Prince's Fire (27 page)

As she quaked with the aftershocks, he lay beside her and gathered her into his arms. The light of the setting sun spilled over the two of them, and for the first time in her life Celeste welcomed its illumination.

T
he next day, Rayn gathered the Fireturners, and they went as a group to the public square in the middle of Tiasa. There Rayn addressed a crowd of gathered civilians and told the tale of the weeklong battle against the lava flow on Mount Drav. He explained the history of Mount Drav eruptions and how lava flows had always been directed into Four Pines. He described the size and boiling heat of the lava flow, since few Tiasans had seen one up close. He explained how the Fireturners had opposed the Land Council's decision to open Four Pines for farming and warned them that the next major eruption could destroy those farms. And how he'd evacuated the Four Pines settlers despite having been denied permission to do so by the Land Council.

Then his Fireturners took the stage, one by one, to add their experiences to the tale and confirm the validity of Rayn's words.

It was hard to gauge the mood of the crowd, but Rayn felt he'd made his points clear. It was up to the people of Inya to judge who was to blame for the destruction in Four Pines. He hoped they would reflect, additionally, on the role of the Land Council in the debacle.

After his public appearance, he collected the Kjallan imperials, who'd watched the speech from the plaza, and escorted them to the Merchants' Guild. There Celeste and Vitala mingled among the Inyan distributors and shopkeepers, assuring them in accented but serviceable Inyan that they were highly interested in opening trade with Inya. A few tradesmen inquired about the brimstone issue—would they consider a trade agreement that didn't include brimstone? Celeste and Vitala were noncommittal in response to that query, saying only that they were certain something could be worked out to everyone's satisfaction.

They returned to the Tiasan Palace for lunch. On their way, Rayn spotted a new set of handbills. Lornis had been busy in their absence.

WHO IS TO BLAME FOR FOUR PINES?

L
AVA FLOWS HAVE BEEN SENT TO
F
OUR
P
INES FOR CENTURIES

T
HE
L
AND
C
OUNCIL AUTHORIZED SETTLEMENT OF
F
OUR
P
INES

B
UT DENIED AUTHORIZATION TO EVACUATE WHEN THE LAVA CAME

P
RINCE
R
AYN DEFIED THAT ORDER TO KEEP
I
NYA SAFE

RATIFY PRINCE RAYN

“I like it,” said Celeste.

“I don't know what I'd do without Lornis,” said Rayn.

Lornis joined them for lunch. Everyone complimented him on his handbills, and the conversation turned to the trade agreement.

“You told the merchants that Kjall is interested in trade,” began Rayn, addressing Vitala. “But Emperor Lucien isn't here. Can we hammer out an agreement without him?”

“We cannot sign it without him,” said Vitala. “By law, Lucien's authority exceeds mine. In practice, the two of us rule by consensus. But there can be no consensus without him.”

“You believe he's on the way here?”

“There is no doubt in my mind,” said Vitala. “The only question is how long it will take. We stole his ship, so he has to procure another one.”

Rayn had seen several suitable ships in the Riorcan harbor. He doubted it would take Lucien long to seize one of them. “How angry is he going to be?”

“Very,” said Vitala. “But not at you.”

Rayn frowned. “He won't harm Celeste, will he?”

“Not physically,” said Vitala. “Nor would he harm me, not even if he wished to.”

It sounded like Celeste was in no danger of being beaten. But Lucien could hurt her in other ways. Confine her, send her home to Kjall. Burn her math treatise.

Could Rayn protect Celeste from Lucien's anger by marrying her before he arrived? No—that might make matters worse. Stealing her brother's ship was bad enough; eloping would compound the crime. Besides, he didn't want to propose marriage until the people of Inya ratified him as king. Celeste deserved better than the political exile he would become if he failed his ratification vote.

“While I can't authorize a trade agreement without Lucien,” said Vitala, “we can still negotiate one. Don't you think it would cheer Lucien considerably if he arrived on the island to find a mutually beneficial trade agreement prepared and awaiting his signature?”

