Date: Tue, 6 May 2003 19:19:32 -0700 (PDT)
From: Corrinne S <mdaigle@prodigy.net>
Subject: Dark Wishes Installment 8: Part Two Chapters 7-9

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 Seven

     "The fault is mine, M'Lord," Olan said to
Karandal later that day.  They were sitting in the
renovated, but empty, archive room while Trelaine
tended to a minor matter in the kitchen.  "I should
have gone to see about the candles last night but you
were with His Majesty.  I thought you knew about the
candles."

     "Put your mind at ease, Olan.  I know now and
will see that he never sleeps in darkness when I am
with him."  Karandal went silent, thinking for a
while.  Finally he asked, "Olan, how is it with him?
Is he often troubled?"

     Olan loved Trelaine as one would a son but knew
that Karandel also loved him and would not ask for
confidences lightly.  "All was well through the
winter, M'Lord.  He was busy traveling the kingdom and
conferring with all his lords on how best to aid the
people in recovering from the war.  It was when the
snows began to melt that he became restless, worried.
That was when the nightmares and his fear of the dark
began."

     He took a sip from the wineglass near at hand.
"King Trelaine grew dark and brooding, as if he were
worried about something.  I begged him to tell me but
he would not.  It was only your messages that
heartened him and gave him cause to smile.  Since word
of your intended visit he has been as a child in his
excitement."

     A smile crossed Karandal's face as he thought
back across the months he had known Trelaine.  His
lover was indeed childlike at times.  He had been
captivated for hours watching the fall of autumn
leaves for the first time in his current memory and
approached all of life with an abundance of curiosity.

     "Perhaps he will tell me, Olan.  And if I believe
him to be in danger then I will tell you."

     They went no further with their conversation for
they were interrupted when Trelaine joined them.  "I
wonder," he said as he sat near Karandal, "if I had
such problems as a Qell Lord."

     Karandal and Olan looked at him in confusion,
wondering what could have happened to cause such a
statement from the King.

     "Cook's son has dabbled with the stable master's
daughter.  Givney would have me punish the boy while
Cook bade me be forgiving of such things between men
and women.  The girl sides with Cook and asked if I
would leave her child without a father."  He looked
totally confused and added, "I was unaware that
Givney's daughter had a child."

     Olan tried, but could not withhold his laughter.
"It seems, Your Majesty, that she soon will."

     More practical, Karandal remarked, "It would seem
that you should be making arrangements for a marriage,
and soon."

     Trelaine ran his fingers through his hair, pushed
it back behind his shoulders, and said, "And it seems
to me that things are so much more simple between
men."

     The King himself presided over the quiet wedding
between Marsan and Catha two days later.  He placed
their hands together and proclaimed them to be one
heart, one soul, and one spirit.  He presented a gold
coin to each of them as well as Cook and Givney.

     " `Tis the custom," Olan had told him.  "The two
young folk will have a bit to purchase a small piece
of land with a decent cottage.  Cook will receive
recompense for the coin Marsan brought to her home as
the blacksmith's journeyman.  Catha helped provide for
the care of Givney's motherless children by mending
your warriors' clothing.  The coin you give her father
will replace her help until the youngest child is
grown."

     "A good custom," Trelaine replied and the coins
he gave were of larger value than were normally given.
 He felt a great responsibility for those who looked
to him for peace and provenance.

     Cook provided a tasty treat of meat pies, fresh
fruit, and cheese for the guests.  When Karandal and
the king had sampled the food and bid the young couple
good fortune, they mounted their horses and rode off.


     Trelaine had arranged a trip to the central
plains of the kingdom, to Lord Egraine's domain.  He
felt Karandal would enjoy seeing the breeding program
Egraine had instituted years earlier, before war
threatened Elanen.  Egraine had taken the best of the
breeding stock to hidden pastures known only to
himself and a few trusted assistants, saving the
valuable animals.

     The journey would take two days and nights.  Olan
would join them for the King's guard accompanied
Trelaine wherever he went.  The kingdom was at peace
but protocol demanded that the King have an escort.

     They camped in a small glade the first night.
With their escort, Trelaine and Karandal enjoyed the
meal of meat pies and fruit packed for them by Cook.
They relaxed by their campfires and enjoyed a mug of
ale as the guards talked.  The conversation ran from
the trials of wives and children to the merit of pike
over javelin and sword over axe: soldierly talk.

