THREE DROPS OF BLOOD

by Michelle L. Levigne

  It seemed Megassa talked of nothing but the young Valors. Granted, most of her conversation centered around what arrogant fools they were, and how sad that the most handsome and graceful ones were the worst of the lot in terms of pride. Meghianna didn't need to be suddenly infatuated with boys to know that the more her sister disparaged them, the more they fascinated her.

  "Borys and Pirkin and their little circle. Poor Pirkin. He didn't even know his father was a Valor. Where did he think he got his imbrose from, if he didn't know his father had some?" Megassa shook her head, very nearly upsetting her balance. She snapped out a command and vaulted off her horse's back as it cantered up next to the wall where Meghianna perched.

  Megassa turned a somersault and landed lightly on her feet. She grinned and executed a flamboyant bow as her sister clapped at her acrobatics. Then a moment later, her face sobered and she shook her head.

  "I think it's sad that they've kept such secrets from him. There are quite enough people who know who his mother and grandmother were, and you just know the wrong people will find out that he doesn't know the truth. They'll tell him in the worst possible way, at the worst possible time, and just destroy him. It isn't fair. He'll be so hurt, and he's the nicest one of the entire crop of trainees this year."

  "What I think is the worst of the whole situation is that he's going to blame Lord Mrillis, and you can see Lord Mrillis would like nothing better than to be called Grandfather, and see something besides awe in Pirkin's eyes." Meghianna sighed and picked at a bit of moss speckling the stone of the wall next to her. Megassa clambered up next to her, and they looked out over the practice field.

  "Why doesn't his father want anyone to know Lady Emrillian was Pirkin's mother? I should think he'd be proud. She was a great enchantress in her own right, but to be the daughter of Ceera, Queen of Snows and Lord Mrillis, to be tied to the Zygradon--Oh. Do you think Pirkin is tied to the Zygradon, too?"

  "Probably. But if he doesn't use his imbrose very much, it could be stunted. He might as well be the son of that Noveni twit, and not Lady Emrillian."

  "Meggi!" Megassa's eyes widened and she chortled. "I've never heard you say anything like that."

  "The things I've heard about Pirkin's stepmother... Some people say King Pyris wasn't ashamed of his imbrose or his marriage to Lady Emrillian until he married Queen Lynzette and came under her influence. I've heard her entire family hates Rey'kil. They don't want to ever come to Lygroes, and are very proud that they can look back twenty generations and find no Rey'kil among their ancestors." Meghianna shuddered, surprised at the bitter taste in her mouth from speaking such words. She had heard far worse things about the queen of Goarlotte and her Noveni pure-blood family. Enough to make her wonder if Pirkin had been tormented by his relatives when his imbrose manifested and he was tapped for Valor training. She pitied him.

  "I know I didn't want to be an enchanter, and I'm glad my imbrose was stunted, but to live without any magic at all is just--" Megassa stopped, a frown twisting her mouth. She turned to look behind them, nearly falling off the wall. "Do you hear that?"

  Meghianna opened her mouth to say she heard nothing, when she did hear a thudding noise. As one, the sisters swung their legs over the wall to the other side, putting their backs to the practice field, and slid down off the wall together. Following their ears and Megassa's imbrose-enhanced tracking skills, they hurried to a building made of sod, temporary housing for the weapons and equipment to be used in training the new Valors to use their magic skills. The building was dug into the side of the shallow hill that stood between the practice field and the Warhawk's fortress, wide and long enough for several dozen people to sit inside comfortably for lessons, and to make an impromptu wrestling arena when the occasion warranted.

  Stopping in the open doorway, Meghianna doubted this was a planned wrestling match. For one thing, Pirkin seemed to be fighting three opponents at the same time, while his friends stood in a loose ring around the combatants, shouting encouragement or jeering, depending on whom they addressed.

  "Enough!" she snapped, and raised her hands to grab hold of Threads to snare the combatants and pull them apart.

  "Oh, let me," Megassa said, and snapped her hands forward, flinging out bright flashes of light that shoved the four tussling boys apart, sending them sprawling onto their backs.

