She wanted to laugh at the thought. Her? Protected by the gods? She was a religious woman but never would she say the gods offered her any greater favor than they did the rest of her people. But it did little good to argue. If anything, she was grateful for Ramis’s high opinion. If the Namiren King was spiritual in the least, a belief that she was somehow greater than a mere mortal might improve her image and increase the willingness of the Namiren people to offer their assistance.
“Tell me of your King,” she stated, calm and polite, hoping Ramis wouldn’t take offense to the change in subjects. As much as she enjoyed the unexpected flattery, there were more pressing matters at the moment than feeding her ego.
“My King?” Ramis eyed her curiously. “What do you wish to know of him?”
Chin lifted, she thought desperately over how to word her questions without sounding foolish. Just because she knew so little of the Namirens didn’t mean she had to make her ignorance obvious. “You skillfully speak the language of the humans, but that is to be expected of one who has been immersed heavily in Carpaen culture. What of your King? Does he speak a common language which will be understood by everyone present at the audience?”
The corner of Ramis’s mouth curled up, twitching slightly at Kaori’s question. “He will understand some of what you say though translation is a large part of why I accompany you. Do not worry.”
His assurances did little to ease Kaori’s mind at the thought of conducting business with someone she wouldn’t be able to speak with directly. Words could be easily lost in translation. But Ramis appeared an intelligent man and willing to collaborate. She had to let go of her doubt and trust that he wouldn’t do anything to sabotage the alliance between their people. With a strained smile she gave a slight nod, hoping that would suffice for a response. Nerves were getting the better of her. Diplomacy was more work than her friends made it out to be.
“Shall we be on our way?” Liurn’s voice broke through the awkward silence, his sturdy figure moving to take his place at Kaori’s side. She glanced over to him, grateful for the interruption, anxious to get on the road. She wasn’t sure how long it would take to reach the Namiren palace – if there was a palace at all. It was habit to assume all governments functioned the same as Carpaen. The hard truth was that foreign customs would no doubt be different from everything she was taught as a child – and she was running blindly into the middle of it all.
Ramis gave no argument, acknowledging Liurn’s words with a sharp nod of his head. “Yes, we should make haste. Where the King is concerned, punctuality is far better than tardiness.”
As he finished speaking Ramis extended his arm to Kaori with an expectant eye. She stared at it for a moment, not fully registering his intent. What did he want from her? She had nothing to give. Is it customary to bring a gift for the King… Her thoughts trailed off at the sight of another insistent motion from Ramis’s arm, urging her to accept it. Embarrassed, she diverted her gaze, praying he wouldn’t notice the redness in her cheeks as she wrapped her arm around his elbow to allow him to escort her outside. Stupid! They had yet to leave the house and she was already making mistakes. It didn’t bode well for the rest of her day.
Liurn pushed open the door in front of them, a strong burst of cool, salty air greeting Kaori, feeling good against her skin. It had been so long since she was able to enjoy the outdoors. But this was different. She wasn’t in Carpaen anymore. For the first time in her life she saw what the world looked like outside the country she had called home since the day of her birth, experiencing a brief sense of wonder before having to return her focus on business.
Namorea reminded her of northern Carpaen, in many ways. Trees were plentiful, their full branches and radiant green leaves providing a slight canopy over the group as they made their way to the carriage. Awed by the beauty of Ramis’s estate, Kaori paid little attention to the luxurious vehicle Ambassador Valdur helped her to climb inside, staring out at the mountains in the distance. It was absolutely beautiful. Breathtaking in the way the countryside sprawled in every direction, appearing as though Ramis’s home was the only residence within miles.
