Date: Tue, 13 May 2003 19:53:20 -0700 (PDT)
From: Corrinne S <mdaigle@prodigy.net>
Subject: Dark Wishes Installment: Part Two Chapters 10-12

Note: This is a gay themed fantasy novel about kings
and magic, love and war.  Although I will often allude
to sexual encounters, there are no scenes of sexual
acts for this is, by and large, a love story.  This
author claims exclusive copyright to the characters,
settings, and plot.

Dark Wishes

Part Two: Karandal

Chapter Ten

     Karandal woke early the next morning at the sound
of Octo moving about the room.  He noted that there
were fresh candles burning, Olan's work.  He slid
softly from the bed, careful not to wake Trelaine.
Karandal had begun to understand that his lover needed
as much peace as was possible.

     "The men and horses are nearly ready, Sire," Octo
said.  "Olan is even now loading provisions for the
journey to Chamel."  Knowing his lord was awake, Octo
left the room saying, "I will send servants with your
breakfast.  All should be ready for departure within
the hour.  Oh, and the Lady Annalie wishes to speak
with you, My Lord."

     "Tell my lady mother that she is welcome to join
us at our meal, Octo."
Karandal had no desire to deal with his mother just
now, although he understood her reason for wanting to
speak with him.  He was the only surviving son of the
house of Enworthy.  She had been relentless in her
questioning about the possibility of an heir.

     Karandal woke Trelaine with a gentle shake on the
shoulder.  "You slept well, my love.  But now you must
waken.  My mother will be joining us shortly.  I fear
that with the rumor of war she will wear at me again
to get an heir."

     Trelaine rose and slipped on a warm robe.  "Your
mother does well to consider the future of Enworthy,
Karandal.  Perhaps you should take a wife."

     The suggestion distressed Karandal.  "I know that
many men like myself take wives to get themselves
children, Trelaine.  I am not one such.  I could never
perform the duty required to make a child."

     "Then you must consider an alternative," the King
replied.

     Their conversation ceased as one of the servants
knocked and announced Lady Annalie.  She greeted the
King with a deep curtsy and her son with a kiss on his
cheek.  Servants hurried about bringing food and
seeing to the needs of the three.  Karandal and his
mother spoke for several moments about his recent
visit to Elanen and he told her of the colt Trelaine
had given him.  He let her know of the cure Lord
Lingred was offering for the orchard blight.

     Trelaine listened as his lover and his mother
discussed the coming planting season and Llewelyn's
summons to council.  As he listened, he studied the
lady.  She was still young for she had been taken
young to wife.

     The conversation soon turned to the subject that
Karandal feared.  His mother laid forth her concern.
"Enworthy cannot be without an heir, my son.  It will
do no good for the land or for our King.  And King
Llewelyn's young son will need a strong ally when he
assumes the throne.  You cannot disregard this.  You
must think beyond yourself, Karandal, and consider the
future of Enworthy and Endril."

     Karandal was greatly distressed.  "Mother, I
understand your worry.  I have spent many hours
thinking of what must be done.  I cannot do what you
wish of me."

     Trelaine allowed his mind to drift into a plane
between the worlds of men and magic.  "My lady?" he
asked as a thought came to mind, "may I speak?  You
have a daughter, I believe."

     "Yes, Selmaris," she replied.

     "Perhaps Karandal could prevail upon Llewelyn to
seek a suitable husband for her from his other lord's
sons.  Her firstborn male child could be named as heir
to Enworthy.  He would certainly agree to such an
arrangement and not suggest one who would be ill
suited to the girl."

     "But she is young," Annalie said.  "What will
become of Enworthy should Karandal fall in war before
her son comes of age?"

     "I would suggest to His Majesty, Lady Annalie,
that you be named as Regent for Enworthy."

     "I, Majesty?  I am only a woman."

     "You have helped to raise Karandal so that he is
a good man.  You know as much of Enworthy and politics
as any man.  And your concern for the future of this
land is recommendation enough."

 . . .

     The journey from Enworthy to Chamel was through
thick forests and craggy hills.  Trelaine set a hard
pace but it would take a full three days.  Realizing
that neither man nor horse could travel without rest,
he had the men make camp each night when none could go
another step.  Not knowing what the future held, he
cast his magic around the camp each night so that none
of his men would be needed to stand guard.

