by Laura Abudo
“What is it?”
“They said it is ok. But only bring me and Glory and Krisa and the Marshalls. No one else. I don’t know what they mean. But I had to tell you.” With that Pearl went back to sleep in Coral’s arms.
Kel stared at them then breathed a sigh of relief. “There, you are fine.”
Coral nodded absently as she stared into the fire. She was fine. She had been so worried that the gods would leave her or take the girls, or any number of punishments. She had broken some kind of unknown rule and she’d feared the worst.
Begrudgingly Amias Doran left home to retrieve his new bride. He rode his horse as he always did, reasoning he’d need to get a carriage for the woman to ride in on the way home. They may have to stop in Danyc for her to start ordering a household full of items and to hire staff. He was thankful her dowry was large. He knew an excellent furniture maker who often made special items for the King. He’d have him fashion their table for dinner parties.
Amias sighed to himself as he realized he sounded like a house-bound husband already, caring about furniture and parties and what his wife was bringing with her to their marriage. He honestly couldn’t care less. But it was better to think on that than to think on what his mind kept trying to wander to. He didn’t rush his horse. He was in no hurry.
Along the road came a rider at a quick pace. He wore a uniform like those at the outposts. Amias waved him down in greeting, as it was unusual to have someone out on this road. He saluted and called, “Aye, Soldier.”
The man saluted back and brought his horse to a walk. “Captain? Captain Doran perhaps?”
“I am,” Amias told him. He showed him his name engraved on his hatchet.
“The very man I seek,” he told him. “I have had a horrible delay but I have letters for you, Sir. I am to wait for a reply.”
Captain Doran grumbled to himself, expecting yet another letter from the King threatening his head if he didn’t appear. To his surprise there were two letters, neither from King Fredrick. One was from Coral Marden, his betrothed, and one from Brother Karl. His hand shook slightly as he held the one from Karl. He didn’t want to open either.
His thumb slid under the seal of the one from Coral Marden. He flipped it open to read:
Dearest Amias Natan Filbar Doran,
I pray this letter finds you well. I apologize I have not written sooner in response to your previous letter. I was distressed not to see you in Danyc at King Fredrick’s court. As no one has heard from you in weeks I beg you find it in your heart to respond.
I am sincere in my commitment to our union. If you find me unworthy I will not hold you to our engagement and will plead with the King for your release from the contract. I fear your postponement may be the result of a change of heart in this regard.
Forever yours,
Coral Estel Teres Marden
He disliked her already. The messenger handed him a wooden tablet on which he placed a piece of paper and writing utensils for him to use to respond. Amias didn’t want to respond. He was on his way there now to get the woman. But he knew if he didn’t warn them he was coming they wouldn’t be prepared and he’d be delayed getting back. She had to arrange her entourage, chaperones, parents and family members for the upcoming wedding, which by tradition would occur within a fortnight of her arrival at her new home. He sighed deeply and began to write:
My betrothed,
I apologize for not being at court. I have been busy establishing your new home. I have not and will not go back on my commitment to you. I am traveling now to summon you home. I shall be there within five days.
Please pass my greetings to your parents.
I will see you all soon.
Captain Amias Natan Filbar Doran
He handed the man the letter and watched him drop the wax on the flap of the envelope, then Amias pressed the blunt head of his hatchet into the wax to seal it. He stared at the letter from Karl, undecided if he should open it. His heart told him to open it and read every word. His head told him to tear it up. This time, he listened to the advice from the gods, and listened to his heart.
Amias,
I took a chance writing, hoping to find you. I truly do not want to leave our friendship in tatters. It means too much to me to discard. Since the day we parted I have felt remorse for your anger. I know you thought I was pleased with the news you received about your betrothal but, please, believe me, my reaction was not what you thought it was. There was something I had needed to share with you so you could have understood. It is best done in person, but since that is now impossible, since your obligations and heart lie elsewhere, it is best left unsaid. I no longer want to torture you. Please know, what you said about how we felt about each other was very true. I regret it couldn’t be expressed at the time.
Yours, In the eyes and hearts of the gods,
B. Karl
He read the letter over and over from start to finish many times before the messenger made a noise in his throat to get his attention. “A response, sir?”
She deserved one. He hadn’t attempted to reach her. He hadn’t tried to find out if everyone was safe. He hadn’t bothered to tell her he was sorry. “No,” he said, shoving the letter into his coat.
Whispering words filled his head as nine voices prodded him, repeating, “Fool, fool, fool,” over and over.
“Wait, yes,” he told the man who had turned to go.
Again he wrote out a letter, this time to the woman who truly held his heart.
Karl,
Please know how deeply sorry I am at how we parted. I fear I exposed a monster within, a monster who felt hurt and jealous and sacrificed our friendship. If there were feelings unexpressed between us, they should have remained hidden. I am sorry I forced them to the surface unnecessarily. It has driven us apart. I deeply regret this, my friend.
