Dead Bones

by L. J. Hayward

  “She’s beautiful,” he said.

  Aracelle laughed and Mage Carrasco snorted.

  “You have a son, Your Grace.” The mage hauled herself to her feet, back popping and knees creaking. She hobbled to the door. “Yadira will stay with you, Aracelle. She’s well experienced with newborns. I’ll be back to check on you tomorrow.”

  “Thank you, Mage Carrasco,” Aracelle said.

  The Sacerdio that had helped Sol left with the mage and the other, Yadira, collected the soiled sheets and towels, promising to return with fresh linens for the baby. Alone with his family, Sol let the tears flow.

  “A son,” he whispered, staring at the slowly blinking child.

  “Yes, a son.” There was the remains of laughter in Aracelle’s voice. “A very beautiful son, apparently.”

  Sol gave her a mock scowl. “He looks just like you. What else was I supposed to think?”

  “He has my eyes, yes, but that’s your nose and very definitely a de Roque chin. See how it sticks out so stubbornly.”

  “He’s in trouble if he inherits the de Ibarra temper, as well.”

  Aracelle touched Sol’s face tenderly. “He’s already in trouble, my dear. With you for a father and that rogue Gabriel as his Luz-Guide, there’s no way this boy is growing up well-mannered or sensible.”

  Sol grimaced. “We just have to find the Luz-Guide before he can have a chance of corrupting our son.”

  “Still no word from Ibarra?” Aracelle shifted the baby, causing him to squirm. “Take him, Sol. I’m starting to ache.”

  Sol gulped. “Are you sure I should hold him?”

  “Of course. You won’t hurt him. Just support his head.”

  As if she’d been a mother many times over, Aracelle slid the tightly wrapped bundle into Sol’s arms and he sat very still while she adjusted herself, sighing in relief.

  “I hope Yadira returns soon,” she said. “I could use something to ease the discomfort.”

  Sol nodded very carefully, never taking his eyes off his son.

  “Stop being so silly. You can move, you won’t break him.”

  Feeling a little foolish, Sol made an effort to relax, sinking into the pillows beside his wife and managing to settle his son into the crook of his elbow. “Shouldn’t he be crying and hungry?”

  “He’s probably too tired, much like me. We’ll cry and be hungry after a good sleep. Are you going to tell him his Name?”

  Sol gazed at his son. This tiny person, so recently hidden inside his mother, was suddenly here, and everything had changed. Sol’s purpose in life was now not just to lead and protect Roque Duchy but to raise a son and heir worthy of Roque Duchy, and of Delaluz. And, of course, to love and protect him.

  Sol touched a gentle fingertip to his son’s tiny chest. “Welcome to the world, Sebastian Xavier. Named for Roque’s honoured Saint Sevastian and Gabriel Xavier Castillo Ramos de Roque. May you be graced with Saint Sevastian’s intelligence and compassion and Gabriel’s strength and loyalty and may you not be cursed with his stubbornness or stupidity.”

  Prince Sebastian Xavier Deleon Ibarra de Roque yawned and settled down to sleep.

  #

  Yadira returned and helped Aracelle with the lingering pain and discomfort while Sol rocked Sebastian. Shortly after, mother and son were tucked up together, fast asleep and Sol sat beside the bed, tired but unwilling to leave. He too should be sleeping. Although his entire world had been turned on its head, the rest of Roque still needed him fresh and ready to face the new day. Yet he couldn’t leave. It felt as if his entire duchy was right here in this room, encompassed by the green blanket wrapped around his new son.

  He should have known that notion wouldn’t last long.

  A quiet knock roused Yadira from her place in the corner and she rose to answer it. Closing the door, she came to Sol.

  “Your Grace, your cousin has returned from the airfield. He says he must speak with you immediately.”

  Sol glanced at his sleeping family, quite willing to tell Sergio to go away.

  “I will see to any needs your wife and son have,” Yadira promised.

  Sol nodded and leaned over to kiss Aracelle’s temple. She made a small noise but didn’t stir. Sol crept out of the bedroom, closing the door so slowly it didn’t make a sound.

  Sergio grinned at him. “A son.”

  Sol grinned back. “A son.”

  His cousin opened his arms, ready to engulf Sol in a wild hug, but Sol ducked away and said, “Not here. You’ll wake them.”

