The Edict (The She Trilogy Book 1)

by P. J. Keyworth

  Chapter 21

  “I have no idea who would wish to harm you, my Lord Prince. The woman is a different matter.”

  “The woman is my wife,” replied Trevisian, staring down his High Councillor. “Any attempt on her life is considered an attempt on mine.”

  Garesh’s face was contorted as though by a foul stench. His dark eyes were sharp and angry, his mouth a twisted line. This shock was real, unlike that which he displayed when he was told of the poisoning.

  “Wife?” He had lashed Nisa himself for her failure. Her cronies’ incompetence had cost Garesh any element of surprise or deniability where the assassination was concerned.

  “Yes.”

  That street brat had become Trevisian’s wife the moment he had spoken it. Damn him! The declaration was binding.

  “But, I…” Garesh’s knuckles were turning white upon the chair back he leant against. “She is not a wise choice.”

  “You dare question me? I am the King now Garesh!”

  Garesh’s eyes flashed and then narrowed. His tongue ran along his bottom lip. “Do you not think that at a time of anxiety in the Kingdom, when the Laowyn are gathering at their old capital Ishtalia, making ready to fight, that taking a wife you know nothing about is foolish?”

  “I know everything about her.”

  Garesh scoffed. “Do you? Are you sure it was not her who attempted to poison you? Have you not thought of that? Convenient that she ate none of the food presented to her, but instead offered it to the Harem Master who would die from it.”

  “Enough!” Trevisian raised his voice in warning. “She would do no such thing.”

  Garesh stopped pushing. He had planted the seed, let it take root. “All I am saying, my Lord Prince, I mean, my Lord King, is why not wait until the situation is resolved before you make the declaration.” Garesh took advantage of the Prince being on the back foot. “You have a race rising up against you - the Laowyn amassing is no coincidence, they will rebel.”

  Trevisian didn’t answer him. His thoughts were already back on Kiara, the woman he had left in his bed, the woman he loved. He didn’t believe she had poisoned Coscian, or that she had tried to poison him, but he felt unsettled. He knew she was Laowyn. No one else did. No one else could. He would hide it, he would keep her safe.

  “Are you sure that is what they intend? Are they not amassing because of their persecution?”

  Garesh’s ears pricked up at this. “You have no knowledge of such matters, my Lord King.”

  “I am not sure you are qualified to tell me what I have knowledge of Garesh. You are no longer my Regent.”

  Garesh’s voice hardened. “This Edict is necessary for the control of your kingdom.”

  “Precisely, my Kingdom. And now I’m married, is not your role in all this at an end?”

  “At an end is it?” Garesh mocked. “I should think that any youthful would-be King - whom I practically raised - would be happy for my council.”

  Trevisian strode forwards his shoulders broadening. “You go too far Garesh!”

  “Do I?” The High Councillor’s eyes took on the light of cruel amusement. “You doubt my knowledge of you, King. Do you think I have forgotten what you truly are? Everyone averts their eyes from the markings on your back because nothing has been confirmed. It would take one word from me to see you branded as one of the Shifters, just like your mother.” His tongue licked in and out of his mouth like a snake as he hissed the threatening words. “One word and you’d be sentenced to death.”

  Trevisian was only motionless for a moment before he launched himself at Garesh, pinning him against the wall by the throat.

  “How dare you.” Trevisian’s teeth were an inch from Garesh’s face.

  “Are you sure,” rasped the official, his fingers scrabbling at the wall, scraping at the tiles. “You wish this to be your end?” He coughed and spluttered against Trevisian’s arm. “One call is all it will take. Do you not think I have had control from the beginning?”

  Images flashed through Trevisian’s mind. “You took power from my father,” he hesitated. “You killed him.”

  Garesh laughed, but the airless sound came out like scratching against a wooden door. “You were as happy as I was that the King was dead. No more beatings for you.”

  Trevisian pressed mercilessly harder. The Councillor’s face was deepening in colour, and his hands were becoming less insistent on the tiles as he rasped. “Would you…would you like to be executed…just as your father executed your mother? I have… always held the reins of power… boy.”

  Trevisian pulled away from him, letting him drop to the floor. Garesh rubbed at his neck, his mouth still twisted in a half sneer. He had won.

  “We will have to meet the Laowyn forces with our own.” Garesh gripped onto the wall to hoist himself back up. He spoke as if he were the Regent again. Pushing home the control he had over Trevisian. “We cannot leave it up to rural populations to suppress the rebels.”

  Trevisian didn’t reply. He was already walking out of the door.

  Kiara did not wait to knock on the door, to ask for admittance, to be accepted and announced. She couldn’t risk being turned away. She pushed open the doors to his chamber and neither of the guards stopped her. They couldn’t now she was their Queen. It had been announced. The women who had been gathered by the Edict were pouring out of the harem, released just as Kiara had returned to the palace from the market.

  She hoped, she beseeched the Great Spirit, that she would be blessed by good fortune, that Trevisian might grant her wish. Her race depended upon her.

  He was pacing when she entered and the doors shut before she could retreat. This was not a good sign. Had he seen her talking to her uncle? Was he angry?

