by Dawn Peers
“What’s wrong Quinn?”
“How did Sammah get control of the throne? I don’t understand what’s happened!”
“I’m not sure myself, though someone here has to know. He didn’t say in the letter. Maybe he thinks it’s not safe to say. Could it be another gifted?”
“Maertn and I were in Farn. There was no one else capable of helping him.”
“Yes, there was.”
Ross came across to join them, weaving through the passing sailors and keeping out of the way of Harn. “Everyone seems to forget Neyv. I barely remembered her, most of the time. Do you know what her ability was?”
Quinn shook her head, “No, I didn’t even think she knew herself. But, she was the only orphan Sammah had left in Everfell. Unless he’s got the others? There were more of us in other cities, he always said that. In Broadwater, Mossvale, or Yender? What about here in Port Kahnel?”
“If she is the only one left in Everfell, then it has to be her.” Eden said. “I haven’t been gone long enough for it to be anyone else, and I doubt Sammah brought them into the city without anybody knowing. You make a fair point though. Who would have been looking after these other children? How many were there?”
“I don’t know how many, or their names. I suppose they’re guarded by his mercenaries. There weren’t many other Sha’sekians living across the provinces, and there were even fewer when Sammah murdered Sirah. If he’s managed to take control of the throne then it has to be someone damned powerful. I just wish I knew how. Neyv was so small… I can’t imagine it being her.”
“Perhaps this is where my father will be good for something. He was in Everfell when Sammah escaped, so at least he’ll have more information than us on what’s happened. Dammit, I thought the war was going to come from Sha’sek, not from within Everfell.”
Quinn’s voice was quiet, “The war has come from Sha’sek. Vance let the wolf in the gates when the wars ended, and closed the door after him. Sammah’s been planning this for years. Shiver knew this was coming, too, and now he’s made his own counter-move. When he defeats Sammah he’ll be a hero all over again. He’s already been voted as king, so Vance is never going to regain the throne.
“Your father saw this coming, and he did nothing to stop it.”
Eden recoiled as if Quinn had slapped him. “How can you even say that? It’s not true!”
“How is it not true? Shiver was Sammah’s ally, and now he happens to be king? Both of those men coveted Vance’s throne, and now they both have it, in one way or another. At what point in history has your father not gotten what he wanted?” Quinn was railing at Eden, and he stepped back in stunned shock at her onslaught. Ross pulled at her shoulder gently, trying to calm her down.
“Now Quinn, you’re being out of line. This isn’t Eden’s fault. We’re in the wrong place for you to get out your frustrations. If Harn is telling the truth and Sammah is coming for you, then he’s going to be on his way here too. If Sevenspells knew that you’d be landing here Sammah will definitely know. It’s not safe in Port Kahnel. There are too many people around. Once we’re away from this place, you can have this argument.”
“I’m not arguing with him, it’s the truth.”
“Whatever you think it is, you are being unfair, Quinn! And besides, what can I do about the actions of my father? I’m his youngest son, not his keeper. All we can do is try and stop this, like we’ve always done.”
Eden was right, though Quinn hated to admit it. She knew he was telling the truth, and that she was throwing accusations at his family to work through her own anger. Eden didn’t need to convince her of anything, and he needn’t fear that she’d dig her heels in and stay in Kahnel for Sammah to come and scoop her up back to Everfell. Quinn didn’t trust Shiver, but she trusted Sammah even less. Shiver wanted to keep her as a prisoner in Sevenspells? So be it. She didn’t have to like it, and she knew that she had the ability within her to get out, but ultimately her freedom might cost her life.
2
Neyv kicked her heels waiting for Sammah to speak as he strode around the king’s chambers. Sammah was a quiet man these days, though he’d never really talked to her that much anyway. He’d always been more concerned with Quinn, the older girl, and Maertn, the healer boy. Sammah had never had much time for Neyv, and she had been glad when the other two had left. Sammah had left her completely alone for a few days after they’d gone, which was odd, but he’d explained to her already that he’d been keeping her safe after what happened. Nobody knew about Neyv. She knew this. Neyv glided around the halls of Everfell like a ghost. She could go wherever she wanted and people barely noticed. Even if they did speak to her, they struggled to remember the conversations afterwards. It had been lonely, at first, though as Sammah explained to her how complicated these people were, Neyv had been relieved that she only had to speak regularly with her father.
