Erika napped in the same room when she first came to Cho Nisi and washed up for the elegant dinner the scullions prepared. She didn’t refuse a bath this time, familiar enough with the staff that she had no inhibitions. Serena proved herself a skilled domestic.

Erika often wondered about the girl’s place in the castle, though. She knew Serena to be Chief Silas’ daughter and assumed Arell loved her, surmising the chief would be more than delighted if his daughter married a king. Perhaps that was why Chief Silas added his own measures to her deportation. Had he been saving Arell’s affection for his daughter?

Jealousy claimed her whenever Serena came into the room. Arell smiled at her flirtatiously and Serena spent her days in the castle while they Erika was banished. Erika must return to Prasa Potama tomorrow and Serena would still be here living in the castle with him. These were questions she didn’t dare ask since Arell made no promises to her, no confessions of love either. As far as she knew, he was satisfied keeping his distance from her.

Serena poured water into the tub and felt the temperature making ripples with her delicate fingers. She smiled at Erika. “I think it’s just right for you.”

The servant’s hands were warm, and her silky black hair tickled when it brushed Erika’s shoulders as she slipped off Erika’s robe. A sweet fragrance emitted from her, as though she’d been bathing in lilacs. Serena had a sensuous presence which might very well lure Arell into her bedchamber. But alas, Erika blocked such thoughts from her mind. What affair was it of hers?

As she slid into the bath, the warm water soothed her tired muscles. How sweet it would be if the bath could wash away the memory of Arell being crushed by that mountain giant, or the horrid look on the skura’s face as it attacked her.

“I wish my thoughts were happier ones, right now Serena.”

“You’ve been through a lot, Fairest. But there are pure and beautiful things you can wash your mind with.”

“Such as?” Erika asked.

“Well,” Serena said as she poured warm water over Erika’s shoulders. “For one, you are lucky to have the attention of King Arell. He is a merciful man.”

“Yes,” Erika slid further down into the tub, letting the water cover her shoulders, and closed her eyes, enjoying the heat. “Merciful.”

“I hope that you’ll come back to our island and marry him.”

What an odd thought. Erika sat back up.

“There was a time when my sisters and I flirted with Arell, we were carefree back then. Now he is a king and deserves a queen.”

Erika looked at Serena, searching the girl for sincerity. Serena poured water over her shoulders again.

“So, you were interested in Arell as well?”

“Oh yes. All the girls on the island are. But my admiration was as a child who loved to look at sea glass. He is handsome and has a wonderful smile. He is gentle, kind, and loving. I enjoy being with him. But there’s a Cho Nisi warrior who is making eyes at me of late. It’s him I will marry.”

Erika laughed to herself. What does all this mean? Falling in love with a young king whose father she killed and whose life she saved now to return home empty of spirit and alone.

“Those are pleasing thoughts, Serena. However, I doubt that would ever happen. Arell despises me for killing his father. I don’t think we will marry. How can we? His grief is deep.”

The servant didn’t answer.

When Erika finished her bath, she dismissed Serena and dried off. Her clothes were laid out on the bed, and though blood stained Erika’s armor, her dresses had been spared. With her gown on, and her hair now neatly brushed and flowing off her shoulders again, she considered her reflection in the brass mirror, hoping she looked as handsome to Arell as he appeared to her.

She needn’t have worried. When she entered the dining hall, Arell stood. He wore his leather breastplate, to help keep his torso steady and to relieve the pain of his broken ribs. Still weak, he held the back of his chair to balance himself, but he wore a smile. Both Chief Silas and Abenda sat close to Arell, who took the seat at the head of the table.

“You look lovely tonight, Erika,” Arell whispered as he pulled her chair out.

“You needn’t help me, Arell,” she said. “Please. Don’t strain yourself and open those wounds again.”

Arell ignored her request and waited until she took her seat. She flushed and avoided looking at all the eyes studying her.

Serena and the servants brought food for them—shellfish and salmon, trays of different olives and berries. Bread and tiny petite cakes made from bakers in Moaton, and of course more wine from Tellwater Valley.

“My people are thankful for your help in eliminating the skura, Kairos,” Arell opened the conversation as he offered Erika a basket of bread.

“The pleasure was mine.” Kairos commented between bites.

“Abenda told me that the powers you possess, and those of the Cho Nisi work well together.”

