The Jewel of Kamara (The Delthenon Chronicles) (20 page)

“No,
of course she wouldn’t. But you can’t tell me temptation won’t be on the road
with her. Surely Darby is taking his men-at-arms to protect them right? Those
men will be lonely on the road, and while she may not be interested, they sure
will find her attractive,” Hallam said and took a sip of wine.

“I
have nothing to worry about.”

“Of
course, you don’t Nicolass. I’m sure she is completely devoted to you. All I’m
saying is that if it were me I wouldn’t be able to help feeling slightly
jealous. Maybe she should think about your feelings before she runs off and
leaves you here by yourself,” he said and left Nic with ideas of Tempani
betraying him running through his head.

Tempani
was about to retire for the evening when she heard a loud banging on the door
and Nic calling out her name. She rushed over to let him in, and he stumbled
through the door. Lindow grabbed him and helped him into a chair.

“Some
water?” She asked Lindow. He nodded and disappeared.

“Will
you come back to me?” He slurred.

“Of
course, I will Nic.” She covered his lips with hers and kissed him slowly. “You
know that.”

“I
do know that, and I think everyone should know it too. Say you will be my wife,
and we will announce it to everyone tonight.”

“Nic,
you have had too much to drink. You’re not thinking clearly,” she said,
slightly taken aback by his proposal.

“I’m
thinking very clearly. I love you, Tempani and you shall be my wife. Come, we
will tell our parents now.” He grabbed her wrist and pulled her towards the
door.

“Nic,
stop it! I have told you I am not ready to be your wife. You said you accepted
that.” She yanked her hand from his grip.

“I
will not have you leave me here without a commitment on your behalf. I know
what men on the road are like. I did my fair share of travelling when I was a
squire. I know how lonely it gets.”

“You
know what men are like? Well do you know what I am like Nic?” She struggled to
keep the anger from her voice. “This is ridiculous. You know how I feel about
you.”

“Do
I? You have never told me that you love me. How am I supposed to trust you if
you can’t even tell me that you love me?” He slammed his fist on the table.
“Every time I talk about love or marriage you try to change the subject. Do you
think I don’t notice what you’re doing?”

“Where
is all this coming from?”

“Don’t
go, Tempani. Stay here and plan our wedding.”

“Nic!”

“Do
you not want to be my wife? Are you just staying with me until a better offer
comes along?” He cried. “Because let me tell you, somebody better will not come
along. I am the best there is. I am going to be king!”

“I
am not going to stand here and listen to this. I have to get some sleep before
I leave, and you need to go home and sober up.”

“This
is about Teddy, isn’t it?”

She
threw her arms up in the air. “Teddy is my friend!”

“You’re
not going Tempani. As the Crown Prince I forbid you to go,” he demanded.

“You
forbid me? You have no right.”

“Then
you have a decision to make. If you go I won’t be here waiting for you when you
get back.” He crossed his arms against his chest.

She
stared at him in disbelief. “You have not changed one bit, have you? I can’t
believe how foolish I was to think you no longer arrogant and give you a
chance.”

“It
is me or your trip with Darby. You can’t have both,” he said smugly.

Tempani
stood there in shock. He was asking her to choose between him and their future
together, and her clear path to her destiny. As crazy as he was behaving now,
she knew that he was the man for her. But there had always been something
holding her back from making a lasting commitment to him. As though she knew
she was destined for something else. And yes, it was going to be hard,
impossible even, but she had to try. She couldn’t stay here and do nothing. And
as heartless as it may seem there was only one path for her to take.

“I’m
sorry you feel that way Nic. You can let yourself out,” she said and walked out
of the room, tears streaming down her cheeks.

Nic
didn’t know what to do. He had not thought for an instant that she would turn
him down. They were in love, he was sure of that. They were supposed to be
husband and wife.

“Tempani!”
He cried and tried to follow her but Rando blocked his path. “Tempani!”

He
stepped to the side, trying to get around him and Rando didn’t hesitate in
pushing him away.

She
looked at him once more and shook her head sadly before turning the corner.

“Fine!
Be that way!” He screamed and stormed off.

She
lay in bed that night crying over her decision. Her hip bled as she clutched
her dagger in her hand. Zadi lay sound asleep on her pallet on the floor,
dreaming of the future and oblivious to the anguish of her mistress.

