Chapter 7
“Where is Alric?” Kyrin asked.
Finn smiled, “He’s busy greeting the elves. He asked me to help you prepare for this.”
“It’s stupid. Why do I have to go meet them?”
“They often claim that Valhara can’t be allies, because we don’t allow outsiders into our midst. You are going to help us align ourselves with them as a non-Sithias follower and someone not born here.”
“Great, I’m sure the elves will love Daemionis.”
“Just get dressed, will you?
“How many 18-year-olds do you know have to be told what to wear?”
“So you’re 18 now?”
“Yes”
“When did that happen?”
She watched him, “Well where I come from, every year you get a year older.”
He grinned, “I know that, smartass. What I want to know is when your birthday was.”
“Does it matter?”
“Yes”
“Why?”
“Stop being stubborn and tell me.”
“Last week.”
“We should have thrown you a party.”
“For aging?”
“Birthday parties are big here. There’s usually a feast and dancing.”
“Of course they are. Do I look like I dance?”
“Do you?”
“No”
“What? Melee types can’t dance?”
Kyrin grabbed the dress and walked behind the dressing curtain, “I’ll never get used to dresses.”
“Well, try not to modify this one.”
“Hey, I was attacked and I can’t fight in a dress.”
“It’s just funny is all.”
“So glad I amused you again,” she said, walking out from behind the curtain. The dark-green dress fit loosely against her body and fell to a long, flowing skirt. She buttoned the bodice up to just under her chin and almost fell over the skirt.
“Gonna put your hair down?”
She looked at him, annoyed, “What?”
“It looks better down.”
“It gets in my way.”
“Not today. Today, you’re not fighting.”
“Right, unless these allies attack us,” she said, and started to pull her hair out of the braid.
Once she ran a brush through it, and it fell smoothly down her back, she turned to him, “Ready.”
He smiled, “Kid, you look like a girl now.”
“Great, just what I wanted.”
Finn put his arm out, “Take it.”
“Take your arm?”
“Yes”
“Won’t you need it later?”
“Just grab it, stop being difficult.”
She rolled her eyes and took his arm and let him lead her out of the room and down to the ballroom. She walked in and smiled at some familiar servants, and then turned and faced Alric, who was standing across the room with one of the elves.
The elf stood a few inches taller than Alric, and had on a shimmery silver robe. His hair was long and golden, and the tip of his pointed ears showed just below where his crown began.
Alric nodded to Finn, and he led Kyrin over to the King.
“Here she is,” Alric said, smiling.
The elf turned and nodded to her, “Hello, it is nice to meet you.”
“Mae govannen,” she said, walking over to Alric. He watched her curiously when she spoke in the foreign language.
“Pedich edhellen?”
“Tancave”
The elf smiled, “You speak the language of our ancestors, interesting.”
“I’ve encountered royal elves before.”
“Royal elves?”
“Yes”
“I haven’t heard that term before.”
“It’s what I’ve heard the day walking elves called.”
“As opposed to what?” he asked, frowning.
She watched him and saw that he was getting tense, “Never mind. It’s nice to meet you.”
“Alric has told us nothing about you, other than you do not follow Sithias.”
“No, I don’t. My deity is unknown to these parts though.”
“Are the Valharan customs pushed onto you?”
She smiled, “Not too badly.”
“Are you aware that the King once banned elves from entering Valhara?”
“No, I don’t know the history of this place.”
“Where are you from then?” he asked, watching her.
She glanced at Alric.
“Enough with Kyrin. Shall we talk?”
The elf looked at Kyrin, “If she comes with us.”
Alric nodded and then showed them both out to a private room. Wine was already waiting on the table with three platinum wine flutes. They all sat down, and Kyrin wondered why she was even there. The last thing she wanted was to get in the middle of a political dispute.
Alric began, “Kyrin, this is Auldian. He is king of the elves.”
Auldian was watching Kyrin closely and his scrutinizing gaze was making her nervous.
She nodded slightly.
“Our lands have never joined in an alliance before, but Qualsax is growing stronger and wreaking havoc on both of our lands.”
“Sounds to me like it’s time to do away with the Qualsax.”
“That isn’t as easy as it sounds,” Auldian said. She got the impression he wanted to ask her a lot of questions, but she wasn’t willing to give very much information to a royal elf.
“Apparently, not if you join.”
“Where are you from?”
“We’re not here to discuss Kyrin,” Alric said. “We have to consider joining forces to provide a solid base for protection through both of our lands.”
“What did you have in mind?”
“We think they have attack crews out. The Qualsax city nearest here has no Warriors in it.”
“They left their city with women and children only?”
“Yes, but they know honor prevents us from attacking innocents.”
“They don’t seem to have that problem.”
“No, they do not.”
As Alric and Auldian spoke, Kyrin’s mind wandered to Creteloc. When Kyrin first fled from the Shadowmere, she found herself in Paramide Dimension. She was injured and lost, and not sure where to go. She couldn’t find any cities, and her supplies had already run out.
