Born of Blood (The Valdir Chronicles Book 3) Read online

  A few cells away slumped a familiar figure. Nash sat against the bars, his eyes closed tight. He looked gaunt and hollow somehow, empty. Her heart clenched. She had once cared deeply for him. In fact, she still did. He had been there for her when she’d doubted herself as queen, and he had run with her when she’d asked. He and his dragon Sitala had been her friends. When they had moved to Ravenhelm Castle, she’d had him transferred to this prison, to sit in a cell alongside her enemy, Prince Terric. She had only then found out that the prince had killed Nash’s dragon, Sitala, and when Nash found out, he’d gone mad. Many Valdir did when they lost their dragons. Many even died within a few days or weeks of their dragons’ deaths. The sundering of the deep magic had that effect.

  Kalina felt pity for Nash, but he had tried to kill her after he’d been captured by Terric, and his current mental state made him a threat to himself and those around him. She decided as she watched him that she’d see what other comfort she could get him, and then she moved farther into the gloom of the dungeons, searching for the prince’s cell.

  She approached Prince Terric on tiptoe. She had no way of knowing if it was the same cell she’d been thrown in all those months ago, but she knew it wasn’t any more comfortable. The man sat huddled against the far rock wall, threadbare blankets clutched to his body, trying to hold in the warmth. His face, usually a hard mask, was gaunt, his dark eyes peering at her from their hallowed sockets. She drew in a sharp breath, but then let it out slowly. She wouldn’t show this man any fear.

  “Come to gawk at your prisoner? Your King brought so low?” His voice was just as oily as ever, just as menacing. It sent a shiver down Kalina’s spine.

  “I came to see who you truly are, Terric. And to ask you one question.”

  He raised an eyebrow at her, in a mock query. He didn’t care what her question was, not really.

  “Oh, and what is that, Princess?”

  “Why?” Her voice rang through the silence of the cave, echoing off the walls, seeming to bounce around forever until finally, it faded into silence. It was almost like Terric was waiting for it to die out before answering.

  “Why what? Why did I kill your father? Why did I keep your mother imprisoned? Why did I hunt you?” He smiled a sneering smile. “I won’t answer any of those questions. You don’t deserve one.”

  Despite the storm boiling inside her at his snideness, Kalina kept her face calm, something she knew Leif would be proud of. She picked at a loose string on her shawl.

  “Then I won’t tell you about your son.”

  She had tossed the bait and now waited as he swallowed it, hook, line, and sinker. His face slowly grew redder until finally, a dam seemed to break and he let out a long sigh. Her half-brother Osian, Terric’s son, was currently safe with Eira in the Valdiran high camps. But the Prince didn’t know that.

  “I’ll tell you why, if you can tell me about my son.”

  Kalina waited patiently, nodding at him to continue, her heart pounding in anticipation.

  “I did all of this because that slu-” he took a deep breath and continued. “That woman scorned me before we were even married. I tried to get out of the marriage, tried to convince my father that it was folly, a lost cause, but instead, he insisted I marry her despite her transgressions.” The anger was clear in his voice.

  Kalina was shaken to her core. This man, this terrible, horrible, abusive and manipulative man, had done all this, hunted her to the ends of the continent, and did horrible things to the people she loved, all because some teenaged boy was hurt by a girl?

  “So wait, you did all this because a girl liked another boy better?”

  “That bitch was promised to me when she went behind my back and slept with your barbaric father and then begot you. You were a threat I couldn’t abide. So I hunted you. Your father begged, you know, begged for his life, saying he would send me ten of his warriors in your stead. But I refused. I finally was able to bring your father back here and torture him.”

  Kalina froze, every bit of her suddenly going cold. She could feel it in her bones.

  “What do you mean? I thought my father died with his dragon on the battlefield? We burned his body..” she trailed off. Whose body had they burned, if it wasn’t her father’s?

