Orphan's Blade (26 page)

You cannot fight the power. You will always return for more.

The power flooded her veins, bringing an ever-burning fury along with it. She opened her eyes and cast the anger at Gibson. He fell to his knees, blood trickling from his nose and ears. Around them, every arrow fell in mid-flight, raining upon the lake and the crowd. People covered their heads, but the shafts broke in the air, littering the ground with harmless splinters.

“Valoria, no!” Nathaniel beseeched her. He turned to her with horror in his eyes.

Valoria couldn’t stop the surging power. It consumed her, eating away at the person she once was. The darkness poured in, along with debilitating anger so strong, it boiled the blood in her veins.

Strong hands held her, but all she could see was soulless undead, their empty minds numbing her pain. Through them the fury was bearable, and the more bodies she could collect, the thinner the anger spread.

Call them.
The necromancer beseeched.
Begin the spread of the horde.

“Come back to me.” The words came from another place, another world. Valoria felt strong arms holding her and smelled a familiar pine scent. A hand cupped the back of her head, holding her face against warm skin.

Nathaniel.

She opened her eyes, and the power faded as fast as it had come. Nathaniel held her against him, rocking her back and forth.

She wrapped her shaking arms around him. “You saved me.”

“No, you saved me.” Nathaniel laughed in relief, running a hand along her face. “I thought I’d lost you.”

“You did.” She shivered, remembering how cold and hopeless that dead world was. Every time she tapped into the power, the evil consumed more of her soul. If she employed it again, she’d lose herself forever.

She pulled away from Nathaniel and glanced around her. The crowd gaped, some of them making the sign of the sword across their chests.

Brax had climbed the ridge and was holding his sword to Gibson’s neck. He shouted above the clamor. “This man has told you lies. My father, the late king of Ebonvale, traveled with two armies—the minstrel army from the House of Song and Ebonvale’s Royal Guard—and defeated the wyvern brood where they hatched.”

Brax paused, scanning the crowd to see who was listening. They’d all stayed to hear what he had to say, and they stood in silence at his command.

Brax sheathed his sword, leaving Gibson to cower beside him. “Another threat lurks on our northern border. A necromancer has raised an army of undead and will attack in less than a fortnight. If we do not have an army large enough to hold them off, the undead will break through and plague this entire land. You may be able to hide for a while, but you will have nothing on the surface to come home to if they succeed.”

He paused again, surveying the crowd. Inner confidence shone through him, and Valoria saw the king rise inside him. Brax was becoming the person he was born to be. “Help me protect the border before the plague of the dead spreads beyond control. Help me make this kingdom what it should be. I will not force you, I only ask you to abandon this hole and follow me to the light. Stay here and hide if you will, or follow me into a brighter future.”

Some people retreated to their clay huts. But a few members of the crowd nodded their heads. Others grunted with approval. Most of them stayed, even if it was to see who would follow him.

Brax raised his hand as if taking an oath. “As the prince of Ebonvale, and the future king, I will pardon every one of you who returns to the castle with me and helps me fight for our right to survive. Those of you on our side, come with me this day. Let the future begin now.”

He jumped from the ridge and landed by Nathaniel and Valoria.

“Come with me.” Brax moved forward, and the crowd parted before him.

“Can you walk?” Nathaniel helped Valoria rise to her feet.

Valoria nodded, and they fell in step behind Brax. Valoria glanced over her shoulder as they made their way through the ramshackle dwellings. One at a time, men and women filed in behind them. They held spears made with broken glass and small knives. Some of them looked like they were barely old enough to hold a weapon and others were too old to do any good. But they followed all the same, and in this battle every soul counted.

Homecoming

Valoria watched the sun shine on the distant fields of grain surrounding Ebonvale as she sat next to Brax on the wagon bench. Behind them, their makeshift army marched. This kingdom was capable of such ugliness, and such beauty. She’d feared it at one time, but now she’d come to call it home.

Word spread quickly once they reached Ebonvale’s farmlands. At first, farmers were concerned to see an army of raiders marching on Ebonvale, but when Brax revealed himself as the prince, they cheered and sent riders to alert the queen at the castle.

