A Kingdom Lost

by Barbara Ann Wright

  Starbride bit her lip. As much as she loved Maia, her feelings couldn’t compare to those of Maia’s own family. Maia’s father had left her long ago, and she’d grown close to her aunt and uncle, to her cousins. With her father returned as a monster and most of her family far away, she clung to the kin she had left.

  No matter that he was an ass.

  Reinholt wrapped an arm around Maia’s shoulders and held her. They closed their eyes as if they’d forgotten the rest of the room existed.

  “What are you going to do now?” Reinholt finally asked.

  “Help,” Maia said. “Your parents are coming and Katya. I’ll help Starbride build up strength here and add it to theirs.”

  He nodded. Maia hadn’t included him in her plans, but if his young and obviously injured cousin was going to help with the revolution, what else could he do? “I’ll help you,” he said.

  Starbride held in an exasperated sigh. Help her, would he, not the cause? Ah well, if she had to feed her plans through Maia, so be it.

  Maia glanced at Starbride, and she took the cue. “We thought the pair of you could work on Dockland, now that you have some knowledge of it.” Starbride didn’t add that most of that knowledge included being knocked out in an alley and locked in a cellar.

  “What did you have in mind?” Maia asked.

  “Charm,” Starbride said.

  Reinholt smiled crookedly. “Bows and compliments? Or should I tell them my collection of naughty chambermaid stories?”

  “The chambermaid stories would probably work better,” Dawnmother said.

  Starbride chuckled. “I was thinking more of you playing on your rogue status.”

  “Rogue?” He seemed torn between amused and offended. “You think a prince robbed of his throne is going to appeal to the poorest of the poor?”

  “They like anyone who defies the law,” Maia said.

  “The rogue prince, eh? I kind of like it.”

  Starbride smiled and not simply because Maia swayed him to her thinking. Their plan transformed him from an egomaniacal brat to the misunderstood center of attention. Of course he liked it.

  “Wonderful,” she said. “I’ll leave you two to work out the details.”

  Chapter Twenty-seven

  Katya

  Katya stretched in the saddle and shivered. Moving closer to Marienne had brought them more recruits, but it had also brought a drop in temperature. Snow had fallen that morning, though it melted by midday.

  Still, better to be out with her scouting party than with the slow-moving army. When she’d awoken to cold air that morning, Katya had wondered how many new recruits wished they’d stayed in their beds, helping their fellows batten down for the winter and preparing for the feast of Dark Night. Katya had thought that a sinister name for what the palace had always called Solstice Night, but she’d learned that the longest night of the year meant something different to those who weren’t safe and snug inside castle walls.

  Most of the towns Katya visited weren’t surprised to see her. Word of the army traveled far faster than it did. She’d grown accustomed to her scouts telling her that the town ahead had already gathered for her arrival, so she wasn’t alarmed at first when an Allusian scout rushed toward them from the north.

  As the man rode closer, Katya’s gut tightened at the panic on his face. They’d had a few misunderstandings with Farradain villagers thinking an Allusian scout meant attack. The last thing they needed was the bad blood that would accompany an accidental death.

  The scout spoke quickly to Hawkblade. Katya picked out a few words; her Allusian had gotten better, but she was still lost. Before she had time to frustrate herself, another Allusian said, “Cavalry and troops approaching from the north.”

  Roland, maybe, but from the north? Why not come straight at them from the west? “Were they flying any colors?”

  “Flying…colors?” the scout asked.

  “Banners,” Brutal said. “Cloth on the end of long poles.”

  “He says yes.”

  “What was on the cloth, what colors?” Katya asked.

  The scout muttered for a few moments. “He says the largest was green with a yellow…head?” He shrugged. “Something’s head.”

  “Pointed teeth on the head?” Katya asked. “Ruff around its neck?”

  The scout nodded. Katya let out a sigh of relief.

  “Do you mind sharing?” Brutal asked. “Not all of us are up on our heraldry.”

  Katya grinned. “A gold hillcat on a field of green, Beaumaris colors, the holding of Countess Nadia Van Hale.”

