“Tavi and Tullen, there are rumors flying about the duke’s visit,” Sall said. “Can you please tell us what you saw?”
“And what you did?” Reba added.
Tavi looked at Tullen. His mouth was full of eggs, and he gestured for her to begin. She sat up straight in her chair and recounted their experience the previous day. She couldn’t help but laugh again as she described the duke’s awkward one-man dance on moving ground.
Jenevy, Tullen, and Narre laughed too, but Tavi noticed that Sall, Reba, Wrey, and Ash remained somber. After a pause, Ash said, “I guess it’s time for us to act.”
Tavi’s head swiveled his direction. “Act? What, right now?”
Ash raised his eyebrows and set his fork down. “One of the king’s people came to the Meadow. We won’t be safe here much longer.”
“And if we’re not safe here, we’re not safe anywhere,” Reba added.
Sall nodded firmly. “That’s why I called this meeting. We need a plan, and we need to take action. If the duke is demanding money for taxes, I doubt a tiny earthquake will keep him from returning here. One of the Meadow Dwellers might even tell him we’re here. Or he might enter the Meadow and recognize one of us from the posters.”
“He’s one man!” Tavi protested. “He doesn’t look strong or dangerous. He didn’t even carry a weapon. We’re still in the safest place we can be. Maybe Evitt will send us some information from Savala soon. As of now, nothing has changed, except one silly man being turned away from the Meadow gates.”
Ash cleared his throat. “This isn’t what I expected from you, Tavi.”
Tavi took her napkin off her lap and set it on the table, then turned her whole body to face Ash. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
Ash shrugged. “The girl I met at the farmhouse two years ago was willing to risk everything to get away from Konner Burrell.”
“And from you,” Tavi said.
“From me, too. So what happened to that girl?”
The room was silent, and Tavi became aware of her loud, rapid breaths. She consciously took a deep breath and released it before saying, “That girl is a woman who understands a whole lot more about the world. I got away from you, Konner, and Aldin because I was lucky. Since then, there have been plenty of times I wasn’t so lucky. That’s why Aldin is king and my sister is gone.”
She spoke in a low voice, not breaking her eye contact with Ash. “I’m not counting on luck anymore. We’ll take Konner, Camalyn, and Aldin down; I’m still willing to do whatever it takes to make sure that happens. But not until we’re ready. And one more thing. You can think whatever you want to about me, but of all the people in this room, your opinion matters to me the least. Keep it to yourself next time.”
“Tavi.”
It was Sall again, and with a sigh, Tavi turned to face him.
“I think it’s time to act too,” Sall said.
“So do I,” Narre added.
Tavi stood. “Are you even listening to yourselves? It’s just like the night before Liberation Day! We were so convinced we had to act. So we threw together a plan with less care than I take picking out my clothes in the morning. We barreled forward, convinced it would work. And what happened? Our plan crumbled around us. And in case any of you have forgotten, it wasn’t the only thing that crumbled. A huge chunk of the council building broke off and fell on Jenevy and me. We should be dead.”
Tullen held up one hand. “Tavi, listen—“
“No, you listen!” Tavi interrupted. “I will act the minute we’re truly ready. But right now, we still don’t know enough about Konner’s weaknesses to confront him. I don’t want to depend on well-timed magic to save our lives. Let’s keep preparing, just like we’re doing. And when the time comes, I promise I’ll lead the way. We will take Konner down.”
The room was quiet. Finally Tullen, who sat next to Tavi, broke the silence. “You know, sometimes you can’t guarantee a thing will work out. And you have to decide if you’ll press forward anyway.”
Tavi turned to him. She was about to respond, but the intensity of his gaze caught her off-guard. She closed her mouth and had to force herself to pull her eyes away. Sitting back in her seat, she took a bite of eggs. But they suddenly tasted bland.
The next day, Duke Gistler sat in his dining room with his wife, eating lunch. He was enjoying the silence until Ora cleared her throat, patted her mouth with her napkin, and said, “I’d like to hear more about your visit to the Meadow.”
