“You’re sounding soft again,” Traven pointed out.
Blaize began laughing as he slugged Traven in the shoulder. Traven winced at the solid blow.
“I bet that didn’t feel soft,” the large warrior stated.
Traven smiled and shook his head as he rubbed his shoulder. He was very glad to hear that he had made his old friend proud. Blaize quit laughing and grew quiet as he stared towards the rising sun. Traven bit his lip as he looked up at the cloudless sky. The night had been a success. He had effectively turned the tide of the battle. Now he had another battle to confront that he was not looking forward to.
42
“I would not worry so,” Giselle stated encouragingly. “The last time he came to the base of the rubble, he did not look mad.”
“I agree,” Darian chimed in. “If he had wanted to kill you, he would have tried to while you were distracted.”
Traven shook his head as the two elves tried to lift his spirits before he entered the palace. He knew Gavin was nobler than to try to attack him while he was distracted. The last time the vice baron had come near him during the battle, Gavin had given Darian the message that he would appreciate it if Traven would meet him at the palace after the battle was over. He had complied with the vice baron’s wishes and headed directly to the palace once everything had been taken care of at the edge of the city. As much as he wasn’t looking forward to the confrontation, he wanted to get it over with as soon as possible.
He walked up the blue colored marble steps of the palace and entered the large building. There was a clerk just inside the doors, and multiple people were bustling through the large front room. There was much more activity in the building than there had been the previous night. Traven walked over to the clerk and asked him where he could find Gavin. The clerk directed him to a room towards the back of the palace on the west side.
He followed the clerk’s instructions and soon found himself standing outside the indicated door. Darian nodded to him confidently. He supposed there was no reason to put the meeting off any longer. He reached up and firmly rapped on the door several times. The door swung open almost immediately, and Traven found himself face to face with Gavin.
“Please come in,” the vice baron said as he stepped to the side.
Traven nodded and entered the small room. The atmosphere was intimidating with no one else in it and no other doors leading out into the hall. The room was furnished simply with several chairs and one small desk that was covered with papers. Darian took a step forward, but Gavin held up a hand.
“I would like to meet with you in private,” he said to Traven. “Could you tell your servants to remain outside?”
“That’s fine,” he replied. “They’ll remain in the hall.”
Darian nodded in acceptance and stepped back. As soon as the elf was fully in the hall, Gavin swung the door closed. He motioned for Traven to take a seat in the chair opposite the desk. Traven sat down as Gavin slowly walked behind his desk and sat down as well. The vice baron stared at him in silence for several long moments. He met Gavin’s gaze without flinching, wondering what was going through the man’s head.
“I see you received my message,” Gavin finally said.
Traven nodded in the affirmative.
“You no doubt know that I sought to speak with you yesterday while you were resting.”
He nodded again.
“I am actually thankful that we have not had the opportunity to speak until now,” Gavin continued. “It has allowed me time to control my emotions and reflect more fully on the situation.”
Traven began to wonder when Gavin would get to the actual reason for the meeting. He was fairly certain it had something to do with Kalista but didn’t know what exactly. He hadn’t talked to the princess or Gavin since he had initially arrived in Kavar and had no idea what might have transpired between the two of them since.
“Listen to me ramble on,” Gavin said with a smile. “I am sure you want to know why I asked for you to come here. Do you have any idea?”
Traven shrugged his shoulders. He wasn’t about to offer up any information that Gavin didn’t yet have. The vice baron gave him a calculating look before continuing.
“The night you arrived here, you went directly to the inn that the princess is staying in. I do not know what all took place when you spoke with the princess, but I do know some of it.” Gavin paused as his eyes narrowed. “The next morning Kalista came to speak with me. She returned the ring I had given her and said that she could not go forward with our engagement because she loved someone else.”
Traven’s eyebrows shot up with surprise. He hadn’t expected Kalista to act so quickly or so boldly.
“It did not come as a complete surprise to me, but I was not expecting it. I had recognized a change in Kalista’s feelings and actions towards me ever since the second time you saved her life. When she made her confession, I suspected the man she was referring to was you and questioned her. She was forthcoming with her answer and confirmed my suspicions.
“If I had spoken with you yesterday morning, I might have regretted my words. I have since thought long and hard on what this all means and have come to accept it. I bear you no ill will.”
“Thank you,” Traven replied, not sure of exactly what to say. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean for this to happen.”
“How ironic,” Gavin exclaimed with a wry smile. “Those are the same words Kalista used. Whether or not you two meant it, it happened. I know the princess well enough to know that she will not be swayed from her decision, so I did not endeavor to change her mind.” He paused and directed an intense look at Traven. “I want you to understand that I do still have feelings for her and because of those feelings, I will respect her wishes. I will not stand in the way. However, I demand that you treat her with respect and kindness.”
“Of course I will,” Traven responded. He was surprised at how well Gavin seemed to be taking it all. “I do love her and only want her happiness.”
“I know you will keep her safe. That, you have clearly shown numerous times. Whether or not you will make her happy and whether or not you are ready to be king is another question and not one for me to answer.” Gavin sighed. “The thought of not having her in my life saddens me greatly, but I no longer think I was meant to be the High King of Kalia. My heart lies in rebuilding my home city of Candus. I have lost so much, but that does not mean I cannot restore my city and find love again.”
Traven sat quietly while Gavin stared vacantly at the wall. He could hardly believe that all had gone so well. He had expected harsh words, threats, or maybe even a challenge. He was still amazed that the vice baron didn’t seem more upset. The situation was obviously hard for him, but he had chosen to bow out gracefully. Gavin was a good man. That thought made him feel worse about the situation, but he was sure Gavin would find satisfaction in rebuilding his home and that there would be no shortage of women who would be happy to see him no longer engaged to the princess. After awhile of silence, Traven cleared his throat. The faraway look in Gavin’s eyes disappeared as his focus was brought back to the present. He rose and offered Traven his hand.
