The Elf King’s Lady: Wildecoast Saga Book 2

by Bernadette Rowley

  He helped a soldier nearby beat off his attacker and leapt from Snow as a group of elves emerged from the forest on the left. There must have been six or seven of the enemy but Kain threw himself at them, yelling for others to help. In moments he had three more men at his back but the elves before them only grinned their feral grins, their cat-like irises sending a shiver down Kain’s spine. They were taller than any of the soldiers before them, and they were at home in the forest.

  His sword in his right hand and knife in his left, Kain engaged the enemy, sending a blood-curdling cry into the tops of the trees. The elves froze for a split second in surprise and it was all Kain needed. He had the leader on his knees in a breath, cradling his stomach while guts tried to spill all over the leaf litter. Kain sliced the elf’s head from his shoulders as he passed and engaged the elves in the second row.

  In moments the fight was over and seven elves lay dead, while only one of his own soldiers lay dying. Kain knelt beside the injured soldier. “All will be well, man,” he said, pulling a handkerchief from his pocket to mop blood from the soldier’s face. “We’ll win this fight and the next until all the elves are back where they belong.” He gripped the man’s shoulder. “You fought well.”

  “Aye, general,” the dying soldier said. “I know you’ll send them packing. It’s not true what they’re saying.”

  “What do you mean?” Kain asked.

  But the soldier had breathed his last. Kain looked up into the faces of the other two men but they wouldn’t meet his eyes. “One of you tell me what he meant.”

  “I never heard what he said, general.”

  Kain’s head exploded with noise and he dropped to his knees, hands over his ears. There was room for nothing else in his skull except the piercing wail that ricocheted through his head. And then it was gone. Kain breathed a ragged breath and opened his eyes to find the soldiers staring at him as if he were mad.

  “General?” one of them asked.

  He breathed another deep breath and tried to concentrate but his head still ached. He stood and looked around the column. It was in disarray, horses riderless, injured and able bodies alike slumped over their saddles or leaning against their mounts. The one thing he didn’t expect to note was the absence of the enemy. Not a single elf remained, not even the dead.

  Kain looked to the men with him. “What happened?”

  “All of a sudden they just stopped, picked up their dead and injured and took off into the forest, general,” a soldier said.

  Kain was having trouble taking it all in with his skull pounding fit to burst. One thing was clear – they seemed to have been given a reprieve and it was time to regroup. He spoke to the most senior man before him. “Sergeant, find Formosa and ask him to give me a report on the state of our force at the earliest opportunity.” He turned to the other man who still eyed him with wariness. “Corporal, head back down the column and check on the wagons. Take whomever you find injured to Lady Zorba and get help as you go.”

  The men saluted and trotted off. Kain tilted his head back and looked up into the trees.

  Your other force has arrived, Gwaethe sent.

  Kain groaned. But it was a good thing that Vorasava was close by. They needed the extra two hundred men desperately, even though the Brightcastle captain would complicate the leadership of the force.

  A horn sounded through the forest, coming from the southwest and Kain slumped to the ground, resting against a broad tree trunk. A water carrier brought him a drink.

  “Pass the word as you go, man,” Kain said. “Captain Vorasava from Brightcastle approaches. He brings reinforcements.”

  The man smiled. “Not a moment too soon, General Jazara.” He saluted and moved on. A buzz sounded along the column as the news of the Brightcastle force spread.

  After a half hour, Formosa approached on his horse and Kain pushed himself to his feet. The man appeared fresh as though he had washed and shaved. His shirt looked clean. Probably has half a dozen men to look after him.

  Formosa saluted from his saddle. “I am glad to see you well, general. I heard the fighting was fierce along here.”

  “It felt that way, lieutenant,” Kain said. “What news?”

  “Vorasava is only minutes away.”

  “I know that,” Kain snapped. “What of our casualties?”