Tempani
sat in Mincha’s saddle before dawn the following morning, shivering in the
breeches and shirt Zadi had fitted for her. She had finally fallen asleep, but
no more than an hour later Zadi shook her awake.

She
shifted in her saddle when she heard hooves approaching them from the gates.
Despite her heavy heart she couldn’t help but smile when she saw Darby
approaching on a black mare. Some people were made for a saddle. Darby was not
one of these people. He looked ridiculous in his dusty breeches, perched on top
of the fierce mare.

“This
is Harmony,” he said grinning from ear to ear, patting his horse.

Tempani
shook her head and stared at her old friend fondly. She couldn’t be happier
that he would be helping her through this.

“We
will meet the others in the city,” he informed Rando, whose eyes were shining
with glee. He was eager to be back on the road again after so long cooped up in
the manor. “Come on, let’s get going. We’ve got a long way to travel.”

Tempani
whistled and smiled when
Tilaw
came streaking around
the corner and jumped into the carrier Otto had attached to her saddle. Mincha
was used to the dog jumping up so didn’t flinch at the extra weight.

“Hold
on,” a gruff voice called out behind them. “You can’t leave without me.” Madoc
pulled up alongside them on his chestnut gelding.

“What
are you doing?” Tempani asked.

“Following
my orders,” he said. 

Darby
raised his eyebrows at Rando, who gave him a slight nod. “Of course,” he said.
“Let’s get moving. We’re on a schedule.”

And
with that they headed out the wrought iron gates and down the road that would
lead them towards an uncertain journey. Tempani allowed herself one last glance
at the palace and the life she had with Nic and bid it farewell. This was not
the time for a broken heart. She had more important things to focus on. She had
a prophecy to fulfill.

~6~

The
travellers
had set up camp for their third
night on the road and retired early for the evening. They had one more day on
the road before they reached the convent and had decided to set out as early as
possible.

Tempani
hadn’t exactly been thrilled to learn that was their destination. She had just
spent five years there but apparently that was where the Black and White Woman
was so she had no choice in the matter.

They
had been forced to take a roundabout route as Darby wanted to ensure they
weren’t being followed. As a result, it was taking a lot longer than it
normally should have. Colbert was keen for Tempani to reach their destination
and begin her lessons and his restlessness was catching. They all soon found
that they too were desperate to reach the convent. All except Madoc. He was
still under the impression that they were headed for the old ruins and was
oblivious to the real mission at hand.

Tempani
had insisted that they tell him the truth so he would be free to make his own
decision about whether he continued or not. Darby and Colbert refused, as they
feared he would choose to leave and let their secret out to his friends at the
palace. They could not afford to have anybody on their tail.

Tempani
hated lying to her friend but understood it was for the best. If they were ever
discovered at least Madoc could say he had no idea of their intentions. He
could say he was unaware that his companions were planning a rebellion. Or that
he was travelling with hard-nosed commoners, who Darby had employed as his
men-at-arms in preparation for this.

And
then there was the young woman who had come to Zadi and could not be turned
away. Bhatia. Tempani had almost fallen out of her saddle when she’d seen the
beautiful brunette sitting haughtily on the back of a stallion. She’d lifted
her face, and Tempani had found herself staring into the eyes of the Lady of
the Night who had stolen the broach.

Zadi
had promised Darby that this girl would pull her weight, and she had yet to let
them down. And she had yet to stop pointing out every fault in the way Tempani
and the others did their duties at camp. Bhatia was gutsy, and it was sure to
come in handy.

“They
thought I took that, you know.” She sat beside Bhatia and pointed at the broach
that lay pinned against her chest.

Bhatia
shrugged. “The man was cruel to a girl I know. He deserved to lose it.”

“You
can’t just take justice into your own hands. There are laws in place.”

Bhatia
snorted. “And they look after your kind. Not mine.”

Tempani
rolled up her sleeve and held her arm out, displaying her copper skin. “Nor
mine.”

“Yet
you befriended not one but two princes. You walk the streets with a guard. You
are looked after.”

Tempani
bristled. She was right. As much as she may think she was an outsider she did
have powerful friends. But she was still part Kalaowin. If she had been
arrested over the theft, who’s to say she wouldn’t have been tried and sentenced?
The king did want her out of the way.

