Chapter 9
Kell slowly levered himself up to sit and rubbed at his tired, bloodshot eyes with the heels of his hands. He realized when he looked up that it was light outside. Morning already. He had hoped it would be hours still, but the sun and the moon, set in their endless journeys, never really cared for what man might hope.
He yawned large enough to make the joints in his jaw crack and grumbled over the events the day before that had turned into a very late night arguing back and forth, rather pointlessly, with his commanders. Naught had come of it but foul moods and restless sleep. For the commanders as well, Kell hoped, because the headache that began to develop as soon as he had sat up was the result of a long, uncomfortable night.
He rose and pulled impatiently at the shirt and breeches he hadn't bothered to take off last night and tugged a hand through his hair. It smelled of sweat and blood and he realized he hadn't washed since he'd returned from the last battle. He grimaced in disgust and made good use of the washbasin even though the water was now cold. It had its drawbacks not to have Janu with him.
When Kell changed his clothes his eyes fell on Will's pack and he realized the sorcerer had left yesterday without his belongings. Surely his fellows had lent him a bedroll and blanket when he came back to their camp; there was no need for Kell to feel bad on that account.
Gods. He had been so angry yesterday, and in his right to be so; Will had been completely out of order giving commands like he was the one in charge. Kell cursed under his breath. He didn't want to be at odds with the sorcerer, but he had been right to reprimand him and confine him to his tent.
He looked at the pack. Still, Will would need his things.
But Will wasn't where he was supposed to be. Aron and the others looked blankly at him when he came asking for their younger fellow sorcerer.
"You mean he's not here?" Kell felt a pang of guilt in his gut and the sudden taste of bile rising. He bit it back down.
"No. He's not with you?" Piotry got to his feet with a worried wrinkle between his eyebrows. He took great care of his patients and became more than a little upset when one of them went missing.
"No." Kell didn't want to but he owed them an explanation. "We had an argument yesterday about the treatment of the prisoners and I confined him to his tent." He tried to ignore the look the sorcerers exchanged between each other, but it was hard.
"He'll show up, my prince." Aron gave him a straight look that told him just what the old sorcerer really wanted to say.
"I can't wait until he does." Considering the heat of their argument and how angry Kell had been, it could be days before Will would deem it safe to return. "I need to find him now."
Gods of earth and air. Will had been so badly wounded only days past, not fully recovered yet and now he was missing and all because of Kell being unable to control his temper.
The sorcerers just looked at him, offering no help or reassurance. He glared back and stalked away. He heard Aron muttering something about "daft princes" and Kell considered for a moment to call him on it, but then changed his mind. There was another sorcerer that he needed to make amends with and to be at odds with one was enough for now.
Kell stood outside his tent and tried to figure out where Will had gone off to. He considered the horses, remembering Will had said their presence was calming that night when they first met, but ruled that out. Will would want to be away from people right now and that meant out of the camp. He might have taken his horse to get farther away, but considering Will's condition and how he'd been uncomfortable with the animal to begin with, he had probably gone on foot.
Kell began to worry when he thought about how far Will could have walked in the hours between leaving the tent yesterday and now. Without proper clothing and weapons he'd be cold and defenceless in the dark woods and he could be lying half frozen and unconscious and even bleeding somewhere and Kell would never find him.
Damn, he cursed himself. Now you're being irrational. Pull yourself together.
Then there was like a tingling in the back of his head right behind his ears and the soft sound of running water. Puzzled by the sensation Kell turned his head to see where it came from. When he turned towards the forest the sound grew louder and he felt a compulsion to go that way.
Water. Hot springs. The soothing sound of a babbling brook. That would be as calming to Will as the horses, he reflected. He almost broke into a run but forced restraint on himself until he was out of camp.
But there were only soldiers at the pools taking baths or washing their clothes, no dark haired sorcerer wanting to rip his guts out. Kell cursed and looked desperately around. There had to be more free flowing water somewhere, the urge to find it was almost overwhelming.
