The Men of Anderas I: Jardan, the King

by C. J. Johnson

  JarDan hoped his father wouldn’t allow the cheering and clapping to continue for too long. The sound echoed and reechoed through the hall until he could barely hear himself think. He didn’t think Melodie’s illusion of confidence would last too long in this pandemonium.

  “Rise, King JarDan,” Zeth finally continued, “and name your queen.”

  JarDan released Melodie’s hand and stood. When his father handed him the golden tiara, he turned to face the woman fate had placed in his life. “You are my queen, Melodie of Tor, for as long as my heart continues to beat.” He felt her shudder when the icy diamond settled against her skin and wished he could toss the tiara back onto the box still on her vanity table. “Arise, my queen.” He lifted Melodie to her feet and turned with her to face their guests in a repeat of her first night on Anderas. Unlike that night, his warriors didn’t draw their swords in a pledge of acceptance. Their formal vows of allegiance would come tomorrow. Tonight they cheered and yelled and clapped an exuberant display of loyalty that brought a genuine smile to Melodie’s face.

  He led Melodie to the two throne chairs brought from the Council Chamber for tonight’s ceremony as Zeth stepped down and turned to face them. Once seated, JarDan again took Melodie’s hand in his, pleased with how quickly her trembling stopped when he touched her.

  “As is the custom,” JarDan announced to the settling crowd, “the former monarch may ask a boon of the new king and, if it is in my power, it shall be granted.” He gazed at his father with love and respect. “What is your boon, Father?”

  “My king,” Zeth bowed his head, “I ask that my foster son, Lord Dak of the House of Beldon, be awarded the title of Prince and be considered your successor until an heir is born to the royal house.”

  `Since he and his father had discussed this earlier in the day, he was prepared.

  “Nothing would make me happier than to have the brother of my heart become my brother in fact.” JarDan stood and signaled for Jace, leader of the Council of Elders, to approach. The older man carried the gold circle JarDan himself wore until today.

  Taking the symbol of the Crown Prince of Tor in his hands, JarDan signaled for Dak. It took considerable will power on his part to maintain a serious demeanor when looking at the stunned surprise on Dak’s face as he knelt on the pillow at JarDan’s feet.

  “From this day forward you shall be known as Prince Dak of the House of Beldon.” JarDan placed the slender band of gold around Dak’s head. “Until my queen presents me with a son, you shall be heir to the Crown of Tor.” JarDan held out his hand to his new brother. “Now we really are brothers.”

  Dak stood and grasped JarDan by the arm, in the standard wrist-to-wrist salute of warriors. “I don’t know what to say. Why did he … I had no idea …” As his words trailed off into silence he and JarDan stared at each other until both burst out laughing, grabbing each other in a bear hug and pounding each other on the back.

  With his arm still around Dak’s shoulders, JarDan turned back to the waiting guests. “Let the feasting begin.”

  The long table where the royal family usually ate their meals no longer sat upon the dais. In its place were three smaller tables just big enough for two people at each. The newly crowned King and Queen of Tor occupied the place of honor in the center of the dais with Zeth and Tiana sharing a table on their right and Dak and Jace on their left. Melodie gratefully signaled for the army of kitchen workers to begin serving the meal. She hated being the focus of so much attention. Using the constant flow of food from the kitchen as a screen, of sorts, she tried to pretend it was no different from any other meal by ignoring the laughter and conversations around her.

  The aroma of roasted meat, smoked fish and baked fowl filled the air. Pastries stuffed with meat and vegetable mixtures and casseroles made with delicate sauces complimented the meats. Every variety of vegetable available from the surrounding fields beckoned with the bouquet of exotic spices. She didn’t think she’d be able to eat more than a few bites but she allowed JarDan to fill her plate from the dozens of dishes offered to them. She swallowed a small mouthful of boranut casserole, recognizing it from the meal she shared with JarDan aboard his ship. When she glanced up at him, his wicked wink told her he not only remembered, but chose the dish deliberately. Blushing to the roots of her hair, she slipped her hand from her lap to his and pinched him on the inside of his thigh.