“If
you go back and marry your prince you can fix things now,” Bhatia said as she
leant forward to tie up her boot. Her brown hair fell over her shoulders,
exposing a mark on the back of her neck. Tempani leant closer. It was a burn
mark. Instinctively her fingers reached out and brushed the spot.

Bhatia’s
head snapped up, and she glared at the girl with such a fierce hatred that
Tempani shivered.

“What
happened to you? Did you get caught stealing something?”

“You
are supposed to be my
savior
. Some almighty power.
But hear this. Touch me again, and I will make you regret it.”

She
stormed off, leaving Tempani watching her with respect. If she could get her on
her side, she would be loyal to the death.

As
they did each night, Tempani and Darby stayed by the fire once the others had
fallen asleep and talked of the real situation in Kamara.

“Does
King Wimarc know about the prophecy?”

Darby
stretched his legs out before him, his hand rubbing his old wound. “He knows.”

“Does
he know it’s me?”

He
shook his head. “He believes the threat has passed.”

Darby
sat by the fire, lost in his own thoughts as he let his mind wander to the task
at hand. Having links to the nobles and to the commoners was often a burden he
carried alone. When Tempani arrived at court. he saw he was not alone in his
struggle. She too had friends among the city dwellers and among the noblest
blood. And she had ties to the Kalaowins. Her path was a hard one. There was no
doubt about it. And the two of them knew that they couldn’t turn their backs on
their plight but also that they couldn’t betray their friends among the nobles.
For this to work, they would have to be careful or they would lose everything.

He
only hoped that their noble friends would understand and that Wimarc would see
reason. But he didn’t hold out much hope of that happening. Wimarc was renowned
for wanting to ignore problems or deal with them in a heavy handed manner.

Nicolass,
on the other hand, had the ability to see past his nose and look at what was
beyond the palace walls. Darby often thought he had the strength of will to
make the necessary changes to the kingdom, but he was not king yet. And they
could not wait until he was king. The commoners wanted action now, and Darby had
kept them at bay for as long as he could. He had wondered if there was any way
to avoid bloodshed, but he couldn’t see a way of doing that.

“Darby?”
Tempani broke through his thoughts. “If they knew it was me….”

He
frowned at her. “They would do everything to stop you.”

Her
brown eyes flashed at him, and he wished he could soften the blow but she had
to know she was a target.

“I
don’t want to scare you Tempani, but if they find out that you have the Power,
you will be tried and executed for treason,” he explained. “Lord Ricton sensed
someone powerful. The longer you stayed there, the closer he would have gotten
to knowing the truth.”

“So
it’s more than likely I will be killed because I am the one to bring forth the
prophecy?” The idea of it sent a chill down her spine. She had thought it was a
possibility, but to have someone else believe the same thing made it seem more
real. It was terrifying and she admitted as much to her older friend.

“I
have prepared your protection Tempani. I have brought along the finest fighters
I could find. Madoc and Rando will defend you until their last breath.”

“We
will have to tell Madoc the truth at some point.”

“I
know. But for now it is best he does not know.”

And
so she settled for the night with a sense of unease at keeping her friend in
the dark.

Tempani’s
eyes flew open when she heard the snapping of a twig followed by a hoof
scraping against rock.

Beside
her, Rando was on his feet, sword in hand as he prodded the man next to him
awake. Slowly they all awoke, weapons ready as they moved towards the trees,
Madoc in the lead.

She
jumped when the sound of swords clashing came from the darkness. She cursed.
She had no sword to defend herself as she had been unable to sneak one of her
father’s into her bag.

Hooves
pounded into the ground as they moved closer towards them.

“Give
me a weapon,” she hissed to Rando. “Let me help.”

He
pushed his finger against his lips and motioned for the girls and Darby to stay
hidden. Tempani stifled a gasp. She had assumed they were being pursued by
bandits, but when the horse came closer, she saw that it was not a regular
horse.

This
was the first centaur she had seen up close. He had the body of a black
stallion and a muscled torso. His hair was black and flowed over his shoulders.
He had a blunt face, and anger flashed in his eyes.

There
was a clash as
Rando’s
sword met with the centaur’s.
Rando moved quickly, his sword a blur as he tried to bring the centaur down.
But the centaur moved just as swiftly and towered over the man.

