Kingdom of Shadows

by K M Reynolds

  The door to the cottage flung open and Adelaide stumbled out, rushing toward them. Her eyes were wide and her cheeks were tear-streaked, and she seemed to be having trouble catching her breath as she spoke.

  “What happened?”

  lake lemange

  C harles dismounted and gingerly took Cambria’s body into his arms and slid off Senaris’ back. Cambria winced, inhaling sharply as her leg jostled. Charles turned to the wide-eyed Wynne and Adelaide, motioning with his chin towards the cottage.

  “We need to get her inside as soon as possible,” he said as he began walking towards the open door. “She’s in bad shape.”

  “What happened?” Adelaide asked again, her brows furrowing as she looked at her friend lying helpless in Charles’ arms.

  “I’ll tell you inside.” Charles swept through the door and stopped dead in his tracks, staring at the room around him. “What…”

  “It took me by surprise, too,” Adelaide reassured him. “Lay her down here, on the cushions.”

  Wynne finally spoke, her voice ringing with authority. “Yes, right there is fine. Put her down and back up. I need to have a look at these injuries.”

  Cambria smiled weakly as Charles set her down, steeling herself against the pain. “Hey, Addie. I’m sorry for running off like I did.”

  “Not now, Cam,” Adelaide chided gently as she knelt next to the couch. “You’ve been through enough. No need to apologize.”

  “No, I really do. I was really stupid and reckless, and he saved me.” She motioned to Charles and gave another lopsided grin as her eyelids fluttered. “Without him, I would have been a Woodlyn ’s dinner. I owe him my life. Figures he was the reason I went in there, and he’s the only reason I’m alive right now…” her voice trailed off as she lost consciousness, her body relaxing against the soft cushions.

  “Cam? Cam!” Adelaide gently shook her friend, attempting to rouse her. “Cam, wake up!”

  “Let her sleep.” Wynne’s voice was gentle as she rested a hand on Adelaide’s arm. “She needs to heal, and sleep will only help.”

  “Is she going to be ok?” Adelaide’s eyes filled with tears and she turned to look at Charles. “What happened out there?”

  “Yes, Brennan, do tell us.” Wynne never looked away from Cambria as she gently examined her, but her voice was frosty. “How did Cambria come to be in this state, and you unharmed?”

  Charles sighed deeply and ran a hand through his thick hair. “I understand why you don’t trust me, and why this looks bad. But Addie, I promise I would never hurt Cam. You know that, don’t you?” He reached for Adelaide’s hand and she retreated, moving beyond his reach. His shoulders slumped and he hung his head. “I suppose you don’t know that.”

  “Charles, what happened?” Adelaide repeated, crossing her arms in front of her body.

  “She had wandered into The Tangle. I stuck to the shoreline of the lake, as Wynne instructed. I never would have found her if she hadn’t called out for me. She heard me calling her, and replied. She was following my voice out of the Tangle when she fell.” He motioned to Cambria’s mangled ankle. “That’s how she hurt her leg. She was pretty close to the edge of the trees by that point, so I ran in after her and carried her out.”

  “Well, what did she mean by Woodlyn bait? We heard a howl. You didn’t see one, did you?”

  “Yeah, one of those nasty fellows thought we would make a good meal. He followed us and tried to attack just outside Wynne’s property line. He scratched Senaris up pretty good, but we crossed into safety before he could do any fatal damage.”

  “Senaris is injured?” Adelaide’s shrill cry echoed through the room as she jumped to her feet. “Why didn’t you say anything? Poor thing is out there alone and hurt!”

  Charles nodded, gesturing toward the door. “When we first arrived, I mentioned that Senaris was injured. But with Cam’s injuries, it makes sense that his were overlooked.”

  Adelaide cast a longing glance at the door before turning back to her unconscious friend. Wynne smiled gently, nodding towards the door.

  “I’ve got Cambria, there’s nothing more you can do here. But you can certainly tend to your horse. Don’t feel guilty. Your friend is in good hands.”

  That was the only nudge Adelaide needed and she flew out the door and into the yard. Senaris was standing patiently where they had left him, his flank still streaming blood from the deep gashes.

