Lacuna - N.R. Walker Page 0,18
leave.”
“Beings?” Adelais asked.
Hikari met Tancho’s gaze. “Please don’t fear me mad, my king. Creatures, ill-formed and grotesque. They had snouts and tusks like boars. They came from the ocean, north of the castle.”
“The north?” Tancho repeated and many eyes went to Crow.
“I know of no such thing,” he said defiantly, offended, affronted. “I wouldn’t force attack from the water, at any rate, when that is your domain, when I could cross the mountains and flatten you from our advantage. Only a fool would—”
“No one is blaming you,” Adelais said. Then she turned to the four guests. “Are they?”
Hikari bowed his head again. “No. These creatures are a likeness we have not seen before. Pale blue with mottled skin.”
Pale blue?
“They came ashore?” Tancho asked, his voice quiet. “What did they do?”
“Asagi ordered us to ride with this message. We do not know, my lord. But . . .”
“But?”
He looked at Tancho, then to Karasu and Kohaku and back to Tancho. “But we believe that was their intent. They came toward the castle in military lines, with purpose, my lord.”
Tancho put his hand on Hikari’s arm, but he looked to Karasu and Kohaku. “We must return.”
Karasu nodded hard, and Kohaku straightened his wrist guard. “We can leave now.”
“Wait, please,” Adelais said. “We will find out what information we can.” She turned to one of the elders. “What do we know about these . . . creatures? We must check our archives. Where is Gabel? As the keeper of history and culture, perhaps he will know something.”
“Apologies, kind Speaker Adelais,” Tancho said. “But we are leaving. If my lands are under attack, if my people need me . . . I care not for a lesson in this enemy’s history but would rather meet them at the end of my sword, sooner rather than later. Please have my horses ready and four fresh horses for my fellow men.”
And with that, white cloak billowing out behind him, he turned to walk to the western doors . . . and got no further. He cried out the same time Crow did, gripping his wrist in pain. The pain was worse, shooting to his elbow, and his birthmark burned. Tancho’s guards went to his aid. The four new riders were shocked to see their king in pain.
Soko went to Crow, holding his arm and dragging him a few steps toward Tancho until the searing pain eased. “Crow, you cannot have distance between you,” he whispered. “That much is clear.”
“What of the Golden Eclipse?” Adelais asked, her voice loud and clear, her gaze aimed at Tancho. “If you leave . . .”
Tancho raised his chin, defiance and anger burning in his eyes. “If I leave, I forfeit. But if I do not defend my people, my kingdom is forfeit anyway. My honour is forfeit, along with any right to be called king.” He swallowed hard and his gaze turned to steel. “And I promise, if any enemy has taken aim at my people, I will defend them. And I will kill all who stand in my way.”
Crow’s heart thumped and a smile tugged at his lips at Tancho’s words. He liked this Tancho, this livid and proud king, and he felt oddly protective of him because he understood this Tancho. Because if someone posed a threat to Crow’s land, to his people, Crow would unleash a whole world of horrors.
“Tancho, wait,” Crow said, his hand outstretched. Tancho stared at him, clearly out of patience, but Crow turned to Adelais and held up his wrist. “Speaker, can this birthmark be removed?”
Adelais paused, her quiet reply loud in the silence. “No.”
“Then my choice is removed also. As the lacuna dictates and as we have witnessed, the Westlands’ king and I cannot permit a distance between us. I must go with him.”
“Do you know what this means?” Adelais asked, her tone disappointed and cold.
“Does this lacuna not supersede the Golden Eclipse?” he asked. “Which takes precedence?”
“Our history is long and our laws are resolute. The Golden Eclipse occurs once in a thousand years.”
Crow bristled at that. “Are we being held hostage here?”
“No,” Adelais replied softly.
“Right.” Crow stared at her, unblinking. “Because should anyone be fool enough to try and take my kingdom from me, my reply will be swift and without mercy.” He waited for Adelais to reply, but when none was forthcoming, Crow looked to Samiel and Elmwood. “Though it has been brief, our meeting at long last has been an honour.”
Elmwood and Samiel both bowed their heads. “Likewise,”