Mercy's Prince (37 page)

“I
hope my request doesn’t sound blasphemous, but I would like to wear my hair in
a braid to honor the memory of Gabriel and all the Brethren. I don’t want them
to be forgotten.”

Merry’s
heart swelled with gratitude.

Nor
do I. That is a fitting tribute, my love
.

He
grabbed a hank of his hair.

Do
you think it’s long enough yet?

Shall
I try to braid it?

Please
.

First
Merry found a strip of cloth in her carry sack to hold the braid together. Perhaps
later Valerian could design a clasp with a dragon emblem. Whatever design he
chose for his clasp, she wanted to wear it, too. Using her comb, Merry smoothed
his hair. It came below his shoulders and was a little wavy, like her own,
which would help keep the braid together.

Next,
Merry separated Valerian’s hair into three equal sections. She braided it as
tightly and evenly as her own, but it was strange for the finished plait to be
so short. While holding the end of the braid, Merry tightly wound the cloth
around the hair, securing it. Then her chest tightened as her pride for him
mingled with the grief she feared would be with her always.

Valerian
reached back to feel the braid. Then he turned to face her.

Thank
you
. “Will
it be easier to braid as it grows longer?”

Yes
. She gripped his hand.
Let’s keep thinking of the future, my noble lord. There is always hope
.

He
kissed her gently before they returned to their place on the furs surrounded by
the other men. Kieran lay snoring on Merry’s right side. She could
See
Valerian’s troubled thoughts making it impossible for him to sleep. The blood
pounded in her temples with the fear of losing him, but she tried to keep her
angst from affecting his own dark thoughts.

Valerian?

Yes?
He
turned his face toward her.

May
I just hold you?

He
put his arm around her, and she clung to him, careful not to crush the sleeping
burrowing dragon. She shuddered.

Are
you cold, Merry?

Mostly
in my heart
.
Tears threatened to flow, but she forced them back.

Valerian
laid his cheek against her head. She concentrated on each breath he took. Eventually,
she was able to fall asleep, lulled by his rhythmic breathing.

            *         

In
the morning, Merry awakened before the sun had fully risen. Her breath misted
in the frigid air, but she was warm and safe in Valerian’s arms. She could tell
he wasn’t awake yet.

Merry
closed her eyes and
Saw
his terrible anxiety for the land and its people.
Could she Heal his troubled mind? Or at least give him some of her strength so
he could more easily think clearly and lead with confidence? Very gently, so as
not to wake him, she placed one hand over his heart and opened herself to the
Healing gift. The glow from her hand was bright in the predawn light, so she
closed her eyes again to better concentrate.

Valerian
woke with a gasp and grabbed her hand.

What
are you doing?

I
was trying to ease your disquiet. Did I hurt you?
She shuddered.

No,
but I will not have you expend yourself for that, love
.

I
would give you all my strength, if I could take this burden from you
.

Valerian
embraced her, kissed her hair. Then he pulled back to look at her face in the
dim light. Merry caressed his brow, trying to erase his worry. He grasped her
hand and brought the palm to his lips.

Merry.
I must leave you soon
.

She
gasped. Her chest tightened, making it hard to breathe. When he steeled his
resolve, she mentally backed away so as not to weaken that determination,
though every instinct wanted only to cling to him.

He
took a deep breath, and when he let it out she could
See
his calm
resolution.

Everything
has come clear in my mind. Our only hope is to ask the great dragons to help us.
I must go alone and find them and pray I can renew the covenant Alden first
made with them. Perhaps, if I take his sword they will remember
.

Merry
bit back her tears. She had to stay strong for him.

Must
you go alone?

I’m
sorry, Merry. I did not want to leave you voiceless, but the land’s need is
greater than our own desires
.

Around
them the men began to stir. The sky had lightened enough that Merry could see
Valerian’s face more clearly. He appeared different with his hair pulled back
in the braid—older, even nobler if that were possible.

Sir
Edmund rustled around inside her cloak. He poked his head out, but Merry could
not tear her gaze from Valerian. She wanted to hoard every detail of his face,
his voice, his beautiful mind, to save as precious memories when he had to
leave. Beside her, Kieran sat up.

“My
lord,” he said hoarsely. “I had the strangest dream.” The squire rubbed his
eyes. “I dreamed of a circle of stones I saw once long ago.”

Valerian
grabbed his arm.

“Large
white stones?”

“Aye,
Sire. ’Tis the sacred place of the great dragons.”

“You
have been there?” When Kieran nodded, Valerian’s eyes widened. His face filled
with hope. “Can you take me to this place?”

“I
think I could find it again,” Kieran said. “But ’tis north of me home, a long
way from here.”

            *         

They
rode hard again that day. The skies were heavy with gray clouds. When they came
within sight of Gateway Garrison by mid-afternoon, it began to lightly snow. At
first, Merry thought they were in time to warn the men there, but when they crested
the cliff edge, a mass of Mohorovians moved toward the walls. There were so
many of them! They marched relentlessly. As any were cut down by the weapons of
the garrison soldiers, hundreds more stepped over the fallen. They grasped one
another’s limbs and tails, building ladders with their own bodies to scale the
walls.

“No,”
Valerian cried. He whirled his horse around. “Sir Gregory.”

The
knight urged his mount closer.

“Yes,
Sire?”

Valerian
glanced back at Merry. This was it. The moment she’d been dreading.

