by Dawn Peers
“My father wouldn’t be so idiotic as to cut off my head for not marrying the lady he picks.”
“Maybe I’m exaggerating there, but do you think he is just going to let you marry Quinn instead? A gifted Sha’sekian? No, I’ll be surprised if Shiver lets Quinn anywhere near you as soon as we get to Sevenspells, so if you to have goodbyes to say, I suggest you start getting them out of the way tonight.”
“Ross! Don’t be so spiteful! Of course I knew that we wouldn’t be together forever. I’m not a fool. Instead, you’ve just pointed out the obvious, and taken away the only days we could have had in peace!”
“Nothing’s been taken away from you. You’ve admitted as much yourself that this wouldn’t last. He doesn’t seem to have thought this through so much. I’m trying to help you. Stay close to Eden, and make sure he knows how you feel. I’m not saying you have to stop loving him; but you can never be his wife.”
"I’m not going to stand idly in the background as his affair!”
“No one is asking you to do that Quinn. You’ve got to look at the situation sensibly. This was inevitable!”
Quinn looked away from him disgusted. She couldn’t believe these words were coming out of Ross’s mouth, and she didn’t feel like speaking to anyone, now. Eden’s jaw set in a grim silence, and the brooding anger emanating from him told Quinn she’d find no solace there. What a good job Harn had done of separating them so early in their journey. Shiver would doubtless be delighted.
* * *
The three of them were expected to sit down and watch as the rest of the company made camp, and Quinn couldn’t care less. She didn’t know what she was doing anyway, and would be more self-conscious getting under everyone’s feet than she was standing to one side and letting them do the work. Ross was agitated, and kept on hampering the men trying to help. His restless behaviour was irritating Quinn, who ignored him every time he tried to speak to her. When they offloaded Tarik’s body, Quinn rushed over, glad to have another focal point for her attention. “How is he?"
“He’s alive, we know that much. What did you say happened to him again?”
Quinn didn’t want to answer the Sevenspells healer who travelled with them. These men were suspicious of Sha’sek anyway, and she doubted whether he’d either believe or want to hear that Tarik had been overwhelmed by the fogs in the Sea of Sighs, going insane and trying to hack people apart in bloodlust. “I think he hit his head on the crossing.”
“He doesn’t look badly wounded.”
The healer sounded disapproving, doubtful of Quinn’s answer. She responded in the only way she knew how without drawing suspicion to herself. She shrugged, feigning ignorance and falling upon the routine of being an unimportant woman.
“I’m sure I don’t know, like I said I didn’t see. Why would they let someone like me out on deck?"
This did seem to appease the healer, who looked down his nose at Quinn before ordering the men carrying the stricken man to take him away and keep him sheltered until a tent was ready. Most of the men were throwing out bedrolls, though others were shouting at each other as they struggled to put up three great canvas tents. She assumed one of them would be for Eden and River. It was unlikely Quinn would get to share Eden’s bed tonight, even if Harn let her anywhere near him. Quinn looked forlornly as Tarik’s body was taken away. She hoped her old swordmaster would wake up soon, He might be able to provide her with a distraction from all this angst.
Quinn knew that Ross would gladly give her lessons—her skills with a sword were still incredibly basic—but she was still too furious with him to want to spend any time with him. It was a hopeless feeling, and as she glanced across the camp to Ross’s prone figure, she did wish that she could just set her feelings to one side. That was where the power of the empath was such a curse though. No one had lied to her, everyone had either been truthful, or so convinced of their correctness, that it represented the truth. The fact that Quinn had known everything they’d said didn’t matter to her. The fact that he’d said it to her, and the way he’d said it, cut through her.
She would have come to terms with losing Eden in her own time, and would have at least been able to enjoy their time together in some way. Now, they were being ripped apart, and it was as if Ross had punched his fist through her rib cage to yank out her still-beating heart.
4
Quinn had been partially right—Eden and River had a tent each, and Harn would either take watch or sleep with his men. The final tent was for Tarik. She’d been allowed to go and see him, and she had slept by the cot a few hours until the sun started to crest the horizon. He’d stirred a few times, but hadn’t come fully awake. Quinn couldn’t help but think he was treading the shores of the Beach of Bones, and all he needed was someone like Maertn to bring him back. He was in Everfell territory now though, and there weren’t any healers skilled enough here to make that journey. Tarik was in the hands of the spirits at that point, and Quinn wasn’t sure, this side of the sea, just how forgiving they’d be to a Sha’sekian swordmaster.
When he groaned, Quinn took a wet rag, stroking his face, trying to keep him cool. She’d seen Maertn do it before to unconscious feverish patients, and it seemed like the right thing to do. It made Quinn feel better that she was helping someone for once, and remembering her friend had helped her to help Tarik. She tried probing his mind, trying to feel any kind of emotion in there. All she wanted was a sense the Tarik was going to come back to her. Alarmingly, she felt nothing. Even pain, no matter how minute, would have given her evidence Tarik was there. Quinn’s hope waned.
