Chapter Eleven
Their horses' hooves sounded like the inside of an armoury in the twilight, slapping down on the hard stone of the courtyard. Roald glanced at Kally, and she gave him a small smile before slipping a mask over her face and whispering to her horse to slow down, and manoeuvring it into a passage which led away from the main palace. Roald followed her.
Jonathon came to stand beside Alanna by the window.
"It's very quiet," he commented.
"The universe is waiting for something," she replied softly.
"What do you think it is?" Thayet asked from behind them. Alanna turned to look at her with a half smile.
"I don't know,"
Jonathon suddenly stiffened beside her. "Quiet," he whispered. "Can you hear that?"
Alanna watched him for a moment before she heard what he was hearing. Then she frowned. "Horses?" she asked. Jonathon nodded and turned to look at his wife, who was on her feet, staring at them eyes wide.
"Do you think…" she began to ask, breaking off suddenly. Jonathon and Alanna both smiled. Thayet began to smile back at them, and then turned away and began to run. Jonathon followed her, and left Alanna alone for a moment. The redheaded woman turned to look at the window and stared at the sky, tracing out the constellations in her mind. She was shaking slightly when she turned away from the window, and almost didn't move.
Roald pulled his horse to a stop as Kalasin slid down from hers. She stood in the shadow of its bulk for a moment before walking out into the open and towards her mother. He waited a little longer, until George reached out to take the reins of their horses, freeing him to join his sister in their mother's embrace.
Alanna came to stand beside Jonathon, and looked over at George. He smiled at her, and turned to look at the horses, rubbing his hands over the neck of one of them.
Jonathon brushed Alanna's hand with his own as he stepped forward. Instantly Kalasin looked up from the reunion she and her brother were having with their mother. Her eyes focused seemed to glaze over, and then refocus on Alanna. The shock of memory coming back nearly caused Alanna to stumble backwards. Then Kalasin smiled at her, just a small smile, no delirious happiness, but it made sense.
The princess disentangled herself from the arms of Thayet and Roald and walked over towards Jonathon. She stopped about a metre away from him, and stared at him seriously. Then a tear fell down her cheek.
"I'm sorry," she whispered as she flung her arms around her father. Jon hugged her tightly. He looked at Alanna, eyes filled with pain. She tried to smile at him. He turned back to Kally.
"So am I," he whispered, so quietly that only Alanna and Kalasin heard him. The princess looked up and stood on tiptoe to kiss her father's cheek.
Alanna jumped as the three younger royal children raced passed her to fling themselves at their sister in a most undignified manner. Jonathon freed himself and moved back to stand next to Alanna.
"Are you alright?" she asked.
"For now," he told her with a wry smile. The tiniest sound of someone moving penetrated their ears and both turned at the same time. Roald stood before his father, looking profoundly nervous.
"Are you alright?" Jonathon asked his son. Roald nodded seriously. Jonathon hugged him quickly.
"I'm very glad of that," he said. Roald gave a small smile.
"Perhaps I should go and rescue Kally," he suggested. Alanna's brow creased in amusement.
"Good idea," she agreed. Roald nodded and turned to go, then turned back and hugged her for a moment. Alanna looked at Jonathon after he left. He smiled and turned to watch as Roald joined his siblings.
"Perhaps you should consider letting her breathe for a moment," he suggested. The other three turned and looked at him, recognition taking a second to form in their eyes. Then they all screamed and jumped at him.
Jonathon was watching the three young ones about Roald, but Alanna happened to glance up at the exact second Kally stepped away from her brothers and sister, and saw the desolate expression on the young woman's face. The princess's eyes were focussed on the paving stones before her, her body absolutely still but for the slight movement of her chest in and out as she breathed. She was so pale that she hardly seemed to be alive, and if it weren't for that movement of chest Alanna would have become concerned. As it was she wasn't sure what to do about it without worrying Thayet.
The solution to the problem came from a rather unexpected or at least unusual source. Kalasin stumbled suddenly and Alanna moved to grab her. Kalasin looked at her with sudden recognition in her eyes, and she smiled slightly. It wasn't much of a smile, but enough. Then Kally hugged her, and over the princess's shoulder she glimpsed two purple spheres in the darkness. One of them closed in a wink. Alanna shook her head.
Kalasin backed away from her, a more confident expression adoring her face.
