Launce stared at him for a long moment before finally giving his head the slightest shake. “I... I’ll send her home immediately.” Then his eyes grew large, and he ran to the tent’s opening and began to look around wildly. “Where is she?” he asked as if Ever had been keeping track.
Perhaps the young man had not grown up quite as much as Ever had first thought.
“Isa is with her,” Ever said, wishing very much instead to let Launce wallow in his fear for a moment. It would be a good lesson to him, but Isa wouldn’t approve of such a sentiment. “The reason I called you here was to make a plan.”
“Did you know someone was after your throne?”
“Not for sure,” Ever shook his head, “until she revealed it to me yesterday. But I had a hunch that someone was planning an invasion. The veil between the two worlds could never have torn by itself. When Isa discovered the Fae realm where the children were being taken, and my younger sister and brother showed up, I knew something was wrong.” He paused and looked at one of the maps spread out on the table. It depicted the Fortress’s mountain, as well as the desert mountains and valleys directly to its north, and the thick forests to its south.
“What do you want from me, Everard? Ask and it will be done.”
“I do not yet know how to defeat the Fae.”
Launce’s eyes widened, but he said nothing.
“I will talk to Garin when we return. Hopefully he knows something.”
“But why would Garin—?”
“A long story for another day. But if we are attacked before I can correctly train my men, I will need a place for the army to go until I’ve learned to fight the Fae properly. And when I do, I will call my men back with this.” Ever took off his signet ring and placed it on the table. Launce picked it up and examined it.
“I may be the prince of Cobren now,” Launce said in a soft voice, “but this wolf will always be in my heart.” He handed the ring back to Ever. As Ever slipped it back onto his finger, the jewel eyed wolf stared back at him with the same piercing look Rodrigue had given him often in his boyhood. At least the wolf had always been faithful.
“What I need is a place for my men to camp just on your side of the border, just at the foot of the mountain. At a fast pace, it would take them only a day to make it up the backside of the mountain and to the Fortress.”
“And what of the people?” Launce gave him a wary look, and Ever knew he was thinking of his parents and sister.
“Sacha is using the people to gain her the throne, manipulating them now through a magic I do not understand, nor am I familiar with. They are her path to the crown. She won’t jeopardize their trust, for it is their good graces she is relying on.” Ever shook his head. “They would be in more danger if I sent my men to find her. The war would be fought in the streets.” He fingered the hilt of his sword idly. “I’ll have to draw her out like poison.”
“Consider it done,” Launce said, still frowning down at the map. “I’ll wait for them here with a number of our men as well. I assume you’ll send a bird?”
“I will send whatever messenger is at hand,” Ever said, his mouth suddenly feeling dry as he considered such a dire situation. “For if we are that far gone, I will consider it a blessing to find a drunkard in need of coin.”
The two men stood there quietly. Would it really come to such things, Ever wondered. As if reading his thoughts, Launce gave him a weak smile and clapped him on the shoulder. “Let us pray we never find such a day, and that you will defeat her quickly.” He glanced outside. “I assume you will be leaving soon?”
“We’ll head out in the morning. Isa has been pushing her powers further than she should. She needs a good night’s rest before we set out again.”
“Let her go back with Olivia!”
The sudden fervor in Launce’s voice took Ever by surprise.
“She can protect Olivia,” Launce continued, “and they will both be safer with Olivia’s father. Besides, if something should happen to me, someone should be there when...” his voice trailed off, and Ever’s heart went out to the young man. He was willing to sacrifice his life for Ever’s cause. Ever briefly imagined Isa bringing a child into the world without him, and it twisted his heart.
“As you said,” Ever sighed, “we shall pray that nothing comes to fruition. Besides,” his voice softened, “I need her. She has been gifted by the Maker in ways I will never even hope to understand.”
“Surely you could spare her somehow.”
“You know as well as I do that she would never go, even if I tried to force her.”
Launce studied him for a moment. “Much has changed in the last three years.” Then he looked down at his own golden ring, the one his father-in-law had given him on his wedding day, the promise of Cobren’s crown. “Though I still don’t agree with everything you do,” Launce threw Ever a wry grin, “I must admit that I now better understand your decisions far more than I once did. And I thank you for being patient and trying to teach me. Just...” Launce hesitated, “you know I trust you, but as a younger brother...” He cast a look of longing outside again before looking Ever in the eye. “Please take care of my sister.”
“Oh... Oh dear!” Olivia’s face went so white that Isa nearly ran to fetch Ever, but Olivia just shook her head and lowered herself onto a large boulder. “I’m fine. I just need a moment to think.” She looked out over the water, rubbing her belly as she did. Isa felt a stab of guilt for telling her sister-in-law about their newfound danger in such a disorganized fashion. If she hadn’t, though, Olivia would have continued to insist that they take a long walk by the river. Isa didn’t want her to take a walk at all, but at least Olivia had stopped now just at the edge of the camp. Isa kept her hand on the hilt of her sword, but all seemed peaceful for the moment. If only it could stay that way.
“How are you both doing?” Isa forced a smile and nodded pointedly at Olivia’s burgeoning belly.
