Redemption (33 page)

"He would never be happy without you," countered the Salacian prince.

"He would never be happy with me," retorted Winona. "How long do you think it would be before he was filled with regret over his actions? How many sleepless nights would he have worrying about the people of Arin that he was supposed to be watching over? Antion was born to rule, but he is much more than a man born into royalty. He is not just the son of a king, but rather a noble man who has compassion and love for those less fortunate than himself. He is exactly the opposite of everything I was taught to believe a royal was. His very existence proves that Harangar has the wrong impression of the royals, and you want me to take him away so that a lesser person can rule in his place? I cannot be so selfish as that."

"Does his happiness mean nothing to you?" asked Prince Umal.

"Don't do this to me, Umal," Winona pleaded as tears welled up in her eyes. "You have no idea how hard it was for me to come to this decision, but I must do what is right for Antion. Do not make me second-guess this, or I will not find the will again."

Winona turned away from the princes to hide her tears. She moved to the window again and peered out. As Prince Derri opened his mouth in another attempt to sway the woman, Winona whirled around and faced the princes.

"There are Borundan soldiers streaming into the castle!" she exclaimed.

Prince Umal and Prince Derri raced to the window and glanced out. They saw the soldiers riding up the ramp and dashed out of the room. As they raced down to the ground level, they saw Prince Antion making his way upstairs. They quickly corralled him into joining them, and they reached the entry foyer just a moment before General Wikner entered the room. The Borundan general started when he recognized the three princes. He turned back towards the door and shouted for his soldiers.

"Your men are not required here," King Zinan said authoritatively as he entered the room. "Dismiss them."

General Wikner glanced at King Zinan and bowed. As his men started rushing through the door, the general shouted for them to leave. No one spoke until the soldiers had left and the door was closed.

"This is most unexpected," frowned General Wikner. "Do these three have something to do with your orders to retreat to Tarent?"

"The princes are my guests," declared the Borundan king. "Why have you stopped here instead of following my orders?"

"I am following your orders," replied the general. "My army is marching back to Tarent as you demanded, but I wish to speak to you about the orders. May we speak in private?"

"I am sure the princes would allow us some privacy," King Zinan said as he watched the general begin to smile, "but I will not ask them to leave us. They are aware of the orders that I have issued. If you have questions about those orders, I think it is best for all of us to hear your thoughts."

General Wikner's brow creased severely, but he knew better than to argue with the king. He inhaled deeply and nodded.

"My army was on the verge of victory," the general stated, "and I can assure you that victory will be ours if you will reverse your orders. The Salacians are too far away to help the Arinites. We can crush them quickly and rule the entire Land of the Nine Kingdoms."

The king nodded and looked at the three princes with just the barest hint of a smile on his face. "Who would care to enlighten my general?" he asked the princes.

"I would consider it a pleasure," offered Prince Umal as he looked into the general's eyes. "The Arinites will not fall easily, General Wikner, and I doubt that you would be successful at all, but let me tell you what would happen if you do continue with the attack. While you and your men are busy fighting King Caedmon, thousands of Odessian warriors will sweep into Koar. We will ransack the city and turn westward to come up behind your army. As you try to disengage, the Salacians will arrive, and your army will be destroyed to the man."

"After your defeat," added Prince Derri, "our forces would have to march on to Tarent and Dulga to take over all of Borunda. Otherwise there would be no military force to maintain law and order."

"It is not something we desire to do," suggested Prince Antion, "but a nation cannot be left leaderless, and King Zinan would need some help to maintain order. It is far preferable for your army to return to Borunda and keep the peace."

"What are you saying?" scowled the general. "This is not some children's' game we are playing here. The Odessians are not a factor in this war. They will not be marching on Koar or anywhere else. I have read General Bassner's reports and know that Oran has fallen. I also know that the Odessians are up in Caroom. Do not play me for a fool."

"But you are a fool," retorted Prince Umal, "and you had other fools as generals under you. The attack on Caxon failed. General Vanatay is dead, and Vineland has been liberated. General Bassner is also dead, and his army has been destroyed. Oran has been retaken without the need for a fight. Given the circumstances, your enemies are being gracious in letting you retreat to your homeland."

"We have come to an agreement with King Zinan," declared Prince Antion. "Our nations want peace, and we are prepared to stand by King Zinan as we begin a new period of the Great Peace. Is all of this clear to you now?"

"What are they saying?" the general asked King Zinan. "It is foolish to stop at this late date. Their words cannot be true?"

"It is all true," nodded King Zinan as his fingers moved rapidly in horse language. "I have assured the princes that my armies will retreat and cease their warlike activities. However, I do not feel that you are in step with my wishes. I want peace."

The general stood in stony silence for several moments, before giving the slightest nod to the king and turning to storm out of the castle. Before he could reach the door, the three princes sprang into action. Prince Derri dove across the floor and came to his feet with his back against the door. Prince Umal and Prince Antion flanked the general, and all three of the princes had their swords drawn.

"What treachery is this?" shouted the general as he turned to face the king.

