Wielder's Rising (41 page)

“You know what Darian?” he said as he reflected on his current emotions.  “It’s gone.”

“What’s gone?” the elf asked.

“The feelings of foreboding, depression, and loss.  Every day since the princess first disappeared from my dreams, I’ve had those feelings linger with me.  Now they’re gone,” he said with a smile.

“So you must be feeling great,” Darian observed.

“Other than the fact that my burns sting, my side aches, and I have a pounding headache, sure I feel wonderful.”

“I warned you about healing the princess,” Darian replied.  “The headache was your choice.”

“Yes, but it was worth it,” he replied.

“You should probably stay down and sleep it off,” the elf suggested.  “You pushed your body too far today.  If I hadn’t been there, you’d be dead.  You would do well to remember that in the future.”

“I know,” Traven replied.  He lay in silence for a few moments, resting.  He then opened his eyes and sat back up.  “Do you know what I need more than sleep right now?”

“What?”

“Food.  I’m starving!”

Epilogue

“You look fine,” Darian said with a chuckle.

Traven kept looking at his reflection in the wash basin and tried to smooth his hair down.  He was wearing a clean set of his black clothes.  He had washed the dirt and dried blood from his face, but there was nothing he could do about the bruise and scratches.

“It’s just breakfast,” the elf said.  “You’re not the only one that will be there with the princess.”

He shrugged at Darian’s comments.  He just wanted to look presentable.  He was happy that a full meal and a good night’s rest had taken most of his headache away.  His dreams had also been peaceful once again.  He had been awakened this morning with the invitation to join the commanders and the princess for a midmorning breakfast.

He doubted he would have the chance to speak to the Princess Kalista at breakfast, but at least he would see her.  He hoped he might even have the chance to ask her whether or not she had clearly heard the messages he had sent her on the wind.  He glanced in the wash basin again.  He decided he looked as good as he was going to and straightened up.

“You’re sure you just want to wait here?” he asked Darian.

“I think it’s best if no one finds out I’m an elf,” Darian replied.  “Besides, too many of you humans in one place makes me uncomfortable.”

Traven smiled and left the tent.  He was still a little weak but felt a lot better than he had the night before.  As he walked through the camp towards the top of the rise, he realized that Darian had been right.  He was definitely known to the soldiers now.  He felt their stares and heard their whispers as he passed.  A few even cheered for him, but others hurried to get out of his way.  He didn’t recognize any of them and wondered how his soldier friends had fared in the battle.  He hoped they were all okay.

He had been relieved earlier in the morning to find out from Darian that Blaize was still alive and well.  He was looking forward to seeing him at the breakfast.  He finished making his way up the rise, trying to ignore the stares.  He could see where the canopy had been set up for the meal, and he slowly made his way over to it.

There was a long table under the canopy with all of the chairs on the west side of it, so that everyone would be eating facing out over the battlefield.  Several men were already seated.  He saw that Blaize was among them and quickened his pace to greet his large friend.  Blaize jumped up as soon as he saw him and wrapped him in a big bear hug.

“It’s good to see you,” Blaize said happily.  “We’ll have to catch up later today.  I have a feeling you’ve had an interesting time since we parted ways in Calyn.”

“You probably won’t believe half of it,” Traven replied with a smile.  “I’m glad you’re still in one piece.  The battle looked pretty fierce when I arrived yesterday.”

“Well, you know me.  I just sat back and directed the soldiers from a safe distance.”

“I’m sure,” he replied.  He knew that Blaize wouldn’t have remained out of the fighting for long.  He imagined the large warrior had been right in the middle of the most intense part of the battle.

“We’ll talk more later,” Blaize said.  “We better take our seats.  The commander general and the princess will be here soon.”  Blaize paused and then took on a very serious tone.  “Don’t forget your manners around royalty.”

Traven rolled his eyes at his friend.  Blaize apparently hadn’t forgotten the first time they had run into the princess in the barracks.  He tried to keep a straight face, but they were both soon laughing quietly.  It had been funny.  He grabbed the chair to Blaize’s left and began to sit down, but the warrior general stopped him.

