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

  One of the first things she had done once she’d learned this fact was take a long hot bath. Going from an orphan to queen had been quite a culture shock, and going from queen of the Valdir to queen of all Ethea was an even greater one. Sure, she’d had large chambers within the Valdir mountain, but she had bathed with the rest of the Valdir women in communal bathing pools. Moving to the Ravenhelm castle meant she was suddenly showered with opulence and sometimes she wasn’t quite sure how to react. She was given anything she wanted at a moment’s notice. Her bed was cleaned and changed daily, her food cooked exactly the way she liked it, and she could have any dress made whenever she wanted. The change had been so abrupt and strange that she had done everything she could to limit the extravagances. She told Delisa, who was in charge of her schedule as well as her chambers, to only have the maids change the bedding every other day. She only took a bath every other day, and she only commissioned dresses from Calla when the woman was available. The last thing Kalina wanted was to overwhelm her friend.

  All these people had helped to get her here, and she wasn’t about to take advantage of their kindness. But this morning, with her head pounding, she opted for an extra-long hot bath with some pretty smelling salts. She called in a maid to prepare it as she sat and ate a few bites of bread and drank a glass of milk. Her stomach settled slightly as she climbed into the bath, sighing in relief as the hot water closed over her. She began to doze, the fragrant steam wafting around her and she only stirred at the sound of a soft knock.

  Chapter 16

  “Come in,” Kalina called as she finished tying the knot on a soft floor-length robe in a deep blue silk around her waist.

  The door creaked open and a familiar figure stepped inside. Leif stood at the door, his hands fidgeting before him, his eyes averted. Kalina’s hands went to her chest. She hadn’t expected to see him, and suddenly she felt very naked and exposed before him. It was strange, she thought, how a few weeks ago she wouldn’t have felt that way around him. Strange how the revelation that their budding romance couldn’t go anywhere could change how they acted around one another. She had barely spoken more than a few words to him in the last few weeks.

  “Yes, Leif?” His name on her tongue made her heart clench in her chest. He straightened slightly.

  “Your Majesty.” He bowed low, his many battle braids falling over his shoulders in silver ropes. Kalina took that moment to admire his sharp jawline and broad shoulders, but when he straightened, she struggled to control her emotions. If it didn’t bother him to be so formal, then it wouldn’t bother her. “I have a message from the council. They wish to meet with you at your earliest convenience.”

  Kalina let out a small sigh. Her head still ached, and hadn’t Delisa ordered her to stay in bed today? But duty called, and she couldn’t ignore it.

  “I will be there within the hour, then. Thank you, Commander.” She turned away, unable to keep her emotions from her face. She didn’t turn back around until she heard the door click shut.

  She sat heavily on the bed by her wardrobe, a part of her mind wondering what to wear: a dress, or Valdiran leathers, when a second knock broke the silence of her room. She stood suddenly, wondering if Leif had come back, her heart leaping into her throat. But when she said “come in,” the person who entered wasn’t at all who she expected.

  Hilde stood in the doorway, her tall frame obscuring the outer hall. She bowed low and then stood, fidgeting nervously.

  “How can I help you, Hilde?” Kalina said kindly, giving the woman what she hoped was an encouraging smile.

  “Your Majesty, my husband, Skaldrik, asked me to speak to you on his behalf. He said he has a gift for you, and wondered if you might visit his forge whenever is convenient for you.”

  Kalina smiled at the woman. She had always liked Skaldrik. He kept the limited supply of weapons sharp and in good repair for the Valdir when they had lived in the mountain, and now he ran the smithy within the castle, making new weapons to outfit her army.

  “Of course. I will come and see him after I am done at the council meeting.”

  The woman bowed again, thanked Kalina and then disappeared out the door. That had decided it then, Kalina reached for her Valdiran leathers.

