out of the stables. She ignored Silas and Kralen as they followed behind her silently. Each wondered if they’d overstepped and what would happen if she told Chevalier. She walked up the stairs and went into her office, slamming the door behind her.
“She has a limp,” Kralen said as he took up his spot outside of her office door.
“I saw that,” Silas said. “Stay here. I’ll go report to Dr. Edwards.”
Silas called for the doctor, Quinn, and Zohn to meet him in the main conference room. When he arrived, the others were waiting.
Dr. Edwards sat down at the table, “Is there a problem?”
“Yes, we were asked to watch for signs of problems while with Emily, and she’s shown some of those today,” Silas explained, and sat down beside Quinn.
“Like what?”
“She forgot Kralen’s name, and she has a slight limp. We also noticed she’s not using her left arm.”
Dr. Edwards frowned, “That’s not good. Those are all signs of a stroke. We need to get her in for a CT scan to see if we can find out which kind of stroke she’s having.”
“She’ll never go in for a CT scan,” Quinn said.
“Can we buy one?” Zohn asked. “She may be more willing to have a scan if it’s done here.”
“I disagree,” Quinn told him. “She’s more likely to sneak out and get a CT scan.”
“That’s true. She did sneak out to see me on numerous occasions,” Dr. Edwards said. “It would be nice if we could find out the extent though… how weak she is on her left side.”
“Any suggestions?” Silas asked.
“I’ve already asked her to push me once, I’m not sure she’d do it again.”
Zohn turned to Silas, “Do you think you can make her mad enough to push you?”
“I’m pretty sure I can. She’s already irritated with Kralen and I.”
“For what?”
“Just stuff we were talking about.”
“Restrain Dain,” Quinn told him. “It doesn’t matter for what. She’ll fight back.”
“I hate to upset her this soon after waking,” Dr. Edwards said. “Just watch her and see if you can ascertain how weak she is on the left side.”
“When will the Elder be back?” Silas asked Zohn.
“He hoped to only be gone a couple of days. He just wanted to scare the Encala Council.”
“Keep her calm for now, but see if you can catch her using her left hand for something and see if it’s working properly,” Dr. Edwards suggested.
Silas nodded, “Will do.”
Silas walked back up and stood beside Emily’s door with Kralen. He filled Kralen in on what was decided and then stood back to wait for her to emerge.
***
“Good morning,” Chevalier said, and smiled. He was sitting on the edge of the bed watching her sleep.
Emily crawled out of bed and onto his lap, and then wrapped her arms around his neck, “I’m glad you’re back.”
He kissed the top of her head, “I was able to come back early.”
She looked up at him, “What happened?”
“Nothing really. The Encala, of course, denied it and again asked us to let them rebuild.”
“Did Kyle give them my message?”
“Yes, and it seemed to send a panic through their Council. Wanna tell me what that was all about?”
She sighed, “They want me to ask you to back off.”
“Interesting”
“They’re under the mistaken impression that I can influence what you do.”
“If it were up to you, would you let them rebuild?”
“I’ve been thinking about that and I’m torn.”
“Ok… tell me.”
“Well, they killed Wilson, not happy about that. On the other hand, there’s always been 3 factions. What if two throws off the balance of power or something?”
“That is a concern to us all. That’s why we’re having a meeting with all of the Elders next week.”
Emily looked up at him, “All nine of you?”
“Yes”
“Even Frederick?”
“Yes, and we’ll want you there to keep the peace.”
“Ok”
“And, Em?” he asked, and looked down at her. “We need you to not ash Frederick right away.”
She grinned, “Am I that predictable?”
“Yes, you are.”
Emily reached over and pulled a blanket over both of them as Chevalier studied her every movement.
“I just talked to Silas and Dr. Edwards,” he told her.
She looked up at him, “They’re watching me like I’m a leper.”
“They’re worried, and I want you to be honest with me.”
“About what?”
“Are you having memory problems?”
“Don’t you think if I were, I’d be the last to know?”
He chuckled, “Yeah, I guess. They mentioned you forgot Kralen’s name.”
“I did, for just a second.”
“And your left hand?”
She sighed, “It’s not really working right now.”
“How bad?”
“It’s actually gotten better over the last two days.”
“Let me see,” he told her, and she scooted off his lap. “Grab my hands.”
