***
Melenthia went straight to her room and slammed and locked the door behind her. She tore off her dress and threw it across the room. She flopped onto the bed and buried her head in her pillow, crying so loudly now she thought for sure someone would hear her. In just a few minutes, her make-up was running down her face and staining the silk case that covered the down filled pillow. Her thin shift that she had been wearing under her dress was getting wrinkled. She crawled under her covers and curled up in a ball. She couldn’t believe her father had done this to her. She knew that he was frustrated, and maybe she did push him too far, but she hated being pawed at and having men whisper lewd remarks in her ear. She shuddered again remembering Fallon’s comments. She didn’t like the nobles or who she was when she was with them. She wanted a man to love her for herself, all of her. She knew that riding horses like a man, and dueling with swords, grated on her father’s nerves. He had hoped that she would be demure and petite, but that just wasn’t who she was. She had always known she was odd, always had the feeling everywhere she went that she was different, but as a youngster, it never bothered her. As she grew and endured the looks and the whispers by the other girls in court, she knew that she was not a proper girl. Kevaan taught her things that he shouldn’t have, but those things came so easily to her. Maybe there was something wrong with her. Everyone told her how lovely she was, how much she reminded them of her mother, but it didn’t seem to matter. As soon as she showed a little bit of her private side, people snubbed her. Only the people of the kingdom loved her for her real self, respected her and came to her when there was a problem. They loved and respected her father and Kevaan too, but she just seemed to have a natural rapport that her father and brother didn’t have. She understood them. She knew how to deal with people, real people, not the fake demeanors that plagued the court.
She had known that eventually her father would put his foot down, but she never thought he’d resort to something so awful. She never thought he hated her that much. She always knew Kevaan was his pride and joy. He was the son after all, but she thought that he still loved her enough to just be patient a bit longer. She should have known he’d lose his temper, but this? And Kevaan, her brother, the only man in her life she loved with all her heart, had betrayed her. He knew and he didn’t tell her. He had said that he wouldn’t because it was father who should be the one to break the bad news, but she was angry at him anyway. He probably did nothing to try and talk father out of it. He was probably fed up with her lack of choices too. He should have told her, softened the blow, made her try to understand. He should have told her he would help her, that he would talk father out of it somehow. But no, he was the heir and could no longer be embarrassed by her either. This would be his kingdom soon; he needed to keep his honor intact. An old maid for a sister does not look good. She didn’t think twenty-one was old, but for most of the court it was. She was now even more enraged at him. How could he do this to her? How could Kevaan betray her like this, especially after knowing what Fallon tried to do to her. Well, it didn’t matter now. She decided. In the morning, she would be gone.
She had been crying in her pillow for about an hour when there was a knock on the door. She lifted her head and sniffled, then lay back down, not answering the visitor. She didn’t want to see anyone. The person knocked a second time, this time with more force. Then she heard a voice. “Mel, it’s me, Kevaan. Let me in.”
She lifted her head once again. “No. Go away. I don’t wish to see anyone, even you.”
“Mel, let me in. We need to talk.”
“You had your chance earlier. You chose to hide the truth from me. Nothing you say to me now will do any good,” she yelled.
There was silence for a few moments, and she thought he had decided to give up and leave her alone. It was too much to ask.
“If you don’t get up and unlatch the door young lady, I will kick it in. Do not test me, Melenthia, you know very well that I will!”
She rubbed the tears from her eyes and wiped her nose with the back of her hand. Not very lady like she knew, but at this point, what did it matter? The pillow case was drenched with her tears, her shift completely wrinkled now, and her eyes were swollen and red. She padded to the door and undid the latch. He turned the handle and entered just as she was crawling back into bed. She pulled the covers up to her chin, curling up in a fetal position. He came over to her bed and sat on the edge of it, staring at her, his eyes filled with sadness.
He reached across the bed and brushed back a curl that had come out of its pin-up and fallen in her eyes. Then he wiped a tear away as it ran down her cheek.
“What do you want, Kevaan?”
“I want to talk. I had to come and see you and make sure you were alright.”
“Do I look alright to you? What does it matter to you anyway? You lied to me, Kevaan. You said he’d never make a decision like that without you. So if that’s true, then you went along with it. Then you said you wanted father to tell me because you didn’t want to be the bearer of such news, but you didn’t tell me because you didn’t want me to know that you are on his side. You think I’m odd too. You saw this coming but you did nothing. He practically attacked me that night, and you still let this happen. I don’t wish to see you. Leave!” She sat up and reached a hand across the bed and was going to slap him, but he grabbed it and held her back.
He held both of her hands in his. “Mel, I did not want this for you, you know that. It’s my fault that you’re who you are. I’m the one that thought teaching you such unladylike things would help protect you, but instead it has ruined your chances for love.”
“So, you think I’m weird too, huh? You think that no man could love me because I’m not a real woman?”
“No, that’s not what I meant. I think you have many wonderful traits that would make you endearing to someone. You’re beautiful and funny, and you handle the people of this kingdom with love and respect, and they adore you. You’re a real princess, one who can make the people happy and keep the peace. That’s not something a lot of people can do, men or women. You make a wonderful princess, and I know you would make a wonderful wife to whoever would see in you what I see. You will find him.”
