Dark One Rising (15 page)

Dain smiled. “Well let’s not let them arrive unprepared. Will you attend to those things, Emerick?”

“I will see to it personally, Your Majesty,” he said bowing to his liege.

“Thank you, Emerick. I swear, you and Alek are the only real friends I have. I need to go out for a bit, so if you’ll also see to it that my horse is prepared as well, I would appreciate it.”

“Where are you going at this time of night, Your Majesty?”

“I have some information to gather, and the best time to gather it is when the people who are most likely to give it are lurking about.”

“Be careful, Your Majesty.”

“I always am.”

Emerick bowed again and left his king staring out the window into the sunset.

***

Just as Melenthia was getting dressed again after her soak, there was a light knock on the door. She dropped the towel that she had been drying her hair with, and grabbed the small knife that Lucan had given her out of her pack. She quietly went to the door and opened it just a crack and peeked out, knife in hand behind her back. When she saw the face of Garreth, and Kya just behind him, she opened the door wide enough for them both to come through, then closed and locked it behind them again. Kya went to the bed and sat down, Garreth stood against the wall. He motioned for Melenthia to sit in the chair. When she did, he took the two gold pieces she had given him earlier out of his apron pocket and set it on the table in front of her. She looked up at him. He went back to his leaning spot on the wall, crossed his arms over his chest, and smiled.

“Your money is no good here, Melenthia. We owe you too much. The least I can do is put you up for the night and fill your belly with hot food. You’re safe here. Tell us what’s happened.”

“My father has sold his soul, and me, to the devil.”

Garreth and Kya looked at each other, confused.

“My father has promised my hand to the Duke of Xenos.”

Kya’s hand shot up to her mouth, and she gasped in shock. Garreth uncrossed his arms and frowned.

“What would possess him to do something like that?”

“Whom” would possess him is more like it. For quite some time now, both Kevaan and I had suspected that father was not himself. Fallon is playing around with dark things, and I believe he has somehow used that against my father. I had to run before he arrived. He wasn’t supposed to get there for a couple of days, but news traveled to the castle from the border that he had passed by a day and a half early. I couldn’t wait. I had to flee.”

“How could your father let you just go like that?”

“I threatened to run if he handed me over, but he didn’t seem to believe me, or if he did, he didn’t care. Fallon has a hold on him that I cannot explain. My father didn’t know I left. I took off just after dawn.”

Kya spoke up now. “Where will you go?”

“I will ride west, through the woods, over the river into Isamar.”

“What will you do then?”

“Start over. Make a life where no one knows me.”

“If he is hell bent on having you, I fear he will find you no matter where you go.”

“That’s a chance I’ll have to take. If he finds me he will kill me now that I have embarrassed him. But if I would have stayed, I would be nothing more than a slave in his house, a direction to point his anger at. I would rather die running than live a life of terror.”

Garreth looked at his wife. “Kya, take her packs and fill them as full as you can with food, enough to last more than a week. Pack extra supplies in a travel bag and bring them to the stable.”

She nodded, kissed Melenthia’s cheek and hurried from the room. Garreth looked at her with sadness in his eyes. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a handful of coins. He opened her hand and placed the coins in her palm, closing her fingers around them. She looked up at him.

“I won’t take your money, Garreth. I may have already put you and your family in danger by coming here. I’ll not make you destitute on top of it.”

“It’s my money to do with as I please. You have come to my aid more times than I can count. The borders are all patrolled now because you convinced your father to do so. This town is safer because of your love for us and your want for our safety. You will need it far more than I. And if Fallon or his men come here asking questions, I’ll tell them nothing.”

“If he threatens you, or Kya, or Conor, you’ll tell him the truth. I won’t have you die for me. Promise me.”

He didn’t answer. She took his large hands in hers.

“Please, Garreth, promise me you will not risk your life or that of your family’s. I couldn’t bear it if I thought anything bad happened to any of you on my account. If you are questioned by anyone who would report to Fallon, please don’t withhold information. Tell them the truth.”

“I will not risk your life. You’ve been like a daughter to us. I will tell them that you are heading south. Perhaps that will buy you some time.”

She smiled at him wearily. “Fair enough. I will sleep here tonight. Wake me before dawn. I will go west, before the merchants are open for business. If most of the town is still asleep, I will be able to sneak out easier.”

“But the gate will still be locked.”

“You’re right. I hadn’t thought of that.”

“I will talk to Kya’s cousin. His son is in charge of the gate guard. I’ll make sure you’re able to get out without any questions.”

“Thank you, Garreth. I can’t express how indebted to you I am for taking this risk.”

“There’s no thanks needed. If I see your brother come through, what should I tell him?”

“Tell him I’m sorry.”

He leaned over and kissed her cheek and held her in his arms for a moment.

“Be safe, Melenthia. This kingdom needs you.”

“If Fallon has indeed made a pact with the Dark One, this kingdom will need more than me; it will need a miracle.”

“Get some rest. I will alert you if there is anything amiss.”

She nodded to him, and he left her alone. She crawled into bed and tried to sleep. As weary as she was, she found it hard to shut her mind off long enough to doze. It was racing so fast she was almost dizzy. The road will be hard, and long, and Aelethia will need to band together if they expected to see this through. She had no idea what was happening or why she was a part of it, but for some reason she felt that there was more to all of this than a marriage. Fallon sought to gain more than a wife, but what it was, she couldn’t fathom. Asking questions would only get her in trouble, so she would have to wait and hope that the meaning to it all presented itself before it was too late. She closed her eyes and breathed deep in and out. Eventually, she drifted off, her body finally taking control over her mind. Dawn would come quickly; she needed to get her rest.

