Confused about her nervousness, Lysette tried to calm herself. Slowing her pace, she wondered what it was about the events of the afternoon that had sent her into such a tizzy. Growing up with an Uncle who had been an important link in the Intelligence Chain of Lon Tesse had given her many advantages. One was the self-defense techniques he had constantly challenged her to master. It had been their favorite activity until he introduced her to the crossbow. Seeing her interest, he concentrated on teaching her all there was to know about the weapon. Lysette considered herself a confident, self-reliant person, priding herself on her independence.
She was infuriated by weak females, waiting for some strong man to come along before they felt their lives were complete. So why was she so apprehensive about facing this Mountain Rogue? She had dealt with Royalty all her life, titles and immense wealth meant nothing to her. If anything, she considered most of the Royal heirs she had come across to be self-concerned, overconfident and spoiled. There had been nothing unusual about this large man, except that he had been excessively filthy. She knew she had to confront her fears and defeat them. Once she saw he was just an ordinary man and not a demon, the nervous ache in her stomach would disappear.
Dressing in her pale, green shimmering evening gown, she piled her hair high up on her head. Then glancing briefly at her reflection in the mirror, she headed for the library. Finding Prince Roth's sparkling eyes smiling at her as she opened her door caused a frown to crease her determined brow. He had decided that the incident this afternoon had been a blessing, enabling him to assume the role of her protector. Then after dinner, he would sweep the beautiful Lysette off her feet with a pitiful apology. Smiling at the vision before him, Roth offered her his arm.
Her long blonde hair fell in ringlets down the back; about her neck. As his eyes fell to her plunging neckline and ample cleavage, he announced confidently, "I've come to escort you to dinner."
"I'm sorry, Roth, but I'm meeting my Uncle and Prince Katar. He wants to apologize for this afternoon's misunderstanding." She answered walking past him and heading down the brightly lit hall toward the open staircase.
"If you don't mind, I'd like to join you and make sure it truly is a formal apology that you receive." He followed, flashing a brilliant smile, not willing to be dismissed.
"That's not necessary, Roth," Was her only response. When he continued to walk with her, she decided it wasn't worth the argument and allowed him to accompany her down the stairs.
Above their heads hung an enormous chandelier, sparkling in the darkness of the stairwell. They reached the entrance way lavishly decorated in tan and deep brown, the colors of Lon Tesse. They headed for the library across the hall from the dining room. With Roth on her heels, Lysette stopped in the doorway as her Uncle glanced up and smiled. Frowning as he came to her side, Sean took Lysette’s hand and led her over to the fireplace. Prince Katar and Lord Wills rose from the high back chairs at their approach. The nervousness still plagued her, as she concentrated on her introduction to the tall Prince.
"Lady Lysette Nolan, we are humbled by your presence. You are most gracious to allow his Highness to meet with you." Hanlin spoke, bowing slightly.
Focusing on Lord Wills regal yet pointed nose, noting how perfectly it matched his long pointed chin, Lysette relaxed slightly. The charming Lord had made a great impression on her this afternoon when he so humbly asked for her forgiveness.
"How could I refuse such a gracious request?” She answered smiling back at him.
Turning to his side Lord Wills motioned toward Katar. "May I have the honor of introducing Prince Katar of Treborel?"
Chiding herself on her weakness, she forced her eyes to look up at the Prince before her. His attire was the formal, dark blue uniform of the Treborelan Air Command. It gave him an air of authority. His shoulder length, honey blonde hair was combed back away from his face. He looked a bit uncomfortable. Lysette suspected it was the uniform and not her presence that caused this. He didn't look like the sort of man who normally appeared in formal attire. He had looked more at home in the filthy animal skins she’d seen him in earlier.
Meeting his gaze, her heart jumped as she looked into a pair of the deepest blue eyes she had ever seen. The same intense fear welled up within her. His brilliant smile made it difficult for her to breathe. "The pleasure is mine, My Lady." He said, moving forward to take her hand and kiss it lightly, "I would like to offer my sincerest apologies and regrets for the terrible misunderstanding this afternoon. I hope we didn't cause you too much distress."
