Myriad

“She’s a foot taller than me. I hate it. Nothing worse than your younger sister towering over you.”

Kalin moved Regina’s hair over her shoulder, gazing at her as they sat on a blanket in the garden. They were enjoying the first warm day of the new spring, relaxing in the sunshine, after spending most of the last three months inside, hiding from the cold.

He looked at her fondly, only vaguely listening to what she was saying. A question he had to ask thudded along with his heartbeat. They’d grown closer over the many weeks since the ordeal with Myriad, spending so much time together, talking about anything and everything.

Kalin had remained with them all and gotten to know everyone better. He learned about Theodore and how he came to own the manor where they lived, spoke to Mark and Sasha about magic and growing up in Prentor, and Alfred encouraged him to train more, to grow into his powers, and taught him a great deal. Kalin felt a sense of peace living with them, and even though it was quick, he knew he always wanted to be with Regina. He took a deep breath, getting ready to ask, when Sasha came running out into the garden.

“You have to see this!” she exclaimed.

Kalin looked at Regina, then they got to their feet and followed Sasha inside. She led them out the front door, and Kalin gasped.

Outside was a silver-and-blue carriage led by two beautiful white horses. Four soldiers sat on horseback behind the carriage. The soldiers dismounted, and one of them opened the door. Kalin was stunned to see the soldier help Princess Carmel step down. She walked gracefully towards them, past the tall hedges at the front and down the path in Theodore’s front garden, the soldiers behind her.

His friends stepped behind Kalin without a word.

Princess Carmel stood before him. She was shorter than him, wearing an elegant pale blue dress, her copper-colored hair cascading down her back. She wore a thick blue scarf that completely covered her neck. Kalin thought that was odd until he realized—the scars.

He stayed still for a moment, then knelt before her, which he should have done straight away.

She placed a hand on his shoulder. “I’m looking for the man who is related to Myriad. A man with a silver necklace with a charm in the shape of a leaf.”

Kalin couldn’t speak. His voice seemed to have disappeared. The necklace glistened on his shirt in the sun. He thought he would kneel there in silence forever when the princess laughed softly.

“I take it that that man is you.”

He nodded, still looking down, and she stepped back and motioned for him to rise. He stood there awkwardly. He didn’t know what to say.

“What is your name?” she asked.

“Kalin,” he said quietly.

She paused for a moment. “It took me several weeks to recover from my attack, and my memories of that night were hazy at first. But then I remembered… I remembered Myriad screaming about his son, and I remembered how he died—by magic. I knew, given the spell he had cast on me, that only his son could have ended his life that way, by ending his own life. I thought you were lost, but a letter was sent to the palace, unsigned, saying you lived. Saying you were revived. The letter described what you and a friend of yours looked like and described the necklace. That letter brought me here.”

Kalin looked at the princess, not knowing what she was going to do. She seemed to sense his concern.

“My father’s opinion on those with magic was never my own. I never believed people like you were bad or evil. I convinced my father that you should be brought to the palace and thanked for being the savior you are. It took some work, but he agreed to meet with you and start a discussion. I don’t know how far we’ll get, but I at least want to talk about stopping the punishment of those with magic. We owe you our lives. Even my father knows he can’t ignore that.”

Kalin’s heart filled with emotion, amazed that the princess would want anything to do with people who have magic after all she’d been through. She’d been tortured, in one way or another, for eighteen years. And she nearly died. “Thank you,” he said. “Thank you so much.”

Princess Carmel smiled. “Thank you, Kalin. Your gift will not be forgotten. I think things will begin to change now.” She smiled again. “But you need not worry. While my parents and some people at the palace know of your heritage, we won’t proclaim it to the world. Your secret is safe. I will send a carriage for you and your friends in one week. Good-bye for now.” She turned and walked back to the carriage, the soldiers following her.

Kalin watched her leave, saddened that she had to go through so much horror throughout her life. She would be scarred forever, though only her physical scars were visible on the surface.

