Fire of the Soul (40 page)

A darkness lurked in Toren’s eyes and his
mouth was harder than Calia remembered. Not that she knew him
beyond the brief acquaintance of several months ago, but she could
sense his unhappiness and the concern he tried to hide.

“Ultan has decreed that we are to recount our
adventures, as he calls them, during the evening’s meal,” she said,
choosing her words carefully. “If you want personal news of the
queen, she is well, though when last I saw her, she was weary after
expending much of her Power to save others from a great
villain.”

“Yes,” Toren said. “She will always use her
Power for good. Now tell me; is she happy?”

The question was so fierce that Calia felt
assaulted by it. Startled, she looked deep into Toren’s eyes and
thought she began to understand.

“Laisren is not at all happy,” she said,
offering the truth as she knew it. “The same villain I just spoke
of beat King Dyfrig until he was unconscious. The poor man had
believed that Sir Mallory was his friend. The shock of that
betrayal, added to his physical injuries, left Dyfrig unable to
continue as king of Kantia. When my friends and I left Kerun City,
Queen Laisren and the royal councilors were preparing to advise
Dyfrig to abdicate in favor of his cousin, Lord Euric. Laisren did
say that that as soon as Euric is crowned and Dyfrig is settled in
a safe place, she intends to return to Tannaris. From the way she
spoke, I believe you can expect to see her before winter settles in
and makes the roads impassable.” The sound of a door opening warned
Calia that others were arriving, so she said no more.

“Thank you.” Toren’s voice was too low for
anyone but Calia to hear. “Laisren gave up much to travel to Kantia
and marry Dyfrig. From what I saw of him during the marriage and
coronation ceremonies six years ago, her sacrifice was not
appreciated. But she was determined to do her father’s bidding, to
serve him and the cause of peace between our countries.”

“I think you have made sacrifices in the same
cause,” Calia said. She was not at all surprised by the sharp look
of comprehension she received from Toren. He must have known she
would probably meet Laisren while in Kantia, yet he had never
suggested that Calia serve as a confidential messenger from him to
the queen. Of course not. Toren was as honorable as Laisren and he,
she recalled, was a married man.

Garit and Durand arrived just then, diverting
her thoughts. They were clad in new clothes, Garit in blue and
Durand in deep green, with their boots well-polished. Both appeared
refreshed and ready for one of the excellent meals that Toren’s
cook routinely provided.

The group seated around the trestle table in
the small chamber numbered only six: Calia and her friends, Ultan
and Toren, and Toren’s wife, Lady Zara, a pale, quiet woman, whom
Calia suspected was included because otherwise she would be the
only woman present. She noted the grave courtesy with which Toren
treated her and wondered how deeply he cared for his wife.

While they ate, at Ultan’s direction Calia,
Garit, and Durand took turns describing their voyage from Tannaris
to Kinath, their difficulties there with Mallory, and the race to
Kerun City before Mallory could arrive to spoil any chance of Belai
and Kinen being given into Garit’s guardianship. The description of
Mallory’s mistreatment of King Dyfrig, which Calia had heard from
Laisren, and the battle on the dock to prevent Mallory from using
his corrupt Power to harm the passengers aboard
The Kantian
Queen
drew exclamations of disgust and anger from Ultan and
Toren.

“Durand and I were prepared to try to stop
Mallory,” Calia said, “though I question whether we could have
succeeded against him. Laisren’s strength saved us and sent the
ship out to sea protected by a shield of Power.” She looked at
Toren as she uttered the last sentence. The light she saw flaring
in his eyes told her that Toren understood exactly what Laisren had
done, and what it had cost her.

“She warned us that Mallory would recover his
Power and come after us,” Calia went on, “which he did.”

She left the remainder of the story for Garit
and Durand to tell, for she preferred not to speak of the use she
had made of the Emerald. She wasn’t certain what Ultan’s reaction
would be to that part of the story.

“But this dreadful Mallory is not dead?”
Toren asked when they had finished the tale.

“He disappeared,” Garit admitted. “I was busy
fighting three men at once. When I finished and looked around,
Mallory was gone. I have no idea where he is now.”

