Chapter Fifteen

 

The villagers wanted to murder the soldier I’d saved, the one with a broken leg.

I understood their anger, but I would still have fought to protect him.

Fortunately, when I reached the healing hut, I didn't have to. He already had a champion.

Essa stood with the door firmly closed at her back. “All these patients are under my care. They require healing and that is what they will get within these walls.” She slammed her palm against the wood, making a crack that stopped the assembled crowd’s muttering and made sure all eyes settled on her.

“When he is healthy, you may take him to task for any crimes you think he has committed, but I will not hand a sick man over to a mob.”

Silence fell. I wanted to cheer but this didn't seem the right moment. Then someone began to clap. I craned to see.

“Bravo!” Lord Hullar called, stepping forward. “Tempers run hot after battle; we should all rest before making decisions that impact life and death. Your healer is a woman of sense and compassion.” He paused, reaching Essa's side and looking into her face. “And I would value a few minutes of her time.”

“Our visitors are right.” The chief elder stepped out of the crowd. “This night is for peace and healing. If you don't need a healer, find your bed, and if you don't have a bed because your home has been damaged, then find a place in the huts for unmarried men and women.”

Murmurs became movement. A few minutes later the only people remaining were the kings, myself and Essa, and Lord Hullar.

Essa turned on the lord. “I don't think I needed you to speak for me,” she snapped.

Lord Hullar smiled. His face was sweaty, and covered in grime. “No. But I need a healer.” He turned. Essa gasped. A cut on his shoulder blade oozed blood that gleamed in the firelight.

“Inside. Now.” Essa swung the door open and waved him inside. 

I followed with the kings. Inside, the hut was full, but quiet. The beds vacated by Axxon and Rey had been filled with the broken-legged Emperor's man, and a youth with a bandaged head who I thought might be one of Lord Hullar’s warriors. Both were fast asleep.

“Sit.” Essa showed no trace of deference to Lord Hullar, focused on her work. It had been a long night and it wasn't over yet. She was a healer and she had a job to do. My heart swelled with pride in my sister.

Hullar sank onto a stool and Essa cleaned and stitched his wound while we brought Axxon and Rey up to speed with events they'd missed. I noticed that the two men stayed close to me, Axxon stroking my arm to keep us connected, while Rey’s eyes rarely strayed from me. I reached for his hand, wondering what horrors were going through his head after his time in the underworld.

“The Emperor will know the kings are united the moment the first of his soldiers returns,” Hullar pointed out. “You may—” He hissed as Essa's needle sank into his flesh. She touched the skin beside the wound.

“Nearly over,” she promised.

“We're aware of the danger,” Fon said. He leaned against the table Essa was working from until she paused to frown at him and he straightened, shifting away. I stifled a smile. “I vote we leave with the dawn,” Fon added.

I waited to see what cautious Vashri’s response would be to that. But again, it was the healer who spoke up.

“It’s nearly dawn already. You need a decent night's sleep before you go anywhere.” Essa's voice was muffled, her focus on Lord Hullar's wound. “There, just needs a bandage.” She turned to the kings. “Two of you were almost dead yesterday. I don't think you should exhaust yourselves so soon.”

“I make no objection to a night's sleep and a decent meal before we set off,” Rey said.

“Fine, we'll leave after breakfast tomorrow.” Fon clearly chafed at the delay.

I touched his elbow. “It will help replenish your strength, too.” He had created fire for hours on end tonight. He must be exhausted, even if he wouldn't—

“My strength doesn't need replenishing.” He waved his free hand towards the brazier, which surged to life at his bidding. “I could go on like this all night.”

“Maybe mine does,” I countered.

As I might have predicted, that changed matters instantly. “What's the matter? What happened, Kyann? Essa—”

“Peace.” I smiled to reassure him. “Nothing’s the matter. I'd simply like to rest before we leave. There’s no value to facing the Emperor when we’re exhausted.”

Essa finished bandaging Lord Hullar's wound. “You're all done.” Her fingers smoothed a lock of his hair behind his ear. I might – might – have dismissed the familiarity but then she looked up, met my eyes and blushed charberry-red. She stepped away from the handsome young lord. “Find a bed, you need sleep, too.”

His eyes sparkled as they met hers. “Is that an offer?” he murmured. A gentle smile twisted his lips. Essa’s blush grew darker, if that were possible.

“No,” she said, more firmly than his teasing question might have warranted.

As he turned, Lord Hullar caught my gaze on him. His cheeks flushed and he dropped his gaze. “I wish you goodnight, ladies and your highnesses.”

He left. The door banged behind him. The kings bickered gently about plans to set off the next day. I faced Essa. She looked into my face and skittered away, finding bandages to wind and things to put away.