Kairos shrugged.

“Erika and I were confronted by Skotádi this afternoon. He tried to kill both of us.”

None of these people were aware of what happened in Arell’s chambers earlier. Only the servants and soldiers who discarded the dead skura understood, and so this announcement brought gasps of surprise. Chief Silas stopped eating, as did Abenda.

“Vasil, you were attacked by Skotádi himself?” Kairos asked, dumbfounded. “Erika, you as well? He is real, then? Did you kill him?”

“He exists—still. No, we didn’t kill him and I’m not sure if we can. Whether he has an earthy body to destroy or if he is an apparition that is immortal, we don’t know. He appeared in the mist and simply vanished with it. I fear the legends about him consuming souls are true. He almost consumed mine.”

Silence.

Erika’s stomach churned at the thought of Skotádi taking Arell’s soul.

Arell went on, ignoring the food on his plate, and not touching his wine.

“You see, no matter how hard my soldiers, and my servants and the elders attempt to watch over me, this creature can slip in at the most unfortunate moments. I’m convinced, though, that I’m not his only target.”

Though he hid it from the others and spoke calmly, Erika noticed his body tremble. He’d been hurt. He almost died. “I believe the threat that faces us, and faces King Tobias, and men in other parts of the world where we’ve never been can only be addressed by our union, not our divide.”

She wasn’t sure what Arell was getting at, but the word union filled her with a certain joy. Their nations would be allies again. How happy that would make her father! She peered at the two elders. They sat emotionless. They were always so hard to read, yet Abenda loathed her, this she knew.

Arell fixed his gaze on Abenda. The elder looked up at him.

“Please. Soften your heart toward this woman. She saved my life. There will be no peace with the kingdom of Tobias unless you do.”

Abenda and Silas exchanged glances but again said nothing, showed nothing. Erika’s blood rush to her head. She wanted to cry or run, aware that the elders were resisting his request. Short of slaying her, the elders did everything possible to keep her away from the island.

“Let us enjoy our meal. I for one am thankful for Erika that I have another day to live.”

After another stiff silence, Kairos cleared his throat and stood, lifting his chalice. “To Your Royal Highnesses King Arell of Cho Nisi, and to our beautiful Princess Erika. May our nations know peace through you both.”

His toast coaxed a smile out of her. Everyone but the elders raised cups.

They ate their meal and indulged in friendly conversation. When Serena cleared the table, Arell set his napkin down and tapped his chalice. “Please, hear me out.” He waited for quiet. Erika watched him curiously.

“Chief Silas and Abenda have offered their honor to me.”

The elders sat up straight and looked at each other.

“And tonight, I am going to make my request in front of these witnesses.”

“Ask, Vasil,” Silas said. It seemed ceremonious to Erika, and she wondered how it came to be that the two most important elders of the island had offered ‘honor’ to him. She remained quiet.

“This woman killed my father, and for that our island banished her and put a death warrant on her. She risked her life to return and to save not only our people, but my life. I ask that you return to King Tobias with the princess tomorrow and use your healing powers so that her brother be rid of the Skotádi curse and be made whole. Please.”

A reverent stillness infused the room until the chief cleared his throat. “We will do as you ask, my king.” Silas answered quietly. Abenda nodded, though a hint of resistance ignited his eyes.

Arell took a moment to compose himself and then looked at her. She mouthed the words “thank you.”

“Good. Then we should waste no time, less we suffer another attack. The ship will leave in the morning for the Potamian mainland.”

A sick feeling came over Erika. The news should be joyous, but dread and remorse stirred inside of her. She trembled as Kairos called for another toast and the wizards held their cups up. Of course, he and the sorcerers were happy, for they completed their mission successfully. Through Kairos’ hard work, the Cho Nisi were free of the skura. The wizard and his apprentices were heroes, and King Tobias would reward them.

But Erika would return home without the man she loved. She won his favor to the degree that he would ally with her father’s kingdom, and that should satisfy her. Should, but didn’t. Would she ever know a personal happiness, or would her only joy be in political achievements?

Her musings were selfish. Arell must guard over his kingdom, this entire island was under his charge. She would leave some wizards here to help him.

