Kel paced around her room. She was glad that Tobe had finally agreed to his own chamber because she was sure she would have made him dizzy. As it was the birds had left her a half hour ago when the dried cherries had run out and jump had buried his head in her quilt and fallen asleep, his good ear perking up occasionally and his legs twitching as though he was hunting something.
Kel wished that rest would come as swiftly to her, but her conflicted mind would not let it happen.
She'd had no idea that Lord Wyldon's son would cause her so much turmoil. Indeed she had not really pictured Wyldon's son as being much more than a strategic decision to improve her people's safety. She had been totally unprepared for what she had volunteered herself for.
In her head she had created James of Cavall as a cross between his stern, inflexible father and the oblivious and brilliant Numair. She had never really considered that Wyldon's daughters were so young that his son would not be decades older— as she had pictured him. She had known that his other sons, the ones now in the Black God's Realm were just of fighting age when they had died in the Immortal War. All in all, she had been totally floored when her new mage arrived in all the glory of a twenty-five year old, finely dressed bachelor on a mount fit for a king and strong hunting dogs who seemed as loyal to him as Jump was to her; they would pull their own weight in the camp.
She had pushed her surprise aside and had been able to put him to work, it's not like his age affected the work that she needed him to do and it was a gift in a way, that he could take on more hard physical labour than an older mage could. Not that she imagined that James of Cavall would weaken with age. She saw his father's teachings in the hard lines of his body and the way he did not tire. He commanded his mount with confidence and surveyed situations like a warrior, not as a normal mage would; they looked only at other attacking mages and focused on taking them down, or they waited for their orders, uncertain of what would be most helpful in a battle.
He worked hard with no complaint and did not use unnecessary magic, so as not to unnerve her folk any more than having a powerful mage inside the walls already did. He was as valuable as any knight, soldier or mage she had ever met when it came to doing their duty. He was a true noble who understood what duty to the people was. It was unfortunate then, that he brought with him his own unique brand of troubles for her.
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I am so sorry it took me so long and that this is so short. I've been so sick I was coughing up blood, darn chest, throat and sinus infection had me on double antibiotics for three weeks. I do have a direction for this, it's just hard to slip into the character unless I'm really into the mood of Kel.
Any guesses about his "brand of troubles"? Shouldn't be too hard to guess.
And lastly I have a favour to ask of loyal TP readers. Does anyone know if the books ever said Owen was courting Wyldon's daughter or if that was a fanfic ideal. If it is in the book a page reference would be a huge help.
Please review.
Daine's Twin