Secrets of the Night Special Edition (39 page)

By the Goddess, what was he talking about?

"--that I can't let this chance slip by me. As you know, I have remained unmarried for all these years--"

Oh, no!

"--but now I consider it time to take a wife. Would you do me the honor of marrying me?"

A stab of alarm jolted her mid section, but she quickly recovered. She must take care with her reply. Why was he asking her, he, who had never before expressed any interest in her? Did he intend to gain control of the kingdom through marriage and not assassination? She wished she knew his intentions. She realized she shouldn’t refuse him outright, for it would serve her purpose to play for time. And she must defeat him.

"General Balor, your offer comes as a surprise. I need time to consider your proposal and get my father's permission," she lied, knowing her father gave her free rein on marital matters, as long as she married into the aristocracy. And Balor belonged to that privileged group. "I must admit, your proposal is most appealing." Another lie. She was becoming very accomplished at prevarication.

"Ah, I'm pleased to hear that. And I understand you need time to consider, Princess Keriam. We'll talk about this again soon, shall we?"

"Of course." For now, she'd accomplished nothing but postpone the inevitable. She wouldn't marry him for all the gold in the kingdom.

* * *

Fergus Morrigan, the palace steward, had an important matter to discuss with Tencien as they sat in the king's office after reviewing the palace accounts. "Sire, I should like to marry again,” he said, easing his chair away from the oaken table. Bronze oil lamps hung from the ceiling, and coupled with the sunlight through the wide window, provided sufficient illumination. “Since my first wife died of the black fever years ago, I have been lonely, as you may imagine. The lady I have chosen comes from the
village
of
Mag Bregha--
"

"Lovely place," Tencien said. "Been there many times."

Fergus nodded. "Aradia is all a man could want in a wife, sweet and gentle, a true lady, so kind and thoughtful. With your permission, I would bring her here as my wife."

"By all means," Tencien said. "Would you like to be handfasted here at the palace?"

"Sire, she wants the ceremony at a shrine near her home, if that is agreeable with you. After the wedding, we will return here straightaway."

"No need to hurry." Tencien smiled. "A man needs time alone with his new wife."

"Thank you, sire."

* * *

Four days later, Fergus brought his new bride to the palace, and with her silvery blonde hair, blue eyes, and pale skin, Aradia was truly beautiful. Her sweet smile and soft voice endeared her to all the palace staff.

But Aradia was not all she pretended, Keriam discovered a few days after the woman's arrival at Emain Macha when the sound of weeping drew her to Maudina's small room. Keriam knew that her maid often suffered from a difficult moontime, and thus permitted her to rest in bed. And that time is about now, she thought with a quick calculation.

She opened the door and stepped inside. "Why, Maudina, what's wrong?" she asked, sitting down beside her maid. "Your moontime?"

Maudina sniffed. "Oh, princess, the steward's new wife--"

"You mean Aradia."

"Yes. She told me I'm so ugly no man will ever want me." Maudina gave her an appealing look. "Do you think I'm ugly, madam?"

“Are you sure you understood her correctly?”

Maudina nodded. “She said it very plainly. You should have seen the expression on her face.”

“Well, of course I don’t think you’re ugly.” Keriam stroked the girl's hair. "Haven't I seen how Traigh looks at you in the stables? And--"

"Really, madam?" she asked in a choking voice. She brushed her hand across her reddened, tear stained face, and Keriam offered her a handkerchief.

"You're not just saying that?" Maudina said, wiping the handkerchief across her eyes.

"I don't make idle comments.. Do you know, I've often envied you your looks--"

"You have?"

"Indeed. Your skin tans so nicely, while mine turns pink and peels. And your hair! So thick and glossy, such a rich shade of brown with golden lights. Ah, Traigh is not the only man who casts you covetous looks."

"Truly?"

"Truly." Keriam placed her arm around her maid's waist, and pleasant images brushed her mind. She saw Maudina and Traigh holding hands, their faces radiant. Dropping her arms, she sat back. She found it difficult to believe that Aradia would make such spiteful remarks, yet she had to accept her maid’s account. "Now, promise me you'll ignore Aradia's cruel comments. I feel sure you have a greater chance at happiness than she. That kind often brings trouble on themselves."

And trouble for everyone else, Keriam found the next day.

On a mission for her father, she headed downstairs, past the main hall, then through a long stone walkway that led to the kitchen. She wanted to instruct the cook to prepare chicken broth for the king. Laid low with a feverish cold, Tencien rested in bed, and Keriam considered
isean
broth as good as any herbal remedy for many respiratory illnesses.

A few steps from the kitchen entrance, Keriam stopped, hearing Aradia address the household staff--cleaning women and cooks--all dwarves. Outside the kitchen, a large, well-equipped pantry provided ample room for concealment, a place where she could listen to Aradia undetected. A statue of Falgeria, the hearth goddess, warded the pantry's entrance.

"I want to tell you how happy I am to be here, as part of the palace family, so to speak." Aradia laughed a little, as though self-conscious at her pronouncement. "We can all do much to improve the palace functions, and as the steward's wife, I intend to do my share. One example, if I may express an opinion. Already, in my short time here, I've noticed many of the children idling about with books. Surely the young ones find reading a boring occupation and would rather do something useful. Much needs to be done, like cleaning, sweeping, and dusting. The children could perform these little chores or run errands. Besides, idle boys and girls can get into trouble."

Bertha, the head cook, spoke in her deep, rumbling voice. "But madam, Princess Keriam has given orders that the youngsters should spend part of the day to read and practice their letters, even if they don't have formal instruction."

