Here She Rules: The Chronicles of Erla: Book 1 (48 page)

Finishing her meal, she stood and held out her hand to him and he took it in confusion. Never had a beautiful warrior wanted him to share her bed. The man was nervous as she led him to the bed and bid him undress, but he complied quickly and went easily into the bed with her.

The following morning, Kara ordered her warriors to ready their cold weather clothes as she intended to ride to King Nyles and search his kingdom. The women, refreshed after a bath and a night in a soft bed mounted quickly and followed her northwards.

Meanwhile, King Darien of Destia was standing with King Nyles in Nyles’ private apartments. The brows of each monarch were creased, and they were absorbed in conversation.

“Nyles, what could have become of her? I find it hard to believe that she has been held captive this long with no ransom demand, and if she were lost, she would have been returned to Nera by now. I have searched the whole of my country with no success, yet I do not believe her dead,” Darien said.

“Nor do I. Such news would have reached us by now. I cannot fathom what has happened to her. I have nearly daily contact with Nall, and he has had no word either. I cannot get him to come to court. Hunting must be particularly good this time of year, but I would have thought he would be quick to join in the search for Lady Cassandra,” Nyles said, frowning slightly.
 

Since they returned from Erla, Nall had not been the same carefree man he once had been, and Nyles knew it was directly related to Cassandra. Nall was in love; his father could see it quite plainly. That grieved him because he knew the Lady would not leave Erla to become his daughter-in-law, and his son was therefore doomed to have a broken heart.

“It is odd that Nall has not appeared. I know of his feelings for Lady Cassandra. I would have thought he would lead the charge in championing her return,” Darien said before turning to pace a bit.
 

Thoughts of the Erlan Commander ran through his mind. Their night together was a fond memory to him. The rivalry with Nall had led him to be quite foolish towards her, and that memory still burned. Darien knew Nall was in love with her, and he was fairly sure it was not something he would get over quickly—hence his absence.

“I have thrown every available female in his path, but he has shown no interest. So, I have contented myself to let him heal and come around whenever he feels he is ready,” Nyles said, shaking his head.

“That is probably for the best, Nyles,” Darien replied. "Perhaps, I should ride out to the outpost, visit with him a bit, and aggravate him out of his depression." A wide grin split Darien’s face.

Nyles looked at the other King for a moment and laughed.

“That just might do it, but then again it may also start a war!”

“I give my word, Your Highness, that I will not hold anything your son says to me against Serlenn,” Darien assured with him a bow—still grinning. “Besides, if the hunting is that good, then I can’t let Nall have all of the fun.” Nyles laughed again, and the two men decided that Darien would go and pay a surprise visit to Nall in two days’ time.

XXIX

Fara looked at Nall as he stood enrobed in weak winter sunlight—his hair the color of the thick snow—and sighed.
 

He was so beautiful, so strong, and he was such a wonderful lover, she believed she could look at him forever.
 

She sighed again, pulling the blanket more firmly about her legs. She had given up hope of regaining her former life and memories. A messenger had come days ago from the healer further north. The individual with a similar memory loss (due to head injury) never regained his memories. She was not sad, though; her lot could have been much worse, and she ended up well-cared-for.

Nall had hitched a sleigh up and was checking the bindings on the stout draft horses which would pull them through the snow. She had waited all morning while he trained with his men, and now, he was finally hers again.
 

She had been battling restlessness these past couple of weeks. She could not figure out what she could possibly be missing, so she was determined to dismiss it. She had been working with some of the Ladies at the fort on her sewing and embroidery. Apparently, she had forgotten how to do even that. Fara was working on a new cloak for Nall. It was a surprise, and she couldn’t wait to see his face when she gave it to him. The nagging feeling that she was supposed to be doing something was suppressed for a bit when she had begun her sewing, but now it was roaring to life again. She just felt like there was something else she should be doing, and the nagging dream about the man with golden eyes had plagued her for a full week now.
 

She didn’t know who or what he was; she only saw eyes of shining gold.
 

She had told Nall about it, and he had dismissed it as though it was nothing, but she felt there had to be more to it if she continued having the exact same dream. Sighing again, she looked up and met Nall’s dark blue eyes and smiled.

“What were you thinking about that had you so serious, my love?” he asked.

“I was thinking that I might take up arms in order to spend more time with you,” she returned, and she was puzzled when Nall frowned.

“Fara, women do not fight. You know that,” he said gruffly.

“I know. I know. I am just so in love with you that I want to be with you all of the time.” Her lips quivered into a pout. Nall’s face relaxed and he smiled, leaning over to bite gently on her lip.

“I love you too—so much—but I must train my men. I must train with them properly if they are to respect me as their leader and future King,” he said as he stepped into the sleigh and pulled up the blanket to sit down, touching her.
 

He arranged the blankets snugly around them and took up the reigns, urging the horses into a canter.
 

They laughed and talked as the icy landscape passed them by. Fara snuggled close to Nall. Her hands, covered in thick mittens, rested in his lap. Nall held the reigns with one hand, and the other was draped across her shoulders holding her close to him. They stopped before a frozen lake and admired the prismatic colors the sun threw off of the frozen tree limbs.
 

Nall turned and cupped her face, kissing her softly on the lips.

“I want to marry you, Fara. I want you to be my Queen.” He stared earnestly into her eyes and watched them widen in surprise and then warm in happiness.

“Nall, I would love to be your wife and spend every day of my life at your side,” she replied, and Nall kissed her deeply. They sat holding one another quietly until they heard the sound of hoof beats on the snow.
 

