Carga held Taryn’s face between her hands, touching their foreheads together. “You will.” More murmuring swirled in Taryn’s mind, and dizziness rocked her. The voices trailed off when Carga pulled back. “I am glad to have met you, Taryn.”
Taryn took the stairs two at a time and ran into Rhoane at the kitchen door. His bruises were healing, but they still looked ghastly. The last thing she ever thought Rhoane would be in was a bar fight, but according to Baehlon, that’s what happened. Rhoane simply said he was teaching a man a lesson.
“Saying your goodbyes?” He asked, holding open the door for her.
She stepped through and shielded her eyes from the bright sun. “I’ll miss her. Do you think we’ll come back?”
“One never knows where their path will take them.”
“Don’t start with that again. I finally got my runes to stop glowing. You might get them all excited.” In the morning light, the runes looked like a ghost tattoo on her skin. Less than a month since she arrived on Aelinae, the world was becoming familiar to her, like home. Like she’d always lived there. On the way to the stables, Taryn greeted several soldiers, who waved in return. “You were right, you know. I have acclimated to being here. I feel alive, almost as if over there I was just going through the motions.”
He helped her onto Ashanni, resting his hand on her thigh. “Life is precious, Taryn. Never take it for granted or waste a moment of it.”
“I won’t. Not ever again.” When he removed his hand, she longed for its warmth.
She distracted herself by checking her bags. The sword was once again wrapped in a blanket and tied to her saddle. Protected in the gorgeous scabbard Baehlon gave her for her birthday, he’d stressed the need to keep it hidden until they reached Talaith.
Hayden pulled his horse up to hers. His handsome leather jacket of burnished brown set off his hazel eyes, giving him a devilish look. “The empress has granted Father and me permission to stay in Talaith until after Harvest.”
Taryn suppressed a grin. “Really? So I’m stuck with you for, what, three more moonturns? Does the empress hate me?”
Hayden snapped his reins at Taryn. “Her decision, I’ll have you know, had nothing to do with you.”
Of course it didn’t. It had everything to do with Sabina and they both knew it.
The captain of the duke’s guard called out, and the caravan slowly made its way off the palace grounds. A wave of excitement mixed with apprehension washed over her. Once they reached Talaith, she had to make a decision about her future. Stay with the others, or forge out on her own. Either way, she couldn’t keep listing through life without a current to carry her. She would avenge Brandt’s death in time, but until then, she needed something todo.
Duke Anje refused to let her stay at Paderau, either as a cook or a soldier, and so she set her sights on finding employment in Talaith. Faelara kept dropping hints that Empress Lliandra would have a position for her, but that wasn’t a life Taryn wanted to live. Being cooped up in a palace wasn’t for her. She needed her freedom far too much.
It took the caravan eight days to travel from Paderau to Talaith. They rode through landscapes that changed from forested hills to vast meadows. At the beginning of their journey south, they followed the Silden River, keeping close to its banks until it turned into Lake Oster. In the evenings, Taryn often saw Baehlon and Rhoane head away from camp with long poles in hand, returning later with a string of brightly colored fish.
The empress traveled in style, which made for shorter rides each day and a longer trip overall. Every afternoon, large tents were set up for her comfort, only to be taken down the next morning. There were well more than two hundred in the group, including Lliandra’s and the duke’s guards, as well as courtiers, nobility, servants, and the like. Taryn longed for the simplicity of travel she’d had on the journey from Ravenwood to Paderau.
Most days she rode with Hayden, often dividing her time between the soldiers and the princesses. Since the empress refused to let her daughters ride, they were stuck inside a musty carriage. Perhaps in defiance of what Celia had said, Taryn made it her mission to earn their friendship. Even so, she never forgot that they were Marissa’s sisters and their loyalty would always be first to their family.
Sabina, on the other hand, didn’t share that bond. She was more than willing to spy on Marissa, which caused Taryn to speculate that perhaps there was more to the Summerlands princess than everyone gave her credit for.
