The Elf King’s Lady: Wildecoast Saga Book 2

by Bernadette Rowley

  There was urgency in her tone that heightened Kain’s dread. What now?

  Just come, she snapped back.

  Kain jumped. That had been a private thought, not for Gwaethe. He would have to be more careful until he worked all this out. That was if he wasn’t clapped in irons as soon as he returned to Wildecoast. Perhaps he should not return at all. Just slip away one night and start a new life elsewhere.

  He was musing on where he would go and what he would do when he became aware of voices shouting. He looked up to see a cluster of soldiers. Wasn’t that Mazesta? What was he doing here so soon? Isiloe was standing in front of him, clearly upset.

  “You were supposed to keep her safe!” she cried.

  Kain broke into a run and pushed through the crowd, his heart in his mouth. Julli was on the ground, Alique’s head in her lap. His heart gave one thud. His lady looked dead.

  “Is she—?” Kain asked.

  Isiloe stopped shouting at Mazesta and turned to Kain. “She is barely with us. She has sustained two head injuries, and this woman” – Isiloe gestured to Julli – “all she can do is cry. What is the use of her?”

  Kain sank to his knees beside Alique. Her face was deathly pale and her chest scarcely moved. “She’s tough, she’ll be fine,” he said, even though she looked as close to death as anyone he’d ever seen. Kain’s world shrank to the size of Alique’s face. Nothing mattered but that she would survive. “Can anyone here help her? Julli?”

  Julli looked up with tortured eyes. “I don’t know, general. Perhaps some herbs might help if we could get her to take them?”

  Panic battered at Kain, panic he had never known. Mosard might save her but he was nearly a week’s march away. He felt a hand on his shoulder and looked up to find Gwaethe standing there. “I have a healer with me. Let him help.”

  A tall, incredibly thin elf stood behind Gwaethe. He must have been very old, for he had gray hair amongst his dark curls. His eyes were wise and kind but he didn’t smile. He knelt beside Kain and placed his hand on Alique’s forehead, above the bruise on her temple.

  “My name is Tuthariel. I will care for your lady if you wish.”

  Kain nodded, not even thinking to deny that Alique was his. “Please do all you can. Julli, I’d like you to stay with her.” She nodded, and it was only then that Kain noticed her skirt was soaked in blood where Alique’s head lay. His gut clenched. Let her be well.

  “I too shall stay, Jazara,” Isiloe said, sitting cross-legged beside Julli.

  Kain nodded again though he didn’t understand the elven woman’s offer. There was little love lost between Alique and Isiloe.

  Vorasava appeared at Kain’s side. “I’m sorry she is injured, Jazara, but I need you. Formosa is badly hurt. I wonder if this elf can take on the lieutenant’s care?”

  Kain turned on him. “He has his hands full here at the moment, general!”

  Gwaethe laid a hand on Kain’s forearm. “I have some training in battle wounds, Kain. Let me help where I can until Tuthariel is free.”

  Vorasava escorted Gwaethe to Formosa and Kain stood gazing down at Alique. He knew he should be doing a hundred things but he just couldn’t move. Alique! He realized her father would want to see her. Perhaps it would make a difference if she could hear his voice.

  Kain grabbed the arm of a soldier trotting past. “Take me to Lord Zorba, corporal.”

  They found the old lord in a shabby tent at the back of the elven camp, a soldier with him. He was slumped in the corner on the floor, his face sporting a number of welts and bruises. He was clad only in a shirt and breeches and had lost weight since Kain had last seen him.

  Kain knelt beside him. “Yaral?” he said. “I need to take you to see Alique.”

  The older man sat up straighter and a burning light came into his eyes. “She is here?”

  Kain’s heart broke at raising his hope but he couldn’t give into his fear or it would finish him. “She is here, but she was injured trying to rescue you. I’ll take you to her.”

  He helped Yaral rise and it was then that he noticed the lord’s bare feet. “Find a pair of boots for Lord Zorba, corporal.” The man who had been guarding Yaral dashed off and soon returned with the footwear. The going was slow on the cold, bloody ground but soon they stood over Alique. She looked even paler, if that were possible.

