The falcon's daughters

Chapter 34

Kit looked up at the juicy red fruits that hung on the branches above her. She backed up a few steps and to measure up the distance. A deep breath filled her lungs and slowly let the air out before she began to run. With three steps she reached the tree. She placed one foot up on the trunk of the tree and pushed away. She stretched out her arms and closed her hands on the lower branch and swung her body up and locked her legs around the branch to pull herself up.

- Kit! What are you doing?

She reached for a fruit and looked down at Cade.

- Picking fruit.

- Why didn't you say something? Your wounds can still go up.

- I am quite capable of climbing a tree Prince Cadenor.

- I could have helped you.

- You want to help? Well if his highness does not consider it to be below him, then you can hold the saddlebag.

The hostility in her voice didn't go unnoticed by him and he picked up the saddlebag and held it out below her. When she climbed higher in the tree he sighed and tried to keep her within his sight among the branches.

- Okay. I know I didn't say who I was but I didn't think there was anyone who didn't know. And it was nice to be treated like a normal person for once.

The bag was quickly filled with juicy red fruits and she descended from the tree. He stood in front of her and tried to get her to look at him.

- What's really wrong? Me not saying who I am can't be the only reason why you are so angry with me. Or is it because I kissed you?

- I doubt that any girl would be happy about their first kiss being forced upon them but that is hardly the reason. If I had known who you really were, I probably wouldn't have hated you half as much as I do now.

She turned to look at him and the cold in her eyes made him shiver but he still didn't understand why she was so mad at him so he grabbed her arm when she tried to pass him.

- What are you talking about?

- We took the shortest route Lace knew to find you. That road led us through the Plainlands. Everything that has happened to me, everything that I have had to endure, in recent months has been due to you.

She tore her arm from his grasp and while he looked at her in shock she took the saddlebag from him and carried it to Chiro where she attached it to his saddle. The others got their horses and they followed the ledge up to the valley entrance. Kit looked around one last time before entering the path where the darkness soon surrounded her. The branches that hid the passage from sight were set aside and they stepped out into a glittering world. The night frost was still white on the ground, sparkling in the pale light of the morning sun. A cold wind made them shiver and Cade muttered.

- I hope we reach Laniro before the storms start.

- We’ll have to hurry the best we can.

They got up in the saddles and the frostbitten grass shattered beneath the horses' hooves as they left. The sun rose in the sky and as the day grew warmer the frost melted away. At the end of the day, they decided to stop and make camp. The fire burned clear and strong as Cade left the camp. He walked toward a group of high stones. With a sigh, he leaned his back against one of them. The grass crackled at his side and he quickly pulled his knife and turned in the same motion. Lee held up his hands in front of him.

- Take it easy Cade.

- Lee. Don't sneak up on me like that. I could have killed you.

He put away the knife and Lee laughed.

- Not a chance. You couldn't even defeat an infant right now. What’s wrong?

- It's nothing. I'm just tired.

- You can't fool me. I have seen you tired and still manage to defeat three men in battle.

- I know.

He sighed and sat down by a large boulder and leaned his head at the stone.

- Cade I'm your brother. Talk to me.

Lee sat down beside him and looked thoughtfully at his brother, who glanced at the camp.

- I saw you talk to Kit before we left. What happened between the two of you?

Cade pulled his hands through his hair and closed his eyes. He opened them again when  Lee put a hand on his shoulder. His eyes were tormented when he looked at the camp.

- I'm the reason Crayden got hold of her. They were looking for me and got stuck in his claws.

- You didn't know anyone would come and look for you. We both know how sick Crayden is and yes it couldn't have been easy for her to be his prisoner but …

- Lee! He flogged her!

Lee's mouth was opened and closed several times without a word moving over his lips.

- If I…

- Cade, listen to me. You have been protecting and caring for Kit since the day you met her. Without you, she might not have survived at all.

- Without me she would not have passed through the Plainlands!

- You don't know that. You can't change what has already happened.

- I really wish there was some way.

- I know, brother. I know.

The doors opened in front of them and they stepped into the throne room. Worgan rose from his throne and smiled at them.

- Y'zora.

He took her hands in his and gave her a light kiss on her cheek.

- It's nice to have you back here again dear friend. And you have to be Lace.

- That would be me, your majesty.

Lace bowed and Worgan looked at the group before him.

- You seem to be a few people short. Where are the girls and my son?

- Lee and Sol set off to find Kit. 

Worgan gave her a confused look and she smiled before she started to explain.

- Lace and Kit managed to escape from Crayden but were separated.

- Crayden caught me but she managed to get away. That was the only thing that mattered. And now we know she's safe.

Worgan looked from Y’zora to Lace and back again and sat down on a chair.

- And now I'm afraid you lost me again.

- Sol sent Lace a message last night and said that they had found her. They should be here in a few weeks. Together with Prince Cadenor.

- Cadenor? How did he get involved in this?

- Somehow Kit found him and has been traveling with him.

He nodded and smiled reassuringly to Lace.

- Then she has been well cared for, Lace.

- I have no doubt about that, your majesty. I would like to ask your majesty for a favor. When Prince Cadenor returns, I would like to look in the archives.

Worgan immediately understood what Lace was after and nodded.

- I see. You want to know who your girls are.

- Someone left them in the mountains to die. But if we don't know who they are, we can never find out why.

- Of course you shall have full access to the archives and all the help you want.

- If your majesty doesn't mind it, I'd rather take care of it myself. I don't want the girls to know anything. Not right now anyway.

- As you wish. Garrett will show you to a room Lace. You look like you need to rest.

- That would be nice. Your majesty, Y’zora.

He bowed slightly and silently followed Garrett and left the room. Worgan turned to Y'zora.

- How long are you going to stay?

- Sol and I will be traveling to Dragon Island in a couple of months. I have arranged a transfer from the harbor here.

- Then you're here when it's time for the ball. That's good.

- So you still arrange it.

- Of course I do Y'zora. It has been a tradition in Carlan for hundreds of years.

- I look forward to it. It's been forever since I attended a ball last.

- I know many will be glad to see you. Your sister Nerina is coming and she is bringing little Makena this year.

- I can hardly believe it has been almost twenty years since I met my sisters. Will Aliandra and Harran attend this year?

- With the newborn, they probably think that Kaffer and Termilyn have enough to deal with. I don't think they want to give them any more by taking care of the kingdom when they're gone. Azram and his wife Jossala will probably come in their place.

- I'm glad I can be here this year.

She smiled and wiped away a small tear. 

- I have really missed my family all these years. But I knew what I gave up for the call and not least for Sol.