Fyn hesitated. Had Isolt been an innocent piece in a game of Duelling Kingdoms she knew nothing about?
'Fyn? Is it really you?' Isolt's maid craned her head to see his face. 'Don't you know your own sister?'
'Piro?' Disbelievingly, he released her and his sister turned to face him. 'Piro… They told me you were dead.'
She laughed, but pain haunted her eyes. Then she noticed his swollen nose. 'You're bleeding.'
'Find something to clean him up,' Isolt ordered, but Piro had already darted across the room to a pitcher of water.
Delighted and a little stunned, Fyn watched his sister return with a bowl of water and a cloth.
'Sit down,' Isolt said, pushing his chest. He dropped onto a stool. Isolt lit a candle then turned his face to the light. A pucker of concern between her plucked brows, she cleaned the blood from his mouth and chin.
'Did I break his nose?' Piro asked, as she went around behind him, standing with her hands on his shoulders.
'I don't think so,' Isolt said. 'But it must hurt.'
'Only a little,' Fyn lied.
Isolt ignored him and rinsed the cloth. Folding it, she pressed it to his nose. 'Tilt your head back.'
'I am sorry, Fyn.' Piro's eyes twinkled above, as she supported his head. 'At least I didn't forget what you taught me.'
He grinned weakly. 'You're a sight for sore eyes. Why does everyone think you're dead? How did you come to be maidservant to King Merofyn's daughter?'
'I let them think another girl's body was mine and Lord Dunstany, the king's Power-worker, claimed me for his slave. Then Palatyne asked for me and gifted me to Isolt. How did you escape?'
'No time now,' Fyn told her, focused on his mission and Isolt. 'I've come to rescue you. My ship is waiting.' He could not help searching Isolt's face to see if she was impressed.
She removed the cloth. 'Good, the bleeding has stopped.' After dropping the bloodied cloth in the bowl, she turned away without meeting his eyes or commenting.
'This is perfect, Isolt,' Piro said. 'My brother can get us away from Merofynia. I didn't say it before, but I think King Merofyn and Palatyne could force the abbess to hand you over even if you became a nun.'
'We can't go to Rolencia,' Isolt said. 'We'd have to go to — '
'Ostron Isle. The elector always remains neutral so he can profit from our wars,' Fyn said, as he came to his feet. The longer they delayed, the more chance there was of discovery. 'If Palatyne gets his hands on Piro or me, our lives are forfeit. Come with me, Isolt, and I promise you'll be safe from Palatyne.'
'It means placing myself under the elector's protection and becoming a pawn in his power games.' Her black eyes blazed. 'But it's better than becoming Palatyne's trophy queen!'
'Good. Now, all we have to do is get out of here.' Piro turned expectantly to Fyn.
This was better than Fyn had hoped, his sister back from the dead and Isolt Kingsdaughter cooperating in her own abduction. Only now he wasn't kidnapping her, he was rescuing her. 'We'll slip out the back of the tent and down to the… What are you doing?'
Isolt and Piro had begun sorting clothes.
'I can't go dressed only in my night gown,' Isolt pointed out.
It was rose-coloured silk, so fine it was almost transparent. Fyn looked away quickly and cleared his throat. 'You must leave everything. Make it look like you were taken against your will.'
'Good idea. That will confuse Palatyne's spy,' Piro said, tipping over a chest and spilling its contents to make it appear there'd been a struggle. She tipped the water from the bowl and draped the bloodied cloth artistically on an upturned stool. 'This will convince them!'
'Excellent.' Isolt beamed, then turned to Fyn. 'What about shoes? And a cloak to keep out the chill?'
'Take nothing. I have a boat waiting, a ten minute walk from here. On second thoughts, you will need shoes, but nothing else.'
Isolt knelt to lace up delicate jewelled sandals.
Fyn glanced to Piro, who had slipped on shoes and was about to pick up her foenix. How did it get to Merofynia? He stared at the sleepy bird in his ornate cage. That was all they needed, pet birds. 'Piro, I…'
Her chin lifted.
He sighed, recognising defeat when he saw it. 'All right, but keep him quiet.'
'Come, my pretty.' Piro lifted the cage. 'Ready.'
His sister and the kingsdaughter followed Fyn from the enemy camp. A blaze of starlight illuminated the night, bright enough to cast shadows. It was a pity it was not cloudy. Fyn hesitated in the tent's shadow. Now that he had two lives in his care, fear almost paralysed him. How could he protect these trusting girls?