  The council chamber was already full when Kalina arrived. She hated arriving late because it meant every eye was on her and watched as she strode the length of the room to take her place at the head of the table. Leif gave her a brief nod as she sat beside him. She suddenly missed the times when he would reach beneath the table and take her hand. She wished with all her heart that they could turn back time, to before the marriage proposal from Askor, and reclaim their blooming romance. But here she was, feeling distinctly alone at the head of the table.

  “Who called this meeting?” she said, sitting down. They had all stood as she had entered and they sat just a moment behind her. As the chamber settled into silence once again, Lord Averil spoke.

  “We called this council session today in the hopes of making some sort of plan. Lord Illeron tells us that his spies in Askor report that the King continues to gather his army along the western coast, and he is building even more ships. Despite his letter to the contrary, he seems to be preparing for war.”

  Kalina looked to her Spymaster, an eyebrow raised.

  “Yes, your Majesty. It seems that King Blackbourne is indeed gathering his army. He is also building larger catapults than we have yet to encounter and seems to be sending small army regiments into the foothills of the Great Grey Mountains to set up camp and create strongholds there. My spies tell me they are building towers of stone in the mountains. It seems to me that he is preparing to attack the moment you refuse his offer.”

  Kalina’s stomach twisted. Now she really was stuck. It was either agree to consider marrying the Askorian princeling or begin yet another war they couldn’t possibly win, depleted as they already were.

  “What about our new ally, Ablen?” She said, a small hope blooming in her chest.

  Lady Renfort spoke up.

  “The peace we’ve begun with Ablen is still too young, your Majesty. They will not agree to send troops onto foreign soil a mere few weeks after agreeing to trade agreements and an exchange of ambassadors. We must wait a few years at least to gain their trust before calling on them to fulfill such a large obligation.”

  Kalina nodded. She knew the noblewoman was right. Ablen may be interested in a treaty, but it didn’t mean they would support a war. Chances were, if Ethea declared war with Askor, Ablen would renege on its support and Ethea would once again be alone against the might of the Askorian army. And Askor had had almost seventeen years to rebuild, while the Etheans had been thrust into another war against the Valdir.

  “Lord Averil, has there been any further communication from King Blackbourne?”

  “Yes, your Majesty. His Majesty of Askor sent another letter just a day ago.” He handed her the sealed letter. She slid her finger beneath the seal, cracking the wax.

  My dear Queen Kalina,

  I hope you don’t mind me being so forward, after all we are practically family. Your mother was my beloved daughter-in-law and I cared for her deeply. I do want to apologize for the way my son behaved. I understand you were almost gravely injured by my son when he attacked you and I want to humbly apologize. I admit he was always a bit brash, possessive, obsessive, and a bit too quick to anger.

  In the time since my last missive, I have had time to reconsider the terms of my proposal and they have changed. I now propose you wed my youngest son at midsummer. Once the ceremony has taken place, and we all have feasted and celebrated the union of our two nations, then we can negotiate a peace treaty. I think this marriage would greatly benefit both our nations, and isn’t what we both want for our nations’ peace?

  Come and declare peace with us here in Askor, Queen Kalina, and keep both our nations safe.

  Sincerely,

  King Remon Blackbourne

  Kalina sat back in her chair. He had ch
anged from the formal language of his first letter to a much more personal approach. And many of his words continued to be threats disguised at peace offerings. If she didn’t accept the marriage proposal, then he would surely declare war. She only had one real course of action if she wanted to keep her people safe.

  “Lords, and Ladies.” Kalina took a deep breath and stood to address them all. She flicked a glance in Leif’s direction, but despite her heartbreaking in her chest, she couldn’t spare him more than a second’s thought right then. “I have decided to accept the King of Askor’s proposal of marriage to his son. We leave within the week for their capitol, Winterreach.”

  Then she turned and sped from the chamber, her council’s astonished outcries following her down the hall. She turned the corner and bent double, her stomach cramping horribly as she vomited right onto the flagstones. She felt a cool hand at her neck and after she wiped her mouth on the back of her hand, she turned to find Kari standing behind her, holding her braids out of the way.

