The Lady's Choice (21 page)

At this, the king surged to his feet. ‘Doctor Monive!' he roared. ‘We grow tired of this. Your investigations are no doubt fascinating for one in your field but may I remind you that you discuss our brother and I do not appreciate your lack of regard for our feelings.'

Monive's face flushed. ‘Of course, Your Majesty, forgive me. I will be brief.'

The king sat. ‘If you could, doctor.'

‘In the body—'

The king shifted and glared at the physician. Benae squared her shoulders, pity for Beniel sweeping through her. Curse Monive for dragging this out! Did he not know how this affected them all?

Monive cleared his throat and went on. ‘The stomach contained wine and fragments of belladonna, toadstools and crowsfoot and this matched the dregs in the wine glass.'

There was a buzz in the room as the news was delivered. Benae clutched her throat, uncertain what this might mean. This time when she sought Ramón, she found him staring at her, shock written large on his face. When she turned back to the doctor, she saw the king glowering at her.

Beniel clapped his hands and quiet descended.

‘So doctor, what have you concluded? That my brother was poisoned? Those sound like dangerous substances to have in your nightly drink.'

‘Indeed, my liege, they are but there may be another reason for their presence.' The doctor turned to the assemblage. ‘On further searching of the prince's chambers, I discovered the decanter which housed the wine was similarly contaminated. I searched the kitchens and found in the pantry a small stash of herbs, mainly ginseng, belladonna and red sage, along with powdered toadstools, which the cook said she used to brew the prince's nightly drink. The woman had been shown how to concoct the brew by the prince himself.'

‘Are you saying our brother poisoned himself?' the king said, his hands clenched on the arms of his chair. The icy fingers that had squeezed Benae's heart had loosened their grip, if only a little.

‘We may perhaps never know, Your Highness. All I can say is that the materials found, while being poisonous to a greater or lesser degree, are also aphrodisiacs of one sort or another. For example, red sage helps with penile erection.'

The king's eyes were wide as the implications became clear. He slumped on his throne, staring into space, while the doctor allowed the full import of his findings to register. Deep fatigue swept over Benae and she also reclined in her chair, eyes closed, taking deep breaths to steady her swirling head. Did this mean that Ramón was blameless and that she would be exonerated?

‘Your Majesty, Princess Benae, assembled guests,' Damald Monive said, ‘please be advised that Prince Jiseve Zialni died of a failure of the heart brought on by excessive exertion, and aided by the presence of the aforementioned substances. It appears he must have known and approved of the substances in his wine and that he was consuming them in the belief that they would help secure an heir. I find it impossible to apportion any other blame in this instance.'

The king stood. ‘Thank you, Doctor Monive. You have put our mind at rest. Nothing can ease the sadness of our loss, but knowing that he was not murdered does make his passing somewhat easier to bear. The funeral of our dear brother will be held tomorrow and then his body will travel to Wildecoast to be entombed in the family crypt. Please reassemble at dusk tomorrow.'

Benae rose to leave with the others but Beniel halted her. ‘I would ask your company at dinner, princess.'

Benae curtsied, her heart beating a staccato rhythm. ‘I would welcome that, Your Majesty.' All she really wanted was to escape and process the news the physician had delivered.

The king escorted her to the dining room where candles burned at one end of the long table. He seated her to his left and took the chair at the end of the table in front of the fireplace where Jiseve had always sat and below the painting of himself.

Servants set another place for Benae, brought a thick broth and bread and then departed.

‘It seems an apology is in order, Benae,' Beniel said, once he had said the blessing. ‘I am sorry I blamed you for Jiseve's death.'

‘You are forgiven, Your Majesty. I am grateful that matters are becoming clearer.'

‘Call me Beniel in private, if you please.'

Benae inclined her head. ‘You will miss him.'

‘I will indeed and his passing leaves so much uncertainty.'

‘Perhaps I can ease some of that.'

Beniel sent her a sharp look. ‘Oh?'

‘I did not want to say anything earlier, given the situation. I did not want to influence proceedings.'

‘Get to the point, Benae.'

She nodded again. ‘I am with child.'

Beniel's body jerked and he gasped, tears welling in his eyes. Benae squashed the remorse she immediately felt at lying to him.

‘I hoped but dared not count on an early pregnancy. This means so much for the kingdom. Let us pray it is a boy. Did Jiseve know?'

She shook her head. ‘I have only just found out myself.'

‘All is well?'

‘I believe so.'

‘If only he could have known before he passed. A child was so important to him.'

‘It was the reason for this marriage.'

‘Not the only reason, I hope.'

Benae thought of her people, safe in the protection of the Kingdom. ‘No, not the only reason.'

‘There was tension between you on your wedding day. I saw it with my own eyes. It was the reason I blamed you for his death. Can you tell me about it?'

