Ten Crescent Moons (Moonquest) (35 page)

"I am
not listening to you! You will no longer meddle in my personal life!"

The servant
was still with her when Adalginza slammed the door of her sleep room behind
her. She flung herself upright upon the bed, folded her arms, and then glowered
at the intruder who now half cowered away from her.

Not knowing
what else to do, Adalginza impatiently gestured for the woman with the
pleasant, ruddy face to be seated on the wooden stool next to the bed.

"You
should be pleased. You have witnessed much to gossip about with the other
servants."

"I take
no pleasure in such pastimes, lady."

"Good."
Adalginza nodded once in approval. "What is your name?"

"Umbrea."

"So, Umbrea.
You say you take no pleasure in speaking of private matters. Yet, you are a
spy. Telling all you know to Benfaaro."

Umbrea
placed two fingers to her lips and glanced around furtively.

"I
cannot help who I am. Punish me with your words if you must, but do try to
speak softly within these walls."

"You
are right. Of course."

Adalginza
drew in a deep breath, striving to reach deep inside for strength. And wisdom. And
a sense of purpose beyond herself.

If she was someday
going to claim her status as one Of The Blood, these petulant outbursts must
stop. For one thing, she was no longer a child.

She sat for
many moments, gathering together her thoughts and willing her personal anguish to
dissolve.

Would she
ever see Captain Kalos again? She did not know. But somehow, in the shock of
her loss, clarity began to emerge.

She saw that
it was possible to fill a larger role. Something beyond being a great leader's obedient
sister or the demure wife of an officer of the Crescent knights.

While she
continued to grasp at an idea that still eluded her, Umbrea spoke nervously.

"It is
most curious. Your captain was convinced Calasta was Benfaaro's child. And yet
he spared her."

"Yes."

"This
speaks well of him. I understand now why it is that you love him. Though he is
— the enemy. But I forget myself. I should not speak of such things without
your permission."

Umbrea lowered
her head then, as though expecting to be chastened for such frankness from a
person of lowly status.

"You
may speak freely with me anytime," Adalginza assured her. "Benfaaro
knows I love my husband. Report this if you must, but it will come as no
surprise to him. What concerns me the most is what you will say about Calasta.
Does Benfaaro know?"

"Not as
yet." Still looking down, the servant smoothed the crudely woven cloth of
her plain uniform. "I did not myself even know the child's name until this
very day when I heard it spoken aloud. She has for the most part been largely
ignored in the servants' quarters."

"I
see," Adalginza said cautiously. "I suppose this is good."

Finally, the
servant looked up.

"I
thought she had been brought here as your servant. And here I found out she is
Benfaaro's heir and one Of The Blood. Why would I suspect such a thing? It was
widely reported that Calasta had been killed by a Crescent knight."

"It is
very important that Benfaaro not know Calasta is alive and with us."

"But
this is heresy." Umbrea eyed Adalginza doubtfully. "Is it not my duty
to tell Benfaaro that his child still lives?"

"You
must know I am Benfaaro's sister. Need I remind you that I, too, am Of The
Blood? You owe loyalty to me as well."

Adalginza
was not sure what kind of response she would receive to that bold statement.
But the last thing she expected to see was the brightness of hope shining on
Umbrea's face.

The servant leaned
slowly forward, and dropped her voice.

"Our
people know of you now, Lady Adalginza. Benfaaro wants this. He speaks openly
about who you are and about the great sacrifices you made."

"I am shocked
that he speaks of me at all." Adalginza felt a growing sense of alarm.
"To announce my identity so openly seems risky."

If word that
she was a spy leaked out to any citizen of the Crescent Houses, she would be
immediately executed. Surely her brother was aware of this.

"Benfaaro
thinks you are forever lost. In your mind." Umbrea touched a finger to her
head, then blushed as she regarded Adalginza. "He has plans to bring you
back home. But before that happens, he wants others to know of your malady."

"Why
would he want this?"

"So
that you are recognized, but disregarded."

"This
is beyond my understanding," Adalginza said quietly.

Umbrea
lowered her voice still more. "There have been too many whisperings among our
people about a woman with indigo eyes, as foretold in The Prophecy. This
greatly displeases Benfaaro."

Adalginza
felt like an incakit, about to poke its curious nose into the hot flames of a
fire. But she could not help herself. She leaned forward and lowered her own voice,
sealing the conspiracy between them.

"Here
is how it will be," she said authoritatively. "We will share our
secrets. We will trust each other. You will help me protect Calasta. She is Of
The Blood, and it is your duty."

"But my
allegiance is also to Benfaaro," Umbrea said. "Are you asking me to
betray your own brother?"

"The
danger to Calasta is not from her father, who loves her. The danger is from her
mother."

"Bruna?"
Umbrea asked, not sounding at all surprised.

"Yes. I
believe it was Bruna, not a Crescent knight, who attacked Calasta. Benfaaro
would never believe this accusation, though. If he learns Calasta is with me,
he will demand that his daughter be returned to him. And to Bruna. Surely you
see I am trying to save Calasta's life. She must stay here with me. Do you
understand now?"

The truth
is always better.

Adalginza
could only hope that she was making a wise choice in placing absolute faith in
this stranger named Umbrea, who now looked thoroughly frightened.

"But why
wouldn't Calasta tell this to her father?"

"Calasta
has few memories left of her past," Adalginza explained. "Her mind
protects her from the horror of knowing that her own mother tried to murder
her."

"I do
not understand why Bruna would do such a thing." Umbrea sounded angry.
"Calasta is just a little girl."

