“My father is an expert at deception,” Aarint said. “My brothers and I were immediately packed off on extensive diplomatic tours. Father told us that she was rescued immediately and lived peacefully where we grew up. We didn’t believe him, but the declaration of war between Sardmara and Ratharia superseded any desire to seek her ourselves. Correspondence reached us intermittently, including letters supposedly from her. In them, she reassured us she was safe and worried for our wellbeing.
“Something about the wording bothered me. I wondered if she truly returned to Clorian. Despite my doubts, I couldn’t do anything to investigate. Even after the conflict with Ratharia was resolved, Father kept the three of us apart, spread out in posts across the kingdoms defending Sardmara’s interests in one way or another. All the while he fed us stories about how Lirth thrived. It was only when the news of the treaty followed by the uproar over your attack on Baron Tor’s stronghold reached us, we had proof of the truth.”
Ireic frowned at the reflection of Aarint in the mirror. He adjusted the collar of his clothing for the fifth time but it still rubbed in all the wrong places. The clock on the mantle announced it was time to meet Lirth.
“Does your father know you are here?”
“No,” Aarint admitted. “Father believes I am on route to Braulyn on one of his missions. Only Joman and Lloyden know I am here, checking out our little sister’s new husband.”
“So, what are you going to tell them?”
Aarint smiled. “She is healthy, well cared for, and…” His eyes met Ireic’s as if checking once more before coming to a conclusion. “I might venture to say valued.”
“I am trying.” Ireic strode toward the door. “I am trying to be the best husband I can be for your sister.”
“That is all I can ask.” Aarint followed Ireic out into the wide corridor.
~~~~~~
Lirth knew she would forget something. She tightened her hold on Dorn’s bony shoulder and tried to concentrate on something, anything other than the ceremony before her.
“Dorn, do you have a wife?”
His uncomfortable rasp of forced laughter answered her well enough, but she waited for his denial anyway.
“Well, I will just have to find you one. You are all skin and bones,” she replied.
“I eat plenty, Your Majesty,” he assured her. “My father is the same. We have reached the top of the main staircase.”
“How many steps?” she asked.
“I don’t know, Your Majesty, I have never counted them.” She felt the tensing in the muscles of his shoulder.
“That is fine,” she assured him. “Just inform me when to stop stepping down.”
“Very well.”
He stepped forward and down, giving her an idea where the first step was. Following his lead, she descended. She concentrated on the steps beneath her feet and gradually grew aware that others descended around them. The murmur of conversations and the hushed, shuffling sound of people walking across the deep carpets reached her ears. Occasionally, there was the sharp clicking of heels on the stone floor as someone crossed an uncarpeted section of the room.
Then Dorn whispered, “Three more steps. The king and ambassador are approaching now.” Turning to the left, he bowed. His shoulder dropped beyond her reach. “Your Majesty.”
Lirth let her hand fall to her side.
“Thank you, Dorn, for escorting the queen.” Ireic’s voice gave her a point of reference in the large room. She could tell the size by the way the sound echoed. “I will escort her from here.”
Responding to the hint, Lirth lifted her hand before her. Right on cue, Ireic caught it in his own. “You look lovely, Lirth,” he whispered as he bowed over her hand. The warmth of his touch permeated the thin silk of her glove. He placed her hand on his left forearm and covered it with his larger one. Lirth’s heart gave a little jump unrelated to the nerves twisting her stomach.
“Don’t worry.” Ireic’s breath caressed her cheek. “You will dazzle them. Just smile and trust me to take care of the rest.”
She nodded.
“We are going to turn to the right and take ten steps forward.”
She lifted her head in surprise. Before she could ask how he knew the exact number, he guided her forward. She wondered if he had counted out the distances beforehand.
“Now pause as the guards open the doors.” As he spoke, she could hear the groan of the heavy main doors opening. A breeze rustled her skirts. Without his prompting, she looked forward and forced a smile to her dry lips. They felt like they would crack with the strain.
