The Elf King’s Lady: Wildecoast Saga Book 2

by Bernadette Rowley

  Kain’s stomach clenched. She wouldn’t lie about this, would she? “It’s too much of a risk, lady. I can’t allow you to come.”

  “My father is out there, perhaps hurt. There will be injured soldiers if you are to achieve your other objective. I can help.”

  Kain let out a long breath. He turned to Gwaethe. “Do you agree to remain a hidden force, sister?”

  Gwaethe studied him through narrowed eyes. The seconds were marked by a grandfather clock in the corner of the room. For once Isiloe and Alique remained silent. “I shall marshal my forces to the east and keep a close watch on matters. It is risky though, brother. If we are found we will have no choice but to fight – unless you have already told your king about our people and your link to them.”

  “Of course he has not!” Isiloe snapped. “He will not burn his bridges. He seeks to come out of this in the best state possible.”

  “You go too far!” Kain said.

  “It is true, kingdom man,” Isiloe said. “If not, announce your heritage and work with us for a better future.”

  “That’s enough, Isiloe,” Gwaethe said. “You have over-stepped again.”

  Isiloe opened her mouth to reply but then shut it at the look Gwaethe sent her way.

  Gwaethe turned to Kain. “Have you informed the King of your heritage?”

  Kain again pushed shame aside. He couldn’t be expected to embrace this wholeheartedly in a few short days. “No, I haven’t. I’m unsure of their reaction. If there were not skirmishes occurring between our people, then perhaps—”

  Gwaethe’s eyes held disappointment. “We need you now, not in some indeterminate time in the future.”

  Alique hissed at Gwaethe. “You are not being fair!”

  The elven woman turned on Alique. “I do not have time for fair. We go to battle tomorrow and I do not think either Faenwelar or your king will be fair in war.” She turned back to Kain. “I would prefer if all your men knew of our factions. There is no point in them fighting my people.”

  “I’m not going to change things now,” Kain said. “I have faith that you’ll remain unseen and if things need to change in the heat of battle, I’ll find a way to make it right. You’ll have to trust me on that.”

  Gwaethe considered long and hard. Their relationship was still so new. Instinctively, Kain felt he could trust her, but did she feel the same?

  “We will do it your way, Kain,” Gwaethe said, “but I am uneasy.”

  Kain nodded. “Thank you. You should pack and leave the city, rejoin your people to the north. Nikolas will see you safely on your way.” His friend nodded. “I need to speak with the lady.”

  “Until we meet again, brother.” Gwaethe left the room with her cousin hissing in her ear.

  “I’ll wait outside,” Nikolas said, closing the door quietly behind him.

  Kain met Alique’s steady gaze. “Go on, tell me why this is all a mistake,” he said.

  “I don’t even know where to start,” she said, stalking across to the fireplace. “Were you going to tell me? Or sneak off to find my father and fight Faenwelar without my knowledge?”

  “The latter of course. I can’t risk you.”

  “I’m not yours to risk,” Alique said, whirling around from the fire.

  “You know what I mean.”

  “Yes, I think I do,” Alique said. “You are the kind of man who makes decisions for women, thinking he knows what is best for them.”

  “In this case, I do know what’s best,” Kain said, joining Alique by the fire. He admired her courage in wanting to travel into battle, but how could he stand knowing she was at risk every hour she was with him? “Please reconsider,” he said, softly. “I won’t be able to concentrate on my job, knowing you’re in the firing line.”

  She met his gaze with her stunning blue eyes and Kain felt like he could see right into her soul. She tilted her head and he leaned toward her, drawn against his will and his better judgment. He swallowed hard, trying to fight the attraction, knowing it would get him nowhere but in more trouble. He couldn’t drag Alique down to where he was going, and he certainly didn’t want to witness her death.

  “I shall have my own band of soldiers, Kain,” she said. “I will stay away from the fighting if there is any. The King and Queen have already given me leave to go, and have arranged my escort so, you see, there is nothing you can do to change this.”