  “His dragon died, yes, but your father lingered. Sir Gregan took his body from the battlefield and dressed another Valdir who was dead and badly burned in your father’s clothes, leaving the crown nearby. Hakon was brought back here where I took my time killing him. Then I removed his head.”

  “You lie.” Her voice shook as she spoke. She couldn’t believe a word out of his mouth.

  “Believe what you will, your Majesty-” he said in a mocking tone. “If only you hadn’t killed Sir Gregan, he could have told you the gruesome details.” He smirked at her. “You were only a few weeks too late to save him, too. If you’d come at the Fall equinox, he would still have been alive.”

  Kalina turned then, unable to hold in her anger, fear, and sadness anymore and stormed from the dungeons.

  Cries of “What about my son? What about my boy?” followed her past the guards and up the passageway. When she came out into the lower hallways of the castle she stopped and leaned against the rough stone of the wall. Her breath came in hitches and starts, sobs breaking through. She felt as if she was going to blow apart into a million pieces.

  What if her father had been alive all that time? Had he really been tortured and then beheaded? Terrible images raced through her mind and she pressed the palms of her hands into her eyes to try to get them to stop. He had to be lying. If he wasn’t lying then they had burned someone else’s body, and she maybe could have done something to save him. She could have had her father still: instead, she’d run away and ignored what was going on in her kingdom. That terrible possibility of ‘what-if’ hung over her head, threatening to drown her.

  The sobs finally slowed and that old familiar friend, panic, began to subside. She pushed away from the wall, her shawl now trailing behind her, and made her way to the one place she knew she’d be safe and undisturbed.

  When she got to the small room in the corner of the library, she was relieved to see Moose, the grey tabby cat, already curled on the small cot piled with blankets in the corner. Kalina wiped her face with her hands and closed the door behind her, feeling her way in the dark to the bed where she curled under the blankets around the softly purring body of the cat and fell asleep.

  Chapter 5

  Margy shook Kalina awake, and she stared blearily around the tiny, cluttered library room. Her face felt sticky with shed tears, and a sadness lingered in her chest. Margy looked worried and slightly harassed, a candle held in one hand as she looked down on her wayward queen.

  “Everyone has been looking all over for you.” She stepped back, enough to allow Kalina room to sit up in bed. Her head was pounding but she knew she’d slept better than she had in weeks. Moose jumped down off the bed beside her and sauntered off into the library, probably to catch a mouse for breakfast. She often wondered where he went to the bathroom since she’d never seen him outside the library, but suddenly, she really didn’t want to know. Kalina’s own stomach growled at the thought of breakfast.

  “Can I get some breakfast, Margy?” She asked as she followed the head of the kitchens out into the dim light of the library.

  “Yes. But get yourself back to your rooms, today is the Festival of Flowers and you don’t want to be late for your own party.” Margy gave her a scolding look, but the edge of her lip was twitching, threatening to break into a smile at any moment. Then she turned away.

  “Margy-”

  The girl turned back to Kalina.

  “Don’t tell anyone about this room. It’s my own secret.”

  Margy touched the side of her nose and winked before rushing off down the hall and out of the library. Kalina straightened her night dress and threw her shawl around her shoulders, debating taking the most direct route to her rooms, or going by the servant�
��s passages so she could go unseen. Finally, she decided on the passages and slipped from the library, moving through the cool darkness of the stone hallways. When she finally arrived at her rooms, she peeked through the door, covered by a tapestry, where Kari and Delisa stood in the middle of her rooms. Delisa was pacing and Kari stood, her arms crossed, scowling. Kalina sighed and stepped through, making them both jump.

  “Kalina!” Delisa chided, before collecting herself. She was chastising a queen after all. “Your Majesty, you scared us.” She gave a small curtsy before rushing to take Kalina’s shawl. Kari continued to scowl, only this time it was aimed at Kalina. She had no such compunctions about addressing Kalina.

  “Where the hell were you?”

  Kalina was tired, and her head was pounding. She really didn’t want to have to explain her nighttime wanderings to Kari right at that moment, so she dismissed the question.