“I know how painful the Sighs can be for people, Tarik. You’ve been through worse than that night. Please, make sure you come back to me.” Quinn put her forehead back on the cot, and closed her eyes again. She dreamed of the beach. Tarik had not made it there.
* * *
When Quinn came to again it was full dark. A hand rested on her shoulder.
“Come on lass, you haven’t eaten yet and you need to get some proper rest. Your body won’t appreciate it if you wake up sitting in a chair tomorrow morning.”
“Tarik will appreciate it if he wakes up and I’m here.”
“It won’t break his heart if he wakes up and you’re not. Come on Quinn. I know you don’t want to speak to me right now, but you need to eat. There’s no need to be stubborn about this."
“I’m not being stubborn!” Quinn recoiled at her own squealing voice. She sounded just like a petulant child, and a flush of embarrassment coloured her cheeks. “I just don’t want to be around anyone right now.”
“Not even Eden?”
“Under the circumstances, especially not Eden.”
“Just because you can’t marry him doesn’t mean you need to avoid him for the rest of your life.”
“No, but why carry on pretending that we’re going to have this happy life together, when in a few days’ time it’s all going to be over?”
“Remember that time I found you to down in the springs?" Quinn nodded, her cheeks staining with embarrassment. “That wasn’t too long before you were exiled. If I’d have told you then, that you be separated from Eden and it would be your own doing, would you have avoided him then? Or would you have taken the small happiness that you were given, because it was something new and precious, and your life wouldn’t have been the same without it?”
“This isn’t the same, Ross.”
“No, it’s not exactly the same Quinn, but its close. This time, Eden is going to break your heart, not the other way round. Because you’d been exiled, you didn’t see how he was when you left, before. He wanted come after you. He’d have left Sevenspells, even his father behind, to follow you to Sha’sek.”
“No, he wouldn’t have.” Tears slewed down Quinn’s cheeks. “Did you forget what I am Ross? I could feel the doubt in him. Yes, he did want to follow me, but he was fearful. He’s been brought up just the same as all of his brothers. They are fierce and loyal. The legacy of Sevenspells stains his
soul. I confused Eden. He loved me, but I was always fighting his loyalty to his family. That’s why I was able to leave like I did. I knew I was breaking his heart, but I knew that he had another love to fall back on. At least he has that—what do I have?”
“You’re only young Quinn, find out for yourself. He is your first love; that doesn’t mean he is going to be your only one.”
“You’re talking about me as if I’m gone already.”
Quinn and Ross shifted to see Eden standing at the entrance to Tarik’s tent. He was holding the cloth to one side, and Quinn could see him gripping it, his knuckles white. In the darkness, shadows dancing from dozens of campfires, his eyes glistened. “If you’re going to talk about me like that, Quinn, I’d rather you did the decency of doing it my face. How is Tarik?”
“He hasn’t woken. The healer thinks he’ll be fine, but really they’ve got no idea what’s wrong with him. I’m not sure anyone in Sevenspells will be able to help him. We should have put him on a ship back to Sha’sek whilst we were still in Port Kahnel."
“You think would have let us do that Ross?”
“It wouldn’t have been Harn’s decision,” Eden interrupted. “I’m a lord here, and so is River. Well, he’s Prince River now. Until I’m married,” Eden put a nasty emphasis on the word. “My father will only consider me a lord. I don’t think that would have mattered. If you’d asked me, Tarik would already be on the first ship back. A man like him doesn’t deserve to be suffering in a place like this.”
“And what do you know of men like him?”
“He’s not the first swordmaster I’ve met. He reminded me of Under, and my childhood. Back when the nights were my own, and my life was uncomplicated."
Eden closed his eyes at those last words, and Quinn went to him. “I’m sorry, I’m sorry didn’t come and see you first. What do you need from me? This is happening to us both. We don’t have long together, and I’m a fool to be ignoring you.”
Eden snaked his arms around her waist, though the gesture was slow and reluctant. He rested his head on top of hers, and took a deep breath. Quinn laid the side of her head against his chest, listening to the rhythmic beating of his heart. Eden wasn’t calm. No wonder, with the conversation he’d walked in to.
Eden wasn’t a fool—they both knew that he’d eventually have to cede to his father’s wishes. But he agreed with Ross. He wanted to take the happiness available to him in the time he had it. Quinn had been the first person Eden had voluntarily loved, and he wasn’t ready to let her go just because his father was demanding a marriage.
“Come on, Quinn, let’s go to bed.”
“She hasn’t eaten yet, Eden.”
“I’m a lord again now. All I do is say the word and someone will come running. You’re not a chamberlain anymore, Ross. You don’t need to keep looking after her.”
“You might be right about my title, but you’re wrong about one thing: I’ll never stop looking after her. Whether she likes it or not, some people in her life are here to stay. D’you hear that Quinn?"
Quinn smiled. “That’s one of the nicest things I’ve ever heard in my life."
5
Pax stood in the council hall, his arms folded and his gaze running down the table. The remaining members of the council were seated, and he had their full attention.
“Things are changing much quicker than we anticipated. We need to discuss how we to proceed.”