  Kain closed his eyes and took a deep breath, battling despair at this turn of events. He thought he’d been so smart, managing to extricate himself from Alique, ensuring she could remain safe and free of his taint, but now—

  He opened his eyes. “If you insist on this madness, there’s nothing more I can say. I’ll escort you back to the castle.” He strode to the door and held it open, gritting his teeth as Alique swept through and out into the public bar, drawing her hood up as she went.

  Chapter 14

  Alique sat her horse in the weak light of dawn, this time riding astride. Ebony snorted as one of the soldiers allowed his horse too close. Perhaps she had picked up some of Alique’s temper. Usually mornings were her favored time of day but she just could not get rid of the feeling of disquiet that dogged her.

  They mustered outside the castle gates. At least the elite first hundred were here, the other two hundred regular troops awaiting them outside the city with the wagons. Kain was present too, of course, trotting back and forth, seeing to last minute problems and consulting with Josef Formosa. Apparently he was to accompany them too. Kain did not seem very pleased with that turn of events.

  Just as he had been furious with her last night. Well, he would have to accept that he could not have all things his own way. Her father was missing and a battle threatened. Where else would she be but in the field, tending to injured men, and finding her papa? And while she was doing her job, she could keep an eye on Kain. He needed someone to watch his back, especially with that sister of his lurking somewhere to the east. Alique could not trust a dark elf, no matter how friendly she might seem. Isiloe certainly was not friendly. She’d stick a knife in Kain as soon as look at him.

  Kain’s parting words last night had been for her to stay safe and stay well away from him. Alique’s eye was again drawn to him, and she wondered how she would distance herself. Perhaps it would not be a problem, as it appeared he could ignore her quite thoroughly. His gaze had not even come near her since she had ridden through the gates. He looked tired though, like he hadn’t slept well for days. She knew the feeling.

  Alique turned to her maid, Julli. “Are you quite sure everything is loaded on the dray? I would not wish any of my medicines to be left behind.”

  “Quite sure, my lady,” Julli said. “I had Doctor Mosard check every package against your list, and he added more as well. I personally packed all your clothes.”

  Alique nodded. The girl was so serious it was difficult to believe she was only nineteen summers old. She had been assigned to Alique when she came to work for the Queen and would make a good assistant when Alique’s medical skills were needed.

  “Move out!” Kain’s voice echoed across the parade ground and, as if by magic, men and horses moved into four columns for the march. Alique’s twenty soldiers formed up around herself and Julli as they joined the back of the line.

  “We’re coming, Papa,” Alique breathed, as they ventured into the streets of Wildecoast, bound for the north.

  *

  Kain updated his notes after dismissing the latest scout. They were three days out of Wildecoast and deep into the forest. Again the trees whispered to him. The words “forest mage” swirled around him and Kain finally had to accept that the trees had named him a magician. He found himself wishing for Gwaethe so she could explain it all. The bracelet he wore grew warm at times but usually it appeared a completely inert piece of jewelry. He knew it was linked with his heritage and with Gwaethe, but no more.

  Of Gwaethe he had seen no sign. She’d be somewhere to the east, keeping an eye on them and a lookout fo
r Faenwelar. His sister would get word to him somehow if needed, he was absolutely sure of that.

  Formosa was a painful reminder of Kain’s fall from grace. The lieutenant scrutinized every order Kain gave, and was a party to each piece of information received. He couldn’t even pick a flea out of his bedding without Formosa knowing about it. But that was what happened when you were under suspicion.

  And then there was Alique. She had come nowhere near him but still he felt her presence. He knew where she was at any moment of the day. He had detailed one of his personal aides to keep an eye on her, to make sure Alique’s guard stayed vigilant, and that she traveled in the safest part of the column.

  Formosa cantered up. “Dark elves to the north-west and heading this way, general,” he said. “I suggest we angle to the west to engage with them.”

  Kain ground his teeth. Of course they were going to swing toward the elves. That was what they were here for. “How large is the force?”

