Chapter 32
Sana's heart felt light, and while she didn't tell Rhyel everything about her life before she came to Darcanos, she was glad she finally told him she was raised as a servant. It was a start and the fact that he didn't balk at her confession filled her with relief and joy.
I'm proud of you, little flame.
Sune pressed his head against her neck.
Telling Rhyel about your upbringing was a big step for you.
"Thank you, Sune," she said, smiling as she knocked on Loic's door. "Now there's something else I'd like to do."
"My Lady," Loic said, bowing as he opened the door. "Come in. Come in. I didn't expect to see you today. I thought you were with Lord Rhyel."
"I was, but he had some business he needed to attend to with Zena," she said, walking into his office that was bustling with seamstresses working diligently on suits and dresses. "I...I have a favor to ask of you, but I hope I won't be interrupting your work."
"No, of course not. You're always welcome here. Let me take your cloak, my Lady," he said, helping her shrug off her thick fur-lined cape. "Now, what favor do you need from me?"
"Well," she said, curling her fingers around her dragon's breath as she sat in the chair in front of Loic's desk. "I want to give something to Rhyel to...to thank him for his kindness and for giving me this necklace. I want to make him something, and I thought you might be able to help me."
"Oh, that's a wonderful idea. I'm sure Lord Rhyel would be honored to receive a gift from you and I'm more than happy to help you make something," Loic said, beaming as he leaned over his desk and clasped his hands together. "What do you have in mind?"
"I'm...I'm not sure," she said, biting her lip. "I want to make something he'll want to wear or keep with him like my necklace."
"I see," Loic murmured, and his brown eyes lit up. "I know just the thing, but it will require a trip to the city, as I don't have all the materials you'll need."
"That's fine. I'm happy to go into the city, but what do you have in mind?"
"I think it would be wonderful if you made Lord Rhyel a warrior's charm.
It's an old Darcanos tradition for warriors to wear leather and gems plaited into a bracelet to keep them safe in battle and on their travels," he said, tugging a book from beneath the pile of fabric on his desk and opening to a page of pictures of different intricately woven leather bracelet designs.
"The tradition died out with the young warriors these days, but Lord Rhyel will understand the meaning of it. "
"Those look lovely," Sana said, looking at Sune perched on her shoulder. "What do you think?"
I think Lord Rhyel would be a fool not to love anything you make for him.
Sana nodded. "I'd like to make one of these, but I'm not sure my skills are good enough to make something as extravagant as those."
"Not to worry, my Lady. I'll help you and I'm sure Jezel will have all the items we need in her shop," he said, closing the book. "Would you like to get the supplies today and get started?"
"Yes, I would as... as long as you're free to come with me?"
"Of course, just give me a few ticks to have a word with the seamstresses and arrange a carriage for us."
"That's fine," Sana said, standing as she took her cloak from the back of her chair. "I'll go tell Rhyel we're going out and see if Zena or Eula and Kezi want to come with us."
"That sounds like a good idea," Loic said, walking her to the door. "I'll meet you in the foyer when you're ready."
"Thank you, Loic." Sana nodded as he opened the door for her. She stepped into the hall with a smile on her face as she walked through the halls to Rhyel's office.
While the bracelet she was going to make for Rhyel would be a small token of her gratitude for everything he's given her, she thought it would be a nice gesture and a good start to truly embracing her new life.
She wanted him to know that she cared about him just as much as the care he's shown her since she arrived.
"Sana," Rhyel said as he walked down the hall toward her. "I was just coming to see you."
"So was I," she said and her heart clenched at the unease clouding his blue eyes. "Is everything alright?"
"It will be," he said, taking her hands. "There's been a disturbance in Mortend that Zena and I need to take care of."
Sana's eyes grew wide. "You're... you're leaving? Now?"
"Yes, and I wanted you to know that we won't be back to join you for dinner. It's quite a long journey, but I promise to be back to have tea with you in the morning."
