“You have spies upon me?”
“King Edulf,” Lothar said simply. “You realize I know about your Euchoun.”
Cono’s mouth grew tight. “Then you know what I came to ask the king,” he said.
“Be careful the path you tread,” Lothar cautioned.
“Have I not honored our name?”
“Cono,” Lothar admonished. “It is not the valor on the battlefield. It is the Euchoun.”
Ignoring the warning, Cono said, “I love her…”
Lothar shook his head in disgust. “Fight with her all you want. Kill all the damn Arachnidans! By all that is good, do not marry her.”
“I won’t give an oath that I cannot keep, Grandfather,” Cono said. “Kela and I share a bond.”
“Son, do not be your father. Your grandmother cannot take another mark upon our name.”
Cono winced. “Grandfather, everything I have done, I have done for family, duty, and honor. What you ask would dishonor our name.”
“Why?” Lothar challenged. “For she was born a Calledwdele?” He grabbed Cono’s arm. “Think, my grandson. Why would King Edulf allow the match to happen? Would it gain you the honor you deserve? No.”
“What are you saying?”
Lothar pulled Cono closer for only his ears to hear. “The girl can never be acknowledged for her birth. King Edulf went to extreme measures to hide her existence. If she rose from the dead, she would not be yours.”
“So be it,” Cono said. “I care not.”
“Truly? Scarladin’s greatest warrior can never bring his wife to court…his children. ” Lothar lifted an eyebrow. “Your grandmother has already reached out in interest to Lord Leiham. His daughter, Agatha, is most beautiful. There again last night, Princess Iris indicated to Lady Faileuba that she would not be opposed to a match between her daughter, Amicia and yourself.” Lothar released Cono’s arm. “There are other ways to have the Euchoun by your side.”
“I would never do so to her.”
“Perhaps not,” Lothar said. “I beg you only to think. You need not make a rash decision this day. King Edulf is sending the Euchoun back to the Forbidden Forest.”
Stunned, Cono stepped back. “He cannot.”
The door to the king’s chambers burst open. King Edulf entered without announcement. His cloak caught upon his wing. His crown crooked on his head. His face reddened; his eyes flamed.
“The audacity of the man! I want nothing more than to run him though.”
Cono bowed. “Tell me who and I will gladly oblige, Your Highness.”
The King’s fingers gripped into a fist extended. He pointed toward the window. “Prince de Flour.”
Moving to the window, Cono caught sight of the king’s frustration. Prince de Flour was strolling with Belasquita around the gardens.
“The knave showed up last night uninvited,” King Edulf declared. “Then, this morning he demands to keep our arrangement. He knows. Hellsbound! He knows she lives!”
Cono’s throat went dry. “What would you have me to do?”
“Convince my stubborn Euchoun to return to the Forbidden Forest without delay.”
* * * *
Forthwith, Cono rushed to Kela’s chamber. He entered through the balcony. Kela cried out when she saw him and embraced him fiercely.
“This is not my decision, Lord Commander,” Twiten said, stepping into front of the others in the crowded room. “King Edulf…”
“I know what King Edulf demands,” Cono interrupted. “I need only a moment with my Euchoun.”
He felt all eyes upon him, there were many.
He saw the old nurse had been weeping with the order to return. Not surprising. She was once more ripped from her beloved Sareta, who stood beside her nanny.
The young princess looked astonished that he had boldly laid his arm about her sister’s waist. He did not care much for the girl. She was young, spoiled, and carefree. She had none of the worries of the world weighing down upon her. She had only the issues in front of a princess, wrapped in the security of the protection around her, which he found ironic. It was said her own magic far exceed those that protected her.
Cono bowed toward Falco, who walked up to him.
“I have tried to tell my sister not to act irrationally,” Falco said. “This means only we need to better prepare for her return.”
“She will go.” Cono said the words with certainty.
He took Kela’s hand and led her out to the balcony, shielding her with his expanded wings. He cupped her face with his hands.
“If I thought this was wrong, I would fly you away from this place,” he said. “But it is not. This is not a punishment, but a biding of time.”
She searched his eyes with tears welling in her own. “I thought I was to see King Edulf,” she said. “Why would he not want to see me?”
“It would not be wise at this moment,” Cono said. “Trust me. Trust your brother.”
She caressed his cheek. “I will go,” she conceded in reluctant submission.
He took her hand in his, kissing it softly. “Wait only until the day the moon sits on the blue centar. If the king doesn't recall you by this day, I will come to you myself.”