“The open carriage waits straight ahead at the bottom of the stairs. When we appear there will be a response from the crowd. We will pause and smile. There are twenty stairs, five steps from our current position. The carriage should be about four steps beyond that. I will lead you down the stairs and Liam will assist you into the carriage. After that, I will join you from the opposite side. I have to walk around the carriage and horses so it will take me a moment to join you. Just sit in the seat on your right.” Cool air washed over her face and sunlight warmed the top of her head as they stepped forward as one.
The next few moments passed in a whirl of sound and motion. From the roar of cheering that greeted them as they stepped to the head of the stairs, to the instant she sank into the carriage seat, Lirth could not think. Somehow she managed to smile. When it was over, she remained certain she did not misstep. But she had no recollection of counting the steps or Liam handing her into the vehicle. Her throat tightened.
Ireic’s strong hand enclosed hers. “They love you,” he said above the noise. “Don’t forget to smile.”
She forced the corners of her mouth up as the carriage moved. The next hour passed at an agonizingly slow pace. The noises changed as the vehicle progressed sluggishly through the crowds. The clamor and voices made Lirth’s head hurt, but she continued to smile as Ireic asked. Though at times, she feared appearing as though she was simply showing everyone her teeth.
“We are almost done.” Ireic’s voice inches from her ear startled her into sitting straighter. “I can see the gates, but we have to stop for a moment. They are having some trouble clearing the street.” She could hear exhaustion in his voice. Nodding so he could know that she understood, she leaned forward slightly. Something whistled past her ear followed by a muffled thump.
Ireic shouted and shoved her roughly to the floorboards. A heavy weight landed on top of her and pressed her body and face against the floor. Her nose filled with the scent of polish and aged wood. Overhead, voices rose as the tone of the crowd changed. Among the clamor, Isack cursed at the horses. Screams tore at her ears. Shrieks from the crowd set the horses into a panic that jostled the carriage. The vehicle rolled backwards and someone yelled above the mayhem, “The king is dead!”
“Ireic!” she gasped.
“I am fine,” Ireic’s clipped voice assured her, inches from her ear. He was the weight on top of her. Something wet dripped onto her forehead. Horror tightened her chest as her nose identified the smell.
“You are bleeding.” She pushed at the floor to try to get him off of her.
“Yes.” He groaned in pain as she succeeded in rolling him to one side. “It is only a scratch. It isn’t safe for you to get up.”
She ignored him and reached toward his voice. “Where is it?” She couldn’t lose him.
“Get down, Lirth! The archer is still out there and you are giving him a perfect shot.” Ireic grabbed her wrist and yanked it out from under her. Her chin struck the floor with a painful crack. “Liam!”
Someone replied, but his words were lost among the other shouts.
“Get us out of here,” Ireic ordered.
The carriage groaned and dipped as someone jumped aboard. A whip cracked and the horses lunged forward. The movement sent Lirth falling against Ireic. He grunted as she landed, but a strong arm came around her and pinned her there. “Don’t move,” he ordered fiercely. Obediently Lirth l
ay still, but she could not stop the pounding in her breast.
“Don’t die,” she whispered.
The arm around her tightened.
Please Kurios, she begged, don’t take him yet.
Overhead, the man driving the carriage yelled for the gates to open. The grinding of wood on wood filled her ears. The carriage jerked violently, throwing Ireic and her against the seats then back to the floor. Ireic cried out in pain. Then suddenly the carriage jarred to a stop.
“Ireic?”
The arm that had been holding her was limp.
“Ireic!”
Franticly, she felt for his pulse. It took her a moment of fumbling before she found it under his jaw. Running her hands gently up his face, her thumbs brushed his closed eyes. She swept her palms down his body, fingers seeking. The torn sleeve over his left arm felt wet. Her hands came away sticky with blood.
