Flecks of Gold (45 page)

When the few of us who were awake could do no more, we settled by the sleeping and waited for them to wake. Breeohan and I sat next to Mom, King Verone—my father—and Sogran. I still wasn’t sure what to make of being daughter to the king.

“You must not have eaten even a whole bite of the food this morning—you awoke so quickly,” I inserted into the silence.

Breeohan’s milk chocolate cheeks reddened. “I wasn’t very hungry. The thought of you being tortured turned my stomach.”

It was my turn to redden. “I was weak. My legs were burning. All I could think about was the pain and making it stop. I put you all in danger because of my flimsy willpower,” I whispered.

“Don’t blame yourself. I defy anyone to have done better,” Breeohan replied earnestly.

I didn’t know what to say to that, so instead, I looked down at my lap. “I wouldn’t have had the strength to break the enchantment lacing if not for you. When Kelteon first hinted that he would make me kill you, I realized how glad I was that you had escaped, even if that meant leaving me behind. I knew that you were safe, and I was content, but I also knew that I would see you again as a possessed mannequin, and I wouldn’t be able to stop my own hand from hurting you. I wanted to die.”

“But you didn’t kill me. You broke his hold on you.”

“Yes.” I hesitantly raised my eyes to Breeohan’s. They reflected an intensity of emotion I’d never before seen on his face. My stomach knotted with a tension both unnerving and exhilarating.

I leaned forward, greatly daring, and touched my lips softly to his. His hands came up to cup my face and deepen the kiss. Then someone coughed. Breeohan and I parted, and I felt breathless and lightheaded.

“It’s a good thing you’re surrounded by chaperones. I’d hate to think what you two would do without anyone around.” The king—my father—tried to speak reprovingly, but the effect was somewhat lessened by the drunken slur of his words. My face went beet red as I turned to see Mom, Sogran, and the king staring at Breeohan and me sternly, if somewhat sleepily. Breeohan looked just as red.

“Now you be quiet,” Mom ordered the king of an entire country. “As far as I know, this is Mary’s first kiss, and you’re ruining it.”

Thanks a lot, Mom
, I thought unthankfully. The three adults were starting to look more alert.

“Your Majesty, please forgive me,” Breeohan said. He quickly changed the subject, telling them of Kelteon’s control over me and how Kelteon’s men had taken the camp by drugging everyone, how I’d broken the enchantment lacing and broken Kelteon’s magic accidentally at the same time.

“How did Kelteon get Mary to drug the food? She was watched at all times,” the training general asked.

“Oh,” I slapped my forehead. “I forgot to look for him in the aftermath. That servant of yours was Kelteon’s spy,” I said to the king. “He came into my tent and told Kelteon through me that you were really my father and had declared it before a council and everything. Kelteon ordered him to drug the food this morning. We’ve got to find him.”

“Kreth, Zac, Johan come with me. We need to arrest Sirus for treason,” the training general ordered.

Sogran left, leaving Breeohan and me facing Mom and the king in uncomfortable silence.

“So the secret is out,” the king said hesitantly.

“I guess, unless you and the training general are going to switch the privilege again,” I replied.

“No, Verone really is your father, Mary.” Mom smiled shyly up at the king, and he smiled back goofily.

It made me instantly angry. “Don’t smile at him, Mom. He abandoned us. He left you without even telling you why,” I snapped. The smiles vanished, and I felt a stab of guilt but suppressed it.

“He had no choice. He was forced to leave,” Mom said in a small voice.

“I was not supposed to be king. My sister ruled Iberloah before me quite well, but when she died in an suspicious accident, the people were worried. Revolts began to erupt, and nobles vied for the crown all within days of her death. I was on Earth when it happened with no plan of ever returning to Esa. But Dolna Zeva, the magician school’s headmaster, knew where I was, and he knew where the lacing to get there was located. For the sake of the people, Dolna Zeva came to Earth and dragged me back with Sogran before I could even protest.

“Once I was in Ismar, the people calmed. The nobles scheming for the crown faded quickly into the stonework. But when I had things under control, I looked for the lacing, only to hear from Dolna Zeva that it had been stolen—I assume by Kelteon. I couldn’t go back to get Fiona, though I searched for years for another copy of the travel lacing that would take me there,” he finished sadly.

