Chapter 18: Heritage

"Did you know?"

Zachary looked up wearily. Standing across from him her usually wild mane of red hair carefully groomed for the wedding was Laren Mapstone. Her hands were placed firmly on her hips as she stared him down as if he was personally responsible for Karigan hiding her Heritage from her Captain.

"I was not aware of it before today."

"Why should it matter? She has been a faithful servant of the kingdom; she has saved both mine and the kings lives more than once." Estora murmured from beside him.

"It shouldn't. But to the Nobles who did not agree with her Knighthood and to her enemies and those of the crown it is a perfect gem of information one that they could use to spread doubt about Karigan and the other Green Riders and in turn the King." Laren Sighed.

"There are many people who disagree with my politics," He smiled wryly. "What I am worried about is a backlash on the entire Clan G'ladheon."

He watched the concern on Larens face turn in to horror at this realisation. He had already summarised that if Karigan was a descendant of Mornhavon's right hand man, so must the rest of her Clan and that meant any action taken due to this lineage could be aimed towards the wealthy merchant not just his daughter.

There was a knock on the door; Willis stuck his head around the door. "Lhean the Eletian wishes to speak with you Highness."

Zachary nodded his accent and gestured for Laren to take one of the unoccupied seats at the desk. It was going to be an interesting meeting especially if the Eletian was here for the reason he suspected after all his race had called her Galadheon all along.

The Eltian entered and bowed deeply. "I came to tell you of the Galadheon line. We have long known that the one Laurelyn favoured would be born in to the line of El Fex or Galadheon. Many of us did not trust her to begin with but now after she has done so much against Mornhavon how anyone could doubt her honour. After the war with Mornhavon Hadraix El Fex settled in Black Island he took the name he had been called by the Empire after riding with Ambriodhe. Galadheon, or betrayer, when Karigan stated she was Galadheon to Mornhavon she announced her allegiance to Sacoridia not her ancestral Arcosian blood."

"Why did you not tell us this before?" Estora asked.

Lhean shrugged, "It was not my story to tell, and to being with she herself did not know of it. However while Galadheon is unable to present the case herself I thought it would be best to let you know what we knew all along. Mornhavon was once a young prince, Prince Alessandros Del Mornhavon whose childhood friend Hadraix El Fex journeyed with him to the lands of Sacoridia. Seeing his friend being driven power mad and obsessed with dark magic El Fex turned to Ambriodhe and the first Green Riders to make things right. The rest is well known even among Sacoridian's..."

Zachary nodded he knew much of this already. In fact apart from Hadraix changing his name and living on Black Island Karigan had told him the story herself. Why would she not trust me with the full truth? Although he knew the answer. She had not wanted anyone to find out, not through lack of trust but because of the implications for her clan.

"So after the war Hadraix slipped away to live a quite life?" Estora asked.

"One would assume so." Lauren murmured.

The meeting was interrupted by a desperate knock on the door. Garth Bowden burst in his face one of pure fear. Behind him Willis stood in the light his normally stone like features a darker than normal. Garth did not bow he just strode over to the table and looked Zachary straight in the eye.

"Permission to ride as soon as the horses are ready, Sire." He demanded in a low voice.

"What about the wedding?" Estora asked. "Will you not stay for the festivities?"

"There is no time your highness. We must ride with all haste..." He paused as if searching for a good excuse; Zachary noticed that he exchanged a meaningful glance with the Captain.

"Five Hells! Now?" Lauren asked desperately.

"I don't know when. Ty found Mara desperately searching. She was hoping that it was not too late... I sent Fastion on ahead."

"Kari..." Zachary murmured. "Rider G'ladheon she has gone?"

Garth nodded. "...to the Wall, alone. We must follow her before she gets too far."

Lhean nodded to Zachary "I shall gather the Eletians we shall depart immediately." With that he strode quickly but elegantly from the room.

"Go. Go now. You have my blessing." Zachary murmured.

Garth and the Captain left the study at a run no doubt they intended to ride within the hour. Zachary watched them go with a sense of foreboding. Karigan was racing across the country towards almost certain death while he could do nothing but wait helplessly.

Estora lay her pale hand on his. "And now we wait?"

Zachary shook his head. "There will still be a wedding."

She looked at him in shock. "Now? But your entire party is missing?"

He smiled wryly. "Karigan could have not been present under the current circumstances anyway. When she returns then we shall clear her family name. As for the Eletians and Fastion I can have another Weapon stand in."

If Karigan was willing to risk her life for the country he should not endanger her act by following her in to Blackveil. He should make the Kingdom safe in his own way and the best way to start was to secure the crown. He would hold his head high and celebrate his marriage even as the woman he loved plunged in to the darkness.

"Zachary... we could postpone the wedding until she returns."

He smiled sadly and shook his head. "I am not holding out for her to return. It is our duty to the Kingdom to produce an heir and rule fairly. Karigan will not return here even if all does go well she has done enough."

"As long as she is called she will serve. Like F'ryan she embraces the fact she will either die in service or be released suddenly. Even if she does survive you will not be able to release her from your service until the Messenger Service releases her, and when it does she may still stay whether it be for you or to complete her training as a swords master."

"But what about her Clan, surely she will return to them."

Estora sighed. "Only if there is a Clan left to return to."

So new chapter is up. Chapter 19 is halfway done and looking good. AND I have re-uploaded all of the previous chapters with changes.

Some have new passages, other I've just improved the grammar.

Lots of reading for you to get on with.

As always please review. Any comments or critism are welcome.

Let me know what you think about the direction I'm going in at the moment.

Happy reading.

Rhii