A Gift Freely Given (The Tahaerin Chronicles Book 1)

by J. Ellen Ross

  They emerged from the stairs and saw Staval with three of his men, racing their horses under the portcullis, heading straight for them. Jan and Eli stepped up beside Leisha, hands resting on the hilts of their blades.

  “Who is in those ships?” Staval shouted, reining his horse to a violent stop in front of her. Jan jumped between them, seeing the murderous rage on her uncle’s face. All around, people turned to watch the confrontation.

  The walk down the tower steps has given Leisha time to compose herself for this encounter. She shed all the fear and uncertainty of the last two months, confident she would emerge the victor today. Shading her eyes against the sun, she stepped around Jan. “My guests, uncle. They’ll be coming ashore soon.”

  “Who are they?” Staval ground out each word, unwilling to believe she would outmaneuver him now.

  Leisha did not need to touch his thoughts but stood, reveling in his obvious fury.

  “The Ambassador from Trillinae is here. He’ll be staying at the castle with me.” She smiled up at him, cool and insincere, as she walked around his horse.

  “Trillinae? Traitor. I’ll destroy any ship attempting to dock.”

  Over her shoulder, Leisha replied, “Then you’ll be denying them my hospitality and declaring war on me. They are my guests, here to complete a business deal. You’ll be in the wrong and I’ll demand all the lords defend my peace. Do you have allies enough for that?”

  ***

  Andelko went with a carriage and a large detail of men to the harbor to meet the first Trillinae ship to dock. He greeted a very well dressed court official who introduced himself as Ambassador Ballas. In his formal uniform and armor, Andelko bowed and welcomed Ballas to Lida.

  “Ambassador, I’ve been asked to bring you straight to Branik Castle to meet with the queen.”

  “Is it safe, Captain?” The ambassador’s lilting Trillinae accent sounded odd compared to the hard consonant sounds of the Tahaerin one. “I understand from your queen’s representative there are security concerns here.”

  “Her Highness asks you bring any men you wish, but I have more than enough to assure your safety. The forces occupying Lida are few and only arrayed around the castle.”

  Ballas seemed hesitant and a bit doubtful of the entire situation. “And they’ll let us through?”

  In high spirits, Andelko grinned. “They will, sir, or I have orders to cut them all down. Which my men and I would all greatly enjoy doing today.”

  Andelko mounted his warhorse along with his men and escorted the coach through town. At the castle gate, Staval’s men briefly stood blocking the way. Crossbowmen appeared along the wall and the mounted soldiers all loosened their weapons. The horses pawed at the ground, responding to the tension in the air but then Staval’s men decided to stand aside and allow the carriage to roll through the gate.

  Standing on the castle steps, Leisha shone. Dressed in glorious green and gold, her face was a study in triumph. She already knew the ships came loaded with food and the Trillinae ambassador came here to deal. His thoughts swirled through the courtyard ahead of him, seeming to dance on the breeze. They told her the kingdom to the south wanted their conflict resolved and would pay the cost of a few ships filled with meat and grains to do so. Not for the first time in her life, she pitied those who could not feel the thoughts of others.

  Ballas stepped out of the carriage and knelt. If he found her too young or questioned her experience, he kept his thoughts well hidden. Leisha liked him already. After a long sea voyage, she offered to walk with him in her private gardens, instead of sitting inside. As they strolled along the gravel paths, Ballas complimented her on her city. She let him know she hoped this would not be his only visit to Lida.

  With pleasantries out of the way, he said, “Your Highness, I must let you know Trillinae is not interested in becoming embroiled in the internal conflicts of Tahaerin.”

  “I assure you, Ambassador, I’ve no intentions of allowing that to happen. There are two separate situations unfolding currently. One is a business transaction between my kingdom and yours. The other is simply me bringing a pack of dogs to heel.” Ballas thought the smile spreading across her face looked vicious.

  “I want to settle the conflict between our two kingdoms. I have no interest in continuing whatever disagreement preceded me. So the offer is to sell you the Vrata valley in exchange for food delivered to my castle until my uncle takes his men and leaves.”

