by Bridie Blake
Tempani was about to retire for the evening when she heard a loud banging on the door and Nic calling out her name. She rushed over to let him in, and he stumbled through the door. Lindow grabbed him and helped him into a chair.
“Some water?” She asked Lindow. He nodded and disappeared.
“Will you come back to me?” He slurred.
“Of course, I will Nic.” She covered his lips with hers and kissed him slowly. “You know that.”
“I do know that, and I think everyone should know it too. Say you will be my wife, and we will announce it to everyone tonight.”
“Nic, you have had too much to drink. You’re not thinking clearly,” she said, slightly taken aback by his proposal.
“I’m thinking very clearly. I love you, Tempani and you shall be my wife. Come, we will tell our parents now.” He grabbed her wrist and pulled her towards the door.
“Nic, stop it! I have told you I am not ready to be your wife. You said you accepted that.” She yanked her hand from his grip.
“I will not have you leave me here without a commitment on your behalf. I know what men on the road are like. I did my fair share of travelling when I was a squire. I know how lonely it gets.”
“You know what men are like? Well do you know what I am like Nic?” She struggled to keep the anger from her voice. “This is ridiculous. You know how I feel about you.”
“Do I? You have never told me that you love me. How am I supposed to trust you if you can’t even tell me that you love me?” He slammed his fist on the table. “Every time I talk about love or marriage you try to change the subject. Do you think I don’t notice what you’re doing?”
“Where is all this coming from?”
“Don’t go, Tempani. Stay here and plan our wedding.”
“Nic!”
“Do you not want to be my wife? Are you just staying with me until a better offer comes along?” He cried. “Because let me tell you, somebody better will not come along. I am the best there is. I am going to be king!”
“I am not going to stand here and listen to this. I have to get some sleep before I leave, and you need to go home and sober up.”
“This is about Teddy, isn’t it?”
She threw her arms up in the air. “Teddy is my friend!”
“You’re not going Tempani. As the Crown Prince I forbid you to go,” he demanded.
“You forbid me? You have no right.”
“Then you have a decision to make. If you go I won’t be here waiting for you when you get back.” He crossed his arms against his chest.
She stared at him in disbelief. “You have not changed one bit, have you? I can’t believe how foolish I was to think you no longer arrogant and give you a chance.”
“It is me or your trip with Darby. You can’t have both,” he said smugly.
Tempani stood there in shock. He was asking her to choose between him and their future together, and her clear path to her destiny. As crazy as he was behaving now, she knew that he was the man for her. But there had always been something holding her back from making a lasting commitment to him. As though she knew she was destined for something else. And yes, it was going to be hard, impossible even, but she had to try. She couldn’t stay here and do nothing. And as heartless as it may seem there was only one path for her to take.
“I’m sorry you feel that way Nic. You can let yourself out,” she said and walked out of the room, tears streaming down her cheeks.
Nic didn’t know what to do. He had not thought for an instant that she would turn him down. They were in love, he was sure of that. They were supposed to be husband and wife.
“Tempani!” He cried and tried to follow her but Rando blocked his path. “Tempani!”
He stepped to the side, trying to get around him and Rando didn’t hesitate in pushing him away.
She looked at him once more and shook her head sadly before turning the corner.
“Fine! Be that way!” He screamed and stormed off.
She lay in bed that night crying over her decision. Her hip bled as she clutched her dagger in her hand. Zadi lay sound asleep on her pallet on the floor, dreaming of the future and oblivious to the anguish of her mistress.
Tempani sat in Mincha’s saddle before dawn the following morning, shivering in the breeches and shirt Zadi had fitted for her. She had finally fallen asleep, but no more than an hour later Zadi shook her awake.
She shifted in her saddle when she heard hooves approaching them from the gates. Despite her heavy heart she couldn’t help but smile when she saw Darby approaching on a black mare. Some people were made for a saddle. Darby was not one of these people. He looked ridiculous in his dusty breeches, perched on top of the fierce mare.
“This is Harmony,” he said grinning from ear to ear, patting his horse.
Tempani shook her head and stared at her old friend fondly. She couldn’t be happier that he would be helping her through this.
“We will meet the others in the city,” he informed Rando, whose eyes were shining with glee. He was eager to be back on the road again after so long cooped up in the manor. “Come on, let’s get going. We’ve got a long way to travel.”
Tempani whistled and smiled when Tilaw came streaking around the corner and jumped into the carrier Otto had attached to her saddle. Mincha was used to the dog jumping up so didn’t flinch at the extra weight.
“Hold on,” a gruff voice called out behind them. “You can’t leave without me.” Madoc pulled up alongside them on his chestnut gelding.
“What are you doing?” Tempani asked.
“Following my orders,” he said.
Darby raised his eyebrows at Rando, who gave him a slight nod. “Of course,” he said. “Let’s get moving. We’re on a schedule.”
And with that they headed out the wrought iron gates and down the road that would lead them towards an uncertain journey. Tempani allowed herself one last glance at the palace and the life she had with Nic and bid it farewell. This was not the time for a broken heart. She had more important things to focus on. She had a prophecy to fulfill.