“I think it’s time to send a large troop of
men-at-arms into the hills to scour them clean of outlaws,” Toren
said. “I doubt if the new king of Kantia will object if my men
cross the border during their mission. Euric will approve of our
purpose.”

“You won’t find Mallory there,” Ultan told
him. “He will be as far away as he can possibly get.”

“Perhaps you ought to suggest that your
men-at-arms question the outlaws,” Garit said, his face grim.
“Mallory cannot be allowed to run free. As soon as he recovers his
Power, he will come after Calia, to punish her.”

“I agree,” Toren said. “I doubt if Mallory’s
near kinship to Calia will stop his quest for vengeance against
her.”

“If the legend of the Emerald is true,” Garit
said, “now that the jewel has been returned to its rightful place
here in Chandelar, peace will spread across the known world.
Perhaps that peace will even affect Mallory.”

“I wouldn’t wager my soul on that hope,”
Ultan remarked with such wryness in his tone that they all looked
at him in surprise. “The problem with ancient legends is that they
are not always true. But now that the Emerald has come home, we
shall see what we shall see.”

A short silence followed this statement, as
if each person at the table was thinking about the possible effects
of the legendary stone.

Garit spoke first, looking from Ultan to
Toren to include both of them in his request. “My lords, we need a
ship to carry us to Sapaudia. I want Calia far away from Mallory,
and as soon as possible.”

“A wise thought,” Toren said.

“As it happens,” Ultan said, “a ship is
expected here tomorrow that will leave Tannaris in a day or two and
sail directly to Port Moren. Will that suit you?”

“Perfectly,” Garit said, “except for the
pirates.”

“I do assure you,” Ultan said, “after what
you and your companions have done for Chandelar, any ship carrying
you will sail across the sea with no unpleasant interruptions from
either pirates or foul weather. I will personally see to it.”

“Thank you, my lord.” Garit’s smile
flashed.

Later that night Garit found Calia wandering
in the garden.

“I am not tired any longer,” she told him.
“In fact, I feel invigorated.”

“It must be Ultan’s doing,” Garit said. “I
feel the same way, healthier and happier than I have been for
years, and Durand claims his shoulder is completely recovered after
a visit to Toren’s physician.

“Calia, I need to make a confession to you,”
Garit continued, adding, “I wonder if that need is also Ultan’s
doing.”

“Possibly. But you don’t have to tell me
anything you’d rather not say.”

“You should hear this. I haven’t been
completely honest with you.” He paused as if gathering his
thoughts. “You know that Chantal was my first love.”

“Yes.” Calia dared say nothing more.

“I loved Chantal as only a very young man can
love. When I knew she was dead and understood the full horror of
who had ordered her death and why, the knowledge left me with a
broken spirit and a frozen heart. Durand tried to help me by
drawing me into his secret work for King Henryk, but it wasn’t
enough. I sought death on the battlefield; I denied my
responsibility to my brothers; I even decided most cold-bloodedly
to court and wed you to get an heir for my lands in Sapaudia.

“Then my grandmother’s scheme to visit Kinath
forced me to open my eyes to the world once more and to begin to
live again. Still, I could not forgive Walderon for what he had
done, or you for being his daughter. I hated you then, but only for
a short time, until I realized that none of what happened more than
three years ago is your fault. You didn’t know what your father was
doing.

“I promise I will never blame you for
anything your father did, or anything your brother has done. All
that tragedy lies in the past.” He spoke with firm resolution. “I
want to think about the present. I told you in Kerun City that I
love you. I say it again now. I love you with all my heart and
soul, as a man fully grown loves a woman. You, and no one else.
Will you marry me?”

“Marry?” At first she wasn’t certain she’d
heard him correctly. “Are you sure?”

“Absolutely. Completely. For the rest of my
life and beyond.”

“Then, yes.” She lifted her face for his
kiss. A long time later she asked rather breathlessly, “Do you
think Ultan would agree to perform the ceremony? I don’t want to
wait until we reach Sapaudia.”

“Agree?” Garit said with a chuckle. “I think
Ultan would be insulted if we didn’t ask him. I suspect a grand
wedding is part of his plan to reward us for returning the Emerald
to him.”

