"I'm afraid I no longer wish to be near you. I have grown tired of your endless games." Lysette snapped, turning toward the groomsman arriving with her horse.
"Lysette, you've kept me waiting for so long. Is it so wrong for me to find someone to occupy my time?" Roth stammered.
"Occupy your time? So, Lady Farster was only a distraction? Is that what you consider a woman to be?" Lysette turned back, furious at the self-consuming Prince.
"I . . . No! Not at all. All I'm trying to say is that it's very difficult to wait to have your heart broken by a woman as beautiful as you!" Roth knew he had lost the battle, but he wouldn't relent.
"I'm not an innocent child that will hang on your every word, Roth. I’ve dealt with all sorts of people while in the Medical Relief Corp. Liars and deceivers were the worst of them all. You've abused my trust and friendship for the last time. I don't think there is any way you can earn it again." Slamming her long bow down on the small portable table the judges had vacated, she motioned for the groomsman to bring her horse. Then she galloped off toward the riding course that ran the circumference of the Regents estate.
As Katar and his entourage moved their horses down out of the mountains, they took in the view of the Regent's immense summer retreat in the valley below. The high, white stone wall that surrounded the estate and the large, green lawns within gave it the appearance of a palace than a summer home. Their three week journey through the mountains had left Hanlin exhausted. Katar's spirits had soared once they had begun sleeping under the stars again. Still, the disappearance of Commander Connor had caused him some concern. He had assumed that the Commander would head for the Summit after leaving the hunting party. Yet, the Chasm watch reported that no one had traveled through the pass in the last two weeks.
If Connor had become lost or turned back for Borel, so much the better as far as Katar was concerned. As Katar's thoughts went back to Bosen, he wondered if the small band of soldiers had found themselves facing the angry Commander along the trail. He decided to contact Eades after settling in at the Retreat, to make sure he and the others had arrived safely in Borel. Suddenly his thoughts went to Enda. By now the beautiful widow had discovered his generous gift of resolving her debts. He would have to make her understand; he would not repeat the favor. She would have to learn to control her finances. Perhaps Hanlin had been right; he knew she would be better off with someone who loved her. Reluctantly, he decided that upon his return to Borel, he would end their relationship.
Cap appeared on the widening trail beside him, pointing toward the stable area through the trees saying, "The men are all in agreement. Even though we may miss our welcome luncheon, we'd much rather swim in that huge bath house."
"I'd much rather you did, too." Katar wrinkled his nose in disgust.
"You're not so sweet smelling yourself, Your Grace.” Cap countered with a grin. "Especially in those filthy buckskins."
As they reached the gates, a messenger galloped toward the palace to deliver the news of their arrival to the Regent. Katars horse pranced when it saw the large clearing ahead, asking for some speed.
"Shadow wants some exercise. Is Steele up to it?” Katar challenged, receiving his answer as Cap charged off toward the stables. Katar pursued and they arrived together.
The remaining members of the troop followed at a slow canter, arriving as the grooms took the two large men's horses. Cap ordered the soldiers to assist the groomsmen as he helped Hanlin from his saddle. Frowning at the sight of the exhausted Advisor, Katar shook his head and sighed. “I was crazy to allow you to come, Hanlin. You're returning to Borel via helijet, no more mountain excursions for you old man."
"I’m too tired to argue.” Hanlin said quietly and headed toward the bath house a short distance from the stables bent on soaking away the pain from his overtired muscles. He stopped; abruptly as he noticed Lysette walking across the courtyard a short distance in front them. She was heading for the women's building. Hanlin was stunned by the resemblance she bore to her grandmother, he whispered softly, "Lady Nolan."
Coming up beside him, Katar followed his gaze, seeing only the door closing behind her. "Are you sure?" He asked, motioning for Cap.
"Yes, she looks just like her grandmother." Hanlin answered, still gazing at the closed door. The memories of Lady Moore flooded his mind, holding him in a trance. "You're going to have to tell me what hold Lady Moore has over you, Hanlin." Katar smiled, turning to Cap and talking quietly.
