Whispers and Promises (restarted)

[DrStein]

Rath winced at that. He wanted to be there with her badly. Very badly. But he couldn't afford arouse suspicion. "I can't. If I'm not back at the palace by nightfall, they may start to think I'm hiding something. And my father..." He trailed off at that. He had been trying to reconcile with his father over the last year, though the rift between them still remained. They had reached a certain peace, but he worried for Kyra if he did anything to anger his father. "I'll stay as long as I can today, but we can't draw any more attention."

He tilted Kyra's head up to look at him. "Please. Trust me that everything will be all right." He kissed her again, trying to give her some hope that this horrible ordeal would soon be over.

 

[heartofcourage]

Kyra knew that he couldn't stay, but that didn't really make her feel any better. She wanted him there with her. They hadn't been parted in a year and she felt as if her heart had been ripped from her chest.

"I know." She said softly as he kissed her again, a soft sigh leaving her lips as she allowed herself to be soothed by the fact that Rath loved her.

 

[DrStein]

"You'll be strong. I know you will." He wiped away her tears with a delicate touch and kissed her again. "I'll make sure guards are posted at your door tonight. You will be safe, I promise." They stayed together another minute before Rath helped her to clean up and dress for the day.

When they entered the library again, Master Khalid was waiting for them. "I hope the two of you are feeling better. I understand it can be difficult when much is asked of you."

Rath raised a hand to silence the wizard. "We all have our responsibilities. Nonetheless, I am told that you and your fellows wanted to speak with me. I would hear what you have to say."

 

[heartofcourage]

In her deep sorrow, Kyra had nearly forgotten that Khalid wanted to speak to Rath about some of his ideas. She glanced at her lover, pulling him towards a seat so that they might be more comfortable.

"Master Khalid has some ideas of how to improve things here in Rhagal. He wants to speak to you before going to the king." She said softly, knowing that this conversation might be dangerous enough.

 

[DrStein]

Rath looked at Kyra then back to Khalid. "I don't mean to be rude, but why did you not petition my father for an audience?"

Khalid hesitated. "King Athmir does not speak to us much. He was a general in his youth, not a scholar. Though wise he is not given to the debate among sages and wizards. He prefers action. You, my prince, are a reader. My cousin, Ithros, speaks very highly of you and your desire for knowledge. I considered it wiser to have debate done and settled with you present before proposals were made to your father. To do otherwise would be to waste his valuable time. We would not wish to disrespect your house."

The subtext did not escape Rath. Still, the sage had clearly thought about the most diplomatic way to say this. "When the time comes to present these ideas before the court, we will say that you are there by my request." Better that if things went badly the king would blame his son rather than the wizards. "Show me these plans."

For several hours, they went over scrolls and books proposing new buildings, structures, and policies. Rath found many of the ideas appealing, but the cost would mean that these ideas would have to be phased in slowly, taking time to gradually improve the standard of living in Rhagal. Rath concluded that it would be better to bring these before the king one at a time in an order they would determine as they went along. Of all the projects, they concluded that the first to bring before the king was a plan to build irrigation ditches, increasing the space farmlands beyond the flood plains and providing the kingdom with more food. "My father would be more amenable to this considering several patches of land were salted and ruined by the Enshar rebels. It will be years yet before the areas can be farmed again."

 

[heartofcourage]

Kyra sat at Rath's side, listening as he and Khalid hashed out the details of their new plans. There was little that she could add the moment except be dutiful to Rath's needs. She had learned that he valued her opinion about everything. She could be his greatest ally and the person that would talk late into the evening with him when there was a problem that arose.

She glanced towards the door as it opened a crack and she smiled as she saw Shar duck away. He was a curious boy, one that so badly wanted to talk more with the prince. She waved him into the room, grinning as he came to stand next to her quietly. When the conversation reached a lull, Kyra took Rath's hand and squeezed it.

"My prince, Shar has been waiting patiently to speak with you again." She said softly, giving a wink to the young boy who looked so nervous.

 

[DrStein]

Rath looked up as Kyra spoke to him and saw standing beside her the young man he had rescued last year. He smiled at the sight of the boy with his shaved head and white robe. It marked him apart from Master Khalid with his great beard and blue robes. "Good to see you again. Kyra tells me that you've taken well to life here in the library."