Neyv was useful to Sammah, her father had always told that. She was the most useful of all of his children, no matter what anyone else said to her, or about her. Sometimes, he had to treat her a different way to others around her, because she was special. Neyv was only eleven years old, but she knew that Sammah was right.
Neyv knew that she had a gift, and that had always set her apart from the people around her. No one else could really go around without being remembered, especially if they were children of a noble. She was the daughter of Sha’sekian baron, so she should really be noticed by everyone. People had always talked about Quinn, even if they had sometimes been spiteful, and Maertn had been a master healer. Because of this, Neyv had long ago reasoned that what her father told her must be true. People didn’t notice her because she was extra special. It was her talent, and it was why Sammah needed her so much.
“Where is he? He should have been here by now!”
Sammah was talking to himself, not addressing Neyv, nor the lord sitting quietly in the corner. Neyv didn’t bother answering. Sammah was often like this, and sometimes she answered him, only to be ignored or shouted at. Sammah was used to Neyv been silent, and he told that when he asked questions, he didn’t need her to answer them. When he wanted her to answer his questions, he always let her know. Neyv was fine with this, because he never asked her many questions. He just understood what she was, and kept her safe from the horrible people around her.
Neyv had believed, once upon a time, that Maertn understood what is was like to be her. Maybe even Quinn could relate to her, but neither of them had ever taken the time to get to know who Neyv was. They been too concerned with each other, and then with the king. Why they’d gotten in the way of that, Neyv didn’t know. Her father had made it quite clear to her what his plans were, and that all of them had to play a part in making Sammah’s future happen. Then the girl had gone and gotten in everyone’s way, stopping Sammah from taking the throne when he wanted. Neyv had been distraught when her father had been thrown in the gaol, and she visited him every day. The guards had never remembered, though of course, that was the way things normally were in Neyv’s world.
Right now, they were waiting for some important guests, and Sammah needed her to be there whilst he spoke to them. This used to happen, but now Quinn was out of the way, these meetings were more and more frequent. It made Neyv feel important, for Sammah to ask for her like this. Neyv been told they were expecting Lord Erran of Achteren, and Obrenn of Mossvale. They were attending Sammah as his allies, two of the men that had stayed loyal when it had been declared that Vance was splitting Sevenspells from the kingdoms. The castle had been a tumultuous place that day, and Neyv didn’t remember any of it fondly. Men had shouted, drawing swords on each other, and she’d hidden in her rooms at first, before seeking out comfort with her father. Sammah had escaped then, with Neyv’s help. She hadn’t wanted to see her father slaughtered like a pig in a pen. He had wanted her to help someone called Shiver escape. Neyv knew that he was a lord, but when they got to him, he’d already escaped. There had been dead men near that man’s rooms. Neyv had bee
n scared, and Sammah had taken her back to his own rooms. She’d slept in his bed that night. It had been the safest Neyv had ever felt in her life.
The door creaked, and the other lord, Obrenn, walked in. He nodded at Sammah, apologising for being late, but he did not sit down. Neyv thought the man was rude and she hoped that her father would tell him as much. He usually told people if they were being rude.
“I thought Vance was going to be here?” the lord sitting in the corner asked. He was Erran. He’d been waiting there already for what seemed like a long time, and Neyv thought he looked bored, and a little bit scared. The adults started talking, and Neyv stifled a yawn. She never minded helping her father when he asked her, but she never needed to actually do anything apart from concentrate on what her father was saying. She wasn’t allowed to play or read when she was meant to be concentrating. She sat cross-legged on her chair and kept quiet. She didn’t want to disappoint her father, and she thought that this would be a very long conversation.
