Sea of Sighs (Empath Book 2) (27 page)

“I’ll be surprised if they can see us now,
my lord.”

“That was an order, Aaron, move!”

Shifting quickly, they rearranged themselves
behind the dying campfire. Eden threw in a log and gave it a kick,
shielding his face as sparks flew into the air. It couldn’t stop
the horses from charging them, but it might give the riders some
pause. The shadows were getting larger now, and the hoofbeats
louder.

“Have you last faced a cavalry charge
before?”

There wasn’t a veteran amongst them.

As the first man came steaming into view,
Eden felt like dropping his sword and running. He steeled himself,
holding his ground. The first horse cleared the fire with an easy
leap, splitting Eden and his men as they rolled to one side,
avoiding the hooves of the beast. The other four horses followed,
and they rolled straight over the camp. They had tried to trample
the men to death in their bedrolls, though that tactic didn’t lend
itself to a noisy approach. Eden’s men righted themselves, bracing
for return attack. Instead of turning their mounts, the attackers
dismounted. Five men came at them in the darkness, and Eden balked
at their bulk. He also recognised the man at the front. It was
Elias. As all five of them charged straight for Eden, he could only
think that this was a trap, baited by both Sammah and Vance. Elias
struck him. The world went black.

Eden was blindfolded.
His temple throbbed. He was alone, and that could only mean his men
were dead. His face burned with shame and he felt eyes on him, a
feeling affirmed by a silence that was only formed by people
holding back noise. This wasn’t the way he was meant to come into
Farn. This wasn’t the way he wanted to be reunited with Quinn.
Would he even be reunited? Were they sparing him a death on the
beach to hang him in the square? Would Eden be the symbol of a
public declaration of war? Despite his upbringing, Eden began to
tremble. He wished Ross was there. Suddenly he was dragged to a
stop. He was forced to his knees.

“We are having a celebration here! What is
the meaning of this intrusion?”

“We found this man on our shores. There were
eight dead bodies; four of his, and four of our own. It’s not
enough Everfell have one of our own; they’re already spilling blood
on our shores! We had to bring him straight to the council,
baron.”

That wasn’t right. That was a lie! If there
were only eight bodies… Eden groaned, and not just because of the
pain arching through his head. Elias wouldn’t be one of the dead on
that shore, Eden was certain of it. Chatter erupted around him, and
Eden could barely think. This had to be Sammah. He was being
set-up.

He closed his eyes, waiting for the order to
come for his execution, when another voice ripped through the
crowd. “Eden!”

Eden’s heart stopped. Quinn was here. She
couldn’t see him like this.
Please, don’t let them take off my
blindfold.
But then it was ripped from his face, and Quinn was
already there, standing before him. Eden blinked, dazed.

Quinn was gut-wrenchingly beautiful. A
blood-red gown clung to Quinn’s body, and a passionate anger
stirred in her eyes. Sha’sek suited her. Eden gave a strangled
cough. He could never compete with this land for the hand of this
lady.

A man came to stand next to her, and given
the familial likeness, Eden knew without asking that this was the
Baron Pax. “What’s going on here?” the man demanded.

“We found him, on the beach! The only
survivor of a slaughter of our men. You know him?” The guardsman
pointed at Quinn, who didn’t recoil.

“Yes. He’s the son of a lord. If you want to
avoid immediate war, I suggest you undo his bonds and let him to
his feet.”

The guardsman ignored Quinn, looking instead
to the baron.

“This is no place for politics. Take him to
my chambers.”

Eden was roughly pulled to his feet, and
Quinn cried out. “He needs a healer. Where’s Maertn?”

Maertn stumbled over then, unsteady on his
feet.

“Have you been drinking?” Quinn asked,
sounding disgusted.

“Haven’t you?” Maertn slurred. Quinn
groaned, but relented. This wasn’t Maertn’s fault, and this time,
he wasn’t the only skilled healer in the city.

“Fetch a healer. Quinn, come with me. You
know this man, and I want to know what’s going on here. He might
have an excuse for the shoreline, but why is he in Farn at all?
Everyone else, please, resume your evening. You—bring Rhi back.
Promise her twice as much as she was paid for the first song. Just
ask her to bring some life back into this place.”

