Baron Mikel had left the army encamped near the opening of the Pass of Banshi and had arrived in Candus that very afternoon. He had said that he would not be absent for the arrival of his future daughter-in-law. Kalista had been pleasantly surprised to find both of Gavin’s parents waiting for their arrival.
The first things she had done after being greeted by the baron and baroness were settle into her sleeping chambers and take a steaming hot bath to cleanse herself of the grime of traveling. It had felt wonderful. She had then taken a short nap in a comfortable bed. When she woke up an hour later, she had prepared for the feast.
Her servants had said that she looked radiant and stunning, and by the look on Gavin’s face when he arrived to escort her to the feast, he had agreed. The engagement feast had been grand with ten courses. Between each course musicians had performed, and just before the two dessert courses there had even been jugglers and acrobats. It had been delightful and charming.
She glanced over at Gavin and knew from the light in his eyes that he had enjoyed the evening as much as she had. As soon as the last guests walked out through the large double doors, Gavin rose to his feet and stretched.
“That was wonderful,” he said to his parents. “Thank you so much.”
Kalista echoed his comments and praised them for such a great celebration.
“We couldn’t let your arrival in Candus pass without welcoming you,” the baron said with a smile. “I wish we had more time to spend together. I guess we will just have to wait until after we have beaten back the Balthan Army. After our victory, we will have plenty of time to get to know one another better.”
Kalista hoped that the battle would be over quickly. She would have time to spend with the baroness over the next week or two, but she doubted she would be able to enjoy it. She knew she would be worried about Gavin and his safety until he returned to her. She wanted to stay up and talk, making her time with Gavin last as long as she could, but she knew that it was more important for him and the baron to get a good night’s rest.
“I’m exhausted,” she announced. “The long march and the excitement of today’s celebration has left me drained.”
“Shall I escort you to your chambers?” Gavin asked.
“Yes,” she replied. She then turned to his parents. “Thank you once again for such a delightful party. If you will excuse me?”
The baron rose to his feet and bowed as the baroness wished her sweet dreams. Kalista took Gavin’s offered arm and let him lead her back to her room. When they arrived at her chambers, she allowed him to kiss her hand before she quickly slipped inside the room.
She let out a sigh as she listened to his slow steps head down the hallway. She wasn’t sure how she was going to survive with him marching away from her and towards battle the next morning. She would worry and miss him every day until he returned. She wished there was some way that he wouldn’t have to be away from her for so long.
An idea suddenly came to her. Did she really need to say goodbye to him the next morning? Why couldn’t she accompany him to the camp? She had traveled with the army all the way from Calyn. Why shouldn’t she continue traveling with them until they reached their final destination? The plan had been for her to stay in Candus during the battle, but the battle shouldn’t begin for another week.
She hoped that Gavin wouldn’t object. He had been fine with her accompanying the army thus far. She did not see any reason for him to worry as long as she was safely on her way back to Candus before the battle began. Perhaps he would even be excited that she was willing to stay by his side all the way to the army’s main camp.
She hurriedly got ready for bed. She needed to get to sleep soon so she could arise as early as she needed to. She would have to quickly get all of her supplies together in the morning so that she could accompany Gavin when he left. She lay down on the comfortable bed with excitement instead of worry. She wouldn’t have to say goodbye yet. She had found a way to delay the sad farewell for several more days.
Kalista arose early the next morning. She commanded her servants to prepare the necessary things as she finished getting ready for the day. Before the sun had risen, she was completely prepared. She knew that the troops had been told to be ready to march with the rising of the sun. She made her way to the courtyard where she was supposed to bid Gavin farewell. When she reached the courtyard, she was pleased to see that he had not yet arrived.
She sat down on a sculpted stone bench to wait for him. She was excited to tell him that she was coming along and they would not have to be parted for a few more days. When he walked into the courtyard a short time later, she could see the surprise clearly written on his face. She hopped up with open arms to greet him.
“Surprise,” she said.
“Why are you dressed in your traveling clothes?” he asked. “I thought you would be sick of them by now.”
“Oh I am,” she said with a grin. “But how else would I dress if I’m planning on traveling?”
“What do you mean?” Gavin said with a concerned look. “You’re not heading back to Calyn are you?”
“Of course not,” she replied. “I’m going to the pass with you and the army!”
First Gavin’s face took on a look of surprise. Then it became stern. His eyes narrowed, and he frowned.
“You are doing no such thing,” he stated firmly. “Your place is here, safe in the palace, not anywhere near the battle.”
“Oh, I will return here before the battle starts,” she replied.
“No,” Gavin said firmly. “You will remain here.”
Kalista stared back at her fiancé’s determined face. Did he really think he could tell her what to do? From the look on his face, she could see that he did.
“I am not asking for your permission,” she stated back just as firmly. “I am informing you that I will be joining you on the march to the pass.”
“No you will not,” he said again. “There is no reason for you to-”
“Stop right there,” she said, cutting him off. “You cannot give me orders. You forget your place. We are not married yet, and I am still your princess and you my subject. You will do as I say!”
Her statement and the authority with which she said it caused her fiancé to pause. She could see the conflicting emotions in his face. He took several deep breaths before continuing on. This time he moved forward more cautiously and with a different tone.
“Kalista,” he began as he took her hands in his, “it’s not that I don’t want you to accompany me. I am going to miss you dearly over the next couple of weeks and would love nothing more than to have you by my side. However, the most important thing to me is your safety. I want you to stay here so that you will be safe and no harm will come to you. Will you please remain here in the palace?”
She stared back at him. She could hardly believe it. She had affirmatively stated that she would do as she wished, and yet Gavin was still trying to convince her to stay. Did he think she hadn’t thought through her decision? Did he think she needed him to tell her what was best? She would not give in, no matter how hard he tried to get her to. She was going and that was that.
