The Ring Keeper, page 51
He smiled and slid his arms around her to pull her close. “Your promise was worthless,” he murmured in her ear. “All you have to do is claim that someone was in danger, and you could do exactly as you please.”
“I don’t think it’s fair that…” she protested. His lips met hers and whatever she was about to say became unimportant.
Allia
ALLIA FLOATED IN THE BEST DREAM OF HER LIFE. The cold hard stone and heavy iron chain were gone, and she rested in a luxurious room. The aching loneliness that had trapped her had disappeared, replaced by contentment. She felt a soft mattress beneath her, and a thick blanket kept her warm. Best of all, she wasn’t alone. Callonen slept beside her. Her head rested on his chest, and his arms held her close. His love surrounded her. He respected her, cherished her, and would never hurt her.
As she stirred, she knew her body remained weak after the healing. Dark memories rushed in. She had been unable to move after using the ring and woke to find Haldreth in her bed. He had used her and intended to destroy her.
No. Haldreth was dead, and she was free.
She took in a long breath, casting out the painful memories in favor of the bliss of the moment.
Allia opened her eyes reluctantly, unwilling to leave the beautiful dream.
The light of morning shone in through an opening in the drapes. It was real. This was Callonen’s room. And he was beside her.
Within a few moments, her memory pieced itself together. Last night, Ana had come to heal Callonen, and Allia had lent her strength to help.
Callonen’s breathing remained even. He was asleep.
Allia took in a deep breath, grateful that her strength had begun to return. Her arms and hands obeyed her will. She touched the silver band on its chain around his neck and ran her fingers over Callonen’s arm where it had been injured. Nothing remained but a faint scar. He was really here, alive and healthy. She slid her arms around him, savoring the feel of his skin against hers.
He drew in a quick breath, awake now and aware of her touch.
After the night of rest, she had regained the energy to speak. “Callonen,” she whispered.
His arms tightened around her, pulling her closer; her head tucked under his chin. “I’m here.”
“How do you feel this morning?” she asked. He’d been very near death when Ana had come.
“I feel perfect. I have never wanted anything more than to wake up with you in my arms. I want to wake up with you every morning for the rest of my life.”
“Callonen, we have to talk before you say that. I’m not the same person I was when we parted.”
“No,” he agreed. “Me neither.”
“Haldreth said you would hate me for the things I’ve done, and you’d never want me back.” Allia felt tears welling in her eyes at the memory.
Callonen held her, and she felt his lips against her brow. “That’s not true. He lied. I don’t hate you. I would never feel that way.” His embrace was warm and accepting. Being close to Haldreth had felt nothing like this.
She drew back and looked up at Callonen. “But do you know what I did? Everything? I took a knife and stabbed him. Me. With my own hand. And I… I helped him create the demons. How many good people have died because of that? They nearly killed Talon and Zarek. Because of me, they killed Harrow. I know there are many others.” Tears ran down her cheeks.
With care to miss the cuts on her face, Callonen gently brushed the tears away and met her gaze. “I know. The Warding is back, and I know everything. You feared for your life when you attacked Haldreth. And you felt helpless to do anything else when he forced you to help him with his magic. None of this was your fault.”
“If I had only been stronger that night! He would have died. Even though he would have killed me first, he would have been dead. There would have been no demons…”
“You can’t take that burden on yourself,” Callonen said gently. He took her hand in his and brought it to his lips and kissed it. “I know what you did, and why, but Haldreth caused this. Not you. I’m so glad you’re here, alive…” He pulled her close again. “It didn’t seem possible. I really thought you were dead. Now you’re here, and how can you forgive me for not bringing you home sooner? I tried to save you, but Haldreth had you too well guarded. They nearly caught us.”
“You were injured, weren’t you?” she asked, thinking of the scar she had seen last night.
He nodded. “I failed. I should have protected you!”
“I… I wish you could have,” she said. “But… I have to tell you… Cirana is Haldreth’s child. The first time it happened was just after I healed him. And I couldn’t even fight back. He knew I wouldn’t be able to. He said you’d reject me for that too, even though I had no choice.”
“Never!” Callonen gazed down at her, tears welling in his dark eyes. His voice was choked with emotion. “He knew nothing about me. I love you, Allia. And nothing that he did to either of us is going to change that!”
She put her arms around him and held him tight. They cried together, sharing the pain, loneliness and despair they had each suffered.
Haldreth couldn’t have ever really known his brother. A man who would sacrifice for those he loved would never refuse to forgive them if they asked. And Allia felt lighter now that she’d told Callonen. Some part of her had been afraid that Haldreth’s lies were true.
Allia wiped her eyes and looked at him. “He didn’t try to… force me again after Cirana was born. It’s been many years. I think he was more concerned with the demons and building his kingdom. It was a long time ago. What about you? Haldreth told me you’d married someone else. Did that beautiful princess from Paraman come back?”
Callonen shook his head. “I never saw her again. It took years before anyone in Paraman would speak to me. If not for Cirana’s astounding diplomatic skills, they would probably still hate me.” He pulled her closer. “There was never anyone but you, Allia, and I’ve been alone all this time. I was hoping, if you will accept me, you might change that. Of course, I would understand, after everything that happened with my brother, if you don’t feel you can be with me. I look just like him. When you look at me will you think of him?”
