Dark One Rising (46 page)

He laughed. “Uh, uh. It’s a surprise. Come on, get up.” He reached over and flung the covers off of her completely. He took a moment to take in all of her, stamping it into his mind.

She humphed but crawled out of bed and walked passed him toward the bath. He watched her pass, the heat growing intense. It was new to him. There were lots of women that caused him to heat up with passion, but none so strongly. There was something about her, something that made it more difficult for him to control his inner fire. She was extraordinarily beautiful, with her golden red curls and emerald green eyes and the curves that any man could not resist, but his heart beat differently for her. He could no longer see anyone else in his arms, and giving his life to her in battle and otherwise, just felt right. He had spent his entire life as a player, strumming the heart strings of the women he pursued for nothing but sport. He was stunned at his sudden turnaround and the fact that his resolve was solid. There would never again be another; he knew that now completely.

She batted her eyes at him, and he laughed out loud. “Get moving, woman,” he said as she slinked into his wash room. “And wear something nice.”

“Okay, okay, stop nagging,” she answered playfully from the other side of the door.

He smiled again, then left her alone to wash and dress.

***

About an hour later, before Melenthia appeared in the hall, a page led Kevaan into the room. He bowed to his king. “His Highness, Kevaan Reese Breslin, Prince of Aaralyn.”

Kevaan entered the room, and Dain and Alek stood. The page bowed again and left the room. Alek went to his friend first and shook his hand, then placed it on his shoulder and squeezed.

“It’s good to see you, Kevaan.”

“And you as well my friend. However, I wish it were under better circumstances.”

“Aye.” Alek turned to Dain and introduced his friend and liege. “Kevaan, this is King Dainard Llewelyn Grayson, High Ruler of Azlyn.”

“Please, no formalities. Things are going to get very complicated in our kingdom soon, and I need friends and allies. Call me Dain as my friends do.

Kevaan stuck out his hand for Dain to shake. “Then it’s Kevaan to you, Dain. You and I will be friends from this point on for what you have done in protecting my sister. I can’t tell you how grateful I am that you agreed to keep her safe under your roof for so long. I will always be in your debt. I hope she wasn’t too much trouble.”

“No trouble at all, Your Highness. It was my pleasure, I assure you.”

Alekzand’r shot him a look of warning. Dain just smiled back at him.“Please, come sit. Tell us what’s happening.”

They adjourned to the table. Dain motioned to a servant to bring some wine and small refreshments. The servant hurried away and the three of them sat and got comfortable.

“I’m afraid that I come with bad news from the north. Fallon’s army grows larger and is making its way across the border. My spies have counted over a thousand.”

“A thousand? I didn’t think he could convince so many so fast.”

“The control he has on the fees that come in from the river passage are filling his coffers fast. And what he doesn’t obtain from wealth he obtains with fear. Giants don’t require much, and he has beings in his ranks that aren’t human and don’t require anything in the way of material wealth. Normally money would not be enough for the nobles to change loyalty, but fear and money together does. He’s buying his way across the north.”

“I, too, have news for you, but I’m afraid it’s too late in coming. I sent you a dispatch three weeks ago, but obviously you didn’t receive it, or you may not have come here. He has bribed the Port Authority in Seabrook into allowing ships of his choosing into the harbor, no questions asked. I believe he’s planning on running to Boones Ferry in order to get closer to you without coming across land. Coming in by boat will keep him hidden longer. From there he can move easily into the Triple Cities and then into Kingswell.”

“I see. It seems coming here may have been in error, but no matter. It was important that I do. In speaking of Fallon, his power is growing stronger, and we’ll be forced to go to war soon. I’m afraid my army is too small for forces such as that.”

“We have enlisted the help of the dwarves, and the elves are prepared to join as well. We will need to enlist the help from the nomads in Isamar if we want an army big enough to at least compare. It won’t be easy to convince them, but I fear we have no choice now. We must send representatives to them to speak on our behalf.” He shook his head. “I thought we would have more time than this.”

“I as well.” Kevaan was quiet for a moment and looked at them both, crease forming across his forehead. “There is something else. The reason I have come.”

“What is it?”

“My father is dead.”

Both Alekzand’r and Dain stared at him in shock.

“What? How? When?”

“Three weeks ago, in his sleep. The physician says it was from natural causes, old age, but I believe that to be false. The pressure he was getting from the wraith was starting to take its toll on him, mind and body. There were nights I found him wandering around muttering incoherently to himself, eyes glazed over, skin pale as a ghost. Fallon has been out in the field, striking fear into everyone with his power and his army from hell. He left his counselor there with my father, to keep control on him. It was obviously more than he could take. I’m King of Aaralyn now. I can’t stay away long, especially after the news you have just relayed. My Captain of the Guard is holding down the castle. I only came here myself to break the news to my sister. She should not hear it from anyone else.”

“Please accept my sincerest apologies, Your Majesty. Anything I can do you just ask. We are in this together, and it seems our timetable has been moved up. Fallon’s next move, I assume, will be to try and usurp you from your throne. It will require armies from both sides and the enlistment of the people in the west as well if we plan on standing against him,” Dain said, concern darkening his face now.

“Thank you, Your Majesty. Where is Melenthia? I need to see her.”

“She should be down in a few minutes. She’ll be most happy to see you.”

“Until we speak. Once again I have to burden her with painful news.”

“She also has things to tell you. I will set up a conference with our other guests as soon as the two of you have had a chance to talk. I’m afraid what we have to say is not any less grave.”

He nodded his head in acknowledgement, then turned when he heard a voice from behind him. “Kevaan!”