  “We can definitely accept those terms, Your Highness.” He sounded pleased and surprised as if not quite believing all this could be true. An entire valley for food?

  “We’ll provide you with soldiers, of course. But you’re permitted to defend yourselves and your property as well if you come under attack from any of my uncle’s soldiers while in Lida. They’re criminals.”

  “What a fascinating kingdom you have here,” Ballas said with a smile.

  Broken

  Zaraki caught the first wave of dinghies to leave the Partush, sick of all the time trapped on the ship and ready for dry land. Vaulting out of the tiny boat before they even tied up, he went in search of a horse to rent. The walk up to the castle would take too long and he wanted to see Leisha. He needed to see she was all right and to tell her everything had gone just as she hoped it would. The little kingdom to the south jumped at the chance for peace, sending ships bursting with food and men prepared to defend it.

  After what seemed like an eternity, his horse clattered up to the gates. Staval’s men now stood to one side, no longer impeding traffic under the portcullis. For a moment, he waited for a groom to take his reins before giving up and dropping them. With so many people coming and going, the stable boys were overwhelmed. The horse would make its way back home or he would get a bill. Either way, he would not wait any longer.

  As he rushed through the great doors, he noticed the change in the people milling around there. Servants ran back and forth, preparing the Hall once more for visitors. Pages dashed between them, racing from room to room, delivering messages. Everyone suddenly had a purpose, their worry and anxiety evaporated. Staval would not win, no one would starve, and Leisha would keep her throne.

  He took the stairs two at a time, and when he walked through the open door of her apartments, he stopped and stared. She stood looking down on the courtyard through her windows, smiling in an unguarded moment. Her hair hung loose down her back and she wore a lovely green dress with long, draping sleeves. In two years, they had not been apart for so long. When had she become a young woman?

  Sensing his approach, she turned and a smile lit her face. She raced across the room to him, flinging her arms around his neck. “You did it,” she cried.

  For two years, he had only known a quiet and painfully restrained Leisha. This exuberant, expressive girl caught him off guard, his etiquette and training forgotten. Without thinking, he hugged her back, his arms wrapping around her small frame, relieved to see her alive and safe. Her hair, unbound, danced around him. He inhaled the scent of it and felt the warmth of her breath on his neck as she welcomed him home.

  Lavender. She smelled like a lavender heath. His pulse quickened and he felt a rush of excitement. He wanted this moment to last, wanted to hold onto her.

  He wanted more.

  Oh no.

  Cezar’s words echoed in his head. You swear an oath to give your employer three things. Loyalty, secrecy, objectivity. He had just broken number three, the one that forbade falling in love with her.

  Zaraki did nothing until she stepped back, a huge smile on her face. “So you didn’t starve, Your Majesty?” His voice sounded odd in his ears as his heart pounded, but Leisha did not seem to notice.

  “Indeed. No one was forced to eat the horses though meals have been boring. I’ve already met with Ambassador Ballas, and tomorrow the food will begin rolling off the ships. Of course, there’s always the chance Staval will decide to attack, but I believe he’ll see the sense of retreating now. Even if my guests are Trillanese, he can
’t attack them. All my allies will uphold the tradition if he violates my peace.” It all came out in one excited breath.

  Still grinning, Leisha said, “Zaraki, you saved me. I’m stronger now and my throne is secure. Ask me for anything and you’ll have it.”

  He needed to get away before she read his thoughts. “Your Highness, you’ve always treated me well—”

  “No,” she interrupted. “Don’t demur. You’ve earned the right to ask for my favor. Take advantage of it.”

  Panicked, he said the first thing that came to mind. “A new horse, Highness. I was forced to leave Suma in Trillinae because she didn’t take to ocean travel.”

  She gave him an exasperated look. “A horse for all you did? You’ll have a stable of horses. In fact, you can have my horse farm in Ola. My agents there are master breeders and will run everything for you. You can take your pick of the stock any time you want and you’ll have your own independent income. I’ll have Symon draw up the deeds.”

