The Jewel of Kamara (The Delthenon Chronicles) (24 page)

Tempani
wiped the tears from her face and walked over to where Madoc stood. She wrapped
her arms around his waist and held him firmly as his body shook with the tears
that now fell.

“What
happened to
Uhana
is not your fault.”

“I
told them about her,” he choked.

“You
were a child. It is not your fault,” she repeated.

Later
that night, the two friends sat in her room sharing brandy and stories. They
had talked all afternoon about
Uhana
. About the
struggle of Kalaowins, but still he wasn’t sure if he could stand by her side
while she followed through with this. Not when it would cost innocent lives.

“Who
else knows?” Tempani asked.

“Your
father. And Darby. Otto told me that Kalaowins choose their own death. That
Uhana
was at peace because she had,” he said.

“He’s
right.”

“He
helped me a lot in those days. When he made me his squire, he insisted that I
learn how to speak Kalaowin. In private we’d slip between the two tongues.”

Tempani
shook her head, amazed that her father had been so open with Madoc yet so
guarded with his children.

“He
convinced me to tell my friends.”

“Does
the king know?”

He
shook his head and took a sip. “But now do you see the position I’m in? I
cannot plead ignorance. If we’re caught, it’ll come out that I’m Kalaowin,” he
said. “You know that Chae will be dragged into this too, don’t you? And your
father. Everyone you’re connected to will be considered a traitor.”

“Except
Nic.”

“I
don’t know Tempani. He has three close friends and two of those are Kalaowin.
As was the woman he wanted for his bride.”

“But
the king would never let anything happen to his son.”

“Yes,
the king loves him, I won’t deny that. But he loves his title more. Not the
kingdom. His title.”

Tempani
mulled this over in her mind. It was true. The king definitely didn’t care much
for his kingdom. That was evident. Yet he loved the crown that sat on his head
and the privileges that were attached to it. Would Nic be the same way? She
didn’t think he would but who is to say what power would do to a person.

Madoc
frowned at her when she voiced her concern. “You still have no idea how much
Nic loves his people do you?” He shook his head in amazement. “Do you know what
Nic does with some of the money he receives monthly? He gives it to his
manservant, who in turn takes it to the city and buys all the food he can with
it and gives it to those who need it most. He’s been doing it for as long as
I’ve known him.”

“I
had no idea.”

“He
told me once that a girl he knew shamed him into doing it. He said he was
walking through the city with her one day, and she saw a little boy crying. She
asked him what was wrong and he told her he hadn’t eaten for five days. So do
you know what she did?”

Tempani’s
lip trembled as she fought back tears. “She walked over to her nursemaid and
demanded she hand over the money her father had given her for their afternoon
visit. She didn’t want treats when there was a boy who had nothing.”

“Yes,
and then she gave all she had to the little boy.”

“I
can’t believe he remembered that.”

“He
always said that was the turning point for him,” he explained. “As a leader and
as a man.”

“He
was nine!” She cried. “Not even close to being a man.”

Madoc
laughed. “You know how he is. Pompous little turd, half the time.”

“I
miss him,” she whispered. “So much that it hurts.”

“You
can always go back.”

She
shook her head. “No, I can’t. I’ve come too far.”

“And
what you have to do, you can’t do from his side.”

“Precisely,”
she said. “I wish I could but as long as his father is around and he surrounds
himself with people like Hallam and Lord Ricton then I have no other choice.”

“I
understand.”

“I
will not resent you for not standing with me, but I hope you do. For
Uhana
.”

—

The
morning was brisk as Tempani took her place, sword in hand. She found that each
morning that went by the men slowly started to drop behind her. Soon it was
just her and Rando out front, leading the men in their morning practices.

But
today they had an extra body. Madoc walked along the row and stood wordlessly
beside her, his sword in hand. She smiled at him, but this break in
concentration caused her to fumble and her sword dropped from her hand. It fell
down her leg, leaving a gash below her knee.

A
loud cackle came from the stables. “It was only a matter of time before this
happened,” Bhatia called out. “See, she loses her concentration just because a
man stands beside her, and we are to follow her?”

Rando
stepped forward, sword raised, but Madoc pulled him back. “She must sort this
out on her own or they will never respect her,” he uttered and pointed his head
in the direction of the men, who were now staring at Tempani.

“
They
respect her,” Rando hissed. “She’s the problem.”