  “What time is the kickoff of the celebrations in the temple district?” she asked as she began to remove her clothing, leaving them on the floor while Delisa picked them up one by one, exasperated. Kalina entered the bathroom that was connected to her bedroom, a steaming bath already waiting there.

  “In an hour. Now, wash quickly and I’ll get your first dress ready.”

  Kalina sighed as she lowered herself into the waiting bath, letting the warm water wash away the tear stains and fears of the night before. She wanted to talk to Leif about what had happened, to have him reassure her that there was nothing they could have done to save her father. She wanted his quiet assurance and comfort. But first, she had to go celebrate with her people.

  Delisa dressed her in a soft purple dress with delicate silk flowers sewn onto the bodice, long flowing sleeves and a soft train that stretched out behind that could be bustled for dancing. Her hair was elaborately braided atop her head in the traditional Valdiran style. Finally, a small circlet of silver was set atop her braids. It was her day crown, as she called it. It was understated and less heavy than the iron and dragon scale one she wore for special occasions, and instead it was delicate silver filigree.

  “Is Leif nearby? Can I speak with him a moment about security while we are in town?” Kalina said, slipping a dagger into her bodice between her breasts and then strapping another to her calf above her soft slippers. She refused to go unarmed, especially in public.

  Her cousin Kari gave her a knowing look before exiting to the drawing-room. Kalina followed. She rarely used this room, preferring instead the intimacy of her own bedroom, but it was perfect for meeting the occasional noble who came to call. And now, Leif was using it as a waiting space, along with Rangvald. Rangvald lounged in a chair, his long, lanky body stretched out and taking up far too much space. But as soon as Kalina entered, he sat up, pulling himself together. Kalina smiled at her other cousin before taking Leif’s arm and leading him back to her now empty bedroom, Delisa already gone to finalize preparations.

  “You look stunning, your Majesty,” Leif said, his grey eyes twinkling with mischief. Kalina couldn’t help but smile back, despite the worries running through her head. She pressed up against him and tilted her head back, letting him press his lips to hers in a sweet kiss. She wanted to linger there forever, in his arms, but she knew she had things to discuss with him.

  Fear was still pounding through her. She couldn’t stand the idea that she had sat idle, letting her father die. Horror flooded her as she realized that her mother had been here, just a few floors above, while her father had possibly been tortured. Had her mother known? For once, Kalina was grateful her mother was gone too; the knowledge that the man she’d loved was being tortured in her own dungeons would have ruined her. Finally, she pulled away and explained what was on her mind. Leif’s face grew darker with every word she spoke until finally, she finished.

  “Could I have saved him, Leif? Did any of our spies even suspect he was here?” she asked, her heart breaking within her chest once again.

  “No. Kalina, listen to me-” Leif took her chin in his hand and forced her to look at him. “None of our spies heard he had been taken from the battlefield. If he had, it was during the battle itself, because they removed him immediately following the fight.” He paused, searching her face, and she could see his own clever mind working behind his grey eyes. “I suspect the Askorian prince is just saying those things to get a rise out of you, to make you angry enough to make a mistake. You can’t let him get to you.”

  He pulled her into a tight hug and Kalina buried her face against his black vest coat. That was when she realized, rather belatedly, that he wasn’t wearing the traditional Valdiran leathers, he was wearing Ethean style spring clothing. It looked good on him. She breathed in deeply the scent of Leif, the same scent that reminded her of her father, and home. It was the scent she loved, and it was overwhelming her. Leif kissed the top of her head.

  “Your father died valiantly in battle, surrounded by his men and with Kaya. Not in a dark, cold dungeon. We burned him atop the mountain.”

  Kalina glanced up at his face. He looked determined, but she could see the kernel of doubt there and knew he would investigate the matter. She closed her eyes for another moment, trying to use his warmth and feel to ground herself, and pull her away from the yawning abyss that was her grief for her father, mother, Geir, and everyone else they’d lost in this war.

