Chapter 10
Entering the Throne room for a second time was nothing like the first. This time there were multiple guards and mages spaced throughout the room at even intervals. The Prince was again beside the King but Mandis was nowhere in sight. There were also several advisers to the King in the room and other people dressed in armor that seemed to be military leaders. As Kimeara and Tyon edged closer she could see a messenger in front of the King. He was describing what sounded like attacks by undead warriors.
"We need help Sire," the messenger said. "The militia can barely keep the undead out of the town and travel through Duskwood has become a danger to all."
Duskwood. Kimeara had been through there several times, it was a small town about four days of hard travel south of Stormwind. She'd heard rumors of trouble with the undead in that area for years but all the times she'd been through she had had more trouble with giant spiders and renegade worgen than with any undead. She wondered what had changed to cause such alarm.
"I'll discuss this with my Military advisers and we'll find a solution to this problem," the King said to the messenger. "Go get a meal in you, I know you've had to travel a long ways on horse back."
With that the messenger departed and the advisers started spouting all sorts of thoughts and ideas at the King. Kimeara was baffled at how he seemed to follow the various speakers all at once. He offered an opinion here and there and sometimes shot down an idea as out of hand. When he spoke everyone stopped to listen and ponder what he had said. There was a presence of authority and command that Kimeara had never felt before and she understood for the first time why the people loved their King. He had a way about him the bespoke of calm better times, even in the face of a crisis or grim tidings he was a rock that others could rely upon.
Soon it was decided to send a contingent of men to the south to bolster the militia in Duskwood. They would leave at first light tomorrow and would hopefully either eradicate the threat or buy time for a more permanent solution to be found. As different messengers we sent off to muster the men and to check on supplies the crowd parted enough so that the King spotted Kimeara and Tyon toward the rear of it. He acknowledged them with a glance.
"Gentlemen I have something's to do now. We'll meet again in two hours. I want contengency plans for what we can do if this plan doesn't work," he said to the room at large.
No one questioned his decision and quickly left with their aides in a bustle of movement that astounded Kimeara. She didn't know a room could be cleared so quickly. Soon the only ones left were the guards, the King, Tyon, and Kimeara and her guard.
"Leave us," the King said to the various guards around the room.
"My Lord…" on of the mages began.
"Now," the King said his voice brooking no argument.
All the guards snapped a quick salute to their king and filed out of the room. The last to leave was the one who had been guarding Kimeara all day and he didn't leave until getting a brief nod from the King. Once they were alone the King dropped his demeanor of command and sat upon his throne. The Prince next to him was practically jumping with excitement.
Approaching with Tyon, Kimeara decided to lead off with good manners and when she was before the King she knelt before him. After a moment of hesitation Tyon did the same next to her. While she didn't normally agree with this type of behavior, she didn't want to start off on the wrong foot with the King now that she thought they might be working together.
"Rise," the King said.
Kimeara stood and saw a pleased but slightly shocked look in the Kings eyes; she also offered a deep bow to the Prince who acknowledged the move with a seated bow of his own.
"You requested to see me Sire," Kimeara said looking back at the King.
"I did Kimeara," the King said. "I wanted to offer you my sincerest apologies for what happened with the potion. I had not expected it to harm you in the way it did and while I stand by my actions, the outcome was not what I would have wished it to be."
"I'm willing to forgive past events Your Highness. You acted as you thought you must and if I had been more forthcoming with you this situation might have been avoided. However if something like this happens again I will, then I will not be so forgiving," Kimeara said her voice growing hard towards the end.
"If you hadn't gone through what you do I would take offense at your statement, but you are correct and what happened will not be repeated," the King said sitting straighter on his throne.
They both paused and the tension slowly flowed out of the room. They had both said what needed to be said and now it was time to leave what had occurred in the past.
"I've heard from Sandahl that while you declined his invitation to join with the Order, but that you have agreed to keep in contact with them?" The King asked.
"That is true," Kimeara said. "I have no wish to have others constantly telling me what to do and how to behave. The knowledge the Order possesses could be of great benefit to me so I came up with a compromise that seemed to please Sandahl."
"Sandahl is a good man and I trust his judgment in most things and I think you'll be glad you decided to keep contact with those who can help you with your art," the King said.
"Thank you Your Highness," Kimeara said.
"Would you be willing to work for me?" The King asked.