She thought she’d checked around carefully before falling asleep, but a dark form appeared from the trees. She immediately stood up to attack, but heard only a slight chuckle. The evil being that stepped out of the shadows immediately terrified Kyrin. With her dark features and glowing red eyes, it was hard not to be afraid of Creteloc, one of Daemionis’ Priestesses.
Creteloc brought Kyrin before her god as a sacrifice. In fear, she cast on him, and he was pleased that his loyal follower had found one of the true magic users.
Magic had faded from the dimensions, and it was a rare prize to have one as powerful as Kyrin come into his presence. They worked out an agreement that Daemionis would watch over Kyrin if she agreed to be his.
Kyrin lived with Creteloc for a few short months, and learned the ways of Daemionis. Most of his followers were the night walkers, the Assassins and rogues of the lands, including Creteloc. Her dark ways were intriguing to Kyrin, and she adopted a lot of Creteloc’s mannerisms and learned a great deal from her about how to survive.
She wasn’t sure if she would even call Creteloc a friend. Creteloc had no friends, but she was as close as Kyrin had to one. Any time she got near Paramide, she went in search of Creteloc. She never found Creteloc, but somehow Creteloc always managed to find her. Each meeting was brief and lacked in any personal interaction, but each time Kyrin grew stronger and learned more about how to stay alive.
Poisons were Creteloc’s passion. Hired to kill the strongest in the land, she was sought out and paid great amounts for her services. She formed a type of alliance with the shadow elves, and Kyrin frowned when she realized how furious Creteloc would be if she saw her now, sitting at the table with a royal elf.
Kyrin knew that royal elves weren’t to be trusted. She was ready for Auldian to turn on her and attack, but would wait for his move to do so. Creteloc had ingrained in Kyrin how evil was to be lived, but not displayed. She knew better than to give any indication to those she lived with that her true nature was darker than they could imagine.
She chastised herself for the altar in the woods. She thought it was far enough away that no one would find it, so she didn’t bother covering her tracks. That’s something else she hoped Daemionis hadn’t seen, for he would tell Creteloc. She had to sacrifice to Daemionis to repay him for her life. She thought of no better way than by sacrificing the old hermit man who lived in the caves outside of Valhara.
He’d begged for his life, but his mind was too far gone to invoke Sithias, which would have been harder to explain. The feeble man put up no fight as she tore his heart from his chest and offered the rest of his body up to Daemionis. He never wanted a heart in the body of the sacrifice. He had no need for them.
The hatred Creteloc had for the royal elves was strong, and just the thought of them made Kyrin want to attack them. Alric seemed oblivious of their disgusting ways, but she would keep on her guard as long as they were around.
“Kyrin,” Alric said a little louder.
She jumped slightly and looked at him.
He smiled, “You were far away. Interesting thoughts?”
“Not really.” She glanced over at Auldian and saw he was still watching her. She knew that elves could often feel the presence of evils, and she wondered if he was on to her.
“Vel'klar ph' dos dal?” Auldian asked. Alric simply smiled, proud that Kyrin was able to speak to Auldian in his native language.
Kyrin’s eyes narrowed as Auldian spoke the words of the shadow elf. He did realize she was an evil, and was testing to see if she had befriended the soul enemies of the royal elves, the shadow elves.
She spoke more of the shadow elf language than that of the royal elf, but wasn’t going to fall for his test, “I’m sorry. I don’t know that much elvish.”
“You called me a royal elf.”
“Yes”
“You said that’s how you referred to the day walking elves.”
Kyrin just watched him.
“What other elves do you know?”
Alric smiled, “She can’t possibly know of the others. There haven’t been black elves in over five centuries.”
“Yes, how would I possibly know about them?” She wondered what happened to the shadow elves of Paragoy. It was something she wanted to find out, and hoped that the Valharans hadn’t destroyed them.
“I just thought maybe on your travels you had heard the stories,” Auldian said. “Usstan tlun kyorlin dos.”
She tensed when he spoke the shadow elf words to her, and knew that he would be watching her for a reaction. Instead of appeasing him with a reaction, she smiled sweetly and then took a sip of wine.
“I think we’re done here then,” Alric said, standing slowly. “Think it over and let me know what you decide. The alliance can benefit both of our lands, but I do realize that distrust runs deep.”
“Warranted distrust,” Auldian said, standing also.
Kyrin watched Auldian carefully, ready to attack if he so much as twitched toward the weapon at his side. She had her flail tucked under her skirts, and was finding that to be a huge advantage of a dress. When your weapon was at your side, unhidden, it put enemies on edge. With it tied to her thigh beneath her skirts, she could have the advantage of a surprise attack.
“I will let you know,” Auldian said before walking out.
Alric turned to Kyrin and he was smiling, “Would you stand down? He’s not going to attack.”
“You don’t know that.”
