Restoring Dermot Page 12

  I shook off my melancholy thoughts and said a silent prayer of thanksgiving as I listened to Reagan speak. For the most part, I had been content before he showed up. There was no reason to think worse of my situation just because he had better.

  We had missed dinner and it was edging closer to the supper hour when Reagan and I finally left the library. He went in search of the king so they could have their talk, and I headed toward my chambers hoping to find my wife there.

  Sixteen

  Adrika

  I had barely begun to think of my marriage to Rian as an improvement in my life when King Reagan showed up. Rian did not even look back as he left the throne room with his brother. Panic clawed at my thoughts. My husband may now leave Dermot without me and never look back. I tried to make sense of my feelings. We were not in love. His leaving should have no effect, but I knew in my heart that it would change everything.

  When Rian finally came looking for me, I was sitting out on our veranda. A small brazier burned in front of me. I had been here for the better part of an hour wrapped in a blanket with my hands soaking up the warmth of a hot mug of cider. The cold I felt seemed to radiate from the inside out. I glanced at my husband long enough to see the excitement written in his features before turning away.

  He bent down and kissed me on the cheek. “I thought you would have come looking for me once court was over.”

  I took a sip of my cider. “Considering you and your brother have not seen each other in so long, I did not want to intrude on your meeting.”

  “It would have been no intrusion. It is important to me that you to get to know my family.”

  I looked up at him through narrowed eyes. “I have met them before. I am pretty sure they know who I am.” My voice sounded harsher than I had intended. The tension was so strong, it was becoming harder to hide my emotions.

  He stared down at me until I looked away. “Yes, but before, you were not my wife. I think that will make a difference. You are part of the Barnali family now.”

  There it was again—that push for me to be someone besides who I had always been. I could only nod my head as if in agreement.

  “Do you know if I have received any mail? Reagan said I should have gotten a letter from Garrett with an invitation to go to Aisling a month before Session so we can spend time together as a family, but I have not received anything since my arrival.”

  I could only spare him a glance. His eagerness to part with me so soon was disheartening. “The mailroom is next to the kitchen. You will have to check there. Father and I usually arrive in Aisling a day or two before the ball. You must speak with him if you want to go earlier without us.”

  He came around to the front of my chair and leaned over me, causing me to look up at him. “First of all, I am no longer your father’s prisoner. I will come and go as I please. And secondly, where ever I go, you are coming with me.”

  “You are taking me with you to Aisling?” My voice sounded small. I had not meant to sound so weak.

  He cupped the side of my face and gently rubbed his thumb across my cheek. “Of course. You are my wife.”

  He said it so simply, so matter of fact. How was I supposed to know how he felt if he did not tell me? It was somewhat of a relief to know that I would not be left behind like I had been earlier on this day, but still, I was not convinced that this meeting with his family would not be the demise of our marriage. Rian could never be sure how strong the pull to stay there would be until he was surrounded by them once again.

  Before leaving, he gently kissed me on the lips. I had the strongest urge to pull him to me, to prolong the contact until it blossomed into much more. I could never be so brazen. It would remind him that I had a past and might bring up imaginations of things that never existed between me and Brett.

  It was a surprise when he returned with two fat envelopes. Rian sat in the lounge beside me and broke the seal on one after placing the other in his lap. I had never seen him looking so happy. What would I have to do to invoke such emotion from my husband?

  He eagerly devoured each page before handing them off one by one to me. I began reading them immediately. Thinking about the relationship my parents had shown while in my presence, I had to wonder what they had been like in private. I could not imagine my father sharing the way Rian did with me.

  The first pages from King Garrett were full of so much love and emotion. I had never known a man so open with his feelings. The times I had been in this man’s presence, he seemed quiet but kind. I had always envied the relationship he had with his family. Even my mother had not seemed as close to me as he was with his own children.

  It was the same with King Reagan and his family, but somehow different. He seemed more drawn to his wife while his relationship with his children was secondary, yet close at the same time. But what did I know of their true feelings? I had lived long enough to know that most people were different in private than they appeared to the outside world.

  There was a message from Queen Brianna as well as one from their daughter, Princess Deidre. If I would consider anyone a close friend, it would be Deidre. She was two years my junior, and we only saw each other every six months at Session, but we were always able to pick up our relationship like no time had passed. She had a bubbly personality and everything seemed more exciting with her around.

  The second letter was from the castle of Gilvary. Gwen’s words to Rian were personal—still like family, but spoke of a closer relationship than that of her husband’s brother. It almost felt like she was Rian’s mother. Gwen had to be no more than ten years older than Rian, but until reading her matronly words of love to him, she had always seemed more youthful than she was.

  Rian interrupted the end of Gwen’s letter. “So, what do you think? Would you like to leave early? The beginning of May is only a few days away.”

  Seeing the excitement on his face, there was no way I could deny him. At that moment, I wanted to do anything that would give him such pleasure. I was taken aback by my own feelings. Even as I agreed, I doubted Father would let us go so easily.