The baron clapped and, as if it was a
magical signal, the chatter of the party resumed. Quinn shook her
head in disbelief. How could these people just ignore what was
going on?
Was this kind of thing normal?

The crowds parted for the baron as he made
his way to his offices. He waved his guardsmen away. “Leave
us.”

“Baron, that man is dangerous.”

“He looked half dead when you brought him
in. If you have to hold him up whilst he stands, then he’s not a
danger to me. Leave. Us.”

“As you wish.”

Pax waited until the room was emptied and
turned to Quinn. “Is there anyone prying outside the rooms?”

Quinn tilted her head, confused for only a
second as to why the baron had asked her. “No. There’s no one
there.”

“
Good.
”
He turned to Eden, who was slumped in a plain wooden
chair. “Do you need water, boy?”

Eden could only nod, and the baron filled a
glass from a jug on his desk. He thrust it at Eden, who quaffed it
greedily.

“
Quinn, I don
’t
want you to talk. I do want you to use your ability. You more than
know this boy—I’m not blind. Still, you’re Sha’sekian now, and one
of us. You will tell me if he’s telling the truth. I may not be an
empath, but I’ll know if you’re lying to me. Do you understand
me?”

“
Yes, baron.
”

The baron grunted. “Good. What’s your
name?”

“Eden. Third son of the House of
Sevenspells.”

“Why are you here?”

“To bring Quinn back to Everfell.”

Quinn’s heart skipped a beat. He was here to
bring her back? Why?

“For yourself?”

“The king wants to recall her.”

Quinn couldn’t sense a lie, but she couldn’t
believe it was the truth. She had
wanted
it to be Eden, here
to bring her back. The baron believed it about as much as Quinn.
“So soon after threatening her with death? Why?”

“Baron Sammah has demanded her as a witness
at his trial. You…you know about the trial?”

Eden must have been hit hard. His words were
slow, and his voice thick with fatigue. Quinn wanted to ask where
the healers were, but didn’t dare open her mouth. Pax waggled his
hands in response to Eden’
s question.
“I
am aware my brother is implicated in some kind of plot against your
king. I’m frankly surprised he didn’t get away with it; he’s been
trying for years. A blind lot you all are. You’re Sevenspells, you
say?”

“
Yes, baron.
”

“I get many messages about your father,
Eden.”

“Why would your messengers be speaking about
my father?”

“Because he’s my brother’s ally. Didn’t you
know?”

Despite his injuries, Eden found both his
feet in his voice. He thrust himself out of his chair, hissing at
the baron. “Lies! My father wouldn’t make pact with that
monster.”

The baron pushed Eden gently back in his
seat. “They’re allies and you know it, otherwise you wouldn’t have
reacted so. Where one son sees an opportunity, another one sees
shame. So, Sammah wants a witness? That’s interesting.”

“Why?” Eden’s words were getting heavier.
Can’t the baron see? He’ll pass out soon.
Quinn felt like
jamming her fist into her mouth to keep quiet.

“
Sammah isn
’t
imprisoned any more.”

Eden and Quinn were stunned into silence.
The baron chuckled, “What, you expected the king to be able to
keep
Sammah subjugated? I kept telling you what was coming
Quinn, we all have. Your father, Eden, allied himself with Sammah
not long after the war. He might not like us, or agree with our
customs, but he knew a winning side when he saw one.”

“
I don
’t
understand. What do you mean?”

“Exactly what he said,” Quinn whispered,
feeling sick to her stomach.

“I think you’d better sit down too, Quinn.
Neither of you are going to like what I have to say. Before I
begin, should we get a healer? Do you need one, Eden?”

Eden shook his head and Quinn protested.
“Please, baron. Fetch one. He’s barely awake, let alone able to
make decisions.”

Pax left the room, and Quinn dashed to Eden.
Tears fell; she couldn’t hold them back.

“Eden, spirits I’ve missed you. What
happened?”

“I was ambushed, Quinn. It was Elias. It
must be Sammah.”

“We can tell Pax. He’s a reasonable man.
He’
ll understand.
”

Eden placed a shaking finger on
Quinn’
s lips.
“
I
don
’t trust him, Quinn. He’s too calm. Quinn was puzzled,
but she didn’t have the chance to answer. Pax returned, with Rall
in tow. Quinn’
s hackles
rose at seeing
Maertn’s master, but he was there to help Eden.”