~6~
THE BLACK & WHITE WOMAN
The travellers had set up camp for their third night on the road and retired early for the evening. They had one more day on the road before they reached the convent and had decided to set out as early as possible.
Tempani hadn’t exactly been thrilled to learn that was their destination. She had just spent five years there but apparently that was where the Black and White Woman was so she had no choice in the matter.
They had been forced to take a roundabout route as Darby wanted to ensure they weren’t being followed. As a result, it was taking a lot longer than it normally should have. Colbert was keen for Tempani to reach their destination and begin her lessons and his restlessness was catching. They all soon found that they too were desperate to reach the convent. All except Madoc. He was still under the impression that they were headed for the old ruins and was oblivious to the real mission at hand.
Tempani had insisted that they tell him the truth so he would be free to make his own decision about whether he continued or not. Darby and Colbert refused, as they feared he would choose to leave and let their secret out to his friends at the palace. They could not afford to have anybody on their tail.
Tempani hated lying to her friend but understood it was for the best. If they were ever discovered at least Madoc could say he had no idea of their intentions. He could say he was unaware that his companions were planning a rebellion. Or that he was travelling with hard-nosed commoners, who Darby had employed as his men-at-arms in preparation for this.
And then there was the young woman who had come to Zadi and could not be turned away. Bhatia. Tempani had almost fallen out of her saddle when she’d seen the beautiful brunette sitting haughtily on the back of a stallion. She’d lifted her face, and Tempani had found herself staring into the eyes of the Lady of the Night who had stolen the broach.
Zadi had promi
sed Darby that this girl would pull her weight, and she had yet to let them down. And she had yet to stop pointing out every fault in the way Tempani and the others did their duties at camp. Bhatia was gutsy, and it was sure to come in handy.
“They thought I took that, you know.” She sat beside Bhatia and pointed at the broach that lay pinned against her chest.
Bhatia shrugged. “The man was cruel to a girl I know. He deserved to lose it.”
“You can’t just take justice into your own hands. There are laws in place.”
Bhatia snorted. “And they look after your kind. Not mine.”
Tempani rolled up her sleeve and held her arm out, displaying her copper skin. “Nor mine.”
“Yet you befriended not one but two princes. You walk the streets with a guard. You are looked after.”
Tempani bristled. She was right. As much as she may think she was an outsider she did have powerful friends. But she was still part Kalaowin. If she had been arrested over the theft, who’s to say she wouldn’t have been tried and sentenced? The king did want her out of the way.
“If you go back and marry your prince you can fix things now,” Bhatia said as she leant forward to tie up her boot. Her brown hair fell over her shoulders, exposing a mark on the back of her neck. Tempani leant closer. It was a burn mark. Instinctively her fingers reached out and brushed the spot.
Bhatia’s head snapped up, and she glared at the girl with such a fierce hatred that Tempani shivered.
“What happened to you? Did you get caught stealing something?”
“You are supposed to be my savior. Some almighty power. But hear this. Touch me again, and I will make you regret it.”
She stormed off, leaving Tempani watching her with respect. If she could get her on her side, she would be loyal to the death.
As they did each night, Tempani and Darby stayed by the fire once the others had fallen asleep and talked of the real situation in Kamara.
“Does King Wimarc know about the prophecy?”
Darby stretched his legs out before him, his hand rubbing his old wound. “He knows.”
“Does he know it’s me?”
He shook his head. “He believes the threat has passed.”
Darby sat by the fire, lost in his own thoughts as he let his mind wander to the task at hand. Having links to the nobles and to the commoners was often a burden he carried alone. When Tempani arrived at court. he saw he was not alone in his struggle. She too had friends among the city dwellers and among the noblest blood. And she had ties to the Kalaowins. Her path was a hard one. There was no doubt about it. And the two of them knew that they couldn’t turn their backs on their plight but also that they couldn’t betray their friends among the nobles. For this to work, they would have to be careful or they would lose everything.
He only hoped that their noble friends would understand and that Wimarc would see reason. But he didn’t hold out much hope of that happening. Wimarc was renowned for wanting to ignore problems or deal with them in a heavy handed manner.
Nicolass, on the other hand, had the ability to see past his nose and look at what was beyond the palace walls. Darby often thought he had the strength of will to make the necessary changes to the kingdom, but he was not king yet. And they could not wait until he was king. The commoners wanted action now, and Darby had kept them at bay for as long as he could. He had wondered if there was any way to avoid bloodshed, but he couldn’t see a way of doing that.
“Darby?” Tempani broke through his thoughts. “If they knew it was me….”
He frowned at her. “They would do everything to stop you.”
Her brown eyes flashed at him, and he wished he could soften the blow but she had to know she was a target.
“I don’t want to scare you Tempani, but if they find out that you have the Power, you will be tried and executed for treason,” he explained. “Lord Ricton sensed someone powerful. The longer you stayed there, the closer he would have gotten to knowing the truth.”