"Okay, but are you two going alone?"
"Yes." He nodded. "It's best if Zena and I go alone. Oziel will be in command while we're gone."
"But...will you be safe?"
"I promise I will," he said, caressing her hands as a warm smile tugged at his lips. "It's nice to know that you care."
"Of course I do," she said, biting her lip as she pulled her hands away from him to slip her dragon's breath from her neck. "I...I know you said I need to always wear this, but I'd feel better if you wear it and bring it back to me when you come home. Then I'll know you'll be safe."
"Thank you, but I can't take that from you, Sana," he said, shaking his head. "That's for your—"
"Please? I'll be safe with Oziel, Loic and Sune around me. I just... I'd feel better knowing you have something to protect you, too."
Rhyel sighed. "If I take this, then you have to promise me you won't go anywhere without Oziel or Loic by your side. I know Sune will never leave you, but I'll feel better if you have a wolf guarding you at all times."
"I promise," she said, leaning up on her tiptoes to slip the necklace over his head. "Thank you." She pressed her hand over the stone that hummed under her fingertips. "I hope your journey is swift and safe, my Lord."
Rhyel curled his fingers around her hand. "Thank you, my Lady. I promise to bring your stone back to you."
"And be on time for tea in the morning."
Rhyel chuckled. "Yes, I'll be here," he said, pressing a soft kiss against her palm. "Now, what were you coming to see me for?"
"Oh...just to tell you I'm going into town with Loic and my maids."
He raised an eyebrow. "You are? Well, now I wish I didn't have to go to Mortend. I would've liked to join you."
Sana shook her head. "That's alright. We can always go when you come back."
"Of course we can, and I hope you enjoy yourself today, but remember what we agreed," he said, curling his fingers under her chin. "You will keep Loic by your side at all times in town."
Her heart thumped at the red halo that circled the blue in his eyes, reminding her of Kal's glowing depths. "Y-yes, I will and you'll remember our agreement to keep yourself and Zena safe," she said, pressing her hand over her necklace resting against his chest. "And bring this back to me."
"You have my word and my honor, my Lady."
She nodded. "You... you should get going so you can get home."
"You're right." He sighed. "I'll see you in the morning," he said, bringing her hand to his lips and her heart swelled as he left a soft kiss against her fingers. These light, intimate touches seemed to be a staple in their interactions now. "Enjoy your trip to the city."
"I will," she said as he let her hand go and walked down the hall toward the entrance to the armory.
Rhyel looked back at her and a tingle of worry dragged down her spine as he disappeared around the corner.
She didn't know why, but something didn't feel right about him leaving.
He didn't seem too concerned about whatever matter he and Zena had to attend to, but she was glad she'd given him her necklace.
At least she hoped it would protect him like he claimed it would protect her.
He'll be alright, little flame. Lord Rhyel and Zena are well trained warriors and they've seen many battles. You don't need to worry.
She sighed, nodding. "That may be so," she said, rubbing a hand over her heart. "But I still don't have a good feeling about this and I don't know why."
Because you care about him. It's to be expected, my dear.
"Yes," she said, sighing again as she walked down the hall toward the stairs to her room. "Maybe that's it."
Sana's worries for Rhyel and Zena's unexpected journey to Mortend melted away as she enjoyed her afternoon in the city with Loic, Eula, and Kezi.
They helped her pick out the finest leather and slim pieces of gold to make her warrior's bracelet, while Jezel insisted on pairing it with a few black metallic beads in the shape of dragon scales.
She claimed they were for good luck, but Sana didn't mind because they reminded her of Kal's beautiful scales.
As they walked around the city, stopping at a few shops so Eula and Kezi could pick up a few items for themselves, Sana was pleasantly surprised to see that the people weren't concerned about the recent breach in the wall which further eased her worries about Rhyel and Zena's safety.
But when they returned to the castle for dinner, the weight of Rhyel's absence weighed down on her and her creeping doubt that something wasn't right nipped at her nerves again.