“Healer,” a male voice cried from above. “We need a healer immediately.” The carriage door opened violently as though someone sought to rip it off the side panel. Someone climbed in beside her. “Your Majesty,” he said hesitantly.
“He is alive.” Her voice shook, but she didn’t care.
“I know.” Distantly, she heard the footfalls of others approaching. “You need to come out now so a healer can get in here. Do you understand?”
She nodded.
“Here, I will help you.” He touched her elbow. Reluctantly, she withdrew her hand from Ireic’s sleeve. The man helped her to climb down.
“Healer coming through!”
Lirth was shoved aside, but the stranger caught her.
“Who should I bring you to?” he asked.
“Aarint,” she whispered as she shivered against the fear. Please, Kurios, please, her heart screamed.
“Ambassador Parnan?”
She nodded. Tears were flowing freely now and she couldn’t speak. The man’s arm went around her shoulders as he led her away from the chaos near the carriage.
“Lirth!” Aarint ran to her.
Sobs took control of her body. Her mind kept pleading with Kurios to let Ireic live. Aarint’s embrace enclosed her.
“Go back to him,” Aarint told the young man. “Bring us news as soon as you can.”
Despite her conscience prodding her to show some reserve, Lirth couldn’t stop the tears. She clung to Aarint and wept. Finally she ran out of tears. Aarint delivered Lirth to Larissa and the relative safety of the queen’s chambers. The process of cleaning the blood off Lirth’s hands and face brought back the tears. Larissa coaxed Lirth into bed, but she couldn’t sleep.
Kurios, please, let me have him longer. Let him find Your gift before you take him. Please Father. He has been so kind to me. Please. I love him.
__________
Chapter Ten
Ireic squeezed his eyes closed against the light.
“Your Majesty?”
A voice he dimly identified as the Royal Healer’s came from somewhere above him.
“If you hear me, please respond.”
“I hear you, Ipore.” Ireic’s voice scraped his throat, his left upper arm burned, and his head throbbed with his pulse. “What happened?”
“What is the last thing you remember?” Ipore proceeded in his usual way, ignoring Ireic’s questions until all of his own were answered.
“I was lying on the floor of the carriage. Someone shot at Lirth and grazed my arm instead. I got her down, but she tried to rise. I yelled to Liam to get us out of there. I remember hitting my head but not much after that. Now that I have satisfied your curiosity, Ipore, please remember who is king here and answer my questions.”
Ireic swallowed the lump in his throat and tried to open his eyes. The light was painful, but he knew that was only because he had closed his eyes for so long. “Where is my wife? Is she hurt? What happened and where am I?”
Ipore checked Ireic’s pulse. “Lirth is safe and whole. She suffers more from fear for you than anything else. Liam got both of you back within the safety of the gates, but in the process you struck your head on something and lost consciousness. You have been out for about twenty minutes. I am ordering you to lie still.”
“I want to see Lirth.” Ireic blinked. His eyes slowly adjusted to the light. “Ipore, I want to see for myself that she is well.”
“Calm yourself.” Ipore placed a hand on Ireic’s shoulder above the bandage. “I will have her brought here immediately, but there are more pressing concerns.”
“Sire.” Liam bowed deeply as he approached the bed. “There is a mob at the gates. They will overwhelm the guards within an hour.”
“What do they want?” Ireic sat up and immediately regretted it. The throbbing took on the force of a fist repeatedly striking the side of his head.
“They want Lirth.” The young man paused as if reluctant to finish the message. “The former councilors have stirred up a small portion of the people with lies about the queen.”
“And the back gates?”
“The same; they have us surrounded.”
“Then we have to go below. This palace is not built to withstand an assault.” Ireic asked Liam, “How many members of my personal guard made it inside the gates?”
“Myself and three others,” he replied. “All those who were working along the parade route are now trying to control the mob from outside. I am the only one of your personal force within the building. The other two are working with the servants on blockading the gates outside. Isack did not make it through with us.”
