The falcon's daughters

Chapter 43

The dim light covered the balcony that went around the ballroom. None of the people in the hall noticed the figure hiding in the shadows. He snuck forward and stopped behind a pillar. With his back pressed against the cold stone, he picked out a small crossbow and pulled out an arrow from a container on the underside of the crossbow. From a pocket he picked out a small green vial. Carefully he pulled out the cap and poured a few drops of the contents in the vial onto the arrowhead. Silently, he reached the balcony railing where he sank down behind a tapestry. He moved the fabric a little to the side and looked out over the crowded floor. One by one he examined the people. Finally he found the one he was looking for. He loaded the crossbow and aimed carefully. Slowly he hugged the trigger and the arrow went towards his unsuspecting victim

Kit closed the door and slowly sat down on the soft bed. Dorcha approached her and gave her a slight nudge with her head. She sighed and let her hands slide over the feline’s smooth fur. 

- Oh Dorcha. What am I going to do? He makes me so confused. Sometimes he makes me so angry and then he does that...I really wish I could talk to Sol right now.

- And why can’t you do that?

- Because Sol is in the ballroom and he has probably returned there.

- So use the telepathy then.

- Telepathy?

The panther rolled her eyes and sighed.

- Sometimes I wonder what Lace actually taught you on the islands. Have you ever wondered why only you can hear me?

- So that’s because of telepathy? What is that anyway?

- Thought transfer.

- Can I do that?

- Try. Focus on my mind and what you want to say but use your thoughts to do it.

She closed her eyes and let out a long breath. With a jerk, she opened her eyes and looked around. Sighing, she sat up and closed her eyes again. When her body relaxed, she allowed her thoughts to float and concentrated to find Dorcha’s mind. 

- Can you hear me?

The panther snickered in her head when she responded.

- I can hear you just fine but you might want to  try to open your eyes. If you are out and about, it can be an advantage to see where you are going, right?

Embaressed Kit opened her eyes and looked around the room. 

- I understand. Can Sol and Deó talk to each other like this?

- They have their version of it just as we have ours.

- Can I talk to Sol?

- She also has the telepathic ability so I don’t understand why you shouldn’t be able to. Just do the same thing. Focus on that, it's her thoughts you wanna reach.

- I'm going to try. Sol, can you hear me?

- Kit?

Kit smiled widely when Sol’s surprised voice was heard.

- Is that you? When did you learn telepathy?

- A little while ago.

- It was about time little sister. This makes things easier for us. Now we will be able to talk to each other while being apart.

- How far apart do you think we can be?

- I don’t know. In time, we can test our abilities and train them.

- Do you think anyone can hear us speak?

- Only if you talk aloud little sister. Telepathy goes from your mind to mine. Was it something you wanted to talk to me about?

- There was one thing ... Cade.

- I understand. Our ... No!

The amusement in her sister's voice changed to a cry of fear before the contact was broken.

- Sol! What's going on! Sol!

- Leerian. May I exchange a few words with you?

- Of course uncle.

Lee put down his glass on a table and they walked away for a while before Tyrall spoke.

- I believe I saw some glances in a certain young lady's direction tonight. 

- Is it that obvious?

- I recognize that look, my boy. But I do not think she has noticed it yet. When are you going to tell her how you feel?

- Never!

Tyrall looked at his heir confused about his words.

- Don't you think she deserves to know? Or are you afraid she will not respond to your feelings?

- I hope she doesn’t.

- Why do you say that?

Lee sighed and looked down at the marble floor.

- She's a seer uncle. If she had feelings for me, it would mean she would lose that life. I can 't do that to her.

- Do you love her that much?

- More than my own life.

Sadly he looked up at the woman who smiled at something his father had just said.

- You know that you can not rule my kingdom without a queen by your side Leerian. Tamarin's laws are very clear about that. The heir to the throne must have a wife to take over the throne.

- I know uncle.

- But if you…

- I will have a queen when that day comes!

Lee’s voice was determined and Tyrall gave him a sympathetic pat on the shoulder.

- But it won’t be the one you really want.

- No. It will not be her.

The sorrow that emanated from Lee’s voice made Tyrall wish that he could change the laws of his country but he knew that it wasn’t that easy. He himself was unable, much to his own fathers dismay, to claim the throne until after his fiftieth birthday when he married Milari as he had sworn to never wed without love and when he met the twenty year younger Milari he knew that she was the only one he could ever marry. Seeing his own heir considering a loveless marriage just to save his kingdom pained his heart.

- Leerian it hurts me to see you like this. I had hoped you would find a woman who could make you as happy as Milari made me.

Lee raised a hand and tenderly pressed the old man's shoulder.

- Do not worry uncle. I will find a woman who will be a good queen.

- I have no doubt about that, my boy. I just want you to be happy with your choice of bride. Are you sure there is no chance for you two?

- Unfortunately, it is so.

A movement out of the corner of my eye caught Lee's attention. He looked up at the balcony and squinted to see something in the dark.

- Is there something wrong?

- I do not know yet. I thought I saw something.

The next moment he discovered the arrow that was fast approaching them.

- Uncle watch out! 

He called out and quickly pushed the older man away from the arrow's path.

Sol watched in shock as the scene in front of her unfolded infinitely slow. She saw Lee push away Tyrall who stumbled backwards and fell to the floor. And she saw Lee's body twitch and heard the painful moan as the arrow penetrated his shoulder. Unconsciously, she cried out in panic with her senses. With his hand pressed hard against his shoulder, he fell to his knees. Her sister's anxious voice echoed in her head.

- Sol! What's going on! Sol!

- Get Cade! Lee has been shot.

Her voice trembled when she broke the connection with her sister and hurried over to Lee with Worgan and Y'zora. Worgan got down to one knee at his son's side.

- Lee?

- The balcony. There's a man on the balcony.

- You heard him. Find the man who shot my son. And send for Teron.

The guards who had been rushing over immediately ran away and Worgan put a hand on his son’s unharmed shoulder.

- How are you?

.- Apart from the fact that I have an arrow in my shoulder, you mean. It hurts like hell, father, but I am alright.

- Your Majesty. I'm here.

A slender man wearing a blood-red cloak squatted down next to the prince. He felt gently on the bleeding shoulder and smiled relieved.

- I don’t think there has been any major damage to your highness. But of course we have to remove the arrow. Help His Highness to the hospital room.

Two guards helped Lee to his feet and began to lead him out of the hall when a voice was heard from the balcony.

- There is no one here Your Majesty, said a guard.

- Then I suggest you find him.

- Yes, Your Majesty.

They went to the hospital room and Sol stretched out her thoughts for her sister.

- Kit are you there?

- Yes, I've got Cade.

- We're on our way to the infirmary. How is he?

- The shot hit the shoulder but it does not appear to be serious.

- We'll be there soon. I promise.

Sol looked up when the contact with the sister ended and she noticed that Y'zora looked at her wonderingly. Y'zora reached out and stopped the girl as she was about to pass her.

- Your gaze a little while ago. Has anything happened?

- No, I just told Kit where we're going.

- Kit? So she shares your ability. I should have understood that.

- I thought she did it too, considering Dorcha. But when she didn’t answer my thoughts, I became pensive.

Y’zora gently put a lock of Sol’s hair over her shoulder and smiled tenderly.

- You have to keep in mind that Kit is not a seer like you child. She has not had any training in using her thoughts outside the body.

- But soon she will be able to do it without even thinking about it.