“It hardly matters now. I’ve been betrothed to a monster.”
“I don’t think father knows what he’s done. I think there is something terribly wrong. I’m sorry I have put this burden on you, but don’t ever think that I wanted this for you. When father told me today, my heart was broken. I knew nothing until right before you did. He didn’t include me in his decision, and I wasn’t asked to be present when he gave your hand. I would have stopped it then. I don’t think he’s himself these days. I think something has happened that he hasn’t told me. He would never do something so horrible to the daughter he loves if there wasn’t something wrong.”
“I don’t care about the reason why, only that it’s done.”
She started to cry again. She hated breaking down in front of people, but it never bothered her when she did it in front of Kevaan. The few times she had ever cried, it was only ever him who saw it.
“Please, Mel, don’t cry. I promise I’ll do something to get you out of this.”
“You cannot. Even I know how the world works, Kevaan. I’m not naïve enough to think that once a pact of honor has been made, it can be broken so easily. Father will remain a man of his word, no matter the cost, and Fallon will hold him to it. Trying to get out of the bargain would only infuriate Fallon, and that puts father, and you, in danger. I know what kind of power he has. I’ve seen the evil he wields. He’s frightening. I fear he has the darkness on his side. The only way to get out of this pact is if I leave, without father knowing, and never come back. I threatened to do it, but I don’t think he believed me. He thinks I would never leave you. Father will know nothing about my departure. If he is unaware, Fallon cannot claim treachery.”
Kevaan looked scared. “Melenthia, you cannot leave. I won’t let you roam aro
und the kingdom alone and unprotected. It’s too dangerous for you, no matter what I’ve taught you. In the fighting arena with armed men of father’s own guard is one thing; out there it’s totally different.”
“I can handle myself, Kevaan, you know that better than anyone. I would be much safer out there than I would be under Fallon’s roof. The people love and respect me. They will protect me.”
“If they feel threatened, they would sell their own mother, you know that, Mel. They don’t want trouble, and harboring you would bring them more trouble than they could handle. Besides, Fallon will never just walk away. He will look for you, and, if I know him, he’ll never stop until he has found you. I don’t know what marrying you will gain him, but we need to find out.”
“You need to find out, Kevaan. I need to run.”
“No. I shudder to think what he might do to the people who try to help you. I shudder even more to think what will happen after he catches you. His anger just might get you killed.”
“I won’t stay here and be given over to that barbarian. I won’t allow myself to be a slave, or worse. If you hadn’t stopped him that night, I know he would’ve forced himself on me already. I said I would leave, and I will. You won’t stop me.”
“Please, Mel, just wait until I try and think of something. He won’t be here for three days. Promise me you’ll wait to hear from me before you do something rash.”
“I don’t know if I can do that, Kevaan. I don’t think there is anything you can do this time. His mind is made up, whether from his own freewill, or coercion. The deal has been made.”
“Melenthia, please, if you love me at all, promise me you’ll wait for me.”
She stared at him, his eyes pleading with her, his brow furrowed in fright. She knew that she would have to leave, but she knew she should give him some time to try. She owed him that much. She was no longer angry with him; she was sad. Sad that this might just be the last day she ever saw him. Sad that today might be the last day they were family.
“Okay, Kevaan, you win. I’ll wait a bit for you to try and help, but I fear you will fail.”
“I only ask that you wait to hear from me. Don’t leave this room. I will instruct the servants to bring your supper to you. I will tell father you don’t want to be disturbed. But please, Mel, just stay put until I come for you. Promise?”
“I promise.”
“It’ll be alright. I swear on my life it will.”
He kissed her cheek and left her alone in the darkening room. Night was coming and soon it would be too dark to see anything. She didn’t bother to light the candles or start a fire in the hearth. The blackness fit her mood. She would open the door for the servants when they brought her supper, but she would stay locked away until she heard from her brother. She was sure that he wouldn’t be able to save her this time, and she would be forced to leave. The thought saddened her, and scared her a bit, too. She was not afraid of what was out there. She was more afraid of losing the only people in the world she loved. But the alternative, marrying a monster like Fallon, scared her more. She knew the night would drag by, for she would never be able to sleep. She would just wile away the time until she knew whether she would run away or be saved by her knight in shining armor, her brother, who she knew really did love her. She didn’t think there was a chance, but she prayed she was wrong.
CHAPTER 5
Just inside the border of the Dark Woods, underneath a hooded heavy woolen cloak, Alekzand’r Kenyon Morgan waited for his companion and calmed his horse who was more fidgety than normal today. His side of the kingdom was finally seeing signs of spring, but this side, the raw winter went on. The horse’s breath could be seen in the raw bitterness of the cold, and he suddenly longed for the warmth of a fire and a tankard of spiced ale. But that would have to wait. There was business to attend to first. He flexed his fingers to try and work out the frozen joints. Despite the protective leather of his thick gloves, the cold air still caused the fingers of his hands to get stiff after so many hours in the saddle, and his back and neck were getting sore as well. Spring seemed to be coming later and later every year here. It wasn’t normal, and it made him irritable. Too many nights sleeping under the stars in the bitter cold, not enough warmth to perk up his soul.
