Lexin's Quest (Knights of Kismera Book 2) Read online

  “Tomorrow, if possible,” Lexin answered. “This needs be kept within this room. Yeager fears if others know of my search, Greer could be in danger. I know not from whom, but as the High King’s heir, that is a possibility. None know of his existence except us.”

  “I have an idea,” Cerise spoke for the first time, drawing all eyes to her. “Let me go with you. I will be the reason we travel from Oralia to Trevess and on from there.”

  “Absolutely not!” Drace exclaimed at the same time Lexin and Cearan both shouted, “No!”

  Ki kept silent but raised an eyebrow in question.

  Cerise rose, her face flushed with indignation. She shoved a finger into Drace’s chest. “You aren’t my father so butt out, and you two,” she turned her attention to the other two men, “shut up and listen!”

  Cearan’s mouth opened as if to speak, but Cerise’s glare halted him while Lexin went red with fury.

  Cerise took a deep breath and let it out through her nose. “I’ve been working with ideas for trade and Oralia has much to offer. Let me go with you on pretense of investigation for new trade avenues. One woman would travel with a few guards anyway, right?”

  Before anyone could answer she rushed on. “So, while I’m talking with some merchant or tradesman, you two could be prying for leads on this Greer fellow. Besides, people in trade remember deals, trips and people for years. It’s that memory of what others may assume as insignificant details that make for successful merchants.”

  Cerise turned to Drace, a beseeching expression in her eyes. “I can ride well, and I can defend myself. I wouldn’t slow them down.”

  She placed a hand on his arm where they were crossed over his chest as he stood glaring at her.

  He sighed in resignation and uncrossed his arms, gently dislodging Cerise’s hand. He shot a quick glance to Ki. “Let me speak with Ki on it in private, please.”

  Cerise nodded mutely and Ki followed Drace into the little room that adjoined their bedchamber. It was his private study, which held the few things special to him, such as photos of family members and horses that had been special. He also had a small wooden chest with items from his parents and grandparents: a locket, a few military medals, a pocket watch and other things that were from his past life. He had added to the cache a lock of hair from each of his sons.

  When the heavy wooden door shut behind the couple, chaos ensued in the sitting room.

  “Are you insane?” Cearan shouted at Cerise. “This could be a dangerous journey.”

  “So it’s okay for you, a man,” she sneered back, “to take that risk, but not me, a lowly woman? I don’t think you’d be telling Ki that!”

  “Ki is a trained, seasoned warrior. You could not hurt anyone,” Lexin jumped into the argument.

  “Maybe I couldn’t whip you in hand-to-hand, big boy, but you’ve got to sleep sometime,” Cerise threatened, coming to stand in front of him.

  Lexin bent until they were nose to nose, a low lion’s growl coming from him. “You are so stubborn!” he yelled at her. “Stay here, and be safe.”

  “You just want me out of your hair! Well, too bad, cat man. I can do as I please. Last I heard, this is a free country. I’ll just follow you if I have to!”

  Lexin bared his teeth, flashing his canines. “Women!” he snarled in her face. “Deceitful and conceited, the lot of you.”

  Whatever Cerise had been about to say stuck in her throat at his last words. She turned abruptly, and went to stand at the window. She turned her back to him, fists clenched at her sides.

  Cearan had been watching their exchange with a bit of amusement but gave Lexin an angry look at those last words. He went to Cerise and placed a hand on her shoulder in comfort, noting the single tear that escaped her eye and fell to her now ashen cheek.

  Lexin cursed and turned his back on them. He returned to his spot at the hearth and leaned on the mantle, staring at the empty grate.

  “Something troubles Lexin,” Ki said as the door closed behind them. “He is a different man than the one who rode from here last winter.”

  Drace sat in the chair by his desk and pulled Ki onto his lap. He rested his forehead against hers. “I’ve noticed.”

  Both their heads jerked up at the raised voices from the other room. Ki rose to stop them, but Drace pulled her back to his lap. “Let them hash it out. They are adults, despite how they are acting.” Drace leaned his head back to gaze into his wife’s tawny eyes. “No one is armed, are they?”

