Dark One Rising (47 page)

He really stared at her now. “What king?”

She laughed at him in jest. “The King of Azlyn, you ninny.”

The implication of what she said finally took hold. His countenance changed. “What has he done?” There was an anger in his tone, and she was surprised at its aim. She stood from the bench and placed her hands on her hips.

“He has done nothing except keep me safe and expressed his love for me.”

“Melenthia, you’re a bright girl, and I know you know better. Words from a man such as he is bait for what he really wants. You know who you are talking about, right?”

She sighed in exasperation. “Yes, Kevaan, I know exactly who he is and what he was, but no more. I may not be the sharpest pike in the armory, but I can read people’s hearts. He loves me. I promise you that.”

He stood up now and looked at her fiercely. “You didn’t…” He let the accusation hang in the air.

She glared at him. “That’s none of your business.”

“What? I’m your brother, and now your king. It is my business.”

She tried playing with him, tried to get him to realize how ridiculous he was being. “First you and father are irritated with my lack of cooperation, now you’re angry when I finally choose to cooperate.”

“I don’t fault you for wanting to make a choice after everything that has happened, everything you have been put through, but only in the choice itself. He took advantage of your vulnerability.”

She was getting angry herself. “No, he didn’t! The choice was mine. I’m a big girl, Kevaan, and I can make my own decisions about my life.”

“Why, Melenthia? Why him?”

“Because he’s not the man you think. I didn’t just fall victim to a poetic tongue. It goes deeper than that. And I didn’t just fall for him the moment I laid eyes on him either. The feelings have been growing for months. He’s the one, Kevaan. Believe what you will.”

Kevaan looked at her and sighed, frowning, not with disappointment at her, but in himself instead. He took her hands in his and kissed her knuckles.

“I’m sorry I lost my temper. I know you’re a grown woman with grace and intelligence, but it’s hard for me to see you that way sometimes. In my mind you’re still a little girl begging me to play hide-n-seek with you. I knew the grown-up woman was in there somewhere. I’m just surprised to see her.”

She smiled admiringly up at him. “I know, but it’s time for you to stop and realize that I am grown-up. There are things you need to know; then you really will see that I’m no longer the same woman you remember.”

“I will give you my blessing, and him, if that will make you forgive me.”

“There’s nothing to forgive. I know you’ll always be my big brother no matter how old I am. But you and I are the only family we have left, Kevaan, and we’ll have to stick together if we’re going to get through what’s coming.”

“Yes, I know.” He took a big breath in. “What news do you have?”

She bit the inside of her lip in contemplation. She thought it better that Sol and the elf told him themselves. He’s been shaken up enough with her declarations.

“Come on, let’s join the others in the conference room. We need to do this side by side.”

He looked down on her again, “I’m happy if you are, Melenthia. I’m so proud of you. I’m relieved that you’re safe.”

“For the moment.”

He kissed her cheek and they left the room hand in hand.

CHAPTER 29

K
evaan and Melenthia sat quietly on the garden bench. Melenthia had her feet dangling in the pool. Kevaan was twirling his sword around in his hand, the tip pressed into the soft garden soil.

They had been sitting like that for about an hour, all the words that had been exchanged in the conference room swirling around both their heads like bees in their hive. Nothing could be said that would change the situation, but Kevaan felt like he should have words of advice or wisdom for his sister. After today, he would no longer see her as the awkward little girl fighting for affections from everyone she met. She was mature and wise, and he saw in her a light that he had never noticed before. A light of truth. He didn’t know why this burden was given to her, but who was he to question destiny?

He looked over at her now, smiling lovingly, re-sheathing his sword in its scabbard at his side. He touched her bare arm, and she looked up at him.

“I don’t know what to say to you now. It used to be easy for us to talk, but now I find myself at a loss for words.”

“In my recollection, it was always I asking for advice, you always offering words of wisdom to me. Now, there is no advice, no words of wisdom to give. I’m not the same person I was four months ago. There are things that will never be the same. It is what it is. I don’t expect you to get me out of this, or to comfort me. It’s all on me now, and I have to accept it and move forward. I can do what must be done as long as I know I have people who love me. I could never go into this alone.”

“You will never be alone. I’ll always be here for you, and I will always love you. I also know that the men in that room are with you in this as well. Alek swore to protect you, and his promise goes on. He will stand with you and I, until the end. And Dain…I see the love he has for you when he looks at you. He’ll always be with you.” He still wasn’t sure that Dain was really sincere, but he didn’t want to upset her again. She had always been able to read the thoughts of men, and he knew he should believe that she was right about him, but he was still unsure. He would keep his doubts to himself.

“I’m sorry things turned out this way, Kevaan.”

He took her hand in his. “Don’t be sorry for something that was fate and nothing more. You couldn’t have changed the outcome even if you wanted to. Your purpose was set in stone before you were born.”

“I wish mother would have told me.”

“Maybe she didn’t know.”

“She knew; father, too.”

“Maybe they were afraid to tell you. Maybe they were afraid of what it might mean.”

“It would have been easier to have been able to prepare.”

“Either way, it’s your destiny. What you do with that now is up to you. And to think that all those burdens that you were weighed down with were nothing compared to what your future had in store for you.”

“That’s the way fate works I guess.”

“Yes. Just know that I love you, Melenthia, now and always. I’m proud at who you’ve become. If father were here, I know he would be proud too.” He leaned over and kissed her on the cheek.

“I love you too, Kevaan, and I will be afraid for you.”

“And I you, sweet sister.”

He stood from the bench, their hands slipping from each other. He left her alone in the garden with her thoughts.

