Tempest Rise (revised edition 10/2013) (Treborel) (8 page)

The sensation of his warm
, moist lips on her hand, left her speechless. Touching her elbow in support, at her silence Sean moved closer. His touch brought back some of her senses, and she managed a reply. "We've all experienced an embarrassing moment at least once in our lives, Your Highness.  Most of them are best forgotten." The fear had lessened somewhat, and she managed a weak smile.

Katar answered, "I agree. Shall we put this incident behind us and begin again?" Katar answered, enchanted by her dark beauty. He found himself wanting to please her, much to his surprise. He didn't think it possible for
her to be more beautiful than when he had first seen her. Yet here before him stood a more attractive and sensuous woman than he had ever known.

"I'd like that very much, Your Highness. “Lysette smiled conf
idently, her fear had disappeared.

"Then you must start by calling me Katar." He
answered, moving closer, still holding her hand.

Prince Roth, viewing the introduction from the doorway, was beginning to realize what Alia had meant by keeping Lysette away from this Treborelan Prince. As he watched, the man had captivated her in mere seconds, something he had been trying to do for the last six months. Entering the small group, Roth quickly placed himself between Katar and Lysette
, and announced, "Now that the apologies are over, I suggest  we join the others in the Dining Hall." As he offered Lysette his arm, he smiled expectantly at her.

Sean Nolan stepped forward
and answered him. "Your Highness, please forgive my thoughtlessness. I was so intent on this going well. I've forgotten myself." Motioning to Katar, he introduced the Lon Tesse heir. "Prince Roth of Lon Tesse, I would like to present Prince Katar of Treborel and his Royal Advisor, Lord Hanlin Wills."

Turning around, Roth took Katar's hand silently
, and looked past him to address Hanlin. "Lord Wills, it is good to see you again. I'm afraid I was too concerned for Lysette's welfare when we met earlier, to greet you properly."  Finally, turning back to address Katar, he added, "Welcome to Lon Tesse, Prince Katar. Lord Wills’ communiqué informed us of your impending arrival. He believes, as I do,  our meeting was long overdue."

Brushing aside the insult
, as Lord Wills was addressed first. Katar realized the Prince was gracefully informing him he didn't approve of his attention to Lady Lysette. Smiling at the challenge, he answered, "You are correct, Prince Roth.  As future Sovereigns of bordering countries, we should make the most of this opportunity to get better acquainted, and strengthen our friendship."

Then moving forward, he turned to Lysette. "Speaking of new friendships, would you honor me
, by escorting me to the Dining Hall? I'd hate to make another awkward appearance in the wrong room again."

Delighted by his offer, Lysette
extended her arm, and answered, "It would be my pleasure to help such a poor, lost soul." Crossing the hall just as they announced dinner, they found their assigned seats. The long formal dining table, beautifully adorned with colorful flowers and candles. The Alliance members talked quietly among themselves. The large series of windows, covering the western wall, provided a breathtaking view of the beautiful amber sun, peering out from behind an expanse of dark, gray clouds, before disappearing behind the mountains. A deep blue, velvet blanket of stars, sealed the light away from the sky, before the dark clouds moved in to lock them away in their misty darkness.

The beauty of the growing night
had drawn Lysette's attention for only a moment, before she was drawn back to the Regent Dana Lands welcoming oration. The Regent was petite in stature; her light, brown hair, pulled back and braided into a halo around her head. She looked much younger than her fifty-five years. She had assumed the throne of Regent, due to her father’s incapacitation. He had become bedridden, due to a long battle with a mysterious illness, having lost the use of his mind and body.

The Regent introduced Pri
nce Katar to the other Continental Alliance members, who had attended the Summit on several other occasions. She indicated  Prince Katar’s presence, as the Treborelan representative of the newly formed Alliance had completed the summit party. They would begin as soon as the Bantorian Ambassador was able to join them.  

