“You are as beautiful as your sister,” Jamila said artlessly.
I watched Fira melt before the sincere praise.
“She’s right,” Ilena interjected. “I cannot believe how much you have grown. I always knew you would be a beauty. Suitors must be swarming around you.”
Fira glowed and preened before the compliments.
“Mother thinks me too young to entertain suitors. She plans on my coming out next year. At least, she lets me attend teas and some garden parties. That is more than Father would have allowed.”
Ilena nodded. She didn’t ask about her father, so I assumed she knew he was dead. Silvesto and Nicky rode up with the supply cart. The rest of the men pulled up behind them. A groomsman materialized beside me.
“I can show your men where they can stable their horses and vehicles.”
“Thank you, Milton. Silvesto and Nicky, why don’t you join us? I’m sure John can assist with the horses and I know Brendan would like to see you.”
“Your stepfather is here?” Nicky asked in surprise.
“Conran is being honored with a peerage, so Lord Seahorn is here to witness it,” Fira interjected excitedly. “King Drexel is expected on the morrow.”
Nicky’s mouth dropped open before he began grinning.
“You deserve it,” Silvesto said in his deep voice.
“Maybe my star will rise alongside yours,” Nicky teased.
“Still feel ill-used?” Ilena murmured behind me.
I felt myself blushing furiously.
“I suspect it is a consolation prize,” I whispered back.
“What are you two whispering?”
“Nothing,” we answered simultaneously before smiling at each other.
“I need to clean up before I greet your father,” Nicky announced, breaking in.
Fira’s annoyed look melted as she assessed Nicky’s good looks.
“I will show you to your rooms where you can brush your clothes and clean up a little.”
“Me, too?” Silvesto asked in surprise.
“I have you next to my sister. I understand you are her guard. I didn’t think you would want to be too far away.”
Silvesto raised an eyebrow in response but said nothing. I could tell he didn’t like Fira and I wondered why.
“I need to freshen up, too,” Ilena interjected. “Am in my old room, Fira?”
“Yes. Mother redecorated it for you.”
“I can show them up, so you can accompany Conran to his father. Which room is assigned to Nicky?”
“The grey room across from yours.”
Ilena gave her sister another hug before sweeping into her childhood home. Nicky winked at Silvesto before following her into the house. Shrugging, Silvesto followed. I wanted to help the men but knew they were capable of looking after themselves.
“Your mother and Brendan must be wondering what is keeping us.”
“You address your father by his first name?” There was a note of disapproval in Fira’s voice.
“He’s my stepfather and that is what he asked me to call him.”
“You’ve never called him ‘Father’?”
I had, but saw no reason to share my private life with Fira. I just smiled and gestured for her to precede me into Balindoch. She haughtily brushed past me.
I choked back a laugh as she swept up the hall. She’d quickly dismissed any appreciation for my help. I started to follow when a picture coagulated before me. I quickened my step. Lady Balindoch would want the news quickly.
Chapter 7
It was late before I was able to retire. The evening had begun with a whirlwind of activity once I’d notified everyone that the King would be arriving before dinner. Lady Balindoch had taken the news calmly and marshaled her staff like a seasoned general assured of victory.
The impromptu banquet had been lavish and everyone had enjoyed themselves. Well, almost everyone. The easy camaraderie between King Drexel and I had been missing. He seemed ill at ease upon arrival and insisted on bestowing my peerage immediately.
The sudden ceremony was a mixed blessing as I didn’t have time to be nervous. King Drexel’s haste saved me from belaboring what I was going to wear to the ceremony though I’d donned one of the new outfits in the trunk sent by my mother. After profusely detailing my services to Argelle, King Drexel conferred my new title with accompanying land adjourning Brendan’s. For the first time since his arrival, he met my eyes and gave a tight smile.
When he’d accidently brushed my arm as he’d leaned forward to speak to Nicky, I’d received disturbing images. Queen Drusilla’s temper had not improved with my departure. I saw a scene where she’d ranted, and hurled precious china and crystal after hearing of my impending honor. I studied King Drexel’s face and saw new lines of worry etched into his previously tranquil face.
There was definitely no chance that King Drexel would recall me to Argelle after the ceremony. If I thought asking him to release me from service would make his life easier, I would have insisted but I knew nothing short of my death would satisfy Drusilla’s hatred. I would have to make the best of my appointment to Florenza.
I smiled and forced a lightness I didn’t feel as I was congratulated and feted with champagne. King Drexel graciously moved throughout the ballroom to speak with each attendee. I kept one eye on his progress, waiting for him to reach me.
“What is wrong, Conran?”
I looked back at King Drexel before answering Lady Ilena.
“All is not well with King Drexel. I don’t believe I shall ever be returning to Argelle.”
“Do you want me to stay with you when he reaches you?”
“That isn’t necessary. It has been a long day. I hope we can retire soon.”
“Conran! You are young and you have gained a peerage! I would think you would be too excited to even think of sleeping!”
Before I could answer, King Drexel’s voice interrupted us. “Sleep? Who wants to sleep?”
“Me, Your Majesty. It has been a busy day.”
“Quite understandable. I drove my men and horses hard today. Everyone is in need of a good rest. I will speak with you before I leave tomorrow.”
“I am at your service,” I replied, bowing deeply.
King Drexel smiled warmly at me, bent low over Lady Ilena’s hand and left, accompanied by two guards. The atmosphere in the crowded ballroom relaxed and immediately lightened with the king’s exit. I sipped my champagne slowly, so I wouldn’t leave too soon after the king.
After thirty minutes, it seemed safe to excuse myself and retire. I closed the bedroom door behind me and leaned against it briefly. Feeling drained, I sat on the edge of the bed and struggled to pull my boots off. My best boots for formal occasions still pinched terribly.
