Fire And Ice (Book 1) (8 page)

             
He frowned at her statement.  “I thought your father was going to let you have a choice in the matter.  You and Margery.”

             
“If he can,” she corrected him bitterly.

             
“You are worried about Torvilin?” he asked her carefully.              

She looked away and lowered her head.  “Yes.”

              By the way she said it he knew that the situation bothered her far more than she let on.  It pulled at something inside him.  “You don’t have to worry about Torvilin.  I promise.” 

             
She looked at him again.  Her face was filled with the despair of the situation and a touch of hope that he might be able to deliver on his promise.  “How can you promise something like that?”

             
He wasn’t sure that he could, but he could not take away from that look of hope.  “I just did, and I always keep my promises.”

             
Her face brightened a little bit.  “What can you do?”

             
“Whatever it takes,” he told her confidently.

             
That received a small smile and the subject was dropped for now.  “So what will you do now?  Like you said you have your wings, so where will you fly?”

             
“I have not really thought about it,” he replied truthfully.  “Maybe travel for a while.”

             
“You could be my knight,” she said happily and clapped her hands together.  “You could go around fighting people who tarnish my honor.”

             
“Very funny,” he answered.  “I do not fight someone because of honor.”

             
“But you faced down Torvilin, didn’t you?” she asked him sounding confused.

             
“I suppose, but that was different.”

             
“How?”

             
“He was forcing his attentions on you. That was wrong.  It was not really about honor.”

             
“Is that the only reason?” she asked him with a look of expectancy.             

             
He didn’t know what she wanted to hear and could only tell her the truth.  “Yes, but I do not want you to be unhappy either.”              

“What about you?” she asked.  “Have you thought about who you might marry?  I know that your father feels the same way about letting you have a choice.”

              “I haven’t given that much thought either.  I suppose I will find the right person someday.”

             
She was silent for a moment before speaking.  “I want to show this to Margery,” she told him hefting the sword in her hand and moving to stand. 

             
He rose from the ground as well, and gathered their mounts who had regained their strength during the mock battle.  The princess mounted quickly then gave him an impish look.  “I will race you back.”  She dug her heels into her horse’s flanks and had a good lead before he even reached his saddle.

             
Startled animals skittered out of his path and frightened birds took flight as he followed her across the landscape with a sense of oneness between horse and rider that can only be obtained with two years and a great many leagues of companionship.  He had never named his mount, for some reason nothing ever sounded right and the horse didn’t seem to mind.  He cut her lead in half by the time they reached the road that passed by newly plowed fields on either side.  He would have caught her on the bridge if an empty, mule-drawn cart hadn’t been blocking one side.  He had to slow down and follow her the rest of the way across.  On the far side they brought their mounts together and proceeded at a walk into the city.

             
“At least we didn’t bet,” he grumbled at her.

             
“Of course we did,” she said.  “It was implied.”

             
He had to smile.  “And what did we bet then?”  He was forced to raise his voice over the clamor of the city.     

             
She smiled at him wickedly.  “I will let you know.”               They had to move to one side of the street as Torvilin and ten purple caped guardsmen passed by.  The Prince almost stopped at the sight of Coran, but realized where he was and continued on by without a word.  Katelyn he all but ignored.  His hatred blinded him to anyone else.

             
Coran watched over his shoulder until the party had disappeared through the gates.  The last time he checked Voltia was in the other direction.  That road turned north towards Westland.  Of course it branched off about a mile away, the southern route leading to Arryvestra.  Torvilin could be going there or somewhere along the way, but Coran’s gut told him that was wishful thinking.  A simple trip to a friendly neighbor might become very interesting.  He would have to be watchful as Margery suggested.

             
“Are you coming?” Katelyn broke his pondering.  She was gazing back at him with curiosity.  “Something wrong?”

             
“No, of course not.”  He smiled back and heeled his mount forward.

             
Back at the palace the Princess raced off to show her sister her new gift while Coran went in search of his father.  The King was meeting with some Holdonese and could not be disturbed.  The guard at the door assured him that Lord Oran was not present.  Coran found that odd since his father was always there when Stemis met with officials of any sort.  Unable to locate him, Coran abandoned the search for later and returned to his own rooms. 

             
He had rejected the notion of accepting the larger, plusher rooms adjacent to the royal family.  His father stayed there only out of necessity, the King might need him at any time.  He much preferred the rooms he had.  They were simple enough for his tastes while still remaining dignified.  The surprise was that his father sat in one of the chairs waiting.              

             
“I thought you would be back by now,” Oran commented casually.  “Did you get lost on your ride?”

             
“Ah, no,” Coran replied, feeling a little uncomfortable at his father’s implied tone, then wondering why he felt that way.  That was when he realized what was being implied.  He had gone off alone with the princess.  How that had to look to others.  “I was looking for you.  I thought you would be with the King.”

             
“I wanted a chance to talk with you before you left.”

             
“About that,” Coran interrupted.  “I should have spoken with you before accepting.”

