Shalador's Lady

by Bishop, Anne

  “So they sent young men to support the experienced warriors,” Cassidy said. “Is that why you’ve kept such a strict watch over Janos, kept him hidden from the Queens?”

  “That’s why. I didn’t want him to face that before he had to.

  “I remember Talon coming into the camp the night before the fight to talk to the leaders. He couldn’t be with us for the attack. I think he was committed to another killing field farther north. Besides, Talon couldn’t fight in daylight, but he was the best instructor we had. When he was done talking to the leaders, he took a couple of minutes with each of us. It got to be my turn, and instead of telling him I would be brave and strong and win the battle, I told him I was afraid to fail. And he said, ‘Don’t fail until you fail.’ So I didn’t. We destroyed that Queen and the warriors she sent against us. Most of us survived.” Ranon hesitated, then decided not to tell her that some of the boys who survived went back into the mountains and never came down again. “There have been plenty of times in the years since then when things have looked too bleak for any hope to survive, when I watched other men fall in battle while trying to save what we could. There were days when I thought I couldn’t stand to see another friend die, but I’d tell myself that as long as I could stand and fight for my people I hadn’t failed yet. I don’t know if that helps.”

  “It does,” Cassidy said. “Yes, it does. Thank you, Ranon.”

  He touched her shoulder. When she didn’t pull away, he drew her against him for a hug.

  “We’ll do all right, Cassie,” he said as he eased back. “And since our land will be a third of Dena Nehele’s size, there will be two-thirds less . . .” Suddenly dizzy, he staggered back a step.

  “Ranon?” Cassidy grabbed his arm. “What’s wrong?”

  “We didn’t think of it. I swear we didn’t.”

  “Think of what?”

  “The tithes.”

  She looked baffled. Completely, totally baffled. “What about them?”

  “You’ll only get a third of the tithes you would have gotten if Dena Nehele stayed whole.” How could they have overlooked something that obvious?

  More bafflement. “I know. Powell and I reviewed the accounts this week to make sure the court could still support itself, and we can, Ranon. All of you will receive your quarterly income.”

  “What about your income?”

  “I’ll have plenty.”

  He wasn’t sure he believed her, so he’d talk to Powell. Oh, he was certain that the court’s expenses would be paid, and everyone who was owed a wage would get the full wage. He just wasn’t sure Cassidy would have a copper left to call her own. The woman was quite capable of brushing that little detail aside.

  He huffed out a breath and watched it cloud the air between them. “You know, it’s colder than Hell out here. I could use a hot drink and some breakfast. How about you?”

  She studied him, and he had the sense that something in the past minute had shown her another point on the battlefield.

  “Ranon? How do you think Theran will respond to this? Do you think he’ll let us go?”

  “He’ll be pissed off, and I doubt he’ll be the best of neighbors, but I don’t think he’s enough of a fool to start a war. Not with Talon backing you.” But her question made him think of the reason they were risking war to begin with. “What about Kermilla? How is she going to respond?”

  He looked into Cassidy’s eyes and knew the answer—just as he knew the reason before she said it.

  “I think Kermilla is going to be very unhappy about losing a third of the tithes, and I don’t think she’ll let go of that income without a fight.”

  Easy enough to take that stand when the bitch wasn’t going to be the one standing on the killing fields.

  Cassidy hooked her arm through his and headed back to the house. “Let’s save that worry for another day and focus on today’s worry.”

  “What’s that?” he asked.

  “Whether or not there’s anything besides porridge left for breakfast.”

  He laughed as he opened the kitchen door and they both hurried into the warmth.

  Don’t fail until you fail.

  She didn’t want to fail the court or the people. And they weren’t about to fail her.

  EBON ASKAVI

  Prince Ranon and Prince Jared Blaed arrived at the Keep thirty minutes after sunset. That was just enough time for a man to wake up, clean up, and drink a glass of yarbarah. In Saetan’s experience, young men didn’t show up with that kind of precision in order to make a casual request. The fact that Jaenelle would have considered those two as Second Circle gave him even more reason to pay attention to the timing.

  “Gentlemen,” Saetan said as they crossed the sitting room and stopped at the precise distance that was deemed courteous according to Protocol and gave him the precise bows owed his rank.

  All that precision gave him a headache.

  “High Lord,” Gray said.

  When Gray hesitated, Saetan supplied the rest. “You have something you want to discuss, but it needs to be in confidence.”

  “Yes,” Gray said.

  “Will my keeping this confidence put anyone I care about at risk?”

  A hesitation before Ranon said, “No one in Kaeleer.”

  Interesting answer. “Very well.”

  As soon as they had that much assurance from him, they both relaxed.

  Gray called in a folded paper and held it out. “We’d like you to read this and tell us what we should fix. Powell said this is a copy, so you can mark it up if you want to.”

  Saetan called in his half-moon glasses, unfolded the paper, and read the carefully written words.

  Mother Night. These children had balls.

  “Are you trying to start a war or avoid one?” he asked.

  “Avoid one,” they replied.

  Thank the Darkness for that. “Then there are a few phrases that should be reworded.”

