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Wednesday, 12 November 2008

  • Destiny Rider - Chapter 11

    Chapter Eleven ~ Just the Beginning

     

    “Emily!”

    Emily staggered in the entryway of Micah Elisabeth Keel’s home as three figures assaulted her, all of them talking incoherently at the same time.  “Hi, you guys!” she grinned at Micah, Lindsey, and Chloe.

    “You practically haven’t talked with us for the last three months and all you have to say is hi, you guys?”  Micah demanded, hands rising to her hips. “What kind of insult is that?”

    “Hey,” Emily held up her hands in pretend surrender.  “I’m sorry, all right?  I’ve just been busy.”

    “Hmph,” Chloe said, putting on a wounded air.  “Yes, we know you prefer running around with swords and putting your life in extreme and totally uncalled-for jeopardy, but seriously—”

    “Oh, stop,” Emily rolled her eyes and embraced them all, one by one.  “I’ve missed you lots.  Now we have plenty of time to talk, all right?”

    “Yes we do, and we want to hear the whole story from you,” Lindsey said with a warm smile that lit up her slender face.  “We’ve heard all sorts of tales about you, m’dear, most of them ridiculous.  So, as your personal friends, we demand to hear every last detail from you right now.”

    “Okay, fine,” Emily agreed.

    “Good,” Micah inserted triumphantly. “That’s the whole reason we wanted to have you over here to get ready for the party anyway.”

    “I feel so loved,” Emily mocked, following her friends into Micah’s bedroom that Micah shared with her younger sister, Elise.  She had brought her outfit with her, and the girls plunked her down in front of the mirror firmly.

    “We’ve got to do something with this ponytail,” Micah said firmly.

    “Very well, have at it,” Emily invited.

    Chloe grinned.  “Okay, here goes.”  She pulled out a brush and started on Emily’s brunette locks.

    Lindsey picked up the curling iron and prompted, “All right, so start when you flew off to warn Jace’s squadron about the Highlanders capture of the outposts…”

    By the time Emily’s hair was finished and all the girls were dressed, Emily had told her friends everything.  It had been a week since she and the rest of the army had returned to Elidor after the peace treaty had been ratified.  All seven kings of the Highlands had met with King Wyllas out at Tremylan and formally signed a contract that bound them to their commitment.  Since then, everything had passed in a whirl of activity and festivities.

    Yesterday evening there had been a half-hour of silence observed across the Realm in memory of those who had died during the long war.  Now, however, everyone was getting ready for the large feast and dance that was to be thrown in the Great Hall at the palace.  Emily was actually looking forward to the affair, to her surprise.

    She surveyed herself in the mirror with a small smile.  She had been surprising herself—and her family and friends—quite a bit lately.  She was wearing a striking midnight blue dress that her mother had not forced her to wear; she had bought it herself only the day before.  It had a fitted bodice that laced up the back and hugged her athletic form, and its long skirt whispered along the floor when she walked.  The wide, loose sleeves were made out of sheer gossamer that billowed gracefully down to her wrists.  The effect was attractive but not too girly.  She loved it.  Then Lindsey and Chloe had taken her shoulder-length hair and transformed it into loose ringlets that framed her face, and she gently touched the beautiful pendant that she wore around her neck.  It completed the look perfectly.

    “You look gorgeous, Emily,” Micah said approvingly.

    Emily smiled and smoothed down the skirt of her dress.  “It is all owed to the fact I’ve had three girls primping me for the last hour,” she joked.  She turned to her friends and her smile widened.  “My mom isn’t going to believe this,” she said.

    “I almost can’t believe it,” Lindsey shook her head.  “I haven’t ever seen you dressed up and smiling at the same time.”

    Emily laughed.  “You’ll notice I purchased a dress with no stays and a skirt that is big enough for me to wad up and run in.”

    Micah rolled her eyes.

    “It’s so good to be back home,” Emily said, changing the subject.  “I’ve missed you all.  It’s ridiculous that this is the first time I’ve been able to see you since I returned!”  She surveyed them and said, “You all look great, by the way.”

    “Wow, tonight is a night of astonishment,” Chloe remarked with a half-smile.  “The tomboy dons a dress willingly and she hands out compliments!”

    “No, I’m serious,” Emily reiterated.  “You all look wonderful.”

    Lindsey was dressed in a light violet dress that brought out the color in her eyes.  Her hair was swept into an up-do, as were all the other girls’, except for Emily.  She looked beautiful, as usual.

    Chloe had gone for a more dramatic look.  Her dress was long and flowing and the fabric was a vibrant forest green.  It accented her small waist and made the most of her dusty blond hair.  Tiny silver hoops twinkled at each of her earlobes, and a matching necklace encircled her neck.

    Micah wore an understated russet dress with a floor length skirt and off-the-shoulder sleeves.  Her reddish-brown tresses were thicker than any of the other girls’, and she used it to her advantage: her hair had been transformed into a crown with braids and hundreds of tiny curls.  Emily did not want to even think of how much time Lindsey and Chloe must have spent curling it.

    “We really have to get together more,” Micah sighed.

    “Yeah,” Chloe agreed.

    “We’re growing up,” Emily said realistically.  “We’re all going to be very busy.  It will take special effort to meet and spend time together now.”

    “I agree,” Lindsey said.  “You’re the proof of that, too.  You’ve been rushing around to all sorts of meetings and ceremonies every day since you returned.”

    “I know,” Emily sighed.  She was very busy, and her friends were not the only people she was missing.  After being released from the Highlander’s camp, she had Jace had been separated at Tremelyn, and she had not seen him since.  She wished she could have spoken with him at least once before they came back to Elidor.  Perhaps I will see him tonight, she thought hopefully.

    “Your duties as a Rider really aren’t completed, either,” Chloe stated with an arched brow.

    “Yeah, they’re just getting started.  At least since the war is over I won’t be deployed for a while, though.  I still have to finish my training.”

    A knock sounded at the door and Elise, Micah’s younger sister, swept into the room.  She stopped and exclaimed, “Emily, you look so nice!  I love that dress!”

    “Thanks, ‘Lise,” Emily replied.

    “Thanks for including your sister in that compliment,” Micah said, feigning hurt.  “I will never recover from the pain!”

    “Oh, posh,” Elise said.

    Chloe surveyed the thirteen-year-old’s floor length lavender dress and elegant curly up-do and said, “You look very grown-up.”

    Elise touched one of the curls.  “Thanks,” she smiled shyly.

    “Come on, ladies, the night is growing old!”  Mistress Keel yelled from outside the bedroom door.

    “Let’s go,” Emily said.

     

    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

     

    The Great Hall was beautifully decorated.  Enormous tables had been formed into two long rows on either side of the room, and they were covered with crimson and silver tablecloths and laden with hundreds of flowers.  The floor glistened and reflected the light of the chandeliers that dangled high overhead.  Micah, Lindsey, and Chloe eagerly pointed out different features of the decorations to each other, but Emily drank it in silently.

    They milled around for about twenty minutes, greeting friends and relations.  Emily located her family and her eyebrows shot up when she saw Hosanna, her nine-year-old sister.  “’Sanna, you look very nice,” she commented, taking in her sister’s mature dress and elegant hairstyle.

    Hosanna’s huge doe-eyes shone and she smoothed her pink skirt down with a little sigh.  “Thank you, Em.  You look so pretty, too!  I just love parties and dressing up, don’t you?”

    Emily almost laughed as she realized again how different she and her sister were.  “I’m glad you’re enjoying yourself,” she said seriously, swallowing her grin and choosing not to answer Hosanna’s question.  “I’ll be over there with Lindsey and the rest, all right?”

    Hosanna nodded and turned back to one of her own friends while Emily walked back to Lindsey’s side.

    Just then, several trumpets sounded, signaling the entrance of the royal family.  King Wyllas Sherinian entered with Queen Riana on his arm, both of them looking poised and regal.  Prince Derek followed a few paces behind them, looking quite handsome in his dark green outfit and trailed by his ever-faithful great cat, Kian the panther.  Kian was a cat trained for battle, Emily had discovered, and had partaken in the struggle at Tremelyn.  He had been wounded in his front left paw, but other than a slight limp he appeared to be doing well.

    King Wyllas raised his arm and the crowd quieted down.  He looked over all the people and Emily waited patiently for him to begin.  After seeing how he handled himself under immense pressure out on the battlefield, she had a whole new level of respect for her king.

    “Today,” he began in his deep voice, “is a good day that brings us together in such celebration.  Our land has been at war for fourteen years, and many men have spilled their blood for the continuation of our liberties.  We mourn their passing deeply, but we also feel grateful for their honorable sacrifice that protected us for so long.”

    The crowd murmured at this, and Emily knew that many of them were remembering those who had died.

    “We cannot change our past,” the king continued.  “But we can look forward and make changes to ensure our country is a better place in the coming years.  A big step was taken in that direction just over a week ago, when we signed a peace contract with the Highlanders.”

    A cheer broke out at this and continued for a full minute.  Emily smiled broadly and clapped with everyone else.  The contentment she felt right then was warm and comforting.  She thought of High King Jakob and Sarah and Jenna and Queen Lorianne and knew that the peace between the two countries was going to be splendid.

    “Of course, peace is not attained without dedication and determination, so there are special recognitions to be made.”  The king surveyed the crowd for a moment.  “And I think we can all agree that a great deal of credit is due to a unique, valiant girl by the name of Emily Morris.”

    Emily heart skipped a beat and her eyes widened.  She had not known the king was going to mention her!  Sure, almost everyone knew about the part she played to bring about the peace treaty, but still…

    King Wyllas had picked her out in the crowd by now and locked eyes with her.  “Never before has a Rider been promoted to a higher rank before they have completed their year of training.  However, never before has there been such a daring mission carried out by a cadet.”

    Emily stared at him in confusion, feeling flustered.  Promoted?  What…?

    “Therefore, I ask Miss Morris to approach the throne.”

    “What’s going on, Em?” Micah asked in a low tone.

    “I don’t know,” she murmured back, slipping through the crowd and walking up to the throne.  She bit her lip as she felt the stares of everyone on her and heard the whispers escalate in volume.  She stopped and looked up at the king and queen.  “I am at your service, sire,” she said.

    “Kneel, lady,” King Wyllas said in a formal tone.

    Emily dropped down to one knee, her mind whirring.  She felt the king tap a sword blade gently on her left shoulder, then he sheathed it and proclaimed, “Rise, Lieutenant Morris, and face the people.”

    Lieutenant?!  Impossible, her brain screamed at her as she woodenly stood.  King Wyllas handed her the ceremonial sword that he had touched her shoulder with before she turned.  She stared out at the sea of faces that looked at her expectantly and managed a smile.

    “I give you Lieutenant Emily Morris, Síldain Rider!”

    The crowd erupted in applause, and Emily clutched the sword’s sheath tightly as she tried to process everything that had just happened.  “Thank you,” she murmured.  “Thank you.”  She stepped down and walked through the crowd that parted before her.

    The king’s voice boomed again: “Now, let us feast!”

    Emily was grateful as dozens of servants began filing out from side rooms, carrying huge platters heaped with food and taking the attention off her.  She slipped away toward the side of the room, still mentally reeling.  Lieutenant?  I haven’t even finished my training yet, and they’ve promoted me!

    She stepped into the shadow of one of the huge tree-pillars.  The enormous window beside her was wide open, and on sudden inspiration, she glanced out of it, wondering how far it was to the ground.

    “Now, a lady such as yourself certainly wouldn’t be thinking of climbing out that window, right?”  A very familiar, very amused voice sounded from her left.  She whirled and saw Jace leaning against a neighboring pillar, his arms crossed and eyebrow cocked.

    “Jace!” she exclaimed, hurrying over to him.  “How are you?  I haven’t seen you for so long and—” she cut herself off and looked away with sudden shyness, fighting the urge to throw her arms around him.  “That is…uh, it’s been a while since we’ve talked.”

    Jace smiled at her jumbled words.  “You’re right,” he said.  He glanced out the window and observed, “It’s not too far down, you know…”

    “Let’s go,” she agreed instantly, walking back over the window with him.

    He took her hand and said, “After you, Lieutenant Morris.”

    Emily swallowed hard at the thrill that ran up her arm from where their hands touched.  “Thanks,” she managed.  Handing him her new sword and letting go of his hand, she climbed over the sill and hopped down the next three feet quickly.  He landed beside her a moment later.

