Authors: Kathryn Fogleman
Thailla smiled slightly, “But he did rescue you from your captors and brought you most of the way to your escort.”
Erewhon put a hand up to her face and covered her eyes. “Please. Don’t remind me. I was just thinking about it - about him - moments ago,” she confessed. “I had just determined to put him from my mind, and then he shows up to taunt me in person.”
Thailla sighed. “Well, I don’t think he intended to,” she said.
Erewhon looked at Thailla and narrowed her eyes, “No doubt. I have a feeling that he dislikes people.”
Thailla cocked her head curiously. “Is he really such a brute?” she asked.
Erewhon bit her bottom lip and said, “No and yes. It’s complicated.”
Another woman came in the door then and curtsied. “My lady, the King wishes you to come to him at once,” she said.
Erewhon sighed, “Very well. I am coming.” She straightened her dress and turned a circle. “Do I look presentable?” she asked.
Both Thailla and the other woman nodded with soft smiles. Erewhon took a deep breath and exhaled slowly then straightened her shoulders and walked out the door with confident strides, both ladies following her closely. They walked down a large hall that had windows that overlooked the entire courtyard.
As she walked down the hall, Erewhon kept a steady eye out the windows to watch Annaka and Keegan. A guard took Annaka’s horse from Keegan, and two guards took Keegan’s golden horse by the bridle, no doubt ordering the young man to dismount. Erewhon turned her face forward and quickened her pace to the stairwell. She and her ladies trotted down the dark stairs until light came into view and they were on ground level. She stepped out into the light of the courtyard and looked around, standing tall and straight as she heard the approach of the King.
Her uncle, the King, came from the far end of the courtyard, dressed in a fine green robe, and was surrounded by his crowd of advisors who constantly chattered non-stop.
Erewhon sighed and rolled her eyes. “Do they never leave him?” she asked with a huff as she picked up her feet and moved to greet the King. Her uncle paused speaking with one of his advisors and smiled warmly as Erewhon approached, his obvious delight in seeing her lighting up his eyes and face. He held up his hand and silenced the group of people as Erewhon came near.
“Ah, my dear Erewhon. Have you seen who came with your sister?” the King asked.
Erewhon bowed her head slightly. “I have. I saw him through the window of my room.”
The King nodded and cocked his head slightly. “Did you recognize him?” he asked, his expression showing that he detected something in Erewhon’s face that gave him a reason to ask such a question.
Erewhon nodded, “Yes. He is the very man who rescued me when my escort to Elinralis was attacked.”
The King smiled brightly. “Wonderful! Your sister has ensnared him!” he said, glancing back at some of his advisors who chuckled mildly. “You have done very well, Erewhon.” He directed a kind smile to Erewhon then offered her his arm. “Join me in greeting him.”
Erewhon took her uncle’s arm with a smile and picked up her feet as they started walking at a lively pace toward the front of the courtyard toward the horses. “Where is the Queen?” she asked as they walked.
“Her head was hurting again so she did not feel inclined to come out into the light,” the King replied.
Erewhon nodded silently in understanding and began to focus on settling the butterflies in her stomach. She did not know why, but this whole thing had her very nervous. What could have happened to cause Keegan and Annaka to meet?
Presently, the two in question came into view along with several armed guards and a very red-faced captain. Both Keegan and Annaka were dismounted, but Keegan was holding his horse’s reins, looking a mixture of nervous and amused, while Annaka stood between him and the captain, arguing vigorously with the latter. Her hands were balled into fists, her shoulders were square, and her small foot occasionally stomped the ground with stubbornness.
Erewhon heard her uncle chuckle at the sight, but she did not find the scene amusing in the least. “Uncle, it’s not funny that she argues with the captain,” she said.
“Perhaps it does not amuse you, but it tickles me!” the King said with a large smile. Erewhon sighed. Annaka tended to be her uncle’s pet, and everything she did amused him, often much to Erewhon's annoyance.
