Shadow of Dusk

King William

Tristen and Daniel departed Fordra the next day with Kip and his band of twenty soldiers, both men and women. Diana, Kip’s sister, rode at the front with him. She was easily the best rider in all of Teardor, a small girl with long dark hair and big blue eyes that resembled Kip’s. Liam trusted her as much as he trusted Kip, and she would serve as messenger between them. Liam then had nothing to do but wait: wait for news from Diana and wait for his father’s return from his hunt.

Tristen bade Cailin goodbye, only asking her to consider his proposal. He didn’t want her to make such an important decision when her heart was wrought with worry. Daniel held his wife and daughter close, then mounted his horse and waited for Belle. She was still inside with Cailin.

“My daughter,” said Belle. “I can only teach you one last thing before I go. Learn to read your heart; once you do that, you’ll always know good from evil. And protecting yourself from evil is a never-ending fight.”

“I know, Mother. I’ll try,” said Cailin, and they embraced for a long time. Belle then slipped off her ring, the one that held an emerald and two diamonds. Two diamonds for Linden and Liaden, the emerald for Cailin.

“Wear it on the hand that touches your heart,” said Belle, slipping it onto Cailin’s right hand and kissing her forehead. “You’ll know what your answer is to Tristen once you know your heart,” she said, taking her daughter’s hand as they walked outside into the beautiful golden sunlight.

Kip sat up straighter when he saw Belle. He and Liam had heard stories of a great veredian woman who held the fiercest magic. He had not said anything to Liam, but when Tristen had spoken of a woman named Belle, he had been suspicious that Belle was the veredian woman in the stories. He wanted to be sure, rather than have Liam fire up about “ridiculous stories of childhood” and then, as quickly as he would fire up, demand that Kip find out if she was real. But Belle had to be her, the Argenbel of the stories they’d heard and told when they were young. Kip lowered himself off of his horse, and bowed slightly toward her.

 “Argenbel. I have heard great things, some I believed to be only myth. It’s an honor to ride with you.”

 Belle was flattered and bowed back. “And you, young sir. What is your name?”

  “Kip, nephew to the king,” he blushed.

“Thank you, Lord Kip, for your kindness,” said Belle. “Please, call me Belle.” She turned to her daughter as she mounted her horse. “I love you, Cailin.”

Kip’s eyes flickered to Cailin. He had wondered about her greatly, but when he looked at her, he turned back quickly. He didn’t know what he had expected, but she wasn’t striking like her mother. In fact, she looked positively human. Kip shook himself. That’s where intolerance comes from! Being disappointed in what one sees because it wasn’t what he thought it should be. Kip looked at her again, this time without great expectations, and saw a pretty and able girl. There was nothing wrong with being human—or looking it. He smiled at her and she returned it, then his eyes wandered over to Brielle. He gave her a soft smile as he turned to go. He nodded at her as she held her hand up slightly.

Amine put her arms around Brielle and Cailin as they watched the party go. In an attempt to take their minds off their aches, Amine set them to tasks of washing and ironing while she baked bread and pies. They would go hunting later, and show Cailin around the city of Fordra. Cailin was grateful to this woman for giving her room and board while her parents were gone, but she felt a little resentful that her mother had left her to be an ambassador in a country and to a king she didn’t really understand. She understood her mother’s intentions, and she knew the job was important, but she also knew Belle had taken her away from the front lines for a reason. She appreciated being protected; she resented being treated like a child. She was deep in these thoughts when Brielle spoke quietly.