Celtic Rose (7 page)

“Yeah, honey,” Ramina said as she pulled the blankets down. She stopped and turned to look at Kallisto when she didn’t answer right away. Her face fell into an expression of concern as she sat down. Kallisto chewed her lip for a moment longer.

“Do you think it’s wrong to start a relationship with someone when you’ve only known them for a day?” Kallisto felt like she was doing something wrong. She was always taught to take her time, be friends with a guy first for a couple of years and then, if the feeling was still there, try dating him. She never had a problem with that ideology before, but with Talus it was different. There was a familiarity about him, like she
had
known him for years. Ramina thought her question over.

“Well…first I need to know what happened to make you ask…” Ramina said with a smile, then her expression turning serious. “And the last thing I need to know is, how do you feel about him?”

Kallisto thought for a moment, trying to put her feelings into words. “There’s just something about Talus, like I’ve known him forever. I loved being around him today, feeling him touch me, kiss me…” She let that sentence trail off. Light dawned in Ramina’s eyes and then she smiled, understanding. “I miss him like crazy right now. It feels almost as if I had never been whole until I found him, and now that he’s gone it feels as though there’s something missing,” Kallisto said, frowning, but then she smiled again thinking to herself that she’d see him tomorrow.

“Wow girl. You got it bad.” Ramina shook her head, but she was smiling. “I’ll watch out for you just in case, but I’m not really worried. I’ve never seen you this happy.” She paused, thinking of something. “What about William? You can’t hide this from him all weekend, especially with him making advances on you. I don’t think Talus would enjoy that too much.”

Kallisto grimaced, remembering the way William looked shunned when he found out she and Talus had been alone together watching the sunset. “You’re right, but how do I tell him? I’ve never had two guys like me at once. He seems like he’d make a great friend and I don’t want to lose the chance to make him one of mine.”

“Just explain it to him. If he’s as good a friend as you think then he should be able to bow out gracefully and still be in your life.” She patted Kallisto’s shoulder and went to finish getting ready for bed, leaving Kallisto to her thoughts. Ramina could be so wise, which is why Kallisto always turned to her when she needed help. She had a knack for finding the best solutions. Even if she didn’t know the answer right away, eventually she’d find out and, more often than not, it was the right answer. She was right now; Kallisto would tell William and everything would be fine.

Chapter
4

Kallisto held her sword to the prince’s throat. “My dear prince, I am afraid this is one request I cannot concede to. My father has forbidden anyone to see my face and now, it seems, that was a very smart decision.” She stated the familiar line she’d dreamed before.

“
I give you my word that I would never take you anywhere that you did not want to go. Would it help if I were to show you my face? Then you could run if you were to see me coming.” He promised as he had before. Kallisto hesitated. She wanted to see his face but she was afraid to show him hers. What would her brother do? She looked toward her brother, loosening her grip on the prince slightly. He moved, but not to get out of her arms, which he could easily have done. Instead he took his hood off and turned toward her. He faced Kallisto, her sword still at his throat. She looked up into his face, taking in the familiar blue-green eyes, and the soft wisps of dark hair. Talus.

Kallisto knew she should be in shock, but she stared at his face in wonder. He looked just as he did in reality, only he had longer hair that curled around his chin. He smiled and reached for her hood. She jerked back slightly, and then planted her feet and stayed where she was. He caught hold of her hood with both hands and gently pushed it back.

Kallisto felt like she was standing outside of her body, watching the scene play out. She saw her face and was amazed. Her hair was tied back with strings of diamonds, some of which came to a point on her forehead, and her fair skin seemed to glitter in the moonlight. She’d never dreamed herself that pretty before. There were sharp intakes of breath as others caught sight of her. Talus’ eyes were wide and his mouth was open in shock. After a second he composed himself.

“
Beautiful.” Was all that he said, just like at the park, but unlike then, Kallisto knew it was her that he spoke of.

