Sword and the Spell 01: The Grey Robe (49 page)

"Pellum, My Prince, I knew you would come for
me."

Pellum stepped forward shouldering Jonderill aside and
took her hand, kissing the delicate finger tips one by one.

"My Princess, I have always been here for
you."

Majestically, as if they were made for each other, he
helped her from the bed and gently led her from the room to their long awaited
wedding day.

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Sansun
stood patiently in the courtyard, his ears pricked to listen to his master's
words as Jonderill tightened the saddle strap and placed the laden saddlebags
across the horse's withers. He stroked the smooth muscular neck of the animal
which had been a gift from the Stablemaster. Not that he’d wanted to part with
the valuable stallion but the horse had made it quite clear he’d no intentions
of being ridden again by either the newly crowned queen or her consort or even remaining
in the royal stables for that matter.

Jonderill had been the only person who could safely
approach the warhorse so the Stablemaster had given it to him before Queen Daun
decided that the best thing to do was have the animal destroyed. The
Stablemaster had said that it was a gift which had been given in recognition of
past services to the royal household. Jonderill knew that wasn’t the truth but
it didn’t lessen the value of the gift. He’d never owned, ridden or cared for
such a fine and spirited animal but he guessed that Sansun would teach him what
he needed to know.

After checking the straps on the saddlebags, which
were full of well preserved travel food and good serviceable clothing he tied
the roll of thick blankets and waterproofs to the back of the saddle. They had
all been gifts from the Housecharge, who seemed genuinely sorry to see him
leave. A large purse of gold coin, collected by Swordmaster Dilor from the
household guards, lay hidden behind the saddle, enough to see him well away
from the kingdom of Vinmore and settled into his new life.

He’d hoped that Barrin might have been there to see
him off so he could tell him the truth about what had happened but he hadn’t
seen his old friend since his return to the palace. The previous night he’d
gone to the Soldier’s Rest to say his farewells over a jug of ale but Barrin
wasn’t there; he supposed he had other things to do. All the same he wished his
only friend had been there to say goodbye one last time. Sadly he gave Sansun
an affectionate pat and turned to say his last farewells to the two waiting
magicians.

"You don't have to leave," said Animus
sorrowfully. "There will always be a home for you here."

Jonderill looked up at the large window in the palace
wall. If it had been up to the Queen he would be locked in one of the palace’s
deepest cells by now awaiting his execution, so staying was not an option, even
if he’d wanted to. He knew she remembered nothing of being Rosera and the four summers
they had lived together in the woodsman’s cottage. Never the less he’d hoped
that she might have been a little grateful to him for keeping her safe from
Maladran’s enchantment.

If she had he could have lived with Pellum's twisted
version of how he’d fought his way through the hedge, killed a dragon and woken
the princess, but it wasn’t to be. As far as Daun was concerned he’d kidnapped
her, killing one of her servants in the process and had then held her prisoner
for four summers. Fortunately others had been more understanding, but it had
been a close run thing.

"No, I have to leave; too much has happened for it
to be safe for me to stay here any longer."

"Where will you go?" asked Plantagenet with
concern.

"I'm not sure. He looked down at the pale
kingsward brand which still showed beneath the edge of his sleeve. "Staying
within the bounds of the six kingdoms may be dangerous for an escaped kingsward
and one named as a felon so I thought I would follow my desire to see a great
ocean and perhaps even sail across it."

Plantagenet gave Animus a sharp look, making the fat
magician flush red and fumble beneath his robes.

"I forgot. Before King Steppen abdicated he asked
me to give you these with his heartfelt thanks. At least he knows the truth
about your part in his daughter's rescue and would have thanked you publicly if
it hadn’t been for the shame it would have brought Daun and her husband. He
begs your forgiveness and hopes you will understand."

Jonderill broke the King’s seal on the two scrolls and
briefly read the contents. "My freedom and the King's pardon."

Animus nodded. "If you would stay a day or two
more I could remove your kingsward scar from your arm."

"Nobody can remove the scars of being another
man's property," Jonderill said bitterly and then smiled, "but with
time they fade, as all scars do." He swallowed hard, feeling tears burn
the back of his eyes and a sharp lump restrict his breathing as he fought back
his emotions. "Thank his majesty for me; I’m grateful for his kindness but
these don’t really change anything. Once Steppen leaves Vinmore the Queen would
find some reason to have me arrested and executed. As much as I will miss you I
have to go."

He took hold of Animus and gave him a long embrace,
aware of the magician's tears which wet his shirt. When Animus had himself back
under control Jonderill released him and turned to Plantagenet who, as always,
held himself in careful check. The magician fumbled in the folds of his cloak
and brought out a finely engraved sword with a sculptured cross piece and a
hilt wound with black leather and gold wire.

"It's from us both, to help you to remember us
by."

Jonderill looked at the fine weapon, which would have
graced the side of any nobleman. "It's a beautiful sword but I don't need
anything from you for me to remember my two dearest friends, you will always be
close to my heart." He looked up into the moist eyes of the tall magician
and smiled. "I can't take your gift for I already have your sword."
He touched the battered hilt of the old iron blade at his side. "The magic
you put in this sword has opened warded doors, kept me safe against the darkest
of all magics and defeated demon dragons and if you will grant it, I would like
to carry this sword with me for my protection.”

Plantagenet looked at him with a frown on his face,
whilst Animus wiped his wet eyes and looked from one to the other in
puzzlement. "You are mistaken, my boy, there was no magic in the sword. I
told you that I ceased carrying it when I came into my power as I no longer
needed a sword to protect me. It was given to you the same way as I left it,
just an ordinary iron blade."

"But I stood against all of Maladran's magic and
defeated them all when I held this sword in my hand."

"Then any power which was in the sword came from
your hands and your hands alone." Jonderill looked at his hands in
disbelief and then up at the two beaming magicians.

"Remember what the white magician said; when you
come into your power and have learned to know yourself, then come to me and I
will show you what lies beyond." Jonderill nodded, still speechless.
"Then that is what you must do. You have at last found the focus of your
power, my boy, and it’s time for you to become one of Federa’s chosen. You will
need Callabris to teach you how to use that focus so go and find him,
Jonderill, for therein lies your future."

"Thank you," said Jonderill, taking the
sword into his hands, "Thank you both for everything. I shall try to
honour both you and this sword in everything I do."

He replaced the iron sword at his side with the fine
weapon but instead of returning the old, pitted blade to Plantagenet he slid it
into the rolled grey robe tied to the back of his horse which the white
magician had given him. There, the battered base metal lay next to the
quiescent golden torc.

"Whatever you say, it will always be magical to
me."

Plantagenet and Animus made no reply but watched as
Jonderill mounted Sansun and rode through the palace gates without once looking
back.

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Coming Soon: Book 2 of The Sword and the Spell

The White Robe.