On the afternoon of the eighth day, Talaith hovered in the distance. Perched on a cliff, the Crystal Palace loomed like an overprotective mother, the city walls her all-encompassing embrace. Sunlight glanced off the rock, turning the palace into a great diamond whose light blazed like a beacon welcoming them home. Paderau looked like a village in comparison.
Hayden rode beside her, quiet for the first time she could remember. When she turned to see what held his tongue, she met his even stare. “What?” His look unnerved her, as if he were studying her under a microscope.
His smirk gave a hint of mischievousness she’d come to recognize as a sign of trouble. “Nothing. Here comes the Empress’s Household Guard. They will escort us to the palace.”
Two dozen men dressed in crimson and gold led the procession through Talaith. Their sleek black horses pranced in perfect unison, hooves clacking a staccato beat on the cobblestones. Hordes of people came out to see their empress and her beautiful daughters. The girls waved from the windows of their carriage, trying to catch the many flowers thrown to them. Taryn rode a short distance behind, watching the proceedings with curiosity and envy.
They passed under several walkways made of lacy stonework that appeared to float from one building to the next. People dressed in an array of colors and fashions were crowded on the bridges and Taryn feared they would collapse. Each home they rode by looked equally magnificent to those in the richest quarters of Paderau.
If Talaith had a slum, she didn’t see it on the way to the palace. From what Taryncould see, the capital city had no shortage of coin. The men and women wore expensive fabrics of silk or linen. Some even braved the heat while wearing their best velvet. Every now and then, Taryn spotted someone with intricate designs drawn on their hands or faces. They were a rainbow, the inhabitants of Talaith. From palest white to deep ebony, their skin and hair was as varied as their clothing.
When the caravan crested a road that curved around a square, Taryn drew in a deep breath at the sight of a vast ocean stretching before them, broken only by tiny dots of islands far in the distance.
“Behold, the Crystal Palace.” Hayden’s voice cut through the cheering crowd. Taryn looked away from the ocean and stared in wonder at the massive building.
“I thought your palace was big. This place is huge.” The palace stood six stories high, spreading far to the left and down to the beach below. “How many people live there?”
“Perhaps a thousand, I would imagine.”
Taryn shuddered at the thought. “I could barely find my way around Paderau; how will I ever manage?”
Hayden laughed. “I’ll draw you a map.”
“You know the palace that well?”
“I used to summer here with my mother.” He looked to the sparkling blue sea. “We’d play down at the beach and swim in the warm water.”
“Perhaps you and I could go there sometime.”
“I’d like that.” He gave her a curious smile. “Do you think Sabina would care to join us?”
“You have feelings for her then?”
“I find her intriguing. Yes, I like her.”
“Then I’m happy for you.” She took his hand in hers. “I’m really glad we’re friends.”
“So am I.” His Shanti slipped up her arm. It was warm with a hint of precision to it.
Imposing statues lined the drive, staring down at them as they rode into a courtyard that surrounded a fountain with water flowing from the mouths of cherubs and unrecognizable creatures. Gryphons, or lions, or elephan
ts, she wasn’t sure. Perhaps a mix of all three.
Large doors, the height of three men, stood open, and many of the empress’s staff waited on the steps. Taryn’s gaze traveled up the gleaming walls, past the many windows, to the top of the palace. Pennants embroidered with the royal crest whipped in the wind. Several birds raced across the blue sky, their cries lost amid the din of the travelers.
A page showed her to a suite of rooms, leaving her alone as soon as she entered. Taryn wandered from room to room, reminding herself not to become too attached to them. In the space of ten minutes, she was doomed. She’d take whatever job she could for the chance to stay in Talaith. To live in this spacious, expensively decorated apartment.
After meandering through several rooms, including an office area with a desk and two chairs flanking long windows, Taryn found the bedchamber. She threw her leather satchel on the bed and went in search of a compartment to hide the sword and the seal. Finding nothing suitable, she gave up and tucked the items under her wardrobe, adding several wards to deter any unwanted attention. Since discovering her power, she’d practiced every night, making flames, warding objects, toying with shadows. Always at night. And always in secret.