“Yes I do. There are twelve elves in Valhara, and thousands of us.”
She started to leave, but noticed he wasn’t moving so she turned to him, “What?”
“It’s interesting that you speak their language.”
“I’ve been around.”
“I’m starting to think there’s more to you than meets the eye.”
“You sound like I’m hiding things from you.”
“You are.”
She crossed her arms, “Such as?”
“I haven’t figured it out yet, but I will. I would expect as my indentured servant that you would be open with me about everything.” Alric knew this was the only way to get a response from her. She said nothing personal unless ordered to do so.
She clenched her jaw and watched him.
“Is there something you wish to tell me?”
“No”
“I wish you would trust me.”
Just the words made her start to get mad, “Why would I trust you?”
“I’ve done nothing to show you otherwise.”
“In 6 months I’ll be out of your hair, so there’s no reason to build a trust relationship. You’re my master until that time, and as such I will do as you ask, but I won’t divulge information that you can use against me in the future.”
With that, Kyrin stormed out of the room and headed for her bedroom. Alric sat alone for a bit and thought about what she’d say. He had never met anyone as untrusting, but he admitted he’d never met anyone like her at all. He wondered how she made it this far without trusting anyone. Sithias made it sound like she wouldn’t be able to trust even her deity.
Kyrin slammed her door shut and sat down on the bed to fume, “How does he expect me to trust him!? It’s absurd!”
She stood to tear the dress off and toss it into the corner before putting on her pants and tunic. Finn’s brother, Hicks, had made her a new belt, she figured as a peace offering, and it fit her better than the one she normally wore. She’d taken it off of a dead Shadowmere, and it was several sizes too big and fit improperly. The new one held her flail tighter to her side and didn’t bulk up and get in her way.
She had to reverse her thoughts about him though. She was shocked when he presented her with the belt, something he made, only two weeks after she tried to kill him. She hadn’t forgiven him for touching her lips, but she wondered at the completely illogical act of giving a gift to someone who attempted to end your life.
Kyrin’s skin broke out in goose bumps and the hair on the back of her neck stood up. She looked around the room quickly. The feeling was something she’d felt often before, and it usually preceded an uninvited visit from Daemionis.
“My Lord?” she asked into the empty room. His form finally appeared, menacing and fraught with malevolence.
He looked down at her as his lip curled up into a snarl, “I’m disappointed in you, Kyrin.”
Her heart threatened to stop in her chest, and she dropped to her knees, “My Lord? Why?”
“Are you becoming comfortable here?”
“No”
“Are you having feelings of loyalties to the humans of this land?”
“No, my Lord.”
“Don’t lie to me!” he roared.
Her voice was barely above a whisper, “I’m not. I swear.”
“I took a great risk allowing you into my fold, Kyrin. One such as you doesn’t deserve to follow me, but I saw potential. Are you proving me wrong?!”
She shook her head, “No.”
“I can read your thoughts, Kyrin. You have an attraction to this king.”
“I don’t though.”
“He has feelings for you too, and I will not have one of my followers mating with one of Sithias’ wimps!”
She was finding it hard to breathe. Never before had she had Daemionis mad at her, and she wasn’t sure how to fix it.
The floor rumbled beneath her as he walked forward and his massive hooves pounded against the wooden floors, “Are you my follower?”
“Yes, my Lord.”
“Do not cross me!”
“I won’t.”
“You’ve been lax and you know it. I demand a great sacrifice! I command that you repay me for the thoughts that betray you.”
“Tonight, my Lord, I swear.”
He growled, and pain erupted through her body. She fell back onto the hard wooden floor, thrashing in agony. A scream escaped her lips as he watched her, scowling down at her as she silently begged for release.
A malicious smile crossed his cracked lips, and he laughed, fading from view. When he was gone, the pain disappeared and Kyrin slowly crawled to her hands and knees. She heard frantic banging against the bedroom door. There was lingering pain, but she forced herself to stand straight and opened the door.
Finn, Alric, and six Knights immediately ran into the room with swords drawn. She sat down on the chair, too weak to stand much longer, and fought to catch her breath.
Alric knelt down beside her, “What was that?”
“What?” she managed to choke out.
“We heard shouting, and the entire castle shook.”
She shook her head, “It wasn’t in here.”
“It was in here. Who was it? Tell me.”
Kyrin leaned over put her head against her knees. Bending helped lessen the fading pain, and she couldn’t handle looking at Alric as she lied to him.
“Was it Daemionis?” he asked her angrily.
“No”
“You’re lying to me. I heard shouting, but couldn’t make out the words! Only a god can do that, Kyrin. The ground shook, and it came from your room.”
“My Lord,” Finn said, putting a hand on his shoulder, “you’re scaring her.”
Alric leaned back on his knees and watched her for a moment. He began to calm when he saw that she was in pain, “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing,” she whispered, and finally managed to sit up.
“It was Daemionis and he hurt you!”