  “Something wrong?” She asked in wide-eyed innocence when he yelped.

  Before he could reply the soft music changed to a pulse-pounding beat and a troupe of acrobats, jugglers and dancers rushed into the hall.

  “Oh.” Melodie gasped in delight. “It’s like I always imagined a circus would be. Look, JarDan!” She gripped her husband’s arm as the acrobats balanced themselves, one on top of the other’s shoulders, until they stood six men tall. The burly foundation of this living tower moved between the tables toward the king’s table, weaving a drunken path that had women squealing in fright and men shouting. Melodie laughed at their theatrics until the man on the bottom stumbled and sent the other five flying through the air. Her scream turned to a cheer when all six began tumbling across the floor. The youngest, not more than ten or twelve, ended his routine with a flourish directly in front of the royal couple and presented a wreath of tiny flowers and ribbons to his newly crowned queen.

  Wiping tears of laughter and appreciation from her cheeks, Melodie removed the heavy tiara with one hand and replaced it with the fairy wreath before she realized what she was doing. With a gasp of shock, she turned to JarDan, expecting him to be angry.

  “Relax, my love.” JarDan whispered for her ears alone. “It is a great honor you’ve given them by placing their simple offering above your crown.” He lifted her hand and placed a soft kiss across her knuckles. “You make me proud.”

  She laid her head on his shoulder to hide the tears stinging her eyes. When she looked up, the talented acrobats were gone, replaced by a trio of dancers.

  The music changed again to keep time with the swaying bodies of the three young women. As they moved back and forth through the hall, leaping and swirling between the tables, their bare feet beat a steadily increasing tempo. The bright, bold colors of their skirts and scarves flashed as they moved closer and closer to the center of the room. With clapping hands and stomping feet, the audience kept time and encouraged the dancers until the music came to a sudden end and all three dropped gracefully to the floor.

  “Yip! Yip! Yip! Yip! Yip!” Cried the jugglers in a strange high-pitched announcement. Running from table to table like the acrobats and dancers before them, they picked up silverware, empty plates; one man even pulled a shoe from a woman’s foot, until each man had a variety of items that he began tossing in the air. An unspoken cue started these same items flying between the jugglers in a spectacular display of timing and precision.

  Everything was happening so fast. The constant leaping and jumping and running and yelling, as exciting as it was strange, made Melodie dizzy.

  “This is wonderful!” She yelled to make herself heard over the commotion. “I’ve never had so much fun. Thank you.” She leaned over and kissed JarDan on the cheek.

  “You’re welcome, but I’ll let you thank me in greater detail later.” He drawled.

  She merely raised her eyebrow in imitation of his favorite expression and turned back to the activity in the hall. As suddenly as the entertainment began, it ended. One minute the entire troupe rushed around the hall, keeping time with the stimulating music. The next, they darted through the door and the music ended, filling the hall with deafening silence. Applause broke out among the guests although the recipients of their praise were no longer there.

  “Is it over?” Melodie asked, looking around the room, unable to completely hide her disappointment.

  “You’ll have plenty of opportunities in the next few days to see them perform. Would you care for dessert before we present ourselves to our guests?”

  For a little while she’d mana
ged to forget the significance of the night. Faced with the prospect of so many strangers, she felt the excitement of the performance drain from her. “I don’t think I want anything.” She whispered with a shake of her head. “We might as well …”

  The music of flutes suddenly filled the castle with an eerie sound. All around them, people were glancing about in confusion.

  “I thought you said the show was over?” Melodie asked, rubbing her arms in sudden chill.

  “It is.” JarDan answered absently, already signaling for Dak to seek out the source of the strange music that continued to grow louder and louder.

  Silence spread quickly through the hall as the eerie refrain continued. Not even the restless rustle of fabric from the uncomfortable guests disturbed the off-key melody.

  A sudden flash of light, an explosion and a huge plume of white smoke filled the center of the great hall. Women screamed and men quickly unsheathed the formal swords at their sides, offering protection in the face of this unknown danger.