Allia drew in a deep breath. If she woke in the middle of the night and saw him beside her, would she enjoy the dream of being with Callonen or recall the nightmare of being with Haldreth?
Callonen pulled the chain from around his neck and removed the ring. “You gave this to me all those years ago, and I am still waiting for you to put it on me. I kept it, thinking of you, and I never gave my heart to anyone else.”
Allia took the ring and slid it onto his finger.
Callonen examined his hand with the band in place. He held it out for her to see. “I will leave it there for the rest of my life,” he vowed. “You gave this to me, a symbol of your love. When you see it, you’ll know that it’s me, and I am nothing like my brother. It will remind you of my promise that my hands will never hurt you.”
Allia felt tears welling in her eyes. “He might have looked like you, but he was never anything like you.” Her fingers traced a new white line just below his ear. She was silent for a long moment, the events of the last years passing through her mind. “There are scars from this.” She touched the mark on his chest from where his brother had stabbed him. “For both of us. But if you are willing, we can heal them together.”
“I am willing,” he murmured.
Allia took in a deep breath, allowing her fears and worries to fade away. She gazed up at him and smiled. For a moment she felt like the eighteen-year-old girl who had fallen so hard for the handsome, unattainable prince. There was nothing she wanted more than to stay with him.
She pulled his head down and kissed him. The touch of his lips on hers felt like coming home.
The End
Thanks for reading The Ring Keeper. If you've enjoyed reading this book, please leave a review on your favorite review site. It helps me reach readers who might enjoy more of my books.
Read on for a sneak peak at War's Ending, the story of Shalyrie and Kalleck, nobility from opposing nations on the brink of war.
CHAPTER 1
Lady Shalyrie Almorin
A FRESH SEA BREEZE filled the sails and pushed the ship steadily toward the harbor. Lady Shalyrie Almorin, niece of the King of Almoria, stood on the prow, watching the land grow nearer. They were headed north, and the early sun was shining on tall mountain peaks. They stood against the sky like giant stone teeth, white with snow.
“Can you see anything yet?” Lorelei asked excitedly, coming up behind her. “Aren’t you freezing out here?” She wrapped a long blue cloak around Shalyrie’s shoulders.
“Thank you.” It was cool on deck, but Shalyrie hadn’t wanted to break away from her first view of Newport. Already she could begin to see the city, clusters of buildings climbing up the hill from the harbor and the outline of an imposing fortress at the top. Newport was the newest and most exciting colony of the island nation Almoria, and this was the king’s first visit here.
“Are you ready?” Lorelei asked, looking over Shalyrie’s gown of pale yellow silk. “You should let me tidy your hair before we arrive,” she suggested, tucking in a strand of Shalyrie’s blond hair. “You’re windblown.”
“All right. I’ll come in a moment,” Shalyrie said.
“I’ll check again to make sure everything is packed,” Lorelei said.
“Thank you.”
Shalyrie turned back to the view of the mountains, towers of bare rock and white snow. She’d never seen snow before. Fascinating… It covered the mountain peaks like white caps on ocean waves. She tore her gaze away and went back to her cabin. They would be arriving soon.
When Shalyrie returned to the deck, her older brother Olthorin was already there. He looked a little stiff and formal in his long coat with the shiny buttons and his high, polished boots. They shared the same coloring, pale hair and blue-green eyes, but so did most Almorians. Olthorin had just finished growing a short beard, now neatly trimmed. He looked older with the beard, or more like their uncle.
Olthorin grinned at her. “Ready for your first look at Newport, Ree?”
She smiled at the childhood nickname. “I’m looking forward to it,” she said. She knew he loved seeing new places as much as she did. “So far, it’s beautiful.”
He nodded in agreement, looking around. “It’s one of the most spectacular places we’ve visited. I want to see more of this place. It’s our most profitable colony.”
“Does Camaria mind you being gone so long, especially with the new baby?”
“I miss them every moment, but she understands the duties I must perform for Almoria. She knows that Uncle Telthan needs me here. He’s asked me to stay behind when he continues his journey so that I can learn more about how the city is functioning and assess the opportunities here.”
They were near enough now to see that the docks were crowded with people. Some of them were waving blue and white Almorian flags. It was always exciting to travel with the king.
Just as the ship was pulling gracefully up to the dock, King Telthan Almorin appeared on the deck. He was dressed in a formal coat, reminiscent of their soldiers’ uniforms but with more medals and decorations. Shalyrie had always thought he was a distinguished-looking man, tall and energetic. His hair and short beard were graying now, but his blue eyes were still bright. And they twinkled when he smiled that special smile he reserved only for her. He had been a father to them since their own father had been lost at sea when she was a child.
The king, surrounded by his guards, walked up to the rail. Shalyrie and Olthorin followed him.
The crowd quieted when one of the generals said in a loud voice, “King Telthan Almorin!”
The crowd cheered enthusiastically as the king descended to the dock. A tall young man stepped forward to greet him. He bowed and said, “Welcome to Newport, Your Majesty.”