     When a gentle rain began to fall the men
retreated to their tents.  Karandal had ordered a
lantern to be hung in the King's tent.  The rain
smelled fresh and clean, and a small breeze blew
through the camp as Karandal drew Trelaine to himself
on the mattress prepared by their squires.

     Within the silence of the tent, Trelaine closed
his eyes and released a little magic.  It flowed from
him unseen and unheard, enveloping the camp and giving
protection to all within its reach.  As the two kissed
and their bodies merged into one, they felt the love
and pleasure that each gave and received.

Chapter Eight

     Karandal was pleased with their visit to Egraine.
 The old lord had been fostered to Llewelyn's
grandfather, Sogrin, as a young lad.  His loyalty to
the royal house of Endril was unquestioned, as was his
loyalty to his own new King.

     "Have you known King Trelaine long?" Karandal
asked of Egraine as they walked through the paddocks.
Trelaine had been summoned by a courier from Lord
Lingren and Egraine wanted to show Karandal some
two-year olds that he hoped to send back to Aolane for
training.

     "I was there when Menfred summoned him into this
world naked and mindless," he said.  "The evil that
had caused the war was growing ever stronger and King
Llewelyn begged the old man to do something, summon
something which could defeat what we all believed to
be the dark spirits of the Qell.  Instead he brought
forth Trelaine."

     "Instead?" Karandal asked.  "Is Trelaine not
Qell?"

     "Some believe so.  You have seen what he can do
in battle.  The lance and sword come as natural to him
as if they had come into the world with him.  But he
is not Miralen.  That lord was a killer while Trelaine
shows compassion."

     "He has nightmares of death," Karandal confided.
He could see that Egraine, with no son of his own, had
developed a fatherly attachment to the King.

     They stopped to lean against the railings
surrounding a paddock.  The air was still crisp and
the wind was from the north.  Egraine pulled his cloak
about himself to cut the wind.

     "You will learn," Egraine answered, "that on
occasion he remembers things that happened before our
grandfather's great-grandfathers were born.  I have
seen him describe a village as it must have looked
before men ever took an axe to the forest.  He is a
man and not a man.  Trelaine is indeed Qell, but he is
not on of the three reborn into this world."

     Trelaine joined them, an air of impatience about
him.  "I am sorry, Lord Egraine, but I must leave.
King Llewelyn has summoned me, and you must go with
me, Karandal.  There are rumors of war from the
eastern border of Endril.  I pledged Llewelyn my
friendship and alliance in peace and war.  He has
called on me to keep that pledge and requests my
presence."

     The three began to make plans.  Karandal summoned
Octo, the captain of his guard, and gave a hasty
message to be couriered to Enworthy immediately.  His
own men would have to be mustered and ready to rally
to Llewelyn's call to arms.

     "Unless you plan to ride by night," Egraine said,
"you cannot leave before morning."

     " `Tis best we have a good night's sleep,"
Trelaine agreed.  "When we leave in the morning we
shall ride hard and not stop to sleep before we reach
Enworthy on our way to Chamel."  Turning to Lord
Egraine he asked, "Did you not have some young steeds
you wanted us to see?"

     "Indeed, Majesty," Egraine replied and signaled
to one of the handlers.

     The two-year olds were led into the paddock and
Karandal felt his blood rush as he looked at one of
them, the most magnificent piece of horseflesh he had
ever seen.  The young stallion was perfectly
proportioned, black as night.  His mane and hair were
braided but the volume of the braids promised long,
thick hair.  His feet were already as large as dinner
plates and covered with an abundance of hair.  The
head sat atop a neck that curved in arrogance.  Black
eyes told of a strong will and courage.

     Knowing which of the horses had caught Karandal's
attention, Egraine leaned toward him and said, "He is
magnificent, is he not?  His name is Ky, out of Kira
by Yman.  He is probably one of the finest I have ever
produced."

     Karandal's heart was in his throat as he watched
Ky dance across the paddock, someday master of his
domain.  This was a perfect creature.  Karandal
allowed himself one small moment to imagine sitting
astride such a beast, running across an open field,
being carried into battle.

     "He is yours," he heard.

     "Beg pardon?"

     "He is yours, I said."  Trelaine watched his love
as the knowledge of the gift sifted into his
awareness.  "I give him to you."

     Karandal was at a loss for words.  He knew that
Trelaine loved him but never had he expected such a
marvelous gift as this.  His voice could not express
his gratitude so he took the King into his arms and
held him.  When they broke the embrace he offered
Egraine his hand.