             
His father raised a hand to silence him.  “It is all right.  You are a man now and you have to make your own decisions.  I wanted to let you know some things that are going on.”  He gestured to the empty chair and waited for Coran to sit.  “The situation is more dangerous than you know.  The trouble to the east is serious, so serious that Gelarus is seeking help.”  Coran whistled at that.  “We cannot afford to have any strain put on the Alliance right now.”

             
“You are talking about Voltia and Katelyn.”

             
“Yes, but I do not want you to worry about that.  I just think you should know what is happening.  We could be in for some very dark times.”

             
Something about the whole thing wasn’t making sense.  “I understand that Stemis doesn’t want either of his daughters forced into marriage, and about Torvilin and his pride, but what is so important about the King’s second daughter.  Not that she isn’t important, but why is Stemis so upset about it?”

             
Oran was silent for a time as he thought.  “I don’t know.  Stemis said some of the other kingdoms might sympathize with Voltia.”              

“That may be, but can you see any of them except Voltia going beyond verbal protest?  Westland and Summerhall have been close for a long time.  No one has said anything before.”

              “You are right.  Considering that, Stemis has been overreacting.”  Oran leaned forward in interest.  “The question is why?  Torvilin will make it difficult for another suitor, but refusing him will only anger his father.  Cranus is always difficult to deal with anyway.”  He snorted the last.

             
Coran didn’t have an answer.  He was thinking that Stemis might be terrified at the thought of Torvilin and Katelyn together.  That reminded him of why he had sought out his father.  “Do you know how many will be in the escort to Westland?”

             
“Loras and twenty guardsmen.  Why?”

             
“I saw Torvilin leaving the city.  He went out the west gate.”

             
Oran looked sharply at his son.  “The west gate?  I will inform Stemis and suggest he double the number.”

             
“Thank you.  I hope it doesn’t mean trouble.”

             
Oran stood, so did Coran.  “Be careful,” his father said sincerely.

             
“I will,” he replied in kind.  He sat back down after his father left without a further word.

             
His thoughts were all jumbled together.  With Torvilin, what to expect in Westland, whatever was happening in the East, and his confusion regarding Katelyn, he couldn’t concentrate on one without the others getting mixed up in it.  He got to his feet and went to the square shaped window.  Pushing the thick curtains out of the way he looked out on the shining city.  In the distance he could just make out the sparkling river.  The dark shapes of ships glided along the surface.  Closer, he watched people as they shuffled through the streets; each of them with their own worries and their own fears; ordinary folk who had hopes and loved ones, who lived their lives as best they could.  That was all anyone could do.  Somehow that thought made him feel a little better.

              Katelyn took long strides as she walked quickly through the palace halls.  Servants bowed their heads quickly as she passed them while casting an eye to the sword she carried in one hand.  The two stolid men who guarded the wing to the royal family’s apartments also took in her un-tucked shirt.  It must have come loose during the mock fight with Coran.  She waited until she was past their scrutiny before tucking it back in.  She smoothed down her hair while she was at it.  It didn’t do much good, but would have to be enough until she found a brush.  Satisfied that it was the best she could do, she opened the door to the sitting room she shared with her sister. 

             
Elaborately carved chairs, a couch and solidly crafted tables were arranged around the room’s center.  The predominant colors were yellow, favored by Margery, and blue which was Katelyn’s preferred choice.  Doorways at each end of the room led to their bedchambers.  One of those doors stood open and she could hear her sister’s voice coming from within. 

             
Katelyn entered her own room to find Margery and another young woman taking clothes from drawers and putting them in an ironbound travel chest.  They stopped working when they noticed her come in.

             
“Packing for me?”

             
“I wasn’t sure when you would be back,” Margery said knowingly.  “You are leaving in the morning.”

             
“I thought it wouldn’t be for a few days yet?” she asked as she looked over the items being packed.  She picked out a green dress, “I never liked this one,” and tossed it aside.              

“Father changed his mind.  He said something about Torvilin, but didn’t explain.”  She nodded toward the other girl in the room.  “This is Alys.  She is from an estate north of Ostis.”

              “I am glad to meet you, Alys,” Katelyn greeted her politely.  She found it strange that Margery didn’t include her house name, but went along with it for now.  She could ask her sister when they were alone.

             
“And I am honored to be in your service, Your Highness” the girl replied almost fawning at her.  Her large eyes were a brown that matched her hair.  She was about the same age as Katelyn.               

             
“Service?” Katelyn questioned. 

             
“My parents were able to get me a position here as a Lady Attendant.  Your mother said I should accompany you on your journey.  It is a great opportunity for me.”  The doe eyed girl sounded nervous as she spoke.

             
“I will be happy for your company.”  Katelyn tried to put reassurance in her voice.  It seemed to work.  “Torvilin?” she said, switching back to the previous topic.  “We saw him leaving on the way back to the palace,” she spoke to Margery.

             
“We?  So how did it go?”  Katelyn showed her the gift she had received.  “He gave you this?  He must have had this made a while ago for it to be ready in time for your birthday.  If that doesn’t tell you he was thinking of you then nothing will.”