Shar's face lit up at that and he bowed deeply. At Rath's request, the young man described his studies at great length. The boy's interest in medicine in particular caught the prince's attention. "Hmm... You have interest in being a healer, do you?"

"I do, your grace," the boy responded with enthusiasm shining in his eyes. "Giving health to others is the work of the gods. That's why you risked your life to save me and the others from that building."

Rath smiled at the compliment and looked to Khalid. "How much longer before Shar completes the first phase of his education?"

"Another three years, your grace."

"Very well." Rath rubbed his chin in thought. "The house of Katum has worked for generations to expand our libraries. When Shar is ready for the next phase of his teaching, inform me. I will see about funding an expedition to Shansul. I would like him to travel there with three other physicians and learn what they can. Any books they can bring back will be even better." Shansul's healers were known for their strange and mystical ways, but their results were undeniable. Rath had entertained the idea of learning more from them, and this seemed a perfect opportunity.

Shar's eyes grew wide with wonder at the prince's proposal. "I... You want me to learn from Shansul?"

Rath nodded. "When the time comes, yes. For now you must complete the studies Master Khalid has given you. Prove yourself, and you and three others will be the first to bring Shansulese medicine to Rhagal."

The boy bowed deeply until Master Khalid tapped his shoulder to give him leave to rise again.

 

[heartofcourage]

Kyra smiled as Rath made the boy's day by not only giving him purpose, but promising him a future. She squeezed Rath's hand as the boy left the room, his step lighter and with a smile upon his face. She wondered what it felt like to have a future all spelled out for you. Her smile faltered slightly as she thought about that. The king had made it clear that he wanted her to have nothing to do with Rath, but her heart was telling her that her place was there with him. She was torn by her duty to the crown and what her heart wanted.

 

[DrStein]

Rath looked over and saw conflict in Kyra's eyes. He did not know what had caused it, but he wished he could hold her in his arms and tell her it would be all right. Not here though. Not now. In fact he had already stayed longer than he intended. He would need to get back before his father went looking for him.

"I apologize but it's time I returned to court. No doubt our guests want to bore me with criticisms about the rugs or some such nonsense."

 

[heartofcourage]

"Of course, my prince. Thank you for coming to visit this evening." Kyra said as Rath announced that he needed to get back to the palace.

She stood from her spot and escorted him to the door as Khalid bid him a fond farewell. She pulled him to a stop, looking up into his eyes for a long moment, wishing that she could kiss him one more time.

"Dream of me tonight, my lord." She whispered softly.

 

[DrStein]

"Every night," Rath answered in a whisper. He kissed her hand and departed. Once he returned to the palace, he instructed the two guards who had escorted him to return to the library and watch over Kyra. He would send replacements in the evening to guard her apartment.

He went to the banquet hall, fully expecting more awkward conversation. He could at least talk to his father of plans for the irrigation ditches to try and keep the banality to a minimum.

He entered to the sight of Shula berating a servant. Inwana and Dinaran were casting the poor girl venomous looks, the courtiers were shocked, and King Athmir looked increasingly aggravated by the second. "What is going on here?" Rath barked.

All eyes turned to the prince as he walked up to the source of the commotion. "What is the meaning of all this?"

Shula scowled at him and pointed an accusing finger at the servant who was on her knees in contrition and crying. "This... this pig spilled wine on me! Your wretched servants are all incompetent! Now I see why you people live as you do!"

"Enough!" the king bellowed. "The girl made a mistake. That is no reason to belittle my kingdom!"

This time it was Inwana who snapped. "What makes you think this wasteland is worth defending?! You and your idiot son have been nothing but awful to us. The food is terrible, the music is terrible, the people are terrible. And yet you continue to act so proud of this kingdom of dirt and savages. You couldn't even keep those raiders from burning your villages without having to put them down like dogs! And that's what all you people are!"

Rath couldn't hold it in anymore. During Inwana's tirade he stormed up to her. Her last sentence was screamed as she turned to him and he struck her with a full-armed slap across the face. Dinaran scrambled over and attempted to strike Rath, who blocked and returned with a hard punch to the face, sprawling the Dathish prince across the table with food and wine knocked everywhere. Even the guards, who had drawn swords and moved to intervene stopped in stunned silence. "You are no royalty here!" Rath roared in abject rage. "Not one of you! You hold wealth and power but don't know how to use it! You're the spoiled brats of a usurper. You've never earned a single blessing in your life and still remain ungrateful and demand more. Leave this kingdom now and never return!"