“Huh?” Olivia looked up. “Oh, thank you. The sickness has abated, it seems, but now I can never get enough to eat.” She looked down at her belly and grinned. “The little thing is always hungry, and if I don’t eat enough, likes to kick me in the ribs. My nurse says this is good, though, since it means the child is strong.” She sighed and placed her hands behind her, leaning back and closing her eyes as the sunlight washed over her. “But sometimes, what I wouldn’t give though to be a tad less round.” She laughed then, her warm brown eyes opening to meet Isa’s. “There are days when I fear I will always be this large. And I still have a long way to go!”
“You look beautiful,” Isa assured her. And truly, she did. Olivia’s fine olive skin had always glowed somewhat as though she’d been touched by a sunbeam. But now her eyes were alight with excitement whenever she talked of her baby, and though she had filled out quite a bit, it wasn’t unbecoming. The loose yellow and orange wool dress that Olivia wore flowed over her soft curves, giving her the look of an ancient queen. Many of the old queens had once worn dresses like Olivia’s, according to the paintings in the Tower of Annals. As much as Olivia might be tired of her new size, it made Isa happy, for it meant her niece or nephew would be healthy and strong.
“Isa.”
Isa squirmed under Olivia’s gaze. She’d thought she’d been concealing her feelings decently, but the concern in Olivia’s warm eyes told her otherwise. “Are you well?”
“To be honest...” Isa hesitated. It was not considered queenly to share one’s entire burden, for the weights of the monarchs were theirs alone to bear. Or so her etiquette instructor had told her. But Olivia was also a royal. And more importantly, she was Isa’s sister now. “I know Ever is only being practical. He always is.” Isa stared into the river as it flashed by, wishing she could toss her burdens into it and watch them be carried away. “We had an argument a few nights back about the children I told you about, Henri and Genny.”
“Let me guess, you want to keep them.”
“They’re his blood!” Isa turned to fa
ce Olivia again. “Henri’s already shown the Fortress’s power. Who better to care for them than us? Besides,” she pouted, “I want them.”
“And you’re sure they’re his younger brother and sister?”
Isa shrugged. “They’re not Ever’s children. I know that for sure. But whenever I try to discuss their future with us, he’s too worried about tainting the bloodline with Fae blood, particularly now that we’ve seen what his older sister has become.”
“Does he say as much?”
“Some yes and some no. But I can see it in his eyes. Our division is to the point where he has become wary every time I’ve spoken with him since we left the Fortress.”
“Does she know about them?” Olivia shifted on the rock, frowning thoughtfully.
“I don’t know. She saw them when they came to the Fae world with all of the other children. She even put me in their holding chamber. But she treated them no differently than the other children. Except...” She turned to Olivia, her heart suddenly racing. “All the other children who were kidnapped were cursed with an injury or illness after they returned! I thought at first that Henri and Genny weren’t cursed because they were orphans. But... she never even spoke with them! She couldn’t have known they were orphans!” How had Isa not seen this?
“Isa,” Olivia said in a grave voice. “I have no gifts as you do, nor am I familiar with the ways of your enemy, but it would seem to me that she knows exactly who those children are.”
“I must tell Ever!” Isa took one stride forward, but Olivia managed to grab her wrist and pull her back.
“Before you go, I need you to hear two things,” she said.
Isa stared down at Olivia’s serious face, wondering what on earth she could mean.
“Rodrigue Fortier and my father were close enough that I have known Everard all of my life. I know he can be gruff and stubborn. Even as a young man, he was never good at having fun. His father didn’t allow him to. But never in his life did he do anything out of spite. If he says he is concerned about taking these children in permanently, then he is genuinely worried. Your husband is a good man. Don’t forget that.”
Isa took a deep breath as she stared into her sister’s sweet face, and a part of her couldn’t help but soften. Olivia was right. That didn’t mean that she agreed with Ever by any stretch. But as Olivia had pointed out, his intentions were always honorable. Isa couldn’t deny him that.
If only Isa understood what moved through the minds of men to make them think as they did.
“What was the second thing you wished to say?” Isa asked softly, to which Olivia gave an ornery grin.
“I only wished to say that if you are intent on dashing off to talk to your husband this instant, I would be much obliged if you could first put me to rights and on my feet. For if I try to get off this rock by myself, I will end up in the water.”
Isa laughed as she bent to help her sister stand. For all of Launce’s faults, he had chosen a wonderful wife.
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
The Weight of Sin
“Acelet’s not going to like this,” Isa said as they neared the Fortress gates.
“Let me handle him.” Ever clucked to his tired horse.
“Oh, I plan to.” Isa’s smile grew mischievous. “I have two children to visit with. The monotonous business is yours today.”
Ever laughed, but inwardly, he allowed himself a deep breath of relief. Isa had been surprisingly quiet for the ride back to the Fortress. With the exception of sharing her revelation about Sacha’s knowledge of the children, she hadn’t even brought Henri or Genny up in conversation. There was a quiet peace about her that he hadn’t seen in a long while.