Ignorant of the soldiers' bewildered stares, Kell set off into the forest, ducking under branches and breaking through bushes that tore at his clothes. Worry ate at him every step of the way until he was almost frantic. Then suddenly he froze with breath lodging in his throat. The glittering of a brook among the trees told him he had found what he was looking for and his heart beat even faster.
On the moss covered ground at a bend in the brook Will was sitting cross-legged with his hands resting on his knees. The look on his face was pure calm and Kell was almost reluctant to break the peaceful silence. But he had to; he couldn't stand it not knowing if Will was still angry with him.
Will opened his eyes and looked straight at him when he stepped quietly out from among the trees and his expression turned guarded and hurt. Kell's hopes for a smile were brutally smashed to pieces.
He didn't know what to say, where to start and Will was just sitting there, watching his slow, hesitant approach like a cat waiting for the right moment to pounce on its prey. Kell stopped at what he felt to be a safe distance and kneeled down opposite Will. The looks and the silence was grating on his already frayed nerves and he couldn't stand it for long.
"Please, say something, Will," he whispered out of fear that a voice too loud would scare the sorcerer away.
"What is there left to say? You were eloquent enough yesterday," Will said quietly, his voice a low, rasping whisper.
"Gods of mercy!" Kell felt the turmoil from yesterday rising again, and had to stomp it down not to make the situation even worse. "What was I supposed to do? It's my command, Will. I have to be the one calling the shots or they'll lose their respect for me."
"How could they? You're Prince Kell Deasir al E'Tharion of Waunban. You have their lives in your hand." His voice was low and harsh with resentment.
This was not going the way Kell wanted, Will was on the defence and not letting down one bit on the wall that was rising between them. But it was the look in Will's eyes as Kell edged closer that made his heart break; Will was shutting him out, pushing him away never to let him near again. Kell's throat tightened.
"Gods, I've been such a fool, haven't I?" he choked out. "You were trying to help me, just like you've done before, and I refused to listen." His vision was slowly blurring. "I was so frustrated and distraught because of the camp we found that I couldn't make myself realize…" He lost his voice and had to swallow. "And now I've hurt you and you're shutting me out just as I deserve."
Will ducked his head and his bangs fell down to hide his face. Kell couldn't see the expression that came and went as the sorcerer swallowed with difficulty.
"Please, Will." Kell wanted to touch him, but he didn't even dare to reach out or move closer, afraid he might be rejected. The silence lengthened.
"They never were the marauders they've been accused to be," the sorcerer said finally without looking up.
Kell blinked before he could turn his mind around to this change in topic.
"They were only fighting for their lives when your army found them where they weren't supposed to be and stood defenceless against your organized troops. And Gods save me, I helped kill them." Will's voice trembled.
"What do you want me to do?" Kell was reaching desperately for anything Will was prepared to give him.
"I want you to help the families survive." Will looked straight at him then, his gaze unwavering. "I want you to go talk to them and listen to what they have to say."
"You're asking a lot of me, Will."
"Am I? How come they suddenly became villains just because your men didn't recognize their faces? Who said they were marauders when they were fathers defending their homes?"
"I don't know," Kell confessed helplessly.
"Then find out!" Will said firmly and Kell flinched from the flash of intensity in his eyes. A glimpse of the sorcerer in Will, Kell realized, and wondered if he had angered Will more than he had thought, suddenly fearing retribution. Not even kings dared cross a sorcerer.
A tense silence lowered between them again and Kell couldn't move or blink or breathe.
"Do you know," Will began quietly after agonizingly long minutes, "that the fiercest, bravest soldier is the one defending his home?"
Kell could only shake his head, amazed that Will was still talking to him.
"If you had known about them they would've paid taxes or tithes, and many of them would've joined your army to defend this land from king Uriche. But now they're thought to be Uriche's marauders and you and they both have lost lives and time, while the real enemy is laughing at you."
It took Kell a moment to think this over. "You're saying Uriche knew they were here?"
"Perhaps."
"That someone spread false information to his benefit."
"Whatever the cause, you lost good men and time when you could've concentrated on him."
Kell cursed and rubbed at his forehead. "I've really been a fool."