She was only vaguely aware of the carriage door closing, the casual discussion between Ramis and Liurn nothing more than a soft din to Kaori’s ears where she sat, deep within her own thoughts. Outside the scenery passed by the window at a quickened pace, indicating the horses had been set into motion. Given a moment of peace, she found her thoughts drifting away from the surrounding forests. In every line of trees she couldn’t help seeing the lush greenery of Siundel in her mind. Just the thought of the Losuva property brought with it memories she’d long tried to push back since she last saw Therek. All the confusion. The ache in her chest. Namorea felt empty without him. There was something about his stern and austere features which brought her comfort. Even when the world felt as though it spun out of control, he had a way of making it stop.
From the moment he left Kaori had tried not to think about him. The memory of his face reminded her of how she felt while lost in the passion of Therek’s arms. She didn’t know how to cope with the unusual emotions. He had kissed her. The memory remained vivid in her mind, the way his lips felt while pressed against hers. Just the thought made her heart race, her hand rising to rest against her chest to try and ease the heavy thud beneath her breast. Never before had she experienced anything like that moment. Like electricity coursing between their bodies. Had her health been in a better state, she feared whether she would have been able to bring herself to stop. The gods knew she didn’t want to push him away. But she had – and now she was left to suffer the uncertainty of what their friendship had become. If it even still existed.
How did two people come back from something like that? A moment of passion beyond anything either of them could explain, only to then depart one another’s company without a definitive answer as to what it meant. She loved him. Her experience with the emotion was minimal but she knew this torturous feeling in her heart couldn’t be anything else. The question lay in how he felt about her. He didn’t express love – at least not in so many words. His response had been centered around friendship. He cared about her. Didn’t want to complicate their current situation. She just didn’t understand how he could think their actions didn’t already complicate things.
Tearing her eyes away from the window she swallowed hard to choke back the knot building in her throat. She couldn’t cry. Not in front of Ramis. And Liurn… she hated the thought of trying to explain herself to him. Liurn’s feelings posed the same problem now as it did the day she first heard the admission of love come from his mouth. His assistance in the rebellion was crucial. Toying with his emotions wasn’t a chance she wanted to take, fearful that he might take offense and abandon their cause. His support was what had given her the courage to head this rebellion from the start. She never meant to lead him into believing she felt anything more than friendship when in his company. Liurn was a good man. A loyal friend. She admired his strength and tenacity. But if she wasn’t careful, she risked hurting him in ways she didn’t want to consider.
Uncomfortable at the thought, she cast a hesitant glance to where Liurn sat casually by her side, his face practically glowing as he caught her eye. Something in the depths of his joyful gaze widened the pit in her stomach. He looked so happy next to her. Proud. She dreaded the day when Liurn might convince himself to personally express the sentiments which she overheard from her hiding place while in Siundel. She wasn’t sure how she would react. The matter was too delicate for a woman like her. Eloquence of speech wasn’t something she possessed any amount of skill with. Knowing her luck, she would say something hurtful which would unintentionally chase Liurn away forever – not that she believed he would want to remain in her company anyway if he discovered his feelings weren’t reciprocated.
Wanting to ensure an image of confidence she kept her chin up, eyes locked on the windows to observe the passing landscape. It was better if she didn’t allow her min
d to wander. It seemed pointless to dwell on a possible confrontation which may never come to pass. There was a good chance she wouldn’t have to worry about her feelings toward either man. Nothing guaranteed Therek’s safe return from Carpaen. He was on a suicide mission while Kaori and Liurn played the game of politics in Namorea. If Therek didn’t survive, she and Liurn would still press onward into battle where they both could die at the hands of their enemy. So many people whom she claimed to love had met their death because of her. Therek was already at risk. Letting Liurn close would only serve to place him in greater danger as well. Maybe it’s safer if you keep your distance from everyone…
By the time the horses began to slow Kaori was mentally exhausted, unable to enjoy the exquisite architecture of the building Ramis announced as the Namiren palace. Had they really traveled so long? Judging by the sun’s position in the sky she’d lost the better part of an hour to her chaotic thoughts. Pulled back to the reality of the task at hand, she blinked to clear the haze which had settled over her vision, straining to get a better look at the King’s home.