They both stood and turned to see a small group of men coming out of the woods. Seeing them, Nall and Fara sat and turned the sleigh in their direction. Nall reached behind the seat and took out his sword, holding it out of sight.

 
“Ho!” the riders called out. “Prince Nall!”
 

Nall’s heart plummeted when he recognized Darien. His idyll was over; now, she would discover the truth. He looked down at her, and she beamed up at him, oblivious to his inner heartbreak.
 

Darien rode up to them, grinning. “How are you, my friend?”

“King Darien, I am well,” Nall said, swallowing convulsively as Darien’s eyes moved to Nall’s companion, and he watched as the smile slid from his face in confusion.
 

Darien’s eyes shot to Nall and then back to the woman at his side while Fara smiled at Darien and bowed her head politely.

“Greetings, Your Highness. It seems My Lord’s manners have deserted him. I am Lady Fara, a guest of his Highness,” she said, smiling warmly at Darien.
 

Darien was thunderstruck. This was Cassandra, and he knew it was. What was going on here? He looked at Nall hard, and the Prince flushed guiltily.

“I am pleased to meet you, My Lady,” Darien smiled at her. He looked at Nall and his eyes narrowed dangerously. “Lord Nall, I have come at your father’s invitation to enjoy the fine hunting to be had, and I am most eager to hear all the latest news of interest from you.” He smiled meaningfully at Nall.

“Yes, My Lord. I would be honored to be your host. Let us return to the keep.” Nall helped Fara to sit and arranged the blankets around her. Picking up the reigns, he set the horses in motion, followed by Darien and his guard.
 

Fara looked at him strangely, wondering at his silence.

“Nall, what is the matter?” she asked as Darien came abreast to ride next to them.

“It is nothing, my love. We will speak of it later,” he said.

“Lady Fara, is it? How long have you been in this country?” Darien asked pleasantly as he pulled his horse up to trot alongside the sleigh.
 

Fara turned and smiled at the King of Destia as he rode beside them.

“I have been with My Lord Nall for just over two months now, Sire. He came to my rescue in the forest,” she said.

“Rescue? Indeed. Why were you in need of rescue, My Lady?”

“I had sustained a head injury, and I have lost all memories of my life before the accident. Lord Nall came upon me in the forest and took me in—healing and caring for me.” She turned her smile on Nall and squeezed his hand.

“Really? How chivalrous of him.” Darien’s eyes went over her head and locked with Nall’s, narrowing with menace.

“Yes, he has been very kind to me,” she returned, missing the looks flying between the men.

“I can tell he has. You were indeed fortunate in your rescuer,” Darien said.
 

They arrived at the fort and were soon stepping out of the sleigh as Darien and his men dismounted. They hurried into the Great Hall, making for the fireplace as Fara called out orders to the servants for food and drinks for their royal guest.
 

She saw the men seated and comfortable by the fire and then fussed over them when the food and drink came. She handed a warm goblet of Mull to King Darien and blushed under his intent gaze before handing another to Nall.

“My Lady, would you be so kind as to leave Darien and myself to some men’s talk?” Nall asked, taking her hand and bringing it to his lips.

“Of course, My Lord. If there is anything you need, please, do send a servant for me,” she answered, smiling down into his eyes before bowing to Darien and leaving the room.

“What game is this, Nall?” Darien asked without preamble. Nall stood and walked to the fireplace, resting his head on the mantle and staring into the flames. “Why have you not told her who she is? Why has she not been returned to Erla?” Darien demanded.

“I . . .” Nall trailed off, not knowing what to say.

“You must tell her, Nall. You have to confess what you have done. Are you insane? Did you think you could get away with keeping her here forever? What if her memory returned? You would be lucky if all she did was kill you. This is madness!” Darien stood and began pacing. “I know you believe yourself to be in love with her, but god’s above and below, how could you think this would ever work out?!” Darien’s voice rose.

“I knew one day it would come out, Darien. I am not that much a fool. I saw a chance to be with the woman I love, have a life with her, no matter how short, and I took that chance. Cassandra would never have given up Erla and Nera to be with me; I know that. When I found her and she had no memory, I knew I should have returned her to Erla, but I couldn’t. I wanted the chance to love her.” Nall spoke passionately, and Darien ran his hand through his thick black hair.

“You know I have to tell her, right? Even now, the Lady Kara rides for Serlenn to enlist our aid in finding her Commander. How long till she stands at your door with a sword in her hand demanding the return of her friend? If you will not tell her everything, then I will.” Nall’s eyes flashed fire at Darien. “Would you kill me to secure another day with her? If you truly love her, how can you resign her to the life of a docile lap dog at your hearth? Don’t you miss the woman of fire and passion who is sadly missing in this shadow of her former self? Do you really love Cassandra, or do you love this meek, mild Fara you have created?” Darien raged at Nall.

“No, Darien, I love her! I would take her any way in which I could have her. I know you are right, however. I know I have to tell her.” Nall hung his head and rubbed his watering eyes.

“You will tell her now?” Darien asked. Nall nodded.

“I will tell her tonight. Now, if you please, I need a moment.” Nall turned and left the room, heading outside for fresh air.
 

Darien called one of his men to him, and quickly scratching out a note, he ordered the man to take a fast horse to intercept Lady Kara on her way to Serlenn and to bring her here; he had what she was looking for.
 

The man nodded and turned quickly to find his horse.