“There's an idea,” said Lornis.

“I don't think it would be hard to work one out except for the one problem,” said Rayn.

Vitala smiled wryly. “Brimstone.”

“I've explained to you my objections,” said Rayn. “Would Lucien sign a treaty that excludes brimstone?”

“No,” said Vitala. “We need it. We're Sardos's nearest neighbor, and you know as well as I do that the country isn't stable.”

Rayn nodded. All indications were that Sardos was on the verge of a coup. For thirty years, the First Heir of Sardos had kept his nation quiet and peaceful. But some of the Heir's detractors openly expressed their desire to recapture territories they'd lost to Kjall ages ago. If the Heir were assassinated, there was no telling who would rise to power in his place, and what policies that person might advocate. Inya was fortunate in that Kjall sat between them and Sardos, acting as a buffer from possible Sardossian aggression. If Inya's brimstone, converted to gunpowder, served the purpose of keeping Sardos contained, that would benefit Inya.

The problem was that there was no way to guarantee that Kjall would use the gunpowder for the purpose of containing Sardos. To make this deal, he had to
trust
—something he was leery of doing when it came to ambitious nations with a history of invading their neighbors.

“We must have it one way or another,” said Vitala. “If you will not supply us, we will get it from Dori.”

“You'll never get a consistent supply, not until they rebuild their nation.”

“We will do what must be done to ensure the safety of Kjall,” said Vitala.

Rayn considered the implications of her words. Kjall was quite capable of invading Dori. Would they do so, if that was the only way they could secure a supply of a resource they deemed essential to their national security?

“Would you feel better,” inquired Celeste, “if Kjall traded you weapons in return?”

“Are you suggesting we need them?” said Rayn.

“I have no idea,” said Celeste. “I was just thinking that would equalize the trade. Arms for arms.”

Celeste's offer was well intended, but it rubbed him the wrong way. His country was sufficiently armed. He saw no need to stockpile weapons. No, this came down to thinking not just about Inya but about the world as a whole. It would be better for Inya if Kjall stood firm against an uncertain Sardos. It would be better for Inya if Kjall didn't invade an already unstable Dori. He just had to trust the Kjallans. That was the hard part, but less so than when he'd first met them. He knew the Kjallans now, had dealt with them and relied on them in matters of importance. And there was one particular Kjallan whom he trusted completely.

“If you want brimstone, there's only one thing I'll accept in trade for it,” said Rayn. “The hand of the Imperial Princess.”

Vitala blinked. “Isn't that what we offered in the first place?”

“At the time, I didn't fully appreciate the merits of the offer.” He caught Celeste's eye and smiled.

“Celeste, what say you?” asked Vitala.

“I am one hundred percent in favor,” said Celeste.

“We've no quarrel, then,” said Vitala. “Not among the people sitting at this table.”

“Let's draft the agreement,” said Rayn. “We'll make it contingent on my winning ratification.” What was a king for except to make judgments in uncertain situations? There were no easy answers here, no guarantee that he'd chosen correctly in throwing his lot in with the Kjallans. But his gut told him that these were the people who would help him keep his archipelago safe.

“Of course it will be contingent on your winning ratification,” said Vitala. “If you don't win, you won't have the authority to make the agreement. So Lornis and I will handle the drafting, and you work on winning your ratification vote. We'll present the agreement to Lucien when he arrives: everything's done, all he needs to do is sign the paperwork. Trade agreement and marriage alliance—and we pray he accepts them without a fuss.”

“And I'll present the agreement to the Inyan people,” said Rayn. “It gives them more reason to ratify me.”

“Clasp wrists on it?” said Vitala.

Rayn reached across the table and sealed the deal.

•   •   •

That evening, Rayn took Celeste back to his bedroom and made love to her, slowly and gently. He laid her on the bed and worshipped her with his hands and mouth, telling her all the while how beautiful each part of her was. She was tense at first, but relaxed under his ministrations. It was going to take a while to banish the memory of Cassian's lies. He might have to remind her every single day that she was beautiful. It was a job he willingly embraced.