As he was leaving, he bumped into Dain coming through the garden gate from the courtyard. They looked at each other for a moment, then Kevaan stuck out his hand.

“Your Majesty, I just wanted to say that I really do owe you everything for making sure Melenthia was safe all this time. No matter what happens now, I will be forever in your debt.”

“There is no debt, Kevaan, and it’s Dain please. There has always been peace between us and for that, I’m grateful. This will be a difficult road for all of us, especially for Melenthia. She can’t win unless we all fight as one.”

Kevaan started to say something, then stopped himself. Dain sensed his hesitation and smiled. “You’re still unsure as to whether my intentions are honorable where Melenthia is concerned.”

“I mean no disrespect to you, Dain, but you have to understand my concern. It’s only for Melenthia’s well being that I even wonder.”

Dain shook his hand as if in dismissal. “You have a right to question. I know what my bad choices have done to mar my reputation thus far. I spent too many years not caring about my reputation or my responsibilities. I have learned the hard way. As far as Melenthia goes, my word is true. I love her, with all my heart. She has affected me in a way I cannot explain, and I will give my life to her if she’ll have me, or give my life for her if necessary. I know that you love her, and I swear I do too.”

Kevaan stuck out his hand again for Dain to take. They clasped wrists. “Thank you, Dain. My sister is anything but gullible, but I still worried that everything she had been through caused her to just want to reach out to someone, anyone. That her judgment was skewed because of that. Forgive me for my doubt.”

“No forgiveness necessary. She is very lucky to have had you looking out for her all these years. It’s made her who she is today.”

“I almost wish I hadn’t.”

“I can imagine why you feel that way; however, if you had not, she wouldn’t be ready for this. You prepared her for this path whether you knew you were doing it or not. And from what Alek tells me, you were very thorough.”

“I thought I had ruined her chances for love.”

“Not so.”

They shook hands again. There was silence between them for a moment or two, then, “I will be leaving tomorrow. I can’t stay away from Aaralyn any longer. I shudder to think what Fallon or that thing could do in my absence. I already took a chance leaving at all, but I couldn’t bear sending a messenger with such grave news.”

“I understand. I will make sure you are accommodated with supplies for your return trip. I’m sending Alek and some men to Isamar to speak with the Chancellor in Salador. It’s time we meet and ask him for his allegiance. You can ride out together.”

“He’ll be hard pressed to listen. They have always been suspicious of the intentions of men. It will take a push to get him to listen, much less to even think about joining us.”

“Yes, I know, but we have to try. If he knows what’s happening perhaps he will be more inclined to listen.”

Kevaan shook his head. “I’m skeptical even with that. They’ll fight off Fallon’s men if they try to infiltrate cities further across his border, but joining us in the fight will be a different matter.”

“Alek is quite a diplomat when he wants to be. God knows he has talked me into a few things with reasoning over the years. I can’t afford to assume that we cannot persuade him. I have to believe that knowing what Fallon wants will change their mind. I don’t expect them to have fealty to me, and I would assume you feel the same?”

“Aye.”

“Then without future fealty to either province and remaining a sovereign nation to rule as they see fit, I can’t believe they will not agree. But, time is short, and men we need. I’m willing to take what time it requires for the trip.”

“I wish you luck on this, Dain. My men and I will be ready. I’ll be dispatching troops into the surrounding cities to keep his armies back. I don’t know if it will help, or if I’ll be in time. I must assume that he’s getting close to the borders by now. Tarrying will only delay the inevitable.”

“God speed to you, Kevaan.”

“Thank you, Dain.”

Kevaan headed through the courtyard and back into the castle. Dain went through the gate and out into the garden. He sat down on the bench next to Melenthia, who looked his way and leaned in to kiss him. When they parted he brushed a curl out of her face and smiled, looking into her eyes.

“Your brother is leaving tomorrow.”

“Yes, I know. He has to get back. I hope it’s not too late. He should’ve sent a messenger with word.”

“He felt you deserved to hear it from his own lips.”

“At what cost? His throne? His realm?”

“I don’t fault him for his decision. Besides, I think he needed to see you, to make certain you were safe. He feels guilty for all that he has set upon your shoulders.”

“None of it being his fault.”

“You’re right, but when you love someone, you feel the pain no matter what. I feel pain for you, for this task that has befallen you. I feel fear for you. I feel guilt for not being able to take this burden from you. It makes us feel helpless.”

She kissed him again. “I’m afraid for you as well. You have a heavy burden too, and I wish I could have kept you from it.”

“I don’t wish things had gone a different way. If you hadn’t been given this pain, you would have never stepped through my door. Then where would I be? I’d still be a lost boy, trying to find his way to becoming a man, not knowing the love of a special woman who stole his heart and made him whole. Whatever the reasons, I’m so very grateful that you and I crossed paths. I love you now and always.”

“I don’t want anyone to die for me, especially you.” Tears came to her eyes now.

“Don’t cry, Melenthia. I’ve sworn my life to you. Whatever road that takes us on, for as long as it takes, I will not change my oath. You’re my destiny, and if we are meant to be together in this life forever, we will be. You can’t go into this with fear of the future. You must always have hope.”

“I love you.”

“And I love you. Come, I know you must want to spend as much time with your brother as you can before he leaves tomorrow. Let’s have dinner and toast good tidings. For one night, let’s enjoy the hearty laughter and good humor of each other. When the sun comes up tomorrow, there will be tasks to be done. For now, let’s enjoy our guests. Who knows when we’ll all be together again.”

He wiped away the lone tear she let slip by and kissed her again, holding her tight in his strong arms.