  Obediently, Sergio waited until they were in the hallway before grabbing Sol, swinging him around and laughing loudly. When he set Sol down, he gave him a huge slap on the back that all but knocked him over.

  “Congratulations, Your Grace. A fine son to carry the Deleon Name. Let’s hope he takes after Aracelle in looks.”

  Sol gathered his balance and punched his cousin in the arm. “Luckily for you, he does look like Aracelle. But in a handsome way. Now, what’s so important you had to drag me away from my family?”

  Sergio grew serious. “The dirigible that came in tonight was Abbess Orellana’s. She has information she wants to share with you immediately.”

  Usually a summons to the church was not one Sol would hesitate over, but on this night he was loath to leave his palace.

  Seeing him pause, Sergio added, “Abbess Orellana came here. She knew you wouldn’t want to come to the church tonight, and she wanted to be here to see the baby.”

  Sol was relived he wouldn’t have to ride to Sevastian’s Point but at the same time, whatever news made Abbess Orellana come to the palace couldn’t be good either.

  “She’s in your study,” Sergio said. “I’ll find her rooms for the rest of the night.”

  Sol nodded and while Sergio went one way, he went the other, heading to his study.

  The Council of the First Estate, the meeting of the seven churches of Delaluz, had just been held in Ibarra and upon the Abbess’ return to Roque, Sol had expected a meeting so Abbess Bernardita Marianela Orellana Esquivel de Roque could tell him what had been discussed and how it would affect Roque. Sol would in turn take what he and Orellana discussed to the Council of the Second Estate, the meeting of the seven duchies. Usually, Orellana didn’t call Sol to talks for a couple of days, letting herself settle back into her duties, consult with Saint Sevastian and decide what Sol needed to know.

  A meeting as soon as she returned was very rare. It had only happened once before in Sol’s reign, and that had been after the last Council, when Duke Ibarra had convinced the Church of Ciro they needed to protect the Valley from the ‘invading’ Alarians.

  Hoping this meeting didn’t involve worse news, Sol knocked on the door to his study.

  “Enter,” a male voice called.

  The room was unlit and the single window was blocked by heavy velvet drapes. Sol could just make out the tall, thin shape of Prior Mauricio Julio Yanez Jurado de Montserra standing by the window and a dark shape in Sol’s chair behind the desk.

  “The birth?” the woman in the chair asked abruptly.

  “Successful,” Sol said, unable to stop himself from smiling. “A beautiful son named Sebastian Xavier.”

  With a wave of her hand, Abbess Orellana motioned for Prior Yanez to light a lamp. The Prior, a weak Fire Mage, snapped his fingers and sparked the end of a taper. He then lit the lamps in the study, banishing the dark to shadowy corners.

  The Prior was ascetically skinny, but despite this and his advancing years, held himself with precise decorum. The Abbess, on the other hand, was a stout, generously proportioned woman who had risen from the lower ends of nobility to become the most powerful person in Roque. She hadn’t forgotten her roots, though, still talking with a rough edge and uncultured manner. When performing a sermon within the church, she was perfectly respectable and honourable. Otherwise, she was loud spoken, abrupt and occasionally crude.

  Orellana heaved herself out of the chair and came around the desk to gi
ve Sol a hug. “Good, good. Well done. Now that you have an heir, don’t sit back and take things slow. See that you get hard at work on a spare.”

  Sol laughed. “Yes, Abbess. I might let Aracelle rest a bit first, though.”

  Orellana winked and slapped Sol’s arse. “Not too long, mind.”

  Yanez sighed in affectionate despair.

  Arse stinging, Sol said, “We’ll organise the Naming ceremony for after I return from the Council.”

  Orellana shook her head. “No. We’ll have it the day after tomorrow. Can’t wait for you to return from Ibarra. The child needs a Name before his father goes gallivanting.”

  “It’s not like I’ll be gone long. A week at most.” But a sinking sensation crept through Sol’s stomach at the look Orellana gave him. “Not a week?”

  “Perhaps not. Sit, boy. You won’t like what I have to say.”

  Sol sat and waited while Orellana returned to her chair. Yanez stood by the door, ensuring they wouldn’t be overheard.

  “Is it the war?” Sol asked.

