Royal Exile (30 page)

But she wanted to feel his arms around her again. ‘Oh, please hold me close. Mean it, Loethar. Tell me you love me.’

He encircled her with his arms obligingly. ‘I think this will be good for both of us.’

She pulled her face from where she’d buried it in his neck and stared into his face, suddenly unreadable again. ‘It doesn’t matter whether you can express your feelings. I can and I need to tell you that I love you.’

‘I know you do.’ He looked embarrassed.

‘You frighten me sometimes.’

‘Do I?’

She nodded.

‘There is no reason for you to fear me, Valya. But don’t try and understand me. I need you to just accept me.’

‘I will,’ she said, knowing in her heart she was lying to both of them.

‘And be loyal. Continue to be my eyes and ears.’

‘My loyalty to you will never be in question. But I beg you not to shut me out. To be of real use to you, I need to know what you are thinking.’

‘I shall try.’

‘Does your mother know that you were planning to propose?’

‘No. We shall tell her of our engagement together.’

‘She won’t be pleased.’

‘Why do you say that?’

‘Dara Negev hates me, as I suspect she would hate any woman who won your affections.’

‘You have her wrong, Valya. My mother hates anyone who might sway me from my cause.’

‘If that were the case she should welcome me with open arms.’

‘She is a tough woman to please, I’ll grant you. But you’ll win her over.’

‘Protect me, Loethar. Let her know that you hold me in high regard. I need your support.’

‘You are to be my wife. You will be empress, Valya. I should imagine that is enough support for you to wield against both your mother and mine.’

She felt a surge of fierce delight at the very notion of seeing both her parents at the wedding. ‘Kiss me,’ she urged.

He leaned towards her and she parted her lips to welcome him, to bind this moment in the tender and loving intimacy of a deep kiss, but he did not dwell. If anything the caress of his lips felt cursory, dry, and she felt her joy dented still further to see him wipe his mouth surreptitiously as he turned away.

‘I will set arrangements in motion,’ he said. ‘Thank you, Valya. I will contact your parents to ensure they are aware of this development. They must at least be curious as to your whereabouts?’

She diverted her pain into her scornful tone. ‘The king and Queen of Droste have probably not given my disappearance much mourning. They would have had a sense of good riddance, if anything. It solves the problem of who takes the crown.’

‘Well, not any more. Now you bring the empire to their doorstep. If they really are how you describe them, the royal couple will fall over themselves to be dutiful parents to you and allies with me.’

She nodded. ‘That’s exactly what will happen, Loethar. You don’t even know them and still you have their measure.’

‘I don’t need to know them. I have observed enough of people’s nature to understand those like your family.’

‘And what about your own family?’

He turned back to face her. ‘I didn’t choose them,’ he said evasively.

‘No, but you do control them.’

‘To a point.’

‘Loethar,’ she began, her voice now streaked with disdain, ‘do you honestly believe Stracker wouldn’t still be arm wrestling in tents and helping mares give birth if not for you?’

He remained irritatingly calm. ‘Stracker would be the first to admit that I am the son born with the brains, he with the brawn. He likes it that way.’

She shook her head. ‘No one would even pick you for brothers. How could you two sons come from the same man’s seed?’

‘Who said we did?’

Valya froze. She’d said it as a meaningless insult, nothing more. In a rare awkward moment, she found herself open-mouthed and staring. Then, embarrassed, she began to stammer. ‘I … I really didn’t mean. What I mean is I … well, I’m —’

‘It’s all right, Valya. I’m baiting you.’

She wasn’t sure he had been. ‘Warn me the next time you plan to make a jest, my beloved, for I can never be sure with that serious countenance of yours.’

He nodded. ‘I must practise a happy face, you think?’

She smiled now and placed her hand on his chest, glad for the excuse to touch him. ‘Well, now that you’re emperor you must certainly make yourself accessible to your new people. A smile, especially one as charming as yours, can only help your cause.’

‘I will remember that. I’ll have to try not to smile when I impale their young king in Penraven’s grand city square.’

Valya shuddered inwardly. For all his tenderness of just moments earlier, he was still a conqueror before all else. She had taught herself — Lo knew she’d had enough practice — how to behave in the ruthless manner that would impress him. But he frightened her all the same. He was uncannily able to keep everyone off balance; his mind seemed to work at a different speed and with a strange and sinister grace that allowed him to see things quickly, differently. He was always one step ahead of most others.