  *

  Countess Nadia had been busy. By the amount of troops she’d brought, she had to have laid claim to most of the nobility in the north, their guards, and all the able-bodied villagers. If they were being mind-controlled, Katya and her scouting party were doomed.

  Countess Nadia’s graying hair had been swept up under a jaunty cap. She wore a dark leather coat and gray suede trousers, all of it covered by a heavy, fur-trimmed cloak. She even had a shortsword strapped to her side, though Katya didn’t know if she could use it.

  “Your Highness,” she called as those around her bowed from the saddle. “I am so happy to see that you’re well.”

  Viscount Lenvis rode at Nadia’s side. When Katya hadn’t seen him in his holding at Lucienne-by-the-Sea, she’d feared for his life, but it seemed he’d followed the countess into the north, one of the many things a person would do for love.

  Or maybe he’d had no other choice.

  “We heard King Einrich was on the move,” Lenvis said. “We came as soon as we could get everyone together.”

  “We’re more than happy to have you.” Katya’s glance darted over their party, waiting for one of them to strike, but after a few awkward moments, the two groups fell in together and headed toward the bulk of the army.

  Nadia’s words seemed her own, but Katya wasn’t sure how deep mind tampering could go. She ground her teeth. Roland wouldn’t need to keep sending assassins if he could sow distrust amongst his enemies.

  “Is the crown princess consort not with you?” Lenvis asked.

  “She remains in Marienne, I’m afraid, though we have had word,” Katya said.

  Nadia sighed. “I’m relieved to hear she lives. I feared she might not the last time I saw her.”

  “The last time?”

  “In Marienne when we escaped. She was being chased by a mob. We led the murderous thugs away, pretending she was with us.” Her glance darted sideways. “There was no time for anything else.”

  “I understand, Countess. Thank you for what you did.” Though if Nadia had managed to take Starbride along… Katya told herself to stop dreaming. Starbride would be in her arms soon enough; she swore it by the spirits themselves.

  When they returned to camp, Nadia’s troops set up amongst the others. Katya sought out her father to give him the news. She was surprised to find him meeting with another new arrival, Mayor Crispin from Pomanse.

  A new scar peeked out from Crispin’s collar, blotchy, bright pink and red. Katya’s stomach dropped at the tale the mark suggested. Before Darren had run off to wreak havoc in the countryside, he’d made good on his threat to Pomanse. Katya winced to see it, even though she knew there was nothing she could have done to stop it.

  Crispin bowed low for both Katya and Nadia. They had left the other, lesser-ranking nobles outside. Nadia had suggested it, saving Katya from having to demand it.

  “Countess Nadia,” Da said as he led her to a seat. “My thanks for your gift of troops.”

  “We do what we can,” Nadia said, “though I’m afraid I bring bad news along with strength of arms.”

  “As does Mayor Crispin,” Da said.

  “I didn’t bring as many volunteers as the countess,” Crispin said, “but I brought what I could, what was left.”

  Katya’s eyes traveled to that pink scar again. “Fire?”

  “Nearly half the city gone, and so many people. Mr. Davance…”
He coughed, and Katya saw unshed tears in his eyes, the way he clenched his fists. Now she knew why Davance had been so quick to defend Crispin when she’d accused their security of being lax.

  “I’m sorry,” she said. “We’ve all lost too much these days.”

  “We…I should have listened to you, Majesty. I’m sorry.”

  “The past,” Da said, shooing all bad blood away. “And while we’re on the subject of bad news, Countess?”

  “There’s been fighting closer to Marienne,” she said. “Not up where we gathered, not yet, but those horrid creatures attacked Duke Robert’s estate.”

  “Does he live?” Katya asked. Duke Robert, Brom’s father, had been one of Roland’s principal dupes, but he’d seen the error of his ways in the end, before the revolt in Marienne.

  “I don’t know, Highness. We heard of the attack from the few who escaped, and when we ventured there to help, everyone in the town and the estate was gone.”

  “Dead?” Da asked.

