by J. M. Kearl
Jordane blinks having some difficulty keeping his eyes open. “Don’t worry about it.”
“I love you just as much as I always have,” Madison says, laying her head on his chest.
Remembering the first time they laid with each other brings a smile. The way Madison covered her breasts with her crossed arms and when he, naked himself, gently pushed her arms to the side. “You don’t need to hide from me,” he’d said, taking her hands and wrapping them around his neck. At the time, he’d never been with anyone else and neither had she, but instincts took it from there.
“And I love you.”
“How did you survive in Lanloc? How long were you there?”
Jordane stiffens at the mention of the name and he’s brought back to the crowds chanting his name. It makes him sick to think about it; but just as that guard had said, he grew to love that sound. He hasn’t spoken about his time there and he wondered when she would ask again.
“It was fighting in an arena. Something we grew up doing, although these matches were to the death and most of my opponents weren’t well trained.” His mind flashes back to the blood stained sand and the sounds of clashing metal.
“How did you leave?”
“If you survive a year, they make a deal to send prisoners to Hordoe or to the mines. I ended up in both places. I worked the mines for years and then one day they sent me to Hordoe. I’m still not sure why. I was then sent to the castle for execution shortly after… Midlan brought the order.”
Madison bolts upright, brushing her hair over her shoulder. “He dressed as a Hesstian soldier and sent you to the castle dungeons?”
Jordane’s thoughts wander to the memory of screaming like a mad man, “Coward! Coward!” shaking the bars, willing them to break. He truly wished in that moment that Midlan would have ended his life then. He wanted Midlan to shove his sword through the bars and stab Jordane through what was left of his shattered heart.
“Yes,” Jordane replies. “Maybe it was fate. It ended up working in our favor.”
“I don’t believe in fate,” Madison says, pressing her back against the wood headboard. She pulls her knees to her chest. “We cut our own path in this world.”
Jordane rests his head against the outside of her thigh. “Are you afraid for our daughter? Of what she might be capable of?”
The silence that hangs in the air, waiting for her to respond is disturbing. “I’m not afraid of what she is capable of, I’m afraid of what that might mean for her.”
“Do you think Kyria will be threatened then?”
Madison runs her fingers through Jordane’s hair. “She already is.”
Jordane sits up. “Why do you say that?”
“I went to grab a glass of water and Boaden and Daelyn were in the kitchen eating. I overheard Boaden telling Daelyn about his meeting with the queen. Kyria planned to marry Boaden and make him king of Delhoon and she’s not happy about his marriage to our daughter. She sent Verra. Whether to spy or stop a relationship between them, I’m unsure.”
Heat burns Jordane’s cheeks. “What? And Boaden didn’t tell us any of this? He’s put Daelyn’s life in danger by marrying her.”
“Boaden claimed he didn’t know,” Madison replies. “But the queen better not come for her. I’ve protected Daelyn for twenty years in enemy land and I won’t let anything happen to her now.”
“We should speak with Kyria. Make sure nothing happens.”
Looking at him lovingly, Madison kisses his cheek. “No, we should not. She’ll either let it go or she won’t and we’ll deal with it when the time comes.”
It amazes him that she’s always been able to wait things out and take them as they come. When he would rather confront the issue or he’ll continue worrying about it. Learning of this news, the lovely home they’ve been awarded, could be taken as quickly as it had been given. The comfort he felt moments ago fades away. Just when he thought life could be safe and happy for a while, it’s ripped away with but a few words. “We can’t take on the queen.”
Madison smirks. “If she dares to hurt my daughter she will suffer a wrath of hellfire like she can’t even imagine. If she comes for Daelyn, we will challenge her for the throne because if what Nebba says is true, Daelyn should be queen by right of power.”
A tinge of nausea wells up at the thought. Jordane hopes it won’t come to that.
27. Boaden
Bouncing his leg, Boaden sits by the fireplace wracked with anxiety. A note from his sister hasn’t come. He doesn’t want to believe she is dead but if she were alive, wouldn’t she have answered him by now?
