Ashal looked from Ka’en to Aram. “Will you remain here as well, Lord Aram, or will she be alone?”
“Alone?” Florm snorted. “We are here, are we not?”
Aram nodded. “If you were not,” he stated bluntly, “I would never have agreed to her coming here.”
Ashal watched Ka’en for a moment longer and then looked at Aram. “You are not staying?”
“I cannot. But I mean to return before the birth of our child.”
“Then we will keep Lady Ka’en company until your return,” Ashal replied.
Aram inclined his head. “I am very grateful.”
“And how are you this fine day, Lord Aram?” Florm asked. “How goes the war in the west?”
Ashal turned her head and looked at him reprovingly. “Must we discuss such matters even before Lady Ka’en is settled?”
Aram grinned. “I will tell you all there is to tell later, my lord. Suffice it to say that the grim lord has sent nothing further against us since the spring.”
“My spouse is correct, as usual,” the old horse replied, chastened. “Lady Ka’en will be anxious to get settled. I will wait until later to hear the news.” He swung his head and looked toward the city, shining at the base of the black mountain like a multi-colored jewel in the sun. “Nikolus and Timmon have worked tirelessly inside the city.” He turned back at Ka’en. “Now we know the reason for their extensive labor. Jared stays near the city – to encourage them to finish, I think. He is about to go mad with having nothing more exciting to do than to graze upon Lord Aram’s fine grass.”
Aram laughed, but then abruptly grew solemn. “There will be plenty to occupy him soon, I think.”
“Indeed?” Florm looked at him closely and then swung his head around to look at his mate before returning his attention to Aram. “I am looking forward to our talk,” he said.
They entered the avenue at the junction by the pyramids and went on toward the city. Jared came thundering out of the orchards on the left to pound to a stop in front of them.
“Lord Aram – what news from the west?” He asked without preamble.
Florm snorted and looked at Ashal. “I have already found trouble in the asking of that question, Jared. I would advise caution.”
Aram grinned at the rangy brown horse. “Hello, my friend. Let me take Lady Ka’en on up to her home and we’ll talk of all these things later.”
Jared looked at Ka’en. “Yes – my apologies, my lady. It’s just that this valley is so – so abominably peaceful.”
Ka’en laughed aloud. “And may it always remain so,” she said.
Jared blinked his large brown eyes. “Yes, of course, I just meant –”
Thaniel rumbled deep in his throat and moved on up the avenue. “Although I agree with your sentiment, cousin, I fear you will not easily recover from the making of that statement.”
As they approached the walls, they could hear the distant dim ringing of hammers. Below the stairway, Aram unloaded Yerba and Tristan, and they took leave of the horses. Taking Ka’en by the hand he led her slowly up the stairway and out onto the great porch, where she stopped and gazed ahead of her with wide eyes.
“I’d almost forgotten how beautiful is your city,” she breathed.
He looked at her sharply. “My city? – no. This is our city, my love, our city. You are mistress here now.”
Before she could answer, there came a shrill cry from above them and Cree twisted down to light on the wall near Ka’en.
“My lady,” the hawk cried. “Have you come to stay?”
“Yes,” Ka’en replied gladly. “It is good to see you, Cree.”
The hawk glanced down at Ka’en’s distended belly. “I had heard that you were with child,” she said. “You will give birth here, in Lord Aram’s city?”
Aram frowned. “It is Ka’en’s city, as much as it is mine,” he stated gruffly.
Cree turned her shining black eyes on him. “I’m very glad to hear you say so, my lord.” She studied him for a moment. “Welcome home,” she said then. “Will you stay long?”
Aram shook his head. “I am needed in the west.”
“You are needed here,” the hawk said sharply.
Aram bit off his retort, and nodded. “You are right, and I will return before the birth of our child.”
“Children often come into the world at times when they are least expected,” Cree said. “How do you know you will return in time?”
Aram let out a calming breath. “I will return in time,” he said.
“Let us hope so,” stated the hawk. “In the meantime, I will look after your lady – and my friend.”
