Date: Tue, 20 May 2003 20:26:46 -0700 (PDT)
From: Corrinne S <mdaigle@prodigy.net>
Subject: Dark Wishes Installment 11: Part Two Chapters 16-18

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

M.C. Gordon

Part Two: Karandal

Chapter Sixteen

     A spring thaw settled across the land the next
day, the courtyard and paddocks turned to mud.  The
greater and lesser lords of Endril assembled in the
great council hall and muttered about the weather.
Some wished winter to continue until they had tended
to the problem knocking at Endril's eastern door.
Others were grateful, hoping that winter would truly
end so fields could be plowed and the lambing tended
to.

     They grew silent when Trelaine entered the room
with Karandal at his side.  None knew what Trelaine
had done but all knew what had passed in this same
room the day before.  They had seen Trelain in battle
and knew well what this Qell Lord could do; but none
could have imagined what Trelaine had done to those
who had slaughtered Glencoe Village.  And all feared
the wrath of Miralen.

     King Llewelyn held up his hand for silence and
said, "Glencoe is no more.  His gracious Majesty and
my friend, King Trelaine of Elanen, meted out just
punishment against those guilty of the crime.  For the
innocent he has begged mercy and aid, which I have
granted.  Today we will try once more to center our
attention on the question of the eastern border."

     Maps were studied again; plans memorized.  When
Llewelyn was once again assured that his men
understood the strategy, he dismissed them to see to
their men and provisions.

     "How fare you now?" he asked of Trelaine for the
King had bid those two to remain for a time.  He
sensed that Trelaine had been despondent in the early
morning hours when he appeared like an apparition and
related the fate of the mountain tribesmen.

     "I am well enough to do what is required of me,"
Trelaine replied before he turned and walked away.
Crossing the room, he leaned one arm against the stone
wall and gazed out a window.

     Llewelyn turned to Karandal, one eyebrow raised
in question.

     "He will do what must be done," Karandal answered
softly.

     "That I do not doubt," Llewelyn said.  "I know he
will do all in his power to aid in the problem
besetting us on the east.  That was not my question.
How is he?  I know what he did regards Glencoe Village
troubles him.  I am more concerned with the heart of
my friend than the warrior he sometimes becomes."

     "Would I could say," Karandal replied, concern
for Trelaine written across his face.  "I think he
fears himself just now.  It is my earnest desire that
this problem with the nomads be resolved by your
wishes, Majesty, by peaceful settlement if possible.
I fear what harm might come to him if he has to slay
again.  His heart is gentle and he is greatly troubled
by what his anger caused him to do."

     Llewelyn released a deep breath.  "Then he truly
is not Miralen?" he queried.

     "I do not believe so.  He is still deeply
troubled by what was done by his own hand.  He gave me
control over his wishes," Karandal admitted.

     "Then you must earnestly control those wishes,
young duke, if you wish to save his soul."

     "I will try with all my might," Karandal
responded.  "As his soul belongs to me, so does mine
to him."

     Llewelyn studied Karandal and pondered before he
spoke again.  "Some hand of fate intervened when he
begged me for your life.  I did not know why; now I
do.  Bide with me until this trouble ends and I will
release you to him.  Enworthy will remain your charge,
with your mother as Regent, until your sister marries
and her heir is old enough to assume control.  But you
may be in Elanen with Trelaine."


Chapter Seventeen

     Everything was going according to Llewelyn's
plan.  The men from Elanen arrived and Trelaine had
his infantry and heavy horse battalions positioned for
effectiveness.  Kerdin's engineers had removed the
wooden planking from the bridges to inhibit the enemy
from crossing into Endril.  Montar's light horse was
scattered through the forest edge, ready to repel any
who might try to ford the river.

     Dawn approached and the men made their peace with
each other and their creator.  Llewelyn had emissaries
ready to cross the river and discuss a peaceful
settlement.  Trelaine was with him when a messenger
burst into their presence.