Rogile slammed his fork on the table, causing his water goblet to tremble. He placed a steadying hand on the crystal glass and forced his lips into a polite smile. “I’ve told you all of it,” he said. “I tried to get in, and they turned me away. There’s no more to the story.”
“But you’re the duke,” Ora said. “Did you demand they let you in?”
“Of course I did!”
“And?”
“They said no. Just as we expected them to.”
His wife narrowed her eyes. “Why do I think there’s more to this story?”
“There’s not.” Rogile returned his attention to his plate, taking a large bite of bread. The crust was too tough, and the slice had been cut too thick. He’d have to talk to the cook about that. He didn’t appreciate looking like a cow when he chewed.
A knock sounded at the front door. Rogile exchanged a questioning look with his wife but continued to eat.
Pellum entered a minute later. He walked directly up to Rogile, said, “Pardon me, Duke and Duchess,” and leaned over, whispering in Rogile’s ear.
Rogile’s eyes widened as he listened, and by the time Pellum was done talking, the duke sported a grin. Without even looking at his wife, he stood and said, “Escort the guest to my study once I’ve had time to get settled there.” He left the room.
In his study, Rogile straightened a stack of envelopes that must have been bumped by a clumsy maid. He then wiped a few specks of dust off his desk, folded his hands, and waited.
A knock soon sounded. When Rogile stood and bid Pellum to enter, the butler opened the door, stepped inside, and introduced their guest, who strode in. Pellum then left the room, closing the door behind him.
“Welcome,” Rogile said, though his voice held more caution than hospitality. He wasn’t sure what to expect of this meeting. “Please, sit.”
“Thank you.” The guest sat.
“How is everything in the Meadow?” Rogile asked.
“Actually, that’s what I wanted to discuss with you,” his guest said in the strangely soothing, singsong voice everyone from the Meadow seemed to have. “I think the two of us can help each other.”
Chapter Seven
During labor, inexperienced midwives often attempt to solve every problem through action. They instruct mothers to reposition themselves; perform far too many pelvic exams; and combine herbs in countless combinations.
Please understand; I am not discounting the value of repositioning, exams, and herbs. However, we must always remember this: In non-emergency situations, words may be far more important than actions. Speak with the mother. Ask her what she is feeling. Encourage her when she believes she cannot continue. Remind her of the purpose behind the pain.
-From Midwifery: A Manual for Practical and Karian Midwives by Ellea Kariana
Evitt woke to the sound of a door squeaking.
“Intruder!” a gruff, male voice shouted.
But Evitt was already activating his magic, and it responded faster than it ever had. Pain entered his head, and a split second later, the same voice emitted a loud curse.
“What’s going on here?” a calmer, female voice asked.
“Sorry, ma’am. I coulda swore someone was sleeping on the floor, right there. I looked away just for a second to see if you were coming, and when I looked back, he was gone. It must’ve been a shadow. I couldn’t see too well.”
“You should always hold your lantern next to your side, not in front of your face,” the woman chided. “The light b
linds you. Keeps you from seeing things that are there and makes you see things that aren’t.”
“I’ll remember that for next time.”
“Grab a hand cannon, and get one for me too.”
Hearing her words, Evitt’s eyes widened. He’d already crept quietly to the wall, but the woman stood in the doorway, so he couldn’t leave. Forcing himself to pull his eyes away from the two guards standing just feet away, he examined the room, now lit by two lanterns. Much of the space was filled with barrels and crates. And sure enough, several hand cannons lay on shelves mounted to the walls.
Of all the rooms in the building, he’d chosen the armory to hide in? He covered his mouth with his hands, trying to lessen the sound of his rapid breathing. But the guards were talking to each other, and neither of them looked his way. When they left, he followed, barely avoiding being hit by the door as the woman shut it.
The guards walked straight to the throne room door, and again, Evitt slipped inside, his socks silent on the floor.