  “In part. There are other matters as well, but first, I have news of Mage Castillo.”

  Sol’s heart clenched with sudden fear. “Is he all right?”

  The Abbess leaned forward, arms on the desk. “I believe he is, but for how much longer, I’m not sure.” She held up a hand to stop Sol’s immediate outcry. “Let me speak. We didn’t see him while we were in Ibarra so I demanded word of him from Abbess Morales. She wouldn’t tell me why, but Duke Ibarra sent Gabriel into the Valley to help with the war.”

  “He can’t do that,” Sol said. “Gabe’s de Roque. Ibarra can’t just send my nobles off to fight his war for him.”

  “He can when your noble was involved in the death of a man and the punishment was serving a year in Ibarra’s military.”

  Sol gritted his teeth. “What are they saying Gabe did?”

  “No one would tell me. The church and palace were very quiet on the matter. Morales was furious with Gabriel. I’ve never seen her lose control like she did when I pressed her about it. I never even found a hint about what happened, but when Morales threatens to lock someone in the Room of Mirrors, you know the crime must be extreme.”

  Every church had a Room of Mirrors, buried deep under their cathedral, only ever talked about in hushed, fearful terms. In the quest to rid Delaluz of the Fuerza Oscura, the church had devised many tests to discover if an accused person was a demon or not. Some involved questions, others sharp objects or freezing water, but the Room of Mirrors was the last resort in any inquisition.

  Sol shivered. “I don’t believe it. Gabe would never do anything that bad. Saints preserve us, he’s a Bone Mage! He would never hurt anyone. He’s incapable of it. You know that as well as I do.”

  “I do but the fact remains, your friend did something so heinous it’s lucky they didn’t kill him outright. A year serving as a military mage is the best he could hope for, under the circumstances.”

  Sol surged out of his chair. “But he’s not a military mage. He won’t last a month in the middle of a war!”

  Orellana stared him down and once he was seated again, she said softly, “He’s been there two months already.”

  “Dear Luz.” Sol gripped the armrests to keep from hitting something. “We have to get him out of there.”

  “It’s not as bad as you’re thinking. Ibarra might be harsh, but he hasn’t been cruel. Gabriel is with a supply camp. He won’t be seeing conflict or the enemy up close.”

  Sol shook his head. “That doesn’t change anything. You know Gabe. He doesn’t hold back. He’ll kill himself trying to save every single soldier that comes through that camp.”

  Prior Yanez moved to say something but a look from Orellana stopped him.

  “No secrets,” Sol said. “What were you going to say, Prior?”

  Orellana sighed and waved Yanez permission.

  Yanez said, “While we were in Ibarra, a message arrived from the battalion Mage Castillo is with. It was a report on the wounded and dead. Apparently, since Mage Castillo joined them, there have been no deaths at that camp.”

  The blood drained from Sol’s face.

  “Duke Deleon,” Orellana said sternly, drawing his attention back to her. “While your friend’s predicament is terrible, it is not the worst news I have.”

  Sol wasn’t sure he could sit still for this. Tonight was supposed to be the best night of his life. His first born child. A moment of unparalleled joy and it had already been blunted by news of Gabe. Now Orellana wanted to make it worse.

  “Princess Alegria Immaculada Garnez Tover de Ramon y Sarabia came before the Council of the First Estate,” Orellana continued.

  Forcing his worry for Gabe aside, Sol tried to think why this event was so important. He’d met Alegria once and found her to be a quiet, reclusive young woman. The daughter of a rural count in Valdes, she’d married Prince Eduardo, son of Duchess Feliciana Sara Najera Beltran de Valdes, and suddenly found herself propelled out of obscurity and into the midst of scandal. Mere weeks after their wedding, Eduardo had been racing his yacht on Lake Zarate Norte and, thanks to a frayed line, broke his neck when the yard swung about suddenly and slammed him into the wheel. Bone Mages were able to save his life, but his brain had been damaged and the prince was now very forgetful and slow, suffering frequent fits. The duchess hoped the malady would lessen over time, allowing her son to retain his position as heir but the Bone Mages weren’t so confident. It had been rumoured Princess Alegria’s family, and several other persons of note, had encouraged her to dissolve her marriage, a fair proposition in many minds. She had refused to leave Eduardo and two years after the accident, birthed twin daughters.

