Dark One Rising (48 page)

***

Before their dinner in the great hall, with the fire blazing high in the huge stone hearth, Melenthia went into the bailey to find one of the knights that had escorted Kevaan on his ride to bring her news. When she approached the men who were milling around the yard, one of the knights saw her and stopped what he was doing and stood straight. The others, seeing him in respectful pose, followed suit. She reached their line and went directly to Alastair, Dain’s Captain of the Guard.

“Sir Alastair. I am looking for Sir Tomas, from the ranks of Lachlan. Is he among you this evening?”

He bowed low. “Yes, Your Highness. He’s inside the supply house with another knight, making sure everything is in order for their departure in the morn. Is there something I can do for you?”

“No, Sir. I would like to speak to him if that’s permissible.”

“Of course, Your Highness, anything you require.” He turned to young squire Henri and snapped. “Fetch Sir Tomas and tell him to present himself outside immediately.”

“Yes, sir!”

Henri scurried away. Melenthia nodded to Alastair. “I’ll be over in the stables. Send him there.” Alastair eyed her suspiciously; she understood where his thoughts were. She pursed her lips. “There’s something I need to speak to him about, and would like to speak without other ears bending to my every word. Do you have a problem with that?”

He cleared his throat, embarrassed at his presumption. “No, of course not, Your Highness. I meant no disrespect. I was just taken aback for a moment. Her Highness has permission to do what she pleases.”

“Good. As you were.” She turned on her toes and headed toward the stables to await Tomas.

After a couple of minutes, he strode into the stables but stopped in his tracks when he saw her there, rubbing the nose of her bay mare, Lila. She turned to him and smiled. He waited until called.

“Come in, Tomas. Don’t lurk in doorways.”

He approached her and bowed deep. “You called for me. What can I do for you, Your Highness.”

She got closer to him. When she was almost touching him, she stood on her toes, leaned over and kissed his cheek. When she pulled back, he stared at her, his hand on his cheek where it was still wet from her mouth, eyes wide.

“What was that for?” His tone was one of amazement, with a slight embarrassed shake to it, all manner of respectful speech gone.

“I never got to thank you. I wasn’t even sure I would ever see you again. I owe you, as well as Lucan, for my life. If not for you, I would not have made it passed Gerard and the other guards. You have always been kind to me, and I wanted to thank you for all the times you stood up for me, covered for me when I was late and made up stories to keep me from getting in trouble. You have always been my friend, and before things are desperate and we’re all fighting for our lives, I wanted you to know how much it meant to me to have you on my side. I wish you luck, Tomas, and I hope this won’t be the last time we ever speak. My prayers will be with you and all the other knights that will be protecting my brother and our kingdom.”

“You’re welcome, Your Highness,” he said bowing low. “I was always under your spell. Like Lucan, you charmed me with the first smile and kind word. I’m here to do my duty to you and to His Majesty, always.”

There was scuffling in the gravel coated entry to the stable, and Tomas turned in time to see Dain headed in their direction. Tomas’ face turned deep crimson; Melenthia could see him shaking ever so slightly.

“Charming even the stalwart knights I see, Melenthia. It hardly seems fair that you have put this poor man in such an awkward position. How can he go about his business and do his duty when you have rattled him so?” he said to her, then looked at Tomas and nodded. “Fear nothing from me, Sir Knight. I too have been ensnared by her charms and beauty. I don’t think there’s anyone in this kingdom who has not fallen in love with her.” He looked back at her. “And you said there were no men in your life besides me.” He sighed. “Alas, I suppose I should have known I would have to share.”

Tomas bowed to her and then to the king. “Are there any messages you require me to carry home, Your Highness?”

“Tell Lucan I miss him.”

He bowed. “It will be done, My Lady.”

He turned on his heel to go, but she called after him. “And Tomas. Keep Kevaan safe. Promise me he will reach home safely.”

He turned to her and again bowed deep. “I swear it on my life.”

He left the stables. Dain leaned down and kissed her on the lips.

“You really do have men wrapped around your finger, don’t you my love?”

“Not really.”

“Come, come now, my darling. If ever I saw a man who was enraptured by your charms it was he. And with good reason. You are very hard to resist.” He kissed her again, lifting her slightly off the ground. “Dinner is ready and our company awaits. Let’s have an evening full of laughter and peace before we are all wrapped up too much to even breathe. Shall we?”

They went hand in hand back into the castle.

***

She could feel his hot breath on her face, smell the stench of long ago consumed ale. His eyes bore into her and his breathing was heavy. His hand was grasping her throat and she could hardly swallow. His body was pressed up against her and she felt something hard against her thigh; his sword or his lust she didn’t know which. She didn’t care. If he squeezed any tighter, she would pass out. Then she would never know what happened, what he did to her. Maybe it was better that way. She didn’t want to feel him against her, didn’t want any part of him touching her. She wanted to lose consciousness, but she knew he’d never let that happen.

“You thought you could run away from me? You thought you could hide behind the shield of that man that calls himself a king? A weak minded, pathetic excuse of a man who dares sit upon the throne? You ran away but I found you. You hid but I lured you out. You are mine, Melenthia, you always have been. You belong to me.”

She had trouble taking in enough air to speak with his hand squeezing her throat, but she managed a croak. “I will never belong to you. You will never take me. You will never own me. You will have to kill me because I will resist, and you will lose.”

He squeezed harder in rage but knew that killing her would bring him no pleasure until after she gave him a son. He released his hold on her a little, but did not let go.

“Oh I’ll have you, Melenthia. You will bring me immense pleasure, and you will bear my son. I have seen the prophecy, and you will bring into the world my heir, my off-spring that will be more powerful than anyone could ever imagine. Together, he and I will rule this world. This world was meant to have a great one on the throne, not these insignificant fools who know nothing, are nothing. I’ll be the ruler of the world, and you will seal my destiny for it. It doesn’t have to be this way you know. You and I could rule together, side by side.”