There was something dark and disturbing hanging over this side of the kingdom, but he’d be damned if he knew what it was. He spent too much time riding the countryside not to notice the change. The people were more nervous these days, rather jumpy when it came to strangers in their villages. They went to market to do their trading, but rarely stayed out to enjoy the festivities that always followed a day of bartering. The artisans and entertainers complained of light purses due to the anxiousness and tight fisted patrons. He couldn’t figure out what people were so afraid of, but he feared something wicked was blowing in the wind.
He guessed that whatever was amiss very likely had something to do with the Duke of Xenos, but he had no solid proof, just his gut. People talked, and it was easy to get information out of the villagers with the right motivation, usually the clinking kind. He had been told stories of dark arts being performed inside the walls of Sexton Manor, and people seemed more afraid of Fallon than usual. It was no secret that he was a crass and quick tempered ogre. Peasants always created made-up stories, for they were a superstitious lot, but Alekzand’r didn’t think they were all just stories this time. He felt something stirring, but he couldn’t put his finger on it. He heard of strange things and seen some as well, but he couldn’t explain any of them. He would not start worrying about it just yet, but he refused to just brush it off as nothing either. Soon, he would have to find out what was happening, and he hoped it wouldn’t be too late when he did.
Alekzand’r saw a horseman approach who looked over his shoulder as if making sure no one was following, then slipped in behind the trees and pulled his horse in next to him. The stranger reined in his mount and pulled his hood from off his head, his breath making mist in the bitter air.
Alekzand’r, now knowing the coast was clear, pulled his hood off as well. He put out his hand for his companion to shake, and they nodded to each other.
“Kevaan, it’s been a long time.”
“Yes, it has. Too long I’m embarrassed to say.”
“How goes things on your side of the fence?”
Kevaan shook his head. “Not so good. My father has been acting strange lately, but I cannot put into words why I feel he’s not himself. Just random things. Random acts and deeds.”
“Is he not well?”
“Physically he seems fine, but mentally..” He left it hanging in the air. “That’s why I have come. I need a big favor. I trust no one else as much as you for this. It’s extremely important.”
“We’ve been friends for many years, Kevaan. Anything I do for you would be no favor, only an act out of friendship.”
Kevaan nodded his head. “You’re one of my closest friends too; that’s why I feel I can’t trust anyone else with this task. It’s too delicate.”
“What is it?”
“It’s about my sister.”
“Ah, fiery Melenthia. How is she these days? I haven’t seen her since she was practically a child.”
“Well she’s no longer a child and hasn’t yet picked a man to whom she wants to marry. My father is at his wits end with her, and in saying so, has decided that he will no longer accept an old maid for a daughter. He has given her hand in marriage.”
“I find it hard to believe that she hasn’t had many such offers. She was a lovely child, although precocious, but I assume has grown into a beautiful woman.”
“She has. But, she is also not quite a normal girl. She does not hold the same ideals as the rest of the girls in court her age. She wants someone to love, not someone in name only, which has made the decision harder. Men find her extremely attractive, until she opens her mouth, then they are insecure about themselves. It’s my fault, really. I should never have allowed her to learn things that onl
y men should know. I have ruined her chances of finding a man who will actually love her. They want a wife, not competition.”
Alek smiled at that. “You’re a doting brother, and you only did what you thought was necessary at the time. Learning those things is not a total detriment. It may serve useful in the future. One cannot know.”
“Yes, you may be right, normally. However, my father does not see things as you and I do. He has given her hand to someone, and I cannot sway his decision.”
“Who is the lucky man?”
Kevaan frowned. “The Duke of Xenos.”
“Fallon Rommel? What in the name of all that’s holy was your father thinking?”
“That’s the problem, he wasn’t. As I said, he’s been acting strange, and this only adds to my suspicion that something is terribly wrong. I fear for my sister’s life. Fallon is cruel and frightening. If I hadn’t stepped in between them at her party, he would’ve taken her by force that very night. I shudder to think what may happen to her in his house if she does anything to make him angry, and chances are very likely that she will.”
“I have heard strange stories around the land about the Duke. I fear he has made a pact with something dark. There is something threatening in the winds. I feel it everywhere.”
“I too have heard stories and felt eerie things. Melenthia also mentioned things, but I acted as though they were nothing. I didn’t want to frighten her. Now I’m afraid Melenthia may be a pawn in some sinister game Fallon is playing, but what it is, I don’t know.”
“What favor do you need of me, Kevaan? I will do whatever I can to help in this unfortunate state of events.”
Kevaan placed his hand on Alek’s shoulder. “Thank you, my friend. She has decided to run away, to escape this sentence she has been given. I asked her to stay put until I could come up with a plan. Leaving is her only option now. If she runs, and my father doesn’t know about it, the deal with Fallon would be off, but my father would not be accused of treachery.”
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