Gwennore gave her a wry look. “It’s a sacrifice you’ll have to make for your country.”
Annika snorted. “As if I didn’t know you’re playing matchmaker.”
Gwennore grinned. “Come on. Let’s get ready to go.”
* * *
Once Silas learned that the Eberoni king and queen were still encamped across the border, close to Vorushka, he decided to ask them if they knew anything about the Circle of Five. So, after breakfast, he and Aleksi rode the short distance to Vorushka and tethered their horses on the north end of the bridge spanning the Vorus River.
“Wait here.” He left Aleksi and strode across the bridge to where four Eberoni soldiers were standing guard. He handed them his sword belt as he addressed them in the Eberoni language, “Please inform King Leo and Queen Luciana that General Dravenko would like a word with them.”
One soldier dashed toward the far end of the camp, where a large tent was topped with a pennant in the royal colors of Eberon, red and black. A second soldier motioned for Silas to follow him.
Halfway across the camp, Silas entered a clearing where he spotted Eviana, two little boys, and a young woman scampering about, laughing. She had to be the youngest of Gwennore’s adopted sisters.
Sorcha was standing across the clearing, covering her eyes with her hands as she called out in a loud voice, “I can hear you, but I can’t see. I hear the buzz of a bumble bee.”
Silas recognized it as the poem that was recited during the game of hide and seek. He smiled and waved Eviana to come over.
The little girl ran toward him. “You came back!”
“Yes, I did,” he responded in Eberoni as he made a bow. “How have you been, Princess?”
She giggled. “Can I hide behind you?”
“It would be my honor.” He noticed the young woman signaling the two little boys to crouch behind a nearby barrel.
“Who are they?” Silas whispered.
“Ewic and Weyn.”
She had to mean her twin brother, Eric, and Reynfrid, the son of Ulfrid of Tourin. “Is King Ulfrid here?”
Eviana shook her head. “He had to go home. But Bwigitta is still here.”
The soldier nearby cleared his throat and gave Silas a disapproving look. Silas smiled to himself. The soldier must think he was using the little girl for information.
“I can hear you, but I can’t see,” Sorcha called out. “I hear you hiding behind a tree.”
Eviana put a chubby finger up to her mouth. “We have to be quiet,” she whispered loudly. “Or Sowcha will hear us.”
The young woman approached him. “Ye’re General Dravenko?”
“Yes.” He blinked with surprise as his senses went on alert. She was a shifter.
“Maeve, you’d better hide!” Eviana whispered. “Sowcha’s almost done!”
“This is important,” Maeve told her, then gave Silas a stern look. “Where is Gwennore? Why didn’t ye bring her with you?”
“Oh, that’s wight.” Eviana stuck out her bottom lip. “I want Gwennie back. I miss her.”
“She misses you, too,” Silas told the little girl. “She misses all of you, but she’s very busy right now.”
“I can hear you, but I can’t see,” Sorcha yelled. “I’m going to find you. One, two, three!” She lowered her hands as she spun around. Her eyes widened at the sight of Silas.
He lifted a hand in greeting as he smiled. “It’s good to see you again.”
She gave him an annoyed look as she strode toward him. “Ye came back without Gwennore.”
With a huff, Maeve planted her hands on her hips. “That’s what I’ve been saying.”
“Me, too!” Eviana put her fists on her hips, mimicking Maeve.
“Lady Gwennore is busy finding a cure for the plague that threatens our country every summer,” Silas explained. “We’re very grateful for her help.”
Maeve nodded. “We heard. Brody was just here and he told us about it.”
“I see.” Silas figured the shifter was gathering medical advice for Gwennore.
The little boys wandered up to them.
“What happened to our game?” Eric asked, frowning at Silas for interrupting the fun.
“We’ll play in a minute.” Sorcha reached out to tousle the boy’s hair. “And ye need to mind yer manners.”
The sapphire ring on Sorcha’s hand glittered in the morning sun, catching Silas’s attention. At first, he felt a spurt of joy that she was wearing the ring he’d given her that had belonged to her mother. But then a sudden, ominous thought jumped into his mind.
