by Dawn Peers
“You wouldn’t see that in Everfell,” Maertn murmured.
“Indeed you wouldn’t, Maertn. Such is the way of Sha’sekian life.”
Both of the youngsters spun around to find the baron already behind them. Quinn tried to curtsy and Maertn went to bow, but Pax stopped them both.
“You’re not servants anymore. You don’t have to do that.”
“You rule Farn. Surely we must?”
That’s just a title, inherited because my family having deeper pockets and louder voices. You are not in Everfell anymore, and you don’t have to bow and scrape to the people around you.
“This is definitely something I could get used to,” Quinn mumbled.
“I just wish you’d come to us sooner—both of you.”
“I’m beginning to regret that myself,” Maertn replied wistfully. He blushed when he remembered who he was speaking to, and the baron just laughed.
“Go, have fun. Those boys are popular merchants and have a fine reputation at court. They can show you around. I will escort Quinn. I promise I won’t hurt her.”
Maertn only briefly looked to Quinn and she could see the desperate pleading his eyes. Quinn didn’t hold him back—how could she, without looking horrible? Even if it did leave her alone with Pax.
The baron hooked her arm and turned her, whisking her away from Maertn, back to the edges of the room.
“You don’t like me, do you, Quinn?”
“It’s not you, baron. It’s this place. There’s a lot of new things to get used to.”
“Like what? You have lived with a baron your entire life, and spent much of that time subservient to others. Isn’t it better to be free, like this?”
“Just because my life here has improved, doesn’t mean it’s easy for me. I just need…time to make it right in my head.”
“I can understand, and I can give you some of the time you ask for, but the council will not wait forever, Quinn. I believe you are critical for our future. I may lead the council, but I am only one voice.”
“All of my life, baron, I’ve served others. At first it was go here and clean that. Then, when your brother started using me it was go there and sense that. I was exposed to murderers, thieves, the most vile people. I was a child, baron. And now, after being exiled to somewhere I think I might be free, I’m being told that I must think this because we all believe that. When can I stop thinking for others, and start being myself?”
“To a great extent, we always have to think of others. I don’t make these decisions for myself, Quinn. I could sit on this council, placidly making decisions and orchestrating for myself a life of timid luxury. I’m making the harder choices for other people, and that means…”
“Yes, I know, that means there’s going to be a war. That’s all anyone in Farn says!”
“Hear me out, Quinn, you need to understand this.”
Quinn threw common decency to the wind. “Yes, I know I need to understand—but you and your council need to understand this. I’m scared. I’m in a strange place, with strange people. I’ve already lost my best friend to you people—yes, you people, because I don’t feel like one of you yet. Maertn is already embroiled in the Farn way of life, but it was always going to be easy for you to manipulate him. He’s already helping people in the hospital, and he’s got more in common with people here than he ever had in Everfell.
“I did have friends. Not good ones, I admit, but I did at least have things in common with them. I thought Sha’sek would make a difference. I stupidly believed that I’d find out more about myself and my abilities, or even my parents. Farn has no one here like me. I hate that. You teach me how to defend myself because, not only am I an asset, but I’m also a liability. I still have no place here, and nothing you’ve said or shown me is changing my mind so far.”
Pax’s face grew dark. “Bold words for someone so new to court.”
“Don’t put a sword in my hand and expect me to cut bread with it. What good am I to you if I hide behind my skirts?”
“No good at all, though let me add what fine skirts they are. I knew Laise would do well.”
“She is incredibly talented. When did she find out that her skills dressmaking?” Quinn had lifted a weight off her shoulders with her rant, and was happy to steer the conversation away now.
“From a very young age, it was obvious. Most abilities are. If you’re not exhibiting a particular skill by your fourth or fifth summer, it’s likely you have no talent at all. Whether you like it or not, latent abilities always shine through. You must have always known you are an empath?”
“I couldn’t label it when I was young, but it’s all I have ever known.”
“Fundamentally, Maertn, for example, has always been a healer. Whether or not he could use his ability at a young age remains to be seen, but the talent would have been there regardless. The same is true of everyone you see around you. In particular, the lady you are going to meet tonight. She, and her talent, are most exquisite.”
“Who is it?”
“I don’t want to spoil the surprise. Come, let’s dance. I’ve been waiting to introduce you to some of the more influential men in the court, and I’m sure they’ll be jealous that I have the beauty of the room on my arm tonight.”
Despite herself, Quinn fluffed with pride. Quinn wasn’t blind; the room was full of beautiful women, and a salty touch to the air belied the truth behind the baron’s words. She didn’t have to let that knowledge spoil her enjoyment of the moment.
Quinn was introduced to women who smiled at her through gritted teeth, and men who spun her around in a brief dance, whose names she forgot seconds later. She drank fine red wine which was quickly going to her head. It was difficult to keep her ability in check, the more she drank. Pax steered her away, grabbing her a glass of water. He kept whispering in her ear, keeping her mind occupied.
As they moved around the room, Quinn kept catching snatches of Maertn, his head thrown back, laughing in a small group of men as they tried to show him how to dance. It was delightful to see. Quinn was genuinely happy for him, even if slightly jealous. Quinn was thoroughly enjoying the party, feeling completely at ease at her first ball, when a commotion at the other end of the room brought everyone’s attention swinging around.
