Chapter 4

The night before leaving for her run, Karigan couldn't sleep. She didn't know why, she was simply restless. To help calm her racing mind she decided to visit Condor. Pulling a dressing gown over her nightclothes and putting on a pair of simple shoes, Karigan slipped through the castle's darkened corridors. In the distance she could hear the bell chiming three-hour. The sound echoed loudly through the ancient halls. Karigan rarely roamed the castle when its inhabitants were asleep; it was strange to say the least. It felt abandoned and a little spooky. Reaching the doors to the grounds, Karigan stepped out into the cool night, unaware that she was not the only one who could not sleep.

King Zachary sat at his desk in the library, one of the many rooms that made up his private quarters. A fading dream had awoken him nearly an hour earlier, and unable to fall asleep again he chose to wade through a pile of official documents awaiting him on his desk. Most of it was routine and mundane, but he still had an obligation to look over the information and send an official reply.

Pausing in his half-hearted endeavor, Zachary glanced out of a leaded window that overlooked a large portion of the grounds. A small figure in the moonlight caught his attention. Even from a distance, he knew it was Karigan's form slinking into the Rider stables. Wondering why she was awake at such an early hour, he decided to abandon his desk and meet with the young woman who had stolen his heart.

"Couldn't sleep?" a masculine voice asked sympathetically. A startled Karigan pivoted quickly to see who had disrupted the quite of the stables. King Zachary stood silently on the other side of Condor's stall gazing at her in a way that made her tremble slightly.

"No," Karigan answered simply, willing her voice to be even. Unsure of what the king wanted from her, she resumed brushing Condor with long, even strokes. Even if she was only trying to appear busy.

After a pause Zachary continued, "You leave for Black Island tomorrow." Karigan simply nodded in response. Opening the stable door, Zachary stepped into the stall and stood beside Karigan. Suddenly the space felt too small to her. What was he doing with her in the Rider stables during the wee hours of morning?

"Karigan, be careful. This mission has the potential to turn…strange. We don't know what this Blood Gem is truly capable of and there is your connection with El Fex. It made you a target for Mornhavon, didn't it?"

Caught slightly off guard by the king's statements, Karigan nearly missed his question. "I believe so," after a pause to consider her words she continued, "I will be careful, Majesty. I have no desire to make the run any more…interesting than is necessary."

"I suppose that is all that I can ask of you." Zachary picked up one of the horse brushes and joined Karigan in her nearly forgotten task. A surprisingly easy silence fell upon them and continued until Condor's chestnut coat was glossy. He started tugging at a horse blanket sitting on a high shelf in the stall. Obviously he wanted to go back to the sleep that Karigan had interrupted.

After settling Karigan's horse, Karigan and Zachary left the stables together. They kept each other company by unspoken agreement, since neither seemed eager to attempt sleep again. Under bright stars and a waning moon, they walked the castle grounds with Zachary's Weapons following at a discreet distance.

When they reached the tree line of the small wooded area behind the castle, a small boulder provided a convenient seat for the pair. It was as they sat together enjoying the night that Zachary finally broke the silence initiated in the stables. "Karigan, I need to know your feelings for me."

"Why?" Karigan answered quickly. It was the first question that formed in her head. Seeing the bewildered and hurt expression on the king's face she thought to explain herself and chose to do it candidly. "How I feel won't change anything. You'll still have your feelings and you won't be able to act on them. You're the king and I'm a merchant's daughter."

"You're wrong Karigan. It matters to me. It hurts not knowing, so please, do you love me?"

Karigan's mouth went dry and her heart started to pound. She wasn't ready to tell him that she was in love with him. Stalling she answered, "Why are you asking me this now? It's been months since you first told me your feelings and your engagement has been broken for nearly as long."

"I know, but it's becoming more important now." Taking a long breath Zachary decided to answer Karigan's question completely. "I'm receiving rather intense pressure from my nobles and advisors to choose a bride. I understand why. It's no good for a ruler to be known as the Bachelor King," he gave a small, mirthless laugh. "In all honesty, I can't bring myself to marry. Not without knowing if you love me."

"And if I do? What do you plan to do about it?"

"I don't know. Hope and dream I guess. Please just answer me. Don't worry about the consequences yet."

Unable to think of anything to say, other than the truth, Karigan forced her answer out quietly, "Yes." The answer seemed to take Zachary by surprise at first, but it wasn't long before he recovered. When he did, Karigan felt his lips on hers. The kiss was soft and warm and she found herself welcoming it openly. Soon they pulled apart but stayed close to each other.

"I want to be with you, Karigan. Are you willing to be with me? It may be possible for us even though you are of common birth. You have friends among the nobles and the trade guilds are powerful. I don't know far it can go, but I want to try." Zachary said quietly. Karigan hesitated in answering his question so Zachary pressed on, "You don't have to answer me now. Just think about it during your run."

"I will."

"Good. I hope to see you soon." With another gentle kiss, King Zachary left for his apartments leaving Karigan to watch the early morning sunrise. It was gentle and hazy, much like her thoughts at the moment. The castle was beginning to awaken for a new day, and she had to preparations to make. It would be good to be away from the castle as she considered her next course of action when it came to the king.

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