“So, they put you in the glass room,” Shadaya greeted.
Drayton smiled, “not for the faint hearted.”
Shadaya returned his smile as she curtsied politely. Drayton arched an eyebrow as a smirk spread across his handsome face.
“Why so formal today?”
Shadaya gestured for him to sit as she took a seat at the small round table next to the windows. A curtain of Tip trees outside gave them the privacy the room did not. When planted close together, Tip trees would grow to reach each other and eventually fuse by the tips of their branches. This created a beautiful curtain effect as their branches reached over and cascaded downwards.
Drayton was looking over at Shadaya with a question in his eyes.
“Are you well?”
Shadaya tore her gaze from outside and looked at him. In the bright morning light, he looked so handsome. His golden hair falling in gentle waves around his head. His blue eyes held hers.
“Just a bit tired,” she replied, “I have not been… sleeping well since my inheritance went through.”
If she was honest, she had not been able to sleep much since she had started working with Henry. But she couldn’t tell him that.
Drayton reached for the tea pot, “I could imagine all the responsibilities now pressing on you. I must admit though. Your tea party was very nice. I’m glad you invited me.”
Shadaya was looking at him thoughtfully, accusation written all over her face.
“What do you know about the disappearance of Lord Achis’ daughter?”
Drayton lowered his gaze, “I was sorry to hear about that. I had only heard about it when I returned.”
“Do you really think she chose to take her own life… conveniently in Haddin’s chambers? The man she was courting, the man who claims he had only left her for only a minute!”
Drayton sighed, “what do you want me to do Shadaya?”
Shadaya’s eyes grew hard, “act like the crown prince and do something about your brother,” she hissed.
Drayton looked uncomfortable, “I told you…”
“It’s up to your father? We both know that is just an excuse. You all pretend to be cut from a different cloth, but you, like your father are just hiding behind Haddin’s unapologetic cruelty, when you know you fully support what he does.”
“That’s not true.”
“Oh really. What have you done to stop the selection, the slave trading, the raping and murdering of our women?”
“You can’t stop years and years of tradition in one day. Or by running around swinging a sword.”
“Excuse me?”
“Haven’t you heard? They’re calling that… guy running around in that mask the Shadow. They’ve named him. Is that the kind of justice you want? What do you think that will do?”
“Give the people hope,” she said matter-of-factly.
“It will make them disrespect us. Every man and his brother from here to the coast will be thinking they can get up and start attacking kings’ men. Taking law and order into their own hands. Our nobles have doubled their security, they’re shaking in fear.”
“Look around you Drayton! There is no law and order! And it is because of your family. Don’t blame it on one person who has just shown up and is protecting people in ways your kings’ men never have.”
“So, you support this… vigilante behavior?”
Shadaya shrugged, “I support what works.”
“I support what is right.”
“Who determines what is right? Your magicians, your brother, your cold-blooded father.”
Drayton’s fist clenched atop the table, “we are friends, but you will remember to respect your king,” he warned.
They sat in tense quiet for a moment, neither of them touching the tea they had poured.
Then Drayton sighed, “I did not come here to fight with you.”
“Why then?”
“I came to say good bye.”
Shadaya lifted her eyes to him now, “you’re leaving again?”
“One last time,” he said, with a hint of hope in his voice that she wished she had not noticed.
He reached out and took her hand, “I know my journeys have pushed us apart over the years. But I still believe there is something between us worth breathing life into again.”
Shadaya parted her lips to speak but he delayed her with a raised hand.
“Please just… just give me another chance. I’m just going to do this one thing for my father…”
Immediately, she slipped her hand out of his, he looked sad but pressed on.
“When I return, I will be expected to select a worthy wife. I want the kind of woman who will hold me to a better standard than my family’s ways. A woman who is strong and intuitive. I want a woman who is my friend. You have always been those things to me. I hope that you can… find it in your heart to just…”
“Drayton please. Let’s not do this. You know where I stand on this.”
“On marriage? Shadaya you can only avoid this responsibility for so long. You are a woman after all, and one of noble birth…”
Shadaya leaned forward, “Marriage isn’t a woman’s responsibility, it is a woman’s choice, regardless of her class. You say you are nothing like your father and brother, but you see us women as nothing more than pawns, property and disposable earnings. You tell me what you want but let me tell you what you need. You need a woman who doesn’t hate your beloved father, down to the very last hair on his body.”
Drayton pulled back, his eyes wide. No doubt the passion in her words disturbed him.
“You do not mean that.”
Shadaya looked at him sadly, “how can I marry the son of the man who killed my father?”
Drayton nodded, “it will always come down to that won’t it? I guess there is nothing left for me to say here.”
He got up suddenly, sending the chair sliding loudly behind him.
“Drayton,” Shadaya said as he turned away, despite his anger he stopped.
“Be careful.”
He snorted, “like you care.”
“Drayton you know I do.”
He turned to look at her, his handsome face crumpled with hurt, “I am tired of this Shadaya,” he said wearily, “you say that this kingdom needs something different. But maybe the solution isn’t as complicated as you think. Maybe the solution starts here.”
