Chapter 21
“This is your new house?” Ren’s voice betrayed his disbelief. Kathryn couldn’t really blame him. The palaces of the lords and ladies of Tephraya were as massive and elegant as the king’s palace in Iridalys. This particular palace was thirteen miles outside of Tephrayana and had a wide swath of land around it. There were two mines on the property and a herd of horses.
“Our house,” she corrected him with a smile. She put a hand on his arm. “You won this. I didn’t.”
“Kat…”
He stared at her, deeply moved.
Chance broke into their thoughts with, “I’ll just be glad to get a warm bed! I suppose the place comes with slaves too, Kathryn. What are you going to do about those?”
“Free them of course,” she replied without hesitation. “They can live here and receive a wage if they wish, or they can leave. It’s up to them.”
Brenin said, “I’m sure you’ll be very happy here.” The catch in his voice made Ren turn to him worriedly.
“You sound like you’re thinking of leaving,” he began.
Brenin shrugged. “You don’t need me anymore,” he said. “And I don’t belong here. Iridalys is my home.”
Kathryn and Chance caught each other’s eyes and withdrew. Ren raised his voice in distress. “You don’t have to leave. Why don’t you stay here with us? What is there back in Iridalys for you?”
“I’m not made for this place. I hate it here,” Brenin said bluntly. “I can’t stand the way this place is set up or the way they trample on people. And I hate the dust as well. I’m an old man, Ren.”
“You’re not that old,” the younger man protested, clenching his fist. “Besides, who’s going to train me?”
“You shouldn’t need to fight much from now on. Miss Kathryn said she won’t expect you to fight the rebels as the King would prefer, so the worst you might have to do is fight off a few bandits now and then.”
“But I-”
“If you need help, all you have to do is send word and ask for me. You know I’ll come.”
“Stay overnight anyway. You never know; you might like it so much here that you decide not to leave.” Ren smiled hopefully,
“Of course I’m staying overnight. You didn’t think I’d sleep in the street again, did you?” Brenin demanded.
As they talked, Kathryn asked Chance, “Did you talk to Zafiyah yet?”
Chance turned bright red. “I wouldn’t have said that was any of your business, Kathryn,” he remarked.
She laughed at him. “You did, and I can see that you made up with her as well. Will she be calling on you here?”
“Perhaps.” He tried to hide his face.
“I’m happy for you. It is time that you had some happiness in your life.”
“Kathryn, could you perhaps try to be a little less dramatic?” Chance flashed her a grin. “It’s merely a momentary diversion.”
“Don’t you think you’re putting yourself at risk, though?” Kathryn kept her voice gentle, but he recoiled.
“How so?” he asked quickly.
She paused to shake her head at him. “Chance Frey? The name Frey means ‘free.’ And you speak Tephrayan. Lady Nour already knows you were once a slave. At best, people will be suspicious of you. If your master is really dead, you may be safe, but I doubt that was true.”
“For once you’re wrong. He’s dead.” The smile disappeared from his pale face and his green eyes narrowed. “I know because I killed him myself.”
“That’s even worse. How long do you think you can go before someone finds out? You could be sold again, or even executed.”
Chance shrugged. “I told Illian that, but he didn’t seem to care all that much. He won’t let me return until I have ‘useful intelligence’ on your intent. Even if I tell him you aren’t planning anything, he won’t believe me. But it’s all right. I intend to have my fun in the meantime.”
“I can’t promise you that you won’t have any trouble here, Chance, but I will do my best to protect you,” Kathryn said earnestly. “It’s the least I can do after you chased that assassin and after everything else you’ve done.”
“You’ll protect me? Well, I suppose you are a lady again.” He bowed to her with a smirk. “Should I call you Lady Kathryn?”
“If you do, you’ll have to find another place to sleep.” She patted his shoulder. “The only thing I ask is that you help me look after Ren. I’m afraid that there’s still trouble ahead.”
Chance frowned. “How so? I would think you’d be celebrating.”
“A representative of King Tarik is coming later today. Lord Vesper. I know a little bit about him. He manages the Champions who join Tarik’s army, and he is undoubtedly coming with all sorts of demands for Ren to join the fight against the rebels.”
Chance pressed his lips together and nodded. “Good to know. I’d better stay out of his way in that case. He’s known for really cracking down on the rebellion and any escaped slaves that are unfortunate enough to find their way under his judgment.”
“I think that would be wise. Take the day and visit Zafiyah.” She smiled at him. “Enjoy yourself. Take Ren with you if he’ll go.”
“I doubt he’ll want to go, but I can try. Do you think there’ll be trouble if he bumps into Vesper?”