“Can this be young Galenor, the son of my old friend Rothar?” The king embraced him warmly. “It’s been years. Look at you, Governor already. You’ve done well. Rothar would have been proud.”
“Thank you, Your Majesty. We’re so pleased that you’ve come. We can hardly wait to show you everything we’ve accomplished here.”
Shalyrie vaguely remembered Rothar as a tall lean man with gray hair. She must have seen his son before, but the young man talking to the king didn’t look at all familiar. He was tall, but broad-shouldered rather than lean. He had strong regular features and his eyes were a deep blue.
Abruptly, Shalyrie realized that the king had been speaking and she hadn’t heard a word of what he said while she was pre-occupied with observing the young man.
She re-focused her attention just in time. “…and this is my nephew, Lord Olthorin, and my niece, Lady Shalyrie.” Galenor shook Olthorin’s hand with a smile, and then he looked at her.
He smiled slowly, brought her hand to his lips, and kissed it. “Welcome, Lady Shalyrie,” he said.
“Thank you,” she said graciously. For a moment, his eyes held hers and she found herself smiling back at him. Then the moment passed and they were moving away from the dock and out into the wide city streets. It looked like every person in the colony must have turned out for the king’s arrival.
The city was larger than it had looked, larger than she’d expected from a colony only five years old. Many of the buildings were stone, giving a sense of permanence to the place.
Shalyrie and her brother followed the king and the governor up the central street. It had a slow, steady incline, not too steep, and it wound from the harbor through the city, around the hill, until it ended at the gates of the fortress, which they passed through to enter the courtyard beyond. There were more soldiers inside, not crowding around, but standing at attention in neat rows, each looking the same in their dark blue uniforms. As they passed, the one at the end of the front row caught her eye and winked at her.
“…done so much in such a short time here, Governor Galenor,” the king was saying.
“We’ve worked very hard,” Galenor agreed. “And we’re so pleased to have you here to see what we’ve accomplished. Now, if you’ll follow me, I’ll show you around the fortress and escort you to your rooms. Then we’ll leave you some time to settle in before lunch.”
They followed Galenor across a wide central courtyard and into the main hall. They went through many more rooms and up the stairs to the top of the walls looking out over the harbor.
“The view is amazing, Governor,” Shalyrie exclaimed, looking out over the ocean.
He smiled. “I’ve always thought so,” he said. “That was one reason I have chosen to make this place my home.”
“I can see why,” she agreed, turning to look the other way, at the mountain peaks.
“Well, I think we’ve walked far enough for now,” Galenor said. “We’ll show you to your rooms, and I’ll send someone to inform you when lunch is served.” He bowed to the king and turned to face Shalyrie.
“May I escort you to your room, Lady Shalyrie?”
“You’re very kind,” she said, taking his arm. They followed the others back down into the fortress.
“Your father was the king’s friend for many years,” Shalyrie said, nodding toward her uncle, who was walking down the hall ahead of them.
“Yes,” he agreed.
“Then maybe you and I have met before?”
“I remember meeting you years ago, before we came here,” he said. “But it’s been a very long time. So much has changed since then.”
Still Shalyrie could bring only a vague recollection of him to mind, but hid it well.
“I’m glad you came with the king,” he said. “I hoped you would.”
“It’s already been an amazing voyage,” she said. “Traveling with him has been a great opportunity. I love seeing new places.”
“So you’ve already been to the other colonies?”
“Some of them,” she said. “I want to see them all.”
“I’m sure you won’t find any of them more beautiful than Newport,” he said.
She laughed lightly. “Every one of the colonists has told us how their colony is the best, the most unique and valuable, and has the most potential for growth and profit.”
He smiled back at her, his blue eyes intense. “Well, the others were only boasting, of course. Newport is the most valuable and by far has the most potential.”
“Of course,” she smiled back.
“You’ll see,” he said, sounding more serious. “We’ve barely begun to grow here. Give us a few more years and we’ll rival Almoria itself.”
“You do have big plans,” Shalyrie said.
“Yes, and we can’t wait to share them with you.”
They stopped in a hall, and Galenor gestured to the doors. “Here are your rooms. Your luggage will be brought up shortly. Lady Shalyrie, in here. King Telthan, in the middle, and Lord Olthorin, on the end. There are more rooms across the hall for your staff. We’ll give you some time and then, after lunch, we will show you around. With your permission, Your Majesty, we will have a celebration tomorrow night in honor of your arrival.”
“You’re very kind, Governor. We appreciate your welcome,” King Telthan said.
“I thought we should have a party,” Galenor said to Shalyrie. “I wanted you to meet everyone and to have a wonderful time while you’re here. I’m looking forward to it.” He brought her hand to his lips and kissed it. His eyes lingered on hers for a moment longer, and then he was gone.
To Shalyrie, it seemed like all the warmth exited the hall with him. The banquet couldn’t come too soon.
If you loved The Ring Keeper and would like to receive free bonus materials, join my mailing list at ajparkwriting.com/subscribe. I typically send out two or three emails a month, informing you of the progress of my new projects and introducing other books in the genre. I am currently working on several new stories.