Cap's face filled with pleased surprise as he motioned for the soldiers to follow him. Cap and the three soldiers moved toward the back of the women's bath house. Katar boldly approached the front door. This was the chance he had hoped would present itself. We weren’t going to miss an opportunity to show the prudish Lady Nolan just how ill-mannered and unrefined Treborelan men could be. Not realizing what Katar had in mind, Hanlin followed slowly. Then, as he realized the men were headed toward the wrong spa, he hurried to catch Katar.
Changing into her robe Lysette crossed the large white steam filled room to the small pool, carved into the stone of the hot springs. She cringed when she saw the Regent's Mystic sitting at the side of the deep pool soaking her feet. The ancient woman looked unworldly, wrapped only in a long white towel. Her long, silver hair and black eyes accented her dark skin and deep, sultry voice. Deeply wrinkled with age, it was impossible to tell exactly how old the woman really was. Lysette smiled, remembering the night Alia had claimed to have witnessed the Great Destruction. That had been over a hundred years ago. It had left the planet scarred and frightened.
The Mystics appeared shortly after that. Alia's skin did bare the mark of severe burns. Lysette considered it a miracle that she had survived such an all-encompassing injury. It appeared her hands were the part of her body that remained unscarred.
"I have been waiting for you, My Lady." Alia's soft voice beckoned her nearer.
Quietly accepting the delay in her warm swim, Lysette sat down at the edge of the pool next to the Mystic. She wished, she had gone to her room and showered instead of indulging herself at the spa.
"Why would the Regent's Mystic have need of me? Are you ill?" Lysette surveyed the elderly woman, concerned.
"No, child, I have no need of your medical skills this day." Alia leaned over the steaming water and gestured for Lysette to do the same. "Stir the water, child, I would know more of you."
Believing Mystics to be profiteers and deceivers, Lysette expressed great concern when the Regent took an interest in the old woman. Lysette held her tongue only when her Uncle Sean had warned that anyone who showed disapproval toward Alia would be shunned by the Regent. So instead, she chose to stay close and watch for signs of deceit. As of yet, she had no reason to suspect Alia. Once again Lysette held her tongue and touched the water, stirring it with the tips of her long fingers.
Alia gazed deeply into the swirling steamy water and said, "Love is very near to you, child, yet you resist."
Suppressing the smile that threatened, Lysette suspected Alia had come to convince her of Roth's love. Wondering if Roth had asked a favor, she kept silent, waiting hear what yarn the old woman would spin. Her attention moved back to Alia as the old woman gasped, glancing quickly around the room in alarm and said, “I see a demon with royal blue eyes stalking you!” Alia peered back into the pool. "He speaks of love, yet has the eyes of death. There is blood all around you, twisted limbs and broken bones. One who is dear to you lies at your feet; his life is slipping from him."
"Alia, I have no confidence in Mystics, so these little tales of yours will do nothing to put you in my favor. I really must insist . . . “
"He is here!" Alia screamed, jumping to her feet, pulling Lysette up with her. "You must flee!"
"Alia! Calm down, there is no one here!" Lysette snapped at the crazed mystic. "You're going to slip on the stone floor and get hurt." A movement came from the back of the room and Alia spun to face the four men that emerged from the curtained room just beyond.
> "They are here for you! Run child!" Alia screeched, dragging Lysette toward the front of the spa.
Unnerved by the appearance of the filthy, animal-clad barbarians, Lysette allowed the Mystic to lead her toward the front door. The men began to coo and call to the two females as they reached the door, causing Alia to shove Lysette forward and directly into the arms of Katar.
"What's this? “ Katar asked, with a wicked grin. "A forest nymph come to welcome me to Lon Tesse with a kiss?"
He was equally filthy; his blonde hair was wild, giving him the look of a savage. His stench was a mixture of sweat and animal musk causing Lysette to struggle in his grasp, disgusted by the tall barbarian. Lifting her off the ground, Katar spun Lysette around out into the dim daylight. Fully intending to kiss the prissy young woman but he stopped as his eyes fell upon her face. Stunned by the bright green eyes and delicate features that glared at him in defiance, he hesitated.
