Celtic Rose (2 page)

Kallisto was almost to work so she decided to call Ramina. She pushed the call button on her steering wheel and spoke the programmed words that caused it to connect the call to Ramina. Ramina picked up the phone on the second ring.

“Hey, honey!” she laughed.

“You know, one of these days someone is going to ask you if we’re dating with the way you answer the phone when I call,” Kallisto said, laughing with her.

“So, aren’t you supposed to be at work or something?” Ramina said playfully.

“Yeah, yeah, I’m going. Hey, I’ve got a question.”

“Shoot.” Ramina said excitedly. She loved when Kallisto came to her with questions. If she didn’t know the answer it gave her a reason to do research on the subject; she loved learning new things.

“Well, I’m going to see my brother and wanted to know if you’d go with me.”

“Of course I’ll go with you.” Kallisto could hear the excitement in her voice. Ramina would never admit it, but she had loved Kalan since they’d met, and he felt the same way. Kallisto tried to get them to admit the way they felt about each other, but that was like trying to pull teeth. They both would confide in her and she’d keep their feelings to herself, but it was getting ridiculous. Kallisto had very nearly spilled the beans on both of them several times over. Trusting that God would bring them together on their own was the only thing that held her back.

“Well? When are we going?” Ramina asked impatiently.

“I was thinking that we could go this weekend; maybe we could leave Friday and come back Sunday morning. We’ll miss church, but we can listen to the preacher on the radio.” Kallisto waited for an answer. None came.

“I’ll explain on the way, I promise, but right now you need to get to work. How about we leave first thing in the morning?” Ramina asked.

“Ramina it’s only Wednesday. Kalan probably has classes, and you and I have to work.” Kallisto wanted to see her brother so bad, though, that she was actually considering Ramina’s argument. Ramina could hear the internal struggle in Kallisto’s voice, and she used it.

“Come on, you know you want to go see your brother. Besides, we can go check out all the shops around Phoenix, or sit in the hotel and watch movies until he gets out. I’m sure there are plenty of things to keep us busy while we wait. Plus, you and I haven’t had a vacation since…well…ever. I think we’re due some play time!”

“Yeah you wanna play; with Kalan,” Kallisto said playfully. That was the wrong thing to say. Ramina started yelling in Kallisto’s ear, but she heard the laughter in Ramina’s voice.

“All right, you caught me. I haven’t wrestled with Kalan in forever. My muscles could use the workout and the win.” Kallisto heard the strain in her voice as Ramina stretched said muscles.

“You do know he lets you win because you’re a girl, right?” Kallisto teased.

“Hey, you don’t call me Amazon woman for nothin’,” Ramina said, laughing. “So are we gonna leave tomorrow or what?” Kallisto pretended to mull it over for a minute, allowing her impatience to grow.

“Why not? I’ll take the rest of the week off and we’ll leave in the morning. Arizona here we come!” Kallisto said excitedly. They both laughed and agreed to meet at Ramina’s house early in the morning.

***

Kallisto was on the ship again. Her brother and the head of their guard waited for their guest, the prince of Scotland, to come aboard. The prince had brought soldiers with him, and they made their way onto the ship on each side of the ramp. No weapons were drawn, so Kallisto thought they were there as a precaution. Kalan didn’t look fazed by the mass of armed soldiers boarding the ship. He calmly awaited their guest.

The head of their own guard stiffened just a little. Kallisto couldn’t see his face but he was a little taller than Kalan. He wore a cloak with the hood pulled up, as did Kallisto. But Kallisto was safely tucked up on the upper deck by the helm. Her brother was wearing a cloak as well, but was unhooded. To Kallisto the hoods seemed a little too conspicuous. She thought that she needed to be dressed like the rest of the crew so that she’d blend in, but her father insisted it was for her own protection. The only reason she was there in the first place was because the head of the guard had taught her to fight, and convinced her father that she could handle the situation.