I’m in the throne room. Evitt’s breaths came even faster, and his heart kept pace in double-time. He spotted a table covered in a floor-length cloth. It would be the perfect place to hide. But he didn’t need to do that yet. He had plenty of magic left.
Wandering around the room, Evitt marveled at the opulence. He knew this wasn’t the permanent throne room, but someone had done a good job making it a space fit for a king and queen. The walls were covered in gold-and-red fabric. Thick rugs were artfully arranged on the polished wood floors. Every person in the room except the guard and a servant wore clothing that Evitt couldn’t afford if he saved his gardener wages for a full year.
Most impressive of all were the king and queen. They were decked out in such finery, they didn’t even look like the people they used to be. Relin and Camalyn sat on leather chairs, chatting with Konner, who stood in front of them. Evitt made a rude gesture toward the chief minister, wishing he had the courage to do such a thing when he wasn’t invisible.
I should hide to save my magic and get rid of this headache. Evitt walked around to the back of the cloth-covered table. Delicacies were spread across its surface. He looked around and, convinced no one was watching, snagged a chocolate. Then he slipped under the table, released his magic, set his shoes down, and took a bite of the chocolate.
It was the most delicious thing he’d ever tasted, creamy and sweet, with some sort of berry jam in the center. His hiding place, however, left much to be desired. What he wouldn’t have given for a moth-eaten tablecloth. The cloth surrounding him was a thick tapestry, woven into intricate patterns. Not only did it prevent him from watching the room; it also let in very little light. And there was no rug under the table, so he was forced to sit on the hard floor.
But at least he was here. He settled into the most comfortable position he could. Then Evitt listened to the king and queen, along with Konner, as they met with lords, ladies, and former councillors. For hours.
It didn’t take long for Evitt to realize that running a kingdom was terribly dull. The only distractions he had were his annoying hunger and thirst. He’d skipped both breakfast and lunch, and now it was time for dinner. The chocolate had made his hunger worse; he just wanted more. A few times, he was afraid those in the room would check under the table to find the source of the growling noises his stomach kept producing
At last, the king, queen, and Konner began discussing their own dinner plans. It sounded like they’d be leaving soon, until Evitt heard the door open. Someone spoke; he thought it was the young man from the desk in the lobby. “Your Royal Highnesses, I present Remina Birge.” The door closed.
Evitt hadn’t met Birge, but he’d heard plenty about her. Ash had often complained about her, saying she’d insinuated herself into Konner’s good graces remarkably quickly, and she was willing to do anything to get power. Evitt had wondered if Ash was just jealous of the savvy gray councillor.
King Relin and Queen Camalyn greeted Birge, and Konner asked how her travels were going.
“My travels are fine,” Birge said. “But I’ve encountered something I think you should be aware of. A few weeks ago, I visited Duke and Duchess Gistler.”
“How are they doing in their new roles?” Konner asked.
“About as well as we expected them to.”
Her statement was met by laughs from Konner, Relin, and Camalyn.
“They’ve been paying all the extra taxes out of their own funds,” Birge said.
“It’s a tiny duchy; I’d imagine it’s not too much of a stretch,” Konner said.
“True. But it’s not as tiny as we thought it was.”
Camalyn asked, “What do you mean?”
“The duchess slipped up and mentioned a community in their territory that has been exempt from taxes for many years. It’s called the Meadow.”
Evitt’s breath caught, and his eyes widened.
“I think I’ve heard of the place,” Konner said. “Pacifists, right?”
“I have no idea,” Birge replied. “But I had the duke and duchess take me there. We didn’t go in, just observed from a distance. It’s a good-sized community. Hundreds at least. I informed the duke and duchess that their taxes will be raised accordingly.”
“How did they take it?” Konner asked.
“Not well. They’re convinced the residents of the Meadow won’t even let them in.”
Relin finally spoke up. “How hard can it be to get in if these Meadow people are peaceful?”
Birge’s sigh was audible even under the tablecloth. “The community is fenced. And the Gistlers aren’t exactly brave or adventurous.”
