“There are parchments hidden in key places: your chest at the estate, a hidden room in the Border Keep, and a cache in the cave. I believe your father planned to share the information stored on them with you once you arrived at the keep.”
Adana shook her head in objection to Montee’s revelation. “Kassa taught me how to open my mother’s chest. There was no secret parchment.”
“There’s a hidden compartment. Kassa wouldn’t have shown it to you.”
“Why?”
“You left the next day for Elwar. It wasn’t a safe time.”
Adana scowled. “She did not trust me?”
“Of course, we trusted you,” Montee said, thankful she was holding this conversation without any others present. If she’d learned one thing about this older Adana, it was that the woman hated to be left out of any discussions or details significant to her position. She couldn’t blame her. She was a queen, returning to rule a kingdom after a three-year absence. She was young and vulnerable when she left Moniah. No one knew what might happen while she was gone, so secrets remained secrets.
“Three years is a long time to hold onto confidential information.”
Adana’s eyes narrowed. “No one in Elwar had knowledge of this information?”
Montee expected the question but was still surprised at the speed Adana fired it at her. Moniah’s returning queen had left her kingdom as an impulsive girl, but somewhere along the way, she’d learned to think through things with a critical eye for gaps in logic and truth. Her reluctant use of Elayne’s skills demonstrated this.
“Of course. King Donel and his advisor, Simeon.”
“Not Kiffen? Not Quilla?”
Good questions.
“Kiffen might know now, but at the time, he did not.”
Montee leaned back on her hands and stared into the night sky. The clouds had disappeared, and the moon cast its crescent glow across the land. The stars seemed brighter in this little valley. She wished they could return to that moment of gaiety after dinner and enjoy the night, the peace, without worrying about the future. From the day she became First Vision, those days of harmony dwindled until she couldn’t recall a moment when worries and responsibilities didn’t plague her. She glanced at Adana, aware the young queen’s life had taken a similar turn on that same day.
“Who, in Moniah, knows of these parchments?” Adana’s body seemed to be pulled forward toward Montee, the urgency of gaining knowledge stiffening her shoulders.
“Kassa, myself, and Linus.”
“Do you miss Linus?”
Montee sat back in surprise. Did Adana know of their attraction? They had never admitted it to each other until it was too late. She became First Vision, forbidden to have anything beyond a military relationship with the royal commander. Their paths lay side by side now, never intertwined.
Montee leaned forward, brushing dirt from her hands. “Why do you ask?” She kept her face closed, wearing the mask of the First Vision to hide her thoughts.
Adana squinted across the fire, her gaze like tiny daggers penetrating Montee’s skin.
The mask hid everything, and Montee held it, unwilling to let a short romance distract Adana from the importance of their discussion.
Finally, the queen dropped her study of Montee.
“What about Belwyn and Teletia? Do they know of these parchments?”
“Yes. Empress Gabriella and King Ariff are aware of their existence.” Montee sat up straighter, her shoulders inclined toward the queen. “They have copies, too, but I do not know where they keep them.” She paused to see if there were any more questions, hopeful the subject of Linus was finished.
Tension continued to build in Adana’s shoulders while she thought about the parchments. Montee waited, aware Adana hadn’t asked what information the parchments held.
A log collapsed in the center of the fire, sending sparks into the air. Adana stared at them a moment. “What do the parchments say?”
“We compiled the information after Maligon’s exile. It seemed prudent for only rulers and their closest advisors to know of their existence. When Queen Roassa declared Donel her legal successor, she feared others would seek her throne, and the secrets would fall into the wrong hands, so she had Simeon place Elwar’s copy in the cave.”
“Quilla.” Adana whispered the name. “Did she know about Quilla’s ambitions?”
“No. They did not know who to suspect, but Maligon left unrest everywhere he went. We feared many of his supporters were still among us.”
“But why the cave?”
“Its location. It’s not where most believe it to be.”
Adana stared at Montee. “The cave is not close to the Monian border?”
“It’s in Teletia near the border with Belwyn.”
The girl sketched a crude map in the dirt, glancing back and forth between the disclosed location of the cave and the true one. “Why keep its location secret?”
The rapid succession of questions frustrated Montee. She had planned to share this information with Adana in a controlled manner, preferably in the Border Keep, with the parchments at hand. Their circumstances made that plan impossible, and she struggled with how much to share in the short time they had before the others arrived.
Adana knew none of this except what she’d heard from the Memory Keeper’s story about her parents’ first meeting at the cave. The story of King Micah’s and King Donel’s entry into their lives as two bedraggled foreigners was a popular one. Just a week ago, Adana requested it be told to a gathering.
Resuming her explanations, Montee said, “In danger, the cave offers a safe haven. That’s why your mother’s squad camped there the day she met your father. Its underground channels are extensive and well-stocked with supplies.”
“Ballene’s Fire.” Adana jumped up. “Someone could be there. Seeking protection.”
The thought had occurred to Montee, as well as King Micah. “Your father sent Ostreia and Karyah with a small unit of Watchers to check after we received the news that Maligon holds Belwyn and Teletia.”
“So, others do know of its location.”