“Step back, girl. You think your boy is a
skilled healer? You know nothing.”

Quinn was swept out of the way. Rall
squatted in front of Eden, grabbing his head in both hands and
twisting it back and forth. Quinn heard bones crack and she bit
back a scream of fright. Eden moaned, but didn’t protest. After a
swift examination, Rall stood. “A blow to the head, baron, is all
this boy has suffered. His hands show no signs of fight. I can
sense no other ills in his body. His mind is dull; that is to be
expected.”

“Fix him.” Pax stated.

Rall’s hands went back to Eden’s head. Quinn
held her breath. She had been the recipient of Maertn’s healing
enough times, but she had never seen it happen. She didn’t know
what she’d been expecting; lights; noise—something. What she got
was nothing. After a few minutes Eden moaned softly. Rall pulled
his hands back and Eden shook his head.

“My head…
it
feels
…fine.”

“So it should. It was a solid blow, but
nothing that would have given you any lasting damage. Baron? Is
there anything else you need?”

“No, thank you, Rall. Please, return to the
party.”

“If you think I’m spending my night with
that cavorting lot, then you’re truly mistaken. My loyalty to you,
baron.”

Rall left as Eden came around. He looked
confused.

“What just happened?”

“You were healed by a Sha’sekian, Lord Eden.
Does that frighten you?”

Eden frowned. “Why would it frighten me? I’m
glad—
thankful, even.
”

“You don’t think like the other nobles.
Perhaps that’s why Sammah took an interest in you.”

Quinn placed her hands on Eden’s shoulders,
wrapping her arms around his neck. She squeezed him tight, and he
brought his hands up to her arms, returning the gesture.

“No, baron. Eden is nothing like his kin.
Don’t hold his birth against him; it would be hypocritical, given
the lecture you’ve given me about the Everfell opinion of
Sha’sek.”

“So sweet. Reunited lovers, is it? I bet
this was
fascinating
for
Sammah.”

“Did…did you say before that he’d escaped?
He was in the gaols, the same as my father. There’s no way he
escaped.”

The baron chuckled. “Sammah was always going
to escape, though knowing my brother, your father is still probably
right where you left him. You see whilst Shiver is a useful man to
a point, he is also a very dangerous one. He orchestrated the
deaths of many of my men back in the wars. Keep your enemies close,
as the saying goes.”

“How do you know this? I crossed the Sighs,
and I only just arrived in Farn. When I left, Sammah was in
custody.”

“Have you never heard of messenger birds,
boy? Or spies? Spirits, do you think all we do is sit around
drinking wine and gossiping?
Nothing
important happens in
Everfell without my finding out.”

“You didn’t want to fight Everfell! What is
Sammah doing?”

“Quinn, please, calm down. You’re sensitive
and over-emotional. By your own admission, you’re not stable here.
I didn’t feel I could completely confide in you. Still, whilst I
knew that Sammah would be escaping. This unexpected twist,” Pax
waved at Eden, “has forced my hand somewhat. I also wasn’t
expecting Sammah to escape so swiftly. Still, I’ll be honouring
Sammah’s request, whether Vance is there to see it fulfilled or
not.”

“Why? If he’s escaped, he doesn’
t need me. I don
’t want to go back to him.”

“You’ll be able to keep Sammah in check,
Quinn.”

“How do you expect me to do that?”

“If I send you back to Everfell, Sammah will
think I’m still his ally. Sammah is still after Everfell, and as
long as he’s alive, he won’t stop even when he gets it. He is
dangerous, and a liability. And I need to mention again that he is
an apath? You can’t have a man like that on any throne.”

“You’re saying it like Vance is dead. Is
Sammah the king?”

The baron shrugged. “
I
don
’t know that. I just know that he’
s
escaped.
”

“So, you admit openly that Sha’sek wants war
with Everfell again?”
Eden spat,
repulsed.

“Of course. We never hid that.
Eventually
we will be at war with Everfell again. We just
need to wait for things to calm down. Sammah has started the fire;
I expect your father to try to put it out. Once he’s spent
himself…well, then I may consider our position.”