  "Impressive." Meghianna muffled a giggle and curtsied to her sister.

  "Thank you, my lady." Megassa mirrored the curtsy, and then turned back to the knot of young Valors, who all had turned to stare at the two of them. "What are you fighting about? And don't waste our time by saying it was nothing. You all look guilty and quite childish."

  As one, everyone turned to Pirkin, who got up on his knees and wiped blood and tears off his face with his sleeve.

  "I beg you, as Queen of Snows, tell me it isn't true," he growled.

  "Oh... dear." Meghianna glanced over her shoulder. Sure enough, the wall where she and Megassa had been sitting, discussing Pirkin's family history in ordinary voices, was quite close enough for anyone sitting inside this building to have heard most of the words, if not all.

  "Enough playacting," Timot snapped as he picked himself up off the dirt floor where Megassa's slap of magic had tossed him. "You obviously knew we were listening--"

  "If we had known anyone was nearby and could hear us, we would have stopped. And you should have told us you could hear us. Listening in on a private conversation is quite rude, and see where it leads you," Megassa said, gesturing around at the sweaty, bruised, bloody Valors.

  No one stood anywhere near Pirkin, leaving an empty circle nearly a horse length in radius all around him. It broke Meghianna's heart.

  "You knew we were listening, and said those things deliberately, to divide us." Timot spat into the dirt between them.

  "Are you calling us liars?" Meghianna said, her voice dropping to a whisper. Shock awakened something inside her, letting her see all the tangled, vibrating Threads running through the building and the people there, without willing it. It would be so simple a thing, to yank on a few Threads and throttle everyone who had fought with Pirkin, who stared at her and Megassa with contempt and fear.

  That fear stopped her, chilling her anger.

  "Liars. More than liars."

  "What can be more than liars?" Megassa laughed, the sound cruel and brittle. It cut off with a feeling like shattering ice in the air, when Timot and two of his friends took steps toward her, their hands going to the knives at their belts.

  "Enough!" Captain Gynefra roared, stomping into the shelter. The Threads blazed bright at her touch, straightening to snap into walls separating the four combatants before anyone could make another move. "You, and you." She gestured around the room at each person who showed signs of battle. "Come with me. The rest of you, to your quarters. You will sit on your beds, saying nothing, doing nothing but stare straight ahead. I will know if you try to communicate with each other, if you do anything, if you stray from my commands by even a finger's width. Go!"

  "Captain--" Meghianna began.

  "Who is at the center of this?" The guard captain's voice softened, but not the cold fury and disappointment on her face.

  "I'm afraid we are. And Pirkin. I believe this needs to be brought before my father."

  Speculation flared bright in Gynefra's eyes. She nodded and gestured for Pirkin to step out from the others. "Go. I will join you when I have the rest of these miscreants settled."

  Pirkin said nothing, but Meghianna thought if she tweaked on the Threads that buzzed from his passage through them, she could hear his thoughts. That was rude, even if it would have been helpful. She sighed and thought she understood why rebel enchanters through the ages had violated the basic rules of polite behavior and ethics. Spying on others' thoughts would have made things ever so much easier.

  She knew how to wipe recent memories from minds. The emotional upset still roiling through the air kept everyone's minds open, easier to manipulate. Something li
ke the difference between warm wax and baked clay. It would be so easy to reach out through the Threads and take away the memories of the words and anger and the scuffle of the last hour. But it would not be right. And knowing Mrillis as she did, she suspected he would be relieved that the truth had finally come out in the open. How many times could her mentor encounter his grandson and endure the pain of knowing the young man had no idea of their relationship? Meghianna had seen images of Emrillian and Ceera, both in Mrillis' memories and the memories of her teachers in the Stronghold, and images created in splintered light. She could see the features Pirkin had inherited from them--surely others who knew his mother and grandmother could see them, too, and would remark on them without thinking, eventually.

  Yes, despite the circumstances, it was most likely best that this revelation happened now.