CHAPTER 9

F
allon arrived at the castle with his cortege a couple hours after sunset. Kevaan watched out the second-story window at the men dismounting in the bailey. There were fifteen, including four men-at-arms, and another man who was dressed in simple riding clothes but wore a long black cape. Kevaan didn’t know who he was or what position he held, but he was sure he’d soon find out. He waited with his father in the conference room, trying to hold back the anger that was building up.

About twenty minutes later, a guard escorted the men up to the room and announced them. Fallon walked passed the guard into the room. As usual, he was dressed all in black leather and wore a riding cloak, black in color, but with a red lining on the inside. He wore a broadsword at his hip inside a scabbard made of tooled leather. He always seemed to have a scowl on his face, and today was no different. He strode into the room, stone faced and haughty. The two men-at-arms that had escorted him followed him into the room, with the stranger behind them. When the guards got through the doorway, they parted and went in separate directions to stand guard over their lord from opposite sides of the room. The stranger with the long cape came in and stood beside Fallon, face neutral. He was shorter than Fallon, but not by much, and he had long brown hair, streaked with touches of gray, that ran down his back to about his shoulders. He had a beard, short, also speckled with gray. His eyes were brown and were almond in shape, and his nose was flat and wide. He stood very straight and had his hands clasped in front of him. When Kevaan looked at him, the stranger seemed to sense it and turned his face to look at him. When he did, Kevaan felt a chill run all the way up his spine. He tried not to show his fear, but he felt somehow violated, as if the stranger had seen his thoughts. He shivered, and the stranger looked away again.

Fallon approached Randor as he came to him from the far side of the table. Fallon bowed to him, then they shook hands. “Your Majesty, you are looking well.”

“As are you, Your Grace. I hope your ride was uneventful.”

“I had to deal with a couple of problems on my way, but nothing serious. I’m looking forward to our talk and more so, finally getting to meet your beautiful and fiery daughter, Melenthia.”

Kevaan glared. So, Fallon had not told his father that he had indeed already met Melenthia or what passed between them. He was angry that his father was so oblivious.

“I’m sure she is anxious to meet you as well, Your Grace.”

Kevaan felt sick. Randor shot Kevaan a look of warning to keep silent. Kevaan bowed his head slightly, answering his father that he would be still.

Fallon looked over to Kevaan and strode forward to shake hands with him. “Your Highness, it’s good to see you again as well. We missed you at the last negotiations we had. Apparently you were out dealing with a problem in the city. I hope everything is smooth now.”

Kevaan seethed inside. He wasn’t absent by choice. He was absent because he knew nothing about the meeting. Had he known, he would’ve made sure he was present. He held his tongue.

“Yes, of course. Everything is fine.”

Fallon nodded to him, then looked back to the king.

“Your Majesty, I would like to introduce you to my Counselor and Legal Advisor, Jaron. He is here to witness this exchange. Pretend he isn’t even here. He’s here to observe only, not to interfere.”

“And the guards, what are they here for?” Kevann said aloud, looking straight at Fallon.

Fallon turned his head, a small smile cracking his thin lips. “Why protection of course, in case things don’t go well.”

“Are you trying to imply something, Your Grace?’

“Of course not, Your Highness, but I don’t underestimate anything. That’s why I survive on the battlefield. I plan for every unknown.”

“That would suggest that there is a battle here. I thought this was only a solidification of a deal.”

“It is, but like I said, I always plan for any unknown. It’s just a formality, I assure you.”

“Kevaan, my son, everything is fine. Fallon why don’t you have a seat, and I’ll have the servants bring some libations. I’m sure you’re hungry and thirsty after your hard ride.”

“You must have rode all day and all night to arrive here a day and a half early,” Kevaan stated. “You weren’t supposed to be here for a couple of days yet.”

Fallon sat down in a seat across from the king, his advisor, sitting next to him. Kevaan stood behind his father.

“I apologize if my arrival is inconvenient. I had some things to attend to, so I thought I would head this way after concluding my business.”

“It’s not inconvenient at all, My Lord. Things are fine.” Randor looked at his son. “Why don’t you sit, my son.”

“I’d prefer to stand, father,” he answered, his hand resting on the hilt of his sword. Fallon noticed and smiled.

“You seem a bit agitated this evening, Your Highness. You really ought to relax.”

“I will relax when this is finished.”

“Very well, then.” He looked back to the king, his advisor watching Kevaan with dark eyes. “I will be taking your daughter’s hand in marriage. I will present her to my land on the evening of Midsummer Day. In return I will enlist my army to you and will set up a border patrol near the edge of the Xanthe River, where the bridge leads from your province into Isamar. This will keep the pirates from coming in from the Tierian Sea up the river. We will keep the toll bridge set-up in order to collect passage into Aaralyn.”

Kevaan watched his father, hoping that at some point there would be questions, but he just nodded.

“That is what we agreed to, yes.”

“And who will collect these tolls, and where will the money go?”

Fallon looked up at Kevaan. “Have you and your father not discussed this already?”

“I guess we’ve both been too busy to go over the details, so I will discuss it with you.”

“The toll will be collected by men that I will hire, the fees, to be put into a secure account and split up between our realms.”

“Why are you hiring the men?”

“Because I have more legions at my disposal and can afford to bring in some better help.”

“Don’t underestimate us, Fallon, We may be a small kingdom, but we can hold our own. Who will be in charge of keeping track and allotting the toll fees?”