Out of the Faold (Whilst Old Legends Fade Synchronicles) (27 page)

“General,” Amias stated, saluting, “Lady Doran and I will meet with the generals at your convenience.”

“I will have an escort for you within a few minutes.
I’ll gather the others.”

Coral looked to Amias who whispered the word, “Debriefing.”

She frowned. “I think there are nine other generals we ne
ed to debrief first,” she said.

He nodded. “You go. I’ll wait for you with the girls.”

The nine gods looked on Coral with gentle and proud smiles. She walked around the bright blue pool as they watc
hed her.

“Was he one of you?” she asked.

“In ancient times,” the soothing voiced woman replied. “Very ancient.”

“Are there more?”

The goddess nodded. “There
may be
, but none quite like him.”

“He was going to take me.”

“He would have taken you out of hatred
, to control you.
Only o
ne who could have taken you
yet
di
dn’t out of love could stop him
.
”

Coral thought for long minutes. “The girls.”

“Those girls,” a god spoke, “are a wonder.”

She smiled in agreement. “How do I protect them? I know what they become. But I want to protect them…from themselves.”

The god smiled at her. “You are wise. They have strengths and skills that could corrupt and destroy their spirits. The Well was generous. It determined what was required at a time of peril. Those skills won’t be necessary now. If they find themselves in need, the Well will provide. But only in need.”

“Amias,” she whispered in adoration of the man.

“Ah, a great man,” the goddess said
. “Trust him and his judgment. He will always do what is best for all of you. And be patient with him.”

“They wait for you,” the god said
as he peered through the arch.

She looked each god and goddess in the eyes and thanked them.
Through the arch she could see a row of generals; both
Danycian
and Siri seated in front of her Marshalls and the girls. Dozens of messengers and scr
ibes stood behind them waiting.

“I’d better go,” she sighed.

“Take this,” the god said, passing her a rolled blue fabric. “She’ll need it.”

Coral allowed herself to slip back into the real world amid a sudden and unanimous rumble of voices as she appeared from nothing in front of the generals. Amias smiled in pride at his wife.
The sky was dark now, lanterns had been lit, campfires burned, the fields around
them were filled with soldiers.

General Fischt cleared his throat to silence the crowd around them. “Captain Doran,
will you please introduce your party clearly and slowly.”

The Marshalls were introduced first. Kel, Denon, Pat, Rolf, Divand,
etal
. Their full names,
fathers’
names and homelands were written down by every scribe and messenger in the group.
News of the events of the day would be sent to every part of the land. The men who fought at the Verdera Isthmus would be heroes.

“Lady Coral Estel Teres Doran, formerly Brother Karl of the
Faold.
Daughter of Lord Marden of
Wickton
.
My wife.
”
Soft murmurings were heard in the crowd.

Krisa was brought forward. She introduced herself as, “Krisa
Tei Riva Sunn, daughter of Denn Pilar Kiv Sunn of
Brynntown
, daughter of Shenna Tru Lis
Velt
Siri nation.”

Whispers of
respect
rent the crowd at the mention of Krisa’
s Siri mother. A low ul
ulation spread through the Siri at the recognition of the
honored
dead. Krisa glowed with pride.

Pearl stepped forward. Coral saw the look of pain and confusion on her face. They waited
for her introduction. “Pearl…”

Amias put his hand on her shoulder and announced, “Pearl Faith Dog Doran, formerly of
Brynntown
, now resident of Doran Estates.”

Pearl looked up at him in surprise and Coral sniffed back tears of happiness. A chant welled up in the crowd around them that Coral couldn’t quite make out. Amias leaned o
ver to whisper in her ear, “God-
Smiter
.”

Coral searched the faces of the men surrounding them and saw admiration on
every face as they chanted ‘god-
smiter
’ at Pearl. She looked embarrassed. She stepped closer to Coral and held her hand.

Glory stepped forward, her back straight, he
r chin held high. T
he crowd hushed. “
Glory Beca Filomen Strenn
, daughter of Lord
Franc Benn Isha Strenn, Brother of Duke Strenn of
Brynntown
.”

“Betrothed of Prince Tomas,” Coral added
loudly
.

A cheer rang out
as Glory spun to face Coral demanding an explanation. “What?”

“Betrothed of Prince Tomas,” Coral repeated, turning the girl back around to face the generals.

Pearl giggled into her hand
as Glory beamed in delight. The men didn’t know what to make of this child who had reportedly destroyed an entire
enemy
regiment and a dozen Sisters with their own lightning bolts flung back at them, but at the announcement she was betrothed to the future king of the land, they w
ere glad she was on their side.

Introductions concluded. Captain Doran was asked to
come forward to
present
his report privately to the generals first. The talks went on into the night. A tent had been erected for the girls and soon Coral was ushering them into it. They spread their bedrolls and chattered. Krisa hugged Coral then slipped o
ut with Pat to rejoin the Siri.