“Kieran
and I must leave you,” Valerian said. “We’ll ride north to find the great
dragons. The Northern Garrison is along the way, so we’ll warn them unless, God
forbid, they’ve been overrun.” He reached inside his tunic and pulled out a
sealed document. “Take this and give it into the hand of King Orland. It proves
Merry’s royal blood.” Then he and Sir Gregory gripped one another’s arms in
farewell. “I place these lives in your capable hands. Prepare the Keep for
siege, and I’ll bring the dragons as quickly as I can.”

Valerian
turned to Merry. Her belly twisted with dread. He moved his horse close to
Stripe.

“I
have to find the dragons, Merry.”

Take
me with you. If we die, I want to die at your side
.

My
love, I cannot
.
“I need you to go to the Keep with the others.”

But
why? Why would you send me away?

“I’m
not sending you away. I want to keep you safe. Wait for me, Merry.”

She
gripped his hand fiercely, so afraid she would never see him or hear his
thoughts again. They leaned toward one another and kissed just as fiercely. Then
he backed his horse from her.

I
love you, Merry. Never give up hope
.

Valerian
turned away, and he and Kieran galloped toward the Pass without looking back.

“Come,
Lady Merry,” Sir Gregory said. “We must go.”

The
men urged their horses along the road toward the Keep. Merry numbly held on
while Stripe cantered with the rest. Her eyes filled with tears, so she couldn’t
see the snow growing heavier, but the wetness touched her face. She kept her
senses attuned and
knew
the exact moment when she could no longer sense
Valerian’s presence. Her heart broke, and she slumped against Stripe’s neck,
sobbing.

The
snow transformed the countryside. Under other circumstances, Merry would have
delighted in its purity and beauty. By the time they stopped for a brief rest,
drifts were forming on either side of the road.

They
led the horses into a sheltered grove beside a stream and dismounted. Merry
went through the motions of taking care of Stripe and Sir Edmund, her senses as
blind without Valerian as her throat was mute. Terron, Gregory’s squire,
approached her. He was about her age and a little taller than Kieran.

“My
lady, Sir Gregory sent me to ask if there was anything you needed.” His gray
eyes were kind.

Merry
shook her head and mouthed her thanks. But he wasn’t finished.

“Forgive
my boldness, Lady Merry, but I know you have no voice and can no longer speak
to Prince Valerian’s mind. Sir Gregory and I wish to help you communicate. Perhaps
we can devise some hand signals.”

Merry
nodded. It was kind of Terron and Sir Gregory, but they could never know how
devastating it was to lose her mind link with Valerian. She supposed it wouldn’t
hurt to come up with signs for important needs, though, especially if she never
saw Valerian again.

She
caught herself. Of course she would see him again. Wouldn’t she?

***

During
the long journey to the Keep, Caelis couldn’t stop thinking about what he’d
seen of the Horde. It was nearly dark on the third day when he entered the Keep’s
inner ward and urged his spent horse to the stables. He slid down and handed
the reins to a groom. Drew did likewise and helped Rafael dismount. As soon as
they entered the Keep, Caelis stopped the nearest royal page.

“Inform
King Orland that Sir Caelis has returned, and wishes to speak with him.”

“Yes,
sir.” The page bowed and hurried away.

Caelis
turned to Drew and spoke severely.

“Take
the boy to my apartment. Both of you clean up and eat something and wait for me
there.”

“Yes,
Sir Caelis.” Drew bowed his head.

Rafael
gazed up at him with wide eyes.

“Is
this our new home, sir?”

“Yes,
Rafael.” Caelis smiled grimly. “Drew will show you where we live. You will have
your own pallet now.”

Rafael
sniffled and wiped his nose. Caelis wondered if he was ill.

While
Drew led him away, Caelis turned his thoughts to King Orland and what he would
say to him. He strode toward the great hall. The page hurried toward him.

“The
king will see you now. He is in his sitting room and bade me bring you.”

Caelis
followed the boy up the stairs to King Orland’s suite. The page opened the
door.

“Your
Majesty, here is Sir Caelis.” Then he bowed and went off on another errand.

Orland
sat in his overstuffed chair. Caelis approached and went down on one knee,
bowing his head.

“Rise,
Sir Caelis.”

He
stood and faced the king.

“Your
Majesty, forgive the state of my appearance, but I have ridden long and hard
and bring grave news. The Horde have returned and in greater numbers than
before.”

Orland
frowned, studying his face.

“You
have seen them with your own eyes?”

“Yes,
Sire. I witnessed them destroy Blackwater Garrison. I warned Midway, leaving my
men to aide them, and then rode here as quickly as I could to warn you.”

“What
do you propose, Sir Caelis?” The king shifted in his chair.

Caelis
schooled his features into a pose of humility.

“I
propose that we prepare for siege. I can continue working with Master Murray to
devise weapons effective against the Horde and be ready when they come.”

“How
long do you estimate before they arrive?”

“Their
large army cannot move quickly, Sire, especially in severe weather. I believe we
have at least a month to prepare.”

Orland
drummed his fingers on the arm of the chair, deep in thought.

“Did
you see aught of Prince Valerian?”

“No,
Your Majesty, but I heard that the prince was visiting Lord Reed, Sir Rudyard,
and Eldred the Seer while he was in the south.” Caelis made his voice sound
concerned. “I only hope the prince wasn’t at Blackwater Garrison when it was
overrun.”

The
king frowned and cleared his throat.

“We
will hope for the best and wait until he returns. In the meantime, Sir Caelis,
I put you in charge of shoring up the Keep’s defenses and making ready for
siege.” He stood, dismissing Caelis. “We will call a council of war in the next
few days. Be ready to give your report then.”