  “It’s too much—” he started to protest.

  “It’s a gift, remember? As long as it’s freely given, you must accept it.”

  “Thank you, Your Grace,” he stammered. “Thank you. As always, you treat me far better than I have a right to expect.” Only later would he think about how this farm changed his circumstances and how much money he could make with it.

  Three nights later, Zaraki found himself up and prowling the halls of the castle well past eleven bells. He told himself he just wanted to check on things, trying to deny he had lain awake in bed for hours, unable to sleep and remembering the feel of her body against his. As he passed through the entrance hall, he caught sight of a small figure wrapped in a plain cape and hood. Try as she might to hide herself, he knew Leisha and her movements. He watched her glide through the hall, then open the small wicket gate set into the larger entrance doors. She slipped outside.

  Torn, he could not decide what to do. She had the right to move about the castle as she chose, but he was responsible for her safety and it was late at night. He decided to follow at a distance, cursing the lie he told himself.

  ***

  Leisha walked through the courtyard and across to the Observatory. At this time of night, no one manned it so she could have it all to herself. A few guards passed by, but none challenged her. At the base of the tower, she started climbing the stairs and opened the door when she reached the top. Tonight, after all the fear and worry and second-guessing herself, she wanted to see her city.

  She leaned against the low wall and stared out.

  Several minutes passed before she felt Zaraki standing behind the door. “Ever my shadow,” she said with a low laugh, not looking back.

  He pushed the door open. “Forgive me, Highness,” he said, sounding contrite. “It’s just that it’s late and you’re alone.”

  “I sneak up here at night sometimes, when I think you’re not watching,” she admitted, looking sheepish. “Come and look.”

  Zaraki hesitated, knowing he had invaded her private moment.

  “No, come look at my lovely city,” she encouraged, her voice full of pride. “You’re not intruding.”

  Leisha leaned over, resting her chin in her palms and gazed out over Lida. “I love this view at night when the city is still lit with torchlight. I can look out over the water. On nights when the moon is full, I can see the mountains behind us.”

  Standing in the opposite corner from her, Zaraki looked out over the rooftops and out to sea. He understood why she would sneak up here alone to see this. Drawing a deep breath, he worked hard at keeping his mind on the city and not on her lovely form and lavender-scented hair. What would she do when she read his thoughts? He had to guard them better.

  “Zaraki, none of this would be possible without you and Symon and Andelko. You’ve saved my kingdom, my city, and my life. I owe you all a vast debt.”

  “Nonsense, Your Grace. You inspire a great deal of loyalty in all your people. We’re happy to serve you.”

  “Still.” She paused and seemed to struggle. “Thank you.” Leisha felt herself near panic at the words. She wanted so much to share this moment with Zaraki. To thank him and tell him how much she had worried about him and how grateful she was to have him return to her. She remembered the hug they shared and wanted to reach out again.

  But no. All those times her nurses rejected her and all the other royal children who hated her, they flooded back and Leisha retreated. She let the mask slip back on, the one that protected her and kept everyone at arm’s length.

  “I should go back to bed. I have work to do early in the morning,” she lied. “Good night, Zaraki.”

  As she rushed back to her apartments she wondered, why lie to him? Why did it matter what he thought?

  ***

  For weeks Zaraki and Andelko worked to root out all of Staval’s men from the city and around the castle. In truth, with their lord gone, it limited any chance to create mischief, but neither man wanted to take any chances.

  Zaraki kept busy during the day, but at night, he burned. No matter what he tried, his thoughts filled with the memory of Leisha’s body pressed against him and the smell of her skin so close. He tried to avoid her when he could, sending Jan or Eli in his place.

  “It’s just infatuation,” he told himself over and over. In all his years, he had always been the master of his heart, guarding it closely and never falling in love. Even with Aniska. He willingly paid that price for job security, a roof over his head and never going hungry. He could not afford the entanglements and he could never break the prohibition on falling in love with his employer or anyone in the household. Especially when it meant losing everything he had worked for.