"That would depend upon what you wish of me Sire," Kimeara said.
"From your previous statements I know you wouldn't be willing to swear your allegiance to me but I had hoped that we could come to a similar understanding to that which you have with Sandahl," the King said. "I have many resources at my command and could shelter you from you enemies and, should you wish it, offer you support in going after them.
"What would you ask of me in return?" Kimeara asked.
"That you would perform services for me should I require your skills. That you would check in with me to see if there was anything that needed attention or before taking out anyone that might have workings with me or my kingdom," the King replied.
"You ask for much," Kimeara said thinking the offer over. It wasn't bad but it gave the King more influence in her life than she had wanted.
"I do," the King said. "If you want vengeance for what happened to your father then my offer would be of immense value to you ultimate goal. If you wish to continue to continue to run and hide then I have "
"I would not agree to staying my hand if it meant protecting my own life or the life of another," Kimeara said. "Even if that person was allied with you or of value to the working in your kingdom. If someone attacks me their life is forfeit if it means saving my own."
"That would be acceptable to me if only in the heat of battle or them most dire of situations," the King said.
"One last thing Your Highness," Kimeara said. "I'm not an assassin. I wont kill people for political gain or to prove a point. Aside from those who've hunted me and murdered my father, I will not use my powers for murder."
"Agreed," the King said.
"Then we have a deal. I'll work for you in exchange for protection and helping me take down my enemies," Kimeara said casting her lot in with that of the King and hoping it wasn't a mistake.
"I'm glad to have your services and will do everything in my power to fulfill my end of our bargain," the King said. "I have a task that I could use your help with now if you're willing?"
"Duskwood," Kimeara said guessing what the King was referring to.
"Yes. As you heard the town is under attack my undead and while this is normal for the are the intensity and frequency of the attacks has escalated of late. I would ask that you go along with the detachment I'm sending and see if you could find the source of this change," the King said.
"When would I be leaving?" She asked.
"In the morning," the King replied. "Do you have a horse?"
"No Your highness, horses attract attention but I do know how to ride," she replied.
"I'll supply you with one from my stables and it is yours to keep as payment for what has been done to you and your agreement to work with me," the King said. "I'll also be sending Tyon with the detachment to assist you should you need."
"I don't need a babysitter," Kimeara said firmly.
"No but now that you've agreed to work with me you need to get use to not doing thing by yourself. I may need you to work with others from time to time and this is the perfect chance to start," the King said just as firmly.
"As you wish Your Highness," she said, knowing a lost battle when she saw one.
"Tyon will see that your personal effects are returned to you as soon as possible and I talked with my chief alchemists and you'll be supplied with what herbs you might need in your travels," the King said.
"Thank you Your Highness," she said. She'd have to look over the herbs when her supplies arrived to make sure they were up to her standards and that nothing was missing from those that she already had.
"If you wish to rest the room you were in is yours whenever you should desire it, or if you prefer you may seek accommodations at one of the inn's in the city," the King offered.
"There is an inn in the dwarven district that I've frequented before in my visit to the city. Once I have my things I'll take a room there. You can have Tyon find me when it is time to go in the morning," Kimeara said.
"Very well. Your possession's will be returned to you within the hour and your horse will be waiting at the gate with the detachment," the King said standing.
"By your leave Sire," Kimeara said bowing deeply to the King.
"You may go," the King said formally with a little wave of his hand dismissing her.
Kimeara turned to leave but for the first time in the meeting Calthix move and left her shoulder and flew to be face to face with the King.
"I warn you only once King," Calthix said. "Betray my Mistress and I'll be paying you a visit and all your guards, mages and protections will not stop me from exacting vengeance on you and all your line."
The whole room paused while the King processed the demons threat. Kimeara was sure for a second that Calthix had gone too far and they were about to be in serious trouble. Almost a minute passed with the King showing no emotion at all, he gazed locked with Calthix who continued to hover in front of him. Then, with a small twitch of the lips, the King smiled and everyone breathed a deep sigh of relief.
"I like you frankness demon," the King said. "Be at in in knowing that I take your warning to heart and that even without it I would not betray your Mistress."
"Good," Calthix said flying back to Kimeara's shoulder.
With that Kimeara left the King standing in the throne room with his son and Tyon.
When they were in the hall the guard stationed to her fell instep behind her. She headed off to the room she had woken up in.
