As it turned out, far bigger things were at play and Drent was soon out of her head. The energy of the city was high as midsummer's eve approached and the festival to celebrate the royal births drew near. Nobility and clan leaders were invited to attend and the main ball was discussed in excited tones by both servants and attendees alike. Karigan grew more and more nervous as the time drew closer. One reason was minor; her father was due to attend as clan leader. Karigan hadn't told him about her injuries and was unsure how long it would go unnoticed. Coupled with what she assumed he would consider an excellent opportunity to review marriage prospects, it was enough to make her squirm.
The major reason she was distressed had nothing to do with the ball per se but the darkness she felt sure was approaching. Mornhaven had been a constant presence at the back of her mind ever since she had sent him to the future. She considered for a second. Maybe pressure was a better word. She couldn't describe it; she felt that he was there, but he wasn't, like he was watching and yet couldn't see through to her mind. He was like a veil draped over her head with a weight that spoke of its' existence without touching a single hair on the nape of her neck. Coupled with this, Laren had also confided to her that Lynx reported terrified animals along the Blackveil border, which seemed to indicate that he was in their timeline again. But he had made no move if he was.
Karigan was uneasy; Mornhaven was nothing if not a showman and it was unlikely for him to re-enter their world and then do…nothing. As the ball approached her uneasiness swirled into dread and it was all she could think about. What event would give him the biggest stage to demonstrate his strength? Perhaps a ball where the country's noble and clan leaders joined to feast under a single roof? Karigan paced her office and tried to tell herself she was being silly. "Ughhh" she muttered in exasperation, "you have seen too many ghosts. Stop working yourself up over nothing." And then she stilled. Hmmm. She was working herself up over nothing. Why would she be doing that? She had a lot of worries but the paranoia of her thoughts was not normal. The last time she had been this focused on Mornhaven was when he had taken control of her mind...
She dropped into a brief moment of full blown panic.
Try to think, she reasoned with herself, taking calming gulps of air. Last time you couldn't break free. This time, you have had practice with keeping monsters out of your head. She repeated this to herself and locked the door to her office. She grabbed the coat that was strewn over her chair and balled it into a headrest before laying on the ground. I have a strange life, she thought, as she prepared to make her way towards an imaginary meadow to find a white horse.
Seastaria was waiting for her and something was wrong. The beauty was agitated, flicking her mane and prancing. Her silhouette was blinding in front of thunderous clouds and the dark horizon. Karigan ran up to the mare. "He's coming, isn't he?" she demanded of the demigod. Seastaria reared in agreement, every muscle of her magnificent form outlined by the sinister sky. "Can you help me?" she asked desperately.
In answer the mare nudged her towards a bridge and Karigan sighed. Beyond it a world of white had appeared. Blast. She turned, "will you come with me?" In answer the mare ducked her head under Karigan's hand and led the way across the bridge. Karigan let out another sigh. She really didn't like the white world. They cautiously made their way across the bridge and stepped through.
The white was blinding and it took a few seconds for Karigan's uncovered eye to adjust. She turned to look at Seastaria every so often as they walked, just to provide some visual relief for the mare glowed in the unnatural bleached landscape. They walked for what felt like an age.
Finally, a spot of green appeared, growing exponentially in size with each step they took. They halted underneath a single tree and Karigan felt her heart swell with joy. "Lil," she cried to the rider who sat underneath the green boughs. "It is wonderful to see you. Have the gods released you?!"
"Aye, Kari lass," she replied, producing an apple from her pocket. "Apparently my transgressions were not serious enough to hold their attention." She stared into the distance, nodding at the ominous black clouds. "I suspect that might be the reason why." Karigan gazed at the sky with a worried frown.
"Lil, something is happening. I have this...feeling inside or maybe outside of my head. I don't know. I don't think Mornhaven has control of my mind, but I feel him." She stared at Lil imploringly, willing her to understand. Lil nodded.