* * *
“You know the king is unwell and has been confined to quarters. He’s not going to tend to these trivial matters,” Sammah replied, his voice snapping and betraying his impatience.
“Trivial matters? I hardly call the empath being back here a trivial matter, nor the amount of men Shiver seems to be gathering to his banners. What news of the Sha’sekian fleet? Are they going to be able to cut off Port Kahnel and drop help inland for us?"
Sammah tried to look congenial, placing his hands on his knees and trying to smile. Lord Calvin of Port Kahnel was astute, and had a decent army at his disposal. He was a man usually looking to pick the victor rather than the moral high-ground, and Sammah had been hopeful that Calvin would be manipulated onto his side. It had been a blow when he’d helped Shiver to escape the city, effectively ending any hopes Sammah had harboured of bringing him over as an ally. Strategically, Kahnel was a critical stronghold, and one that Sammah had been banking on as a bargaining tool to convince his brother and the rest of the council that he was able to take and keep control of the tactically critical parts of the kingdom. After the dust of his brief rebellion had settled, he had been left with Broadwater, its young heir ineffective and the geriatric lord Broc unaware of what was going on, and the minor provinces of Mossvale and Achteren. As much as Sammah had negotiated with Broadwater, he no longer counted those men in his ranks, as he had murdered lord Alec earlier in the year. The best Sammah could hope for now, was that Broadwater would remain neutral. The lands of Daggerdale, Yender, Port Kahnel and Sevenspells had united their banners against Sammah. The fact that Sammah had any of the Everfell lands at all was a bonus, he remembered, and he held a lot more now than anyone in Sha’sek had governed in a long time. They had never had a foothold on these lands, not throughout the entirety of the Empath Wars. Thanks to his decisive actions, Sha’sek could strike from inland. They had safe havens for their troops. Sammah truly believed that Sha’sek could win the war this time, but for that to happen, they would need to take Port Kahnel.
Now that Sammah had failed in gaining Calvin’s trust, they could only do that from the sea, and he could only do that with his brother’s cooperation.
The trouble Sammah had with that, was that he suspected Pax did not want to risk men on his younger brother’s ambitious enterprise. Sammah couldn’t let the lords know that—not yet. Neyv’s ability could only stretch so far given her age and strength. The more complex or outlandish the lie, the more difficult it was to believe, and the more regularly it had to be told. Sammah was exhausting Neyv, keeping these men on his side. Sammah had to see the situation improve, if only to relieve the burden on his only weapon to keep these lords in line.
“My lords, I’m afraid it’s not as simple as calling a meet. The councillors of Sha’sek live on different islands. When the call to a council meeting is declared, they have to travel quite some distance. They too, would have been disrupted, as I’m sure Lord Lynton has been summoned back after hearing of his cousin’s grave illness. We must, therefore, be patient, whilst we wait for word to come through from my brother. I have no doubt that he’ll get the council on our side, and will get both the ships and men that we need soon enough to make a strike. Until then, we have to keep raising the banners here, and get isn’t getting as many men to our side as we can.”
“We’re doing the best we can Sammah. I still can’t believe Shiver has deceived everyone like this.”
Sammah shook his head, only daring a passing glance at Neyv, who sat motionless with a bland look on her face. “I was as shocked as you, my lords, but perhaps not surprised. The man has always been devious. He was open and callous in his pursuit of the throne, and now it’s clear he will stop at nothing to get what he wants. He claimed to be a hero of the wars, but only cowards use poison to kill. Shiver had no knowledge of poisons himself, so there’s only one other person in Everfell I would wager had a hand in this. I wish I’d never brought Maertn to Sha’sek, though it seems revenge might be ours. I have word out of Farn that the boy is close to death, if not already.”
“The death of one boy won’t be enough retribution if civil war breaks out, and it looks like that’s an inevitability,” Lord Erran huffed, standing and pacing around the room. “If I’d have, for one second, thought that all of this would result from your benevolent collection of children I wouldn’t have let any of them through the city gates. You have them in my court too, Sammah! How dangerous are they all, and what are you doing about them? Are our families going to be slaughtered in their beds, or poisoned at their dinner table, like our king and his family? What are you doing about them?"
