The sun was just starting to set, the sky now a pale orange and red, with a bluish swirl of clouds hovering just above the horizon. The cool evening breeze touched his face, and he could smell the light mingled scents of salty sea air and freshly cut grass from the gardens below. He felt lucky. On the other side of the kingdom, there were dark things taking place. The spring, that should have been visiting both lands, had somehow stalled over there, winter hanging on like time had frozen too. The trees were still bare, the air still raw with the blistery winter gales blowing through, gripping people like the hands of death. The darkness and the unnatural cessation of spring had not yet reached his land. But it was coming, he felt it.
He tried to swallow his growing fear and concentrate on the vast land that stretched out before him. He loved his land and the people that lived in it, but the weight of all of it rested on his shoulders, and sometimes he wanted nothing more than to stay hidden from it. That’s why he lost himself in drink and passion, to lift all the pressure from him, if even for a little while. But Alek was right, when the hangover wore off and the warmth of a woman was no longer enough, everything he tried to hide from was still there, knocking on his door, needing his attention.
A real knock on the door tore him away from his thoughts. Had an hour passed already? He sighed. His musings would have to wait. He turned from the window and called out. A servant opened the door and bowed.
“Alekzand’r Kenyon Morgan, Your Majesty, and Princess Melenthia Eryn Breslin of Aaralyn.”
Alekzand’r passed the servant and approached his king and best friend. Melenthia went in as well, but waited just inside the door, the servant closing it behind her. She was wearing her woolen riding pants and tunic, and still wore the lined woolen surcoat two sizes too big which hung loosely on her petite frame. She glanced over at the king with the infamous reputation and studied him. She had heard plenty of stories of him, about his good looks and charming demeanor. He had a way with women, could melt them with nothing but his smile they said. She needed to see for herself.
Alekzand’r strode forward and clasped the king on the shoulder, then the king threw his arms around his friend in a bear hug, laughing heartily.
Now that he faced her, she could see him better in the fading light of the day. She could understand why women flocked to him. He was six foot, and he had a thick head of blond hair which was longish, a piece falling on his forehead. His shoulders were very broad, and the muscles on his chest and upper arms caused the silken material of his shirt to be pulled tight. He stood tall and sure, and his smile electrified the whole room; she could feel its radiance from where she stood. His skin was tan, from riding the countryside she assumed, and he was relatively healthy looking, despite the small bags under his eyes. When he turned his head, she could see his pale blue eyes glint in the dancing light of the fire, so light they were almost translucent. He wore an informal white shirt, buttoned halfway down exposing part of his broad chest, with puffy sleeves gathered tightly at the wrists, and he had no crown.
“Leave it to you to be overly punctual, Alek,” he bellowed. “I’m really in no mood for visitors or sober enough to entertain them. I wasn’t expecting company tonight.”
He said it with a lightness in his tone, almost as a joke, no real irritation present. She could tell, however, that he was a bit unsteady on his feet.
“I wanted to get here as quickly as possible. Fallon’s men were close on our trail.”
“Did you have any trouble?”
“We had a bit just outside of Zhen near the border, but we were able to shake them off.”
“Do you think they were able to follow you here? Do they know where you’ve gone?”
“No, I was extremely careful.”
“How did you lose them?”
“You’re not going to like the answer, I’m afraid, Your Majesty.”
“I rarely approve of the risks you take with your life, but in light of the events, and the reasoning behind them, I will not berate you this time.”
“His men are relentless, as is he, and they kept on us like dogs on the fox. I was forced to take more desperate measures. I had to take the trail through the Sorcerers Wood. The opening was there just as Sol’s map said it would be, and it closed behind us before Fallon’s men could reach it. We barely escaped, Your Majesty, but our trail was cold by the time they had caught up.”
The king frowned. “I was hoping that wasn’t what you were going to tell me. I hoped you could’ve avoided using that foul method. The thought of it gives me chills.”
“Yes, I would normally agree with you. Nevertheless, I will have to thank Sol for the use of it when I see him again. Without it, we would’ve been caught.”