The sensation of his warm moist lips on her hand left her speechless. Touching her elbow in support, at her silence Sean moved closer. His touch brought back some of her senses and she managed a reply. "We've all experienced an embarrassing moment at least once in our lives, Your Highness. Most of them are best forgotten." The fear had lessened slightly and she managed a weak smile.
Katar answered, "I agree. Shall we put this incident behind us and begin again?" Katar answered, enchanted by her dark beauty. He found himself wanting to please her, much to his surprise. He didn't think it was possible for her to be even lovelier than when he had first seen her. Yet here before him stood a more beautiful and sensuous woman than he had ever known.
"I'd like that very much, Your Highness. “ Lysette smiled confidently, her fear had vanished.
"Then you must start by calling me Katar." He answered moving closer, still holding her hand.
Prince Roth, viewing the introduction from the doorway, was beginning to realize what Alia had meant by keeping Lysette away from this Treborelan Prince. As he watched, the man had captivated her in mere seconds, something he had been trying to do for the last six months. Entering the small group, Roth quickly placed himself between Katar and Lysette and announced, "Now that the apologies are over, I suggest that we join the others in the Dining Hall." Offering Lysette his arm, he smiled expectantly at her.
Sean Nolan stepped forward and answered him. "Your Highness, please forgive my thoughtlessness. I was so intent on this going well, that I've forgotten myself." Motioning to Katar, he introduced the Lon Tesse heir. "Prince Roth of Lon Tesse, I would like to present Prince Katar of Treborel and his Royal Advisor, Lord Hanlin Wills."
Turning around, Roth took Katar's hand silently and looked past him to address Hanlin. "Lord Wills, it is good to see you again. I'm afraid I was too concerned for Lysette's welfare when we met earlier to greet you properly." Finally, turning back to address Katar he added, "Welcome to Lon Tesse, Prince Katar. Lord Wills’ communiqué informed us of your impending arrival. He believes, as I do, that our meeting was long over-due."
Brushing aside the insult as Lord Wills was addressed first. Katar realized, the Prince was gracefully informing him that he didn't approve of his attention to Lady Lysette. Smiling at the challenge, he answered, "You are correct, Prince Roth. As future Sovereigns of bordering countries, we should make the most of this opportunity to get better acquainted and strengthen our friendship."
Then moving forward, he turned to Lysette. "Speaking of new friendships, would you honor me by escorting me to the Dining Hall? I'd hate to make another awkward appearance in the wrong room again."
Delighted by his offer, Lysette extended her arm and answered, "It would be my pleasure to help such a poor, lost soul." Crossing the hall just as dinner was announced; they found their assigned seats at the long dining table beautifully adorned with colorful flowers and candles. The Alliance members talked quietly among themselves. The large series of windows covering the western wall gave a breathtaking view of the beautiful amber sun peering out from behind an expanse of dark, gray clouds, before disappearing behind the mountains. A deep blue, velvet blanket of stars sealed the light away from the sky, before the dark clouds moved in to lock them away in their misty darkness.
The beauty of the growing night drew Lysette's attention for only a moment before she was drawn back to the Regent Dana Lands welcoming oration. The Regent was petite in stature;
her light brown hair was pulled back and braided into a halo around her head. She looked much younger than her fifty-five years. She had assumed the throne Regent, due to her father’s incapacitation. He had become bedridden due to a long battle with a mysterious illness, having lost the use of his mind and body.
The Regent introduced Prime Katar to the other Continental Alliance members, who had attended the Regent on several other occasions. She indicated that Prince Katar’s presence as the Treborelan representative of the newly formed Alliance had completed the summit party. They would begin as soon as the Bantorian Ambassador was able to attend them.
His arrival earlier that day had preceded Katar and his men. Yet, the Ambassador had claimed he was slightly indisposed and would join them when feeling better. 'The Regent summarized the agenda for the summit as the first course was introduced. Ambassador Airee of Ragal would begin the Summit with a presentation addressing the import/export difficulties that Nayr and Bantor were experiencing.
