The Unexpected Heir: A Tale of Alus (55 page)

"Your rooms are ready," Rianne stated hugging her arm as she turned the younger girl around. Xerese knew that they were only a few years apart in age, but the marquess was acting like somewhere between an old matron and a little girl wanting to dress up her doll. "I wasn't sure how you planned your sleeping arrangements with your people, so we opened one of the suites for you.

"I am so glad to get to meet you by the way. I hardly get to see any of Itan's family all the way out here, but at least our city and castle can compete with the best of them. Well, maybe not Yalan; but the king's city is pretty unique in size if nothing else," she continued to fawn over her guest.

"We have met before, Rianne. I was at your wedding after all," Xerese stated remembering the day of the celebration. Her mother had brought her along to Yalan where the two were married in Orlaan's castle.

"We have?" the woman questioned in surprise. "Well it was a busy day and I can barely remember half of it, I suppose. Well, it is good to see you again then," she giggled trying to ignore the slight.

When they entered the doors to the suite of rooms, Xerese found that she was very impressed. It looked fit for a queen, yet it was a guest room in Itan's castle. She wondered what the marq and marquess' rooms must be like if these were secondary rooms.

Xerese nearly fainted at the sight of a large bathroom where a tub was already filled with water warm enough to steam, even in the warm southern air. The castle was a tad cooler than the outside, but it was hardly cold enough to expect to see steam.

"I expect that you will want a good soak," Rianne said with a smile at her cousin's face. "So long without a good bath must have been horrible for you."

"You would be surprised by what you can get used to," Xerese answered still unable to wrest her eyes from the sight, "but I have longed for a hot bath more than you can know."

Laughing at the girl, Rianne added, "When you are done, our wizards have set up reservoirs of warmed water that can be heated more, if your companions need it warmer. There are two other bathrooms with tubs waiting also. I can have the servants wash your clothes or you can just use the robes and towels.

"I'll have that tailor here as soon as I can, you poor thing. We'll have you looking like yourself again in no time, I assure you."

Like a wind, the marquess and her ladies swept back out of the suite leaving them to figure out the order of use. The women were waved ahead by Toman and Nico, but Nico made sure to tell Xerese, "The marquess said that you will look like yourself, but trust me. You look beautiful even after all this travel."

His sister shook her head at the man, but Xerese accepted the compliment with a silent nod before excusing herself. The doors were barely pulled shut before Xerese had her clothes off and was quickly soaking in the hot water. A sigh that seemed to vent all of the hardships of the last few months at once was let out as the girl closed her eyes to soak.

Chapter 30- Lady in a Red Dress

The sight of Hala on the cliff overlooking the harbor appeared very different from the last time Annalicia had seen the city. Winter ice was gone and the air seemed as warm as it had been far to the south. It was the heart of summer and apparently, as cold as Southwall was in winter, the country was equally warm through summer.

"It looks very different," Gerid stated as the Sea Dragon proceeded to dock at one of the long piers extending out into the water. Wizards had used magic to make the harbor perfect for ships visiting the city. It had been dredged to a depth that no hull had to fear getting caught on unseen stone. A stone break kept the North Sea from stirring up damaging waves while lighthouses guarded the points making the entry obvious even for a first time visitor.

"You left after the Cataclysm. I would guess that some things might have changed in two hundred years," she said with an amused smile.

Giving a quick grunt acknowledging her comment, the giant continued, "Maybe time makes even things that shouldn't change appear different. I don't remember the cliff being quite so high and this town down below is new too."

"Had the city had much time to recover after the disaster? I would assume any buildings below the high cliffs would have suffered greatly or would have been swept away all together."

"I wasn't in Hala when the tsunami and earthquakes happened. Coming back I was surprised that the city had weathered everything surprisingly well, but like you say, everything along the coast changed. Cities that were hundreds of years old were just washed away. The coastline's shape changed and you know of the islands.

"I helped in Marshalla, Staron and Cadmene before I set sail with a small fleet to check on our allies in the islands. We had supplies figuring that they must have been hit the worst being near the epicenter.

"Of course, we never made it to any of them before the black ships found us."

"And now two hundred years later, things have changed in Hala and the rest of the world," Anna finished hearing a little sadness in his voice. Even two centuries couldn't put the pain of the past completely out of reach, she thought.

"Anyway," he said putting on a smile after clearing his throat, "Hala seems to have recovered and grown since I was last here. I guess it all ended up just being a moment in time lost to the past."

Liam had heard the two talking and said, "Not exactly lost or forgotten, sir. We still fight the Dark One here in Southwall, so we can't forget what he did to the world."

Gerid nodded letting silence hold for awhile.

After descending to the pier, they were met by officials of Hala. The Sea Dragon was known from the tournament, at least from the records kept. That it had left on a special mission for Southwall wouldn't have been told to harbor officials after all.

"My lady, there was a ship sent looking for you a few weeks ago," the man working for the harbor master stated."

Her brow wrinkling in confusion, she asked, "A ship from Malaiy? Was it the Zephyr?"

"No, miss, it was...," the man checked his ledger and stated, "the Alexandron. It arrived three weeks ago. Word was left here in case you returned. Letters were delivered to the castle. That is all I really know about it though."

"We will be heading up into the city to report to the king anyway. I can check once we are there," she nodded.

The man's eyes swept upward opening wider at the size of the giant following her. "De-de-declaration of intent for your visit?" he stammered asking the usual question.

"Returning Southwall wizards and mages on the king's business. Beyond that I can't say," the girl stated with a nod said to appear regal. It was a habit from her days at court.