In a no-nonsense tone, Konner said, “We have two problems: a community that has separated itself from the rest of the nation, and an army thoroughly lacking in experience. We’ll address both problems at once.
“The army is camped fairly close to Duke Gistler’s duchy. And General Talger has been preparing to join them, along with the troops she’s been training. We’ll tell her to leave tomorrow. She and the duke will take a team of soldiers to the Meadow to confront the leaders there. Frighten them a bit if necessary. I’m confident any little rebellion will die out after that. Assuming the duke and duchess haven’t solved the problem already, of course.”
The worry that had sprouted in Evitt’s chest at the mention of the Meadow grew into full-blown panic. He forced himself to breathe evenly and continue listening.
“I told the duke to go speak with the Meadow leaders, but I doubt it went well,” Birge said. “Your plan is sound.”
“King Relin?” Konner asked.
“Hmm?” Relin responded.
“The plan, Relin. Do you approve?”
“Oh. Yes. We’ll send Talger and her troops tomorrow.”
Camalyn said, “Thank you for the information, Ms. Birge.”
Birge left, and the conversation returned to dinner plans. Two minutes later, Evitt heard the king, queen, and Konner preparing to leave.
He activated his magic, then slipped out from under the table. When he’d entered the room, sunlight had shone through the windows. Now, those same windows were dark. The room was lit only by lanterns, hanging from the ceiling and set on tables. Three guards escorted Camalyn, Relin, and Konner out. Evitt tagged along, feeling quite smug to be walking with royalty, even if no one else could see him.
A guard left to summon carriages. Evitt followed her out, then found himself stuck back in front of the barriers. However, the outdoor guards soon rearranged the barriers and the spectators to create a clear path for the king, queen, and Konner to reach their carriages. Evitt sauntered along the open path, right past the guards and crowds, shaking his head at how easy his exit was compared to his entrance.
When he was past the guards at the end of the street, he put his shoes on, found an alley, and released his magic. Then he ran toward home. At last, he had news to share with Tavi.
I’ll write it all down, Evitt told himself. I’ve got to put it in code, but th
at shouldn’t be too hard. What time was that man from the Meadow coming back to meet with me? He ground his teeth when he realized they hadn’t set a time. Just “evening.” Well, it was evening. The man might have to wait while Evitt wrote his letter, but at least he’d get word to the Golds.
It only took a quarter hour for Evitt to run home. He breathed a sigh of relief when he entered the house and didn’t see his guest yet. The house smelled of roasted chicken. He was starving, but dinner could wait. Poking his head in the kitchen, he said, “I have something to work on in my room, Mother. May I eat after that?”
“Sure,” his mother replied.
Evitt sat on his bed, pulled out a piece of paper, and picked up a pencil.
Dear Trian, he wrote. That was Tavi’s code name, and he was determined to keep writing to her, even if she wanted to pretend he didn’t exist. Evitt shook his head and lowered his pencil back to the paper.
I received Senn’s letter and took his advice to heart.
Remember our mutual friends from last spring? I think I told you they’re building a new house. I stopped by their temporary residence for a surprise visit.
The youngest of them likes playing with toy soldiers these days. But as I’m sure you recall, the oldest is the one who makes all the rules for their playtime. The oldest seems to think the youngest should share his toys, so they’ll be sending some of the soldiers to you. Be on the lookout for them shortly after you receive this letter.
Be safe,
Ellis
Evitt read the letter over. He didn’t think he could make the situation any clearer without being too obvious. After folding it and placing it back in the envelope he’d received the day before, he crossed out the name on the front and wrote “Trian.” He sealed the envelope with a glob of candle wax.
Letter in hand, Evitt left his bedroom and walked to their tiny kitchen. His brother, who wasn’t yet a year old, was on the floor playing with a pile of handkerchiefs. Evitt mussed the boy’s hair, sat at the table, and grinned at his mother. “Smells great.”
Facing the Fire Page 7
