“Come, I shall release you from your prison. Get dressed and you and I shall take a walk if you like.”
“Oh yes, please.”
In a few minutes they were walking the castle wall, and he was pointing out various things that she had never noticed before. They stopped when they came to the east wall and looked down on Chambria.
“It’s beautiful, isn’t it?” Cassandra said.
“That it is.”
“How long before we are there?”
“In Chambria?”
Cassandra nodded.
“There is no knowing. Most are saying by Christmas. Although that is what they say about every war, and it usually takes more time than that.”
“So you are not going to predict anything?”
“No, I am not. It is over when it is over and not before. I have more important things to worry about than when it will be over.”
“Has the mine been a setback?”
King Aric nodded. “That is where all of our gold for our money comes from. Until we can get back to work, we will have to watch how we spend. We are on the verge of war. Wars eats money. We’ll be good for a few months yet, but the question is: will the mine even be safe? Will the men be in greater danger? I can’t put people in a situation like that. It’s not worth it.”
Cassandra leaned upon her father’s arm with a sigh.
There was a long pause.
“I love you, Pappa.”
King Aric looked down into his daughter’s eyes that were raised trustingly to his. “I love you, Cassie.”
She clung to him closer, her heart beating with a wild and strange fear. Destiny was at hand, but what was the course it would take, where would it lead them, and who would be the champion?
Chapter 22
The summer was passing quickly. Work in the mine had resumed and King Aric returned to the valley. Cassandra’s duties were always tied to Taleon’s and she found the responsibilities changing frequently to wherever there was a need. Slowly Cassandra found herself growing to admire this man whom her father had left in charge. There seemed to be nothing that he could not do.
Taleon and Cassandra were to entertain a group of children; whose mothers were tending the ill from the valley. Even Archibald’s army had become ill, losing men in large numbers, causing them to retreat back to Chambria’s capitol city. The plague, was not affecting the mountain people, making their unaffected army a strong presence in the valley below. The war might be over sooner then they dared to hope.
As Taleon and Cassandra were preparing their morning plans, Taleon had been summoned into the council chamber, for a grave discussion that wasn’t for Cassandra’s ears. She was still left out of some of the deliberations that happened in that room. There were secrets that not even her ears could hear.
The heat of the day was making the children she was in charge of restless. Cassandra knew of a place not far from the castle where a thicket of berry shrubs grew, and less than a stone’s throw away was a shallow stream in which the children could amuse themselves and cool off their fidgety spirits.
Armed with a basket on one arm and Brendan in the other, Cassandra set off with a dozen children all singing a merry old holiday song.
As always is the case with children, they ate more than they picked—all except Cassandra, whose mind was too employed with keeping an eye on all of them rather than eating, so slowly her basket filled. In an hour’s time the baskets were abandoned and the stream was considered the best amusement.
Cassandra, with Brendan in her arms, joined them in the stream. Their fun was of short duration, for Brendan was accidentally splashed in the face and they retired a little way up from the river to watch the children.
Her damp skirt hung close to her, like a cooling mantle from the heat of the day. Brendan, also slightly damp, was perched in her lap, still talking his half-gibberish–half-understandable–full-length conversation all to himself. Cassandra joined in the “conversation” and showered his face with kisses. She could tell that he was growing weary. His eyes were drooping shut and Brendan’s head came to rest on her shoulder as she held him close.
In a little while, small Sarah Benet came up from the stream, her mouth puckering from a pout and sadness in her green eyes.
“What is the matter, darling?”
“They won’t let me play with them. They say I am too small.”
“Come here,” she said, reaching out with her free arm to bring Sarah to her side. Cassandra comforted Sarah and wiped her tears away, then began to make conversation with her.
The council meeting was productive. They would be ready when King Aric came back from the valley. Walking down the twisting path to where he had been told Cassandra was with the children, Taleon tried to clear his mind from business. Cassandra’s mind was full of questions, and if she suspected his mind was elsewhere, she would have a hard time not guessing. Suddenly he noted how hot the day was as sweat began to rise on his skin. Quickening his pace, he entered the shade. Shrieks of delight met his ears. He smiled. They were playing in the stream. It would be easy to find them.
Taleon watched, concealed from everyone’s eyes. Cassandra showered Brendan’s face with kisses until he laughed and she laughed with him, rocking him back and forth in her arms. He laid his small head on her shoulder and closed his eyes. A small girl with fuzzy yellow braids came up to her with a small pout on her red lips.
“What is the matter, darling?” she asked.
Taleon couldn’t help but smile at that dear and familiar address that a princess was using with a peasant child.
“They won’t let me play with them. They say I am too small.” She burst into tears.
Cassandra reached out with her free arm and brought the little weeper to her side. He couldn’t hear the words she was whispering in her ear, but in a few minutes, the girl was nestled comfortably by her side and they were talking in confidential tones.
