“Yes.”
“Then I suggest we extend this sacred ground to the rest of the palace. Gods-water should do it.”
“I think that’s a good idea,” Danielle said.
“Then we’ll see it done.”
“What about the fact you can kill things by touching them?” Bastion asked.
“It is only so if I accumulate the taint in sufficient amounts. And as soon as I have purged it from my body, I am no threat to anyone.”
“Is this going to happen regularly?”
“I doubt it. I have never seen as much taint in one place as I saw on James’ back.”
Her father nodded. “Very good then. So are you going to be alright going to Amthenium?”
That amused her slightly. “Father, I can kill things by touching them. I suspect I’m a great deal safer than any of you.”
Everyone saw the humour in her observation.
“Then you’d best get ready to go,” her father said, coming to his feet, getting ready to leave. “What should we do about James?” Danielle asked.
Her fiancé was pulling on a shirt that Kimberly had fetched for him from one of the Cathedral stewards. There was no way he could just wander around the palace. News of his astonishing recovery and her involvement would see her labelled a witch within hours.
“You needn’t worry about that,” Joseph said. “We’ll keep up the charade while you’re away. It’ll be said he is recovering from the whipping in his chambers.”
“Mr Forantus will wonder why his services are not required given the severity of the wounds,” Danielle said.
Kimberly piped in. “I’m happy to play nursemaid while you are away. I’ll tell the physicians that James is recovering well under my care and that he has an extraordinary constitution.”
“Then it’s agreed. Bastion, Kimberley, if you would see James back to his chamber that would be much appreciated,” Joseph said.
As they bustled out of the door, Joseph asked Danielle to remain behind. He waited until they were alone, before closing the door saying, “About these dreams; you didn’t happen to learn any more about your mother and the other Children of Light or Eden’s role in all of this by any chance?”
“Nothing. I take it you haven’t heard anything from Lunwraith either?”
“Funny you should ask.” He sighed with relief as he lowered himself back into a comfortable chair by the fire. “All this walking today has my knees screaming blue bloody murder.”
Her curiosity pricked, Danielle sat down in the chair beside his.”
Rubbing his knees, Joseph said, “With what you have to worry about at the moment, I wasn’t going to tell you this until you got back from Amthenium, but I got a letter back from my contact in Lunwraith this very morning. It seems your mother may have had opportunity to hide a pregnancy after all.”
Danielle stared at him. “Are you sure?”
“Yes. Seems Cargius is a bit trust worthier than we thought—despite your concerns just now. There is even a possibility that your mother’s uncle was complicit in the arrangement.”
“Uncle Bolton? How so?”
“You’ll recall she broke her leg in a riding accident when she was fourteen?”
“Of course. She talked of it often.” The memory was closely associated with the period when Glomar had been teaching Danielle to ride in the palace garden. Her mother had used her experience as a cautionary tale of why it was best to learn to trot before trying to canter. “She was shipped off to Lord Bolton’s coastal estate above Glemton, and had a terrible time. At least that’s what she told me.”
“That part is likely true, but the broken leg might have been a fabrication. Here’s the thing. According to one aged servant your mother seldom left her chamber the entire year she was part of her uncle’s household. Apparently it was said that she was ill much of the time, yet when she was seen, she looked anything but. The woman also said your mother appeared to have put on weigh while she was supposedly ailing. The letter also revealed that your great uncle doubled his retainer during her stay, and spent long hours alone with her. And here’s the telling part, rather than the family physician an attractive white-haired man attended her on a regular basis—always alone. Who he was, the servant could not say. But she did say he had haunting green eyes and spoke with an accent she could not place and that he claimed to be from the Colonies.”
Danielle felt her heart quicken. “Cargius?”
“It is possible. Your great uncle spoke very highly of this man, even claimed him as a friend. Oh, and this man disappeared the moment your mother returned down the cost to Whitecliff Castle. And to the servant’s knowledge he was not seen or heard from again.”
Danielle felt relief at hearing this. It meant Cargius was telling the truth. Perhaps she wasn’t the monster they all feared she might be. Or maybe the truth was somewhere in between. “So where do we go from here?”
“Assuming this man was Cargius, and your mother was pregnant and gave birth at Northbrook in the month of Loctus, I guess we now have an estimated birth date. And Cargius said she was adopted out to a peasant couple, so we could begin a search of the register of populations in each town and village across the realm for that year. It’s going to be a rather mammoth undertaking, particularly with the need for secrecy, but it is one step closer to the truth I think.”
“And she will bear the same mark as me even if we are not similar in look. Though with the same mother …”
“Either way a test of silvery fire will be needed to confirm it.”
Danielle agreed and added, “I’ll push the matter with Cargius when I meet him in Amthenium.”
“Please do. I was going to suggest that you should. A location of this village would be helpful, if not a full disclosure on his part. I’d also like to know more about the role they have planned for our future king. Just be careful, though. I don’t want him muddying the waters just as we’re getting close to seeing what lies beneath.”
“I will.”
Danielle got up and kissed his bearded cheek. “I have to go.” She had just heard the afternoon bell begin to toll in the palace bell tower.
