TheRedKing (28 page)

“I said you will go to your chamber and I’ll send my
physician to inspect your wounds. I expect you to recover fully as soon as
possible. You may have the winter to regain your strength and plan an attack
that will destroy Areus of Lortia and ensure that Zaltana will control the
entire Western Continent. If you fail this time, you’d better die on the field
of battle or else you’ll pray for death. Do you understand?”

Hypatios stared hard into the king’s eyes. “Yes. I understand.
Sir. I request to train in the south, however. Not here.”

“You will train here with your army under my watch. I know
you want to go south because of that monstrous woman Cassandra. She is the reason
for all your weaknesses and don’t think I don’t know it. The only reason I
allowed her any influence over you at all was because she—”

“Was the only one who could control me,” Hypatios supplied.
“The only one who showed me how to control myself. Without her, my powers would
have not simply been useless, but they would have destroyed me. Because of her,
the white warrior visited me. Because of her, I reclaimed my sanity to become
your greatest military leader.”

A contemptuous smile slid over Hippolytos’s thick lips. “And
now you want to know where she is? Yes, I know she’s missing. The soldiers you
sent reported back to me long ago. It seems she boarded a SothSea pirate ship
headed north to Fernhill. After that, who knows? She might be there or she
might be in Lortia or Prem. All I know is that she left Zaltana to travel to
enemy territory. Why do you suppose that is, Hypatios?”

This revelation truly stunned Hypatios. Of course, as Mira
had suggested, Cassandra might have family there. She had never spoken about
her family, so he had assumed she didn’t have one.

“I don’t know,” Hypatios said. “She rarely confided in me.”

The king stared at him for several moments, as if trying to
decide whether he believed him. Hypatios cared not if he did.

* * * * *

That had been weeks ago.

Hypatios now stood on the field at the palace, fending off
an attack from three soldiers armed with swords. Their breath came in visible
puffs. Despite the snowy ground and the winter chill, Hypatios was sweating
heavily beneath his leather armor.

If felt good to be training again. Hypatios had always loved
to use his body. Exercise helped him focus and nothing compared with feeling
powerful. He couldn’t help wishing that Mira could see him now. He hated the thought
of her only seeing him as a weak, wounded thing depending on others to help him
with a chamber pot. He could hardly wait to return to her after his victory
over Areus.

Thinking about it sent a new rush of energy through him,
although he had already been training for most of the day. He disarmed two of
his sparring partners and knocked the other onto his back.

“You’re finally starting to resemble a true Zaltanian
warrior,” Hippolytos said, his voice echoing across the field.

Hypatios turned to his father who sat astride a tall black
stallion. Two guards on chestnut horses flanked their king.

“Come here,” Hippolytos said to his son.

Hypatios approached, his chest heaving from the fight. He
sheathed his sword at his hip and paused near the king, bowing his head.

Hippolytos’s foot left the stirrup and he kicked Hypatios in
the face.

Grunting, Hypatios staggered back a step and spat a mouthful
of blood, spraying the white snow with red.

Glaring at his father, he asked, “Was there a reason for
that?”

“I just got word that Areus of Lortia has not only survived
his wounds, but has returned vigorously to the training field.”

“We surmised that already. Why the sudden anger?”

“I’m not angry. I just want to remind you of your
priorities. By summer I expect to be king of the Western Continent. Let’s hope
you’re man enough to do it.”

Hypatios glanced around the field. Most of the soldiers had
stopped training to stare at their king and the prince.

“Belittling me in front of these men won’t give them further
incentive to win, nor will it reduce Areus’s skill in battle. We will fight and
we will win for Zaltana.”

“Or you will die trying,” Hippolytos said. It was a command,
not a question.

“That is the way of Zaltanian warriors.”

“And yet you survived a battle against Areus that ended in
both sides withdrawing. Don’t make that same mistake again. Any of you!” Hippolytos
roared, glancing out at the entire field of soldiers.

The king turned his horse roughly and cantered off, the two
guards following.

Hypatios glared at his men and bellowed, “Who gave you
permission to stop training? Get back to work. Now!”