  “Scouts were vague, sir, but estimated around a hundred.”

  “Could be double that,” Kain muttered. The elves had an uncanny knack for hiding the size of their forces. Some traveled through the forest itself, perhaps swinging between trees, so they could surprise their foe. But Kain had a solution for that. “Put the path blazers to work. Angle directly toward the elves but make sure the scouts stay vigilant. And Formosa? Get the path cutters to use current trails wherever they can.”

  He frowned, but nodded and cantered off.

  That last request would create gossip amongst the officers, but Kain couldn’t stand the constant muttering from the trees each time branches were hacked and saplings felled. He had learned to shut out the murmuring of the forest, but still it was a constant reminder of his new status as “forest mage”. Pity he couldn’t just touch his bracelet and mutter a few words and have the trees create their own path for him. At that thought, the branches overhead shook violently, raining down leaves over the soldiers. What the hell does that mean? He gripped the band and imagined a path opening before the troop. The trees beside him swayed but there was no change to the path that he could see. Another question for Gwaethe.

  *

  Kain was running through battle strategies in his mind when Formosa rode up again.

  “Elven force is less than an hour’s ride ahead, general,” he said. “What are your orders?”

  “What would you suggest, lieutenant?” Kain asked.

  “Continue our advance as is, sir.”

  “Agreed, but select archers to fan out through the forest to either side to guard our flanks,” Kain said. “That way they can keep a lookout for dark elves in the treetops.”

  Formosa’s eyes widened at Kain’s last comment but he merely saluted and cantered his horse away. Kain called one of his aides over.

  “Ride forward and make sure archers are dispatched to guard our flanks, corporal.”

  The man saluted and galloped away.

  Kain shook his head. Too many leaders here, and about to be more when Vorasava arrives from Brightcastle. He pulled his horse around and cantered back down the line until he found Alique and her maid.

  Kain bowed from his saddle and Alique inclined her head. “There’ll be a battle in less than an hour, my lady. You must stay back and not race to tend to the injured. They will be brought to you when it’s safe.” He found Sergeant Mazesta, the leader of Alique’s soldiers. “Stay vigilant, man. Nothing must happen to Lady Alique.”

  Kain cantered back to his position. Alique should be safe enough toward the rear of the procession. They outnumbered the elves, even if estimates were way out.

  *

  Alique crouched low on Ebony’s neck as arrows flew across her party. Already one of her soldiers was dead and two more injured and she could do nothing but sit. She swiveled her head to find Julli crouched low over the neck of her bay mare, eyes wide and fingers clawing the reins.

  “We must take cover, Julli,” Alique said. “We’ll be shot here!” She slid off Ebony, careful to keep hold of the reins. The horse was battle trained and so appeared unflustered by the chaos around her. Julli’s mount was another matter. The bay was snorting and pulling at its reins. Alique seized the leather straps from Julli and handed them to one of her mounted soldiers.

  Sergeant Mazesta shouted down to her. “Stay inside the circle of our horses, my lady. You will be safer there.”

  Alique shook her head. It didn’t feel safer, and she could see nothing. Horses milled around her, the soldiers desperate to look out for danger, and firing off their short horse bows when they spotted an elf. Another of her men fell, an arrow through his chest. He landed at her feet, eyes staring. Julli screamed. The horse beside Alique stepped on her foot and she punched his shoulder and pushed him off. The rider looked down apologetically.

  Foot throbbing, Alique peered between the horses but it was no good. She could not see anything useful. She looked up into the trees and her eyes met those of a dark elf. He sneered as he raised his bow and aimed at her. Alique froze, waiting for the sharp bite of the arrow in her flesh but as she watched, the elf toppled out of the tree. His fall revealed Gwaethe in the tree behind. She grinned and leapt away.

  But Alique had no time to be grateful as her group was forced backward up the path. It had to be advancing elves. Fight, Kain! Or did this advance mean Kain was dead, that their force was leaderless? I cannot think like that. Men pushed forward from behind them and suddenly Alique and her soldiers were alone on the path. Silence fell in her part of the forest. She dropped to her knees and checked the pulse of a man at her feet. Dead.