  “Oh, you poor thing!” Adelaide gently ran her hands across Senaris’ broad neck as he nickered softly. “I’m here now. Let’s get you patched up.”

  Adelaide led Senaris through the darkened yard to the small barn that stood on the other side of the campfire. As they passed the smoldering embers, she grabbed a branch and dipped the end into the flames, creating a small torch. She swung the barn door opened and smiled wryly, tossing her makeshift torch back onto the campfire behind her. I should have known I wouldn’t need it.

  The inside of the barn was enchanted, just like the house. While the outside looked big enough for 4 stalls, the inside boasted a horse, four cows, a small pen of goats, a henhouse, a few empty stalls, and a large grain room. Several glowing orbs floated in the rafters, filling the barn with a soft, warm light. A large grey cat sat on the railing of one of the empty stalls, licking her paw. She eyed Adelaide warily before jumping down from her perch and strutting to the far side of the barn.

  Adelaide led Senaris to an empty stall and began to remove his tack. Once all the gear had been removed, she turned her attention to his wounds.

  “Oh, sweet boy. This must hurt so badly.”

  She strode to the tack room and quickly returned with witch hazel, a healing balm, and some large strips of linen cloth. She went to work cleaning the deep gashes and bandaging them as well as she could. When she reached the last deep laceration, she gasped. Through the ragged flesh, she could see Senaris’ hip bone. She turned on her heel and fled the barn, rushing through the yard to Wynne’s house. She burst through the door, her words cascading over her lips like a waterfall.

  “Wynne, do you have anything I can use to suture with? I have a needle and thread in my pack, but I don’t know if it will be strong enough.”

  Wynne didn’t respond, and Charles motioned to Adelaide to come look at what she was doing. Adelaide approached them, ready to ask again for supplies. What she saw stopped her in her tracks. Wynne’s eyes were closed and her face was tense. Her hands hovered over Cambria’s mangled foot, and as Adelaide and Charles watched breathlessly, a soft purple glow was radiating from her hands. As the violet light kissed Cambria’s skin, bit by bit, the ankle was healing. Adelaide’s mouth hung open in shock as she watched Wynne slowly knitting Cambria’s flesh and bone back together. As the last bone fragment returned to its proper place and the last split in the skin closed, the purple light vanished and Wynne’s eyes snapped open. She turned to the shocked duo, a small smile floating over her lips.

  “I still need to wrap it, and she will need to take it easy for a few days because it will be tender. But the worst is mended.”

  “How—” Adelaide couldn’t find the words to finish her question.

  “Have you forgotten who you came to find here at The Lake? You sought the greatest sorceress in the Kingdom, and you’ve found me. My power isn’t limited to concealment charms and boundary spells, Your Highness. You have no idea the depth of my power, but you will learn more in time.”

  “So, you can heal wounds then?” Charles had found his voice, and his eyes danced with hundreds of unanswered questions.

  “Obviously.” Wynne stood, her long skirts swirling around her legs. “Now, what was it you needed, Princess?”

  Adelaide hesitated, unsure if she should repeat her request for supplies or ask Wynne to heal Senaris. “Well, I’ve managed to bandage most of Senaris’ wounds, but…”

  “But one is too deep, am I right? So you needed something to suture with, but now you want to know if I can heal your horse like I healed your friend.
”

  “How did you…” Adelaide stared at Wynne, incredulous.

  “Like I said, you cannot even begin to grasp my powers, Princess.” She laughed, gliding towards the door. “Reading people’s energy is one of them. Let’s go take a look at your horse. I’ll see what can be done.”

  Adelaide turned to Charles as Wynne swept out the door and into the darkness. They stared at each other for a few seconds before Charles broke the silence.

  “Well, she certainly seems like the real deal.”

  “Seems like? Charles, I’ve never even heard of magic like this before. If this sort of thing was so common, why don’t the people of Echaria know about it now?”

  Charles sighed, hanging his head. “If I had to guess, I would say my father. He seemed pretty adamant about wiping away any remnants of the old kingdom.”

  “Even wonderful, useful things like magic?”

  “As I’ve said before, the man truly is a monster. He needs to be destroyed.”