Glory turned to Pearl suddenly and asked, “What did you do to him? To stop him?”

“He was going to
take
Coral,” she told her. She shrugged, “He had knockers. I pulled them off.”

Coral choked. Glory loo
ked confused as she repeated, “K
nockers?”

“Hush, girls. Time to sleep.”

Pearl giggled and got under her blankets. She waved at the rolled fabric in Coral’s hand as she was straightening up their things. “What is that?”

Coral looked at it absently. “Oh, I’m not sure.”

She untied the white ribbon that held it together and let the fabric drop open. She held beautiful blue robes with white embroidered symbols, symbols of the gods, down the fron
t. And they were just her size.

“It’s for you,” she told Pearl, turn
ing the robes to face the girl.

Pearl and Glory both gasped. Pearl let a single tear fall from her eye then wiped it away. “It’s…I hope they don’t mind if I wear my hatchet over it. I can’t be without my hatchet.”

“I
don’t
think
they will mind at all.”

The only piece of furniture in the manor was a large sturdy bed hauled all the way from
Danyc
. It had been made
by a well-known furniture maker, who reportedly supplied the King with special pieces. Coral studied it then looked at Amias, who was feeding the fire in the hug
e hearth of the master bedroom.

He stood. Coral moved
to his side and took his hand.

“We are alone,” she told him.

The corner of his mouth lifted. He realized they had never really been alone. Ever. He kicked off his boots and crawled into the bed to sit against the head board. She climbed over next to him. “This is our room,” he told her.

“It’s nice.”

“Do you like the house? I built it wondering what you would like, what you would need.”

“You did not,” she laughed. “You built it for her, that other woman in your life.”

“No,” he said seriously. “I built it for you.”

“I love it,” she told him, sliding down and turning on her side to face him. She put her hand on his chest then tugged at his shirt. He moved down to
lie
next to her.
“Glory is right. You are the handsomest man in the land.”

He scoffed, placing his nose close enough to touch hers. “I heard her say the same thing about Kel the other day.”

“She did not!” Coral chuckled. “Though I’m sure Prince Tomas is going to start looking good.”

Amias kissed her nose then pecked her softly on her cheek, her jaw, next to her mouth. Coral closed her eyes as his soft lips found hers. His hand drifted to her hip. He pulled her closer
.

She hadn’t known what to expect from Amias as her husband. His body firm, muscular, rugged even, had warmth and smoothness as he held her. As he moved with her. Against her.
At times his limbs were solid, powerful. Then he’d melt and nuzzle into her
gently
caressing.

He was ticklish, she discovered
, and she
could produce a rash of
goose bumps
all over his body with a delicate stream of air on his neck.
Her skin reacted the same way if he kissed her in the soft tissue at the crook of her elbow or at the curve of her waist.
Coral
reveled in the feel of his hands on her, exploring her, discovering his wife for the first time.
She loved the way Amias reacted when she was pleased
, hungering to please her more.

Coral loved the feel of the valley of his spine down his muscular back, of his legs sliding against her
s. She
ran her hands over his skin, fee
ling firmness her body just didn’t have.
He seemed to love her softness. He’d linger with his kisses there.
They kissed forever
. They breathed together. Coral gasped as he let out long exhalations. He took short gulping breaths when she sighed into his hair. They loved and breathed for ho
urs. Finally, with jagged shallow breaths,
they slipped into sleep holding onto each other tightly.

A tenth figure stepped forward in
to
the grey world. He nodded a greeting to the others. The wrap he wore a
round his waist was stained. H
e had a distinctive black line around his neck.

“What are you doing here?” the soothing voiced woman asked out of curiosity.

Through the arch
appeared the image of
two fi
gures
lying
together in passion, their limbs entwined, gently moving with one another. He watched them for long moments, his eyes squinted in
disdain.

“Who are they?” he asked. When they didn’
t answer he looked around
. “Did you send them to me?”

“No, they went to you on their own,” one of the male gods answered.

“You have never interfered before. Why now?”

“We weren’t aware it was you,” the woman told him. “My believers were being infiltrated so I sought to fix things.”

The view in the arch changed to show two girls among several men laughing an
d playing in front of a hearth.

“There are three,” he said.

“They are ours.”

“Who are they?”

“You sent your witches after them, you should know.”

“I just know they are powerful. Look what they did to me,” he told them pointing at his wrap
and his neck.

“Quite clever,” the woman smirked.

“Clever?” he demanded.
“What are you playing at? You are no different than me. You use them for your own gain.”

“
If we wish.”

“Why are
they more powerful than mine?”

Again the image changed to the same two making love, sweetly, slowly. H
e watched with a sneer, aroused, impatient.

“Bonds. They love. T
hey protect each other, cry, get angry, laugh. All the things worth living and fighting for. Yours know fear and hatred and the love of power, not each other.”

The
goddess
waved forward two others. “Go clean up his mess in Kusira.”

He frowned, watching the couple as they became more animated and desperate, grasping one another.