Kingdoms of Caelum; Autumn of the War Queen

Chapter 22

CThe commotion of Lofaid returning with Bane startled Katla. After her bath she had sleepily dressed in the robe provided and sat in the chair falling fast asleep.

"Lofaid had one of Bane's arms over his shoulder and a Dark Elf guard had the other; together they struggled under Bane's weight.

"Is he okay?" Katla asked looking at the unconscious body as they dragged him to the bed.

"He is half dead." Lofaid replied bluntly.

The guard left the room and came back in carrying Katla's bow and quiver and Bane's weapons, and then Lofaid dismissed him as soon as Bane was laid down. He looked sternly at Katla, not displaying any emotion.

"He needs warm water for that wound. He is in the hands of his Gods now, or his Kings, I can never remember Bane's loyalties."

Lofaid gave a wry smile. He looked at Bane again with a serious frown and his scented voice whispered dangerously to Katla.

"I urge you girl, to never discuss what happened tonight with anyone outside these walls. The consequences will be dire for you."

It was a clear threat.

"I understand," she said and gave a quick curtsey without looking at him. Lofaid seemed to ease a little and an ugly smile crossed his face distorting his burn scars.

"You will care for him here until the spirits take him, or his will allows him to live. You will not leave this room. If he dies, so do you, and if I ever see you again...well I don't need to elaborate." Katla looked blankly at the floor and for a moment was speechless. She gave a nod and soon Lofaid had gone, leaving her alone with the dying warrior.

For the days that followed, the fever took hold and it took hold with aggressive force. She could see it creeping under his pale and clammy skin, the way the droplets formed on his cold brow and neck and how his cheeks flamed purple under the growth of his unshaven face. Delirious, he would scream out names and places she had never heard of and he would grab the sheets off the bed, crumpling them in his fists as if in terrible pain and almost hitting her in fits of hallucination. Twice during the week, Katla thought he would die, his breathing became laboured and his skin became as cold as ice, even though the fire in its hearth burned day and night. But by the sixth day, he seemed to have fought the worst of it.

Other than tending to Bane, Katla had asked the maid that came daily for material to make new clothes and sewing tools to fix her boots. She wasn't sure if the small Elvin maid understood, but the next evening she did indeed bring a folded roll of luxurious blood red velvet, lined with fleece. Such material was only fit for royalty, but Katla didn't complain. With a box of scissors, pins, needles and threads provided, Katla began to do something she hadn't done since she was ten: she began to make her own garments. Amya would have been thrilled, she thought bittersweetly, as she began to create a magnificent tunic. She carefully crafted a hood with winged arms that stopped at her shoulders and was skilled enough to bring it in at her waist; it clung nicely to her figure when she fastened her belt. She made the bottom of the tunic pleated; it came to her knees, making the tunic both practical and beautiful, and she wore her black long sleeved vest underneath which covered her arms. Three days later the moon was high in the dark sky and the final touch to her outfit was complete; her father's pin. As she plaited her hair and replaced her mother's ribbon, she stood looking at her reflection in the mirror; for a moment she stood there, stunned. She no longer looked like 'the rose bush'. Instead she saw a warrior, she actually saw a warrior. A beautiful, but dangerous looking, young woman, with a quiver and ivory bow slouched over her shoulder. She stood for a long while in silence taking in her new image. The reflection of a girl she had never known, but always wanted to be.

"ZAPHIYA!" Bane suddenly shouted out, making her jump and trip clumsily from her spot. He had been quiet for a while now, and she was fearful the fever was returning. She walked over and placed a hand on his dripping brow.

"Zaphiya are you there?"

"It's Katla," she answered, but Bane was delirious again.

"Zaphiya. Don't leave me. Let them bring the spears of poison to my blood. Don't leave me!"

Katla reached for the cloth and put it on his forehead. His shouts became mumbles and then again, he drifted into sleep.

It was two more days until his consciousness returned. He opened his eyes and stared blankly at Katla asleep on the chair. It took several moments for his memories of what had happened to return. His head was sore and his throat dry.

"How long has the fever had my soul?" he asked, making Katla jump from her slumber.

"Bane!" she gasped.

She took a moment to register his question.

"Eight days I think. How do you feel?"

Bane pulled himself up in the bed, feeling numbness in his limbs. He stroked the weeks beard growth on his chin and frowned.

"I am alive," he grunted before adding a humble, "Thank you."

Katla shut her eyes, acknowledging the gratitude.

"It was Lofaid that brought you from the mountain," she added.

Bane nodded and looked around the little room, attempting to move his legs off the bed. He felt stiff and weak.

"Yes. But we are not safe here despite all Lofaid's hospitality. We must leave at once."

Katla blinked, surprised.

"Surely we will be okay until you regain your strength?"

Bane winced as his legs took his weight

"The sooner we leave the better, I am fine."

"I don't understand," she answered. Bane shook his head, not prepared to elaborate.

"You do not need to."

Despite all Katla's protests, he had grabbed his sheath that Katla had mended, and his heavy weapons, slipping them on like old friends. Quietly he made for the door and limped quickly down the hallway ignoring the searing pain that shot down his leg. She had no option but to follow, Lofaid's warnings echoing in her ears. The corridor was dimly lit and windowless but he seemed to know the way, after a short while he stopped outside a dusty tapestry and lifted the corner.

"Quickly," he said, revealing a passageway that descended into total darkness. She followed watching her step on the cold stone as it spiralled downwards. How curious this whole episode was, she thought again; this bizarre relationship between Lofaid and Bane. After what seemed an age Bane whispered through the darkness, "We are near the bottom of the tower, now watch your footing."

A door opened and the night seemed lighter then the passageway. Katla could make out silhouettes of mountains over Bane's shoulder, however, as she stepped out, a fierce gust of wind pushed her sideways and a great howl almost deafened her.

"WATCH YOUR FOOTING!" Bane shouted over the noise.

She looked down and saw they were on a narrow ledge, a ledge underneath the Kingdom with nothing but a thousand foot drop all around.

"BY THE SIX KINGS!" she yelled, gripping the rocky edge.

Over the sound of the wind she heard Bane's booming laugh, and despite the drop and her sudden dread, she couldn't help but smile.