    “Let’s go to the stables,” he suggested.

    “All right,” she agreed, falling in step with him.  She stole a glance at him every once in a while, glad that he was actually there.  She had not realized quite how much she had missed him until she saw him a moment before.  His dark hair was tied neatly at the nape of his neck with a leather string, and his dress uniform emphasized his tall, muscular physique.  They walked comfortably in silence that only friends can share, and the moonlight shone softly down on them, casting them in a luminescent glow.

    They had almost reached the stables when he broke the silence between them.  “So, are you relieved it’s all ended?” he asked in a low tone.

    She knew he was referring to the war.  “Yes,” she said.  “I hope that our relationship with the Highlanders continues improving as well.  They are a good people.”

    “Unless they keep you tied up overnight,” Jace grimaced ruefully.

    “Yeah, that could mar your first impression of them,” she agreed with a little laugh.

    Jace stopped, and she saw they had reached the paddocks.  She turned to him and said, “This is where we first met, remember?  I guess I have a thing for running off from parties and ending up near the Síldain.”

    He took her hand and turned her so that they were facing.  “It was here that Starfire chose you.  I almost could not believe it even though I saw it.”

    “I had a hard time believe it myself,” she said.  She was finding it was hard to focus when she was touching Jace’s hand.  “It was the most wonderful and confusing day of my life.”

    A low nicker sounded from the pastures and Emily turned toward Starfire with a smile, breaking away from Jace’s grip.  “Yes, we were talking about you,” she murmured to the Síldain, rubbing his nose through the fence.  He snorted and looked at her with his deep brown eyes.

    “Want to go for a ride?”  Jace was already through the fence and standing beside Legacy.  He leaned her sword against the fence.

    Emily laughed and slipped through the boards as well.  “What can it hurt; we’ve already left the banquet.”

    They both mounted and Legacy and Starfire fell into step as they walked down the long stretch of pasture.  The two stallions kept their wings tightly folded in so that they could walk close together.

    Emily twisted her hands in Starfire’s mane and picked up their conversation where it had left off.  “After Star chose me…” she shook her head.  “I was constantly second-guessing myself, wondering if I was doing what I should be doing.”

    Jace looked over at her intently.  “Now after your success with the Highlanders, nobody can say you did the wrong thing,” he pointed out.

    “Yeah, I suppose so.”

    “Why were you second-guessing yourself in the first place?”

    She looked at him with a feeling of disbelief.  “I’m a female Rider, Jace,” she said.  “I’m constantly torn between two worlds: one demands that I be as tough as I can possibly be, the other insists I be a woman living a normal, everyday life, which you know includes swooning every once in a while.”

    Jace smiled a little but his question was serious.  “Well, which world will you choose?”

    She looked at him thoughtfully and mulled over his question, pulling Starfire to a halt.  “I guess…both,” she finally said softly.  “For a long time I’ve wished I wasn’t a girl because we are so hampered in what we are allowed to do.  Having been raised with so many brothers, I guess I’m naturally tough, too; so all the regulations stifled me.

    “But the more I think about it, the more I realize that if I were a guy, the peace treaty with the Highlanders might not have happened.  They didn’t kill me because I was a girl; yet, they respected me because I was a girl who was brave enough to risk a meeting with them.”  She looked up at Jace in wonder.  “I’ve always thought both worlds were mutually exclusive, but I guess they really aren’t.”

    Legacy pivoted so that he and Starfire faced each other and walked forward a little.  Jace and Emily were suddenly close enough to touch.  Emily looked straight at Jace’s face, unable to tear her gaze away.

    “You are unique, Em, and have been blissfully unaware of it for so long,” Jace murmured.  “That is what makes you special, though…and so absolutely beautiful.”

    Her gaze faltered.  He thought she was beautiful?  He was the first guy to ever tell her that so she hardly knew what to say in reply.  “Um…” she finally managed.  Well, that was just about the dumbest thing you could possibly think up, she thought sarcastically.

    “And I think,” he continued in a low tone, “that is what drew me to you in the first place.”

    Emily stared at him, uncomprehendingly.  Drew him…to her?  She gulped and thought, This has got to be a dream.  Jace Hawkins would never say this to me, right?

    He touched her cheek with the back of his hand and asked, “Is it that so difficult to understand?”

    She leaned against his knuckles and managed, “Understand what?”

    “That sometime over the last few months, I have fallen in love with you, Emily.”

    She gaped at him in shock.  “W-what?” she stuttered.

    He looked deeply into her eyes and said intensely, “I love you, Emily Morris.  I love both the beauty and the strength that you possess.  I love who you are, exactly how you are.”

    Emily tried to wrap her mind around what he was telling her.  “Jace, I…” she stopped, truly speechless.

    He smiled faintly and rubbed her cheek gently with his thumb.  “And I think you know that you love me too.”

    Emily froze.  Did she love Jace Hawkins?  Love him?  His head slowly lowered toward hers, and she knew she could pull away any moment and he would not force himself on her.  But…something changed in that instant, and she lifted her face to his to meet in a kiss.  It was gentle but charged with pure fire that raced through her veins.  When they pulled apart, she looked at him breathlessly and said, “You’re right, I love you, Jace.”

    His eyes smoldered at her declaration and he continued to cup her cheek in the palm of his hand.  Just then, Starfire shifted his feet and she gasped, trying to regain her balance on his back.  With a little squeal, she fell off and landed with a thump on the ground.  Jace leaped down with a laugh and offered her his hand.

    She grabbed it and pulled herself up, glaring at Starfire with mock anger.  “You little fiend,” she growled, shaking her finger at him.

    He looked back innocently, his ears pricked and eyes twinkling.  Then he snorted at Legacy and the two Síldain cantered away together into the moonlit night.  Emily sighed contentedly and leaned against Jace when he wrapped his arm around her shoulders.  “So, are you going to be able to put up with my impish Síldain?” she asked, looking up at him with a questioning light in her eyes.

    He hugged her a little closer and murmured, “If that’s what I have to do to keep you, my Destiny Rider, so be it.”

    She lifted her head and whispered, “Good, because this is just the beginning, you know.”

    Then they sealed her words with a kiss.

     

    The End

    This book is dedicated to all my awesome family and friends…

     

    …many of whom donated their names unsuspectingly to the story.

     

    Also, a special “shout out” to my friends Chloe, Lindsey, Micah, Sarah, and Jenna: you guys inspired me to write this.  I’m incredible grateful for each one of you.  Thanks for always being there for me and helping me through the rough patches of life.  I love you all!

  • Destiny Rider - Chapter 10

    Chapter Ten ~ Destiny Rider

     

    “State your name.”

    Emily cleared her throat after the scribe’s command and lowered her chin, calm with determination.  “My name is Emily Morris and I am a Síldain Rider.”

    High King Jakob Wolfsbane gaze was hard as he scanned her figure.  “What is your purpose, Rider?”

    “I am here to propose terms of peace between the Realm of Athlond and the Highland Kingdom.  I am under the authority of the honorable King Wyllas Sherinian.”

    “Did he send you here?”

    “No, sire, he did not, though he endorsed it.”  Emily took a deep breath, “I chose to come.”

    The High King’s face was unreadable.  “Why?”

    “Because I believe there can be a peaceful end to this war that has been raging between Athlond and—”

    “Peace?”  One of the lesser kings interrupted with a snort.  A white bandage was wrapped around his head, most likely a wound attained in yesterday’s battle.  “Since when do the arrogant Athlonians believe such an ideal can be attained?”

    Emily turned to him.  “We hope that you will all be receptive to the idea of peace,” she replied evenly.  “Because it is foolhardy to reject it.  Thousands of men died yesterday, both in our ranks and yours.  It is obvious to us all who will eventually triumph if the battle continues today; but mark me, the Athlonians will not cower and wait for you to slaughter them.”

    “What do you mean by this speech?” demanded another lesser king, his gray eyes flashing dangerously.

    She looked at him and squared her shoulders.  “I mean in no uncertain terms that we will fight, sire, until the last man lies dead in his blood.  And I can assure you that we will not fall before every one of us has first killed ten Highlanders.”

    Silence followed her hard-edged statement.  Emily silently prayed it had not been too much; there was no chance now to retake the words.

    “You are a woman,” one of the other kings pointed out, lazily flicking his bejeweled hand in her direction.  “Why should we heed anything you say?”

    “I am a woman, it is true,” Emily said as calmly as she could, “but I have a brain, and am fully capable of intelligent thought.  My time in the army has opened my eyes to the futility of this war.  Men are dying, and for what?”

    “For honor and the protection of our country!”

    “You would send more men to their deaths for such things?” she countered.

    “Our men are willing to give their lives for their country,” the wounded king pointed out proudly.

    “Enough,” The High King interrupted the debate, his face thoughtful.  Everyone fell silent, though Emily felt the hot gazes of several kings on her.  She pushed all thoughts of the danger she was in out of her mind and focused on King Jakob.

    “We are not opposed to peace, nor do we wish to waste more human life,” he said.  “But I fail to see any coherent plan you have proposed to bring about this peace.  Do you have anything in mind, or are we supposed to think that up?”

    Emily chose to ignore the skepticism in his tone and replied, “I do have a plan, sire, which I believe will be agreeable to all.  First, I ask that you humor me and think back to when the war began.”  She waited for a second and then said, “Why was it started in the first place?”  She knew the answer, but wanted to make sure they were all on the same page.

    “It was started because the cursed Athlonians invaded our lands and set up their outposts,” the king with the gray eyes answered.  “We attacked in self-defense…”

    “…and they retaliated by wiping out a squadron of men…”

    “…so for honor’s sake we had to declare war…”

    Emily nodded at all their replies.  “Good, you have the same story as me.  I was worried we had different versions.  The way that I see it, the war was started over your land.  Right?”

    Slowly, the kings nodded in agreement.

    “We were exploring the northern lands and accidentally infringed on your land,” she explained.  “You sent battalions and squads of men to oust us.  Unfortunately, that sparked this conflict which has continued for the past fourteen years.”

    “Accidentally infringed on our land?”  The gray-eyed king jumped in again.  “I don’t think it was as accidental as—”

    “Peace, Yavin Stormhearst,” King Jakob said quietly.

    Emily cautiously continued.  “So, we have been fighting over your land and for honor for all these years.  But this newest battle is different; it doesn’t deal with the northern lands now…it’s moving south into Athlond.

    “I ask you all: how did a dispute over a few acres of land turn into a mass invasion of your neighboring country?  Doesn’t it seem a little extreme to have carried that quarrel this far?”

    Silence followed her words, and she stopped to organize her thoughts, hoping they were actually thinking about what she was saying.  Please don’t be blocking me out, she thought desperately.  An image of Jace flashed through her brain, and she steeled her nerves.  I’ve got to convince them.  Jace’s life is on the line.

    The High King shifted in his seat and readjusted the fur-lined scarlet war cape that was draped over one shoulder.  “Lady Rider, I will be frank with you.  Over the years, your people have shown themselves to be proud and unwilling to bend.  You arrogantly refused to leave our land, even after it was proven that you had overstepped your bounds.  I fail to see why such a haughty people would change now.”

    He stopped and looked at her expectantly.  The end of his speech was a clear lead-in for her arguments.

    “Sire, I admit we are a proud people and we do not always do what is right.  But, is perfection to be expected from us?  You yourselves have shown that you are a proud kingdom too.  Instead of trying to peacefully resolve the problem of our inadvertent trespassing, you sent troops to wipe out our men.  Is that not also a move that speaks of an ‘unwillingness to bend?’”

    Emily bit her tongue.  That had been forceful…again; she hoped not overly so.  She had to be careful.  It was a fine line to walk, between being too passive and too strongly spoken.  The kings said nothing, and she continued after a moment in a calm tone.

    “Now, my lords, Athlond is prepared to bend.  We see that this wasteful disregard of life is unpardonable, and no war is worth it, much less one that could be resolved otherwise.  We propose that all Athlonian troops will be withdrawn from the Highlands.  We will retire past the border, and we ask that all Highlander troops would be sent back to their own land as well.”

    King Jakob leaned forward slightly and asked, “You would abandon all your outposts, all your strongholds…everything you have wrongly laid claim to in the Highland Kingdom?”

    “Yes, my lord.”

    The wounded king cleared his throat and questioned slowly, “Our withdrawal would also entail ceasing the attack here at Tremelyn, correct?”