Disgusted by the barbarian that held her; Lysette controlled her fear and plunged her knee deep into his stomach. As her feet hit the floor, Lysette grabbed Alia and ran from the doorway yelling for the guards. Seeing the expression of surprise on Katar’s face as he doubled over, Cap howled with delight. His loud guffaws mixed with that of the three other soldiers, as well as Katar’s own gasping laughter.
"Fiery wench!” Cap teased as he reached Katar, glancing past him. He noted the approach of the palace guards and soberly turned to warn his friend. "We have company and they don't look like a welcome party."
When the guards arrived, demanding an explanation, Lord Wills stepped forward and introduced Prince Katar. At the mention of his name, the guards drew back and allowed him to speak.
Katar explained, "I’m terribly sorry, we must have gotten confused. The men's bathhouses in Treborel are always located furthest from the main buildings, instead of closer as they are here. We were just as startled by the Ladies appearance as they were by ours, I can assure you." Katar smiled innocently, managing to control his amusement.
Accepting the explanation, the guards headed back to the palace where Lysette and Alia stood in the entry way. Gazing across the clearing as Lysette and the others disappeared inside, Katar rubbed his stomach, frowning. Perhaps he had made too rash a judgment of the Lon Tesse Surgeon? She was the most beautiful, feisty woman he had ever met. He shook the idea out of his head. There would be no living with Hanlin if he discovered Katar was truly intrigued by this blue-eyed Physician.
Pacing the length of Prince Roth's reception room, Alia waited impatiently for him to appear. What was she going to tell him? He should be warned about the Mountain Prince. There was a great disaster surrounding the Lady Lysette. She was in grave danger and the Treborelan was in the midst of the entire ordeal. It would anger Prince Roth to hear of this, but he had to be told if the girl was to be saved. The suite door opened and Prince Roth appeared.
Glancing around the room he spied Alia and stormed across to her saying, “What happened? I ask for one simple story to convince Lysette to marry me. All you had to do was tell her I was the only hope she had for happiness. Now I hear that you were screeching about demons and attacked by the entire Treborelan Delegation?"
Alia moved closer to him and said, “Your Highness, I tried to tell her of your love and future happiness. But as I gazed into the water, a true vision appeared. A tall man in the darkness, with an evil smile was calling her his love. Then a pair of eyes appeared, pools of blue hatred, filled with death. I saw her reflection in them. She was screaming with fear for him to stay away. "
"Alia . . .” Roth said with a sigh. He was wise to the Mystic's tricks and would not be fooled by a story of danger and death.
"I felt his presence, he was near. He was coming for her. I had to warn her!"
"Not another word!" Roth cut off her babble, "I know the extent of your abilities, remember? I brought you here. From now on you stick to your duties of keeping my mother under control. Stay away from Lysette, or you will find yourself revealed as a fake. My mother believes in your powers because I convinced her of them. Don't get too carried away with the role I created for you."
"I am not a false prophet, I have the power. “ Alia answered his threats calmly and with confidence. "I would not have come otherwise.”
"Go back to your room, Alia." Roth ignored her, heading for the door.
"Don't let the Prince of Treborel near her, My Lord. Or she will be lost to you!" Alia called after him, desperate for him to believe.
Lysette spent the afternoon hidden in her suite avoiding Roth’s lingering attention over the incident at the bath house. Lysette’s only reason for opening the door was the anticipated arrival of a servant bringing her dinner. Instead she was surprised to find Uncle Sean Nolan's tall form before her, with a smile of greeting.
“I've just returned from checking on our preparations for the Conference tomorrow. I understand you had an interesting experience this afternoon." He kissed her cheek quickly then moved past her to sit on the small sofa near her bed. When she didn’t answer, he turned back to study her face. When Lord Wills had come to his office to explain about the occurrence, Sean hadn't been concerned. Lysette was a confident, levelheaded young woman; he knew a simple misunderstanding, no matter how dramatic, would not affect her. Looking back across the room at his niece's dark expression, he wondered if Lord Wills had omitted something.
"Lysette?” He asked, firmly, motioning her near.
