The Jewel of Kamara (The Delthenon Chronicles) (11 page)

“What?”
He pulled away from her so he could see her face. “It is not your fault.”

“They
caught me first,” she whispered. “Mama heard my screams and came running. I
heard her shouting for papa.”

“Tempani.”

“She
threw herself in front of me and begged them to kill her instead. Said it was
her they wanted. If I hadn’t been playing in the east wing they wouldn’t have
found me. Papa would have gotten there in time.”

His
grip on her tightened.

“One
stroke, and she was dead.” She wiped the tears off her cheeks. “She just lay
there at my feet. And then papa came. I’ll never forget the look on his face.
He knew it was all my fault.”

“They
were bandits. There was nothing you could do.”

“I
should have died. Not her.”

“Don’t,”
he hissed. “Don’t ever think that.”

“Papa
will wish that every day. So will the village. I see them all, watching me now.
They know it’s my fault.”

He
tilted her chin up so she was forced to look at him. “Listen to me,” he said.
“This is not your fault. No one wishes that it was you. No one.” He inched his
face closer, his lips almost touching hers. She wrenched away and slapped him
hard across the cheek.

“Mama
just died,” she spat and ran away, wishing that she would never see his face
again.

—

Yet
here she was, standing beside him now, his hand on the small of her back,
sending sparks of heat through her body.

“A
riot has just broken out in the city,” Dagan said. “I need to get you back to
the palace where you’ll be safe.”

Nicolass
squared his shoulders. “I’m a knight. I am capable of defending myself.”

Dagan
suppressed a smile. He sometimes felt sorry for his charge. He had spent years
earning his shield, but if the king kept getting his way it wouldn’t be long
before Prince Nicolass was kept hidden at the palace for his own protection.

“I
have no doubt of that, your Highness, but you have a companion. This is not
just your safety at risk.”

He
sighed. “Of course.”

They
saw the smoke as they rounded the bend and closed in on the gates to her manor.
She recoiled as the smells hit her nostrils. They heard the sounds of fighting
and the thundering of the King’s Guard as they galloped down the way.

Her
father’s men-at-arms paced outside the gates, their eyes darting around. Rando
saw her and whistled sharply.

“Tempani!”
Otto stalked down the stairs, his sword resting against his waist. He was the
picture of a warrior. “Inside, now!” He bowed to Nic and thanked him for
getting her home safely. “You are welcome to stay here until the fighting
subsides.”

“Thank
you,” he said. “I best get back to the palace.”

He
bid them farewell and rode away, the Raiders forming a tight circle around him.
Tempani slid out of Mincha’s saddle and handed her reins over to Lindow.

“Lock
the gates,” Otto ordered after Tempani was safely inside. “Do not let anyone
enter under any circumstance. You send for me first.”

Rando
nodded and ran to do as his master requested. No one would get through these
gates on his watch. He hadn’t been there to protect her today, but now he
would. And she would never again be out of his sight. He had sworn an oath to
protect her.

Tempani
stayed in the sitting room with Zadi and the servants. Chae was at the palace,
and she didn’t want to be alone. The mood was somber, and she knew they were
all wondering when it would end. And how many lives would be lost.

“They’ll
punish ‘
em
for this,” Leela whispered as she sipped
her whiskey.

“They’re
still going strong,” Goran, one of the men-at-arms, said as he was relieved from
his shift. “Sounds like it’s getting closer.”

“Any
closer to the palace, and the Guard will kill the lot of them.”

Tempani
patted
Lindow’s
hand. “It won’t come to that.” But
even she had her doubts. “Here let me do that,” she said and grabbed the shirt
Zadi was mending. “I’ll go crazy if I don’t occupy my hands.”

Zadi
picked up another shirt and sat beside her mistress.

“They’ll
burn the city down.”
Leela’s
cheeks had gone red from
the whiskey. “The Guard don’t care for innocent lives. They’ll burn ‘
em
in their beds.”

Tempani
moved over to the cook and wrapped her arms around her. “My father and Lord
Darby would never allow it. I’m sure it’ll be over soon.”

“They
just want a chance,” she whispered. “Like I got. Not everyone’s lucky like
that. I get fed, I got a warm bed. They got nothing.”

“I
know,” Tempani murmured. “If I could change it I would.”

Leela’s
eyes were bright. “You can.”

Lindow
grabbed his mother’s arm. “Come on ma. You need to rest.”

She
looked up and patted her son’s arm. “Yes. Rest.”

He
helped her to her feet and out of the room. Tempani watched them go with a
heavy heart. She wished she could change things for them, but she couldn’t. She
was not only a half-blood; she was a woman. She had as little say in this
kingdom as the commoners.

The
fighting raged on through the night. Otto was restless, prowling the house,
constantly on edge. She guessed he was itching to be out there helping the
King’s Guard restore order instead of being cooped up in the manor keeping an
eye on her. She knew he was receiving the occasional report about what was
happening. She figured it made sense since he was on the Royal Parliament.

“Tea?”
She asked when he eventually sat down. “Or something stronger?” She waved the
whiskey under his nose.

“I
don’t drink on watch.”

She
poured him a cup of tea and placed it beside him.

Otto
frowned, making him appear older than he really was. “We need to increase your
guard now that Nic is courting you.”

“He
is not courting me,” she snapped. “We’re just friends.”

“That’s
not what the king thinks. According to all reports he wants to ask for your
hand.”

“We’re
being reported on?”

“He’s
next in line to the throne, Tempani. Everyone has an opinion on who his bride
should be. I have done what I can to diffuse the situation, but there are
certain people out there...”