“Only a few, all sworn to secrecy. Ostreia and Karyah were with your mother as Trackers when your father stumbled upon the cave.”
“I thought they were involved in war maneuvers at the time.”
“They were.”
Confusion echoed in Adana’s voice. “But Trackers are still in training. They haven’t learned how to cover their tracks yet or shoot an arrow into a crowd and hit their mark.”
Montee shook her head at Adana’s lack of warfare knowledge. Had Kassa omitted the facts about troop shortages created by war? How much of the queen’s education would she learn while on the run? “Your Majesty, war does not wait for candidates to become fully trained.” She leaned forward. “Some of your best Watchers earned their promotions on the battlefield.”
Adana gazed beyond the fire. After a while, she spoke. “We will most likely face that issue again.”
“With our forces spread wide? Yes.”
“What is on this parchment?”
As much as she wanted to return to the purpose of this discussion, Montee knew she must lead Adana into the next revelation. The young queen would not appreciate the next question. “Have you had your dream recently?”
A glimpse of the girl Adana used to be squirmed under Montee’s gaze.
In this dream, Adana struggled to survive river rapids, pulled under and pushed about by the current. Her crown floated ahead of her, just out of reach, and at the moment she might reach it, she banged her head on a large rock. The dream then shifted to an underground tunnel. In the tunnel, Adana followed a path through the darkness until she saw a light in the distance ahead of her. Elwar’s crown. Adana awoke, every time, before she reached it.
For some reason, Adana showed reluctance to discuss the dream. It was rare for a Watcher of her age to have prophetic dreams, but not unheard of. The fact that Kassa and Montee had had the same
dream, but with less regularity and detail, marked it as significant.
“What does my dream have to do with the parchment?”
Montee smiled. “Maybe nothing. But I believe I know what the underground represents.”
“I already know,” Adana said, her tone taut with misery. “King Donel is dead. It’s his tomb.”
“Possibly.” The thought had occurred to Montee, but she felt a strong conviction that it meant something else. “King Kiffen is at the Border Keep. There are extensive tunnels under the keep. They extend below the surrounding lake into both kingdoms.”
“I assume this is one of the secrets of the parchment?”
Montee nodded. “Your mother used the tunnels in the war against Maligon. No one knew they existed until our forces were driven back to the keep. Your father found them.”
Adana sat forward. “No one in the kingdoms knew until then? They must be well-hidden.”
“His discovery helped turn the war in our favor. Otherwise—”
“The keep was under siege, wasn’t it?”
“Yes.” Montee stopped and tilted her ear toward the north, toward a distant high-pitched whistle. An alert used by approaching Watchers. “Do the giraffes sense anyone?”
Adana straightened, and her eyes took on a distant look. She smiled after a moment. “Sinti and Veana approach.”
Montee nodded. “Are they far enough away for me to share one more piece of information with you?”
Adana paused for a moment, then nodded.
“Good,” Montee said. “There is much more, but it will have to wait.” She dropped her voice to just above a whisper. “Considering the current circumstances in Belwyn, what I’m about to say is dangerous in the wrong hands. Do not repeat it to anyone.”
The familiar frown of displeasure crossed Adana’s forehead. “I’m sure I can judge accurately how to deal with secrets, Montee.”
Montee opened her mouth to speak but closed it and bowed her head. When she looked back up, she made sure Adana felt the heat of her stare. “I am aware you are queen, and that my request sounds presumptuous, but important lives are at stake.”
“All lives are important.” Adana spouted the response immediately, but a moment later, bowed her head. “Forgive me, Montee. I’m unaccustomed to seeking your council. So much has been withheld from me these last three years. It chafes.”
Montee gentled her tone. “You must understand, we had to make decisions and protect Moniah without your presence. Often, we couldn’t risk sharing information with you. Not with you so far away. As for my warning, all lives are important, but some lives have more power than others. You know this. You might not like it, but I beg of you, do not take offense at my request.”
She received a brief nod from the young ruler, almost the same nod her mother had used when she decided to acknowledge someone’s request. “Of course. Please continue.”
The news held a lot of weight, but time to tell Adana was running out. “Empress Gabriella has an heir. Of legitimate age.”
Bewilderment flashed over Adana’s face, and she bit her lip in thought for a moment. “How?”
“How is a discussion for another time. Sir Jerold is her son. A prince of Belwyn in his own right.”
“Jerold.” Adana grinned. “Leera knew something was different between them. They appeared much too close for a knight and empress when we met them during the Kingdoms Council.”
Montee thought back to the council. It had provided the opportunity she needed to pull King Micah out of his depressed state after Chiora’s passing and the revelation of the plan for Adana’s extended stay in Elwar. Although he had been reluctant, she managed to convince him to attend. A better man and regent returned afterward.
“Jerold was born some time during the last war with Maligon,” Adana said, disbelief evident on her face. “Surely people know.”
“Adana.” Montee knelt before her and grasped her hands. “I’m sorry I cannot tell you more now. I hear Sinti and Veana approaching.”
They both turned toward the flicker of movement on the edge of the firelight. Sinti, a sinewy brunette, and Veana, a brown-eyed woman with light brown skin, entered the camp. On their heels, gasping for air, stumbled Glume, the giraffe keeper, red-faced with exertion.