    “Naturally,” Emily responded.  “All we ask is that you return to your homes, and that any of our troops still stationed in the Highlands be allow safe passage back to the border.”

    Stillness fell over everyone as they considered her proposition.  No sound disturbed the place except for the scribe’s quill pen as it scratched its way across his parchment.  Emily forced herself to stand still and erect, calmly awaiting their response.

    High King Jakob finally motioned to the guard at her side and said, “The Council will debate and discuss your suggestion, Lady Rider.  Guard; please escort the young woman back to the quarters of Princesses Sarah and Jenna.  We will give our decision when we have reached a general consensus.”

     

    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

     

    “He did not give a time limit on when the decision would be announced?”  Sarah asked in surprise.

    Emily shook her head.  “No, he said it would be given once they reached a general consensus.  No time limit.”

    “That is odd,” Jenna said.  “I don’t think I’ve ever heard of the Council doing that before.”

    “Well, the decision has never been this significant, either,” Sarah pointed out.

    “True.”

    The silken flap parted with a swish, and the three girls whirled around to see who was arriving.  Have they decided so soon?  Emily wondered, hoping and dreading the verdict.  A woman entered, however, not the guard Emily had been expecting.

    “Mother, you’re awake now,” Jenna said joyfully.  “How are you feeling?”

    “Very fine, Rosie,” the queen said with a little smile at Jenna.  “I think the illness has passed.  But I have spoken with Matthias and he told me there is already quite an uproar in camp about the arrival of two Athlonian prisoners.”  She turned and looked at Emily with sharp brown eyes.  “I take it you are one of those prisoners?”

    “Yes, my lady,” Emily said, dipping her head respectfully.  Trying to curtsey when not wearing a skirt would just be awkward, and she had never actually been good at curtseying anyway.  “If I may ask, who is Matthias?”

    “Matthias is the guard who has been escorting you back and forth from our room to the Council,” Jenna explained.

    “And he is right,” Sarah added.  “The troops must be confused.  Not only do two strangers with winged horses walked casually into the camp, they also expected to be out on the field by now, probably.  It must be about seven o’clock.”

    The queen cleared her throat.  “Sarah, Jenna.  Must I introduce myself?”

    The princesses stared at her for a moment then Sarah said quickly, “Oh!  Miss Morris, I’ve been horribly remiss.  This is my mother, High Queen Lorianne Snow Dream.  Mother, this is Emily Morris, Síldain Rider of Athlond.”

    “I am pleased to meet you,” Queen Lorianne said gracefully.

    “As am I,” Emily responded.  Finally I manage to greet somebody without stuttering all over the place.

    They settled down and ate some breakfast together.  Emily forced herself to eat a banana, hoping her stomach would stop yelling at her.  The queen and princesses were all very amiable and to her surprise, she enjoyed their conversation.  The queen was exceedingly gracious; she did not allowed the fact that she was a Highlander and Emily an Athlonian keep her from getting to know Emily.  Emily was grateful that this was a trait the queen had passed along to her daughters.  It would have been unpleasant being stuck with three women who would not speak to her.

    They were genuinely curious at her homeland and family.  Emily lost herself in memories, relating humorous stories about her family and friends.  It took her mind off the present and gave them something to talk about.  The day slowly wore on, and Emily estimated it was about five o’clock in the afternoon when the queen suggested the girls stand and walk outside for some fresh air.

    “I must go lie down for a spell,” she said, bowing out.  “Just take a couple turns about the circle to stretch your legs.”

    They exited the large tent and instantly Starfire appeared at Emily’s side.  He nudged her enthusiastically and nosed her over thoroughly as if to make sure she was really all right.  “I’m fine, Star,” she murmured with a little smile.

    “He is a beautiful creature,” Jenna said with admiration.

    “Thank you.  I do think he is rather special.”  Emily walked between the two girls as they slowly circuited the grassy clearing where the seven kings’ tents were erected.

    “How long have you had him?” questioned Sarah.

    “Only about four months, in fact.”  Emily was surprised when she actually thought about it.  “It seems like so much longer.”

    “Do you enjoy being a Rider?”

    “Yes.  When you take off into the air…” she closed her eyes for a moment and said wistfully, “it’s a feeling like no other.”

    “I don’t like heights very much,” Sarah said with a small smile, “so I do not think I would quite enjoy it the same as you do.”

    Emily averted her gaze from several passing soldiers who were openly gawking at her.  “Perhaps not,” she agreed with Sarah.

    “I think I will stick with dogs,” Jenna added.  “They are my passion.”

    Emily glanced at Kortin and Vivian with raised eyebrows.  “They seem to love you.”

    “Yes, I have raised both of them since they were a few days old,” Jenna said proudly.  “Kortin is a fine dog, and Vivian is showing leadership qualities that are important for a seeker.”

    “What is a seeker?”

    “Oh, I’ve been experimenting,” Jenna explained, brushing back some of her hair over her shoulder.  “I have trained several dogs, including Vivian, to seek out the wounded soldiers on the field of battle.  The healers take the dogs with them and are able to find the men who need medical attention quicker.”

    “That is a good idea,” Emily said, impressed.

    The three girls continued to walk and eventually, Emily turned the conversation around and asked them about their family.

    Queen Lorianne had been a young bride—only sixteen.  She had borne Sarah and then Jenna, but the complications with Jenna’s birth had been so great that she would never have any more children.  She was very susceptible to illness, and was recuperating from her latest bout with the fever right then.

    Emily was very curious about Sarah Dawnlight.  She was highly intelligent and had been educated up to university level, but there were no universities in the Highlands for her to attend, so her learning was at a standstill.  As a culture, the Highlanders did not focus on education as much as the Athlonians.  Emily easily read between Sarah’s carefully phrased words: women were not supposed to receive higher education in the Highlands.

    Jenna, or Little Rose, was not academically inclined like Sarah; her zeal lay with her dogs.  The youngest princess had always been partial to animals since she was young, and she loved the unusual work.  “Dog trainers are usually men,” she explained, “because some of the dogs are so large they could easily overpower a woman.”

    A pause in the conversation ensued, and Sarah said, “So, I must ask, why were you the one who was sent to our camp?  It is a dangerous undertaking…why isn’t the young man who came with you the spokesperson for your country?”

    “I suppose that now he could be,” Emily admitted, “since he is in your camp and still alive.  The reason that I came is because your people have a reputation for not taking any live prisoners.  Jace, the man I came with, told me they would shoot any Athlonian man on sight.  I was betting on them not shooting a woman.  I told our king that I was willing to go, and since I was the only woman available, here I am.  Jace is here only because his conscience would not permit him to let me go unaccompanied.”

    “But why were you willing to come?” Sarah persisted.  “What drove you?”

    “My own desire for a purpose,” Emily replied simply.  “Since I’m a girl, that severely limits what I am capable of participating in.  Yes, some of the universities have recently been opened to females, but you have to be incredibly intelligent to pass their tests.  That isn’t me.  I love being outside and active, not poring over books all the time.”

    She struggled to find the right words.  “I want to fulfill my destiny,” she finally managed.  “Since coming hear to speak to your father the High King was something only a woman could do, and I was the only woman available, I think that I was placed here for a reason.  I want my life to be bigger than sewing and dancing and cooking; and I believe that part of my destiny lies in being right here, right now.”

    Jenna nodded with understanding.  “I wish you success,” she said quietly.  “You seem well on your way.”

    “Thanks,” Emily murmured.

    Just then, a petite pixie-like maid walked up to them and said, “The High King orders that the prisoners be provided with a place to sleep and nourishment.  He has sent an emissary to the Athlonian camp detailing that both Athlonian Riders will remain here overnight.”

    “Overnight?!”  Emily exclaimed, shocked.

    “Why so long, Kasey?”  Sarah asked the girl calmly.

    The pale maid shook her head, her white-blond hair swishing against her shoulders.  “I do not know, Princess.”

    Sarah nodded briskly at the girl, and the pixie retired.  “Very well, then.”  She turned to Emily.  “You will of course stay in the royal tent tonight.”

    “Thank you,” Emily said, still taken aback.  “I hardly thought it would take this long for a decision to be made.”

    “I did not think so either,” Sarah said, casting a troubled glance back to the tent where the Council was still in session.  “But come now, it is not our concern.”

    Maybe it isn’t yours, Emily thought grimly, following the girls back to the tent and motioning for Starfire to stand outside.  But it certainly is my concern.

    “You can sleep in the guest quarters,” Jenna said, leading her into a small room that was close by the princesses’ own quarters.  It was simple but comfortable, and after partaking of supper with the two girls, Emily retired.  She forced herself to lie down but it was far to early to sleep and she doubted she would be able to even when night drew closer.  She had pushed away the nagging worries that plagued the back of her mind all day long, but now they came and attack viciously in the silence.  She closed her eyes and was assaulted with images of the pillage that could ensue if the peace proposition did not succeed.  Her family’s dead bodies strewn in the street next to her friends’ came to mind.  Stifling a shudder, her eyes flew open.  No, I can’t be thinking like that.  The mission will succeed…the kings will agree to the peace treaty….

    Despite her weak attempt at optimism, it was many hours later before she fell into fitful slumber.

     

    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

     

    It was about six-thirty in the morning when Matthias the guard entered the guest quarters, interrupting Emily’s breakfast of porridge.  “You have been summoned to the Council room.”

    Emily wordlessly stood to her feet and followed Matthias.  They turned down the short hall that led to the council room then Matthias led her into the room and retreated.  She stood alone in the middle of the room, trying to quell her nerves.  She had not slept much the night before, but she still felt completely alert.

    The Council room was much fuller than it had been before.  All seven Council members were there, but now each king was accompanied by his queen.  Queen Lorianne, Princess Sarah, and Princess Jenna stood quietly beside the High King’s throne.  All the queens wore slender circlets of silver for their crowns, much like the gold ones that adorned Sarah and Jenna’s heads.  They stood regally beside their husbands’ makeshift throne, garbed in satins, velvets, and jewelry.  Their noble heads were held proudly erect.

    Emily’s heart began to palpitate strangely again.  She was not sure if she was supposed to speak or not, so she decided to remain silent until otherwise instructed.  She dropped her gaze from Sarah’s, unwilling to face the princess’s eyes.  She wondered if the two girls knew what the decision of the court was

    She heard the soft fringe on the door whisper again, and then Jace was standing at her side, his hands unbounded and face turned toward the High King.  A thrill of unexpected joy rushed through her veins.

    Jace!  You’re safe!  She wished she could tell him how great it was to see him.

    His eyes swiftly glanced her over then rushed up to her face, silently demanding: Did they hurt you?  Are you unharmed?

    “I’m fine,” she muttered under her breath in reply.

    High King Jakob Wolfsbane spoke in a deliberate voice, drawing their attention to him.  “Lady Rider; Captain Hawkins.  The Council has extensively considered what Miss Morris has proposed: a peace treaty between the Realm of Athlond and the Highland Kingdom.”  He looked at Emily with his unreadable blue gaze and she forced herself to stare back unflinchingly.  “After her testimony and proposition was heard, we called in Captain Jace Hawkins and cross-examined him to discover if there was any falsehood in their statements.”

    The High King is no dummy; he is not going to agree to something without careful planning.  She swallowed hard, her throat clicking dryly.  But please cut to the chase and tell us what you decided!

    “The Council was unwilling to even consider Miss Morris’s requests because of the unusual delivery of the peace treaty proposition.  We are not accustomed to young women being sent as emissaries with important messages.”

    Emily’s heart sank.  They were rejecting the peace treaty on the grounds of her being female?  The very reason she had been come was because she was a woman!  My own logic is working against me, she thought bitterly.

    “However, we also took into account the fact that Miss Morris is not an ordinary young woman.”

    Emily looked up quickly as the High King continued.  He was still drilling her with his steady gaze, but…was that a hint of respect she detected in his face now?  He said, “Because of the extraordinary and selfless courage shown by Miss Morris, we decided to seriously reflect on what she was proposing.”

    Emily’s heart continued to pound.

    “In light of the heavy loss of life that faces us on the battlefield today and every day in the continued struggle between our countries, we have decided to accept the peace treaty between the Realm of Athlond and the Highland Kingdom.  We will withdraw our troops as required in the treaty, and expect prompt recall of the Athlonian troops as well.”

    He…they accepted the treaty?  Emily stared at him in shock.  They accepted the treaty!  The war is over!