     The man was completely distraught as he flung
himself at Llewelyn's feet.  "Majesties," he
exclaimed.  "M'Lord Karandal has been taken!"

     "Is he alive, man?" Llewelyn asked.

     "I believe so, but those around him are dead.  I
was too far removed to be of aid."

     Llewelyn quickly sent for Toban, the captain of
his guard.  "Send men quickly to cross upriver and
bring me news of Karandal" he commanded.  And then he
looked to Trelaine.

     The High King stood before him barely breathing,
his teeth tightly clenched as were his hands, until
his knuckles were white.  The silver of his eyes was
ringed with red.

     "Trelaine," Llewelyn said, "do not do that which
grips your heart now.  Remember that you gave Karandal
power over your wishes.  He would not countenance what
I see in your eyes.  Let me make the decisions now."

     Trelaine seemed not to hear.  He threw his head
back and let forth a sound that no man or woman had
ever heard.  It echoed across the kingdom of Endril
and peasants in the field stopped and grasped their
talismans in fear.  Warriors on both sides of the
river covered their ears to stop the dreadful sound.

     "I will not lose another whom I love!" echoed
across the land.

     Across the river, bound and gagged, Karandal
heard the terrible cry of his lover.  In the depths of
his heart and with all his mind he thought, "No,
Trelaine!  I will not let you have this wish."

     Two of his captors stopped and looked around.

     "What was 'at?" one asked.

     "Dunno," said the other, "but I din' like the
sound o' it."

     "Soun'ed like it's behin' us."

     "Nah, from 'cross t' river t'was."

     The two men looked around cautiously, not sure
from whence had come the frightening sound of anger
and pain.

     "Soun'ed like a voice from hell.  Wish t'others
hadn't gone on ahead o' us."

     "Curs they was, leavin' us behin' to haul along
t' prisoner."

     "T' prisoner!" exclaimed the other.  He removed
the filthy piece of rag from Karandal's mouth and
asked, "W'at 'e know 'bout this?"

     "You heard the voice of High King Trelaine of
Elanen," he said.  "He is a Qell Lord, back from the
dead."  He knew he told a partial truth but he had
only one thought in his mind.  Trelaine must not use
his magic to slay.  He knew his best chance of saving
Trelaine lay in the possibility of his own escape.

     "Back?  All three?" one captor asked in a
whispered voice.

     "Yes.  But this time they are all manifest in one
body, King Trelaine, my lover."

     The two drew away from Karandal in fear.  Neither
wished to be around when the wrath of a Qell struck.
They clasped the talismans they wore around their
necks and spoke together for several moments.  One
finally approached him cautiously.  " 'Ere now,
M'Lord, we was just doin' what we was tol'.  If we
sets 'e free could 'e tell the King we did?  Me an'
Dees doesn't want to spen' the res' o' forever bein'
burnt alive over and over."

     Karandal gave the impression of considering their
offer.  These men were weak and superstitious.  Having
set the fear in their minds that he had hoped for he
replied, "I will speak with him.  He might consider
forgiving you for what you have done.  And perhaps he
will spare your lives if you tell what you know of the
plans against King Llewelyn."

     Set free, Karandal was running toward the river
when Lord Montar's light cavalry found him.  Montar
dismounted and gave Karandal his horse saying, "Go,
and quickly!  None knows how long our King can hold
the Qell Lord from seeking revenge!"

     Karandal mounted and spurred the horse into
action.  The bay stallion was strong and swift, and
Karandal silently blessed Montar.  Low hanging
branches whipped at his face as he drove the horse
faster.  He could hear Montar's men behind him,
falling ever further behind in his mad dash to reach
Trelaine.  The stallion nearly floundered at the
river, but found his footing and the strong muscles of
his legs carried them across.

     When Karandal reached the encampment his only
thought or need was to find Trelaine.  He dismounted
before the horse could stop and ran toward Llewelyn's
banner.  What he saw struck fear into his heart.  The
glow he had seen that day in the council hall again
surrounded his love and was fierce in its intensity.
The man who was his gentle lover emanated revenge so
strongly that the entire camp was alive with hatred.
Not knowing what would happen, Karandal strode toward
the being made of magic and the white fire that
surrounded him.