  The Valor on duty outside Efrin's workroom must have sensed something before they even turned the corner in the hallway. He took one look at Megassa's scowl, Meghianna's worried expression, and Pirkin with blood and bruises on his face, his clothes mussed and bloody from fighting, and said nothing. He gestured for the trio to wait, and stepped through the door. Meghianna made a private wager with herself on how long it would take for them to be called in before her father, and whether he would come to the door himself. She counted to eleven before the Valor opened the door--she had estimated fifteen seconds.

  Efrin stood up from his worktable and gestured for them to come inside, but said nothing. She lost all the parts of her wager. Meghianna felt something writhe inside, unsure if she felt guilty or simply ashamed at having to come before her father like this. As Efrin simply looked back and forth among the three of them standing before him, his frown deepening, it occurred to her that this wasn't good for her dignity as Queen of Snows.

  "Prince Pirkin..." Efrin sighed and sat down. "If either of my daughters attacks you physically, you do have my permission to defend yourself."

  Pirkin gaped. Meghianna shook her head, not quite sure what her father was thinking. Megassa let out a gasp, eyes wide, momentarily speechless. Then she burst out laughing and sank down into the nearest chair.

  "No, I doubt either of you would be so childish," Efrin said, his stern features relaxing, "but you have to admit, that is the first thought that comes to mind, with the two of you dressed that way. It was amusing when you were younger, this trick of trying to be twins. But now, at your... advanced ages?"

  "We were at the practice field, and Megassa was showing off her newest riding trick for me," Meghianna explained. "Papa, I'm afraid most of this is my fault."

  "Equally divided," Megassa said, shaking her head, somber again. "It takes two to talk, and we were foolish to talk about things Lord Mrillis asked us not to discuss, out in the open, without checking to see if we could be overheard."

  "Ah." Efrin nodded. He rubbed his chin, his gaze raking Pirkin from head to toe. The young Valor stood still, staring straight ahead, the clenching of his fists the only sign of his inner turmoil. "Please, sit. I'm afraid this is a conversation long overdue, and likely to be highly uncomfortable for you. Kaylon!" He raised a hand to keep the three silent until the Valor at the door opened it and looked inside. "Please have someone send for Lord Mrillis."

  "I can send for him, Papa," Meghianna offered.

  "Ah, yes. I forget sometimes... Thank you, Kaylon. No need." He waited until the Valor shut the door. "Kindly give him a general idea of what happened, so he doesn't walk in on us unprepared. As I am afraid you were, Prince Pirkin. My apologies."

  Meghianna sent her memories of the conversation and the ending of the battle to Mrillis. The ringing silence at his end of the Thread of communication told her far more than any words on his part. She ached for him.

  "Majesty." Pirkin slowly sank into the chair Efrin pointed out to him. "Please... My friends accused your daughters of lying. That is only part of why we fought. I know better, but... I don't want to believe it."

  "What exactly did you hear?"

  "We discussed how unfair it was that Lord Pirkin didn't know Lady Emrillian was his mother, and Lady Ceera and Lord Mrillis were his grandparents. And..." Megassa glanced sideways at Meghianna for a moment. "We talked about the stupidity of the Noveni in Moerta, who hate Rey'kil so much, and how King Pyris was... well, I was thinking how weak and stupid he was, to let their stupidity affect him, so he lied to his son about his mother." She shrugged. "I'm sorry, Pirkin. You needed to know, but not to find out that way."

  "What else has my father kept secret from me?" Pirkin whispered. He studied his fists, clenched on his knees, and hunched his shoulders a little more.

  Meghianna wondered if Pirkin even realized the import of what he had said. Just by questioning his father's truthfulness and openness, he indicated that he believed what the young Valors had overheard. He believed, even unwillingly, that his real mother's identity had been hidden from him. He believed Mrillis was his grandfather. Meghianna felt a tight knot in her chest loosen, and something warm blossomed. It was joy for Mrillis, she decided. Though he never spoke of it, she knew how much he had longed to be part of his grandson's life, to see more than respect in Pirkin's eyes when he looked at him during lessons or the council sessions.

  Three taps sounded on the door, then it opened and Mrillis stepped inside. His gaze immediately went to Pirkin, who didn't look up.