The next morning Calia visited Toren’s wife,
Lady Zara, in her creamy-white apartments. A white fur rug graced
the stone floor, the relic of a hunt to the wastelands far north of
Chandelar. Pale curtains blew in the breeze afforded by open
windows. Crystalline vases filled with white flowers and green
leaves stood about the room. Like Zara herself, the decor was pale,
quiet and, Calia soon discovered, peaceful and serene. Perhaps
Toren found his wife’s chambers a calm refuge after days spent
dealing with affairs of state.

“I have come to ask a favor of you,” Calia
said when they were settled on creamy, soft cushions.

“Of course,” Zara responded. “Ask anything
you will.”

“Garit and I want to be married. He will
speak to Ultan, and also to Toren, this morning. But, Lady Zara,
you are the only woman I know in all of Chandelar, and I have
nothing to wear for the ceremony! We brought no baggage from
Kantia; even our saddlebags were lost on the way. Ultan provided
the gown I’m wearing and it’s lovely, but it’s all I have.”

“Say no more.” Zara’s pale grey eyes began to
sparkle. “I would be so honored to advise you. I know a shop that’s
just a short distance from here....”

For the rest of that day Calia, whose recent
concerns had been for treachery and Power, and the simple need to
survive, found herself swept into a woman’s world that she had
known existed but had never thought to enter.

With Zara, one of her serving women, and
several pages to carry their purchases they all but plundered the
shops of Tannaris for gowns, shoes, intimate undergarments, and
cosmetics.

“Phew,” young Finen gasped late that
afternoon as he unloaded packages in Zara’s sitting room. “I never
knew ladies needed so
much
to make them look pretty. I
thought you just looked that way naturally.”

“You have learned quite enough feminine
secrets,” Zara told him. “Take yourself and your fellow pages to
the kitchen and tell Cook I said to give you a grand treat.”

“Thank you, my lady,” the pages mumbled,
heading for the door.

Scarcely were the boys gone than a knock
sounded. When Zara called out to enter, Garit appeared.

“What is this?” he asked, waving a hand
toward the packages the pages had dropped.

“You may not see these treasures just yet,”
Zara told him with a knowing smile. “You must wait until after you
are wed.”

“That won’t be long.” Garit looked at Calia.
“Ultan has decreed that we will marry just before tonight’s
feast.”

“Tonight?” Calia and Zara exclaimed in
unison.

“The Great Mage is a practical man,” Garit
said. “The feast was planned to honor us for returning the Emerald,
so he decided to use it for two purposes. I don’t mind, but if you
would rather wait,” he said, looking at Calia.

“I have no objection.” Calia knew she was
blushing.

“I have a surprise for you,” Garit told her.
“A special guest for our wedding. The ship Ultan spoke of arrived
this afternoon. It’s
The Kantian Queen.”

“Captain Pyrsig is here?” Calia cried.

“You will scarcely recognize him,” Garit said
with a chuckle. “He has trimmed his hair and shaved his beard. And
purchased new clothes.”

“Really? I am honored.”

“Oh, it wasn’t done for you. Fenella is with
him. I invited her to the wedding, too. Do you mind?”

“Not at all. Did Fenella leave her children
with Lady Elgida?”

“So she says.” Garit was grinning. “I’m
grateful I wasn’t there to hear my grandmother’s remarks when
Fenella revealed what she was planning. I gather my stepmother
cannot long survive without a man’s attentions. Fortunately, Pyrsig
is strong and healthy.”

“Lord Garit,” Zara interrupted, “you must
leave my rooms at once. Calia and I have much to do. Go and bathe
yourself. Visit the palace barber. Buy your own new suit of
clothes. I will escort Calia to you at the time for your wedding
ceremony.”

To Calia’s amusement the quiet, pale lady
began to push Garit toward the door.

“Can’t I even kiss her?” Garit protested.

“Later.” Laughing merrily, Zara shoved him
through the doorway.

“Now,” Zara said to Calia, “first a scented
bath, I think. Do you want this Fenella person to join us? I can
send for her.”

“Thank you, but no. I would rather have just
you and your maidservant help me to prepare.”

“Very well.” Zara frowned, biting her lower
lip. “I ought to ask if you are frightened, or worried. I know I
was before I married Toren. But, Calia, your Garit is very much
like Toren.”