The structure was impressive, though not to the same extent as Therek’s home in Siundel. It was constructed of heavy stone, a large imposing gate stretching around the perimeter, completely concealing the lower portion of the palace from view. Guards could be seen on either side of a massive arched entryway, spears visible in their hands to deter hostile visitors from getting too close. At the sight of Ramis exiting the carriage one of the men began to approach, abandoning his post to peer curiously into the vehicle where Kaori remained.
Words were exchanged between Ramis and the guard, their meaning lost to Kaori in the strange, somewhat harsh syllables of the Namiren language. Hearing the two men speak rekindled Kaori’s concerns regarding the meeting with the King, fidgeting nervously to think of all the ways a simple miscommunication could destroy the alliance Therek clearly placed so much effort into building. She wasn’t ready for this. In all honesty, she wasn’t convinced she ever would be.
Seeming satisfied by something Ramis said, the guard turned to motion toward the other man at the gate, his tall figure stepping to one side to grant the carriage passage. Ramis remained outside as the vehicle rocked into motion again, slower than before, more conscious of their surroundings. Startled by a soft pressure on her hand Kaori looked down to see Liurn’s fingers gently clasping hers, giving a light squeeze to draw Kaori from her reverie. “This is incredible,” he breathed, bringing his other hand across to slide under Kaori’s palm. “I never dreamed I would find myself in Namorea, let alone at the home of their King.”
She stiffened at his touch, afraid to let him see her too comfortable in his presence. He was more bold than she remembered. The forwardness of his actions made her uneasy. Staring past him, she tried not to make eye contact, careful in her choice of words to avoid giving Liurn the impression that she welcomed his affection. “It is too bad we could not have visited under better circumstances.”
If Liurn took note of Kaori’s sudden change in demeanor, he didn’t show it, his grip tightening over her hand briefly as the carriage once again came to a stop. Lost in whatever thoughts ran through his head, he released her to excitedly push open the door before Ramis could reach them, nearly striking the coachman where he approached in his duty to see Kaori from the vehicle. Kaori’s eyes rolled heavenward, embarrassed by the display. Liurn was supposed to be there to make her look better. Instead, he was accomplishing nothing other than adding stress to her already frayed nerves and tarnishing the image of the Vor’shai before they even set foot on the palace grounds.
Annoyed by the antics of her friend as Liurn showered apologies on the coachman, Kaori took the liberty of seeing herself from the carriage, not waiting for the men to take note of her and offer a hand in assistance. Perhaps it was better this way. Formalities in society had a way of making a woman appear weak and fragile. Delicate. Reliant on men to help them in everything they did. Precisely what she wanted to avoid in front of the Namiren nobles.
At her emergence from the carriage Liurn turned from the coachman in bewilderment, his hand extending toward her moments too late as Kaori’s slippered feet came to rest on the stony surface of the palace courtyard path. His expression fell at her dismissal of his outstretched hand, somewhat flustered by the slight. “I… I am sorry, Kaori.”
Guilt crept over her to see Liurn look so miserable. His feelings for her were so obvious in everything he did. It was astonishing she never noticed it before. He had a good heart. One she hated the thought of breaking. She would have to be clever in order to think of a response which would console his mind while not giving him hope. “There is no need to apologize,” she smiled, conscious of every detail in her expression to make sure she appeared nonchalant without indicating affection. “The King is waiting. Given your preoccupation, I thought I could save time by doing some things for myself.”
Before Liurn could say anything in response Ramis found his way to them again, an inquisitive glint in his eye as he looked Liurn over, shaking his head in mild amusement. Kaori wanted nothing more than to crawl back inside the carriage and hide. Ramis had undoubtedly witnessed Liurn’s spectacle with the coachman. The Namirens would never take the Vor’shai seriously if Liurn didn’t regain his senses, and quick.
“Your Grace,” Kaori cut in, hoping to distract Ramis and direct his attention toward her. After all, it was her the King desired to see. Not Liurn. “I believe we are ready, if the King will accept us.”
