Out of the Faold (Whilst Old Legends Fade Synchronicles) (31 page)

She would marry Fredrick. Well, perhaps not marry him but she would become his at some point. He needed her. He had all the others. It was safe to keep them all close. And the people loved them all. He was very intelligent.

And she needed him. He was kind in a wicked sort of way. She felt he honestly respected what she had to say and let her say it. He allowed her to be herself and have free run of the entire castle. She could get all muddy with the dogs and traipse through the corridors, even into his library and he’d just laugh. It was to her advantage. She studied his back, a tickle of longing stirring in her when she thought of finally giving i
n to him.

“Will you come to a meeting with me?” he asked.

His words brought her out of her reverie. “Yes,” she said curiously.

“I have to meet with the Siri.”

She stood and approached the window to stand beside him. He was watching Glory and Tomas walk around the gar
dens with little Darius in tow.

“They want to go ahead with the betrothal to their Sennta.”

“Without her approval?” Pe
arl asked, looking at his face.

“It is my decision, they say. She has passed the time in tradition that she has to pick her mate. They can choose for her. Out of respect for her and Danycia they leave me with the decision.”

“And you will choose Sennta,” she said, knowing that was where his decision would lie.

He didn’t answer for a long while. Finally he said, “She is your sister. Tell me what she would want. If she wer
e here I would ask her myself.”

“She loves Pat, her Marshall. She always has.”

“Why has she not taken him then?” he asked softly, puttin
g his arm around her shoulders.

“I don’t know. I know he worries he is too old for her. He knew her as a child. He hasn’t touched her for that reason.”

“Sounds familiar,” he told h
er, looking down into her face.

She looked away nervously. “Darius takes his job seriously.”

He smiled, giving her arm a squeeze in understanding. “How are the puppies?” he asked, turning away from the window, releasing her. He
picked up papers from his desk.

She smiled, watching Darius. “Getting bigger. They are moving around some. Mom keeps good watch that Darius doesn’t get too close.”

“That’s good.”

She turned to him and tugged on the sleeve of his jacket. “Can I have a puppy? When they are old enough?”

He put the papers back down and turned to her. He put his arms around her waist and pulled her close. His nose touched hers. “When are you going to agree to marry me?”

“Oh, that kind of a barga
in,” she laughed, pushing away.

“Exa
ctly,” he told her with a wink.

She turned back to the window and forced her breathing to even out and the but
terflies in her stomach to die.

Darius clomped behind the pair down in the gardens in his boots until Tomas turned and gave him a treat.

“There goes Tomas again, giving Darius his sweet.”

Fredrick appeared behind her, a little too close, watching the scene. Tomas grasped Glory’s hand and she smiled at him as Darius ran off toward a side door. When Darius slid out of focus Pearl stiffened in surprise. The King l
ooked at her over her shoulder.

“I’m sure you knew they liked to …”

“Oh, yes,” she said, realizing what he meant. “I knew.”

“What’s wrong?”

“Nothing, sorry,” she said. She watched the spot where Darius had been. Krisa. That must be where she’s been hiding. He’s been hiding her. That little
scoundrel. She had to find him.

A soft tap was heard at the door of the narrow hallway that led to the war room. “That is our meeting,” he told her, putting a han
d on her shoulder to guide her.

“What are you going to do?”

“What is best for everyone,” he told her, taking the lead.

Pearl frowned, knowing what that meant. Darius, she had to get to him. When she tried to go to
ward the other door he stopped.

“Where are you going?” he asked.

“I need to find someone.”

“No.”

“But I…”

“Pearl,” he said, no longer the kind, mischievous look in his eye he usually held on her. “I need you. In the meeting.”

Slowly, she followed him down the dark corridor. It brightened slightly as the door to the library swayed. The page in front of the King opened the door into the war room where everyone else was waiting. A guard came to attention at the other side of the door. The entire room stood as the King entered. Pea
rl followed, scanning the room.

Captain Amias and Coral were over on the right with Pat, who looked distressed.
Although t
hey were no longer considered her gua
rdians since she came of age, they were expected to be there as they had a stake in her past and future. Krisa’s
father was
also present
. Five Siri stood to the left, Sennta and two couples, most likely the leaders of the two clans represented. Pearl had learned that the clans were those of Krisa’s mother along with the clan that had brought her to them through the outpost. Other Marshalls and guards, scribes and pages smattered the room.

Pearl stood at her usual place, behind Fredrick to his side. She stood as she normally did, emotionless, watching Fredrick and looking at people in the ro
om. She locked eyes with Coral.

Fredrick cleared his throat and the guards at
the main doors swung them shut.

“Thank you for coming, everyone. I’m sorry to say we haven’t located our shy Krisa yet, but I’m assured she is quite a
dept at taking care of herself.

“In our shared tradition girls come of age at fifteen years. They are free to marry. In the Siri tradition a woman has a year to make the decision whether to marry right away or join the military. After the year, the Siri elders have the responsibility to choose for her. Krisa, at sixteen, has not chosen a mate. According to the Siri she has not yet lived among them long enough to join their military. They have put forth a proposal that she marry Sennta
of her mother’s clan.

“I have a contract drawn up that would solidify a bond between the nations of Danycia and Siri with the marriage of Krisa to Sennta, including a defense treaty that gives both lands security against others. We have had a strong allegiance in the past and hope to continue.”