     They reached Chamel shortly after noon on the
fourth day and were escorted immediately to King
Llewelyn.   He greeted them with his wife, for Bolyn
was his Queen and ruled the kingdom with him.  She
would act as Regent during his absence, a fact known
to Trelaine when he made his suggestion to Karandal
and Annalie.

     They gathered near the fireplace in Llewelyn's
private apartments and spent some time in conversation
about the unusually cold weather and the effect it
would have on the planting season.  When Bolyn asked
after Lady Annalie Trelaine presented his suggestion.

     "An excellent idea," Llewelyn remarked, "as I am
sure Bolyn will agree.  My mother knew the lady well
and thought most highly of her.  I will have to give
some thought as to who would make a good husband for
your sister, Karandal."

     Queen Bolyn touched her husband's shoulder and
said, "Allow me.  The young women of the court are
full of gossip about who is a most likely suitor and
who considered undesirable.  There is little else to
occupy their minds, although I have tried to interest
them in other things.  Still they will speak of whose
youngest son looks to be handsome when grown, and who
has the best prospects for a future."

     "He need not be a lad who will inherit lads or
title," Karandal remarked.  "He and Selmaris will
share in the fortune of Enworthy's future.  For my
sister I ask only that he be intelligent and gentle.
She is a shy child and dear to my heart."

     Bolyn nodded her head to her husband and said,
"Then I will take my leave of you.  There is a young
woman in my court, Auralis, who will be perfect to
query.  Her sister will be ready to betroth in another
year.  The two are very close and Auralis will know
from Aurelia which of the kingdom's boys will be most
worth considering."  Preparing to leave, she gave her
husband a quick curtsy for his title.

     When she had gone, Llewelyn gave Trelaine a
welcome hug and took Karandal's hand in friendship.
"I am well pleased that you arrived together," he
said.  "I have great need of both of you."

Chapter Eleven

     The news King Llewelyn imparted to Trelaine and
Karandal was upsetting, but not as bad as had been
expected.  The nomadic hordes on Endril's eastern
border were making threatening sounds.  It was
Llewelyn's hope that a show of strength would
discourage them from attacking small villages.  A
detachment of men from Elanen, added to his own men,
would indicate a formidable defense.

     There was no need for Karandal to order candles
that night.  Llewelyn had known how Trelaine reacted
to darkness and their room was already lit by dozens
of candles.  The King also knew that Karandal would do
his best to protect his love from hidden fears and
unwanted memories.  It was well that Karandal's sister
would provide an heir to Enworthy for Llewelyn knew
that his duke planted his seed in infertile ground.

     Octo and Olan set their guards at the door to
Trelaine's and Karandal's apartment, a custom that
could not be ignored.  Chamel was protected by
Llewelyn's own guards.  Trelaine had no need to call
on his own magic for protection.  Lying beneath warm
blankets with Karandal, the only magic was their love
for each other.

     More of Llewelyn's lords had arrived by the time
Trelaine and Karandal joined him for the morning meal.
 These were all men well known to them for they had
fought alongside the King through many campaigns.  All
were men of good standing and honor and would serve
both kings well if another battle became necessary.

     Llewelyn spread a map across the large dining
table when breakfast with his lords was finished and
the servants had cleared the table.  "I want to
reinforce the river crossings here, here, and here,"
he said indicating specific points on the map.
Kerdin, have your men ready to dismantle the bridges
if necessary.  Montar, your men are the best light
horse in the kingdom.  I charge you with guarding the
edge of these forests.  Karandal, station your archers
along these walls."

     "And myself?" Trelaine asked.

     "We need your heavy horse and infantry.  If we
make camps at strategic places along the river, the
enemy might reconsider an attack.  I have sent a
courier offering their chief a parley.  I know there
has been drought and famine in the outlands.  That
might be what drives them toward Endril since they are
a nomadic lot.  I would be willing to offer them a
treaty granting them food and grain.  The land across
the river would make good farmland and I am offering
aid in clearing the land and laying crops."

