by Dawn Peers
“What were they trying to do to her?”
“They were trying to make her force emotions on other people.”
“Before, when she’s not been able to do something, and has gone to the beach...when she comes back from the beach, she’s been stronger, hasn’t she?”
Rall already knew the answer to this, but wanted affirmation from Maertn. The boy nodded. “Every time, she’s been able to do something that was impossible before. She could block people out the first time. The second time, she was able to sense our father.”
“And now?”
“Now I think she’ll be able to do what she did in the Sighs, whenever she wants.”
Rall hadn’t heard of any incidents in their crossing over the Sighs. None of their sailors had been lost. Rall didn’t even want to ask; he was almost certain he didn’t want to know the answer. “What happened in the Sighs?”
Maertn looked away. He was ashamed of the answer. “She convinced one of Sammah’s mercenaries to jump overboard. He committed suicide because Quinn wanted him dead.”
* * *
“What is she doing?” Shiver yelled above Rowan’s roar of pain.
“She’s trying to kill him!”
Eden wasn’t certain, but what else would she be doing? He struggled to his knees, his head flopping against Quinn’s cot. Rowan’s shriek was unbearable. Men poured into the room expecting a bloodbath, and froze at what they saw. What could they do? Their king didn’t seem in danger, and one of their princes was straddling a sick woman. Who was the victim?
“Quinn!”
Eden tried to get through to her. He knew that somewhere in there, Quinn could still be reasoned with. He could understand why she was doing this. If he’d woken up to Rowan throttling him, he’d have tried to defend himself, too.
“Quinn, please, it’s me. Please, stop this!”
Eden glanced at his brother, and wished he hadn’t. Viscous blood ran from his nose, eyes and ears. His hands pawed Quinn, trying to find a way to make her stop. His eyes darted everywhere but down, clouded over. Eden didn’t doubt that at that point, Rowan was blind.
Eden didn’t want to do it, but he didn’t see that he had a choice. He pulled back his fist and hit Quinn square in the side of her jaw. Her head rocked to one side. It was enough to cut into her concentration, and Rowan dropped off the cot, hitting the floor with a limp thud. Shiver scrabbled to his son. Eden collapsed over Quinn, sobbing. All he’d wanted to do was save her. Better to let her kill Rowan and give her death some purpose. There was no way that Shiver would let her live now.
16
Eden wished Shiver would say something—anything. The tense silence was unbearable. In the distance he could hear the castle still going about its daily business, as if an empath hadn’t just tried to murder a prince. The world wasn’t normal, and as far as Eden was concerned, it was as good as over.
His marriage to Isabella was meant to be in the morning. He was attending to his father now as his only healthy son in residence, and as they waited for the rest of the lords to gather Eden expected that his wedding would be celebrated by the execution of a certain empath from Sha’sek.
After Shiver had carried Rowan in his own arms to the healers, waiting to hear the news that his son would indeed live, he had thrown Quinn down into a gaol. He had emptied the rooms around her, commanding that no one was allowed near her. Whilst she was unconscious, bread and water had been left in her room. She would wake up and have to use her own intelligence to figure out what was happening. Shiver was allowing no one near the woman until he decided what to do with her.
Then he had called a meeting. All of the lords in attendance at Sevenspells—Calvin, Augyr, and Venn were to attend. Harn, Shiver’s guard captain would attend, too. That Shiver hadn’t just swung an axe through Quinn’s neck whilst she lay unconscious gave Eden a thin sliver of hope. There was no way though, when the facts were laid out in front of Shiver’s allies, that they would in any way agree that Quinn should be allowed to leave Sevenspells breathing.
Shiver didn’t trust Eden enough to leave Quinn alone, to leave his son unsupervised. You’re probably the only person in this castle that could go down there without being killed he had said. He was probably right. If you see that girl, you’ll try to let her out, whether you want to or not. You saw what she can do.