  Ki gave a little laugh. “No, my love, I saw no weapons.”

  “Good. I’d hate to have blood in my sitting room.” He patted Ki’s leg lightly. “What do you think of Cerise going with Lexin and Cearan?”

  “I do not wish Cearan to go, either, to be honest with you, Drace. It could be a hazardous journey, and all for naught. The odds of finding this young man are small. It has been over twenty-two springs since he was taken. Would you know Brann in that length of time if you had seen him but once, and then only briefly?”

  “I would like to think I’d know my own son,” Drace replied, the hairs on his arms prickling with the thought of his child taken.

  “But Greer is not Lexin’s son. I think Cerise is right in that perhaps someone in Trevess would recall a woman with a new babe traveling with two Werren soldiers. Lion-kin are few in faraway lands and most serve as mercenaries or weapons-smiths. The woman would draw attention.” Ki stiffened in Drace’s lap.

  “What is it?” he asked.

  “Greer was taken as a new babe, so somewhere between Bellmore and Trevess the maidservant would need to have found a wet-nurse for the child, unless she had a babe of her own as well.”

  “So it may have been two women arriving in Trevess, or one with two children,” Drace said, following her reasoning. “Don’t most people traveling to Trevess from Bellmore stop in Oralia on the way?”

  “Yes, this is so,” Ki said. She understood where Drace was headed with that comment. “I shall speak to Estelle as soon as we talk to the others.” She looked at Drace fondly. “Have I told you this day that I love you?”

  “You may have mentioned it but I never tire of hearing it,” he replied, and kissed her before getting them both to their feet.

  Ki and Drace returned to a room occupied by a trio of tense, angry people.

  “If you three will sit, we will continue and make some sort of plan,” Ki bade them.

  Chapter Six

  Horses stamped restlessly in the inner courtyard as the travelers prepared to leave.

  “I’ll miss you, C,” Drace said into Cerise’s hair as he hugged her tight for a moment. “Promise me you’ll be careful.”

  “I will,” she returned, her voice muffled against his shirt. “I promise.”

  Cerise was Drace’s aunt, although she was only two years his senior. After her parents’ death, she had been raised with Drace by his parents—her brother, Aaron, and sister-in-law, Anne. The two had grown up more as brother and sister, instead of aunt and nephew, and had always been very close. She felt him shudder as he sighed and gently patted her back.

  When he released her, she tilted her head back to look him in the eyes. “You once told me that I might not have the adventures and challenges that I had back in our world, but I think you’ll be wrong. I’m looking forward to this trip, and…,” she smiled broadly at him, “I’ll be fine. I’m more worried about my watch cats killing each other before we get to Trevess,” she said, referring to how Cearan and Lexin had been eyeing each other in a hostile manner ever since the meeting the day before.

  “I love you, Cerise,” Drace said, returning her grin, as well as her concerns about the two men.

  After checking the gelding one last time, he helped her mount her steed. Ki, who had already said her good byes early that morning, remained inside now with a cranky, teething son. Cerise adjusted her gloves and took up her horse’s reins as Drace walked over to say goodbye to Cearan and Lexin.


  “Ride safe, you two, and good luck. I hope this is a quick trip for all of you,” Drace commented as the two Werre men made final adjustments to their chain mail armor and weapons. One other warrior would ride with them, a tall Panther-kin man of about thirty-five summers. He had the black hair, brilliant green eyes and lithe build of members of his clan. He was a handsome man, or had been until the Battle of Hopa, where he had been scarred when acid from a black dragon’s breath had struck him on the left side of his face and neck. The scars extended down his left side to his hip. He had been lucky, as it had only been a faint mist that touched him. Others had died a terrible, agonized death when struck with the dragon’s acid.

  The wound had been extremely painful. However, with the talents of the healers, combined with considerable work on his part, Merrick had regained his skills as a warrior. He was now fit to accompany the others on the journey. Merrick held the lead of one of the two pack horses. Cerise would lead the second.