  "We're very sorry, Lord Mrillis," Megassa hurried to say. "We know you wanted it kept quiet, and we just didn't think about anyone hearing us. Although, it's not entirely our fault. They were very rude for eavesdropping on us."

  "That is often the way of it," Mrillis said. "No one is entirely innocent. Many of us have wronged you, lad." His mouth twisted into a flat smile when Pirkin's head jerked up and he stared at the man standing in front of him. "I should have fought your father's request. I should have defied him and insisted on the truth. But how happy would you have been, torn between us? You love your stepmother, don't you?"

  "Yes." Pirkin nodded jerkily, as if he had forgotten how for a moment. "She's the only mother I've ever known."

  "Exactly." Mrillis sat on the edge of Efrin's worktable, so all of them were seated now, but he was still a level above them. Meghianna thought that very clever staging. "I hope you will be interested in learning about your mother and your grandmother. They adored you. Their dearest wish was for you to be happy and healthy and loved, and to be at peace with your life."

  "How many people know the truth?"

  "Most of the older generation who were active in the Court at the time of the attacks," Efrin said. "Some have questioned why your father never comes to Lygroes, why Lord Mrillis never goes to visit, but they have accepted it." He shrugged. "We kept your grandfather exceedingly busy, the first five or ten years of my reign, so he rarely had a chance to come see you, even if he had been permitted."

  "Permitted." Pirkin nearly spat the word, as his mouth twisted in a grin Meghianna could only describe as nauseated. "When has Mrillis the Enchanter ever needed permission from anyone?"

  Chapter Eight

  "Those with the greatest power have the greatest responsibility from the Estall to act with restraint and to limit ourselves, lest we destroy ourselves with pride. You have studied the histories of the Nameless One?" Mrillis waited for Pirkin to nod. "Take lessons from his arrogant choices that led to evil choices, so that he was willing to sacrifice his own flesh and blood for the sake of power."

  "He means our grandmothers," Megassa offered. She snorted when Pirkin sat up a little straighter and actually looked at her and Meghianna for the first time since entering the room.

  "If so many people know... How long did my father expect me to be able to go on in ignorance?" he finally asked. "And what do we tell people? After what happened, there will be questions."

  "I have considered that. We will...soften the lie." Mrillis rubbed at his temples for a moment, as if he had a headache. "Since no one is innocent, everyone will be somewhat spattered by the tale we will tell to
smooth the path, so to speak. We will say that yes, your father requested that I stay away, and that your mother's name be forgotten. To protect you. And for the sake of his marriage, considering the growing sentiment against the Rey'kil among your stepmother's relatives."

  Meghianna's cheeks warmed as she recalled her words against Pyris' by-law relatives, especially calling his wife 'that Noveni twit.' She supposed it was a good thing she had been honest enough to relate the entire conversation to Mrillis, but she regretted the words even more, though they had been spoken in passion and conviction at the time.

  "We will say that when you discovered your imbrose, your father revealed your true parentage, and contacted me, requesting that our relationship be kept in the shadows for as long as possible, so no one could make accusations of favoritism against you or us. We had hoped, you and I, to establish a relationship without the entire Court watching every move we made." Mrillis took a deep breath. He struck Meghianna as seeming very old and tired, just for those few seconds. "I hope we can become friends, lad. If for no other reason than your mother and grandmother will live in your heart."

  Pirkin nodded, a jerky motion, unable to meet Mrillis' eyes. A shiver of warning ran up Meghianna's spine. So, he might not blame Lord Mrillis for the current trouble, but he wasn't happy about his new-found grandfather's identity, either.

  "What about us?" Megassa asked. "The things we said--"

  "You spoke in ignorance. The arrangement was kept secret from you." Mrillis shrugged.

  "Then why did Pirkin fight them?" Meghianna asked. "If this story is true, he could have just said so, and avoided a bloody nose and split lip, and angering Captain Gynefra."

  "What exactly did your friends say, lad?" Mrillis asked.

  "Mostly they implied--and a few even said outright--that the princesses were liars or very stupid girls." Pirkin shrugged and glanced sideways at Meghianna. "By the time they said anything about my father keeping secrets, I was already fighting."