Eden had seen. What his father was neglecting to remember was the fact that, twice now, Rowan had tried to kill Quinn. What was she meant to do, sit there and let him do it? There was no point in arguing that with his father. Shiver was angry. There was no way he’d want to hear Quinn’s side of anything right now.
“I can’t believe I’m going to be sitting here discussing the fate of a Sha’sekian woman—an empath, as history would have it—in my own home.”
“You have control here, father. It is up to you what happens to her.”
“Is it? I’m the one that allowed her here, Eden, and it was for a reason. Regardless of what she’s done to Rowan, do I still need to follow through with my original plan? Or do I have to rethink my entire strategy to take revenge for my eldest son, who is still alive.”
Eden didn’t understand. Was Shiver seriously contemplating letting Quinn live? “That… that depends on how essential you think she is.”
“That’s why I’ve called this meeting. I don’t trust my own judgement. She’s been here for long enough that she could have been affecting any of us. I don’t think she would have been strong enough to manipulate us all, so I’m going to get everyone’s opinion.”
“Father, until today she wasn’t capable of doing anything like this at all.”
“Or is that what she wants us to think?”
Eden rubbed his eyes with the heel of his hand, frustration tempering the headache settling in on his temples. Their conversations kept going around in circles, and Eden knew this “meeting” would be an absolute joke. His father was right—he was tempted to go down to Quinn, to let her out before the inevitable execution was ordered. This wasn’t her fault. None of this was her fault. She hadn’t asked to be in Sevenspells, and she hadn’t asked to be born as an empath. Why didn’t anyone else seem to understand this?
Calvin, Venn, and Augyr did not take long to arrive. They all asked after Rowan, and Shiver kept his answers clipped. Rowan was alive, thanks to Eden’s quick reactions, and they were here to discuss and pass judgement on the empath.
The men took their seats as Harn walked in. “Has the mess been cleared up?”
“Yes sire. The dead Sha’sekian is being prepared for burial.”
Tarik. He had seemed like a good man. A gifted swordsmith like him didn’t deserve to be slaughtered in his sleep. But, Tarik wasn’t one of their own, so Shiver wouldn’t even classify that as a crime, would he?
“Good. Close the door. We’ll talk about the dead one first.
“The empath, at least, stands accused of attempting to murder my son—a prince of Sevenspells. This man, this Tarik, came to us already near death. I didn’t see how he was killed, but nothing much was left to the imagination. Rowan hasn’t woken up. I expect our son to tell me that the empath caused him, in an uncommon rage, to kill this…swordsman. Of course, the council is unlikely to believe this, and at this point, we do not want to antagonise them. What do you suggest we do?”
Calvin shrugged. “Do we have to do anything? His people know that he’s here, but do they know how he came to us? If they don’t ask, we don’t tell.”
“That’s what I thought, Lord Calvin, but hiding the body does not sit well with me. I don’t want this man’s corpse in our grounds.”
“Then just throw him in the river. He’ll go out to sea. Eventually he might even make it back to his own kind. We don’t have to worry about him then, do we?”
Augyr’s offhanded comment was ridiculous, as if he weren’t talking about the body of a man that Eden had spoken to, and trained with, not so long ago. If that was how much the men advising his father cared, then Quinn’
s fate was already decided.
“I was contemplating sending the body back…a peace gesture if you will.”
Shiver stroked along his jawline. None of the lords answered this, so Eden decided to step in. “I don’t think Pax will react, no matter what we do. Remember my first message? He wants us to destroy each other. Even if you sent Tarik back to him for a proper burial, he’s not going to retaliate.”
“Can we trust this boy?” Venn sounded spiteful, though Shiver didn’t take his words well.
“This boy is still my son. Remember your place. Eden saved Rowan’s life.”
“Eden is the reason she’s here!”
“Sammah is the reason she is here,” Eden snarled at Venn. This lord had been annoying Eden since their time in Everfell. He nipped at the heels of everyone that seemed to be a threat. Eden wasn’t going to stand for it any more. “Without him, she wouldn’t have been used in court. She wouldn’t have been exiled, gone across the Sighs, and ended up as Pax’s plaything instead.”