‘And I always think Stracker’s the bloodthirsty brother. He has nothing on his elder,’ she said, affectionately in a contrived light jest.

‘I am not the elder brother,’ he said calmly, ignoring Valya’s obvious shock.

‘I … I don’t understand.’

‘Stracker is older than me.’

‘But —’

‘This is how our father wished it,’ he added, his tone final.

She nodded, unsure of what to say, finally murmuring, ‘I’m glad.’ Deftly switching topics, she asked, ‘No news then on Leonel?’

‘No.’ His expression turned sour. ‘It galls me to think the boy was in the palace when we took it. He had to have had help escaping.’

‘What sort of help?’

He shook his head, irritated. ‘Freath mentioned something about seeing him with one of the De Vis sons just prior to our taking the castle and …’ He stopped, shrugging.

‘What is it?’

‘No, nothing.’

‘Tell me,’ she said, placing her hand on his muscled arm, relishing the chance to touch him again.

He gave an expression of reluctant acquiescence. ‘I had given strict instructions that the palace and all exits be guarded … every possible entry or departure point was manned. We stormed the castle in a concerted effort that would have left no one any time to make an escape. I know not one of those royals ever really believed they were under threat of death; parley was at the top of their list, not escape. And we know the prince was here when we took Brighthelm — Freath saw him. He had nowhere to go. Nowhere to hide! Every last crevice has been searched. I don’t know how he has escaped our clutches.’

‘You said he was with one of the De Vis sons. What does he look like?’

Loethar shook his head. ‘Freath says he is tall and strong-looking. A man, albeit young.’

She nodded. ‘So there’s only two of them?’

‘Just two, both young. They should have been easy to entrap.’ He walked away, stretching, obviously finished with the conversation.

‘Loethar,’ she whispered, staring at his back as he stretched, his spine giving a satisfying crack. She felt the blood drain from her face.

‘What is it?’ he said, turning. ‘What’s wrong? Are you sick?’

She shook her head, thinking it through, running the scene back in her mind. How long had it been? Nearly two hours perhaps. She snapped her attention back to Loethar’s face, now so close she could kiss him again, could see the soft shadow of where his beard had hung from for so long.

‘Talk to me!’ he demanded.

‘I’m sorry. Forgive me. It’s just that … I think we just saw them,’ she said, her voice tiny, frightened.

Loethar gripped her shoulders and she watched his face change from quizzical, slightly baffled, to controlled rage. It happened in the blink of an eye and once again Valya was reminded that this was no ordinary man she was attaching herself to. His hands dug into her upper arms and her fingertips went numb in the space of moments. ‘What did you say?’ he whispered.

He had heard, she knew it, but he just couldn’t believe it. Still she went through the motions and explained. ‘I was out riding,’ she began, nodding, making sure he was hearing her.

Exasperation flickered in his stare. ‘I do recall. I sent a runner to fetch you.’

‘Loethar, you’re hurting me,’ she murmured.

He let her go. ‘And?’

Valya rubbed one arm and then the other as she continued. ‘I had one of your men with me as escort, as you’ve insisted. A Green. Another rode up, a Blue, and said you wanted to see me. We were riding back, were almost into the bailey when I happened to look around and I saw your horrible raven leaving the palace. It must have been from this room,’ she said, looking around.

‘It was. Go on,’ he said, his stare impaling her, voice hard.

‘Well, I followed Vyk’s flight and as he flew into the forest line I thought I saw two figures.’ She watched his jaw grind as his lips thinned. ‘I was too far away to see clearly but they were running. One was taller than the other. I guessed both to be youngish men.’

‘And you —’

‘I did! I argued with the escort warrior. I insisted we do something about it. I described the pair. I said they looked furtive; I said they were running.’ She huffed. ‘The Green treated me with disdain, I have to tell you. He talked to me as though I were a pig farmer’s whore and did nothing, didn’t even look in the direction I was pointing. He even threatened me; he told me the men only tolerate me because of you.’ Her gaze flicked away from his unnerving stare. ‘I kept telling him it was worth looking into and all he said was that his duty was to bring me to you because I’d been summoned. I demanded that you be alerted. He all but said he’d drag me before you if I didn’t comply and follow him.’