    “Thank you, sire,” she managed, her voice bubbling over with excitement.  She wanted to jump up and down and scream with relief.

    Jace bowed.  “We are grateful for your verdict, my lords,” he added.

    For the first time since she met him, the High King smiled.  She was struck by how youthful it made him look, and she noticed that his eyes crinkled exactly the same way as Sarah and Jenna’s did when they laughed.  He rose to his feet and said, “Before we allow you and your companion safe passage back to your land, we have a gift for you.  Approach the throne, Lady Rider.”

    Emily glanced at Jace, and he smiled reassuringly at her.  Somehow they both knew the High King was speaking to Emily.  Turning back, she met the gaze of Queen Lorianne.  Her eyes twinkled faintly and Emily noticed for the first time that the queen held a small velvet pouch in front of her.  Emily walked forward and looked up at the High King.

    “Miss Morris, there is a special custom we follow in our country.  When a young person has shown exemplary bravery and maturity, they are given their second name.  This name is unique to them and usually refers to a special feat they achieved or perhaps an aspect of their character.  You have shown just such valor and maturity, and the Council found it fit to bestow upon you your own second name, though you are not a Highlander.”

    Emily looked at him with wide eyes.  “Thank you, sire,” she murmured.  “It is a great honor.”

    The High King turned to his wife and she handed him the velvet pouch.  He faced Emily again and drew out of the bag a beautifully wrought pendant.  Delicately fashioned gold spiraled around myriad of the tiniest twinkling rudier gems she had ever seen, and hung from a gold chain that shimmered iridescently.  Crystal clear rudier jewels were rare, expensive, and prized for their beauty—and there were dozens on this pendant.  Emily had never seen such a beautiful piece of jewelry in her life.  The High King fastened the clasp behind her neck while saying:

    “Accept this gift, Emily Morris, as token of the Highlanders thanks to you for your courageousness.  With it, we bestow upon you your second name: Destiny Rider.  It is our hope that you will always seek to fulfill your own destiny, no matter what path it may lead you down.”

    Emily lifted her head, her eyes shining.  “Thank you, sire,” she repeated.  “I will remember your kindness and relay to my own countrymen the graciousness of you and your people.”

    High King Jakob inclined his head slightly at her, and Emily caught Sarah and Jenna’s gazes before she turned to face the other kings, queens, and Jace.  The two princesses were beaming with delight.  High King Jakob then intoned: “It is with great pleasure that I present to you, my fellow kings and queens, the Lady Emily Morris, Destiny Rider.”

  • Destiny Rider - Chapter 9

    Chapter Nine ~ Dawnlight and Little Rose

     

    Emily mounted Starfire and exhaled, trying to calm her nerves.  It was four o’clock in the morning, the time of departure she and Jace had agreed on.  It would take them only five minutes or so to fly across the field to the Highlanders.  They would be landing and hiking the last half-mile in.  Walking in was less threatening than flying, they surmised.  Emily checked her belt again to make sure the white flag was hanging there.  She would hold it up on a stick that Jace was carrying on Legacy when she approached the Highlanders encampment.  Hopefully, it would protect her from their arrows.

    Starfire and Legacy began cantering down the field and then took off smoothly, their wings beating out the comforting whoosh-whoosh that Emily had grown accustomed to.  They flew in silence, staring straight ahead at the campfires that marked where the Highlanders waited.

    They landed, as planned, about a half mile from the camp.  Emily took the stick from Jace and attached the white flag to it.  “All right, stay here,” she reminded him.  “I’ll notify you if it’s safe for you to come into the camp.”

    “I’ll wait until you give the signal,” he said quietly.  “Just use your own judgment; I know you’ll make the right decision.”

    Emily felt grateful for his support.  “Thanks,” she said.  Then she turned and started walking toward the flickering campfires, hoisting the white flag up high.  Starfire walked beside her, noiselessly adding support.  She was immensely appreciative of his presence; leaving Jace standing back there had been harder than she thought it would be.

    Each step she took brought her closer to what could result in her death.  Am I crazy?  She wondered.  Not only am I walking toward the enemy’s camp, I feel completely peaceful.  It was true.  Tranquility blanketed her and calmed nerves that had begun to fray only minutes earlier.  A few months ago I wouldn’t have even thought I’d be doing something like this.  Linds, Chlo, and Mike would probably pass out if they knew.  That elicited a slight smile.  Good thing they don’t know, I guess.

    Starfire gently nudged her shoulder and she rested her hand against his neck.  She mused briefly on the stallion.  “Síldain means destiny in the ancient tongue,” she murmured to the him.  He nodded his head, his wing feathers ruffling a little as a breeze touched them.  “It’s funny, because some how I feel as if I am supposed to be doing this…like it is my purpose, or maybe even my destiny.  What is interesting is that I never would have even made it to Tremelyn or known about the Highlanders massive attack here if you hadn’t chosen me.”  She looked at Starfire thoughtfully.  “Maybe you helped me find my destiny, Star.”

    He whuffed out a deep breath and she smiled faintly.  Talking to the Síldain seemed to help her remain calm, so she continued.  “It’s funny, Star, but I’ve never really liked being a girl.  I know, everybody thinks I’m weird when I say that.  I’ve always thought that boys get to have more fun and do more interesting things.  But,” she looked ahead and steadied the white flag, “because I’m girl, not a guy, I’m the only one who can carry out this mission.  I’m the only one who can walk up to the Highlanders camp with any hope of coming out alive.”

    She shook her head with wonder.  “That is the strangest twist I’ve ever heard.”

    Starfire’s head jerked up just as a voice rang out through the stillness.  “Halt!  Who are you?”

    Emily’s heart leaped and began thundering loudly.  “My name is Emily Morris,” she said, surprised at how even her tone was.  “I am a young woman and ask for a meeting with your High King.”

    The guards voice was tinged with surprise.  “My lady?  What is that creature behind you?  I cannot see well in this light.”

    Emily took a deep breath.  This was where things could get deadly.  “I am a Síldain Rider from Athlond,” she said.  “I beg protection on behalf of my gender.  I seek audience with King Jakob.”

    “A female Rider?”  The guard was clearly suspicious.  “Don’t make another move.  I have my bow on you and I will not hesitate to shoot.”

    Emily cautiously said, “Sir, I am unarmed and mean no harm to any of you.  I bear the white flag.”

    An uncertain pause ensued.  Emily silently prayed the guard would lower his bow.  She could not see him because of the dim light, but his voice was coming in front and slightly to the left of her.  She had no doubt he truly had a bow trained on her.  Even if he could not see her exactly, Starfire was large and white, easily spotted even in the murky dawn.

    “Tremain!” he finally yelled.   “Fetch Garth.  Tell him we have a female prisoner on our hands.”

    ‘Prisoner’ is better than ‘corpse,’ Emily internally reasoned.  Starfire shifted uneasily beside her, but remained by her side.  She suddenly realized she was vulnerable to Starfire’s death as well—the bond between Rider and Síldain would spell her doom if Starfire were killed.

    A few tense moments passed and she heard footsteps approaching, followed by a gruff, tired voice.  “What is it, Wirtz?”

    The guard, or Wirtz, spoke.  “Garth, sir, there is a young woman who claims she is a female Rider from Athlond.  She says she is unarmed, but her Síldain is with her.”

    “Well, what does she want?”

    “I crave a meeting with High King Jakob,” Emily said, breaking into their conversation.  She thought she could detect a bit of movement about ten paces in front of her; she faced that direction squarely, hoping it was the guard and his superior.

    “Why would you wish to speak with our High King?” asked Garth, his tone laden with mistrust.

    “I am an emissary from King Wyllas Sherinian of Athlond,” Emily replied.  “I wish to speak with your High King concerning peace between our peoples.”

    A terse guffaw sounded from the moving blobs, which were becoming clearer as daylight crept closer.  “Peace?  Are you crazy?”

    “No, sir.”  She did not add anything else, biting her tongue to keep herself silent.  She could almost sense Garth weighing her words, judging whether they were legitimate or not.

    “You realize I could order you and your flying beast killed any moment, don’t you?” he finally asked.

    Emily swallowed hard.  “Yes, sir, I do.”

    Again, the silence followed.  Finally, Garth said, “Well, you have spunk and courage, traits we happen to admire.  We will bring your case before the High King, and if he chooses to hear you, you may present your…peace talk, or whatever you want to call it.”

    “Thank you, sir.”

    “Wirtz, Tremain.  Bring her here.”

    Two figures appeared before her and had her hands tied before she could do anything.  Starfire snorted and his ears flattened to his head, but she said hastily, “No, Starfire!  Wait,” and he restrained himself, though his eyes still flashed at Wirtz and Tremain.

    They propelled her forward quickly, but Emily was surprised with the respect they seemed to give her.  They only held her elbows and though their touch certainly was not gentle, it was not overly rough either.  A tall, dark-haired man was waiting for them, and Emily assumed he was Garth.  His tunic was untucked from his leather breeches, and his shoulder-length hair fell lank and loose around his face.

    Tremain must have woken him up, she thought.  Garth surveyed her, one eyebrow cocked.  She estimated him to be about thirty-five.  She screwed up her courage and asked softly, “Sir, thank you for allowing me this privilege.  However, I would ask another thing of you.”

    “What might that be?” he asked gruffly.

    “A fellow Rider, a young man, is waiting about a half-mile out of your camp with his own Síldain.  He refused to allow me to come alone, fearing for my safety.  May he also be granted safe passage into the camp with me?”

    Garth looked at her sharply.  “And why should I trust you?  For all I know, you may have a hundred of your Riders out there, hidden in the mist.”

    Emily remained silent for a moment, trying to figure out someway to convince him she was telling him the truth.  “Sir, I pledge on my honor that there is only one man out there.”

    Garth paused, studying her keenly.  “This man…do you care for him?”

    “Yes, sir,” she replied steadily.  “He is a close friend.”

    “How do you propose we get him here, if I did grant the permission for his entrance into the camp?  If I let you go get him, you could signal the entire Athlonian army for all I know.  If I sent some of my men out there, both my repute and my men’s lives are on the line.  The act of allowing you into the camp could very well have sealed the end of my career.”

    Emily looked at him calmly.  “Is it your decision that he may not come, then?”

    “I did not say that.”

    “We agreed that I would whistle if he is allowed to come,” she said quietly.

    Garth looked toward the plain for a long time, as if looking there long enough would reveal if she spoke the truth or not.  At last, he nodded once.  “You may signal your companion.”

    Emily raised her bound hands to her lips and whistled as loudly as she could.  It pierced the morning stillness, cutting through the mists back to Jace.  A few seconds later, an answering whistle came. Within five minutes Jace and Legacy stood beside her and Starfire.  Emily chewed the inside of her cheek and looked away; Jace was treated much rougher than she had been. His hands were bound uncomfortably tightly behind his back, while hers were in front in an act of deference that she attributed to her gender.

    “Come,” Garth said, quickly striding away.  Weak light had broken through the mist to some extent, and they followed him with relative ease.  They received stares from the Highlander soldiers who were beginning to stir, and they left a wake of furious whispers.

    Emily noticed many women in the camp as well.  So it is true that they have their women come to the wars as well, she thought.  Judging by the lack of armor or battledress the females wore, she concluded that they likely did not actually fight in the battles, but probably cooked and took care of the soldiers.  Nevertheless...it’s so much different than Athlond.  Somehow, she could not see the high-strung women of Elidor coming out to the battlefield to assist their men.

    Garth reached a clearing in the middle of the camp.  Seven tents were arranged in a half circle, all of them boasting colorful streamers, ribbons, and tassels.  Emily realized they must be the kings’ tents.  If that were true, then the High King’s abode was directly in front of them, at the apex of the horseshoe formation.  It was larger than the rest, about the size of a small house.  A gold fringe adorned the roof and the bottom of the entrance flap.  The fabric of the pavilion was a pale blue color and the tent pegs glimmered golden in the early morning light, which was growing stronger with each passing minute.  Garth stepped forward and spoke with one of the two men who stood on duty by the entrance.  The guards listened intently and then one ducked into the tent, the golden fringe swaying after its disturbance.

    Nothing happened for a long time.  Emily licked her lips and surreptitiously glanced over at Jace.  He was staring intently at the High King’s tent, his strong profile thrown in sharp relief by the crimson tent behind him.  Emily knew he had to be in pain from the tight bonds they had put on him, but he did not complain.  She felt a rush of affection flood her, surprising her.  She wished she could tell him how much his presence helped.