Seconds later the sound of clashing steel, heavy breathing
and grunting men erupted once again. Hypatios unsheathed his sword and motioned
for three fresh warriors to attack him.

Each time his blade blocked another, he snarled, imagining Areus
was at the end of that sword. That afternoon several soldiers left the field
with renewed respect for their leader. Hypatios returned to his chamber that
night sore and tired, but unable to sleep.

Cassandra was in the north for reasons unknown. Areus was
fully recovered and training for battle, and Mira, the one person he wished was
close by, was hundreds of miles away.

* * * * *

The following morning Areus woke before dawn. Delia was
still curled up beside him, asleep. He rose and dressed quietly, careful not to
wake her, and headed for the stable.

After grooming Cosmo, he put on his tack. When he reached
the field, daylight had broken and a light snow fell. Soldiers were already out
and about. Etor greeted Areus and they spoke briefly before Areus started
training.

Though for many, winter was a time for rest, Areus and his
army didn’t hibernate, but trained regularly, always at the ready for an attack
from Zaltana.

Knights of the Ruby Order also mingled with his warriors.
They would remain stationed in the Western Continent until the threat from Zaltana
ended.

It was late morning and Areus was engaged in swordplay when Cyril,
his face drawn with worry, interrupted him.

“Your Majesty, the queen has taken ill. Alexa said you
should come to her chamber straight away.”

Even before the guard finished speaking, Areus was on his
way to the castle at a run. Cyril followed but couldn’t keep up with Areus’s
strides.

Panting, his heart pounding more from worry than from his
sprint to Delia’s chamber, he tried to open the door, but found it locked.

“Delia,” he called.

Seconds later, Cosma greeted him. She touched his arm and
said, “She’ll be all right. The midwife has her bleeding under control now and Seth
is with her as well.”

“Bleeding?” Areus’s heart skipped a beat. He glanced past Cosma
to the bed where Delia sat, Echo, Alexa and the royal midwife beside her. Seth
also stood nearby.

“What happened?” Areus demanded, approaching the bed.

The women moved away so that he could sit beside Delia. He
gazed at her pale face with concern. What worried him most was that she didn’t
look at him, even when he took her hand.

“Miscarriage,” the midwife said. “She’s strong and healthy
though, so she should be fit to try again within the month.”

“She’s my wife, not a horse.” Areus glared at the midwife.

“I’m sorry, Your Majesty.” The midwife bowed her head. “I just
thought you would want to know.”

Areus nodded. “Forgive my temper. I’m concerned for the
queen, that’s all. What brought this on?”

“Nothing that anyone could control,” the midwife replied.
“Sometimes these things just happen. It’s not her fault.”

“I didn’t say it was.”

“All right, everyone. I think we should give them some time
alone,” Alexa said.

“Will you be all right, my lady?” Echo asked Delia.

Delia glanced at her maid and nodded. “Yes. Thank you.”

“I gave her some herbs for pain and to help her sleep,” Seth
said. “They should take effect soon.”

Areus nodded, his gaze never leaving Delia.

The others cleared the room. On his way out, Seth briefly
touched Areus’s shoulder.

The door closed and Delia still sat, her gaze downcast.

“I’m sorry,” she said, her voice scarcely a whisper.

Areus’s brow furrowed. “For what? You did nothing wrong. If
anything, I’m the one to blame. I shouldn’t have taken you last night. I—”

“Areus, no.” She glanced up, her hand tightening on his. “Both
the midwife and Seth assured me it had nothing to do with that. I just…I know
how much you want an heir. So do I. We can try again soon and I’m sure that—”

“Delia.” He leaned forward and tenderly kissed her mouth. Caressing
her cheek, he said, “We have time for that. I care about you getting well.
Don’t think about anything else.”

“But—”

“Promise.”

“Areus.”

“Say it.”

A slight, sad smile flickered across her lips. “I promise.”

“Good. Now what can I do? Shall I leave so you can rest? Do
you want Echo or Alexa?”

“No. You’re busy. I didn’t mean for them to bother you.”

Her words cut deeper than Hypatios’s blade. “Delia, you’re
my wife. You should rest.”

She sighed and nodded. “Areus.”

“Yes?”

“Hold me.”