Will tilted his head slightly and studied the prince. "You're not a fool," he said softly and Kell thought his heart was going to burst. "You trusted your commanders to have the situation under control and acted based on what you all thought to be the truth. It wasn't your fault."
Kell pulled for air and let it out in a shuddering breath. "Will you help me? I can't do this without you." Will's eyes lowered and Kell fought the urge to scream in despair. "Please, Will. I'm so sorry."
A moment longer and then, "Okay. I'll help you."
Kell could've cried with relief; so much tension drained away with those simple words.
Will rose to his feet with a pained grimace and Kell hurried over when it looked like he was going to fall, but he didn't dare touch Will. His hands hovered in limbo between them.
"I'm okay. I've just been sitting down for too long," Will explained with a small smile, and his voice held nothing of the anger or hurt Kell had caused.
Kell reached out a hand then and Will took it. His fingers were so cold Kell couldn't stop himself from letting out a worried cry and pull Will close to wrap his arms around him. He willed the warmth from his body into Will's and held him as close as he possibly, physically could.
"I'm so sorry," he mumbled against the dark hair at Will's temple. "Can you forgive me?" Please please please please.
"If you let me breathe I'll forgive you anything," Will huffed against his neck and he couldn't help but laugh.
* * * * * * * *
Kell waited patiently while Piotry fussed over Will to make sure the returned young sorcerer was really alright. And except for a cramp in a thigh for sitting still so long and a slight chill after being out all night without proper clothing or shelter, Will was fine.
While the redheaded sorcerer concentrated on Will, Aron concentrated on treating Kell to every kind of reproachful, scolding look he could muster and the prince endured them best he could. He had deserved them after all.
Will insisted against Piotry's advice to go with Kell when he went to speak to the two prisoners and it was comforting to know he was there when the two chained men turned their angry, accusing eyes on him. He seemed to attract a lot of animosity today.
Kell crouch down and looked at them for a moment, letting them see the honest attempt at reconciliation in his eyes. After a few tentative tries to ease the tension Kell introduced himself again; not as the prince and not as the leader of this army, but as a man searching for the truth in this crazy fighting and a way out of it that would benefit them all.
Roan, as the scarred man had introduced himself yesterday, took the lead from there on and Kell found himself cornered in the discussion about the battles more than once. It was probably only because of Will's presence that they had a civilized conversation at all, Kell reflected. Obviously you could get far with a bit of kindness. Kell made sure to remember that.
When he finally asked why they had settled down here and where they had come from, it was the older Poe who spoke first and his hoarse and tired voice really made an impression on Kell.
"We come from the highlands where our people've lived for generations. Nearly three years ago king Uriche invaded our land hungry for the gold and stones we've been minin' and tradin' since before my grandfather's time." Poe fell silent for a moment, glancing up at Kell to gauge his reaction to hearing this bit of news, and when there were none he continued.
"We fought Uriche at first, knowin' we were more at home in the mountains and better equipped for the unpredictable weather than his men. But they were too many and in the end when all our able men had died, we decided to save our families and flee."
Roan picked up now. "We left everythin' behind that we couldn't carry on our backs and went south. The river led us here and since we'd not seen any settlements for weeks along the river we thought it was a safe place to start all over again. If we'd known it was on the border to Uriche's kingdom we'd moved on."
"And now you've been slaughtered yet again," Kell murmured, a concerned frown on his face.
"Yes, and by no fault of ours other than not knowin' the ways of you southerners." Roan had a bitter tone in his voice.
Kell sighed and rubbed at the bridge of his nose, hoping to stave off the headache he sensed coming. "What can I do for you?" he offered carefully, knowing fully well he might not be able to give them all they wanted. Too much had been lost already, but he hoped to be able to save the rest.
"Give us back our freedom."
"You have it," Kell agreed, that was the least he could do for them. "What can I do to help your people?"
"Give us back our land." Roan looked intensely at the prince.
Kell frowned. "If it's on Uriche's side of the border then there's not much I can do. We're already at war, a dispute in the north now would cost countless more lives."
