King of Days: The Veiled Guardians

Chapter 22 The Darkest Day

The Trinitas Army returned to the kingdom to great fanfare, there was much shouting and cheering; for the enemy of the peoples, the evil Ebesien army had been wiped out. As the parade dissipated the weary soldiers and knights went home. Karíto rode over to Captain William, "I would like to visit my family for a few hours, I hope Princess Lucia will be fine with it."
Captain William nodded, "I am sure she will be fine with it, though don't delay too long, I hear she is preparing quite a feast for you and the other royal guards." Karíto left his armor with the entourage and decided instead to wear his chainmail and Sea Blue Tabard. Karíto spent several hours at home with his family. Hûstin and his wife Frieda decided to move their family into the eastern wing of the house, for it was far better a house than they would ever be able to obtain. Frieda and the two children, Mira and Jun came to greet Karíto. He was happy to see them all, though he felt a ting of pain, for he had not seen Frieda and the two kids for a long time. He played tag with the 6 and 4 year olds, they were elated to have a new person to play with. The girls then were told to go off and play by themselves so the adults could talk. Hidía and Pruä were there and they all chatted for some time. But one topic seemed to pervade their attention. It seemed to the women that there was an unsettling and subtle change happening, they could only point to attitudes and a general tense feeling, and that it caused an ache at the back of the mind. After some hours Karíto wished his sisters well, and asked for them to contact him if they ever saw anything strange.
On arriving back at the Castle Karíto stepped past the main gate and looked around. He was alway fascinated and blown away at the beauty of the castle and its land. With its meticulously manicured plants and trees, some of the trees were pines and some were flowering trees. They were all symmetrical, yet somehow still maintained a natural look. After walking near the trees, he heard a bird chirping on one of the pines. He stopped to take it all in, the sound of the bird and the waterfall off at a distance made a sort of rhythmic song. He went to take another step when from behind he felt arms reach around him, and a head place against his back. The wind blew, which caused strands of brown hair to dance past him, all the while wrapping him in a deeply aromatic smell of sweet jasmine. It was Princess Lucia, she must have missed him more than he thought. "Lucia!" he groaned as she tightened her grasp. He took in the moment, for that moment things were utterly placid and it seemed as if all burdens had passed away. 'If it be possible, let this moment stay' he caught himself thinking, though he was not sure if he had only thought it or if he had said it out loud, for him it mattered not.
Lucia slowly let him go, she grabbed his hand and the two walked up to the castle. However, upon seeing a guard she let go, as if broken from a trance the two walked separately into the castle. That night's meal was sumptuous beyond anything Karíto had remembered. After he had bid Lucia to her room he walked back to his own room and he remembered a saying his father would read on occasion.
"The greatest of calm is right before a terrible storm, the most bitter of darkness comes when it is day."
Though he did not understand it at that time, looking back he would realize the truth of the saying, for that day was not just a good day, it was a great day, and after which there was so much darkness.
Right as Karíto was about to fall asleep he felt as if someone knocked on his door, though there was no sound. He got up from his bed, walked to the door and opened it. There stood Lucia with hand up as if to knock. She wore a cream colored night dress with a turquoise sash around her waist, she had a mixed look on her face, blended with worry, confusion and anxiety. Confusion because she had not yet knocked, anxiety because it was not ladylike for her to knock on a man's door at night, let alone her personal guard. However, why she was worried, he knew not why. "What is wrong Lucia, what is going on?" Karíto whispered. Lucia shuffled awkwardly not knowing what to do or say. "Let me bring you back to your room," he said. Taking her hand he went to guide her down the hallway when she fell into his arms sobbing. He tried to calm her down to no avail. Looking around to see if anyone was with her he felt a ting of anxiety, and guided her into his room.
He sat her in a chair, and pulled up another chair beside her. He sat next to her, remaining silent, allowing her time and respecting her feelings. After some time she started to speak, though it was still scattered with weak sobs and was difficult to follow. "I...you, can't do this.." He put his hand on her back trying to calm her down. Slowly she was able to regain a part of her composure. "I can't do this, I was certain you would not come back, you mean more to me than some guard. I overheard my brothers talking about a situation at Stonetop... I can not do this again." Karíto pulled his hand back, but she grabbed it while it was in the air. Holding his hand in hers she stared at it while she lightly massaged it. "It is not right for me to be here, I do not know what would happen to you if someone came to know you let me in here, but I am thankful"
Karíto felt drawn to her, and with his hand in hers it was all a bit much. He gently took his hand back, stood up, walked to the otherside of the room and leaned against his wardrobe. "I must say I am attracted to you, but for you to be here..." his voice trailed off.
She tried to muster a faint smile, but then became choked up again. "I know, but I heard you will be sent out tomorrow"
Karíto sighed, sliding to sit on the ground. "I was really looking forward to some time to rest." Lucia looked at her hands, they ached for his. "Do you.." she struggled to say looking at him. "Do you think it is possible for us to be more..." she stopped, her mind a flutter.
Karíto met her gaze, she blushed and looked back down to her hands. "To be more than knight and princess" he finished her sentence. "I have felt so, but thought it would be forbidden, or at least looked upon negatively" She nodded her head and began to sob again. Her presence made him forget much of his pains, the death of his father, the attacks of the Pechem, and the recent battle on Topiary field. He was fiercely exhausted and so was she from her worrying and crying. He felt that the best thing would be for Lucia to go back to her room.