“This
riot is about me?”

He
remained silent, but she saw in his eyes that she was right.

“I
don’t understand,” she said and walked over to the window, watching the flames
reach further into the night sky.

“We’re
on the brink of a full scale civil war.”

“And
if I marry Nic, then I will be the cause.”

She
wrapped her arms around herself, desperately trying to remember what it felt
like to be in Nic’s arms earlier that day. It seemed like such a distant memory
now. And she knew it could never be more than that. Not now that people were
fighting it.

She
silently cursed the ignorant people of this kingdom for not being able to see
the person that she was. Instead just seeing the aspects of her that scared
them. She had hoped the commoners would be willing to accept her. Had she not
spent time amongst them in the city? Some had even smiled at her, talked to
her, laughed with her. Perhaps that was fine when she was just a lady but not
when there was talk of a union between her and Nic.

But
she couldn’t blame them. Not really. They were a product of the nobility’s
ignorance and neglect. And she did not want to fuel their anger. She didn’t
want people to die because of her.

Her
voice was quiet when she spoke. “I won’t be the cause.”

—

Chae
and Madoc had been holed up in the palace since the riot broke out. Both had
been eager to ride into the city and help the King’s Guard regain order, but
their instructions were to stay put.

They
were sitting in Madoc’s room, playing cards, when Xanthir stopped by and
hurried them to Nic’s study, where he and Teddy were already seated.

“We’ll
have to make this quick as they don’t know we’re meeting with you.” He jerked
his thumb towards the corridor, which was being patrolled by the Raiders.

“What’s
going on?” Madoc asked. “This isn’t just a normal riot is it? The Raiders are
pacing the grounds and keeping you locked in your room.”

“Apparently
rumors have spread that I intend to make Tempani my bride.”

“And
you don’t?” Chae asked.

“No,
I do. But not until she is ready. I think I’ve only just convinced her that our
relationship goes beyond friendship.”

“That’s
hasn’t stopped the rumors though,” said Xanthir. “Word from the city is that
they will fight the union.”

“You
have to stop pursuing her,” Chae said.

“Not
an option.”

“She
is in danger!” Chae banged his dark fist on the strong, oak table. “This isn’t
just about you!”

“Shh,
do you want them to come in here?” Xanthir hissed.

“
Chae’s
right,” Teddy whispered before turning to his
brother. “It’s too dangerous. For both of you.”

“Well
that would just pave the way for you then, wouldn’t it?”

“Yes,
that was my plan all along.” He threw his arms up in the air. “You are
unbelievable.”

“What
does my father say?” Chae asked.

“He
bolted as soon as word reached us that the riot had started and Tempani was out
with Nic,” said Teddy. “I’ve never seen a man’s face lose color so quickly.”

“No
doubt he’ll increase her protection,” Xanthir whispered. “It’s very unusual,
don’t you think? That a lady has her father’s men-at-arms in addition to her
chaperone following her everywhere she goes? One would think she arrived here
with a purpose.”

“To
watch people die?” Chae cried. “She will be beside herself right now knowing
that people are fighting one another because of her.”

“Perhaps
her plan all along was to wear a crown. Champion for her people.”

“My
people too, right?” Chae rose to his feet. “So I’m in on it too? You think
we’re planning to take over?”

“Now
come on Xanthir,” Teddy jumped in. “She was close to our family as a child. It
was only natural she would resume those friendships when she got here. Otto was
probably just concerned about the backlash. I strongly believe her intentions
are pure. She has no hidden agenda.”

“I’m
just telling you what all the nobles think.”

“Not
all the nobles,” said Teddy. “And I don’t think you believe it either Xanthir.
Chae has been nothing but a good friend to you and deserves a lot more respect
than you are giving him now.”

Chae
looked down at Teddy and gave him a small smile. It was uncommon for Teddy to
speak so forcibly while in the company of his brother and his friends. Chae had
often felt the need to protect him. Speak up for him against stronger voices
but not anymore. He had made himself heard without any help.

Xanthir
nodded and rose too. “I am sorry, Chae. I do not believe the whispers. I guess
I just got caught up in the moment.”

“Tempani
is a loyal servant to the crown. She would wish no harm on anyone.”

“I
know,” Xanthir said and gripped
Chae’s
arm.
“Brothers?”

“Till
the end,” he said, repeating the promise the four knights had made to each
other as young boys.

“So
it’s agreed? Tempani doesn’t have a hidden agenda, and Nic will stop pursuing
her.”

“I
didn’t agree to that Teddy,” Nic snapped. He turned to Chae. “I understand
you’re worried about your sister, but I don’t think I can stop seeing her. She
will be given every protection I can give her.”

Chae
glared at his friend, unsure if he was angry at him for putting his sister’s
life in danger or proud of him for standing by his feelings for her.

“Madoc,
you’ve been quiet.”

“I
am in no position to tell you what to do, Nic.”

“I
would like your opinion.”

Madoc
sighed. “If you’re going to pursue her then we need to make sure she is
protected at all times, and not just by Sir Otto’s men-at-arms. One of us
should be with her everywhere she goes.”

“She’s
going to love that,” Chae said.

“She’ll
learn to live with it.” Nic stood and placed his hand on
Chae’s
shoulder in a friendly grip and patted him on the back. “I will see you at
dinner.”

Teddy
rose and shrugged his shoulder helplessly at Chae before following his brother
out the door.

Chae
frowned. He knew that no matter what Nic wanted and what plans he made, it all
depended on Tempani, and she would never agree to this.

—