‘I see,’ Loethar said, his fury barely controlled. ‘And this happened right before I saw you?’

She shrugged helplessly. ‘Well, no. We argued over it for a brief time. And then I had to travel from just outside the bailey to this chamber.’

‘Too long,’ he growled. ‘Who were these men of mine?’

‘I don’t know their names.’

‘Could you recognise them again?’

‘Of course.’

He grabbed her and there was nothing gentle about it. ‘Come with me,’ he snarled.

17

Kirin and Clovis looked around. Their accommodations were sparse but airy and light. Herbs in jars around the room lent a fresh fragrance to what was clearly a long unused chamber.

‘All right?’ Freath enquired, pushing open a window and allowing a soft breeze to blow in.

Kirin thought he was jesting but realised the former aide to the now dead queen spoke in earnest. ‘I’m surprised we have this much,’ he admitted.

Clovis nodded, looking pensive. ‘What a strange day this has been.’

‘And each will get stranger, I’m sure,’ Freath said. ‘I’m glad you are friends and can look out for each other. Now I must leave. If you are sent for, don’t dally. If I speak to you cruelly, ask odd deeds of you, or even strike you, you’re welcome to scowl but do as you’re bid. Behave reluctantly but don’t overdo it; I may not be able to protect you. The barbarian will be suspicious if you don’t resent my lordship over you but it will seem equally questionable if you disobey me and I don’t impose harsh punishment. Feel free to be very frightened.’ He sighed, then warned, as he opened the door to leave, ‘We walk a fine line now, my friends.’

‘Freath, wait,’ Kirin implored. ‘I’m still not sure why we’ve been chosen like this.’

Freath closed the door again. ‘I must be brief. I asked Loethar for two of the Vested for my own purposes. I used the excuse that it was to ensure my protection, and of course he agreed because he thinks I am a coward as well as a traitor. I also think he readily agreed knowing that he would see to it that Stracker offered me a choice of only those they believed were not truly possessed of any high magic.’

‘I see,’ Kirin said, glancing at Clovis, knowingly. ‘They thought they were granting you false security.’

‘Just so,’ Freath replied.

‘So how can we be of any use to you?’

‘Come now, Master Kirin. I think we both know that you have set out to disguise your true talents. I knew any Vested worth his salt wouldn’t admit to possessing real power. Those who made big noise of their abilities I knew were destined for a poor end — for even Stracker is not completely stupid. He was clever enough to siphon off those who seemed genuinely talented, leaving behind a few vaguely empowered individuals from whom I was permitted to choose. I saw straight away that both of you were hiding something and I took the risk that it was your powers that you were underselling.’ He shrugged. ‘And I was obviously right. I saw how sick you became after engaging in what I assume was prying into Stracker. Is this so?’ Kirin nodded. ‘We have no time to talk now but I will need to learn the extent of your abilities. Master Clovis, the same goes for you. As far as Loethar is concerned I have demanded you as my protectors in exchange for whatever I can tell them about the Valisars.’ He held a hand up as they both began to speak. ‘Of course I intend to tell them nothing of any use. Just as they intend that I have very little protection.’

Clovis wore a baffled expression. ‘But, Master Freath, how are we supposed to offer you protection when we can’t even protect ourselves? I am a diviner but although Kirin can pry, neither of us can offer you safety against injury.’

‘I realise that. Hopefully it no longer matters — hopefully I have proven myself to Loethar with my act of barbarism against the queen. I do not want your talents to protect me. I need your talents for what I seek.’

Kirin held out his hands. ‘I really don’t get how —’

‘Your skills will help me to find an aegis,’ Freath interrupted.

Clovis shook his head in dismay. Kirin responded for both of them. ‘But surely you know that most people don’t believe such a person even exists?’

‘Do you?’ Freath asked pointedly.

‘I … I’ve never really thought about it.’

Clovis sighed. ‘I’ve always thought aeges were simply myth, to tell the truth.’

Freath flicked at a bit of lint on his dark clothes. ‘Well, I have to believe such a person does live. The history books say King Cormoron had an aegis. It is written that for every Valisar king, there is one.’