Cornerstone (9 page)

“
Neela…”

“
Milady, take it. Please, promise me you will take it. There are few things in our world a woman has much say over; we must take care when we are able, and make the best of it when we are not. It will serve you well.”

Emariya thought that she looked like she wanted to say more, but her lips were pressed together in a hard line that told her she would not. Finally, Emariya nodded and simply said, “Thank you,” before wrapping her cloak tightly around herself and stepping into the autumn chill.

***

Garith paced back and forth, trying to work up the courage to knock on the door looming in front of him. As the son of a blacksmith, he'd never had cause to come calling in an official capacity on the Lord of Warren's Rest. He wasn't sure how Emariya would feel if she knew he was petitioning her brother, but he couldn't see how he had any other choice. Finally, he straightened himself up to his full height and tentatively tapped his knuckles on the wood.

“
Enter,” the call came from inside.

Sliding the latch to the side, he pushed the door open. Inside, the study was framed by shelves and shelves of leather-bound books on the wall. Floor-length burgundy drapes lined the windows. Their red hue splashed along the walls, painted by the candles in their ornate sconces. In the center of the room, a large desk sat atop an expensive brocade rug. It was here that Reeve sat at his father's desk, doing his father’s work as head of the Council. Reeve looked up as Garith stepped into the room.

“
Milord.” Garith bowed, clutching his hands together out of nervousness.

“
Garith, have a seat.” Reeve smiled reassuringly. “What can I do for you?” he asked as he settled back into his chair, waiting expectantly for Garith to announce the reason for his visit.

“
I'll just be a moment, Milord, I know you are busy. I am aware that Riya—I mean, Lady Warren—is to travel soon to Thalmas, and I would like to offer my services to accompany her as an escort.”

Reeve looked at him steadily. He didn't look surprised to hear his offer. “And what services do you feel you would be able to provide?”

“
Well, if you recall, my father is the blacksmith, Milord. I've learned much from watching him. I could reset her horse’s shoes, should one be lost to travel. I could tend to the horses, as well. And I would protect her, even at the cost of my life. I'd let no harm come to her.” Garith tried to look confident.

“
You love my sister.” It wasn't a question.

“
I do, Milord, but it's no matter. I'm a blacksmith's boy and she's Council-born. The most I can ever hope to give her is my loyalty and to keep her safe. I'd be most honored if you'd let me do that, Milord.”

“
And do you think her betrothed, the future King of Thalmas, would want you around to distract her attentions from him? She's to be his wife, and eventually his queen. She can't be consorting with the son of a blacksmith. No, I think it best if you do not accompany her on her journey.”

Garith's face fell.

Reeve continued, “However, I do think there is a way you can be of help to her and I. My sister and myself are very concerned about the defense we are trying to mount at the fjord. You know of the trouble there?”

“
I do, Milord.”

“
They could use someone with your skills there. With the horses, and with their shoes. You will travel with the wagon that is to leave for the fjord in the morning. Make your preparations, the wagon won’t wait.”

Garith wanted to protest, to argue—even to beg. But he couldn't; Reeve was not only the Lord of Warrens Rest, he was the head of the Council. Garith had no choice but to accept his command. He stood, bowed his head toward Lord Warren and then rushed out the door, trying not to drown in the sea of anguish that was threatening to consume him.

The blow Lord Warren had just dealt resonated as deep in his stomach as if he had actually hit him. He couldn't believe it. He had known that going with Emariya would have meant saying farewell to his father for who knew how long, but it would have been worth it. Now not only would he be leaving his home, his father, and everyone and everything he had known, he also had to try and find a way to tell Emariya goodbye.

He had never been more than a few miles away from the walls of Warren's Rest before. He ran his hands back through his tousled blond hair, trying to figure a way out of the mess he had just gotten himself in. He knew he should feel guilty for not wanting to help the resistance at the fjord. The people of Warren's Rest were utterly dependent on the resistance being successful. But all he could think was: who would take care of Emariya?

CHAPTER NINE

White Flag

Emariya stopped in the kitchen to tend the sacks of flour and meal she would take with her. Tomorrow they were leaving, and she still had many details to check on before she would be ready. She eyed the pile of supplies on the long tabletop that served as a work surface for the preparations of the family’s meals and great dinners.

There would be just such a dinner that night, and women were hard at work all around her. She had insisted it wasn't necessary, but her brother remained unwavering. They couldn't send her off to marry a prince without a proper feast, he’d said. He finally convinced her by telling her it would be good for the people of Warren's Rest to feel they did something to honor her. She had agreed, for their sake. As hard as it was for her to leave them, she understood how they must have felt.

“
This won’t do,” she fretted, adding an additional two bags of flour to the pile. “Mairi!” she called. The old serving woman came bustling in from the pantry at her lady's call. “I think we will have to figure out what will be most needed and separate it into a smaller load. I'll not be able to take all of this on the packhorses, and a wagon will never make the pass before spring,” Emariya said. Hearing footsteps behind her, she turned.

“
Sister.” Reeve gave her a polite kiss on the cheek. “Don't trouble yourself. Mairi, see to this, please. Prepare a load for two packhorses, and set the rest aside for us to send by wagon as soon as the thaw arrives.”

Mairi nodded, and Reeve turned back to Emariya. “Walk with me, sister.”

Emariya couldn't help but be impressed. Her brother had seemed so young three years ago when their father had left. Now he was accustomed to commanding a room, and seemed to naturally take charge of a situation. Leadership suited him well. And, she had to admit, it was nice having someone else to worry over the details. She fetched her cloak before following her brother out into the chilly morning air.