"Ah, Roald…" she began. Her brother looked up from his younger siblings. "It's nice to be happy to see them and all, but perhaps it might be nice for you to let some other people know you're back, like your wife, maybe," she tilted her head to one side.
Roald glared at her, and Kally smirked at him. "Come on," she told him, reaching out one hand. Thayet motioned to the other three children to join her. Jasson and Liam complied instantly, and Lianne followed them after giving her brother one last kiss.
There was no maid at the door to Princess Shinkokami's quarters. Instead there was Keladry at her friend's bedside, and she wore a sword displayed rather obviously at her side. She got to her feet as Yuki opened the door for them, but relaxed once she saw who it was, glowering only a little.
Shinko lay on her bed, eyes closed. "Who is it?" she asked Kel quietly. Kel glanced at Roald, who put a finger over his lips, and moved silently towards Shinko's bedside. Shinko herself was frowning, waiting for an answer.
"Kel, who is it?" she asked.
"I'm not sure yet," Keladry replied in a low voice. "But maybe you'll see if you open your eyes now," she suggested, as Roald reached his wife's bedside and stood over her.
Shinko's eyes came open slowly, and then widened. "Roald?" He smiled at her. She sat up and flung her arms around his neck, kissing him thoroughly. Keladry backed up and made her way to join the two women at the door.
"Be careful of her," Kalasin instructed her brother firmly as she closed the door.
They waited in the ante chamber in silence for a few minutes. Kel stayed on her feet, as did Yuki, both standing backs to the door they had come out of. Kalasin crossed to the other door and stood looking at it for a moment. Then she turned to look at Keladry.
"I think we had better have a talk, you and I," she suggested softly.
Keladry's face remained Yanami smooth. "As my lady wishes," she agreed.
Kalasin nodded. "Do you want to stay here, or go somewhere else?" she asked, personal control and years of training keeping her from even glancing at Yuki. The Yanami Lady-in-waiting however, looked up and then stepped forward.
"Actually, if it's alright, I'll go," she suggested. "I need to visit with my husband,"
Kalasin nodded with a small smile in her direction. "Thank you," She stepped aside to allow Yuki to leave.
After she was gone the princess and the knight stood facing each other in silence for several minutes. Then Kalasin stared straight into Keladry's eyes and began.
"Did you know I'm empathic?"
Kel shook her head.
"That doesn't mean I can read what's in your head, just some of your heart,"
Kel licked her lips.
"Why don't you like me?" Kally asked frankly. Keladry's mask slipped for a second as she dissolved into shock. She looked away.
"I'm sorry," the princess told her quietly. "It's really quite a hard thing to ask, and I haven't figured out how to be more subtle about it yet,"
Kel looked at her again. She wasn't smiling, but she wasn't scowling either. "I don't know," she replied smoothly.
Kalasin looked at her. "I apologize for whatever it was,"
This time Keladry frowned. Kally smiled at her. "I can't help it. I really, really don't like it when people dislike me, or my family," It was done entirely purposefully; no point in trying to soften this encounter.
Keladry looked away again.
"If you don't know why you don't like me I can't try to do anything about it. But my father… I can't help feeling that's wrong. Could you please talk to someone about it? Alanna, maybe,"
Kel slipped a glance at her, and then brought her head up. "Maybe I should," she murmured.
Kally smiled, and then flushed. "I'm going to change the subject now," she informed Kel. The knight's face twitched into a smile.
"I missed you so much," Shinko whispered.
"I know," he replied just as softly.
"Really?" she said. "How?"
"You told me so," he replied. She frowned. He kissed her quickly and explained. "It was in a dream. You came to me and told me to come back to you. So here I am,"
She smiled. "Oh,"
He settled more comfortably beside her and peered into her eyes. "I missed you too you know,"
She smiled back at him. "I know,"
They kissed once more, and then he pulled away as she winced.
"Are you alright?" he asked urgently. "Should I get Kally?"
"I'm fine," she replied. "It was only a little pain,"
"That's as maybe," Kalasin told them from the door. "But we should look into it anyway. I told you to be careful brother mine,"
Roald stepped back from the bed with a small smile at both wife and sister. Kalasin took his place by the bed and reached out to place one hand over Shinko's forehead and one over her stomach. She closed her eyes for a moment, and a frown creased her forehead. Then she opened her eyes and looked at Shinko with a half scowl on her face.
