The Sphere Chronicles: A Holding Kate Series Book (13 page)

“I’ve got her!”

“She’s so pale...”

“For the love of a thousand years, she looks like death!”

“She will be fine. Let’s move.”

Starlythe jostled in the saddle, aware of Staid’s large arm clamping her to his chest. Her head lolled back on his chest and pain seared her shoulder.

“Drayse?” she whispered.

“He is well. We got to him.”

She searched the horses ahead of them and saw Krenne’s blonde braids flapping against her neck.
Good, she is safe, too.
Blackness claimed her again.

She blinked open her eyes. The torches lit her room back at Cheulseti Castle. Her mother, Chief Murkhul, sat on her bedside, stern face peering down. “What have you done, my brave daughter?”

“Saved Cheulseti,” Starlythe bristled in reply.

Chief Murkhul’s stoic expression cracked into a half smile. “So I hear.”

“Do not punish my strike force, Mother. I take full responsibility.”

“How noble of you. Does this mean you want full credit, too?”

Starlythe snapped her eyes to gauge the Chief’s expression.

“Credit?”

“Of course, all of Cheulseti is celebrating the defeat of the Dracosphynx. The people have taken to the streets in celebration.” Chief Murkhul broke into a full smile. “I have named your whole strike force as my personal bodyguards. There is no higher honor known in the Crags. But if you are alone in this, I will have to demote them.”

Starlythe reached for her monarch’s hand and kissed it. “Thank you, Mother.”

“No, my jewel, thank you.” She held tightly to the warrior’s hand.

A knock on the door preceded the entrance of her six warrior companions. They filed in and stood around her bed, grinning down on her. On Staid’s cue, they knelt and slammed their fists over their chests in salute.

“The Dracosphynx is downed. Long live Starlythe our War Leader!”

MANIFUS STOOD AT
the end of the pier and waved his bardic blessing to the Sisterhood of the Sword as their barge drifted away from the dock. The townspeople, who had gathered around the lakeshore, drifted back to their normal routine. Chief Murkhul stood behind the Royal Bodyguard as they watched the boat carry away their loved ones.

Manifus softly sang a song of blessing and safe passage to his mentor, Lady Grace, as he watched her boat lumber around a bend in the river and pass from sight. When he turned around, Staid had taken Chief Murkhul’s arm and was leading her back to the horses with Brashtor and Candol following behind them.

At the other end of the pier stood Krenne, shielding her eyes and waiting for him. Her blonde hair hung loose around her shoulders and ruffled in the slight morning breeze. He paused and took in the sight of her. She was wrapped in a long white fur that topped her knee-high boots. Her sword jutted beneath the coat at an angle, and her other hand rested on its hilt. She was stunning in the morning sunlight as though a ray of it had broken away and landed in human form.

He walked toward her but she did not move from her position, and he realized she was not looking at him but rather where the barge had been. He drew alongside her and turned to look in the same direction. She seemed lost in thought, and he did not want to disturb her.

“Who knows what they are headed into?” she whispered, concern sketched across her face.

Manifus wondered who she was most worried about, the calculating and invincible Stealthlin, the formidable and most skilled warrior in all of Ampeliagia, Starlythe, or the physically stunning and freakishly handsome Drayse.

“We will sing prayers for them every day. How does that sound?” he answered.

She turned her vivid blue eyes to him and smiled. “That sounds really nice.”

“Good. Every day we will meet at a time and place of your choosing and sing our prayers together.” Manifus was already looking forward to it.

“Third watch, starting tonight.” She glanced over the mountain city that curled up to the heights. “Right there.” She pointed to a midway point where a small landing had been built along the main roadway overlooking a sheer drop to the roots of the next mountain. The west side of the cobbled street was bordered by merchant storefronts, stalls, and shops.

“Accord.” He slapped two fingers across his wrist to indicate a deal had been struck.

Krenne laughed and repeated his gesture.

They began the ascent to the horses where Agus, Manifus’s servant, awaited.

Manifus suddenly turned to Krenne. “Would you like to walk with me?”

She hitched up one brow and looked at the steep climb up the mountain to the palace far above. “Are you sure you are up to it, Bard?” she asked skeptically.

Manifus jerked back in exaggerated shock at her insult. “I am more than capable of climbing the city streets of Cheulseti!” He feigned injured feelings but glanced up at the steep incline, a little worried.

Again, Krenne’s sparkling laughter rang out echoing around the mountains. “Well, if you are sure, I would be happy to accompany you.”

Manifus waved Agus on ahead and he and Krenne moved to the paved walkway that bordered the shops along the route, leaving the bricked roadway for the horses and carts.

“Tell me about your friendship with Drayse,” Manifus requested.