“Your Majesty.” The Watchers knelt before her, fatigued, but alert. “We have news of a possible encampment south of here.”
“South?” Adana looked dazed. “But you came from the north.”
“In a circuitous route. We narrowly avoided the advance of Maligon’s troops after they attacked our camp.” Sinti extended her hand toward the queen. “I am relieved you avoided them.”
“Are we in danger of discovery?” Adana asked.
“No, Your Majesty,” Veana said. “They don’t travel this way. They appear to be headed south.”
“South? Toward Adana’s View?”
“It would appear so,” Veana said.
Montee turned toward Adana. “My queen, this is distressing news, but these Watchers are tired and hungry. Since Maligon’s forces do not threaten us here, shall we allow them a few moments before we question them further?”
Adana nodded. “Of course. Forgive me.” She arched a brow at Glume. “And Glume? How come you by this company?”
The man was bent over, hands on his knees, wheezing and gasping for air. “My duty is to the royal giraffes. Am’brosia and Bai’dish need me.” He straightened and peered in the direction of the two long-necked creatures, his chest visibly rising and falling as he struggled to calm his breathing.
“Glume, we are pleased by your loyalty.” Adana gestured toward the stream. “There is fresh water, and we still have fish by the fire. Help yourself.”
The man nodded, took a deep breath, and trudged up the hill toward the giraffes.
A smile twitched on Adana’s lips as she watched the man clamber up the incline. Then she turned back toward the Watchers. “Before you attend to your needs, I must know what you can tell me of Samantha.”
Veana frowned. “She disappeared during the attack. The last I heard, she went in search of Kassa’s unit. She claimed she needed to ensure your route south was clear.”
“Why would she do that, Montee?” Adana asked. “I can’t imagine Kassa supporting that decision.”
Montee did not speak at first. She didn’t know how to interpret the information, especially since she suspected Kiffen saw Samantha in a different light. “I don’t know. I would like to think about this.” She turned and walked away from the fire, Sinti and Veana following her at a distance.
When she glanced back, she saw Adana walking up the hill where the giraffes stood. When she reached the top, the young queen leaned close to Am’brosia’s flank. The giraffe sidestepped closer to her until Montee could see the animal bearing some of the woman’s weight.
The largest animals known to Monians towered over Adana, making her appear small and uncertain, exactly how Montee suspected she felt after so many upheavals in her life.
* * * * *
Chapter 9
Sir Jerold of Belwyn paced his cell in the barracks. Three steps to the wall, three steps back. The guard outside the door watched him, doing little to hide his yawn of boredom.
What had happened to Maligon?
Ever since the traitor had usurped the throne and imprisoned the empress, soldiers had kept Jerold locked in this cell except to parade him out for the populace to see. Soldiers surrounded him as he walked along the parapets of Belwyn’s castle behind Maligon. After the first time, he kept his eyes averted from the macabre spectacle of heads spiked along the wall. Rebels, according to Maligon. He knew if anyone suspected his true birthright, his head would join them.
Images of his mother’s bedraggled appearance during the one visit Maligon had allowed him with her in the dungeon kept Jerold quiet. They had stripped her of her fine gown and left her in her underclothes. Her hair, usually a glorious tumble of dark curls, hung in a tangled mass. Dirt smudged her
face, but her eyes glittered with clarity. Did she maintain that clarity still? Six days later?
He remembered his reaction at the shocking sight. “Blazes, Maligon! Have you no honor? Keeping her caged like a rat in this filth?” Jerold had reached through the bars to comfort her. “My lady, what do you require?” Even as he had asked the question, Jerold recognized how ludicrous it sounded.
He hadn’t spoken to her of his own treatment, aware her quarters made his look magnificent.
Empress Gabriella had ignored Jerold’s question and glared at Maligon. “Are you pleased with your coup? Do you really believe you can rule? You, the illegitimate spawn of my cousin’s rape?” She had spat at him then, the glob of spittle landing on Maligon’s forehead.
A smile twitched on Jerold’s lips at the memory. He never had suspected his elegant, ladylike mother’s talents included hurling spit at someone.
After exchanging a few more insolent comments with the empress, Maligon had allowed Jerold a moment alone with her.
Her first words haunted him each night when he closed his eyes. “He has Watchers imprisoned here. The guards say a Watcher set the trap for them.”
The traitor’s ability to infiltrate the military of the four kingdoms included the esteemed soldiers of their ally, Moniah.
At her words, he had tried not to stagger or react, wondering who would turn on a Watcher. Then she had told him the worst of it. Maligon had a secret daughter in the ranks of the Watchers. Jerold had shivered while recognizing the irony. His mother’s efforts to hide her own son might be mirrored by Maligon.
Before he had had enough time to gather more information, the guard had told him he must leave. He had held tight to his mother’s hand, and she had given him an order the guard wouldn’t understand.
“You must go.” She had released her hold on him but held his gaze. The words and the action echoed a lesson taught him at an early age when they lived in fear of discovery. She had never needed to use it before that day.
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