  “Do you know the punishment for entering without a summons?” His eyes were wild and he came towards her as a predator upon prey. The man she had known last night was vaporised in a flash of angry heat.

  “I am your wife,” she offered.

  “Where have you been? I left you here. Do you not know the dangers outside this place?”

  So now he wanted her here. Confusion enveloped Kiara’s face.

  “Those guards killed Coscian but we don’t know the depth of the conspiracy. There may be more involved.”

  He picked up a porcelain horse figurine from the desk and threw it against the far wall. It hit with such force the tiles cracked and the horse was shattered into countless pieces.

  Kiara jumped at the sound, her back slamming against the door to which she had retreated.

  “You think I… I had something to do with Coscian’s death?” She hesitated, her eyes searching. “You think I tried to kill you?”

  “The Laowyn are rising up in Ishtalia.” He came towards her. “Were you sent by them? I don’t want to believe it.” His fist slammed against the door above her head. His eyes closed. “I don’t want to believe it.”

  “Then don’t! Do you not think I would have done it already? Do you think I would have…” Damn her for wavering. She dashed a hand across her face to push away the tears. “You said you loved me,” she said accusingly. “You know I love you. I would never have given myself if I hadn’t. And now…” she gestured at the meaninglessness of their argument. “Was that all a lie? To bed me?” Her chin came up. Had this been his plan all along.

  He raked a hand savagely through his hair.

  “Did you lie to me?” Kiara asked, her voice steadier. “Did you lie to me?!” she asked again, pain fracturing her voice as she looked upon him.

  “No!” He grabbed her, kissing her urgently at first, and then all at once, as if something broke, he slowed. His hand was soft in her hair, his lips were soft on hers. “I love you,” he murmured against her cheek before he pulled back.

  “Garesh believes you are a spy sent to kill me. He is gone to amass the Reluwyn forces to put down the rebellion.”

  “You must stop them! The Laowyn are not rebelling,” Kiara wanted him to look at her. “They are
coming together because they face death.” She touched his arm, turning him towards her, but he would not look at her. “Trevisian,” she said softly, seeing the answering gentleness in his eyes as she used his name. “You must do something.”

  The look in his eyes faded away. “Do what?”

  “You must save them. You must save me.”

  “They cannot touch the Queen.” A shadow passed over his eyes as he said the words but his voice gained confidence. “I will not allow it.”

  “I will be safe while my people are slaughtered? Trevisian you are the Prince – now a King – are you not? You can revoke the Edict.”

  “You don’t understand.”

  “Why will you not stop Garesh?” She bit her lip. What she was about to say could lose him. Perhaps forever. She took in breath. “Are you the Prince I thought you were, or are you the King I know?”

  He sighed, his shoulders slumping. “Kiara, if I could do anything for your people I would, but I cannot. The law is passed” He came to her, holding steady her protesting hands. This was the end. She could feel it. She had failed. “I cannot save them, only you.” She let him kiss her cheek, the action sending shivers through her.

  She would not let them die alone. She had been blind to them locked in the palace for too long, it had to end. He kissed her mouth, his hands following the lines of her body, remembering the night before, hungry for more. A tear fell unseen from the corner of her eye, running the length of her cheek. They would be married one more night, then she would leave.

  Kiara slipped from the bed, her bare feet padding across the tiled floor until she came to her pile of clothes. She dressed as quickly and quietly as she could. Zeb had told her she could not wake him even if she smacked him across the face after he had drunk the powder, but every pause in breathing, every minute movement, made her pause and look over to where her husband lay. Her husband. That was what he was and she was leaving him.

  She paused at the door looking back at him. He was laying so still, and in sleep he looked peaceful. He had taken the wine from her without question. He had trusted her. He wouldn’t anymore, not after this.

  She came back to him. How could she leave? Her heart had two forces pulling it in opposite directions. Looking down at Trevisian, knowing she was leaving him, she already felt she had lost. She wouldn’t survive this. Tears welled in her eyes and dripped steadily on the covers. She needed to go. She needed to leave. In the half light of the room she bent and kissed him on the mouth, her hand brushing at his dark tousled hair. The pucker of his brow faded away for a moment before drawing back together as he kept on dreaming. He would never forgive her for this. She bit her lip to keep from sobbing.

  “Goodbye.” She drew away from him then, walking straight to the door, unable to look back. Knowing that if she did she would never leave.

  She moved quickly through the night-time palace, and if she had been asked to recount her trail when she met with Calev and Jaik she could not have. It blurred with memories and the thoughts that haunted her down the passageways.

  “Did anyone follow?”

  She shook her head. The few guard patrols she had seen on her way here had paid her no heed. The palace was preparing for a mass movement of troops. A veiled woman, probably a concubine hiding in the shadows, was of no concern to the guards.

  “It’s good to see you girl. Any news on the Edict?”

  She shook her head again. Despite their best efforts, even the cheery expressions of the half-shadowed twins looked disheartened.

  “Well, at least we can get you out of here. Come!” Calev took her hand, Jaik following them closely behind. They left the ghostly market place, following the third circle of the palace until they came to one of several taverns which were housed within the walls. Kiara remained outside with Jaik and the donkey while Calev went to fetch the others.