He stood up and took Lucia by the hand standing her up "Lucia, why don't I bring you back to your room, so we can get some rest"
She shook her head, a new wave of tears was near. "If you are going to leave tomorrow, I want to spend as much time with you as I can." she flung herself onto his bed crying again. Looking at her on his bed he gulped and looked down. He sat on the floor with eyes downcast, he decided to tell her some stories, or even parts of the events, careful to avoid anything that was related to killing or death. Listening to him speak she rolled fully onto the bed and drew part of the blanket over herself. Glancing up Karíto let out a sigh of relief seeing only her head, he continued the story, the two spoke for some time.
The blaring of horns woke the two up, Karíto had slept on the floor while Lucia had slept on the bed. They both got up and rushed outside, Lucia's maid Ella stood outside pacing in front. She looked at the two with horror in her eyes, then grabbed Lucia's hand and led her away. Karíto could hear Ella scolding Lucia as they swiftly moved down the hallway. He quickly got himself ready and moved to the court of summons. King Garret and the knights were already gathered, Karíto being the last to arrive. He moved into line and was greeted by the sarcastic voice of the king. "Thank you for joining us Sir Karíto, I hope you have slept enough" there was a slight chuckle through the court. He then spoke to those gathered. "After the advisory of General Barin you are being sent to the city of Stonetop, we received news that they provided aid to Ebesien. So you are being sent to express to them our great disappointment. You are excused"
As he finished the group began to move when Princess Lucia broke in from a side door, and declared "Father I must speak with you."
Lord Jude who was standing near King Garret looked at her with anger in his eyes. "You dare intrude in the court?"
She nodded and weakly curtsied "It is about Karíto my lord" she pointed to Karíto. Everyone stood stunned.
King Garret sighed and shook his head in disappointment. "You may all go, Karíto please stay for a moment."
Karíto stepped forward to the middle then waited for all to leave, say for Lord Jude who remained. Lucia then walked next to Karíto and grabbed his hand. "Father, if you will, I wish to choose my husband."
Lord Jude looked at them and then to the king. "This is rather unusual my lord, in all of my years I have never heard a knight marry a member of the royal family."
King Garret raised his hand to silence Jude then spoke. "How has it come to this, Karíto, what say you?"
Karíto bowed his head, "Your highness, over time we have developed feelings for each other, I do desire your daughter's hand in marriage." He could feel Lucia rise onto her toes as she breathed in a hopeful joy, tightening their grasp they looked for the king's response.
King Garret sat back on his seat, sighed and tapped his hand. "Lord Jude is right, this is a provocative move. How long have you defiled the dignity of my daughter?"
Lucia broke hands with Karíto and shouted. "No father! He has never done the slightest, he has only ever been a gentleman!" Lord Jude gave her a look which quieted her and caused her to back down.
"Sire." said Jude, "What will the people think, that a commoner is to marry a princess" Karíto looked at Jude, trying to search his intentions, he felt so hostile, why was he so against him, did being Orou mean nothing to him?
King Garret nodded, "For a commoner I deem it is impossible"
Lucia yelled out again "Father!"
"Silence child" Jude rebuked.
King Garret then continued "For a commoner it is impossible, but for a man of royalty it is possible. If you were born royal, then preparations may be immediate, but because of your birth..." King Garret looked at his daughter who looked hopeful, yet on the verge of despair. "I deem that for this fact of birth to change, a time of royal devotion must be accomplished, a time of intensive service." Lucia and Karíto held hands again, tighter than ever. King Garret looking at them and with solemn repose made his decree. "For 3 years to this day, you Karíto are to be at the direct service of the crown. A man of the infantry, the strong arm of Trinitas going to fight her enemies wherever they may be. If you survive this trial, then a noble you may be, and my daughter's hand you may have."
Crushed could not describe the feeling, the air was robbed from the center of their beings. Lucia tried to curtsy, but it was clumsy, she quickly departed tears silently streaming down her cheeks. There Karíto stood by himself. He bitterly hated the battles he had already experienced. Now he will have 3 years of it, a living hell. King Garret looked at him and stood up, "Do you have anything to say?"
Karíto nodded his head dumbly, he felt like an oxen was standing on him. "I accept" he said
"Great" acclaimed King Garret "While this period is true you are to be stripped of your rank, I forbid you of telling others who you are and the rank you once had. I will permit letters between you and your betrothed, but they are to be sent to Lord Jude who will deliver them personally to Princess Lucia. Your family may stay in their house, and a letter shall be sent to them stating your excursion. If you are to die your family may stay in the house as a homage to a fallen hero of Trinitas. But if you abandon your task, or violate my terms, then you will be a traitor and death will be your sentence." Karíto searched the face of Jude, hoping to find compassion and a reversal of the decree. But no compassion came, so the decree was written up and Karíto was sent with a division as a regular soldier.
On arriving at the division Karíto was greeted by the captain. "So you are the flight risk, don't make trouble for me and we will get along fine. I have orders to hunt you down and kill you myself if you run."
Karíto looked at the man straight in his eyes. "I don't know what you mean by flight risk, but I assure you, I will not run, I will stay as long as my time states." To Karíto's great disappointment lies had been told about him, that he was a coward and a deserter who had found mercy. It caused him much grief and beatings from fellow soldiers. But as the days passed he gained notoriety for his strength and courage, slowly the animosity toward him lessened. He was promoted to spy and scout, of which he used elements from the Orou. However he was still watched with an air of suspicion and mistrust, and was never the leader of a squad. His squad had 12 men including him, and they all learned from his expertise. While much is said of that group of men, and of the campaigns and perils of those three years; they are not expressed in this book, but have passed into legend by the people.
While Karíto had been away fighting for Trinitas, darkness had begun growing in the stagnant shadows of the world, awaiting its moment to wreak havoc on those who dwelt in the daylight.