Chapter 37

Kol woke patting the bed beside him. Kessa wasn’t there. He looked at his hand and saw his wedding ring. He didn’t dream that they got married. Where was she? Sitting on the bed, he stared at the large curtain that covered ‘the door’. In his heart, he knew Kessa was aware of the door. It hadn’t been used since Sarah threw the soap dish at him. He walked over to the curtain, ripping it back exposing ‘the door.’ He stopped resting his head and his hand on the wood. ‘Should he knock? Was she asleep?’ With her injured hip and the added pleasure of getting to know her new husband, she was most likely asleep. ‘Knock.’ His head commanded. He couldn’t make his hand work to do so.

He lifted his head in astonishment as he heard the knob turn. She was smiling from ear to ear, “my husband.” Her left eyebrow, she made dance playfully, “shirtless.” He stepped inside her chamber with that sideways grin on his face that she loved to see. “What brings you here?”

“I would like to make a suggestion.”

“Please.” She limped to set on the bed.

He knelt in the floor in front of her. “I know its custom for a man and a wife to have separate spaces.” He trailed his fingers up and down her thighs. “I don’t like it. I want to fall asleep and wake up beside you. Would you object to trying?”

“Not at all.” The speed of her answer shocked him.

“Really?” He joined her on the bed.

“I like the thought of waking up every morning with my hands all over you.” She grinned.

He planted soft kisses on her neck, “and I will let you.”

Chapter 36

There was a knock at the door, it was Frego. “Grandmother sent me to check on you. You didn’t join us for breakfast.” Kol allowed Frego to step into the room. Kessa was still asleep behind the shrouded bed.

“We spent much of the night talking. I guess we lost all track of time.”

“Dad, I know this really isn’t much of my business. Are you two okay?”

Kol motioned his son to a chair and joined him. “I’ve asked Kessa to marry me and she’s said yes.”

Frego gasped, “it’s about time.” Kol raised an eyebrow. “Rajaf and I have spent a lot of time questioning what is happening between you two. He’s the one that figured it out. We’ve just been waiting to see how long it took.” Kol smiled.

There was another knock at the door, it was Max. “I’m sorry.” He lowered his head and started to back out of the room.

“What is it Max?” Kol asked.

He looked like he had just been rolled out of bed, “Violet informed me that the cart that hit Kessa has been found and taken to the barracks.”

Kessa appeared from a side door, fully dressed, cane in hand. “Where did they find it?”

“On the west end of the beach. Someone tried to light it on fire.”

“How do you know it was the one that hit me?”

“Pieces of your uniform were still imbedded in the wood.”

She slowly walked over to the window. They watched her but didn’t say a word. “Not everyone needs a cart or wagon.”

Kol finished her thought, “they are not easy to build.”

“Not if they are built well.” Max added. “Most anyone can build a flop.”

“The wagon that Mordechai was in was strong. It had ribs for a covering. They were almost gone by the time I got to the wagon.”

“Is Violet outside?” Kol asked, “did she see the cart?”

“She is outside.” Max answered. “I don’t know if she saw the cart, my king.”

Kessa turned, “ask her to come in.”

Max did.

Violet was even more nervous than before. Here were two members of the royal house in one spot and two of her commanders in a duty setting.

Kol spoke first, “did you see the cart?”

She bowed her head, “yes, my king.”

Kessa smiled. She knew that Violet was terrified. “You have nothing to be worried about. We are working together to figure out a puzzle.”

“A puzzle?”

“Yes, a puzzle. Nothing more. I would like that cart untouched until we return for farther examination. Until then, we just want to know; what did it look like?”

“Mostly charred. What wasn’t burnt was grey. Well weathered.”

“How was it built?” Frego asked. “Was it thrown together?”

“No, sire. It was well built. Someone took a lot of time.”

Kessa asked, “nails or pegs.”

Kol thought that was a strange question. Where was she going with this?

Violet thought for a moment, “nails.”

“Why wasn’t the cart burnt up?” Frego asked.

“The morning the cart was found, that night; we had a storm roll in from the water.”

“What if we put out in the rumor mill that a cart was found on the beach and see who comes forward to claim it?” Frego asked.

Max looked around. “What do you think of that plan?”

“Can you draw?” Kessa asked.

“No.” Max answered, “Luke can.”

“Excellent, please ask him to draw it before you put out the word. I was vivid written and visual details.”

“Of course.”

“Thank you.” Kessa turned back toward the window.

Everyone left except Kol. “Why did you ask about nails?”

“Mostly only nobles and a few land owners can afford nails. The military uses them. The common Meccian wouldn’t.”

“You think someone of influence did this?”

“Someone could have saved and bought nails just for this purpose. But that would require planning. And a lot of time.”

“What if it was just a bizarre accident?”

“I’m praying that is the case. Be that as it may, why go to the trouble to try to burn it?”

“Someone could have stolen it, couldn’t get away far enough, and decided to burn it?”

She smiled, “we may never know.”

“That was a reach wasn’t it?”

“I’ll take it.”

He caressed her cheek, “I have a favor to ask.”

“Ask.”

“When we get home, will you stay at the palace? I would like you to be close in case something were to happen. If you stay on the mountain, I wouldn’t be able to get to you fast enough.”

“Of course.”

“Kessa?”

“Yes.”

“Let’s get married now.” He kissed her. “All the people that matter most to us are right here. Rajaf should have arrived with Violet.” She raised a questioning eyebrow. “Rajaf deserves a vacation just as much as anyone.”

“That was sweet.”

He blushed, “I can be.”

She whispered in his ear, “you just want to have your way with me.”

“If you will let me.”

“Okay.”

He was shocked, “okay?”

“Yes, let’s do it.