Chapter 6: Letters Destination

"Zachary?"

The King stopped his relentless pacing and turned wearily to see his wife watching him apprehensively. They were alone in the royal apartments but Zachary could not allow himself to relax. The letter he had received from Karigan at the end of the public audience had proved to fuel his desperation more than control it.

"Yes?" He asked, slightly exasperated.

"What's wrong?" She looked concerned.

There was no point pretending that he was fine. Estora was very perceptive and he was hardly being subtle by pacing in the same spot since the sixth bell. He looked at the woman he had been forcibly wedded to while he was sick. She was elegant, diplomatic and beautiful; everything he could have hoped for in a marriage for alliance. So why did his traitorous heart desire someone he could never be with, someone that had always run from him, someone that would never put herself above her country. He sighed deeply, why could he not fall in love the blonde beauty he was married to?

"I got a letter today." He said finally.

Suddenly he did not want to share the contents of the letter with anyone. It was addressed to him in neat concise handwriting, written in hope that he might receive it if something went ill in Blackveil Forest. Zachary understood that there were some things she would say only if she knew she would never return, but despite that, the context was surprisingly cheerful, if a bit wistful toward the end.

Here he was surrounded by grandeur, safe behind these stone walls with Weapons guarding him, while the woman he loved may be lying dead somewhere in the evil twisted forest beyond the wall. He had not been able to protect her, no matter how hard he tried. She was a wild spirit and he had never wanted to change that; all he wanted was to know her feelings. How hollow that wish had become. He knew she cared for him, but she may never return from her last mission.

"A letter?"

Zachary sighed and nodded.

"From?" Estora pressed.

"Rider Sir G'ladheon." My Kari, his mind corrected him.

He watched with surprise as conflicting emotions crossed his wife's porcelain face. Concern, then jealousy flashed across her perfect visage before her expression cleared with a saddened sigh. Without another sound, she abruptly rose from her chair and left the room. He felt like he should follow her, comfort her even, but the pain of Karigan's loss was still too raw.

What I need is a walk to clear my thoughts. The idea of doing something active cheered him up a little. Maybe, he mused, I should go visit Condor. Yes, the messenger horse would miss Karigan as much as he did and would not judge him for mourning Karigan. I won't be bothersome just someone bringing some extra oats as a treat while his rider is away, Zachary smiled and set off in the direction of the rider stables accompanied by his ever faithful shadows.

He decided to take the long way to the stables, avoiding the busier corridors of the castle, and instead turned down a long dimly lit corridor. His footsteps echoed down the empty stone corridor; he presumed his Weapons had sensed his mood and decided to make themselves silent and invisible even to him.

He tripped as his foot hit something solid lying across the corridor. He looked down but could not see anything. Fastion and Willis had already stepped up beside him, Willis angling himself in between the King and the invisible barrier.

Fastion knelt down by the King's feet and felt around, his hands finally coming to rest on nothing. Zachary looked on in surprise as the normally stone-faced Weapon smiled weakly and seemingly put his arms around nothing and shook it. Zachary looked at Willis for an explanation but saw that the Weapon looked as confused as he was.

"She's cold..." Fastion murmured, "Highness your long coat?"

She... Curious, but still confused, he shrugged off his long coat and handed it to the concerned man. How does Fastion know what's going on? Who is she? He mused as Fastion wrapped his long coat around the invisible thing. Invisible... She... Karigan!

He knelt down beside his friend and put his hand out towards the invisible Rider. He gasped as he felt a cold hand where there should have been nothing. Fastion smiled and placed the unconscious Rider into Zachary's arms. They watched as the woman they all had thought was dead slowly materialized in the Kings arms, her face peaceful.

"Willis go find Rider Ben."

Willis nodded and ran off down the corridor. Zachary let one hand stroke the cold cheek of the woman he loved. She was back. He smiled and pulled her closer to him, trying to warm her with his body. Karigan was alive.