His arrival earlier that day
had preceded Katar and his men. Yet, the Ambassador had claimed he was slightly indisposed, and would join them when feeling better. The Regent summarized the agenda for the summit, as the first course arrived. Ambassador Airee of Ragal would begin the Summit with a presentation addressing the import/export difficulties that Nayr and Bantor were experiencing.

"For now, enjoy the fine art of Lon Tesse’s Master Chef." The Regent announced
, as the servants appeared with the main course. "There will also be a tour of my gardens this evening after dinner. I am most anxious to share my newest additions of fountains and sculptures with my guests."

The Master Chef had prepared the most exquisite delicacies from each of the five nations represented. The conversation that followed
, as the guests enjoyed an array of dishes, centered on each country's harvest expectations, and Treborel’s growing Solar Energy Market.

Lon Tesse supplied the helijet bodies, easily converting their old
solid fuel heliport aircraft, to fit Treborel’s specifications. Ragals rocky coastline on the River Ragal, made available land space, in which to build a factory to install the Gem System, in the lightweight frames. The three countries had begun to work together, only in the last decade. Each nation depended on the other, as a result, each invested significantly in the energy market. With the mention of the solar gems, Katar rose and presented the Regent with a large pink gem. "Treborel is the only country on the planet that can boast of not only the beauty of our land, but the brilliance of the gems it produces, most of which are colorless.  Occasionally, a pale, pink or amber stone is found. In rare instances, deep blue, or green can be obtained. These beautiful gems have no industrial use, but when properly cut, and adorned, they transform even the loveliest of women, into a vision of pure beauty. As I am sure you will be a most exquisite example."

Pulling the perfect gem from its case, Katar placed the long necklace around the Regent's neck. Toasts rang out to the Regent for her generous offer to host the Alliance
, and for Queen Sari, whose insistence and determination brought about the existence of the Continental Alliance. Dessert appeared, carried in steaming trays from the kitchens. The fruit and cream mixture, from Nayr's orchards, brought coos of delight from the pleased guests.

Amidst the merriment, Prince Roth could no longer contain his concern
,  Lysette might be stolen away from him by the Mountain Prince. In an attempt to enlighten her, he began to inquire into the Treborelan way of life. "Prince Katar, I understand Borel is having problems completing the final conversion over to the Solar Gem System?"

"Not at all, Roth.
We haven't run into any difficulties with our Energy System since we installed it, fifty years ago. It has run at low cost and maintenance since then. You may be referring to the recent removal of our natural gas holding tanks. We have not used them for nearly thirty-five years. It has only made sense to rid ourselves of the unsightly towers, since the Gem System has made them obsolete." Katar smiled across the table to Lysette, who sat beside Roth.

"Was I
correct in believing Commander Connor of the Bantorian Armies, was to travel with you from Borel?" Roth inquired, gauging Lysette's reaction to Katar's bold gaze.

"He began the journey with us. Unfortunately, we were separated in the mountains
and are still awaiting word of his safe return." Katar answered politely, glancing briefly at Roth, then turning back to smile brazenly at Lysette, he continued. "Lord Nolan tells me you are proficient with the longbow.  Is that correct?"

"Yes, but if you have doubts about my skills, you should ask Prince Roth. He is
continually devising new, and more challenging targets for me. I believe he will continue to do so until I admit defeat." Lysette answered, smiling back at the Prince. In his presence, she found herself unusually self-conscious, and somewhat unsteady. The entire experience was extremely exasperating.

Encouraged, Roth brightened
, and declared, "I'm merely trying to sharpen your skills. Soon you'll exceed even the Regent’s best archers, and I shall gladly take credit for it.”  He smiled at her, pleased he finally had her attention.

"Have you ever been hunting?" Katar continued
, addressing Lysette.  "Treborelan hunters have used the longbow for centuries as our only means of protection in the wild. In the last fifty years we have taken up the compound bow" He had always believed most Lon Hessians to be over-educated, and under-skilled, where physical activities were concerned.