  King Reagan ended up being the one to broach the subject with Father. He did not ask if we would be allowed to go, he just stated it as a matter of fact, and Father never protested. These two kings had always appeared to get along in the past, but now there was a tangible friction between them.

  On the day of King Reagan’s departure, Rian and I saddled up and rode with him to the port where he would board a ship headed to Aisling.

  “Are you sure you will not travel by ship when you come?” There was a twinkle in Reagan’s eye—as if he held some secret that the two of us were unaware of.

  I studied Rian’s features to try and gauge his reaction. His brow was drawn together as if he were trying to make out the same puzzle as myself, but he never questioned his brother. “After my trip here, I am not eager to be afloat again so soon. I will travel by land. Besides, it will give me a glimpse of Gilvary as we pass through.”

  “As you wish. After Session is over, the two of you should come to the castle for a visit. I think you will be interested to see how things have changed since you went away.”

  Rian nodded. “We look forward to it.”

  The two brothers held on to each other as they said their goodbyes, as if it would be a while before they saw each other again. I waited for the customary nod from the king as I curtsied before him, but Reagan caught me up in a hug instead. The gesture was so unnerving, I was not aware if I even hugged him back.

  We would be leaving in three days. As we traveled back home together, Rian spoke with enthusiasm as he anticipated the time we would spend with his family. My own feelings were mixed. I had always loved attending Session because it meant a visit with Deidre and a break from my monotonous life, but I was not sure how to feel about this trip. Deidre was now my niece. Would that make a difference in our relationship? As boring as life was before Rian, at least I had known what to expect and what was expected from me in return.
Nothing would ever be the same again.

  Father called a meeting the next morning. Kealan Thomas was the only one of father’s advisors in attendance. It was his job to represent Dermot to the other kingdoms. It used to be that all the advisors attended Session, but in recent years, Kealan was the only one who traveled outside of Dermot.

  “I have decided not to travel to Aisling.” These unexpected words from Father drew my attention. He was looking at Rian as he spoke. “You and Adrika will attend the meetings in my stead. It will be a good experience in getting you ready to rule. There are no pressing matters as far as we are concerned. Your brothers may have things they want to discuss. Usually, what they want requires money.” Surely, Rian did not miss the roll of Father’s eyes. The imbalance of funds coming in versus what Father was willing to pay out was already a contention. “Just tell them there are no funds available. Kealan is aware of my views on most matters, and he will be there to help guide you. Since you insist on leaving so soon, he will be traveling with you.”

  Kealan sat up a little straighter. Rian sat back in his seat and folded his arms across his chest as he continued looking at Father. I had a feeling Rian was forming his words in his mind before he spoke them. To my surprise, my husband simply nodded his head.

  Father continued giving instructions. “I would also like to remind you that you are now a representative of me and the kingdom of Dermot. I am your king and your loyalties belong to me, not to your brothers.”

  A muscle twitched in the side of Rian’s face as if he were gritting his teeth. My own nerves were stretched taut, fearful of the battle brewing between the two stubborn men.

  “I know where my duties lie.” Rian stated through gritted teeth. “There is no need of your reminder. I am sure my brothers know how it will be as well.” His voice never rose to show his obvious anger.

  Father nodded his head. “Good. As long as we understand one another, everything should go smoothly. I look forward to hearing a report upon your return.”

  Just like that, we were dismissed. It seemed as if there had been some silent struggle between Rian and my father, and I was not sure who had won.

  Seventeen

  Rian

  I watched the head of one of the castle’s horses bob up and down as we plodded along. My thoughts wandered to those I would meet at the end of this trip. It was still remarkable that Reagan had not only accepted me back into his life, but he had done it with enthusiasm. I had not made his or Gwen’s life easy those last years spent in Gilvary, but according to him, all was forgotten. Would the rest of my family truly feel the same?

  What wonders would this trip hold? There had been a gleam in Reagan’s eyes as he said, Just get to the Pass. I have everything arranged from there to Aisling. Trust me. I did trust him explicitly, but I did not like surprises.

  King Farris had sent us away with Adrika’s handmaiden, Kealan, and two guards. Not that I was worried, but I wondered if he only traveled with two guards. In the king’s mind, there was him, and then there was everyone else. The man irritated me so much.

  It was very fortunate that I kept most of my thoughts to myself during our last meeting. Arguing with him was pointless. It would undermine my plans for the future of the kingdom. If I ever wanted King Farris to take my ideas into consideration, I would have to make an effort to appear cooperative.

  As we came to Nolan Pass, my thoughts changed direction. The pass was the only gap in the Kearnley Mountain Range that gave easy access between Dermot and Gilvary. My life would be quite different if I had taken this way instead of trying to go over Mount Cullan. I looked over at my wife. My marriage to her was one blessing gained from my detour that I could never regret.

  Adrika had been unusually quiet since Reagan’s arrival the week before. She was not quick to share her thoughts unless she was angry, but this went beyond her usual reserve. Something seemed to be bothering her, but I had no way of knowing what it was if she refused to tell me.