  “One third of our force is dead and another fifty injured, nearest I can make out. I am yet to tour the wounded. Have you heard how my cousin fares?”

  “I have heard nothing from the wagons, though I sent a man to check a half hour ago,” Kain said, pushing his hand through his hair.

  “I will go and find her,” Formosa said, pulling his horse around.

  “You do that,” Kain muttered, turning his back on the lieutenant. Formosa trotted off with his cronies while Kain mounted Snow and went to find his scouts.

  In the end, they found him. They had led the Brightcastle force to Kain.

  Vorasava saluted after dismounting. “I am glad to see you again, general. I had thought we might be too late for the fight.”

  “No chance of that, Vorasava,” Kain said, shaking his hand. “We’ve lost a third of our force and still they come.”

  “More than we thought, eh?” he asked, pulling at his dark mustache.

  “For certain,” Kain said. “They fight fiercely and we’re at a disadvantage in the forest.”

  Vorasava nodded. “I’ve fought the elves before in smaller skirmishes. They’re good in close and incredibly sneaky. Get them out in a field and it would be a different story.”

  Kain eyed him. Vorasava was cocky, but if reputation was correct he was a canny fighter and good leader. “I’m glad to have you and your men. At least now we might succeed in pushing them back.”

  A high-pitched screech echoed through the forest, followed by what sounded like swearing. There was a ruckus at the back of the Brightcastle lines and then two soldiers appeared dragging an elven woman between them. She came kicking, struggling and fighting them for dear life. Kain only just stopped himself from groaning. It was Isiloe.

  “Unhand me, human dogs,” she hissed, eyeing Kain warily.

  “Leave her be,” Kain said, not prepared to acknowledge he knew her but realizing she might expose him anyway. Vorasava nodded to his soldiers.

  Isiloe shook off their hands and stood, head high, blue eyes staring defiantly at the entire army. For once she was silent.

  “Who are you?” Vorasava asked.

  “I do not have to answer to you, human,” she snapped.

  “You do if you wish to live,” Vorasava said, folding his arms across his chest. “I did not think females fought in elven culture, but you seem to be fully equipped.”

  “I fight and so do my sisters. Take care, kingdom man, we might sneak up on you one night when you least expect it.”

  Kain couldn’t help but admire Isiloe’s courage in the face of such overwhelming odds. He had no doubt she’d go down fighting.

  Vorasava’s eyes narrowed and he turned to Kain. “What shall we do with the she-cat, Jazara?”

  “Send her back to her people with a message?” Kain said.

  Vorasava’s right eyebrow rose. He strode up to Kain. “Of all the suggestions I thought you might make, that was not on the list. What do you mean?”

  “Well, this is the perfect opportunity to send a message to Faenwelar,” Kain said quietly.

  “I thought you might suggest a hostage swap. Is not Lord Zorba held by the enemy?”

  Kain nodded. “We have been able to confirm that somewhat. His horse was amongst the mounts taken from the elves.”

  “Ah, excellent news. His son is beside himself with worry.”

  “Why is Ramón Zorba himself not with this group?” Kain asked.

  “He would have been, but someone had to stay to look after Brightcastle and the Princess. She has not been well.”

  “Not an easy choice,” Kain said.

  “Quite. Now, what shall we do with her?” Vorasava
jerked his thumb over his shoulder.

  Kain sighed. He was just so damned tired. “I’ll think on it. In the meantime, leave her with my force and we’ll watch her.”

  Vorasava frowned then nodded. “I suggest you get as much information out of her as possible, not that she’s likely to tell you much.” He motioned for his soldiers to bring Isiloe forward and left to organize his force.

  Kain dismissed the soldiers and led the elven woman away from his men. “Thanks for not giving me away.”

  Isiloe smiled but it was almost enough to send a shiver up Kain’s spine. This woman very definitely had her own agenda.

  “I contemplated revealing your secrets,” Isiloe said, “but it is not yet time. There is too much which might yet go wrong for me to take such impulsive action.”

