Chapter Fourteen

Leryn

The day of my brother's engagement party was truly hectic. I had gotten dressed for the evening promptly after breakfast because I knew I would not have the chance to change later—and it was a good thing I had. My father was not feeling well again which just made things worse for everyone as it was constantly weighing on our minds. Every moment of my attention was demanded throughout the morning, lunch served as a chance to relax, but only for those few precious moments I spent eating.

I had wanted to spend the afternoon alone as I was sure that my patience would be tried that evening, especially by Tsadran, whom would undoubtedly find cause to harass me the entire evening. My desires however were not to come to fruition.

The second I left the dining hall one of my troops approached me as discreetly as possible. "General, I think we've found something that you are going to want to see." Kendrick said quietly. I was slightly shocked but the look on his face told me that I should follow for now and ask questions once we were away from the throngs of people scurrying about the palace to prepare for that evening.

Once we had entered a service hallway I could not hold back my questions any longer, "What's going on? What is it you've found?"

"A survivor. We thought to let you know first; we were sure you would want to keep this out quiet." If I knew Kendrick's intuition, and I did, he was more than likely right.

I thought about what he had said, about a survivor, and I could only come up with one idea. "You mean someone from Wyldt?" He nodded. "Then discretion is our best course of action. Tell everyone that knows about this that they are not to speak of it to anyone, especially not my father or Varien."

"Of course. We brought him to hospital wing, he looks like he has been burnt recently but has begun to heal."

"Where did you find him?" I questioned.

Kendrick looked at me seriously for a moment before turning away, "We were patrolling near Celvian, looking for anything suspicious like you had instructed, when we found him resting against a rock. He was out of breath. It looks as if he was a member of Wyldt's army, though he is not very impressive." We both laughed a little, when we stopped we continued on our way to the hospital wing in silence.

Chances were that I was going to need this man, whoever he was. If he really was a survivor from Wyldt he would know things, especially if he had been a member of their army. We were just going to need to keep his presence here under strict secrecy.

Kendrick and I walked peacefully through the hospital wing until we came to a room in the back that was reserved for soldiers, very few people knew about it. And I knew for sure that Varien was not one of them. It was perfect. Kendrick knocked on the hideaway door three times before opening it and following me in.

The man I saw sitting up in the bed was probably twenty years older than me at least, I could tell that he had seen many battles, there was knowledge and pain in his eyes. I couldn't help but feel sorry for the older man. As I went and sat at the end of his bed Kendrick went from guard to guard, passing on my instructions to keep this all a secret.

"My name is Leyrn, I am the General here. Are you alright sir?"

"You're the Princess, be honest. I am Kell." Before I could correct him he continued, "And yes I know you are both. I know about the affairs of Trevallyn. I had your job once, in Wyldt, but I retired and took to educating instead." he smiled at me.

I nodded. "Another noble profession." He agreed which made me smile in return. "My troops tell me that they found you on your way to Celvian. I would like to let you know that your prince, Raleigh, is here and is safe. I am making sure that he is being taken care of. I would also like to apologize for the misdeeds done against your country, I did not authorize such an attack."

"I do not doubt it. Tsadran is not a noble man."

"No, no he is not." I looked to the ground, "I would like to ask for your help, I need you to tell me exactly what happened the day that you were attacked, I want to help you, and Raleigh. But first, can you tell me why you were heading to Celvian?"

"You have already answered your own question. I knew that Celvian was behind the attack and that they had taken Prince Raleigh—as well as many of our treasured possessions. Including a portrait of our late Princess Cailin, she was killed in the raid."

"So I have heard. I am sorry." he nodded, attempting to conceal his grief.

"I wanted to try and help him, regardless of the fact that we have little to no troops left. I left them to protect what was left of our homes. This was my undertaking." he paused before relating to me all he knew about the attack on Wyldt. I had Kendrick fetch Braith so he could listen as well. Perhaps he would find something in the old general's words that I may not, besides it was almost time to send him on a mission.

I had probably spent almost two hours with Kell and Braith. My brother stayed longer than I did, chatting with Kell, they seemed to have a lot in common so I left them to it.

Kendrick was to look after things in the hospital wing until we found somewhere else for Kell to stay. If anything seemed off or as if it appeared that Varien (or Trevallyn forbid, someone else) had learned something, even slightly, he was to send someone to find me immediately. No matter where I was, no matter the hour, no matter the price to me, and they all were to get out.

