Dark Lady_s Chosen cotn-4

by Gail Z. Martin

  Alle and Macaria were holding their breath. Kiara opened her eyes as the scrying ball flared and from within, a mist began to swirl. Still holding hands, they stepped closer as Kiara peered at the image. Hazy, as if seen from a distance, an image grew more solid. Kiara could make out the outline of a large stone fortress. Fire lit up the night sky. She glimpsed two figures on horseback and recognized one immediately as Tris. "There he is!"

  The scene shifted without warning, to another night view. The battle for the keep raged, but there was panic in the soldiers' movements, and at the edge of the vision, Kiara glimpsed a gray-skinned beast like she and Tris had fought on the road to Westmarch. "Look there!" The night opened as if split like a curtain, and Kiara watched in horror as a man's body tumbled out of thin air. Blond hair matted with blood, cloak torn and burned, the body landed in the snow and lay still. The image flickered and disappeared.

  "Break the warding!" Cerise whispered as Kiara stood unmoving, staring in horror at the now-dark scrying ball. "Kiara, break the warding!"

  Kiara mumbled the words to dispel the magic and the wardings around them fell. Cerise guided her to a chair as Kiara wavered on her feet, and Macaria and Alle clustered around her. "You can't be certain that what you saw really happened," Alle said, taking the cup of tea Macaria poured and pressing it into Kiara's shaking hands. "We never saw the man's face. We don't know for certain who it was."

  Macaria slipped away, only to return with her flute. Wordlessly, she began to play a calming melody, but it took several minutes before its magic quieted Kiara enough for her to speak. "You were right, Cerise. I shouldn't have scryed. We know nothing more than we did before-nothing certain-but I'm more worried now than ever." Cerise laid a hand on Kiara's shoulder. "Tris is a powerful Summoner. You made a ritual vow to each other. If anything were to happen to him, he would come to you. He has that power. Barring that, you know that he's alive. And from your own stories of his training and the battle against the Obsidian King, he's withstood the worst that battle can do. Take comfort in that, and trust the Lady."

  A knock at the door interrupted anything else Cerise might have said. Alle went to answer it, and found a courier standing in the hallway. "M'lady. A message for you, from Lady Eadoin." Alle thanked him and closed the door, then ripped the envelope open. She scanned down the lines of Eadoin's spidery handwriting, then looked up at the others, who were watching expectantly. "Aunt Eadoin says that there's been an outbreak of fever among the servants. She's got her hands full with the manor, and she's not feeling well herself. She begs your pardon," Alle said with a nod toward Kiara, "but she thinks it best if she stays at Brightmoor until she's well, so as not to put you and the baby at risk." She paused. "That answers our question about taking you to stay there," she said and glanced at the paper once more, then frowned. "That's odd. She also said to thank the queen for the lovely gift of linens. They arrived last week and she had the servants put them out on the beds." Alle read on, and frowned deeply. "This worries me. Aunt Eadoin enclosed a second sheet. It's very formal. She's made me her proxy, to act in her stead as if I were she." "Lady Eadoin is up in years," Macaria said gently. "Perhaps it's just a precaution." "Perhaps. Or maybe she's sicker with the fever than she's letting on." Alle lowered the letter with a sigh. "I was counting on her help to deal with the rumors about you and Carroway. Aunt Eadoin's always been a voice of reason in the Margolan court-even the troublemakers listen to her. I'm afraid we'll have to wait."

  "I'm sorry to hear that Eadoin's not well," Kiara replied. "And I'm completely at a loss about the gift. I didn't send anything. Perhaps Crevan sent something in my name out of protocol." Urgent knocking cut off anything more she might have said. The dogs jumped to their feet at the noise, and even Jae raised his head from where he slept on the hearth. Alle opened the door again, to find Crevan framed in the doorway. The little man looked exhausted and disheveled, as if he had been up all night. He bowed low and stepped inside at Kiara's gesture, carefully shutting the door behind him. "Crevan, what's wrong?"

  "I'm sorry to bear this news, Your Majesty. Please understand, I had nothing to do with it." "What happened, Crevan?"