  “Damn right,” Kain said. “Just remember that.” He lowered his voice further. “Where is Gwaethe?”

  “She was with me but we became separated when the new soldiers came. I am hoping she made it back to safety.” Isiloe cast him a cunning glance. “Will you now let me go?”

  Kain ran his hands over his face and up through his hair. When had things become so complicated? The answer was the moment the elves had invaded his personal life. “I don’t think so, not yet. Vorasava and Formosa expect us to hold you for now. I’ll take you to Alique, and her soldiers can pretend to guard you. Please stay with us until I decide the best course of action.”

  “I might do as you say,” Isiloe said, “but what is in it for me if I do?”

  Kain threw his head back, casting his gaze into the tree tops. He breathed in a long breath, held it, and then let it slowly escape. “I promise I will take up Gwaethe’s cause to see her faction rule the elves, and I will be present in her life.”

  Isiloe stared. “A very vague promise indeed. How do you know that means anything to me?”

  “Because I know you love Gwaethe and would do anything for her, even supporting me. Face it, Isiloe, I’m your best chance of success.”

  “I am not so sure of that, kingdom man,” Isiloe said. “You still do not know which side you will choose.”

  “It’s becoming clearer every day,” Kain said, thinking of his link with Gwaethe. How could he turn his back on her when he couldn’t even get her out of his head?

  Kain turned down the track. “Walk with me. We’ll find Alique.”

  Isiloe hissed out a breath but complied, keeping an eye on the forest as she walked. She was one of the shortest elves he had seen, but what she lacked in height she made up for in fire. He was glad that Gwaethe had this woman on her side, even if she was endlessly prickly.

  *

  Alique had never been so tired. The battle that morning had been vicious, and at one point she had even brought her fighting skills into play to defend her patients. Thank the Goddess she had gone back to the hospital wagons for more emergency supplies at the critical time, and had come up behind a small group of elves. She was riding Ebony, with Julli on Fire behind her and accompanied by her guards.

  Coming in from the back, her men had been able to break through the attacking elves. Alique had pulled her knives out and hurled one without thinking, downing one of the elves as he was climbing into the first wagon. A second elf had fallen, her knife in this throat, and Alique had charged forward on Ebony. She knocked two more elves out of the way and trampled them under her mare’s dancing hooves. At the time, all she had thought about was saving her defenseless patients. That wagon had contained the most seriously injured.

  Sergeant Mazesta had found her in the wagon after the elves had been dispatched and she had never seen a man so red in the face. She invited him to say what he had to say, and he didn’t hold back. But no matter how irresponsible he thought Alique was, she would do it all again if faced with the same situation.

  But Mazesta’s reaction would be nothing beside Kain’s. Anyway, everyone was safe and Alique had rejoined the column in her usual position, with the hospital wagons now just behind her. Josef had been past to check on her and objected to the wagons being further up the line, but the logistics of the previous arrangement had not been ideal either. At least now she could reach her patients quickly and restock supplies when needed. It would save lives.

  She laid her head back against the tree behind her and closed her eyes. Just a few moments of rest and she could be up and caring for the latest batch of wounded. Julli was doing the medical rounds in the wagons with the help of a guard. The girl had been an angel sent from the Goddess. She learned quickly, and Alique knew men would have died without her. Just a few more moments of rest—

  Alique woke with a start as a hand gripped her shoulder. Her eyes flew open to the concerned gaze of Kain Jazara.

  “Lady Zorba,” he said, “I thought you were ill.”

  “Ha,” Isiloe said. “He thought you were dead!”

  Kain glared at the elven woman.

  What is she doing here? “I’m just resting, general,” Alique said. “The battle was long and hard.”

  Kain nodded and helped her to her feet. She had aches in places she never knew existed.

  Kain’s eyes ran over her as if taking inventory. “You’re still limping.”

