“I warned you, General.” Dergen growled when they returned to camp. He stood and picked up his sword that was lying next to him as if in waiting for its target’s return. Raliena had never seen him use one before.
Dergen strode towards Kassen with purpose. Before Kassen had a chance to take out his own sword, Raliena leaned round and pulled it from its scabbard, then challenged Dergen herself.
“Stand down.” She commanded holding it out in front of her. For a moment she didn’t think he was going to stop.
“You know he is not allowed to touch you!” Dergen spat, stopping just before he impaled himself on Kassen’s sword.
“And who are you to say he did?” Raliena yelled back.
“I am here to do the King’s duty.”
“As am I and I told you to stand down.”
Dergen stared from one to the other, his expression darkening as much as the forest and his mouth stern. Then he threw his sword down and held up his hands, backing away to sit by the fire again. Raliena returned Kassen’s sword to him and sat opposite Dergen, where she could keep an eye on him.
Kassen returned his sword and sat beside her, much to Dergen’s distaste.
Derio handed Raliena a bowl of food which she gratefully accepted.
All were quiet for a while after the sudden outburst from Dergen. It was not like him to be so fractious, even over Raliena. He was usually cool and calculated; though his authority had never been challenged before. Two of the guards had been watching the outbreak and relaxed their hands on their swords. Neither had wanted to stand between Dergen and Kassen but had been ready to defend Raliena should she need assistance.
“Anyone know any songs?” Derio offered when the tense silence grew too much.
“There is one we usually sing on the night before the hunt.” The cook said packing away his utensils and surplus food.
Raliena remembered being taught it by King Baynil and vaguely remembered it from when she had joined a hunt when she was young.
The cook picked up one of his pans and passed it to Fen, one of the servants accompanying them, then grabbed another for himself. They both turned them upside down and beat out a steady rhythm as they began to sing in deep voices.
Give your light to the maiden of the forest,
Give your light to the maiden of the skies,
Though at times their path seems weak,
Child, you shall not cower.
The woods surrender their secrets,
The woods surrender their soul,
Not alone, help is waiting,
Child, you shall slumber.
The scars of war take time to heal,
Before the King you both shall kneel,
Present the trophy and gain the truth,
Child, you shall serve well.
The path of the past be washed away,
Only fast waters can unchain,
The taken, but never lost,
Child, you shall live again.
Soon they were all singing the parts they remembered except for Dergen, who kept a watchful eye on the proceedings.
When the song appeared to be coming to an end the cook and Fen turned expectantly to Raliena. As Araman she should be the one to sing the last verse and she did so reluctantly, her pitch higher and sweeter than the men, who all listened intently.
The calling of destiny is heard by only I,
My name is but a memory to the broken heart of the sky,
With your life the past shall link,
To end the day the sun shall sink,
My child, you shall be free.
Kassen gazed at Raliena and she shyly smiled back, then looked away embarrassed.
“It is time for us all to retire for the night.” Dergen announced standing up and dousing the flames with a bucket of water.