     "Trelaine," he said.  "All is well, my love.  I
am returned to you safely and with no harm done to
myself."

     Within the circle of fire that was his lover,
Karandal put his arms around Trelaine and sought the
lips that he knew and loved.  Slowly, painfully,
Trelaine felt the touch of Karandal's body against his
own.

     "Are you truly safely back?" he asked.

     "I am, my love," was the reply.  "I am unharmed.
I beg of you, nay, I demand of you to let go your
anger.  I deny you your wish for revenge."

     The red of Trelaine's eyes glowed deep and he
drew back from Karandal, rebellion blazing.  He
started at Karandal and shouted, "They threatened you!
 I will have what I will have!"

     The men near them cringed at the sound of his
voice, the intensity of his anger.  Karandal stood
firmly in place and said quietly, "No.  Not this time.
 You gave me the right to deny you, and I do.  Indeed,
I learned the number of the enemy and their deployment
against us.  What was done, is done, and given us
knowledge."

     Trelaine slowly let his anger go, shaking as he
realized that he would have called down a rain of
total destruction on innocents in his zeal to have his
lover safely returned.  He drew Karandal to himself
and held him in a tight embrace.  As his anger ebbed
the men began to lower their swords and the great
war-horses stopped trampling the ground.  Calm and
reason settled once more across the encampment.

     King Llewelyn was in his tent with his lords
planning their next move when there was a commotion in
the camp.  The men drew their swords and formed a
protective circle around the Kings.  All save Trelaine
who had grown so strong in power and strength that his
sword was unnecessary.

     One of the guards entered the tent and said,
"Majesties, there are two men here carrying a white
flag.  They say they have a message for you from their
leader."

     Llewelyn and his men left the tent.  Two thin and
scruffy looking men bowed before Lleweln.  "Sire," one
of them said, "we come wi' a offer to parley."

     "I know you," Karandal said as he stepped
forward.  "Your Highness, these are Dess and Rethel,
the two men who set me free."

     The air was suddenly split by lightning as
Trelaine looked on the men who had held his lover
captive.  Karandal turned to look at Trelaine as a
strong wind began to blow through the encampment.
Going to his lover Karandal said, "No.  I forbid you
to harm these men.  They set me free.  You owe them my
life."

     A slight nod of Trelaine's head let Karandal know
that he understood and would take no immediate action.
 But his eyes were glowing red again and tendrils of
white fire flicked from his body.

     Llewelyn called attention to himself.  "What is
your message?" he asked.

     "Well, We tol' t' warlord that yer man there said
the Qell was alive ag'in.  He thought we lied 'cause
we let yer man go.  But we tol' 'im that yer man said
t' awful noise we heard was the Qell.  So he sent us
to see if it were true.  An' if it were, could he meet
wi' you, is w'at he said."

     "And do you believe it true that King Trelaine is
Qell?"

     "Oh, yessir, that we do, now we seen 'im."

     "And will your master come to me and speak of
peace and aid for your starving people?"

     "He be a willful man, Sire, but not stupid.  If
'e has a Qell wi' 'e he'll be right glad for peace."

     "Will he believe you when you tell him that you
have seen the Qell?"

     Suddenly the sky across the river was filled with
a wind of fire.  Tendrils of flame flicked toward the
ground and the trees began to burn.  The wind grew in
intensity and everything across the river was engulfed
in a holocaust of intense, burning heat.  Just as
quickly, the fire was gone and the trees untouched.

     "He will now," said Trelaine.

Chapter Eighteen

     The parley with Galvak, warlord of the nomads,
went reasonably well.  Galvak was a rough man with
scars covering his face and body from his fights for
supremacy among the nomadic chieftains.  He came to
the meeting with a haughty attitude, believing that he
could win any war against the king of Endril.  That
is, until he saw Trelaine.