“I have no doubt. Ren isn’t exactly the most subtle,” Kathryn replied quietly.
Just as she finished speaking, Ren and Brenin caught up with them. “Let’s see if the inside is as pretty as the outside,” Ren said cheerfully.
Chance successfully dragged Ren away from the palace later that day by telling him they would go to town to look over some new weapons. Kathryn had two visitors while they were gone. One of those visitors she had already been expecting, but the other completely took her by surprise.
The first, of course, was Lord Vesper.
Vesper was a dignified man who wore a monk-like robe and maintained a kindly smile on his face at all times. He kept his long gray hair tied back in a neat ponytail, and by all appearances was a neat, gentlemanly, and gracious individual
The only thing that broke the illusion was a strong smell. Kathryn wasn’t sure if it was a cologne meant to inspire fear, but there was a dead, rotting scent that even lavender oil couldn’t cover. She could hardly hide her disgust as she curtsied to him. “Lord Vesper,” she said.
She had abandoned the casual garments of a townswoman and now wore noble Tephrayan garb. Her flowing dress was made of red silk with golden thread, and earrings, bracelets, and necklaces showed her new status.
“Lady Kathryn,” he replied, his dark eyes crinkling pleasantly as his smile widened. “As you may already be aware, I have come today to discuss the future alliance of your ladyship and the Champion with our gracious King Tarik.”
“I understand. Please, sit.” She gestured to the gilded chair in front of her desk.
Vesper sat down, the smile pasted on his face. “My lady, firstly, I must congratulate you on your remarkable change in status. Never have I seen the banished, disgraced princess of one realm become the noble lady of another.”
“If that is your version of a compliment, Lord Vesper, I suggest you try harder.” She sat across from him. “I know that your King holds no love for me and only wants such aid as the Champion is able to provide in his majesty’s war.”
“It is not a proper war, madame, but rather a rebellion of slaves. Naturally, since you wish to be a friend of his majesty, it only makes sense that you would want to aid him in his struggle.”
“Far from it. I will not order the Champion to help suppress the rebellion,” Kathryn said calmly.
Vesper’s expression didn’t change. “You do understand that was the whole reason for the Contest and why it was held early in the first place, don’t you?”
“Of course. However, that was an unusual event. In all previous years, the Contest was held simply to ensure that the greatest warriors ended up in Tephraya. It has been successful to that end. Champion Ren Patrick is here, and he is the greatest warrior your great nation has ever seen.”
“I believe you. Of course, that is precisely why we are so interested in having him with us. There is a man. Some believe him divine, but he is a man nonetheless; he is called Aldiyhb. He’s the Wolf of the Desert, a supposedly unbeatable force who has killed two Champions in the past. Your champion is the only one who may have a chance against him.”
“Ren Patrick is not your slave,” Kathryn said quietly. “He’s not your tool to use. You will have to find another way to defeat Aldiyhb.”
“Refusing the direct request of the king could be considered treason, my lady.”
Her green eyes narrowed and she clenched her fist. “Let him order the Champion himself if he wills, but I can guarantee that it will not go the way you hope. I have no control over Ren Patrick; he is his own agent, and there is no possibility he will agree to participate. I would suggest you do not make an enemy of him.”
Vesper seemed to consider this for a moment. Then his smile widened and he said, “Well, at least we know exactly where we stand. Now, for the much happier purpose of my visit, I have been instructed to invite both you and the Champion to a banquet at the King’s palace in three days time at the fifteenth hour. The banquet will include the other Champions as well and is for the purpose of helping forge good relations between all of us.”
“I will speak to the Champion and inform you if he chooses to attend,” Kathryn said quietly.
Vesper nodded. “Very well. Also, you should probably be aware that his majesty often takes concubines from the noble ladies. You have the looks for one if you play your cards correctly. This banquet could prove to be quite the opportunity for you.”
She reddened, stunned by the words. “You may go,” she said between gritted teeth.
When the door closed behind him, Kathryn cursed under her breath. Perhaps Ren had been right; maybe it would have been better to stay in a little cottage on the border between Tephraya and Iridalys.
At the same time, a part of her almost felt exhilarated. These kinds of political machinations were comfortingly familiar to her, far more so than helping Calix in his garden. Tarik might be difficult to handle, but she would manage it anyway. Kathryn ignored the feeling that it was Vesper, not Tarik, who might prove to be the greatest threat of all.
Then the second visitor arrived.
A servant announced, “Lady Kathryn, General Xian is outside asking to see you.”