    Whoa, when did that all happen? she wondered.  When did he change from Captain Hawkins, annoyance; to Jace, friend?

    He looked over at her and she felt her cheek grow hot, wondering if he could read her thoughts.  She inwardly berated herself for blushing…she hardly ever did that!  His gaze was searching, but gentle—and then to her shock, he winked at her!  Relax, he seemed to be saying.

    I’ll try, she inwardly replied, longing to actually tell him that.

    Just then, the silken door of the tent opened again.  Emily’s head whipped back and her spine automatically straightened.  The guard had returned, but to her surprise, the High King did not follow him.  Instead, two young women emerged after him, fully dressed and alert despite the early hour.  One was fair, and the other dark, but Emily saw similarities in their appearance that told her they were sisters.  Two small circlets of gold glimmered in their hair; Emily realized they must be the daughters of High King Jakob.  Highlander princesses!

    The fair one spoke.  “It is the order of High King Jakob that the male Rider and his mount be taken to the far side of the camp and held there until further notice.”

    No!  Emily thought with alarm.  Why?

    “Also, though the High King has agreed to meet with the female Rider for conference, she must be made aware that if any treachery is detected in her conduct or speech, the male Rider and his mount will be executed, and then she and her mount will be slain.”

    Emily grew chilled.  She held Jace’s life in her hands…literally.  She swallowed with difficulty as Jace and Legacy were led away without a word.  She desperately searched for his eyes and encountered their calm sea-green gaze.  She drew as much courage as she could, but then he was gone.

    “You will come with us,” the dark-haired princess informed Emily without preamble.  “The King will meet with you within the hour.”

    Emily nodded and submitted to being led toward the large blue tent.  She gave Starfire a quiet order to stay where he was, and the Síldain obediently stopped and stood still, though his brown eyes followed her intently.  Then the tent flap was lifted and she entered, hoping she had not made the biggest mistake of her life.

     

    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

     

    “Unbind her hands,” the blonde princess ordered the guards once they were inside the tent.  “We are capable of handling her from here.”

    “My lady…” one guard began to object, but the raised eyebrows the young woman gave him quieted him.  Begrudgingly he cut Emily’s ties and retired.  Emily then followed the two girls into an inner room of the tent that was richly furnished with satin cushions; low tables that held fruit bowls and candles; and thick, soft mats over the ground.  She jumped with surprise as two dogs she had not immediately noticed raised their heads and growled at her suspiciously, their hackles rising.

    “Shh,” the dark-haired girl said soothingly, hurrying over to the dogs.  “Vivian, Kortin…be still.”

    To Emily’s relief, the two large dogs obeyed their mistress immediately.  The blonde princess motioned to a pile of cushions and said, “Please, be seated.”

    “Thanks,” Emily replied awkwardly, cautiously obliging and sitting cross-legged.  The two girls also took seats, folding their legs gracefully off to the side.  Emily took the opportunity given and looked closer at the two young women sitting across from her.

    The fair sister was obviously the eldest; she looked to be about a year older than Emily.  Her hair was very thick and shimmered like spun gold where it tumbling loosely down her back.  She was slightly taller than average and moved gracefully.  Her cobalt dress fit her well, setting off her hourglass figure.  Her green-blue eyes calmly met Emily’s as she spoke.

    “I am Princess Sarah Dawnlight.  I am the firstborn child of High King Jakob.”

    “It’s a pleasure meeting you, uh, my lady,” Emily stammered in reply.  Oh, that sounded intelligent, she thought with exasperation.  Get a grip!  “I’m Emily Morris, Síldain Rider.”

    A touch of amusement seemed to flash through Sarah’s eyes but she said nothing, merely turning to her sister, who was absently stroking the dogs’ heads while watching Emily thoughtfully.  She was wearing a pale purple dress with wide, loose sleeves that set off her rosy skin tone and dark brown hair admirably.  She was shorter than her sister, but looked equally mature.  Her skin was tanner than Sarah, which caused Emily to wonder if she were more of a tomboy than the eldest princess.  The younger princess seemed to perk up when she realized it was her turn to talk.

    “I am Princess Jenna,” she said with a little smile, “also called Little Rose.  I am the second and last born of High King Jakob.  This is Kortin, my first dog; over here is Vivian, my puppy I’m training.”

    The two dogs looked up eagerly at the sound of their names, and Jenna smiled down at them.  “Yes, I was talking about you,” she laughed a little.

    Emily felt a little more at ease now that she knew their names, but still uncomfortable.  “Do you always go into battle with your father?” she asked.

    Jenna looked startled.  “Oh, we never go into the battle,” she said quickly.  “It is tradition for the royal families to travel with the army, and often the soldiers will bring their wives along as well, but the women never actually fight.”

    Sarah nodded in agreement.  “It would be just a little awkward in the skirts,” she motioned to the long dress she wore.

    “I know the feeling,” Emily said.

    “I thought that Athlonian women didn’t fight either,” Sarah continued, her eyes questioning.  “I have never heard of such a spectacle as a female Rider.”

    Emily smiled faintly.  “Actually, Athlonian women do not fight in the battles,” she explained.  “I am an oddity among my people.”

    “What do you mean?” Jenna asked.

    “When Starfire chose me,” she said slowly, “it was unique.  There has never been a female soldier or Rider in the history of our country.  During sieges and things like that women often helped with the defense, but never as official members of the army.  I am the only woman in the whole country who has participated in battle as a legitimate combatant.”

    “Ah,” Jenna nodded.

    Sarah flipped her long hair over her shoulder.  “What is the battle like?”

    “Dreadful,” Emily admitted honestly.  “It’s…” she paused, wondering how much to share with the two princesses.  She decided to continue and said slowly, “The worst part is knowing that one of your companions was shot out of the sky right beside you, and there is nothing you can do to save him, or prevent the chance that the next one shot down is you.

    “There is definitely nothing glamorous about it,” she said soberly.  “I have no idea where all those songs about the glory in battle came from.”

    Jenna looked serious.  “I know.  My father has said the same thing more than once, but he does not forbid the bards from their singing, for they bring cheer to the people.”

    Emily asked, “What is your home like, back in the Remylan Mountains?  I’ve always been interested in what it is like there.”

    “It is beautiful,” Sarah said, and Emily thought she detected a hint of wistfulness in the princess’s tone.  “We live in the palace, of course, which is carved out of one of the mountains themselves.  There is an enormous balcony that extends across the face of one of the mountains, and when the sun rises in the morning, it turns everything to gold.  It is a sight like no other.  These foothills leading to the Remylan’s are nothing compared to the majesty of the mountains.”

    “That reminds me of Elidor,” Emily said quietly, “the capital of Athlond, you know.  The walls around the city are built with white stones, and at sunset, the whole capital turns blood red like a jadessi stone.  I love to watch the sunset.”

    “Perhaps your second name would be the opposite of mine,” Sarah suggested, amused.  “Evening Light, or something like that.”

    “Why do you have second names?  I didn’t know you did that.”

    “It is an ancient tradition of ours,” Sarah explained.  “When we come of age—at sixteen—we are given our second name.  It is often something from nature: I am Dawnlight, Jenna is Little Rose, my mother is Snow Dream…” she shrugged.  “I don’t know when it was started.”

    Emily swallowed and asked, “What is your father’s second name?”

    “High King Jakob Wolfsbane,” Jenna said.  “Because when he was only fifteen he single-handedly killed two wolves who were attacking my mother.”

    “Were they married then?” Emily asked in confusion.  Fifteen seemed rather young for marriage.

    Jenna shook her head, her hazel eyes laughing.  “No, of course not.  He just happened to be around when she was attacked.  They married four years after that.”

    “Oh,” Emily said, feeling a little ridiculous.  She chewed on her lip a little.  When would Jakob Wolfsbane meet with her?  She was turning into a bundle of nerves waiting.  Sarah moved suddenly and Emily jumped.

    “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to startle you,” Sarah said.  “Would you care for an apple?  They’re very good.”

    “No, thanks anyway,” Emily said.  Her stomach growled loudly, contradicting her refusal, but she knew if she ate anything, it would not stay down for long.

    “Very well,” Sarah replied.

    Just then the silken sheets that led into the princesses’ chambers parted, and the same guard who had brought her in entered.  “I am here for the prisoner,” he growled.

    Emily stood.  “I am ready,” she said clearly.

    “The kings await you,” he said, taking her arm firmly.

    “That won’t be necessary,” she said decisively, removing her elbow.  “I will not be running.”

    Suddenly his words exploded in front of her face, and she almost stopped in shock.  Did he say the kings are waiting for me?  Why kings, not High King only?  She walked forward woodenly.  One king seemed a lot less intimidating then seven.  She hoped she had merely heard incorrectly.

    “Goodbye, Emily,” she heard Sarah say softly as she walked past the princess.

    “Goodbye,” she murmured in reply.

    She walked down the small hall then turned right.  The tent was much larger than she had originally thought.  Finally they pushed aside yet another fringed sheet and entered a large circular chamber.  In front of her, in a half-moon shape, were seven men.  Each wore a golden crown on his head, and in the very center was a man with glittering blue eyes who wore the largest crown of all, embedded with precious midnight-blue lazandrite and crimson zagari stones.

    She gulped.  Apparently, she had not heard the guard incorrectly after all.

    Abruptly, a feeling of fear swept over her, and for the first time she was truly frightened.  Her heart was pounding out of control, and her breathing became irregular.  Why am I here? she thought dazedly.  I must be absolutely insane!

    But, just as suddenly, her survival instincts kicked in and she mentally shook herself.  Pull yourself together! she ordered firmly.  Your whole life you have told yourself you are just as brave and strong and bold as any guy—prove it!  If you chicken out now, you have been lying your whole life.

    A short, robed man who looked like a scribe stood and said to her in formal tones, “Welcome to the Council of Seven.  May you always speak truth, and may your cause, if worthy, be upheld.”

  • Destiny Rider - Chapter 8

    Chapter Eight ~ The Only Way

     

    Just as General Hillcrest predicted, the Highlanders arrived the following evening.  Emily stood at the edge of camp with Starfire at her shoulder and gazed across the field at the thousands of flickering lights she knew were campfires.  The Highlanders had emerged from the hills around four o’clock and appeared very prepared for the impending battle.

    The hustle that had marked Tremelyn when Jace’s squadron arrived yesterday had died down, and now silence blanketed the place.  Not even the arrival of the rest of the Riders and King Wyllas with reinforcements stirred much enthusiasm.  Emily slowly realized that the men knew tomorrow’s battle was bound to be a massacre.  She crossed her arms across her chest and shivered, but not because of cold.

    It’s all so pointless, she thought bleakly.  All these men will die tomorrow, or if not tomorrow, the day after.  Thousands of widows and fatherless children will be left…and all because of this battle.  She somberly thought of her family and friends. She hoped they were safe and would remain so.  She briefly wondered if she would ever see them again.

    “None of that,” she roughly ordered herself in a low tone.  “You chose to stay.  Get over it.”

    Starfire nudged her shoulder and nickered softly.  She turned to him with a sigh and buried her face in his neck.  “Starfire,” she breathed.  “You weren’t bargaining for this either, were you.  We haven’t even completely our training and tomorrow we’re going to be engaged in our first battle…which may very well be our last.”

    Starfire drew back his head and looked at her quizzically with his calm yet fiery brown eyes.  She smiled faintly.  “All right, I’ll stop being so pessimistic,” she said, patting him on the shoulder.  “We’ll just fly in and fight our best until the very end.”

    Starfire bobbed his head affirmatively in response.

     

    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

     

    “Fire!”

    At Jace’s hoarse command, Emily let loose her bowstring with a twang, and her arrow sped down into the battle raging below them with deadly precision.  Starfire’s wings beat powerfully as he shot higher into the air, out of the reach of returned fire.  Emily wiped her brow and notched another arrow to the string.  It was three o’clock in the afternoon; the Highlanders had begun their attack at eight in the morning.  She was exhausted and knew Starfire must be too, but none of the other Riders had stopped their relentless attack on the Highlanders, and she refused to quit before they did.

    She glanced around.  They were in the midst of Jace’s squadron of Riders, but she could see other squadrons diving toward the battle at the other end of the field as well.  There were at least eight hundred Riders battling from the sky, harassing the Highlanders as much as possible.  Emily grimaced as she saw the birds of prey that circled the battle alongside the Síldain.  Still, she supposed it could be worse.  She had heard of battles where the Síldain were beset with gryphons or worse, dragons.