"For what purpose?" Aradia asked, a trace of annoyance in her voice. "What good will learning do these children? Far better for them to perform household chores, rather than encourage them to think they can rise above their station. I fear they will be sadly disappointed to discover that all this learning will gain them nothing." Her voice took on a warm note. "Let's try things my way for now. Perhaps we'll find the children are happier performing useful tasks."

So, Keriam wondered as she silently walked away, does the steward realize what a cunning woman he's married? Tempted to confront Aradia now, she feared embarrassing the servants. Just the same, someone needed to explain things to this woman, and Keriam vowed to do so first chance she got.

That opportunity came sooner than expected, when Keriam was leaving her father's bedchamber the same afternoon. Ahead of her, the steward's wife was ascending the stairway, soon reaching the second floor.

"Aradia, I hope you have settled in here. Is there anything I can help you with?" She motioned for the woman to join her at a stone bench that hugged the wall. Statues of gods and goddesses lined the long hallway, and occasional flower vases on oaken tables added a further touch of refinement and grace.

Aradia sat beside her, a heady musk scent wafting from her clothes. Her fingers were delicately-tapered, the nails like dragon's claws. "Thank you, Princess Keriam, but so far, things have gone smoothly for me."

I'll wager they have, Keriam thought. "One thing I like about the palace's workings is that everyone does his share. You'll find--if you haven't already--that everyone is loyal to the king and eager to see that the palace runs smoothly."

"But the children . . ." Aradia hesitated.

"The children?” she prompted. "What about them?"

"Seems to me they could use their time more profitably in chores. They spend far too much time idling about."

"But they are not 'idling about', as you say. They are improving their minds, an endeavor that may help them when they get older. As a matter of fact, I hope to find a capable teacher who can guide them along those lines, teach them their numbers and letters, then introduce them to the country's fine literature."

"Dwarves--the entire household staff! I'm surprised these people aren't working in the mines, where they belong.”

Keriam's face grew hot, a muscle twitching in her jaw. “They belong here because I had them brought here. Their fathers were all killed in mine accidents, and their mothers had no one to turn to. Certainly, learning to read and cipher will aid these children if ever they hope to manage a business or own a shop." Keriam stood, signaling the discussion's end.

"But, princess--"

"But that is how I want things done. Do you have any other questions?"

Aradia stood also, a hint of defiance in her expression. Pink spots blossomed on her cheeks. "No, madam."

Reluctant to make an enemy of the steward's wife, Keriam smiled and squeezed her hand. As if scalded, Keriam dropped her hand and stepped back. Images beat against her mind like lightning bolts, visions that confused her and sent her heart pounding. She saw Aradia and Balor, their heads close together, as if planning in secret. She saw a man falling to his death. Who? her frantic mind screamed. Keriam blinked her eyes, praying to Talmora that these images were only empty pictures, visions that would never come to pass.

"Princess, are you ill?" Aradia asked with a worried frown.

Snatched back to the present, Keriam forced a smile. "I'm fine." With a nod, she walked down the long hallway toward her bedchamber.

Was this the woman her vision had warned her about, this virago with the silvery hair? The words came back to haunt her.
Beware of this woman.

* * *

Since she was a child, Keriam had always enjoyed the capital city of
Moytura
. Now that she had reached adulthood, she liked to visit the Treasury of Knowledge, a magnificent sandstone building that housed a collection of rare volumes and fine literature for children and adults–thousands of books. Gathering reading material for the palace children gave her the perfect opportunity for a visit, away from Aradia’s spiteful remarks to the servants.

After giving instructions to Maudina to meet her later, Keriam ascended the steps, her walk quick and purposeful, certain the library would contain a wide choice of children’s books. A slight dip in each step revealed the library’s constant usage throughout the years. . . .

Aware of the passing time, she retraced her steps within a short while, a diverse choice of books in her arms. These books, painstakingly printed and illustrated by the druids and bound in the finest leather, should please the children and entice them to learn.

Mindful of Maudina’s tendency to dawdle, Keriam spared a few minutes for herself, an indulgence her palace duties often denied her. She headed across
Aventina Way
, a broad thoroughfare that separated the cultural center of the city from the meadow and the Plain of Sorrows beyond. At the meadow, she set the books on the grass, then eased to the cold ground. She stretched her legs out and rested under an oak tree, its sacred essence protection against evil. Lost in her private thoughts, she didn’t see the man approach.

“I’ve been waiting for a chance to find you alone.”

Chapter Five

"Oh!" Keriam looked up to see Roric Gamal standing beside her, clad in a dark brown  tunic and mid-calf high boots, a book in his hand. A thrill of alarm sent her heart pounding, her breath coming fast. She tried to act nonchalant, but how could she pretend indifference toward this conspirator without revealing her suspicion of him? Hatred blazed a path from her head to her stomach. She clenched her hands, then quickly released them, lest he catch her anger. To think she’d returned his smile at the recent reception. This man is a deceiver, she fumed.
Watch out for him.

"I didn't mean that the way it sounded, madam," he said in his clipped speech. "I merely meant I've been looking for an opportunity to discuss an important matter with you. As it happened, I saw you in the Treasury of Knowledge while I was fetching a book on astronomy." He hesitated. "Do you mind if I join you?"

"You're here, aren't you?"
Traitor.
She waved her hand. "The meadow is open to everyone."

"Thank you." Setting his book on the grass, he sat beside her, drawing one leg up, hands laced together at the knee. He brushed his cloak from his shoulders, revealing the palace emblem on his tunic:
We will keep faith
.. Keep faith with whom? Balor!

For the first time, she noticed his sun-tanned face with its fine lines around the mouth and eyes, his sinewy fingers. Strong hands, those, capable of committing the worst villainy. She struggled to keep her breathing even.