Crown of the Realm by D. Dalton

Author:D. Dalton [Dalton, D.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: warrior, assassins, realm, armies, crown, free, fiction, fantasy, journey, adventure, war
Publisher: D. Dalton at obooko.com
Published: 2011-12-20T17:04:31+00:00

Kelin poked the cloth of the brown tent; it wasn’t the heavy canvas he was used to. Instead, it was something else that was very light and slick to the touch. Nor was it covered with that special layer of wax on the outside to prevent the rains from seeping inside. Sometimes, the expensive treatment would melt if left out in the sun too long anyway. He hadn’t bothered with their tent before, having been too preoccupied worrying about everything else. Currently, it was the most interesting thing he had.

This was better than last time, he told himself, because he wasn’t being tortured. Now, all he did was sit in a dark hollow and imagine terrible things.

Der had her back to him and was staring out at the endless rain on the other side of the tent. Thalon sat mutely between them.

The tent flap began to move on its own. Kelin backed away from it. A blond elf stuck his head in and entered. He smiled, a little tiredly. “I remember telling you to leave all this well enough alone.”

Kaleb smoothly slid into the tent and sat down crossed legged in front of them. Kelin and Der stared uselessly for a moment.

Kelin finally shook himself free. “Well, you know how stubborn Der is, Your Highness.”

“Kaleb!” Der lunged forward and tried to tackle and hug him at the same time.

“Kaleb?” Thalon raised both of his hands. He eyed the full elven splendor of the blond with bright hair and even brighter smile.

The prince embraced her briefly but tightly. “I thought that you were dead,” he whispered.

Kelin found a grin had lit his face and he couldn’t control it. He had to smile, even when he was exhausted and upset. So, this was elven charm. He tried to wrestle it under control and remember what he had been through. He felt Thalon’s small hand on his shoulder.

Kaleb’s smile spread until it was as bright as the plenilune. His eyes fell to the child. “And you must be Thalon. Hail and well met.”

The wide eyed boy scooted behind Kelin. The big man inched to the side. “Come on out.”

Slowly, the boy peered around Kelin’s bulk at the crown prince.

That peaceful smile never faded. “I’ve heard much about you, and I am glad to see that you are just a child.”

Der rounded on the prince. “Where have you been? We were afraid that you were captured too!”

“No.” His smile suddenly dipped. “No, thanks to you, I escaped.”

Kelin grunted, the joy of the moment fading as more recent memories bled into his mind. “Yeah. Thanks to us. It was Der’s idea, not mine. We wouldn’t have been tortured if you hadn’t been blundering alone in our kingdom.”

“Kelin!” Der gasped.

Kaleb continued to smile serenely. “I deeply regret what happened to you, Kelin. I was lost and confused.” The elf’s blue eyes darkened to a deeper blue and he stared into the distance. “I never made it to my escort when my parents sent me away.” He sat down and pulled his knees to his chest.

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