“Yes,” Aram replied, glad for the opportunity to gain control of the conversation once more. “Let’s talk about that. I want every hawk on the perimeters of this valley and beyond to be on alert. If danger comes within eyeshot of these skies, I am to be sent for immediately.”
“Do not fear, Lord Aram,” the hawk stated in a softer tone. “We will watch. I will advise Inico the falcon, and she will find you should any alarm be raised.”
“Thank you, Cree.”
“Lord Aram!”
They turned to find Nikolus and Timmon striding across the great porch toward them. Nikolus nodded solemnly to Aram while Timmon grinned at Ka’en. “Are you ready to see your new home, my lady?” He asked. “I believe we’ve done everything as you wished.”
“Yes, I’m ready,” she answered. “I am very grateful.” She turned to Cree. “Will you come in as well?”
“I will stop in later,” the hawk answered. “When you are settled.” And she mounted up to fly off toward the south along the flank of the mountain but Aram called out to her, causing her to return. “Yes, my lord?”
“I wish to see the wolves, Leorg and Shingka – and tell them to bring Gorfang with them, if you will.”
“At once, my lord,” Cree answered. She angled the other way and flew off to the north.
As the hawk disappeared toward the northern foothills, they entered the city and went up to the second level to the house Ka’en had chosen for her own. As they entered through the newly constructed door, she let out a small cry of delight. “Furniture! You’ve made us furniture!”
Timmon grinned broadly. “Yes. We finished the house and Nikolus said that it looked empty without things like a bed, table, and chairs in it.”
“Timmon designed most of it,” Nikolus pointed out.
Ka’en gave each of them a hug, much to their surprise. Then she looked around with a glad light in her eyes at the shutters on the windows, the new ceilings, and the doors fitted into each opening. Pivoting in a circle, she came around to face Aram. “Do you like it, my love?”
He nodded, ashamed that he’d harbored resentment that his two engineers had been so long from him. He met Nikolus’ and Timmon’s eyes. “Well done,” he said. “Thank you both.”
Nikolus smiled and looked around. “We’re finished, my lady – unless you can see something further needs doing?”
“No,” Ka’en replied. “It’s perfect.”
Timmon nodded. “Right, then. We’ll just gather our tools and get out of your way.”
“Where have you stayed while you’re here?” Inquired Aram. “Each of you may choose a house, any one you like.”
Nikolus pointed. “We’ve stayed in that room off the great hall, though we spend much time in the great hall itself. Big fireplace it’s got – easy to cook over.” He indicated a doorway leading into a room at the rear of the house. “We’ve checked out your means of cooking, too, Lady Ka’en. And there’s wood in the little alcove next to it.”
Aram watched Ka’en as she stared around her with pleasure and then he looked at the two men. “You deserve some time to yourselves,” he stated. “And you may have it. I will ask nothing further of you for some time. I meant it about each of you choosing a house in this city as your own.”
Timmon and Nikolus exchanged a look and then Nikolus looked at Aram. “Thank yo
u, my lord, but there will be plenty of time for that later.” His face was set in lines of seriousness. “There’s a rumor that you’re going into the west.”
Slowly, Aram nodded. “We must see to Elam. There are signs of civil war in that land and I intend to aid those who resist the High Prince.”
“We will go south to Derosa in the morning, my lord,” Nikolus said. “I wish to see Jena. And then Jared and I will return to the fortress and be ready to go with you.” A wry grin slid across his face. “Maybe if we can find some war then that horse will give me some peace.”
Timmon nodded. “I will be ready as well.”
Reaching out, Ka’en placed a hand on each of their arms. “Thank you.”
Nikolus smiled at her. “It was our pleasure, my lady.” Then he looked at Aram. “We’ll see you at the fortress, my lord. If you require anything further tonight, we will be in the great hall.”
After they left, Aram and Ka’en wandered the rooms, marveling at the workmanship. Nikolus and Timmon had transformed the abandoned mansion into a true home. After they’d made a circuit of the rooms, Aram released Ka’en’s hand and smiled at her. “I must bring up your things,” he said.
