by Henry Vogel
“Ouch!” he said, rubbing his arm.
“Before you make such a bold pronouncement in the future,” I said, “I strongly suggest you discuss it with your wife, first!”
“There wasn’t anything to discuss, Callan, because I had only one honorable choice!” David said.
He can be so annoying when he decides to be noble!
“How can you stand there and tell me—your wife—that there was nothing to discuss?”
“The day after we met, I swore an oath to you and to Rob, pledging to protect your life with mine,” David said. “When we were married, my oath to you extended to your family and your kingdom. If I stand firm against the envoy’s ludicrous claims—”
The envoy found his tongue. “Ludicrous? Now just—”
“Shut. Up.” I snarled at the envoy. “Ludicrous is far too polite a word to describe the charges you have presented to us. I was raised to behave as a proper princess should behave, otherwise I’d have used a long string of single–syllable words instead. I was surrounded by guardsmen from the moment I was born. I learned quite a collection of improper words from them, all of which are far more appropriate to this situation than my husband’s innocuous choice of words!”
I only realized I had stalked into the envoy’s face when David caught my arm and gently pulled me into his embrace.
Then David looked me in the eyes and said, “My love, thousands of men will die if we go to war with the city–states. Parents will lose sons. Wives will lose husbands. Children will lose fathers.
“In a war to defend the entire country against another nation’s attacks, such losses are necessary. In a war to defend a single man, such losses are,” and here he gave me his infuriating, irresistible smile, “a string of single–syllable words inappropriate for a proper princess to use.”
What could I say to that? Dozens of men had died attempting to defend me from the kidnapping plot of the former Tartegian queen. I would always bear the burden of their deaths. How could I wish a far heavier burden on David? I leaned my head against his chest, let go of my anger, and let my tears flow.
“David,” my father said, “you do not need to do this. To a man, our military will defend you and Mordan against this rabble from the city–states. To a man, they will want to defend you, son!”
“I know they will, Your Majesty,” David said, “but I cannot allow sacrifices on such a massive scale for a single man. Even if I were willing to allow the men to fight and die for me, it makes no sense from a military or political point of view. While I have no doubt our navy would rout the city–states’ fleet with comparative ease, it would distract and weaken us at a time when tensions remain high with Tarteg.”
Daddy gazed at David for a moment and then nodded his head. “Very well. I will defer to your wishes in this matter.”
Still holding me in his embrace, David spoke to the envoy. “We will depart tomorrow morning, Envoy. I would spend a last night with my wife.”
Then David took my hand and led me back to our chambers for our final hours together.
Chapter 5
David
Even in a royal palace, you’d think it would be possible for a man to retreat to his chambers to spend a few hours alone with his wife. This should be especially true when the man is going away for who knows how long the next morning! I was fortunate enough to have an entire palace full of people eager to show me just how wrong I was.
The first knock came no more than a minute after we’d shut the door. I had just pulled Callan into an embrace and was leaning in to kiss her when knuckles rapped on the door. Unable to ignore her royal training, Callan tried to pull away to answer the knock. I tightened my embrace, pulling her even closer.
“Ignore the door, dear,” I breathed into her ear. “After a few minutes, whoever is out there will figure out that we don’t want to be disturbed and go away!”
Our prospective visitors not only didn’t go away, they called through the door.
“Callie? David? Please let us in!”
It was Callan’s parents. I know they wanted to comfort their only child and her husband, but I also knew they wanted a grandchild and heir to the throne. You’d think they would give us a chance—perhaps our last chance—to try to provide one for them. Callan looked toward the door and when she pulled away this time, I released her.
Callan’s mother swept her daughter into a hug, speaking soft words of comfort to her. My father–in–law surprised me by wrapping me in a fierce hug, as well.
“Like most fathers, I was certain no man would ever be good enough to marry my daughter—not even Prince Rupor!” Edwar said as he released me. “You proved me wrong when you rescued Callan. You proved me wrong again when you rescued Elaina and me. And now you’ve proven me wrong a third time. Do me a favor, lad. When you get back from Beloren—and I’m certain you will get back—stop trying so hard to show me the error of my ways!”
“If you can get the rest of the planet to cooperate, I’ll be more than happy to do as you ask,” I replied, flashing my first genuine smile since we received the king’s summons to court.
“I shall bend every ruler and diplomat to my will in an attempt to do as you ask, David.” The king gave me a knowing smile. “Callie and Elaina will expect no less from me.”
Once again, the king and queen offered to wage war against the city–states. Then they traded back and forth, offering words of comfort and concern. What they did not do was offer to leave us alone. By the time the king and queen finally ran out of words and hugs and took their leave of us, word of my decision had spread throughout the capital. Our friends dropped everything to visit and offer their deepest consolation in this difficult time.
What I found most difficult about the time was finding some way to spend it with Callan. But I was polite and kept that thought to myself.