“I appreciate your concern,” she said curtly. “But I have already made up my mind on the matter. I will be joining you as you head for the pass. When we reach the army’s encampment at the opening of the pass, I will then wish you good luck and return to the palace. I will be safely on my way long before the battle begins.” Gavin opened his mouth as if to say something, but she cut him off. “That is my final decision.”
Her fiancé stared back at her with firm shoulders for a few moments before they slumped. She inwardly smiled. He had finally admitted defeat.
“As you wish,” he said. “Do you have what you need? The sun is almost up.”
“Everything is ready,” she replied. “Now if you would please escort me to the stables, we can mount our horses and begin the march.”
Gavin offered her his arm, and they walked from the courtyard towards the stables. By the time they reached the stables and mounted their horses, she was calm and feeling better. She had expected him to be excited about her coming along, not mad. However, she did understand his concern and was thankful that he cared for her safety so much. She turned to him with a smile as they led their horses around to the front of the palace. He smiled back at her.
“I am glad to have you with me a few more days,” he said. “I am only concerned for your welfare. Will you promise me that you will turn back as soon as we reach the opening of the pass?”
“Of course I will,” she said with a smile. “Wasn’t that my plan after all?” Gavin just shook his head and chuckled.
They were soon around the palace. The Baron Mikel gave his son and Kalista a strange look as they rode up to him but didn’t say anything. He glanced between the two, raised his eyebrows, and said that they should be on their way. All three, along with a procession of flag bearers and guards, rode out of the front of the city.
The Royal Army was ready and waiting just outside the city walls. Once the three of them made it to the front of the column, Baron Mikel gave the signal to begin the march. The trumpets sounded just as the sun peeked over the eastern horizon, and the army began marching directly towards it. After riding in silence for the first ten minutes, Baron Mikel turned to Gavin.
“Scouts reported this morning that the Balthan Army was camped at the eastern side of the pass five days ago,” he said.
“Then the battle has already begun?” Gavin asked worriedly. It was only a five day march through the pass. Was it possible that the Balthan Army had already made it through and entered Kalia? “You should be there to lead the army.”
“I have very capable generals under me,” the baron replied. “And I don’t believe the battle has begun yet.”
“Why do you say that?” Gavin inquired.
“Our scouts set off an avalanche near the eastern opening when they saw the Balthan Army approaching,” he said with a smile. “Apparently it was quite an impressive one. The scouts don’t expect the route to be passable for a week or so. We determined that waiting until the last minute to create the avalanche would give us the best chance of disrupting the Balthan Army’s plans. We should have plenty of time to join your troops with the rest of the Kalian Army before the pass is clear enough for an army to traverse.”
“I see,” Gavin said with a smile. “It looks as though your scouts have bought us plenty of time to prepare for the invasion. Congratulations!”
“I do have several tricks up my sleeves,” the baron said. “We wanted the Bathan Army to clearly understand how we feel about them crossing into Kalia.”
Kalista smiled as father and son continued to discuss the details and timing of the eventual invasion. She was glad that the baron had the foresight to stall the Balthan Army long enough to allow the Kalian reserves to fortify the Kalian Army’s position. Hopefully the extra time would help give their army an even greater advantage over the Balthans.
Kalista felt a slight breeze at her back and looked around. She could have sworn that she had just heard someone whispering near her ear. However, no one was near her but Gavin and his father, and they were both still talking excitedly to one another. She shook her head and looked forward once again.
Another breeze made the stray bits of hair around her face flutter. She heard the same whispering sound again but looking around saw that, just as before, no one was near. What was going on? She hadn’t been able to make out any words, but she was certain that she was indeed hearing whispers.
She kept her face turned around as she searched the nearest of her guards wondering if any of them were whispering. All were silent and appeared lost in their own thoughts. As she was about to turn forward, a stronger breeze gusted against her face.
“. . . careful . . .”
Kalista’s eyes widened with amazement. There was no mistaking it this time. Not one of her guards had moved his mouth, yet she had faintly heard the word ‘careful’. She searched the skies but saw nothing unusual. It was as though the whisper had been carried on the wind. No one else seemed to have noticed anything out of the ordinary.
She turned around and looked forward towards the sun. What had the whisper been? Where had the message come from? Was it simply a message or was it a warning? She strained her ears to hear anything else, but the only sounds were those of the army making its way eastward.
After awhile she began to wonder if she really had heard anything at all. Perhaps it was merely her mind playing tricks on her. She settled back into her saddle as comfortably as she could and returned to listening to Gavin and his father discussing how they hoped the battle would turn out. Kalista would be delighted if the battle would be as easy to win as the two hoped.
* * * * *
“Do you think she heard it?” Darian asked as Traven stepped back from the screeing dish.
“I think she heard something,” he replied. “I just hope she got the message and takes it to heart. What is she thinking leaving Candus and heading to the battlefront?”
Darian shrugged in response. Traven picked up the small water dish and after dumping out the water, hastily packed it away. They needed to get moving, and he had spent long enough trying to get a warning to the princess.
He had woken up this morning from a particularly disturbing vision. The princess had finally returned to his dreams. Unfortunately, it had not been the return he had hoped for. The vision had been of the Princess Kalista’s funeral. He had stood over her lifeless body and wept with the crown of Kalia nestled on his head. He had woken with tears in his eyes and an overwhelming sense of sorrow.
The feelings of sorrow and loss had been so strong that he had decided to call up an image of the princess. He needed to see her safe in the palace. He feared that her return to his visions signaled something important. When he called up her image, he had been dismayed to find her not safe in the palace, but riding towards the pass with the rest of the army. He had decided that perhaps he could send her a warning.