     The council agreed with Llewelyn and each lord
sent messengers with instructions to bring their men
to Chamel.  The King dismissed his men and sent
Karandal on an errand, indicating that he wished
Trelaine to stay.

     "How is it with you, my friend?" he asked when
they were alone.  "Does all go well in Elanen?"

     "It does," Trelaine responded.  "We have begun
rebuilding the villages that were destroyed.  The
people need shelter and work.  I increased the measure
of harvest they may keep for themselves.  Lord Egbert
sent men to Aolane to establish fields for the
fortress will feed itself in the future.  The tax
bounty paid to the royal treasury will be put aside
for time of need."

     "You are becoming the good king Egraine expected.
 And things are well between you and Karandal?"

     Trelaine looked at Llewelyn and smiled.  The King
thought he could see light shining from the silver
eyes as he replied, "Our love is strong.  He gives me
inner peace and comforts my thoughts."

     Llewelyn touched Trelaine lightly on the shoulder
and said, "Know this, when the day comes that the land
is calm and Karandal's heir born, I will release him
from fealty to me.  I need him now, for he has proven
his loyalty and valor in battle.  Chardel was a good
man before the evil overtook him, but Karandal shows
more determination and compassion than his father.  In
pleading for his life you saved a good man.  I would
like to keep him in Endril but I know the love you
share and will let him go to you when I can."

     "Thank you," Trelaine said.  "Know that we will
always be your friend and ally."

     "Can you tell me, Trelaine, who you are?"
Llewelyn asked.

     The light disappeared from Trelaine's eyes.  "I
do not know."

     Karandal could tell that something troubled his
lover as they lay in each other's arms that night.
Trelaine's face held a sadness that no amount of
tenderness or passion had removed.

     "What troubles you?" he asked.

     "A small thing, my love, think nothing of it."
Trelaine buried his face against Karandal's chest.

     "A small thing?  I think not so small to bring
you such sadness.  And if you are sad it will affect
your magic.  That could bode ill for the King in the
days ahead.  He will need everyone in good health and
frame of mind.  Would that I possessed magic for then
I would wish your sadness away."

     Trelaine raised himself up and looked at his
lover.  "Never say such, Karandal.  To be born and
made of magic is fraught with peril.  I could wish for
mild winters, but the trees would not go dormant and
produce fruit in their season.  If I wished time to
stand still that we might be together forever, them
time would cease for all.  Wishes are dangerous when
one is made of magic."

     "And you live with this knowledge?  How do you
guard yourself from wishing?"

     "Menfred was a hard teacher and allowed me to
make small mistakes in order that I would not make
large ones.  Once, when I was sitting in my room and
watching the doves in the courtyard I wished that one
would fly into the room with me.  And one did fly, but
the window was closed and the dove smashed into it and
died."

     Karandal ran his hand down Trelaine's arm and
whispered, "I am not made of magic and naught will
come of my wishes.  So, I will wish that you could
tell me what causes you such sadness that even my
embrace does not ease your mind."

     "That cannot be granted, my love, else you would
have power over my wishes.  What troubles me has to do
with magic and the Qell and you cannot help."  As they
drifted off to sleep, Trelaine wondered again exactly
who Menfred had summoned and what had been released
into the world.

Chapter Twelve

     The next morning dawned bright and clear, with no
chill in the air.  Karandal woke to find Trelaine
standing in front of an open window, tossing
breadcrumbs to doves in the garden below.

     "Good morning," he said as he crossed the room
and took Trelaine in his arms.  "Did you sleep well?"
he asked, although he feared that his lover had not.

     "Well enough," the King replied.  Turning in
Karandal's arms he added, "There is little chance that
any of the men will arrive today or that Llewelyn will
have grave need of us.  I feel the need to ride.  Will
you join me?"

     "Always," was the reply.  "I will take any chance
we have for simple things together."

     Their passage was leisurely as they rode with
their ever present guards for the roads still had
patches of snow and ice.  They were greeted with
warmth from those few farmers and herders who watched
them pass.