He removed his mail and weapons, then climbed onto the bed
with her and drew her into his arms. Delia cuddled close, her head resting
against his chest.

They didn’t speak. He simply held her until she fell asleep.

Areus lay with her, thinking how much she meant to him. Yes,
he’d wanted an heir, but when he’d heard she was ill, his first thought had
been that he couldn’t bear to lose her.

He had fallen quite deeply in love with his wife. It was a
complication he hadn’t expected, but strangely he welcomed it. No one had ever
made him as happy as Delia. It hurt him to think that she believed he’d somehow
been disappointed in her because of this.

Still he couldn’t help thinking that he was to blame. He’d
wanted her so badly last night, but he should have denied his pleasure. He
wouldn’t harm Delia for the world and certainly had no intention of harming
their child, but no matter what the midwife said, he couldn’t help wondering if
he hadn’t done both.

Areus remained for half an hour. Seth’s herbs had sent her
into a deep sleep. Even when he moved from the bed, she didn’t stir. He made
certain she was covered snugly with the blanket, then sat for a few moments
longer and watched her before stepping out of the room. He found Echo at the
end of the corridor. She stood and bowed her head.

“Go sit with her,” Areus said. “I’ll return as soon as I
can. Don’t hesitate to send for me if she needs me.”

“Yes sir.”

Areus’s thoughts churned as he strode through the halls,
taking notice of no one. The servants he passed hurried to move from his path.
Concerns about Delia’s well-being compounded his usual worries about Lortia and
the continuing battle with Zaltana.

He headed to the training field by way of the infirmary. As
he’d hoped, Seth was there, tending to a man who had been injured during training
and a servant who had accidentally burned her arm in the kitchen.

Seth greeted him while lightly wrapping the maid’s arm.

“I’ll come back later,” Areus said. In truth he was anxious
to speak to the healer, but also dreaded the answers he would receive.

“No, I’m just about finished.” Seth tied off the bandage. He
wagged a finger at the girl. “Don’t get that arm dirty and light duty for a few
days. If the cook has any problem with it, tell him to talk to me.”

“Thank you.” The maid nodded to Seth. She curtsied deeply to
Areus before hurrying out of the infirmary.

“How’s the queen?” Seth asked.

“Resting.” Areus glanced at the few others lingering in the
infirmary. “I’d like to speak in private.”

“Of course.”

They strode to Seth’s workshop where the healer closed the
door.

“How can I be of service?” Seth asked.

“Delia’s miscarriage. Last night when we— I know you
probably didn’t say anything in front of her, but it was my fault, wasn’t it? I
shouldn’t have—”

“No.” Seth’s brow furrowed. “Absolutely not. If that were
true, then just about every woman in the kingdom would miscarry. The midwife
agrees. It had nothing to do with that.”

“And you’re sure she’ll recover fully?”

“Sir, she’s in excellent health. According to the midwife,
miscarriage is fairly common at this stage of pregnancy. She’ll be perfectly
fine and you can start trying again soon.”

“I already said it’s not that.”

“I know, but the year is going by fast and—”

“And you think I’m going to toss her out if she doesn’t
deliver. Literally.”

“No.” Seth’s brow furrowed again. “Of course not, but the
option for annulment does work both ways, does it not?”

That thought struck Areus like a blow to his gut. He truly
hadn’t considered that Delia would want to end their marriage any more than he
did.

“I apologize. I shouldn’t have said that.”

“Nevertheless, it’s a possibility,” Areus stated coolly.

“No it’s not. I don’t know why I even suggested it. I tend
to talk too much. Echo tells me that at times I should be gagged.” A wicked
grin tugged at Seth’s lips. “Of course there are times when I might enjoy
that—”

“I don’t need to hear this, Seth.”

“Of course not, sir. As I said, I shouldn’t have suggested
that the queen would want to leave. The way she stood by you in Fernhill and the
way she worries over you—she clearly has feelings for you and she has friends
here. She loves being in Lortia.”

“Seth, you’re doing it again.”

“Doing what?”

“Talking too much.”

“Sorry, sir.”

Areus left the infirmary and returned to the field. He
didn’t stay long and after a short meeting with his advisors, he returned to Delia.