“
I am glad you approve.” Although her lips spread in a bright smile, her sword still never left his throat. “Your request has been met, and your men are off my ship. I believe it is my turn to keep up my end of the bargain.” She backed away slowly down the ramp, still smiling. He backed up the ramp. Kallisto still had her sword pointed at him as they backed away. They were both still smiling and staring at each other as they reached their ships simultaneously and as the ramp was pulled away. It was as if they were trying to memorize each other’s face.

The ships circled each other as they turned to go home. As they pulled away, Kallisto walked slowly to the back of the ship. She looked out across the water toward the shrinking ship and saw a figure on it looking back at her. She knew it was him. There had been a connection between them right away, even before they had seen each other’s face. Kalan walked to her side, observing the retreating ship, then grabbed her chin and turned her face to look at him.

“
Why did you let him do that, Kallisto? Now they could recognize you anywhere. What if they try again?” Kallisto turned her face away from him, staring back at the small shadow that would be Talus.

“
He promised me he would not take me anywhere I did not wish to go.” Kallisto smiled, remembering. The head of their guard snorted as he walked to them.

“
And you believed him? He is a Scot!” Kallisto looked up at him then. She had his height wrong from her place above at the helm. He was much taller than her brother, by a head. He was brawny with short blonde hair. He had hair on his face, unlike all the other men she was used to seeing. His eyes were rough, with a deep, midnight blue color, and yet they were kind. The sheer mass of his body was enough to scare anyone…anyone but Kallisto. He was her protector, Gabriel, the head guard of her father’s army. He was older than she was and extremely lethal, mean as a grizzly bear; but to her, he was like a great big teddy bear, warm and loveable. They were very close. He was like another brother to her, and had taught her everything he knew about fighting. He put his giant arm around Kallisto, engulfing her.

“
You’re a Scot.” She said with a smirk.

“
That’s different. I was raised in the service of the king. I have no memory of my family, or of being a Scot. I was raised Irish,” he said solemnly.

“
Yes, Gabriel, I trust him. I would know if he was lying.” Kallisto’s smirk faded. She looked away from him then. He chuckled.

“
I guess you would. So far, nobody’s been able to lie to you.” He turned serious then. “But be leery of him, Princess; he may have the ability to do just that. Always be on guard.” He touched her nose. She elbowed him in the stomach, but it hurt her elbow more than it did him. He laughed.

Back at the castle, Kalan and Gabriel left her to go report to their king. Kallisto removed the robe and started pulling off her gloves; they were long brown leather gloves, the kind that were used to hold hawks, which seemed strange since she hadn’t seen any hawks. Her sword was in its sheath at her side. Kallisto was outside of her body again watching from a distance as she climbed the stairs to her room. She wore tough brown leather. It was her typical fighting gear for practices with Gabriel. It protected her very well from the tools they used to practice, but she didn’t think it would do much good against a sword.

Kallisto made it to her room and went in. Her nurse maid was not there, which was very unusual. She didn’t think anything it, and went across the room to her bed and laid her stuff on it. She sat on the bed and took off her boots. There were faint footsteps coming off the balcony and she assumed it was her nurse maid getting some air.

“
It is about time Ephiny. I had thought you left,” Kallisto said jokingly. “Could you run me a bath? I have had a long trip and I am too tired to do it myself.” She never ordered Ephiny around; she didn’t like the idea of a slave. Kallisto didn’t have a choice though; she either accepted her or she’d be put to death. It was their way of being humane, rather than let them live on the streets dying slowly of starvation and disease, and she didn’t want any of that on her conscience, so they agreed to keep up appearances. She only ordered her when someone was around.

“
You talk so politely to your servant,” an unfamiliar voice said from behind her. Kallisto jumped from the bed with her sword unsheathed before she turned around. She pointed it at the man standing in her room. He stood unthreateningly with his hands clasped behind his back, smiling at her reaction. His accent was Scottish. Immediately she assumed that he had come to take her.