“Just leave it alone. You don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Let me heal you.”
“No! Just drop it, ok?”
“I can help you.”
Alric’s hands glowed and he moved them toward her, but she managed to stand up slowly, “I said no.”
He sighed, “What was he mad about?”
“Nothing that concerns you.”
“So it was Daemionis!?”
“I just need to rest.”
“Sithias can protect you from him.”
Kyrin sat down on the floor and rolled onto her side. They hadn’t been able to get her onto a bed. She thought they were way too soft and uncomfortable, so she slept on the floor with only a blanket beneath her.
“Rest for now, but this isn’t over,” Alric said angrily, and then walked out of the room.
When the room emptied out, Kyrin got up and pulled on her boots. She tied her hair up and then looked out the window into the dark night. The window opened silently and she was soon flying through the trees, aided by the boots Creteloc gave her.
Daemionis was mad, madder than she’d ever seen him, and she knew that only a large sacrifice would appease him. She couldn’t be on his bad side. She couldn’t take the pain, and she knew that Creteloc would be furious with her when she found out.
The woods were silent as she ran through them, heading for her target just outside of Valhara’s land. She had to do this quickly, and she had to do it in the name of Daemionis.
Kyrin slowed outside of the small village. No one was moving around, and no sounds could be heard. They were sleeping, and if Alric was right, there were no Warriors left. The women would be sleeping with their children nestled beside them, and had no idea the wrath that was about to be inflicted upon them.
She drew a ‘D’ in the dirt with the ceremonial dagger and then knelt in the middle of it and shut her eyes. The prayer was long, a prayer dedicating the lives of this village to him. She reminded him that the pain she inflicted was in his honor, and the fear the villagers felt in their hearts would be the fear of him.
Once done, she stood up and began to slowly rub her hands together. Only once before had she used such powerful magic. Its forces were so strong that it would cause a disturbance to the good around her, and she normally wouldn’t risk it. She wasn’t even sure if Daemionis knew she had it in her to do, but she was too afraid of his anger to hide it any long.
***
Alric sat bolt upright in bed when his heart constricted in his chest. He stood slowly and looked around the room. He felt as if there were evil there, hiding in the shadows and waiting to attack. Even awake, the feeling was strong, and he immediately left his room and ran down the stairs. There was an unnatural stirring among the castle’s inhabitants and all suddenly felt on edge and nervous.
Finn burst through the front doors with the Knights behind him, all battle ready. They spread out through the castle, looking for signs of an attack.
“My Lord, what’s happening?” Finn asked, running up to Alric.
“I don’t know,” Alric said, looking around.
Once the castle was cleared, the Knights met in the foyer and faced Alric.
“Check the city. I can’t shake the feeling that something is happening,” Alric said.
Finn nodded and called out orders to his troops, “Have you checked on Kyrin?”
“No, let her sleep. I don’t want her in on this.”
“Yes, my Lord,” Finn said, and then ran out of the castle.
***
The power coming from her was incredible, and she walked slowly through the village, ignoring the screams and pleas from the people. She threw her hands in every direction, sending out blazes of purple lights that caused houses to explode and people to fall instantly dead. Children were crying over their dead Mothers, and women were carrying their injured children, trying to find someone to help them.
Old men came at her with swords, but their frail bodies were no match for the magic she inflicted on them. When no building was left standing, and the last of the crying faded into deathly gurgles, Kyrin stopped and looked around.
Rubble and ash scattered the streets and blood was splashed across every surface. The village was unnaturally silent. No sound at all could be heard as she smiled, “For you, my Lord.”
A deep, harrowing laugh suddenly echoed through the death filled streets.
She felt as though he was appeased and finally pleased with her again. When the sound of horses coming broke the silence, she turned and fled into the trees, back towards Valhara. The elation fueled her and she made it to the castle in record time. She stopped in the orchard and looked out from behind a tree. Knights were surrounding the castle and patrolling the ground in threes.
Kyrin wasn’t sure how she was going to get back into the castle unnoticed. Surely, they would know by morning that she was gone, and she needed to be sound asleep when news of the attack made it to Alric’s ears.
She looked down over her clothing. Her shirt was covered in blood, and her pants were caked in thick ash. Kyrin slipped off her tunic and shoved it underneath one of the old apple trees, concealing it within the roots. The lighter shirt beneath it showed off her feminine curves, so she never wore just it, but she didn’t have a choice. She then reached into a puddle of mud and began to smear it on her pants, covering the ash.
Once she washed her face and hands in the same mud puddle, she was ready. Kyrin waited until Finn walked past, and she ran at him, “Finn!”
He spun, wide eyes, “Kyrin! What are you doing out here?”
“I’m helping,” she said, pretending to be out of breath. “I searched through the orchard for intruders and found none.”
“I didn’t even know you were out here with us. That’s dangerous!”
“I can search an orchard alone and not die,” she snapped.