Now it was morning, and he was taking his coffee with her in his room, too greedy to share her with the others yet. Another busy day lay before him. He had a speech to give and meetings to attend. This was the calm before the storm, the last quiet moment he would have with Celeste until evening. Only two days left before his ratification vote.

Someone knocked at his door. There went his quiet moment.

“Come,” he called.

Lornis entered. His hair was mussed and his clothes rumpled.

“Are you all right?” asked Rayn.

“Your Highness, I need to speak with you privately.”

Celeste, who was wrapped in a gauzy silk robe, set down her spoon and rose from her chair. “I'll go. I need to get dressed.”

Rayn looked at her half-eaten breakfast and held out his hand to stay her. “If something's happened, tell both of us. Has Emperor Lucien arrived?”

Lornis shook his head.

Something was wrong. Normally Lornis's stiff posture suited the man; it looked natural on him. But now he looked wrong all over, like a marionette with twisted strings. Rayn grabbed an empty chair and pulled it to the table. “Have a seat, man. Whatever the problem is, we can fix it.”

When Lornis hesitated, Rayn took his arm and led him to the chair. He pressed lightly on his shoulder, and Lornis sank reluctantly into it.

Lornis placed a folded piece of paper on the table and shoved it toward Rayn. “I'm tendering my resignation.”

“What?” Rayn snatched the paper from the table and read. It was indeed a resignation letter, with Lornis's signature at the bottom. “This is ridiculous. I do not accept.”

Lornis swallowed. “I cannot fulfill my duties as your adviser any longer, Your Highness. I am leaving whether you accept it or not.”

“But why?” said Celeste.

Rayn rose from his chair. “Lornis, my ratification vote is the day after tomorrow.” He couldn't believe this. Twelve years of service, and Lornis was abandoning him on the eve of the most important day of his life? He stared with foul hatred at the resignation letter, and then snatched it from the table and tore it in half. “What inspires this treachery?”

Lornis flinched.

“There's got to be a sensible explanation,” said Celeste. She turned to Lornis. “Why do you feel the need to resign?”

“My reasons are my own. Your Highness, Your Imperial Highness: I wish you success and happiness.” He turned to go.

“You can't just walk away.” Rayn grabbed him by the arm and yanked him around. “Who got to you? Was it Worryn? Zoe?”

“Nobody has threatened me,” said Lornis.

“You can't tell me nothing happened to provoke this,” said Rayn.

Lornis's gaze went to Rayn's hand on his sleeve. “Let go of me.”

“Not until I get some answers.”

Lornis yanked his sleeve out of Rayn's grip and walked away.

Rayn followed him. “Something happened. At least give me the courtesy of letting me know what I've done to lose your service. You don't want to say it in front of Celeste? I'll grant you the privacy you asked for.”

Lornis paused. “Sir, you are the finest man I've had the pleasure of advising, and it is my deepest desire that you be ratified as Inya's next king. There is nothing more I have to say on the matter.”

“But it doesn't make sense,” said Rayn.

“It will,” said Lornis. “Good-bye, Your Highness.”

As Lornis walked away, Rayn was tempted to grab him again, to haul him bodily back to the room and reinstate him whether he liked it or not. But respect stayed his hand. As a magister, Lornis could make a good living any number of ways. He chose to be an adviser because he believed in Rayn. Rayn could not force him to do the work he did.

“What did I do?” Rayn called desperately.

“Nothing, sir.”

C
eleste headed to her own room to dress, turning over in her mind the mystery of Magister Lornis. There had to be a reason for his resignation. That left her and Rayn with a dilemma of pragmatics. Should they investigate Lornis's reasons for resigning, or keep the appointments Lornis himself had arranged for them? Celeste was of the opinion that they should keep the appointments. Ratification was in two days; any missed opportunities could not be made up. But Rayn was going to be distracted now that he'd lost his adviser.