The silence that followed was like the calm after a storm. Rath's chest rose and fell with heavy breathing and all stared at him in shock but for the king. It was rare in the extreme for the prince to lose his temper like that. The three spoiled royals all looked to King Athmir.

Finally the king stood. "My son is right. In the short time you have been our guests you have behaved most inappropriately. I revoke the hospitality of the house of Katum and ask that you depart for Dath by tomorrow morning."

"You can't do this to us!" Inwana screeched. "Do you know who my father is?!"

"Yes," Athmir replied. "As the prince said, your father is the usurper of the Dathish throne. If you ask a stupid question, you get the answer that you deserve." He turned to the guards. "Show our guests to their chambers. They are not to leave or interact with any of the courtiers until they are ready to depart for their homeland." At that he sat back down and began replacing the food that had been scattered from his plate when Dinaran crashed into the table.

Rath was somewhat stunned by his father. He had expected his outburst to be met with discipline, but instead... The princess and her relations were escorted from the hall by the guards and the room returned to an anxious murmur.

Rath joined his father at the table. "I... am sorry I lost my composure like that."

The king looked over at Rath. Not the sidelong glance that he so often gave, but his full attention was turned to his son. "Sometimes an outburst is necessary to make a point. I actually am proud that you stood up for your kingdom so."

Now the prince was speechless. It had been a long time since his father praised him so. After the meal he retired to the library to speak with Ithros and Salemar. He told them of the events at the banquet hall and that the Lady Kyra would be rejoining them as soon as the visiting royals were out of the city. This news was written in a letter, which the apprentice scribe promptly went to carry to the library.

 

[heartofcourage]

When Kyra received his note, she felt her heart lift. The usurpers were being banished from the kingdom. She felt a certain satisfaction at that, but then the unexpected tears came back to her. She sat in the window of her borrowed room, looking out across the country that she had become fond of in the time that she had been there.

She should have been the princess trying to woo Rath's heart. It should have been her in his court, loving him as a princess of Dath would. She would have worn her best dress, the one that was lavender like her birds. She would have worn her mother's tiara, which she was sure that pretender now wore instead. She could have loved Rath without having to hide from anyone. Instead...she was hiding like a coward, afraid of every bump and noise that came her way.

She pushed away from the window, wiping her eyes. She wasn't one to be cooped up and when she opened the door and saw the guards there, she knew what she wanted to do. "If you would collect Amina and Shar, I would like to go to the market for dinner." She commented softly, respectful of the men that were giving their time to protect her for the prince.

 

[DrStein]

The guards were surprised and looked at one another but acquiesced with a bow of their heads. The marketplace after dark was still colorful even though the crowds were thinner. Lanterns and roasting fires illuminated the way and vendors hawked their wares and food with gusto.

"The juiciest skewers to be found in nine kingdoms!"

"Beautiful baubles for a beautiful woman!"

"Figs and dates! Only the freshest and sweetest to be found here!"

Amina had requested that Salemar come with them and the two of them held hands as they followed Kyra through the marketplace.

 

[heartofcourage]

Kyra felt lighter now that she was out of her rooms. It was nice to be among the people of Rhagal, even if it was with an armed guard.

"Well, Shar? Where shall we eat this evening?" She asked the young boy that she was becoming fond of as she steered him towards a tent that was selling delicious smelling roasted meats and vegetables. "Order anything you like."

 

[DrStein]

Shar was overwhelmed to out in the marketplace after dark. It had been a year since he'd wandered through the streets at night. When Kyra asked for his input, he pointed to the tent they stood near. The vendor was selling skewers of mutton and vegetables and the spicy scent coming from his fires was heavenly. The merchant added a pomegranate for each person in the group, including the guards. "My compliments for the Lady Kyra," he beamed.

At the palace meanwhile, Rath was returning to his chambers thankful that he could be with Kyra again tomorrow after those horrible brats were gone. As he walked down the halls he could hear Inwana having a screaming tantrum behind closed doors. Much longer and she would ruin her voice for at least a day. The thought brought a smirk of satisfaction to Rath's face.

 

[heartofcourage]

Kyra smiled at the vendor and bowed her head towards him as she pulled out enough money to pay for their food. "Thank you, my good sir. A few extra coins for your service as well if you include some of those heavenly smelling sticky sweets."