“That seat is reserved for Commander General Gavin,” Blaize said.  “I believe you’re to sit on the other side of the princess two seats over.”  Blaize winked at him and took his seat.

Traven moved over to the chair Blaize had indicated and took a seat next to a commander he didn’t recognize.  The man had been watching him closely ever since he arrived.  The commander nodded to him but didn’t say anything.

Traven watched as two more commanders arrived and took their places at the ends of the table.  There were now five commanders present and only two seats left in the middle of the table between him and Blaize.  He stared blankly out over the battlefield as he waited anxiously for the princess to arrive.  He was surprised that he would actually be sitting next to her.  Maybe he would have a chance to talk with her.

He rose along with the commanders when the princess arrived with the commander general.  Once the two of them were seated, he sat back down.  He took a deep breath and tried to steady his nerves.  The last time he had seen her she had been unconscious.  The time before that he had been bedridden in the palace, recovering after being unconscious.  It was strange to be with her in a public gathering.  He wanted to say something to her but wasn’t sure if his social position even allowed it.  Fortunately, the commander general spoke up, ending the few moments of silence that had seemed to last forever.

“I would like to welcome all of you to this victory breakfast,” Commander General Gavin announced.  “You have all received invitations because of your key roles in making the Kalian Royal Army’s victory possible.  You will all have positions of honor in the victory parade when we reach Candus, but the princess and I wanted to thank you now as well.”

The commander general then stood up and walked around to the front of the table.  He gazed out over the field of battle for a few moments before turning and addressing everyone.  His voice was slightly shaky as he began but grew firmer as he continued.

“First let us hold a moment of silence to recognize the sacrifices of those soldiers who gave their lives in protecting our grand country.  There were casualties from the highest of our officers down to our newest soldiers.  Let us respect their sacrifices before we move on.”

Traven joined the others in a moment of quiet contemplation and respect.  He had learned earlier in the morning that the Baron of Candus had been killed.  He felt sympathetic towards what the commander general must be feeling.  He knew what it felt like to lose one’s father.  He also wondered once again if any of his soldier friends were among the dead.  He hoped they had somehow all survived.

“Now, let us look forward and honor those who were key in our victory,” Gavin said, breaking the silence.

Traven allowed his mind to wander as the commander general began to list the accomplishments of the commanders at the table one by one.  While they were receiving recognition for their heroics and being promoted, he was thinking of what to say to the princess if he ever got the chance to talk with her.  It was almost more than he could stand to not look over at her while she was sitting so close to him.  He could smell her sweet perfume and hear her soft breathing.  As real as his visions seemed, they were nothing compared to physically being in her presence.  His thoughts were pulled away from the princess by the mention of Blaize’s name.

“I also want to congratulate General Blaize on his inspiring leadership during battle.  If it were not for him leading such a ferocious attack with the cavalry yesterday, we wouldn’t have defeated the Balthan Army as easily as we did.  His quick thinking and firm leadership throughout the five day battle proved invaluable.”  Gavin paused and took a deep breath.  “For your service Blaize, you will be promoted to take my position as Commander General of the Kalian Army.”

He could hardly believe the honor Blaize had just received.  He joined in applauding his friend and mentor.  Now only the High King and Gavin ranked higher than Blaize in leading the army.  Blaize graciously accepted his new appointment.

“And finally,” Gavin continued.  “I would like to thank the one that made our victory possible.  The one who has saved the life of my future wife, not once, but twice.  The one who defeated the Wielder Kadrak single-handedly.  I would like to thank the Master Wielder Traven.”

He blushed slightly as the rest of those in attendance applauded him.  He nodded back to Gavin.  From the corner of his eye he could see the princess looking toward him with a smile.

“I would promote you to a higher position in the army, but I can think of none higher than your own title of Master Wielder.  I thank you for the great service you provided your country and the people of many lands in ridding the world of the tyrant Kadrak.”  Gavin then paused and looked up and down the table.  “You will all receive your proper rewards and insignia when we reach Candus.  For now, let us eat and enjoy our victory.”