Currently I am traveling west to present myself to the family of my betrothed and return to my home with her. If Kel is still with you I’d like us three to meet, perhaps at the outpost garrison as soon as you get this notice.
Yours apologetically,
Amias
The messenger was told to ride like the wind back to the young woman who’d sent the second letter. He was to delay a day before giving his response to the other young woman. Amias gave him extra coins to ensure the proper order of the deliveries. The messenger looked at him confused, since it was the same young woman who had sent both letters but he took the money and agreed. Amias was riding behind him and would know if he stopped for more than to relieve himself or to eat or sleep. The messenger would pass through the outpost for a fresh horse and continue west while Amias would wait there for Kel and Karl. He was nervous but knew this was the first step to mending a broken friendship. That’s all he was doing, he promised himself. Just making amends.
Chapter 16
King’s Orders
Coral received the letters of response from the messenger, who looked confused and told her, “He told me to give you this one first and then the other, but he thought they were from two different people.”
“You didn’t tell him otherwise, did you?” she demanded.
“No, Lady!” he said. “I know better than to expose a Lady’s trickery on a man.”
She stared at his back as he departed. She shrugged, not bothering to stop him to explain the truth. It was somewhat hard to believe. She laughed, finally having heard from Amias and he was safe. It didn’t matter if he raged at her in the letters. All she cared about was that he was alive and at least healthy enough to pen a letter.
She tore open the one to Karl, unable to wait a second longer. Her heart beat rapidly and a wave of heat rushed through her. She pored over each of his words several times, monster, friendship, feelings, apologize. Oh, thank goodness, she breathed to herself. He wasn’t still angry. She read the second letter but went back again to the first.
He wanted to see her. He was still a day or two away, she calculated. It would be impossible to meet him then be back for his
arrival at the Marden estate.
“Was that the post?” Mother called.
“Yes, Mother. Amias Doran is on his way.”
Her mother disappeared into the house. Kel emerged so she handed him the letter. His eyebrow raised in curiosity.
“So we are going to meet him?”
“I can’t see how. He is coming here for Coral Marden. I have to be here. But then the King…it’s all too confusing now.”
Coral breathed steadily and deeply in the quiet library. She’d told everyone not to disturb her so she had the place to herself. She fingered a few of the spines of books then turned to face the fireplace. She had no idea if she could do it. She wondered briefly if they would be angry with her. But with determination she again imagined the grey world and pushed herself through it, her feet became unsteady as she jolted from one direction to the other, and then she was there. Among the gods. She stood in front of them and they stared back at her.
“Welcome,” the soothing voiced woman said.
“Thank you,” she replied then looking around to all of them she told them, “I am sorry if I did something wrong the last time. I just wanted to stop her and I didn’t know how.”
“We were simply surprised,” she told Coral.
“I meant no harm.”
“We understand. We sent word through the little one to let you know all was fine.”
Coral nodded her thanks. “She told me I am able to bring others here. The children and the Marshalls only.”
“Yes.”
“I would like to bring the Captain, if I may.”
“You have our permission.”
“How do I do it?”
The woman laughed. “We don’t know how you do it. I’m afraid we can’t instruct you.”
An image flickered inside the stone arch. Coral recognized him immediately. He rode his horse at an easy gait, his back straight, his hair longer still and he wore three or four days growth of beard. He looked tired.
“You don’t want to frighten the horse by bringing it here,” one told her.
But it wasn’t long before Amias yawned, looked up at the darkening sky of the evening and dismounted. When his feet hit the ground Coral imagined herself reaching through the arch to pull him with all her concentration into the world of grayness and opaque shapes. He lurched then slid into view, standing across from her among the gods. Some of them shook their heads in disbelief and looked at the others in surprise.
Amias gasped at the disorientation of sudden change of location. And there was Karl, facing him. He first turned to bow at the gods before him and they smiled their welcome.
“I was on my way to see you,” he told her, “and Kel.”
“We can’t meet you, I’m sorry. But I did want to talk to you.”
“Here?” he said motioning with his hand their surroundings.
“I received your letter.”
He nodded. “How are the girls?”
“Krisa has gone to the forest with the Siri,” she said but to his protest she explained, “Pat is with her. Her mother was Siri as we learned. They have offered to train her. Glory and Pearl are with me. Both have shown talents and strength, I am proud to say, that are well beyond my own.”
“And the fever?” he asked.
“We have had none since our return. And your father? How is he?”
“Much improved,” he answered.
An awkward silence fell on both of them. The gods simply stood with gentle smiles watching them.
Amias took a step closer. “I’m sorry about…I had no right to be upset. I had no claim on you and you had none on me. I let my feelings get the best of me.”
“It’s okay to feel, Amias,” she said gently. “Neither of us was in a position to make more of it than it was. I was a Brother and you were betrothed. Both of us would have betrayed the obligations we’d already committed to. I understand.”
“You are no longer a Brother. You are free to love if you wish.”
“I am.”
“And I am still not.”
“You can love.”