He tapped Piro on the shoulder and pointed to a thicket. He had not come in that way, but it was a quicker path to the boat and escape. She nodded her understanding and ran across the open ground into the shadow under the trees. The foenix did not cry out. No alarm was given.
Fyn caught Isolt's hand and set off. Entering the shadow he smelled horses — no, donkeys. They stirred, reacting to the scent of the foenix. Fyn cursed silently. The bird made an interrogative sound.
'Hush, my pretty,' Piro whispered.
'Come.' Fyn turned to lead them on.
A broad-shouldered outline detached itself from the night, cutting off their escape. They had only a heartbeat before the camp was alerted. A donkey, sensing their fear, gave its strident bray.
The sentry drew his sword. 'Who goes there?'
As the man stepped forwards to strike, Fyn darted in and caught his sword arm. Pulling him off balance, Fyn swung the man around and snapped his neck without making a sound.
The sentry's body collapsed.
Fyn straightened up. Both Piro and Isolt stared at him.
A muffled query came from the next sentry. Another donkey brayed with fright and the others shifted, pulling at their ropes.
'Run for it!' Fyn pushed both of the girls ahead of him.
A shout told them the sentry's body had been found. More shouts followed as the alarm was raised.
Fyn ducked to avoid low branches, praying none of them would fall and twist an ankle on the shadowed, uneven ground.
The reached the dunes. Soft sand slid away under their feet, impeding their progress. The girls floundered. Breath rasping in his throat, Fyn caught both their arms and dragged them up the steep rise to the crest of the next dune. From here they could see the small cove, its pale sand gleaming in the starlight. Piro gasped, struggling with the weight of the foenix in its cage.
'There's the ship.' Fyn pointed to the Wyvern's Whelp, a dark shadow on the glittering sea. 'We're nearly safe.'
He glanced behind him. Pursuers lumbered up the sand after them.
He shoved both girls down the steep dune. They skidded through deep sand drifts, sliding to the base, the cage swaying wildly. He followed.
He pulled Piro upright, pointing to where Bantam had dragged the row boat into the shallows. 'Run.'
Then he pulled Isolt to her feet.
She stared at him. 'You killed that sentry quicker than a striking snake. What are you, an assassin?'
Fyn went to deny this, but someone shouted from the crest of the dune behind them. 'To the boat.'
Piro was already running. Isolt took off. Fyn ran after her, ready to stop and fight to ensure they got away safely if need be.
They made better time on the hard sand left by the retreating tide. As they ran towards the boat, the large figure of Jakulos charged past Fyn to defend their backs. Metal rang against metal. A man cried out.
Bantam already had the boat in the shallows, his hands on the oars. Fyn caught up with the girls, took the foenix's cage while Piro scrambled into the boat, then returned the cage. Next he caught Isolt around the waist and threw her in, shoving the boat into deeper water. When he was thigh-deep, Fyn turned to look for Jakulos.
The big sea-hound charged through the water towards them, sending spray flying. Jakulos grabbed Fyn by the collar and shoved him into the boat, driving it even further
from the shore, before he rolled his weight aboard, splashing everyone and making both young women cry out. The foenix gave a shriek of warning as the boat rocked alarmingly before settling.
Bantam resumed rowing, hardly breaking his rhythm, and they picked up speed. Fyn scrambled to the prow to balance Jakulos's weight. Their pursuers on the shore shouted and cursed, but could do nothing.
The boat reached the ship and the rope ladder rolled down. Piro handed the bird's cage to Fyn, then clambered up. He passed the cage to someone above before turning to help Isolt, but she brushed his hands away and made the climb ahead of him. He tried not to watch her lithe legs through the thin silk of her night gown.
Fyn climbed the ladder, leaving Jakulos and Bantam to fix the hooks to the boat's prow and bow so that it could be winched up.
The ship's anchor had been raised. The sails rose, unfolding, each segment gleaming in the starlight as they opened. The ship soon made headway out of the inlet.
He glanced up to see Captain Nefysto at the helm, steering through the sand bars that guarded the inlet. As the sea-hounds took depth soundings and secured the boat, the sailors watched Fyn escort Piro and Isolt into the captain's cabin. It wasn't every day their ship hosted a kingsdaughter — two kingsdaughters, if they only knew.
