Dark One Rising (41 page)

“Is Dain in any danger?”

“Dain is skilled in warfare. He’ll be fine.”

She was not convinced. “I have put everyone I know and love in danger.”

“Your situation is not of your doing. Fallon has his own agenda and none of that is your fault.”

“But Dain agreeing to protect me is my fault. I should’ve just stayed away.”

“Even as skilled of a survivor as you are, you wouldn’t have lasted out here alone forever. Eventually he would’ve found you, and there would’ve been no one around to stop him.”

“But I wouldn’t have to worry about anyone else.”

“Dain knows the risks and understands that there is more at stake than just a marriage. He knows that his kingdom will eventually be at risk, and, as king, he can’t turn away from that. That part has nothing to do with you.”

She was quiet. Her lip was numb now. All she could feel was a very light tingling there. She reached up to touch it just to make sure it was still there since she could no longer feel it. She touched her cheek too and winced. It was very tender to the touch. She opened and shut her mouth and shifted it back and forth to stretch it. It was starting to get stiff and sore, on top of the pain.

“Sol, I think now would be a good time to send word to the border and let them know that the princess is fine and on her way.”

“Oh yes, right.”

The magician reached into his pocket and pulled out a piece of parchment. He unfolded it and held it in his hand. He looked at it, closed his eyes, and mumbled something under his breath. She leaned a bit in her saddle so she could see and was surprised when words appeared there.

He opened his eyes and spoke a series of words that sounded like gibberish to her ear. A bird appeared as if from nowhere. It landed on the pommel of his saddle. He rolled up the parchment, wiggled his fingers, and a piece of twine appeared and tied itself around the note. He tied it to the birds leg and whistled. The bird took off and flew toward the keep.

She stared at him in awe. He felt her looking at him and turned his head to face her. “How else did you think I was going to tell them we were coming, by telepathy? That would be preposterous.”

She said nothing, the elf just smiled. They continued on their way, the
clip-clopping
of the horses hooves on the road and the crunching of rocks and dirt clods underneath lulled her. She didn’t feel the pain in her lip even though the numbness was starting to subside, and she was feeling very weary. Her eyelids were heavy, and she wanted to sleep, and a couple of times caught herself when she felt she was slipping sideways out of the saddle.

They passed by the outer gate and were waved on without pause. She knew that the elf and the magician knew more about her situation than they were letting on. She wanted to ask more questions but was too tired to wrap her mind around anything intelligent she wanted to say, so she continued to be silent. She would have plenty of time to ask them questions after she got some sleep.

The sun was a couple of hours above the horizon, and she tried to remember when she ate last. It had been at least six hours ago when she bought a roll and some dried meat from the merchant in the square. She wasn’t as hungry as she thought she would be. Maybe it was because she’d been too scared to think about anything but getting away at all costs. In fact, even now, her stomach was so queasy, she felt she wouldn’t be able to eat anything until morning.

An hour later she could see the gates to the keep in the distance. Her stomach was now more in knots, and she dreaded what was to come. She knew Dain would be mad, but she had no idea what to expect from him, and right now she was too relieved to be back and too tired to care.

They picked up their pace, trotting up the hill toward the keep. Even though it was not dark yet, the lamps were being lit as they approached as if offering a beacon for their safe return. She felt relieved and anxious at the same time. She promised herself that no matter what happened, she would never disobey him again. She loved him too much to cause him undue distress.

CHAPTER 25

W
hen Dain got back to the Keep that evening, he spent twenty minutes looking for Melenthia, to let her know he had returned. When he didn’t find her, he called for Emerick. While he was waiting, a squire appeared in his office and bowed, entering the room when he was motioned to do so.

“Your Majesty, this message was brought by dispatch from Tarun. It came to them from the dwarves, Sire.”

“Bring it forward.”

The squire obeyed and handed the king a piece of parchment rolled and stamped with the wax seal of the house of the Dolmath Tribe. He quickly broke the seal and rolled out the message to read it.

“Your Majesty, King Dainard Llewelyn Grayson, High Ruler of Azlyn, son of the late King Colwyn Grayson, Drydon Keep.

I bring message from the clan leaders of the dwarves Daiki Tribes in Yarden, from Clan Leader of the house of Dolmath, Dagon.

We have received your dire message, brought from Tarun with the men, led by Brogan. The council convened three days ago and discussed breaking our covenant of non-allegiance and giving aid to His Majesty and the province of Azlyn.

After much debate, we have decided that the situation is grave, and we as a group, even though far from the general populace, and the strife of man, cannot turn our backs on what is to come.

We the dwarves, although a very proud people, have decided that if we are to protect what is ours, namely our heritage, our families, and our future, we must this once ban together and stand with you and His Majesty, King Randor Breslin, for the good of all.

We will prepare ourselves and be at the ready when the time comes for us to fight. I have sent patrols into the lower reaches of the Danstroms in order to keep watch on the movements of Fallon’s troops and the giants in his ranks. I will be informed if anything changes.

Brogan and his men are on their way down from the city, having to wait out a terrible storm that blew through upon their arrival. They should reach the city limits within a week or two from you receiving this message.

I, as well as the other clan leaders, pledge ourselves to you and the cause of ridding this kingdom of the plague that has begun to poison it.

I shall be on my way to you as well, as soon as I situate my orders and help prepare the city for war. My troops will be ready when the call comes.

Please extend my allegiance to King Randor and his guard. The dwarves will stand with you both.

On my word, Dagon, Clan Leader of the Dolmath Tribe, Yarden.

P.S. I hope after this, my debt will be paid in full. I would like to think that my tribes and my axe are payment enough for the debt not yet paid. If not, we will need to discuss a new arrangement when I arrive. Have a warm bed and some hearty ale waiting for me.”

