Chapter 9: Decisions in the Pasture

Karigan knocked on the door of the King's old study reluctantly. She was not looking forward to a face-to-face meeting completely alone with Estora. Queen Estora, she reminded herself. Normally she would have smiled at the Weapon who had opened the door for her but she could not bring herself to go beyond her mask of indifference. A courtiers mask, she mused darkly, I am becoming an aristocrat. She grimaced as she thought of what her father would say about that.

Clutching the Bonewood staff for support she crossed the threshold in to the bright solarium. Despite the grey clouds hanging of Sacor City the room remained well lit. Estora sat stiffly on one of the comfortable lounge chairs that had been moved in to the room since it had been taken over by the Queen. Estora smiled at Karigan and gestured to a seat.

"Thank you for coming Karigan. Please sit."

Karigan nodded and allowed herself to hobble over to the seat Estora had pointed to, the leg that the mirror had imbedded itself in had not fully healed yet. She noticed that tea and light refreshments had been set out for two on a low carved table. She watch Estora closely noting that her old friend looked tired and more careworn than she had before, no doubt the extra duties and time included in being Queen would take its toll.

"I here you are recovering well."

"Yes, your highness." Karigan hated the forced formality when everything used to be so easy between them, but now Estora was Queen of Sacoridia they could not enjoy the same friendship they had before. And she is married to Zachary, the traitorous part of her added.

"Please call me Estora..." Here the Queen hesitated, "like you used to do."

"Yes, your high... Estora." She corrected herself.

Estora smiled and handed her tea in fine porcelain cup. Picking up her own cup Estora sipped from it before sighing and looking Karigan directly in the eye.

"Do you know why I have called you here?" Estora asked.

Karigan shook her head, she doubted it was merely a social call. Perhaps she was going to be ordered to stay away from Zachary, or maybe Estora just wanted an account of Blackveil forest herself, most likely she knew about Ardmont.

"I am sure you are aware that while you were in Blackveil the King became... sick."

Karigan nodded. Lynx and the Captain had both explained briefly what had happened and why the marriage had been moved up so quickly. A lot of senior members of the King's council had been dismissed due to the actions they had taken.

"My cousin, the late Lord Spane had been trying to take as much power for Coutre... for himself as possible. He tried to control my actions through blackmail with the knowledge of F'ryan, he sought to make himself King by manipulating the situation of Zachary's sickness."Estora paused.

Karigan nodded again. So that was why Beryl Spencer was currently in residence as a Green Rider. She must have helped foil this coup plan as well as the previous attempt, no wonder she was allowed to stay for the wedding. Karigan had very little doubt that with Beryl's gift the new Queen could make good use of her in the coming months.

"With the help of Rider Spencer he was stopped, however..."

"Yes, yo... Estora?"

Estora smiled sadly at her. "It seems that before he died my cousin had a final card to play. He revealed to me the reason why he had chosen Gillard Ardmont to join the foray in to Blackveil."

So this was why Estora had wanted to talk to her in private. "I was not harmed."

Estora nodded. "That may be so. But before he left I gave him my blessing in doing so I almost sealed your fate Karigan. I sent a murderer after my friend in a place that was dangerous enough without. I know my sincerest apologies can not be enough to excuse..."

"You could not have known." Karigan overrode her.

Estora paused surprise passing over her pale porcelain skin. "Never the less I feel at fault for the damage that could have befallen you."

Karigan allowed herself a small smile at her old friends concern. "The fault is more mine that yours."

Estora sighed. "I'm worry that Spane was not the only one to know the King's regard for you. Your feelings do nothing to endanger you Karigan. A simple messengers feelings means naught on a political level even if you are the daughter of Stevic G'ladheon. To Spane... and men like him the key is how you can be used to affect the King."

Karigan was not surprised Estora had figured out where her heart lay. She felt lighter now, Estora may be Queen, Estora may be married to the man she loved but none of that mattered. Now she had a friend, a true friend back the loss of Alton seemed to hurt less. Smiling she let the conversation turn to other matters just like old times.