     Not wanting his love to know that dark thoughts
still troubled him, Trelaine allowed himself to return
to his youthful innocence, less than a year behind
him, and rejoiced in the beauty around him.  "Do you
see?" he asked Karandal, "the crystals of ice that
cover the fields?  Each blade of grass is a wonder.
The trees are devoid of leaves, yet Olan assures me
that the leaves will return when winter has truly
passed."

     "And so they will," Karandal replied, watching
the look of wonder on his lover's face.  He tried to
see the world through Trelaine's eyes.  Tree branches
hung low with melting icicles.  Tracks left by hares
crisscrossed the snowy fields.  Even the titmice had
left their small, jumping footprints to note their
passage.  Karandal had not noticed these things since
he was a child on his father's knee asking why flocks
of birds flew sometimes north and sometimes south.

     They stopped in a rocky glade to eat the lunch
provided by Llewelyn's kitchen staff.  Their guards
would have preferred a different location for this one
had a desolate feel about it.

     "This place is said to be haunted," Karandal told
Trelaine.  "Legend says it was here that Ilafrain fell
in battle."

     Trelaine closed his eyes for a moment and then
replied, "No.  This is not the place where he died.
This was once a great hall filled with many lives."
He closed his eyes again and did not open them when he
spoke again.  "I know because I once ... I knew a lad
here who was young, fair, and sweet to touch."

     His eyes flashed open and his face held a look of
panic.  "I am sorry," he said.  "I know not what came
over me."

   "It is acknowledged that you lived before,"
Karandal said.  "I would be saddened to think you had
not known love then."

     Trelaine rose from the stone where he had been
sitting and looked around.  Seeing something that
sparked more memories he said, "There, within that
circle of boulders, was a garden with many hidden
places formed by trees and bushes.  They made pleasant
places for lovers to meet.  His name was Xoachin.
Would it bother you if I told you of him?"

     Karandal placed his hand on his lover's shoulder
and answered, "No.  If it pleases you to tell me, then
it pleases me.  He is not my rival for your affections
now."

     "He was a merry lad, always with a ready smile.
He was the Duke's son.  I should have known the
outcome of our love for each other.  His father
learned of it and murdered him for it."  Trelaine
began to shake uncontrollably.  "For that Miralen went
into a great rage and took revenge on all who lived
here.  All were slain and the hall destroyed.  I
cannot ..." he carried going down on his knees in pain,
"I cannot bear the memory!"

     Olan and Octo approached at the King's outcry but
the other guards made the sign against evil and
touched talismans for protection.  They had all been
at that last great battle and remembered the devil
wind that had blown about them as Trelaine rode
Kamakas across the battlefield.  He had wielded his
sword with might and fury until the ground around him
was covered with enemy dead.  And when it was done,
Trelaine had dropped his bloody sword to the ground
and screamed, "Never again!  I will never do this
again!"

     "M'Lord," Olan said, "you are not responsible for
what happened."

     His voice breaking as tears ran down his face
Trelaine replied, "I should have known.  We were as
gods then and the Duke defied us."

     "I will ask King Llewelyn to rebuild this place
in Xoachin's memory," Karandal said.

     Once more in control of himself, Trelaine
replied, "No.  Let the spirits here keep such peace as
they have found.  I only wish to depart from this
place."

     They returned to their guards and mounted their
horses.  They rode away as quickly as possible but
Trelaine spared one last look across his shoulder.  As
he did, a gentle breeze blew from the ring of stones
and it seemed to carry the merry peal of a gentle and
loving laughter.

     As they lay in each other's arms that night
Karandal whispered, "I wish that I could make a wish."

     "And what would you wish for -- if you could make
a wish and I grant it?"

     "I would wish that tomorrow we would be happy;
that you would have no sad memories return to cause
you pain; and that you would sleep in peace with no
nightmares to trouble you."

     "A harmless enough wish," Trelaine replied, "if
you would also wished the same for everyone."

     "I could make that wish also," Karandal answered.

     They made it a child's game: `What would you wish
for if wishes came true?'  Trelaine ran one hand in
lazy circles across Karandal's chest and finally
whispered, "Love me tonight."

     The kisses Karandal bestowed on him burned new
memories into his mind.  At the moment they reached
ecstasy Trelaine let loose a little magic and
whispered, "Your wish is granted."

To be continued...

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