  “Melodie!” JarDan barked, pulling her down behind their table. “Stay down! Father? Tiana? Is anyone hurt?”

  “We’re fine, son.” Zeth, too, held the smaller sword in his hand while he pushed Tiana out of sight.

  “Everyone remain calm!” JarDan yelled to the assembled crowd. He and Dak headed for the column of smoke that continued to thicken.

  Another explosion rocked the room. This time, a man appeared in the center of the cloud of smoke. JarDan and Dak backed away, unable to see through the haze to identify the man. Melodie peeked over the top of the table as JarDan and Dak moved closer to where she hid.

  “You old fool!” JarDan suddenly bellowed. “You could have been killed with that cheap carnival trick.”

  The smoke cleared and more of the guests recognized this newest addition to the entertainment and the tension in the room evaporated. The strange man wore a voluminous black robe that covered him from neck to floor, embroidered completely in strange designs and symbols in every color imaginable. He carried a tall wooden staff with a clear crystal embedded in the top. Long, snow-white hair trailed behind him on the floor and a beard the same color covered his chest, reaching past his knees.

  A magician! JarDan must not have known about his act. No wonder everyone was so upset. An unexpected entrance like that could cause a heart attack. Melodie promised herself she’d speak to the man after he finished his act and request he give a little warning next time.

  “Bring me your queen, JarDan, King of Falcon Tor!” The voice of the magician thundered through the quiet room.

  “Why?” JarDan asked looking back to where she stood behind the table.

  “Bring me your queen!”

  If this was part of the entertainment, the old man needed to work on his presentation. He totally failed in the amusement category. In fact, he scared the pants off her. Glancing around the room, she noticed that she wasn’t the only one getting nervous. She thought it very strange when JarDan finally nodded at the old coot and held out his hand to her. His damp palm surprised her when she placed her hand in his and she could see the muscle in his cheek clench and release. Whoever this old man was, he had JarDan worried. The strange intensity in her husband’s eyes seemed to beg for understanding but offered very little assurance.

  “Queen Melodie,” JarDan began in a quiet, formal voice, “I present the Royal Oracle, Raiwan.”

  Chapter Twenty

  Melodie stared at the strange old man and tried to hide her uneasiness. “How do you do?” She replied softly. Raiwan’s obsidian stare set off warning bells in her head and she tightened her grip on JarDan’s hand. If she let go, she had no doubt she would bolt for the nearest door.

  Suddenly, the oracle closed his eyes and began to chant in a voice too loud and strong to belong to someone so old. He appeared to float rather than walk as he slowly circled JarDan and Melodie.

  “JarDan …” The tightening of JarDan’s fingers around hers silenced the questions she ached to ask.

  When Raiwan completed his circuit around them, his chanting stopped and his eyes, black and filled with the knowledge of the ages, again focused on her. This time she couldn’t prevent the shiver of fright that shook her.

  “Fear me not, Queen of Tor,” Raiwan’s voice no longer thundered, but soothed with its gentle timbre, “for we are locked together in a battle as old as time itself.”

  Melodie opened her mouth but the oracle had already turned his attention to JarDan, leaving her more confused than ever. Locked together in battle? Was the Royal Oracle crazy or just senile?

  “Take your queen and return to your place of honor, King of Tor,” Raiwan ordered with a wave of one gnarled hand, “and heed my words well.”

  “Raiwan,” JarDan began, “if you require an audience …”

  “Silence!” The old wizard roared. “Obey me and all will be revealed! Defy me and all you hold dear will be destroyed!”

  “You have my undivided attention, Raiwan.” JarDan’s voice held a blatant warning as he slowly backed them to the throne chairs. “Dak,” he ordered without breaking eye contact with the wizard, “stand between my sister and my father.” JarDan waited until Dak was in position before he continued. “Kill anyone who approaches them.”

