King (15 page)

Ela frowned. “Then while traveling between the Tracelands and Siphra, we've crossed your lands, not knowing it.”

“Our lands,” Kien corrected. “And, yes, you're right.”

Lindorms plagued those mountains. Ela squelched her fear of the vicious, lethal giant snakes. Surely Bryce would have alerted Kien and Prill to local lindorm infestations. But she shuddered, watching for the beasts as Bryce led their procession among the winding foothills.

Gradually the landscape changed, drawing her admiration. Towering, castle-like formations of gray rocks and steep cliffs walled a lush, stunningly green river valley. Here and there, rough stone walls protected rural stone dwellings. And herds of sheep grazed in bright meadows. Soon shepherds waved and yelled enthusiastic greetings to Bryce.

But, to a man, the shepherds' excitement shifted to frowns when they saw Ela and Kien.

Matters didn't improve as Bryce guided Ela and Kien through a rustic town. Fleece-clad men shook their heads, turning away in obvious disgust. Wool-clad women pursed their lips or clicked their tongues audibly before stomping into snug stone homes roofed with straw thatch.

Kien muttered to Ela, “We've displeased them without saying a word. What will happen if we dare speak?”

Before Ela could answer, Flame snagged a huge mouthful of thatch from a cottage roof and ripped it away, causing the roof to buckle.

Screams echoed from inside the cottage.

 15 

F
lame! No more!” Ela reached over Kien's arm, beckoning her sullen still-chewing destroyer. “I know you're hungry, but thatch roofs are not food!”

Flame gulped the mouthful and tilted her dark head away from the beleaguered home, outwardly obedient. However, Ela caught a rebellious glint in those black monster-horse eyes. Wonderful. If she and Kien couldn't find a suitable food source for these ever-grazing beasts, they'd be barred from Aeyrievale. Meanwhile, they must apologize.

Kien whispered, “Let's dismount and be sure those people are unharmed!”

Dear man. If this situation weren't so distressing, she would kiss his beguiling lips.

They dismounted, and Kien rapped on the home's carved wooden door. A plump woman finally answered, her tawny eyes round, her mouth crimped tight as if suppressing a scream. Kien inclined his head. “I am Kien Lantec. This is my wife, Ela.” As Ela offered the woman a sympathetic smile, Kien continued. “We're sorry. We'll pay for repairs to your roof and forbid our destroyers any foraging in the village.”

“Huh!” the woman sniffed, recovering her evidently formidable spirit. “The beast may's well gnaw on our homes—an' why not? Just addin' to the aeryon's attacks!”

Kien unleashed a warm smile and murmured, “We'll be sure your homes are protected. Your name is . . . ?”

The woman blinked, then stammered, “M-Mallissa Nones. The husband's Naor.” A rough-hewn man stepped up behind Mallissa now, giving Ela and Kien a scornful nod.

Ela sighed. Oh, Infinite, why—apart from the ravenous destroyers—did these people dislike her and Kien? “Again, we're sorry.”

Mallissa looked Ela over, clearly disapproving her riding boots, soft-layered blue tunic, the gold armband, and Ela's long braid. “I'm sure.”

A dismissal if Ela had ever heard one. Kien gave the irate villager another charming smile, then offered his arm to Ela with a courtier's grace. “Let's depart before Scythe's appetite threatens another roof.”

Ela shot a warning look at Pet. “No eating houses!” He shifted and turned—obviously feigning disinterest in the nearest thatch roof. Kien helped Ela climb onto Flame, then he seated himself on Pet and nodded to Bryce, who waited, cool and composed in his chariot.

Without inflection, Bryce told Naor and Mallissa, “Come up to the manor tomorrow and state your damages to me. I'll pay and order the roof repaired.”

Clearly respectful of Aeyrievale's steward, Naor nodded. “As you say, sir.”

Following Bryce, they set a brisk pace along the slab-paved main road. At the village's edge, Bryce diverted from the main road onto a broad, walled stone track carved into a gray cliff.

Was this home? Ela almost gasped, looking upward along the stone track. A series of gated arches, terraces, and towers led her gaze toward a succession of magnificent buildings that crowned the cliff's sheer drop into the valley below. Vines and a misted waterfall tumbled over the highest cliff, dissipating as it neared the ground.

Suspicious, roughened, weapon-carrying men eyed Kien and Ela at each gated terrace, seeming reluctant to allow them
through. As it was, because of Pet's height, Kien had to duck slightly to avoid striking his head on the stone archways.

The uppermost stone gate led into a paved courtyard. Ela slowly dismounted, still staring. How could this now be her home? Impossible. Entirely too grand. However . . . she noted that some of the tall shutters were splintered, while those vines—pretty as the flowers were—ought to be trimmed and trained to remain on their trellises, which looked badly weathered.

Bryce approached, followed by Prill, whose dark eyebrows couldn't be lifted any higher with her astonishment. Prill gasped, “Ela, how are we to manage all this?”

“A bit at a time?” Ela guessed.

Bryce's thin, tanned face glowed with enthusiasm as he addressed Kien. “My lord, now that revenues have been restored to the fief, we might plan repairs. The buildings themselves are solid, but the embellishments need refurbishing.”

“Wasn't Aeyrievale in control of its own revenues?” Ela demanded.

Sobering, Bryce shook his head. “No, lady. All our profits were taken by the court and divided among several Atean lords. But their abuses will end now that your husband has taken control of his lands.”

Ela winced. “That can't make the Atean lords happy.”

