“Our parents are in danger, Sivar,” she replied quietly, cutting through his attempts at consoling her. He fell silent, pulling away slightly to stare deeply into her eyes. Through the moisture building on her lashes she pushed onward, letting the words come before she lost her nerve to tell him the truth. “The Duke heard news that the soldiers claimed to have been assaulted and were seeking the identity of the one responsible. He sent the invitation in hopes of removing us from Rothdara before General Deliao could reach our home and discover who I was. Unfortunately, our parents lingered too long while trying to decide whether or not I should be allowed to go.”
“General Deliao stopped us on our way to Siundel –”
“Yes. And he discovered not only my name but the fact that I had not yet completed the rites of adulthood. By the time the Duke had a chance to tell me the news at the ball, it was too late. A summons had already been sent to command our parents’ return to Rothdara.” She inhaled a shaky breath, forcing herself to continue. “After our parents departed yesterday morning, I had no choice than to seek the Duke for assistance. He was the only one who could help me determine what needed to be done to protect our family from the lies being spread by those soldiers. He is the reason my horse ran; and that is the reason I did not stop it. We were counting on everyone not finding us so we could work through this mess.”
Sivar’s expression revealed his growing unease at what Kaori was saying. No longer did she see the accusations in his eyes. The severity of the situation was too great. “Was the Duke able to help? Can he set the lies straight? Surely there is something he can say which would make the Emperor realize the allegations against you are false.”
“There is no time. The Duke informed me that if our parents have already been summoned by the General, it means he has chosen to arrest them for my crimes.”
“But they have done nothing wrong. Nor have you.”
“That may be so, but my failure to complete the rites leaves them responsible for my actions. By law, the General can have them taken into custody and the Duke believes this to be his intent.”
In a blur of motion Sivar was on his feet, pacing nervously across the floor. “He had no suggestions, then? Are we to just sit here and let our parents be arrested?”
“The Duke sent a courier while I was being seen by the physician. Our hope was that the man would intercept our parents and bring them back to Siundel so the Duke could warn them of the situation. My fear lies in the fact that they have not yet returned.”
“Is it possible they went directly to see the Duke? Maybe they are in Siundel and merely have not found their way here.”
“Of course it’s possible,” Kaori sighed, wiping a stray tear from her eyes. “I… Sivar, you are going to be so angry with me…”
He paused in his hastened pace, his head turning slowly, eyeing Kaori, suspicious. Her words were ominous. Indicative of the details which had not yet been shared. “What reason would I have for being angry with you? If what you say is true, no fault can be placed on your actions. I would rather have my sister strike one of the Emperor’s soldiers than allow him to disgrace her.” Kaori visibly watched as Sivar’s muscles tensed, his posture rigid, folding his arms across his chest. “Is there more to the story that you aren’t telling me?”
“No,” she shook her head sadly. It wasn’t a lie. She’d told him everything. The only thing left to explain was the solution which had been decided upon. And that was the worst of it all. “Sivar…” Kaori started, her voice trailing off. Hesitant, she brought her hand up to wave him forward, beckoning him to sit beside her again. When he heard the news, she preferred that he be next to her. It wasn’t something which should be sprung upon him while he already wandered the room so anxiously.
Sivar followed her quiet requests, settling himself on the sofa with a significant lack of grace, watching her, his hand reaching out to clasp hers gently. “What is it? What are you not telling me?”
Say it! She had to tell him. The longer she waited, the worse it would be when he learned the truth. “We have to leave Carpaen.”
Sivar’s pale features lost what little color they possessed, the shade of his skin taking on a ghostly pallor. “We… what?”
Kaori hung her head, defeated. There was no sense tiptoeing around it now. He deserved to know. “The Duke is arranging for us to leave the country. We have no other choice. If the General finds our parents, they will be arrested and most likely executed for the charges brought against me. The only way to save them – and us – is to move somewhere far away from Rothdara. Away from the reach of Imperial law.”
