Dark One Rising (42 page)

“Melenthia is missing.”

“How do you know that?”

“I got word when I passed the border. She was headed this way, and she has escort.”

“Escort? Who?”

“Sol, and an elf from Vallis?”

“What’s an elf doing this far south? They usually don’t travel into the inner kingdom.”

“No, they don’t. If he’s doing so, then there’s a reason. I suspect things are more serious than we have guessed.”

“That’s all we need, things to fall apart now, when we’re not even close to getting any answers from anyone, about anything.”

“Maybe we’ll have the answers we need when they arrive.”

“Perhaps.”

“How did Melenthia get by you?”

He frowned. “I wasn’t here. I went into town to talk with Garden. He had some information he thought I would be interested in. It turned out to be nothing. When I returned I found her gone. I was just sending out a scout to the inner border when you showed up.”

“She slipped passed Alastair and the guards?”

“Apparently they were dealing with a problem at the gate, and she took that precise opportunity to slip by. She didn’t even have a stable boy saddle her horse. She did it herself in order to not attract undue attention, and she rode out of here right under everyone’s nose.” He growled and kicked a stone across the bailey.

Alek touched his shoulder. “Calm yourself, Dain. She’s difficult, you know that.”

“I thought we had an agreement.”

“I suppose telling you my news will only aggravate your temper further, but you should know nonetheless.”

Dain frowned at him. “What?”

“I’ve been into Amaris. The city has been overtaken, nothing is left. Giants came through and took those too cowardly to fight, leaving the rest to burn along with Amaris’ walls. There were around five hundred survivors, mostly women and children, living down in the aqueducts. They were safe, but I didn’t know how long they would be so. It would only have been a matter of time before the armies came through again and finished off those opposed to them. I sent for wagons to be brought in from the garrison commander in Mercer. I had them bring decorated transports to make it look like a royal cortege. I had them take the survivors into Mercer and make sure they had place. The convoy included cattle and horses. I tried to talk the farmers out of it, but it’s their livelihood, Dain. It’s all some of them have left. I don’t know if it will work, but I knew I had to take a chance. I thought if Fallon’s goons saw a royal cortege, they would be more apt to skirt it. I doubt even Fallon’s bold enough to strike a royal entourage. I hope it was not in error.”

“It was a good plan, and obviously all you had. “ He gritted his teeth. “Fallon dares strike me right in my own backyard.”

“There’s more. The giants are headed south into the coastal region. Witnesses say they think they’ll barter passage, or take it, from the jetty through the Corlane Strait and into Boones Ferry.”

“I heard that too, but I heard it was Sailor’s Bluff. Why would they want to go into Boones Ferry? It’s small and mostly abandoned since the fishing traders have moved into Sailors Bluff.”

“Just the reason to go there, not too many eyes or people to fight against them. They plan on going into the Triple Cities and overtaking them, which will give them control of the border into Aaralyn.”

“Damn him to hell!”

“I think it’s too late for that. He’s already sold his soul. I’ve sent a young lad, one of the remaining survivors, to Pembroke with message regarding Boones Ferry. He’ll see Alban Thorne and then Alban will ride to Boones Ferry and set up a garrison there. We have to make sure the giants don’t make it past or the Triple Cities will fall.”

“Why would you send a boy?”

“He is the grandson of Nalo Ellbert.”

“The knight from the guard who retired shortly before my father died?’

“Yes. Maddon was an integral part in keeping all those people safe and also in keeping them alive all this time. He’s an extremely strong and brave youth. He’ll deserve a squires rank for his bravery.”

“I’ll make sure he gets it, if he makes it.”

“He will. He’s been taught well.”