Melenthia came running into the room, lavender dress sweeping the floor as she moved, the corset showing off her ample curves. The satin of her skirts caught the muted light from the candles and made the material shimmer, and small dainty pearls lined the sleeves. Her hair was pulled up away from her face, but a few stubborn curls got away, framing it. She was smiling as she ran into her brothers arms when he stood to greet her. She squealed from delight as he caught her, lifting her off the floor, squeezing her tight. He was suddenly choked up with emotion from seeing her. His shoulders shook a little, and, when he put her down, Dain could see dampness on his cheek. He felt as if he was intruding on something personal and felt sad for them. Kevaan held her back a bit to look her over and smiled at her.

“My God, Melenthia, you look stunning. What’s happened while I was away? I didn’t know you could look so ravishing.”

She smiled and laughed, her voice light and full of happiness. “Don’t tease. Had I known it was you, I would’ve presented myself as you’re accustomed.”

“No, no, this is much better.” He glanced at Dain for a moment, eyes slightly teasing. “What did you have to do to get her to succumb to ladylike graces, Sire? I have tried for years and couldn’t manage it. You must tell me your secret.”

She glanced over at Dain, peeking at him from under long red lashes. “Perhaps he’s just more persuasive than you,” she said.

Alek caught the glance between the two and cleared his throat. Dain looked away. It was not his place to give anything away. It was Melenthia’s privilege to tell her brother what he needed to hear.

Kevaan, not getting the exchange, just laughed. “Indeed.”

“Why are you here, Kevaan?”

“I bring news from home,” he said, his voice suddenly serious.

“What news?”

He looked down at her, a frown making lines at the corners of his mouth. “Perhaps we should go somewhere more private.”

He looked over his shoulder at Dain; the king nodded. “You may use my audience chamber if you wish. It’s comfortable, and no one will disturb you.”

“Thank you.”

Melenthia looked at Dain again, this time her mouth turned down. They were hiding something from her. “What are you both hiding from me?”

She said it to Dain, and he shook his head. “It’s for your brother to talk to you about, not I. When you’re ready, join myself and Alek in the conference room with the others. We will have much to discuss.”

He tried to smile at her, to reassure her that it would all be alright, but he failed.

Her concern turned darker. “What’s going on? Has something happened to father?”

“Come, Melenthia, let’s speak alone.” Kevaan took her hand in his; Dain leading them out of the hall and into his audience chamber. He nodded to her when she glanced his way, but closed the door behind them.

When they were alone, she looked up at her brother, noticing the dark circles under his eyes for the first time. “You look terrible, Kevaan. Please, what has happened? Is it father?”

“Yes.” He grabbed her hand and took her to sit beside him on a velvet chaise. He swallowed and began slowly. “Fallon is growing more powerful, Melenthia. After your escape, he became angrier and more determined to have you. He has begun a campaign to rule all of the land, taking out anyone who stands against him. For fear of death, most have joined him, but he wants a throne and will do anything to have it. And he doesn’t want a throne to rule one realm; he wants one to rule them all. He has already begun making his way through Aaralyn, and I fear that Dain will feel the threat in his realm soon enough. Being king, I can only do so much. I need Dain’s help and any others who wish to pledge their alligence.”

She didn’t answer him for a long moment, the words “being king” finally sinking in. She paled and looked up at her brother, fear and pain in her eyes. “Father? Is he.. dead?”

He swallowed again, not able to commit himself to saying the words to her out loud.

“Kevaan, tell me, what has happened?”

He began slowly. “The wraith, Fallon’s counselor, he… he stayed behind to keep control on father. I tried my best to keep his attention away from the being, but the wraith was too strong. He killed father, Melenthia. Father is dead.”

She started shaking her head, not wanting to believe him, but knowing just the same that what he said was true. She began to cry, her hands shaking, her voice rattled. “No… father. It can’t be true.”

“I’m sorry, Melenthia, that once again I have to bear you with such grave news, but it’s true. Father is dead, I’m now the only ruler Aaralyn has.”

She started to cry uncontrollably now, her whole body wracked with sobbing. He put his arms around her and held her tight. He let her cry. For an hour they sat like that, her sobbing into his chest, him holding her tightly. He said nothing. She asked nothing. The truth was clear, and there was nothing to do to change it. After quite some time she settled and lifted her eyes to him. They were red, and her face was flush from the sobs and from pressing it into her brothers large chest.

She looked up at him, a look of brave determination showing on her face now. He was taken aback by it, but said nothing to her. He simply looked into her eyes, the emerald pools roomy from tears, but vibrant as ever. She sat up straighter and took a deep breath in.

“Father is gone now. There is nothing we can do to bring him back. You’re king now, Kevaan, and we have decisions to make.”

Her stolid look had shocked him, but her declaration shocked him more. She was not the same girl who left him months ago, fleeing from a devastating fate. She had grown and had a maturity that he’d never seen in her. Something happened while she was here. He wanted so much to ask her, but he held back. If she wanted him to know, she would tell him. He looked into her face and almost smiled, despite the seriousness of the situation.

“What’s happened to you, Melenthia? Where did that little girl with the rebellious nature go, and who is this mature and graceful woman I see before me?”

“You didn’t expect me to be a little girl forever did you?”

“No, of course not, but I didn’t expect to find a mature one in her place so suddenly.”

“Things have happened, Kevaan. Things I cannot explain, but things that have come about nonetheless. I’m not the same person I was when I left.”

“That I can see.” He decided to ask, “What is it? Tell me.”

“There are things about me that you may not believe, things that will make you see me even more different still. But for now, know this. I have chosen the man for me.”

His eyes flew open with surprise. “What? What man?”

“I’m in love with a king.”