They treated them as heroes returning from battle. But, the real battle loomed.

“I want you to send word to the minstrels once we get back.” Brax turned to Valoria. Nathaniel rested in the back of the wagon, so she’d decided to try once again to develop a rapport with the prince.

She raised an eyebrow. “I was hoping you’d ask.”

Brax glanced at the horizon with a weary expression stretching across his broad forehead. “I was a fool to discard them so easily.”

He had been. But, the eve of battle was not the time to point fingers. “No one had any idea of the challenge Ebonvale has to face.”

“I thought I could succeed by myself.” Brax sighed, whipping the reins as the horses slowed to chew long grass on the side of the road. “I was wrong.”

She touched his arm. “It does not matter now.”

He moved away from her touch. “It was not I who won the fight with the raiders. It was you. I could not have won this army without your aid.”

A deep gratification came over her. She’d been waiting for him to acknowledge her fully. After she’d dropped the arrows and felled Gibson, Brax had walked past her, leaving Nathaniel to haul her from the ground. Granted, he was busy reclaiming his people, but even one look of concern would have showed his gratitude.

“Ebonvale and the House of Song need each other.”

Brax smiled sadly. “’Tis the universal truth neither house can reconcile.”

“Until now.” She reached toward him, and he pulled away again. Rejection stung in her cheeks as Valoria placed her hand in her lap. Perhaps he still hadn’t come to terms with their union. Would he ever?

* * * *

Onlookers threw roses on the cobblestone at the horses’ feet as their wagon rode the thoroughfare toward the castle. Nathaniel had woken and joined Valoria and Brax on the bench.

Despite the rising triumph inside his chest, a wave of melancholy came over him. Their journey was at an end. The three of them had accomplished so much together, and they might never be together again. Certainly, he’d have to distance himself from Valoria when they reached the castle, and that thought hurt the deepest of all.

The queen stood on the temple steps waiting to receive them. Brax jumped from the wagon and strode in confident steps to his mother. Nathaniel helped Valoria from the wagon and they followed Brax in step.

The queen opened her arms. “Helena and Horred smile down on us. You have come back to us unharmed.”

“My queen.” Brax bowed and presented the vial of blue fire. “We bring you the answer to our troubles.”

The queen took the vial in her hands carefully and held it to the light. The shimmery liquid moved with purpose in the sunlight as if eager to escape the confines of the glass.

“And we bring you an army as well.” Brax stood and gestured toward the ranks standing behind the wagon. “Our people have returned to us.”

In response, the raiders cheered, and the onlookers took up the applause.

“You have accomplished the impossible, my son.” She placed a hand on his shoulder.

“I did not do it alone. Nathaniel and the princess are just as deserving, if not more.” Brax turned toward them.

Surprise hit Nathaniel like cold water. His brother had never acknowledged him in such a way before. He’d always taken a second seat to the acclaim and now Brax brought him before himself.

Brax clapped Nathaniel on the shoulder. “Come, let us feed and equip these new soldiers and assign them quarters in the barracks.”

Eager to get started, Nathaniel nodded. He turned to Valoria to bid farewell, but she’d noticed her old music teacher in the crowd and ran to embrace him. Her servant joined them, and the three of them smiled and walked up the temple steps.

His time with her was over.

* * * *

Valoria glanced back in longing as she walked arm in arm with Echo. She’d forgotten to say farewell to Nathaniel. He marched with Brax, directing their new army to the training grounds. It was better this way, for him to travel his path and for her to travel hers. Yet, a bond had formed between them, and even though they parted, she felt the connection strong as ever, binding their souls in an unspoken truth.

“I will send word to the minstrels immediately.” Echo climbed the steps beside her. “You have made me proud.”

Valoria glanced away with guilt. He would not be proud of what she’d done to achieve success, But, such conversations had to wait until they were free of prying ears.

“I’ll finally be rid of these impractical dresses.” Cadence huffed as she picked up her skirts in her arms, climbing the steps. Now that the prince had returned, they needn’t keep her secret any longer.

“I thought you were eager to have them?” Valoria raised an eyebrow.

