Chapter
39

Aodren

LEIF CANNOT ACCEPT THAT I DEFEATED AN Akarian warrior during the melee and then he lost to her in the sword fight.

The day after the tournament, when the last meeting comes to an end and Malam has finished signing agreements with Shaerdan, Leif demands a sword fight. He wants to see if he can beat me, now that I’ve beaten an infamous warrior. Leif insists I fight with all the intensity I showed Fehana during the first melee event.

Swords drawn, I wield everything in my power to give him the fight he wants, the one he’s trained for, the one that was stolen from him.

Our battle draws the attention of the castle workers as well as the other leaders. And before I know it, a couple of champions ask to join in. Leif and I continue until we are spent, our duel ending in a tie. Given some time to recuperate, Leif then challenges Fehana. In the time I’ve spent with Leif, I haven’t seen him as happy as he is while fighting the warrior.

The next day, the carriages are packed and ready to go. Our traveling party is scheduled to leave for Malam.

I’ve shaken hands with each leader, even Gorenza, who managed to address me as King Aodren when he said goodbye. Segrande joins me where I stand beside the carriage.

“You truly proved yourself,” Segrande says. “I’ll admit, I had my doubts. But your speech the night before last showed your true colors. You’re the rock Malam needs to lean on.”

Segrande and his rock metaphors. “Thank you.”

The older dignitary climbs aboard while I wait outside the carriage for Leif. He finally emerges from the stables with Gale trotting behind him.

“You’re certain you want us to go ahead?” he asks.

“I am.”

“If you’ve not caught up by tomorrow, we’ll turn back.”

“The carriage travels much slower than me. Keep on the path. I’ll reach you before you cross the border.”

He grinds his teeth, and I can tell he doesn’t like the plan. But I need to do this next thing alone.

The clearing outside Lirra’s home is empty. This time, to avoid drawing notice, I’m wearing the hat she lent me and the tunic. I leave Gale to graze as I gather the nerve to approach the house.

Before I can reach the front door, it swings open and Lirra’s two brothers come tearing out. The first stumbles to a stop when he sees me. “Oi! It’s the bloody King o’ Malam.”

“Loren!” A woman’s voice comes from inside. “I told you not to use that language.”

Loren looks over his shoulder and then winks at me before he and Kiefer scurry out of sight.

A woman appears in the door, dark brown hair the same deepness as her eyes that flare when they see me.

I slide the hat off my head. “Good afternoon, Mrs. Barrett. I came hoping to talk to your—”

“My daughter?” Millner shuffles up the stairs of his cellar, the boys following him. Once he’s on the lawn, it takes him only two seconds to reach my side. For a portly man, he is incredibly nimble.

“Your High—”

“Aodren,” I interrupt. “How are you, sir? I wished to see Lirra.”

Millner’s assessing eyes roam over me. “What’s this? You’ve decided to be a commoner?”

“I may be the king of Malam, but I’m also just a man, one who is quite taken with your daughter.”

“Is that so?” Millner’s cheeks ball into fall apples, and his eyes twinkle. “And what do you have to say to her?”

I clear my throat. “I—I was hoping, that is . . .” I clear my throat. “Seeds, this is harder than I thought.” I wipe my brow. If he’s the gatekeeper, the only option I have is to be honest so he’ll fetch her. “She pledged herself to be Malam’s Channeler the night before last. And I was hoping, well, wondering if she wanted to spend time in Malam to assist in setting up an Elementiary in the royal city.”

A snort sounds behind me, and Millner chuckles.

I turn to find Lirra standing in her family’s doorway. The seams of the green dress she wears make trails across her lovely curves.

“I like your outfit,” she says, stealing the words off my tongue.

“Not more than I like yours,” I say, and my response is rewarded with a twitch of a smile.

“Please, Your Highness, don’t let me interrupt. You were saying you want to steal me away to Malam.”

Her father coughs. “Lirra.”

At the same time, I jump in and explain, “It was more of an official request. The last thing I want is for your father to think I am a thief come to sneak you away.”

“But you’ve gotten so good at sneaking.”

The pressure of her father’s gaze on me makes me want to sink into the ground. I would rather face Hemmet again than this. I step closer to Lirra, eliminating the space between us. “If you would be so kind, my lady, I’ve come to ask you to return to Malam with me.”

Her smile fades now, and her eyes shift around the clearing.

It takes only one word from her stepmother to empty the clearing. After bowing and blushing, Lirra’s stepmother waves and drags her husband into the home. Now Lirra and I stand outside alone.

Her teeth press down into her lip.

“Will you consider it?” I ask. “I feel like the tides have finally turned. But I need you at my side. We have worked well together, and I would like your help in moving Malam forward.”

“Is that the only reason you want me to come?”

I study her face, unsure if she can handle what I truly want from her. Because I’ve learned that honesty is best, I simply say, “No.”

My fingers wind around hers, seeking contact like gravity exists for only our hands. Lirra stares down at our entwined fingers and then her blue eyes lift to mine. They are the sky I want to spend my days under for the rest of my life. Of course, I don’t tell her this. I can see making the move to Malam will be a frightening enough change for this brilliant girl.

“The other day, you said you were busy with life,” I say, reminding her.

Sadness spreads over her face. I cannot allow it to linger for more than a moment.

“I was hoping that’s a burden we could share in Malam.” I slide my free hand into the thick length of her hair, knowing I will never get enough of the silky strands. Her chin, ever so slightly tips up. I need no more invitation to drop my mouth to her soft lips.

Just as I lose myself in her sunshine, she moves back and reaches for my hand.

“Well, we make a great team,” she says. “Look at all we’ve done. And even more has happened in the past week.”

She’s right. After the grand finale, there were meetings to finalize trade, discussions between leaders for how to proceed with Sanguine, and talks with my men to take the unity and pride we’ve established here back to Malam.

Change is on the horizon for Malam, but this time, I can see the valley beyond. Not all my people were here for the All Kingdoms’ Summit, but there were enough to start a change. As Lirra said, it takes one voice.

Thankfully, I’m returning to Malam with a chorus.