  Crevan twisted his thin hands. "The Council of Nobles has convened, at the request of Lord Guarov. Not even so much as a by-your-leave, mind you, except that they ordered me to find them a room where they wouldn't be disturbed, and send up their meals with plenty of warmed wine." He looked plaintively at Kiara. "A thousand pardons, m'lady, but they've sent me with a summons to request your testimony. They meet to discuss the rumors that allege you and Master Bard Carroway have committed adultery and betrayed King Martris. It's in their power, in the absence of the king, to find you both guilty of high treason." Kiara caught her breath. "But the rumors are lies! Nothing improper in the slightest has ever happened. Neither of us would ever betray Tris."

  "I believe you, m'lady. But it was for your sake that I sent Carroway away from court. I had hoped to stop the rumors before the talk reached this stage. Now-" Crevan turned his hands palms-up and shrugged.

  "Can they do this?" Kiara asked, looking to Crevan and Alle. "Summon the queen? Is it within their power?"

  After a moment's thought, both nodded. "In extreme measures, yes," Crevan replied. "I'm afraid so," Alle said.

  "They've sent for you at first bells," Crevan added. "Please, m'lady, I urge you to be prompt. The nobles do not like to be kept waiting, even by the king. It sours their mood."

  "Thank you, Crevan. That will be all." Kiara watched the door close behind the seneschal in silence.

  "This is bad," Alle said, beginning to pace. "If Aunt Eadoin were here, she could sway the Council. Even Lord Guarov treats her with respect. Before the coup, the Lord of Huntwood-Ban Soterius's father-was also on the Council. He was one of Bricen's staunchest supporters. Some of the others we could have counted on for support died under the Usurper's rule-Lord Alton, Lord Montbane, Lord Theiroth-all dead." "Who's left?" Kiara asked, forcing down her own panic and willing herself into the coolness that came in preparation for battle.

  "Lord Guarov-we know he's trouble," Alle replied. "Lord Acton-he's the elderly gent you met at the wedding. Don't count him out-he's a spitfire for his age. King Martris brought some of the vayash moru lords into the gathering, but they left court when the king did-I think they're afraid."

  "Mikhail could represent Lord Gabriel-if he weren't locked up in the dungeon," Macaria added darkly. "And Carroway is heir to his family's title-but he's not going to be much help either."

  "It's not impossible," Alle said, pursing her lips as she thought. "If they're convening at Guarov's request, it doesn't mean they all agree. There are four others on the Council. Lord Dravan, Lady Casset, Count Suphie and Dame Nuray. Nuray is trouble-there've been rumors for years that she's a spy for Trevath. The others are wild cards. It's been said that they all have ties to other kingdoms. Dravan's reputed to have ties in Dhasson-which might not be a bad thing, since King Harrol is Tris's uncle."

  "We'd heard that Lady Casset feeds information to King Staden," Macaria put in. "And that Suphie is Eastmark's puppet."

  "Suphie is a troubling man," Alle said. "He's not of Eastmark, but he does a lot of business there, supplying weapons and mercenaries. They say he's not a forgiving person." "And we still don't know who father's spy is," Kiara added. "Or whether he or she could be of any help. Goddess! The last thing we need is word of the rumors getting back to Isencroft." "One problem at a time," Cerise counseled. "First bells isn't far away. You need to eat, my dear, to replenish your strength. Then you must dress for high court, and remind them that not only are you Margolan's queen and mother to its heir, but heir to the Isencroft crown as well." She

  laid a hand on Kiara's arm comfortingly. "I have no doubt that you can face down this enemy as confidently as you've ridden into battle-although perhaps it might be best to leave your sword behind this time!"

  The time to meet with the Council of Nobles came far too quickly. Alle accompanied her. Cer
ise followed, resolute that she must be in attendance as a precaution, although Kiara suspected it was to make certain that the Council never forgot that the queen they sought to judge also carried the heir to the throne. Crevan led them through the narrow hallways of Shekerishet. Ammond and Hothan, Kiara's regular guards, followed and two new guardsmen, the men who had accompanied Crevan, joined them. Kiara drew herself up to her full height. Though she hated the discomfort of formal court regalia, she understood its power. Her dress was heavy with brocade and velvet, sewn with pearls and gold thread. Its high bodice accentuated her gently swelling belly. The neckline was modest-almost matronly by court fashion. At her throat hung a pendant nearly the size of her palm, the four-headed dragon seal of the heir to the Isencroft throne. The crown of the queen of Margolan glittered in Kiara's auburn hair. She said a silent prayer to the Lady, as she did before going into battle, and found herself wishing for the clean demarcations of a war fought with weapons instead of words. Six nobles stood as Crevan opened the door to the meeting chamber. They made perfunctory bows in greeting as a servant ran to pull out a chair for Kiara, which she refused.

