She smiled and lifted her cup but paused before drinking. “Tell me about your home.”
“It’s a place of wild shores and tall trees that love the morning mists. The people of Darksea are a tough breed. We work hard and we play hard, too.” Raefe gave her an intimate smile. “But I plan to do more than tell you of it, Princess. I will make it your own.”
Aewen’s smile faltered, and her hand shook as she lowered her cup.
“What’s this?”
He saw too much. “Forgive me, Prince Raefe. I’m grateful for your intentions. I simply find them overwhelming.”
“Have you not been told of our fathers’ agreement?”
She recovered something of her lost composure. “I know of it, yes. But two days hence I had thought to pass my days in service to the poor.” She met his gaze. “My future changed in the blink of an eye.”
“I hope you will find that change agreeable.”
She managed a smile. “We are of the same mind.”
He answered with a robust smile. “Come then. Let us enjoy ourselves now. You may find tomorrow pleasant despite your fears.” He raised his cup. “To our future.”
She drank his toast, gazing at him above the rim of what seemed a cup of poison.
****
“Move over.”
Aewen recognized the voice whispering in the darkness. She shifted to allow her sister into her bed. Caerla’s company came as a welcome distraction, for her thoughts kept her from sleep. Light flared behind the bed hangings, followed by another crash of thunder. Caerla, already shivering, shook also and ducked her head beneath the counterpane.
She smiled and put her arms around Caerla. “
Whhst.
You’re safe. I don’t blame you, though. Tonight’s storm rages.”
They lay still until both the storm’s fury and Caerla’s fears abated. “Do you think you will miss me coming to your bed at night after you marry?”
Aewen tightened her arms about her sister. “Of course, I’ll miss you.”
“I wish you did not marry Raefe.”
“Not more so than I.”
“You do not wish to marry Raefe—even having met him?”
Sudden tears threatened to choke Aewen. “I do not wish to marry him,
especially
after having met him.”
Caerla stiffened in her arms. “How can you say such a terrible thing? Raefe is wonderful, and he has set himself to woo you, to see to your every need. Think of whom else he might have been—someone harsh or horrible or hideous. How can you be so ungrateful?”
“Peace, Caerla. It has nothing to do with Raefe’s worthiness. I appreciate his kindness, but even if I wished to marry, I would hope for a husband I suited better.”
“Why do you say you’re unsuited?”
“Can you not see it for yourself? You’re with us most of the time. Each day Raefe grasps life by the throat as if to wring all he can from it. Such zeal alarms me. And he desires nothing better than festivities and the company of others, whereas I seek the quietude of nature.”
“You name the things I admire most about him. How can you despise him?”
Aewen bit her tongue to keep from blurting out her wish that Caerla, who thrived on Raefe’s energy, might be the one to marry him. It wasn’t fair to mention such an impossible idea, especially since Caerla might wish, as she did, that Aewen were not the older sister who must marry before the younger. How different these days might be had that been the case. “I don’t despise Raefe, but he exhausts me. I’ve tried to keep up with him these past weeks, but I feel myself growing thin around the edges, as if I will fade away at any moment.”
“I’ve noticed you seem quieter than usual.”
“That’s because I’m so unhappy. Sometimes in the early mornings before anyone looks for me, I slip outside the castle gates to walk along the banks of the Cobbleford and watch the mists play above the waters. Only in these moments can I revel in the small freedoms remaining to me. Marrying Raefe will deny me even those.”
“But you will marry him, regardless?”
Aewen dashed the back of her hand across her eyes. Her voice came as a whisper. “I can’t.”
As Caerla sat up the tick shifted. “You must. How dare you think only of yourself.
What about me?
I can’t marry until you do. Would you have me wilt on the vine? Don’t you see I have little time left? I—I’m no beauty like you. It will take a bit of time and a little doing for me to find a husband. And yet you dally and dig in your heels as if your own desires are the only that matter.” Caerla threw back the bed covers and yanked the hangings aside to stand, limned in the light leaking into the room around the wooden shutters at the window. She looked, in her fit of heightened emotion, almost beautiful.