They were just then in the room she’d chosen as their bedroom. She looked around with a glad light in her eyes. “I’ll stay,” she replied, “and decide where everything should go.”
When Aram reached the bottom of the steps, he found Nikolus and Timmon talking with Leorg and Shingka who were accompanied by five young wolves that slunk behind their parents as he came down the steps where they stood still and stared at him. Gorfang was there as well, sitting on his haunches a few yards beyond the group near the edge of the orchard.
Aram greeted Leorg and then spoke to Shingka. “Is this your family?”
“My sons,” she answered. “Ralfur, Farng, Wulrang, and Stureng. And my daughter, Luranga.” This last wolf, the only female in the troop was large and white like her mother and growled low in her throat when she heard her name called.
Aram grinned. “Your daughter seems much like you, Lady Shingka.”
Leorg laughed. “I’m afraid they’re all a bit terrified at meeting you, master. They’ve heard the stories and now – lo, you are here.”
Aram laughed in reply. “There’s no need for that,” he stated, and then he looked at Gorfang sitting beyond. “I will return in a moment.”
Nikolus and Timmon each hoisted one of the packs. “Where do you want this to go, Lord Aram?” Timmon asked.
Aram looked back, surprised. “You can leave that for me,” he said.
“No,” Timmon replied, grinning. “We’ve nothing to do until the morrow and might as well make ourselves useful.”
“Thank you,” Aram said gratefully, and then he motioned up the stairs. “Lady Ka’en will show you – I would have to ask her myself about where she wishes things to be placed.”
Approaching Gorfang, he knelt down and looked at the old wolf. “Mistress Ka’en will be staying here now,” he said, and with that utterance he saw a light flicker in the gray depths of Gorfang’s eyes. “Will you watch over her?”
The wolf stiffened and came to his feet. “You want me to protect her?” He asked.
Aram nodded. “I must go away to war, and I will be taking many of your brethren with me, including Leorg and Shingka. Mistress Ka’en will remain here. She must be protected in my absence.”
The hair stood up on the back of Gorfang’s neck and he growled deep, low, and harsh. “Anyone meaning to do harm to Mistress Ka’en must slay me first, master. And I will not die easily, as you know.”
“I know,” Aram acknowledged solemnly. “That is why I trust you to care for her when I am away.”
Gorfang looked around, his eyes suddenly sharp and hard. “I swear I will not leave the entrances to the city unguarded, even if I want for food.”
“You must stay closer even that that.” Aram stated plainly, and he shook his head. “Others may bring you food, my friend – I will command it. You must not leave her, Gorfang. You must stay close enough to keep her from all harm. You must stay in the house, or at least in the garden, or by the door. I would prefer that you stay in the house, indoors, near her.” He studied the wolf for a moment, into whose eyes had come an abrupt expression of wonder and gladness. “Would it trouble you to sleep inside, away from the moon?”
Gorfang gazed back, unblinking. “Master, I would gladly sleep in the lowest depths of the underearth and never look upon the moon again if it would keep my mistress safe.”
“Thank you, my friend.” Aram said, and he stood. “Then come – let’s go to her.”
Followed by the ancient gray wolf, Aram climbed the steps. They found Ka’en in the large room on the right that looked out over the garden and the valley, directing Nikolus and Timmon in unloading the packs containing her things. When she turned and saw Gorfang, she met Aram’s eyes for a long moment, and then went to one of the new chairs and sat down, extending her hand.
“Come,” she said.
The wolf went toward her haltingly, almost quivering. When he neared her chair, he sat and gazed up at her, but Ka’en waved her hand gently. “Come closer, please,” she said.
Gorfang rose partway to his feet and eased up until his head was at her knees. She reached out and cupped the old wolf’s lower jaw in her hand.
“Will you stay with me?” She asked. “And ease Lord Aram’s mind while he is away?”
“Nothing will harm you, mistress,” he answered, and his voice shook. “Not while I live.”
