“Trying to how?” Quinn asked.
“It’s very complicated. There are many new laws, regulations, and taxes, but many of the towns and villages have begun to resist Tolliver’s increasing intrusion into their lives. In an attempt to subdue them, Tolliver has greatly increased the size of his army, and many of the villages are living under the occupation of soldiers.”
“Including the village where Lily and Graeme live.” It wasn’t a question; she could see immediately where he was going with this.
“Harber Village, where they live, was one of the first,” Nathaniel said quietly. “Graeme sits on the council, and with their connection to Eirentheos, and the fact that they have established a clinic there with our particular beliefs about healing … they were labeled as troublemakers immediately.”
“So they didn’t come to the wedding because…”
“Yes, because they are not allowed to leave their village, or at least it would be quite dangerous for them to try.” Nathaniel answered her question before she could finish. “We haven’t been able to get communication in or out of there in quite some time.”
“Why didn’t we know anything about this?” William sat down in a chair across from his father, eyeing him warily.
“We’ve been keeping the situation monitored and quiet as best we can,” Stephen answered. He sat up straight now, making eye contact, and looking decisive, royal. “We have reason to believe that Tolliver has infiltrated Eirentheos and there are spies. The poisonings you discovered among the children, using the schoolbooks we provide to them, seem to have been a direct attack on our political structure, attempting to undermine the confidence of our people, to make them vulnerable, and cause them to distrust us.”
“Tolliver was behind that?” Quinn felt sick.
“Yes. He has been quietly doing a number of things to undermine Eirentheos. Presumably, it has to do with our opposition to his legitimately taking the throne. He is attempting to put us in a position where we have no power to oppose him.”
Quinn thought about that, turning all of the information over in her mind. “That seems rather extreme. Why doesn’t he just take the throne? Why does he care so much about Eirentheos?”
Stephen glanced over at Nathaniel; the two of them exchanging a wordless conversation. “Tolliver’s father has always held beliefs which are … dissimilar to those we hold here, and, until now, have been held in Philotheum.” He looked at Nathaniel again, and Quinn was suddenly sure that while he wasn’t lying to her, she was getting an edited version of the truth. “I’m told that Tolliver’s father keeps an oracle as an advisor, a man who attempts to divine the future through riddles and so-called prophecies.”
“And this oracle is telling him to poison children in Eirentheos?”
“We have no idea what the oracle is telling him, Quinn,” said Nathaniel. “Other than some kind of nonsense to fuel his already over-inflated ego. We do know that, based on whatever he’s been told, Tolliver and his father both believe that it’s necessary for Tolliver to marry into the Eirenthean royal line.”
Quinn was speechless.
“He seems to be under rather a misapprehension that if he causes us enough trouble, then we’ll hand over Linnea to keep the peace.”
“Over my…” Charlotte didn’t continue her sentence.
Stephen stood and walked over to sit down next to his wife, putting his arm around her shoulders. “Which, of course, is never going to happen.”
Quinn thought she might be sick. “Have you told him no?”
“In no uncertain terms. Tolliver is many things, but he is not entirely stupid. At this point, I don’t think he cares whether he bullies us into joining his version of a political alliance, or goads us into war.”
Quinn’s stomach turned again. “Are you going to war?”
“The time is not yet right for decisions such as that, Lady Quinn.” She turned around, a bit startled. She had forgotten Alvin was in the room, standing behind her. “It is not yet time for Eirentheos to act.”
“We need to go there. We need to rescue Thomas.”
“We can send soldiers to find him,” Charlotte said.
“No, love. Sending soldiers over the border would be construed as an act of war.” Stephen stood again and began pacing back and forth across the long end of the room.
“I will go.” Nathaniel’s voice was strong and determined; every eye in the room turned to him.
Stephen stared at the ceiling for a long moment, looking as if he were making a decision.
“I know your objections, Stephen. But it is time. This one is mine.”
The king nodded.
“I’m going with you, Nathaniel.” William stood and walked over to his uncle.
“No!” Charlotte flew out of the chair. “We don’t know how dangerous it’s going to be… I can’t have two of my sons gone.”
Nathaniel, though, nodded at William and turned to face Charlotte and Stephen. “You have asked much of your son, and placed much trust in him, sending him to live in another world. Time and again, he has proven himself. Will you deny the need he has now to find his brother who is only in another kingdom?”
There was a long silence before Stephen finally spoke again; this time his voice couldn’t be mistaken for anything but the voice of a king. “We will spend tomorrow planning and preparing for your trip and you can leave the following day. We’ll send the two of you with some trustworthy guards.” He eyed his wife with this second sentence.
“The three of us,” Quinn said, looking Stephen in the eye.
He looked distressed. “You don’t know what could happen, Quinn. We don’t have any idea how dangerous it might be…”
“I’m going. It’s why I came here.”
Stephen eyed her critically. “You cannot put yourself at risk over a misplaced sense of guilt. It isn’t your fault Thomas decided to go.”
She cleared her throat and tried to steady her hands, which had begun trembling slightly. “I know. It isn’t guilt. This is just something I have to do. I can’t explain why, but I do.”