  With a hug and a nod, Cearan said goodbye and mounted his black stallion, a young Friesian given to him when Drace had returned to Kismera.

  Lexin stood by his own stallion, waiting his turn at the farewells. When Drace came to stand in front of him, he took Drace’s hand. “I will watch over your kinswoman with my life, my lord, I swear. No harm will come to her while I live.”

  “Thank you, Lexin. May Arahtok watch over all of you. I hope that your search is a quick and successful one.”

  Lexin nodded once and mounted his horse, taking a light hold on the reins to quiet the stallion. “My lord, I hope to see you soon.” He turned his horse and headed at a trot out the inner gate, Cearan and Merrick behind him.

  Cerise waved one last time and followed the three men, leaving Drace standing alone in the courtyard.

  The group kept the horses at a pace that allowed them to cover many miles without stressing the animals. Conversation was kept to a minimum most of the ride, but when they slowed to give the horses a rest, Cerise engaged Merrick.

  Merrick had made the journey to Trevess many times as a guard on trade trains. Although he was by nature a quiet man, he was happy to answer Cerise’s endless questions while he and the other two men continued to keep a close eye on the surrounding countryside, one hand always within easy reach of their swords.

  The road the four journeyed was a well traveled route and they passed several small groups headed to Oralia and places further north. Twice, they passed slower travelers headed in the same direction as they themselves.

  At the end of the first day, Lexin led them far off the road to ensure safety and privacy. There were only a handful of trees, but there was enough deadfall to provide firewood for cooking the evening meal. A rope was strung between two trees to tie a picket line for the horses. However, Marlhowh was tied by himself, away from the others.

  A single tent of military design was set up for Cerise’s use. Its triangular frame was made of narrow boards, held together by wooden pins and covered with a well-tanned bison beast hide that resembled canvas. Disassembled, it could easily be carried on a packhorse.

  A small stream ran behind the camp, close enough that the noise of the water passing over the rocks would not drown out the sound of anyone approaching. Merrick had walked with Cerise to the water’s edge and stood over her when she knelt to wash the trail dust and sweat from her face and hands. It had been a hot day and Cerise welcomed the chance to wash in the cool stream. Once she was done, she thanked Merrick for watching out for her, and then took his sword belt when he handed it to her. He crossed the stream, and in a blink of an eye, he changed: a large black panther disappeared in the growing dusk.

  Cerise felt the tiny hairs on her arms and the back of her neck stand as she stared after the departing Merrick. She had seen the shape shifting abilities of the Werre people before, although not often. Legend had it that the ability had come as a gift from their god, Arahtok—the lion god. Ki, Cearan and Lexin all belonged to the lion-kin, and could turn into lions at will. There were the panther-kin such as Merrick, and there was one other clan that could change into snow leopards. Each clan had characteristics of the animal it could become, such as eye color, hair color and build. All members of the Werre also had more pronounced cat-like canine teeth.

  Even knowing all this, seeing Merrick make the change still sent a shiver down Cerise’s spine.

  She returned to the camp, carrying his sword, and came to stand next to Lexin who was kneeling to start a fire.

  A few deft flicks of his flint against a small piece of steel and the dry moss he had found for tinder began to smoke. Lexin leaned in to blow gently and coaxed a tiny flame to life. He settled back to balance over his heels, carefully feeding the fire small pieces of wood. He looked up at Cerise and saw her holding Merrick’s weapon belt. “He went to hunt?”

  “Yes,” she replied, and moved to lay the sword belt carefully by Merrick’s saddle and bedroll.

  “I thought as much,” Lexin said and rose with a grunt, his thigh muscle protesting where it was still bruised. “You seem to get on well with him,” he added, offhandedly, and then bit at a splinter in the heel of his hand, spitting it toward the fire when he freed it. Finally, he looked at her.

  Her chin was up as if to say so? “I like him. Merrick’s a good man, and doesn’t talk to me as if I were stupid.” She gave Lexin a look that as good as said, like you’ve been doing.