The captain stopped bickering with the girl and bowed respectfully as the King and Erewhon approached. The King waved his hand approvingly to the captain and smiled. “Is my dear niece causing a bit of trouble for you, Silas?” he asked.
The captain glanced at Annaka who looked at him with a hard stare before looking back at the King with a flustered expression. “No… well, yes,” the captain said as he threw a hard glance at Keegan. “I wanted to send the young princess to her aunt while I asked this fellow some questions,” he poked a finger at Keegan, “but her little majesty has stubbornly refused to leave matters in my hands.”
The King chuckled, “Well, Silas! You are married. You should know that no woman, no matter her size, will leave such matters solely in the hands of a man!”
The captain puffed up slightly, but Annaka spoke before he could respond, “I don’t want this man to be questioned by anyone except my uncle. He is my sister’s rescuer, not some criminal to be questioned!” She gave a defiant stomp of her foot and looked at her uncle.
Erewhon sighed and stepped up to Annaka, looking the young girl directly in the eye. “Annaka, were you being respectful to the captain?” she asked gently.
Annaka was silent a moment, then dropped her head and sighed. “No, I was not,” she answered.
“Your reasoning was honorable, but your words should always be respectful and well thought out when you are speaking to an elder,” Erewhon stated, “even if it is a heated conversation.”
Annaka nodded.
“Now, I think it would be appropriate to apologize to the captain. He was only doing his duty after all,” Erewhon said with a reassuring touch to her sister’s arm.
Annaka turned and looked up at the captain shyly and apologized, “I am sorry. I spoke out of place. I had not thought that you might be trying to fulfill your duties as captain of the guard.”
The captain’s face softened considerably, and he rubbed his chin sheepishly. “Oh, well, there was no harm done,” he said with a shrug. “Anyone is entitled to a disagreement.”
The King chuckled again. “Good. Now, suppose I hear your explanation as to why this young man is here now?” The King asked Annaka, glancing at Keegan as he spoke.
Annaka introduced Keegan and told the King of her trouble, explaining how Keegan had helped her by gaining control of her horse and bringing her back to the city. The King listened intently and started to rub his chin in thought as a grim expression slowly began to darken his face. When Annaka finished, the King motioned for the captain to step off to the side with him. They spoke quickly, and then the captain walked to the group of horsemen who had escorted Keegan and Annaka inside and gave them orders. The horsemen remounted their horses and trotted out of the gate again, which shut quickly behind them.
“Uncle, is there something the matter?” Erewhon asked as the King rejoined them.
The King smiled reassuringly, “We’ll talk about it later.” He turned to Keegan and smiled brightly. “I must thank you, my young man, for not only saving Annaka, but for rescuing Erewhon from her captors in the forest.” Keegan looked taken aback by the King’s warm words, but the King continued before the young man could say a word. “You are most welcome here. The day is growing old, and I wish that you would stay here with us for as long as you please. It is the least I could do to repay you for such a kindness as saving not just one but both of my nieces from unhappy circumstances.”
Keegan stared at the King for a moment, obviously at a loss for words. He glanced at Erewhon. Slowly, a grin began to turn up the corners of his mouth while an ornery light sprung into his eyes.
“Dear King,” Keegan gave a slight bow, “I am a despicable man, not worthy of this honor.” He finished with a mischievous glance at Erewhon.
Erewhon could feel herself turning red with anger, and her stomach fluttered with embarrassment. She knew that he was referring to the name she had called him when he left her in the forest after rescuing her.
“Nonsense!” the King said in reply. “Any man who saves both of my nieces with no thought of reward is not despicable!”
“I left Her Majesty too quickly and impolitely on the road last we met,” Keegan added with a hint of apology in his voice as he glanced once again at Erewhon. “I should have personally made sure that she was safely returned to her escort.”
Erewhon felt her anger and embarrassment abate as Keegan looked at her. She could tell that he was, in his own way, apologizing for his actions. Perhaps he did not really regret his actions, and he probably deserved being called despicable, but he was good-hearted, and she saw no need for him to look like a scoundrel in front of the King.