“It is her decision, Stephen.” Alvin’s calm, quiet voice was suddenly right next to her.
The king closed his eyes and took a deep breath. “I know it is.” There was a long pause before he looked at her again. “Quinn, it is your choice to make. You should know, before you make it, that the journey to Harber Village is four days one way. It is certain that you will not make it back before the next time the gate opens, and it could be longer. You don’t know what situations you will be facing.”
This gave her pause. Disappearing from her world without notice for twenty-four hours was one thing. But longer? Her mother would be panicked. Her second thoughts were genuine, but another feeling pushed them away. She couldn’t name it, and she didn’t understand where it was coming from, but from somewhere deep inside of her rose a conviction that she had to go. It was as much a part of her as the fact that she had to breathe in and out
She nodded. “I understand. But I’m going.”
The expression in his eyes told her that he had known what her answer would be, though it didn’t stop his last, almost desperate remark. “You still have tomorrow to consider your decision. There is nothing shameful about changing your mind.”
“Thank you, Your Majesty.” She felt as if she should bow, or shake his hand, or something, but the half-formed impulses disappeared when suddenly he embraced her, squeezing her tightly.
Charlotte was there the instant he released her, ready to wrap her own arms around Quinn. “You are as beloved a daughter of ours as those of our blood. Please return to us safely.”
~18~
The Journey Begins
“ARE YOU REALLY SURE about doing this?”
“Not you, too, Linnea. I already walked out of my world without telling anyone. I’m here. I’m not going to just sit around the castle and wait for news.”
“Must be nice to have that choice.” Linnea’s voice was sulky. She
had made several unsuccessful attempts to convince her parents she should be allowed to go with William and Quinn on the trip.
After listening to the debacle for most of the day, though, Quinn was beginning to feel grateful that they weren’t going to stop her and William from going. Truthfully, after listening to all of the points that Stephen and Charlotte made about the danger, she was beginning to wonder why they’d given in so easily about the two of them. Though she didn’t at all understand why, she’d become convinced that it had to do with Alvin’s presence at the meeting the night before.
“Sorry, Nay. I know it isn’t going to be easy.”
“What’s not going to be easy?” William stepped into Quinn’s room through the open doorway.
“Staying here while you two run off to go find Thomas.”
Quinn watched as conflicting emotions crossed William’s face before he settled on sympathy. “Yeah, it’s going to be hard on you, I know. I’ll send word as soon as we find out anything¸ I promise.”
“You’d better. What are you doing in here, anyway?” Linnea asked, staring at the medical bag he was carrying.
“What? I’m not welcome to spend time with the two of you?” His expression was teasing, which surprised Quinn. He’d been so serious lately, and everyone’s stress level was so high right now that she had figured she’d mostly be seeing his solemn, sulky side. Ever since they’d come through the gate together last night, though, he’d been downright friendly. She had always sort of thought that his serious side was his dominant one; now she wasn’t so sure.
Quinn smiled, but Linnea glared at her brother. Her mood today had been unabashedly dark.
“Well, I did want to see what the two of you were doing, and see if you needed anything else to prepare for the journey tomorrow, but mostly I thought it was time to get those stitches out.” He looked at Quinn.
She nodded and pulled up her sleeve.
“You’re taking enough medical supplies with you, right?” Linnea asked as William worked methodically on Quinn’s arm. “Just in case…”
“Don’t start thinking like that, Nay,” Quinn said, wincing as one of his tugs unexpectedly stung.
“Sorry,” William said, rubbing at the spot. “I left the ones on this cut in a little too long. A couple of them are a little stuck.”
“Why didn’t you take them out back in Bristlecone?” Linnea asked.
William looked at Quinn when he answered. “Because I was being an insensitive jerk. I really am sorry about that, Quinn.”
“Yeah, well, you’re going to have to make it up to me later, I guess.” She rolled her eyes at him, although right then she was anything but annoyed. She didn’t even think he’d been being a jerk – now that she understood what had really been going on underneath…
Linnea was watching them with such interest that Quinn’s face suddenly felt warm.
* * *
The small group gathered near the stables in the pre-dawn light.
Stephen introduced Quinn to Marcus and Ben Westbrook, two of his most trusted personal guards. Marcus was older, several years Nathaniel’s senior, and the two of them seemed to know each other quite well. He had worked in the castle since he was a young man. His son, Ben, was around Simon’s age.
Stephen was there to see the five of them off. All of their other good-byes had been said after dinner the evening before.
Everyone was dressed for travel in what might be challenging conditions. Their clothing choices were carefully nondescript so they wouldn’t be easily recognizable. Rather than their usual finery and insignia, Marcus and Ben wore the same style of dark, woven pants and linen shirts as Nathaniel, William, and Quinn all wore.
The mood was somber as they finished packing the saddlebags and readying the horses. Aside from Mia, who had helped them put together the personal items and supplies they would need, no servants had been involved in their preparations. Stephen didn’t know who he could trust.