“Essa?” I murmured, not wishing to attract the attention of the kings.

“What?” She endeavoured to face me down. “Are you all right? Do you need my help?”

She knew I didn’t. “I want to know why my little sister is flirting with Lord Hullar.”

“It’s nothing. He’s a patient. We’re just friends.”

Any one explanation might have convinced me. All three together looked like the excuses they were.

“Maybe I’ll go challenge the lord, ask him what he thinks he’s doing with a fifteen-year-old girl.”

“I’ll be sixteen in a month.”

“He must be twice your age.”

“Only nine years older, actually.” She glared defiantly. Once more, she looked just like our mother.

“Essa, you’re so young—”

“I’d be a married woman by now if the Emperor had had his way.”

“And that would have been a dreadful thing.”

“True enough. Lucky for me Lord Hullar isn’t the Emperor.”

“Essa, I’m sure he seems handsome and exciting and—”

“Oh, what would you know?” She spoke loud enough to attract the notice of the kings. I was aware of the sudden silence behind me as they all paid attention to our argument. Essa’s face had returned to a normal colour, but I was suddenly sure mine must be flushed.

“You’re too scared of your feelings to do anything about them,” Essa continued – in for a penny, in for a pound, it seemed. “We’re not all such dried-up old … fish as you are!”

My mouth opened but my head was empty of any words at all. I realised I was mimicking the fish Essa had called me. I shut my mouth.

“Kyann is no sort of a fish.” Fon’s voice rang out. I closed my eyes. I wasn’t sure whether to be pleased he was championing me, or mortified that the kings felt the need to intervene. I cast a glance at the two beds, pleased to see that their occupants remained sleeping. My audience was plenty big enough as it was.

“We should pack some dried fish for the journey.” Rey spoke up.

“I didn’t mean fish,” Essa said meekly.

I couldn’t help it. My lips started to twitch.

“There isn’t a river for miles,” Axxon rumbled. “Where do you think these people would get fish from?”

“It’s called trade,” Rey snapped back.

Essa’s gaze met mine. We burst out laughing at the exact same moment.

I pulled her into a hug, both our bodies shaking with laughter. “Can you understand my reluctance to get involved with this ramshackle bunch?” I murmured in her ear.

She shook her head against my shoulder. “Oh, Kyann. The kings are priceless. I hope you know their worth.”

I cast a glance in their direction. They were looking at me and Essa with expressions tinged with terror. Men never knew what to do with crying women – and it seemed that rule still held when the tears were due to laughter. “I do, Essa, I do.” I hugged her again and wiped my eyes. “Just … be careful, won’t you?”

“Of course. I learned caution from an expert.” She pulled away enough to smile. “There’s plenty of time for us. I can wait until all this nonsense is over.” She stepped away and reached up to a shelf for a bedroll. “Now clear off, all of you. I’ll sleep here with my patients. You should go elsewhere if you don’t want to be disturbed. I’ll be up and down all night.”

We stepped out into the night. Darkness cradled the village, although I knew it could only be a few hours until dawn.

“Come along. Let’s see where there’s space for us.”

The men’s hut was closest. We pried the door open and found a space big enough for the kings. I started to turn away to find a bed in the women’s hut, but Rey grabbed my hand. “Stay with us, Kyann. I can't bear to let you out of my sight.” I looked into his eyes. Their grey held a world of affection and need. My throat dried and I nodded a silent agreement. Truth be told, I didn’t want to be parted from the kings, either. Essa might think I had no emotions, but she didn’t know the way my heart and head were reeling now the kings were united.

We lay down together. Rey curled around my back, his arm across my waist, snuggling me into him. Axxon lay on my other side, my head resting on his shoulder, his arm stretched behind my neck. The others were within reach if I disentangled my arms and reached out. I had no desire to move a muscle. Rey's breath was warm on my neck, and Axxon's shoulder formed a pillow that fit my head perfectly. I would have given anything for the sake of Axxon and Rey - or any of them; even stayed with the soultaker if I’d had to. But I was gladder than I could say that I didn't need to. We belonged together. Kyann and the four kings against the world. Against the Stalwart Emperor, at least.

Cold tried to creep in on me. Once we'd dealt with the Emperor, all this would come to an end. The kings were the kings of legend. They would return to slumber, and I would... Tears welled in my eyes. I cursed my silly self. I was only a part of this story. I'd play my part and I wouldn't hanker for more like a stupid, lovesick girl.

I wrapped my arm over Rey's, pushing my fingers through his, snuggling my face into Axxon's shoulder so I could breathe in the scent of his skin. I was in a story, a young woman on a valiant quest with four handsome kings. Our story would end happily if I could make it so. And a happy ending for Charnrosa would have to be enough for a simple girl like me.