“You cannot be serious. Why can the Duke not just argue your innocence? He was there! He knows what those soldiers were trying to do!”
“He is equally guilty of assaulting the soldiers as I am. Had he not happened upon me when he did… No. It doesn’t matter what would have happened,” she waved dismissively. “Because of him, I left there with nothing more than a few bruises. I can’t ask him to give up everything on account of me, and if he admits to being present at the time of the assault, he would implicate himself in the crime.”
“So you think he would let two innocent people get murdered to save his own ass?”
“Sivar, please!” Kaori hissed, glancing nervously toward the door. Their conversation was getting heated. If Sivar didn’t lower his voice, they were sure to draw the attention of their uncle. “I did not say he refused to do it. Honestly, we had very little time to discuss other options. Either way, we will have to leave for at least a short while. Long enough to prevent our parents from being arrested and to allow the Duke an opportunity to plead their case to the Emperor.”
The logic was sound. Although she had no intention of asking so much of Therek, if he chose to offer further assistance, it changed nothing about the decision to leave Carpaen. Sivar had to understand. And his lack of argument implied that he did. His eyes lowered to the floor, lost in his own thoughts. It was a lot to take in. Kaori couldn’t blame him for feeling overwhelmed. His infatuation with Pehrona likely made it harder. If they moved to Mialan, he would never see her again. It was unlikely Pehrona would make an effort to keep in touch. She had too many available suitors in Carpaen to keep her entertained. Sivar would lose his chance… if he’d ever had one to start.
They sat there in silence, neither one daring to say anything more on the subject in fear of their uncle or his wife coming into the room. It was getting late. Dinner would be served soon and then there would be no avoiding the company of the others. The thought of carrying on a conversation with anyone at that moment was daunting. Kaori didn’t want to talk. She wanted to run the distance between her and Therek’s home to verify whether her parents had made it safely to his door. He had to know something by now.
A sudden commotion from the foyer caught Kaori’s attention, her head snapping up to stare at Sivar, hopeful that they would see their parents coming through the door. She feared what they would say now that they knew what she’d done. Would they be angry with her? She shook her head, trying to force the thought away. How could they be angry with her? The predicament with the soldiers was one which held no positive outcome. Her choices were to assault the men or let them dishonor her. Either option disgraced her family. At least her decision to defend against those scoundrels would make it known that the Levadis family was not to be taken advantage of. She was no whore, and she refused to let anyone treat her like one.
Sivar was on his feet instantly, lifting his chin proudly, prepared for the worst. Kaori felt grateful for his strength, knowing she had no desire to see the expressions on her parents’ faces when they arrived. Averting her eyes, she stared down at the uneven wood under her feet. It was difficult to make out the details of the grain through the dim light of the room, the candles having been forgotten in her melancholy. She wasn’t sure how long the sun had been down, but the darkness in the room made it clear that they’d been sitting there for quite some time.
; “Lady Kaori,” a feminine voice called out hesitantly from the doorway, surprising Kaori with the sound. Squinting through the shadows she was able to make out the figure of a servant girl standing near the entrance, the white of her apron the only detail visible with any clarity.
Straightening her posture, Kaori brought her hands to rest in her lap, struggling to maintain a steady tone when she spoke. “Is there something wrong?”
The girl looked nervous, throwing uneasy glances over her shoulder every few seconds, as if afraid someone might come from behind her in the dark. “There is a visitor here for you. I told him it was not within a proper hour to seek an audience with a young lady but he insisted that he be allowed in.”
“Who is the visitor?” Sivar cut in before Kaori could respond, taking a powerful step toward the door. He looked ready to fight. Intent on defending Kaori’s honor in case the General had come to take her away. But Kaori knew that wouldn’t happen. If General Deliao wanted to arrest her, he would have done so already. He didn’t require permission to enter someone’s home when conducting official business.
“It is the Duke of Avishul, sir.”