He grabbed her hand and yanked the ring off.
“What are ye doing?” She stepped back, pulling her hand from his grasp.
“I need to check something.” He held the ring up to peer closely at the metal setting. As far as he could tell it was pure silver. “I think it’s safe, but to be sure, you might have the physician here examine it.”
“What on Aerthlan…?” Sorcha accepted the ring back.
“Lady Gwennore has discovered that the crowns and some of the jewelry owned by the Norveshki royal family were made with a poisonous metal. I would hate to find out that I’d given you something dangerous.”
Sorcha gave the ring a dubious look. “I thought this belonged to my mother.”
“Our mother was the late queen,” Silas said quietly.
Sorcha’s mouth fell open, and the ring tumbled from her hand.
Maeve snatched up the ring as it hit the ground. “Then yer father was the king? Ye’re a … Sorcha’s a princess?”
Silas nodded. Sorcha was still dumbfounded, staring at him blankly. “You’re third in line to the throne.”
Eviana jumped up and down. “Sowcha’s a pwincess!”
Maeve laughed.
Sorcha came to with a jerk, then swatted Silas on the shoulder. “Now ye tell me?”
With a grin, Maeve pulled her back. “Now, that’s not very princesslike. Ye’ll have to behave from now on.”
Sorcha scoffed. “Says who?” She glared at Silas. “Any more surprises?”
She’d probably be surprised if she learned that her brothers were dragons. Silas lowered his mental shield. Can you hear me, Sorcha?
Sorcha gave him an exasperated look. “Ye’re not answering. Ye must be hiding something.”
He snapped his shield back in place. She wasn’t able to hear him. As far as he knew, Gwen was the only female who could hear the dragons. “I apologize for not telling you earlier. I wasn’t sure if you had any interest in Norveshka. You seem quite content to live here with your sisters.”
She lifted her chin. “That’s true.”
Silas nodded. “Even so, I hope you can visit us sometime in the future. You have an older brother, Petras, who would love to see you.”
Sorcha’s eyes widened. “The king?”
“Yes. And you have a cousin, Annika. She’s helping Gwennore right now, and they’ve become good friends. She would love to see you, too.”
“Can I come?” Eviana asked. “You have lots of nice toys.”
“I want to go, too!” Eric insisted.
Silas rested a hand on each twin’s shoulder. “I would love for you to visit, but that would be your parents’ decision.”
“Me, too?” Reynfrid asked, gazing up at him with turquoise eyes.
“General Dravenko?” a deep voice called, and Silas glanced up to see Leo approaching.
Leo’s gaze dropped to Silas’s hands resting on his children’s shoulders.
Silas stepped back, dropping his arms to the side. Damn. It must be true. Because of his lightning power, Leo was afraid to touch his own children. There was no mistaking that flash of pained regret in the man’s eyes.
“Papa!” Eviana called to him, and Leo gave her a smile and a wink.
Silas bowed his head. “Your Majesty. If you could spare a moment…”
“Of course.” Leo motioned with a gloved hand. “Luciana and Brigitta are coming.”
S
ilas glanced over his shoulder to see the two queens walking toward them. Luciana had a small clay crock in her hands.
“General!” Brigitta smiled. “It’s good to see you.”
“Brody was just here,” Luciana said as she approached. “He had a few questions for our physician. Here.” She handed Silas the crock.
“What is this?” He lifted the top off to see a red powder inside. The scent was strong, making his eyes water.
“It’s a spice made from a hot pepper that grows in southern Eberon,” Luciana explained. “The royal physician recommended it, so Brigitta and I went to the galley to see if we had any here. I’m afraid this is all we have right now, but I can have more delivered from Ebton Palace. It might take a few days.”
“Thank you.” Silas put the top back on. “We’ll gladly take whatever you can send to Lady Gwennore.”
“Please tell her we miss her,” Brigitta said. “But we know she’s doing something important.”
Luciana nodded. “The plague affects our countries, too, so we’re happy to assist her in any way we can.”