  “That couldn’t have been easy,” Kari said. Kalina shook her head in response.

  “I don’t have a choice.” She handed over the letter, which Kari skimmed quickly.

  “You are right, cousin. You can either declare war and fight, and lose, or marry this whelp and perhaps move on with governing your people.”

  Kalina nodded, hot tears spilling down her cheeks. Kari took her arm and led her farther down the hall. Hilde followed a few steps behind, giving them privacy.

  “Or there is the third option,” Kari whispered. Kalina’s head came up at that. “We will find a way out of this,” Kari’s voice was quiet but urgent, strong, her bright blue eyes blazing with some inner fire. It gave Kalina a small measure of strength to hear her cousin say those things. “But for now, we need to play his game.”

  “Yes, you’re right. We can’t fight this battle from here. We need to get into their castle, and understand their weaknesses, because they are sure to have them, we just don’t know them yet.”

  Kari bared her teeth in a feral grin.

  “That’s the right attitude, Kalina. You are a warrior of the Valdir, not some soft, pampered royal. You know what is at stake here, and what is needed to win. And for now, you are doing what you can to survive. Later, we will find a way to strike them where it hurts.”

  Kalina began to smile back as she let Kari’s words fill her up. She stood straighter with every declaration and soon she was standing tall again, all traces of tears gone.

  “Begin preparing the Queen’s Guard for the journey. I will need everyone I can trust by my side.” Kari nodded and strode off, a palace guard taking her place by Kalina’s side. “Hilde?” Kalina said, turning to her Queen’s Guard. “Take me to your husband.”

  She followed Hilde down towards the kitchens, passing the dining hall of the scribes where Kalina used to eat. Her thoughts strayed to her days as a scribe in the royal library and for a moment she wished with all her heart that she could be back there among the books, alone, researching some topic. She would gladly take the bullying she got from the other scribes over a marriage proposal to an Askorian prince any day. But that was just a child’s daydream and now she had to face reality.

  They turned left before the kitchen corridor, the smells of cooking game hen with roasted vegetables wafted to them down the hallway. Suddenly Kalina was looking forward to dinner, her queasiness dissipating. As they walked, the castle around them grew damper, darker, and considerably warmer until they came through a doorway into a large room; the walls were covered in many forges that blazed with light and heat. It rolled in waves over Kalina and she was instantly sweating. She hoped they didn’t have to stay long, she now longed for a cool flight in the clouds with Maska over the heat that pounded her from every side.

  Skaldrik was a bear of a man, his huge arms and shoulders unmistakable among the other men who labored near the forges. Kalina watched as he withdrew a long piece of glowing red hot metal from the forge and began hammering on it over an anvil. When it had done whatever it was he had wanted, he quenched its flame in a bucket of water, the surface instantly boiling. Then he continued to pound on it until the sides were sharp and the metal cooling. Then he placed it on his workbench and turned to Kalina, Hilde, and her palace guard. He wiped his forehead with a large cloth and came over to them, bowing low before Kalina.

  “Your Majesty.” His deep voice reverberated through her chest when he spoke.

  “Skaldrik. It is good to see you. And it is good to see you doing such good work!” She gestured around at the bustling forge.

  “It is only thanks to you that I have such a great forge, great tools, and great helpers.” He clapped her on the back in a friendly manner, almost knocking her off her feet. She laughed nervously, before turning the conversation to why she was there.

  “I heard you wanted to see me?”

  “Yes, I have a present for you. Something I think you will like.” He crossed to a workbench along the wall opposite the forges and pulled a package from a shelf. He carefully unwrapped it and beckoned her forward. Kalina joined him at the bench and looked down at the most beautiful things she had ever seen.

  Two twin axes sat on a bed of canvas. Their hilts gleamed in the firelight from the forges, their blades covered in Runarks, the Valdir’s language, and the same symbols the Valdir tattooed on their bodies to bring them strength, wisdom, or luck. Kalina herself had quite a few tattooed on her face, arms, and spine. The ones on the blades were beautifully wrought, carved into the metal when it was still hot.

