don’t know what these creatures are capable of. We know they’ve killed one of Tancho’s men. If there’s more of them coming, on their way here, I’d rather be prepared.”
Erelis nodded. “Of course. I will also ready our armies and await further instruction from you.”
“Good. We need to get word to the east and south. Now we have an immediate mode of transport,” Crow said. “Whenever Maghdlm is well enough, we’ll be going.”
“Understood. Though if I may be so bold,” Erelis said, “it is good to have you home, my king. No matter how brief.”
“As it is to be home,” Crow replied.
“If there is anything you require at all before I leave you?”
“Actually, there is,” Crow said. “I want Tancho to try Northland food. Ask Scaevola to prepare him her favourites, and see them delivered to my quarters. The Westlands impressed me greatly and I’d like to return the favour.”
Erelis bowed. “Of course.”
“And please have my private bath filled,” Crow said. Tancho had been robbed of his chance to take a long bath earlier, so Crow wanted to remedy that. “And please have the libraries searched for any tomes or ancient scripts regarding the doorway, the eclipse, or any mention of the word lacuna.”
Erelis bowed again. “As you wish,” he replied, and then he was gone.
Crow turned to Tancho and gestured toward a door at the end of the grand hall. “This way.” As they walked through the halls and corridors toward Crow’s private quarters, he couldn’t help but smile at Tancho’s wonderment.
When they entered the hall of windows, Tancho stopped. The hall itself wasn’t anything but grey stone floor and walls, but the outside wall was lined with tall, narrow windows. The ornate stained glass that filled each top panel and their craftsmanship and artistry, as old as the castle itself, were lost to the view outside.
Majestic snow-covered mountaintops glistened in the winter sun, the cold wind blew flurries off the peaks, the sky behind a pale but endless blue.
“I have never seen any such thing,” Tancho whispered. “It’s . . . beautiful.”
Crow found himself smiling, pleased and proud that Tancho liked his first impression of Northlands. “The view in this hall as the sun rises is magnificent.”
Tancho’s grin widened and he shook his head. “I now understand your fascination with my home,” he mused. “You found beauty in things I overlooked, having been so used to seeing them. Everything was new to you, and now here I am seeing things for the first time and I . . .” He sighed. “I can see why you found it so intriguing.”
“There is a certain beauty in foreign sights, but the same could be said for coming home.” Crow smiled at the mountains. “I have missed this place. And you mentioned being so used to seeing the sights of home we overlook the small details. That’s true. But I don’t think I’ll take them for granted again.”
Tancho nodded. “I’ll admit I’m grateful it wasn’t a two-week ride to be here. That doorway is a powerful asset. It will open new trade routes, new communications. We don’t need to go through Aequi Kentron anymore.”
Crow thought about that. “Do you think that’s why they closed it down? Why no one has ever learned about these doorways?”
Tancho inhaled deeply. “Possibly. Perhaps there were other reasons. Our histories teach us of wars between all four lands. Perhaps they were closed down as a security measure and over time they were forgotten.”
Crow’s brow furrowed. “Perhaps. Or perhaps the King of the Westlands in those ancient times didn’t like how dashingly handsome and funny the King of the Northlands was.”
Tancho rolled his eyes and tried not to smile. “Or perhaps the King of Westlands found the Northlands’ king’s ego tiring.”
“Or he found him attractive.”
Tancho laughed, but Crow didn’t miss the blush that crept up his neck.
Perhaps, indeed.
“I believe I owe you a soak in the tub,” Crow said, starting to walk again. “Though I don’t think I’ll try meditating again. Unless you want to hear me snore.”
When they made it to Crow’s quarters, one of two guards opened the heavy oak door for him. “Grateful for your return, my king,” he said. “Trays of food were just delivered, sire.” Crow gave him a nod but stood aside and let Tancho walk through first.
Tancho walked a few steps in and stopped, looking around, taking it all in. The room itself was huge, with stone walls, heavy oak furniture with wrought iron trims, rugs on the floor and