Fyn lit the second lantern in the captain's cabin and looked around. Isolt shivered. Her fine silk night gown clung to her, ruined by the salt-water. She might as well have been naked. He opened a chest, taking out a blanket and averting his eyes as he handed it to her.
Looking in the other direction, he saw Piro place the foenix cage on the floor. She peeped behind the screen to investigate the captain's Affinity birds.
'I've always wanted to see a pica pair,' Piro said.
A tray of wine, bread, cheese and fruit sat on the desk. Fyn gestured to it. 'Help yourselves.'
Piro came over to pour wine and slice cheese. Her musical voice rose and fell as she relived their close escape. Isolt ate, saying nothing. They were opposites, Piro all light and laughter, Isolt dark and troubled. He wished he could banish Isolt's fear.
'A pair of pica birds?' Isolt asked. Her gaze slid to Fyn. 'So you serve the elector?'
'Mage Tsulamyth, as does Captain Nefysto,' Fyn answered. He was in the mage's debt and power, but to ensure Tsulamyth did not have the same power over Piro he would introduce her as Isolt's maid.
To think, he had been ready to renounce the world and live a monk's life. He looked up. 'We three must make our plans now, before the captain comes.'
Piro had been on her knees, slipping grapes through the bars of the foenix's cage. At his tone she turned with a questioning look, and Isolt put her wine goblet down.
Fyn decided to be frank. 'Piro and I are worth more dead than alive to our enemies, and I don't know who we can call friend.'
'The mage sent you to save Isolt. Surely he is our friend?' Piro asked.
Isolt made a rude noise. 'From what I've heard Mage Tsulamyth is his own best friend.'
Piro looked to Fyn.
'He is an Affinity renegade, Piro. The abbot would say we can't trust him at all. I haven't met him, only one of his agents, so I can't judge. The mage is the force behind the elector of Ostron Isle, in some ways more powerful than a king, and we are at his mercy. That is why we must make a pact.' He placed his hand palm-down on the table. 'I swear to protect both of you with my life, and to see that you are restored to your rightful places.'
Piro walked over to the desk, placing her hand on Fyn's. 'I swear to protect you two by whatever means I can.' She smiled. 'It's good to have you back, brother, but I fear just surviving may be hard enough without trying to win back Rolencia.'
Fyn smiled. 'Maybe not. We have a secret ally inside Rolenhold.'
Piro's eyes widened. 'Who? Tell me.'
'Cobalt. He's promised to help restore Byren…' Fyn broke off, seeing Piro's expression. 'What is it?'
She pulled back. 'You haven't told Cobalt where Byren is, have you?'
'Not yet. Piro, I know it appears that Cobalt is Merofynia's puppet king. But he told me to bring Byren to him, so — '
'So he could kill him!' Her pretty mouth twisted with grief and anger. 'You went back to the abbey after midwinter, Fyn. You didn't see what our cousin did. I watched it all unfold and there was nothing I could do. First Cobalt turned Lence against Byren, then he turned Father against Byren, claiming that Byren was Orrade's lover and the Servants of Palos meant to put him on the throne. Then he turned Father against Mother and broke her heart. And it was he who ordered the postern gate opened to let Palatyne in.' She raised tear filled eyes to Fyn. 'All the while, he smiled and made everyone love him. I swear he's the two-headed snake, not Palatyne.'
Fyn sat down abruptly.
'Fyn?' Piro leant closer. 'You didn't give Byren away to Cobalt did you?'
'No.' He repressed a shiver then lifted his head. 'No. I didn't have a chance. But I meant to… Cobalt was so convincing, Piro. I found him lying there in Rolenhold, Palatyne's captive. He was injured, bearing his pain with great fortitude.'
She nodded. 'That's why he's so dangerous. With Palatyne you know he's your enemy. With Cobalt, he'll smile as he slides the knife in.'
Fyn shook his head. 'I can't believe I nearly — '
She touched his hand. 'It's all right, Fyn. He had Mother fooled until just before the end. She tried to kill him with his own sword.'
Fyn couldn't imagine his elegant mother swinging a heavy sword. 'When the abbey fell, I tried to reach you. If only I'd been in time.'
'Don't blame yourself, Fyn.' Piro eyes searched his face. 'You couldn't have saved us. It was a two-pronged attack. Cobalt betrayed the stronghold, even while the abbey was under attack.'