  “Let’s go greet your guests, your Majesty.” Leif held out a hand for her; she took it gratefully and followed him from the room.

  They spent the afternoon wandering the temple district of Ravenhelm, her little entourage around them and a brace of palace guards led by Anders walking at their sides. Talon was still organizing the armies, having been knighted by her within the first week of her becoming queen. He and Leif had partnered to organize and train the soldiers in both aerial combat and ground maneuvers. Talon had been the first to point out that two riders per dragon, one Ethean, and one Valdir, would make their long-range weapons more effective. He was constantly coming up with new and inventive ways to use the Valdir and Etheans together. Kalina had even stumbled upon Talon chatting with Maska, discussing battle tactics, a topic her dragon greatly enjoyed. It turned out Maska often spent his days with Talon and the armies, strategizing and training. It was a good outlet for him and it made Kalina proud.

  Calla joined them as the afternoon progressed, once she’d put baby Issa down with her new nanny. With Calla doing so much sewing and work at the castle, she had been forced to hire help. She winked at Kalina as she joined their little group, taking her husband’s arm.

  “The dresses are ready and being delivered to your rooms as we speak.”

  Kalina’s heart fluttered in excitement a bit. Today was for light-hearted, spring fun, but tonight was when the real fun began.

  She, Delisa, and Calla danced around the maypole, laughing delightedly, while Kari stayed off to the side staunchly refusing to participate. She might laugh and joke about some things, but girly things, like dancing around a maypole decorated in ribbons was a line she just wouldn’t cross.

  They ate honey cakes and candied nasturtiums and drank pear cider while watching silly puppet shows. Kalina was able to let her fears from earlier melt away as she enjoyed celebrating the beginning of spring with her fellow Etheans, greeting as many of her people as she could and getting to know the local vendors. Finally, as the afternoon sun began to move towards the horizon, their little party bid the locals good evening and went back to the castle for a much-needed nap before the ball.

  Kalina collapsed onto her bed in a happy daze, for once feeling free enough to enjoy the day.

  Chapter 6

  The ballroom was lit with fairy lights that seemed to float in and out of the garlands of flowers that covered every surface and hung from the ceiling in swaths. The guests were already there, resplendent in their court finery, decked out in a rainbow of colors and each sporting ornately wrought face masks. Kalina was dressed no differently but she still felt every eye turn her way as soon as she enter
ed.

  She descended the formal staircase accompanied by Leif, her personal court traveling before her down the stairs. Her hair had been pinned and braided into an elaborate up-do, small white flowers woven through her silver locks. They were only visible up close but they added a delicate and earthy feel to the whole ensemble when paired with her mask and flowing dress. She felt stunning, her head crowned with an intricately woven crown of gold and silver filigree that seemed to mesh with her mask. Beside her, Leif looked equally regal in hues of gold with green trim, the light to her dark. Calla had given her a wink when Leif had appeared to escort her and Kalina had gasped at his close-cut jacket and pants.

  Kalina was acutely conscious of every eye on them as they slowly walked down the stairs, she was focusing on putting one foot in front of the other, heart racing as they approached the ballroom floor. Mistress Aynne had come up to her rooms as she and her ladies were getting ready and coached them on how their entrance would go. She was to descend the ballroom steps and then open the ball by dancing the first dance with Leif. The other ladies of her entourage would join in with their escorts once the music was underway and, hopefully by the end of the tune, the rest of the guests would be dancing as well.

  Kalina swallowed and squeezed Leif’s arm as he pulled her around in a graceful arc until she was in his arms, facing him. He nodded to her, a small smile touching the corner of his lips, his grey eyes warm behind his mask, and he began to move just as the song began. She stumbled on the first few steps, despite having practiced with Delisa incessantly over the last few weeks, but she took a deep breath and turned her brain off, focusing instead on Leif’s handsome face, and the feel of his hand in hers.