  Sol quirked an eyebrow at Orellana. “Her petition didn’t have anything to do with the accusation her daughters are not Eduardo’s, does it?”

  The Abbess scoffed. “Those rumours are completely baseless. Valdes’ line cannot be mistaken, not with all that red hair. How so much Talamhian blood ended up in Valdes is beyond me, but sadly, it seems to breed true in their royals. No, Alegria’s petition had nothing to do with that, as you’ll soon find out. No doubt, she’ll bring it before the Council of the Second Estate, as well.”

  There was only one reason Sol knew why she would. “The First Estate refused her petition.”

  “We did,” Orellana said, though her tone suggested her vote wasn’t one of the majority. “Alegria’s dispute is with Abbot Guillermo but she’ll try to gather support amongst the Second Estate in an effort to convince the First to veto Guillermo’s decision.”

  “What did the Abbot do?”

  Yanez made a small noise of disapproval but Orellana waved it aside.

  “He’ll find out soon enough. Either at the Council or through rumour.” With her Prior chastised, Orellana continued. “No one disputes the heritage of the twin princesses, yet some do feel there is the possibility, due to the timing of their conception, that they may be affected by Eduardo’s disabilities.”

  Sol snorted. “It was an accident. It shouldn’t affect his children.”

  “My exact argument, and had I been able to find Mage Castillo, I would have had him testify to that end. As it was, Abbot Guillermo had his own Bone Mage there to explain how Prince Eduardo’s seed may have been compromised by his accident. Thus children conceived after the accident have a higher chance of not being capable of inheriting Valdes’ throne.”

  “That’s ridiculous,” Sol said, then paused. “Isn’t it?”

  “Guillermo’s pet mage seemed convincing. Had the men in the chamber all crossing their legs in fear. I consulted with every Bone Mage I could find in Ibarra and most of them agree there is a possibility, however slight, Eduardo is firing faulty bullets.”

  Sol swallowed hard. “This isn’t a good conversation to have with a man hours after the birth of his child.”

  “Your son is fine, Sol,” the Abbess said firmly. “You might want to refrain from riding your horse in the months before gett
ing Aracelle pregnant again, though.”

  Blushing, Sol asked, “Why exactly was Alegria petitioning the First Estate?”

  “Because Guillermo feels the best chance the twins have at being raised suitably is to take them away from their mother and father and raise them within the church. Alegria and Eduardo are not allowed to see their daughters or have any communication with them.”

  “What?” As new to being a parent as he was, a sharp pain went through Sol when he thought about his son being taken away from him. “How can they justify that? How could the Council of the First Estate refuse Alegria’s petition?”

  “It was a tight vote, four against three,” Orellana said. “I want you to know this, Sol, because I’m certain your own Council will vote against Alegria as well and I want you to find out why they will, and then stop it.”

  Chapter 4

  The Roque City airfield was abuzz with activity as the royal dirigible was readied for flight. Engineers and Fire Mages assessed the engines, Air Mages tested the integrity of the balloon and pages saw to the packing of the travellers’ bags and trunks. The engineering bays vibrated with the sound of engine tests and whirring propellers. Beside them, the smithy competed to be the loudest as Smiths hammered and banged away. From the hangar came another dirigible, wheeled out on its cradle, axles squeaking, wood creaking. Flyers yelled at each other from the towers, confirming wind direction and speed. High above, the summer sun was suspended in a cloudless, crystal bright azure sky, bringing a sheen of sweat to the skin of the workers.

  Ignoring it all, Sol rocked his sleeping son. He devoured Sebastian’s round, chubby face with his eyes, touching his pink eyelids, his little pursed lips, the tip of his tiny nose, trying to fix every feature and texture in his mind. There was an ache in his chest, an echo of the pain he’d felt when Orellana told him Alegria’s daughters had been taken away from her. He was leaving his son and he didn’t want to.

  Since Gabe had examined Aracelle early in her pregnancy and predicted the date of the birth, Sol had known he would only have a few days with his wife and child before leaving for the Council. He’d resigned himself to the fact and vowed he wouldn’t extend his stay away by visiting with distant friends and relatives. Two days flight to Ibarra, five days for the Council meeting, two days back and that would be it. Nothing more to delay him.