Two maids wearing Lliandra’s House colors entered the rooms, directing porters where to put her trunks. They introduced themselves as Cora and Ellie before asking after her needs. When Taryn said all she required was a hot bath and some tea, they disappeared before she could tell them her name. They returned promptly and began unpacking her belongings in complete silence. Their politeness and quiet efficiency was a harsh contrast to the open friendliness of Paderau.
A messenger arrived and spoke with Cora for several minutes before she returned, informing her that the empress requested Taryn dine with her the following evening. At Taryn’s stunned muteness, Cora repeated the message.
“I heard you. I’m just a little surprised, is all.” Taryn paced for a few minutes before turning to Cora. “Do you know where Hayden, I mean, Lord Valen, is staying?”Too many damned names. Why couldn’t they just pick one?
After her bath, she piled her hair into an inelegant bun, much to Ellie’s distress, and dressed simply. The maid led her through the palace to Hayden’s rooms. Along the way, Taryn made polite conversation and discovered, with a small amount of surprise that without Cora’s stern glare directed at her, Ellie was enchanting.
Hayden’s valet opened the door and greeted her with a warm smile. “Miss Taryn, how lovely to see you. The ride was not too tiring, I hope?”
“Hello, Oliver. Not overly so. Of course, having you to converse with only made it that much sweeter.”
He pinched her cheek. “Charmer. I’ll get Lord Valen for you. Please, wait here.” He disappeared into a room, leaving Taryn to look around at the sumptuous apartment. Several portraits hung on the walls and one in particular caught Taryn’s eye: the duke’s late wife, Gwyneira, posed with her family.
Taryn recognized Ravenwood in the background, and Gwyn’s graceful features and long blonde hair looked very much like her sister’s. Taryn wondered if Lliandra missed Gwyneira as much as Hayden and the duke did. For the briefest of moments, she imagined the girls as young princesses running through the Crystal Palace. The image made her chuckle.
“Did I miss something humorous?”
Taryn spun around at the sound of Hayden’s voice. “I was just picturing your mother and the empress as young girls, terrorizing the palace.”
“I do believe you have it right. From what I’ve been told, they were quite the troublemakers. For what do I have the honor of your presence?”
“I was hoping you could give me your famous tour.”
His eyes lit up. “I’d love to.”
She waved at Oliver. “Good night, thank you.” He bowed in return. “He reminds me so much of Brandt. I do miss him so.”
“You’re starting to sound like the princesses. ‘Oh, however will I survive, I do miss him so.’”
Taryn slapped his arm. “You’re mocking my pain.”
“Never—just your speech.” He pushed at her with his shoulder. “I think you need a distraction, and I’ve just the cure.” He put a finger over his lips before moving aside a large tapestry that hung on the wall. Hayden pressed himself close, his deft fingers dancing over the wood. After a softclick, a hidden door swung inward. Hayden produced a glowing orb, and Taryn was tempted to do the same but she wasn’t ready to tell anyone her secret.
They walked along the darkened passageway through various galleries. Hayden showed her where the throne room was and how if she were to lie on her stomach and put her ear just so, she could hear the proceedings in the room below.
“I used to hide here as a young boy, listening to Lliandra holding her audiences. I learned a great deal from her. She never belittles her subjects. Every claim, whether legitimate or false, is heard with an open mind, and her justice is nearly always fair.”
“She wants to dine with me tomorrow in her private rooms. Do you have any idea why?”
His gaze drifted away. “None at all.”
“I’m nervous about meeting her. She never once spoke to me at Paderau, you know.”
“I wouldn’t worry about it if I were you. If it were something serious, she’d call her court to the throne room and you’d meet with her there.”
She tried not to think of the empress while they continued their tour. Hayden wasn’t lying when he said he knew this palace as well as his own. Hunger beckoned, but Hayden wanted to show her his last special hiding place—the small room where servants often slipped away when they wanted to have some privacy, usually with another servant.
“We shouldn’t. If it’s for the servants, leave them their secrets,” Taryn objected. But Hayden ignored her, pressing on through the corridor.