  "Why have you summoned me?" Kiara's voice had an edge to it, the same tone she had often heard King Donelan use when he wished to remind an errant noble of his station. A glance around the table confirmed Alle's guess at the nobles in attendance. White-haired Lord Acton Kiara recalled from the wedding, and Lord Guarov, with his features coldly impassive, was equally memorable. Dame Nuray's looks hinted at Trevath blood, making her easy to identify.

  A blond woman sat stiffly to Nuray's right, with an expression that might have been impatience or boredom; Kiara guessed her to be Lady Casset. Of the remaining two men, one had a rough manner, as if he were more at home on the front lines of a battle than with the pleasantries of court. Count Suphie? If so, Kiara's hopes of persuading him on the basis of her kinship to King Kalcen died. Suphie was an older man, easily Donelan's age, meaning that he would have been a supporter of her grandfather, King Radomar, and likely to have shared his disdain for Viata's outland marriage. The last man, Lord Dravan, looked old enough to be her

  grandfather, but his light blue eyes were sharp and his angular features bespoke intelligence. Wild cards all of them.

  "There is no way to put this delicately," Lord Guarov said, although nothing in his manner suggested he was prone to doing so, regardless. Guarov was a slim man with hawk-like features and long-fingered, soft hands that made it clear he had never toiled. He had dark eyes that seemed to constantly scan the horizon for potential threats, and the punctiliousness of a bookkeeper. "Credible rumors allege great impropriety, Your Majesty. It is said widely at court that you and Master Bard Carroway have betrayed the king's trust, and your wedding vows. To do so is treason."

  Kiara glanced around the table. Dravan and Casset looked clearly uncomfortable. Nuray leaned forward intently, as if watching a drama. Suphie crossed his arms and leaned back, scowling. Acton's anger was clear in his face. They may be obligated to go along with this, but some of them don't like it, Kiara thought.

  "Is Margolan governed by rumors?" Kiara replied. "In Isencroft, such serious charges require witnesses. Pray tell, have you any to your charge?" One hand rose to finger the crest at her throat, a reminder, in case any there had forgotten, of her own rank. The other hand fell to rest on her belly, silently underscoring her status as the mother of the heir. "On more than one occasion, Bard Carroway has been seen to enter the queen's rooms," Guarov replied, with a tone as if that settled the matter.

  "And did your 'witnesses' bother to tell you than on both occasions, Lady Alle, my healer Cerise, and Macaria, my personal bard, were already in the room and remained there until Carroway left? We were never alone, at any time."

  "The rumors do not allege that you were alone, m'lady, but rather that you engaged in treasonous conduct."

  Kiara felt her cheeks redden with anger at the implication. "Is it your intention to call the heir to the Isencroft throne a whore who performs for an audience?" She could see the others wince at her plainspokenness.

  "I did not use that word, m'lady."

  "You didn't need to."

  "The fact remains-"

  "You have no facts," Kiara cut him off. "Only lies and rumors. Show your 'witness.'" "I've promised him protection."

  "To make accusations without risk?" Kiara's voice was scornful. "This isn't Nargi, where an angry scullery maid can concoct a charge of magery and have even a high priest burned alive."

  "It's the charge of this Council to protect the interests of the king."

  "I rode beside Martris Drayke to take back the throne from the Usurper," Kiara said coldly. "I fought beside him against Foor Arontala and the Obsidian King. Bard Carroway also risked his life to put Tris Drayke on the throne. Our loyalty is absolute." "Or opportune." Heads swiveled toward Count Suphie. "After all, you were betrothed from birth to that same usurper, and broke that covenant to become his brother's lover. So technically, this is the second instance of adultery."

  Kiara fixed Count Suphie with a hard glare. "The betrothal contract averted war between Eastmark and Isencroft. My uncle, King Kalcen, rescinded the charges against my mother when he took the throne. Technically," she said, emphasizing the word through gritted teeth, "that dissolved the reason for the covenant with Jared."