Dain smiled a bit at that last part, remembering back six years ago and the aid he’d given to a younger, but more reckless, Dagon. It was good to know that amidst a time of war and strife, Dagon could keep his wits and his humor in check. It might come as a welcome refreshment in a weary time.

A relief spread over him, but only for a moment. He was asking for help from all of the inhabitants in Aelethia who had, up until this point, kept to themselves and been at peace with man. Now he was asking them to fight, to put themselves in harms way to fight alongside people they had not stood with for over five hundred years. Things were grave, and, in times such as these, he knew sacrifices had to be made by all in order for the kingdom to survive. Fallon would have no mercy on anyone that stood in his way.

Where was Melenthia? Didn’t she know he was home. He wanted to see her. It amazed him that his want to be with her grew stronger with each passing day.

He realized, for the first time in a few minutes, that the squire was still in the room waiting for dismissal.

“I’m sorry, Henri, you’re free to go. Thank you for your haste in bringing this to me.”

He bowed deep. “You’re welcome, Sire. I’m here but to serve.” He started to leave, but Dain stopped him. “Henri, please find Emerick and tell him I want to see him immediately. And if you see Melenthia, please tell her I have returned.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Henri left and he was alone again. He didn’t think it wise that he let his mind wander too much; it made him melancholy and worn. He needed to keep himself busy for a time, to keep himself awake and refreshed. He was looking forward to Melenthia’s company because she was good at doing just that.

Emerick finally entered his office and bowed to his king. “I’m sorry I kept you waiting, Your Majesty. I was dealing with some household problems. Was your trip informative?”

“Not as much as I wanted, but information seems to be difficult to obtain these days. Too many damn tight lipped people. I did receive word that Brogan spoke with the dwarves, and he’s on his way back.”

“That’s good news, Sire.”

“Yes, well, I’ll feel better when he’s actually safe on level ground, away from the hazards of the mountains. I feel guilty enough just sending him in the first place.”

“You did what you needed to do, Your Majesty. If he didn’t feel indebted to you, he would’ve resisted.”

“That makes it harder, knowing he did it just to pay a debt, one that he really doesn’t have. I feel sickened to use that to my advantage when up to now I expected nothing.”

“We all do what we must. He knows that you wouldn’t even ask if not important.”

“Let’s hope I can thank him for it later.” He changed the subject. “Where’s Melenthia? I was hoping to spend some time with her before dinner.”

“I haven’t seen her since this afternoon when she came to me asking for someone to accompany her for a short ride.”

The king absentmindedly answered before Emerick could continue, looking down at some papers he was going over. “I suppose she’s still out then. If I know her, she wouldn’t want to waste a beautiful day such as this one inside. She’ll be along in a bit, I gather. It’s starting to get dark.”

Emerick answered with fear in his voice, “But, Sire, there was no one to take the time away to escort her. Last I saw of her was when I told her she’d have to postpone it for another day.”

Dain looked up from the papers he was going over and stared at him, fear in his eyes. “Did she leave the grounds alone?”

“I don’t think so. She wouldn’t go against your wishes,” he said it but was unsure that he was right.

“I would normally agree with you, but I haven’t been around as much lately, and I’ve been getting the feeling that she’s bored and lonely. If she felt rebellious enough, she would. Find out!”

Emerick bowed again and hurried from the room. Dain left his papers and went the opposite way down the corridor, the task he was engrossed in now forgotten.

He went down the hallway to the back stairs and up to Melenthia’s apartments. He knocked on the door, but there was no answer. He turned in time to see Bianca standing in the hallway, a load of linens in her arms.

“Bianca, have you seen Melenthia today?”

“Yes, I saw her this morning after breakfast. She played some rounds of lawn ball, then spent a few hours helping me with my embroidery. She said she was going for a ride.”

“Did you actually see her leave?”

“No, Sire. Is something wrong?”

“I don’t know.”

He left her and went down the stairs to the kitchen and out into the inner bailey. He entered the stables and approached a stable boy who was cleaning out one of the stalls. Dain looked around and didn’t see the bay mare that had been assigned to her since her arrival.

“Where’s Melenthia’s horse?”

“It’s been gone since early this afternoon, Your Majesty. The princess must have taken it.”

“You didn’t saddle it for her?”

“No, Sire. It was here this morning, then it was gone when I returned from the smithy.”

He stormed out of the stables and strode across the bailey to the guard tower. He stood in front of Alastair and demanded, “Where in the hell is Melenthia?”

“I haven’t seen her since this morning, Your Majesty, when she was playing lawn ball. She asked if anyone could escort her for a ride, but I had Emerick inform her that I had no one I could spare for the day. She didn’t pass this way.”

“Her horse is gone, has been since early this afternoon. Are you certain?”

Alastair shifted to the other foot but didn’t answer. He cleared his throat. “We had some commotion at the gate this afternoon with some merchants. A wagon full of supplies that were not recorded by the kitchen staff to have been ordered. She may have slipped passed when we were occupied.”

“She may have!” He was angry.

He cleared his throat again. “Yes, Your Majesty. It’s very likely she could have slipped past when we weren’t looking.”

Dain leaned in closer, his face practically touching his. “Then I suggest you send a scout to the inner border gate and find out!”

“Yes, Sire.”

He went inside the tower, and a young squire exited almost immediately, running to the stables for a mount. The king was just heading back inside when Alek galloped into the courtyard. Dain turned and saw Alek dismount and throw the reins to a waiting stable boy. “Belay that order!” he yelled to the guard. Then, “Alek, thank God you’re back. We have a problem.”