She put on the prettiest dress she could find, knowing she would be onstage with Rayn for his speech, and headed back to Rayn's rooms.

She found him still in his bedclothes, drinking
uske
from the bottle.

She took the bottle from him. “What are you doing? You've got a speech this morning, and more going on besides.”

He regarded her through hazy eyes. “I can't do this alone.”

“You're
not
alone,” she said. “You've got me. You've got Empress Vitala. You've got the Fireturners and the whole Inyan population—”

“I do not have the whole Inyan population, or this would be easy,” said Rayn. “When my father's mind was riddled with holes, Lornis helped me stand up to the council. When my self-absorbed mother took to her bed, unable to cope, Lornis remained to advise and reassure me. Everyone else abandoned me, and he was there. Do you understand? And now
he
leaves. What am I supposed to think when I'm the man everyone abandons?” He reached for the
uske
bottle.

She held the bottle out of his reach and walked out on the balcony with it. She tossed it into the garden below.

“There's a law against that,” said Rayn.

“I'll tell you what you're supposed to think,” said Celeste. “You're supposed to think he had a good reason for doing what he did, one that probably has nothing to do with you. For the years of service he's given you, the least you can do is make it through these last few events before your ratification vote.” She returned to Rayn and tugged him out of his chair. “Get dressed.”

Rayn rose reluctantly and stripped out of his bedclothes. While he put on tunic and pants, Celeste went to the door and spoke to Atella, who was standing guard along with a second Legaciattus. “Fetch the empress.”

“Yes, Your Imperial Highness.” Atella departed.

Celeste returned to Rayn.

“I don't understand why he'd do it,” said Rayn, adjusting his belt. “Something has upset him, but I can't imagine what.”

“We'll find out,” said Celeste.

Vitala arrived, and while Rayn continued to dress, Celeste conferred privately with her at the door. “Lornis just resigned, and we don't know why.”

“Lornis?”
Vitala looked so stunned that it was clear she didn't know anything either.

“Rayn's got a speech this morning, and I'm going with him. Would you get to the bottom of this for us? Rayn won't be himself until we understand what happened.”

Vitala nodded. “Of course.”

At the palace stables, Celeste and Rayn mounted their horses. Then, followed by an escort of three Legaciatti, they rode into Tiasa. The crowd in the street thickened as they approached the plaza. Most people were going in the same direction they were. The Legaciatti cleared a path through the crowd—she could see Rayn's back stiffen as they did their work; he still didn't like bodyguards—and they found the plaza packed with humanity. Celeste hoped it was a good sign that so many more people had come to hear this speech than the one he'd given the day before.

Rayn took the stage and spoke about his efforts at bringing Kjallan trade to Inya. Celeste, shy but no stranger to making public appearances, said a few words of support. Her prince then went on to speak at length about the King's Lands and his desire to protect them from any further abuses by the council. This got a round of applause. As Rayn headed into the conclusion of his speech, someone in the crowd shouted, “What about your adviser?”

Rayn stopped short. Celeste, standing at the side of the stage, felt her heart race. How did this heckler know that Lornis had resigned? Rayn recovered from his stunned silence and said, “I'm not taking questions on that subject.”

“Is he a sodomite?” called the heckler.

Rayn went very still. Celeste, watching him, was reminded of a lion that goes motionless just before it springs, but he only said, “I'm not taking questions about my adviser,” and continued his speech. He was a professional—his voice did not waver, though Celeste was certain he was deeply disturbed.

As he moved through his concluding words, Celeste scanned the crowd and spotted Vitala near the edge, conspicuous with the orange-garbed Legaciatti surrounding her. She hoped Vitala's presence meant that she'd tracked down some information.

