Shadow

Idonia Torbet

The next ten days go by in a whirlwind of torture. By day I was vomiting over the deck and the nights made me so tired and filled with nightmares. Rae still stayed by my side, making sure I had water and got a little sleep. When I though I finally got used to life on a ship, we reached the western shore of Bethlianna.

And for that, I was grateful.

The grass was still green whereas Theris gas was covered in frost. In the distance, I could catch slight glimpses of the Anias Mountains through the clouds. The port we landed in was busy with cargo ships, horses and wagons rushes up and down the cobblestone streets. Women work in each shop and house, dressed in aprons and quart sleeves, as the cold has not reached this far south.

A gold carriage, carrying the distinctive marks of the Dolph family, waits for us. At least ten Viker surround the carriage, along with a driver and a footman. The footman opens the door, auburn hair meets my gaze as a male resembling Rae steps out.

“Rae!” the male runs over to him and they hug. When the two separate, they turn to me. “Is this?”

“Avon, this is my mate, Khanelea Idonia Torbet-Dolph and her brother, Viker in training, Olen. Idonia, Olen, this is my brother Avon.”

“Where is Danal, he is supposed to be helping me on the duel dagger technique,” Avon looks around us. His brother grabs Avon’s shoulders, bracing him for the news.

“Danal died,” Rae chokes slightly. “He died honorably.”

Avon hugs his brother once more, this time in grief instead of celebration. “He died honorably?” Rae only nods once before Avon moves away and copies the gesture. “We should be on our way then. Mother misses your terribly and Disa is driving the castle crazy.”

Rikki smiles at the mention of her mate, “I can’t wait to hold her. How big is she?”

“Your pup grows strong,” is all Avon comments. “Mikkeal tried to comment on the pup’s size and she nearly killed him.”

We all load onto the carriage, myself and Rae on one side and the other three facing us. The convoy takes off and we start east to the capital of Bethlianna, Thialos, where the royal homestead awaited us. I had heard rumors of the grand city but had never seen it, or anything like it, up close. They say that Thialos is larger than any other town or city in all of the Bethley Isles. That it is full of the homeless, the rich, and all those in between.

“Tell me, Rae, how was all the traveling?” Avon’s eyes light up. “It must have been thrilling.”

“The only important part of my journey was the conclusion,” Rae holds my hand, squeezing it tight.

“Father had talked of nothing more than grandpups since you left.” Rae tenses, and it is my turn to test our bond. I push through it comfort and calmness.

“He speaks of the Khannun?”

“He doesn’t know.” Rae replies in a soft voice, as if speaking too loudly would let Avon hear. He then speaks aloud, “Pups may be a while still.”

Avon waved his hand, “No matter. Sive is also determined to replace Hella with your mate. She still stands firm that is was unfair that the best sister left.”

“I’m sure Hertha is so pleased,” Rae replies sarcastically. “How is Mother? Have you heard from Hella?”

“Mother is well, she spends most her days with Sive, teaching her to be a proper Madam and all. Hetha is fighting with Father, again. Hella has sent word that she is loving her new home with Master Siguard Engberg,” Avon turns to me next. “He owns a large farm in the north, past the Anias Mountains.”

“I see, the mountains looks beautiful,” I comment, looking out one of the small windows to see the view. We passed by many fields that had workers harvesting the crop. Orchards sprung up between the fields, again, with more men working in them to make the harvest. It is a truly beautiful and amazing thing, to see Bethlianna still in their fall season while Theris has frost covering the ground.

“I think you’ll find the capital quite lovely, your greatness.” The term catches me off guard. Sure many have called me the Khanelea and refered to me as such, but I didn’t think Rae’s brothers would do the same.

“No need for that, please call me Idonia,” I tell him. Avon looks so much like Rae, it is so incomprehensible. “You’re family.”

Avon gave me a large, toothy grin. “Mother is going to love you. We’ve needed a northern girl in a family for a while, I think.”

My jaw tenses and I speak then through clenched teeth. “Us northerners are a riot.” Rae squeezed my thigh, keeping me back from reprehending him for the comment. I was expecting something like this, especially from the rich Masters in Thialos.

“How many years do you have, boy?” Avon slapped Olen’s legs, drawing the attention from me to my brother.

“I have ten years, sir,” Olen speaks softly, looking at the floor of the carriage.

“Quiet, are we? Ten years, that is about Sive’s age,” Avon elbows my brother. “She is not quiet.”

Rae chuckles, the sound delighting me more than I expect. “I haven’t seen Sive since she had ten years. How was her birth celebration, did she get my gift?”

“She loved the necklace you sent, wears it every day. It was from the mines of Maelifell, correct?”

“Yes,” he turns to me. “I will take you someday.”

“The southernmost Isle?” I ask him, leaning back to gauge his seriousness. “Let me get used to the heat here first.”

“It’s not that hot,” Rae protests. “Wait until the midsummer, this is autumn.”

“It is already snowing in Theris,” I remind him.

“You two are too cute,” Avon coos. “When can I leave to look for my mate?”

“Gods be good, you won’t have too. Hopefully your mate will come to our coronation and you will have her,” Rae brings my knuckles to his lips and kisses them gently. “Hopefully Hertha finds hers first, of else there will be hell to pay for us all.”

“Truer words have never been spoken, brother. Mikkeal also wants you to help him with his horsemanship. The thoroughbred Father bought him is just too much.”

“Father bought him a horse? A fully grown horse?”

“A warhorse from Øysten,” Avon told him. “I said it was too much. That he sound train a colt like we did, but Father said he was too busy to help him and if I though Mikkeal should have a colt then I would have to help train it. I tried, but Father also has me in charge of the new boys in the yard.”

“Why is he recruiting so many soldiers?” Rikki asks.

“I have no clue. Something about a ship that went east of Asar and he wants to secure his ‘legacy.’ I think he’s loosing it,” Avon explains.

“East of Asar?” I look from Avon to Rae. “There is an east of Asar?”

“Not that I’ve known or sailed.” Rae replies. “He found something east of Asar?”

Avon waved him off, “Probably not. Many have traveled east of Asar, west of Øysten, and south of Maelifell. Nothing is out there. The islands the humans came from are gone, lost to the sea."

The rest of the journey was mostly silent. Olen at one point, climbed from his seat into my lap to have a better look at the landscape. After an hour, he fell asleep. When the sun finally fell, I noticed that Olen was not the only one alseep. Rikki had also closed his eyes and Avon was close to sleep as well.

"Are you awake?" I ask my mate through the bond.

"Very much so."

"What is Khannun Kol doing?"

"I don't know, but it has me worried." Rae leans over and kisses my temple, brushing my hair back. "Whatever is happening, I will find out and handle it."

"We will handle it."

"Yes, we will."