Benae longed to confide in someone, to explain the torture of the past few weeks, but Jiseve's brother was not the person for that. ‘The path of love is never a smooth one, but I need you to know that I honoured my wedding vows and tried to be the wife Jiseve wanted.'

‘That is all one can ask.' Beniel's face was troubled. ‘I cannot help wishing you had confided Jiseve's abuse to me. I could have helped. Perhaps your suffering and his death could have been avoided.'

Benae closed her eyes and took a deep breath. Steadying herself, she faced the king. ‘It was not easy to admit to anyone the abuse I endured. Jiseve would have been furious if I had told you. I could not have known how dire the consequences would be.'

‘We are all wise in hindsight,' Beniel said, nodding.

Quiet descended as they finished their broth and slices of venison pie were served. Benae stewed on the next question she must ask. ‘Can I ask your plans for Brightcastle and for me? I need to know the people will be secure.'

Beniel paused. ‘I will give it some thought. I cannot see a problem with you running the principality on behalf of your unborn child, as long as you get the required help with the task.'

‘What of Piotr?'

‘My conniving nephew will need watching. I did not expect him to be here today but somehow he heard of Jiseve's death. I do not trust him.'

‘Jiseve was not trusting of him. My husband feared his nephew had an eye on your throne.'

‘Yes, my dear. Piotr will not be best pleased to learn that Jiseve fathered a child but will he act on that knowledge? Perhaps it would be best we kept the news to ourselves for a time.'

‘There is no telling what he might do,' Benae said, her hand rubbing her abdomen.

Her actions were not lost on the king. ‘Do not fear. Your child will be our highest priority, as will finding Princess Alecia. She must be located and told of her father's death.'

‘Would Piotr try to harm Princess Alecia if he found her?

‘As to that, who can know?'

‘Where is your nephew at this moment?'

‘He had some business in the town, but I have two of my men keeping an eye on him. He has requested an audience with me tomorrow, no doubt to suggest he manage Brightcastle as heir apparent to my throne.'

A shiver ran down Benae's spine and she took a gulp of her watered wine.

‘Do not fear, Benae. I will not allow him to hurt you. I will see that you are closely guarded.'

‘Can you be sure that Piotr has not had a hand in Jiseve's death? Perhaps that is how he knew of it in time to travel here so quickly.'

Beniel's eyes narrowed. ‘Yes, I see that now. But without evidence, I can do nothing.'

‘Nothing but watch him and keep him at a distance.' Benae said.

‘You can be sure I will do exactly that.'

‘If you will allow me to take my leave, Beniel?' Benae stood.

The king followed. ‘Let me escort you to your room, my lady.'

‘Oh, but you must stay and finish your meal.'

‘Like you, I have lost my appetite. I have work to do if I am to stay one step ahead of my nephew.'

Ramón watched King Beniel escort Benae back to her room as he lurked in the shadows at the end of his wing. She looked exhausted and his anger with her cooled a little. She needed his help, not his rage. It was just intolerable to be prevented from acknowledging your own child.

He watched the king depart and then slipped along his corridor and across to hers, knocking quietly on her chamber door.

She answered and stood with the door partly open, her beautiful face pale against her dark mourning dress. ‘I was preparing for rest, Ramón.'

‘May I come in, just for a moment?'

She sighed and stood back, allowing him through and closing the door quietly behind him. He wondered where his fiery Benae had disappeared to. This pale, tired woman was surely an imposter.

‘I want to know where we stand, where I stand,' Ramón said, pushing his hands through his hair because he didn't know what else to do with them. What he needed was a weapons session, or a good long run or . . . an evening with Benae.

She frowned. ‘I do not know how I feel about you. You were careless to involve Hetty. Jiseve is dead and the cursed ring could well be the cause. The old woman has her own agenda.'

‘We will never know now, will we? Can we not just put this behind us and seek a life together? I want to raise my child.'

‘This child is mine and I will decide how his life shall be, with the help of the king.'

Fear swirled through Ramón like a chill wind. ‘What do you mean?'

‘I told Beniel about the babe and he believes it is Jiseve's. He is overjoyed.'

‘So I am still shut out?'

‘I wish you would not see my actions like that. I must find a balance that safeguards my child, my people and the kingdom. How would declaring you the father do that?'

Ramón considered her words. It did not sit well, but he saw that Benae was right. ‘Still, I cannot like it.'

Benae seemed to relax at his grudging acceptance of her decision. ‘The king is concerned about his nephew Piotr; that he might interfere for his own purposes.'

‘I spoke to Piotr after the doctor's report. He asked many questions, about you, his cousin Alecia, even Vard Anton. He seemed well informed for a man who lives so far away. I told him as little as I could but I think the king is right to be concerned.'