"You have done well to seek out the Day horse as often as you have, since it is her that protects your mind from his," her chin jutted in the direction of the clouds, "influence. He is trying to reach you. He is drawn to you. But your protections are strong. Instead of controlling you he has given you warning that he is here and ready to finish what he started."
Karigan nodded, considering the implications of Lil's words. "What do we do?" Lil was silent for a moment before she spoke. "This is our last opportunity," she said seriously. "Folk in your time have lost magic lore and do not believe enough in or understand the threat. If we do not strike him down now there will be no other chance." She hesitated. "If Mornhaven becomes powerful enough he will have command over the dark forces. I think…I think perhaps the gods might be willing to step in if it comes to this. I have a plan. If it works we may well be rid of Mornhaven forever. If it doesn't," she trailed off thoughtfully.
Karigan drew in a breath. "If it doesn't then the gods spare us." Lil told Karigan the details of her trap. It wasn't much but it was more than nothing. And she would be placing a lot of reliance on gods that had never really gone out of their way to help before… Lil made a last comment before gripping Karigan's hand in a strong grasp. Karigan was startled at her touch, surprised that the white world gave Lil form. "You have come a long way lass and I am proud to serve with you. I wish you all the best luck but if not, who knows, I hope I may see you on the other side." Karigan shivered at the prospect but was humbled to be considered so by the First Rider. 'Same to you, Lil".
With that, she and Seastaria turned to head back through the white world and into the meadow. Just before she left she felt her blood sing with joy as Lil blew the Captain's horn and the rider call flowed through her veins. Karigan felt a renewed sense of purpose and gave Seastaria a last stroke, buoyed by the warmth and love the touch infused her with. She turned away from the advancing storm and quickly trotted back through the meadow in time to a rhythmic beating, leaving the corporeal world to re-enter her body.
To find her door being pounded on. Loudly. "Karigan, if you are in here and don't open the door this instance I am going to hunt down Drent!" Mara yelled. "Hang on, I'm coming," replied Karigan quickly. She got up as soon as her stiff body would allow and yanked open the door. Several riders stood outside.
"Why on earth didn't you open your door?!" asked Mara, exasperated. "We have been looking for you for hours. I was worried sick!" Karigan gripped Mara's arm and stared straight into her eyes, trying to convey the seriousness of her message. "Perhaps I could tell you, if you have time to visit the Colonel with me?" Mara blinked then nodded swiftly before dismissing the others and leading the way to Laren, who, mercifully, was between meetings.
"What can I do for you Mara?" enquired Laren. Mara stared at Karigan, who turned to face Laren.
"Colonel, it has come to my attention that Mornhaven," she hesitated, "might be trying to enter my mind. I think he will attack the castle on the night of the ball".
Laren stared. Mara stared. "Sit and start from the beginning Karigan...actually, can you poke your head outside and ask for a Runner first?" Karigan obeyed and was lucky enough to flag a young boy as he passed the door.
"Jake," the Colonel commanded, "please find Elgin and ask him to cancel my plans for this afternoon". Jake nodded and ran off to do as bidden. Karigan told them of her unease over the last few weeks and her actions up until visiting the meadow but hesitated to discuss the plan that she and Lil had concocted in front of Mara, staring at her out of the corner of her eye.
Laren took the hint and dismissed Mara, allowing Karigan to continue. Once she stopped talking Laren mulled over her news.
"Well, that is something." Laren stared off into the distance. Then she looked Karigan straight in the eye. "You do realise that if this doesn't go to plan, you will pay a big price." Karigan nodded. Really she had known all along, known from the moment she defeated Shawdell at a game of Intrigue and realised Mornhaven's strange connection to her. It would probably not end well for her. She sighed in resignation and Laren looked at her with sadness.
Laren remained silent for a few more moments, considering. "Are you ok to keep talking?" she asked. Karigan surprised herself with a yes. Clearly her afternoon with Seastaria had proven more restful than she realised.