She forced herself to push her fears aside to enjoy her meal in the main hall with Loic, Oziel, and the soldiers who lived at the castle.
Nibbling on the feast of roast beef, Sana glanced at the empty chairs meant for Rhyel and Zena and caught another young soldier, whose name she learned was Junak, staring at their empty chairs too.
He looked as worried as she felt and when he excused himself from the table; she felt compelled to follow him.
He had to know something about Rhyel and Zena's unexpected trip to Mortend, and she wanted to know what it was.
"Excuse me, I'm a bit tired," Sana said to Oziel and Loic. "I'm going to retire for the evening."
"Alright, my Lady," Oziel said, bowing his head to her. "Rest well."
"Thank you, Oziel," she said, standing from her chair. "And thank you, Loic for your company today."
"Anytime, my Lady." Loic smiled. "Sleep well."
Sana nodded and waved to the other soldiers at the table who bowed in respect as she left the main hall to follow Junak. She found him with his shoulders hunched, rubbing a hand over his face as he neared the thick double doors leading to the wing of the castle where the soldiers lived.
"Junak," she called and he halted his steps, turning around with his eyes wide. "That's...that's your name, right?" she said, nearing him.
"Y-yes, my Lady," he said, bowing. "What can I do for you?"
Sana bit her lip. "You're the soldier who just came back from the east."
"I am." He nodded. "I, um. I saw your sister, Lady Aneera, while I was there. She...she looked well."
Her heart clenched. That wasn't what she was expecting him to tell her. She forgot Aneera was marrying an eastern Lord. "Oh. That's good," she said, rubbing a hand over her arm. "Did anything else happen while you were there? Anything in...in Mortend?"
Fear flashed through Junak's brown eyes before he shook his head. "I-I know why you're asking and I'm sorry," he said, backing away from her. "I'm sorry Lord Rhyel had to go, but you should speak to him when he returns."
"But I—"
"I'm sorry, my Lady." Junak bowed. "I-I should... I need to go to bed," he said, taking a few more steps away from her. "Good night."
"Good night," she whispered, watching him disappear behind the heavy doors of the soldiers' quarters. She sighed, taking a slow walk to the stairs to her room.
Little flame, you have nothing to worry about. Why are you so convinced that something is wrong and Rhyel and Zena are in danger?
"I don't know," she murmured as she ascended the stairs to her room. "Ever since Rhyel said he was leaving," she said, rubbing a hand over her heart. "I haven't felt right or good about it."
She shook her head as she opened the door to her room. "I don't know what's wrong with me, Sune," she said, slipping out of her dress and tugging on the lavender night shift laid out on her bed. "This worry I have doesn't feel the same as when Rhyel was on the quest."
Slumping onto the couch in front of the low cackling fire, she picked up the bracelet she'd started crafting for Rhyel at Jezel's shop.
"I don't know anything about the east or Mortend," she said, braiding the thin strips of leather.
"But the moment he said he was going there, I felt like he shouldn't and it sounds silly, but it's why I gave him my necklace.
It probably won't help and I'm...I'm probably thinking too much, but Junak.
..Junak looked terrified when I asked him about it. "
I know. I saw that too, and it was troubling, but you have to believe in Rhyel and Zena. Whatever it is, they are more than equipped to handle it.
She sighed. "You mentioned that already."
And it's true. Rhyel will be back in the morning like he promised.
Sana nodded, but she couldn't shake the worry that plagued her. The look on Junak's face was enough to convince her that something was terribly wrong in Mortend and something dreadful was waiting for Rhyel and Zena.
She just hoped Sune was right.
Rhyel and Zena would be back in the morning, and Rhyel would be waiting for her to have tea.
A/N:??I don't have a great feeling about this. I'm hoping the way Sana's feeling is because of her budding feelings for Rhyel, but I dunno...the saying is 'trust your gut', right? Maybe Sana's git is telling her something...