He could tell by the way Brendan had relaxed on her shoulder that he was asleep and heavy. Cassandra was growing increasingly uncomfortable with an arm around each, but would not move for the sake of either child. He noticed how she was scanning the area more often and speaking less often with the little chatty thing who had begun to talk nonstop by her side. Something else was making her uncomfortable. He scanned the area. There was nothing, but the wood had become uncomfortably quiet, all except for the sound of the children’s play.
Unexpectedly she was on her feet. “Children! Children, come on; it’s almost time to eat; we need to be heading back to the castle.”
Brendan stirred at the sound of her voice and she covered his ear with her newly freed hand.
Slowly the children began to drag their feet towards her.
Taleon moved forward to help her. He caught a quick motion out of the corner of his eye. Turning, he saw a horseman galloping towards Cassandra. Leaning low in the saddle, he hung to the left. His arm lowered in a hook-like fashion, barreling towards them.
“Cassandra, get down!”
Turning, she saw Taleon, then the horseman. She dropped to her knees. Grabbing the little girl with the braids, she ducked low.
The horseman pulled his horse to a stop.
“Alexandra! Come with me.”
She glanced over her shoulder. “No!”
“Come on; we don’t have much time.” Leaning down, he grabbed her hair and, with a wrench, started pulling her to her feet.
Cassandra screamed in pain. The grasp was loosened and Taleon had his arm around her shoulders. “Don’t look back. Take the children and go to the castle, I will be there in a moment.”
“Taleon...” she said turning to him.
“I said go.” It was firm and indisputable. “Send Keenan to me.”
Resisting the desire to look back, Cassandra gathered Brendan in her arms, taking the quivering little girl’s hands. She started towards the castle. Soon the other children were clustered aroun
d her; they were all wide-eyed with surprise and shock. Tears shimmered in a few faces; some quivered in fear.
“Come on, children; the worst of it is over. Let’s get home as fast as we can.”
As soon as they were in the castle, many of the children dispersed to their families. Others hovered close, too afraid to let go. Getting an older boy’s attention, she asked him to fetch Keenan for her. Going down on her knees, she allowed the children to cluster very close to her—drying tears, saying comforting words.
In a moment Keenan appeared. “Your highness? The lad said it was urgent.”
“Taleon wants you. He is out in the forest by the stream where we were playing.”
“There is blood on your dress,” he said, touching her right shoulder.
She glanced behind her. “There was an accident. We were attacked. It all happened so fast; I don’t know what went on. Do you think Taleon is all right?”
“Did Taleon send you for help?”
“He just said to get you.”
“Then he is fine. You should go get changed.” He snapped his fingers to get the attention of some attendants. “Take care of these children.” Then, grabbing a ready steed, he urged it out of the gates, down the path, and into the wood where Taleon waited.
Cassandra found herself responsible only for dear little Brendan who, surprisingly, had fallen back asleep.
“You little dear, can sleep through anything, can’t you?” she murmured in his ear. Taking him to Edith’s room, she entered. The room had been partitioned so Edith could wait on the man with the amputated leg, without inconvenience so he could get the rest and quiet that he needed.
Edith was sitting on his cot when Cassandra entered.
Still in a blur of excitement, Cassandra noticed nothing unusual—that his arm was around her waist or how close they seemed.
“Cassandra!” said Edith, standing on her feet, her face flushing a bright red.
“Shhh, Brendan is sleeping.”
“You can put him in his cradle,” she said with a cold gesture towards that particular object.
Cassandra did so and suddenly Edith was by her side.
“Are you all right, Cassandra? There is blood on your dress.”
“I am fine. There was an incident in the forest, but all the children are fine. Now, if you will excuse me, I should go.”
“Are you sure you are all right?” Edith asked, grasping her shoulders.
Cassandra looked into her eyes.
“I am not sure, but I need to go change before I scare anyone else. Thank you, Edith.”
Cassandra left with a nod and hurried to her room. Changing, she went to the window, folding her arms and hugging herself. Something had gone dreadfully wrong that afternoon, but what? Cassandra did not doubt that Taleon had severely wounded, if not killed, the horseman who had tried to steal her away. What was going on in the valley?
Chapter 23
Taleon pulled himself to his feet and stepped away from the man’s body when he heard hooves approaching. The man had been killed instantly by his sword. It had been a clean thrust. He wished there had been some other way to take care of the situation, but with so much at risk—Cassandra, the children, maybe even himself—it was the safest tactic, unfortunately.
“What is the matter, Taleon?” then Keenan saw the body.
“He was trying to take Cassandra.”
“Any idea who he is?”
“It looks like one of Archibald’s men. The only thing is, how did he breakthrough our ring of security? The mountain is surrounded with scouts. How did we miss this?”
“I’ll have the scouts report and see what is going on. If we have a spy in our midst, we are in trouble.”
Taleon nodded his head. “He is getting desperate, isn’t he?”
“Very desperate. There is no saying when it will be over, but sooner is better than later, and I have a feeling that it will be so.”
