The Rise of Aredor Page 30
The coughing fits came more often and she was wiping fresh blood away when the door swung open and King Celyn ushered his wife and Amaura into the room. Queen Elain crossed to the bed and sat down on the edge as she took Corin’s hand. Amaura stared at her brother and huddled in her father’s arms, crying softly.
Mera went to the queen. “I’m so sorry!” She burst into tears. “I’ve tried everything, but he’s dying!”
Queen Elain rose and rested a gentle hand on her shoulder. “It’s not your fault that he’s dying. I know you’ve done your best.”
Mera dried her cheeks. “With your permission, my lady, I’ll keep trying.” She had too. She couldn’t fail the royal family, or Martin.
* * *
Corin lasted through the night and the next day. As night fell again, he struggled to breathe as the poison took its toll. Suddenly, his dreams shifted, and he was in a forest that he had seen once before.
A man walked toward him, a stranger. But when Corin saw him, a sense of peace spread over him. The man was dressed in fine clothes and seemed to glow from within.
“Who are you?” Corin asked.
The man smiled. “A messenger of Lleu. He sent me from his halls to find you.”
“Is it time?”
“Yes and no,” came the reply. “You are to go back. There is still much for you to do. It is not time for your journey to the halls beyond the heavens.”
“How can I go back?” Corin asked, bewildered.
“I will help,” the messenger said. He reached out and touched Corin’s neck. Corin felt the poison leave him, and he drew a deep, shuddering breath. The man withdrew his hand then gently touched Corin’s palm.
“Thank you,” Corin said.
The man smiled again. “Go, Corin!” he commanded.
Then the forest faded, and Corin awoke.
* * *
Mera was in the room with the king and queen and Amaura. As she prepared to change the bandage on Corin’s neck again, she saw a change come over him. He stiffened slightly, and then the shadows of pain on his face passed, and he took a deep breath. Mera laid a hand on his forehead; the fever was gone. The others looked at her curiously, and then Corin shifted and slowly opened his eyes.
Mera quickly filled a beaker with water and helped him drink slowly. Queen Elain clasped her son’s hand as tears of joy streamed down her cheeks. Mera removed the bandage over the cut. To her surprise, the skin was smooth and unbroken. All trace of the poison was gone.
He gave her a tired smile. “Hello again. I guess we can only meet when you’re stitching me up.”
Mera returned the smile. “How do you feel?”
“Tired, but glad to be alive,” he answered, his voice a little hoarse. He glanced over to his family. “Where am I?”
“Home,” Queen Elain answered.
Mera stepped back to allow them room to gather around him. When they left a few minutes later, Corin was already asleep.
Chapter 21
Castle Martel had been surrendered into northern hands. Reports came in from Martin and Colwyn that the port town by the Masian estuary was safely occupied. Aredor was freed from Calorin control.
The wolf standard flew from the battlements of the castle alongside the red banner of Tristan and Trey’s family. The warband slept inside the protective walls of the castle as Tristan heard again the familiar sound of waves beating against the cliffs.
Darrin woke early the next morning. Going down to the main hall, he saw Tristan already awake and greeting Kara, who had just arrived.
“Kara, what are you doing here?” Darrin asked.
“I’ve a message for you, sire!” she said with barely controlled excitement.
Darrin took the paper and unfolded it. After reading it, he collapsed into the nearest chair. “Tris…Corin’s alive!”
Tristan sighed in relief. “Get back to Kingscastle and see him,” he said. “Dandin and I can manage here.”
Darrin needed no further urging. He gathered his saddlebags and prepared to ride again but not before sending Kara down the coast to give the news to Martin.
* * *
Darrin was greeted on the castle steps by Amaura. She wore an apron and carried a basket full of linen.
“You look busy.” Darrin hugged her and took the basket.
“Aye, there’s so much to do. I don’t mind the work. It was either laundry or help rehang tapestries. I left Mother in charge of that,” Amaura said.
Darrin laughed. A wise decision on her part. “Where’s Father?”
“Last I saw, checking the armory with Iwan. Oh, and Corin’s still asleep. Mera expects him to finally wake up sometime this evening,” Amaura said.
Darrin in turn gave her the news of the recent events and then he left to go find the king and report.
Inside, the hall had been cleared. The wounded had been moved to beds in the barracks. Banners had been rehung behind the thrones. Rich, decorative tapestries had been hung on the walls between pillars. Darrin navigated the familiar hallways until he came to a room in one of the towers. The two guards opened to door to let him in. Ismail and his guards rose to greet Darrin.
“I never thanked you properly for what you did,” Darrin said in Calorin.
“You’re welcome,” Ismail replied. “How is Corin? I knew what Balkor had done.”
“He is past the worst,” Darrin said.
“I am very glad to hear it. If I may ask, sir, what will happen to the prisoners here?” Ismail asked.
“We are provisioning your ships as we speak. Within a few days, you will all be taken to the coast to board the ships and return to Calorin.”
“You show us great mercy.”
“It’s not in my nature to order the execution of hundreds of defenseless soldiers. With your return to Calorin, you will also carry a warning to the Sultaan against any return,” Darrin said.
Ismail nodded. “You will make a great king one day.”
“Thank you. I hope I can,” Darrin said. “I wish we could have met under different circumstances. I would like to know all of you better. Any friend of my brother is a friend of mine.”
Before he left, Darrin spoke privately with Emeth.
“You are a Braeton. I can release you now if that is your wish,” he said.