The prince made his way down the ramp with his head guard, but they stopped in the middle. The prince wore a cloak with the hood up as did one other person from their group, who had stayed on the other ship but was close to the ramp, observing. Kallisto guessed everyone thought it was safer to be concealed, but her brother didn’t have his hood up; he was a diplomat and not ashamed to be seen trying to stop the war. She’d have been down there with him if her father had not strictly forbidden it.

The prince seemed to weigh the situation before he would speak. He scanned the scene and the movement of the hood stopped as the opening faced Kallisto. She could tell he was staring at her.

“
Is that Death I see by the helm?” He made his voice loud enough for Kallisto to hear, even though he spoke to Kalan. She saw the hood of the person on the other ship move to face her as well.

“
No, my good prince, that is just my sister, come to observe the happenings between our two families,” Kalan said diplomatically.

“
Do you think it wise to have a young girl present during matters such as these?” The hood of the cloak never moved. He never took his eyes off Kallisto, not even for a second; neither did the other person on their ship. All eyes were on her. They must’ve thought she was an assassin.

“
I assure you sir, she is no younger than I, and she is quite capable to be present during such matters.” Kalan’s tone made it clear that he wouldn’t hear any more on the matter.

“
Surely the lady could remove her hood and soften the mood. I have heard that a woman’s presence can be quite calming,” the prince said, still keeping his gaze on Kallisto, but his head guard took a step forward, putting himself between them.

The guard was a very intimidating man, with olive skin and dark hair that was long and neatly braided down his back. His arms were four times the size of Kalan’s, and his veins popped out whenever he flexed. Several scars marked his arms, matching the three on his neck. The one scar on his face trailed from the bottom of his left eye down to the corner of his mouth. Kallisto could tell he was a fighter and a dangerous one at that.

Out of the corner of her eye Kallisto saw the hooded figure on the ship move a hand under their cloak. She was sure that one was grabbing for a weapon.

“
Sister dear, it seems as though the prince is a little anxious of your presence. Perhaps you could say something to calm him, since our father has forbidden you to remove your hood.” Kalan looked at Kallisto as he spoke, carefully making it clear that she should not take the hood off.

“
My apologies, dear prince, for the concealment, but it was one stipulation that my father refused to let pass. Surely my voice would do to calm you.” Kallisto gestured with her hand, hoping that by hearing her voice and seeing her delicate hand, the prince would be sated.

“
Indeed it does. Thank you.” The prince seemed to relax and turned toward Kalan. The hooded figure on the ship moved their hand back to their side. Everything seemed to be calmed and ready for the treaty, but before another word could be spoken, the prince’s head guard drew his sword.

“
Take the princess!” the guard yelled as he lunged forward and his soldiers followed. Kalan and the head of their guard drew their swords to fight, as did the rest of the crew.

Kallisto watched in horror as she realized the Scottish had betrayed them. She looked for the prince, and saw that he stood in the same spot on the ramp, and was yelling at his head guard. She could barely hear him through all the fighting, but one part was very clear.

“
Stop this, Maulro! This was not what we came for!” The prince took a step forward as he spoke, but the head guard, whom he had called Maulro, just pushed him back.

“
Maybe it is not what you came for, but this is why the king sent me!” Maulro smiled and kept fighting. Kallisto noticed guards were coming up both sets of steps toward her. She had to act quickly or be taken. Panicked, Kallisto noticed one of the ropes to the sail hanging in front of her, and she jumped up on the railing and grabbed it, using it to swing down to where the prince stood. She landed behind him, and before he, Maulro, or the hooded figure could react, her sword was unsheathed at the prince’s throat, and her arm was firmly locked around his chest. If he tried to run she could easily jump on his back. As it were, she pulled him so his back was pressed against her chest. To Kallisto’s surprise, he did not resist. She puzzled over this, and wondered if he wanted the fighting to stop as much as she did.

“
Let go of him, girl, or I will run you through,” Maulro threatened. The hooded figure ran down the ramp toward her. Kallisto had to turn so that neither of them would be behind her.