“If
she lets this girl walk all over her, she will lose respect, like that.” He
snapped his fingers. “She needs to stand up for herself.”

Tempani
cursed loudly and bent down to pick up her fallen sword. “I am not some silly
girl who craves a man’s attention. I chose this over a man,” she said. “And I
would make the same decision again if I had to.”

She
turned her back on Bhatia and faced her men. “If any of you have any doubts
about my capabilities or my desires then you best walk away now, but I warn
you, you will regret it. I have accepted my path and that I may die in my quest
to give you a better life. I choose freedom and equality over all titles and
riches I may have had because I believe that this is where my life lies. Now
you can believe in me and follow me where I lead or you can leave. I have made
my choice. Now you must make yours.”

She
turned on her heel and stalked past the men. Rando caught up to her and grabbed
her by the arm, spinning her around in the process.

“They
were willing to fight with you,” he said. “Now I believe they will die for
you.”

Every
last man in the group was now kneeling before her, hands on their hearts, and
hope in their eyes.

She
blinked away tears as she walked back towards them.

“You’re
not going to cry now are you?” Madoc asked as he rose to his feet. “That’s what
a silly girl would do.”

“You
are with me?”

“I’m
with you,” he whispered. “I know you can do this.”

With
Madoc now convinced, Tempani had but one more obstacle to pass. Bhatia. The
fiery young woman with the brown hair and scowl etched on her pretty face.
After her attempt to embarrass Tempani in the yard, she had all but
disappeared, appearing only at meals. And when she did join them, she sat as
far as possible from the lady who was meant to be her
savior
and even further from the men.

Tempani
had tried to ask Mother Chennai what had happened to Bhatia to make her so
angry, but she explained it was not her story to tell.

“She
will tell you in time. For now just give her space.”

But
giving space was not something Tempani was comfortable doing. If something was
wrong, she had to fix it. She couldn’t just let it go. So she began to watch
Bhatia carefully, but she learnt nothing except that Bhatia enjoyed talking to
the sick. For hours on end she would sit beside the same woman and tell her
tales of female warriors from other kingdoms. Women who were allowed to fight
beside the men.

“That’ll
be me one day,” Bhatia said to them. “And you can hide behind me.”

“He’ll
find me,” the women whispered. “He always finds me.”

“I
will take you some place he’ll never find you. I promise,” she muttered and
kissed the woman’s sweaty forehead. The bruises on her face were slowly fading
and soon no one would be able to tell that her master had beaten her savagely
and left her for dead after finding out that she had accepted the proposal of
his village’s blacksmith. The blacksmith’s body had been discovered one day’s
ride from the village, floating face down in a river.

“Tell
me the name of her master,” Tempani demanded as she followed Bhatia out of the
infirmary. “I will ensure he is locked up for this.”

“You
can’t do anything. A master has the right to do whatever he pleases to those
who work for him. You know that,” Bhatia said, fury in her raspy voice.

Tilaw
bared his teeth and growled at the girl.
Tempani patted his head gently. “Yes, but surely something can be done. I’ll
tell my father, and he will make sure he’s arrested.”

“Something
can be done, but only when you’ve got a crown on your head.”

“We
can succeed without me being crowned,” Tempani said quietly, her heart twisting
in a knot as she thought of Nic and
Naleeni
.

Bhatia
shrugged and walked off towards the gate. “I’m going to pick some flowers for
Thara
.” She turned back to Tempani. “Do
you want to help?”

“I
really should let someone know where I’m going,” Tempani said slowly.

Bhatia
rolled her eyes. “Are you our leader or not?”

Tempani
sighed and followed her wordlessly and held the flowers that Bhatia chose in
her arms.

“A
man hurt you, didn’t he?”

Bhatia
glared at her fiercely and clenched her fist. Tempani panicked. She could fight
with a weapon but hand to hand? She would be flattened in a heartbeat.

“One
day you’re going to have to trust me, Bhatia. I want you to fight by my side,
but until you open up to me, I cannot trust that you will do your part.”

“Do
you know what I do to make my living?”

“You’re
a Lady of the Night,” she said.

“I
entertain any man who can afford me, which means I know a lot about noblemen
and the way they treat women. Why do you think I am so keen to come with you?”

“Clearly
not because you like me.”