Outside Emariya surveyed the large cotton clouds, high in the sky. A faint grayish tinge lined the bottom, darkening the day. “Looks like a storm may be on its way,” she remarked.

Reeve glanced up at the clouds. “Perhaps. We can delay your departure, if necessary.”

She didn't want to delay a moment longer than she absolutely had to. Each additional day it took her to reach Thalmas and secure reinforcements was a day more that her father had to spend locked in a cell. She shook her head. “Will you be all right here, brother? I hate that I am leaving you all alone.”

“
There are lots of people here, Emariya. I am rarely alone.” Reeve strode purposefully toward the stables. Emariya scrambled to keep up.

“
You know what I mean!” Then, becoming serious again, “Mother, Father, both gone…and now I am to be gone, as well.” She bit her lower lip, trying to hold back the tears. Goodness, she hadn't cried this much since she'd been a tiny child. “I don't know when I will be able to return.” Her voice trembled slightly.

“
I know, Em. But we both have to play our parts. You are the Lady Warren. We are the leaders of the Council. We have a responsibility to not only do whatever we must to ensure the safety of Eltar, as well as its prosperity, but we also have to appear strong for them. They draw their strength and their comfort from us. If we are seen as weak, then Eltar is seen as weak. And if we are seen to be scared, then our people will be scared. So you must be strong for them.”

“
You have been strong for me.” She smiled up at her brother. He had inherited their mother's height.

“
Always. And I do have a plan to bring you home, so that perhaps you may not have to stay away longer than necessary. You should tell the prince, after you wed, that you insist on accompanying the envoy that's to return to Eltar to set forth to rescue Father. Then you and your prince could linger here during his rescue, and take part in the preparations for our combined stand against Sheas. Tell him he should see your land, as you have seen his. Invite him to come sit on the Council. Whatever you need to; I am sure you can convince him to bring you home somehow. You'll know what to say when the time comes. And then I will be able to stop missing you.” Reeve smiled at her.

“
I will miss you, too, Reeve.” She gave his arm as a squeeze as he stopped to open the door to the stables. She was pleased to get to spend a few moments alone with him. They had been so close as children, and even in their early teens. It wasn't until after their father had disappeared that they had begun to grow apart. She attributed it to the stress Reeve was under, trying to prove his capabilities to the Council. Sometimes, though, she wondered if it were more. He'd been sullen at times, but most forgave him for it. There wasn't a soul near Warren's Rest that didn't know that two-year-old Reeve had witnessed his mother's murder. While Emariya had often felt the hole of her mother's loss, she had been able to fill that void with the others that she loved. Reeve, though—his anger over that day had never truly left him.

“
Enough of that now, I have a present for you.” The gleam in his eye was almost boyish as Emariya followed him into the stables.

Arm in arm, they walked down the dirt aisle of the stable. The familiar, dusty scent of hay, mingled with the sweet aroma of oats, made Emariya feel very at home. She had always loved the stables. She remembered watching the horses play in their pasture from the window in her chambers when she was younger. She had always been drawn to them. Her father used to joke that if they hadn't been careful, she would have skipped learning to walk and just learned to ride, instead. As they passed her stall, Drea stuck her head out, huffing gently toward her mistress. Emariya softly patted her mare's nose, and then continued on after her brother.

Reeve came to a stop in front of the stall at the very end of the aisle. Coming up beside him, Emariya looked inside and gasped. Inside the stall, a pure white filly flared her nostrils gently. Her ears pricked forward as she quietly munched on her hay. She was tiny compared to the larger plow-type horses of Warren's Rest, and smaller than even the more lean mounts, like Drea. But every line about her was pure elegance. Emariya reached out a hand, and the little filly came forward, sniffing. Slowly reaching up, Emariya began to stroke her face. “What's her name?”

“
Raina, according to Roel,” Reeve said. Roel had been responsible for the naming of all the horses at The Rest for as long as Emariya could remember. He'd named Drea, as well.

“
She's beautiful,” she whispered.

“
She's yours.”

“
Mine? But I have…”

Reeve interrupted her. “She was bred in Thalmas. She is hardy and agile, as well as young. I know you love Drea, but Em, Drea would have a hard time navigating the rocky landscapes in Thalmas, and would be strained by the lack of grass, as well. Drea is a fine horse for the daughter of an Eltar Lord, but you are going to be a princess, and one day a queen. When you ride up in front of your prince, you need to look the part. It isn't just the prince's acceptance you need, sister. If this alliance is to work, and our people are to stop being afraid near the border, then the people of Thalmas must accept you, as well. And for that, you must carry yourself as the noble royalty they are accustomed to.”

Emariya hadn't even considered that the prince's people might not accept her. She was so used to receiving a warm reception wherever she went, as the daughter of the highest ranked nobleman in the land. But her brother was right; Thalmas was different. With respect to both the people and the land. She hadn't imagined she would be saying goodbye to Drea, as well, but she could see now that she must. Her anxiety must have shown on her face, for her brother said, “Don't fret, I think that we can send Drea with the wagons in the spring. By then, at least, the footing will be easier and a wagon could carry hay for her.”

“
No, brother. She has served me well, and she deserves better than to suffer a long and hard journey simply for my comfort. She can stay here, and when I come home to bring the force we need to go get Father, she will be a welcome sight. The wagons will be better served carrying food to Thalmas and bringing home the metal to make weapons for our assault.” She tried to make her voice sound as calm and confident as possible. Inside, her heart was breaking.
I must be strong,
she told herself. “Thank you, Reeve, she is a wonderful gift.” Reaching up she kissed her brother's cheek, then turned and headed back inside. Tonight was the feast, and she needed to change into her gown.

CHAPTER TEN