‘Beniel told me he was surprised when Piotr arrived. He wondered how he knew of Jiseve's death; how he arrived so quickly
. I
wonder if Piotr had something to do with Jiseve's death.'

‘Ha, so the nephew comes under suspicion and I am off the hook?'

‘I cannot forget what you did,' Benae hissed. ‘I will forever wonder if you contributed to his demise and that is not the way I wish to think of the man I love.'

‘You still love me?'

She tried to look stern but a smile tickled the corners of her mouth. ‘I cannot help it. I love you from your gorgeous blond hair right down to your boots. But I am not sure of the way forward for us.'

A spark of hope shot through him. ‘What does the king say about your position here?'

‘He thinks I can run the principality for my child with help and he seeks the princess as well. He fears Piotr will find her.'

‘I will find Alecia and bring her home. That was the plan all along.'

Benae stamped her foot. ‘Did you not hear me, Ramón? The king wants me to run Brightcastle and surrounds. I will need help and I thought perhaps you might be that support.'

All thoughts of finding Alecia flew from his mind at the idea of a partnership with Benae. ‘Has the king agreed?'

‘I have not made the suggestion. It would be better if it were his idea.'

‘How are we to achieve that?'

‘Ramón! I cannot think of every solution. That is up to you.'

‘I will have competition. That devil Vorasava has been shadowing the king since his arrival. He likely intends to profit from the prince's death.'

‘You know things that the Lieutenant does not, beloved. Put him out of your mind and concentrate on aiding the king.'

Benae's words cleared Ramón's mind of the clutter that had been there for so long. Suddenly his path was clear. ‘The funeral is tomorrow. If there was ever a moment for Piotr to strike, it is then.' He took her hand and kissed her fingers. ‘I must go. The security plans for tomorrow need reviewing.' He took his leave, energised by the task before him despite the late hour.

Darkness gathered in the grand hall along with the guests come to farewell Jiseve Zialni, prince of Thorius. Ramón stood at the rear, his eyes everywhere at once. The dim lighting from candles did not aid his task. Shadows flickered at the corner of his vision, pushing his nerves to the limit. Benae sat beside Vorasava, who had been appointed her escort for the event. The flickering candlelight accentuated her beauty and fragility this night and disguised the dark smudges beneath her eyes. He needed to be with her, to love her, to protect her and to watch his child grow. Nothing had ever meant so much, not his parents, his sisters or Alecia. Ramón had never imagined the intensity of love he now experienced. He pushed his feelings aside, determined not to be distracted.

Stepping away from the wall, he began a patrol of the perimeter of the room, opening doors to peer into the halls surrounding the venue. Painstakingly, he pulled each hanging away from the wall, peered beneath seats and behind pillars, and cast his gaze to the ceiling. There were two small galleries, one on either side at the back of the hall. They were accessed by narrow stairs, the doors to which had been locked yesterday. Vorasava had assured him this morning that no one could enter these high galleries.

Ramón exited the hall at the back and checked both doors, finding them locked as the lieutenant had reported. Worry gnawed at his gut. He just could not rid himself of the feeling that disaster was a hair's breadth away. He had approached King Beniel the night before and asked to help with security, convincing the king to include him based on his knowledge of the castle and the guests who would attend. He had scrutinised the castle maps during the hours of dark and was convinced he had thought of all possibilities. No one but he knew of the secret passages and he had only discovered them the night Alecia left, exploring them in the weeks after her departure. None of the passages led to the hall but they were a risk for the guest and family rooms if their existence was discovered.

This hall was secure; he was now convinced of that. So why did he still have this feeling? He took one last turn around the walls, repeating the checks he had just performed. As he approached the first row of seats on the right, his gaze met Benae's and she smiled. His breath caught and he swallowed the upwelling of desire that echoed the feeling in her eyes. Her vulnerability ate at him, awakened his protective instinct. Nothing could happen to her this day or ever. He would sacrifice himself before he would allow her to be hurt in any way.

Ramón completed his last check, the eyes of Vorasava upon him, a smirk on the lieutenant's lips. He did not care how much or how little respect Vorasava had for him. The soldier was convinced Benae was not a target. News of her pregnancy had not been released. Only the king, Ramón and Vorasava knew of the impending birth, so Benae should not be a target this day.
Should
not.

A blare of horns announced the arrival of the king and his chamberlain, closely followed by the priestess who would officiate at the funeral service. Ramón cast his eye over the assembled mourners. Black was the order of the day, with an occasional dark grey and midnight blue to relieve the lack of colour. Ramón wore a charcoal-grey tunic and breeches over a light grey shirt. His sword hung in its scabbard on his left hip and a small crossbow swung from his right hip. Daggers nestled in each boot. He was as prepared as he could be.

The king, chamberlain and religious celebrants took their places on the dais and the assemblage stood and sang a hymn to the Goddess. Ramón did not sing but examined the crowd, his task made nigh impossible by the standing mourners.