Bhatia
grimaced. “One man in particular liked my services. He would come to see me
every other night, and at first it was thrilling. He’s the noblest man I’ve
met, and he paid well. But then he decided he liked to hit me. It made him feel
powerful and me
defenseless
,” she whispered.

“Who
is he?”

“He
went away and was gone for two seasons, and I thought I was safe. But he’s back
and his first night he came to find me. And every night after that. You see
this?” She asked and lifted her hair to expose the large circle of burnt flesh
on her neck. “He heated his ring on the candle and branded my skin,” she said.
“He wants every man who touches me to know that I belonged to him first.”

“Bhatia,
I’m sorry.”

“The
day I felt your call I packed my bags and went to Zadi. There was no way I was
sticking around waiting for you to come back.”

“Why
not tell someone?” She asked. “Surely something could be done.”

“I’m
a Lady of the Night,” she said with a shrug. “I give my body willingly to men
so I deserve what this man did to me.”

“No
one deserves this. And I will die before I let him touch you again,” she said.
“Do you hear me?”

“I
fight my own battles.” Bhatia stuck her chin in the air, her green eyes blazing
with determination. But Tempani saw a vulnerability there, and she knew the
girl had heard her. “This still doesn’t mean I like you.”

“Of
course not,” Tempani said smiling as they returned to the confines of the
convent.

She
was sitting in her room, pouring over scrolls Mother Chennai had given her when
Darby burst through the door, Madoc at his heels. “Have you got rocks in your
head?” He asked. “Leaving these walls without a guard?”

      
Tempani rolled her eyes. “We were picking flowers,” she said. “I was hardly in
danger.”

“You
don’t go anywhere without protection,” he said. “No exceptions.”

She
bristled at his order. She had thought the same thing but hadn’t Bhatia pointed
out that she was their leader? Had she not been proving herself these past
weeks? “I can look after myself.”

Madoc
suppressed a grin and spoke gently to her. “We have no doubt about that. But
what if you are caught off guard?”

Tempani
shrugged. “I’d manage,” she whispered.

Madoc
squeezed her shoulder. “In the future just let one of us know.”

~7~

Nic
stared off into the distance, ignoring the musings of the man beside him. The
Galen Ambassador really was a bore as he droned on and on about how different
the fashions were in Kamara compared to
Galiena
.

“I
mean really, must your women show so much skin. It’s unseemly,” he complained.
“Slave girl,” he called and a young girl rushed forward, bowing low as she did.
“I need another drink.”

Nic
sighed. He wasn’t sure whose company was worse. The droning ambassador or the
princess who didn’t speak. Not a word. And as Galen custom dictated she
wouldn’t utter a word until she was his wife. And even then it would only be to
agree with him. The women of
Galiena
had less rights
than the Kamari women.

Sure
she was beautiful, but he knew he couldn’t marry her. Nic’s mind wandered to
Tempani once again. His heart ached for her. He had forgiven her for the way
she treated him. He just wanted her back at the palace with him where she
belonged.

He
had gone to Chae and asked him to go fetch her, but Chae wouldn’t budge. He
knew his sister wouldn’t come back until she was ready to. And until that time
they would have to respect her decision to stay away from court.

Nic
wasn’t sure he agreed with that and had almost been tempted to approach Teddy
and ask for his help. But their relationship was tense at the moment. He no
longer believed that his younger brother had any interest in Tempani, but the
damage had been done. And he wasn’t sure it could be repaired.

“Look
at that dress,” the ambassador interrupted his thoughts. “No woman would be
allowed to wear that in
Galiena
.”

Nic
rolled his eyes and took a large gulp of wine. This was going to be a long
night.

Across
the room Chae and Dahlia spoke in whispers to one another as they discussed the
last letter they received from Madoc, which had arrived moments before the
feast. Its contents were vague, but Madoc was clear in his request for Chae or
his father to get to the convent as soon as possible.

“I’m
coming with you,” Dahlia whispered.

“No,
it could be dangerous. Until we know what’s going on it’s best to be cautious.”

“I
won’t be in any danger. You’ll be there to protect me,” she said and rose from
her chair. “If we’re to leave at dawn, I must pack.”

—

 “She
has improved immensely in her time here. I could not have asked for a better
student,” Mother Chennai said as she joined Darby in her chapel.

His
smile met hers briefly before he frowned and shook his head. “She still has
much to learn though.”