“Never. I will never join with you. You will have to kill me before I give myself over to you, and you’ll never get an heir with me dead.”

His eyes flashed, his breath more ragged now. He was losing control. He squeezed harder. She tried harder to get a breath in, tried harder to remain conscious. He pushed her harder against the wall, pushing his weight against her, crushing her ribs and her hip bones.

“Don’t resist me, Melenthia, or you will just make things harder on yourself. Giving in will make your life less of a hell.”

His grip loosened just enough for her to take a small breath in. Then she spat on him. The dribble of spittle ran down his eyes. He growled and tightened his grip. Then all of a sudden his hand was no longer on her neck. She could finally breathe. She panted to try and get air into her starving lungs. Her neck hurt, and she could still feel his fingers grasping her throat. She put her fingers to her neck and touched the sore spot on her larynx. He was fading from her sight, moving away from her, disappearing into the distance. Before he was almost out of sight, she heard his voice in her ears.

“I found you, Melenthia. You thought you could hide forever but I found you. I will have you. I will have you.”

She sat up in bed, breath ragged and sweat dripping down her head in streams. She was crying and could hardly get air into her aching lungs. Dain’s arms had been around her and he started when she woke. He sat up now, too, and stared at her, a look of terror on her face. She was shaking uncontrollably, and, when he touched her arm, she jumped, moving halfway across the large bed. He was all of a sudden afraid.

The sun was just starting to peek over the horizon, the sky a faded gold and yellow, the birds now singing in the garden trees. It was an hour before dawn.

“Melenthia, what is it? What’s wrong?” He tried to slide over, move closer to her but her face held terror and she stiffened. He didn’t move any further. “What’s happened?”

“He was choking me, squeezing my neck. I couldn’t breathe. I couldn’t move. I could feel his hot breath on my face, hear his panting in my ear.” She absentmindedly touched her neck again. It felt sore, as if bruised.

Dain lit the lamp and looked over at her, still on the bed, but just out of reach, tears streaking her face, her hands at her neck. He tried to move toward her, slowly. This time she didn’t pull back. He reached her and grabbed her gently, looking into her eyes.

“It was a nightmare, Melenthia, nothing more. You’re here, with me. You’re safe. He cannot harm you.”

She looked in his eyes as if trying to see something in them. She touched her neck again, trying to hide it from him. “I could feel him. Feel his hand on my throat. I couldn’t breathe. I couldn’t get any air into my lungs; they were burning.” She rubbed her neck more.

“Melenthia, he’s not here. You were only dreaming. You’re awake now. You’re safe.”

She looked at him, shaking her head. “No, he knows where I am. I’m no longer safe here. I must go. I must flee.”

He grabbed her in a gentle hug, his arms holding securely but not too tight. He was afraid for her. He let go and looked into her eyes again. “Melenthia, it was only a dream, you hear me. It’s alright now.”

She shook her head again, pressing her fingers into her neck. He looked down and reached over, removing her hands from her throat slowly. There was a big ugly purplish-green bruise that ran from under her chin all the way to her collarbone. There were red marks there as well, and they looked frighteningly like finger marks. Now he was no longer concerned, he was panicky. He didn’t understand what had happened, but something was wrong. It was time to wake up Tomaz and Sol. He looked into her eyes again and kissed her lips softly. He threw his legs over the side of the bed, walked to the highboard and poured a glass of water. He brought it over and handed it to her, her still shaking hands taking it from him. She groaned every time she swallowed a sip, holding her neck with her free hand. He touched her forehead as she drank. Her skin was hot and her hair was matted along her temple line. He brushed a wet curl of red hair out of her face and wiped away the moisture there. She finished drinking and looked at him.

“Melenthia,” he said gently, “put something on. I’m going to get Sol and Tomaz. I think they need to hear what you saw. I don’t understand, but maybe they will. I’m sure it was nothing, just a very vivid dream, but I think they should know nonetheless.”

She touched her sore throat again and winced. He continued, “I think it was so real that you were choking yourself and didn’t know it. Your body woke you up when you couldn’t breathe, and that’s when you sat up.”

“It was so real. His eyes looking at me, his breath on my face and in my ear. His voice, his hands on me.”

He kissed her forehead and started to rise. She grabbed him, panic starting to overtake her again. She was breathing hard, and, because of her swollen and bruised throat, she couldn’t get enough air in and was starting to hyperventilate.

“Don’t leave me.” Her eyes were large and frightened.

He grabbed her and hugged her, rocking her back and forth. “Calm down, Melenthia. Breathe slow. Settle down or you’ll pass out. I’m not going anywhere. I’m just going to get a servant to wake Sol and Tomaz. I’ll be right here.” He looked down at her, into her eyes to make sure she believed him, then stood again. He grabbed his pants that had been flung to the floor, putting them on. He went to the call and rang for a servant. He waited in the open doorway until a servant appeared in the hall.

“Tobias, please wake Sol and Tomaz and bring them here. They are needed in haste.”

The servant bowed. “Yes, Sire, right away.”

He left and Dain went back to the bed. He picked up a robe as he went and sat on the bed with it. “Here, put this on.”

She took the offered garment and proceeded to put it on. Soon after she was covered, Tobias reappeared with Sol and the elf in tow. Dain motioned for them to enter and dismissed the servant. After the servant left, Sol and Tomaz approached Melenthia, still sitting on the bed, hands shaking, face pale. Dain got up from his place at her side and pulled a chair for the old man to sit in; Tomaz remained standing. He then seated himself on the chest that sat at the end of the bed. His brow was furrowed, and he was frowning.