Kaori’s stomach churned to hear the name. What was he doing there? And at this hour! What would her uncle think? For a man who was so insistent on protecting Kaori from rumors of impropriety, he had some nerve showing up on their doorstep like this. “Let him in,” she stated. Fear overruled the senseless anger she felt toward him. Whatever his reason for coming, it was more important than a few whispers behind her back.
The girl shifted her gaze to Sivar as if expecting him to argue the command. Instead, he stood perfectly still other than a slight nod to direct the girl back to the foyer. She didn’t dare dispute Sivar’s authority. Obediently, she hurried from the room, leaving them in silence once again, in wait of what the Duke had come to say.
His approach was soundless. It astonished Kaori how he was able to move with such control that even the usual creak of the floorboards didn’t give away his position. At the sight of his eyes appearing in the doorway she felt her heart skip a beat, hand pressed against her chest in attempts to ease the discomfort. She wanted to laugh. Oh, how they must look to him! Standing there in the dark, dressed in their simple house clothes, not suitable for taking guests.
“Is it common for you to invite visitors into the dark?”
“Is it common for you to show up at someone’s home at this hour?” Sivar inquired. Kaori knew it was intended as a lighthearted jest, but under the strain of their meeting it was too easy for the context to be misunderstood. Concerned about what Therek might think, Kaori shakily rose to her feet, favoring the injury to her ankle. She wasn’t supposed to be walking but she hated being so limited. Stitches could be replaced. They were the least of her concerns.
“Please, Your Grace. Come in. I will light the candles –”
“That will not be necessary. I do not intend to remain long.” The azure glow of Therek’s eyes swept the room, coming to rest steadily on Kaori. “I was hoping to speak with you in private, if it would be permitted.”
Bold. He made no attempt to conceal his purpose in coming there. Had Kaori not already informed Sivar of what was going on between them, it would have brought far different ideas into his mind. If she was capable of conjuring a sense of humor, she might have even laughed at the thought. “If you have come to discuss what I suspect, then you do not have to ask my brother to leave,” she replied quietly. Her lessons in etiquette acted like a puppeteer pulling the strings on her hands and arms, motioning for Therek to come inside and have a seat, though she knew he would never accept the offer. Not under the current conditions. “I have told Sivar everything,” she added. “I felt it only right that he know.”
“Yes, I have a right to know when my sister is attacked by brigands,” Sivar interrupted, his anger more obvious than Kaori liked. It was misplaced. She hated to see Therek on the receiving end of a lecture he didn’t deserve. “Why would you keep something like this from us, Your Grace? Our parents consider you a friend. Your actions are uncalled for.”
“My actions?” Therek’s brow rose, intrigued by the accusation. “What exactly was uncalled for in what I did? Honor bound me to silence when the lady asked me to hold her secret. I have betrayed no one.”
“You betrayed our parents by not telling them the truth.”
“I honored your parents by not allowing their daughter to be ruined by those soldiers.”
“And I suppose you honored them as well by seeking private meetings with their daughter who has not yet completed the rites to enter society. Do you have any idea what everyone suspected of your behavior yesterday?”
“Sivar, don’t,” Kaori pleaded, resting her hand lightly on his shoulder. He was letting his emotions get the better of him. None of this was important right now. His anger blinded him.
The men didn’t seem to hear her. Therek’s tone remained calm, low. Conscious of the fact that there were others within the house who could not be made aware of their conversation. “I know quite well what everyone suspected. I am more appalled that our friends have so little faith in your sister as to think she would behave in that manner – and such little respect for me as to believe I would touch her.”
“You mean to say that you wouldn’t have thought the same had you witnessed the spectacle from our position?”
“I would have thought it was none of my business.”
“She is my sister!”
