5. Taken
It was late afternoon when the boats came over. Kel waited patiently, wrapped in a dark brown cloak. Beneath it she wore a chain mail shirt which hung nearly to her knees over a padded leather jerkin and thick wool leggings. Her sword was tucked next to her left hip, and her glaive rested easily in her right hand. It was too cold to wear full armor, in addition being unwilling to cross a raging river encased in deadly metal, but she wanted to remind the Scanran's that she was a woman and a knight.
Before she had left, Dom himself had tied her griffin feather headband around her forehead in her room. Her lips still tingled from his final kiss and she fought the rising smile at the memory of the night before. He was too honorable to spend the night, but that did not mean he could not stay late - and late he did.
The two Scanran boats grounded and the rat-faced herald came ashore. Bobbing a bow, he glanced at the fort behind her. Stuttering, he wrung his hands and bowed again.
"I-is n-no one else c-c-coming?"
Keeping her face Yamani smooth, she answered. "It is as the king wished it. I come alone."
The man bowed yet again and stuttered an apology before motioning towards the boat. Kel took one more glance at the fort before stepping aboard. Only when they shoved off did she remember how she hated rivers.
After what seemed like an hour, they reached the other shore. Stepping out of the boat, she had to pause to confirm control over her body. The red tent with its fence of silver spears was impossible to miss, surrounded by dull counterparts. It looked to be made of some thick cloth, unlike any other she had ever seen. Shaped in a perfect circle and low cone roof, it gave the impression of a sort of cake. While she studied the structure, the nervous runty man who had followed her vanished behind the cloth door. When he emerged, he posted himself next to the entryway with another bow.
"H-his M-majesty awaits y-your p-p-presence."
Kel silently took a deep breath and blew it back out before taking a firm grip on her glaive. But before she could cross the barrier of spears, a guard appeared from thin air and held out his hand. No weapons were allowed she assumed. Gritting her teeth, she handed him the glaive and her sword. As she approached the tent, she heard a voice, but when she entered, there was no sign of anyone.
Outside, the weather was cold and harsh. Snow had begun falling when they had crossed the river halfway and steadily increased. Inside this tent, the environment changed drastically. Braziers with brightly burning fires were placed in a semicircle behind a elegantly cushioned chair. The air was pleasantly warm and sweet smelling from some incense presumably coming from the flames. Hanging from the walls were brilliant tapestries and silk drapes, cutting off the far half of the room. Everything was scarlet, gold, or cream that bordered the line between tasteful and gaudy. Kel carefully noted that not even a silhouette could be seen through the gauzy curtain behind the chair. An easy place to hide soldiers. Her thoughts were cut short by the appearance of King Maggur stepping from behind the chair.
He had discarded his leather robe for a short vest of red, and rejected his shirt. The fires gleamed off of his well muscled chest and arms. Most definitely a man confident in his abilities and appearance and would not take 'no' for an answer. She would have to be careful.
Maggur, arms clasped behind him, strode forwards to circle her. Hard blue eyes casually examined her once again as they had the day before. Blue, but not like Dom's blue. This man killed without a second thought. Kel could compare him easily to Stenmun Kinslayer.
"My lady, please make yourself comfortable."
Kel hesitated, unsure what he meant. There was no other chair in the room except the one clearly intended for royalty alone. The dais below it was strewn with silk pillows, but surely he didn't mean for her to sit at his feet like some animal. Keeping her voice carefully neutral, she answered,
"I am comfortable where I stand, majesty."
He paused in the midst of returning to his throne and turned. Giving her a shrewd look, he smiled knowingly.
"You are very clever, though I ought to have known that already. You will not be placed below an enemy. We Scanrans can admire that."
He waved at the cushions. "We will sit as equals then. This time."
Removing her cloak, Kel moved to sit opposite the king, wary of any forward actions he may make. His eyes flickered over the chain mail she wore and understood its message immediately. The smile grew as he turned and snapped his fingers.
From behind the curtain, a girl appeared dressed in nothing but what appeared to be long silk scarves woven into a semblance of clothing. Her slim figure gracefully bore a heavy tray laden with two goblets and a steaming pot. Honey colored hair had been braided into a crown on the top of her head, leaving only a handful of strands to flow down the back to her waist. She kept her gaze on her work, setting the tray next to King Maggur and ladling out some thick, sweet-smelling, brown liquid. Maggur handed on of the goblets to Kel and picked up his own.
Noting her hesitation, he raised a skeptic eyebrow at her. "Go ahead, I wouldn't be brash enough to poison a guest I myself invited with an entire fort on the other side of a river awaiting your return."
As rude as it might be, Kel wished she had her charmed canteen stopper. She would have to trust the gods on this one. Taking a careful sip, she couldn't hide her surprise.
It was sweet. Thick and rich with some flavor she could hardly describe and slid easily down her throat. Maggur laughed.
"It's called chocolate. A child's drink, yet I still enjoy it. You Tortallians have nothing like this I think."
Taking another sip, she let it sit in her mouth for a moment before swallowing. "No, sire, we do not. It's quite good."
"But fattening. Take care you do not ruin your lovely figure."