  "We're willing to accept that it is not your fault, m'lady," Guarov said in a placating tone. "You're new in our land, and our ways may be different to you. Bard Carroway, on the other hand, has a.. reputation, of which you might not have been aware. Don't be ashamed to tell us that he forced you, and we'll have the means to clear your name." "Old scandals reach even new ears," Kiara replied disdainfully. "Your friend Lady Nadine preyed on the bard as a boy, earning her Bricen's banishment. Now you offer me a bargain that is no bargain at all-to admit guilt and sacrifice the king's loyal friend. Was this what you meant by having your servants send a shroud and burial oil as a gift for the child I carry?"

  "A woman is never so tempted to betrayal as when she is pregnant-it's well known liaisons can be made without the. inconvenience. of an unexpected 'souvenir.'" "Guarov, that is enough!" Lord Acton rose to his feet, leaning heavily on the table for support. "I came to this table reluctantly, and only because I feared you might make a spectacle like this. By the Lady! Stand down and let this pass."

  "What do you propose, Guarov? She carries the heir to the throne. Would you hang her- ere the king returns from battle? Pray, what is the hurry? 'Tis not the first time the court has feasted on vicious talk-nor the last, I'm sure." Lady Casset's fine-boned fingers twitched as she spoke, and the carefully studied expression of indifference betrayed a hint of disdain, as if she

  condescended to speak to one below her station. Everything about her spoke of old aristocracy, from her speech to the antique and expensive jewelry on her porcelain-white throat.

  "Nothing so drastic, m'lady." The speaker was Dame Nuray. Kiara regarded her closely. Nuray was old enough to have been a friend of Bricen's first wife, Eldra, a Trevath princess and mother to Jared. Even in her short time in Margolan, Kiara had heard it said that few without Trevath ties tolerated Eldra's black moods and vicious tempers. "Hang the bard, if you have certain proof. And to prevent another 'forcing,' double m'lady's guards-for her own protection."

  "I will not be party to this." Lord Dravan slammed his palm down on the table. His voice shook with anger. "I brokered Bard Carroway's fostering here, when he was just a lad. Many's the hunt I shared with Lord Carroway and King Bricen in days long gone." He fixed Guarov with an angry glare. "And I remember Bricen's rage when Lady Nadine badly used the boy and drove him to desperation. If this is your revenge, Guarov, I will have none of it." "Shall we put it to vote then?" Guarov said smoothly. "Those who believe we should take action to preserve the purity of the crown, please vote." Dame Nuray and Count Suphie added their raised hands to Guarov's vote. Kiara held her breath. Three for, three against. "In the event of a tied vote on such
a matter, I am empowered to appoint a proxy for our missing member," said Guarov.

  "None is needed." Alle stepped forward from where she watched the proceedings. She withdrew the parchment from Eadoin. "This arrived today, by courier, from Lady Eadoin. I'm her brother's child, and at his death, became her ward and only heir." She handed the paper to Acton, not to Guarov, who examined it and showed it first to Dravan and Lady Casset. Acton presented it to Guarov, at a distance that enabled the angry lord to read its message but not touch the parchment itself. "Why was I not informed?" Guarov raged.

  "Because Lady Eadoin did not feel obliged to inform you," Alle replied smoothly. Kiara glanced at Alle. During the revolution Alle might have passed herself off as a barmaid, but here in the Council Chamber, her true pedigree showed clearly. "I assure you, fever-stricken though she is, Eadoin will be here by carriage within a candlemark for such a vote if you don't accept my proxy. And when she's done voting, she's likely to have choice words for those who disturbed her sickbed."

  Acton's tightly pressed lips seemed to suppress a snicker. A glint of approval glinted in

  Lady Casset's eyes. Dravan did not make an effort to hide his pleasure. "Mother and Childe, she has you, Guarov. Eadoin's likely to do just that-and enjoy seeing you come down with the pox for good measure. Put an end to this sham. The vote supports the queen." "One moment." Dame Nuray raised a hand. "I can't see harm in maintaining the bard's banishment. Deserved or not," she added acidly, "his reputation casts dangerous shadows on the queen at court. I'm told he rests comfortably at the Dragon's Rage Inn. Leave him there until the king returns-and see if the king's friendship is as. tolerant. as this council."