“Are you doing Dr. Edwards’ dirty work?”
“No, I want to know.”
“Fine,” Emily said and took his hands in hers.
“Squeeze”
Emily squeezed his hands as hard as she could, but knew her left hand wasn’t putting a lot of pressure.
“Hmmm,” he sighed and then looked down at her hands. “Your left-side is pretty weak.”
“I know, but it’s getting better.”
“I just wish I could figure out what’s going on,” Chevalier said, obviously frustrated.
“Who knows. I know everyone around here thinks I’m ashing someone in secret, but I’m not.”
“I don’t think that.”
“Well, maybe not you, but others do. Then half the palace staff acts like I’m going to keel over.”
Chevalier chuckled, “You sort of keep doing so.”
“Gah, it’s embarrassing,” Emily groaned.
“Why don’t you go join the Cavalry? They’re running through water drills today.”
“I quit the Cavalry, doesn’t anyone remember that?” she asked, crawling off of the bed.
“You can’t quit the Cavalry,” he reminded her, and then grinned.
“I can too.”
“Nope, it’s not allowed.”
“Fine, I’ll go… but not in uniform and not as a Commander. I’ll go to make sure they’re not abusing their horses,” she told him, and then disappeared into the bathroom to get ready. When she came out, Chevalier was gone and her breakfast was on the table. She ate quickly and then headed down to the stables to get her stallion.
“Where are your guards?” the front door guard asked.
Emily looked behind her. She hadn’t noticed that her guards were missing, “I actually have no idea.”
“Did you slip them?”
She glared at the door guard, “No.”
“Wait here while we find them then.”
“No, I’m heading out to the Cavalry.”
“Still…”
“I’m not going to get attacked between here and the pool,” she told him, and then headed out of the palace.
Halfway to the out-building, she heard a timid voice from behind her, “Lady Emily?”
She sighed and turned around to face a cowering heku, “Yes?”
“Please… may I speak to you for just a moment?”
“Sure, why not? Just don’t attack me, I’m not in the mood,” she told him, and crossed her arms.
“I beg of you,” he whispered, and then scanned the area closely. “Please, ask your Council to leave the Encala in peace so we can rebuild.”
“You’re Encala
?”
“Yes, M’Lady.”
“Did the Encala Council send you?”
“No, Ma’am. I was a member of a coven that was wiped out while I was away. The Encala are in ruins. I beg of you to stop the slaughter,” he whispered, still scanning the area.
“If you’re Encala, how did you get in here?” she asked suspiciously.
He sighed, “It’s taken me days to get in here. I had to wait until the front gate guards were occupied.”
“Well… I can’t influence the Council. If they are killing off the Encala, then I’m sure they had it coming.”
“You can influence them, though. It’s well known that you are not well and the Council will do what they can to make you feel better.”
“What do you mean not well? I’m fine.”
“Are you? You have a slight limp.”
“I hurt my foot.”
“If you say so.”
Emily’s eyes narrowed, “Ok, so spies have told you things… that still doesn’t mean I can influence the Council.”
“I beg you to at least ask them.”
“I’m not so sure I want them to stop.”
He gasped, “M’Lady, you are a friend to the Encala. Why would you not help us?”
“The Encala killed one of my Cavalry.”
“It was necessary.”
“For what!?” she screamed. “Don’t come ask me for help and then try to justify killing my friend.”
“Shhh, please…” he whispered, and slunk back slightly into the shadows of a lone pine tree.
“There’s no reason to have killed him. He was doing nothing more than watching that area. He wasn’t attacking anyone.”
“I apologize for that.”
“You killed him?” she asked, taking a step toward the trembling heku.
“No!” he whispered. “I wouldn’t do that. I couldn’t do that. Your Cavalry is too strong and well trained for one such as myself.”
“You know that you’re not leaving here, right?”
“Yes, I know I will be killed for being here.”
“Then why do it? You know that I’m not going to stop the attacks by the Equites Council,” she asked.
“I had to try. The Encala are falling and it is my duty to do what I can to make them strong again,” he told her.
“You do realize that the Encala Council already asked me, and that I refused?”
“Yes”
“Then why would I do so for you?”
Eternity of Vengeance (Extended Edition) : Book 7 of the Heku Series Page 40