Don’t get me wrong, I love my friends and family dearly. I very much wanted to say goodbye to Tristan and Nist. I wanted to tousle Milo’s hair and to make sure he and Kim knew that, with or without me, they would always have a place in the palace. I wanted to ask Martin what he knew about Beloren’s tunnel rats. But I planned to arise early the next morning and do all that before leaving with the envoy. Other than those few people, I could have happily gone without seeing anyone else from the palace.
I grew heartily tired of hearing visitor after visitor tell me how selfless and heroic I was. My arm grew tired shaking all of the proffered hands. My facial muscles felt as if they had frozen into the perpetual smile I wore for Callan’s sake. It took all of my self control not to shout at everyone to go away and leave us alone. And it took hours to clear our chambers of all of our unwanted well–wishers. Only then did I have Callan all to myself.
I locked the door to our chambers and then kissed Callan deeply. As always when I held her in my arms, time went away and Callan and I were as one.
The next morning, Callan and I walked hand in hand to the palace docks. With an honor guard before us and most of the palace population behind us, I kissed Callan one last time. I tilted Callan’s head back and gazed deeply into her eyes.
“I will be back, my love.”
“You had better be,” she whispered fiercely.
As I turned away from my wife, light flashed from polished steel as the blades of the honor guard snapped up into a sharp, silver arch. Passing beneath the crossed swords, I looked straight ahead. A moment later, I boarded the Beloren airship and left behind all I had ever known and loved in this world.
Chapter 6
Callan
I promised myself I would not let David see me cry. I kept that promise until the honor guard formed up along David’s path. When their swords flashed, forming the arch beneath which he walked, tears welled up in my eyes. My vision blurred and I found it impossible to see clearly. I blinked the tears away, only to have them return immediately. I refused to wipe them away, just in case David looked back. His last sight of me must not be that of a girl, weeping for her lo
st love. It must be that of a woman, determined to be reunited with her husband.
Perhaps David suspected what he would see in my eyes if he looked back at me. Perhaps he struggled to control tears of his own. Perhaps he refused to give the Beloren envoy the satisfaction of an emotional reaction. Whatever the reason, David strode forward, head held high and faced forward.
Only when he stood on the deck of the Beloren airship did David cast a final look at me. By then, he was too far away to see my tears, which flowed like rivers down my cheeks. Two Beloren airmen took him below deck while the rest of the crew cast off. The airship’s engines roared to life. Through my tears, I stood and watched the airship rise from the courtyard. Through my tears, I watched as the airship turned to face south. Through my tears, I watched the airship steam over the palace rooftops and pass from sight.
Turning back to the palace, I wasn’t surprised to find my parents standing a few paces behind me. Without a word, they gathered me into their arms. I released my grief and sobbed as I had not done since I was a little girl.
Some moments later, I kissed my parents on their cheeks and offered them a brave smile. With my eyes dry, I walked back to the chambers David and I shared. Everyone I met along the way bowed or saluted, each of them showing respect for my grief and respect for David’s sacrifice. I offered a smile and a nod to each of them and felt immense relief when I reached our chambers.
Entering my room, I found Martin leaning casually against the balcony door, his arms folded. Tristan, Nist, and Milo were arrayed along the wall beside him.
“He’s gone,” I whispered.
Martin said, not unkindly, “Your Highness, you didn’t ask us to meet you here just to tell us what we could see with our own eyes.”
“No, Martin, I didn’t,” I said. “I asked you here because I need a fast airship and the most daring of pilots. I need a doctor who knows the desert. I need a young thief who knows life on a city’s streets. And I need a reformed raider who knows Beloren’s darkest secrets.”
I looked them each in the eye, “I am going to Beloren to get my husband back, but I cannot do that without your help. Are you with me?”
“You don’t even need to ask, lass,” Tristan said.
“But just in case there’s any doubt, I’ll give you our answer,” Martin added. “Damned right we’re with you!”
Chapter 7
Callan
The problem with secret rescue plans is you have to spend time making the plans. I didn’t want to spend hours discussing how best to slip into Beloren unnoticed or how to get one of us down among the tunnel rats. I wanted to board the Pauline and fly off after David right now.
I could see it all in my mind’s eye. We would catch up with the Envoy’s airship. Nist would bring the Pauline alongside the airship. Then Martin would Boost, we’d all storm aboard, and...probably all die grisly deaths.
I have never been good at this kind of planning. I prefer to skip all that tedious thinking ahead stuff and get straight to the action. That’s why my father has always surrounded me with thoughtful guards and advisors. In the past, Rob kept me focused and forced me to plan my actions. David had done it since Rob’s death and, I hoped, would do it for me again when we came home. Today, I counted on Martin and Tristan. They were thorough—painstakingly, mind numbingly thorough.
“Milo,” I asked, when I was no longer able to concentrate on their endless discussion, “when will Kim be here?”
“She said she would come right up after completing her etiquette lesson with Lady Andrea,” he said.
“Very good. And you told her what I’m asking you to do?” I asked. “She must give her permission for you to come along.
“Yes, Your Highness, I have her permission to go,” he said, rolling his eyes. “She knows you’ll do everything in your power to keep me safe, blah blah blah.” He grinned, “Kim did show real concern when I told her about the rescue—but only when I told her Nist was going to be your pilot.”
