Ghost Fields - Book One of The Fields of Mendhavai Trilogy

Chapter Thirteen

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

Most of the snow had melted but the leaves had not yet begun to bud. The world was a dull, ugly mixture of whites, grays and browns. The only greens to be found were the enormous pines of Aller Forest and in the brightly colored skirts of the women. It was still cold but there was a static of excited anticipation in the crisp air, more this spring than others I’d known, and I attributed it to bringing back the tripod tradition. But perhaps it had something to do with the absence of “the dragon hatchlings” through the winter as well.

Today the sky was so brilliantly blue that it made my eyes ache to look skyward. Judah and his men had been spending short periods of time over the last week clearing the ruins of snow and ice and preparing to resume to their work. He’d informed me yesterday that they’d finished the clearing and today would spend a full workday thawing the blocks of stone out of the frozen ground. I hadn’t seen their progress before winter had set in so Danu and I took the opportunity of the gorgeous day to ride out to the site. Samae and her pack followed shortly, blinking in the bright sun.

Lundir and Reiney had spent the winter idly and so their headlong gallop, pursued closely by Samae, was shortened by shrunken muscles and lungs. Though tired, they were enthusiastic and joyful after their run, and they’d known the wolves were only playing at being predators.

We’ll be hunting today, Samae told me as the pack angled off toward the forest.

The horses walked languidly the rest of the way and I watched Danu out of the corner of my eye. His expression told me he wanted to speak but continuously changed his mind. I waited patiently. He’d been stewing on something all the long winter and after a few prods to get him to speak up, to which I’d only received thoughtful glares, I’d given up and decided he would tell me in his own time.

After several false starts, he finally burst out. “I just don’t know what to do, Rinda!” His jaw was set tight and he stared ponderously at Reiney’s flicking ears.

Nudging Lundir toward Reiney until Danu’s foot bumped mine in the stirrup, I reached over and put a gentle hand on his forearm. “Tell me what’s had you in such a state all winter.”

His gaze flicked my way, then back to the mare’s ears. “My father wants to know my decision as soon as the pass clears and Selanne can be sent through. According to your patrols, it’s only a couple more days until he can go.”

“He wants to know whether you consider yourself heir to the throne or if he should give that right to your little brother,” I said thoughtfully and he nodded. “Well, that seems a question you’ve to answer yourself, love.”

He sighed heavily. “He wants me to take the kingdom, of course. I was first born; I’m of age to do so now. His health is failing and he would rather I look to his affairs than some other man he’d need to find and appoint in my brother’s stead until he is old enough. A kingdom can be ruined in a handful of years and completely destroyed in a decade. I feel obligated of course, not just because I was born heir, but because of my long absence.”

“And yet, because of that absence you don’t feel worthy, in trust or otherwise, to take that responsibility.” He nodded, looking at me with wet eyes. “How do the people feel about you?”

“I was given a great fanfare of welcome,” he hesitated, recalling the day he’d returned to Jakhar, “and it seemed very heartfelt. I don’t feel that they’d have a grudge against me. But…”

“Danu, modesty and humility serve a king well. They serve any ruler well. Believe me, I’ve learned mine in the last ten years.” I smiled crookedly at him. “I think you’d make an exceptional king.”