Fists clenched, Kaori held her arms rigid at her sides, teeth gritted. “Sivar, stop it!” she shouted. She didn’t care if their uncle heard. Things were getting out of hand. “I know you are upset about this, but I refuse to stand here and let you take it out on His Grace.” Stepping in front of Sivar, Kaori stared up at Therek, hoping he could see the apology in her eyes without requiring her to speak it. “Please. You must have come for a reason. What news have you of our parents?”
The light from Therek’s eyes disappeared, the lids closing for a moment before speaking. Considering his words carefully. “They have not returned?”
“No… we assumed they must have gone directly to you.”
“That is strange. I came here because I have not heard from them or the courier. I expected them to reach Siundel by now.” Kaori didn’t need to see Therek’s face to sense the unease. His calm demeanor was more forced. Strained.
Kaori jumped at the sensation of Sivar’s hand on her shoulder, gently tugging her back. “You are not supposed to be on your feet…”
“I do not care,” she argued, shrugging his hand away. “We need to think of how to proceed. Is it possible the courier was intercepted on the road?”
“There would be no reason to intercept the courier. You and I were the only ones who knew what the letter contained which he possessed.” The glow of Therek’s eyes returned, moving closer, the dull thud of his boots sounding eerily loud in the tiny room. His gaze was locked on Kaori, stern, commanding. “You should listen to your brother. The doctor said you are not to walk.”
Flinching, Kaori shook her head, adamant. She wasn’t going to sit down. There was too much to do! “What if something else happened to the courier, then? An accident? Thieves? Our parents could still be on their way to Rothdara…”
“We cannot catch them now, if that is the case,” Sivar frowned. His hand returned to Kaori’s shoulder, tugging harder to move her toward the sofa. “You should not have to worry about this, Kaori. I will think of something.”
“Do not treat me like a child. Traditions or not, I am old enough to think for myself.”
“That may be so, but there is nothing you can do about this. You are the one the General would rather arrest. Let’s not give him a reason to do so.”
“If I may,” Therek’s voice interjected, sending them both into silence. Despite the issues they were dealing with, Therek remained a man of power. When he spoke, his words demanded attention. “Neither of you are in a position to do anything worthwhile to your par
ents at this point. My recommendation would be to stay here with your uncle and pretend that life is continuing as normal. I will head to Rothdara and see what I can find out.”
“What exactly are you going to say when you get there? The soldiers will be crawling all over our home,” Sivar snapped. Angrily, Kaori brought her elbow backward into his stomach, desperate to get him to calm down. She was beginning to regret having said anything.
The poise which Therek maintained was impressive. He showed no sign of faltering at Sivar’s harsh tone, retaining an air of confidence and authority. “Let me worry about what is said between me and the soldiers.” Without another word he turned away, the glow of his eyes disappearing once again into the darkness. It was all Kaori could do to keep from running after him. She didn’t want him to go alone. This was her fault, therefore it was her responsibility to make things right. He was putting too much on the line for her sake and she wasn’t entirely sure she deserved the kindness he bestowed upon her and Sivar.
Once he was gone, Kaori’s mind burst to life with a seemingly endless reel of frantic thoughts. There had to be a way she could get out of the house to follow Therek. She didn’t care if it wasn’t safe. It was her duty to make sure her parents were out of harm’s way. The problem was Sivar. He would never allow her out by herself, if at all, given the situation. He’d always been overprotective and this would certainly not be an exception.
Moonlight filtered in through one of the large windows at the back of the sitting room. It provided ample light for Kaori to determine the location of the locking mechanism, judging the size of the opening. It was enough space for her to crawl through. She just needed to find a way to get Sivar out of the room long enough for her to slip outside without him becoming aware of her intentions. Feigning illness, she brought her hand gingerly to her right temple, exhaling a dramatic sigh. “I do not feel well,” she whispered, slouching forward in exaggerated misery. She hobbled on her injured ankle, reaching out to steady herself against the arm of the sofa, allowing Sivar to assist her down onto the cushions.
The Myatheira Chronicles: Volume Four: In the Beginning Page 13
