Fire And Ice (Book 1) (71 page)

             
“Do you want to go over the plan if we should fail to hold them at Stockton?”              

             
“No.  I know what to do,” Margery said as the mood turned instantly solemn. 

             
“Then I will see you tonight,” Katelyn said, standing. 

              That night they gathered for dinner in the family room.  It still felt awkward to eat there without her parents present.  Her mother spent most of her time with her father.  Not that she could do anything but it seemed to comfort her to be near.  Katelyn was placed at the head of the table where her father always sat.  Oran had joined them as well.  Alys sat on her left.  They were served a meal of roasted fowl especially prepared for their guest, Robert. 

             
“I was sorry to hear that Coran is not in the city,” Onatel stated.  “I was hoping to meet him again.”

             
“I am sure that he will be sorry to know that he missed you,” she replied diplomatically.  “I asked him to take care of something for me.”

             
“Is it something to do with Grendin, or is he in Stockton?”  Robert asked innocently.  He was digging into the bird on his plate greedily. 

             
“I would rather not say.  It is a matter between the two of us,” she said and tried to look embarrassed.  Hopefully, they would drop the subject, thinking it was personal.  It worked.

             
“Is it true about Torvilin?” Onatel asked and lifted his wine glass to his lips.  “Has he really betrayed the Alliance?”

             
“He has,” Katelyn replied with an anger that did not have to be feigned. 

             
“Finally we will have an excuse to deal with them.”  Robert said around a mouthful.

             
“Not completely,” Oran disagreed.  “Cranus died attacking the invaders.  How can we hold anyone but Torvilin responsible after such a sacrifice?”              

             
“That is probably why he did it,” Robert said scornfully.  He washed the food down with a generous swallow of his own wine.  “I have no doubt that Cranus’ last thought was of how much his death would vex me.”  His dislike for Cranus sounded more personal than the typical disapproval of Voltia as a whole.  She wondered what Cranus had done to him.  

             
“Would you not make such a sacrifice for Westland?” she asked him pointedly.  Cranus deserved some credit.  He at least did what had to be done for his people first.   

             
That quieted everyone for a time.  They ate in silence for a while until the plates were taken away. 

             
Oran tried to come up with a more pleasant topic.  “Robert.  Have you decided on a date for your son and our Margery here?”  

             
The girl named blushed slightly.  She did that a lot when Rob was involved.

             
“As soon as this business is done with,” Robert answered.  “Then there will be no more delays.  But I could ask the same of our Queen,” he said to Katelyn.  “Have you set a date for the wedding?”

             
“Unfortunately, we have not had a chance to sit down and discuss it,” she replied.  If it was up to her they would already be husband and wife. 

             
Once again things became quiet.  It felt like nothing was going to happen until ‘it was over’.  Conversation was kept as light as possible for the rest of the meal.  Perhaps dinner had not been such a good idea.

              Two days later she watched the long column of dark figures wind its way over the hills on the east side of the river.  From her vantage point at the top of the southeastern tower of the palace she watched for two hours as the forces led by Robert left Summerhall.  Over ten thousand men marching towards an uncertain battle.  As the last of the line of soldiers crested the hill and left her sight she turned away and took the steps down to the walls. 

             
She had her two ever present escorts along as usual.  While the one changed from person to person the other one was more often then not a certain Knight named Renly.  He was somewhat tall with brown wavy hair and a strong chin on his twenty year old face.  She thought he could be considered handsome.  He was there so often that she finally had to ask him who he was.  Apparently, he was originally from the city of Taragon.  He was not nobly born , but the son of a highly respected, and sought after silversmith who had started his business from practically nothing.  Eventually, well off, he could pay for his son’s training.  When Renly completed his training he applied for a position in the Knights of Soros.  It had been his dream for as long as he could remember.

             
After that brief discussion he engaged her more often in conversation when others were not present.  To do otherwise would have been improper.  He was there almost everyday and spent the whole day when he was.  He spent so much time as one of her guards she began to wonder if he had any ulterior motives.

             
“Your Majesty?” a man asked after approaching her from behind.  The two Knights standing nearby ignored the man, which meant they had dismissed him as a possible threat.  He wore the blue livery of the palace staff, and she thought that he looked familiar.  It was difficult to keep track of everyone’s name, especially the newer ones.

             
“What is it?” she asked.

             
“Master Herrith sent me to tell you that someone is here to see you.”

             
“Did he happen to say who it is?”

             
“No, Your Majesty, only that they were from the North.”              

             
At mention of the North she felt a brief apprehension.  Was she finally going to receive some word from Herrinhall?  From Coran?  Or was Coran with them?  No.  He would not have waited to send a messenger to find her.  “Where are they?”

             
“The main hall.”

             
“Thank you,” she said, and brushed past him in her hurry.