  Yaral’s wail echoed around the clearing and speared Kain though his heart. The older man collapsed to the ground beside his daughter. “Alique! Daughter!” His tears fell on her bloodied sleeve. Tuthariel moved to the opposite side and continued his ministrations. He looked up at Kain and gave a small shake of his head.

  Kain’s heart lay like a stone in his chest as he strode away.

  *

  Kain sat in a meeting with Vorasava, by Josef Formosa’s bedside, but he only heard one word in two. His heart was with Alique as she battled to stay alive. He wanted to be there with her even if she were to pass from this life. His mind would still not accept that it was a virtual certainty he would lose her.

  “Jazara?” Vorasava said.

  Kain looked up. “I’m sorry, I didn’t hear that.”

  “I said,” Vorasava started again, his whole frame oozing impatience, “that I think we’ve done enough damage for now. The enemy is on the run and we need to take our men back for some much needed rest and recovery. Many have wounds, and others we need to bury.”

  “We have achieved our objectives,” Kain said, “but it gripes me that Faenwelar and Gorin have slipped away yet again. They will regroup.”

  “We always knew that this was just the beginning of a long campaign.”

  Formosa stirred, his eyes fluttering open. “How is Alique?”

  Vorasava looked to Kain. “She is gravely ill, Josef. The elven healer doesn’t hold out much hope.”

  Josef’s face turned red and then purple. “That scum should not be allowed to touch my cousin. We must get her back to Wildecoast where the doctor can see to her care.”

  “The elves here are our allies, Josef,” Vorasava said, “and Tuthariel is doing his best.”

  “I still don’t understand how we came to have such allies.”

  “Lucky we did, Josef,” Vorasava said, “or we might not have been the victors this day.”

  “Doesn’t feel like much of a victory,” Josef said.

  Kain had to agree with Formosa for once. It certainly didn’t feel like a victory, more like a truce where each side crawled away to lick their wounds. “We’ve made a dent in their numbers and learned a thing or two. It’ll be several months before they’re back at us.”

  “And in the meantime we need to make plans,” Vorasava said. “We cannot allow them to catch us on their favored ground next time. In future, our battles must be in open land where our long bows can inflict maximum damage.”

  Personally, Kain was looking forward to getting back to Wildecoast and normality, but that would only be possible if all the revelations of the past weeks turned out to be a bad dream, including Alique’s injury. “We’ll return to Wildecoast with Alique and the injured. What will you do, Vorasava?”

  “I will travel to Wildecoast and report to the King. Then I’ll carry on to Brightcastle. I hope I will have good news for Sir Ramón.”

  Kain shook his head. “Then let’s prepare to leave as soon as our injured can be moved.”

  *

  They stayed the night in the clearing. Tuthariel had flatly refused to allow Alique to be moved, and watching the elven healer during the afternoon, Kain had formed a deep respect for his opinion. He was Alique’s only hope at the present time.

  Formosa too needed a night’s rest before being trundled out. Several of the injured had died during the afternoon, making more room for the dozens who needed wagon transport. Kain winced at that thought. Alique would chastise him severely for having it. She hated losing anyone, taking it as a personal insult if they died on her watch.

  By dusk, Alique had stabilized enough to be moved into a wagon and
now rested with her cousin Josef to watch over her. It was still a close run thing whether she would survive, but Kain had allowed a small chink of hope to slide into his otherwise black mood. He glanced across the fire at Vorasava. The Brightcastle captain was a good man and leader. He was chatting to Gwaethe in low tones, and occasionally one or the other of them laughed.

  When Gwaethe got up to return to her people, Kain followed and caught up with her outside the light of the fire.

  “What will you do now the battle is ended?” Kain asked her.

  “I just discussed that with Vorasava,” she said. “He thinks it a good idea I travel to Wildecoast for talks with the King.”

  Kain swallowed hard. His two worlds colliding was one of the most uncomfortable feelings he had experienced. “But there is risk in that.”

  “Risk for you,” she snapped. Kain thought she just caught herself from adding “brother”. “I am sick of sneaking around, watching every word, every look. I wish to celebrate that I have found my brother and have him be happy that he has found me.”