“What’s happening?” She whispered to Pax, her heart racing.
He smiled. “Your surprise, my dear. Well, I admit, this isn’t just for you. It’s going to surprise you, nevertheless.”
As the silence settled, the baron clapped his hands three times. The heads shifted back to Pax, and suddenly every eye in the room was on her, too. The sneaky bastard, this had been his plan. Quinn was exposed for the entire viper’s nest to see. Well, she wasn’t going to be the same girl she’d been in Everfell. Quinn straightened her back and lifted her chin, trying to look like she was born to belong in this place.
“Tonight as you know, we are going to be entertained. Usually introductions would not be required, but we have new guests who are not familiar with our ways. So firstly, let me introduce you to Quinn.” Pax let her name hang in the air, and Quinn didn’t miss the ripple of whispers that undulated through the room. An obvious source of gossip, those at the back of the room strained to catch a glimpse. She was glad she was in Laise’s gown now, because Quinn the maid would never have held up under such scrutiny. She reminded herself that she was the Lady Quinn now, an empath of the court. There was no sniggering. Her confidence swelled.
“Quinn, along with her friend Maertn, have come to us from the court of Everfell. They are the children of the baron Sammah, adoptive of course, but nevertheless, therefore, my kin. You will treat them with the courtesy that standing gives them. Any ill treatment of them not directed by me will surely be punished.”
That was meant to be funny? Quinn thought as a polite laughter sounded. The illusion Pax had been weaving broke. She did not want to cross this man.
“As they are both new to Farn, neither of them have heard of the Lady Rhi.”
There were a couple of unkind sniggers around the room, and whilst Quinn felt colour rise to her cheeks, Pax cut them off. “Yes, you may laugh, but just think about the glorious experience they’re about to have. You must all remember where you were the first time you heard the Lady Rhi sing? Even as a little girl, she stunned us all, and I’m sure you’ll join me in wishing Quinn and Maertn all the best with her first experience of the gifted singing of the lands of Sha’sek. I present to you, the Lady Rhi.”
The baron swept his arm out, wrapping his other arm around Quinn’s waist and pulling her back. Quinn didn’t resist, and was swung around to see the most beautiful woman she’d ever seen. The Lady Rhi looked deserving of her title, and suddenly, Quinn didn’t feel quite so attractive. Rhi was tall and elegant, with a short dress that revealed most of her long shapely legs. The baron led Quinn up to the dais, and she sat in a chair to his right hand side as the room fell silent. They were waiting for the baron again, and the Lady Rhi regarded him with a calm dispassion. The room grew tense waiting for the baron to announce Rhi could start, and Quinn thought even she would be able to cut through the tension with her flimsy training sword, never mind a sharp knife. Eventually, the baron clapped his hands again three times and the room noticeably eased. Quinn relaxed too, trying to find the emotion in the hall. She was sent spinning dizzy with the anticipation she felt, and immediately reined herself in. The last thing she wanted to do now was faint.
* * *
Lady Rhi opened her mouth, and the entire room fell silent. Quinn couldn’t help herself, as tears sprang to her eyes. She had been awake at dawn many times in her life, and even the most elegant birdsong could not compare to this. No one needed to tell what Rhi’s talent was, because it was so painfully obvious. What an amazing gift to the world. Pax had proved his point, without saying a word.
What was there to fear here?
Men like Lord Shiver would cut this woman down without a second thought, but what would that achieve? She was not a threat, and the world would be a far emptier place without her kind. No, not all of the gifted of Sha’sek were like Lady Rhi, but neither were they all like Tarik. To be able to learn, the student had to have some manner of skill, and Tarik was only one man. And even with their hospital, an army of the most skilled healers in the land couldn’t bring a dead army back to life.
Sha’sek were not going to send an army of immortals against them in Everfell, and the men of Everfell were waging an unfair war against a people who were no threat to them. Pax wanted his to live on the mainland to make their lives easier. There wasn’t enough land on the islands for them to farm, and the less and less resources there were, the more expensive it became. The baron’s logic was flawless, and selfless. He did want the best for his people, and he couldn’t achieve that out here, even on larger islands like Farn. This is why he was so confident the war would be inevitable. Even if it wasn’t in his lifetime, even if the next council were the ones to make that judgement, at some point, Sha’sekians would have to leave their islands. Staying would be a long and slow death sentence.
Quinn let her tears fall. As Rhi sang on, Quinn realised what she was missing out on. She relaxed her power again, and the most immense feeling of euphoria washed over her body. She wasn’t just enjoying Rhi on her own now, she was experiencing it with every other person in that room. The concentration which, when she been younger, overwhelmed her so easily, was now an intense force of pleasure. Nothing Quinn had experienced in her life so far—absolutely nothing—compared to what she was feeling in that moment. Rhi was pleasing everyone at the in that room, and Quinn could experience every single joyful pulsing heartbeat of that pleasure. She closed her eyes and sank into herself, sank back into her chair, and couldn’t resist the pull of her power. She knew she was going to pass out, but oh, what a splendid darkness.