Taleon smiled at the thought. Chambria free at last! “Keenan, I was wondering.”
“Yes?”
“Should Cassandra learn how to use a weapon?”
Keenan’s brow wrinkled in thought.
“She was completely helpless; if I hadn’t been here, there would have been nothing to prevent her being taken.”
“Teach her, then. Equip her with sword and dagger. There is no better teacher than you.”
“Are you sure, my lord?”
“Quite sure. You have her trust, and with your skills, she will learn well enough how to handle a sword. I pray to God she will never have to use it. However, it is best she knows how just in case something should happen. Teach her, Taleon, and teach her well. Now go up to the castle and send three men to me. We need to bury the body properly. Then go to Cassandra and tell her what plans have been made.”
Taleon nodded and slowly turned away.
“Take my horse, I will walk back with the men.”
Taleon mounted and galloped back to the castle. With quickness, he sent three men to aid Lord Keenan and asked for Cassandra’s whereabouts.
He knocked on her door and waited for her answer.
“Come in,” she answered, a slight trembling in her voice.
She was standing at the window gazing out, her arms crossed, hugging herself tightly as if to comfort away her fear. There was no turn to recognize him or see who had entered the door. She was frightened and confused. Coming up behind her, he slipped his arms around her. She turned to face him, her head resting against him.
“What happened, Taleon?” she asked.
“A man tried to kidnap you.”
“I know that,” she answered, slightly annoyed. “But was he...?” She didn’t finish her sentence.
“He’s dead, Cassandra.”
There was silence.
“Are you all right?” she asked, looking up into his face. “Did he hurt you?”
“No, he didn’t lay a finger on me. And you?” he asked, stroking her still loose hair.
She tried to laugh, but it failed. “It’s all still there, I think.” Cassandra said, running one of her own hands over her hair. There was a lump in her throat and she glanced down. Her voice was husky when she spoke. “Thank you for being there...for saving me. If he had returned me to the valley, I don’t know what I would have done.” She shuddered at the thought and stepped away from him. Cassandra walked the length of the room before she turned to face him.
“What is going on, Taleon?”
Taleon walked to one of the chairs before the fireplace and motioned for her to take a seat. Cassandra did so, her eyes raised, full of questions, to his.
“Cassandra, the man who attacked you was one of Archibald’s men.”
“I know. I recognized him from the valley. He came to see my uncle often.”
“He did?”
Cassandra nodded. “I don’t know why, but he did.”
Taleon nodded. “Anything about him in particular you can remember?”
“If you search his horse, you should find a roll of paper and maybe a pouch. He always handed my uncle a pouch and my uncle handed him a paper. That is all I ever saw pass between them.”
“He is probably a bounty hunter.”
Cassandra nodded in agreement.
“A while ago you asked me to help you be stronger.” He looked at her questioningly. Would she be ready for what he said? “Keenan and I were talking and we think, just in case something would happen, you should know how to defend yourself. If I hadn’t been there today....”
Cassandra stood up with a shiver and turned to her window.
“Would you rather not learn how to use a sword and dagger?”
She turned to face him. “I’d like that. I can’t stand the thought of what would have happened if you hadn’t been there today. It would have been the end of everything. This war needs to end. They need help in the valley. I want to help them so badly, but my hands are tied in so many ways.”
“What do you mean, Cassandra?”
> “I am not strong. I am not everything I should be. I look into that valley and I see needs—needs that I cannot meet. How can I ever be a queen? I want to help them so badly. What do I do, Taleon?”
Taleon rose from his chair and put his hand on her shoulders. “Be who you are. Cassandra, you have already come miles from where you were when you came here.”
“Have I? There are so few things that I can actually do and it seems like I know so little about anything that goes on around here.”
“The reason you know so little is just in case of something like what happened today. Cassandra, if they would take you, if your uncle would question you, if he would...”
“Torture me. He wouldn’t stop until I told him everything and the less I know the better.”
“How did you get to be so sensible?” he asked with a laugh.
Cassandra shot him a glare that was a bit miffed.
“Cassandra, I only meant it in jest.”
“I know but...” She let out a long sigh and pulled away from him.
“Would you like to select a weapon?”
“Today?”
“There is no time better than the present.”
“Give me a few minutes to prepare and I’ll meet you in the armory.”
“I’ll be waiting for you.” He left the room and leaned against the wall across from her room. He was going to wait right there for her.
Chapter 24
Cassandra watched the door close before sighing with relief, a flush of embarrassment climbing into her cheeks. She had relied too heavily on Taleon.
But what else am I to do when I am so nervous? What if there is a time when no one is there for you to lean on and it is just you?
Cassandra tried to put her nerves away as she brushed through her hair. She appreciated Taleon, but his nearness always made her feel queer.
Plaiting it, she went to her door. She would have the walk to the armory to soothe whatever ruffled feathers were left in her spirit. To her dismay, when she opened the door, Taleon was waiting for her.
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