"Then let us stay here. We've already made homes here and the first child was born here only this spring, a boy."
"That's not my decision either, I'm afraid. This is all the king's land." He felt Will's hand on his shoulder then and looked up.
"A word, my prince," he said softly.
The prince excused himself to Roan and Poe and went a few steps away with Will.
"Perhaps you should let them stay, my prince," Will suggested quietly.
"Why?" Kell wanted to know where this was going.
"Like they said, they've cultivated this land for two years already and made a home of it. Before them no one wanted to live out here because it was too remote. Let them stay and when they begin paying taxes there'll be one more income to your father's treasury."
"And eventually people will move out here when there's a proper town and trading will increase as well," Kell filled in. His eyes narrowed in thought. "You might be right, Will. I'll write to my father and tell him all about this; after all it is his decision, though I can't see why he would be opposed to the arrangement."
Will seemed satisfied with that and nodded.
Roan and Poe were a bit more suspicious to the idea, they didn't want to be in the king's debt, but they promised to take the offer back to their camp to discuss it with the rest of their people. Those who were still alive.
Kell was proud over himself. This day had in the end turned out pretty good despite of how it had begun. The more he thought about the solution with the marauders – no, highlanders, he corrected himself – the better it seemed and he believed his father would see the benefits as well.
Will walked silently next to him as they went back to Kell's tent after seeing the two highlanders out of the camp, and Kell found himself giving the sorcerer curious glances.
"So, your master taught you to use your head as well as your magic."
Will smiled softly. "It's in the head that everything begins."
"I'd say it's in the heart."
Will gave him an arched eyebrow. "In that case we're all lucky you're such a kind and gentle person, my prince."
Kell grinned at the jab but felt no anger over it; he was too happy to be friends with Will again. "I agree," he answered and dared to wink at Will, who blushed and ducked his head. My feelings for you definitely come from the heart, Kell thought to himself.
When they approached his tent they could see high commanders Rión and Jayce and a smaller entourage of captains, as well as Aron and Piotry, waiting for them. Kell frowned when he noticed their grim faces but smoothed it out quickly, and prepared himself for what would most definitely not be a pleasant afternoon.
"What is this talk about you letting the prisoners go, my prince?" Rión asked and Kell met his eyes without blinking.
"I spoke with them and we came to an agreement."
Rión and the others stared baffled at him for a moment before the storm of protests and arguments broke loose. Kell raised a hand to demand silence and gave them all a reprimanding glare for the disrespectful assumption that he didn't know what he was doing.
"Gentlemen, not here. In the tent, if you please." He didn't wait for a reply and went ahead to the large council tent. He sat down in his high-backed chair and waited for the commanders and captains to calm down enough to be coherent. The sorcerers were a silent but determined presence in the back.
"Why did you let them go? We could've interrogated them and found out where the rest is hiding and be rid of them once and for all," high commander Jayce was saying.
"We don't need to get rid of them, Jayce. They will stay where they are and work the land for the king."
"But they've been fighting the king's men and trespassing and poaching and gods knows what else, all which earns them a stretch in the gallows. King Uriche's arm must be long if he can make you –"
"That's quite enough, commander." Kell stared the man down and he actually lowered his eyes. "King Uriche has nothing to do with my decision to let them stay. All he did was drive them out of the highlands where they lived."
The men exchanged looks between each other. Kell sighed and told them all what Roan and Poe had said. He gave them the outlines of the proposal he had given the highlanders and how it would benefit them.
Rión's wide brow was deeply creased as he mulled this over in his head and eventually he nodded. "I can see the benefits, my prince. Yes, it's a good plan, I must say."
"I agree, my prince," Jayce broke in in Rión's wash of compliments; he couldn't be any less than the other commander. The captains murmured encouragingly behind them.
Kell gave Will a discrete look and the sorcerer shrugged with a crooked smile. Will made no attempt to take the credit for this even though it had been his idea all from the beginning and Kell couldn't really bask in the commanders' praise with a clear conscience. But when he looked up again the young sorcerer had left the tent.
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