  In desperation, he went into town one night and found a very pretty, young prostitute who was more than willing to fall into bed with the queen’s handsome spymaster. He tried everything he could think of to get Leisha out of his mind, but in the end, he could not even bring himself to kiss the girl. He paid her thirty times what she asked and told her to go home to her father. With a purse full of coins, he would welcome her back. Zaraki sat in the rented room over the cheap tavern and despaired.

  This could not be. He swore three oaths and had kept them all this time. He kept her secrets, he gave her his loyalty and he did not form relationships which interfered with his objectivity. When he took a woman to bed, they were always barmaids or merchant’s daughters just looking for fun. Besides, queens did not fall in love with orphaned peasants. And even if she did, what could she do about it? Being caught with a commoner, especially one as low as him would be political suicide for her.

  He spent the night on the thin mattress and warred with his heart.

  The next morning, with things settled in Lida, Zaraki decided to leave and clear his head. Some time away would see the end to this ridiculous obsession. Leisha listened as he told her his plan to call on several agents in other cities—visits long overdue thanks to the blockade. “Of course, go. Take one of your new, fine horses. Eli and Jan will keep me company.”

  Relieved, Zaraki went to the stables. Inside, he found the row of horses he now owned and looked over all the lovely black and chestnut animals staring over the gates of their stalls. As a breed, Aulerons stood tall, with large blocky heads and broad backs. He ran his hands over the long, graceful neck of the first mare. At twenty-two, there was no reason for him to own a horse farm, given to him by a queen. “You’re gorgeous and you’re mine,” Zaraki whispered to her as he stroked her nose.

  A voice came from behind. “Come to look at your fine beasts?” Andelko asked. “I’m glad they’re finally going to see some use rather than standing here all day waiting on a queen who fears them. These aren’t worth a damn to the army, but they are beautiful to look at.”

  “They’re magnificent,” Zaraki agreed, batting away the head of a large black gelding trying to rifle through his pockets for treats.

  Grabbing a nearby bucket of horse bread, Andelko offered him a few piece
s. “You know Aulerons are protected in Tahaerin, don’t you?”

  The black gelding stamped a foot, demanding a piece. “No, I had no idea,” Zaraki said, shaking his head as the horse took the bread from his hand.

  “Damn foreigners.” Andelko laughed. “Yes, for generations, only nobles and royalty have been allowed to own Aulerons. They’re rare and Davos kept it that way. Do you have any idea the price they’ll fetch? It’s quite the gift she’s given you.”

  Horses only nobles could own? The ledgers Symon had turned over to him said there were thirty more on the farm in Ola. He stared in wonder at the ten animals. The chestnut mare next to Zaraki had lost interest when no more treats appeared for her, but the big black gelding continued to ruffle through his hair and lip at his hands for attention. The horse nudged him with his great head and Zaraki finally shook himself out of his reverie. “Yes, it’s a magnificent gift,” he agreed.

  ***

  Zaraki looked over all his new horses, but he already knew which he favored. He returned to the big, black gelding and ran hands over him. Sleek black with no white markings, the animal stood still for inspection before beginning to nose through pockets again. The grooms had obviously spoiled him and Zaraki loved his unashamed begging.

  He led the horse from his stall and down the row to a wall lined saddles and reins and blankets. Along with the horses, she had given him her father’s collection of tack and he picked out a very fine saddle for his new friend. “I’m going to call you Capar,” Zaraki said as the horse tossed his head and cantered out of the castle.

  Before riding out of town, he stopped at one of the banks he deposited money in and that had branches in Embriel. Despite the turmoil he felt, he had a plan to tend to. He spoke to a clerk and asked for a bill of exchange for the branch in Achym.

  Once he completed his business there, Zaraki did need to visit a few agents. But if she still worked at the bar in Kajetan, he would go confess to Aniska. He would confess to breaking his oaths and she would tell him how to stop this torment.