“Faster? How so?” Mai, the baroness of the small isle of Immer, sounded tense. This was not unlike her; she was the most cautious of his councillors, and therefore his favourite. Pax did not appreciate rash actions, which had always made Sammah a difficult brother to deal with.
“I’ve received more messages. Both Sammah and Shiver escaped during Sammah’s rebellion in Everfell. Sammah is using glamour to control the throne. Shiver is rallying lords around him to retaliate."
“Isn’t this what we wanted? Surely this can be only be a good thing.”
“In part. The main problem is Sammah being in control of the throne.”
“I still don’t see how that changes our plans? It is going to be Shiver versus Vance. Sammah might be controlling the king, but ostensibly, it is still the king in charge. If Sammah is hurt during the conflict then so be it. What a perfect excuse for us to be able to declare war ourselves. In the meantime, I suggest we just watch them and see what happens.”
“And what if Shiver decides that Sammah is truly the force behind this, as he well knows he is, and declares war on us instead? What if he manages to unite all of the provinces, and the baron loses what scant allies he has? Sammah won’t be able to hold a city the size of Everfell against all of the provinces. It will be a rout, and then the full force of Shiver and his men will be turned our way. That’s the last thing we want.”
“But I don’t see how we can change this now. What you suggest we do?"
“Sammah is panicking. He has sent us messages requesting assistance. Soldiers. He only has two lords on his side, and that’s not because they are naturally his allies. They are struggling to gather their own men. I don’t know how strong his glamour is, but it’s clearly not enough. I suggest we decline his request, and we send a messenger to Shiver letting him know that this is not Sha’sek’s fight. We withdraw all support and all interest in Everfell until this is over."
“You just sent the empath over there. Did you not anticipate this?”
“I know! It’s a decision I am regretting, but it’s not something I can change. We had these plans before we realised what Quinn could do, and we can achieve what we need without her. Remember what happened when we decided to put our trust and hopes in Nerren? That was a disaster. We need to stop relying on their kind for a future. Quinn is the last of them, and I doubt we’ll ever be able to breed her. We need to start thinking outside of controlling people by their minds, and instead, start controlling by the blade.”
“We’ve never had enough people to take the mainland.” Mai pointed out.
“When the men of Everfell have finished killing each other, it’s going to be easy to pick up those pieces.”
“And what if Sammah wins?”
“That is a prospect I am not considering." Pax took a long breath, trying to settle himself. He had considered Sammah keeping hold of the Everfell throne, but he’d already measured the chances of it. It was such a slim likelihood, he had stopped pursuing it. No; the most likely outcome currently was that the men of Sevenspells would tear through Vance’s defence. There would be casualties along the way, and Shiver would lose enough souls that it would be easy for Pax to declare war, and call a negotiation with the new king. In those negotiations, Shiver would be killed. Without their focal point leader, the rest of the lords would surrender. The council would be moved to the mainland, his loyal colleagues placed in charge of provinces. Pax would take the throne in Everfell. His brother would be killed, if he wasn’t dead already.
“I have weighed the outcomes. Baron Sammah will not survive this.”
“We have trusted the accuracy of your judgement for a long time now, Baron Pax. When are we going to start realising some good in return for all of the risks we are taking?"
“Are you questioning my gift?”
“I’m questioning the longevity we have in fulfilling your vision.”
That was a very clever way to answer, and Pax had to applaud Mai’s discretion. “Wars can be, unfortunately, drawn out. Don’t think of it as waiting; think of it as Sha’sek having more time to regroup. Our enemies will begin expending themselves, and soon. In the meantime, we can carry on growing and training. As their men die, ours will be born. All we need to do is wait, and they will be destroyed.”
“And the empath? She seemed different to Nerren. She is reluctant to use her abilities, despite their depth. If she has survived the Sighs again, and she somehow negotiates herself through this war, what you going to do with her?”
“If she somehow negotiates the Sighs again, and she survives tha
t war—especially a confrontation with Sammah, which is by the way inevitable, then we will see how broken she is. She is not a strong woman, not mentally. She’s been kept isolated, and we have her best friend. She doesn’t trust anyone, and now she doesn’t have a healer with her to be able to stretch the full range of her abilities. If she starts trying to manipulate emotion, she could kill herself. That of course would solve everything for us. Quinn’s chances for coming out of this alive, match Sammah’s. That is an eventuality I will tackle if it occurs.”
“Do you think she’ll ever find out who her father is?”
“I don’t expect to live long enough to find that out, no."
“Is this all? Shall we move to vote?”
This was an agreeable end to the conversation for Pax. “Yes. Sha’sek to withdraw all support from Baron Sammah. Sha’sek to withdraw all interest in the affairs of the men of Everfell, and return the Lord Lynton to his cousin. All those in favour?”
Eleven hands went up. Pax folded his arms across his chest. He had weighed the situation. He was never wrong.
6
Quinn lay on her back, staring up at the blue cloth of the drooping tent roof. Her head was nestled in the crook of Eden’s arm, his hand resting around her. He stroked her skin softly. She didn’t want to move, let alone leave. “Your tent is more luxurious than the room I grew up in.”
“Sammah should have given you more. He is a noble—you were his children.”