I was unsure how to feel. I’d grown up idolizing and hating my biological father in vacillating stages. Idolizing him because of the way Mom said he treated her when he was still around, hating him for running off and being the first man in a long line of many who had let me and Mom down. But if what he said was true, he really hadn’t left because he wanted to. He’d practically been abducted.

“Kelteon said someone destroyed the travel lacing,” I said, feeling awkward, at a loss as to what people should say in such situations.

“I’m sorry that you and your mother won’t get to see Earth again, but I was hoping that you would decide to stay here with me,” my father said. He looked quickly toward Mom, and she smiled blissfully back at him. There was no question about whether or not she wanted to stick around. It was nice to see that Mom’s hopeless self-accusation had been replaced by a tentative happiness as she looked upon her long-lost husband. I’d seen for myself that King Verone was a good person, and really, where else would we go?

I glanced over at Breeohan sitting next to me and felt a thrill as he smiled.

“I think I’d like that. Mom?” I asked just in case.

“Yes. I’d like that very much,” she said, still gazing at the king.

“I’m glad.” I assumed the king meant to direct his comment to both of us, but his eyes were locked on Mom. Their faces drifted closer together, and I cleared my throat, feeling a strange mixture of happy uncertainty.

“Speaking of chaperones . . .” I said pointedly. Next to me Breeohan surreptitiously held up his hand to hide his smirk, but I caught it anyway and mock-glared at him. Mom turned to me with a mischievous glint in her eye, but before she could torment me further, Sogran returned, looking grim, and the sparkle died.

“Sirus isn’t to be found anywhere in the camp.” We all drew in sharp breaths. “There’s more.” The training general paused unhappily. “Kelteon’s casing was smashed open. He’s gone as well, probably with Sirus. I’ve sent men out to track them down. We’ll apprehend them soon.” Sogran said the words confidently, but they left a shadow on my previous ease. Why hadn’t we heard Sirus breaking the stone?

“Continue the search, Sogran. We will break up camp and travel back to the capitol,” ordered the king. Sogran saluted by grasping his left upper arm briefly, then strode off, bellowing orders as he moved.

While some soldiers broke up camp, the king sent a group into the city to make sure that all of Kelteon’s mercenaries were routed out. I was trying to tie my tent canvas into a neat bundle but managing only a sloppy one when I saw the king’s soldiers return. A prisoner marched miserably ahead of archers with nocked crossbows, his hands tied behind his back. I dropped the bundle and headed to intercept the king. By the time I reached them, Rafan was kneeling in front of the king, gazing down with a look of sorrowful disgust.

“There is nothing I can do,” the king said in response to what Rafan must have said. “You are guilty of treason against the royal family. You must pay for your crimes.”

“Wait,” I said before my father could proclaim a sentence. “Rafan was under an enchantment lacing ever since he met me, probably before that. When I was under Kelteon’s control, he showed me. I think when I broke Kelteon’s hold, it released Rafan as well.” Rafan nodded. I continued, “I really don’t know what kind of person Rafan is since it was Kelteon the whole time. But I do know that the only thing Kelteon didn’t control when I was under the enchantment lacing was my thoughts, so I think you should consider that when you pass judgment on him.” I felt strange defending someone I had hated. But I hadn’t ever hated the real Rafan. I’d never even known him, and being imprisoned in my own body had certainly been excruciating torment for me.

“Why did you submit to the enchantment lacing?” the king asked Rafan.

A horrible haunted look stole over Rafan’s face. The voice I had only ever heard before as cockily confident trembled as he explained how Kelteon’s agents had caught him when he’d been spying in the city. They’d tortured him until he agreed to submit to the enchantment lacing. “I held out against him for three days, but I broke,” he rasped and hung his head in shame.

I dropped to the sand next to him and put my hand on his shoulder. “You lasted much longer than I did. I caved with hardly a fight. Don’t torture yourself over someone else’s wickedness.” I spoke as much to myself as to him. He looked up at me, shame still spilling out of his eyes.

“I’m sorry for what I . . . what he made me do and say to you,” he said in a jumble.

“No problem. I know it wasn’t you. I’m not exactly sure who you are, but I’d be happy to find out,” I said with a half smile. I looked up at my father. “I think Doln Rafan has suffered enough already, don’t you . . . Dad?” I was unsure about calling the king “Dad.” But when the word emerged hesitantly from my lips, King Verone’s face transformed to a look of pleased surprise. I felt responding warmth grow in my chest.