"I have decided that your enthusiasm for the Great Peace is minimal at best," declared King Zinan. "As you were the superior officer for both General Vanatay and General Bassner, I hold you responsible for their losses. I am relieving you of command, General Wikner. You will be held here in the dungeons until my armies have returned to Tarent. When I am sure that peace and stability have returned to my kingdom, you will be stripped of your rank and released from the dungeon."

Captain Rezo had responded to the general's shout, and he appeared with half a dozen guards. Upon the king's orders, the captain took custody of the general, and his men led the general away.

"That completes the task of ensuring peace," sighed King Zinan. "Wikner was a poor choice to begin with. Where will you three go now?"

"I have to tell Winona the news," smiled Prince Antion. "I would like to take her to Anatar and wed her, but I know that she will refuse me."

"What news?" asked Prince Derri.

"Winona is the legal princess of Vineland," grinned the Arin prince. "I don't think that will make a difference to her, but I must try to change her view of me. I cannot live without her."

"You have no need to change her view of you, brother," grinned the Odessian prince. "She turns a cold shoulder to you only to preserve your royal position."

Prince Antion's face beamed with joy as he turned and raced up the stairs. The other two princes stood talking to King Zinan until Prince Antion returned alone.

"She is gone!" the Arin prince exclaimed. "Her packs are gone. She has fled."

  "I will have the gate sealed," shouted Prince Umal as he raced out the door.

"And I will check with the kitchens," offered Prince Derri. "She would want rations to take with her."

Prince Antion stood in shock until King Zinan nudged him.

"What are you waiting for, brother," smiled the king. "She cannot escape from the three of you. Go and saddle the horses."

Prince Antion nodded distractedly and raced out of the castle. He ran through the courtyard and rounded the corner to where the stables were. A shiver coursed through his body as he saw Winona standing near the entrance to the stables. Monte and Talot were standing before her, and all three of them looked up as the Arin prince rushed towards them.

Winona tried to slide past the giant Lomite, but he shifted his body to refuse her entry to the stables. As the Arin prince slid to a halt, Talot and Monte grinned broadly.

"This woman is trying to steal one of our horses," Talot said with a smile.

"It is my horse, you big oaf," snapped Winona. "I rode in on it, and I am riding out on it."

"Actually," interjected Monte, "it belongs to Prince Umal. Shouldn't you ask his permission?"

Winona turned to Prince Antion with a scowl on her face. "You put them up to this, didn't you? You think you can force me to do what you want, but you are wrong. I am heading out of here right now, even if I have to carve my name on the hide of this giant jungle dweller to do it. Tell them to move, Antion."

"Have you no manners?" Prince Antion quipped to his two friends. "You should not block a lady in such a manner. You will move aside this minute, and don't forget to bow properly when you do."

They all looked at the prince in confusion, but it was Winona who spoke.

"Are you trying to make fun of me?" she snapped. "Did you put Talot and Monte up to this just so you could come along and act the prince?"

"I did not ask either of them to interfere with your flight," answered the prince, "but I am grateful that they did. Will you marry me?"

"What?" balked Winona. "No, I will not marry you."

"Does your heart belong to another?" asked the Arin prince.

"That is of no concern to you," retorted Winona. "Return to Anatar and resume your royal life."

"I shall," grinned Price Antion, "but only with my bride."

"Whoever she might be," shrugged Winona. "I wish you both a long and happy life."

"She is the Princess of Vineland," declared the Arin prince, "and I love her dearly."

"Vineland has no princess," frowned Monte. "You know that."

"Ah," grinned Prince Antion, "but that is no longer true. Her name is Princess Winona."

"What?" Winona responded. "What are you talking about? This is nonsense."

"Actually," replied the Arin prince, "it is not nonsense at all. Jared learned from Orro that your family members are the only heirs to the throne of Vineland. You are descended from Ericson, the only son of King Eric of Vineland. He withheld that information because you possessed the Talent, and he felt that no ruler should be a Talent wielder. Your father is the new King of Vineland. That makes you a princess. Pretty despicable, isn't it?"

Winona's mouth opened in shock, but Monte and Talot both grinned as they bowed low to the new princess.

"Oh, stop that," Winona blushed. "I could never be a princess, could I?"

"It happens even to the best of us at times," chuckled Prince Antion. "It is a dreadful condition, but I understand that it does have certain benefits, assuming your father does not disagree."

"Disagree to what?" Winona asked coyly.

"Our marriage," frowned Prince Antion. "Do you still refuse me?"

"How can I say?" Winona shrugged playfully. "This princess has never been asked to marry anyone."

Talot and Monte both laughed heartily as Prince Derri and Prince Umal arrived. Prince Antion winked at his friends and fell to his knees.

"Will the Princess of Vineland consent to marry me?" Prince Antion asked formally.

"She will," grinned Princess Winona.

Talot grinned broadly and put his arm around Monte to lead him away from the stables as Prince Antion stood and embraced Princess Winona. Prince Umal and Prince Derri halted before they reached the happy couple.

"I bet she brings her children personally to horse camp when the time comes," quipped Prince Umal.

"She will not be the typical princess," agreed Prince Derri, "but she is well suited for our blood brother. At least he won't have to sneak out of the castle to go on an adventure. She will be right by his side."

THE END