“The rest of us are out in groups for a reason! Now get back inside where you belong.”
Irritated that he was treating her like a damsel, she walked into the castle and slammed the door shut to her room. Once inside, she smiled and then began to get out of the dirty clothing. She tossed it into the fire to hide any evidence that the dark-red pants were stained with blood.
The next morning, she awoke to a knock on her door. She yawned and stretched, then called for them to come in. It was lucky she never slept undressed. She was often woken up by the servants bringing breakfast.
This morning though, it was Trox and Alric.
She watched them carefully, as Trox had never been in her room before, and she wondered if they suspected the village attack was her.
“Good morning,” Alric said, sitting down beside her.
She nodded and watched Trox.
Trox smiled at her and sat down also.
“There a problem?” she asked them.
“Trox and I are worried about what happened last night.”
“What do you mean?”
“Daemionis’ visit,” Trox said. “He was obviously angry and you were in pain when he left. We’re concerned for your welfare.”
Kyrin relaxed some. They didn’t seem to know that she had taken out one of Qualsax’s villages in the middle of the night, “It’s nothing I can’t handle.”
“Still, you’re in my care, and it’s my responsibility to see to your welfare,” Alric said to her.
She frowned, “I’m not in your care. I’m in your servitude, and my welfare is none of your concern.”
“On the contrary. I take care of everyone in Valhara.”
“Not me. I take care of myself, and I don’t need your protection or your pity.” Kyrin was very careful not to show any loyalty or to give any indication that Alric was interested in her. She knew that Daemionis would be watching and the sacrifice she performed the night before would be short lived if he thought Alric was taking over.
“In Valhara you are under my care, like it or not. As my indentured servant it’s my responsibility to make sure you are taken care of too. It’s concerning us that Daemionis was so furious with you and caused pain.”
“I’m not afraid of a little pain.”
“I didn’t say you are. I simply feel like we need to enlist Sithias in the matter and as such, we’ll need you to be there.”
Her eyes narrowed, “I have no loyalties to Sithias, nor do I ever wish to be in his presence.”
“He can help you.”
“Why would he help me? I’m a follower of another god, a loyal one.”
“He is a good god. It’s in his nature to help those in need.”
“It’s not my fault that he shows such weaknesses.”
Alric stood up and towered above her, “Do not refer to Sithias as weak.”
“Then don’t push him on me!”
“As one of his Holy Knights it’s my job to ensure those in his lands are cared for, and that they are followers! As you are bound to me by a debt, you will do as I ask in this matter.”
“No, I won’t! You cannot force your god on me. Bring me before him and I’ll be forced to destroy him.”
“You cannot destroy him. He is all powerful.”
“Not if he shows the weakness of compassion.”
Alric immediately lifted his hand in anger, but when she ducked away from him, he lowered it, “Watch what you say around me.”
Frantic knocking sounded and Trox stood to see who it was. One of the Knights said that Lord Qualsax was requesting an immediate audience, and that he’d brought many of his Warriors along and into Valhara.
Alric turned, shocked, “They’re here?”
“Yes, my Lord.”
“Where is he?”
“He’s waiting for you at the crossroads in Valhara.”
Alric scowled and stormed out of her room. He would deal with her later, but realized he had to calm his temper first, or he risked hurting her. He didn’t take lightly when his god was criticized, but he knew that to make an impact, he had to calm down and show Kyrin how civility could prevail.
His horse was ready, and he kicked it into a gallop, along with all of the Knights. The city was alive with citizens coming out to see what was going on. Never before had Lord Qualsax ventured past his lands, and they knew that Alric wouldn’t be pleased that he was now standing inside of Valhara.
They rode up and stopped at the crossroads, where Lord Qualsax stood with over a hundred of his Warriors. He was tall and thick, with black hair and a long, pointed goatee. His armor was also black and was dented and obviously well used. His helm was at his side, under his arm, and he scowled as Alric approached.
“Why are you here?” Alric asked. He stood a few inches taller than Qualsax, but didn’t take that to mean he was weaker.
“You know damned well why! How dare you attack a peaceful village while they sleep?”
“We did no such thing.”
“Of course you did! You knew the Warriors were out. You had scouts in the area. I thought your god wouldn’t allow you to kill innocents,” he said angrily.
“Proof we didn’t do it. We wouldn’t defy Sithias by slaughtering innocents, and I’m insulted by the implication.”
A smile crossed his lips, “If it wasn’t you, then it had to be the evil one you’re harboring.”
Alric simply glared at him.
“Genessa told us about your houseguest. She told us of her evil ways, and I’m surprised you allow her to walk free among the good people of Valhara.”
“She is not an evil. Genessa doesn’t know what she’s talking about.”
“Oh I think she does. She was able to give quite intricate details about the evil deeds of the young demon.”
Alric studied him before speaking, “When did this attack occur?”
“Of that we aren’t sure, sometime last night. No call for help was sent out because you were underhanded and conniving!”
