Chapter 32
Caerith Castle
Home of the King
King Dravic stood at the large war table that dominated the room.
Maps covered nearly every inch of its scarred surface. Colored stones marked troop movements, trade routes, and border settlements. Reports lay scattered among them, some weighted down with daggers, others rolled and tied with cord awaiting review.
The war room had once belonged to his father and before that his grandfather. Unlike the grand halls of Caerith, there was little decoration here. Stone walls, a massive hearth, shelves crowded with maps and records, and a single purpose—to prepare for threats before they reached Scotara’s borders.
A purpose that seemed more necessary with each passing day.
Rain tapped at the tall windows overlooking the city below.
Dravic paid it no mind. He stood with one hand braced on the table, broad shoulders filling the space around him.
Dark hair brushed his shoulders, and years of carrying a crown had carved authority into every hard line of his face.
He did not need to raise his voice to command a room.
His presence alone often accomplished that.
Few forgot they stood before a king and even fewer dared challenge him.
“So, Tavish, you are telling me that a Northlander saved the Wise woman, Wynn, from being captured by a Drogath spy and not my Hunters?” the king asked, keeping his attention on the war table.
Tavish stood with his arms braced behind his back, calm and not at all concerned about being questioned for a second time. He had been the king’s royal advisor long enough to know not only the king well, but the man himself.
“Aye, my king. He also saved half of the troop of Hunters and his wife, who is also a Wise woman. Though she does not have the years of experience that Wynn, her great-grandmother, does. And Kaelan killed the Drogath spy, Dreth, as well.”
The king raised his head, hearing that. “Dreth was one of Tharne’s most successful spies. Tharne will not be happy with that news, or that whatever information Dreth gathered is now lost to him.”
“Some of his men got away but Dreth was not known to share what he learned. So, you are right, Tharne will not be happy to hear that. But the news is good for us because now we know that Tharne searches for the healer who can defeat death.”
“Never,” the king said sharply. “Never will another find her before me and take her away from Scotara. She belongs here. Has Elara anything to report on her search for the healer?”
“Nothing significant. She is following tales, piecing things together, but she has yet to gather enough to pinpoint where she might be.”
The king moved a metal piece on the map. “What else brings Dar and Elara here?”
“Concern for Wynn, the Wise woman.”
“They should be concerned, since she is meant to be executed along with her great-granddaughter.”
“Bria,” Tavish said.
“That is something I need to reconsider since Bria’s husband saved them all and escorted them safely to Caerith.”
“Dar and Elara suggested that Wynn’s abilities could prove beneficial to you, especially with war imminent,” Tavish said.
“I have thought the same.”
“I drafted an edict reversing your grandfather’s rule on the Wise just in case you—”
“You know the king too well,” Dravic said before he could finish.
“I know the king’s decisions are always in the best interest of the kingdom.”
“You think to stroke my ego?” Dravic snapped.
Tavish smiled pleasantly. “What ego, my king?”
A spark of humor flashed in the king’s dark blue eyes. “You will keep your head another day.”
“My wife will be pleased to hear that,” Tavish said, still smiling. “Now we should go so you can talk with all these people yourself.”
Dravic heard a clatter behind him and turned, seeing Adira bending down, rushing to pick up broken pottery pieces. He had forgotten she was there as he often did. She never made a sound, only when she moved and even then, she was so quiet that she was barely heard.
But then she would never be heard. Adira could neither hear nor speak. It was the reason he decided to keep her here in the castle.
He went to her, took her by the arm gently since she was still uncertain around him and brought her to her feet.
He let go of her arm, then shook his finger at her.
She lowered her head and he had come to learn when she did that, she was showing remorse.
Dravic looked to Tavish. “Get a servant in here. Now!”
Tavish opened the door and called for a servant.
A young woman rushed in and stopped by Tavish, waiting for orders.
“Clean this up,” the king ordered, pointing to the floor.
“Aye, my king,” the young woman said with a bob of her head and hurried to him and started picking up the pieces.
Dravic’s fingers took hold of Adira’s chin and forced it up. Her eyes were wide with uncertainty. He pointed to the shards of the ceramic bowl, then to the servant and nodded. Then he pointed to her and the shards and shook his head, pointing to the servant again.
“Her chore, not yours,” he said even though she could not hear him.
She nodded, though he was not sure if she understood him or appeased him out of fear.
“You,” he snapped at the servant, and she looked up at him terrified. “Make sure the servants know if I see Adira doing any chore, there will be hell to pay.”
“Aye, my king. Aye,” she said, bobbing her head frantically.
Dravic took hold of Adira’s arm and kept hold of it as he walked toward the door, so she knew she was to follow along with him.
“Time to speak with our visitors,” the king announced, and Tavish opened the door for him, then grabbed the document he had drafted and hurried out of the room.
The king’s entrance into the Great Hall had those sitting, rushing to their feet.
Kaelan went to slip his arm around his wife’s waist, ready to protect her when he spotted…
“What the bloody hel—”
“Shhh! You will get us in trouble,” Fiora scolded in a whisper, only her head visible from where she hid in the hood of Bria’s cloak and peeking past her braid to get a look at the king.
“Me, get us in trouble?” Kaelan murmured, not even allowing himself to think of the possibilities if Fiora was caught, and in Bria’s hood.
“You have had quite an adventure,” the king said, glancing hastily at each of them.