  As he turned toward a chair where he could work, he felt another dark presence in the Keep. Ranon and Gray felt it too and knew who was approaching the room. Since neither of them asked him to do anything to keep this meeting private, he settled into the chair, called in a lap desk and a pen, and began rereading the document that would break a Territory.

  Lucivar walked into the room. A slashing glance at Gray and Ranon, an assessing look at him, and his Eyrien son had seen enough to know this wasn’t a battlefield.

  Which didn’t mean Lucivar wouldn’t turn it into one if he decided there was a reason.

  “Gray,” Lucivar said. “Ranon. What brings you here?”

  The question wasn’t as idle as it sounded. Ebon-gray was asking Purple Dusk and Opal to explain their presence—and would get an explanation one way or another.

  Since dealing with Lucivar had been a valuable lesson for all the boyos in Jaenelle’s First Circle, Saetan pretended to be unaware of this particular pissing contest. He didn’t want Gray and Ranon to get hurt, but he wasn’t going to step in unless it was necessary because every man needed to know when to stand and when to yield.

  Gray glanced at Ranon, who nodded slightly.

  “The Shalador reserves and the five southern Provinces are breaking from the rest of Dena Nehele to form a new Territory,” Gray said.

  “That makes the Heartsblood River your northern boundary?” Lucivar asked.

  “How did you know?” Ranon asked.

  Foolish boy, Saetan thought, looking up to watch this part of the drama. An Eyrien could see a great deal from the air while riding the currents. Especially when that Eyrien was an Ebon-gray Warlord Prince.

  Lucivar shrugged—and then winced so slightly no one but family would notice. “It’s a natural border, not to mention a means of travel and a source of water. Stands to reason you’d want to hold on to one side of it. How many Warlord Princes on your side of the line?”

  “About forty,” Gray said. “That’s almost half of the adult Warlord Princes in Dena Nehele.”

&nb
sp; “Adult,” Lucivar said. He gave Ranon a long look. “If this gets messy, your brother will end up on the killing fields with the rest of you. You know that.”

  “I know,” Ranon said quietly.

  “That’s why I’m looking over this document,” Saetan said. “To try to avoid the necessity of anyone standing on a killing field because of a preference for one Queen over another.”

  Another assessing look at him before Lucivar focused on the other two men. “Have Talon deliver the copy of the document to Grayhaven. He’s the one man Theran won’t challenge.”

  Saetan crossed out a sentence and wrote his changes in the margin. “And be sure to have a copy of the final, signed document brought here to the Keep. Documents can be lost or destroyed in a Territory when it’s convenient to hide information. Nothing can touch them here.”

  That wasn’t quite true, but there was no one else in the room, including Lucivar, who could destroy a race so completely that all trace of them was eliminated from all the Realms.

  Gray had brought a map of Dena Nehele, so while he, Ranon, and Lucivar reviewed how to make the best use of the trained warriors they had, Saetan worked through Powell’s draft, making subtle word changes that would place the burden of war squarely on Theran Grayhaven’s shoulders. Only a fool would start a war under these circumstances.

  Of course, a man driven to serve a particular Queen could be ten times a fool. He might hate himself for it, but he’d still follow the Queen’s command and be her instrument.

  They would all have to wait and see how firmly Kermilla held Theran’s leash.

  He finished his changes, read them again, and then handed the document back to Gray. The Warlord Princes from Dena Nehele didn’t linger, and Saetan thought that was wise. News would travel. Rumors would begin. The sooner the official document was in the open, the better.

  When they were gone, Saetan looked at Lucivar. “Well?”

  “Gray and Ranon are solid,” Lucivar replied, rubbing his left biceps. “And they’re a good team. You fix their paper?”

  “Yes, I did. It’s still possible that Kermilla can goad Theran hard enough to try to start a war, but I don’t think he’ll be equally successful in convincing enough Warlord Princes to join him on that particular killing field.”

  “I hope you’re right.”

  Saetan waited a moment. “What’s wrong with your arm?”

  “Nothing.”

  “Would you like to answer that question again without lying to your father?”

  Lucivar made a face. “It’s nothing. A bruise. She didn’t break skin.”

  “I beg your pardon?”

  “Well, Hell’s fire, the woman’s got some temper when she’s riled.”

  “What did you do to upset Marian?”

  “I was being considerate. Don’t women want men to be considerate?” Lucivar looked like a puppy who had gotten smacked and had no idea what he’d done wrong.

  It took a formidable amount of self-control to convey nothing but calm interest, but he did it. “Of course they do, but wives also expect to have sex with their husbands on occasion.” After waiting a beat, he added, “I take it you and Marian have resumed making love.”

  “I don’t think there was any love in this particular bite,” Lucivar growled. “But, yeah, we had sex.”

  “In that case, my darling, why are you here?”

  This time Lucivar didn’t try to hide the wince. “The village theater group is putting on a play tonight. It’s a comedy. With singing. More or less.”

  Saetan waited. “Are you asking me to watch Daemonar this evening or accompany Marian to the play?”