"For now, enjoy the fine art of Lon Tesse’s Master Chef." The Regent announced as the servants appeared with the main course. "There will also be a tour of my gardens this evening after dinner. I am most anxious to share my newest additions of fountains and sculptures with my guests."
The Master Chef had prepared the most exquisite delicacies from each of the five nations represented. The conversation that followed as the guests enjoyed the array of dishes centered on each country's harvest expectations and Treborel’s growing Solar Energy Market.
Lon Tesse supplied the helijet bodies, easily converting their old solid fuel heliport aircraft to fit Treborel’s specifications. Ragals rocky coastline on the River Ragal made available land space in which to build a factory to install the Gem System in the light weight frames. The three countries had begun to work together, only in the last decade. Each nation depended on the other as a result each invested significantly in the energy market. With the mention of the solar gems, Katar rose and presented the Regent with a large pink gem. "Treborel is the only country on the planet that can boast of not only the beauty of our land, but the brilliance of the gems it produces, most of which are colorless. Occasionally, a pale pink or amber stone can be found. In rare instances a deep blue or green can be obtained. These beautiful gems have no industrial use, but when properly cut and adorned, they transform even the loveliest of women into a vision of pure beauty. As I am sure you will be a most exquisite example."
Pulling the perfect gem from its case, Katar placed the long necklace around the Regent's neck. Toasts rang out to the Regent for her generous offer to host the Alliance and for Queen Sari, whose insistence and determination brought about the existence of the Continental Alliance. Dessert appeared, carried in steaming trays from the kitchens. The fruit and cream mixture from Nayr's orchards brought coos of delight from the pleased guests.
Amidst the merriment, Prince Roth, could no longer contain his concern that Lysette might be stolen away from him by the Mountain Prince. In an attempt to enlighten her, he began to inquire into the Treborelan way of life. "Prince Katar, I understand Borel is having problems completing the final conversion over to the Solar Gem System?"
"Not at all, Roth. We haven't run into any difficulties with our Energy System since it was installed nearly fifty years ago. It has run at low cost and maintenance since then. You may be referring to the recent removal of our natural gas holding tanks. We have not used them for nearly thirty-five years. It has only made sense to rid ourselves of the unsightly towers, since the Gem System has made them obsolete." Katar smiled across the table to Lysette, who sat beside Roth.
"Was I correct in believing that Commander Connor of the Bantorian Armies was to travel with you from Borel?" Roth inquired, gauging Lysette's reaction to Katar's bold gaze.
"He began the journey with us. Unfortunately, we were separated in the mountains and are still awaiting word, of his safe return." Katar answered politely, glancing briefly at Roth then turning back to smile brazenly at Lysette, he continued. "Lord Nolan tells me you are proficient with the longbow. Is that true?"
"Yes, but if you have doubts about my skills, you should ask Prince Roth. He is constantly devising new and more challenging targets for me. I believe he will continue to do so until I admit defeat." Lysette answered, smiling back at the Prince. In his presence, she found herself unusually self-conscious and slightly unsteady. The entire experience was extremely exasperating.
Encouraged, Roth brightened and declared, "I'm merely trying to sharpen your skills. Soon you'll exceed even the Regent’s best archers, and I shall gladly take credit for it.” He smiled at her, pleased he finally had her attention.
"Have you ever been hunting?" Katar continued addressing Lysette. "Treborelan hunters have used the long bow for centuries as our only means of protection in the wild. In the last fifty years we have taken up the compound bow" He had always believed most Lon Hessians to be over-educated and under-skilled where physical activities were concerned.
“I don’t think I could bring myself to kill a helpless creature for sport, no matter how big or ferocious they are. My Uncle can attest to my love of animals. During my childhood, I took it upon myself to care for all the creatures I came across. Through the years I had a large assortment of pets, including any injured, wild animals I found in the small woods on our property. My administrations to those creatures sparked an interest in medicine. I prefer to cure an injured animal, not kill it out of mercy."
