Broken Lords: Book Two of the Broken Mirrors Duology

by A. F. Dery

“I knew you were a clever rabbit,” Graunt said smugly. “And you were right to act as you did. Still, it occurred to me that we girls should have a little chat.”

  “A little chat?” Kesara echoed weakly. This was the most alone she had ever been with Graunt, and that was about ten times more alone than she ever wanted to be with her. She would be more alone with her still if she brought the creature back into Thane’s rooms, yet she knew how well Thane thought of Graunt: he would hardly be pleased if Kesara refused and locked the creature out.

  “Ah, finally you come to it, and realize you can’t get out of it,” Graunt made a clicking sound with her tongue against her pointy teeth. “No, I can’t read minds, you are that transparent. Only fitting for a mirror, really.” And Graunt cackled at her own joke.

  Kesara smiled thinly and continued on to Thane’s room with a sinking heart and a feeling of dread.

  “Oh, stop that, I do not plan to eat you tonight,” Graunt said cheerfully. “You keep looking so woebegone, and you’ll get my lad in trouble with the High Lord when he comes flying back here to see whether your skull is still intact. Have a care, rabbit.”

  How can she see what I look like? She’s walking behind me, Kesara thought uneasily, feeling her skin prickle. But what Graunt said had made some sense, so she tried to calm herself as she let herself into the room. She put the tray down on the table in the sitting room as Graunt shuffled inside, closing the door behind her with a resounding click.

  Ugh, thought Kesara. Just, ugh. She forced a smile as she turned back to the creature nervously.

  “Would you like something to drink?” Kesara asked politely. There was a large pot of tea on the tray, and two cups. She supposed now that she thought of it that the servants in the kitchen must have thought it was for Thane, because there really was quite a lot of food on there, too. She thought she had been clear enough it was for her, but maybe in the bustle-

  “Do you often do that? Just stand there and wool gather?” Graunt said loudly, breaking into her thoughts. “That’s really rude, you know.” She sat down with a sort of whooshing noise in one of the chairs, pulling back her hood as she uncurled long pointy fingers. “And to answer your question, I have had more than enough of tea for one night.”

  “Sorry, madame,” Kesara said meekly, seating herself before the table and busying her hands with pouring tea for one.

  “I’ll never understand why you people drink so much of that stuff,” Graunt grumbled.

  Thinking perhaps a reply might open up avenues of conversations about Graunt’s own preferences that Kesara was not convinced she wanted to know anything about, she chose to silently sip at her tea instead.

  Graunt smiled wickedly. “And the rabbit grows cleverer still. Very good, very good. As fun as it is to tease you, I’m afraid I don’t have much time before my lad returns, and what I have to say to you isn’t for his ears.”

  “I won’t keep secrets from him,” Kesara said quietly, meeting Graunt’s beady eyes.

  “Oh? You already do, and don’t even know it!” Graunt cackled. “Perhaps not all that clever, at the end of the day. Just the same. I know all you are good for, he does not. You know full well you can’t do all you can for him locked away in a room somewhere. You must abandon these silly ideas of keeping your presence here hidden. Mirrors are made to be seen, are they not? Made to be seen and admired as decoration and paid little attention to, because they are part of the walls, the scenery. Old Graunt knows well what that is like- to be part of the furnishings. I know what I hear, being what I am. Thane needs one of your skills. Eladria has no diplomats, as the rest of the world understands them.”

  “What exactly is it that you think I can do for him?” Kesara asked carefully, setting down her teacup.

  “Eladria needs more than allies-by-treaty. He needs paths smoothed over. He needs people endeared or indebted, take your choice. He believes a few good strong men and a sharp ax are all he needs to be the ruler his people requires, but leadership in times such as these needs a little more still.” Graunt leaned forward in her seat, her dark eyes sharp, and Kesara felt herself unable to look away from them, or even to move, as though frozen by that piercing gaze. “And these times are troubled, little Ytaren. I have spent a few hours only in that kitchen, and already I hear stirrings of that trouble. I do not yet know the source, but I will. Thane will need whatever help he can get, that much is clear to me, and it must rely on more than the High Lord being willing to render fair judgment when these ‘allies’ don’t come through. You will see what I mean, when you are at Court, and you WILL be at Court. Make no mistake of that!”

