Chapter 4

“What do you mean you are staying here? Are you out of yourmind?" Larris threw his hands up in the air and turned in acircle. "You are a Galdoran. The prophecies say that the SilverSerpent...""I know what you've told me the prophecies say. Theprophecies also say the bearer can unite the clans in Lothan."She already knew how this argument was going to go, but hermind was made up."Those are different prophecies," he shook his head. "Ihaven't read them, and I don't know what they say.""I haven't read any of them," she snapped back. "Itoccurs to me that I've been doing a remarkable amount of listening to other people, and it's time for me to make my owndecision." She put her hand over his mouth before he couldinterrupt her again. His eyes flared. This was probably the firsttime someone had done that to the prince. I held that little girlin my arms, and I realized that if there is any chance at all that Ican stop the clan wars, I have to try.""Your heart is in the right place, but what can you truly do? You aren't a clan leader. You aren't a Lothan at all. Why would they listen to you?" He had regained control of histemper and was now speaking calmly."Because I have this," she pointed to the serpent on herchest. "But most of all because the prophecy says I'm going to."She folded her arms across her chest and waited for him toargue, but he just stood there shaking his head. "I could usesome help. I don't know how to lead people. I need you." That was as close as she was going to come to opening her heart tohim, until he did some opening of his own. "Will you help me?"Larris stared at her, his expression blank. For a momentshe feared that he was not going to say anything at all. "Youshould start with this clan. They've seen your power, and rightnow there's no one more beloved than you. Besides that,

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Keeper of the Mists

Horgris has already pledged his support. Capitalize on that. Getthem behind you today. Right now.""All right." She had asked for his help, but she was a bittaken aback by his quick turnaround. "How do I begin?""The people need not only a person to follow, but a vision in which to believe. What is your vision?""Well, I...""No! That will never do. You must know your visionand believe in it. You must be ready to speak from your heartany time someone asks. Tell me, from your heart, what will youdo to change the lives of this clan?""I will heal their broken country. I will give theirchildren the chance to grow up. Their grandchildren will know peace and prosperity. I will bind Lothans wounds and make herstrong." She didn't know where that had come from, but it was what she felt."That's good," he said. "Tell them what you will do. Not what you hope to do, or want to do. They must know that you will do what you say." His brown eyes burned with intensity."Now, tell me how you are going to do it.""What? I don't know. I suppose...""You cannot suppose anything. Tell me, withoutpausing, stammering or showing the least bit of doubt, whatspecifically you plan to do. Even if you're not completely certain. Go ahead." He folded his arms across his chest andfixed her with an expectant look."We will start with the Monaghan." Larris had made herangry, and she spoke the words with angry force. "We willmarch up to the holds of each clan one at a time. I will healtheir wounded, show them the sword and the serpent, and thenI will tell them that the time of clan war is at an end. I will callthem to unite, and then I will move on to the Malgog."Larris just stared at her, the firelight glowing on his face.Finally, he smiled. "It's a start," he said. "Your plan will likely change as you go, but it is enough to get the people behind you.Listen to those you trust behind closed doors, but always bestrong in front of the clan. Do not let people know that I amadvising you. The last thing you want is for people to believe

David Debord |

that you are somehow under the control of the Galdorancrown." His eyes softened. "I should probably leave for that very reason."He turned his back to her, and her heart fell. He wasgoing to leave her? Oskar was gone, Hierm was married andnow Larris was going to leave. She didn't want him to go, notonly because she was lonely and in need of his counsel, but she was finally able to admit to herself that she wanted him there.But the frost would take her before she spoke first."But I don't want to go." He stood there, staring at thedoorway, not moving. "I should be back in Galdora. It waschildish of me to leave without telling my father, and I amprobably needed, but I don't want to leave.""Then why don't you stay?" She said, trying to keep her voice casual."Because a royal cannot wed a commoner," he saidquietly, his voice strained as if the words pained him. "And I would never treat you the way Lerryn treats women."She could not believe what he was saying. Tearsstreamed down her face, and her throat choked of the wordsshe wanted to say. Larris whirled about and caught her in acrushing embrace. She wrapped her arms around his neck.Before she knew what was happening, his lips were crushing hers, their bodies pressed together. Too soon he broke the kissand pressed his cheek against hers."I am sorry,' he whispered into her ear. "You mustknow I would never shame you.""Stay with me," she sobbed. "All the rest we can figureout, but please stay with me. I need you here. I want you here." The space between her declaration and his reply seemedinterminable. They stood their, locked in their embrace, and shehoped it would not end. She felt a warmth she had not felt sinceshe left home, a feeling of belinging, of being home. What if hesaid no?"All right," he said. "I will stay for as long as I can. If you are certain you want me?" He drew back to look her in theeye. Their noses were almost touching. She was suprised to seetears in her eyes as well.