  “Hush,” Kain said, trying to lead Gwaethe further away from the others.

  “I wish to gain the support of the kingdom in ensuring my people are the future, not Faenwelar’s.” Gwaethe paused. “You are key to that and yet you are reluctant to allow me into your world.”

  “Yes, I’m reluctant,” Kain said, walking a little away to think on what he wanted to say. He turned back to Gwaethe. “My world has been flipped upside down and I don’t know what’s right anymore. I think you’re being unfair. You’ve known about me for months, had time to come to terms with that. And what really changes for you, Gwaethe? You gain a brother but everything else is much the same. Have you looked at this from my point of view?”

  Gwaethe considered. “I see I have been somewhat unfair,” she said.”

  “Somewhat?”

  “Very well, quite unfair. This is a big upheaval, however, that should not change what is the right thing to do.”

  “Well, obviously you’ve already made up your mind that I should throw over my people and take up with you and yours,” Kain snapped, raking his hands through his hair.

  “They are your people too, and when you meet them, you will see what is right.”

  “We’ll see, Gwaethe. In the meantime, I have other things on my mind.”

  “Alique,” she said.

  “Yes, I thank the Goddess she is still with us. If I lose her—”

  “You love her.”

  Kain drew in a breath to deny it but it was no use. He nodded. “Much good it does me. She and I come from different walks of society, not to mention different races.”

  “You resent this, don’t you?” Gwaethe said. “You hate the fact that you are half elven.”

  “Honestly? Yes, I do. I hate that my life has been a lie, that I never met my father, that the man who raised me is hurt that I am angry. I asked for none of this!”

  “And Alique?”

  “She hasn’t really thought it through, what my parentage means. She thinks we can overcome anything, but that’s the voice of youth speaking. I’ve seen a little more of the world than she has. And she hated the elves for what they did to her family, her father.”

  “She is right to hate,” Gwaethe said, with more than a little heat in her words.

  “Even if the hate extends to your people?”

  Gwaethe’s eyes widened. “Is it so?”

  “Ask Isiloe, she’ll tell you. Alique doesn’t discriminate between you. She wouldn’t want to be tarnished with an elven husband.” Kain stopped at telling Gwaethe that Alique wanted all elves driven from the kingdom.

  “This too shall pass, Kain.”

  “I wish I believed that,” he said. “Your counsel would be to reveal all to the King, would it not?”

  Gwaethe nodded. “It is the only way forward for both our people.” She clutched Kain’s forearm where the band lay. “You are the key to this. You span both worlds. Why can you not see you could be the one who brings humans and elves together?”

  Kain frowned. He just couldn’t see the King embracing him after he learned the truth. And the truth was, he didn’t want to leave Wildecoast unless it was to set up a farm with Alique. But that would never happen. “I will think on it as we travel. Good night.”

  Kain crossed the camp to the wagon in which Alique lay and climbed in. Formosa glared as he knelt beside Alique. “How is she?”

  “There has been no change since she was moved. That elf says she is stable,” Josef said, raising himself on one elbow.

  “And you?”

  “I will live,” Josef said, “long enough to see you pay for your sins.”

  Kain grunted. “What are you talking about, Formosa?”

  “Consorting with the elven scum,” Josef said. “You might have Vorasava fooled but I know what I see and hear. There were rumors of your elven heritage before we left on this mission. It was no surprise to me that you admitted to a liaison with them.”

  “Do what you have to,” Kain said, “just understand that Gwaethe’s people aren’t linked to Faenwelar. Gwaethe wants peace as much as we do.”

  “Until she defeats Faenwelar,” Formosa snapped. “Then we shall see her turn her eyes toward the kingdom. Oh yes, it would suit her very well to be rid of Faenwelar, and it appears the kingdom has already helped to this end. Would you not feel stupid if she were to turn on you?”

  “She won’t.”

  “How can you be so sure?” Formosa asked.

  “I trust her.”

  Josef snorted. “You really are pathetic.”

  “Look, Formosa,” Kain said, “I didn’t come here to talk with you but to visit with Alique. Would you mind being quiet?”

  Josef shook his head. “She is miles too good for you, general.”