Quinn looked on as Stephen hugged his son for a long time, a single tear running down the king’s cheek. He then hugged Quinn tightly before helping her mount Dusk. “Be safe.”
Nathaniel and Marcus led the way down a route Quinn had never taken before, northwest of the castle. The morning was warm and muggy, though the sun was not yet all the way up. Already, Quinn was wary of the heat the day was likely to bring.
It wasn’t long before they’d ridden into a remote, wild area. For most of the journey, they would be taking back routes well off the main thoroughfares. She was glad of her experience with riding horses on mountain trails. Dusk had come to know Quinn well, and obeyed her lightest touches.
Every so often, there would be a rustling in the nearby trees, or a cawing sound overhead, and she would glance up to see Aidel, Nathaniel’s seeker bird, keeping a close eye on the group. Each time she saw her, Quinn would feel another spurt of irritation, directed both at Thomas, for being stupid enough to venture off by himself without even Sirian, and with herself for not realizing this and stopping him.
William had told her yesterday that Aelwyn and Sirian’s eggs had hatched, and it wouldn’t be long before the baby birds were ready to start searching for food on their own. At that point, one of the parents would be willing to leave the nest for short stretches of time. Thomas could have waited for his companion, at least.
They rode in silence for most of the day, stopping only for a few minutes at a time to allow the horses to drink, and the humans to take care of necessities. They were entering a thickly forested part of the country, the trail winding through the trunks of giant, leafy trees. Quinn was fascinated at the scenery, so different from the evergreen forests of home. The soil here was rich and black, with a heady, musky scent, instead of the familiar crisp smell and the crunch of pine needles.
By the time they finally stopped, finding a clearing near a river in a thick part of the woods, the sun was low in the sky. It was so muggy here that there was a haze hanging in the air above her. She was hot, and her skin felt sticky. She was also starving; her fingers trembled as she worked the buckles to remove Dusk’s harness.
“Let me get that.” William appeared behind her as she was starting to pull the saddle from Dusk’s back. He slipped his hands in front of hers and lifted the heavy saddle easily over their heads.
“Thanks,” she said, wiping sweat from her forehead with the back of her hand.
“Sure.” He grinned at her, his eyes still twinkling in a way she wasn’t used to.
Nathaniel and Ben were a few feet away from them, searching for medium-sized rocks. They’d already formed a semi-circle with the rocks in an area where they’d cleared out the grass and roots.
“I think it might be a little too warm for a fire tonight,” William called to them.
The two men stopped what they were doing and looked over at him. Nathaniel looked up at the sky; rays of evening sunlight shimmered through the heavy water vapor. He nodded.
The horses were clearly relieved at the break. Skittles headed straight for the water the instant William released her, and Dusk quickly followed.
“I need to walk around for a bit,” William said, coming to stand beside Quinn. “Would you like to come?”
She nodded. “That would feel good.”
“Anyone else?” he asked.
“No thanks,” Nathaniel said. “Marcus and I are going to discuss some things, and Ben is going to do some scouting in the area.”
After pulling some sandwiches and fruit out of one of the bags, William began walking downstream, following the narrow bank of the stream. She stayed right behind him. It felt wonderful to be on the ground, moving her legs, after the hours in the saddle.
When they were out of hearing range of the rest of the group, he turned to her. “I know I’ve asked before, and I’ll stop after this, but are you still sure about your decision to do this?”
She swallowed. She hadn’t expected him to ask about that. “I’m kind of in it now, don’t you think?”
“Not necessarily. We have a seeker with us. One message and someone would come meet us, help you get back. Before we get too far, anyway.”
“I’m sure.”
His walking paused. They had come to a wider part of the stream; the water had spread out into a shallow pool. “Why are you doing this? It isn’t your fault that Thomas did this, you know, regardless of what you think or how responsible you feel.”
She looked up at him, staring into his eyes, trying to read what he was thinking. “I know it isn’t my fault. I don’t feel guilty; I know I couldn’t really have stopped Thomas. I don’t know exactly why. It just feels like it’s something I have to do.”
He frowned. “But you don’t have to. It isn’t your responsibility.”
“I know I don’t actually have to, William. Maybe ‘have to’ is the wrong phrase. It’s more like I’m supposed to, like this is the right thing. I wouldn’t have felt right if I hadn’t.”
He nodded, looking away from her, out over the clean, clear water. “What about your mom, the rest of your life?”
She shrugged. “I don’t know. I can’t think about that right now.”
He didn’t press the issue, which surprised her. Instead, he reached down to pick up a smooth, flat stone. He hurled it at the water, and they watched as it skipped four times before it plunked to the bottom.
Quinn stretched down, searching for her own rock. Her toss wasn’t as impressive as his; she only managed to make it skip twice, but he smiled.
“I’ve been having dreams.” She told him, as they looked for more stones.
“About what?”
“I can never be quite sure. I never remember them clearly when I wake up, although they’re very vivid while I’m sleeping. But I know they’re about your world. I think they have something to do with Thomas being missing.”
Roots of Insight (Dusk Gate Chronicles -- Book Two) Page 15