“I’m sorry.” Aewen bowed her head. When she looked up again, Caerla had gone. She turned onto her stomach and wept until her tears ran dry.
****
“Come in, Daughter.”
Aewen stepped into her father’s outer chamber. He rose from a bench cushioned in elk-leather. Stuffed fowl perched on the mantel behind him—pheasants, croboks, several wingen, and even a rare kairoc
.
Tapestries woven in faded wool eased the graystone walls behind the mute creatures.
Her father gestured to the footman at the door. After a pause, the latch clicked and they were alone. “Sit, Aewen. I wish to speak with you.”
She sat on the bench opposite his and smoothed the blue wool of her kirtle. When she had removed every crease and wrinkle, she risked a glance at her father.
He looked at her with intensity, but then sighed and seated himself also. “Your mother wanted to speak to you, but I decided to do so myself. I’m told you plan to refuse Prince Raefe.”
Caerla!
No one else knew her secret thoughts. Aewen stared into the fire as the knife of her sister’s betrayal twisted inside her. “I can’t lie. I don’t rejoice in the match.”
Her father hesitated. “I can’t take back my promise, Aewen. Do you plan to dishonor my word?”
“Why did you give it without inquiring into my wishes?”
“A king does not bow his knee to his offspring, but only to God.”
“And have you done that?”
His eyes widened. “Does a child instruct her father? Whether I have or not is my own concern. It is up to you to obey.”
She met his blue gaze and felt her resistance crumble. She could not fight them all. “No, Father. I’ll not do that. May God help me when I marry Raefe.”
6
Banishment
Dawn pinked the sky with promise, and the very air seemed to hold its breath in anticipation. At the edge of the fountain, Kai trailed a hand in water of cool silk. A small trough formed and filled behind his fingers as ripples radiated outward. A shadow passed below, and a fin split the surface. A fish rolled to expose a sleek brown side before disappearing into the depths. Kai leaned back and let his gaze wander over the bronze figure of Talan astride an arching wingabeast topping the fountain at the pool’s center
.
He turned his head and caught sight of Elcon, who lingered beneath the twisted strongwoods. The Lof Shraen had slept little in the night. Kai knew this because he had occupied the small cot in Elcon’s dressing room. In truth, he’d had little slumber himself due to the incessant pacing in the adjoining bed chamber. Something had upset Elcon. That much he knew. Only the day before, a messenger had arrived on a lathered horse, sent by Shraen
Eberhardt of Whellein in the north. Elcon had closeted himself with the messenger and afterward spoke to no one.
When he at last stood before Kai, he looked him over with grave attention, and then tilted his head. “Will you sit there all the morn?”
Kai squinted at him and flashed a smile. “That depends, Lof Shraen, on your wishes.”
“Come then.”
When they reached his chambers, Elcon motioned Kai toward his meeting room. “Wait in here. I’ll have Anders send for Craelin.”
Kai took the seat he normally occupied, leaving a space for Craelin between himself and Elcon. The room was not yet lit for whatever meeting Elcon planned, and in the small fireplace the ashes looked gray and dead. Elcon joined him and they sat together as Anders lit the torches. Elcon dismissed the servant when he bent to revive the fire. “The day warms.”
Kai regretted the loss of the fire. Although sunlight heated the outside world, the chill of night had not yet left this chamber. But he rubbed his hands together and said nothing.
“Kai, it occurs to me I never said thank you for all you did for Shae.”
The words hit Kai in the stomach. What had he done for Shae, after all? “I left her there.”
“She stayed.”
Kai acknowledged the truth of Elcon’s words, but his heart could not yet accept their peace.
Craelin entered with Anders behind him and glanced sideways at Kai before facing Elcon, who waved for him to sit. “Anders, leave us and shut the door.” Craelin had barely seated himself when Elcon spoke again. “I’ve news from Shraen
Garreth of Tallyrand. His spies report that Freaer denies my right to rulership of Rivenn and Faeraven and approaches King Corbin of Norwood in an attempt to curry support within the Elder nation. He claims himself as the true Lof Shraen of Faeraven.” He flattened his hands on the table before him. “I don’t know what to do.”