"What were you thinking Calthix?" Kimeara asked him softly.
"Just reminding the King that though you've agreed to work with him that he doesn't own you. He needed to know that there would be consiquences if he treated you poorly or betrayed you Little Mistress," he said.
"He might not take kindly to that," she said.
"No, he will respect what I said and why I said it," he said. "If he was going to take any offense he would have done so then."
"Are you sure?" She asked. "He could always come after us later."
"I sure Little Mistress," Calthix said. "The King isn't one to plan out revenge for later. If he was going to take any action for my words he would have done so then."
"That was a big gamble to take Calthix," she said.
"No Little Mistress. There was no gamble, I knew he would respond as he did or I would have said what I said to him and we'd be running again," Calthix replied.
"So we can trust him to keep his word?" Kimeara asked.
"Yes Little Mistress," he said. "The King and Sandahl both will stand beside you and will not betray you. You still need to be on guard with those around them but they themselves are trust worthy."
"What do you think of this mission to Duskwood?" She asked him.
"I think it will be a good chance for you to show the King your worth and that you might learn of a place for you in the world Little Mistress," Calthix replied. "You've learned all that I could teach you over the years and this will be a good way to put those skills to use. There will be new situations that you've never encountered before and you'll have to figure out how to handle them. It'll test your limits and you'll find yourself able to overcome new obstacles. As the King said you've never worked with others before and this will teach you how. Everything new you learn will make you more dangerous to your enemies and give you the skills you need to defeat them."
"Do you think it wise of me to go after my enemies?" She asked seeking assurance from her oldest friend and teacher.
"Yes Little Mistress," Calthix said. "I had hoped that you'd chose this path, but it was something you had to come to on your own and in your own time."
"Thank you Calthix," she said.
The King was true to his word and within an hour of returning to her room her hunting knife and herb satchel had been returned to her. She'd spent some time going over the herbs it now contained and found that they were as good as anything she had gathered on her own. She had enough herbs to make a dozen healing potions and a handful of potions that would help restore her spirit if she needed them. She'd also found some ingredients to temporarily increase strength or stamina. Such things would help if they had to go on an extended sortie.
Looking out the window she could see that it was near dusk. She wondered if the inn she'd told the King about would still have a room available for her. She wanted to make some of the potions tonight and if she left now she'd not have time to do so.
Maybe it would be best to stay here tonight, she thought.
Kimeara went to the door and opened it. Her guard was still outside and snapped to attention upon seeing her.
"Ready to leave ma'am?" The guard asked.
"No," she said. "I've decided to stay here tonight. I have some work to do before I leave with the detachment tomorrow and moving to the inn would take time away from that. Could you inform the King and Tyon that I'll be remaining here tonight?"
"Yes ma'am. I'll have the next servant by send word," he said.
"Still not leaving me?" She asked smiling.
"No ma'am," he said with a grin of his own.
"Could you also have some supper sent up?" She asked.
"Right away ma'am," the guard said and Kimeara started to close the door.
"And ma'am," the guard said causing her to pause.
"Yes?" She asked.
"I'm glad you decided to help the King with what's going on in Duskwood. I've a sister in the militia out there and I was hoping that you could get this letter to her?" He said holding out a letter.
"Sure," Kimeara said taking the letter. "What her name, and whats yours by the way?"
"My name is Waldon ma'am and my sister's is Chachanne," Waldon replied.
"I'll make sure she gets it and send you word with our update to the King," Kimeara said.
"Thank you ma'am," the guard said stepping back to his post.
"My pleasure Waldon," she said and closed the door.
She waited until supper had arrive and she finished then set down to make her potions. She'd dismissed Calthix back to his own plane to rest. She wanted him with her tomorrow and he needed rest as much as she did. It was late into the evening before she was done. Kimeara settled into the chair and whiped an arm across her brow. The strength and stamina potions were ones she'd never tried before and she had enjoyed the challenge of mixing them. She sorted the potions out and placed them in her pack. She used extra cloths to make sure that the vials were padded so they wouldn't shatter on the ride. Getting ready for bed she thought about Waldon and his sister out in Duskwood. She was happy that she'd be able to help them keep in contact. She had no family of her own anymore and enjoyed the chance to help them.
As she lay down in bed she felt them events of the day weigh in on her and she wondered what the future would hold for her and what they'd find when they got to Duskwood.