28
“I thought this place was meant to be exotic! Why is it bloody raining?”
Eden snorted at this outburst, but didn’t answer his guardsman. Aaron had been the most talkative of the five since they’d left Everfell, so it was only fitting that he’d be the first one to complain now they had finally landed on the shores of the island. The Sea of Sighs had been crossed without hindrance, and most of the sailors had adhered to the old wives’ tale that someone on the previous crossing had been killed; a sacrifice to appease the hungry spirits, for the time being, at least. The unlucky victim had been from Everfell, and Eden had been too scared to ask more questions. He hadn’t needed too, as no one on board considered his feelings when rumours ran rampant. Thankfully, through this Eden knew that Quinn wasn’t the dead one, nor was Maertn. The man had been described as tall and muscular, so that ruled out the healer in an instant. So that left Ross, and Eden didn’t want to think about that possibility. To have the mercenary die so easily on his crossing over to Sha’sek would have been heinous, and it would have left Quinn and Maertn without their protector.
They had disembarked on the docks outside Farn, declaring themselves to the harbour master. For now, they were setting up camp, and would approach Farn tomorrow. Eden had everything needed to officially approach the baron, and he didn’t think it was suitable to do so in the dead of night. No, better to make a camp and wait, than force an unwelcome entry.
Eden kept quiet as his men bickered among themselves. They probably thought he was a sour bastard, travelling across the provinces to bring back a strange foreigner who he loved, but couldn’t have. Eden didn’t want to be disliked, but he didn’t want to get close to these men either. He had left court at the worst—and only—possible time. Playing between Vance and his brother, Eden didn’t know which side he’d be on in six months’ time. If there was a chance of conflict, he didn’t want to be forced to raise a sword against men that had become friends. Better they thought him an arrogant lord, like all the rest.
“What do you think we’ll find in there, my lord?”
There was another thing Eden couldn’t get used to—another ruler’s men treating him with respect. Rowan had never given him any deference, and his father certainly never had. Under Vance his court standing had improved immeasurably, and Eden didn’t think he could go back to being a third son now. That would be an interesting conversation when he got home. Eden didn’t even want to begin thinking about what his mother would say.
“I’ve never been to Sha’sek: I don’t know what to expect. Just don’t panic. You all knew Maertn; he’s a Sha’sekian. They’re not all monsters like we were brought up to believe.”
“Are they all barbarians, my lord?”
“Does that look like a city built by barbarians to you, Aaron?”
Aaron had to shake his head. “No sir.”
“When we go in there, remember your manners. We’re treating them like you’d treat your own mother.”
“You haven’t met my mother, my lord.”
“Perhaps not your mother then, Aaron.”
This brought a titter from some of the men, and Eden felt more at ease. They trusted him as well as showing respect, and he felt settled in their camp. He issued their guards for the night, making sure they all took turns at watch, Eden taking the most disliked shift between midnight and early dawn. His men protested, but he insisted. He didn’t expect them to do things he wouldn’t be capable of doing himself.
* * *
The crescent moon didn’t yield much light on their camp, but as Eden looked up at the blanket of stars he couldn’t help but wonder how beautiful it was. Sure, he’d seen the stars before, but coupled with the gentle pulsing beat of the waves on the shore, they cocooned him in a serene calm. He’d never felt this peaceful, undoubtedly he never would again. He was nervous to seek Quinn again, he’d missed her—and his hated the fact that he was about to be paired up with some noble strumpet back in the castle. Lady Isabella had been circling him like a vulture. How would Quinn react to him? What kind of people had she met? Had she already found someone to take Eden’s place in her heart? Ice clutched him. He desperate
ly hoped not.
“Did you really fall in love with her, my lord? Quinn?”
Eden had decided to pull watch with Aaron. The lad couldn’t shut up, but Eden found his company good.
“I did. Did you know Quinn?”
“No one really knew Quinn, we just knew of her. She’d always been there, in the background. Even if anyone had wanted to get to know her, they’d have needed to get past Baron Sammah first.”
“She was mocked, wasn’t she?”
Aaron dropped his head. “She was my lord, though I can’t say I had any particular part in that myself.”
“You’d say that to me even if it wasn’t true.”
“Would you lie to someone about the woman he loved?”
“What if she were here, now, and could tell me if you were being honest?”
Aaron shuddered. “So the Satori stories were true? She can read minds?”
“No. She can’t. She can just sense emotions.”
“Isn’t that the same thing, my lord?”
“No. She is affected by certain emotions, and it means different things. If you’re lying, for example, she gets thirsty. She doesn’t know what you’ve lied about, just that you have.”
“I couldn’t fall in love with someone like that.”
“Why not? It was…liberating.”
“How?”
“You’ve been a guardsman in Everfell for long enough; you know what that court is like. Men will lie about anything if they think it will advance their position.”
“So you think that, because Quinn always knew when people were lying, that she’d always be honest herself? That’s not necessarily true, my lord, if you’ll pardon me for saying.”
Eden thought about this. “No, you’re right. But I trusted her.”
“Trusted my lord? Like you used to? Not anymore?”