  The outer door opened and Graunt leaned back in her chair again. Kesara blinked rapidly, almost feeling as if she had been shoved by an unseen hand, and held a hand to her chest to steady herself.

  “Dear gods, but that was horrible,” Thane grumbled as he entered, all but slamming the door behind him.

  “Punishing the door, are we? Very mature, my lad,” Graunt observed dryly, heaving herself to her feet with another whoosh.

  “Ossian has decided we are on speaking terms now, gods help me, and Malachi is indeed present, though he seemed surprised that I am, too,” Thane said wearily from the doorway, rubbing at his eyes with his palms.

  “Ah, well, after the mischief he’s wrought, it’s hardly surprising if the High Lord would neglect to mention that minor detail,” Graunt said, tugging her hood back over her head and hunching her shoulders. Kesara watched her little transformation in amazement, long pointy fingers tucked away into fists that knuckled feebly along the wall as she tottered up to Thane.

  He gave a respectful bow and opened the door to let her out. “Would you like me to walk you back, old mother?”

  Graunt snorted. “Hardly. You just gripe the ears off your rabbit there and leave an old woman to her rest. I have a lot of tea to drink tomorrow.”

  Thane raised an eyebrow but forbore to comment as he closed the door and fastened the locks behind her.

  “You’d think she meant acid or venom by the tone she took with tea,” Thane said bemusedly. “I’ve never understood what she has against it.” Turning he saw the tray on the sitting room table and brightened visibly.

  “Is any of that for me?” he asked hopefully.

  “Only three-quarters,” Kesara smiled. “I’m hungry too.”

  “I noticed. It only seems to compound my own appetite.”

  “Didn’t the High Lord feed you?”

  “Wouldn’t matter if he did, but no, it was just drinks,” Thane rolled his eyes a little and sat down on the other side of the small table, happily plucking a trio of tea cakes from a plate and dropping them into his mouth.

  “How did it go with Malachi?” Kesara asked cautiously, taking one for herself and nibbling on an edge. It actually was very good.

  “He’s still a jackass. Some things never change, I guess,” Thane said, eyeing the tray anew. “Apparently there’s been some trouble with his wife. She’s, well..” He made a gesture with his hands that suggested she was the approximate shape and size of a whale.

  “Large?” Kesara asked, confused.

  “No, no…well yes, technically, I suppose, but you’re missing the point. Why is it that you think all women who are breeding are just naturally large?” Thane asked in exasperation.

  “Oh, she’s pregnant!”

  “Yes, didn’t I say that already? I thought the brat might be out by now, but evidently not, and he brought her anyway because of some mysterious unknown circumstances, which the High Lord apparently knows all about and doesn’t particularly credit. He said he has been requesting Malachi’s presence as though he has done so for some time, and Malachi would not come.”

  “Oh dear,” Kesara quickly took another cake before Thane noticed it and it disappeared. Somehow in the course of all he had just said, though he had apparently not looked away from her once or paused at all in his speech, about half of the tray had managed to empty itself onto a plate that was now
on his thigh. “That’s a bad thing, I take it?”

  “Well, you were the one pointing out to me mere hours ago how much power and influence one such as the High Lord has. And he generally does not summon anyone to Court without a serious reason. Usually all such matters wait until the annual convening of the Court in a conclave- ah, I get ahead of myself a little. This IS an annual convening of the Court, early, as it were. Supposedly for my convenience, although I doubt that is all there is to it.”

  “So that means all the countries in the Union will be represented while you’re here?”

  “Yes, generally the leaders themselves come.”

  “Isn’t that rather dangerous? What if there’s an uprising, or an invasion, and the rulers aren’t there?”

  “Ah, Kes, not even Eladria relies only on their monarch,” Thane said dryly. “What is it you suppose I do all day that it makes it critical for me to be there at all times? My second in command can handle things until I return, even if the mountains fell down. If I did not think so, he would not be my second.”