“So it’s more than likely I will be killed because I am the one to bring forth the prophecy?” The idea of it sent a chill down her spine. She had thought it was a possibility, but to have someone else believe the same thing made it seem more real. It was terrifying and she admitted as much to her older friend.
“I have prepared your protection Tempani. I have brought along the finest fighters I could find. Madoc and Rando will defend you until their last breath.”
“We will have to tell Madoc the truth at some point.”
“I know. But for now it is best he does not know.”
And so she settled for the night with a sense of unease at keeping her friend in the dark.
Tempani’s eyes flew open when she heard the snapping of a twig followed by a hoof scraping against rock.
Beside her, Rando was on his feet, sword in hand as he prodded the man next to him awake. Slowly they all awoke, weapons ready as they moved towards the trees, Madoc in the lead.
She jumped when the sound of swords clashing came from the darkness. She cursed. She had no sword to defend herself as she had been unable to sneak one of her father’s into her bag.
Hooves pounded into the ground as they moved closer towards them.
“Give me a weapon,” she hissed to Rando. “Let me help.”
He pushed his finger against his lips and motioned for the girls and Darby to stay hidden. Tempani stifled a gasp. She had assumed they were being pursued by bandits, but when the horse came closer, she saw that it was not a regular horse.
This was the first centaur she had seen up close. He had the body of a black stallion and a muscled torso. His hair was black and flowed over his shoulders. He had a blunt face, and anger flashed in his eyes.
There was a clash as Rando’s sword met with the centaur’s. Rando moved quickly, his sword a blur as he tried to bring the centaur down. But the centaur moved just as swiftly and towered over the man.
Tempani saw Rando’s bag a few feet away. She moved quickly and rummaged through it, searching for a weapon. Her fingers closed around a knife, and she pulled it free. She moved soundlessly as she crept behind the centaur.
Panic flashed across Rando’s face as he saw what she was doing. She nodded towards the centaur, and he understood. He brought his sword up again and pushed the centaur backwards, closer to where Tempani was poised, waiting to launch herself.
She bent her knees and then flung herself through the air, landing on the centaur’s back. He turned in surprise and snarled as the girl wrapped her arm around him. With her other hand, she brought up the knife and ran it across his neck, slicing it open.
She jumped off and watched as Rando’s blade disappeared into the centaur’s stomach. He spluttered and dropped to his knees, blood dripping from his mouth. Rando yanked his sword free, and the centaur was dead.
Tempani looked down at the bloodied knife in her hand. Her stomach rolled. Zadi grabbed her hair and pulled it back just as Tempani wretched. She heaved up the contents of her stomach and then rose slowly, wiping her arm across her mouth.
She looked up when Darby grabbed the knife from her hand.
“I did it,” he whispered. “When Madoc asks, I killed it. Not you. Not Rando.”
Beside her, Rando was busy wiping his blade. When it was clean, he buried it deep in his bag.
And she understood. While Madoc was still in the dark, the rules of the city applied. Women and commoners did not carry weapons.
—
“I have not slept a wink since she left,” Nic admitted to the Chief Healer. His parents were concerned about the paleness of his skin and lack of energy. “I keep thinking I shouldn’t have taken no for an answer. I should have been more persuasive.”
Tryphena glanced up from where she was reading to Laiken. The nine-year-old prince was caught off guard by their mother’s sudden change of tone. “You cannot force a woman to do something she is not ready for. Especially a woman you claim to love Nicolass,” she scolded.
“Why don’t you go after her then if you’re so miserable without her?” Ellsje asked sulkily as she twirled one of her golden curls around her finger.
“Because I was the one in the right!”
“Why did you have to make her leave? I liked her.” Ellsje flung herself out of her chair and glared at her older brother.
“You’re too young to understand Ellsje so stay out of it,” he snapped.
She poked her tongue out at him and stomped out of the room.
“Nicolass!” His mother shouted. “I will not have you take your anger out on those close to you. You made the decision to do what you did and now you have to live with it.”
“And do I get no support from my family?”
“No, you don’t,” Teddy snapped. “She was the best thing that’s ever happened to you.”
“Stay out of it, Teddy.”
“You have no one to blame but yourself,” he said before following Ellsje out of the room.
“You will have support once you start behaving as an adult and show the maturity you will need to be king,” Tryphena told him.
“Dear, our son is in pain. Surely you can comfort him,” Wimarc said.
“Ha!” She scoffed at her husband. “I would have thought you would be happy with the way this has turned out.”
“I am not pleased to see our son upset,” he said calmly. He knew how upset Tryphena was over the dissolution of Nic and Tempani’s relationship. She felt she had lost her last link to Hamalia, and it had broken her heart.
“Nicolass, you were foolish to pressure Tempani to marry you,” she said quietly. “I have said my piece on the matter and will not speak further of it.” She grabbed Laiken by the hand and led him from the room.
“Nicolass, now that Tempani is no longer an option would you please consider Princess Naleeni. Think of what the union will do for our kingdom. It will further seal the truce. Think of the promise of peace it will bring to us,” Wimarc pleaded.
