- A letter to the lady. - the man told me to give me a piece of paper.
- Thank you!
I looked at the letterhead with the MacCalister stamp on it.
- I wonder what happened. - I said passing my finger on the relief and then on my name written on the back. - I'm going to my tent!
He said he was starting to come down the ravine.
- I want to be warned as soon as the men are ready to leave!
- Yes, ma'am!
The tent was a few meters away. I had one on each side of the camp containing nothing but a bed with a few skins to warm me up and a small table, from where I wrote my letters to Keilan and now to Alistair. As I walked, I opened the envelope and started reading. In the letter, Alistair said that his father was abdicating the throne in his favor and that he would be married within two days.
- Big news! - I whispered. - It's not from today that crazy old man wants to put Alistair on the throne. I guess he must have been furious.
I laughed at the expression I thought was stamped on Alistair's face. Everyone knew that he had married the battlefield the moment the rebellions began and soon became a war. I wasn't sure why, but there was a bloodthirsty hatred stamped on Alistar's eyes every time Roy's name appeared before him. I stopped tripping when I read the next line.
- No! - I whispered in despair. - No... No! That's not possible!
I started to walk even faster for fear that someone would notice my reaction. I walked into the tent almost ripping out the fabric that covered the entrance.
- Wow! - A man's voice made me stop at the door. - Tell me what ghost comes to haunt you so I can run too. You know damn well you'll put me in the presence of an apparition.
I smiled nervously and ran into his arms.
- Keilan!
- Pull! - He smiled, passing his hands behind my back. - It's good to see you too!
I let out a laugh and then I took a deep breath and got serious again.
- Something wrong?
- The prince is getting married!
- Yes! I'm aware of that! - he said by going to the trunk where he knew I kept a bottle of whiskey. - Alistair wrote to me asking me to meet her and help her.
- Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. I guess your highness doesn't trust me very much! - I grumbled by accepting the glass he offered me. - I knew it wouldn't last long in command of that troop.
- He didn't ask me to replace her, Bree, but to help her! - Keilan shrugged. - Looks like he's not going back to the front anymore on account of the wedding.
- That's what worries me! - I shot him drinking the liquid that came down burning down my throat. - He's marrying Aideen. With so many women in the world, the king chooses her justly.
- Stay calm, wild rose! - Keilan mocked. He used to call me wild rose for saying that I looked a lot like one because of my red hair and sharp tongue. - As far as I know this girl has English descent, that would help us a lot to prevent Roy from getting an alliance with the English.
- Yeah, I know that! My mother was the daughter of an English nobleman for all I know. - I sighed sitting on the edge of the bed. - Phillipe will never join Roy knowing that there is a noble of English blood on the throne. That would be like declaring war on England itself.
- Then we must agree that this attack of yours does not suit you at all!
I took a deep breath.
- Aideen is my sister who was attacked by Roy.
- What a disgrace! Do you swear?
- Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.
I stood with my back to him and squeezed the letter I was still holding, while sipping another sip of the drink.
- My mother has no limits when it comes to power! - he said between his teeth. - If Alistair finds out she's not a virgin, he'll have her killed, and so will my mother. Not that I care about Ravenna, but Aideen is just a girl and has suffered enough for someone so young.
My voice came out desperate and Keilan approached me filling my glass again. I contemplated the angled face and dark skin. The blue eyes were glowing as usual. Keilan was tall and full of muscles. His good humour always preceded him and he had an ability to negotiate because of his face, always serene. It was not only that, to which, his talent was attributed. He was very good with words and could convince anyone to agree with him. Keilan had a special way of making me stay calm and think clearly. That's why I had him like an older brother.
- I understand, but we cannot judge Alistair's attitude. - Keilan said fixing the golden hair behind the ear. - Everyone knows how big your heart is. Besides, he might as well use it against Ravenna. You know very well that he hates not only his father, but his mother too.
Yes, that was true, but I still feared what Alistair might do against Aideen or even against Aileen. They both worried me at that moment.
-