“Her
magic will take time to grow,” she said. “She is not aware of the power she
could inherit.”

Darby
sighed. “My orders on that are clear. We fear it will lead to nothing but
trouble.”

“He
fears it. Not you,” she corrected. “You know it’s our strongest hope of
actually succeeding. Perhaps he will
t
o
o
.”

“Do
you think I should tell her?”

She
shrugged. “It is not my place to say.”

Darby
nodded and rose, patting Chennai’s hand as he did. “Once upon a time it was.”

—

The
group was running through their morning drills when one of the sisters raced
through the gate.

“A
man, my lady,” she cried as she ran toward Tempani. “A man has come, and he’s
brought a woman. They say they wish to speak with you.”

“Madoc?”
She called to her friend.

“I’m
on it,” he replied. “Men, fall into position. Do not attack until I give the
command.”

“Rando?”

“Yes,
my lady.” He scurried forward.

“Let’s
see if Darby was right in asking you to guard me.”

He
winked at her. “He’s yet to be wrong.”

She
gripped her sword and walked quickly to the gate, Rando by her side. She asked
the sisters to move aside and let her through the opening. They hesitated but
did so when she glared at them with fierce eyes. She came to a halt when she
saw the man and woman in question.

“What
are you doing here?”

“We
could ask you the same question,” Chae replied and jumped out of his saddle.

“Come
in!” She cried. “You look exhausted.”

They
followed her inside and handed their horses over to Keane, who had rushed over
when he saw it was safe.

“Stand
down,” Madoc said when he saw who accompanied Tempani.

The
men were slow to put their weapons away.

Tempani
marched over to them. “When your commander tells you to stand down, he means
it,” she barked. They hung their heads but did as they were told.

“Commander?”
Madoc whispered in her ear.

“I
thought it fitting to give you a title,” she whispered back. “I need to inform
the others that we have guests. I doubt they’ll be pleased.”

He
bowed to her and then turned to Chae and clapped him on the back.

“We
got here as soon as we could. Do you want to tell me what’s going on?” He
asked.

“Come
and eat, and we’ll explain everything. Trust me, you’ll want to be sitting when
you hear our tales.”

Chae
and Dahlia sat in silence as Madoc finished telling them just what exactly was
going on. The whole story. Dahlia gripped
Chae’s
hand, but he was in shock and didn’t realize that her fingernails were digging
into his skin. They jumped when Colbert and Darby burst into the room.

“What
a pleasant surprise this is,” Darby said, trying but failing to make his voice
light.

“You’ve
told them!” Colbert cried. “I knew we couldn’t trust you, but Tempani insisted.
It’s all over.”

“Now
hold on a moment,” Madoc said dangerously and rose from his seat. “Do not start
with me Colbert. We’re all in this together. You think just because I’m noble I
don’t understand what’s going on in this kingdom?”

“You
live a lie, Madoc. People don’t know you’re Kalaowin.”

Madoc
growled and grabbed the healer by his collar, pinning him against the wall. His
large frame shook as anger coursed through him. Colbert gasped for breath and
flailed his legs at the bigger man, trying to drive him back.

“Now
this won’t do,” Tempani sighed when she walked into the room. Madoc yelped and
drew his arms away from Colbert, allowing him to get free.

“What
did you do?”

“Stung
your hands. Run them under some cold water and you’ll be fine,” she said. “Now,
do you think you two can just pretend to get along for my sake?”

Colbert
extended his hand. “I’m sorry,” he said. “I’m just on edge at the moment. If
we’re found out, they’ll go after Leandra too.”

Madoc
shook his hand and then gave him a friendly pat on the back. “I understand.”

The
three turned when they heard the scraping of chairs. Tempani looked down.
Dahlia was in a deep curtsey, her hand on her heart.

“Dahlia,
what are you doing?”

“I
felt you that day you used your magic. I felt it in my bones, but I didn’t know
it was you or I would have rushed to your side,” she whispered. “I have been
waiting for this day to come as my ancestors have waited before me. I will
follow you where you lead.”

Tempani
picked up Dahlia’s hand and pulled her to her feet and into a hug. “Never bow
to me again. Ever,” she said.

“Papa’s
going to be furious,” Chae muttered. “And Nic. He doesn’t know, does he?”

Tempani
pulled herself free of Dahlia’s grasp and crossed the room to her brother. She
knelt before him and clasped his hands in hers. “Nic doesn’t know. I can’t
afford him to know just yet. Not until we are ready to make a stand.”

