by Kiln. Though Kiln was covered with blood but he walked with no sign of injury.
“My Lord, I have sent out your messenger. And I have found someone that wants to see you,” Graggis said, bowing his head.
King Gavinsteal stood, nodded his thanks to Graggis, but kept his wide eyes fixed on Kiln, who stood facing the monarch, his own face struggling to mask a maelstrom of emotions.
Jonas shifted his feet uneasily, not sure how this meeting would go.
King Gavinsteal walked over to Kiln, and placing his hand on his shoulder, he forced a smile from his tired and sad face. “My friend, it has been far too long,” he said slowly. “I did not think I would ever see you again.”
Kiln subtly nodded his head, giving the king a slight smile. “Uthrayne, it is good to see you as well. I have grown bored in the mountains and I have sulked long enough,” he said sofly. “It is time I put my grievances aside and return to the world of the living. I thank you for your letter, and your words.”
The warriors around the duo looked about uneasily, uncomfortable at witnessing such a personal encounter.
“I wronged you, my friend and I have carried this guilt for over twenty years. There has been only one action in my life that I have regretted, and it was what I did to our friendship.”
Kiln nodded his head in acknowledgement. “Women have a way of making fools of men, my Lord,” replied Kiln, putting emphasis on the words, my Lord.
The king tried to force a smile, but the strain of the recent news regarding his son hindered his effort, and Kiln knew that something was wrong.
“What is it, Uthrayne?” he asked with concern.
“My friend, my son Baylin is lost, probably captured by the enemy. I need you Kiln, now more than ever.”
The king walked over to the large table and spread some maps out on it. Just then Prince Nelstrom strode into the tent wearing his typical black clothing and burnished black steel chest plate. His long dark cape billowed behind him as he moved quickly to the table. “Father, I heard you had been injured. It is good to see you are well,” he said as he quickly surveyed the room. His eyes swept past Jonas but returned briefly, recognizing him easily.
“I see that we have guests. Jonas, how good to see you. You look like a cavalier. Are my eyes betraying me?”
“No, they are not,” Jonas said curtly.
“When did you arrive?”
“Just today. This is Taleen, cavalier to Helikon,” Jonas replied smoothly. Jonas could still feel something about this man that he did not like. He couldn’t place it but his spine tingled slightly whenever he was around.
Prince Nelstrom nodded his head toward Taleen and smiled. “I did not know that cavaliers were so beautiful.”
Taleen kept her face a blank mask and simply nodded her head in greeting. From anyone else those words would have been a compliment, but even though Taleen did not know Prince Nelstrom, the words he spoke sounded like the hiss of a snake to her. She clearly felt that his words were condescending and she made no effort to mask those feelings.
The room was uncomfortably silent for a few seconds before the king spoke. “My son, this is Kiln, who I think needs no introduction. He arrived today with Jonas.” Prince Nelstrom crossed over to Kiln and reached out, shaking his hand in the warrior’s grip. As the two shook hands the Prince’s master swordsman mark could clearly be seen on his right hand.
“I have heard much about you. You are a legend,” the young prince said. “I would be honored if you would cross blades with me when time permits.”
Kiln glanced down at his son’s hand, although the only people that knew that Prince Nelstrom was of Kiln’s loins were the king, Jonas, Dagrinal, and Graggis, basically everyone that was standing in the room. Kiln smiled, his eyes sparkling at the prospect of a challenge as he noticed Prince Nelstrom’s master swordsman’s mark. “It would be a pleasure. I’d love to see if that mark has been well earned.”
“I can assure you that it has.”
“Where have you been?” asked the king.
“I was fighting with the right flank, Father,” replied the prince.
Dagrinal glanced at Graggis skeptically, but no one saw the brief exchange. They both knew that the prince had not taken part in any of the fighting. The young man was a skilled swordsman, but fighting