Ireic nodded. “Then it appears you are my new bodyguard. Just let me get on my feet and–”
“But Your Majesty–”
“Ipore, you and I both know I have been worse than this many times on campaigns. We don’t have the luxury of time to wait for me to heal. Lirth and I need to get away to a secure location where we can be well guarded until this rebellion subsides. Unless you have another suggestion, I order you to get me on my feet and keep me there.”
The healer’s mouth tightened, but he nodded as Ireic knew he would. After spending years with the man, Ireic knew Ipore could be reasonable if pressed. Ireic originally gave him the position because he could be trusted.
As Ireic struggled with Ipore’s help to climb off the edge of the bed, he started working out the details of a plan in his head. The moment he could turn his attention somewhere other than his body, he started giving Liam orders.
“Go find the ambassador from Sardmara and tell him to dress warmly for traveling long distances on foot. I am hoping we will not need to, but I want to be prepared nonetheless. After you finish with him, go to the queen’s chambers. Lirth will need to know what to expect. Then meet me in my study. Ipore will get me ready and we will bring the provisions. Let no one see you enter the study. Secrecy is going to be our only defense. Tell no one of your orders.”
Liam disappeared out the door to the main hall. Tretan, Ireic’s trusted valet, lifted a heavy traveling cloak and dark clothing from the chest at the end of the bed.
Ipore double checked the bandage around Ireic’s forearm.
“Ipore.” Ireic drew the man’s attention from the wound. “I need you to dress for travel and bring enough supplies to tend this and possible emergencies.”
Ipore nodded. “I will be back in a few minutes.” He turned to the valet. “Can you handle him on your own?”
Tretan drew himself up to his full height. In spite of his age, the valet looked impressive in his tailored uniform. “I have been helping this lad get out of scrapes long before he knew you.”
Ireic smiled in amusement as Ipore regarded the older man evenly. “Go, Ipore,” he ordered before one or the other of them started a deeper discussion of the matter. “Tretan and I will be waiting for your return.”
Ireic turned his attention to getting out of his ruined formal clothing and into the much more comfortable traveling clothes.
“Brings back memories, Sire.” Tretan commented as he eased the itchy collar off over Ireic’s
head.
“Yes, Tretan,” Ireic admitted. “Not all of them are pleasant. As soon as you have me in these, I need you to run an errand for me. I am going to need food from the kitchens.”
Tretan turned to retrieve Ireic’s broken-in boots from the back of the wardrobe. “I will tell them that you are sending messengers for help and they will need supplies.”
“Perfect,” Ireic agreed and turned his attention to fastening his belt with only one hand.
~~~~~~
Less than an hour later Lirth, Aarint, and Liam arrived at the meeting place, the king’s study. They moved along the corridor like spies: Liam watching out for observers and Aarint guiding Lirth. Liam opened the door and checked the interior of the study before he signaled Aarint and Lirth to follow. Aarint whispered instructions to Lirth as they waited and he watched Liam’s movements. After a heart racing moment when they were almost spotted by a linen maid carrying the laundry down the hall, they made it into the study and waited.
Aarint deposited Lirth in a chair behind the door so that she would be the last thing a person would see upon entering the room. She listened as the men took up positions on each side of the door, Aarint close to her and Liam on the far side. Then they all strained their ears to hear beyond the closed door.
Another half hour passed before the door opened abruptly. Lirth heard the men jump, but she instantly recognized the fall of the man’s foot.
Ireic.
Back in her chambers, Liam had assured her that Ireic lived. Still she found great comfort in the warm tones of her husband’s voice as he greeted Liam and Aarint.
“Ipore meet Aarint, the ambassador from Sardmara and Lirth’s brother. Aarint, this is Ipore, my healer and comrade-at-arms of many years.” The men exchanged muffled greetings.
The King of Anavrea Page 10