“It hasn't,” Bryce admitted. “Yet, if they quarrel, Lord Aeyrievale can afford to hire an army to fight them off.”

Kien grinned. Ela winced. Enemy-lords and hostile locals. Not reassuring. Infinite, help Kien! Particularly if she didn't return from her forthcoming mission. Kien swooped an arm around Ela. “Let's see to the destroyers, then explore the place!”

Helpful, Bryce nodded toward a large lower building with a particularly wide enclosed terrace. “I've ordered a small mountain of hay to the stables. Your apartments are in the uppermost rooms in the building above us—all unlocked.” He removed a broad ring of keys from his belt and offered them to Ela. “Enjoy your new residence, lady.”

“Thank you.” Ela accepted the keys. With a sidelong look at Prill, who was watching Bryce, Ela announced, “Matron Prill, you'll accompany us, please.”

Kien swung Ela aside, hissing, “Surely we're not being chaperoned in our own home!”

“Not at all,” she whispered, loving his nearness. “I simply want to be sure those two are kept properly away from each other.”

“Not a problem.” Kien looked around at the imposing buildings. “I must have a few barred cells or secured dungeons somewhere in these piles of stonework.”

“Kien!”

“Fine! I was only half . . . well, mostly . . . serious.”

Moving softly to avoid waking Kien, Ela finished braiding her hair while admiring her sleeping husband's own dark, shining hair—and his whiskers. Her mortal love. Oh, he was so handsome and delightful! How could she be so blessed?

Truly, Kien looked as if he belonged here, sleeping in the huge carved bed situated within this lordly, tapestry-hung room, which glowed in the morning light. Who would have ever thought, when they both chose to follow the Infinite, He would lead them to such a place? Even if Aeyrievale's natives scoffed at them both.

Rueful, Ela tucked away her comb and stood, pulling her heavy woolen outer robe close as she looked around. Exceptional stone carvings graced the walls, and the tapestries were a bit faded, but she liked their wilderness patterns of trees, cliffs, and waterfalls. Probably scenes from various places around Aeyrievale. Lovely inspiration to explore today. Perhaps they'd spy aeryons and—

A brisk pounding on the bedchamber door startled Ela from her reverie and woke Kien from his sleep. As he sat up and blinked, Ela rushed to open the door.

A sturdy woman nodded, her freckled face pleasant, and pushed a linen-draped tray at Ela. “Here's the mornin' meal, lady, seein's how yer late.” She turned away, adding, “Leave the
tray where ya stand—I'll fetch it later when I've strength to climb all th' stairs again.”

By now Kien stood beside her in his wrinkled robe, sleepy-eyed but pleased. “Food!”

Ela carried the tray to a nearby table and set it down while Kien arranged their chairs.

The instant Ela whisked aside the cloth, and the inverted basket that served as the tray's cover, a stench assailed her nostrils, making her lean away. “Ew!”

Kien grabbed a knife and poked at the scorched eggs and what looked like cubes of brown cheese. “I was afraid of this.”

“What?” Ela stared at the meal, certain she could bounce these eggs off a wall, if she'd been the sort of person who wasted food.

Kien grimaced and stabbed a brown cube. “It's the local Bannulk cheese—a character test in a dish.”

Wary, Ela nudged a brown cube with her knife while quizzing her doleful husband. “Is it too salty? Sour? Bitter? Sharp?”

“Solidified bile. And we're expected to like it. Therefore . . .” Kien picked up a cube, paused as if encouraging himself, then ate it. After swallowing, he said, “I dare you.”

She popped a cube into her mouth and chewed. Mistake! Ela almost spat out the stuff. “Ugh!” Bile was almost right. Vomit was exact. And she was supposed to like this? No doubt they'd face it at every meal. Infinite, protect me, please! Eyes watering, she swallowed. “How did you eat that cheese?”

“I've eaten worse.”

“Impossible!”

“Trust me, love, it's true.” He grinned now, his handsome face alight with inspiration. “We could bury this in the garden.”

“The trees would die. Anyway, we'll be forced to eat it often, I'm sure.” If they survived. Ela nudged Kien and braced herself. “Courage! The sooner we finish, the sooner we explore the valley and look for aeryons.”

Nose to nose with her, he said, “Ela, I love you.”

“After I eat this, Lord Aeyrievale, you'd best love me forever.”

“I do and I will.” He nudged her. “Let's finish this bile and escape before the cook offers us second servings!”

They choked down their food, then donned warm outer tunics. While Ela tugged on her oldest short-boots, she asked, “Why do you suppose the locals dislike us? We've done nothing offensive that I can think of—apart from Flame's bad judgment in selecting food.”

“I don't know. However, I'm more than willing to console you.”

Ela laughed, backing away as he approached. “I'm sure you are, but save your kisses for later.” She retrieved the branch and hurried to the stout iron-bound door leading to the terrace. Kien swept past her, unbarred the door, then escorted her outside, grinning mischievously.

Kien caught his breath against the morning's chill as they walked out onto the broad, stone-paved terrace balcony. Ela hurried to the stone balustrade and rested her elbows and the branch on the ornate stonework as she stared at the view. Looking away from his beguiling wife, Kien paused and stared, his delight fading. The entire valley lay before them in a vast panorama, bathed in golden dawnlight, verdant and spectacular. An amazing landscape. And
his
. He'd be responsible for everything in this valley—and for some distance beyond—until his death. Stunned, Kien stared from east to west, trying to absorb the realization.