Silas bowed his head. “I appreciate that, Your Majesties.”
“Guess what?” Eviana sidled up to her mother. “Sowcha’s a pwincess!”
Luciana’s eyes widened as she looked at Sorcha. “Really?”
Sorcha shrugged and waved a hand at Silas. “That’s what he says.”
“Then you’re a prince?” Brigitta asked Silas.
He sighed. “I prefer being a general.”
Leo crossed his arms, studying Silas. “You’re the heir to the throne?”
“For now. My brother, Petras, could still have children.” Silas didn’t want to admit how unlikely that was.
Leo motioned toward his tent. “Let’s have a talk.”
Silas followed him, along with Luciana and Brigitta.
“Is Gwennore all right?” Luciana asked.
The memory of her moaning and melting in his arms flashed through Silas’s mind. “She … she’s a bit nervous about whether she can succeed.”
Luciana sighed. “That sounds like Gwennie. She doesn’t always realize her own worth.”
“But she’s the most clever woman I know,” Brigitta declared. “If anyone can cure the plague, it’s her.”
Silas nodded. “I believe she can do it, too.”
A guard lifted the flap to the large tent, and Leo motioned for them to enter. “Did Brody tell you about the envoy from Woodwyn?”
“Yes.” Silas entered the tent with the two queens. “I’ve discovered the identity of Lady Gwennore’s father.”
“Really?” Brigitta asked. “Who is he?”
“He was a Norveshki nobleman,” Silas replied. “I would tell you more, but I think Lady Gwennore should hear it first.”
“You said was.” Luciana moved to the table and filled four cups with wine. “Has he passed away?”
“Yes.” Silas set the clay crock on the table.
Leo sat on one side of the table and motioned for Silas to sit across from him. Brigitta distributed the cups of wine, then took the chair next to him. Luciana sat close to her husband and smiled at him when he squeezed her hand.
Happily married, Silas thought with a pang in his heart. He missed Gwen.
“Brody said the Chameleon has shown up in your country,” Leo said. “He murdered a spy in your dungeon.”
“Yes.” Silas nodded. “That’s why I wanted to speak to you.”
“You think the Chameleon plans to steal the Norveshki throne?” Luciana asked.
Brigitta shuddered. “When I think how close I came to marrying that monster…”
“Did you ever see his real face?” Silas asked.
Brigitta shook her head. “As far as I know, he can masquerade as any person or animal. And he’s vicious. He’s killed several people in Tourin and Eberon.”
“The spy he murdered was a royal secretary named Lord Romak,” Silas explained. “One of my men spotted Romak receiving gold from an Eberoni priest. So at first, I suspected Romak was being paid by Lord Morris.”
Leo nodded. “That would make sense. Morris has a network of priests all over the mainland, spying for him.”
Silas took a sip of wine. “But when the Chameleon murdered Romak, I thought Romak and the priest had to be working for him. I had the priest followed to see where he would go. We stopped him as he was crossing the border into Woodwyn.”
“Woodwyn?” Luciana exchanged a surprised look with her husband.
“I questioned the priest last night,” Silas continued. “He confirmed my theory about Gwennore’s father. And he said we would never defeat the Chameleon.”
Leo sat back. “It sounds like he is working for the Chameleon. But why was he going to Woodwyn?”
Brigitta gasped. “Could the Chameleon be an elf?”
“That possibility has occurred to me,” Silas admitted.
“He has many secrets.” With a grimace, Brigitta shuddered. “I could tell whenever he touched me.”
“Did the priest say anything else?” Leo asked.
“Not much.” Silas winced. “I was trying to frighten him into talking by telling him that the Chameleon would murder him because he’d been captured. The priest tried to poison himself, and when I stopped him, he grabbed my dagger and slit his own throat.”
Luciana and Brigitta sat back with shocked expressions.
Leo frowned. “That makes him sound like one of Morris’s priests. I’ve dealt with a few of them, myself. They’re fanatics. Once they’re caught, they always try to kill themselves.”
“Before he died, the priest said something strange,” Silas admitted. “He said the Circle of Five would conquer the world.”