He pushes himself up from the chair, watching his sleeping wife. The room feels too stuffy, so he heads down the stairs into the cool night air. If his sister is dead, he must inform his parents but he can’t tell them without knowing for sure. He must speak with someone who will know whether or not she was stationed in Norhila. Gord would know, so would the queen but he doesn’t want to see either of them right now. Kyria probably wouldn’t even grant him a meeting. Lord Everon is the highest ranking general and would know or can at least find out where she is but he is likely angry with Boaden as well.
Just as that thought leaves his head a nearby torch lights and a note floats through the air. With hope, Boaden snatches it and his breath catches seeing the royal seal. He pulls it open. Lord Everon wishes to meet with him right away.
Perhaps he has news of Ehvas. Boaden runs to Hess, saddles him then leaves, hoping he’ll be back before Daelyn even knows he’s gone. When he arrives at the castle, Hess is taken to the stables for him. The halls of the palace are eerily quiet this late at night. A flash of white dashes between one plant to another giving Boaden pause. “Gideon?” He asks.
The cat slips from behind the vase and narrows his eyes. “How did you see me?”
Boaden ignores the question. “What are you doing out here?”
Gideon’s tail whips back and forth. “I saw you enter the palace and at this late hour it must be for something noteworthy. Maybe even some good gossip.”
Rolling his eyes Boaden knocks on the doors to the throne room where he was told to go. “I’m here to meet with Lord Everon.”
Licking his paw Gideon lazily replies, “Pity. I thought you came to see the queen. Now I’ll have nothing good to spread to the other cats.”
“There’s nothing between the queen and I, so get that out of your head.”
Lord Everon pulls the doors open and Boaden bows. “Hello, Lord Everon.”
“Come in,” Lord Everon says and closes the door behind Boaden. Gideon doesn’t make it inside.
Lord Everon’s long white cape trails behind him. “Have you heard of the attack in Norhila?”
A wave of anxiety rolls over Boaden. He knows what Lord Everon has called him for. Ehvas must be dead. “I have, Lord.”
“We are preparing for war but three of our warlords do not want to fight and we need them. They are refusing to rally their battalions.”
“If you have the majority to go to war, Lord, how can they refuse?” Boaden asks, curious to where this conversation is going.
“They can’t. But we cannot spare to send enough troops to force them. So I’m sending you north and then west.” Lord Everon waves a hand and walks toward a table where a map has been placed. There are figurines for each warlord and their territories. He picks up the one at the top of Delhoon. “Warlord Colden in the north, even though it was his territory that was attacked, he has barricaded his city, and won’t fight unless his city is attacked. And Warlord Asger in the west near the coast has refused to send troops to join with the rest of the army. We need everyone to the border. The other is in the south, where I’ll be heading. You’re going to convince Colden and Asger to do what they must. Though I think the fight will come to Colden soon.”
Boaden blinks a few times wondering how the hell he’s supposed to convince them when the Queen of Delhoon can’t. “Will I be going alone?”
“No, you can take
whomever you want. I understand you have a group of men under your direct command so take them, your wife, whomever you think you need. You are one of the best warriors in Delhoon, Boaden. The warlords will listen to you.”
Boaden rubs the stubble on his chin. The question he has in his mind is, why aren’t they following orders from Kyria? She is the rightful queen, she wears the crown, she has the loyalty of the people. “Lord, can you tell me why they are refusing? It makes no sense. Did she not tell them about the assassination?”
Lord Everon purses his lips. “Kyria did not get majority vote from the warlords.”
Boaden’s eyes widen understanding the weight of the situation. She went against the majority vote by sending him to kill King Rolland. “I was under the impression that she didn’t even ask.”