“Good luck,” Gavin said with a strained look as he shook Traven’s hand with a grip that was tighter than necessary. “I wish the best for both of you.”
“Thank you,” he replied. “I hope the best for you as well.”
With nothing left to discuss, Gavin walked him to the door. As soon as he was out of the room, the vice baron shut the door firmly. Darian and Giselle looked at Traven expectantly, eager to know what had transpired. He just shrugged as he proceeded to the entryway and left the palace through its large bronze doors.
“It was very quiet in there,” Darian said as they mounted their horses. “What happened? Did he threaten you?”
“No,” Traven answered. “He merely informed me that the princess returned his ring and that he hoped I would treat her as she deserves to be treated.”
“What?” the elf said. “He did not challenge you to the death? I knew he had no honor.”
“Oh, hush,” Giselle said with a smile. “He is a human, not an elf. The important thing is that the princess returned his ring. That means she is now free for Traven to pursue.”
Traven hadn’t really thought of that. Before, she had always been forbidden territory, but now she was no longer promised to anyone. What should he say the next time he saw her? Was he even allowed to court a princess? Why hadn’t he thought of this before?
“Let’s get you to bed,” Giselle said kindly. “You have a dazed expression and look as if you might fall out of the saddle. It was a long night. You will feel better after some rest.”
Traven was about to protest, but he couldn’t argue the fact that he suddenly felt dizzy and weak. The hard part was supposed to be over. He had already professed his love to Kalista, defeated the galdak wielder, and made peace with Gavin. Yet, now he felt even more nervous than he had before. He rode back to the small house in the eastern section of the city with his mind full of concerns. The rest was supposed to be easy, wasn’t it?
* * * * *
Kalista nervously stood outside the small home that she had been told was Traven’s current quarters. Her guards had already taken up positions around the perimeter of the small building. It was early afternoon, and she felt like she had waited long enough to speak with Traven. She took a deep breath before raising her hand and knocking lightly at the door. The door was opened promptly by Traven’s elf servant, Darian. He smiled and motioned for her to come inside.
Kalista entered the home, motioning for her guards to remain outside. Darian closed the door and showed her to a chair. The room was small and consisted only of a tiny sitting area and a kitchen. The female elf was busy in the kitchen cooking. The two elves looked much different without their cloaks on and their heads hidden in hoods. Both were lithe with fair skin and sharp features. The female elf brushed off her hands and disappeared into the back room of the home with a large grin.
“Giselle will let Traven know you are here,” Darian said. “He has slept long enough.”
“Thank you.”
Darian remained near the door while she waited for Traven to get up and come out. She felt slightly bad about waking him up. She knew he had fought all night and would be fighting again tonight. However, she had not spoken with him since he had first arrived in the city and professed he loved her. She had broken off her engagement to Gavin the morning following their late night chat but had not had a chance to speak with Traven yet. The last day and a half had been spent wondering if she had acted rashly. She had left Traven alone this morning but could not wait any longer to see him. She needed confirmation that she had not made another huge mistake.
Her stomach was in knots as she waited for him to emerge from the back room. It was not too long before she heard someone coming. She anxiously looked up, but it was only Giselle returning. The svelte elf quickly finished whatever she had been doing in the kitchen and walked over to Darian. After whispering something in the elf’s ear, she turned to Kalista.
“Our master will be out in a moment,” she said with twinkling violet eyes. “We will wait outside so that the two of you may truly speak in private.”
The two elves bowed their heads to her before slipping out the front door. The sound of it shutting behind them stood out starkly against the silence that followed in the small room. The thought of being completely alone with Traven caused her to feel even more nervous. It was rare that she was completely alone with anyone other than her chamber maid. The thought of the time she had been alone with Traven in the gardens of the palace at Candus caused a slight blush.
Her heart began beating faster as she heard steps approaching from the back room. Traven walked out into the front room with a nervous smile. A look of surprise crossed his face as he looked around the room.
“Where are Darian and Giselle?” he asked.
“They are waiting outside.”
“Oh,” he replied as he slowly walked over and sat down in a chair opposite her.
Kalista was confused. She had assumed he had commanded them to wait outside. She quickly forgot about the elves as she gazed at Traven. His clothes were slightly wrinkled, and he still appeared to be blinking away the last remnants of sleep. He was smiling shyly at her, and the sparkle in his eyes made him look as handsome as ever.
“I am happy to see that you have survived the last two nights of battle unscathed,” she said.
“Mostly,” Traven replied as he rolled up his sleeve, exposing a bandage that wound all the way down his arm. “The galdak wielder managed to give me a nasty burn before I defeated him.”
“Does it hurt much?” Kalista asked as she moved to the edge of her seat and leaned towards him.
“It stings a little,” he replied as he pulled his sleeve back down.
“Why have you not healed yourself?”
“This might sound strange, but I decided to keep it as a reminder of the battle. Giselle has been changing the bandage regularly. It should be fine in another couple of days. I can’t complain. I am happy to have walked away from the duel with only a burn.”
“I am glad you were able to walk away from the grueling fight at all,” she said sincerely. “I heard the reports of how long and intense it was.”
Traven shrugged.
“I was lucky,” he stated.
“I believe it was your skill and preparation that led you to win,” she observed.
“That helped,” Traven said with a smile. “It also helped to have someone special to be fighting for.”
Traven’s meaning was not lost on her. Her pulse began racing as she remembered that they were completely alone and sitting so close to one another.
“I heard you are no longer engaged to be married,” he added carefully.
“Not for the moment,” Kalista responded demurely.