44. Home Again #2
Grinding his teeth, Darien forced Calder’s mouth open and tipped the liquid in until Masai told him to stop. It didn’t take long for the fight to flee Calder’s body as he slumped to the ground.
Sighing, Anara grabbed Calder’s feet. “Even unconscious, he’s a pain.”
Masai slid his hands under Calder’s armpits. “I can carry him myself if he’s too heavy for you.”
Anara snorted. “I could pick him up in my sleep. I’m helping you.”
As they bickered their way over to the cellar, Darien ran a hand over his stubble and joined the others where they waited with Aagen on the porch.
His adoptive father crossed his arms. “Did I hear the Kafteinn call you prince ?”
“Let’s get inside, Aagen. I’ll tell you everything.”
It was a feat in and of itself to squeeze all seven of them inside Aagen’s small living room. The warmth from the fireplace was stifling. Aagen paced as he listened to Darien’s story, and from his occasional stomps, Darien knew he was restraining himself from interrupting.
When Darien admitted that he was the Safírian Prince, along with the man currently tied up in Aagen’s cellar, Aagen had looked both impressed and horrified, muttering, “Kings and Queens.”
Darien continued, summarizing as best he could, but when he recounted what had happened on Larissa’s farm, he paused. “Aagen, there are three grave markers on those graves. Did you have anything to do with them?”
Aagen’s face fell. “Yes. The smoke was so bad, farmers from all around the countryside drove to find the cause. We tried to put out the flames, but then the sentries arrived, commanding that we all return to our homes. I went back the next day, worried that you had passed that direction. When I found the bodies, I looked only long enough to make sure they weren’t you, though it wasn’t easy to tell.
I made the tombstones over the next couple days and brought them back.
I couldn’t just leave them in the field. ”
“Thank you.” Larissa spoke from her place on the couch next to Darien. “You honored them when we couldn’t.”
Aagen leaned forward, patting Larissa’s knee. “You honor them still. I don’t need to hear the rest of Darien’s story to know that.”
“Well, you might want to keep listening. You know that lost Perle Princess that the Vienám is rallying behind?” Darien tilted his head toward Larissa.
Aagen’s busy brows raised nearly into his hairline; then, he kneeled before Larissa. “Your Majesty.”
Darien laughed. “Oh sure, bow for her. All I get is a measly ‘Kings and Queens.’”
Aagen glared up at his adopted son. “It’s hard to think of you as royalty when your drool stains are still on my pillows.”
Ignoring Darien’s stuttered protests, Larissa grabbed Aagen’s arms and pulled him back to his feet. “My friends call me Larissa.”
Aagen shook his head and thumped his good foot against the floor, but Darien caught a glimpse of the tears gathering in his eyes.
“I’d heard the rumors, of course. How could I not, with the Vienám trampling across my lands and the sentries pounding on doors?
But to think that I housed the prince of Safír in my home for a year without them knowing.
To think that the Perle Princess is here now!
The Norn have blessed me to have met not only one but two descendants of the ancient bloodlines. ”
“Well—” Darien resisted the urge to laugh. “Technically, you’ve met four. Aagen, this is Princess Anara of Rubin and Prince Masai of Smaragd.”
Anara nodded nonchalantly from her place near the door. Leaning against the opposing wall, Masai lifted his hand in a small wave.
Aagen’s mouth fell open. His eyes darted to where Halla laid her head on Kai’s shoulder sitting in front of the fireplace. Her heavy eyes fluttered to attention under Aagen’s intense stare. “And them? Don’t tell me they’re some lost royalty from Diamant?”
“Nope.” Halla yawned. “We’re dreadfully, boringly just us. Though apparently, my great-grandmother used to be an aristocrat in Perle.”
Kai coughed. “Just dreadfully boring for me, I’m afraid.”
“I can’t believe this,” Aagen muttered, falling into his chair. “But what are you doing here? Why aren’t you with the Vienám?”
Darien briefly recounted their journey to learn the prophecy, but when he mentioned the Norn, Aagen interrupted again. “You met them? The Norn ! But what did they say?”
“Nothing useful,” Anara answered before Darien could.
Though frustrated at her lie, Darien was grateful at least that he wouldn’t have to share his own bit of the prophecy again.
It would only worry Aagen unnecessarily.
Darien finished relaying what had happened, then asked, “But what is happening here? You said earlier that this was a safe house. What did you mean?”
