By the Sword - By Sara Flower Page 0,53
talking about how sweet spirited she had been to them. Tanel hoped that he would be able to see that side of her one day. It was a part of Talya that had been hidden away since the day her mother had been a casualty of the Malinorians. She had grown into a brave knight, but she had also built up a thick wall.
Tanel wanted to believe that God would make sure that Talya would be all right. Knights were always known for their casual relationships with God, but he had never wanted to be the stereotype. Unfortunately, he had been so busy with preparing for the upcoming war that he had neglected prayer and Scripture reading.
Tanel stared up at God’s handiwork. The sky was magnificent. One of the many gifts from God.
“Lord, when this is all over, I promise to become close to You. I will study Your Word more and pray to You. I will do whatever You ask, but please protect Talya. I am so blessed that You gave her to me. She is the best friend I have ever had. I treated her so badly just before she left on the mission. I just ask that You give me at least one more chance to tell her how sorry I am.”
Out of the corner of his eye, Tanel saw the general put out a fire. He walked over to him, swallowing the lump that had formed in his throat.
The general saw him and nodded.
“Was your walk satisfying, Tanel?” asked General Edandir.
“Yes. I needed to clear my head. I still worry about Talya.”
“Cast your care upon the Lord. I haven’t stopped thinking of her either, but you know, putting my faith in God has changed me for the better. I have been praying to Him more these last few days. This mission isn’t something that I can fight for her, or save her from. She’s in God’s hands now.”
“I wonder where she is now,” said Tanel.
“I ponder the same thing several times every day,” said the general.
Tanel took in their serene surroundings. Fog seeped over the forest floor. He remembered when Talya would come to visit Cardamon with her mother during the summers when they were children. Tanel had lived in the cabin next to theirs. He, Hanten, and Talya would go into the forest at that time of night to catch fireflies or glow worms. It seemed like a lifetime ago.
Fallen twigs snapped to their left. Tanel exchanged a suspicious look with the general. They walked cautiously in the direction that the sound had come from.
Edandir unsheathed his sword.
A horse snorted. Someone had been watching them.
Tanel clenched an arrow from the quiver that was strapped to his back.
A horse and its hooded rider emerged from the shadows.
“Halt!” shouted Edandir.
Slender, gloved hands lowered the hood. Shimmering tears fell silently down a young maiden’s pale face. It was clear by her smeared black makeup that she had been crying for a while. She was very beautiful.
Edandir sheathed his sword.
“Are you from Malinor, young lady?” he asked.
“I – I don’t even know what I’m doing here, but I just know that I can’t stay there any longer. I apologize for trespassing. I will be on my way.”
“But where will you go?” asked Tanel.
Her shoulders slumped.
“I don’t know,” she said.
“What is your name, child?” General Edandir asked.
“Chrissa.”
“Tanel, go warm up a pot of chowder for her. Please, come back to our camp and rest, at least for the night.”
The girl appeared hesitant, but then she gracefully got down from her ebony mare. She tied its reins to one of the willow trees and then followed them back to the camp.
Tanel busied himself boiling some leftover soup over the last fire in the camp. When it was ready, he carried a bowl of it over to her.
She was sitting on a log with her shoulders slouched.
Tanel approached her and slowly handed her the bowl.
“Thank you,” she smiled.
He sat on the other end of the log.
“Would you like me to sit with you, or would you rather be alone?” he asked.
“Stay, please,” she said.
Tanel couldn’t help but stare at the striking beauty from Malinor as she daintily ate her meal. Her smooth skin appeared alabaster against the dark gown that she wore. He admired her strength to leave the place and wondered what had happened to her that would make her want to do so.
When Chrissa was finished, she set her bowl down and looked at him.
“Thank you so much for your