"This is going to be difficult for you," Laren said seriously. "We need to speak to the king and I am aware that you two may have become…close during your recent mission." It was a statement, not a question.
Karigan blushed then looked to her superior officer. "Colonel, I was very unwell. The king gave me the comfort and strength I needed to heal, as did Estral and Enver. And I assure you that in no way would I see his marriage destroyed. But," she hesitated, 'this…this is going to be hard for him to understand. To accept."
Laren nodded thoughtfully before speaking. "I want you to know that I respect your situation. I think you realise that the stability of his marriage lends stability to the realm and that must not be compromised. But," she continued "I also want you to know that had there been any other way for you two, any way at all, I would have found it." Karigan's eyes watered and she blinked rapidly.
Despite the turmoil she grew calmer throughout the afternoon as they discussed all their available options, albeit in vain. Karigan had accepted that the prospect of meeting Lil in the afterlife was high as her role in this fight would be significant. After they finished speaking Laren sighed and stood. "Alright. Let's go speak to the king." Karigan followed her out of the study, butterflies crowding her stomach.
They were ushered into the king's study with a distracted, "enter". The king looked up and his gaze immediately softened on seeing Karigan. "Hello," he said with warmth. The women bowed and his expression grew sombre. They would never know how difficult it was for him to watch the painful genuflections of the two women he valued most in his life. It was his bitter lot as king to watch those he loved suffer for him and his country.
"Your majesty," Laren began. Then she hesitated.
Karigan had been debating the best approach to this conversation on their walk over and used the pause to set the tone of the conversation.
"Your majesty, I have been visited by the First Rider again," she said. Zachary looked at her with surprise and moved to take a seat in front of the small fire, indicating that they should also sit. After settling, Karigan continued.
"Sire, Lil has warned me that Mornhaven is back in our timeline and he is concentrating his forces ready for attack."
"How is it that she was in communication with you?" he asked, staring into the flames.
"She has been released by the gods and used an open channel to reach me. It appears Mornhaven may have been trying to enter my mind again, although I was able to keep him at bay," she rushed to finish as his gaze whipped toward her with concern. "Lil helped me to understand it as a warning; now that I have barriers in my mind he can't get to me but it does give us an opportunity to prepare".
"That it does," murmured Zachary after a pause.
Karigan hesitated. Now for the tricky part. "We don't know, your majesty" she began carefully, "when he might appear, but we are fairly certain that it will be before the end of summer and his forces may be great if the fight is not finished quickly".
Zachary considered this for a moment. "Do you think he will come himself?" He asked.
"Yes, I do," replied Karigan with conviction.
"What makes you so sure?" he asked curiously. "After all, he often sends the beasts of the forest to do his bidding."
Karigan reasoned for a moment. "It makes sense; there is almost no one that can directly defeat him, which will make him overconfident and after our last trick he will be in no mood for delaying this fight. And it would be dramatic, which is definitely his style." She laughed bitterly.
Zachary sighed. "It makes sense," he agreed. Turning to Laren he continued, "Colonel, ensure all your riders limit their errands to those of utmost importance only. We will want every available magic user present to deploy where needed."
Laren nodded, "Of course, sire. Now if you will excuse us."
"Yes of course," he murmured absently.
Laren and Karigan stood, then bowed to him and walked towards the door. As Karigan followed behind and walked past Zachary, she felt the soft heat of his warm hand brush against hers and for a fleeting second she slowed. He gripped her hand and then released it. She walked out of his study with a blush tinging her cheeks.
Laren turned to face her when they were outside, hands on hips, eyebrows raised. "Not quite the conversation I was expecting to have".
Karigan was quiet for a moment before responding. "You are right Colonel; about everything. I don't think providing more detail than that will assist us in accomplishing our plans. He can't know. He wouldn't let me go." Karigan was shocked to find her cheek held in Laren's palm for a moment. Then shaking her head wordlessly Laren walked back to her office. Karigan wandered over to the mess hall to find some green company, hoping to lift the gloom that had fallen over her day.