Truly Gifted

Chapter 21: Letters

I leaned back into Mel's chaise, sinking into its soft velvety depths, drowsing with my eyes closed, a nearly empty wineglass twirling in my hand. Sighing heavily I exhaled slowly so as not to wake the latest addition to our family.

Elestra was sprawled belly down on my chest, sucking contentedly on her thumb while she slept. At two, she had a head of downy soft, chocolate brown hair. Mel insists that there are gold and auburn highlights but that only happens under the sun, in my opinion.

Nearly three years had passed, and during that time I have led patrols around the borders of Remalna to quell the various instances of unrest that brought townsmen and women to Athanarel to petition for military aid. It was on one of those patrols that I received news of this little one's birth.

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The dust and grit from the ground swirled around us as the wind and horse hooves whipped them up. I squinted, trying to see through the haze of fine particles then coughed as I inhaled some of it by accident. Suddenly, a man with matted hair astride a half-starved horse charged out of the undergrowth with his sword drawn. I deflected the blow with a gasp, sucking more of the dust-filled air through my mouth before doubling over as cough after cough wracked my body.

Guiding my horse, Storm, with my knees, I dropped the reins and held my blade double-handed, aiming a blow from above - letting gravity lend me its strength. The man parried and lashed out at my knee with his foot, kicking hard. Storm sidled away from the unexpected blow and I picked up his reins with my left hand to help maintain my balance. My opponent circled me warily, his blade waving in the air defensively. Sensing his hesitance, I dropped the reins once more and pulled out a throwing dagger that soon found itself embedded in the man's sword arm. He yelled and grabbed at the wound, but not before slashing wildly at me, grazing chain mail. I winced while knocking him out of the saddle with an elbow the face.

Days later, I lay in a small cot reading letters from my family. This trickle of communication was just enough to keep me sane amidst this chaos, and I treasured each and every word.

Dearest Danric,

How do you fare? The reports from the East state that the bandit attacks are growing less frequent but have increased in ferocity when they do occur. It almost seems as if they are biding their time to muster greater strength and numbers.

You mentioned in your earlier letters that there are numerous bands of bandits. Do you think they are coming together in an attempt to best our troops? Your parents and I have discussed this at length and our fears are not unfounded. We have started to formulate a long-term plan to keep the bandits away. That is, besides your defensive tactic of creating voluntary militia within towns and villages, we pass laws prohibiting the bearing of arms by non-military personnel. What think you?

I've also been considering the formation of a civilian army. Should the civilian militias prove successful, could it not be implemented at the state level?

While you're pondering those questions, I hope to engage you in conversation concerning issues closer to our hearts. Alec misses you so! A week after you had left he began asking for you. When I had explained the situation to him, he asked when you would return. A fortnight later, he began contriving all sorts of reasons to sleep in our bed. First it was the imaginary thunderstorm, then his nightmares of a monster under his bed, now he falls asleep just before I reach the end of his bedtime story.

You should see our little boy. I wake up in the morning half-expecting to see you beside me, and find myself wondering in my semi-conscious state why you have turned into a little boy. Thankfully, Nadav keeps him occupied most of the day, and they do enjoy each others company. Were you and Russav as close when you were their age?

In any case, I told Alec that I was writing to you and he demanded writing you a letter of his own. He has been studying his letters and numbers most diligently, and his artistic flair has not diminished in the least. Just yesterday, he doodled on one of the antique bluewood doors of our sitting room. Doodled! I have enclosed his missive to you in this letter.

Lastly, we are all well and your parents send you their love. My belly grows rounder by the month and at times I wish you were here to feel the kicks emanating from our little one. Remember the way you used to put your ear against my belly when I carried Alec? Fret not, Alec does a good job of ensuring his sibling's well-being every night, and when he's in a good mood he even bestows a kiss.

We send you our love. I love you, dear heart. Take care.

Your wife,

Mel

Well, I had to answer that.

Mel was nearing her delivery date, and I had spent five out of those nine months away from home. At times, I feel guilty for my absence but that guilt is replaced with determination under the constant pressure of fighting the bandits.

Scribbling a reply twice as long as Mel's, I folded and sealed it before perusing Alec's letter. It was short:

Dear Your Majesty King Papa:

I miss you very (x infinite-ly) much. Please come home soon.