“You were in a hurry,” Erewhon spoke up, mustering all the grace she could into her voice. “And you knew that my escort of knights was nearby. I was safe,” she smiled and raised her chin. “I am grateful to you for seeing to my sister’s safety. You will, of course, accept my uncle’s invitation to stay? As he said, you are most welcome here.”
Annaka stepped forward then and said, “Oh, Uncle! Keegan came to the city to find a place for him and his two friends to stay. One of his friends is very ill.”
The King raised an eyebrow and looked at Keegan. “What sort of illness does your friend suffer?”
Erewhon watched as Keegan opened his eyes wider with concern then narrowed them as if weighing something in his mind.
“He suffers from battle wounds, Sire,” Keegan answered. “We were attacked by a… an animal several nights ago, and my one friend took the brunt of the attack.”
The King nodded, “Your friends will also be welcomed, and the most skilled healer I have at my disposal will attend to your wounded friend.”
Keegan bowed, looking somewhat relieved, and said, “Thank you, Sire.”
“Which road are you friends riding?” the King asked as he waved a pageboy to his side. “I will have messengers sent to greet them and direct them here.”
Keegan seemed stunned for a moment, but he quickly pulled himself together to answer, “They approach by the south road.” He nodded his head in the direction of which he spoke.
“And their names?” the King asked.
“Saul is the wounded one,” Keegan answered. “Walneff is the other.”
The King stared at Keegan for a moment with a look of surprise while a silent murmur went through his group of advisors. “Master Walneff rides with you?” he questioned with surprise.
Keegan glanced at Erewhon then back at the King. “He is an old man who speaks in riddles,” he answered. “He has never referred to himself as a master.”
The King chuckled. “Nor would he ever!” he said “You are blessed, my lad, to have such a great man accompany you.”
Keegan knit his brows and cocked his head, a show of confusion on his face, “A great man? Walneff?”
The King chuckled once again, “Ah, I see you do not realize how well known he is. No matter. The fact that he rides with you only makes your welcome here in my home all the greater!”
The King nodded at the pageboy next to him and instructed, “Quickly, go send messengers out to meet Master Walneff and Keegan’s wounded friend.” The boy nodded with a smile and ran toward the stables. The King turned back to Keegan, “There now! They will be notified, and when they arrive, they will find comfort and healing here.” The King turned to Erewhon and her ladies in waiting, “Please, take Annaka and prepare her for this evening’s banquet.” Erewhon and the two ladies curtsied politely, and Erewhon held out her hand for Annaka to take.
Annaka looked up at Keegan with a smile, “I will see you this evening at the banquet.” She turned and curtsied to her uncle. Then she took Erewhon’s hand, and the four ladies walked away toward the palace building. Keegan let his eyes follow them for a moment before turning back to the King.
The King smiled, “My nieces are wonderful, a true blessing to me.”
Keegan nodded politely, “I am certain they are.”
The King turned to his advisers. “You are all dismissed,” he said.
As the group of men dispersed, the King turned and walked up to Ardor, gently placing his hand on the golden horse’s nose and stroking his neck. “He is a beautiful creature,” he said.
Keegan nodded again, “Thank you.
“Two people have told me about him,” the King said. “My niece, Erewhon, and an old man who used to be the horse master of my stables.”
Keegan raised his eyebrows. “Master Geoff?” he asked.
The King chuckled, “You have a good memory! Yes, Geoff.” He nodded his head. “When I found my nieces, I brought Geoff back to the city and restored him to his old position.”
Keegan smiled, “I am glad to hear this.”
Just then, an old man with a boy following right on his heels trotted up. “Oh, my lord, did I not tell you that master Keegan’s horse was truly magnificent?” Geoff exclaimed.
The King laughed and turned to the old man, “Yes, Geoff. And now I see why you were so impressed.”