Keeper (First Ordinance #2)(11)
"Tell Kooper to approach cautiously—we have no idea how unstable the old goat, as you call him, may be."
"You think he can cause more trouble?"
"That is my deepest worry, my son."
"How long do you plan to be gone?" Lendill asked.
"I intend to see whether the lands of this planet can be rescued from the blight," Kaldill shrugged at his image in the mirror.
"Building the gardens of Gaelar N'Seith on a barren planet may be a simple task compared to this, Pap."
"Nevertheless, I will see what may be done."
"Good luck, then. Let me know how things go."
"I'll need the luck just to keep some of them from shooting at us," Kaldill huffed. "They have weapons—at least some of them do. It surprises me that they haven't been noticed by the Alliance yet."
"No space travel?" Lendill asked.
"They have the capability; they just haven't turned their attention to it, yet."
"Send images, then. I'll transmit everything to Kooper."
"Ask him to relay all information to Queen Lissa. I believe the Three may be interested in this before long."
"Kooper says that Ildevar and Lissa are both looking for Breanne. What about Ashe? Is he where we can find him? Charles, too?"
"I don't know the whereabouts of any of them. Hank is also on the list of those we can't find. If you have suggestions on how to get their attention, I'd appreciate it."
Kaldill found it humorous that Love, Strength and Wisdom held such mundane names as Breanne, Ashe and Charles, but perhaps they, too, looked upon his name as something strange.
"It's neither here nor there—we have to do what we can to keep this from spreading," Lendill's voice expressed discomfort. "I never thought to feel the fear of the planet beneath my feet, but I feel it now."
"You are growing as a Prince," Kaldill grinned and patted Lendill's shoulder. "It pleases me greatly."
*
Avii Castle
Quin
"I can fly there with Dena," I said when Berel asked whether I wanted to go with him in the smaller boats the ship had sent to the receiving crevice.
"Father asked that I stay with you," Berel shook his head. "Will you travel with me, instead?" I knew then that the High President still worried for his son's health.
"I'll go with you, then—I think Dena is curious about the boats anyway."
Our luggage had already been sent—mine was stowed in a cabin next to Berel's if his guard, Jhak, spoke the truth. He'd traveled with the luggage, to ensure that it remained safe while two other Kondari guards stayed behind with Berel.
Jhak had returned, however, and now it was time for the passengers to board the ships and sail for Fyris.
Gurnil had spoken with ship's captains regarding the distance between Avii Castle and Lironis, calculating the time, once the boats went through the strait. I'd been unconscious before when I was brought through it and wondered if I'd feel it now.
"Quin, we have guests," Gurnil interrupted my conversation with Berel on the Library terrace.
I turned and blinked in surprise.
Daragar had come, and with him, a man I didn't know. If Berel hadn't caught me, I might have fallen to the ground—that's how breathless I became at his appearance.
His name was Kaldill Schaff. Daragar introduced him as King of the Elves.
He was so much more than that. Holding my breath when he took my hand with a brilliant smile, I resolved to keep his secrets.
Chapter 3
Avii Castle
Quin
Who needs boats when a Larentii can take you anywhere he pleases? Daragar did so, transporting all of us to our designated ships.
"We have a Larentii traveling with us," Gurnil breathed to Ordin as cabins were assigned to Daragar and Kaldill. As pleased as I was that Daragar chose to go with us to Fyris, I was just as pleased that Kaldill had come.
Power shone about him whenever I looked, and I wondered that none of the others could see it.
The ship itself was very large and run efficiently by many Kondari men and women. For a moment, it took me by surprise that women would be soldiers, before determining that it was silly to think that. Justis had black-winged women in his guard, and they were more than effective at their work.
Plus, I'd been a soldier of sorts at Amlis' side and had saved his life, albeit in unconventional ways. The Kondari and Avii had moved past that archaic way of thinking and I was glad.
"We will meet for dinner—those of us aboard this ship," Berel handed a tab-vid to me. A schedule had been inserted, which I could read easily.
Orik, Sofi and Yissy were on another ship with two black-winged guards, while Wolter, Fen and Deeds, accompanied by two more Black Wings, rode the third. Omina, Amlis, Rodrik and Beatris rode with Berel and the rest of us on the flagship. Justis and Ardis were our black-winged guards, which pleased Dena greatly.
"It surprises me that this journey may only take a day," Berel took a seat next to mine in the meeting room. Windows surrounded us—the room had been designed for meetings between captain and staff, and was comfortably furnished with padded chairs and a heavy table.
I watched the deep waters pass swiftly below us and nodded at Berel's statement. I had the feeling that had Daragar and Kaldill chosen to do so, they could have moved ships as easily as people and we might have arrived already.