“I assure you my lords, messengers have already been sent to the major cities where my extended families still live. They will all either be brought here, or sent back to Sha’sek as exiles."
“Exile? We all know how well that punishment goes, now. What was Vance thinking? She’s already back here, and your crow says your men weren’t in time. So now what, she’s in Sevenspells’ hands? Spirits know what someone like Shiver is going to do with the girl when he gets his hands on her. What did you say she could do again? Manipulate emotions? We already have a bloodthirsty warlord on our hands, and now he has a direct relative of the man that started the last war in his court. This is a nightmare, Sammah, and it’s all your causing.”
“I hasten to remind you my lord, that Vance has made me ruler in his stead. You may question my lineage and my decisions, but not my loyalty to Everfell. If I’d have thought any of this could have happened, I would have stopped it before it had begun. Unfortunately, despite the range of abilities the Sha’sekian people boast, soothsaying is not one of them. We leave that to witches, peasants, and drunk people in taverns. Everfell seems to specialise in those, so if you want to see what the future is like I suggest you go and get drunk. It’s the only way you’re likely to find out."
Galled at being spoken to like that by a mere courtier, Erran recoiled. Sammah squared to face him, and didn’t back down. “What are you going to do, Erran? Strike me? Go on—put yourself on the same footing as Shiver and see where that gets you."
“Enough of this, both of you. Shiver has gathered most of his bannermen and we can’t even have a civil conversation without it erupting into a fist fight." Lord Obrenn had his head in his hands, and he looked exhausted. His beard, usually a chestnut brown and neatly trimmed, was overgrown and flecked with grey. His hazel eyes seemed gouged out of his face, shaded with deep purple circles, and he looked like he hadn’t slept in a month. They had to pull together to try and salvage the situation, and if Lord Erran was constantly at the Sammah’s throat, they’d never get anywhere. Obrenn didn’t like the fact that they were answering to a Sha’sekian baron, but if that’s was Vance’s ruling, he wasn’t going to question it. Vance was their liege, so if Sammah was the man he picked, then so be it. Who else was there to govern them? Shiver had already taken most of the lords to his side, and Obrenn knew that he didn’t want the responsibility. There was n
o one but Sammah to lead him, and despite the baron’s race Obrenn knew where his loyalties lay. His lot was with Everfell even if it meant his death.
Erran backed away, raising his fist and pointing viciously at Sammah. “We’re doing our damned hardest to pull as many men together for our king as we can. You have an entire race at your disposal, and your brother leads the council. You’ve promised us support, Sammah, and so far we’re seeing nothing. If this doesn’t change in the coming weeks, we may have to rethink Vance’s decision to put you in charge.”
Leaving the threat hanging in the air, Erran strode from the room. Sweeping a glance around, Obrenn followed reluctantly. Sammah didn’t try to stop either of them leaving, nor did he give them any parting words. It didn’t matter to him what those lords thought. Sammah would let Erran have his way, allowing the lord to throw his weight around to give him the impression that he still had some influence and importance around here. Only two things matters at that point—convincing his brother to join his fight, and making sure Vance stayed under his influence.
“Neyv? Come with me, my dear. We have to go and see the King.”
* * *
Neyv immediately got to her feet, following Sammah though the hallways in an obedient silence. His bodyguards, two dozen of them recalled to Everfell to hold him safe in court and control the royal guard, stood stiffly to attention as he walked past.
Sammah was calming down, after his meeting. Erran and Obrenn weren’t going to rebel against him. Neyv’s influence was still working. After Quinn’s violent rebellion against him, Sammah had begun to question whether the little girl had any real skills at all. He had been guarding Neyv as an option, in case something had befallen Quinn. Sammah had been anticipating the girl harming herself with her own ability, like her predecessors, not unravelling Sammah’s plans and throwing them back in his face.