Drawing her into his arms, he kissed her, a long yearning kiss, sealed with the promise of tomorrow.
“It is time.”
Twiten stood with the portal swirling beside him.
With the greatest difficulty, Cono released her to the wizard.
The next moment, he watched his Euchoun walked through the portal beside her nurse and Twiten. She vanished from his sight.
Her last words resonated within him.
The Legend Continues…
Character List:
Nottesdone
Part of Siochanta Realm- Situated on the coast of Scarladin
Prince Mithelk- heir apparent to the crown of Scardalin
Princess Eufamia- wife of Mithelk, daughter to the King of Witheleghe
Children:
Prince Falco- brother
Princess Kela- heroine
Princess Sareta-sister
Guilda- Witheleghean nurse
Turstan- Sordarin warrior – guardian to the children
Ser Robart Dyer- master of ministry for Prince Mithelk
Endless Sea: by Nottesdone
Mount Zorenje
Witheleghe Realm
Worship: Elohim
Troms- capital of Witheleghe
Temple of Etar
Vana Gardens
Dyrdahl Flandigana- First King of Witheleghe
King Darius
Queen Odelia
Two daughters:
Princess Azure- married to Thardalf Reishus
Princess- Lady Eufamia Laetitia Calledwdele
Two sons:
Prince Halmir
Prince Staffon
Prince Halmir
Alric of House Sexton-
Home: Arch of Garten
Squire to Prince Halmir
Brothers:
Cinead
Diarmid
Ewan
Dirk of House Dullam
Kororia Castle
Kororia Lake
Rangi- city of twelve crystal towers
Cayce — Vale
Tuatahi Temple
Refuges hid at Wahi Tapu (ancient temple)— Now called Tuhinga O Mua
Dwarves- Nevan and Phiala own Gypsumbasher Tavern in Tuhinga O Mua
Land of Elves— Garden of Ninfa
Migrated to Briar Fuana
Elf Council: Sisters
Bae
Prince Yarro- Fairy prince
Brokk of Ironwell- Dwarf- home Venmara
Sangrey- Tollin- seer
Mangana
Seilda the Tvopac
Venmara
Arachnida Realm
Asmeodai – evil wizard
Cyaika- Asmeodai’s mate
Night Raiders
Sawamdai- Arachnidan scorpion
Astri- Arachnidan ants
Payelaga Desert
Tharon Desert
Siochanta Realm
Scarladin:
Capital: Yucca
The Great Hall
Torini, Black Tower- prison
Royal Garden
Sundaze Fountain
Wystan Keep
Collewihr Holdfast- king’s apartment
King Edulf Calledwdele
Queen Althea (died)
Child—Mithelk- Heir apparent died the night Nottesdone fell
Queen Beatrix
Children:
Fenwick
Wife- Lady Dogmar
Children:
Axel
Silas
Belequista
Iris
Husband- Archibaldus, Lord of Runswick
Children:
Amicia
Twins: Wymarcha and Cinara
Scarladin color- Gold and brown- sigil- Crowned Hawk
Cono: hero
Grandparents
Lord Sergius Lothar- Maester of
Lady Faileuba.
Parents
Pers
Crestiana- from the Royal House of Brixtone
Cassie- Kela’s friend in Yucca
Ivy- Cassie’s sister
Magge- Cassie’s mother
Worship: the Great One
The Forbidden Forest— Kela is sent to train
Wood Spirit — Daigh
Twiten- last wizard of Narteria
Johannes- Falco’s Euchoun
Scarladin Clans:
Acciptritutes Clan
Challow Clan
Mortalita Clan
Lanka Clan
Osmolado
Earl Marshal- head of the Citadel
Citadel- military school for Sordarins
Kingdom of Brixtone:
King Gregorius de Folur
Prince Pieter de Folur
Lord Falk…Gregorius advisor
Helvetet, the Valley of Hell, (Uddes, the inhabitants of the region)
The Black Forest
Blue- sigil- Roaring Lion
Kingdom of Azmarion- King Niska
Laylah-daughter
Kingdom of Tarrin
Bittervale
BATTLES
The Reckoning—end of the Five Hundred Years War
Arachnidan Terror— Asmeodai’s war with Scarladin and Witheleghe
The Darkening—Asmeodai conquest of Witheleghe
The Battle of Payelaga Desert
THE THREE REALMS
Past of Shadows, Book One
The Path Now Turned, Book Two~ Coming Soon
Vision of Destiny, Book Three~ Coming Soon
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