  “You have a second?” Kesara tilted her head, studying his face. “Who? Or is it a secret?”

  Thane laughed. “A secret? Why would it be a secret? It’s Belun. He may well end up my heir-designate as well, if he continues on as well as he has.”

  “Belun?” Kesara frowned a little, staring off as she tried to put the name to a face, but she came up blank. “Belun. I don’t think I’ve ever seen or even heard of him, Thane.”

  “Well, he’s Eladrian,” Thane elaborated. “He has brown eyes and dark hair and he’s very large.” She looked back at him and his own brown eyes were laughing at her.

  “Well, if you say he’s very large, I can’t understand how I failed to notice this behemoth among men,” Kesara said flatly.

  He turned his head and laughed.

  “Just the same,” he said when he’d collected himself. “You might not be able to pick him out of a crowd, but he’s a good man. Strong character.”

  “I’ll take your word for it,” she said, watching as the tea went the way of the cakes. “So all the rulers will be here?”

  “They might send emissaries if they are indisposed for good reason, and have not been personally requested to attend themselves by the High Lord,” Thane said. “But that seldom happens. Usually it’s because a Lady is breeding or a Lord is having his arm sewn back on after a disastrous hunt or something.”

  “Disastrous hunt?”

  “Did you know venison tastes gamy?” Thane’s eyes were suddenly locked on hers with such intensity that he might have been asking her about the secrets of the universe. Kesara felt as though she was on the brink of some immense personal test, and she couldn’t for the life of her understand what it could possibly have to do with dead animals.

  “Uh, well, forgive my ignorance, Thane, but isn’t venison deer meat? And aren’t deer generally considered…well…game?” Kesara tensed a little, waiting for his reaction.

  Thane nodded gravely, settling back in his chair with such a glowing look of pride that she let out a sigh of relief.

  “Now what was that about, if I may ask?” Kesara blurted out. “If I’d gotten it wrong, what would have happened?”

  “Nothing, nothing at all,” Thane said with a negligent shrug. “I just would have known that, despite all appearances to the country, you’re actually as vapid and slow witted as Lady Ossian.”

  “That’s not fair! How do you know we even have deer in Ytar?” Kesara challenged.

  “I don’t. But in that case, you’d ask, if you were smart, ‘what’s venison?’ and I would have told you, and you’d ask, ‘but what’s deer?’ and I’d tell you, and you’d say ‘that sounds like a game animal.’ So you see, it’s perfectly fair.”

  “Only if I managed to follow this little script of yours without knowing what it is! You need to ask me about things I actually know about!”

  “But you knew the answer, so what are you upset over?”

  “I’m not upset,” Kesara said defiantly. “I’m…chagrined.”

  Thane was trying very hard not to smile, and somehow, this only added to Kesara’s chagrin.

  “So what was Graunt in here for?” he asked, wisely changing the subject.

  “To tell me we live in troubled times and I need to do all I can for Eladria, and not hide out in here like we had hoped.”

  “Like you had hoped,” Thane said cheerfully. “I told you, it will be fine, whatever people say.”

  “I’m glad you’re so optimistic, Thane, but I have to tell you, I’m worried.” Kesara set down her teacup again with a sigh.

  “I know you are, but there is no point to worrying. Let me handle it. It’s part of my job.”

  “And what’s my job?” Kesara gave him her best smile. “Hang on the wall and look pretty?”

  “It’s strange, but I can tell that’s fake. Very good, but utterly false,” Thane said, sounding intrigued. “It doesn’t reach your eyes at all.”

  “Authenticity has no place with beauty for some,” Kesara said, abandoning the effort. “Most don’t care either way, as long as it flatters them.” She barely restrained herself from pointing out that most of the smiles he allowed her to see were equally false. Perhaps sincere in intent, but definitely artificial in execution.

  As though reading her mind, he said, “It wasn’t a criticism. I of all people should know better than to do that! But I prefer the real one or none at all, if my opinion matters.”