  Zephenesh hugged Kiara when he made her out in the shadows, but she didn’t respond. He pulled back and if she had looked at him she would have seen a hurt, searching look in his eyes. Other greetings would have to wait until they found safety.

  Zeb came forward. “You must lie over the donkey. We’ll cover you with the blankets so that you’ll look like cargo, and I’ve already bribed the guards to give us passage after dusk.”

  “The last of our money,” muttered Djeck.

  “We’re lucky they took it at all.”

  Kiara climbed onto the donkey. Lying across the beast on her front she was then bound up with blankets until none of her was visible. They wrapped packs of perfume and spices across her back and hung them over her head and legs. If the guards decided to dig around hopefully, they would only find the cargo. That was unless they dug a little deeper.

  The guard who had accepted the bribe opened the smaller inner gate without question at the sound of Zeb’s knock. He did not say a word while they passed through. Once they were on the other side the guard closed the door behind them and walked straight back to his watch position.

  The second gate was opened to Zeb’s knock, but on the other side, before they were through, their bribed guard was hailed by another.

  Everyone in the party halted, holding their breaths. Kiara wondered what Trevisian would do with her if she was recaptured. Her escape was a betrayal. She shifted slightly on the donkey, blood running to her head and the pommel of the beast’s harness digging into her stomach. She’d faint if she stayed like this much longer. Zeb had told her they would be through in under half an hour.

  “Don’t move.” The words were whispered near her head but she couldn’t tell who spoke. She did as she was bid the pommel continuing to dig into her abdomen.

  “What’s this then?”

  She could hear the voice of the second guard more clearly now. He must be looking through the gate. She was suspended in a sea of black with voices sounding from different directions.

  None of the party answered.

  “A double deal.” The guard laughed, she could hear him slapping something. “Grease my hands and we’ll say no more about it.”

  “My lord,” It was Zeb’s voice. “We have no more money.”

  “Do you not?” The guard’s voice was turning hard. “But I have no doubt you had money for my friend here.” She heard a man yelp. “No passage without a fee.”

  “We have spices and perfumes, my lord.”

  Kiara felt a package removed from her head and shoulders. She heard shuffling.

  “What’s this? Whore’s perfume?”

  She heard something shoved hard against something else. The sound of wood knocking made its way through the material to Kiara’s ears.

  Then there was the sound of wheezing, quick movements that she couldn’t define, and finally two heavy objects fell to the floor.

  There was no more talking. The donkey moved off again, the swaying motion making the harness dig further into her stomach. They made it through the third gate without any problems and after a few more minutes they were running, their footsteps echoing against the sandstone buildings, the donkey’s small hooves clattering. The pommel made a few hard jabs at her stomach before she hoisted her hands up, pushing herself away from the harness. It still bruised her but at least she wasn’t about to throw up. She held herself like that until her muscles burned and she was about to collapse. That was when they stopped.

  She was lifted off the donkey, and the blankets were stripped from her. Fidel held her steady as her legs, which had been bound together by the material, were released.

  She looked around her. They were still in the city, but when she turned she saw the streets angling downwards, and beyond the rooftops lay open country. It was the country she must have been brought through unconscious months ago. Now she was fully aware of where she was travelling, she had woken up, and the world was a different place.

  Chapter 22

  “If she has left for the Laowyn Resistance, she will be killed with the rest of them unless I do something.”

  Trevisian and Johan were o
n their way to the Hall of Banners as they spoke.

  “She has honour.”

  “She’s a fool!” Trevisian snapped, not breaking his stride. “I promised her safety and she goes to die with her people.”

  “Maybe she considers her life the same as others, not of more value.”

  Trevisian drew both hands back through his messy locks. “It’s of more value to me.”

  Johan didn’t respond to that remark. Kiara had been discovered missing this morning. Trevisian had tried to raise a search party, but preparations for the Edict were all-consuming for the Reluwyn troops.

  “Garesh has turned against me.”

  “What?” Johan’s face turned grim. They were only a short walk from the Hall of Banners now, the same stretch of passageway down which Kiara had stumbled on her first day at the palace. Things had been different then. He had been different. Trevisian pushed the image of her from his mind - he needed a clear head to think properly.

  “You know what I am, Johan.” Trevisian jerked his head backwards, a gesture barely indicating his back and the markings there.

  “I have seen you watch me, looking at my tattoo, have you not guessed?” He must have, he came from the same lands Trevisian’s ancestors had walked. Legends remained no matter the people who dwelt there.

  “There is talk of a marked race among those who carry the bloodlines of old. Shifters.” The Radichi warrior’s pale eyes took on concern. “Trevisian, if he knows too, then what you are about to do could be your end. He will turn the people against you and you will be executed.”

  “I know.” He stopped outside the door to the hall. Putting a heavy hand on Johan’s shoulders. “You have been a good friend to me, a loyal servant, you do not have to follow me any longer. I release you from your service to my crown.”

  “You release me?” The usually calm Radichi looked stunned.