Nist’s eyes went wide. “Your sister is worried about me?”
“I told you he’d never figure it out, Milo,” Tristan sighed. “Nist has spent too much time flying me around on that airship and too little time courting the fairer sex. The lad claims he can see the wind but he can’t see the love written on a pretty girl’s face!”
Nist’s face went crimson at his adopted father’s words, but Tristan was right. Nist was the only person in the palace who hadn’t a clue about Kim’s feelings.
A complicated knock came from the door—the signal Milo had given Kim. Milo opened the door and his sister slipped into the room. One glance at Nist told Kim everything.
Blushing to match Nist, Kim whirled on her little brother, “You told him!”
“Of course I told him. I’d have been an old man in my twenties if I waited for Nist to figure it out or for you to make the first move!” Milo said.
Martin gently shoved Nist toward Kim. “Why don’t you take the blushing beauty out on the balcony. Perhaps the two of you could talk to each other for while?”
Milo flashed a mischievous grin. “Nist, as Kim’s only male relative, I grant you permission to kiss my sister if you want.”
Both of them blushed even deeper, but they went out onto the balcony. Nist even took Kim’s hand just before pulling the balcony door shut behind them.
Martin turned serious. “Tristan and I have worked out a plan, Callan.”
“Tell me,” I said.
“Remember when we robbed the treasury to pay for my airships?” Martin asked. When I nodded, he continued, “We need to rob the treasury again. No, it’s more like I need to rob it. And I need to ‘steal’ more than a fistful of cut gems.”
“Spill it, Martin!” I said. “What do you have in mind?”
Martin drew in a breath, as if preparing to deliver bad news. “I need to steal the Mordanian crown jewels!”
Chapter 8
Callan
Steal my country’s crown jewels? Was Martin insane? I opened my mouth to ask that very question—and then shut my mouth again. Martin was many things, but I had no doubts about his sanity. Besides, Tristan had helped concoct this plan. The good doctor is a romantic, but, as my father frequently says, he is also quite a sober, sane, and sensible man. If Martin and Tristan thought we needed the crown jewels, I would hear them out before offering an opinion.
Before I could ask Martin to explain further, a knock sounded on the door to my chambers. Who could it be? Everyone in the palace must know I had shut myself in my room to mourn for David!
“Callie?” It was my mother. Of course. Who else would come knocking at a time like this? “May I come in, dear?”
After I had waited so long for Martin and Tristan to conceive of a rescue plan for David, Mom had to show up and delay their explanation further. My mother certainly had great timing! I shooed Martin, Tristan, and Milo out to the balcony while also calling out in an emotion–laden voice, “Just a minute, Mother!”
I only called her ‘Mother’ when I was upset. I felt a tinge of pride at that added touch. Then I remembered I truly was upset. It hadn’t even crossed my mind to call her ‘Mom.’
“Keep quiet out there,” I hissed to my conspirators, closing the balcony doors.
On my way to let Mother in, I mussed my hair and worked up a few tears. Planning the rescue had pushed the grief into the back of my mind, but it came rushing back as soon as I tried to look grief–stricken. Hanging my head, I opened the door.
“Y–yes, Mother?”
Mom shook her head, tutting. “Look at you, shut up in here and crying your eyes out! You poor dear.”
Mom raised her eyebrows, wordlessly asking why she was still standing in the hallway.
“Come in, Mother.”
Mom breezed in and made a beeline for the balcony! “It’s so dreary in here, Callie! A little light and a little fresh air will make you feel better.”
“I don’t want light. I don’t want fresh air. And I don’t want t
o feel better!” I sounded like a petulant child, even to myself.
“Pish and tosh, dear,” Mother said, reaching for the door handles.
In a rush, I slipped between Mom and the doors and threw my arms around her. Burying my face in her shoulder, I tried for the same wracking sobs I’d had in the courtyard. My mother spun me around as effortlessly as she had when I was five. She ended up facing me and with her back to the balcony doors. Reaching behind herself, she turned the knobs and threw the doors open.
“Martin,” Mother said, still watching me, “why don’t you and the others come inside? After that, I’d like my daughter to tell me what is going on.”
Releasing my mother, I looked her in the eye. “What do you think is going on, Mother? We’re all going after David. Everyone except Kim. She’s going to stay in these chambers and pretend to be me. With a little luck, she can keep it up long enough for us to rescue my husband.”
Much as I hated it, the next thing I said came out in the wheedling tone of voice I used on her—to little effect—when I was a young child. “Please don’t try to stop us!”
“Dearest daughter, I wouldn’t dream of trying to stop you!”
Who was this woman and what had she done with my mother?
“You wouldn’t?”
A slight smile played across Mom’s face. “Whether I like it or not, you’re not my little girl any more. You’re a newlywed young woman, forcibly separated from your husband by cruel events beyond your control. You’d never forgive me if I did anything to interfere with your plans! And you would be quite right to do so.”