  “Yes, my foot hurts like a demon,” Alique said. “Bound to be a broken bone, but I’m fine as long as I ride.”

  “Then you must keep the weight off it,” Kain said, leading her over to a stump and helping her to sit.

  “I am well, general,” Alique said. “I would rather you tell me what Isiloe is doing with you?” She lowered her voice. “She is supposed to be in hiding, is she not?”

  “I can speak for myself,” Isiloe said. “I was captured by the soldiers from Brightcastle as I was coming with Gwaethe to reinforce your numbers. We were too late and the enemy called the retreat but not before I was spotted.”

  Alique pointedly ignored Isiloe. The elven woman annoyed her more than any other living being. “What will you do with her?”

  Isiloe hissed but Alique ignored that as well.

  “That’s why we’re here,” Kain said. “Isiloe will stay with you and your men until this matter is resolved.”

  “Until I manage to escape, you mean,” Isiloe said, her pale blue eyes cold and serious.

  “We had an agreement,” Kain said.

  Alique leaned toward Kain. “I cannot have her here,” she whispered. “We do not—I mean I cannot—”

  “Just for a couple of days until I work this out,” Kain said. “She has to be seen to be a prisoner or suspicions will be aroused. Please?”

  Alique frowned. Only for this man would she put up with Isiloe for even one hour. “I shall see how this arrangement works and send word if there is trouble.”

  Kain smiled, one of the few times he had done so in recent memory. “I knew I could depend on you. Now, Isiloe, make yourself useful with any task given to you. I’ll check back later in the day.” He walked off, stopping to have a word with Sergeant Mazesta on his way. Both women watched him go.

  When Alique turned back to Isiloe, she found the elven woman studying her. “He will be a tough nut to crack, that one,” Isiloe said. “If you ask me, I would give up on him now. He has given his word to support Gwaethe.”

  Alique’s heart took a dive. “What do you mean?”

  “Just that,” Isiloe said. “His very words were that he would ‘take up Gwaethe’s cause and be present in her life’. Seems to mean he will choose his elven heritage over the kingdom.”

  Alique surged to her feet, a sharp jolt of pain rocketing from her injured foot. “Kain would never leave his family or the kingdom.”

  “We shall see,” Isiloe said. “In the meantime, I suggest you sit down again and I shall examine your foot.”

  Isiloe pushed her none too gently back down on the stump and began unlacing her left riding boot. Alique gasped with pain as Isiloe pulled the boot off.

  “Roll down your stocking.”

  Again Alique complied, fuming, dumfounded and shocked al
l in one that Isiloe had the audacity to use that tone with her. A large purple bruise had formed over the top of her foot, which had begun throbbing and swelling the moment the boot was removed.

  “Have you done nothing with this injury?” Isiloe snapped.

  Alique swallowed down a whimper at the pain. “I have been too busy. It was bearable when the boot was on.”

  “Who will these soldiers depend on when you are no longer able to care for them?” Isiloe said, glaring at her. “Where are your bandages and ointments?”

  Alique pointed and held her breath as Isiloe applied ointment and a bandage then mixed a powder into some wine for Alique to drink.

  When she was finished, Isiloe slipped the boot back on Alique’s foot and tied the laces loosely. “That is the best I can do on the trail. If we were in the mountains, I could fetch ice and that would give you much relief.” Isiloe shrugged her shoulders. “You would be used to making do, would you not?”

  Alique did not know what to make of the elven woman. The last thing she expected was for Isiloe to tend her wound. Still, it would be a long time before Alique could trust the elf, probably never. “Of course. Thank you for your care.”

  “We are not the savages you think us. Now, Jazara has said I must help so what would you have me do?”

  Alique buried her discomfort and set her to cutting bandages and preparing medicines and poultices.

  Chapter 17

  Kain was awoken at midnight by Gwaethe’s voice in his head.

  Faenwelar’s camp is a half-day’s march north from you and Lord Zorba is his prisoner.