"Oh, yes," she commented sarcastically. "You're absolutely fine. Lady Keladry," she turned to Kel. 'Could you please go and find Yuki, and Lady Alanna and the queen and bring them here,"
Kel nodded. "At once my lady," she bowed slightly and left. Kalasin sighed, and then turned back to her sister in law.
"So you don't feel anything unusual?" she inquired. Shinko shook her head. "Good. Tell me if you do,"
"What's wrong?" Roald interrupted anxiously. Kalasin sighed and shook her head at Shinko.
"I'm sorry," she told her sister-in-law. "I did try for you,"
Shinkokami smiled. 'I'm sure you did," she replied. The two women exchanged another glance and then Kalasin abandoned all pretence and reached out to hug Shinko. The two clung to each other for a moment, and then Kally pulled back to her heels.
"And I promise I'll ask first next time I need to borrow your husband," she added.
"Thank you," Shinko agreed.
"Stop pacing Roald," Kally instructed. "It's driving me mad,"
"You already were mad," he told her mentally. She stuck her tongue out at him, and Shinko, guessing the exchange that had taken place, chuckled, and then winced again. Kalasin gave her a look.
"Is everything alright?" Thayet demanded a few minutes later, as she and Alanna entered the room.
"You can judge," Kalasin told her, stepping back from the bed to allow Alanna to take her place.
A few moments later Alanna opened her eyes and smiled at Shinko. "Are you ready?" she asked. Shinko's eyes went wide.
Thayet laughed. "You really oughtn't do that," she scolded Alanna. "Ignore her," she instructed Shinko. Her daughter-in-law gulped and nodded.
"Roald, stay here," Kalasin instructed. She and Thayet and Alanna made their way out of the room.
"Well," Thayet asked when they were securely in the antechamber. "What's going on?"
"It's very close," Alanna replied. "We should start getting ready,"
Kalasin nodded. "I'll talk to Roald,"
"I'll tell Jonathon," Alanna added. "I need to see George any way,"
Thayet nodded. "I'll talk to Shinko," They separated; Kally and her mother going back the way they came and Alanna out the door.
"Roald, here please," Kalasin instructed. He stood up from Shinko's bedside and came over to join her.
"Is she alright?" he asked.
Kalasin sighed in exasperation. "Gods help me. Yes Roald, she's fine, but her time is coming up, very soon. You have to decide whether you want to stay or not,"
Roald looked at her solemnly. "Are you alright?" he asked. "You don't have to be involved you know. I can see that you're tired,"
"Doing this or not isn't going to change how I feel," she replied. "But Shinko asked for me to be here, so here I'll be. You on the other hand… most fathers don't stay for the birth of their children Roald,"
He looked at her. "I won't make you leave," she added. "But you need to make a choice, before she gets irrational,"
"I don't know Kally," he whispered.
"Why don't you sit outside with Papa," she suggested. "That way, if anything interesting happens, you can come in, but you won't get under my feet,"
He looked at her, mouthed, "interesting?!" and returned to his wife's bedside.
"Jonathon?" Alanna called. "Jon?"
He and George were right where she had left them, and both turned expectantly towards the sound of her voice.
"What's going on?" Jon asked her.
"If you were going to plan a welcome back celebration I wouldn't," knowing it was not likely but trying to remain flippant about it. "But I think you ought to come with me; your son is going to need some company before long,"
The two men changed a look, and then both joined her, walking just behind in a sign of her rank in this situation.
After Alanna returned with Jonathon and George, she and the other women calmly evicted Roald to the foyer outside, to wait with his father and godsfather. The three of them sat in silence for hours, undisrupted because of the spell Alanna and Jonathon kept switching between them without any prompting. Roald would have offered to help, but his head was a little clouded, a condition he expected would find its source in his sister. He made a mental note to chat with her about that, and then turned his thoughts back to the unravelling of the sleeve of his shirt.
Keladry was the one to eventually open the door.
"You may come in now," she told them. Roald got to his feet, and then looked to his father. Jonathon stood up, but motioned Roald ahead of him. Roald gulped, but did as he was bidden.