He had little chance to wonder at the change, however, for Launce had only served to reawaken his worries about Isa’s health. Lance was right. Ever and Isa were traveling far too much and she was getting far too little sleep. Their run-in with the village mob had only made things worse. And though Isa was far healthier and fit than his own mother ever had been, Ever suddenly recalled the way Queen Louise’s face had been pale and drawn in the final days before her death. He couldn’t allow the same thing to happen to Isa. Visiting the children wouldn’t allow any sort of real rest, but at least it meant she wouldn’t be gallivanting about the Fortress grounds on official business.
The rest of the afternoon passed in a blur. As soon as Ever gave his horse to a groom, he changed clothes and immediately called General Acelet to his study. Isa’s prediction about Acelet proved true. The general was not pleased with Ever’s emergency defense plan, to say the least. But Ever wasn’t in the mood to argue, and in the end, he won simply because he was the king. He didn’t find such victories satisfying, as he much preferred to be in agreement with his general. But Ever had a more pressing conversation on his mind, one he’d been dreading since meeting his sister back in the forest. For there was only one person in the world who could shed light on such a situation. And Ever had been avoiding him as much as possible since the arrival of their two little guests.
True to his nature, however, Garin didn’t even need to be summoned. As soon as Acelet walked out of the king’s study and closed the door, Ever could hear the two men’s muted voices outside. He caught something about “beyond trusting” and “not enough time” from Acelet, but Garin’s voice was indecipherable as it responded to Acelet’s agitation in its usual maddening calm. Finally, the door opened, and Ever could see Acelet shaking his head and stomping away as Garin glided in.
“He seems less than enthusiastic about your plan.” Garin placed a tray of tea and biscuits on Ever’s desk. “I must say, I understand his frustration.” His eyes darkened a shade. “While I don’t think your foe is yet ready to take the Fortress, I doubt we’ll have the time to properly train the men before she is.”
Ever ignored the tea, and instead stood and went out to the northern balcony. “So I take it you’ve heard, then, that she is my sister?”
“I had guessed as much.”
Ever turned and gave his steward an icy stare, but Garin just shrugged.
“Word has been spreading that the Fae woman is a Fortier. I didn’t want to jump to conclusions without talking to you, but I had my suspicions.”
“You mean you suspected it even before I met her.”
Garin looked at the ground. When he spoke, his voice was soft. “Don’t be mistaken in thinking that I enjoy being right, Ever. This was one prediction I was loathe to make.” He looked back up at Ever. “Five hundred years is a long time to study man and his tendencies.” Garin went back to the tray and poured himself a cup. “Nevertheless, the people are beginning to believe her now as the word spreads throughout the kingdom. Enough for a number of factions to have started forming.”
“Factions?” Ever’s stomach flopped.
“Many are in the streets are calling for her coronation. It’s not a majority by any means, but the number is far greater than any rebellion I’ve seen.”
In five hundred years? This was the greatest? Ever swallowed hard. “But she created the sicknesses! I’m sure of it! Even Isa...” Ever’s voice trailed off as he remembered that they weren’t only blaming him for the sickness, but also his inability to wipe it out. Suddenly he needed to sit. “What do I do, Garin?” he groaned as he fell into one of the deep red leather chairs.
“Do you really want my advice?” Garin’s words were annoyingly patient.
“What choice do I have?”
“How much time do you believe we have before she makes her move for the Fortress?
Ever shook his head helplessly and shrugged. “I don’t know. A week at least? Maybe two?”
“Then this is my advice.” Garin placed a firm hand on Ever’s arm and leaned over so that Ever had to meet his eyes. “Your people need you now more than ever. The best way to convince them that she is not their savior is by showing them that you still care. Heal them.” Ever tried to protest, but Garin only held his hand up, then continued. “Heal the everyday ma
ladies and illnesses as you once did. Hear their needs. Attend the Seasons Ball. The guests will be arriving in a week. Don’t worry about the army. I will work with them myself. And Ever?”
Ever glared up at him, his head spinning with all of the reasons not to follow Garin’s advice.
“Take care of Isa.”
This last piece of advice took Ever off-guard. His shoulders slumped, and he knew he couldn’t argue with such logic.
A long silence ensued, interrupted only by the crackling of the fire. The biscuits smelled intoxicating, as Ever hadn’t eaten for hours, but he couldn’t bring himself to bridge the gap and get them from his desk.
“I was Fae on the night you were born, Ever.” Garin’s voice was almost too quiet. “And I was Fae on the day I met your wife when she was a little girl. Has such a revelation altered everything I’ve done for you in the past?”
Of course it didn’t. But, as Isa was fond of saying, truth often felt much like a surgeon’s blade. Ever stared out at the Fortress’s mountain through the balcony’s open doors, still unable to look at the man who stood before him. Finally, Garin stood to go, and Ever’s gaze didn’t waver.
“You know where to find me,” Garin called out, a raw undertone in his voice that Ever hadn’t heard before. Just as the door clicked open, however, Ever turned and called out,
“Wait.”
Garin stopped and waited expectantly.
“How... How were the children?”
The ghost of a strange smile touched Garin’s eyes. “You would be surprised at how much young Henri is like you.”
Beauty Beheld: A Retelling of Hansel and Gretel (The Becoming Beauty Trilogy Book 3) Page 15