Lord Everon picks up Warlord Athena Asger’s figurine and stares at it like it’s a friend. “Kyria convened them after she sent you back, hoping that since the plan was already in motion they’d be more likely to vote ‘yes’ on starting the war. It was split half and half but Asger was the final vote and she said no. She does not think we can win a war with Hesstia when we don’t have our own freedom to fight for anymore. And Kyria didn’t call off the assassination.”
“So now they’re angry with her.”
Lord Everon nods setting down the figure. “Very much so. Athena Asger told me she’ll only fight if they make it to her door. We need her fighters on the front, Boaden.”
“I understand.”
Lord Everon moves to the stairs and climbs to his throne. “I’m sending you because you are now my apprentice. You will take my place as highest general when I die, though that hopefully won’t be for some years.”
Boaden holds back a smile. This is a great honor; one that he did not anticipate. He’d known that one day he’d get to be in a high ranking position but he didn’t expect this. “Thank you, Lord, for this opportunity.”
Lord Everon runs his fingers through his dark hair, that’s beginning to gray on the sides. “I know what my daughter had planned for you. I also know of your marriage to Daelyn Magnevera. Kyria will tuck away her pride and let it go. She is angry, as I’m sure you well know, but she understands that we need you on our side, and doing anything to your wife is not an option. Although, she is the Queen, she still listens to her wise old father.”
Boaden nods, at least he doesn’t have to worry about that for now. But what Boaden doesn’t understand is why he was called here in the middle of the night. This could have been said in the morning. “It relieves me to hear that, Lord. By her reaction earlier, I was worried.”
“Worry no more,” Lord Everon says. He places his hands in his lap. “There is one other matter I called you here for.”
Boaden’s heart skips. He knew it. He knew that couldn’t be all.
“Your sister Ehvas--”
Boaden’s mouth goes dry and suddenly Lord Everon’s voice seems far away, like he’s on the other side of a long tunnel.
“Was taken during the raid in Norhila. There were two survivors who got away to deliver news of the attack. We think because she is a healer she was taken instead of killed.”
Boaden senses snap back. “She’s not dead?”
“She was last seen taken alive by the Hesstian’s. I worry what that could mean for her as a woman. It might be a fate worse than death.”
Boaden’s hands clench knowing the horrible thing Lord Everon refers to. “I must find her.”
“We think we can negotiate with King Enden for her release.”
“Enden must not know she is my sister,” Boaden says, trying to withhold the anger he feels about this news. “He watched me put an arrow through his brother’s heart. He will kill Ehvas if he knows who she is.”
“King Enden isn’t a fool. He knows you were following orders. So the death is on Kyria,” Lord Everon replies. “He should follow the rules of war when it comes to prisoners. We have some of theirs we could exchange for her. If he denies her release, he condemns his own men to death.”
Boaden knows he shouldn’t argue but he can’t help himself. “He ordered the slaughter of the entire village, and taken the children or so I’ve heard. He is not following any rules of war. Do the exchange but he must not know.”
Boaden can feel that Lord Everon doesn’t like the way he’s being spoken to but the Lord lets it go. “I didn’t intend to say who she is. Leave it to me. We won’t reveal her identity.”
Boaden leaves after Lord Everon tells him he has two days to gather his party. When he arrives back at Madison and Jordane’s new home, everyone is awake. He steps into the kitchen where they’ve gathered.
Daelyn smiles at him. “Where did you go?”
“Lord Everon called me.” He pauses. “My sister Ehvas was taken captive in the Norhila raid.”
Daelyn’s eyes widen. She hurries to him and wraps her arms around his body. Her touch comforts him in a way no one else can. Since the wedding ceremony he feels connected to her like never had before. Instead of just knowing how she feels, it's as if her emotions envelope his. When she is sad, he becomes sad. When she is excited, it heightens his own happiness. Now she silently tells him that it will be alright and calmness blankets his worry.
Jordane rubs his face. “Why did they take her instead of killing her as they did the rest?”
“She’s a skilled healer. They believe that is why.”
Madison stills suddenly and her face goes blank, like she’s in a trance.