Kel almost blushed but managed to control it. Carefully setting her goblet down, she calmly waited for him to start explaining why she was here. He was watching her again. Staring unashamedly. Keeping her face still, she returned his bold stare. For a long moment they simply sat in a silent stalemate. Finally, he raised his hand and waved the servant girl away. Leaning forwards and propping an elbow on his knee, Maggur smiled.
"Lady Keladry, you come from the North, do you not?"
"Yes, majesty."
"Then why is it that you are fighting for the Southern kingdom? Why did you become a knight in a country where I've heard lady knights were no longer wanted."
Kel lifted her head. "I fight for my kingdom because the Mindelan's are loyal to King Jonathan and his family as we have been for generations. I am a knight because I wish to protect those in need, and to protect myself." Unable to help herself, she added. "There are many men in this world who think females are the weaker of the species. I wish to change that and in doing so, give even those who are truly weaker a fair chance at life."
He laughed. It wasn't an unpleasant laugh, but it was one of superiority. Giving her a fond look, like a child with some wild fantasy, he shook his head.
"A grand idea, my lady. But is it realistic? Women are corrupted by their emotions - love, sympathy, grief, the like. They are a weakness waiting to give way. Dangerous to others."
Kel kept her anger out of her voice. "Emotions make us human. They make us people. Only when they get out of control, when one loses focus, do they become a danger. But even then, things can be rectified if one is aware of their weaknesses."
Maggur leaned forwards until he was an inch away from her face. "Are you aware of your own weaknesses, Lady Keladry?"
Careful not to flinch, she thought back on those countless times Lord Wyldon forced her to confront and conquer her fear of hights. The times she had been pestered and treated unfairly as a first year, page, and squire. There was nothing she was more sure of than her weaknesses other than she would let no one put her down for them.
"I am, majesty."
He backed away. Picking up his goblet once more, he swirled its contents around. For a long time, he simply sat looking at his cup until Kel began wondering if he had forgotten her. Glancing around the room again, it struck her how foolish this was. A lone knight, female knight at that, in an enemy camp. Even if the lookouts across the river waited for her return in three hours, anything could happen. Before she had entered the tent, the snow had begun to fall quite heavily, turning far away objects into gray blurs.
"Do you have my gift?"
She started at his sudden question and reached into her belt pouch. Pulling out the sparkling bracelet, she handed it to him. Maggur delicately fingered the ornament.
"I am surprised you are not wearing it. Such a pretty thing for a lady such as yourself." Graciously he held out his hand. "May I?"
Gingerly she placed her right hand in his. He slid the ruby and diamond circle around her wrist. Abruptly tightening his grip, he placed his other hand over the jewels and spoke two words in a foreign language. The bracelet flashed blood red and Kel felt needles pricking her skin where the thing touched her. The world began to whirl and her strength left her. Maggur caught her as she slumped to the floor. She did her best to glare at him.
"My friends - they'll come."
"I don't think so, my lady. The blizzard outside will keep them locked behind their walls for a few days. By then we will be far away."
Kel fought the waves of warm sleep that tried to drown her. Weakly she pushed at the king, trying to stand and run. He easily caught her flailing arms and pinned them to her sides. She growled."You said - no poison." Her breathing became labored, increasing her dizziness. "They know."
He smiled, amused at her determination. "Of course. I did say it would be stupid to try anything this close to the border, but then your people know this also - what better way to surprise them than to do what one most logically should not?"
She could no longer keep her eyes open. Her body would not respond to any commands her mind sent out, and now whatever he had done to her was taking over. What kind of magic did he use? Why didn't Neal see whatever spell was on that bracelet? Forcing her eyes open one last time, she whispered,
"Why?"
Maggur's face was serious. "Because I have seen you in my visions. You have something my country needs. I know who you are and what you have done, but I do not know how you have done them. Now sleep my dear. It was not poison, but you will not wake for some time."
The Scanran king bent and pressed his lips to hers, sending her whirling off into a pit of darkness.
888
The snow stormed outside. At the snapping of fingers, Ebi, the ratty personal servant entered the royal tent. Falling to his knees, he asked.
"Y-yes sire?"
King Maggur lifted the form of the Tortallian lady knight in his arms.
"Is everything prepared?"
"It h-has b-b-been done. T-the soldiers are g-gone t-to the p-p-pass."
"Good. We must leave immediately. They'll get suspicious of this snow in an hour or so and as soon as it lets up, they will come looking for their precious lady." He grinned. "Our future is at hand, Ebi. Fetch the horses to the back."
When the man had gone, Maggur looked down at his burden. She was the one, he saw it plainly now. Why the gods had chosen a woman, he could not understand until meeting her face to face. This Keladry of Mindelan, the Protector, had something within her that he had never seen - pure innocence of the heart. Her emotions were genuine, even if her loyalties were elsewhere.
Carrying her through the curtain, he paused to wrap her in a thick leather and fur cloak and donned one himself. Turning to the girl who knelt in the corner, he said, "They will come here, but they will not kill you. Tell them what you know, tell them that I will hold to a cease fire. The winter would be too difficult for my men to fight in anyway, but we will return and my destiny is sealed."
The girl nodded without looking up. He touched her head gently.
"You have been good these past three years. I am giving you to my enemy, but I am setting you free. Be glad."
He again picked up the lady knight and ducked out the back of the tent. He did not catch the glare the girl sent him. How could she speak when she had lost her voice those three years ago to Maggur the Red.