  Once we got past the mountain range, my homeland stretched out before us, desert-like and flatter than Dermot by comparison. I immediately noticed several notable differences from the last time I had traveled through here. At the border between kingdoms there was a fort that had not existed before.

  I watched as Gilvarian warriors patrolling the area directed those entering Gilvary ahead of us into the fort. Upon closer observation, I noticed that no one checked those coming into Dermot. A group from Gilvary trotted right past the fort headed our way, and the warriors made no effort to stop them.

  The rutted dirt road we had traveled up to this point turned to cobblestone pavement right at the border. The main road between Gilvary and Aisling had been paved for the most part before I left but this was new. Not only was this main road paved, but I could see pavement within the village just beyond the fort.

  I dismounted as soon as we arrived in front of the fort. A stable hand had already plucked Kariann from her horse and one was reaching up to take Adrika’s waist as he smiled up into her face. Jealousy struck like a fist to the gut. The thought of another man touching my wife had my blood pumping faster. I tried to control this irrational feeling. “I will get her down.”

  The man stepped away and reached for the reins of her horse instead.

  I pulled Adrika from the horse and held her in my arms for a moment before kissing the side of her head. “I have missed you.”

  Her brow wrinkled as she looked up at me. “But I have been by your side the entire way here.”

  I leaned in closer and whispered in her ear. “By my side, yes, but I like it better when you are in my arms, Princess.”

  She ducked her head with her gaze now focused on the ground, but her lips turned up on the edges and a blush crept up the sides of her face. I slid her staff from the sleeve attached to her saddle and handed it to her before retrieving my own.

  “When did you start carrying a staff?”

  “After you so aptly used the weapon on me, I decided I needed one too. After all, I represent Dermot now, right?”

  One side of her lips turned up along with one brow. “Do you need me to teach you how to use it?”

  I leaned in closer to her. “I have been training with your warriors, but I am not opposed to private lessons if you are offering.”

  She turned away with a smile and a deeper blush on her cheeks as we headed into the fort.

  Once we entered the building, I barely had time for my eyes to adjust to the dimness of the room before we were being greeted by a servant. “Prince Rian, Princess Adrika, we have been anticipating your arrival. Come right this way.”

  We bypassed the line of those checking in before resuming their travels into Gilvary. The servant opened a door leading into a suite of rooms much like the ones found in a castle. “You will find the basins full of fresh water. Refreshments will be brought by in a moment. Your carriage will be ready to go in an hour, but you can certainly take more time if you need it. Is there anything else you require?”

  I gave no answer. I did not understand why we were staying but could not think of a way to ask without sounding foolish. All of this was new to me.

  Finally, Adrika spoke up on our behalf. “We will let you know if we are in need of anything else, thank you.”

  The advisor and our warriors had followed the servant on down the hall, but Kariann came into the room with us. “I am so glad we will be riding in a carriage for the rest of the trip. Now I can dress you properly and fix your hair and makeup without worry that it will be ruined. Let’s get that riding dust washed off first. You don’t want to go around smelling like horse. I mean, not that you smell bad now. Should I call for a full bath?”

  “That will not be necessary.” Adrika made her way to the basin and began washing her face and arms. I looked at the thick, black braid hanging down her back. What was wrong with the way she wore it now? I liked this simple style better than the way Kariann usually made her up, but I had better sense than to verbalize my preference.


  The two women stepped behind the screen in the corner of the room. I could still hear the one-sided conversation going on. I wondered if Kariann talked in her sleep. Her constant chatter grated my nerves.

  As I finished washing up, there was a knock on the door just before a couple of servants entered the room. I glanced at the screen in the corner. Adrika was completely hidden, but it made me feel uneasy knowing she may be undressed in the same room with these two men who had just entered.

  They set the table with linens and tableware for two. They placed platters of meat, cheese, and fruit, in the center along with a small pitcher of ice water. One of them carried a tray into the adjoining room—one I assumed Kariann would take once she had the princess ready. It was a relief to know she would not be dining with us.

  Not long after, I was seated across from my wife eating the simple fare that had been prepared for us. “Why are we here?”

  Looking up at me, Adrika’s fork stopped halfway to her mouth. “What do you mean?”

  “I am guessing we had no choice but to check in here at the fort before moving on, but that should have taken mere minutes. It is not even dinner time yet, and here we sit, eating when we could have traveled a bit more before stopping.”

  “Once we enter the carriage, we will probably not stop again until just before supper. The route is planned out. It is the same every time we travel.”

  I only nodded. I still was not comfortable with the situation, but what more could be said?

  The time did not drag by as I thought it would. In no time, a knock sounded at our door with a servant asking if we were ready to move on. I was happy to step out into the warm sunshine again, but the sight of the carriage awaiting us stopped me in my tracks. It was unlike anything I had ever seen before. I made a trip around the contraption, taking in every detail.