“
I believe, dear sir, that I could easily cut his throat before you could even make it up the ramp.” The smile in her voice only added to the threat she posed. “Would you like to test that theory?”

“
Stop! Get your hands off him!” the hooded figure yelled. Kallisto was surprised to hear that it was a woman’s voice, but she did not loosen her hold. The prince’s hand rose toward the hooded woman as though he was trying to quiet her.

“
What do you want?” Maulro yelled.

“
I want you off my ship,” Kallisto said matter-of-factly.

“
And my charge?” asked Maulro maliciously.

“
I will release him as soon as every last one of you are off the ship,” Kallisto promised.

“
I am not leaving without my brother. You could kidnap him!” the hooded woman chimed in.

“
The only ones here with any thought of kidnapping are you and your soldiers!” Kallisto yelled in disgust. She tightened her grip on the man in her arms, but let the indignation leave her voice. “If it pleases you, you can stay on the top of the ramp and wait, but everyone else has to go. If anyone tries to make a move for us, your charge…” she said the word with malice as she glanced at Maulro, “will be dead before he hits the ground.” She pushed the blade into his neck for emphasis, drawing a minute amount of blood and causing the prince to hiss in pain.

“
Stop it! Alright we’ll go…just don’t hurt my brother.” The hooded woman threw the hood off and stepped toward Kallisto and the prince. There were sharp intakes of breath at her exotic beauty. She definitely didn’t look Scottish. Her hair was as black as Kallisto’s with bright green emeralds woven through it, but her skin was darker than any Irishman’s or Scotsman’s. It was Ramina, more feral looking than Kallisto had ever seen her, but as the princess she didn’t seem to know Kallisto at all. She seemed to just be staring at a rival princess; there was no recognition in her eyes. “Maulro, get them off this ship.” Ramina said, glaring at Kallisto. Turning to his men, Maulro shouted the order.

“
Everybody off now, and leave the girl be!” Obediently, they made their way to their ship. Ramina and Maulro went up, but stopped at the top of the ramp.

“
You would not really kill me, would you?” the prince whispered.

“
I would try very hard not to. You did not seem to want this fight any more than I did, but I would do anything to protect my family,” Kallisto said softly.

“
Would you allow me one request before I leave?” The prince’s voice was polite as he asked; Kallisto didn’t want to deny him.

“
It would depend upon the request,” she whispered back and waited.

“
Could I see your face, just so that I might know you if I see you again?”

“
My dear prince, I am afraid that is one request I cannot concede to. My father has forbidden anyone to see my face and now, it seems, that was a very wise decision. If I were to show you my face, what would stop you from taking me, if you were to see me elsewhere?”

“
I give you my word that I would never take you anywhere that you did not want to go.” He paused. “Would it help if I were to show you my face? Then you could run if you were to see me coming.” His voice was a husky whisper, tinged with the smallest of smiles. There was a buzzing sound that got louder and louder, and a rattle or tap added to it. Kallisto’s heart started pounding fast and hard. The sound was muffled in her ears, as if she could hear her blood pumping, and the scene started to blur and fade.

Kallisto woke to the sound of “Let’s Go” by Korn. She turned it down and jumped out of the bed. It was still dark outside, which explained why the bright light didn’t shine in her eyes this time. She rushed to the bathroom, smiling. As she got ready she was thinking about the dream; she was ecstatic that Ramina had been in it, and really wanted to tell her about it. She brushed her teeth and ran a brush through her hair quickly, then threw her toiletries into a small bag and gathered her suitcase. She paused a moment to give Hope a goodbye kiss and was out the door.

Ramina was already sitting on her suitcase outside her house, reading a book on her tablet. She was always ready to go before Kallisto. Kallisto had hoped she’d get to wake her up for once. She never seemed to be asleep no matter when Kallisto came by or called–she was beginning to wonder if Ramina ever slept.

Ramina put her stuff in the back and jumped in the car–she was excited too. As Kallisto pulled out of the driveway, they started talking at once. They laughed and started joking around as they headed to the highway.