  Adelaide nodded, glancing at Cambria. “I want to go see if Wynne can help Senaris, but we shouldn’t leave Cam here alone. Do you mind?”

  “Not at all.” Charles smiled and gently took Adelaide’s hand in his own. “Whatever you need, my love. I want to redeem myself to you, and show you that while I lied about my identity, my feelings for you have always been genuine. Our souls belong together.”

  “We will see about that,” Adelaide replied, shaking her head and removing her hand. “I’m just having a hard time trusting you.”

  “I understand, but—”

  “I’ll be back,” she cut him off. “Keep an eye on her, and shout if she needs anything.”

  Adelaide turned and hurried out the door without another word, her heart fluttering in her chest. When she looked into Charles’ eyes, it had taken all of her strength not to melt into his arms. Despite his deception, she was attracted to him in a way that she couldn’t explain or rationalize. I should be enraged and repulsed by him, but all I can think about are his lips on mine, and his arms around me. What is wrong with me? Her thoughts returned to Senaris as she entered the barn, and she clutched her hands in front of her as she approached the stall.

  Wynne was already working her magic, the purple glow shimmering against Senaris’ sleek black hide as the grey cat purred and wove her way around Wynne’s ankles. Senaris chuffed gently as Adelaide entered the stall. Wynne glanced up as Adelaide approached.

  “I’ve got some good news! He’ll be good as new in a minute. This was a fairly simple flesh repair. Broken bones take a lot more time and energy.”

  Adelaide sighed in relief, stroking Senaris’ thick neck. “Thank you, Wynne! I appreciate it.”

  “It’s my pleasure, Princess. When I’m done here, you’ll be able to remove the other bandages as well. There will be no need for them.”

  “Oh, you mean to say you’ve healed all of his wounds?” Adelaide’s eyes widened in surprise. “I thought you were only healing the one!”

  “That wouldn’t make much sense, would it? Why only heal one when I can heal all?” Wynne smiled. “Why don’t you go back inside and sit with Cambria? I’ll be in shortly.” She paused, glancing down at the cat who was still moving figure-eights through her legs. “And take Juniper with you. She’s going to make me trip and fall if she keeps this up! She probably is looking for food. Check the kitchen and just give her whatever you think she’d like. She’s not fussy.”

  Adelaide nodded and gave Senaris a few pats on the neck. “Feel better, friend.” She scooped up Juniper and ambled back to the house, her mind wandering back to her predicament with Charles as she crossed the yard. I can’t avoid him completely, so what should I do? Forgive and forget? She bit her bottom lip and furrowed her brows. No, I need to keep him at arms length until I can be absolutely sure I can trust him again. I’ve got to trust my head on this one, instead of my heart. She entered the house and Charles stood to his feet, that familiar smile lighting up his face as he gazed at her. Juniper leapt from her arms and scurried into the kitchen, meowing softly. Adelaide took a deep breath, clenching her fists at her sides as butterflies filled her stomach. This is going to be hard.

  The next morning, Adelaide was jolted from her sleep by the sound of a rooster crowing. Her gaze roamed the bedroom as her heart rate steadied. She had slept soundly through the night for the first time in weeks, undisturbed by nightmares. The first hints of sunlight were tinting the sky, and the faint melodies of bird songs echoed over the still lake. The bedroom was simply furnished, with a plain wooden dresser against one wall and the bed on the other. Each of the travelers had their own room at the house, and Adelaide’s thoughts turned to Cambria. I hope she slept well last night.

  Cambria hadn’t regained consciousness by the time everyone went to bed, so Charles had carried her into her bedroom and Adelaide had tucked her in. After Cambria was settled in her bed, Adelaide returned to the main room with Wynne and Charles. They sat up talking about plans and preparations for a few hours, until Adelaide’s eyes threatened to close on their own.

  She had retreated to her room and climbed into the bed, amazed at how soft and firm the mattress was. It was like floating on a cloud. The last thing she remembered before falling asleep was the sound of crickets chirping happily by the lake. Now, in the early light of dawn, Adelaide felt rested and refreshed. She swung her legs to the edge of the bed and stood slowly, raising her arms above her head in a languid stretch. A soft knock at the door made her start.

  “Who is it?”

