Free The Children of the White Lions: Volume 02 - Prophecy by R. T. Kaelin Page B

of tall ebonwood doors.
    Nikalys asked gently, “Have you spoken with him at all?”
    Kenders shook her head quickly.
    “Oh, Gods, no.”
    The thought terrified her.
    “You should,” said Nikalys.
    Kenders huffed and said, “Why? With whatever is coming, I doubt I’ll have time for…” She trailed off and dropped her head to stare at her dress, unsure how to end her thought. “I won’t have time for him.”
    She felt Nikalys’ silent gaze on her but did not look up until she heard the scuffle of boots on gravel. Lifting her chin, she spotted Sergeant Trell returning to the bench with Jak in tow. Neither man looked happy. As they neared, Jak’s voice emerged from the clanging of swords echoing through the yard.
    “—she can’t just make decisions without at least telling us her reasons. Without Broedi here, we never know what is happening.” Looking up, Jak gestured at Nikalys and Kenders. “They’re the Progeny, right? They should know what’s going on.”
    Nikalys sat forward and asked, “And what is going on?”
    Jak and the sergeant halted a few paces from the bench. Now that her eldest brother was closer, she could see the patches of dark whiskers wandering down from his sideburns and coating his chin, but leaving his cheeks bare. It looked the same as it had two weeks past.
    With a deep frown on his face, Jak said, “That parchment weasel saunters up to us and says”—he shifted to mimic the proper, clipped tone of the aide—“‘The Lady Vivienne requires your presence at once, Mr. Alsher. Please bathe and dress appropriately before attending to her.’”
    Kenders asked, “What does she want with him?”
    The baroness had paid no attention to the Borderlander since arriving at the enclave.
    Jak shrugged and said, “I asked, of course, but the man refused to answer any of my questions. He just kept saying, ‘The baroness requires him, that is all you need to know,’ over and over. Gods, she is so blasted arrogant!”
    The first time they had met Lady Vivienne, she had made a rather insensitive comment about the sacrifice their parents had made to raise them. Jak carried a grudge still.
    Staring across the courtyard to the doors, he said, “Zecus had no idea what was happening, but is—of course—too polite to tell the ‘Lady’ what she can do with her request. ” With a nod at Sergeant Trell, Jak added, “The aide would not even tell Sergeant Trell.”
    Kenders glanced at the quiet soldier. He had yet to say a word since returning and was staring blankly at the stone wall behind her, a frown on his face. Something was bothering him.
    “Sergeant?”
    He pressed his lips together and peered down at her.
    “Tomorrow is the first of the Turn of Luraana.”
    It was a statement, not a question, almost as if he were thinking aloud. He was right, of course, today was Chalchalu’s Day of Leisure—a small feast was planned for later in the commons to honor the God of Wealth—meaning tomorrow was the first of a new turn.
    “And that means what?” prompted Jak.
    Sergeant Trell turned his head to stare at Jak.
    “How would you like to go to Freehaven?”
    Jak’s eyes widened.
    “Pardon?”
    “Freehaven, son,” said Sergeant Trell. “Would you like to go?”
    Jak blinked once and replied, “Um…sure, I suppose…wait, what?” His earlier irritation was gone, replaced now by open confusion.
    “The baroness wishes to take Zecus with her to Freehaven tomorrow,” said Sergeant Trell with confidence. “And I intend to convince her that you and I should go along.”
    Nikalys lifted a hand and stated the obvious.
    “Pardon me, but the capital is hundreds of miles from here. It would take a few turns to get there overland. Weeks, still, if she goes by sea.”
    A natural harbor rested at the bottom of the bluffs large enough for a pair of ships to find protection from the strong squalls that gave the island its name. One ship resided there currently, however, although no one at sea could