“We did not attack you! Neither did Kyrin. I happen to know she was by the castle last night patrolling the orchards.”
Qualsax grinned evilly, “She has you under her spell. Evils can get into your skin, and you wouldn’t even know it. She massacred those women and children last night in the name of her god, and I demand revenge!”
“She did not! She was here with us last night.”
“The ugly being has you fooled! Her hideousness alone should tell you she’s an evil. Bring her here and let me question her.”
“You cannot question her, but I will bring her here so you can see that Genessa is lying to you.”
“She’s not lying. She told me that under torture,” he said, smiling.
“Finn, bring Kyrin here,” Alric said. He let no emotions cross his face about Genessa being tortured.
Kyrin looked up from beside the bathtub when she heard the knock. She went to the door as she brushed her hair and let Finn in.
“Let’s go,” Finn said, taking her arm.
“I’m not dressed!” she gasped as he hauled her toward the door in her nightgown.
“You’re covered.”
She struggled against him, not wanting to be seen by anyone in the soft white nightgown she was provided when she arrived. Her hair was down and her flail was sitting beside her clothing, “Let me go, Finn!”
“No, Lord Alric has called for you.”
“You didn’t allow me a weapon.”
“You don’t need it.”
She continued to try to get away from him, but he was mad and hauled her onto the horse when he mounted it. Kyrin’s eyes grew wide when she saw how many towns people had gathered, and she even debated casting on Finn to make him let her go.
Finn stopped his horse outside of the temple and then took her arm and dragged her toward Alric. She was still struggling, frantic to get away before someone saw her with her hair down and wearing the nightgown.
She’d seen too many women sold after being pulled from their homes while they slept. They were often still in their nightgowns with their hair down, which was easily cut to prove they were available for bids.
Finn hauled her up to the front and then stopped beside Alric. Kyrin stopped fighting and looked over at the angry looking man before her. He was smiling at her as he ran his eyes down her. He had the same look in his eye that Mika did the night she escaped, the night when Mika decided not to wait the year for her to be of legal age to marry.
“Did you bring this one as a distraction?” Qualsax asked, focusing in on her breasts.
“No, this is Kyrin,” Alric said to him. “This is the one you claim to be evil and vile enough to slaughter a city.”
Kyrin gasped and looked at Qualsax. She wondered if she’d left some sign that she did it, and he was there to collect a debt for the murdered.
“This cannot be Kyrin. Kyrin is ugly and scarred, evil…”
“This is Kyrin and she is nothing of the sort. She was with us last night when your city was wiped out.”
“I know what you’re doing though,” he said, running his cracked tongue along his lips. “I’ll take her in payment for what Kyrin did.”
Alric roared, “You will not talk about her like that!”
Kyrin couldn’t breathe. Her worst fears were being realized as the bidding process began.
“I’ll take her into my bed, and if I choose to keep her, then I will consider repayment complete.”
Finn let go of her and reached out to take Alric’s arm, to keep him from advancing on Qualsax, “My Lord…”
Kyrin saw the Knight beside her and immediately knew she had to stop this. He was watching Alric, not his sword, and when she unsheathed it, he barely had time to react before she ran at Qualsax. No one was watching her, and when her foot connected with his stomach, he flew back, landing hard on the ground of the enemy town.
She landed beside him and immediately brought her foot to rest against his neck, with the tip of the sword poised over the small band of skin on his abdomen that was exposed between his armor. The Qualsax Warriors backed away. They knew that any movement could send the sword plunging into his stomach, and the look on her face let them know she was a fraction of a second from doing it.
The top-ranking Qualsax snarled at her and put his hands out, “Don’t do it, Baby Girl. You won’t hurt him.”
“Wanna bet?” she asked, and sent the tip of the sword into his flesh.
“Stop!” he bellowed.
“Get back.”
He glared at her and took a step back, “Let him go.”
Her eyes narrowed as she lowered her foot and cut off his airway, “I won’t go with you.”
“Kyrin, no one’s taking you from Valhara,” Alric said from behind her. He was still shocked that she had attacked when violence wasn’t necessary. His concern deepened when she actually showed signs that she was going to kill him.
Kyrin didn’t take her eyes off the Qualsax Warrior, “I didn’t kill your puny little village, but if you doubt my abilities, I can prove myself to you with your King.”
“It breaks the laws of the land to kill our king!”
“I don’t care about laws. I won’t be his bride, so either he can die, or I will… and I choose him.” The Qualsax King was losing the battle to breathe and slowly slumped down, unmoving.
“You’re killing him!”
“That’s the idea.”
“Kyrin, let him go,” Finn said sternly.
“No one is going to take you from Valhara,” Alric said again. “He’s not going to take you, and you aren’t going to be forced to marry him.”
She turned pitch-black eyes to him, “You swear to Sithias on that?”
“Yes, I do.” Alric held his voice calm, when his insides were tightened and part of him wished she would finish of the enemy king.