His mother and Alanna stood to the bed, but as he came in both of them moved past him to stand by the sides of their respective husbands. Kalasin knelt on the floor, holding a wad of blankets in her arms. Yuki was by the bed, tending to her mistress. Roald's eyes went to his sister for a minute, but she shook her head. So he went to Shinko, taking her from Yuki and holding her in his arms. She smiled wearily up at him.
Alanna glanced at Jonathon from where she stood in the circle of George's arms. He was looking at her too, without turning his head away from the young couple on the bed. She smiled at him, and remembered, as she knew he was, the day she had brought the news to him of Roald's birth, and the embrace they had shared then, its true meaning masked in joy and friendship. She wondered for a moment if he knew, and then laughed to herself. Of course he did.
She stood up, the child in her arms, and felt another wave of premonition sweep her. Looking towards her brother and his wife, she tried to be happy, but her memories of that emotion were lost in the fog that overwhelmed her mind. Her feet beat a slow tattoo on the floor, one that she could only feel, and no one else could hear the sound like a heart beat, to be stopped when she reached her destination. Her mind was like a stone, her movements and reactions autonomous.
They both looked up at her, and she smiled, letting it come naturally to her though there was nothing in her heart behind it. Her brother slowly reached out, and she handed the child to him before stepping away from the bed.
"She's going to need a name," Kalasin told her brother quietly. He looked up at her and smiled.
"I know,"
"This is entirely your choice," Jonathon told Roald and Shinko. "There are no rules or traditions involved. You can pick whatever you choose, and no one, absolutely no one, can do anything about it,""
Shinkokami's eyes lit up for a moment. Alanna and Thayet glanced at each other and shared a smile, enjoying sharing Shinko's joy in her new motherhood. Then Alanna's eyes moved on to Roald, and from him to Kally. Roald was holding his little daughter in her arms, rocking her gently to and fro. Kalasin sat on the window seat, looking over her shoulder at her brother. Some communication seemed to have passed between them, but whatever it was looked to be remaining private.
Shinko reached out and touched her husband's arm. He looked at her and she sat up and whispered something in his ear. He smiled, and nodded.
"We'd like to call her Tara," he told the others, brushing back a bit of blanket so they could see her face.
Thayet moved to sit by her son, and then turned to look at her husband. Alanna found herself watching Jonathon too, and knew that Roald and Shinko were doing the same.
Jon crossed the room in three strides, and took the baby from her father. Carefully reaching into the blanket that covered her, he brushed his fingers over his granddaughter's forehead. "Tara of Conte," he murmured. "Your Highness," He handed her back to Roald and bowed. Tara smiled radiantly.
In the days following her birth, Tara of Conte was kept hidden from most of the palace. The only people that saw her apart from her family were Alanna and George, Yuki and Kel, Gary, Raoul, Duke Baird, and her great-great uncle Duke Gareth of Naxen. When Duke Gareth saw her he sighed.
"I remember when you were born," he told Jonathon. "Suddenly I feel very old,"
"Your not old uncle," Jonathon told him, but the look he sent to Alanna told her that he didn't really feel it. Gareth's health had been deteriorating for some time, and his heart wouldn't last much longer. Soon it would be too late for him to hope for a death in battle, and when his end came it would be as an old man in his bed. Alanna tried to soothe Jon's worries, but they both knew her words were hollow. Tara proved a much better comfort, or at least an excellent distraction, so Alanna left the little baby to her work and went to watch the pages and squires training.
"Do you have to leave?" Roald asked her. She nodded.
"This isn't my home anymore. I have to go," She put her arms around him and rested her face on his shirt. "You promised me it would get better, but it can't get better if I'm here all the time,"
He hugged her tightly. "I suppose I did," he reluctantly agreed. She nodded.
"You know, it occurs to me that you make an awful lot of promises brother mine," she observed, pulling back and craning her neck to look up at him.
"Do I?" he asked, smiling. They stood in silence for a while.
"Well since you're so good at it," she began. "I'm going to extract another promise from you,"
"Alright,"
"Take care of our family Roald," she said. "Mama and Papa, and Lianne, ad Jasson and Liam, and Shinko and Tara, and everyone else, until I get back,"
"I will," he promised.
"Good," she replied. A tall bronzed Catharki guard handed her her reins, and Roald helped her up. The mounted guards surrounded her, and their leader signalled the horses into motion, and they rode out of the palace and city following the road that lead to Port Caynn.