Karigan blinked as she was finally led out of the dark castle in to the sun by Lynx. She almost cried in relief as the sun warmed her body and shone on to her face, it had been far too long since she had seen the sun properly, even under the sky in Blackveil it had been dark and foreboding. Here on the steps of the castle it was easier to shake off the lingering memories of the nightmarish forest than it had been in the flickering torch light of the Mending Wing.

The riders descended the steps and walked towards the stables, Lynx sensing her mood left a comfortable silence hang between them, he had never been one for small talk anyway. The Rider Wing had grown lively; the Kings upcoming wedding celebrations meant that very few messages had been going out mostly due to the influx of people coming in to the city to partake in the wedding. Karigan had not been able to last long in the merry making focused on Zachary's wedding to Estora and had instead sought out Lynx.

Karigan sped up as they neared the stables and she caught a glance of Condor in the pasture waiting for her. She embraced the big red horse fondly stroking his nose knowing words could not express how happy she was to see him again. She watched as Lynx greeted Owl before turning back to Condor and busying herself in checking that he had been well cared for.

Satisfied with the wellbeing of her friend Karigan allowed herself to lean against the paddock fence watching as Condor graze contentedly. Her thoughts turned to the upcoming celebrations in three days time; she owed it to Estora – her once most trusted friend- to attend. Afterwards... I'll disappear, she sighed.

The marriage is official, the love of a mere commoner would have never changed that, and I should accept it. It is Estora who belongs at Zachary's side, in time he will come to see it... I will be a nuisance if I stay. Still a problem remained, she was a Green Rider and would never be released by the messenger service, she would never be able to escape Sacor City for too long.

Where could she go after the wedding? How could she make it look like she was not running away? The answer was surprisingly simple. Mornhavon. I will return to the darkness of Blackveil and I will finish this, for Sacoridia and my King. Zachary will not want me to go but no one can deny me the right to fight for the country. He is married to Estora... not me. She shook herself from her thoughts. How would she persuade the Captain to let her go?

"Kari, we will ride with you."

She looked up at Lynx in surprise and found he had moved to lean against the fence next to her, a grim smile was fixed in place on his roguish features as he met her eyes. It seemed she was not the only one that thought she must return to the nightmarish forest beyond the Wall.

"We?" She asked curious to know how many followers she had gained since her return.

"Our family, the Riders, they will return to Blackveil with us. To face Mornhavon, to avenge Yates, we will fight as one."

She stared at him in surprise. The Riders were going to war? They would face the necromancer and what was left of the Second Empire. They would encounter the Sleepers that had been polluted by the evil of Blackveil. They would come face-to-face with Mornhavon. She was worried about the safety of her friends in this crazy plan but yet a feeling of rightness settled upon her. The Riders would finish what their founder Lil Ambriodhe had started with the help of Karigan's forefather Hadraix el Fex.

"We will ride alone?" She asked.

Lynx smiled knowingly. "I do not think the Weapons will let their little sitter ride in to Blackveil unprotected again."

"What a sight we will be," She smiled wryly. "Does the King know?"

Lynx shook his head. She sighed understanding dawning on her, they would ride with her but it was her responsibility to inform the King. Which only left her three days, before everything was ready and they set off, to get the courage to not only seek Zachary but tell him of her imminent departure to the place that had almost killed her twice? And he knew her true feelings.

She sighed deeply. "This will not be easy."

She turned to make her way towards the main doors, there was no point in putting off her visit to tell Zachary where all his messengers would soon be disappearing to. She knew it would break her heart to tell him that on the day after his wedding she may well be ridding to her death.

"Karigan!"

She looked at Lynx and saw him smiling warmly. "Maybe in light of the situation with the letter you should stop running from your feelings. I do not want to face Mornhavon full of regrets."

She contemplated his advice and simply nodded. He was married now and although it was wrong for her to give in to her heart at this point she may never again have the chance to show him how she felt. Plus, she noted wryly, he already knows my heart is his.

In this chapter I added the conversation between Karigan and Estora. I felt it would build up to a scene that I had planned to write later in the story.

I also realised that I earlier on Estora had asked Captain Mapstone to talk to Karigan for her. I thought it could be intresting to include this in the story.

Let me know what you think by Reviewing.

Thanks

Rhii