  Kain ignored Josef and turned to Alique, reaching for her hand. It was cold, her skin pale. She seemed to hover between life and death, and he was desperately afraid that moving her would kill her. There had to be something more they could do, but getting her back to Wildecoast was all he could think of.

  Kain raised her hand to his lips, uncaring what Formosa thought. He closed his eyes, sending a prayer to the Goddess. Please lady, send your healing upon this woman whom I love and bring her back to her family and to me.

  “She was injured fighting, you know,” Formosa said. “She should never have been anywhere near that clearing.”

  “Alique wanted to see her father,” Kain said. “I told her to stay back but she never listens to me. Was she always like that?”

  Josef chuckled. “I remember her almost drowning in a dam because she wouldn’t stay away.” His face grew serious. “I saved her then, but there is nothing I can do this time.”

  Kain squeezed Alique’s fingers. “Come back to us, lady. We all need you. Your family needs you.”

  Kain left the wagon without any more words and sought his bed.

  Chapter 19

  The column was on the move at sunrise the next morning. Vorasava led the men while Kain brought up the rear with the wagons. There was no way he was going to be separated from Alique until he knew if she’d survive.

  Kain had tried to convince Yaral Zorba to travel in one of the wagons but he insisted he was well enough to ride. He spotted Fire and looked at the mare with such longing that Kain asked Julli to give her back. Yaral Zorba was a proud man, and yet some of his resilience had been destroyed by his recent experiences.

  Tuthariel rode with the wagons. At Kain’s request, he had taken on the care of all the wounded – elven and human. They had left a burial detail at the campsite. Kain hoped the hundred men and twenty elven prisoners would be safe from enemy attack. He’d wanted to burn the enemy dead but Gwaethe had flatly refused to be associated with that, saying it was disrespectful to the elves and the forest. He’d had to talk pretty fast to get Vorasava to agree to the burial detail. Kain winced when he thought about the funeral pyre he’d made of the last group of elven dead a
fter the attack on Ramón Zorba’s party.

  They made good time, Sergeant Mazesta’s men forming a guard of honor around Alique’s wagon. He was a broken man since Alique’s injury and wouldn’t meet Kain’s eyes. Shame was a terrible thing in a soldier.

  Day two rolled around and Formosa declared he was fit to ride. He hardly looked able to sit a horse but Kain privately cheered at the empty space the lieutenant left. Julli would travel with Alique the majority of the time, but when he was free, Kain intended to spend as much time with Alique as possible.

  He got his first chance just after lunch that day and made himself comfortable beside Alique. It was difficult to tell in the dim light but she didn’t look much changed. At least that meant she hadn’t slipped backward with the travel. Kain wet a small towel and bathed her forehead. She mumbled something and rocked her head from side to side. She hadn’t done that before.

  “Alique?” Kain said, leaning closer. “Can you hear me?” If he could’ve made her well by sheer force of will she’d be up and tending the other victims by now, so much had he concentrated on her recovery, so many prayers had he said. So far not a one had been answered. She drifted back under, and though Kain kept bathing her face and hands, not another murmur did he hear.

  “Your father is well,” he said, replacing the cloth in the basin. “He longs to hold you and speak to you as he once did. Probably scold you for putting yourself in danger as well. He’ll have to wait in line for that one. I think Mazesta and I will have rights over him.”

  Kain paused, remembering his first sight of Alique lifeless on the ground of the clearing. “You’ve given us all a fright,” he said, lifting a small cup of water to her lips and trickling some into her mouth. She swallowed once, twice and Kain put the cup back down. “Myself especially, as there is so much I need to say to you. Now I fear my words will fall on deaf ears. Still I must speak them.”

  He swallowed hard and blinked tears away. “I’ve become attached to you in the time we’ve spent together.” Kain straightened the bed covers and laid Alique’s hands beside her body. “More than attached. You’ve shown me so much care and I have thrown it back in your face. But it wasn’t because I felt nothing for you. I avoided you and rejected you because I wished to protect you. Being associated with me is something I wouldn’t wish on anyone, let alone someone I care for … someone I love.” He swallowed again. It was difficult to admit his feelings for this woman, even if she could hear nothing.