When the speech was over, Rayn descended into the plaza and spoke to individual civilians, many of whom had their own private complaints with Inyan governance. Celeste accompanied him. Rayn was gracious but honest, making promises when they seemed reasonable and responding noncommittally when they weren't. Several people asked him the sodomite question. Rayn was chilly as he informed them he would not answer. The plaza was emptying. Vitala and her guards made their way over to them.

Rayn spotted her. “Thank you all,” he announced to the townsfolk who remained. “I've got another engagement. Thank you for coming.” He stepped away from the dwindling crowd.

“Did you find anything?” Celeste asked Vitala.

Rayn looked confused, and she explained that she'd asked the empress to look into the reasons for Lornis's resignation.

“I talked to Lornis's friend Magister Donyl,” said Vitala. “He gave me this.” She held out a folded sheet of paper.

Rayn took the paper and unfolded it. It was a handbill.

RATIFY PRINCE RAYN?

HE WAS EDUCATED BY MAGISTER LORNIS, A KNOWN SODOMITE

WHAT ELSE DID LORNIS TEACH THE KING'S ONLY SON?

VOTE NO ON RA
TIFICA
TION DAY

“Vagabond's Breath,” said Rayn. “Are these posted around Tiasa?”

“All over the place,” said Vitala.

Rayn took a deep breath, and Celeste saw him swell with fury. His face flushed and his muscles bulged beneath his tunic. He crumpled the paper and threw it on the ground. He looked like he was about to erupt in a tirade of swearing, but there were civilians around, some of them idly watching. She took his hand and folded her small fingers around his large ones.

He exhaled and spoke in a tight voice. “Is Magister Lornis back at the palace?”

“Donyl said he'd left town,” said Vitala. “He didn't think Lornis would be gone for more than a few days.”

Rayn's hands curled into fists. “I'm going to destroy that man.”

“Who?” said Vitala, looking surprised.

“Councilor Worryn.” Rayn's eyes narrowed. “Did Lornis take his horse? Did he tell anyone where he was going?”

“Yes, and no,” said Vitala. “I used my discretion in this matter and sent a team of Legaciatti after him. He can't have gone far, and I don't think he anticipates being chased. I told my people to bring him back peaceably.”

“Thank you, Empress.” Rayn clasped wrists with Vitala. “That's exactly what I needed done.”

Vitala nodded. “I'll return to the palace and await news from the Legaciatti.”

Rayn led Celeste away from the plaza and to their horses.

“At least we know,” said Celeste.

“Yes,” said Rayn, pulling himself into the blood bay's saddle. “But it creates a political dilemma.”

Celeste mounted her gray gelding. “How so?”

“Some people will be bothered by those handbills,” said Rayn. “I understand why he resigned. Lornis's living arrangements have been an open secret in the Tiasan Palace for over a decade. Some people disapprove, but until now they've minded their own business. Now that Worryn's dragged it into the open, he's turned Lornis into a political liability.”

“How much will it affect your chances at ratification?”

“Hard to say,” said Rayn. “I don't think the insinuation that Lornis and I were involved with each other will stick. My scandalous and well-known affair with Zoe gives it the lie. But the rest of that handbill is true.”

“Why should it matter that your adviser sleeps with a man?”

“Some here think it unseemly. Why, is it accepted in Kjall?”

“Actually, no,” said Celeste. “It's illegal. But during Lucien's reign the law has not been enforced. I know some people who live openly that way.”

“It's not illegal in Inya, just frowned upon. Lornis did what he felt he had to do. He hoped to mitigate the damage.” He scowled. “I hope Donyl's not in danger. Generally Inyans don't get violent about this kind of thing. But you never know.”

“I can assign him a guard,” said Celeste.

Rayn smiled at her. “You're such a Kjallan. Guards are your solution to everything.”

Celeste shrugged. “They work.”

•   •   •

Rayn couldn't afford to obsess about the situation with Lornis—he had a full afternoon of meetings ahead of him, where he would exchange small talk and not so small talk with influential Tiasans. He put Lornis out of his mind as best he could and redirected any questions he received about his adviser. His anger had ebbed since that initial burst of rage, but the injustice of this treatment of Lornis gnawed at him all day, making him testy.

