Sorceress (Book 2) (32 page)

This time, the city of Talcosa practically leapt out of Kayleigh’s way. Even those hardened denizens used to witnessing a handful of battle maidens traversing their streets found themselves taking a few steps backward at the sight of the understrength Provisional Battalion working its way toward the city’s main gate. Glancing at the ranks behind her, the young sorceress tried to see things from the spectators’ point of view. Wearing armor, carrying shields, and holding lances pointed to the sky, the main body of lancers didn’t appear to be a group of trainees who had yet to complete their schooling. No, instead they looked rather fearsome. Lieutenant Lindsey Shepherd, leading the lancer column in her freshly polished armor, shimmered as the sun’s rays danced across the metallic surface.

Kayleigh was in the smaller group at the front with her shield strapped across her back. General Jyslin had given her, the fifth year Lead Rider, and Laurel Whitaker field promotions to senior riders and charged them with leading the three squads of scouts. Surprisingly, Brevet Major Meghan Lynch encouraged Kayleigh when she expressed uncertainty at being placed in charge of five other riders.

“Reese,” she said. “You have more actual combat experience than every trainee and the two maidens who brought your new unicorn to the island. You are also powerful enough to hold your own against a superior force. From my perspective the only thing you lack is situational awareness, and there is really only one way to learn that. It is one thing to be a dangerous warrior. Being able to fight while also directing others and bearing responsibility for their lives is another matter altogether. Even if you feel you are not ready, the position is yours because, of the available candidates, you and the others are the best suited for this task.”

Her gut instinct told Kayleigh that there was a story to the major’s comments on leadership. If Majherri were here, she could have asked him.

Iarisha shook her head and Kayleigh felt a pang of guilt over thinking about her first unicorn. The female Kayleigh sat astride seemed to have a good heart and was both grateful and unassuming. She’d come to the Sacred Isle to die, but received a new lease on life and an eagerness to be her partner. It was a definite change from the male unicorn Kayleigh recently released. Rheysurrah could never quite get over his feelings about Kayleigh’s responsibility for Annabeth’s death.

Considering he’s partly correct about that didn’t help either,
the young woman thought and stroked Iarisha’s mane with her left hand.

“How are you feeling?” she asked her unicorn.

She received a confident response from Iarisha, saying she was well enough to travel, but not ready for a fight. Considering how close the unicorn had been to joining her ancestors, the answer was more than enough. The deep blood bruises had only just faded as Iarisha’s coat regained some luster.

“Just keep focused on getting better,” Kayleigh cautioned and looked at the back of the major riding on T’rsa, next to General Jyslin. “Majherri’s rider will try to kill us both the first chance she gets. Hopefully, it won’t come to that, but I’ll need you at your best.”

“Who’s in your squad?” Laurel asked Kayleigh while riding next to her.

“Janet, from our year, two fourth year air maidens named Liz and Lucinda, and two more from the fifth year, fire maidens named Cameron and Erin. You?”

Janet was a good rider and decent enough with her water magic. Kayleigh hardly knew her, but the two had exchanged friendly words. She couldn’t do healing tears, but could sometimes do the unblockable strike. How well Janet could perform in combat remained to be seen.

Laurel listed the five maidens in her squad. The only one Kayleigh knew was Marcia Temple and, from Kayleigh’s point of view, the less she dealt with Marcia, the better. 

That reminded her and she fumbled in a pouch on her belt. Her fingers withdrew a trio of vials that she passed to her friend. “I had a good cry last night and made a dozen. Use them as you see fit. I’ll make more on the way or when we make camp. We’re trying to stockpile, but there’s only me, the major, and three of the others.”

Though the trainees had only been issued one vial for their patrol, actual riders in the field usually carried a minimum of four or five, but most of their stores had been sent with the forces traveling west.

Major Lynch could make upwards of twenty by herself. Kayleigh could usually make somewhere between eight and twelve with the other three around her level of production. Still, they’d be hard pressed to supply all the riders with more than three apiece.

“Thank you,” Laurel said. “I shouldn’t.”

“Just make sure you keep a spare for yourself,” Kayleigh said and winked. “I know you’ll hand the others out as soon as I’m not looking.”

Laurel rolled her eyes as the column came to a halt. Kayleigh turned her attention to the cause. It was a group of five men. The general said something to Tamera Akers who rode beside her and carried the pennant.

Tamera dipped the unit’s banner to the man and Kayleigh knew that only one man in Talcosa would get such treatment from a unit commanded by a general. A collective gasp went through the riders as, flanked by his four bodyguards, the High-King approached.

Instinctively, Kayleigh tensed as he greeted the general. Being too far back to hear the words exchanged between the two of them was both a blessing and a curse. The only thing she could do was observe his appearance. A neatly trimmed black beard framed his face and she wondered if the regal “air” about him came from his experience or was enhanced somehow by an enchantment. Either way, he commanded respect and exuded authority.

She breathed easier when the five men turned their steeds and lined up at the front. Tamera raised the banner and the battalion began moving once more.

If people were quick to move out of the way before, they were even more so with the man who ruled them at the head of the formation.

Not to anyone’s surprise, they made excellent time to the main gate. The double arches allowing wagons to enter the city and others to leave at the same time had their traffic stopped for the monarch.

He exited the city, still at the front of the column, and Kayleigh’s nervousness reached the point where she wanted to scream. Following him, General Jyslin led the Provisional Battalion to an area off the main road where it was open enough for her to spread her troops into a parade review formation. The riders broke from their four abreast formation and became two long lines with ample space between them for the General and the High-King to ride between them.