As the sweet dessert was placed in a waxed skin, she took it gratefully and handed him the coins in exchange. Again, she nodded her head towards him, leaving him with a friendly smile as she rejoined the group with enough food for everyone.

 

[DrStein]

Everyone was grateful for the meal that Kyra had brought them. As they ate, a few citizens approached to offer their praise of the Dathish lady. They also asked that their regards be sent to the prince. Some for his victory over the Enshar last year. Some for the architects and carpenters he sent to repair homes in the city. Others still praising his house for the years of leadership they had provided.

Amina looked over at Kyra and smiled. "If I may speak freely, my lady, I believe you've been a wonderful influence on the prince. Before you came to the court, he was a brave warrior, but had little skill at governance. Now the people anticipate his coronation."

 

[heartofcourage]

"They should rejoice and pray for their king to have a long reign." Kyra answered diplomatically. "It's only with his father's long rule that the prince will learn what it takes to be a monarch."

She glanced at Shar as he eyed the sticky sweets that she had bought and she gave him a smile, nodding that he could get into them when he wanted.

 

[DrStein]

"Oh, they do, my lady," Salemar replied. "But please understand. Prince Rath was not supposed to be the first in line." He and Amina looked to each other before the scribe pursed his lips and continued. "His elder brother, Samir, was to be the heir. Rath was being groomed for military leadership. Samir was more like King Athmir. Stoic, quiet and deliberate. Rath was more headstrong. He insisted on riding on the front lines, insisting that he would never ask a man to take a risk that he himself would not.

"Several years ago, Prince Samir fell ill and after a week passed away... He was poisoned. The palace chaplain Isamu was responsible. He claimed that the gods sent him a vision that the house of Katum would end with a tyrant, so he was plotting to kill the entire royal family one at a time. Isamu escaped from the palace before his execution and fled into the desert. Prince Rath was 18 at the time."

Amina picked up where Salemar left off. "That was how the Enshar rebellion began, my lady. The Enshar tribe lived on the fringes of our kingdom and had an old grudge with the house of Katum that Isamu inflamed. They named him a prophet and began their campaign against the royal family."

Salemar continued. "Many doubted that Prince Rath would be able to carry on his father's work. He had not been groomed for it. Only the soldiers he fought with gave him support."

 

[heartofcourage]

"That's silly. Just because someone isn't groomed for a throne doesn't mean that they don't have a heart." Kyra said as she looked down at her food. "Anyone can learn to be a king, be they prince or beggar. All you need is a deep heart and a willingness to listen."

 

[DrStein]

"Having the heart and having the means are not always the same thing, my lady," Salemar said with a note of a sadness. "Master Ithros had confidence in Prince Rath, but it wasn't until you brought out the best in him that I understood what he meant."

Shar sat there listening even as he ate. "Prince Rath will be a great king. I know he will! No tyrant would do what he did."

 

[heartofcourage]

"He will be a great king." Kyra said, smiling at Shar as he suddenly piped up. "But only when his time has come. He has much to learn and he knows this. A great king is one that is always willing to learn from his citizens and from his past."

 

[DrStein]

The meal concluded, the guards advised Kyra that it was time to return to the library. Salemar bid them a farewell and took Amina's hands, placing a kiss upon them that caused her to blush and smile before he left. The library was closed to the public at this hour. The wizards were busy tidying up and the apprentices were performing chores, which Shar was quickly set to work on. Khalid asked Kyra if there were any books she would like to read before going to bed and her guards dutifully stood by her before the two replacements came from the palace.

 

[heartofcourage]

"A history of the royal family if you have one." She commented to Khalid as he asked her if there was something she wanted to read before bed. "The current king's line if possible."

She was determined to learn as much about Rath's royal lineage as she could. If she was to wed him one day, she wanted to know him intimately.

 

[DrStein]

Khalid brought her the book and bid her a good night, asking only that she bring the tome back to him in the morning. The book detailed the lineage of Rath's house beginning with Katum, for whom his house was named for and who united the desert tribes into the nation of Rhagal. It detailed the reigns of 200 years of kings and queens who followed and how each of them left their mark upon history.

At the palace, Rath slept more peacefully knowing that the love of his life was safe and that the pretenders would be leaving in the morning.