“I love,” he told her, looking into her eyes. “But I am not free to love.”
She stared at him with that look again, and this time it was mixed with a sadness that broke his heart. It took all of his strength not to rush toward her and take her to hold forever. This was a bad idea. He should never have agreed to meet her. Why wasn’t Kel here to help keep him sensible?
Karl took a step toward him and he froze. His pulse quickened in excitement but he made a decision and forced himself back, through the pulling and lurching of the grayness, back to his horse on the side of the road.
Again the gods gasped and cried out in surprise. Coral denied sending him back and they whispered amongst themselves, though Coral wouldn’t have heard them, she was so distraught over his departure. They all watched him through the arch as he spread out his bedroll, ate his bread and dried meat and finally lay down in the dark.
Coral’s eyes spilled tears. She had been so close to him, had wanted to tell him so badly. He should love me enough to leave the betrothed, Coral thought selfishly to herself.
“He loves you more than that,” a goddess said to her gently. “Lust would drive a man to leave his betrothed, real love will force him to leave you unkissed and untouched. He has much more respect and love for you than he will for her. He is going to a woman he must touch out of obligation. He refuses to kill your heart by taking you and leaving for another. He is a good man. A very good man.”
“I should have told him. I need to tell him.”
“Yes, you should have. From the very beginning.”
Coral watched him until the night was too dark to see any longer, waved gently to the nine figures around her and returned herself to the library, falling into a chair unsteadily. In the morning Coral Estel Teres Marden would get in the Marden carriage and go to the King’s court, where she would present herself for the official engagement to Captain Amias Natan Filbar Doran and wait for him to arrive. It would all be over soon. The lies, the trickery, and she hoped he wouldn’t be too angry with her.
When Amias reached the outpost at the crossroads he didn’t bother to enquire if Kel or Karl were there to meet him. He had received another notice from the King to appear before him, but this time it was an official call to duty. He was told in the note that his Marshalls had all been summoned.
News at the garrison was that there had been many incidences with the Sisters. They no longer wore the yellow robes and veils but they were entering towns, taking what they wanted and creating havoc. Less and less frequently were they seen with men or Brothers but acted on their own or in groups.
Duke Strenn, Amias was told, had reported that just before the King had ordered all Sisters and Brothers to be detained, an entire boat load of veiled Sisters had arrived in Brynntown. They were assumed to have gone to the Sanctuary but they were never found. The men at the post speculated that they were from another land altogether as their own Sisters had never behaved that way. Amias thought they could be right. The women were all very tall and slender like the Siri, but without the dark hair and eyes.
Amias raced north at the King’s request rather than west to collect Coral Marden. He’d been called to duty and likely to be deployed. The wedding would have to be postponed, he sighed in relief. He reprimanded himself silently for thinking that way but couldn’t help but be thankful for an opportunity to see and serve with his men again.
His horse sped on its way to Danyc. He passed many carriages, riders, caravans, even individuals walking and hauling goods on their backs. The road north into the city was busy. Other units of his King’s army had been called, he reasoned after seeing many uniformed men along the way.
Upon his arrival at the castle he found a gathering of higher ranked officers from all the divisions of the King’s military. He was handed a letter with the King’s seal as a stable hand took his exhausted horse. He was to attend a meeting in the war room th
e next morning. He got the assignment for his quarters then sought out the other members of his unit. Only two had already arrived. Quiet, solemn discussions went on into the night all around the castle.
The war room was hushed though there were perhaps one hundred men gathered early in the morning. Officers fidgeted and whispered greetings to each other, while impatiently waiting for the King. Guards stood at attention as a small door at the back of the room opened for King Fredrick to emerge. Every man in the room saluted simultaneously. He responded the same.
“Good morning, men,” he called out, placing papers on the table before sitting in an ornate chair. Next to him on either side were generals, his highest advisors. “As you may know we’ve had a situation with the Faold. After several months of investigation it appears we have uncovered a plot from the land of the Kusira.”
Mumbling voices around the room told Amias most of them were surprised. A land far to the north, the Kusira had not made efforts before to delve into Danycia. They were distantly related to the Siri but had parted ways in ancient wars, ancient times, the stories of fables. The Siri were content in the forest, remaining isolated, coming forth to assist Danycia at times. But the Kusira were known to have more ambition and often invaded other lands, stripped them then left, only to do it again when rebuilt.
“They have sent forth a group of women, women only, who have made their way into the Faold in an effort to gain trust and support from the people. Those are the Sisters we encountered and still encounter. As some of you know they…”
And he stopped speaking as the main doors facing him opened. All eyes turned when King Fredrick smiled and waved Brother Karl into the room. Amias’ heart stopped beating and a wash of panic filled him.
“Welcome!” the King called out, “Come in, please, have a seat.”
A guard rushed forward with a red velvet seated chair for Karl. Amias could just stare in disbelief. She hadn’t noticed he was there. She simply sat watching the King beaming at her. She looked terrified.