Kyrin looked down at the lifeless face of Lord Qualsax and stepped off of him. The Qualsax Warriors moved to attack her, and she dropped defensively.
“Enough,” Alric ordered. “Get your King out of here and leave my city.”
To save their king, they did as he asked and rushed him back to the Priests in their town. When lookouts shouted that the Qualsax were off of Valhara land, Alric walked up to Kyrin and took the sword away from her. He turned and handed it to the Knight it belonged to, and then faced Kyrin.
He walked up beside her and whispered harshly, “I’ve told you, you won’t be sold into marriage. I’m tired of being ignored about this, and I’ll expect in the future that you’ll believe me when I speak to you.”
She finally stood up straight and nodded, not meeting his eye. She’d angered her master and felt trapped between his wishes and that of her god.
“Now get back to the castle, get dressed, and then report to me for punishment.”
Finn took her arm and began to haul her back to the castle. Nothing was said, and she was dreading a punishment. She had only seen Alric hand out two punishments before, but didn’t think he would banish a perfectly good slave.
Once in her room, she dressed quickly and tied her hair into a braid. Her stomach was in knots when she opened her door and nodded at the two Knights by her door. They walked her up to the King’s bedroom and one of them knocked.
Alric opened the door and stepped aside so Kyrin could enter. He reached to her side and removed the flail from her belt, and handed it to the closest Knight before shutting the door behind them.
Kyrin walked into his room and then turned to look at him. It was the first time she’d seen him in casual clothing, and he sat down in a chair beside a wide fireplace and motioned for her to sit next to him.
She sat down and faced him.
He sat back, “We need to come to an understanding.”
Kyrin nodded.
“The people in town are afraid of you. They wonder why I keep you in the castle when you demonstrate the tendencies to be dangerous and unpredictably violent.”
When she didn’t say anything, he continued calmly, “I see that you still don’t believe me that you aren’t going to be sold into marriage. I am also getting frustrated with your lack of trust or faith in me. I see it in your eyes when I tell you that I have your best interest at heart, that you don’t believe the words as I say them.”
She shifted nervously and watched him.
“I’ve grown attached to you, and it’s hard for me to see the way you look at me, as if I’m about to turn on you.”
“What is the punishment then?” she asked him.
He smiled, “Your punishment is that you are going to trust me.”
“How so?”
“Go change first. I want you to stop looking like a homeless girl on the run from danger.”
She was shocked at how close he came to the truth, “Change into what?”
“Go into the dressing corner. There’s a dress for you, and I want your hair down.”
She nodded and then hesitated before walking behind the dressing gown.
Alric sat in his chair and watched her. He hadn’t realized before that the mirror by the fire gave a partial view from behind the dressing curtain. He knew it was intrusive, but was having a hard time pulling his eyes away from the soft look of her skin. She put out such a hard, angry front, that he sometimes forgot that she was still a young woman behind the façade.
In the past, the tailors had been conscious of her modesty and had made dresses that were not revealing and had high collars and loose fitting bodies. This one was in contrast to those, and after she slipped it on, she winced. The body fit tightly against hers, showing off the curves she hated so badly. The neck was lower and showed cleavage, no matter how hard she tried to pull it up.
Kyrin avoided looking in the mirror as she untied her hair and smoothed it between her fingers. It fell softly past her shoulders and down to lay against her skirt.
When she walked out from behind the curtain, he smiled, “So you are a woman.”
She didn’t look at him, but watched out the window.
“Come here,” he said, and his voice was light and amused.
Kyrin finally looked over at him and walked toward him, taking his hands when he put them out.
Alric knew what he was doing was risky, and he wanted her hands separated just in case she’d been hiding any magic from him. He doubted it, but wasn’t going to risk it after seeing how fast she turned on people.
He pulled her up against him and looked down into her eyes, “You aren’t going to attack me.”
Her eyes narrowed.
“You aren’t going to hit me, or fight against me, is that understood?”
Kyrin nodded slightly.
“You’re going to trust me that I’m not going to hurt you.”
Before she could even protest, he’d pressed his lips against hers. Her eyes grew wide and she tried to pull away from him, but he wrapped a hand around to the small of her back and held her in place. Her stomach tightened as the feel of his closeness engulfed her, and she began to panic.
Alric broke the kiss and looked at her, “Did that hurt?”
“No, but…” she started, but he kissed her again. His tongue danced across her lips, and she had an internal conflict. She wanted to bite his tongue, to stop the feel of what he was doing, but he was her master, and she had agreed to do as he asked.
Kyrin had often seen newly purchased brides forced to endure the touching lips, and the thought made her skin crawl. This seemed different though, not repulsive or wrong.
Alric stepped back and smiled, “Now we’re going to go for a walk. I want you to let the townspeople see you how you are.”
“What?” she gasped, taking a step away from him.