“I think you are right, Mary. However, your explanation does make me worried. Kelteon has escaped. Is there any way he could regain control over you?” he asked.

“Never,” Rafan’s voice rasped vehemently. “I would rather die a thousand deaths than ever be possessed again, unable to even move my finger without Kelteon’s command. I would kill myself first.”

I vehemently agreed, but I was sure it would be awhile before Kelteon could even attempt such a thing.

Just then Breeohan appeared from around a tent corner. When he spotted Rafan and me on the ground, his face turned murderous. Breeohan’s sword slid free of its scabbard. “I trusted you. How could you ally yourself with Kelteon?” he yelled while advancing.

“Calm down, Breeohan. Rafan was just as powerless as I was,” I said. “He was tortured and put under the enchantment lacing.” I looked up to the king.

Breeohan’s sword drooped. He looked from me to Rafan to the king in confusion before sheathing the metal. I sighed in relief. Breeohan looked perplexed.

“I revoke my permission to Kelteon or anyone else to ever again control my will with the enchantment lacing. I vow death before submitting to such a vile and dangerous prison,” Rafan’s gravely voice rumbled feelingly.

“I am satisfied and am sorry for what you have suffered under Kelteon,” King Verone said formally. “He will not go unpunished for his crimes. You are free to go, Doln Rafan. You may travel back to the capitol with us if you wish.” The soldiers untied Rafan’s hands, and I helped him to his feet.

My father and the soldiers walked off to various packing tasks, but Breeohan stayed standing in an uncertain but defensive stance.

Rafan murmured, “I’m so sorry, Breeohan, for . . . for how miserable I made you. I hope you know I would never . . .”

Breeohan held up his hand, shoulders slumping. “It wasn’t you. I’m glad to know that my friend is still my friend in truth. We will bury that past and start anew.” He briefly placed his hand on Rafan’s shoulder, before turning away to help with the departure preparations.

As I watched him retreat, I realized that I’d been shamelessly watching a private moment. So I turned to go, embarrassed, but Rafan snagged my sleeve. He tried to meet my eyes but couldn’t hold mine for more than a second before he looked away, coloring. It was jarring to see so many foreign expressions on Rafan’s face, but also comforting, a confirmation that the man in front of me was not Kelteon.

“Thank you. The only me you ever saw was a womanizer, Princess,” he said with the same rough voice I’d known since meeting him, but with a humility never before present.

“Yeah, well,” I said, uncomfortable to recall my entrapment in Kelteon’s will. “Kelteon would have been pleased if you had been declared a traitor. Also, I remember . . .” I couldn’t finish my thought about how Kelteon’s mind invasion had made my skin crawl. “I had to endure his will for a much shorter time.” I shivered.

Rafan looked at me with haunted understanding. “Thank you, anyway,” he said passionately. Then he blushed and strode quickly away. I watched him for a minute and shrugged, as unsure about what to make of this new Rafan as I had been of the old.

T
he trip back to Ismar was slow because of all the people traveling in our party and the fact that the king had us parade through every city and town we passed in a royal display. Sogran sent soldiers to continue the search for Kelteon, but no trace of either Kelteon or his spy, Sirus, was found. The training general’s men returned a few weeks later, frustrated by an unexpected blizzard in a high mountain’s track leading out of Iberloah. We could only hope that Kelteon had been killed in the snow or at least trapped outside the country.

The uneasiness I felt about Kelteon’s continued freedom was forced into a mild dissatisfied twitch at the back of my mind as Mom and I rode through the cities and towns seated in a cart, decked in brilliant-hued clothes, and waving like beauty queens in a parade. The king and Breeohan, also resplendently arrayed, rode horses ahead of us, and the training general trailed behind less conspicuously but always on the alert for danger.

Along the way, Mom and my father became reacquainted with each other and more than annoyingly gooey. I discovered that Mom had followed her nature and had never actually gotten around to getting a divorce from my dad, so they were actually still married. Despite that, they decided to get married all over again as soon as we reached the palace and to do it in the Iberloahan tradition, so that the people could feel secure. Villagers and townspeople alike cheered with an added frenzy that made me nervous after the news of Mom and Dad’s upcoming nuptials was declared.