“I have heard from Kevaan since you left. Both of you must have gotten the same information about Fallon’s movements. He is distributing troops into McLain and Charbonneau in order to keep any ships from docking and trying to ride into the capital and taking it. The closer Fallon gets to Kingswell, the harder it will be to keep the castle in one piece. His father’s health is failing. He becomes more feeble with each passing day. He can no longer make decisions for his province, but it hardly matters. Fallon has gotten what he wanted from Randor, safe passage for his mercenaries up the river. If Kevaan leaves, he feels Fallon will take that as a perfect opportunity to take down Lachlan Castle and put himself on the throne. As long as he has to deal with Kevaan, the throne is safe. He must stay put until we have more aid in place. Any word from the elves?”

“Not directly, but I would assume the warrior accompanying Sol was sent from the elders. Hopefully the council has agreed to aid us.”

“I don’t know how much longer we can wait to dispatch a representative to Isamar to talk to Chancellor Jaxon. We must make sure we have an alliance with the Isamarians. If we can get them to keep the borders clear, Aaralyn will have a better chance at holding off Fallon’s troops.”

“I’ll go.”

“Not until we have met with Sol and the elf. I want to make sure we have the alliance before I send you out yet again on another quest. Let’s deal with Melenthia and her escorts first.” He went back to the previous subject. “ I just don’t understand what she was thinking.”

“Obviously she wasn’t. She’s safe. She and Sol and the elf are on their way here. They sent a message by bird. They passed through the border about half an hour ago. I took the old mining trails to get here before them. I wanted to talk to you and make sure you were prepared.”

“I need to change out of these clothes.” He rubbed a hand over his tired eyes. “I’m sweaty and tired and mad!”

“Go. I’ll send word when they arrive.”

Dain started to leave, then turned back to Alek. “I care about her deeply, Alek, but I need to know she’ll obey the rules. I won’t lose her to Fallon because she had a whim to ride. I can’t protect her if she can’t be trusted.”

“Tell her, Your Majesty. You have to make sure she understands that it’s only for her life.”

He knew Alek was right, but he didn’t feel any better about the situation. He turned back toward the Keep and went inside to change.

CHAPTER 26

W
hen the horses thundered through the gate an hour later, Dain met them in the bailey just as they were dismounting. He grabbed the reins of Melentha’s horse and threw them to a stable boy, then grabbed her arm. She was not quite ready for his ire.

“What’s the matter with you? You left the castle unattended? What were you thinking?”

She glanced down at his hand, squeezing her arm, and scowled. She was tired and sore and that just made her rebellion stronger. He realized what he was doing and let go.

“I wanted to go for a ride. I needed some air.”

“You should’ve had someone with you.”

“I doubt they would’ve been able to keep up.”

“This is no time for jokes.”

She scowled more, arms now crossed over her chest defiantly, but he saw tears coming to her eyes. He calmed and sighed. He shifted her chin to the side so he could look at her swollen and bruised face. She winced at his touch. He also noticed the tunic she wore over her torn blouse.

“What in the hell happened?”

The sorcerer recalled events. “She was attacked by Fallon’s soldiers.”

Dain looked at him. “What! So, they’ve made their way this far East.”

“Apparently. They tracked her in town and went after her. She managed to fight off two of them, with only the few cuts and bruises you see, but then they were joined by three more. If we had not just happened to come by, she would’ve been taken.”

He seethed, looking back at her now. “I’m sworn to protect you, and I cannot if you’re not in my possession to do so.”

“I didn’t ask for your protection.”

“Yet I do so nonetheless.”

“I can protect myself.”

“Partially, with one or two. But five of Fallon’s armed guards would’ve turned out otherwise. If it had not been for the elf and the wizard, you’d be in the hands of Fallon now. Is that what you want?”

“No.”

“You and I had an accord. You promised you wouldn’t go past the gates without an escort.”

The wizard interrupted. “Your Majesty, I would be wrong if I didn’t point out that Fallon probably already knows she’s here, and we have to assume that if he doesn’t already, he will soon.”

“Yes, I know.”