  Not by so much as a twitch of an eyelash did Raiwan acknowledge the order. The ancient wise man knew the very instant Zeth drew his sword and stepped in front of Tiana. Raiwan gave a slight smile when Jace passed his short, ceremonial sword to the newly crowned king before backing away from the tense confrontation.

  “You have great courage King of Tor,” Raiwan admitted, “for one so foolhardy.”

  JarDan took one step toward the wizard before Melodie grabbed his arm.

  “Please, is this really necessary?” Her voice quivered in fear.

  Again JarDan marveled at his mate’s courage. He could feel the quaking of her body even as she stood proudly beside him. Truly a queen worthy of the title. Slipping his arm around her waist, he pulled her tight against his side. For her -- and only her -- would he ignore Raiwan’s veiled insults.

  “Have your say, Wizard.” JarDan relented.

  Without a sound, the Royal Oracle raised the wooden staff and pointed the glittering crystal at the royal couple. As suddenly as summer lightening, a beam of golden light exploded from the stone and bathed Melodie in its radiance.

  JarDan struggled as the light pushed its way between them, but Melodie no longer feared the old man. The light soothed and calmed her. She breathed deeply, glorying in the wondrous feeling of warmth and security flooding her entire body. Surrendering to the will of the light, she relaxed and let the beam wash over her.

  The strange beam of light slowly traveled from the top of her head to her feet and started back. When it reached her abdomen, Raiwan raised his other hand.

  “Behold, King JarDan of Tor,” Raiwan commanded in his thundering voice, “the heir to the House of Tor.”

  A small ball of the same golden light pooled in the oracle’s hand before slowly growing and expanding until it was about six feet in diameter and floated above his outstretched hand like a wisp of fog. Inside the light appeared an infant with midnight black hair that matched hers and JarDan’s. Curled in the fetal position, a birthmark was clearly visible in the center of the child’s back. The same star-shaped mark that she once thought was a tattoo.

  Melodie covered her mouth in stunned surprise as tears formed and slid down her cheeks. A baby! She was going to have JarDan’s baby. Suddenly the light no longer kept JarDan away from her and she hurled herself into his waiting arms. With her arms locked tightly around his neck, she eagerly met his kiss as a tidal wave of cheering filled the great hall.

  When JarDan finally sat her back on her feet, she hid her face against his broad chest in embarrassment. Most couples shared such information in private, not before three hundred people.

  “Did you know, my love?” JarDan asked softly against her ear.

  All she could manage w
as a slight shake of her head. She probably should have known. The unnoticed symptoms were suddenly vivid in her mind. Her last period was right before the auction of her grandfather’s farm, more than four months ago. Her fatigue and the tears that would flow without warning now took on an entirely different meaning.

  JarDan turned to face Raiwan. “I apologize for …”

  The wizard didn’t wait for him to finish. With a small, rotating motion of his flattened hand, the ball of light rolled until the infant was laying face up.

  The gasps of shock from the assembled crowd blended with those of JarDan, Dak and Zeth.

  “It’s a girl, JarDan.” Melodie whispered in confusion. That’s impossible, her mind screamed. Anderan men can’t father girl babies. That’s why they have to take females from Earth. How can I be carrying a baby girl?

  “This is impossible.” JarDan echoed her own thoughts, turning to Raiwan. “On my last physical before leaving for Earth, I tested positive for the virus. How …”

  “I told you she would bring nothing but trouble.” Tiana taunted from her position behind Zeth. “I tried to warn you. She has to die before she gets us all killed.”

  “No.” Melodie denied, shielding her stomach with both hands and moving closer to JarDan as Tiana advanced on her with her sharp table knife raised and ready for attack.

  Tiana no longer bothered to hide her hatred of Melodie. The young woman JarDan called sister got no farther than Zeth and Dak before they caught and held her securely, knocking the knife from her hand. With a scream of outrage, Tiana lunged and scratched and fought the two men until Raiwan intervened.

  “Silence!” He bellowed, bringing calm to the chaos of the hall.

  Some part of Melodie recognized the sound of guests seeking their seats. Some voiced their outrage of the actions of the young princess, but most were quiet.