When I left I made to flee to my room, I needed to think of how to get through this evening with the new information I had. Tsadran seemed to always sense when something was not going in his favour or when there was a change in my attitude—and this affected both of these areas. And it certainly would not go unnoticed.

Unfortunately for me the path to my room was blocked by preparations for my brother's party so I changed directions and headed towards Silence's room instead. I felt comfortable around her so I thought that perhaps she would let me use her sanctuary as my own for a little while. I knew that she should be there as it was getting close to party time and she would need to help Cara get ready soon but that meant she needed to be ready first. Besides I had already asked Paulette if she was there and I needed to tell someone about Kell and she couldn't tell anyone.

It made me wonder who else had made our mute friend their confident as well.

Silence answered my knock somewhat sceptically but when she saw it was me she brightened up slightly. She smiled and welcomed me in, she was already dressed so I supposed that she was just waiting to head up to get Cara ready. I didn't blame her for taking her time—Cara hated getting ready for events like this. And as it was apparent that she was not a fan of Shae she would likely be doubly testy today.

"You look wonderful." I told her, going to sit down on the small couch that had been added to her room recently.

She smiled brightly then pointed to my hair. I felt it timidly and frowned, "I suppose I messed it up a little throughout the day... not that it was very good to begin with." Silence smiled but I could tell that it was a lie. I knew something was bothering her but I didn't know how to find out which just led to us sitting awkwardly for a moment.

Instinctively I tried to fix my hair, for something to do, but Silence must have found my feeble attempts at least slightly amusing because she smiled for real, though only for a second. She went behind me and started fixing my hair before I could stop her. She seemed to be happy to do it so I let her continue.

For once the silence between us was not comforting so I decided it would be better to let myself ramble then let it persist. "I'm not looking forward to tonight." Glancing over my shoulder I watched Silence point to herself then to me and shake her hand a little as if to say she was not pleased either. "I don't think many of us are—probably only the Golgerns really." I laughed which seemed to brighten Silence's mood a tad but that could just have been for me rather than in general.

"You know it would make me really happy if you would sit with me tonight. I could use someone right now and it looks like you could too. Cara will probably sit with Edom—he likes to take care of her at these sorts of things, I think it gives him a sense of purpose at them. So yes, I thought it would at least make it a bit more fun for the two of us. At least this way we can mock Shae and Tsadran together."

Silence must have at least liked the last bit of the prospect because she came and sat down with me, waited a moment, and then nodded. She pointed to my hair then to her mirror next, "Is it done?" She nodded.

I went to her mirror and looked at myself; I was truly impressed, "Wow. It looks wonderful. Thank you." Again Silence nodded and I knew that the vastness of my appreciation was understood, on both accounts. "How are you?"

Silence shrugged then brushed it off before pointing at me to ask the same question.

"I am alright, better than I was earlier. I think I may have found a way to help Raleigh." When Silence smirked like she had previously I rolled me eyes. "I mean we've taken in another survivor of the attack, Wyldt's former general. I don't plan on letting Varien or Tsadran find out as Braith and I are going to need his help to prove Wyldt had never planned on attacking Trevallyn—that Celvian attacked unprovoked."

Silence seemed more surprised by the mention of the old general than happy for me. She looked curious as to where he was so I told her. "He'll be safe in the soldiers' wing, it's very private and we are taking every precaution. We both know how well Varien took your arrival here, this would be worse."

Silence nodded understandingly and there was a glimmer of something in her eyes but I didn't know what, it was mischievous whatever it was. I was pulled away from that thought however as a violent knock on the door resounded throughout the room.

Both of us got to our feet tentatively, but it was Silence who answered the door. "Where is she?" I recognized the voice but I would have had to guess that it was Tsadran regardless as he pushed his way into Silence's room before she admitted him. "I have been looking everywhere for you Lady Leyrn." He instantly grabbed my arm and began to try and pull me out of the room.

I pushed him off before we got to the door. "What do you need me for Tsadran?"

When he glanced at Silence judgementally I rolled my eyes with a sigh, "Fine." I let him lead the way but once we got to the door I leaned back in, "Another good reason for us to sit together. See you soon." She waved and smiled so I assumed she was alright. I just hoped I would be now that I was being forced to spend time with Tsadran before the engagement party.