The shrewd look in Aagen’s eyes told Darien he did not believe Anara’s lie, but he answered, “The Vienám arrived in Safír several days ago, recruiting throughout the countryside. Jon went with them, as did the others, but with my blasted leg, I knew I would be better help here. The Vienám is having a hard go of it. Havsiden was heavily fortified by the time they arrived. They broke through the Outer Wall two days ago, but the Second Wall holds.”
Darien clenched his fists. It was just as the Norn had predicted.
“The Vienám is sending out the innocents, the women and children and those too old to fight to get them out of the way. They come to me, and I send them on to the next farmhouse and they send them on to the next. Some hope to return home soon. Others fear the Vienám will lose, and they’re making their way to Perle.
General Soren holds Lystheim until Princess Lovisa returns.
Truthfully, if the Vienám does not take Safír, I doubt that Perle will last under their control much longer. ”
“That’s why we’re here,” Darien said. “The Norn said if we didn’t arrive within three days the Vienám would lose.”
“I thought the Norn didn’t tell you anything useful.” Aagen’s sharp gaze sent Darien’s eyes to the ground.
Masai spoke up in his place. “They didn’t tell us much.”
“Hmmm. And the third day is tomorrow?”
“Yes,” Larissa answered. “We were hoping to rest here before carrying on to the Vienám tomorrow.”
“Of course you can, and you should. You’ll need your strength. What will you do with the Kafteinn ?”
Darien felt Anara’s stare like a physical presence. Though he didn’t like it, he knew it was their only option. “We’d like to leave him here, bound and medicated in the cellar until the fight is over, but only if that’s okay with you.”
Aagen rose, placing his hand on Darien’s shoulder. “If leaving him here makes you safer there, of course, my son.”
Darien looked into Aagen’s kind, lined eyes.
Torsten’s face flashed like an overlay on top of Aagen, but Torsten’s eyes were not nearly so kind.
Darien swallowed past the lump in his throat.
To his side, Halla’s head slumped forward as her eyes slid shut.
Without needing to consult a clock, Darien knew it was after midnight. The third day had already begun.
Noticing Halla also, Larissa stood. “Is there somewhere we can rest, Aagen?”
“Yes, you and your sister can sleep in my bed. Darien’s old room is available, of course, but that bed will only fit one.
You,” he said pointing at Kai, “could probably fit on the couch. There’s room in the barn where the farmhands slept.
” Aagen’s face turned purple. “Royalty deserves better, but I’m afraid it’s the best I’ve got. ”
“It’s not a problem.” Anara turned the knob on the door. “I’ll sleep in front of the cellar. Someone should stay close to Calder.”
“I’ll join your watch,” Masai offered.
“Oh, and the night gets better,” Anara muttered as she strode out the door.
He smiled, pushing off the wall. “I’ve often been told my presence makes everything better.”
Their voices died off in the distance. Aagen rose to his feet, turning toward Larissa. “I can show you the way to your room, your Majesty.”
“Larissa, please.” She bowed down, gently shaking Halla’s shoulder. “ Bebe , come on.”
Halla stirred, though only partly. Darien reached down, pulling her into his arms to carry her down the hall to Aagen’s room.
She seemed longer and heavier than she’d been when he’d carried her fleeing from Perle.
The instant her head hit the pillow, Halla’s breathing turned to light snores.
Her face was even more childlike in slumber.
Larissa brushed a strand of Halla’s hair out of her face, then motioned to Darien and Kai to follow her back into the living room.
Aagen sat on the chair he’d brought out while Kai laid himself out on the couch.
“Aagen, where will you sleep?” Darien asked.
“I won’t, son. I’ll stand watch outside and let the others rest. You all need it more than I do.”
Gratitude flooded Darien’s heart. “Thank you.”
Aagen rose, but Larissa’s urgent voice stopped him at the door. “Aagen, wait. I have another favor to ask.”
He bowed low. “Anything, your Majesty.”
“When we leave tomorrow, I’d like for Halla and Kai to stay here.”
“What?” Kai’s legs swung over the edge of the couch as he bolted straight up. “You didn’t run this by Halla.”
Larissa shot him an irritated glance. “Of course not. She would’ve spent all night fighting me on it.” She softened her voice. “You know she won’t be safe in battle. You know she’ll put herself in harm’s way without a second thought.”
Kai frowned, but Darien could see that the boy was in agreement. “When I suggested something similar, she kicked me. Hard. You won’t be able to force her to stay.”
“I’ll let it be her choice, but I need your help convincing her. She listens to you.” Larissa sat beside him on the couch. “We both just want to keep her safe, right?”
Kai scooted further into the couch cushions, looking as though he wished he could disappear within them. His fingers fidgeted at his sides. “I’ll try to convince her.”