Venn sneered at Eden. “I see which side you’re still on, Prince Eden.”
“Enough, Venn! We’re not here to judge Eden. He’s experienced more than any of us. He’s been to Sha’sek, and fought Sammah. He’s seen what that girl can do, and he’s the only one of us that the girl likely doesn’t want to kill on sight. Whatever we do, we have to take his words seriously. Whether I believe him or not is another matter—but his opinion must be taken into account.”
“I thought the marriage of our children was on the understanding that Eden was one of ours, Shiver.”
“I assure you Augyr, we are all here for the good of the kingdom. All we want is to get rid of Sammah. That must be our paramount aim. With Sammah controlling that throne, we are helpless. No matter what Eden thinks Baron Pax does or does not want to do, with Sammah in Everfell, they have a stronghold in our lands.
“What do you think we should do, for the best of the kingdom?”
Augyr chewed over his words. “If we return Tarik, and fabricate a story, then perhaps Pax will look on it as a kind gesture. It might win us more time whilst we decide how to deal with Sammah.”
“Yes. That’s kind of contribution I needed. Does anyone else see a problem with this?”
“How do we get him back? What men do we risk in this? We can’t send our own over there. Eden’s been once, and they were attacked.”
“I told you before, I was attacked by Sammah. I’m certain of it. He was trying to goad his brother into action. It failed.”
“This Pax,” Shiver asked, intrigue colouring his voice, “you have heard a lot from him, yes? He is the one in control?”
“He leads the council. They follow his guidance in most things.”
“He’s the eldest, yes? The leader of his house?”
“His family rules Farn, yes.”
Shiver sighed, waving at Harn. “Fetch me some wine. I’m going to need something to get me through this conversation.” Harn complied in silence. Apparently his input wasn’t needed. “We think that, no matter what we do with this Tarik, Pax will not retaliate at finding out he is dead?”
“He’s a swordmaster, but he’s not the only one. Remember the one that studied here?”
Shiver twisted his face. “If I’d been attending court he wouldn’t have been allowed to stay. But I remember your story. So, they don’t care if their gifted die?”
“I can’t speak for everyone. I just know that Pax is trying to keep out of this fight. If we send Tarik back, or even send word of his death, then Pax is not going to send men for vengeance.”
“Then we send word first. That can’t be a bad thing. If he wants his man back for a decent burial, then Pax can send a ship. Does everyone think this sounds right?”
The lords shrugged, and Venn spoke up. “I can’t think of anything better, your highness.” The others nodded in agreement. Eden tensed up. Quinn was next.
“Onto more pressing matters. I have isolated the empath, after what happened to Rowan. It appears the old rumours are true…she is able to use her ability to manipulate the emotions of others. We believe that she tried to kill Rowan using her empathic abilities. She is not experienced with them, if what Eden says is true, so I believe Rowan is only alive because of her lack of skill. That, and the quick reactions of Eden in knocking her out.
“We cannot risk her affecting any more of us.”
“Then the answer is simple. We kill her.”
Shiver slapped his hands down on the table, scaring Venn. “If it was that simple, I wouldn’t even be asking you. I would have killed her myself.”
“What are you thinking, your highness?”
“She is a strong Sha’sekian. Her own people fear her. She is capable of some scary things. And, if I’m not mistaken, she still hates her father.”
“You’re going to send her to Everfell?”
“I’m considering it.”
Eden clenched his fists together. His palms were sweaty. He didn’t want to respond at this point. He felt that a wrong word from him would cause the situation to swing irrevocably the wrong way. Eden had a chance here, in this meeting, of saving Quinn’s life. Eden saw his father glancing at him out of the corner of his eye. Shiver was expecting Eden to speak at this point. Eden decided to disappoint him.
“My question is the same as for Tarik—how does she get there?”
Shiver tapped the side of his nose. “I hadn’t thought about that. I can’t get her all the way to Everfell unconscious. She’s going to need to do it voluntarily.”