Leo’s eyes narrowed. “Circle of Five?”
“Yes.” Silas eyed him carefully. “I was wondering if you knew anything.”
Leo shook his head. “I’ve never heard of it.”
“Neither have I,” Brigitta said.
“Does this mean there are five people who want to rule the world?” Luciana asked.
“The priest was carrying this on him.” Silas removed the rolled-up note from his pocket. “It’s in Elfish. I’ll ask Lady Gwennore to translate it when—”
“I can do it.” Luciana extended her hand across the table, and Silas placed the note in her palm. She unrolled the note and read it. “It says, ‘Princess Gwennore is at Draven Castle. Shall we capture her and deliver her to you?’”
“Damn,” Silas breathed. Gwen was in danger. “The priest referred to her as a pawn.”
“We have to protect her,” Luciana declared. “Can you send her back here?”
Leo shook his head. “Transporting her a long distance would make it easier for her to be captured.”
“I’ll protect her,” Silas insisted. “You have my word. I won’t let any harm come to her.”
Luciana and Brigitta exchanged a look.
“Are you taking responsibility for her?” Luciana asked.
“I would like to, yes.” Silas shifted in his chair. “If Gwen will accept me.”
“Gwen?” Brigitta asked. Her gaze drifted over his uniform. “Green and brown.”
Luciana’s eyes narrowed. “Exactly.”
Exactly what? Silas was confused. He motioned to the note in Luciana’s hand. “Is there more? Does it say who wants to capture Gwen?”
She read some more. “It says, ‘Plan for taking throne in jeopardy due to return of heir. Will assassinate him soon.’ It’s signed with an ‘R.’ For ‘Romak,’ I assume.” She looked up at Silas. “Did he try to kill you?”
Silas shrugged. “Obviously, things didn’t go the way he planned. Is there anything else?”
She turned the paper over, inspecting both sides. “There’s a sun drawn at the bottom here. Hardly surprising, since the priests are avid worshippers of the Light.”
Silas took the note to study the drawing. It did appear to be a sun with five rays radiating from a circle. “Damn, it’s more than a
sun.” He pointed at it. “Five rays. Circle of Five.”
“Five people,” Leo murmured.
Luciana sighed. “I suppose one is the Chameleon.”
“And the second one could be Lord Morris,” Leo said.
“The third one could be an elf from Woodwyn,” Silas suggested. “The one who wants to capture Gwennore and use her as a pawn.”
“That still leaves two.” Brigitta sat back, shaking her head. “Somehow, I always thought the Chameleon was a loner.”
Leo flexed his gloved hands. “He’s doing the dirty work for the group, because he can move among us undetected.”
Silas swallowed hard. “These villains, whoever they may be, would be easier to defeat if they were loners. But they’ve formed a league. A secret league.”
Leo nodded slowly. “They’ve joined forces. That will make them harder to defeat.”
Silas looked around the table. “We need to join forces, too.”
Brigitta nodded. “You can count on Rupert and me.”
“Good.” Silas reached a hand toward Leo. “Are you with me?”
Leo hesitated. “There’s a chance, even with my glove, that I might hurt you.”
“I know.” Silas kept his hand extended. “I’ll trust you.”
Leo shook his hand, and when nothing happened, he smiled. “We’ll be stronger together.”
Chapter Twenty-Seven
“You expect me to believe something a tree said?” Petras gave Silas an incredulous look.
“They call themselves the Kings of the Forest,” Silas explained. “They’ve been here for centuries.”
“And Woodwyn has been our enemy for centuries,” Petras argued. “Why are you believing everything that elfin woman tells you?”
Silas sighed. After returning to Draven Castle, he’d gone straight to the royal office to tell his brother about the tainted crowns and jewelry. “All right, then. Forget about the redwoods and look at this logically. Every queen of Norveshka who survived childbirth eventually went mad. The kings didn’t fare much better. What one thing have all the kings and queens had in common?”
“The curse.”
“The crowns!” Silas gritted his teeth. “Just have some new crowns made. What do you have to lose?”
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