  “It matters to me just as much as mine does to you, my lord,” Kesara said sweetly, meeting his eyes steadily. He looked back at her with an utterly unreadable expression on his face, seeming to be at a loss for words. She took that as a sign and rose to her feet. “If you would just tell me where I’m supposed to sleep, I will take back this tray and bid you goodnight, if you have no further need of me tonight.”

  He gave a slight shake of his head and stood as well. “No, no, leave it. One of the other servants will take it out when they come with tea in the morning. I don’t want you walking the palace without an escort this late.”

  “It is not safe here?” Kesara asked, confused. “I thought you would bring more men if it were not secure in the palace.”

  “It is safe enough,” Thane said, looking uncomfortable. “But a pretty young woman walking about alone when tipsy lords are returning to their beds late at night is not what I would call a sensible idea, even so. It’s just a tray, Kes.”

  Kesara wasn’t sure what to say to that. She felt her cheeks warming at the unexpected compliment, even as she inwardly cursed herself for an idiot.

  “And if it does not insult your maidenly honor too much, well, I have a spare bedroom in here,” Thane went on. “I should warn you that there is a chance that the servants will talk about you rooming in my quarters, even if it is in a separate bedroom. I could try to find you another room in another part of the tower.”

  “You don’t like that idea,” Kesara observed, noting the tension in his face, his shoulders, the uneasy way he avoided her gaze now, evidently preferring to address her left shoulder.

  “Of course not. Your feet are still in bandages from the last time someone tried to abduct you from under my nose,” Thane said, with a bitterness that surprised her. “The man I hold responsible for that attempt is on the same premises, walking about freely, if on borrowed time. I would…feel better to keep you close. Not that I do not trust my men, but gods help me, I can’t get past this sense of…belonging since we bonded.” He sighed and closed his eyes. “There, I said it. Please don’t misunderstand me, I know you are not an object to be owned. I do not consider you my slave. But I feel you are mine, and I am yours, and you belong with me, and I with you, not down the hallway, on another floor, or in another country.” He finally looked at her, adding hopefully, “That can be a normal side effect for refreres, right, Kes? I know you told me that some do not feel that way, but surely there are others that do?”

  She stared at him. �
��I…don’t know.”At the dismay seeping across his features, she quickly added, “But it doesn’t matter, Thane. You know how I feel when we’re apart. I would much rather stay here anyhow. If we are of one mind on it, what does it matter if it’s ‘normal?’ Nothing about either of us, or this bond, has exactly been ‘normal’ from the start, has it?”

  His mangled mouth quirked at one end and he said, “No, no it hasn’t.” He cleared his throat and said, “I hope I haven’t made you uncomfortable. I just…I felt I should explain myself. I don’t want you to think my intentions are dishonorable-”

  “Oh, no, I would never think that of you, Thane,” Kesara said hastily, desperately wanting not to go down that particular branch of conversation. “I know you don’t have ulterior motives. I appreciate your honesty.”

  “Well, good,” Thane said awkwardly. “Well, you know which one it is. If you need me, you know where I’ll be.”

  “Thank you, Thane,” Kesara said, probably with far more feeling than the situation appeared to warrant, because he was now giving her an odd look. She gave up any hope of escaping this conversation gracefully and at least tried to walk at an ordinary pace to the valet’s bedroom. She couldn’t describe her relief when she made it inside and shut the door with no further comments on Thane’s part or embarrassing actions on her own.

  He does want me here! she thought with sudden exultation, then remembering herself, she quickly tried to tamp it back down. Why did he not say so before? I thought he was only honoring my wishes by bringing me. But he wants to keep me close. Why did he not say so before, but has said so now?

  And more, she reflected as she dressed for bed, why does it matter to me so much? If only she had another bonded Mirror to consult with. For the first time in her life, she felt lonely for someone else in her position, someone else who would understand these strange, confusing feelings she was having, these unexpected developments in her relationship with her refrere, who could reassure her, as Thane had just wanted her reassurance, that everything was normal, and if not normal, that everything was at least fine and not on some head-long hurtle into doom.