“Are you alright, Madison?” Jordane asks. The others turn to look at her. Jordane waves his hand in front of her face and she doesn’t react. “She’s having a vision.”
Moments later Madison blinks. Her eyes fall to the table in front of her. She is confused and anxious. Whatever she saw isn’t good.
“You know my visions are subjective and don’t always come to pass.” Madison looks up at each of them. “I just saw an army, neither Hesstian nor Delhoon and … I saw dragons.”
“Dragons,” Jordane says in a near whisper. “How can that be? No one has seen a dragon in these parts for hundreds of years.”
Madison shrugs. “I don’t know what it means or where they come from. We hear rumors of dragons in Collweya but they could be from across the sea.”
“Were they coming here?” Jordane asks.
“I don’t know but I suspect it will affect us.”
Daelyn looks to Boaden. “Well, that’s terrifying.”
Madison lets out a breath she seemingly had been holding. “Although we have magic, it would be near impossible for us to take on dragons and the Hesstians at the same time. Let’s hope they aren’t coming for us.”
28. Enden
Enden’s last meeting with his Entari has given him a renewed confidence. The next move is to push further into Delhoon through the north and south. When Queen Kyria has had enough she’ll choose to meet with him in the Gap of Freeole. Enden’s army is large enough that splitting them is the best choice. He also has word that not all of Delhoon’s warlords are joining in the battles, which gives Hesstia even more of an advantage.
He walks through the halls with Peter and Dean, the two men he trusts most, but pauses when he sees the door to his room open and the guards who are supposed to watch Saveena, gone. He had given her permission to leave the room, wander about the castle with escorts since she cooperated but he’s supposed to be informed when she leaves his bedchambers.
“Did anyone tell you that she left the room?” Enden asks, pressing the door open slowly. It’s completely dark inside.
“No, Sire,” Peter says.
Enden looks to Dean who shakes his head. “Maybe they went for supper. It is that time. Your brother’s wife and daughter are probably there.”
Enden clenches his jaw getting an uneasy feeling. “Find her.”
Dean jogs down the hallway and finds another guard to spread the word. Peter remains by his side. “It’s probably nothing. She has on a kirune manacle and a shard in her ar
m. It’s not like she can send a message.”
“I know but I don’t like it.”
Dean returns and they head to the dining hall. His brother’s wife and daughter are both seated and the men he chose to watch Saveena are standing by. “Where is Saveena?” Enden barks.
The guards glance at each other wide eyed. “She said she had to use the bathing room, Sire.”
Enden’s fear and anger makes him shake. “You’re supposed to be watching her.”
“Zand escorted her,” they both say.
Dean and Peter follow Enden out of the room and to the closest bathing room where Zand stands outside the door. He bows seeing Enden. “Hello, Sire.”
“Is Saveena in there?” Enden asks.
“Yes.”
Enden pushes the door open and it slams against the wall. She’s not here. A door that leads to the servant’s halls has been left open. They’re supposed to be locked from the other side. One of the servants must have helped her. Enden storms out of the room and starts shouting orders for her to be found.
I can’t believe the incompetence of my men. How hard is it to watch one woman? And where would she go? He freezes, having an idea where she must have gone. She’ll go for the stone. It’s locked in a drawer but she still might get to it.
He runs to his office, throws the door open and there she is on her knees in front of his desk. Blood runs down her arm from where the shard had been. In her hand is his gold letter opener, and for some reason she doesn’t have her manacle on.
Enden rushes her and grabs her by the throat. “What have you done?” he screams in her face.
She pries at his fingers, face turning red. “Enden, stop,” she gasps.
Enden squeezes tighter. She’d removed the shard from her arm and convinced someone to take off the manacle so her people could track her or she lied and actually does know how to send a message. They will know she is here. “Peter get me another manacle.”
Peter pulls one from his belt. “I have one here, Sire.” He squats down and clamps it to her ankle.