Love,

Alaraec

I smiled, warmed by my son's missive. I stared a moment longer at his uneven penmanship, running my fingers over his words. This reply had to be carefully written:

Dearest Alec,

I miss you very much too! Have you been taking good care of Mama? She tells me that your letters and numbers have improved, and I can certainly see for myself. I will be home soon, and I expect you to be very much taller than when I last saw you.

Give Mama a kiss for me will you? I love you.

Love,

Papa

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"That's all you're gonna to do?" asked Master Lemuel, his white eyebrows rising, lining his already wrinkled face with more wrinkles. "You're just gonna leave us to defend ourselves? We ain't got not fighting abilities, half of us are gonna drop dead sooner or later," he gestured to the other town elders seated around the table, "and you expect us to send our young lads and lasses to get themselves killed?"

He was obviously getting hysterical. I was actually afraid that he might drop dead right now from the vein popping out of his scrawny neck. Ensuring that my un-kingly thoughts did not show on my face I calmly reiterated what I had said earlier, "Master Lemuel, town elders of Kryster, your youths may be untrained in the defensive arts right now but I assure you that they will be more than capable of repulsing bandit attacks in the near future. Why? Because our own commanders and soldiers will be here to train them for as long as it takes to equip each and every one of them with the skills in weaponry."

"But they're barely out of their teens!" shrieked a tall thin woman to my right.

I winced at her high-pitched voice then said, "This scheme has worked in the other towns and villages which we have implemented it in. Young men and women 'barely out of their teens' have successfully become working militia units throughout Remalna. I'm sure that I do not need to remind you that many of our own soldiers are only eighteen years of age."

I sat back to let them deliberate and discuss my proposal once again. Kryster was a wealthy border town near the sea. It prospered from sea trade and the numerous vineyards that thrived in the area. It was populated with largely wealthy traders and merchants, most of whom found military work distasteful.

That was when I felt the message box in my breast pocket tingle with magic. Probably more reports of bandit raids or pirate attacks. I could just feel my hair turning grey at the mere thought of dealing with these affairs of state.

The town elders were looking at me expectantly. "Yes?" I queried, "Have you come to a decision?"

Master Lemuel said, "We've come to a compromise. We'll let you train our youths who are inclined to learning the arts of war. However, we must demand that you leave a riding of soldiers here for at least half a year for our protection."

"A quarter of a year, inclusive of the time it takes to train your young men and women," I negotiated. The thin lady made to protest, her pinched cheeks flushing with anger. I spoke before she could argue, "Take it or leave it. Kryster is not the only town suffering from bandits or pirates, and the army can only protect so many at once. 'Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day; teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime'." I paused, waiting for any opposition and meeting each pair of eyes with my own. When none made any protest I said, "You will be well defended for you have the resources to build fortifications as well as the dedication to your livelihoods that will give you strength."

A pause of silent deliberation and exchanged looks, then a nod from Master Lemuel that signaled unanimous agreement. Finally!

I rose from my seat and shook their hands to seal the deal, acknowledging their bows and curtsies with a nod of my head. I was then graciously ushered from the room and left to my own devices.

Speaking of devices - I sought my message box, only to be interrupted by an equerry. He saluted briskly and handed me a stack of mail. "The reports you asked for, my lord."

I broke the seals of a few of the reports and perused them briefly. The situations in various parts of the kingdom were steadily improving but the greater threat was still imminent. I had just yet to put my finger on it. "Thank you. You're excused. Go get some rest," I said, dismissing the lad.

Strolling towards the inn which I had set up as our headquarters and which housed us all, I slid my mail into a breast pocket sewn into the inner lining of my tunic before pulling out the message box. Seating myself with some of the men and women who were off-duty, I opened it and pulled out the crisp parchment within. It was hastily folded and creased; the seal itself was slightly blurred, as if the person had not had a steady hand.

I frowned. This could mean trouble. With trepidation and a deep sense of foreboding I unfolded the letter and began to read.

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A/N: I'm taking a break from Gypsy Queen for awhile but just so you guys know we're up to chapter 2. I know I haven't updated Truly Gifted in a while but I hope that the people who followed this are still out there! Review!

FelSong