“Tavish has shared it with me, but I will hear from each of you, your experience, but not right now. Now, I must see to a serious problem. I have two Wise women in my presence.” He looked to Wynn, then Bria.
“According to a law my grandfather passed, you both stand to be executed.”
Kaelan’s arm tightened around his wife’s waist. King or no king, he would not let his wife be taken from him.
Bria reached out to her great-grandmother beside her and took hold of her hand and was surprised to feel an overwhelming sense of calm and peace. Did she sense something Bria didn’t?
King Dravic continued. “We live in troubling times and all of Scotara must unite if we are to stand strong against Warlord Tharne of Drogath. And that includes Driochmor.” He gave Tavish a brisk wave.
Tavish handed the document to him.
Dravic held it in the air. “I have a proclamation rescinding my grandfather’s law against the Wise. They are no longer enemies who are to be executed.”
The small group cheered.
A pen and inkwell were produced, and the king signed the paper, declaring it law.
“Now, food and drink while I talk with each of you,” the king announced. “Kaelan. I will speak with you first. Join me at the dais.”
Bria turned to her husband. “All is well. We are safe.”
“Are we?” Kaelan whispered. “We are at the mercy of the king. If he can change a law that quickly, he can also write one just as quickly. Be cautious and stay alert until we see if this king can truly be trusted.”
She kissed his cheek. “Right now, Wynn senses no worry, no fear. So, I will go with her judgment.”
“Good to know,” Kaelan said. “I will return soon.”
“Kaelan,” Bria said as he went to turn away and stopped.
“Let the beast rest. He is not needed here today.”
Kaelan smiled. “I will do my best.”
Kaelan waited for King Dravic to sit when he joined him at the dais. It was just him and the king. His advisor was making his rounds, talking with each one there, though he had already spoken with them; a second time always helped gather more information.
Once seated and drinks poured, King Dravic said, “You look familiar to me. We have met before.”
Kaelan nodded. “I wondered if you would remember.”
“Barely,” the king said.
“You were young.”
The king nodded, a slight smile blooming. “You were several years older. We were in the woods. You attempted to teach me about the animals and what they could tell me.”
“For one so young, you did good.”
“I would have forgotten if my mum had not reinforced your teachings.” The king’s brow wrinkled. “My mum and—”
“My mum took us into the forest that day,” Kaelan continued to explain, the king looking puzzled. “My mum was your mum’s older sister. Unfortunately, after your mum’s passing our families drifted apart.”
“We are cousins,” the king said, surprised though also suspicious. Lies were told easily and truths often manipulated. “Why not say something upon your arrival?”
“I had more important matters on my mind.”
The king looked toward Bria. “Your wife, a Wise woman.”
Kaelan nodded. “My wife comes before all else.”
“A king must put his kingdom before his wife.”
“Something I could never do,” Kaelan said.
“Then it is good you are not a king. Now tell me about your journey here and another time we will discuss my Northland relatives. I know little about them.”
Bria watched her husband talk with King Dravic and while she could spy a bit of tension, she also spotted curiosity. Their conversation was going well.
She turned to see Elara and Wynn in deep conversation with an older woman.
She remembered Elara introducing her, Feena.
A young woman sat beside her. Adira was her name.
She had entered with the king but joined them at the table when the king had pointed to it.
Feena had explained she could not hear or speak but did understand better than most, through what she sensed, body movement, and facial expressions.
Bria saw that Adira was staring at her chest and she looked down to see the pendant had revealed half of itself. Before she could tuck it back in, Adira pointed to it and held out her hand. Bria understood she was asking to see it.
Her first thought was to shake her head, deny the young woman’s request, but then she thought, what if the mute woman was the one who was to claim it? Not likely, but it would be best if she took no chance.
She slipped off the bench and went around the table to sit beside Adira. She did not want anyone else to see the pendant so she kept her body turned in a way that no one else could see.
Adira smiled wide when Bria slipped the silver pendant out of her blouse. She nodded and pointed to the bench repeatedly as she went to stand, excitement filling her gentle green eyes.
Bria realized that she was telling her to stay where she was. Bria nodded and slipped the pendant back beneath her blouse.
Adira was gone only a few minutes and when she returned, she motioned for Bria to join her in the shadows of a corner in the Great Hall.
Bria was shocked to see she held a silver piece that appeared as if it would fit perfectly into the pendant. She slipped the leather cord over her head and handed it to Adira.
Thrilled, Adira slipped the piece she had into the pendant and the two pieces locked together.
“You are the one,” Bria said, and took the leather cord and slipped it over Adira’s head, tucking the pendant beneath her tunic. Then she hugged her on purpose, waiting to see if there was anything she should know. She saw nothing but she did feel joy.
Adira patted her chest, then patted Bria’s in a gesture of thanks and Bria smiled.
There was no more for Bria to do. She did as the spirit woman had asked.
She had kept the pendant safe until she found the one who was meant to claim it.
But she could not help but wish she could ask Adira what she knew about the pendant and how she had come by the piece that fit perfectly with it, especially with what Wynn had said how it belonged to the Morvane Clan.
Had Adira been part of that clan? Maybe, given time, she could find out.
Bria was about to follow Adira back to the bench when she and Adira were abruptly halted by the king’s angry shout.
“WHO LET A FAIRY INTO MY CASTLE?”
Bria smiled and she could have sworn she heard her husband groan.
THE END