     Karandal ordered more candles than usual to be
lit that night.  With whispers of war in the air, he
did not want any danger of Trelaine sleeping in
darkness.  His hopes for a peaceful night were
shattered as Trelaine woke screaming.  The room was
still full of light and Karandal was at a loss.
Quickly donning a robe, he threw a cloak around
Trelaine's shoulders for he knew the screams would
alarm the guards and wake the household.

     They were standing by a window when Egraine
entered the room.  Trelaine was leaning against
Karandal, his head lowered to rest on the shoulder of
the shorter man.  "There is death all around us," he
said as Egraine approached them.  "I hear it
beckoning."

     He let forth a deep shudder.  "I do not want to
face this coming war," he said.  "I want to be at
peace in Aolane.  I have seen enough of war and death.
 I desire only to ride across my kingdom and enjoy the
birds and forests.  I need only my love near me at
night.  I want my mind to have no further trouble than
to find and read the ancient writings that were once
in the archive."

     "What will you do, My Lord?" Egraine asked.

     "I will go because my friend calls me.  I will
fight because his kingdom is in danger.  And I will
face death -- because I must."

Chapter Nine

     They rode hard and fast toward Enworthy.  A late
spring storm tried to impede their passage as snow
covered the high mountain passes.  Karandal begged
Trelaine to consider the men and mounts who rode with
them, that they could not continue with such haste.

     "We must reach Llewelyn," was the King's only
reply.

     "It will not serve my King well if your horse
should lose his footing on ice buried beneath the
snow, My Lord, and throw you so that you break your
neck."

     Trelaine slowed their pace, unable to avoid his
lover's logic.

     They arrived at Enworthy a cold and tired group
of men.  When they had dismounted, the horses were led
into stable to be brushed down and fed bags of oats by
sleepy stable boys.  The men were dismissed to
barracks where they could look forward to warmth and a
hot meal.

     Karandal's message had reached Enworthy and his
people were well prepared for their arrival.  Assured
that their men and horses would be cared for, Karandal
and the King made their way across the snow-crusted
courtyard to the main house.  Servants greeted them
and led them to the Duke's apartment.  They were
stripped of their light mail covering and given warm
gowns to wear while buckets of steaming water were
poured into a tub.  Bathed and clad once again in
robes of soft, warm wool they sat before the massive
fireplace and shared a light meal, joined by Olan and
Octo.

     "With Your Grace's permission," Octo said rising,
"I will let the men sleep the night through.  The
tower guard has orders to wake me before the cock
crows."

     Olan also rose.  Bowing slightly to the King he
said, "I should also seek my bed, Your Majesty.  While
Octo sees to the men in the morning I must check to be
sure that we have supplies for the ride to Chamel.
King Llewelyn may require you in his capitol with all
speed, but the men and horses will need provisions."

     "I will have the servants bring more candles,"
Karandal said as the two captains departed -- although
an abundance of candles had done little good their
last night in Elanen.

     "Karandal," Trelaine said as he took his love by
one hand, "I know not what will happen when we reach
Chamel.  Perhaps there will not be war.  Llewelyn
might be able to deal with the threat in another
manner.  But, if war there is, I do not want you
beside me in battle."

     Karandal was dumbstruck.  "Not beside you?  Where
else would I want to be?"

     "With your own King.  Should you be beside me, I
would worry for your safety.  Your nearness would make
me vulnerable for I would be watching over my shoulder
to protect you.  If it passes that we end up in
battle, I can best serve Llewelyn, and you, if I can
concentrate on the enemy."

     Karandal knew that Trelaine was right, his
presence would detract from the King's own safety in
battle.  And he would not be able to do his best for
Llewelyn if he were guarding his lover's back.  Saying
nothing, he stood and held his hand out to Trelaine.

     In the warmth and comfort of his bed, Karandal
drew his love to him.  "I know not when or where we
will be alone again as we are now," he whispered.
"Let us make the most of this night as we can."

     Knowing that their futures were uncertain,
Trelaine again allowed himself magic.  He knew he
wasn't strong enough to protect Endril or Llewelyn,
but he could grant himself and those around him one
last night in peace.  It spread outward from his
being, this magic.  It crept into stable and barrack
giving peaceful rest.  It eased into homes, causing
wives to stop their bickering and offer their husbands
comfort.  Children ceased their crying.

     And at the heart of that magic was his love.  He
slid his arms around Karandal and pulled his lover to
him.  Their lips met, their bodies joined, and
Trelaine gave all he could for what might be a last
time.



To be continued.

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