     Being the king of a different kingdom and only
lending his support to Llewelyn, Trelaine stood to one
side during the negotiations.  But, little by little,
he was learning to control the powerful magic and
terrible wrath that were still part of his
inheritance.  And so, he worked a little of his magic.
 He allowed himself to feel a controlled anger at one
who had endangered not only his love, but also had
thought to cause pain and suffering to the gentle
people of Endril.  And he allowed himself to begin to
glow with the white fire that he had discovered of
late.  He stood within that fire with his arms crossed
and his legs planted firmly apart on the ground.  His
magic began to spread to the soldiers' horses, causing
them to roll their eyes and try to pull away from
their handlers.  Even the dogs that ran through the
encampment began to snarl and nip at one another.

     And still the magic spread.  Swords rattled in
their scabbards.  Knives that men held tucked into
their belts began to move.  The wind blew hard and
then stopped, only to blow again.

     The men who stood by Llewelyn had been forewarned
that Trelaine would exert what influence he could
without causing danger to any; and still they trembled
at the magic wrought by the Qell Lord.

     " `E's really Qell," Galvak whispered in awe.

     "He is," was Llewelyn's reply.  "And by his
graciousness he lends me his support and protects this
land.  It would be ill chosen of you to attempt to
wage war against us."

     "My people are hungry," Galvak replied.

     "And we are willing to give them food and warm
clothing.  The land across the river will recover
quickly, for it is good land and can become rich with
harvest.  I have farmers and shepherds who are willing
to teach your people to sow, reap, and herd."

     "We be warriors!" Galvak shouted.  "We bain't
weaklings to sleep wi' sheep!"

     The ground began to tremble and Llewelyn cast a
glance at Karandal who touched his hand to Trelaine's
shoulder.

     "My people who farm and herd are not weaklings,"
Llewelyn replied quietly.  "They live in the knowledge
that they, their children, and their children's
children, will have long and peaceful lives.  I offer
you a just peace and the hope for a friendship between
ourselves and our people."

     "And if I say no?"

     "Then, Lord Galvan," Llewelyn replied, elevating
the brigand to a title unknown among the nomads, "I
shall loose the Qell Lord upon you."  His smile was
gentle but his eyes were like steel, cold and
unyielding.

     Galvan glanced toward Trelaine and saw tendrils
of white fire begin to leap from his body and travel
along the ground like walking lightning.  The silver
eyes were rimmed with red.  And Galvan felt a chill
creep through himself like nothing he had ever known
before.

     "I gets to keep an army?" he asked.

     "If you use it wisely and well, yes."

     "And `e won't turn that creature on us?"

     "The king of Elanen is not a creature.  He is a
man.  Do not call down insult on him in my presence,
Lord Galvan, for he is my dearest friend.  King
Trelaine will do naught to harm you or any of your
people so long as a treaty lasts between us.  And it
is well known that the last time the Qell Lords lived,
they ruled for five hundred years.  He will only help
your people, as he will mine, when you and I are both
gone to the worms and maggots."

     Galvan begged leave of Llewelyn to go and
consider the offer of peace.  As he rode away, he
glanced backward and saw the awesomeness that was
Trelaine, standing within the circle of white flames.

     "Do you think he will agree to peace?" Karandal
asked.

     "He will," Llewelyn replied.  "He fears your
lover far too much to deny a treaty between us."

     Llewelyn placed his hand on Karandal's shoulder
and said, "Bide with me a little longer, my friend.
When I am assured that all is well, I will release
you.  Until then, go back to Enworthy and prepare your
lady mother to become Regent in your stead."

     Karandal bowed low before his king and kissed the
right hand, which bore the seal of office.  Tears
began to form in his eyes as he realized that he was
very near to the time when he could be with Trelaine
for the rest of his life.  He had no knowledge of what
that life might bring, but he knew that he loved
Trelaine more than life itself.

To be continued.

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