When they approached the room, Hayden stopped so suddenly Taryn ran into his back. He turned quickly to shush her, his orb blinking out. The hushed tones of conversation drifted to her. A lazy orb hovered at the far end of the room, giving scant light to the space, leaving the couple in shadow. Hayden crept along the wall to hear better but Taryn tugged on his shirt, trying to get him to leave. She could just make out a shake of his head in the dark.
“You can’t stay here. Mother will find out, and then everything will be ruined. We’ve dawdled long enough as it is. You must leave at once.”
Cold dread congealed her blood when she heard Marissa’s voice. She tugged on Hayden’s shirt again, but he shrugged her off, moving forward. When Taryn heard Marissa’s companion, her insides recoiled.
“You worry too much. I’ve managed to keep my presence hidden this long. A few more days won’t matter.” The sound of kissing filled the small space, and Taryn tried once more to pull Hayden back.
“Tell me again you want me to leave,” Zakael whispered in a silky voice.
Moaning, followed by more kissing sounds, came from the darkness. Zakael and Marissa’s ShantiMari swirled close enough to Taryn that if she reached out she could touch it. Zakael had Marissa against the wall, her skirts around her waist. To Hayden, everything was shrouded in dusky obscurity, but for Taryn, the couple’s ShantiMari illuminated them as if they stood beneath a streetlight.
Panic whipped up her spine. They should leave, but if they moved, the pair might hear them. Instead, they stood as still as possible while Marissa and Zakael continued to moan and grunt. Zakael moved against her, his breath coming in heavy gasps as his pace quickened. Skin slapped against skin, and Taryn averted her eyes to keep from seeing them. Hearing their lovemaking was mortifying enough. With shuddering cries, they finally stopped.
Zakael breathed into Marissa’s ear, “Find out what you can. I don’t like this sneaking around. Tonight, come to my room at the inn.” He gave her a loud kiss on the lips before leaving in the opposite direction, the lazy orb bobbing after him. After a few moments of adjusting her skirts, Marissa left the same way as Zakael.
Neither Taryn nor Hayden spoke until they were far fr
om the secret room, and when he did, he sounded excited. “Do you know who that was in there?”
“I couldn’t see anyone. Could you?”
“No, but the woman in there was Marissa, I’d swear to it.”
“What about the man?”
“His voice was familiar, but not enough to say for certain.”
“What should we do?” Taryn’s nerves spasmed down her back. They’d been too close to being discovered.
Hayden rubbed his chin. “I suppose if the princess has a lover, then it’s none of our business.”
She wanted to argue with him, to point out Zakael was the person who killed Brandt, but Hayden didn’t know the details of Brandt’s death or her suspicion Marissa had placed the sword above Hayden’s own chest. If she told him about Zakael and the cavern, it would open a whole host of questions she couldn’t answer. “I guess you’re right. Strange, though, that they had to hide. I wonder who her lover is.”
“It doesn’t matter, really. Not unless she gets with child. Then it becomes a case for the realm to handle. I’m famished. All that exploring has worked up my appetite. Let’s get some dinner while we can.”
Taryn was shocked he could think of eating after what they’d witnessed. They needed to tell Rhoane, to warn the empress. Her gut wrenched with the terrible understanding she couldn’t say anything to Rhoane until she had proof. Without Hayden’s corroboration, he wouldn’t believe her.
Rhoane had to see it for himself, which meant catching Marissa unawares. Something told Taryn skinning a carlix would be easier.
Chapter 24
TARYN’S calm expression belied the mass of nerves that twitched periodically, heightening her anxiety. Her skin, still warm from the sun, glistened with the oil Ellie had used to combat the salty dryness of the sea. Sabina and Hayden had done their best to keep her mind off her meeting with the empress by taking her to the small private cove beneath the castle.
Over the course of her day, Taryn ran through several reasons the empress might want to see her and could only come up with two. She either found out about her role in saving Hayden or she wished to discuss Brandt. Either way, Taryn wasn’t looking forward to dinner with the most powerful woman in all Aelinae.
The Stones of Kaldaar (Song of the Swords Book 1) Page 20