    Yet, despite the realization that things could be worse, when Emily looked over the battlefield she grimly realized that time was running short.  The tide of battle had turned against them.

    Starfire flew in tight circles high above the field as she caught her breath and waited for Jace’s signal to dive down again.  She could see the devastation clearly: hundreds of bodies were strewn about, interspersed with the larger white forms of the Síldain.  Emily tried not to think of the Riders who had survived when their Síldain had not.  The bond that connected a Rider to his Síldain was so strong that when one of the two died, their partner followed in a short amount of time.  Emily gripped her legs a little tighter around Starfire’s wings, her trousers absorbing a little bit of his sweat.  We’re going to make it, she reminded herself firmly.

    She caught sight of Jace on Legacy, flashing back and forth across the sky like a silver streak of lightning, encouraging the Riders in his squadron.  He had insisted that morning that if she were adamant regarding her decision to go into battle, she must fly as part of his squadron.  Secretly, Emily was relieved to be under his command.  He is a good leader, she realized.  They were wise to promote him to Captain.

    Just then, Jace raised his bow in the air, signaling that it was time to attack again.  Emily steeled her nerves and squeezed her legs against Starfire’s sides.  “Down, Starfire!”

    He dropped from the sky once again, streaking toward the earth at an incredible speed.  Emily held her bow ready, bracing herself as well as she could as she waited for Jace’s order….

    “Fire!”

    Arrows whizzed through the air once more, and yet again, the Síldain retreated to the skies.  Emily winced at the sound of a Síldain’s scream and realized that yet another must have been shot down.  That had happened more times than she cared to remember over the last few hours.  She turned and counted her remaining arrows.  She had refilled her quiver three times already, and soon would have to replenish it once more.  Only two arrows remained.

    “How much longer will this continue?” she muttered.  “It’s madness!”

    After her last arrow was used up, she flew past Jace and yelled, “I’m going to refill!” while motioning to her quiver.  He nodded, his face hard as flint, and Starfire sped off toward their base at Tremelyn.

    A minute later they landed and she ran for the armory tent.  Ten men with injuries too great to let them fight and too small to kill them were overseeing the large tent, steadily handing out weapons to the battle-weary soldiers who stumbled in demanding them.  A short, balding man with a pronounced limp hastily handed her a new set of arrows, and she wheeled around and headed back out, ripping the binding off the fresh arrows and thrusting them into her quiver.

    Dusk came at nine o’clock, and with it, a lull in the battle.  The Athlonians retreated to Tremelyn, and Emily felt sick as she realized how few were returning.  Even worse, the Riders had been reduced to a pitiful amount by the arrows and swords of the Highlanders.  The Highlanders had taken a heavy toll as well, but it was clear that they still held the advantage.  Emily mentioned that fact tiredly to Jace when she saw him.

    “I know,” he replied grimly.  His face was streaked with sweat and dust.  Despite having been in the air for most the day, he had received his fair share of battle grime.  “But even though they do hold the advantage, at least it was a valiant day for the men of Athlond who upheld our country’s honor.”

    Emily shook her head slowly.  “Honor,” she murmured.  “Such a worthy ideal, yet frequently when individuals pursue it, its worth is forgotten in the ensuing struggle of pride.”

    “Yeah.”

    There has to be something we can do, Emily thought wearily.  Someone must be able to end this before we are completely annihilated…

    “Captain Hawkins: the king, prince, and generals request your immediate presence within the royal tent.”

    Emily and Jace turned toward the small man who delivered the message.  Jace replied, “I will be there momentarily.”  He turned to Emily and looked like he was going to tell her she could not accompany him, but she beat him to the punch.

    “I’m coming too,” she stated.

    “The king did not send for you.  You can’t just come with me to a meeting with him and the generals.”

    “Let them kick me out, then,” she said stubbornly.  She looked up at him and her expression changed to pleading.  “I can’t just stand here doing nothing!  Let me come, please!”

    Jace blew out a frustrated breath.  “Very well.  But if King Wyllas or any of the generals request you leave, swear to me that you will—without any protest.”

    “I swear it,” she said quickly.

    Jace turned without another word and began striding through the camp toward the royal tent.  The king had taken up residence in it since his arrival the day before.  They reached it after a minute or so and Emily followed quietly as Jace ducked inside.

    Unlike the last time she had entered it, the enclosure was well lit with many lamps and candles.  The same table was there, spread with the same parchments and maps, but this time several men stood around it, not only General Hillcrest.  King Wyllas Sherinian and Prince Derek were present, along with Generals Hillcrest, Tellis, Ryland, and Baldwin.  Emily was surprised to spot the prince’s panther: Kian, if she recalled his name correctly.

    Everyone glanced up at Jace and Emily’s entrance.  “Captain Hawkins, I am pleased to see you are safe,” Tellis said, saluting Jace with the customary right hand to left shoulder movement.

    Jace returned the gesture and got straight to the point.  “Thank you, sir.  I was summoned?”

    King Wyllas opened his mouth and appeared ready to speak when Hillcrest began.  “My lord, I must protest this unseemly and repugnant intrusion!”

    King Wyllas looked over at Hillcrest with raised eyebrows.  “What intrusion, General Hillcrest?”

    “The presence of the young woman, sire.  It is highly irregular.”

    King Wyllas turned and looked calmly at Emily.  She squared her shoulders and dipped her head slightly in deference to him.  He nodded back, ever so slightly, and turned to Jace.  “Captain Hawkins!  Can you speak on behalf of this Rider’s integrity?”

    “Yes, sire.  She is an excellent Rider and though she has not completed her training, she insisted on staying and helping in the defense.  I can personally vouch for her determination and trustworthiness as well.  I was her trainer until several days ago.”

    Emily forced herself to keep looking straight ahead instead of staring at Jace in shock.  He really thought she was dependable and trustworthy?  Truly?

    King Wyllas turned back to Emily.  “Do I have your word that nothing you hear here will pass your lips to any individual besides these here?”

    Hillcrest interrupted with a scoffing remark, but the king silenced him halfway through it with a look.  Emily swallowed and said, “You have my word, sire.”

    “Then I see no impediment to this council continuing,” King Wyllas concluded.  “Captain Hawkins, how did your squadron fare during the battle?”

    “Of my three hundred men, we lost fifty-two today,” Jace said stoically.

    Tellis seemed to blanch at the words.  “You fought well though,” he interjected, as if to encourage Jace.

    “Thank you, General.”  Jace’s voice remained steady, but Emily detected his jaw tightening.  She knew he was proud of his squad; every death was a personal loss to him.

    King Wyllas spoke again. “I have been discussing with the generals the plan of attack for tomorrow.  General Tellis thought you should be privy to our discussions on account of your distinguishing record of being...ah, an inventive squad leader.”  The king smiled just a little.  “Meaning, you’ve deviated from the original plan before but your alternate strategy worked just as well or better.  So we agreed that your input would be beneficial for tomorrow’s battle.”

    Jace nodded firmly.  “Thank you for the privilege, sire.  What do your current plans look like?”

    General Hillcrest leaned against the table and recited, “We estimate that of the Highlanders original force of ten thousand, sixty-five hundred troops remain.  Of our own troops, approximately five hundred Riders, nineteen-hundred footmen, and four hundred cavalry are ready to serve.”

    The Riders have lost half of their number, she thought with alarm.  For the first time, she thought of what would happen if the Riders all died.  It would be a terrible thing….  There were always the cadets and the young Síldain at Destiny Hills that still had to be raised, but to lose the entire force of trained Riders and Síldain?  She did not even want to think of that.  Emily breathed, “So few have returned.”

    Hillcrest glared at her as the losses were her own fault and snapped, “Yes, Miss Morris, very few.”

    Emily straightened her shoulders and did not reply.  Jace tensed up and she saw his fist clench.  She felt an odd sort of satisfaction.  He is angry with Hillcrest for treating me like dirt.

    “Our basic plan is to meet them head on like we did yesterday,” General Ryland put in quietly.  He was a middle-aged man with thinning brown hair.  “There doesn’t seem much else to do, besides retreat.  There are no hills to prepare ambushes behind, and if we retreat we will certainly be forced back to Elidor and there a siege would be laid upon us.”

    “We cannot risk that,” Prince Derek spoke for the first time.  Emily had not seen him since the King’s Ball three months ago, and he looked much different now.  His blue eyes were grave and his face looked much older.  “We have minimal preparations for a siege at the capital, and even if we kept the Highlanders from breaching the wall for a prolonged amount of time, the inhabitants of the city might well die of starvation.”

    Emily frowned.  It seemed as if they were being thwarted at every turn!  Certain death awaited them no matter which choice they took.  She looked down, thinking hard.  Abruptly, she remembered her conversation with Jace the day before the Highlanders arrived.  She had asked why no one ever tried to arrange a truce with the High King of the Highlanders, and Jace had said it was a good idea but impossible to perform.

    Emily recalled his exact words: “…the Highlanders are famous for their no prisoner policy.  Any man sent there would be killed upon sight.”

    But… she blinked.

    I’m not a man.

    She felt as if someone had dumped a bucket of ice-cold water on her head.  Emily knew exactly what she had to do.  She looked up, resolute.  It is the only way.

    “Sire,” she said, interrupting a conversation between General Hillcrest and General Baldwin.

    King Wyllas looked at her with raised eyebrows.  “Yes?”

    “I was speaking with Ja—Captain Hawkins the day before the battle.  I asked why there had never been any attempt to barter for peace between our peoples.”

    Hillcrest looked as if he wanted her to be tied and gagged so she would remain silent, but King Wyllas, Prince Derek, and the other two generals listened to her.  Jace was staring at her with a peculiar look on his face.  Emily wondered if he had figured out what she had decided to do yet.  “My lord, he told me it would be impossible because any man from our army would be shot upon sight.”

    Jace’s eyes suddenly flared with understanding.  Yeah, he knows what I’m doing now, she thought.  She plunged ahead, hoping he would not interrupt with objections.

    “But, sire, he said nothing about a woman being killed.”  She paused and spoke slowly, carefully choosing her words.  “I am a woman.  I will go and speak with the Head King of the Highlanders and do everything possible to avert tomorrow’s battle, which promises to be disastrous.”

    “That’s preposterous!” Hillcrest exploded.

    Prince Derek looked taken aback.  “You would do that?”

    “It’s not the worst idea I’ve heard,” General Baldwin mused, but he still looked doubtful.

    Jace was silent, but Emily felt his eyes boring into her, and she could not face their searching gaze just yet.  King Wyllas held up his hand to stop the heated conversations that had arisen over her statement and looked at her evenly.

    “My lady Rider,” he began in a gentler voice than she would have expected.  “Do you realize what you are proposing?”

    “Yes, my lord,” she responded.  “I will fly to the Highlanders camp without my weapons and rely on their honor—”

    “The Realm of Athlond is not in the business of sending vulnerable girls into an army of cutthroats, who, might I add, have no honor!”  A vein pulsed rapidly at Hillcrest’s temple, glowing purple.

    Emily faced him squarely and said firmly, “I am most certainly not a vulnerable girl, General.  I am a Rider, and proud to bear the name!”

    Hillcrest set his jaw, his red hair accentuating his crimson face in a most unflattering manner.  “Miss Morris, I realize you are a Rider, but I personally believe that is because of some fluke.  I’ve never trusted that strange system you all stick to, where the beast chooses the Rider, and—”

    Jace stepped forward and his voice was low and ominous.  “General, I will tolerate your scorn no longer.  Emily is a capable Rider and one worthy of respect, not the derision you give her.  It is detestable for you to impugn her honor as you do, and as her superior officer, I forbid further such vocalizations from you.”

    “And as his superior officer I additionally prohibit you,” Tellis inserted firmly.  Emily looked at Tellis in surprise, and he twitched his chin at her: Keep your chin up, he silently urged her.  She nodded and straightened her backbone a little more.

    King Wyllas looked between the men in the tent and said dryly, “Well.  The proposed mission has caused plenty of turmoil before it has even been put into action.”  He looked severely at Hillcrest and said, “I will accept no further outbursts from you, General Hillcrest.  Is that understood?”

    “Yes, sir,” Hillcrest said in a forced voice.

