Chapter Three
Alarmed by the sudden interruption, the General Kassen looked to the source of the noise in confusion. It came from behind his door, which was unexpectedly knocked open by a large armed soldier.
When he looked back to the strange young woman who he had woken up to, she was gone; his hand still stretched out towards her face.
Forgetting about his illness, which seemed to have disappeared miraculously, the General threw the sticky sheets off himself and stumbled on weak legs to the now open window.
The armed but shirtless soldier rushed frantically into the room, followed by a second slightly smaller guy in his sleeping clothes.
“We heard something smash!”
Both men looked around the room, confused to find that the General was the only one there.
Awake and standing.
“Well I’ll be dammed!” The first one said sheathing his sword and saluting.
“It’s a miracle.” The second one said and shouted for the nearest passing maid, to fetch the King.
The General leant on the window sill, hoping to see the woman who he was sure had saved him.
Maybe it had been a dream, he thought. But she still seemed so close, even now he was out of his unconscious state. He could still smell the honey scent of her golden hair.
Shrugging the feeling away he turned, smiling to Derio, still in his saluting position. And Sitnen, mouth open.
“How many times have I told you?” The General said to them both seriously. “Knock before you enter, I could have had a lady in here!”
He smiled cheekily at them and they laughed. Forgetting formalities both Derio and Sitnen embraced the General.
“Nice to have you back, Kassen. Should have known you’d pull through.” Sitnen said slapping his old friend on the back.
“Yeah, we’ve all got women to meet still.” Derio added winking at the other two.
“Would you like me to send out a wanted notice for you?” Kassen said with a mischievous look on his face. “Desperate woman needed. Good pay.”
“Crap shag!” Sitnen added.
“If I wasn’t so happy about Kassen being back you two would be done for!” Derio said, playfully putting up his fists.
“Can we place bets on that?” Came a voice from the open door.
All three looked up and saw Prince Derend leaning against the doorframe. “Was almost starting to miss you.” He laughed.
“Can’t get rid of me that easily, Derend.” Kassen replied and smiled at his half brother.
“Kassen?!” A small girl ran into the room and jumped on the General embracing him warmly.
“Thought you were gone for sure!” She said shakily trying to hold back tears. She didn’t want to cry in front of the men.
“Don’t be silly, Sherin. I’ll always be here for you.” They rubbed noses and Sherin giggled.
“I don’t think it’s a good idea to be jumping over him like that, he is still recovering.”
Everyone stood alert as King Dagerten entered the overcrowded room.
Sherin jumped down sheepishly.
“Glad you are back, General Kassen. You are a great asset to this Kingdom.” She curtsied and swiftly left the room with her brother Derend, no doubt keen to spread the news of Kassen’s recovery.
“Leave us.” The King ordered Derio and Sitnen who became suddenly aware that they were both barely dressed.
“Yes, your highness.” They replied in unison.
“Later, Kassen.” Whispered Derio as he left.
“Glad you have returned to Attashar, General.” Added Sitnen as he left with Derio.
Before they closed the door behind them Sitnen made a show of curtsying out of view of the King, causing his loose night trousers fall down, displaying the grandeur of Attashar’s defence force.
Kassen found it hard not to laugh and was glad when the door closed.
Instantly, the days of being bedridden caught up with his body and he lay wearily back on the bed which was damp from his fever.
The King walked over to the window and pulled the curtains apart slightly. A winter’s morning sun drifted into the dank room. It reached Kassen and warmed his pale face which was gradually gaining colour again.
It seemed that every moment he was awake made him stronger.
“We were all worried you would not pull through.” King Dagerten said in his usual formal tone, breaking the silence.
“Wasn’t my time.”
“Indeed. Lady Nanerter has our gratitude.”
“Who?” Kassen sat up against the headboard.
The King pulled a chair over to the bed and sat beside the General, hands in his lap, studying Kassen carefully.
