Kingdoms of Caelum; Autumn of the War Queen

Chapter 37

Katla and Bane took the offer of warmth and safety from a farmer's widow gratefully. Nerves and tempers flared for a while after the Rakshasha had left, and some of the men had tried to run Katla and Bane from the village, but the plump woman would not hear of it and she chased them away with her carving knife, giving Katla and Bane sanctuary in her home. They were all afraid the Rakshasha would return, and now the village buzzed with life as men shouted insults and commands across their land, carrying torches into every nook.

"Now my babes sleep in their beds and I'll not see them woken, not tonight," she warned, locking her door and turning to the stove which she lit, placing a pot of cold soup over it.

"That's not necessary," Bane said.

"Nonsense!" the widow tutted, "Even warriors have to eat."

She gave the soup a stir before handing Katla the spoon and turning to her bedroom.

"It would be best if you left at first light."

Katla understood and nodded, "Thank you."

Once alone with Bane, Katla broke down. Her nerves got the better of her and she began to sob. "I'm sorry Bane, I should have never left."

She sat at an old, worn table as Bane joined her. He didn't acknowledge her apology.

"I saw their tracks hours ago, that's why I came to find you. What I can't understand is why she came for you? I didn't expect that. You do know who that was, don't you?"

Katla lifted up her white washed faced to look at him. It was clear she did not.

"That was Gazena, only daughter of Queen Maffitati, High Priestess and ruler of Lieulf."

If Katla's face could have drained any whiter, it would have. A dull sickness rose in her throat, "Gazena? By the Six Kings... Gazena?" She shook her head, dumb struck. Of course she had heard the name. Everybody knew who she was. "What would Gazena want with me?"

"They will be travelling to the Lunar Agora to purchase slaves no doubt. What did she say to you?"

Katla was still shaking her head as she crossed her arms across her body.

"She wanted a Blood Stone; I don't have a Blood Stone, nobody has a Blood Stone, its nonsense."

There was stunned silence

"A Blood Stone?" Bane put his hands on his chin, rubbing his skin as he thought.

"As ludicrous as it sounds, you must have one? Gazena wouldn't have troubled herself if not."

Katla and Bane looked at each other and their eyes locked intently. It was as though the same thought had suddenly passed between them. Katla reached for it first, as Bane stood abruptly from his chair.

"My mothers ribbon!"

She clumsily tugged at the bow that kept her raven hair in a single plait and it cascaded down to her shoulders. She sat holding the ribbon and jewel as she had done many, many times.

"Could it be?" she asked, as Bane stood in dazed silence. The jewel was beautiful, if small, encased in a gold mount and sewn onto the ribbon delicately. There was no visual way of knowing if it was a true Blood Stone.

"The ribbon was given to me as a gift from my mother. Amya had a brooch, but it was lost when she was just a babe."

"What was your mother's house?" Bane asked.

Katla thought for a moment as she examined the jewel.

"Treen. She was the last living Treen, in the Clan of Corwin."

Bane nodded.

"The Clan of Corwin... the white castle, or the King's Clan as history foretells."

Katla frowned, her mind racing.

"You think she ran with the blood of the Six Kings?"

"To think that would be madness... but think it we must."

"I don't like riddles Bane," Katla frowned, "I don't understand what's happening."

Tears welled in her eyes once again, and a baby began to whimper from the bedroom. They listened as the widow lulled it back to sleep and then lowered their voices.

"We will try and find out what we need to know about your jewel, but until then we must treat it as though it is a real Blood Stone."

Katla held the ribbon and red stone in her hands as though it would break.

"Surely the Rakshasha's could have made a mistake?"

But she didn't need an answer from Bane, deep in her heart she knew they had not.