  “Vanished. There was evidence of a fight, broken down doors, smashed windows, and plenty of blood, but not a person, living or dead to be found.”

  Katya shivered. The bodies had been made into corpse Fiends by now. The living were probably being hypnotized.

  “And there are similar reports throughout the countryside,” Nadia said, “but Baelyn was the only one I saw with my own eyes.”

  “And your people, Countess?” Katya asked. “Do you not fear for those who remained behind?”

  “Those who cannot fight have gone farther north, to the Roanth Highlands and beyond. Some have kin among the hinters and will seek shelter there.”

  “Hinters?” Crispin said. “I’m afraid I’m not familiar with that family.”

  “Being from the coast, I’m not surprised,” Da said. “They’re not a family, but a group of Farradains who live deep in the northern mountains.”

  “They’re Farradain only in that they look it,” Nadia said. “They have no noble; they make no allegiance.”

  “Only because no one wants to live there.” Katya had met some hinters living in Marienne. The strength chapterhouses always sported a few. Some came to town looking for adventure. Those she’d met seemed a good-natured, boisterous bunch, and she could see them welcoming old relatives and new friends into their holds. They’d make good allies, but she couldn’t see them going to war for a king they didn’t acknowledge or a promise to be part of a government they didn’t want.

  “My father spoke sometimes of getting rid of them,” Da said. “He didn’t like the idea of a potential enemy right on our roof, as it were, but there was never enough support among the council.”

  “Tsk,” Countess Nadia said. “They’d have hidden in their holes like ferrets, and we’d never have found them. I doubt this Fiend king could either.”

  Katya winced. “We call him the usurper.”

  “Better all around for morale,” Da added.

  That got a weak chuckle, but their conversation had given Katya a flutter of hope. If they couldn’t wrest control of the throne away from Roland, they’d at least have somewhere to hide. The hinters might put them all up for a little while. Of course, more than people lived in the mountains to the north. In the tallest peaks, those so high they tore the clouds to ribbons, wild Fiends still dwelled. She thought for a moment what it would be like to be trapped between Roland and untamed evil and had to draw her coat tighter around her.

  *

  That evening, wrapped in the embrace of Starbride’s mind, Katya allowed herself to relax a little, to revel in the good news that they had more arms for their company. She told Starbride to watch out for mind-controlled slaves as Roland seemed to be accelerating his plans to warp the population of Farraday into attacking those who were trying to save it.

  “I’ve noticed,” Starbride said. “Don’t worry for me. We’ll counter whatever comes along.”

  Katya wanted to bathe in her confidence. “I’m so proud of you, Star.”

  Their love melted together again, and Katya felt Redtrue lean into Castelle’s embrace. Katya tried not to succumb to the feelings that had engulfed her before. Even though Redtrue had someone to “comfort” her, Katya didn’t want to tow her into some mind-to-mind lovemaking.

  “I’ve been wanting to tell you something,” Starbride said. “Well, I didn’t want to tell you before because I wasn’t sure how it would turn out, but now that things seem to be going so well…”

  “You’ve lost me, Star.”

  “I thought you might be pained, being so far away and unable to do anything about them.”

  “And now you’re scaring me.”

  “I’m sorry, love. It’s Maia and Averie. I’ve got them both, Katya. They’re alive and well and doing marvelously.”

  Katya held her breath. Averie and Maia, one dead and one missing, rescued from Roland? “How…oh spirits, Star, you’ve…you’re a miracle!” She couldn’t stop her emotions from pouring through the link, love and pride and surprise.

  Starbride laughed, nearly giddy, by the sound. She spun a tale of finding Averie in the palace dungeon, of recovering Maia from Roland’s grasp and nursing both back to health. “Averie has been coming out with us at night. She’s a wonderful tracker, and her marksmanship gives me confidence. And Maia! She’s not quite up to skulking yet, but she’s taking care of your brother. Seems all he needed to fall in line was his own baby bird to care for.”