He placed his hand over his heart, “maybe it’s starts with the way we treat each other, the way we see each other. The way we love. The sad part is that in all your self-righteousness, you don’t know how to.”
With that he walked out of the glass room, leaving Shadaya to sit with their cups of lukewarm tea. She closed her eyes tightly against the pain of watching him walk away from her so angrily. His words leaving behind the burn of an accusation laced with truth.
✽ ✽ ✽
Jasper sat twirling a coin along the back of his fingers, his brows furrowed in thought, with his father’s letter sitting on his lap, opened. Aldor waited for his return, his sister was asking after him, his father was worried about his safety, his men were growing antsy. Yet, despite his deep concern for them all, it was not enough to convince him to leave Dravia just yet. But what was keeping him, that is what bothered him more.
Geoff chose that moment to enter the small room that they shared. He shut the door and removed the hood of his cloak and shook himself.
“Is it just me or is it much colder than usual these past few nights?”
Jasper looked up and shrugged, “Dravia is a cold place Geoff, in more ways than one.”
“You’re right. What troubles you my friend?”
Jasper sighed, looking down at the letter on his lap, “Father has sent me a letter. He wants me home.”
“Then you should return,” Geoff said, as he placed a blackened pot over the fire warming the room.
“After you.”
Geoff chuckled, “I can’t Jasper. The work I am doing here with the community… it’
s very important. I’ve never experienced service to El the way I have here. The people despite their struggles, serve El with such a passion, with such love, I have never seen it in all my years serving in Aldor’s temple. I feel so useful here and more connected to El than I have in years. I’m not leaving just yet.”
“So, I’m on my own.”
Geoff took a seat on the table where Jasper sat and looked at his friend sympathetically.
“I know what is keeping me here, but what is keeping you from returning home.”
Jasper leaned back in his chair and tossed the letter on the table top.
“You might be upset to know.”
“Try me.”
Jasper took a deep breath, “I can’t stop thinking about Shadaya.”
Geoff’s eyebrows shot upright, “oh dear,” he muttered.
“No really. She is the first woman I have ever met who makes me feel this way. I would risk it all for her, I am excited when I hear of her, or even more if I should hear her voice, or catch a glimpse of her in the street. What does this mean?”
Geoff chuckled, “you like her,” he said matter-of-factly.
Jasper looked troubled, “but I can’t.”
Now it was Geoff who looked disappointed, “you’re right. She’s a Dravian noble, a warrior no doubt and you are the crown prince of Aldor. This cannot go very far.”
Jasper nodded, “I know… what’s even worse is that I think she uses dark magic.”
Geoff shrugged, “that’s no surprise. That’s the love language of Dravians…”
“Now be serious Geoff,” Jasper reprimanded.
Geoff smiled, “she is Dravian Jas. You said it yourself. She isn’t a part of the community, which means she serves their gods, which goes against El in every way. It’s expected that she would dabble in a bit of magic every now and then, especially to do what she does.”
“Then nothing can happen between us.”
Geoff nodded sadly, “I’m afraid not.”
“But I can help protect her.”
“From what,” Geoff asked in exasperation.
“The prince, he’s going to find out about her soon. She can’t keep being the Shadow and opposing the prince. He will have her caught and killed. And maybe… just maybe I can convince her to seek the light.”
“You sound like a follower of the way,” Geoff teased.
Jasper ignored his comment, “I can’t leave just yet. There is a lot going on, and it’s not just about Shadaya. It’s about Saharia and Aldor. We must find out what Haddin is planning, if the element is really back in play, then prophecy is being fulfilled and the great war will soon be upon us. I can’t leave yet.”
Geoff looked at him somberly, “neither can I.”
“Then it’s settled then.”
“Yes. But you must take your mind off the Quadin heiress. She is hostile to El, it shines brightly in her eyes. She carries pain and anger in great amounts, not even you with all your charm could cut through the defenses she has built for herself.”
“Then it’s good that I don’t intend to do anything like that.”
Geoff looked at him thoughtfully, “I’m serious Jas, I’ve seen the way she looked at you when you were staying at her dwelling. She craves something that she does not want to admit she wants, a part of her is attracted to you, but a much greater part despises you for what you make her feel.”
Jasper chuckled, “and you could tell all of that from a couple days at her home.”
He wouldn’t admit it to Geoff but hearing him say that made him happy. He was not sure why, because he was sure he had just convinced himself that Shadaya was off limits.
“Don’t make this a joke,” Geoff warned.
“Alright, alright my friend. Let us get to work. Did you get the documents I requested?”
“I did. The Ilk was very helpful.”
“Good let’s go through it and see if we can get ahead of Haddin. I’m not going back to Aldor empty handed.”
A slow smirk formed on Geoff’s face, “you are just talking about information, right?”
Jasper feigned annoyance at him, “now who is joking!”
Chapter 18
“W
ell I was not expecting to see you around these parts,” was the greeting Shadaya received when she walked into the Valens’ bakery.
Shadaya shrugged apologetically, “I am sorry I have… been busy.”
“I understand. Running an estate is hard work. I’m glad you haven’t grown weary of our chats.”