“How are you going to convince her of that?”
“I need to use her hatred of Sammah. The only weapon I have is our mutual hatred of that man.”
“If we can’t get near her to ask the question,”
“Then we need someone she trusts to ask. Eden?”
Eden balled his hands into fists and faced his father. “Yes?”
“If I want Quinn to help us go back to Everfell to kill her father, do you think she’ll do it?”
“Quinn doesn’t want to go back there. Everfell is where Pax was going to send her, to placate Sammah.”
“But neither Pax nor Sammah know how powerful Quinn has become, so we could use that against them. Quinn could have a chance to beat Sammah?”
“How? If she found it hard before to use her power against her father, and she wasn’t able to kill Rowan, who has no defence, then will she be able to defeat Sammah?”
“Should I give her the chance? What I’m asking you, Eden, is should I let her try, or should I have her killed now?”
This was it. Shiver wasn’t going to let Quinn live if she stayed in Sevenspells. Sammah could kill her, but at least then Quinn had a chance. And if she did slay Sammah, perhaps Eden could help her escape. She could get out of this alive, somehow. There had to be a way. “I think you should let her try.”
“And what then?” Venn asked. “She does this—kills Sammah. What then? We have a powerful Sha’sekian capable of changing the way we think in Everfell, rather than Sammah. The baron is just a despot. He can’t be reasoned with, but the only danger he directly poses us is by the people he controls. Don’t give him this girl. Either way, it’s a mistake. Sammah either controls her, or she gets to control Vance. After the way she’s been treated, do you think she’s just going to open the gate and let us in? Don’t be a fool.”
Venn’s chest heaved. His words had been impassioned. Eden let out a breath. Shiver looked tense too. Augyr and Calvin sank in their chairs. They didn’t want to be a part of this debate any more. They would let Venn and their new king decide this girl’s fate.
“Eden? Can she be trusted?”
“To do what, sire? Quinn doesn’t want the throne. She doesn’t want a part of any of this. If you ask her to kill Sammah, and she succeeds, then she’s most likely to run away. We’ll Never hear from her again.”
“Unless she goes back to Sha’sek, in which case she will belong to Pax again.” Shiver sank a glass of wine in o
ne gulp. He held it out for Harn, who refilled it, stepping back into the shadows. It was odd, seeing the grizzled captain act as a page. “I’m not being given much choice here, am I? I could sent the girl, but there is no guarantee she will do what she is told. If she does somehow succeed, and we are not exactly sure whether or not she can, then she may still be used as a weapon against us in the war.”
“The easy solution there, father, is to avoid war.”
Shiver gave Eden a thin smile. “That is not the attitude I expect. You’ve heard what Pax wants. He’s not going to stay on those islands. The war is inevitable. Our approach to it now is what matters.
“Sammah doesn’t have many allies. Lords Obrenn and Erran are weak. They’re not gathering the men that they need, and I’ve received several crows questioning if there’s a way back for them, if they abandon Sammah. They don’t know why they’re there. They think Sammah is manipulating Vance. I don’t want to raise a sword against our own, but I feel that if we do, there won’t be much bloodshed, if any. All we have to do is defeat Sammah.
“Can he take out an entire army? I don’t think so. Thank you for your guidance, Venn. I think you’re right. Keeping Quinn alive is too dangerous. That was the mistake Vance made in the first place. I will make the right choice, for all of us.”
“That is your burden, your highness. We trust in you to lead us the right way.”
Venn gave Eden a smug smile. Eden swallowed, suppressing his rage and the bile that tried to force its way up this throat. Shiver caught Venn’s look, and glanced at his youngest son. “Eden? Are you alright?”
Eden nodded, forcing the words out. “I am fine, father. Venn is right. You are making the decisions for all of us. We trust in your wisdom.”
“Your knuckles look very white, son.”
“I am fine, father. This is…difficult for me.”
“You’ve been through a lot, Eden. I understand your pain. You will, of course, not be forced to attend the execution. Thank you for your time, everyone.”