  Katya could say nothing for a few moments. They could all be together again, save Crowe. Well, next thing she knew, Starbride would be parting the veil between life and death and bringing all their loved ones back to them. “I don’t know what to say, Star. You’ve made me so happy. You make me so happy. That I met you, that you love me, is proof that every spirit wishes me the best.”

  She could almost see the delight in Starbride’s eyes. “So that’s not just Ellias and Elody with us? Or are you saying that loving me requires fortitude as well?”

  “When we meet again,” Katya said, “by the spirits, I’ll show you fortitude.” Katya felt heat blossoming within her, and this time, she couldn’t stop it. To hell with propriety. What was decorum to love?

  “Hold tight to Castelle, Redtrue.” Katya summoned every thought, every fantasy she’d entertained when she’d thought of meeting Starbride again. She envisioned tracing Starbride’s lips with her thumb, of Starbride biting down gently. Starbride returned the image with one of her slipping her fingers into Katya’s belt and pulling the two of them together.

  Their thoughts tangled in caresses and kisses. Katya imagined the impatience that would overtake them until they finally ripped the fabric from each other’s willing bodies.

  “Oh, Katya,” Starbride groaned.

  “My Star.” Images became lost in a swirl of touch and taste, passion growing as they both fed the fantasy. Katya’s head snapped back as she moaned, and all the strength left her body. She felt the soft fur underneath her and knew she’d collapsed. Her eyes were shut, but she imagined that if she opened them and looked to the side, she would see Starbride there.

  “We have to stop doing this,” Starbride said breathlessly. “I’ve still got work to do tonight.”

  “I’m going to crawl into bed and dream of you.”

  “Now I’m jealous.”

  “You can dream of yourself later.”

  “Of the going to bed part!” Starbride said. “If you were here, I’d smack you with a pillow.”

  “If I was there, we’d both be crawling into bed…”

  “Enough,” Redtrue said. “I must…you must say good night now.”

  Katya heard the urgency in her voice. Starbride must have, too, for they hurried their good-byes. When Katya opened her eyes, Redtrue was kissing Castelle’s neck and guiding Castelle’s hand under her shirt.

  Castelle opened her eyes long enough to glare. “Get out,” she mouthed.

  Katya stumbled through the tent flap. Her knees were still weak, and the cold wind felt lovely ac
ross her face. New allies, Averie and Maia alive and well, and then a little mind-sex to top off the evening. Things were as well as could be, given the circumstances. There was no guarantee they would stay that way, though. Only a foolish person would expect that. And everyone was still in danger. Crowe would have applauded the dismal thoughts, would have told her that such thinking would keep her from being surprised when the next disaster occurred.

  Another part of her, one brought out by Starbride, warned that Katya should revel in the good news while it was there. With nothing in her immediate future but sleep, what harm was there in relaxing just a little?

  It must have been the Crowe in her that heard the step in the dark. Years of training, many under his tutelage, made her shift her weight. When someone flew at her, she caught an arm and threw the weight over her shoulder. The attacker huffed as the air left his lungs; not a corpse Fiend then. Katya punched down, catching him square in the chest, doubling him over. Katya flipped him on his stomach and knelt in the middle of his back.

  “Brutal!” she cried.

  “Katya?”

  “Here. Hurry!” The attacker squirmed beneath her. Katya grabbed one of his arms and hauled it up behind him, but a woman’s voice cried out in pain.

  Brutal was there in a moment. “Hold her,” Katya said. As his large body replaced hers, the attacker yelped again. Katya searched her, finding a knife in her boot. If she’d attacked with another weapon, it must have gone flying. “Haul her up.”

  But where to take her? Katya’s tent was too small, and she didn’t want to expose her parents to another threat. “The countess’s tent is nearby,” Brutal said as if reading her mind.

  “You,” Katya said to a member of the crowd that had gathered. “Tell Countess Nadia’s guards we’re coming.”

  He ran to do her bidding. Brutal held the attacking woman’s arms behind her back. Someone brought a torch, and Katya gripped the woman’s chin and tilted her head up. She was hardly more than a girl; her dark hair was pulled behind her head. Large brown eyes glittered as she smiled.