    “Good.  Now, Miss Morris—”

    “Please, just Emily,” Emily murmured.

    “Lady Emily,” King Wyllas said.  “You are proposing an extremely dangerous operation.  I will be frank with you: if you carried it out, there is a strong probability that you would not come back from it alive.  Are you still interested?”

    “Yes, sire,” Emily replied quietly.

    King Wyllas nodded slowly.  “Very well.  I grant permission for your mission to be carried out.  What are your instructions for arranging this meeting between you and High King Jakob?”

    Emily swallowed hard.  First he granted permission for her to go, and now she was the one giving orders?  She said, “Well…I will be going unarmed, but with my Síldain.  I will land a good distance away from their camp and hike the rest of the way in.  Hopefully, my arrival on foot and while carrying a truce flag will convince them that I am not a threat.”

    “It is as good a plan as any, and probably the one with the most hope of success.”  King Wyllas rubbed his eyes and then focused on her.  “I would not usually agree to send women into battles.  The Highlanders have women who follow them to the battles, or so I’ve heard, but our country has never participated in such a thing.  I only agree to your plan because you have proven to your superior officers that you are capable and responsible.  You are probably the only woman I would ever send into this sort of a situation…and I doubt myself even now for exposing you to harm.”

    Emily nodded once.  “Thank you for your trust, sire,” she said.  “And do not doubt your decision.  It was my choice to propose it in the first place.”

    “I object,” Jace said suddenly.  Emily whirled toward him and stared at him with wide eyes.  What was he doing?  How could he balk now?  He looked past her to King Wyllas.

    “I object, sire, to her proposal.”

    King Wyllas looked equally surprised at Jace’s unexpected statement.  “I fail to understand your objection, Captain Hawkins.  Did you not vouch for this young woman’s integrity and capability earlier?”

    “Yes, I did,” Jace said easily.  “However, I respectfully request that she not be allowed to go without a companion.  I wish to go with her.”

    Everything immediately became clear and Emily closed her eyes for a brief moment.  “Jace, no,” she argued.  “That takes away the entire point of me going because I’m a girl and therefore they hopefully won’t harm me.  They would kill you right away.”

    “Then I will die in service to my country and while protecting one of my Riders,” he responded promptly.

    Emily shook her head vigorously.  “No,” she said.  “You can’t do that.  I won’t let you.”

    “As long as nothing has changed in the last few minutes, I am still your superior officer,” Jace said with a note of amusement that seemed misplaced in the heavy atmosphere.  “You are in no position to keep me from doing anything.”

     Tellis shifted on his feet.  “Hawkins…why?”

    Jace calmly looked at Tellis.  “I believe it is my duty to protect each Rider in my squadron in every way possible,” he replied quietly.  “So I must respectfully refuse to allow one of my own to go alone into enemy territory.”

    “I will speak on behalf of Captain Hawkins’s request,” Prince Derek said suddenly.  Everyone looked at the prince.  “He is acting honorably and in protection of one of his Riders.  It is his own personal decision, and he has chosen.  We should support him.”

    King Wyllas nodded at his son and said, “Very well.  Captain Hawkins, you may accompany Cadet Emily Morris to the Highlanders camp.  By going with her, you also pledge to defend and support her.  Emily, you pledge the same to Captain Hawkins.”

    “Yes, sire,” they replied together.

    Half an hour later, after her initial plan was laid out, dissected, and rearranged until everyone was satisfied, Emily left the tent.  Starfire was dozing close by, his hind foot cocked as he rested.  She smiled slightly and walked up to him.  He opened his eyes and nickered softly at her.

    She heard Jace come out of the tent but did not turn.  “Why did you do that?” she asked quietly.  “You’re only going to be killed.”

    She felt his presence directly behind her.  “Do you honestly think I would allow you to go by yourself?”

    Frustrated, she turned toward him.  “Jace, I volunteered so that I could stop the bloodshed!  If you come, I will merely see my commander killed in front of me.”

    He placed his hands on her shoulders and looked into her eyes.  “Em, look at it from my point of view for a moment.  You don’t want to see me killed.  I feel the same about you.  I’m going with you to support you in every way possible while also protecting you as much as I can.”

    Emily whispered, “But I’ve been training these last months so that I can defend myself…Starfire will be with me….”

    Jace shook his head, a small smile playing across his face.  “You really don’t understand, do you?  I know you are capable of defending yourself.  You are not an ordinary woman, and I have full confidence in your ability to fight.  As your commander, perhaps I could allow you to go by yourself.  But as a man, I cannot let you go solo.  My conscience will not let me.  Nothing you say is going to change my mind.  I will be at your back, come what may.”

    Emily’s lips had parted during his speech, and now she stared at him in surprise.  He believed in her.  He truly did.  But because he cared for her, he was going to come with her.  A warm feeling prickled up her spine, and she suddenly felt as if she could stand looking into his eyes forever.  Vaguely she realized something had changed, but what was it?  She reached up and gently touched his cheek.

    “Then I cannot refuse your assistance,” she murmured.  “Thank you.”

    “I am here anytime you need me.”

    Emily realized he spoke the truth.  And for the first time, she felt she could accept a guy’s help without being made into the stereotypical helpless female.

    Not only that, but it felt good to accept it.

  • Destiny Rider - Chapter 7

    Chapter Seven ~ Bad To Worse

     

    Time drifted slowly by.  Emily felt drowsy as she and Starfire flew steadily north, encased in damp, fluffy clouds that prevented her from seeing anything above or below.  They were not far enough north to break through the mist to start looking for Jace’s squadron, and if by chance there happened to be any Highlanders around, she preferred not to be seen.

    She unpacked an apple and bit into it, savoring the juicy flesh.  Starfire was flying strong, for which she was grateful.  He had been put through a difficult couple of days with Tellis as their commander, but he seemed to be handling this flight well.  They were moving along at a fast clip, but they did not have to worry about diving, pivoting, soaring or anything of the sort.  Emily tucked the apple core back into her pack when she was finished; Starfire would enjoy it when they arrived at the Springs of Merona.

    After several hours, they drifted down through the clouds and she sat up straighter.  The Remylan Mountains were spread out in front of them, a tall, angry line on the horizon.  It was in those mountains that the Highlanders fortified themselves, making it nigh impossible to battle them when they retreated.  Directly below them, Emily saw the foothills leading up to the mountains smoothly rising and falling.

    They took to flying in a crisscross pattern over the huge valley, peering into the dark spaces that shadowed each hill.  Emily was not sure where the Springs of Merona were located, so she did not even know where to begin looking, something that was both frustrating and frightening.  Time was of the essence.  It was late afternoon and drawing close to evening, when Jace’s squadron was supposed to fly out.  She had to find them soon.

    She frowned.  Why had she not thought to ask Tellis the exact coordinates of the Springs?  Because you were in a hurry and didn’t bother thinking—your first mistake, she inwardly berated herself.

    She swooped down lower to inspect a dark crevice between two hills and caught a glimpse of instantly recognizable Síldain silver.  Elated, she urged Starfire down closer and touched down.  The hills were covered with soft, spongy turf, and Starfire pranced to a stop upon landing.  Emily dismounted and started jogging toward the summit of the hill.  She had to get over that and down into the crevice before she could verify if what she had seen were the squadron of Síldain Riders.  Starfire trotted after her, his ears and eyes roving the area alertly.

    She reached the top of the hill and peered down.  Yes!  There they are.  Jace and his squadron were spread out down there, still safe from the Highlanders—

    She jumped when she heard Starfire’s warning squeal, but she only had her dagger half out of its sheath when two arms clamped around her, keeping her from moving.  She struggled mightily against them but they were more like bands of steel than human flesh and bone.

    “Call your Síldain off,” a male voice demanded in her ear.

    “No,” she grunted, still fighting to get at her dagger.  “Starfire, get him!”

    Out of her peripheral vision, she saw Starfire rear up on his hind legs threateningly.  His entire impressive wingspan was extended, and his silver mane flashed in the late afternoon sun.  His ears were laid back angrily and his eyes flashed hot fire, his fierce heritage fully displayed as he trumpeted a furious challenge.

    It worked.  The man detaining her dropped his hold almost immediately, and she whirled around and had her dagger to his throat a second later.

    “Don’t hurt me,” he said, his voice little shaken but mostly calm.  “I was unsure if you were friend or foe.”

    “Since when does a Highlander come riding in on a Síldain?” Emily questioned bluntly.

    “We are under immense pressure, my lady,” the Rider said.  He slowly held up his hands in surrender.  “You cannot blame us for being a little too cautious.”

    Starfire snorted, his ears still laid back on his head.  Emily eyed the Rider carefully and finally said, “Take me to your commander.  We can talk then.”  She kept the knife pointed at him.

    The Rider nodded.  “Come,” he said.

    Emily and Starfire followed him down the shadowed side of the hill, into the crevice.  About halfway down, a Síldain flew up and landed beside the Rider she was following.  The stallion gave her a piercing look but she glared right back, knowing Starfire was backing her.  It took about five minutes to reach the bottom, and she felt tense the whole way down.  She was now certain she had found Jace and his squadron, but she had not expected such a hostile reception.

    The gorge they were in was covered with boulders and rocks at the bottom, and at the far end Emily saw a large flat pond.  The Springs of Merona, she thought.  Well, we found it.  She sheathed her dagger.

    “Thank you, Rider,” she said quietly.  “As you were overly cautious about me, I was overly cautious about you.  Where is your commander?”

    “Captain Hawkins is over there,” the Rider said, pointing further ahead.  His tone was much friendlier now, and even a little curious.  Emily knew that despite her being trained as a lady-Rider for the last three months, many of the Riders had still not heard of her.  Or if they had heard, they had probably never seen her.

    She nodded at him.  “Thanks.”  She moved forward, aware of the stares that ensued when she passed, but choosing to ignore them.  Starfire followed her closely.  Despite the fact that they were among fellow Riders and Síldain, he seemed very protective of her.  Emily smiled a little.  It never hurt having fifteen hundred pounds of horseflesh backing you.

    She spotted Jace speaking intently with several of his Riders.  He had not yet noticed her arrival.  She took a deep breath and started in his direction.

    “Hadriac is still another three and a half hour flight,” he was saying.  “The sheer size of the mountains is deceiving.  It’s still a couple hundred miles before we will reach their base.”

    Emily interrupted, “Captain, with all due respect, I don’t think it would be wise to keep going to Hadriac.”

    Jace whirled around and stared at her, his expression shocked.  “Emily! Wha—why are you here?”  He grabbed her upper arms in his hands tightly and demanded, “What were you thinking, leaving Elidor?”

    “I was thinking about your squadron, if you don’t mind,” she replied tartly, matching his severe tone.  To her surprise, she realized that her heart was not in her sarcastic reply.  It had only been two days since she had last seen Jace, but she was shocked to discover that she was relieved to merely be looking into his eyes again.  Right now they blazed green fire at her, and she started explaining the situation as she also disentangled herself from his grip. 

    “The morning after you left, a scout arrived at Elidor.  The Highlanders have retaken Hadriac and most of the other outposts.  You would have been flying right into one of their camps if someone hadn’t warned you.”

    Jace looked taken aback.  He squinted up at the sky for a moment and then turned back to Emily.  “Are the king and prince coming back to the field?”

    Emily nodded.

    “They will probably be there by tomorrow morning,” Jace mused.  Speaking the Riders who still stood at hand, he ordered, “Tell the squadron that we will not be advancing to Hadriac.  We’ll fall back to Tremelyn instead.”

    “Yes, sir!”  They all saluted him by touching their right fist to their left shoulder and then spread out and began shouting their orders to their men.

    Jace looked at her again, his eyes holding hers intently.  “My thanks for your timely warning.”

    Emily felt suddenly shy, a feeling completely foreign to her.  “It was nothing,” she said roughly, trying to cover up her emotion.  “When are you flying out?”

    “As soon as we can,” Jace replied.  “How is Starfire?  Can he make the flight?”

    Emily glanced over her shoulder at Starfire, who peered calmly back.  “How far is it to Tremelyn?”

    “About three hours south.”

    “I think he can handle it.  We flew the whole way here without any rests.”

    “Impressive,” Jace said.  He smiled slightly, a hint of the old, roguish Jace breaking through the crust of a serious military officer.  “You haven’t even completed your training and already you’re involved in dangerous missions.”

    Emily scoffed, but inwardly she was proud.  “I just wanted to do something to help.”