“Of course.” He caught her hand drawing her up. “Lass, I seriously doubt you’re an amalgam.”
She nodded. “I know. I wish I was as sure.”
“I understand your fears, my dear,” Joseph said, using his walking stick to get back to his feet. “I’ll see you at the front steps of the palace in an hour.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
“I’m not sure you should be so animated about this,” James said.
Danielle was changing into her riding garb behind the wicker screen in her bedchambers, and had been saying how she now believed that Cargius was more than likely telling the truth—at least in this matter—and her mother had secretly given birth to a baby girl while she was still unmarried and living in Lunwraith.
“Yeah, well, who is to say what’s true or not about that man.”
James’ cautious tone surprised her a little. She thought he’d have understood her excitement.
“Would you prefer that O’Brook’s account was closer to the truth?” she said, smiling to herself as she visualised his frown.
“Hardly. I’m just saying you need to remember that this is about finding the truth, not looking for a long lost sister, whose sudden appearance would deeply shame your mother’s name and embarrass your father’s house. And I don’t have to remind you about the consequences for Eden’s kingship if this were to get out. The poor woman would become a pawn with the potential to tear the realm apart.”
“I know the ramifications, though I think you over state the case. Besides, there’s no harm in us knowing. It needn’t be public.” She picked up her riding boots and walked over to her dresser and sat down on her stool to pull them on.
“She may not be what you hope, Dee. Sometimes it’s better not to know.”
James was sitting up in bed. He had a writing tray over his lap and looked to b
e penning a lengthy and troubling letter. It was the way Danielle had found him on her return from the palace cathedral; alone and preoccupied. She knew he was worried about letting her go off to Amthenium without him.
“James, this is about validating Cargius’ claims nothing more.”
“Right, and the excitement I see in your face every time you mention the possibility that you may have a sister is what exactly?”
“What? You don’t wonder about your parents, uncles, aunts, cousins?” she asked.
“Wondering is something quite different from actually looking for them?” he said, still writing.
Danielle considered him for a moment, then got up and crossed the room to the bed. She really didn’t want to argue. She was just thrilled she had him back.
James looked up, surprised, as she removed the quill from his hand and took the tray and put it on a side table. She grinned coyly and crawled onto the bed and straddled his legs.
“Are you in a grump?”
His hands found hers and he kissed them both, one after the other. “Just trying to keep busy.” His eyes grew tender and he smiled. “I’m going to miss you. A whole bloody ten days cooped-up here worrying about you.” He smiled. “Dreaming about you.”
Danielle bent down and kissed him deeply.
She broke off and laid her forehead against his. The idea of having to leave was agony for both of them. Particularly since his remaining behind was only to keep up appearances.
“Promise me, you’ll be careful?” he said, rubbing her arms. “There are a lot of open miles between here and Amthenium.” He took her bandaged hand and held it.
“I’ll be careful, I promise. Not that you need to worry,” she joked, kissing his nose. “I can kill things by touching them, remember? And if Ra’majum proved anything, an entourage of knights is a clear match to any band of mercenaries Fren and her ilk can muster.”
James didn’t smile, at least not until she slipped a hand down the front of his trousers, and then it was only nervously and very brief as he grabbed her wrist to stop her. “Cargius may not be overly pleased if we do that. And it is not as if you have the time”
“I don’t care. Cargius doesn’t command me.” She silenced him with a kiss, and began to loosen his belt buckle.
“Dee, this probably isn’t wise. You have to go. And I need to get this letter off to Glomar and Wyatt.”
The former was true; she did have to go. Her entourage was gathering in front of the palace’s grand façade across the garden, she could hear them. Faith would arrive any moment with her horse, and begin banging on the balcony doors. But none of that mattered right now. And despite his protests, she knew he wanted her as badly as she wanted him.
“Wyatt and Glomar already know about us. I sent a letter a few days ago,” she said, between kisses and working to unbuttoning his trousers. James’ hands were equally busy and the urge to have him was flaring painfully. “First thing I did when Master Slimcar informed me you were going to recover.”
“Have you received a response yet?” he asked. His lips pressed against her neck and she tensed and swallowed a moan as one of his hands slipped under her shirt and found her left breast. He’d always know how to make her sing.
“Glomar is bringing a shipment of Lunwraith wine to Illandia. He should be here within a day or two of my return from Amthenium.”
James lay her down and crawling over her, his lips working their way down her body. Breathless and distracted she said, “Once I’ve got Arkaelyon’s first shipments of aid to Vafusolum organised, we’re going to the Lunwraithian anniversary then back here for our wedding and then on to Aflton Abbey to see Wyatt and Glomar, pretty much as father arranged a week ago.” She groaned with pleasure as he slipped a hand between her legs. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you earlier. There’s hardly been an opportunity.”
James stopped what he was doing and eased back a little, his eyes worried. “Are you sure? I thought you were concerned about having Cargius and I in the same room?”
She knew he was joking with her.
“I don’t want to think about Cargius.” She slipped her arms around his neck and drew him down on top of her, kissing him hungrily.