“I’ve been thinking about it, sire, but I’ll stay where I am. I’ve one year left in service tae Lord Rishdah. Besides, when we get back tae Calorin, there might be trouble, and I’d rather see them safely through,” Emeth said.
Darrin hadn’t quite expected the answer. He was more worried about Emeth’s safety as a northerner. “Are you sure?”
Emeth nodded. “It’s only a year. When it ends, I might be ready tae finally come back home again. I just ask that you don’t tell the Clans about me. They don’t know what I’ve been through, and in their eyes, I fight on the wrong side.”
Darrin nodded in understanding. He left the room and wound his way back to Corin’s room. His brother was still asleep, so Darrin sat down on the window seat. Karif hopped closer to him on the windowsill. The hawk gently butted Darrin’s hand, wanting to be stroked. He obliged, and the hawk closed his eyes in contentment.
“As much as I hate to, I’ll have to report you for waking me up,” Corin said.
Darrin laughed and helped him sit up against the pillows.
“What’s been happening the past few days?” Corin asked. Darrin related the arrival of the Clans and the re-taking of Aredor. Then he told Corin of Ismail’s part in the events.
“The ships will leave in four days. As soon as the Calorins are safely gone, the Clans will begin to leave, and we begin to rebuild the warbands,” Darrin said.
“How many of the Hawk Flight did we lose?” Corin asked.
“Twelve dead, five were wounded badly. Thankfully, we already have more men coming in to join us. How long until you’re up?”
Corin shrugged. “Hopefully, nothing more than a week or two. I just look worse than I feel.”
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It was true. Bruises still covered his face and upper body. A long cut decorated his cheek, and his wrist was still bound in a thick bandage, but under Mera’s treatment, it would heal quickly. But most importantly, when Corin looked at his right palm, the brand was gone.
* * *
Before the Calorins were escorted to the coast, Ismail, Ahmed, and Emeth were allowed to visit Corin. They met in a private room where Corin thanked them for their involvement. Their friendship had been forged through war, and it would ever remain. By now, all three of them knew that Corin was prince of Aredor; but in their eyes, he would always be Hamíd, and he wanted it to stay that way. They bid a sad farewell to each other, for who knew when they would see each other again, if at all.
Three days later as they boarded the ships, Tristan handed Emeth an oddly shaped bundle. Emeth surreptitiously looked inside and saw the hilts of his swords as well as his companions’ weapons.
“I’ll be back,” he said to Tristan.
“Be careful, Aiden,” Tristan said before giving Ismail and Ahmed the courtesy of a farewell.
* * *
Two weeks later, Corin stood on the walls of Kingscastle, watching the sunset. The castle rang with the sounds of the celebration of the victory and his recovery. He had slipped out of the castle for a few moments of quiet. As a prince, he was to have his own warband. He would retain command of the Hawk Flight and could choose replacements for the men he had lost from the new recruits pouring in. Emeth would return in a year, and the Calorins would be back, he was certain. But this time, Aredor would be ready. He and the Hawk Flight would patrol the forest and coast, ready and waiting to fight and defend their freedom again.
The End
DON’T MISS THE EPIC CONCLUSION TO
THE RISE OF AREDOR SERIES!
The Wildcat of Braeton - Available Now!
His term of service to Lord Rishdah now complete, Aiden returns to his home in Braeton. As he travels, he hears rumors that trouble plagues Braeton. Clan Canich is being attacked from within. He arrives, determined to save his father, his brothers, and his clan from the treachery of one man.
A year has passed since the Calorins were driven from Aredor, and Corin is struggling to rebuild his country. Despite the peace, a fear haunts him that the Calorins aren't far away. The Hawk Flight takes to the forest again to defend the borders against a possible attack from the neighboring country of Durna and its Calorin ally.
As Aiden and Corin struggle to adapt to their new lives, they know one thing for certain: war is coming to the North!
MORE BOOKS BY CLAIRE M. BANSCHBACH
Adela’s Curse
The Faeries of Myrnius
Book 1
A curse. A murderous scheme. A choice.
A witch and her master capture a young faery and command her to kill their enemy. Adela has no choice but to obey. If she does not, they will force the location of her people’s mountain home from her and kill her. To make matters even worse, the person she is to kill is only a man struggling to save his dying land and mend a broken heart. Adela enlists the help of Damian, another faery, to try and delay the inevitable. He insists she has a choice. But with the witch controlling her every move, does she?
The Wolf Prince
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COMING SOON!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Claire M. Banschbach is a native West Texan. She discovered a deep and abiding love for fantasy and science fiction at a young age, prompting her to begin the fun and crazy journey to become an author while working on degrees in Kinesiology from Texas A&M and Physical Therapy from Texas Tech University.
She talks to fictional characters more than she should while struggling to find time for all their stories. She currently resides in Arlington, TX where she works as a Pediatric Physical Therapist.
You can find out more about Claire and discover short stories, writing updates, and a fun newsletter on her blog:
www. clairembanschbach.wordpress.com
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The Rise of Aredor
Copyright © 2014, 2017 Claire M. Banschbach.
All rights reserved.
No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any way by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording or otherwise without the prior permission of the author except as provided by USA copyright law.
This novel is a work of fiction. Names, descriptions, entities, and incidents included in the story are products of the author’s imagination. Any resemblance to actual persons, events, and entities is entirely coincidental.
Published by Campitor Press, LLC
First Edition
Cover design by Niño Carlo Suico
Interior design by Gram Telen
Second Edition
Cover Reformat by Rachael Ritchey
Interior Formatting by Rachael Ritchey
SECOND EDITION
Fiction / Fantasy / General
Fiction / Coming of Age