Her honest answer registered disappointment on Katar's face. Seeing it she added, "I hope I haven't offended your sense of sportsmanship. I have no problem with hunting, if there is a purpose, such as for food. And the animals are not an endangered species or treated cruelly in any way.
"No offense taken, My Lady.” Katar replied, realizing he would prefer she had no taste for killing. No one should hunt for the joy of killing. It was a sport that was necessary to the health and survival of the animals.
"I understand that you organize Sraeb Hunts on a regular basis," Roth interrupted with an innocent smile. "In fact, you've actually made a national sport of it."
Meeting his eyes, Katar's smile vanished. "Yes, I do organize the hunts. The large beasts are dangerous and the population must be kept down. Although I do not consider it a national past time, it is a necessary protection for my people and yours. Can you imagine what would happen to your mother’s beautiful estate if several families of sraebs moved into the woods at the far edge? Your horse trails would have to be shut down in the fall during frenzy or I assure you people would die. The fall would become a time of fear and staying indoors as the large vicious creatures began to hunt for any meat source they could find. Not just wild animals, dogs, horses and yes, even people."
Knowing the subject to be close to Katar’s heart, Hanlin intervened, attempting to explain the reasoning behind the hunts more clearly. "Prince Katar has made it his duty to see that the people of Treborel are no longer threatened by the large temperamental sraebs. His father was killed attempting to save a family during a sraeb attack a little more than ten years ago." Trying to steer the conversation away from the hunt, Hanlin addressed Lysette. "Are you familiar with Sraebs, Lady Lysette?"
"I understand they are very large lean creatures that stay low to the ground when they attack which is very difficult to defend against. They have lithe feline type limbs and long, thick fur." She answered, surprised by the tension between the two Princes.
"Prince Katar, you are more familiar with the large beasts than I. Would you care to explain the population problem?" Hanlin turned next to him at Katar, hoping Lysette would distract him from Prince Roth's remarks.
Katars eyes moved slowly from Roth to Lysette's delicate features. As their eyes met, his anger vanished and he explained, "When I was first learning to hunt, the elk population excelled due to a series of mild winters. As a result the sraeb also flourished, elk being its primary food source during 'frenzy'. No one was concerned with such a large population of gia
nt carnivores roaming freely in the high mountains. When the drought began several years later, the elk became diseased and died in huge numbers. That fall when the Sraeb turned from herbivores to the crazed carnivorous beasts that devour every living thing in their path, they found their food source virtually nonexistent. We call this period of late fall ‘Frenzy’. The sraeb were larger and stronger than ever before, due to the previous years of gorging on the immense elk population. They came down from the mountains in hordes, some measuring five meters or more in height. They attacked villages and farms. Killing anything they came across. Horses, cattle, men, children became a food source. My father help formed several large hunting parties. Each took a section of the populated areas of Treborel and began to purge the mountains of the animals that had become monsters. It was the last time I ever saw him." Katars eyes grew distant as he continued. "His heroic death was to be a young boy's consolation. He threw himself between a sraeb and a small child, trading his life for hers. He killed the beast with his hunting knife, but his injuries were too severe to sustain him until a Healer arrived."
The hall had grown silent, enthralled by Katar’s tale. The memories of that night overwhelmed him. Whispering softly, he finished "The hunts are for him. It became my duty to see that no other son or daughter need be consoled by a parent's bravery in death."
Unaffected by Katars story of his father’s death, Roth asked, "So it was actually the lack of proper medical care that caused your father’s death?" Katar's eyes turned to blue ice as Roth continued. "We all know that Treborel has no Physicians or Surgeons. Isn't that correct?"
Never before had Hanlin seen Katar so filled anger, Hanlin wished desperately that Cap had not chosen to remain with the soldiers. It was Cap's wit and easy attitude that usually pulled Katar from the type of hostility that he now displayed.
Tempest Rise (Treborel) Page 7