Erika woke just before dawn, slipped on the robe Serena had given her, and went outside on the terrace to watch the sunrise. She enjoyed the peace and beauty of the island, regardless of her experience here. The place had its charm—unusually warm weather compared to Prasa Potama, and rich in greenery with an abundance of fruit and colorful birds. So much of the heavens could be seen here, like a jeweled globe blanketing over this faraway world. The sun peeked into the dawn, illuminating the tips of mountain peaks on the mainland, spreading colors all over the sky and on the ocean. Birds sang. She would live here forever if Arell asked her to, but what a foolish fancy!

She must go home. Her father’s kingdom needed her, the only royal child capable of leading her father’s soldiers right now. The elders never ascertained whether their spells would heal Barin. They promised to do their best, and that was all she could ask. But she needed to be with them and make certain they did all that they promised. Would their charms work? What if they found out they, like Kairos, had no power to remove a Vouchsaver’s curse? Would Barin be bound as a madman for the rest of his life and Father die of a broken heart? Yes, she must go home and oversee the healing. There was much work to do.

She dressed slowly—solemnly. She approached this farewell nobly. First her gowns, and then her armor. Serena came and helped her.

“I am sorry to see you go, princess,” she whispered.

If Erika responded, she’d break down in tears and so she kept silent.

Arell came to her door. His chamberlain gathered her packs while Arell escorted Erika through the castle. He walked stiffly, wrapped in bandages under his doublet, but the Cho Nisi had herbs for pain, and she hoped they’d given him ample to see him through the day. A groom waited for them with their horses and assisted Arell onto his. They rode horseback and said nothing on the way.

Grooms led the company through Moaton. The wizards followed, marching gallantly on the cobblestone road and carts with supplies for their trip and gifts for King Tobias rolled over the lane behind them and then onto the trail. Arell and Erika followed.

When they arrived at Northport, the servants helped the wounded king dismount. Erika slid off her horse gracefully. Having already arrived, Kairos and the apprentices waited for them on the beach and walked behind them. The wizards stepped lively, and Kairos hummed a pleasant song. Other Cho Nisi tribesmen came along also, but only Chief Silas and Abenda were going to make the trip. Their drums were strapped securely on their backs. Erika had chosen two of her wizard apprentices to stay behind in case Skotádi attacked Arell again.

Arell drew her aside as the entourage continued down the wharf and boarded the ship. He said nothing, he simply waited. He turned away from the docks and gazed at the white shores and olive groves that grew on the side of the hill. Erika enjoyed the view as well, in a yearning sort of way. Cho Nisi was a beautiful island. The sea shimmered turquoise, and sometimes she could see colorful fish under the water. Plants she’d never seen before grew wild and bore fruit she’d yet to eat. The island was indeed a paradise, too lovely for times like these. A utopia that she could fancy returning to someday, just as loving Arell had been a marvel too good to be real—someone she would lie on her bed and dream about.

Erika enjoyed walking close to him, his warmth, his strength, the fragrance of his sandalwood scented doublet. Her heart ached, wishing she didn’t have to leave him. They could grow closer had they a few more weeks together. Unfortunately, the time came too soon for departure. The grooms finished unloading their wares and rolled the cart back down the pier. The helmsman called out, and a whistle blew.

“Come,” Arell said.

Each step to the ship seemed like a funeral march to her, the brutal outcome to another hope lost. When they came to the gangplank, Arell walked up with her and escorted her to the prow. He looked out over the sea.

“Weigh anchor, loose for the sea!” the shipmaster called out, and the ship creaked and moaned as the sound of men’s boots pattered on its decks.

Erika looked up at Arell.

Sailors heaved lines, and the vessel slid away from the dock. Once in open waters, the sheets were pulled, and the sails set. Arell, steadfast, faced the wind.

“There is much to do, Fairest,” he said to her. “A brother to heal. Demons to destroy. Treaties to make, and contracts to fill.” He looked at her. “I want to meet this father of yours. Perhaps he can give me advice on ruling a kingdom. Osage is watching the castle. He will protect Cho Nisi until I return.”

Tears of joy welled in her eyes, and then the tears turned to agony, for Arell nodded. It was a gentle nod, but the closeness she wanted wasn’t there. She reached for his hand but instead of taking it, he turned and walked to the elders.

The cool ocean breeze dried her tears. At least she’d be home with her family soon.

Next: Fall of the Kings part 2 of Sword of Cho Nisi