“What do you want to know?” A small girl passed by and handed a blue flower to Krenne. She accepted it and patted the blushing child’s head. She beamed adoring eyes up to the warrior girl.

Krenne was quite famous in the city of Cheulseti. She was one of seven warrior teens who had eliminated the threat of the Dracosphynx, an evil dragon-like creature, by defeating him in battle. Their reward was to receive tattoos of honor, and they were elevated to the status of Royal Bodyguard to the clan chief. They couldn’t go anywhere in the Crags without recognition.

Since Krenne was tiny compared to the statuesque warband, she had become a favorite among the children, who found her less intimidating and a lot more approachable. Manifus agreed with them.

Krenne tucked the flower behind her ear and searched Manifus’s face intently.

Manifus cleared his throat, unsure how to ask what he truly wanted to know—if she and Drayse were romantically involved. “You have been close for a while?”

“Yes.” She sang the word as though it were a question.

Manifus felt his face flush and worked his jaw. He couldn’t bring himself to say the words. Was she toying with him? A sidelong glance confirmed his suspicion; her eyes were shining with mischief.

Her eyes always twinkled—it was one of the many things about her he found so attractive. Again, he cleared his throat. “Are you…do you…” He drew a quick breath, frustrated with his sudden and unusual lack of words.

Krenne danced sideways and ducked her head to see his face. “Manifus, please feel free to ask me anything you want. There should be no secrets or discomfort between us.”

“I don’t want to misspeak. I am still very new to the traditions of the Cheleuthi. I am afraid I will ask something inappropriate and risk our friendship.”

“
Friendship
,” she said the word like it didn’t interest her at all. He felt his heart shrivel at the thought that she didn’t care for him. He redirected the conversation to safer ground.

“You have inherited the trading responsibilities for the clan?”

Krenne’s face turned away, but she answered pleasantly. “Yes. I have been…”

Manifus had trouble hearing anything for a while, his mind berating him for his clumsy attempts. They wound through the city streets, speaking of light topics until they ascended to the palace, which crowned the city at the top of the mountain.

“I have duty now.” Krenne paused on the steps of the palace. “I will meet you on the mid-terrace in a few hours.” She dipped to the side and waved before she danced away into the castle.

He watched her float away, a delicate and perfect specimen. He could not imagine her in any sort of battle, she was so fragile and light.
Sunrays on the wings of a butterfly
, he thought.

A memory broke into his thoughts of the night Chief Murkhul had announced that Manifus was to take a bride from the Cheleuthi and thereby seal himself by blood and song to the clan. He knew that moment there would be no other woman for him. But with the battle against the Bicka rescuing Starlythe and Daenara, he saw how deeply the Cheleuthi warriors were bound. He observed her seeking comfort in Drayse’s arms and companionship. He saw the intense affection displayed between them and realized there might be a prior claim to her.
Of course there is! Just look at her, she is the most beautiful woman in the kingdom.

Manifus scraped his boot along the sandy stones of the palace courtyard and sat down on the low wall that edged the steps. Agus found him there a few hours later.

“Manifus, you missed your lunch.” He tossed him an apple.

“Thanks.” He took the apple and turned it over and over in his hands.

“What has you in such a dilemma, my friend?” Agus sat down beside Manifus on the wall.

Manifus shrugged and lifted the apple to his mouth, savoring a bite.

“Do you remember our agreement?” Agus folded his arms and looked up at the clouds. “You come to me for advice about our clan, and I get to spend my life in happy service to our bard.”

“I think I have failed my first assignment, Agus.”

“Your first assignment?”

“To choose a wife from the clan.”

“Is Chief Murkhul pressuring you in some way?”

“No! I just feel the longer it takes me to decide, the more of an insult it will be to the people.”

“Manifus, isn’t it obvious?”

Manifus jerked his head up to look at his new friend. “What?”

“You have already chosen.” Agus tapped his shoulder before he walked back into the castle.

He and Krenne met nightly on the mid-terrace, sang prayers, and talked long into the star rotation. Many mornings dawned with them sitting on the edge of the ledge, dangling their feet into the expanse, still talking of deep topics, sharing knowledge and stories.

He came to understand the traits of each Cheleuthi warrior that gave them such skill in battle. Starlythe, the youngest leader of the Cheleuthi warband, mastered all the skills. Staid’s strength and loyalty was legendary. Drayse’s knives were as sharp as his wit, and his fame spread as widely as his courting choices. He boasted knowledge of sailing. Brashtor, tall and elegant, trained under Staid as a fearless leader and bred horses. Stealthlin was cunning and had a unique ability to predict outcomes of battle plans with exacting accuracy. Candol, fierce in hand-to-hand combat, was responsible for training the new recruits. All Krenne would say about herself was that she was pretty fast.