Stacia said with that good-natured smile as she extended her arms to Shadaya for a hug. Shadaya stepped into the woman’s motherly embrace, hunching over even though she was not very tall herself. That was one of the reasons she had opted to wear heeled boots when out at night, to give her mysterious persona a little more height than she had.
“What brings you by?” Stacia asked, her keen eyes searching her face.
“The usual,” Shadaya replied, pointing to her new driver who was struggling under the weight of a basket through the front door.
She had given Bertrand some time off, he was not taking the loss of Reeva well.
“You cannot help yourself huh?”
Shadaya smiled, “my decision to help others shouldn’t be dependent on how I feel, but on their needs.”
Stacia patted her cheek like a proud mother, “come sit with me and have some pie…” she paused and arched a brow, “unless you do not want to be seen with the likes of me.”
Shadaya waved her off, “nonsense.”
Stacia and Shadaya took a seat on a small table towards the back of the bakery. Which Shadaya thought was very considerate on Stacia’s part. Though Shadaya had claimed to not care what people thought of her visiting a known follower of the new way, it would not hurt to protect her reputation as best as she could.
She took a bite of one of Stacia’s flaky pineapple jam pastry with her eyes closed in delight.
“No one can make these like you do,” Shadaya said, making Stacia blush.
“I’m glad you like them.”
“Umm hmm, it’s why I cannot stay away.”
Stacia chuckled, “well then try these,” she said as she pushed the plate of tarts closer to Shadaya.
Shadaya grinned as she reached for it. Stacia arched her brows quizzically.
“You have quite an appetite today,” she observed.
Shadaya paused mid chew, lifting her gaze to the woman’s inquisitive motherly eyes. The use of magic could stir up quite an appetite it seemed, but she couldn’t tell Stacia that. Suddenly, she was ashamed.
She lowered her eyes and shrugged, “I’m making up for lost time.”
Stacia smiled politely, but it didn’t reach her eyes, instead her very Dravian ocean blue eyes were filled with concern.
“What is going on dear?”
Shadaya frowned, “what do you mean?”
Stacia shook her head and narrowed her eyes as if suspecting something she could not quite put her finger on.
“Something has changed. Is something bothering you?”
Shadaya put down the half-eaten tart and dusted her fingers on the napkin. Stacia’s way of seeing things she did not want her to see always unnerved her.
“I don’t know if you heard but… Bertrand’s daughter, Reeva, was taken by the prince,” she thought that would distract Stacia from looking too closely at her.
Stacia’s eyes widened, “but I thought, she was rescued.”
“So, did I. But… her unusual escape seemed to have captured the prince’s attention and he took her in for questioning. I tried to get her back but… they’ve sold her.”
Stacia’s face reddened with outrage, “Oh I hate this selection business. A wicked practice if you ask me.”
Shadaya looked up at her, nibbling on the inside of her lip as she considered what she wanted to ask the older lady.
“Stacia?”
“Yes dear.”
“What do the uh… what does your
community think about the selection? I mean… we have been taught from youth that the Selection, the sacrifices it’s all part of a greater purpose to protect us.”
“To keep the darkness at bay, yes.”
“Do you believe that?”
Stacia looked around, then returned her attention to Shadaya, “our people have done what they thought was necessary to preserve us on this side of the border. The darkness is a real threat to us, and we have seen what it can do when left unchecked, all you have to do is take a stroll through the dark forests. The sacrifices to the gods, the magic, the wizardry that Dravians have embraced have served them. It may be because of their efforts that we have not been overrun by dark forests ourselves. But I have come to understand the world differently now. I believe in a power greater than the darkness, a kind of magic born out of light, the kind of magic that forged the lands and skies and borders of our world. Because I believe in this power, I cannot return to putting my trust in the dark ways we have adopted as a people.”
“You believe your god can keep the darkness in check, without the shedding of innocent blood?”
“Without the shedding of any more innocent blood. Yes, I know He can, and not just keep it in check, but banish it completely from our world.”
“But how? Many have tried for years, the Ilks have their experiments, the Dravians have their magic, the Tyattarans have their dragons, the Aldorians have their stones… every tribe, every kingdom has been seeking ways to survive in this world. What makes you think your god has the key to putting an end to it all?”
“Because I have faith. Because I believe that he has already put it in motion. The key has already been turned, we only have to open the door.”
Shadaya chuckled dryly despite herself, “sorry I asked,” she said, reaching for her tart again.
Stacia smiled sadly, “It isn’t something you can understand with your head, or even your heart.”
“How then can you understand it?”
“When El draws you to his light, which will make all things clear. But it takes a step of faith towards him. Our faith scrolls are filled with fulfilled prophecies of El’s hand in the business of men. But there is one prophecy about a light source. A light source who not only leads all men to the light but serves as the perfect sacrifice. Men have searched for it for years, thinking it to be something they can manipulate and control for personal gain; like light stones, or power stones. But our community founders, were witnesses to this light source, and this light source had a mind of his own…”
Shadaya: Out of Darkness (Gemstone Royals) Page 18