  The thought of a question crossed her face but before she could ask it there was a muffled curse from the other side of the tent where Cearan had been driving in the tent stakes. His blond head appeared over the top of the tent when he stood abruptly, his injured thumb in his mouth.

  Cerise met him when he walked around the tent. “What happened? Let me see,” she said as she took his hand to inspect the damage.

  Cearan took his hand back gingerly. “It is nothing, duur. I hit my thumb with the mallet.”

  Lexin stiffened at Cearan’s use of the Werre word for dear. A flush of resentment stained his cheeks. No matter what had transpired in the last several moons, he still wanted Cerise. He had almost bedded her before he left to return to Bellmore, and during the moons he had been away he had spent hours thinking of what might have been.

  When she stood beside him while he lit the fire, he caught her woman’s scent, causing his body to respond.

  Lexin turned back to his fire, adding more wood and ignoring the other two as Cerise said something to Cearan that had him laughing.

  Merrick returned to camp, walking in the panther’s graceful, feline way. He dropped a large hare at Cearan’s feet and moved into the shade of a tree. There was a faint shimmer and the man sat reclined against the tree’s trunk. He accepted the water skin that Cerise brought him and drank thirstily.

  He wiped his mouth with the back of one hand. “It was good hunting tonight,” he commented and stretched. The hunt had been enjoyable, but during the chase he had pulled the scar tissue along his ribs and left arm and now the old wound was making itself felt.

  Cerise noticed his grimace when he stood and rolled his left shoulder in an unconscious effort to relieve the tightness. “Can I get you something for pain, Merrick?” she asked softly.

  “No, my lady, I will be fine. I am use to it now. It is nothing,” he replied, and with a nod went to retrieve his weapons, strapping them on once more. He moved to the edge of their camp, watchful once more.

  Cearan had skillfully cleaned the rabbit and was cutting it into bite- sized pieces. Lexin had already hung an iron pot over the fire, adding water for the stew.

  Cerise felt a moment of curiosity, something she had felt several times since she had come to this world. In her old world, even as modern as it was, men still at times put women into the roles of cook and keeper of the home. Luckily, Drace’s mother had raised him to be much less chauvinistic, although his manly, protective nature still surfaced from time to time.

  Here however, the men, if they were hungry on the trail,
hunted, cooked and cleaned up after themselves without expecting the women in the party to do it. She also noted that some of them were down right anal about it, Lexin and Cearan fell into that category. It was as if they didn’t think she had any clue how to do the necessary camp chores. At least they had let her take care of her horse by herself.

  She moved around the camp, occupying herself while the others finished readying it for the night.

  After a supper of delicious rabbit stew with bread that Lexin had brought from Oralia, Cerise washed once more in the stream and crawled into her tent. She stripped down to her long shirt and laid her dagger near her head as Cearan had taught her. With three Werre warriors nearby, she was certain she would have no need of it.

  Two hours later, Cerise was still awake, thinking over the argument she and Lexin had in Drace and Ki’s sitting room. What had Lexin meant by all women being deceitful and conceited? she wondered. He had never seemed to have that opinion of women before he left to return to Bellmore, summoned by Yeager himself. Lexin seemed truly fond of the female gender. He had been full of humor and life. Cerise doubted that the loss of his fingers had changed him so much. From what she could tell, injuries like that weren’t all that uncommon.

  What really puzzled her was that she believed Lexin had wanted to bed her before he left. If I’d made a move sooner, maybe we would have been lovers, and perhaps he would have even asked me to go to Bellmore with him. Her mind kept racing: Why is he so surly and impolite to me now? Why is he avoiding me?

  Gone was the man she had known before, who had comforted her at times when she had first come to Kismera. During her first weeks there, he had taught her a dice game and they had laughed into several cold nights while they played it.

  A horse snorted on the picket line, bringing Cerise out of her depressing thoughts. She lay quiet and listened to the noises around the camp. Finally, she heaved a heavy sigh and blew on a stray lock of her hair that had fallen across her eyes.