“And
how will you make this stand? With bloodshed?”

“We
have no other choice.”

“Yes
you do,” he said. “Come back with me now and marry Nic. Then maybe as queen you
can start to fix these things.”

“No,
I can’t. You know that any queen this kingdom’s had is useless. They have no
voice,” she said bitterly. “Marrying Nic won’t do our cause any good.”

“He
will change things if you give him reason to.”

“He
won’t. None of them have ever changed anything!” She threw her arms in the air.
“Hallam has too much control over him. And he’s made it clear I will never be
queen. I need to do this my way.”

“The
only way you are going to succeed is through a war, and many lives will be lost
in that case. Is that what you want?”

Tempani
jumped to her feet. “Take a look around. We’re already at war!”

“What
you’re doing is treason.”

“Chae,
stop it,” Madoc warned.

“You’ve
all filled her head with these tales of greatness but have you thought about
how she’s going to achieve this greatness? You will kill a lot of people in the
process. Our friends, Madoc. You’ll be killing our friends.”

“Chae,
I need your support,” Tempani pleaded. “Please.”

“I
want to, but I don’t know if I can.”

Everybody
stood by silently as they watched brother and sister stare at one another.
Desperation in both of their eyes.

“I
need to think,” he whispered.

“
All
right
.” She nodded, tears
bright in her eyes. “We will give you space.” She ushered everyone out of the
room and then stopped at the door. “I love you Chae. Whatever you decide, that
won’t change.”

He
sighed. “I love you too.”

—

Hallam
lounged in the chair as he watched his brother pace his study. The king looked
tired. He had been holed up in Parliament all day discussing the situation in
the city. And it had not gone well.

“Now
they’re not happy with Princess
Naleeni
. First the
other girl and now this one,” he cried. “Do they not want Nicolass to marry at
all?”

“The
commoners are at it again?” Hallam barely disguised the boredom from his voice.
The way his brother ranted about the commoners and the Kalaowins and everything
else wrong with the kingdom grated on his nerves. Wimarc never did anything to
fix the problem. If he were king, he would have put a stop to this a long time
ago. The solution was simple.

“We
received reports from the northern border that they are refusing to work.”

“And
what are their overlords doing about the problem?”

“Appealing
to me for help.” Wimarc stopped pacing and faced his younger brother. “This
needs to be squashed, but it’s a very precarious situation. Darby has been
warning me of this for years.”

Hallam
snorted and rolled his eyes. “Darby is weak when it comes to the lower classes
and now so are you. You indulge them.”

“Indulge
them?” He scoffed. “I do no such thing.”

“Then
send your army into the city and put a stop to their riots once and for all.”

“I’ll
have to run it past the Parliament first. Get their backing before I do
anything.”

Hallam
sighed and rose to his feet, downing his brandy. “Of course, you do.”

—

Dahlia
linked her arm through Tempani’s as they strolled around the grounds,
Tilaw
running alongside them as he chased after
butterflies. The sisters were busy tending to the garden and worked in silence
as they dug with their bare hands, treasuring the earth the Gods blessed them
with.

“The
city is a shambles,” Dahlia said, her voice soft. Tempani was beginning to
notice that when anyone spoke of troubles in the kingdom it was done in hushed,
fearful tones. One day that would stop, and people would be free to speak their
minds. “The commoners are terrified that things will get worse for them with a
Galen queen.”

“Have
they made an announcement?” She asked but wasn’t sure if she wanted to hear the
answer.

Dahlia
shook her head and squeezed Tempani’s hand. “Nic is trying to delay things as
long as possible. He still holds out hope that you’ll come back and agree to
marry him.”

“Sometimes
I think maybe it would be easier to just marry him and try to change things
that way.”

Dahlia
sighed sadly. “It would be impossible. You know that. Even if you did marry him
now, his father isn’t going anywhere soon and the people of this kingdom won’t
wait for that to happen. And who is to say that Nic won’t rule as his ancestors
have before him.”

“You’re
right,” she said. “I can’t help but think it will be impossible either way.”
She stopped walking and turned to face her friend. “How am I going to unite two
races that despise one another?”

Dahlia
placed her hands on Tempani’s shoulders and gave her a gentle shake. “Because
they both believe in you. You just need to make them believe in each other.”