Blood Ties (Noble of Blood Series Book 2) (6 page)

The
y
had stayed all that night, at Friesa's insistence. Nikka was only okay with that because she knew that her father wouldn't be looking for them, yet. He wasn't scheduled to return to the Keep for a couple more days.

She and Tynen had helped to catch some small game that night. She flushed out several pheasants, which Tynen deftly took down with his bow. Then they trapped about a dozen hare, and several geese, and a few more pheasants which they kept alive to take back to the village.

The hunters were grateful, especially old William. He said they risked their necks too often out here. They had lost a couple young men to the goblins. With the abundance of game they were taking back this time, they wouldn't have to come back out for another month or so.

Friesa suggested to him that they build some pens back in the village and keep the geese and pheasants for eggs. Maybe let some of the eggs hatch and make some stock out of the growing flock. Esther seemed to like the idea.

The hunters offered them all a ride in the back of one of the wagons, since they had stayed awake hunting all night. They were headed to Noble's Rest as well, and said since they had to travel slowly with all the goods they were bringing back they wouldn't reach the village until after nightfall.

Friesa, who had gotten a nap in while Nikka and Tynen were hunting, rode alongside the wagon for the first couple of hours. When Tynen and Nikka awoke, Friesa was there in the wagon, snuggled into Tynen with his arm slung over her waist. Nikka raised a brow at him, and he managed to look guilty, but only for a moment. Then he stretched and crawled catlike out of the front of the rolling wagon.

Pulling the flap at the back of the wagon aside, Nikka saw it had just fallen dark and the skyline was still pink. The wagon settled to a stop and she jumped out the back to see Tynen leading her horse around to her. She mounted up while he went back for his own and then they were off again.

Nikka could see the watchtower lights of the village in the distance. She was excited to see it, as she had only seen Friesa’s small village of Northill a couple of times. And the one they were approaching was much, much larger.

“You know, I lived in Noble’s Rest for many years until I became a ranger.” Tynen wasn’t usually talkative, so it surprised Nikka when he spoke up.

“I did not know that. No one really speaks of this village. My father avoids the subject of it like a plague. And a couple of times that the place has come up, Victor has gotten up and walked away from us.” Nikka thought to herself for a moment. “Did something bad happen here, Tynen?”

“Well I was off in the Eastern Reaches when it all happened so I do not have a first-hand account of it by any means. But it was a devastating blow when your mother died. Your father was out of the palace as she went into labor with you, and arrived back just as she died.”

Nikka was shocked. “But why was he gone? What took him away from her when she was so close to her time?”

“I do not know. But maybe when we reach the palace, you can ask your grandfather.”

They rode along in silence for a time after that, Nikka trying to understand why that story had never been spoken of to her before. When Friesa woke up and rode up beside them, Nikka let her horse fall just a bit behind so she could watch her friends. The two were still a bit tense towards each other. That would probably never change, unless Friesa were turned.

One more thing to talk to her grandfather about. She was beginning to feel pretty intimidated about meeting the man. The impression she always got about the man was of power, strength and nobility.

Hopefully she could relate to him at least a little bit, so they could speak of important things. She sincerely hoped he would like her.

Their party had reached the limits of the town, and were riding through the open gates of the wall that surrounded it. The gates were open, showing peaceful times. But they were all heavy iron, double rowed and thick. Almost impossible to penetrate.

Nikka was honestly glad to see that her grandfather was ready for any coming conflict.

The wagon rumbled to a stop and Esther hopped down from the bench.

Nikka and Friesa dismounted and walked over to the woman.

“Thank you kindly for your hospitality,” Nikka said as she grasped arms with the woman.

“No need for thanks on your part. You all done more than your fair share and helped us bring back quite the catch. We gotta ride on in and get the meat salted and laid in. Will you be needing an inn or such to stay at?” Esther asked.

“No, madam. We are looking to visit the palace. We have not been by here in quite some time, and should pay our respects to the Patriarch.” Tynen spoke up.

“Well of course, but I thought maybe your lady friend there might need a place to stay.” Esther looked a bit concerned as she peered at Friesa.

“She is a skilled smith and of use to the Nobles. The Patriarch will surely want to meet her,” said Nikka. She bowed lightly to Esther as she and Friesa turned back to their horses and mounted.

“Well it was lovely meeting you all. I hope your visit is a pleasant one. You can help us hunt anytime.” Esther had seated herself back on the coach and whipped the reins to start the horses forward.

The trio waved at the hunters as they rode past them, then turned their horses towards the Palace.

Riding through the gates of the palace was even more impressive than the gates of the town. These were open as well, but much more reinforced and with guards standing at attention all around.

Two young grooms ran up to take their horses as soon as they dismounted. Tynen stood and waited for the two girls to take in the impressive expanse of the Palace before walking forward to the front entrance.

He led them through the doors and into the massive foyer. There were a few humans sitting on the black marble benches, looking like they were awaiting an audience or delivering messages. A few nobles were also present, chatting amongst themselves, dressed in their finest clothes.

There was music drifting in to the foyer from a room further inside. As she peered around she could see more Nobles milling about, talking. There were a few humans among them, dressed richly.

“It sounds like there is a ball going on tonight.” Tynen finally spoke up.

One of the Nobles in the foyer near them turned around as he spoke. She was tall, with straight black hair draping down her back to touch her buttocks. She had eyes that looked almost black and fine white skin. Her lips were painted like dark cherries.

“Quite, my darling. We have just had an awakening and we are celebrating our newest member. You should clean up and join us in the ballroom.” The look she gave Tynen as she spoke told them all that she was more than interested in having him join her.