“They see you dressed as a man, fighting as a warrior, and they are terrified of you. I want them to see that you are a beautiful woman and not one to be feared.”
“Why would you do that to me?”
“I’m not doing that to you. I’m doing it for you. Do you want to be feared?”
Her answer shocked him, “Yes!”
“Why do you want to be feared?” he asked, lightly brushing the back of his hand along her neck.
“Please, don’t…”
“Why?”
Her words were a whisper, things she was told by everyone from the Shadowmere to Creteloc, “Trust no one. Let no one near enough to you to hurt you. Attack without thought or reason. If you learn to trust, you will learn the meaning of humiliation. If they fear you, they will not try to get close.”
“Who told you that?” he asked her.
“No one told me that. That’s what I’ve learned.”
“Out on your own, you learned that?”
“Yes”
“It’s wrong,” Alric said to her. He then took her hand and started for the door, “Time for a walk.”
She followed him as her mind swam. She hated the flutter of her stomach when he pressed his lips to hers. She hated how the dress made her feel and how the thought of being paraded through the town put her on display.
Neither spoke as they walked the short distance into town. Many of the townsfolk came out to say hello to them, and all were cordial and friendly. Alric spoke to them about family members and upcoming events. Kyrin followed along silently and tried not to look at anyone.
“Emerisa!” Alric said pleasantly. “How are you feeling?”
“Lord Alric,” she said bowing. “I’m feeling fine, thank you.”
Kyrin looked over at Finn’s wife and gasped. She was pregnant and out in broad daylight among people from the town.
“Getting big too, I see,” he said, admiring her growing middle.
She nodded and rubbed her tummy, “This’ll be a boy, I’d wager.”
“Finn mentioned you’ve been sicker with this pregnancy.”
“Yes, this baby had me very sick for a while. The Priests helped though and it’s much better.”
Kyrin couldn’t help but gawk. Men didn’t speak of such things, and Emerisa shouldn’t be out in public with an obvious pregnancy.
“Are you ok, Kyrin?” Emerisa asked her.
Kyrin looked quickly around and then whispered, “You can’t be out here.”
“Why not?” Emerisa was ready for this, as the entire encounter was well planned out.
Kyrin couldn’t even look squarely at her. Her shame was too great, and she didn’t want to add to the disgrace by looking at the pregnant bulge, “It’s… you have to get back inside.”
Emerisa smiled, “The baby is kicking, would you like to feel it?”
Kyrin gasped, “Do what?”
“I would,” Alric told her. He stepped forward and put his hand against her belly. He felt for a few moments and then nodded, “I agree. It's a boy. He has quite the kick.”
“Oh good, Finn’s home,” Emerisa said, watching down the street.
Kyrin looked quickly and began to panic. He would punish her for showing her humiliation to the townsfolk, and she had to protect her from the vile thoughts of the man who’d bestowed the shame on her.
“Stay back, Finn,” Kyrin said, stepping between them.
He stopped and frowned, “Why?”
Emerisa thought quickly, “Finn, Lord Alric was just feeling the baby kick. He thinks it’s a boy.”
Finn smiled and walked around Kyrin, “Nope, it’s a girl. I’d swear by it.”
Kyrin turned quickly to Emerisa, “I can help you die.”
Emerisa hid the brief fear, “I don’t want to die though.”
“It’s better than what he will do to you. I told you not to be out here!”
“Fresh bread this morning, Emerisa,” a woman said from behind them. Kyrin looked over and frowned when this woman was also pregnant.
“My god, Stephania!” Finn laughed. “When is that baby coming out?”
“Hopefully soon… or not soon enough, I’m not sure which,” she said happily and then handed the bread over to Emerisa.
It was all too foreign. Kyrin had been to hundreds of dimensions and each shared her view of the vile act of becoming pregnant, and the humiliating and shameful act of carrying a child and delivering it. It was hidden away in dark houses, houses where all of a sudden the curtains were drawn, and no one was allowed in.
“You ok, Kyrin?” Finn asked, watching her.
She was staring awkwardly at the two pregnant women who were talking.
“Kyrin?” Alric asked her.
She backed away. What kind of dimension was this? What kind wasn’t plagued with the drought, and didn’t fear the now dimension shifting Consortiums? How can they not share the views of the rest of the universe? It was confusing, and she felt the world closing in around her.
Everything from the awkward moment when their lips met, to the warning from Daemionis about how close she got to those from Paragoy Dimension came crashing down on her.
Alric and Finn rushed to Kyrin when she collapsed. Alric felt her neck, “She’s alive.”
“I think she fainted.”
“Maybe this was too much,” Alric said, picking her up.
“Maybe, she has to learn though, and she didn’t believe us.”
“She’ll be ok,” Alric said, smiling. “I’ll lie her down and get her a cool rag.”
Finn nodded and watched the King walk off, carrying his young charge. Finn couldn’t help but smile. Everyone in Valhara knew the King was falling for the strange girl, everyone but the King.