High-King Hayden Barris, in the saddle of a powerful-looking black stallion, addressed the group. His voice seemed magically amplified and coming at Kayleigh from right beside her instead of from fifty feet away.

“Young warriors,” he began. “I came myself to wish you a safe journey and to personally thank you for volunteering for this dangerous journey. With the armies moving to the west, you and your sister warriors are what stands between the barbarians and the towns and farmlands to the north. They will not hesitate to put our towns and villages to the torch and destroy the fall harvest, spreading famine and starvation wherever they go. Fight together and you shall overcome! Drive the savages back into the mountains and the Blessed Continent will forever be in your debt! They have made the city of Pinella into their stronghold and it is there that you will break their rebellion and bring the Yar to their knees once and for all!”

Kayleigh felt the cheers and the clanging of sword or lance against shield and almost got caught up in it herself, except for the fact that she could feel the magic in his words. It wasn’t like the compulsion her father used. No, that was the yoke of slavery. This made you want to believe in his words. It was pure charisma.

“But is it just as dangerous?” she wondered and guarded herself against his silken words.

General Jyslin led him down the line. The High-King made certain to nod at each Battle Maiden and exchanged a few words with some. It was a long and torturous wait for Kayleigh. Iarisha became her ally and sent calming thoughts her way.

“Thanks,” she whispered and ran her hand through the unicorn’s mane.

Keeping her hand across her chest in salute, she waited until her time came and his eyes met hers. Kayleigh felt the compulsion around him beckoning her, but refused to give into it.

He nodded at her. “Hello, young lady. You must be Kayleigh Reese.”

“Aye, your highness.”

“Your name and one similar to it are being whispered throughout the corners of this land. Naomi, I wish to speak with her further before you depart.”

“Certainly,” the general said, maintaining a rigid formality that showed she was resisting his charms as well. “Senior Rider, fall in behind us.”

“Yes, ma’am,” Kayleigh answered and waited for them to pass before moving Iarisha into position behind them. Logically, she doubted he would do anything to her in front of the battalion, but she couldn’t help worrying as they continued moving past the riders and unicorns. This time, Iarisha’s calming thoughts did little to improve her situation.

“Your majesty,” General Jyslin said. “Allow me to formally introduce Lady Kayleigh Nolan-West.”

All doubts were removed by her statement as the trio followed the battalion from behind. The High-King’s bodyguard trailed them.

“Well met, young lady,” he replied.

“And you as well, your majesty,” she answered, unsure of where this would lead and even more uncomfortable at being addressed by a noble title.

“Tell me, Lady Kayleigh, what do you stand for?”

What?
Of all the things he could have asked, this wasn’t something she’d anticipated.

“I beg your pardon, milord?”

“Tell me what you value, about the things that matter the most to you. I knew something of your mother when she was your age and I’m sure you know that I was quite familiar with your father. The things they valued at your age set them on a path and I am curious where yours may lead.”

Searching her thoughts, Kayleigh could only come up with, “Freedom, milord. I suppose if there is one thing I value above all else it is that.”

“A fine answer,” he said with a nod. “Having a say in one’s own fate is very important. Without that fundamental truth, nothing else matters. It is safe to say that your father coveted power above all things and your mother, from the few things I knew of her, valued merit or achievement...what she could make or the things she was capable of, if you will. Back to you, my dear. Tell me why I should allow you to leave with General Jyslin.”

“Whatever … I mean whoever else I may be, I am a Battle Maiden. My sisters need me. The unicorns need me. I’m one of a few who can make healing tears. I might be the only one here who can unleash a fireshade. Our chances of victory are better if I am with them.”

“And what of your father?”

“He’s trying to unleash creatures from the Nether upon the Blessed Continent. They won’t settle for just placing him in charge. No one with a shred of goodness in them would stand by and do nothing to stop him.”

“Could you face him again?”

“If I have to, High-King.” Kayleigh looked at the ground. “I don’t like killing. I’ve done too much of it already but, if that is what it takes to prevent the enemies of the Goddess from returning, then I’ll do it with no reservations.”

The High-King considered her words before saying, “She has spirit, Naomi. What say you?”

“I believe in her, your majesty. One of her gifts allows me to sit in the saddle again and feel the magic denied to me for so long. If she had any intention of serving Ian, she would have never helped me bond with another unicorn. Given a chance, I will finish him this time.”

“A good argument,” he conceded. “Still, Lady Kayleigh should be properly trained.”

“Even if I started this second,” Kayleigh said. “Even with the best teachers in the land, how long would it take before I could face a true magic user in combat? Months? Years? I don’t know that we have either. If I am forced to face Count Darius, I have to be strong enough and fast enough to get by whatever he has protecting him. Right now, that’s a manticore and I believe being on a unicorn would give me a better chance than facing one as a partly-trained sorceress.”

General Jyslin added her own comment. “Duke Tomas is meeting us with his personal guard. I believe either he or his daughter will take Kayleigh under their wing and begin proper instruction. But of course, I have a bias. I too also feel that our chances of victory are greater with her riding at my side. You once said I could ask any favor of you and I have never taken you up on that until this day. I ask that you not judge Kayleigh Nolan-West on her lineage, but on her deeds.”

Kayleigh was stunned that General Jyslin had such a favor for all these years and that she would use it to protect her from the High-King.

“Very well, Naomi,” he said. “We’ve had many disagreements over the years, but I have always respected you. I will stay my edict. You may take this young warrior with you. Teach her the art of war and return to us victorious.”

“I will, your majesty.”

“Then safe journey to you both and all who ride with you. Upon your return to Talcosa, I wish to see you again, Lady Nolan-West, and we will make further plans at that time.”