Her insubordinence subsided and concern took its place. “If I have put you in danger, perhaps I should go.” She started to leave but he grabbed her arm again, not hard this time.

“You’ll stay right here where I can keep watch over you. From now on, you will not go past the front gates. Are we clear?”

She stared at him, and he could see the need to rebel in her eyes. He didn’t want to threaten her, but he felt for her life he had no choice. She didn’t answer right away so he said, “If you don’t answer, I will have to assume that we don’t have an understanding and that puts me in a terrible predicament. I gave you free reign of this castle for you to feel comfortable to do what you please, but if I can’t trust you, I’ll have to resort to unpleasant measures. Don’t force me to make you a prisoner, Melenthia.”

Her face conveyed a mix of emotions. She wanted to resist, to fight him, but something inside could not. She was quiet for a moment or two more, then, “We are clear, Your Majesty.” She was tired and sore and confused by her feelings.

She quickly curtsied, not in respect but in a final mocking gesture of defiance and left him standing in the bailey. He watched her walk away and felt heavy in his heart. He turned back to look at Alek. “Just when we were getting along so well.”

“You did what you had to do, Your Majesty. She’s petulant, but she must cooperate or this whole thing is for naught.”

Dain nodded his head, running a hand through his hair. He motioned toward the squire at the gate. “Henri, send Alastair to me at once.”

He bowed and left. A few minutes later the Captain of the Guard approached and bowed to his liege. “You called for me, Your Majesty?”

“I want you to assign a guard to keep an eye on the princess at all times. She’s not to leave the castle walls. Make sure you pick the right man, because you will take the responsibility if something happens. If you like your head where it is, I suggest you don’t let her out of your sight again.”

The guard swallowed and bowed. “Yes, Your Majesty.” He left them. Alek was staring at him, a slight smile on his face.

“What?” Dain asked him.

“Now you’re sounding like a king.”

He looked toward the entrance of the castle, then upward toward Melenthia’s room. He sighed. “She has spent her whole life being told what to do by everyone. She rebelled against it because no one ever took the time to ask her what she wanted. It’s a wonder she didn’t leave her home sooner. Then her father betrays her in the most painful way possible. I just broke whatever trust she had in me. I didn’t want it to come to that.”

Alek put his hand on his shoulder. “She’ll come to realize in time that you did it to keep her alive.”

“What difference does it make if she’s not alive on the inside. To her, that is worse than death.”

“She’ll understand, I promise.” Alek looked to Sol and went over, embracing him. “It’s good to see you, Sol. Was your trip informative?”

“Quite.” He looked at Dain and said, “Your Majesty, may I introduce you to Tomaz Faolin, High Warrior of Vallis. He’s been assigned to accompany me here. There are things we must discuss.”

He reached out and shook Tomaz’s hand, then shook his. “I owe the deepest gratitude to you both. How did you know she was there?”

“We were passing through on our way here. We stopped for a few supplies. Running into Melenthia was purely accidental.”

“A most fortunate accident. Please, come inside and settle yourselves. I’m sure your trip was long and you require some sustenance.”

“A bit of warm food would hit the spot. I grow tired of cold rations,” Sol complained.

“Well, we have no cold rations here. We’ll eat, then we can talk.”

Tomaz and Sol followed Dain inside. He instructed Alek to get them whatever they required and to get the staff to assign them each to a room. “I’ll be down in a minute. There’s something I need to do first.”

He walked up the stairs to his mother’s rooms, which Melenthia now occupied. He felt guilt. When she returned safe, he was relieved, but the anger had soon taken over. He yelled because he wanted to make sure she understood that he’d been worried, but he never wanted to upset her. He wanted her to know that he’d been angry at her disobedience, not because he wanted to control her, but because he cared deeply for her. His feelings for her had been growing for some time, and the thought of losing her to Fallon scared him beyond belief. The bruise on her face and her torn clothing made him lose his mind. These emotions were new to him, and he was trying to get a handle on them.