They all applauded as Gavin made his way back around the table and took his seat next to the princess.  Servants arrived almost immediately and began serving a delicious breakfast.  Traven was surprised at the fare and wondered where it had come from.  He hadn’t known that the army traveled with such delicacies.  He joined with everyone else in eating the food, but he didn’t really taste it.  His mind was on other things.

“Traven.”

He turned from his troubled thoughts as he heard the sweet caress of his name fall from the princess’ lips.  He responded by doing what he had wanted to do ever since she’d sat down next to him.  He turned and looked at her.

“Yes, Princess,” he replied.

“You don’t have to call me that,” she said with a smile.  “Call me Kalista.  I think we’ve been through enough together to be on a first name basis.”

“If you wish,” he said, surprised that the princess wanted him to use her first name.

“I do,” she answered.  “I wanted to thank you for saving my life again.  You’re probably getting tired of it, but I’m thankful you keep doing it.”

“It does keep me busy,” he said with a grin.  They both laughed.  He was glad to find that she was easier to talk to than he had remembered.

“I also wanted to thank you for healing me,” she continued.  “It’s amazing what they say you can do.”

“It was nothing,” he replied modestly.

“No, it was amazing.  I can’t believe you created that out of thin air,” Kalista said as she pointed towards the large sphere of ice at the far end of the battlefield.  It was smaller than it had been, but it was still there.  “You’ve been doing amazing things ever since I first met you.”

As he stared back into her sincere eyes, his stomach did a somersault.  It made him feel great to be so close to her.  He wished he didn’t enjoy it so much.  She was engaged to Gavin and would be married soon.  He needed to find a way to stop thinking about her.  He jerked back as she reached up towards his face.  What was she doing?

“Hold still,” Kalista said as she continued reaching forward and carefully touched his bruised cheek.  “That looks like it hurts.  Why don’t you heal yourself like you healed me?”

“It’s not that bad,” he replied uncomfortably.  “I guess I probably could try to heal myself, but I’ve never done it before.”

Behind her, Gavin turned from talking to Blaize.  Kalista pulled her hand back from his cheek, and Gavin immediately took her hand in his.  Traven could still feel her fingertips tingling against his cheek and a spark of jealousy flashed through him as he watched the two hold hands.  He needed to stop thinking of her as anything other than the next High Queen of Kalia.

“So, Traven,” Gavin said, “will you be staying with us in Candus?”

“I’m not sure,” he answered.  “There are things I still need to take care of.”

“Surely you can rest in Candus for a couple of weeks,” Kalista chimed in.  “You must be as tired of traveling as we are.”

Although he knew he should refuse the offer, he couldn’t turn down a personal invitation from the princess.  He supposed it would be nice to rest in comfort for a little while before making the journey back to Faldor’s Keep.

“I guess you’re right,” he replied.  “It would be nice to rest before continuing on.”

“Great,” Gavin said.  “We’ll have one of the special guest suites at the palace given to you.  You’re welcome to stay there as long as you wish.  We know we can never repay you for all that you’ve done, but we’ll do what we can.”

“Thank you,” Traven said.  “I’d be honored to stay at the palace.”

“We’ll have to talk more later,” Kalista said.  “I want to know where your map led you.”

She then turned from him and began talking with her fiancé.  Traven let out a sigh as he finished his breakfast.  He looked forward to speaking with her again but also knew that any conversation with Kalista would be bittersweet.  He didn’t know if it was more painful to be near her and know they could never really be friends or be far away and never see her again.

The meal was soon over.  Gavin thanked them all for coming and left with the princess taking a hold of his arm.  After the couple was out of sight, Traven stood and walked over to where Blaize was standing.  He followed the newly appointed commander general’s gaze out over the battlefield and to the large sphere of ice.

“You know, Traven,” Blaize began, “I’d have never imagined when we first met that we’d end up where we are now.  I’m the commander general of the most powerful army in the land, and you’re a master wielder of the ambience.  How’d we get here?”