"Yes, my lady, um, should I speak with the, um, large gentleman behind you as well?"

That was an unusual question for a normal harbor visit. "No, he is here to see King Adrian. He was invited, so it will be taken care of at the castle."

Once dismissed, their path was reasonably unobstructed. Carriages were hired near the base of the wall where the stone path to the top began. Riding with Gerid, Annalicia sat near the window watching the harbor appear to lower as they climbed. The weather was much warmer than the last time she had been in Hala.

Without a need to insulate against the cold, they could leave the windows open to enjoy the sight this time.

She was able to see the wall surrounding the city and the buildings inside as the carriage followed a wide street towards the inner city where the king's castle was located.

"This is all new," Gerid stated looking at the buildings as the carriage plodded along in the traffic of midday. The warm weather brought more foot traffic, but Annalicia remembered walking the streets during the tournament. Thanks to the influx of tournament guests, the city had been teeming with life in spite of the bitter cold.

"I was told some of the history when I was here," the lady replied turning from the view to look at the giant sitting between his two granddaughters. "After the land settled after the Cataclysm, many survivors came to the king for protection and guidance. When the Dark One's armies began their raids, more people came and they built the large wall out giving the new residents a place of safety.

"Permanent buildings had grown by that time and instead of making them move away, the king had his men build the wall. About the same time, they began work on North Wall or the Great Wall which now spans from a mile north of Hala all the way to the Glacian Ocean where Raven Hurst anchors the west."

"I haven't even heard of Raven Hurst," he frowned.

"The fortress city was named for the first battle mage apparently," Anna replied with a shrug. Some of the news of the wall had come from Sebastian and the others while looking for things to talk about on the long trip. His people talked about Southwall and hers shared about Malaiy.

"I definitely missed a lot while I was on that island. Even trying to catch up a bit talking with Sebastian, I don't really know much about Southwall. It isn't my home anymore."

Annalicia smiled sympathetically and reminded him, "King Alain won't expect you to know everything. He'll answer any questions for you that he can and show you what this country has become since you left."

"Yes, if he is a typical king he will want to talk about what he and his ancestors have accomplished" Gerid chuckled sarcastically.

"They do like to do that. Don't they?"

Again he grunted in amusement as the man recalled, "Well, I guess you would know since your uncle is the king of your country."

The carriages carried them all the way to the castle. Annalicia let Maura take care of the particulars of showing papers to let them through. Messengers ran ahead and soon they were in a hall greeting King Alain and Queen Alyanna.

While most of the others knelt to greet the king, Gerid remained standing. Alain looked up smiling like a child receiving an amazing gift. "Lord Grimnal, grandfather, welcome home," the man greeted the giant and knelt before the man also called the king of kings.

The dark haired queen showed some surprise, but curtsied like a noble women to her king.

"I accept your welcome, but this is your home now. There's no reason to bow to me. I have been out of the ruling game for centuries, even before the Cataclysm," he said waving for them to stand tall once more.

Alain stood straight and replied, "We have been waiting for this day with great hope for months. Well, actually it has been a dream of mine since I was a child, but never thought it would happen until High Wizard Darius brought the idea to me. Falcon Sebastian apparently gave him an idea that would let us find you again, if you were alive... and here you are.

"I don't see the mage, however."

Annalicia shook her head and answered, "We brought the Grimnal here to fulfill his mission, but Sebastian has disappeared."

Hours passed at the castle telling the king about all that had happened. Luggage was sent for as Gerid and his people were invited to stay with the king. It was his home as well, Alain had told his immortal grandfather.

Reminded of the message sent from her father, Annalicia opened the note and read that Xerese hadn't returned. Her cousin was supposed to have brought word that she was delayed, but the Zephyr had never returned.

Her father's letter had more than one version. More accurately, there were messages for her and Xerese or the captains of the ships, if something had happened to them. Some no longer were necessary.

When she was invited to stay for a week or more to celebrate the return of the immortal king, Annalicia decided that she had to decline. Darterian would stay as a sort of liaison until Darius returned, but she needed to return home to soothe her father's nerves. Philip had always seemed like a rock, so if he was writing letters like these; Anna could only guess what her mother must be feeling.

After only three days to resupply and give the crew a brief break, the Sea Dragon left Hala once again heading for home at last.

Xerese joined her cousins at dinner wearing a gown of dark red. Satin material glimmering with the light of the lamps and chandeliers, even the dress couldn't keep admirers from looking at the pretty brunette with red ribbon wound through her hair. A team of women had helped dress her and add some makeup to help compensate for the dark tan she had developed from months in the sun. She wanted to look nice since Itan was putting on a special ball for her and her new friends.

They had been in Solan three days and the girl felt like she was being specially pampered. Rianne seemed to like trying to make her back into the lady that she had been before the shipwreck and subsequent months of hardships.

Even Oywen and Quela were dressed up. Oywen wore a gown that looked like metallic maize, while Quela had been put into a dress of navy. The dark haired wizard had picked a surprisingly low cut outfit. Showing cleavage and having an open back, Xerese had a feeling that it was for Toman more than because it necessarily suited her personality.

The tall guardsman had done his best to remain near his charge, but Solan was supposed to be safe. She had seen him a little less and most of the time it was with Quela nearby.

Xerese wasn't sure if Toman actually wanted the extra attention. He was also still getting used to the idea of being bonded to the wizard, even after a few weeks had passed. She was pretty certain that the guardsman didn't actually hate the attention in spite of what he might say.