Tempani
saw
Rando’s
bag a few feet away. She moved quickly
and rummaged through it, searching for a weapon. Her fingers closed around a
knife, and she pulled it free. She moved soundlessly as she crept behind the
centaur.

Panic
flashed across
Rando’s
face as he saw what she was
doing. She nodded towards the centaur, and he understood. He brought his sword
up again and pushed the centaur backwards, closer to where Tempani was poised,
waiting to launch herself.

She
bent her knees and then flung herself through the air, landing on the centaur’s
back. He turned in surprise and snarled as the girl wrapped her arm around him.
With her other hand, she brought up the knife and ran it across his neck,
slicing it open.

She
jumped off and watched as
Rando’s
blade disappeared
into the centaur’s stomach. He spluttered and dropped to his knees, blood
dripping from his mouth. Rando yanked his sword free, and the centaur was dead.

Tempani
looked down at the bloodied knife in her hand. Her stomach rolled. Zadi grabbed
her hair and pulled it back just as Tempani wretched. She heaved up the
contents of her stomach and then rose slowly, wiping her arm across her mouth.

She
looked up when Darby grabbed the knife from her hand.

“I
did it,” he whispered. “When Madoc asks, I killed it. Not you. Not Rando.”

Beside
her, Rando was busy wiping his blade. When it was clean, he buried it deep in
his bag.

And
she understood. While Madoc was still in the dark, the rules of the city applied.
Women and commoners did not carry weapons.

—

“I
have not slept a wink since she left,” Nic admitted to the Chief Healer. His
parents were concerned about the paleness of his skin and lack of energy. “I
keep thinking I shouldn’t have taken no for an answer. I should have been more
persuasive.”

Tryphena
glanced up from where she was reading to
Laiken
. The
nine-year-old prince was caught off guard by their mother’s sudden change of
tone. “You cannot force a woman to do something she is not ready for. Especially
a woman you claim to love Nicolass,” she scolded.

“Why
don’t you go after her then if you’re so miserable without her?” Ellsje asked
sulkily as she twirled one of her golden curls around her finger.

“Because
I was the one in the right!”

“Why
did you have to make her leave? I liked her.” Ellsje flung herself out of her
chair and glared at her older brother.

“You’re
too young to understand Ellsje so stay out of it,” he snapped.

She
poked her tongue out at him and stomped out of the room.

“Nicolass!”
His mother shouted. “I will not have you take your anger out on those close to
you. You made the decision to do what you did and now you have to live with
it.”

“And
do I get no support from my family?”

“No,
you don’t,” Teddy snapped. “She was the best thing that’s ever happened to
you.”

“Stay
out of it, Teddy.”

“You
have no one to blame but yourself,” he said before following Ellsje out of the
room.

“You
will have support once you start behaving as an adult and show the maturity you
will need to be king,” Tryphena told him.

“Dear,
our son is in pain. Surely you can comfort him,” Wimarc said.

“Ha!”
She scoffed at her husband. “I would have thought you would be happy with the
way this has turned out.”

“I
am not pleased to see our son upset,” he said calmly. He knew how upset
Tryphena was over the dissolution of Nic and Tempani’s relationship. She felt
she had lost her last link to Hamalia, and it had broken her heart.

“Nicolass,
you were foolish to pressure Tempani to marry you,” she said quietly. “I have
said my piece on the matter and will not speak further of it.” She grabbed
Laiken
by the hand and led him from the room.

“Nicolass,
now that Tempani is no longer an option would you please consider Princess
Naleeni
. Think of what the union will do for our kingdom.
It will further seal the truce. Think of the promise of peace it will bring to
us,” Wimarc pleaded.

“It’s
all right father. I know what I must do for Kamara. Extend an invitation to
Princess
Naleeni
. If we can stand the sight of one
another, I will consider going ahead with the marriage.”

—

Tempani
thought she would feel a sense of foreboding when she saw the convent but
instead she felt a weird sense of calm. She knew this place. And it would
always hold a special place in her heart.

Darby
spoke quietly to the young nun who had been waiting for them at the gates. Her
eyes kept flicking quickly to Tempani and then back to Darby. Tempani was
trying to recall if she’d met this girl before. She nodded as he finished and
ushered them through the gates.