“The healer I sent for from Verxia. I dare say you owe her your life. Clearly her abilities brought you back to us where all others had failed.”
Kassen leant over to the table beside him. Not wanting to risk a guess at which one of the many glasses contained water, he chose a large green apple from the arrangement of fruit.
“You have always been a fighter, Kassen. And if I could break tradition to have you as my heir, believe me I would.”
Kassen looked as his father and hoped his half brother, the Prince, did not know of this. Although it would be just like Dagerten to make it known to him. He was as cruel a father as he was a King.
“There’s no use living in the past. You taught me that.” Kassen said studying his apple before taking a bite. He would rather not have to speak to the King alone, especially as exhausted as he was; for he found it even harder to keep the spite from his voice.
“I know.” The King replied, ignoring Kassen’s tone. “One of my better lessons. Unfortunately the only thing Prince Derend has contributed to the Kingdom is the proposal of this alliance with Verxia. If only I could send the Prince with you to Verxia where he can learn how to lead from you. But I need him here to watch how to deal with the threat of an attack; Lishini has been sending scouts into the western woods. It must be you who attends and learns of the strength Verxia has to offer us.”
“What’s a bastard son to do?” Kassen muttered. He was perhaps walking a fine line, one that would usually have been much more precarious, but something seemed different in the King today, as if the usual harsh lines in his permanent scowl were softened.
“If I could have married your mother, I would have. But things aren’t always that simple.” Dagerten replied.
"You seem to find a way of making them so." Kassen snapped. The matter of his mother was a sensitive topic and he knew the King would not have tolerated this last slur if it had not been. The history between them gave Kassen more privileges than most.
The King had the decency to look uncomfortable.
“I almost lost you.” He said solemnly.
But, despite the King’s sincerity, Kassen could not feel compassion towards him when he knew his father had none.
“It wouldn’t be the first time.” The General replied, fixing the King with an unforgiving stare.
A momentary flicker of rage crossed Dagerten’s face as he stared back at his son. This time Kassen had fallen from the line, but the dark shadows under Kassen’s eyes and the sheen on his brow from what was left of his fever, unexpectedly eased Dagerten’s wrath, making him avert his gaze and change the subject.
“We shall have to get a new lock on that door.” Dagerten said, aware of the tension growing in the room. “Why did you lock it?”
“I didn’t. The first time I got up was at the window this morning.” Kassen said, irritated.
“Nonsense. It can only lock from the inside.”
Kassen stared at Dagerten.
He knew he hadn’t locked the door; he could barely since he became ill. Could it have been the blonde girl who had somehow disappeared?
“What does
this healer from Verxia look like?” Kassen asked not quite sure yet if he wanted it to be the girl.
“Same old Kassen.” The King replied cheerily. “Just woken up from a state of near death and already on the lookout for a lady. You really are my son.”
“No, that’s not it.” Kassen ignored the comment about being Dagerten’s son and looked towards the window. “There was someone in here before the door was broken.”
The King looked at the General with concern.
“A woman, she was blonde with blue eyes.” Kassen paused, imagining the gorgeous creature again. “She was the one who saved me, I know it.”
“Kassen, there was no one else in here but you and the healer has dark hair and eyes. It must have been a dream.” Replied the King getting up slowly.
The General watched him walk to the door.
“Wait until you have your strength back, then travel to Verxia and complete this treaty.”
“I’m fine now.” Suddenly full of energy and purpose Kassen got out of bed. “I shall go down and see to the preparations so that we may leave tomorrow morning.”
Kassen had never been one to rest or show any sign of patience, and he knew and alliance between the kingdoms was an important move for Attashar. Verxia had a substantial trading market that would benefit the Kingdom immensely.
“If you are sure that is best?” King Dagerten asked.
“Yes, the sooner I can thank King Baynil for sending help so swiftly to my aide, the better.”
The King nodded thoughtfully.
“I will have the servants pack immediately.”
Then he left Kassen to wash and dress.