             
She entered the main hall by the same side door, and, upon entering, Master Herrith once again had the doors to the hall opened.  Three people walked up the middle of the hall and took up positions just short of the dais.  One of them stood slightly ahead of the other two.  He looked to be in his thirties and wore the plain brown clothes and off-white robe of a wizard.  The man to his right wore a dark red coat over a pristine white shirt.  The third person was a woman.  She had shoulder length, blonde hair and blue eyes.  Her face was unlined and her features bold.  She had a look about her that said she had power, and was comfortable with that fact, not unlike a woman of noble birth, but without the haughtiness associated with some.  She wore an unadorned dress of dark blue beneath her white robe.

             
“Your Majesty,” the first man greeted her.  “I am Thalamus, Second Wizard of Herrinhall.  The First Wizard sent me to give you what help I may.”

             
“Any help would be appreciated,” Katelyn responded.  “Who are your companions?”

             
“This is Dianas.”  Thalamus indicated the woman with a gesture of his hand.  The woman inclined her head slightly.  “And this is Terence.”  He indicated the man.

             
There was something about him, and she realized that she was staring.  “Forgive me, Terence, but you look somewhat familiar.  Have we ever met?”

             
“No, your Majesty.  But some say I do resemble my uncle.”

             
It took her a moment, but she suddenly knew who his uncle had to be.  “Lord Onatel?”              

             
“Yes,” he replied.  Terence seemed pleased that she knew him. That he was a Lord explained his well spoken words and carriage.

             
Katelyn returned her gaze to Thalamus.  “You said that the First Wizard sent you here to help?  Could he not come himself?”

             
“I am afraid not.  He had to remain in Herrinhall.”  Thalamus blinked nervously.  It was so slight that anyone else might not have noticed, but she did.  “To advise the Kings.”

             
“I hope his advice to them will include bringing their armies south to help?” she asked carefully. 

             
“I believe that the subject will be thoroughly discussed,” Thalamus replied diplomatically.  He gave no more information or even a hint at what might become of such a discussion.  He did not even sound as if the result mattered to him.  Thalamus was undeniably a wizard.  “I would like to coordinate our efforts with my colleagues.  Do you happen to know where the others are?  I would have thought that Telisin would be here by now, or Jenarus and Ennius.  I suppose they must still be in Taragon with King Aemon.”

             
“Telisin was here, but he left with Robert Tenrell for Stockton.  If you wish you may travel with me.  I am most likely leaving in the morning.” 

             
“That would be acceptable,” Thalamus agreed.

             
“Until then?” she said and watched the three wizards file out of the hall.

             
It was strange that they made no mention of Gelarus.  She would have thought that they would want to speak with him.  Then there was their secretive nature concerning what might be happening in Herrinhall.  She wanted to ask them about Coran, but they must have left long before he could have arrived.  The other reason was that Coran’s whereabouts were still a secret.   She couldn’t be sure if he had made it to Herrinhall as yet.  He should have by now, but it was better not to take chances.

             
The conversation with Thalamus caused her to go looking for Gelarus.  Maybe he would tell her something for a change.  She went back to where she had watched Robert depart earlier, near the wizard’s tower.  As she was about to come out onto the wall she stopped.

             
At the bottom of the tower she saw white haired Gelarus standing next to a cloak wrapped Shirri outside on the wall.  She stopped to listen, and watch.  Eavesdropping was not very nice but curiosity overcame her good manners.  She waved a hand for her guards to stay back out of sight.

             
The two of them, wizard and healer, stood sideways to her so she could see the small flame dancing on Shirri’s outstretched palm. 

             
“Good,” Gelarus was saying in approval.

             
“But it is so small,” she complained.

             
“I am afraid that handling fire will never be one of your strengths.  Let us try something else.”

             
He walked away from her a few paces then turned to face her again.  “I am going to walk towards you.  What you want to do is keep me from reaching you.”

             
“How?”

             
“I want you to imagine yourself pushing the air away from you.  Think of a flat piece of cloth that you push together.  It scrunches up in folds.”

             
“You want me to scrunch together air?” she asked looking confused.              

             
“That is not exactly what happens, but it might help you to think of it that way.  Just try it,” he told her and took a step towards her, then another as he moved slowly closer.  He had his hand out in front of him. 

             
Shirri’s face was a picture of concentration.  Sweat beaded up on her forehead despite the cold air.  About a foot away from her Gelarus suddenly stopped. 

             
“Very good,” he complimented her.

             
“It felt strange.  I could actually feel the air solidify.”

             
“With practice you will be able to do it without thinking, and all around you at once.  It will come in very handy if there is a need to defend yourself.”

             
“I will practice,” she promised.

             
"And remember that maintaining such protection for very long is extremely difficult.  It is better to learn how to time your defense so as not to tire yourself too quickly." 

             
Katelyn decided that was enough sneaking.  She stepped out onto the wall and pulled her own cloak about her as the wind blew out her hair.  She pushed some dark strands away from her face. “Gelarus,” she called.

             
The wizard saw her coming.  “Your Majesty.”

             
Shirri just ducked her head quickly.  She never used Katelyn’s title.

             
“I thought you might have left with Robert as the other healers of Summerhall have done,” Katelyn said to the Karand.