Someone’s coming,” James whispered. He was on the verge of entering her.
“Then shut up and take me quickly,” she said.
***
Danielle ran down the balcony steps, pulling on her riding coat. Faith was sitting on her horse, waiting. On reaching the bottom of the stairs Danielle took the reins her friend handed her and swung up onto her own mount; a grey mare she’d purchased from a horse breeder outside of Pelorus a season ago and named Wind for her speed, endurance and wilful nature.
Faith nodded back towards the chambers. “Was that a scream I just heard in there?”
Danielle arched an eyebrow at her friend’s knowing grin. She was still half out of breath and her face was flushed. “It was. And a very satisfying one at that.”
Faith laughed, looking pleased to hear as much. “So what’s Cargius going to say?”
“I really don’t care. And I’m not going to be his tool; I’ll do what is necessary to end this, and nothing more.”
“Pleased to hear it. Michael will be relieved. No more Miss Martyr.”
Danielle grinned at that. She felt like she had a semblance of control again.
“Is James going to be alright here? The physicians are going to wonder why they are being kept from him, and there will be plenty of gossip because of it.”
“I can’t worry about that. Besides, Kimberly is brilliant at manipulating palace gossip.”
Danielle brought her horse round and headed across the garden to the large group of mounted Arkaelyon and Corenbald knights and officials who were milling about in front of the palace stairs, preparing for the long ride ahead. The afternoon was particularly warm under a cloudless blue sky, and she knew she dared not keep everyone waiting a moment longer. As it was, they’d be riding well into the evening.
Her father was standing on the bottom step talking to Joseph, Kimberly and Michael and on her arrival he smiled a welcome. Danielle quickly dismounted and offered a curtsey, before going forward and placing a kiss on his bearded cheek. “Sorry I took so long.”
“No need for that. After the day we’ve all had I think James is allowed a little of your attention and frankly it’s a small miracle you’re getting away at all. Now, you be careful on the highway and do us proud at Amthenium.”
“And don’t worry about James, we’ll look after him,” Kimberly added.
Danielle thanked them and then made her father promise to inform her the moment they got word from Eden and Hendrix.
“And the other matter as well,” she said, “I mean it; the moment you hear I want a bird sent to me.”
“We’ll see that it is so, lass,” Joseph said. “No you’d better be going.”
She hesitated a moment longer. “How goes the Gods-water?”
“It’ll be ready by tomorrow morning, and administered by midday, so you need not worry about us,” her father said.
“And Leefton has been told that I am to be kept informed regarding the search of the archives and you know what.”
“Done, lass. The Lord Chancellor has also been made aware of our … let’s say more recent circumstances. We have requested that to ensure your safety he increase the guard around the Amthenium Palace. So please do not be put out.”
Danielle thanked them and remounted her horse. Sir Frankston was calling the entourage to order.
Michael mounted a brown stallion beside her. “We’ll see her safe, father.”
“I know you will. Fair journey and the gods go with you and protect you all,” the king said.
With the entourage ready to set off for Lowburn Town, Joseph made the sign of protection and spoke a benediction. When it was done, Danielle and Faith led the entourage away from the steps and down the carriageway towards the palace gates. Hooves crunched on the white gravel and t
he banners snapped in the breeze above their heads. Danielle glanced fleetingly over her shoulder and nodded a farewell to her father, the Lord Protector and Kimberly before a row of conifers obscured the view of the front steps of the palace.
Two days in the saddle lay ahead of them and she was eager to be underway. They’d reach Lowburn town at the foot of the Summerset Mountains by nightfall. Then they’d continue the ride at dawn tomorrow, passing through Summerset, crossing Arkaelyon’s northern border and winding up the narrow pass of the Corundum Gorge to the ancient trading town of Pelorus, which was located on the western side of the vast Lake of Mist. And finally they’d take the ferry out to Amthenium at dusk tomorrow evening. It was a ride she had taken scores of times before and never tired of it.
“Michael told me your Archbishop turned a nasty shade of purple when you presented the Vafusolum proposal to the High Council this morning,” Faith said, conversationally as they rode under the palace gateway and out into the hum of Illandia’s busy central square.
They hadn’t had a chance to finish this conversation earlier in the day.
Danielle laughed. “And then some. Thunderous black would be more accurate, I think. I believe he truly hates me more than anyone else in the world—Kane aside of course. I’m sure he’s already sent word of our intentions to the Abeian and Themian delegations and we’ll be riding into a firestorm of righteous indignation.”
Faith laughed. “I can hardly wait. Really looking forward to telling Lord Valabee that Themia’s wine and iron quota will have to be reduced if they’re not willing to contribute.”
Despite the seriousness of what they were about to do, Danielle felt elated and confident they could achieve it. There was no doubt that the Vafusolum proposal would aggravate the antagonism between the reformist and Orthodox realms that were represented at the Grand Assembly. They’d known that from the beginning. But she was confident they could rise above theological disagreement and reach a consensus sufficiently robust to stave off famine in the vast Eastern Empire.
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