Fyn felt a great weight lift from him. He hadn't failed his family. Tears stung his eyes and he lifted a hand to his face, trying to catch his breath. Piro squeezed his shoulder.
After a moment she turned to the kingsdaughter. 'Are you with us, Isolt?'
Isolt looked from Piro to Fyn. 'You want me to make a pact that will see my father dead? He might be a ruthless man, but he is still my father. I won't stand by while someone plots his death.'
'Palatyne plots his death,' Piro said. 'I heard him ask Lord Dunstany for a poison that mimicked natural death and Dunstany provided it — he had no choice. Palatyne would have ordered him killed if he hadn't.'
Isolt's eyes widened. 'Why didn't you tell me? I could have warned my father.'
'I tried to tell you,' Piro said. 'But you didn't believe me. And your father is safe until you marry Palatyne. He planned to kill the king after he had you safely wedded and bedded. And he wasn't too fussed about the order, if you remember.'
Isolt blanched.
The thought of Isolt in Palatyne's hands made Fyn's stomach revolt. He came to his feet. 'Your father has many enemies, Isolt.'
She stared across the desk at him, the lantern's glow pooling in her troubled eyes.
'I can promise that I will not kill King Merofyn.'
Isolt considered this. Then she leant across the desk, offering her hand. 'I cannot ask for more.'
Piro caught her hand and Fyn covered them both, then gave them a squeeze. They all took a step back.
'Now we must decide what to tell the mage,' Fyn said. 'You must pretend to be Isolt's maid, Piro. I don't want him realising he has two of King Rolen's heirs in his power. I'll leave you on Ostron Isle and return to find Byren. I intend to be with him when he wins back Rolencia.'
'I'm coming too,' Piro said.
Fyn shook his head. 'It is safer for you on Ostron Isle.'
'With someone you regard as an Affinity renegade?' Isolt countered.
Fyn smiled, acknowledging her point. She was clever as well as beautiful and he could tell she did not like him, though he did not know why. 'We don't have a lot of options. I need a strong ally to help win Byren his kingdom. That's where you come in, Isolt. The Merofynian ambassador said the words of betrothal on your behalf. Sin
ce Lence is dead, you are betrothed to Byren according to both Merofynian and Rolencian law.'
'I don't want to be betrothed to anyone. I'm not some king's trophy.'
'Well said.' Piro applauded. 'I never asked to be betrothed to Rejulas. Why should we kingsdaughters be married off as prizes?'
They both glared at Fyn, righteously indignant, itching for a fight.
'You're right,' he said, sitting down and popping a grape in his mouth, as though he didn't care how they responded. 'When we get to Ostron Isle, leave this ship and walk away. Earn your bread as maids in a bakery for all I care.' He paused to let this sink in, then leant forwards, his voice growing hard. 'But if anyone discovers who you are, you will be killed or transported back to Merofynia. You can't deny your standing and you both have a role to play in this game.'
'Curse the game of Kingdoms!' Isolt whispered.
'It's not so bad being a maid, when you've been a slave,' Piro said. 'At least I'd be free.'
Fyn had never thought she would take his suggestion seriously. He reached for her hand across the desk. 'Stay with me, Piro. I've lost you once already. I couldn't bear to lose you again.'
Piro smiled and came around to stand behind where he sat. She hugged his shoulders and kissed the top of his head, then laughed, rubbing his hair. 'I can't get used to seeing you with hair. You should be bald and tattooed!'
Fyn grinned self-consciously.
'You two are lucky,' Isolt whispered. 'You have each other. I have no one. Even my mother hated my father more than she loved me.'
Fyn's heart went out to her.
Isolt met his eyes. She glanced away suddenly and pulled the blanket more tightly around her shoulders. 'I'm tired. Where will I sleep?'
He should have thought of that. 'I'll ask the captain — '
'It's as cold as Cyena's breath out there!' As if speaking of him had called him up, Nefysto thrust the door open. He spoke Merofynian out of courtesy to Isolt as he gave her a flamboyant Ostronite bow. 'Welcome aboard, kingsdaughter. We won't be taking the trade route back to Ostron Isle. Don't want anyone coming after us. We'll veer out to sea and plot a path back by the stars. If we avoid the Utlands and the trade routes we'll be safe from raiders, and any wyverns bold enough to climb on board for a snack better beware!'
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