    “This was more than just something,” Jace told her.  He whistled sharply and Legacy soon appeared.  The Síldain appeared pleased to see his younger brother Starfire.  The two Síldain stallions touched noses and seemed to look each other over as they pranced in place, their wings half-unfurling in their excitement.  Starfire whuffed at Legacy and bobbed his head energetically, his silver forelock falling over his eyes.  Jace mounted Legacy and Emily looked up at him, her hand rested on Starfire’s neck.

    “We’ll leave within in the hour,” he said.

    “Star and I will be ready,” she promised.

    His green gaze softened, and for a moment, it looked like he was going to say something else.  Emily held her breath, both wishing that he would voice his thoughts and desperately hoping he would not.

    In the end, he simply dipped his head in deference to her and trotted away, leaving Emily wondering why she felt so disappointed.

     

    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

     

    The flight south to Tremelyn was conducted as quietly as possible.  Emily was worried that some of the Highlanders would be close enough to the Springs to spot them and attack when they rose into the air, but her fears were unjustified.  It was growing closer to evening, and the sun set in the west, casting the flying Síldain in a burnished red-gold glow.  Emily did not think there was any sight more beautiful than all the silver tipped wings steadily traveling up and down, catching the last rays of the sun.  She inhaled deeply and closed her eyes for a moment.  Up here, she could forget that there was a war in the making on the ground. She was free from everything except the bond of trust between her and Starfire, which had already become deep and unbreakable.

    All too soon, the flight was over, and they landed at Tremelyn.  Emily was shocked at the sheer size of it.  It covered acres and acres of land, with hundreds of tents set up all across it.  The camp practically hummed with energy and activity.  The soldiers hardly even stopped to look at the newly arrived Riders as they rushed around polishing armor, testing their weapons, and waxing their bowstring.  The whole place was filled with a tension that Starfire immediately noticed.  He tossed his head nervously.

    “Shh,” she murmured to him.

    They had landed in the field beside the makeshift pastures that held hundreds of the cavalry’s horses.  Emily slid off Starfire’s back and followed Jace, who was striding purposefully toward a large red and silver colored tent.  Judging by the fact that this tent was larger and more ornate than any of the others, she deduced that they had landed in the field next to King Wyllas’s tent.  She quickened her pace and drew abreast of Jace.  He spoke quietly to her.

    “Something has happened.”

    Emily looked at him.  “How do you know?”

    “The men are tense.  It bodes of an impending battle.”

    “Maybe they are planning to retake the outposts?” she suggested.

    Jace frowned.  “I think it is more than that,” he murmured.  “If the Highlanders were bold enough to take back all those outposts, they must have some bigger plan in mind.  They aren’t going to just take them and sit there like sheep waiting for slaughter.”

    “You mean, they have an offensive plan,” she clarified.  “I thought they usually retaliated and then disappeared into their mountains.”

    “Usually.  I think they are doing something different now.”

    Emily glanced at the tent they were approaching.  “Is the king here yet?”

    “No,” Jace replied.  “He hasn’t had enough time to travel here by horse.  But General Hillcrest is here.  He resides in the king’s tent when King Wyllas is not present.”

    “What are you going to tell him?”

    “That Hadriac is overrun,” Jace stated grimly.  “They we will discuss strategy.”

    Before they reached the tent, Jace stopped and turned to the other Riders, who followed them at a distance, also talking amongst themselves.  “Find an area to settle down in,” Jace told his men calmly.  “We’ll be staying here indefinitely.”

    The Riders nodded their assent and turned back to the field they had just left.  Jace turned and headed on toward the tent where General Hillcrest was, Legacy following closely at his heels.  Emily was determined that she was not going to be left out of any strategizing, so she doggedly trailed him as well.

    They reached the tent and Jace spoke to the guard.  “Is General Hillcrest here?”

    “Yes, sir,” the guard replied. “Who is it I need to be announcing is here to see him?”

    “Síldain Captain Jace Hawkins and Cadet Rider Emily Morris,” Jace replied.

    The man nodded, his gaze lingering curiously on Emily for a moment, and then ducked into the tent.

    “You are always going to get those inquisitive stares wherever you go,” Jace muttered to her, quietly amused.

    “I know,” she replied as lightly as she could muster.  “I guess it comes with the job.”

    Jace grinned slightly at her offhand response but did not answer.  The guard reappeared and held the tent flap open for them.  “General Hillcrest is waiting for you.”

    Jace and Emily entered, leaving Legacy and Starfire waiting at the door.  The flap fell shut behind them, and it took a moment for Emily’s eyes to adjust to the darker interior.  When they focused again, she saw a man who looked to be in his mid-fifties pouring over maps and parchments spread across a table.  He glanced up and greeted them.

    “Captain Hawkins.  Rider.”  He looked at her guardedly.  “So, the rumors are true about a girl being chosen by one of the Síldain.”

    Emily squared her shoulders.  “Quite true, sir.”

    “Well, the Riders have never been in my expertise, but I understand it’s an unprecedented occurrence, Miss Morris.  I wish you luck.”

    “Thank you,” she replied evenly.

    “General Hillcrest,” Jace spoke up, “what is the cause of all the extra activity around camp?”

    The general rubbed his eyes wearily.  “You haven’t heard?  The Highlanders not only completely overran our forces at Hadriac, Tyrin, Bothan, and many other outposts, they have just revealed an enormous army that we previously had no idea even existed.”

    Emily looked from Jace to Hillcrest and back again, trying to judge how serious the situation was.  Jace’s face was tight.  “How many men are in their forces?”

    “Our best estimate is at least ten thousand.”

    That’s massive!

    “Ten thousand,” Jace murmured.  “How many men are currently stationed here?”

    “Four thousand,” Hillcrest said grimly.  “By the time the king arrives with reinforcements and all the Riders from Elidor are accounted for, we will be up to five thousand.  There simply isn’t enough time for reinforcements from further south to come to our aid, however.”

    Five thousand still is not enough to withstand ten thousand, Emily thought, still shocked at the huge number.  Plus we’re in an open field, so there is no chance of us strategizing ambushes or anything of the sort.  It will all be out in the open, hand-to-hand, sword-to-sword.

    Jace was probably thinking the same thing, but his expression did not reveal that fact.  Instead, he asked, “What is the plan of action so far?”

    “I’ve spoke with General Ryland and General Baldwin, and they are going to each be taking fifteen hundred men here and here.”  Hillcrest pointed on the map in front of them.  They were in an open field, with the foothills beginning about three miles north of them.  He had designated the other two generals to the northeast and northwest sides of the field.  “General Tellis still has not arrived, so we have not talked yet, but I assume you Riders will fly over the enemy and cripple them as much as possible with your archery.  I will be leading the cavalry in the center of the field.  Our one advantage is that the Highlanders have neither Síldain nor cavalry of any sort.  Hopefully between our Riders and cavalry we will even out the odds a little.”

    Emily pursed her lips.  Even if the Highlanders did not have cavalry, they had the distinct advantage in the coming conflict.  It would be extermination, not battle, and the Highlanders would definitely win in the end.  She spoke up.  “Sir, when is the estimated arrival of this army?”

    “We expect them in by tomorrow night,” Hillcrest replied.

    “With all due respect, sir,” she said carefully, “I saw no sign of this army when I flew over the hills earlier today.  Is it possible that they are further away then you think?”

    Hillcrest’s brow furrowed.  “They are not going to walk in the open, welcoming observation,” he said bitingly.  “And if there is one thing the Highlanders are highly practiced at, it is camouflage.  I have no doubt that they could easily hide directly under our noses if they so wished.”

    Emily turned red at the general’s tone.  “Then how did we first get wind of them, if they are so skilled, sir?”  She almost forgot the sir at the end, and bit her tongue.  Careful, Em.

    “Survivors from the outposts.”

    “Sir, if they have so many more men than we, isn’t it suicide engaging them in battle?” she asked.  Why waste so many lives?  There had to be a better way to solve this.

    General Hillcrest spoke slowly, seeming to choose his words carefully.  “Miss Morris, you do not understand the ways of the military, nor are you expected to.  Sometimes in war, hard choices have to be made.  This is one of those times, and I suggest you leave such reckoning to people skilled in it.”

    Emily clenched her fist at her sides in anger.  He was not even listening to her!  “Sir, I was merely pointing out that we could lose not only this battle but an enormous amount of human life!  It seems there could be another way—”

    Jace interrupted her.  “Thank you, General Hillcrest. I will speak with my squadron and prepare for battle.”  Gripping her elbow firmly, Jace propelled her out of the tent with him.

    She stared at him, speechless, until they got outside, and then she ripped her arm away from him.  “Get your hands off me!” she exclaimed.  Starfire and Legacy both snorted from their position several feet away, and Starfire took a half step forward.

    Jace ran a hand through his hair and said tightly, “You were arguing with a superior officer.  If you were a man, you would be beaten for insubordination.”

    She tilted her chin up, her eyes flashing angrily.  “He was being insufferable!  He speaks callously of his men’s lives.  You can’t ever get a life back.  When it’s gone, it’s gone forever!”

    “I know,” Jace said.  “But our hands our tied.  What do you suggest; we fall back and allow the Highlanders to lay siege on us at Elidor?  If we did so, all the women and children in the capital and every village between here and Elidor would be placed in jeopardy.  This battle, this confrontation....it’s the only thing we can do.”

    Emily stubbornly shook her head.  “There must be something else.  All we will be doing is prolonging the inevitable.  The siege on Elidor will happen, whether we fight here or not.  The only difference is whether we will still have five thousand men to fight them with, or not.”

    Jace put his hands on his hips.  “Don’t complain to me.  I can’t do anything about it,” he told her, frustrated.

    She took a deep breath.  “Has anyone every thought of trying to barter for peace with the Highlanders?  I mean, we’ve been at war with them for fourteen years!  Can’t we work out some sort of agreement with them?”

    Jace frowned.  “I don’t think that would be possible,” he said.  “General Hillcrest already told you how skilled they are at espionage and concealment.  We don’t even know where their forces are until they attack, usually.  It is amazing that we even have the information we have now about their size and whereabouts.  We wouldn’t even know where to go to conduct a peace conference.”

    “He will be in battle, right?” she asked.  “Their king, I mean.”

    “The Highlanders have a different system of governing then us.  They have many kings, but their High King Jakob is the one who has the final word in everything.  And yes, he is always in battle with his troops.”

    “They will have to set up camp at some point,” she pointed out.  “No army can battle 24/7 with no rest.  Before the battle begins someone can be sent to try to reason out a truce with him.”

    “It’s a worthy idea,” Jace said wearily, “but I doubt you will get any support from anyone, much less any of the generals.  Furthermore, the Highlanders are famous for their no prisoner policy.  Any man sent there would be killed upon sight.”

    Emily shook her head in frustration.  “There has to be something we can do,” she said desperately.  “Anything is better than certain death for all these men.”  She looked pleadingly at Jace.  “It seems so pointless!”

    His gaze was serious.  “I know,” he agreed quietly.  “But that is the way of war.”  He paused and then continued, “Emily, I don’t want you here when the battle begins.”

    She started shaking her head before he even finished his sentence.  “No.  You’re not sending me home.”

    “You don’t understand what battle is like,” he argued, his tone harsh and warning.  “It’s something that awakens a terrible beast within every man participating.  I cannot even describe the grisly things that are done.”

    “Jace, listen to me.  When I flew out here to warn you in the first place, I accepted the fact that I was going to be in danger.  I wasn’t exactly expecting such dire circumstances,” she smiled dimly, “but I came nonetheless.  Now nothing you do or say will convince me to leave.  I might be a girl, but I will not retreat in fear.”

    His green eyes flickered with fire at her words, and his hand came up to her face.  He brushed his knuckles softly against her check as his voice dropped to a low murmur.  “Somehow I knew that would be your response.  You’re not the retreating type.”

    Emily struggled to dredge up a small smile in response.  “Sorry,” she said, trying to lighten the heavy moment.

    “Don’t apologize,” he said intensely.  “That is exactly what makes you so very special, Emily Morris.”

    Swallowing hard, Emily could not move or speak.  They stood quite still, their gazes locked, for an indefinite amount of time.  Then Jace slowly lowered his hand, and they wordlessly mounted Legacy and Starfire, who were still patiently standing close by.  After turning their Síldain, they walked silently back toward the field where the other Riders waited.

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Sam_Zoe_Romany

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