“Does he really think the Elder nation will take up a fight not their own?” Craelin spoke from beside Kai.
“They may choose to ignore Freaer.” Elcon voiced what could only be a hope. He frowned. “Or they may blame me for recent disturbances and wish to remove me from power.”
“We must act in swiftness to counter Freaer.”
Elcon eyed Craelin. “How do you suggest we do that? I’ll not pick a fight where none may exist.”
“Why not go on your own tour of the Elder kingdoms and dispel ill will?”
Elcon put his hands over his face, but with a sigh lowered them. “Your idea has merit, Craelin.”
“Ask Shraen Brael for help.” Kai spoke the words almost before he knew their presence in his mind.
“Are we back to that, then?” Elcon’s tone bespoke impatience.
Kai drew air into his lungs. “He’s come to help you, if you will only give him the chance.”
Elcon’s head came up. “You speak out of turn, Kai. I’ll not grovel before an unproved Elder youth. I’ve already decided his fate.”
****
Garbed in blue and gold, Elcon sat in state before the three great arches framing two carven and canopied strongwood thrones. From his position behind and beside the throne Kai gazed over a crowd swelling the chamber beneath an enormous golden chandelier suspended from the vaulted ceiling. Light fell in beams through tall clerestory windows above pillars that marched down the chamber on either side. Beyond them, strongwood leaves lifted in a breath of wind.
A herald took his position before the throne platform. “Bring the prisoner.”
Craelin and Dithmar came forward, Emmerich between them, but somehow it looked more as if Emmerich brought the two guardians, rather than the reverse.
Emmerich, but a slender youth with tousled dark hair, nonetheless stood with quiet dignity and a bearing that bespoke nobility. He did not speak but fixed deep brown eyes upon Elcon.
Elcon curled his fingers on the arm of the throne. “Tell me the truth of your identity, and you may find lenience.”
“I am Shraen Brael, the DawnKing of prophecy.”
“So, you hold to your story?”
“You asked for truth.”
“What is this insolence, Lof Shraen?” The voice, which came from the forefront of the crowd, belonged to Benisch.
Elcon raised a hand to silence the roar in response from the crowd. His voice sounded thin in the sudden silence. “Very well, then. Let your presumption decide your fate. I hereby banish you. You will be taken to the border of Westerland and there released. If you ever return to Faeraven, you will be put to death on sight. Do you understand?”
Emmerich lifted his head with an expression not unlike pity on his face but gave no reply.
Elcon’s voice shook. “Take him, then! I loathe the sight of him.”
Craelin and Dithmar escorted Emmerich from the presence chamber.
From beside Kai, Benisch sighed as if in contentment.
Kai’s face felt chilled, and touching his cheek, he found there tears.
****
Kai woke in the night to hear Elcon pacing. He rolled over and tried to sleep once more, but nothing could drive the sound from his mind. He rolled to his feet and abandoned the warmth of the cot where he slept when he needed to watch over Elcon in the night. The door that separated the inner chamber from the dressing room gave way beneath his palms. Moonlight pooled on the floor from the tall, arched windows, for the hangings were drawn and the shutters open. Elcon entered from the outer chamber and began his circuit of the room with bowed head and clenched fists.
“
Lof Shraen.
”
Elcon turned at his call. Kai stepped into the inner chamber and came to stand before Elcon. He could not see Elcon’s face with the moonlight behind him. “Are you well?”
Elcon shrugged. “Well enough. My body does not trouble me, only my thoughts.”
Kai waited. Elcon gave a short, bitter laugh. “When I accepted the scepter of Faeraven I didn’t know I would pay a price in sleeplessness. I did not know the costs of rulership but saw only its privileges.”
Kai fell into step with Elcon, who resumed pacing. They completed a circuit of the inner chamber and passed through the connecting door into the outer chamber. Elcon stopped before the fireplace. “You think me wrong.”
The statement lay between them, harsh and final. Kai searched for words but found none.
Elcon stared at him for several heartbeats in the light of the glowing embers. When he turned away, Kai did not follow.
7
Departure
“Come back to me.”