“My lady, I thank you for the invite. We are weary from travelling and do not think we will partake in the festivities tonight.” Tynen stated politely.

The woman sashayed over to him and began speaking to him in a low tone. Nikka had at first been mesmerized by the woman’s beauty, but was once again taking in her surroundings.

There were Noble’s coming down the hallways and walking past them, all going in the same direction. She assumed that was the way to the music, then. Perhaps to a ballroom.

The walls were covered in enormous tapestries, brightly painted and depicting mountains, meadows and forests. As she was taking in the wall hangings a large group of Noble’s entered the room, led by a very tall man dressed in an all-black well-fitted pants suit with a heavy black cape billowing out behind him.

The man saw her and his long-strided walk came to a sudden stop. His heavy cape wrapped itself around his legs as his momentum ceased, then went slack behind him as he continued to stand there.

Nikka tried hard not to stare at the man, but he was so familiar. He held her stare for a few moments before addressing her.

“You look exactly like your mother, child.” His voice was deep yet clear; rumbling across the foyer and causing all chatter to stop. The woman who had been insistently flirting with Tynen snapped her mouth shut and turned towards the man with a low bow. The rest if the Noble’s in the room bowed as well.

The quiet that ensued stretched on in that moment, yet felt like forever. The tall man finally walked over to her, covering the distance in only a few strides. He reached out and touched her cheek with his fingertips.

Immediately she felt the flow of his power, and something within her recognized it and responded. Her cheek grew warm. Nikka reached up without thinking and touched the man’s cheek.

All the Noble’s in the room held their breath as this stranger dared to touch their Patriarch, then gasped when her fingertips lit up against his cheek.

The Patriarch smiled for the first time in almost twenty years. He adjusted his hand so that it cupped Nikka’s cheek.

“My dearest granddaughter. Welcome home.”

Victo
r
stood stoically nearby as his Prince sat silently at his desk. They had just ridden back into the keep to find that Tynen and the girls were gone. Dartein was seething mad, but trying very hard to control it.

Nikka had never done anything against her father’s will before. But she was a grown woman, and could take care of herself. That did not cause them to worry less, however. Having Tynen with them was good, they would be that much safer.

Victor knew all that was running through his Prince’s head. He also knew that every irrational thought about hordes of goblins setting upon them unexpectedly was in there as well.

He knew that because he was having all those same thoughts himself. And a couple other ones. He was trying quite hard to push them away, but just couldn’t.

Ever since they had brought the smithy girl here, he knew he was going to lose Nikka. He knew it, but had not been resigned to it. He knew that he did not deserve such a woman for himself. But he dared hope.

That hope died the day he saw Nikka and Friesa holding hands. Their casual conversation about turning the girl cemented his belief that he had lost her completely. He never should have shut her out like he had. Victor had seen in hindsight that if only he had opened up just a bit, she would have responded.

But he had been afraid.

A loud bang had Victor opening his eyes to see his friend standing with his fists on the desk. His thoughts had taken him to dark places, and he hadn’t even realized his eyes were closed until just then.

“Victor, I cannot leave the keep. Not now, not while we are negotiating with the humans. I cannot have them deciding to move out here to our lands, and myself not even present when they do. That will not foster trust.”

They had ridden to the village to speak with the humans there about the goblin raids, urging them to send their able bodied people out to the keep to learn how to fight. Dartein needed an army, and did not have a chamber to turn humans. So he had to build one however he could.

A couple of families decided that they would take their chances farming out next to the keep. It wasn’t much, but it was a start. As they left the village, they heard talk among others about doing the same.

They could only hope that enough would come to make it worth it.

“I understand, my Prince. Let me go after the girls.” Victor hoped his Prince wouldn’t order him to stay behind. The worry that his Princess would slumber with Friesa to turn her was starting to turn him inside out. He was going to lose her once and for all, and without even a chance to say his piece.

Dartein was quiet for several moments, and it almost drove Victor into a panic waiting for him to speak. His old friend looked up finally, studying Victor’s face.

“My friend, I know the prospect of Nikka out in the world on her own frightens you as much as it does me. Please go get her and bring her back safely,” Dartein said.

Victor heaved a sigh of relief. It was only midnight. He could ride for several hours before he needed to stop. If he rode hard enough, it would only take two nights to get there.

As much as he loathed returning to the palace, he had to get to her before it was too late.

“My thanks, my Prince. I will find her, I promise. I will not return without her.” He bowed low to his Prince, his friend, and turned and marched quickly out of the keep to the stable.

Anyone in the courtyard got quickly out of the large man’s way. As he approached the stable one of the hunter’s led an already saddled horse out and handed Victor the reins.

“Here ya go. I figured at least one of ya would be ridin’ after her,” the man said.

Victor appraised the horse that had been handed to him. Tall, seventeen hands at least, deep chested and long legged. He was a runner.

Good.

Victor nodded at the man, and swung up into the saddle. The horse was restless beneath him, sensing his urgency and was ready to run. Without hesitation, Victor turned the horse towards the gate and let him fly.

He stopped the horse every now and again to let it rest, and to regain his bearings on Nikka's direction of travel. It had obviously been a few days since she, Friesa and Tynen had passed through, but so far they were heading directly towards Noble's Rest and the home of the Patriarch. Her familiar scent of strawberries and spruce led him onwards.

Trepidation at the thought of setting foot in the palace swelled up within him, but he pushed it aside. No more distractions or hesitations. Victor quickly remounted his horse and flew towards the last place on earth he ever wanted to visit again.