Mickey Reichert - The legend of Nightfall

Stable hands managed the horses, and Prince Edward, Nightfall, and Kelryn approached the castle entryway on foot. Attentive guards with poleaxes met them at the door, and the taller of the two addressed Edward. "Lord prince, King Rikard asked that you wash up and rest. He’ll meet you in the North Tower chapel later." His glance rolled to Kelryn. "The guest chamber is prepared for your lady friend."

Edward nodded, and the guard turned his attention to Nightfall. “‘Sudian, the king asked that you go directly to the Great Hall. I’ll escort you."

The idea of abandoning Edward now raised a dangerous prickle from the oath-bond. He had not seen Gilleran since the murder, and he harbored little doubt the sorcerer had returned here. Nightfall shook his head. "Please tell King Rikard I’ll be along shortly."

The guardsman’s bushy brows rose high enough to disappear beneath his helmet. "King Rikard requested your presence right away."

Nightfall remained composed. "And he will get it, but not before I assist my master."

The sentry glared. "King Rikard does not care for delays."

Nightfall ignored the warning. "My duty is to my master the prince, not to the king. If you’ll excuse us." He headed for the open castle door, hoping his movement would naturally sweep Edward and Kelryn along with him.

The maneuver failed. Though he meant well, Edward said the words Nightfall dreaded. "It’s all right, Sudian. It’s bad to slight a king, especially my father. I’ll do fine without you."

The oath-bond intensified. Nightfall paused in the doorway, turned, and made a gracious bow to Prince Edward. "With all respect, Master, I am going to tend you first. The king will understand." He stared directly at Edward, hoping his expression conveyed his complete lack of compromise on the matter to the prince rather than the guards.

Prince Edward opened his mouth to speak, and Kelryn gave him a mild warning kick in the shin. Startled, Edward closed his mouth and glanced at her instead. Kelryn shook her head slightly, then lifted her chin to indicate they should continue forward. Edward took a hesitant step, glanced at Kelryn again, then headed toward the hallway with more confidence. Nightfall and Kelryn trailed him, the magical warning dying.

The guards exchanged glances that indicated they believed Nightfall had made the wrong decision, but they did not try to stop him or say anything more. They would report their duty done. The blame would fall on Nightfall.

Prince Edward led Nightfall and Kelryn through a series of corridors and chambers filled with vases, books, and knickknacks Nightfall assessed from habit. They pattered up a spiral staircase to the third story. Polished rings held unlit lanterns at regular intervals, and tapestries lined the spaces between them except where gilded, teak doors broke the continuity. Prince Edward paused before one door that bore the Alyndarian hand and hammer symbol with inset purple gemstones and lowered his head respectfully.

Nightfall waited for Edward to pay his respects before what was, apparently, Leyne’s bedroom door. After several moments, Edward led his guests to the next room, similarly decorated except for the absence of the jewels. He pushed open the door to reveal a vast sleeping chamber that could have held all of the inn rooms they had stayed in on their travels. A wooden frame supported a bed piled high with mattresses and feathered pillows, topped by a colorful quilt with fringes dangling to the floor. Though simple in design, the four posts had been meticulously sanded so that they reflected the light from two high-arched windows into perfect patterns. The room also contained a desk, chair, chest, dressing table and closet, all obviously made by the same craftsman who created the bed frame. The table held an assortment of brushes, combs, and bottles; and a mirror lined the wall above it. Several rugs covered the wooden floor, as intricate as the tapestries wealthy men used to decorate their walls. "My room," he explained unnecessarily.

Prince Edward did not enter. Instead, he continued one door farther down the hallway, opening it to reveal a chamber nearly as large and well-furnished as his own. “Will these quarters suit you, Lady?"

At his side, Kelryn stared in openmouthed silence. For a moment, Nightfall feared she might reply that it would suit her entire village. Instead, she nodded dumbly, the words following only after a strained pause. "Very well. Thank you, Ned."

Edward turned to Nightfall. "And you-"

Nightfall did not allow Edward to finish. "-will stay with you, Master.”

Edward’s features bunched and crinkled. Obviously, he had planned to say something completely different. "That’s not necessary, Sudian. There’s plenty of room for you."

That seemed gross understatement, but also senseless. The amount of space in the castle had nothing at all to do with his choice of sleeping site. "I will stay with you, Master.’” He emphasized the inarguable finality of the statement with tone and expression.

Edward made a gesture of dismissal. “Go see my father, as he requested. We can talk about this later."

Nightfall made no move to obey. As usual, his need to tend to security overrode his obedience to Edward’s command. "Your safety comes first, Master, your father’s wants a distant second."

“Safety?" Still in the guest room doorway, Edward studied his squire. "You’re being ridiculous, Sudian. I’m home. There’s no danger here."

Nightfall would not budge. "Where you feel most secure, you are in the most danger. No place is certain sanctuary."

"Disobedience to my father, the king, could make all the dangers in Alyndar seem harmless." A sharp edge entered Edward’s tone. "You’re acting foolishly."

Nightfall shrugged. "Master, I would rather leave you angry at me than dead. I will stay with you. And, until I return from my meeting with the king, you must promise me you won’t leave your room nor open the door for anyone but Kelryn."

"What?" Edward’s eyes widened. Clearly, he meant the word as an exclamatory rather than a question. "What nonsense is this?"

"Master, my only concern is your safety. I will not go until I’ve assured that."

Kelryn stepped in, placing a hand on Edward’s upper arm. “There’s no use fighting it, Ned. He won’t give up, and he means well. The sooner you agree, the less time passes to upset the king." She smiled sweetly. “I’ll stay with you while he’s gone, so you won’t get bored."

Clearly flustered by the touch, Edward lost the will to argue. Surely, boredom had little to do with his reasons for disagreeing, but to deny it meant losing Kelryn’s company. "Very well. Now go. If you keep my father waiting much longer, even I can’t stay his wrath. Go. Go on."

Trusting Edward in Kelryn’s hands, Nightfall obeyed, without suffering any discomfort from the oath-bond. However, he knew a different sort of pain, a deep sadness at the growing bond between Kelryn and Edward. Logic told him that if he truly loved the dancer he would want the best possible life for her. With the prince of Alyndar, she would have that, as well as an ally to share her grief when Gilleran stole his soul. Nightfall headed back up the hallway to the stairs. It seemed the perfect situation for Kelryn, one only chance could arrange. Not only would Edward treat her as kindly as any man could, but he would do so with love and respect. He could give her everything, including the one thing no one else could: positive memories of the demon the whole world otherwise hated.

Yet, despite all of these things, Nightfall headed down the winding staircase with a heart that felt heavy as lead. It made no difference that he would do so willingly and to an opponent far more worthy; giving up the woman he loved ached within him, a burden rather than a choice.