“They are filthy barbarians." She announced, closing the door and crossing to sit beside him. "Their stench and outrageous, insulting attitude combined with that crazy Mystic . . . I'm glad I didn't have my bow. I might have killed one of them." Taking a deep breath, she released her anger. She was more shaken than she realized. “Roth wants to offer me his protection. I’ve been avoiding him.”
Sean asked softly, "Roth? I thought you had decided not to see him again?" Sean scratched his dark, brown hair and smiled softly at her. It was hard to keep up with Lysette's personal life. Every available bachelor in Lavose had approached his beautiful niece, some for reasons of love. Others were professing love in an attempt to achieve a piece of her vast inheritance. Lysette was his only surviving relative. She would inherit all he had.
The worst of her suitors were the young gentlemen who had tried to use her to approach him about a political matter. None one them had gotten much further than the front door, except Prince Roth, and that had lasted only a few months. Sean approved when Lysette announced that their friendship had ended. Roth wasn't a bad fellow, he just wasn't worthy of Lysette. Sean knew he had the opinions of an over-protective father that was exactly what he had become. Since the day her father died, he had taken Lysette into his home. She was a small, frightened child. Shortly afterward, her grandmother's death had followed. Sean resigned his active commission in the Intelligence Service, to raise his brother's only child.
Lysette explained further, "Roth was here when Lord Wills came to explain the situation and apologize. After Lord Wills left, I couldn't get Roth to leave without hearing his opinion of the encounter." Nodding, Sean said, “I believe it was an accident. Even if it wasn't, there was no harm intended. They had been in the mountains for three weeks and were eager to wash the dirt and grime away. You can't blame them for dashing into the first bath house they saw. Lord Wills assured me that Prince Katar felt wretched about the incident and wishes to apologize to you in person. I've arranged a meeting before dinner in the library."
"I'm not going to dinner." Lysette answered sternly, "I'm exhausted from the tournament and the ordeal at the spa."
"Darling, they are Treborelan, just like your grandmother, my mother. She wasn't a barbarian. You and I both look very much like her, you more than I do. There's Treborelan blood running through your veins. You can't simply deny the Prince of a neighboring country simply because your pride has been injured." He squeezed her hand softly, surprised as she turned away from him. Concerned that she hadn't told him all that had happened at the bat
h house, he questioned her with determination. "Why are you so upset? You're not one to be put off by a simple embarrassment. Did one of them hurt you?"
"No, I'm not sure why I feel this way." Lysette answered, frustrated, "Alia was so frightened, she kept screaming about demons and death. I guess she shook me up more than I realized."
"You haven't started believing that old witch, have you? You're too level-headed for that. You got your common sense from your mother. Now I'm beginning to wonder if you got your father's stubborn streak." Sean teased smiling as she turned back to him frowning. "You know he was furious with me for not coming to visit after you were born. I was just so involved with my work that the years passed before I realized it. Suddenly you were six years old and your father was on the Communications screen telling me your mother had died. He couldn't forgive me for not being at the funeral. I can’t forgive myself. Your father was not just my brother, he was my best friend. We were arguing about family responsibilities when the tram derailed." Sean stopped as the vision of his brother's death flashed before his eyes. "I would have taken his place if I could have. I was horrified about taking care of you. But I found out that instead of a burden, you were a wonderful gift of love, one I cherish."
Cupping her chin in his hand, he frowned sternly and asked, "Now are you truly frightened or just being stubborn like your father?"
"You're a wicked man," Lysette accused with a smile, kissing his cheek. "Telling me such a beautiful story and then stabbing me with my faults." Sighing, she agreed, "I guess I am being stubborn. I just don't like foolish games and I can't get over the feeling that that's exactly what they were doing."
"Get dressed. When you talk to Prince Katar, I'm sure you'll feel better." Sean rose with a smile. Relieved she'd come to her senses, he left Lysette shower and dress.
He closed the door behind him, deep in thought. Perhaps it would be a good idea to keep an eye on this Prince Katar. Lysette was not one to exaggerate a situation or run from a fight. He must have intimidated her in some way. Sean silently vowed to personally escort the young Mountain Prince to the border if he showed Lysette anything less than the respect she deserved. Having heard of Prince Katar's reputation with women, he was fully prepared to take action.
Tempest Rise (Treborel) Page 6