“I don’t think I could bring myself to kill a helpless creature for sport, no matter how big or ferocious they are. My Uncle can attest to my love of animals. During my childhood, I took it upon myself to care for all the creatures I came across. Through the years I had a large
assortment of pets, including any injured wild animals, I found in the small woods on our property. My administrations to those creatures sparked an interest in medicine. I prefer to cure an injured animal, not kill it out of mercy."

Her honest answer registered disappointment on Katar's face. Seeing it
, she added, "I hope I haven't offended your sense of sportsmanship. I have no problem with hunting, if there is a purpose, such as for food. And the animals are not an endangered species or not treated cruelly in any way.

"No offense taken, My Lady.”
Katar replied, realizing he would prefer she had no taste for killing. No one should hunt for the joy of killing. It was a sport, essential to the health and survival of the animals. 

"I
understand you organize Sraeb Hunts on a regular basis," Roth interrupted, with an innocent smile. "In fact, you've actually made a national sport of it."

Meeting his eyes, Katar's smile
disappeared. "Yes, I do organize the hunts. The large beasts are dangerous, and the population must be kept down. Although I do not consider it a national past time, it is a necessary protection for my people and yours. Can you imagine what would happen to your mother’s beautiful estate, if several families of sraebs moved into the woods at the far edge? Your horse trails would be shut down in the fall during
frenzy
. or I assure you people would die.  The fall would become a time of anxiety and staying indoors, as the large vicious creatures began to hunt for any meat source they could find.  Not just wild animals, dogs, horses and yes, even people."

Knowing the subject to be close to Katar’s heart, Hanlin intervened,
trying to explain the reasoning behind the hunts more clearly. "Prince Katar has made it his duty to see  the people of Treborel are no longer threatened by the large temperamental shrubs. His father was killed, attempting to protect a family, during a sraeb attack, a little more than ten years ago." Trying to steer the conversation away from the hunt, Hanlin addressed Lysette. "Are you familiar with Sraebs, Lady Lysette?"

"I
understand they are very large, lean creatures that stay low to the ground when they attack, which is very difficult to defend against. They have lithe, feline type limbs, and long, thick fur." She answered, surprised by the tension between the two Princes.

"Prince Katar, you are more familiar with the large
beasts than I. Would you care to explain the population problem?" Hanlin turned next to him, at Katar, hoping Lysette would distract him from Prince Roth's remarks.

Katar
’s eyes moved slowly from Roth to Lysette's delicate features. As their eyes met, his anger vanished, and he explained, "When I was first learning to hunt, the elk population excelled, due to a series of mild winters. As a result, the sraeb also flourished, elk being its primary food source during
frenzy
. No one was concerned with such a large population of giant carnivores roaming freely in the high mountains. When the drought began several years later, the elk became diseased and died in huge numbers. That fall, when the Sraeb turned from herbivores to the crazed carnivorous beasts that devour every living thing in their path, they found their food source virtually nonexistent. We call this period of late fall
Frenzy
. The sraeb were larger and stronger than ever before, due to the previous years of gorging on the immense elk population. They came down from the mountains in hordes. Some were measuring five meters or more in height. They attacked villages and farms. Killing anything they came across. Horses, cattle, men, children became a food source. My father helped form several large hunting parties. Each took a section of the populated areas of Treborel, and began to purge the mountains of the animals that had become monsters. It was the last time I ever saw him." Katars eyes grew distant as he continued. "His heroic death was to be a young boy's consolation. He threw himself between a sraeb and a small child, trading his life for hers. He killed the beast with his hunting knife, but his injuries were too severe to sustain him until a Healer arrived."

The hall had grown silent, enthralled by Katar’s tale. The memories of that night overwhelmed him. Whispering softly, he finished "The hunts are for him. 
It became my responsibility to see no other son or daughter need be consoled by a parent's bravery in death."