Celeste was wonderful. Seeing her today as she made conversation with strangers in meeting after meeting, he would never have guessed she was at heart a shy woman. Her black hair and exotic look appealed to Inyan eyes. While the Tiasans had mixed feelings toward the Kjallan Empire, they did regard the empire with awe, and she was by far the most sought-after conversation partner in the room.

She was calm, kind, and gracious. He knew she was smoothing over a lot of his rough edges today.

When they rode back to the palace in the evening, he asked, “How do you do it? You were so quiet when I met you in Kjall.”

She ducked her head. “That situation was different. You didn't know it, walking into that dinner, but I knew that Lucien intended to offer me to you as a marriage partner. And I hate being scrutinized, especially in that way.”

“I hope my scrutiny doesn't bother you now,” said Rayn.

“No, you've . . . changed my attitude about that quite a bit.” Her cheeks flamed. “But this is different. Mingling, making conversation—back in Kjall, I did these things at imperial events at least once or twice a week. It's easier when I don't care deeply what the people think of me. It's a performance, you know? An act. Inside I'm the quiet girl who wants to go home and work on her math treatise. But I can pretend for a little while.”

Vitala was waiting for them at the Hibiscus Tower. “We've got him,” she said shortly.

“Please tell me you mean Lornis,” said Rayn.

“My people caught up with him on a bridle path just outside the city. He's waiting in your room.”

He felt as if a weight had been lifted from his shoulders. “Thank you.”

Celeste made her excuses and departed. Rayn suspected she wanted to give him the opportunity to speak privately with Lornis, and he appreciated that.

A knot of Legaciatti waited at his door. Rayn was ironically amused. He hated door guards, but he'd thrown his lot in with the Kjallans, and now he seemed to be stuck with them everywhere he went. Celeste had even reassigned two of her own guards to him, fearing a last-minute assassination attempt.

The guards parted to admit him—imagine, needing authorization to enter one's own room—and he went inside to find Lornis sitting alone at the breakfast table, looking forlorn.

“I saw the handbills,” said Rayn.

“I did what had to be done,” said Lornis.

“You're not leaving,” said Rayn. “I forbid it.”

Lornis sighed. “Think about it, Rayn. Ratification is the day after tomorrow. Worryn's had this in his back pocket the whole time. He's been waiting to spring it on us, this ugly last-minute attack. There's a very real chance you could fail ratification because of me. And I've worked so hard—for twelve years, Rayn!—to make you king of Inya.”

“The damage is already done.” Rayn pulled out a chair and sat across from his adviser. “You think I can feign ignorance, pretend I didn't know about you and Donyl? The whole palace knew. Nobody cared until Worryn decided to make an issue of it.”

“It doesn't matter that the palace knew,” said Lornis. “It matters what the people knew. You must disclaim me. Disown me. The people who are bothered by it will be satisfied—”

“They won't,” said Rayn. “They'll think I'm trying to cover something up. If I lie and cut you loose, they'll know I'm a man who doesn't stand behind his people, a man who drops his closest friend at the barest whiff of a scandal. You think I'm that sort of man, Lornis?”

“You can hire me back after ratification,” said Lornis.

“Pox that,” said Rayn. “You've stood with me for over a decade. Now I stand with you.”

“I want you to be ratified,” said Lornis. “It's been my life's work, this past twelve years.”

“I'll be ratified with you or not at all,” said Rayn. “I refuse your offer of resignation.”

“But you already accepted—”

“No, I didn't. I ripped it in half. I'm ordering new handbills to be posted tomorrow, declaring my support for you. So you'd better stay. I'll be taking the heat for it whether you do or not.”

“Your Highness—”

“Not another word about it,” said Rayn. “Clasp wrists?”

Reluctantly, Lornis extended his hand.

“Let's go to dinner,” said Rayn.