Cadence rolled her eyes. “I was. But, after having a boy throw a rock at me, thinking I was you, and another servant girl with a hatred of minstrels spit in my food, I’d like to have my comfortable clothes back, thank you very much. I won’t even go into detail about the country nobleman who wanted to steal me away for my alleged ties to the House of Song.”

“Sounds as though you’ve had quite a time of playing princess.” Valoria glanced down at her riding tunic and leggings. She’d miss the ease of walking and riding. And of talking to Nathaniel like they were friends. Somehow the large dresses separated her even more from him, like a barrier they couldn’t cross.

“I’m happy you’re back.” Cadence smiled. “By the way, Brax seemed proud of you.” She gave Valoria a sidelong wink.

Valoria nodded. “We have developed a sort of mutual respect.” But that was all. If she looked for anything deeper, she’d be fooling herself.

“Mutual respect is a good start.” Cadence reached the top of the steps and released her skirts in a flurry around her legs.

“I bid you farewell.” Echo bowed to both of them. “I’m off to send a message to the House of Song. Is there anything in particular you’d like to say to your father?”

Valoria paused. Would he be proud of what she’d accomplished? She might have saved the kingdom, but she did not win Brax’s heart. “Only that I continue to follow his wishes.”

Echo nodded as if committing the words to memory. He patted her on the arm. “Get some rest.”

“I will.” Having Echo back at her side grounded her. He’d always been there for her, giving her pieces of advice in their music lessons. She’d make him her chief advisor when she became queen.

Cadence turned in the direction of their quarters, but Valoria didn’t follow.

“You’re not coming back with me?” Cadence frowned as if hurt. All this time they’d been apart, and she’d have to wait again.

Valoria gave her a sympathetic smile. She was a different person than the young lady who’d traveled in the carriage with her handmaid always at her side. “I have important business to attend to.”

“In your servant’s clothes?”

“This cannot wait.”

“Very well.” Cadence waved her hand. “Off with you. I’ll be pressing your evening gown for the feast.” She began walking down the corridor, then stopped and whirled around, narrowing her eyes. “I hope it’s not with that lieutenant.”

“No.” Although Valoria wished it was. She kept a straight face. Cadence could never know her true feelings. “It’s with the queen’s mother.”

“That madwoman?” Cadence lowered her voice. “I hear her from my window at night. She sings strange songs with spine-chilling cadences in a language I’ve never heard of. People say she speaks of the past as if it’s the present, and the future as if it’s the past. What could you possibly want with her?”

“’Tis a private matter.” Valoria could say nothing more.

Cadence nodded, biting her lip and walked away.

Valoria watched Cadence leave, melancholy swelling inside her. Would they ever be as close as they once were? There was a time when she had no secrets, but now everything was so complicated, and her life full of responsibilities and allegiances. Playing princess meant walking a fine line.

Valoria climbed the steps to the tallest tower. Rumors said Sybil had chosen the remote location to stay away from the jeers and whispers. Although her daughter, the queen, had forgiven her for riding off with a minstrel lover and leaving her and the king of Ebonvale, the people of Ebonvale were not as merciful.

As Valoria learned from the vison, neither was the House of Song. Shame and guilt had pushed Sybil’s minstrel lover to the dead lands. If both kingdoms had been more forgiving, would the undead army still be at their doorstep?

The steps wound around and around. Windows showed the castle growing smaller underneath them, and the people in the courtyard scurrying around like ants. She reached a small, triangular oak door at the top and knocked gently using a rusted silver ring.

“Come in.” The old woman sounded sane enough.

Valoria pushed the door open. A room no bigger than a storage closet stretched in front of her. A small bed lay perched against a single window with a view of the western mountains. Old, tattered dresses hung from hooks on the wall, and a cracked mirror stood against a chest. Two sparrows bathed in her washbasin, shaking water onto the floor.

When Valoria entered, the sparrows fluttered out the open window. The old woman rose from a chair in the corner. She wore a simple white shift with bare legs and feet. Her thin, white hair hung long and unbraided around her shoulders. Hands with bones like a bird’s placed a book with no cover on the floor.