  “It’s me, Addie,” Charles voice came through the door. “Can I come in?”

  “Yes, you may,” Adelaide replied, sitting back down on the bed.

  Charles slowly opened the door and peeked in, his gaze roaming the room. “Good morning, I hope you slept well.”

  “I really did! I suppose I shouldn’t be surprised, but I still am. Even in the nicer inns, I woke with a small ache or twinge. Not this morning—I feel superb.”

  “Same here. I was expecting to feel the strain from our journey, but it’s almost like it was…”

  “Washed away.” Adelaide finished his sentence.

  “Yeah, that’s it.” He smiled and sat on the bed next to her. “Have you heard anything from Cam?”

  “No, you are the first person I’ve seen today. Did you check her room?”

  Charles grinned sheepishly. “Honestly, I couldn’t remember which room she is in, and I didn’t want to disturb Wynne, so I haven’t tried.”

  “Well, we can go find her together, if you are ok with that.”

  “Sounds good.”

  The duo stood simultaneously and headed out the door, quietly making their way through the still corridors of the house.

  “That way is the main room,” Adelaide whispered, “so this must be the way to Wynne’s. I remember this twisting staircase from last night.”

  “You are right. I think her room is just beyond here.”

  They crept up the hallway until they reached the door. Adelaide pressed her ear to the door, hoping to hear some activity that would give her a clue if Cambria was inside. She heard nothing.

  “I don’t know if this is it, Charles. I feel like it is, but I don’t hear anything, not even snoring! Maybe we should just wait in the main room for her to wake up.”

  “Good call. I really don’t think we should be snooping and opening up random doors… who knows what we could find here. I think I’ve had enough surprises to last me a lifetime, although I’m sure there are plenty more to come.”

  “You’re telling me,” Adelaide muttered as they turned and headed back to the main room. As they entered the large room, Adelaide’s eyes widened. Cambria and Wynne were seated on the floor, facing each other with their hands joined in front of them. A soft orchid light seemed to dance around them, enveloping them in a hazy glow. Cambria’s face held a peace that Adelaide hadn’t seen in a long time. She and Charles stood there for several minutes, gaping as they observed the duo in their tranc
e. Finally, the light faded and the women opened their eyes.

  “Good morning, sleepyheads!” Cambria smiled at her companions. “How was your sleep?”

  “Sleepyheads?” Adelaide replied incredulously. “We are up with the dawn! What time did you wake up?”

  “The stars were still singing in the heavens when I woke up! But don’t worry—it’s only because I went to sleep several hours earlier than you did.” Cambria winked at Adelaide. “You can keep your early riser title. I’m still not exactly a morning person. Wynne was awake, and she suggested a meditation session to help clear my mind and heal my body.”

  “Did it work?” Charles asked.

  “I don’t know about physically, but mentally I feel incredible. I have clarity, and peace. And Charles,” Cambria shot a glance in his direction, “I forgive you. I understand your need to lie, and I also recognize that you have never and would never put us in harms way. I owe you my life.”

  “Would you like some breakfast?” Wynne finally spoke, her soft voice floating like music through the air. “I’m about to go gather the eggs, and Cambria told me she would be happy to bake us some muffins. I also have fresh berries in the kitchen. Make yourselves comfortable, please. My home is yours.”

  Adelaide’s stomach growled, and she was suddenly aware of how hungry she was. “Yes please, all of that sounds delicious. Can I help with anything?”

  “If you’d like to come help me gather eggs, we can accomplish the task twice as fast,” Wynne suggested.

  “Absolutely,” Adelaide agreed.

  “I’ll feed and water the horses,” Charles volunteered.

  “First, can you help me up?” Cambria asked, waving her arms at Charles. “I’m scared to put too much weight on this ankle, so using you as leverage would be a big help.”

  Charles nodded and moved to Cambria’s side, extending his hands. She grasped them and hoisted herself up, gingerly setting her foot down.

  “Hey!” She exhaled, smiling triumphantly. “That’s not bad! It’s a little sore, but nothing like I anticipated. It definitely hurts less than it did this morning when I woke up.” She turned to Wynne, a wide grin plastered across her face. “You really did a wonderful job patching me up! Thank you.”