Adalginza stifled
her own fury. Already she was learning that a true leader must rise above
emotion. And so she answered calmly.

"She
knows that, if her child lives, Calasta would directly inherit power Of The
Blood if something happens to Benfaaro. It cannot be transferred to another,
whereas mine can — through marriage, and through Benfaaro's decree. Calasta is
far too prone to think her own thoughts. Bruna knows she cannot control her."

"So
Bruna wants her out of the way."

"Yes."

Umbrea
appeared lost in thought. Finally, she spoke again.

"It is
well known among the tribal leaders that Bruna thirsts for power. And that she
uses her potions to alter Benfaaro's judgment to create chaos and suffering."

"I am
glad this is known. It gives me more hope for the future of our people."

Umbrea took
a deep breath, and smiled.

"If you
say that Bruna would kill her own child, I believe you. Never fear. I will
protect Calasta with even my own life."

"And
what word of me will you pass along to Benfaaro now?"

Umbrea smiled
again. "I am not sure. How
is
your state of health, Lady Adalginza?"

Adalginza
rose to her feet and walked over to the window, where she pulled opened the
shutters. She observed the lush greenery of the courtyard below her. Fountains
of water spurted in a myriad of patterns that captivated her, almost
hypnotizing her.

She breathed
deeply of the sweet freshness and felt suddenly homesick for the wildness of
the frontier.

She would
prefer to go home if she could somehow be free. But she must stay, if for no
other reason than Calasta needed to be shielded and kept far away from her
mother.

"Benfaaro
would expect my return if he knew of my full recovery," Adalginza said at
last. "Then he and Bruna would proceed with plans to wed me to Talan. Now
that Captain Kalos has gone, I am no longer of much use to him here anyway. From
what you have said, he already has a network of well-placed spies."

"This
is true. Benfaaro has ships hidden along the coasts, used for transport and conveying
messages. You could be taken, even against your will, at any moment."

 Adalginza
saw a flash of color in a nearby tree filled with succulent leaves. She briefly
mindlinked with a surprised, rainbow-colored bird of the same species as
Starla. There was no special bond here, however, and the startled bird quickly
flew away.

"I will
watch carefully behind my back then," Adalginza said. "And here is
what you must do. You must tell Benfaaro's couriers that I am still quite ill.
My emotional public display in front of the palace, the one that so distressed
Lady Swiala, will confirm that."

"Your
brother may still want you home."

Adalginza
turned slowly to face Umbrea.

 "Then
tell him that I will not be here at the palace. Lady Swiala has, in truth,
arranged for me to seek healing at the Dome of Archives in Solaria. And I will
be inaccessible for an undetermined length of time."

Umbrea stood
and bowed in acquiescence. "I will report what you have just told me to
Benfaaro. For I know only what I hear."

"I deeply
thank you for your faith in me, Umbrea. And you do not need to bow to me."

Umbrea nodded,
but did not immediately leave the room. "You should know I also have been
instructed to report upon the activities of Captain Kalos. What is it that I
should say about him?"

"I am
at a loss for words because I do not know my own husband anymore."

Umbrea
nodded with understanding.

"Most
people think the captain is courting Lady Sagawea, who has known associations
with the Eradicators. The captain's influence in Congress grows, as does his power
to do great harm. I must report this to maintain my credibility."

Adalginza
nodded calmly, trying not to show her pain.

"Do
what you must."

Umbrea dared
to walk over to Adalginza and place a gentle hand on her shoulder.

"Captain
Kalos is at great risk of being assassinated. I believe I see now what was in
your heart. You betrayed your husband and his love for you in order to save
him."

"It was
far more than that. I wanted to save him, yes. And his family.
And
our
people. Instead, I caused many deaths." Adalginza regarded Umbrea
sorrowfully. "I wish to ask of you another favor. Something that only you
may decide, because I have no right to command."

"And
what might that be?"

"When
the time is right and Calasta no longer needs our protection and our secrecy, I
ask that you also report what you yourself witnessed. Kalos spared Benfaaro's
child. He spared one Of The Blood."

"I
witnessed this, and I can happily report it."

"Good.
And you must also tell the people that the Crescent knight, Luzicos, who was
accused of killing Calasta actually saved her life. And for this good deed, he
was tortured, defiled, and murdered in a most horrific way. Our people must know
of this crime."

Umbrea nodded.
"This story shall be told. I will do so when the time is right."

"Very
good." Adalginza smiled at Umbrea. "As long as all sides accept at
least a portion of the blame for all that has gone wrong, then there is still
some small hope for peace."

"Yes,
my lady."

"There
is one more thing I must tell you before you go."

"Yes?"

"Umbrea,
you said you were created only for the reason to serve the purposes of
Benfaaro."

"But of
course."

"I,
too, was told this all my life. But it is a lie."

"Please
say no more." Umbrea glanced around furtively, as though too many ears might
be listening. "You speak blasphemy."

"You
were
not
created by Benfaaro." Adalginza's firm tone invited no
argument. "We were each born into this life, from the wombs of our own
mothers, to become who we were meant to be. It matters not if our blood is from
a Crescent House or from one of the tribes. Or both. No person is born to be
shaped by another."

"I
cannot believe such a thing is true."

"It is
truth. I am Of The Blood, and I decree it to be so."

It was the
first time Adalginza had ever spoken in such a way. She felt the power of her
own words electrify her, as though her essence had been converted to the exact
same energy produced by a storm's eye-blinding lightning.