  Lucivar gave him a pained look.

  Everything has a price, boyo. “What time should I come over to watch the boy?” Saetan tipped his head to indicate the clock on the mantel.

  Lucivar looked at the clock and sighed. “Now?”

  Saetan headed for the closest courtyard that had a landing web. “You are planning to get cleaned up, aren’t you?” It wasn’t really a question.

  “If I can have the damn bathroom to myself, it doesn’t take me more than five minutes,” Lucivar muttered.

  If she really wants to see this play, she’s going to clobber him, Saetan thought. “Go. Tell Marian I’ll be there by the time you’re ready to leave. And Lucivar? If you’re smart, you’re going to give your Lady more than just sex tonight.”

  Lucivar went out the first available exit and launched himself skyward.

  Saetan sent out a light psychic thread to the woman he considered the perfect match for his volatile son. *Marian?*

  *Uncle Saetan?* Surprise turned to concern. *Lucivar was supposed to see you.*

  *He did. He’ll be home in a minute. I apologize for the delay, but a meeting with two Warlord Princes from Dena Nehele had to take priority.*

  *And he didn’t contact me because he wanted to wiggle out of going to the play tonight?*

  Probably, but not consciously. Lucivar would rather crawl over broken glass than see a comedic play that included singing, but he wouldn’t shrug off an event Marian wanted to attend.

  *I’ll be over in a few minutes to watch Daemonar. Lucivar swears he can get cleaned up and be ready to leave for you to get to the play on time.*

  *So I should be understanding when he comes roaring in?*

  Hearing the amusement—and the love—in the words, Saetan smiled. *Darling, make him work for it. It won’t hurt him.*

  Her laughter filled the link between them before she broke the thread—no doubt to deal with the husband who had just come thundering home.

  Smiling, Saetan shook his head. “She used to be a gentle hearth witch before she had to deal with all of us.” He felt the leash slip on his self-control and heard a peculiar sound come from behind his clenched teeth.

  Imagining how well Marian would deal with Lucivar, Saetan leaned against a wall, let go of self-control, and laughed himself silly.

  CHAPTER 40

  TERREILLE

  Three copies of a document that would break a land that had survived cruelty she couldn’t imagine, even when she heard some of the stories about Dena Nehele’s past. Three copies of a document that would change all of their lives.

  And change nothing that matters the most, Cassidy thought as she carefully pressed her seal into the wax on the third copy—and heard the whole First Circle release the breath they’d been holding while she took this last step.

  As soon as she sat back, Powell pulled the copy away and positioned it in the center of the big table, along with the other two copies.

  “Done,” her Steward said. “Talon?”

  “I’ll take the copy up to the Keep first.” Talon carefully rolled two of the documents and vanished them. Then he hesitated. “Once I hand this paper to the High Lord and it’s acknowledged at the Keep, the path is chosen. There’s no going back.”

  He was giving her one last chance to walk away. A Queen’s wants, wishes, and will came first, no matter the cost.

  “Safe journey, Prince Talon,” Cassidy said.

  Her legs felt shaky, so she sat at the table while Talon and the rest of the court left the room. Naturally, Ranon and Gray were last and kept glancing at her as if trying to decide if they should stay or leave.

  Shira made it simple by shoving the two of them out of the room. Before the Black Widow could close the door for a private chat, Reyhana slipped into the room.

  “I want to help.” Reyhana squared her shoulders and lifted her chin.

  How much death has this girl already seen? Cassidy wondered. How much more will she have to see? “You serve in my Second Circle, Sister, so you most certainly are going to help.” She stood up and felt reassured that her legs weren’t as wobbly as they’d been a few minutes ago. “I could use a bit more to eat than the half piece of toast I choked down earlier. After that, why don’t the three of us review what needs to be done?”

  “Don’t we first have to find out what Theran is going to do?” Sh
ira asked.

  Cassidy shook her head as she joined them at the door. “War or not, we’ve got two months before spring. Fields will need to be plowed, and crops will need to be sown—and the Queens need to affirm their bond to the land. We need to make sure all the Queens know how to enrich the land, we need to confirm that the villages—landen and Blood—have the plows and other tools they need for their farms and—”

  “All right!” Shira said, laughing. “All right. Point taken. We have plenty to do.”

  Cassidy looked at Shira and knew that, for a moment, they both pictured an orchard of honey pear trees growing out of the bodies of the dead.

  Then they both pushed that image aside, and the three of them went to Cassidy’s study and got on with the business of living.

  EBON ASKAVI

  Saetan read the document carefully. Then, assured that Powell had made all the changes he’d written on the draft, he set the document on the library’s large blackwood table and vanished his half-moon glasses. “We’ll make sure this is preserved. A place will be set aside in the library for any other documents or work from Shalador Nehele that you want preserved outside of your land.”

  “Thank you,” Talon replied.

  Saetan studied the demon-dead Warlord Prince who had been a friend of Jared and Lia. “This is hard for you.”

  “Yes, it’s hard. Not so much that it happened, but the reason why it happened. Makes me wonder what I’ve been fighting for these past three hundred years.”