Her face whitened and she clutched the edge of her desk. “What could he possibly expect from me?” she mumbled
“I do not know, my lady, but he is most insistent, and the servants are all frightened of him.”
Kathryn shook her head to clear it. These people were her responsibility now. She wasn’t going to let that madman hurt any of them. Reaching for the dagger that lay on the desk, she took a deep breath before moving towards the door.
She couldn’t have expected what she would see outside. The General Xian on her doorstep was a far cry from the terrifying figure that had ruled her nightmares for so many months. His thin, haunted face twisted with anguish as he bowed to her, clutching at his loose sleeve to prevent it from flapping. His unkempt hair had some gray strands she’d never noticed before, and his legs trembled under him with weakness or hunger.
Perhaps she should have felt some sense of satisfaction at seeing his missing arm and sorry state, but instead, a strange sense of pity stirred within her.
He killed my mother.
She suppressed her compassion and glared at him. “How dare you come here,” she said quietly. “You are not welcome. Leave at once.”
“My lady, please…I am only asking for a moment of your time.” His frail voice quavered.
“You are not worth a moment.” She turned to go, but he reached out desperately and caught her arm.
Kathryn leaped away from him as though she had been burned, hissing, “Don’t touch me!”
“I…I am sorry. But please…I don’t want to hurt you. I just…” He bowed once again, this time on his knees with his forehead touching the ground. “I beg you to forgive me. You may not believe this, Lady Kathryn, but your mother’s death truly changed me. Before her, I cut down many opponents gladly. But that day-”
“Stop!” She clamped her hands over her ears. “I will not listen any further!”
“My lady, please hear me! Killing her is the one thing that I am ashamed of. You said I cannot redeem myself; that I must repay those I have harmed. She is the one person I regret harming, so tell me what I must do-”
“You can’t,” Kathryn flared. “You can’t repay her or myself, unless you have learned how to raise the dead.”
“I will serve you. I will do whatever I-”
“You truly are insane.” She looked down at him disdainfully. “If you come back here again, I will have my servants throw you out.” With that, she left him standing there, his face streaked with dirt and contorted with grief.
Let him rot.
She hoped she would never see him again.
The next day, Brenin left them. Ren found his way to the palace’s training grounds and practiced there as Kathryn and Chance said their goodbyes. Kathryn questioned in a puzzled voice, “Is Ren not coming to say farewell, Sir Brenin?”
“No, my lady; I think he’s not too pleased that I’m leaving,” Brenin said dryly. His hand dropped to her shoulder and she had to stop herself from jumping in surprise. “My lady, if you will allow me to speak freely, despite your position…”
“You don’t even have to ask, sir.”
“Then I’ll be honest. I’ve never thought you were good for Ren, and you know that. But now you’re the only one who can protect him. He’s not made for this world of kings and princes. You are, and I trust that you’ll be able to look after him.”
“I will,” she replied immediately.
Brenin nodded before continuing gruffly, “And I know you have some strange hangups about a romance with him, but don’t leave it too long. He’s a good man, and you wouldn’t want to lose him.”
Her eyes widened, but before she could reply, he strode away. Chance laughed in her face, and she glared at him. “Now you’ve got him doing it too,” she said.
“What can I say? It’s contagious, as well as painfully obvious.”
“Just as obvious as you and Zafiyah,” Kathryn countered.
Chance winced. “I think I liked it better when we weren’t on even footing with this kind of thing.”
As Chance and Kathryn bantered, Brenin made his way to the training grounds and watched Ren for several minutes. The younger man attacked a training post with a wooden staff, yelling in effort and accidentally breaking the staff in two.
He paused and looked down at the staff, panting. A smile tugged at the corners of Brenin’s mouth, but he didn’t let it show through. “Boy,” he said gruffly.
Ren turned to glance at him. “You’re really leaving then?” he said, disappointment heavy in his voice.
“For now. I have work back in Iridalys.”
“Like what?”
“Illian may be our king now, but I doubt anyone who is around him at the moment can make sure he’s a good one.”
“Did you ever think you might end up getting yourself banished or executed for your trouble?” Ren demanded.
“I’m a little better at taking care of myself than you are.” Brenin nodded at the staff. “I suggest you use a metal one for practice and straw instead of a post to hit. Otherwise, you’ll keep breaking them.”
“So stay and train me. I’ll be even better with you there,” Ren argued.
“No, you won’t. You’re at your peak, far beyond what I ever was or could become. I’m proud of you, son.”
Tears started in Ren’s blue eyes, and he couldn’t reply before Brenin turned and hastened away, brushing rather suspiciously at his own eyes.
Chapter 22 – Coming Tuesday
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