“
You ask her to do things rather than ordering her.” He spoke as if she’d never moved. Kallisto stood at the ready, unmoving. “I wonder what type of princess you are, that you do not seem spoiled like the others.” He took one step closer and stopped as Kallisto brought the sword up to point at his face.

“
Who are you?” Kallisto saw him and it was William, but she didn’t know him in the dream. “How did you get into my room?” She glanced quickly at the door, judging if she could get to it and scream for the guards before she was taken.

“
Do not be afraid, Princess. I am an advisor to the king. He asked me to come here.” Kallisto squinted, her eyes suspicious.

“
My father would never allow a man into my room, much less a Scottish man.” But with her ability, she could tell he was telling the truth. Maybe Gabriel was right; maybe there were people who could fool her into thinking they were telling the truth. She remained suspicious of him, never moving from her guarded stance.

“
He only allowed me now, knowing that you would be dressed. Besides, he did not want to deny your future husband a glimpse at his bride before the wedding.” He bowed in respect, but his smile was arrogant. Kallisto stared at him in horror, unable to believe her father had placed her into an arranged marriage with a Scot. Sure, he was a handsome man, but still, she didn’t know him. She didn’t know the prince either, but she felt a familiarity with him that she didn’t feel with anyone else. She knew her father wanted her to marry Scottish royalty to try and show their allegiance with them, but he must’ve thought up a contingency plan in case the royal family tried something, which they had.

William looked just the same as he did in reality, but with longer hair. He was a very nice looking man, and she might’ve thought this was a good idea had it not been for the fact that she had met the prince, and now wished that it could be him in her room.

“
Excuse me?”

“
Yes, my dear princess. I am your future husband. Your father wishes us to get to know one another.” He raised his hand, palm up, and walked slowly toward her, clearly wanting the sword. Kallisto dropped the tip down to the floor, but she didn’t release it. He came up to her, confident that she wouldn’t hurt him. She was still in shock as he moved beside her. Slipping his arm carefully around her shoulders, he grabbed the hands that clutched the sword’s handle, then pulled it from her grasp and placed it on the mantle. He came back to her and guided her to the couch at the foot of the bed, and sat them down side by side.

“
Are you all right, Princess?” he asked, looking concerned.

Kallisto cleared her throat quietly, trying to wade through the shock and disbelief to find her voice. “I am fine. If you are to be my husband then you need to start calling me by my name, not princess.” Knowing she must compose herself, she straightened her shoulders and tilted her chin upward to look at him. Dignity was what her father would expect of her; as a princess she had an obligation to do what was expected.

“
As you wish, Kallisto. And I suppose you should call me William. I am of the House of Teirna.” William grabbed Kallisto’s hand, and although she wanted to, she didn’t pull away. He was handsome, but she wanted the prince. In her mind she knew his name was Talus, but the princess from the dream didn’t know his name. She only knew he was of the House of Rathburn. She thought this was a strange dream, one that felt more like a vivid memory.

“
When is our wedding set for?” she asked William.

“
The king would like us to be wed by next month. If that is too soon, we can extend it for a later time,” he quickly added, obviously seeing the disappointment on her face.

Kallisto had been hoping to find the prince and possibly work something out, but she didn’t have time to find him. It would take several months to track him down. Even though her father knew how to get there, he’d never tell her. After the events that happened on the ship he’d probably have the prince killed on sight. Because of that event, Kallisto would never be able to convince her father to let her marry the prince.

“
No, that will be fine,” she heard herself say, but there was no enthusiasm behind her words. She couldn’t force herself to show the excitement William was expecting; all she could do was sit there and wonder why this was happening, and why now? Why so out-of-the blue? Had her father expected the betrayal on the ship?

“
I apologize for this abrupt decision; our parents agreed to this for the sake of our families’ alliance. I believe the king would give us more time if we were to ask.” The soft, sincere sound of his voice made Kallisto smile, and for the first time, she thought the arrangement might not be so horrible.