The others came to stand beside him, and they all watched the princess and the soldiers depart.

Once the carriage disappeared from sight, Kalin turned to Theodore. “Did you send the letter?”

Theodore smiled. “Kalin, she would have had your name and exactly where we lived if it had been me. I respected your wishes not to tell the king. I think we can safely assume it was none of us.”

Kalin frowned. “Then….” His hand touched the necklace. “It was him. The man who brought you the necklace. The man who saved me as a child.”

Theodore shrugged. “We’ll never really know, now, will we?” he said, and smiled again.

Everyone turned to walk back inside, but Kalin grasped Regina’s arm, holding her back. He waited for the others to leave, then brought her to stand on the grass in the garden.

“There’s something I wanted to ask you,” he said, feeling he couldn’t let another moment slip by without saying it. They had gone through so much. The feeling that every moment was precious struck him. He held Regina gently, and she looked up at him, her hands on his chest. He took a deep breath. “You know the vision you had… the one about us, in the future.”

She was silent for a moment. “Yes,” she said nervously, fiddling with the front of his shirt.

A small smile touched his lips. “You mean the world to me. I can’t stand the thought of not spending every day with you. I know I have a lot to learn, but I want to learn everything with you. I never want to be without you, Regina. I love you.”

Her eyes glistening with tears, he got down on one knee, grasping her hands with his, looking deeply into her eyes. Tears ran down her face.

“I wanted to have a ring—the most beautiful ring in the world—but I can’t buy you one yet. But I still want to ask you. I can’t live another day without asking you. Regina, my love, will you marry me?”

She knelt down before him, throwing her arms around his neck, crying into his shoulder.

He knelt on both his knees, holding her tightly. He shut his eyes, hoping that was a yes. It felt like a yes. He lifted his head. “I want to hear….”

“Yes!” she exclaimed, then pressed her mouth against his.

He kissed her, deeply, passionately, breathlessly, and held her tight. All of his emotions swirled through him, his magic coursing inside him as his heartbeat thudded loudly. The world spun around him, as if a symphony was playing from his heart. He could kiss her forever. Finally, when he needed to breathe, he pulled away. He held her face in his hands, looking at her closely.

She gasped.

He followed her gaze, looking at the ground. He shut his eyes, groaning. “Not again,” he murmured, leaning his head against her shoulder.

She giggled in his arms, and he looked back at his creation.

Thousands of white lilies surrounded them, covering every inch of the garden, piled high all over the ground. They covered the tall hedges at the front and rose up the walls of the house to the windows.

Kalin picked one up and twirled it between his fingers. “You like lilies, don’t you?” he asked, putting it in Regina’s hair.

She smiled. “They’re my favorite.”

He grinned. “Good.” He hugged her again, then heard the front door open. He looked up and saw the others standing in the doorway, smiling at him.

Sasha playfully hit Mark on the arm. “When was the last time you covered the garden with flowers for me?”

Mark smiled. “Just take some of Regina’s. But orchids next time, Kalin. Sasha likes orchids.” He put his arms around Sasha’s waist, and she turned and kissed him.

Kalin stood, helping Regina up with him. He held her close, his face heating with embarrassment, and she snuggled close.

“Spring wedding?” Theodore asked.

Kalin looked down at Regina. “That’s up to her,” he said, stroking her hair.

She smiled at him, then lowered his shoulders so she could put her lips to his ear. “It happens in six weeks,” she whispered. “Here, at the house. And then….”

She whispered something that took his breath away.

He straightened, knowing his face would be pink again. He grinned at her. “You saw that?”

She grinned back. “Yes. And my visions always come true.”

About the Author

Mona Hanna is an author of fantasy/romance books. She enjoys writing about love, magic, conflict, trials, and the joy of overcoming them. Mona enjoys reading, movies, chocolate, and adores cats. She hopes to release many more fantasy books in the years to come.

monahanna.com