Fredrick paused to look at Pearl. She stared at him emotionlessly. His eyes seemed to plead with her. He needed a decision. He still hadn’t made it. In that moment Pearl realized how much power she had. It was real power. Over a man who controlled everyone else. She locked eyes with Coral again. She saw in the woman’s face the
recognition of the same thing.

From down the corridor ran a set of boots. Small boots. They skidded to a stop and a fist pounded on the doors. Fredrick rolled his eyes at Pearl and she grinned. He waved the guard to open the door for Darius, who then ran in shouting, “Mama, Papa!”

Fredrick pointed over to where his parents stood. Pearl’s braid was yanked back and she felt the cold sharp edge of a blade against her neck. She froze. Her heart felt like it spun out of control. Fredrick stared at the dark figure standing behind her as tears welled up in Pearl’s eyes at the pain of her hair being pulled so hard. The sound of metal swords being drawn rang throughout the room. Fredrick’s guards rushed forward but he waved them back. He
didn’t move from Pearl’s side.

Next to her ear she heard a whisper, “Help me,” and tears fell onto Pearl’s shoulder. They ran inside her robe and over her breast.

Krisa. Pearl searched the people in front of her. Coral had turned Darius away from the scene. The Siri were all on their feet. Pat had come forward a few steps, pleading with Krisa si
lently to release Pearl. Amias.

“Captain,” she called out.

Fredrick beckoned Amias forward. He stood, fearful. Two of the people he loved most dearly in the world were at the brink of a tragedy. Krisa could not
harm Pearl, she just couldn’t.

“Captain Amias Natan Filbar Doran,” Pearl said, staring him in the eyes. “Do you believe Krisa Tei Riva Sunn has strong military skills, after having bypassed guardsmen of the castle, entered the war room of the King undetected and assaulted the King’s councilor, in a room full of people?”

“Yes,” Amias said.

“And do you feel she has performed loyally toward the King, yourself and her family beyond expectations since you have known her.”

“Yes.”

“Do you feel she has the knowledge and experience required of a Danycian Marshall.”

“Yes,” he said slowly. Pearl saw the look in his eyes as he realized what she was doing. “Yes! She trained with my men for a short time, she has had six years of training with the best warriors known, and I believe she has more skill than necessary.”

“Fredrick Pol Stener Curden, King of Danycia, do you recognize that in your history with Krisa
Tei Riva Sunn she has acted valiantly, skillfully and with utmost respect for you and your citizens?”

“Besides holding a knife to your throat?” he asked.

“Yes,” she said, trying to sound emotionless, but that mischievous look was back in his eyes.

“She has,” he stated, standing. “But she has a knife to your throat.”

He reached out to Krisa’s arm and pushed it down so the machete wasn’t against Pearl’s skin a
ny longer. He took it from her.

“Captain!” the King called out. “Take Krisa
Tei Riva Sunn into custody.”

“No!” Pearl cried.

Amias paused, looking at his King who nodded him forward. The last time Amias had disobeyed an order by Fredrick he was threatened with a beheading and it was a serious threat. He put his hand on Krisa’s arm and took two steps toward the main doors.

Pearl stared into the eyes of Fredrick. She said loudly, “Would it be acceptable to the Siri to take another noble daughter as the betrothed of Sennta. Would the contract still be binding?”

One of the Siri stepped forward to say, “Yes, but Krisa is part Siri, we welcome her home to her people to forge the bond.”

“It is undeniable that there is a bond between the two lands,” she told everyone, still staring into the eyes of the King. “A Siri child beheaded an evil god of the Kusira. The Siri army came to the aid of Danycia. Danycia would do the same without hesitation. The heart of Krisa
Tei Riva Sunn is Siri, but it belongs to another.”

There was a murmur around the room. The Siri leader said, “We can choose another if Krisa is taking another to wed.”

“There are several young women who have come of age recently from among the nobles currently at court. I’m sure we can set up meetings with families,” she suggested. And more to Fredrick than to anyone else in the hall she added, “I would offer my own hand to Sennta in Krisa’s stead but I am no longer available.”

Fredrick studied her face thoughtfully then with that same mischievous twinkle in his eye he called out, “Captain, take her away.”

“What?” she demanded.

“On your way down to the jail take Krisa to get her new Marshall uniform. And outfit a horse for her. Leave her in a cell for a few hours so she can have some time to decide which she wants to choose.”

Krisa was led out of the war room by Amias. She stared back at Pearl until she went through the doors. Coral stepped forward. Pearl met her eyes once more. The woman turned and left, taking Darius with her. Pat stood leaning ag
ainst the wall, clearly shaken.

The King cocked his head at her as though he didn’t understand what she had just told him. She turned on her heel and headed toward the dark hallway that led back to the library. She looked back at him to say, “I really want a puppy.”

When Amias returned to their suite Coral wasn’t there. The trunks weren’t there but Darius was. He was in bed. Amias breathed a sigh of relief. He had feared she left. Glory was preparing for bed also. She had heard the rumors circulating the castle but did not come to the Captain to question him. He looked tired.

“Where is she?” he whispered.

“S
he went to see them,” she said.

That wasn’t good. She tended to go only when troubled, usually about the girls. He sighed and steadied himself. He pushed himself through to the grey world as figures appeared before him. Coral stood face to face with the soothing voiced goddess
. She turned to see him arrive.

“Talk to your husband,” t
he woman told her with a smile.

“You were right,” she told him. “They aren’t children anymore.”

He shook his head. “It kills me as much as it does you.”

“They were such sweet little girls,” she told him
, tears welling up in her eyes.