  “Skaldrik, they are beautiful.” Kalina reached out and touched their bone hilts, each one carved from a large bone. Bones that large could only come from one place. She looked up at the man in awe. “Where did you get the bones?”

  Skaldrik looked down sheepishly.

  “When your father’s dragon was dying on the battlefield, she asked me to make weapons from her bones. She told me to use her bones to avenge her death and make the greatest weapons known to the Valdir. I have done that, for you my Queen.” He bowed so low his hanging silver braids almost touched the floor.

  Kalina was both horrified and extremely touched by the gesture. She hadn’t known that Skaldir had been a part of her father’s scouting party, but suddenly she was grateful that he was, that he had been there when her father’s blue dragon Kaya had died beside her King. Tears leaked out from the corners of her eyes and she wiped them away quickly before touching the large man on the shoulder. He straightened, his sadness evident in his sky blue eyes.

  “You honor Kaya, Hakon, and myself, Skaldrik. I would be honored and humbled to carry these with me into battle.” Then she did something neither of them expected. She hugged the man around his large waist. She had always been short, small even for her age, and even now she barely came up to his ribs, but he knelt before her and hugged her back, tears leaking from both their eyes now at the loss of her father, at the loss of Kaya, and at the losses her people had suffered at the hands of an Askorian Prince.

  She stepped away from him, wiping her eyes and sniffling softly. She picked up the weapons, weighing them in her hands. They were perfectly balanced, small as axes went, but the perfect size and weight not only to be thrown but to be used in close combat on the battlefield. They would serve her nicely.

  “Thank you,” she said finally, as Skaldrik turned back to his forge and the sword he had been working on. Kalina removed her old axes from their sheaths over her shoulders and put her new ones into the sheaths. They fit snugly, and she knew they had been made for it. The others had just been placeholders since the sheath had come from Skaldrik as well. She smiled as she strode from the chamber, Hilde and the guard on her heels. Askor didn’t know what was coming for them.

  Part 2

  Chapter 17

  For the second time in her life and in as many months, Kalina found herself standing on the bow of a ship, the wind off the open ocean before her whipping her battle braids around her head. Even wrapped i
n a thick cloak with wolf’s fur at the collar and around the hood, and her Valdir leathers tightened over thick woolen clothing, she still felt the chill slicing through her. Spring hadn’t made it to the open sea it seemed. Normally she would have chosen to fly on Maska but the bitter wind had made her think twice and instead, she watched her dragon frolicking in the waves ahead of the ship’s bow.

  She envied his thick skin that soaked up and held every ounce of sunlight that allowed him to radiate so much heat. She straightened the crown atop her braids, annoyed that the wind was knocking it sideways, and turned back to the deck of the ship behind her.

  The ship was called The Sea Wyvern and Kalina felt the name was appropriate. As they exited the bay at Blackwater and moved out into the Emerald Gulf, heading north towards Winterreach and Askor, she watched as the small armada of ships stretched out behind her. They had traveled on horseback north to Blackwater to meet with her troops before boarding ships bound for Askor. She had asked Lord Tameron and Lord Averil to help secure them ships and crews willing to venture into the icy north.

  The ship at the rear was a large, flat decked barge with short masts and rows of oars. It was meant as a floating landing spot for the dragons who circled overhead. Maska was accompanied in the sky by Kari’s purple Yurok, Jormungand’s red Shania, and Leif’s golden Arikara. Hilde had insisted on joining her as her Queen’s Guard, as had many of the other Valdir women Kari was training, and their dragons traveled in the rear as a sort of rear-guard. In total there were close to a dozen dragons, and Kalina had made sure that Eira had sent a supply of Emberweed with them, the plant that when chewed, allowed the dragons to breathe fire. It was tucked away in the depths of a ships’ hold in case of an emergency.