  Alique limped from soldier to soldier, elf to elf, checking for signs of life. Those she could help, she had her soldiers lay along the path with six men to guard them. Julli trailed behind with a small medical bag, bandaging some and murmuring words of comfort to others. Sergeant Mazesta found a clearing close by and Alique decided this would suffice for her hospital. She had the injured moved there but the rest she left where they had fallen.

  A half hour passed and still Alique moved further afield, finding fallen soldiers. She was running short on medicines. Where are those supply wagons? The cumbersome things were always hours behind the main force. Soldiers were dying as she waited for supplies.

  When she had roamed as far as she was game, Alique retired to the clearing and tried to formulate plans for the injured, once she had her full field hospital set up. While she waited, she cleaned and sutured small wounds, administering pain drafts to those who needed them.

  There were two elves amongst the injured, one a young man, the other a seasoned veteran.

  “Do not tend to us, woman,” the older one said. “We do not need your primitive care.”

  The younger man had a serious wound to his stomach and Alique knew he would die of it.

  “Allow me to give your friend something for the pain,” she said. “He suffers.”

  The older elf shook his head. “We expect suffering and long for it. Our pain will see this land returned to our people.”

  “He is young and afraid,” Alique snapped. “His mother would want me to tend him.”

  “His mother offered him up for this task, woman,” the older elf said. “Do not speak of that which you have no understanding.”

  The elf refused to speak further and his young companion died soon after. At least the end did not seem painful, and for that Alique was glad.

  At luncheon time, the wagons arrived, including the medical wagon.

  “Thank heavens,” Alique said, dragging herself to her feet and limping out to meet them. “I need food for the wounded brought to me in that clearing.” She unloaded what she needed from her wagon and started work on the seriously injured, Julli at her side.

  *

  Two hours later, Kain cantered along the forest path back toward where the fighting had been most ferocious. They had routed the elves, but not without the loss of too many men. He had spent the last hour harrying the remaining elven force back toward th
e north, and now he needed to find Alique. She had to be safe, although it would be a miracle if she was.

  Kain started to find order in the bodies he saw along the track and hoped that meant Alique was in charge here. Next he heard groans and then a female voice.

  “Hold him down, soldier! How do you expect me to stitch with his arms flailing about?”

  A huge wave of relief crashed down upon Kain. He threw himself off Snow and strode in the direction of the voice. Alique, sleeves rolled up, was suturing the shoulder of a soldier. Her hair was stuck to her face and she had blood smears over her dress, but she was still beautiful. Kain swallowed a vast wave of emotion.

  “Thank the Goddess you’re safe!”

  Alique looked up and smiled. “Where have you been?”

  He squatted beside her as she tied the last knot and then applied a bandage. “We chased the remaining elves north and managed to take a few more down.”

  “Enjoy your small victory,” the surviving elf said.

  “What shall I do with you, then?” Kain asked.

  The elf raised his chin and stared at Kain with cold dark eyes. “Kill me.”

  “I don’t kill in cold blood, elf,” Kain said.

  “I am your enemy. You cannot afford to let me live.”

  Kain could feel Alique’s eyes on him. “I can’t afford to kill you either, but I have another solution.” Kain leaned closer and whispered. “I will allow your own people to decide your fate.” He stood and dragged the elf up with him then marched the enemy from the clearing.

  Chapter 15

  Alique sat lost in her thoughts, grateful for the warmth of the fire. She had not seen Kain since he had stormed out of the clearing with the Sis Lenweri. Julli, poor girl, was asleep beside her, having hardly touched her supper. She had shown much courage during the day and the battle had taken its toll. As it has on all of us.

  Was this what it would be like? Alique looked around the fire at her guards. Two of them would not draw breath again, and three more wore bandages on wounds that would normally see them relieved of active duty for weeks. But there would be no recuperation for them on this trip. Unless I can send them back to Wildecoast?