“Ah, yes,” Ramis settled his gaze on Kaori, seeming to only just remember she was there. “I will escort you into the palace and announce your arrival to the King. If you both will follow me.”
Not giving Liurn a chance to offer his arm, Kaori kept her eyes locked on Ramis, falling into step behind him to make her way into the palace. Without the gate blocking her view she could see the details of the structure better, noting the building to have no windows along the lower levels. Upon closer inspection she began to understand why. There was no glass in the frames which could be seen further up. Nothing to offer the most basic protection from outsiders as well as the elements. It seemed odd, given that the Namiren landscape was more prone to inclement weather than the warmest areas in Carpaen. The mountainous regions of Namorea were known for cold winters and bouts of rain. This building was more suited for the desert. But it wasn’t her place to question the Namiren methods. It was possible they had found other means to guard against the elements. She hadn’t been there long enough to claim she knew anything with any certainty about her allies.
Inside, the palace looked more like the Imperial residence of Carpaen than she expected. The main hall was decorated with statues of what Kaori assumed were Namiren soldiers, their broad shoulders and muscular physiques accentuated with every detail applied by the artists’ hands. Paintings lined the walls depicting the predecessors of the King, each portrait drawn with expert precision, the jewels on the crowns practically glittering in the light. Kaori found herself wondering if it was all truly paint or if actual gemstones had been applied to produce the effect she saw before her now.
Ramis led them down a long corridor, coming to pause outside a large squared doorway which spanned the height of the wall nearly to the ceiling. It was heavy, constructed of a dark, durable wood, the grain-work of the natural material giving a beautiful finish to the entryway. In awe of the craftsmanship, Kaori stared up at the imposing sight, only vaguely registering Ramis’s request for her and Liurn to remain there until he returned with word from the King. He had already stepped through the door before Kaori lowered her gaze to Liurn, unable to conceal the wonder which filled her at the realization of where she was. “It is more beautiful than the throne room in Eykanua,” she breathed.
Equally entranced by their surroundings Liurn gave a distracted nod, inhaling a long breath before giving a reply. “Are you sure you are ready for this?”
“Do I have a choice?” Kaori raised her brow in Liurn’s dire
ction.
Liurn settled his eyes on Kaori, seemingly unaware that her question had been in jest. He appeared discontent. Frustrated by some hidden detail about her question which crawled under his skin. “Just because Therek told you to do something doesn’t mean you have to do it. He may be an emperor on paper but that doesn’t give him any hold over you.”
Amazed by the harshness of Liurn’s tone Kaori stared at him, a wash of anger coming over her to think that after all Therek had done to aid their cause, Liurn continued to hold onto the ridiculous grudge which caused him to behave like a juvenile whenever he spoke of Therek. “He didn’t tell me to do anything,” she stated coolly, keeping her voice low to avoid being overheard by anyone in the throne room. They had come too far to let Liurn’s foolishness interfere with their plans now.
“What is the difference?” he argued. “That man has everyone convinced he’s some great and powerful leader. He plays games with people, knowing they will do anything he asks without question. Why give orders when you can maintain a pristine image by convincing people they are making their own choice which just happens to be in your favor?”
“You have it all wrong…”
“No, I’m the only one who sees through his charade.”
Appalled, Kaori’s mouth hung open, disgusted by Liurn’s remarks. “How can you say these things when you know that man saved your life?”
“He saved nothing –”
“Damn you, Liurn,” Kaori stepped forward, fists clenched at her sides, fighting back the urge to slap her friend. At times Liurn was capable of grating on her nerves worse than anyone other than Sulel and his minions. Why did he have to choose this time and place to use his talent in testing her composure? “If Therek hadn’t granted you refuge, you know the soldiers would have had you in that cell alongside me. Is this how you repay him? By insulting him behind his back?”
The Myatheira Chronicles: Volume Four: In the Beginning Page 69
