The Claiming of the Highlands by Peter Wacht

Author:Peter Wacht [Wacht, Peter]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Kestrel Media Group LLC
Published: 2020-12-15T23:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER THIRTY FIVE

Teasing Conversation

Kaylie spent much of the rest of the day thinking about what Oso had said. That night, she found Thomas sitting on a knoll that allowed him to look beyond their small camp and catch the first glimpse of the blue water of the Inland Sea just a league off to the east.

“Good evening, Kaylie.”

The Princess of Fal Carrach stopped in her tracks, halfway up the hillock. Thomas hadn’t bothered to turn around, still gazing at the shimmering water, the last rays of the sun imbuing it with an orange hue.

“How did you know it was me?”

“Where’s the fun if I give away all of my secrets?”

“You know, Thomas, you can be extremely difficult at times.”

Kaylie reached the top of the tor, spreading out her riding dress as she sat down next to Thomas on the thick grass.

“So I’ve been told. Many, many times.”

“I wanted to apologize. I’ve acted badly since our contest.” Kaylie shifted in her seat, somewhat nervous. “I’m sorry for that.”

“There’s no need. But thank you.” Thomas finally turned toward her, smiling. “You did quite well, you know. I’ve faced few opponents faster than you. Even that Shade a few days ago.”

“Oso explained it to me earlier today. He told me how you received your training.”

“Yes, it was a unique approach. But then again, my grandfather is a unique individual.”

Thomas turned back toward the Inland Sea, watching as the last rays of light touched the water before the sun dipped below the western horizon.

“Why so fascinated with the water?” asked Kaylie.

“It reminds me of growing up on the Isle of Mist. I haven’t been back for a while. I used to spend a lot of time on the beach, looking across to the Highlands, wondering when I should go back.”

“Why did you go back?”

“You must do what you must do,” replied Thomas cryptically.

“I’m sorry?”

“It’s something Rya says quite often. ‘You must do what you must do.’ It stuck with me. Before I escaped the Crag, my grandfather Talyn gave me that charge. To reclaim the Highlands. But Rya and Rynlin convinced me to wait, knowing that if I tried too soon, I’d die. When I joined the Sylvan Warriors, I was finally able to travel the Highlands on my own. That’s when I met Oso and confirmed with my own eyes what was happening there.”

“Was it difficult, knowing you had this responsibility following you around?”

Kaylie could relate. She felt the burden of one day ruling Fal Carrach, oftentimes dreaming about what it would be like if she had complete control of her life rather than having a large portion of it already decided.

“Extremely. To be honest, it wasn’t until I returned to the Highlands and saw for myself the depredations of the reivers that I knew I had to do as my grandfather had required. Growing up in the Crag, the Highlanders treated me as an outsider. Most people feared my mother because of her skill in the Talent. And when I started to exhibit some of the same abilities, well, you can imagine what happened.

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