He sighed with relief when they sat and the king moved forward.

‘Welcome one and all to this most sad of days.' Beniel wore unrelieved black and his head was bare of the crown he usually wore for these occasions. ‘I stand before you bared, mourning, grieving, bereft of a precious brother. I thank you for helping me farewell him and remember him.'

The king returned to his throne and the priestess moved forward.

‘Be joyful, people, for though we farewell Prince Jiseve Zialni from this world, he has his reward in the next. We must remember a joyful life, a life of service, and celebrate all he has left behind. I cannot be sorrowful for I know the rewards the Goddess has prepared for our beloved prince and brother, and I know that Jiseve Zialni has left us a legacy . . .' There was a pause and Ramón wondered why. ‘A legacy in the form of a child.'

Shock and fear crashed through Ramón and for a moment he froze as the assembled citizens gave a collective gasp. Someone stood and cheered and then everyone was upon their feet, hats in the air, a great rolling wave of excitement and chatter spreading throughout the hall. Ramón's eyes found Benae, briefly glimpsed between the people in the row behind her. She sat with head forward and he imagined she stared straight at the king.

Beniel gave a brief shake of his head, stood and moved forward. He raised his hands in the air and waited. The people gradually fell silent.

‘I had planned this announcement for a later date.'

Even from the back of the hall, Ramón glimpsed the wave of anger that swept across his face. The priestess stood just behind him, oblivious to the displeasure of her monarch.

‘My people, it is true. My brother fathered a child before he departed this world. The Princess Benae is expecting a babe.'

The crowd rose again and clapped while Benae stood and joined the king. Ramón's shoulders stiffened further at seeing his lady so exposed. She was now a real target for any assassins working for Piotr. His eyes scanned the hall frantically but all he saw were smiling faces, except for Piotr, who looked anything but pleased. Nothing moved along the walls or in the galleries. He forced himself to relax, forced his hand to release the grip of the crossbow.

‘Sit down, Benae, just sit,' he muttered.

All returned to their seats except the priestess and her assistants, who continued with the ceremony. The king, Piotr and the head of the guilds spoke about the prince in turn, paying tribute to different aspects of his life. Ramón barely heard, so engrossed was he in scouring the walls, his senses tuned to the perils that might threaten Benae and the king.

Then the service was over and the guild masters moved forward to raise the coffin upon their shoulders. Vorasava stood, first to follow the coffin. Benae and the king followed. Slowly, they moved down the centre aisle of the hall and towards the back doors.

Ramón saw movement from the corner of his eye and looked to the galleries in time to see a figure stand up high on the left gallery, crossbow trained on the exiting party. Ramón's bow was unclipped and raised in a flash and he let off his dart, taking the would-be assassin in the right eye. The man toppled over the rail of the gallery, landing with a sickening thud, just missing the wife of the master jeweller.

‘Get down!' Ramón yelled as he pushed his way to Benae's side. The procession paused, all confused as to what had just happened.

Vorasava pulled Benae down to the tiles and Ramón dragged the king down beside her. The coffin bearers remained standing, their eyes darting around the hall, trying to find the source of the threat.

‘Pallbearers, stay where you are,' Ramón said. ‘You form protection for the king and the princess. Your Majesty, Princess Benae, please stay down while I investigate.'

Ramón stood and moved through the frightened, milling guests to reach the fallen body. He gently guided the shocked jeweller's wife into a chair. Another lady attended her. The assassin's form was unremarkable. He wore nondescript black clothing and a black cap; his features were bland, ordinary. Of course it was always difficult to identify a man who had a crossbow bolt protruding from his eye socket.

He knelt to examine the body and check for signs of life.

‘Good shooting, Zorba,' Vorasava said from beside him. ‘I'll take it from here.'

Ramón spun and glared at the lieutenant. Perhaps Vorasava thought the danger was past but Ramón was not so sure. That niggling sense of peril remained. Ramón strode back to Benae and the king, who both stood up. He drew Benae against his chest, not caring any longer who saw. She trembled and he held her tighter.

‘We owe you a great debt, squire, perhaps greater than we can ever repay,' the king said.

‘Time for that later, Your Majesty, when the danger is past. For now we must complete this ceremony and remove you from the threat.' He looked to the pallbearers. ‘Continue, brave bearers.'

The coffin advanced, the king's attendants clustered around him while Ramón kept Benae tight against his side. Soon they would pass through the doors and enter relative safety. Perhaps he would escort Benae to her chambers, thus removing her from harm. Curse the priestess who had placed her life in jeopardy like this.

A searing agony ripped through his ribs and he looked down at the bolt protruding from his chest, bright blood already seeping into his tunic. His legs buckled and Benae tried to catch him as he slid towards the floor. Darkness joined the pain.