Ka’en smiled at him gently. “It’s not just that,” she said. “I’ll be glad for the company as well.” She looked around at the bright new room. “Will you mind staying inside?”
“No, my lady – I will stay near you always.”
She stroked the wolf’s chin and looked up at Aram.
“Are you happy now?” She asked.
He nodded. “I am.”
Nikolus and Timmon left for Derosa the next morning. As they took their leave, Nikolus turned to Aram. “We ate of your stores while we were here,” he told Aram, “but not as much as is gone.”
Aram frowned at him. “What do you mean? I don’t care if you used it all up.”
Nikolus sucked in a breath and glanced at Timmon before answering. “I understand that, Lord Aram, and we ate what we needed. But sometime in the last several days much of your dried venison has gone missing – far more than we’ve used in that same time.”
“How much?”
Nikolus thought about it. “Probably as much as the two of us would consume in a week or ten days.”
Aram looked from one to the other. “Do you suspect someone?”
Nikolus shrugged. “Who would we suspect? The people from the town have not come to the city so far as we know. Who else is there?”
Aram frowned toward the southeast, toward the town. “There is one man who, if he knew of an easy meal lying about, would undoubtedly take it. He doesn’t care to work for his sustenance.”
“Would you like us to speak with him, my lord?”
After a moment, Aram shook his head. “We can’t know for certain that he’s the one that took it, though I can’t think of anyone else it might be.” He thought for a moment, looking toward the southeast. “There’s little harm done. I’ll secure the stores better and Gorfang will be here to watch so whoever it is will find it a difficult theft to repeat.”
Frowning one last time toward the distant town, he turned and met the two men’s gaze. “Thank you for all you’ve done,” he said. “When you arrive at the fortress, tell the others that I won’t be far behind you.”
“It was our pleasure, my lord.” With that, the two mounted up and Jared and Bonhie cantered off toward the south and the crossings.
Aram stayed with her for six days as she settled into her new home. On the fourth day, Arthrus arrived with more of Ka’en’s things and they and Aram arranged them as she wished. Cala, he informed them still had not beco
me a grandmother and wished to know if Lady Ka’en would like her to come anyway.
“No,” Ka’en said, laughing. “I will be fine here. Tell her to wait and to spend time with the little one when he – or she – comes.”
Arthrus headed back to the south the next day, leaving them alone to spend one more day together. Gorfang, always nearby, nonetheless remained at a discreet distance. Leorg and Shingka had gone back into the hills to gather some of the wolves to go with them to the fortress and to say goodbye to their family.
On the morning of the last day, Aram and Ka’en mounted the horses and went into the hills as well to find Borlus, Hilla and their children. They found the four bears in their usual place and spent a pleasant afternoon visiting on the banks of the stream that flowed by the bears’ cavern. On the way back to the valley, Cree appeared above them and came down to hover on the wind.
“Alvern states that the prince of Elam is returning from the east, Lord Aram. He will arrive at the fortress in two days’ time.”
“Thank you, Cree,” Aram told the bird, and then he leaned over and took Ka’en’s hand. His green eyes were full of doubt. “Are you certain you will be alright here?”
“I’ll be lonely for you, but I’ll be fine,” she assured him.
His eyes moved to her belly. “How long?”
“Four or five weeks, I think, maybe six,” she replied.
He nodded. “I’ll be back before then.”
She looked into his eyes for a long moment and seemed to want to say something, but in the end just squeezed his hand and turned her head to watch a pair of deer go chirping off into the willows along the river. “It is so beautiful here.”
“It is,” he agreed.
“Will we ever be able to enjoy it?”
He looked over at her but she kept her gaze turned away. “We will, my love, yes,” he answered. “We will. I promise.”
In the morning, he took his leave of her on the avenue before the city, holding her close for a long time.
“I love you,” he said, and kissed her. “Please – stay safe and stay well.”
She nodded but didn’t speak, burying her face for a moment in his chest.
Kelven's Riddle Book Four Page 40