I had just pulled off and dropped the second boot, dropping it with a thump when two sharp raps startled me. Not bothering to replace my boots, I padded across the carpeted floor in my stocking feet. Taking a breath, because I knew who was on the other side, I quickly opened the door and bowed low.
“Your Majesty.”
“Caught you with your boots off again,” he said with laughter in his voice. I was relieved to hear the lighter tone.
“I still haven’t broken these boots in properly. May I call for refreshment?”
“I doubt my stomach can possibly handle anything else. I just need a comfortable chair.”
Quickly, I rushed to the fireplace and held the only cushioned chair until King Drexel lowered himself carefully onto it. I pulled a stool over and sat facing him. He surveyed the room silently. I waited patiently, watching him. King Drexel straightened and met my eyes.
“Conran,” he started before stopping abruptly.
We had several more minutes of silence. I could feel his turmoil and conflict but knew I didn’t have the means to help him. Then something occurred.
“May I speak, Sire?”
“Please do,” he answered with an air of relief.
“I kn
ow I cannot return to court, but I will always serve you to the best of my ability. I do not deserve the honor you bestowed tonight and expect nothing more.”
For the first time that evening, I saw King Drexel’s face relax into a semblance of the King I’d first met.
“I will always thank the day Lord Seahorn brought you to court. You have rendered great service not only to me but to the citizens of Argelle. You richly deserve becoming a lord in your own right. My Chancellor should not have had to suggest it, but doubt I will ever find one more deserving.”
I felt an unexpected lump form in my throat. I felt deeply ashamed of my resentment at being sent as a diplomat to the Florenza Court. Knowing it was for my protection hadn’t dampened my initial disappointment and anger.
“I do not deserve either your good opinion or the honor you have bestowed, Sire. I was so angry when you sent me away. I felt betrayed and misused,” I reluctantly admitted.
“You had a right to be angry and deserve more than I can ever bestow, Conran. I wish I could recall you to Argelle, but…” his voice ended on a squeak that startled me.
I had never heard King Drexel’s voice break under any circumstance. Emotion choked me when I saw the pain and conflict in his eyes. Suddenly, a flash came to me.
“When is Queen Drusilla expecting your first child, Sire?”
“She says it will be in six months,” he answered, a slow smile widening upon his face. “I wasn’t sure I would ever have heirs.”
King Drexel stared at me intently.
“I know you were able to reassure your mother when she was with child. Can you tell me if my child will be healthy? Will it be a boy?”
“You will have a healthy son, Your Majesty. And, Queen Drusilla will recover easily, so you can have many more children.”
I saw a shadow pass across his eyes and his mouth tighten. I didn’t need my gift to know that his marriage wasn’t what he’d hoped. He’d been adamant about marrying Drusilla despite the fact that her father had waged unprovoked attacks against him. I wish the marriage could have been prevented. King Drexel must have been studying me while I watched him.
“I’m sure I would be happier if I had listened to my council and you, but I was determined to have Dru. I do not regret my decision,” he insisted with a fierce look. “She is a very challenging woman. I cannot imagine any other being her equal.”
I wisely held my tongue. Obviously, he was still besotted with her. She obviously knew how to twist his infatuation to her advantage. I hoped I would never be so snared by a woman.
“However, this is not why I interrupted your time alone.” King Drexel leaned forward. “We have received word of night raids against isolated homesteads. Survivors say they spoke no language they knew but they believe they came from the sea. The Court of Florenza is on the coast. We do not know where they come from or how strong they are. I need you to warn King Stefano of these marauders and negotiate a treaty between our countries to provide mutual support when needed. We are concerned that they could be from a powerful country. We are currently negotiating with Westland and Greater Ahistrone. Can you use your gift to tell me more of these intruders?”
I had focused on the intruders as I listened to my liege. Heavily armored men slunk out of the darkness. Moonlight glinted on twisted horns topping fantastical helmets. Fire and screams filled the air. I could smell blood and gore.
“They have ornate armor. I smelled salt air, so they do arrive from the sea. Their land is frozen and barren. They survive by robbing, kidnapping and selling slaves. They will continue to pillage until they have exhausted our land. Some will settle here.”
King Drexel’s face paled. “It is worse than I feared. It is imperative you arrange a mutual support agreement.”
“What can I offer?”
“We will initially provide one thousand men with arms, fifty cannons and five hundred horses. Argelle will supplement in increments of five hundred men until the threat is subdued.”
“Your Majesty, I think Argelle should provide five galleons to attack from the sea.”
“Florenza has ships. We need them to provide twenty to assist us as well as two thousand men with their full complement.”
“Are we not wealthier and better equipped? They will not want to provide more than Argelle.”
“But they will have you. You destroyed an entire army by yourself. You are worth more than five galleons and two thousand men. I have no doubt your power has reached their ears. Do not be surprised if they send a full court escort. As a sorcerer and a lord, your value is more than both our kingdoms. I expect King Stefano to realize that.”
I pushed down my anger and took several deep, calming breaths before responding in as level a voice as I could manage.
“Am I part of the barter?”
“Of course not, Conran! You are not property but you will serve as Argelle’s ambassador at Florenza for four years. A better advisor and protector they will never find.”
He smiled but I couldn’t force one in return. Four years away from Argelle! I hoped I would enjoy the court and find King Stefano someone I could respect.
I stared at the empty fireplace as tension filled the air. I didn’t want a return of our previous unease. He was my King and who was I to question his will?
“I will serve you and Argelle to the best of my ability, Your Majesty.”
King Drexel’s face relaxed. His smile widened before he abruptly stood. I immediately rose.
“It has been a long day. If you have any questions, we can speak in the morning before I return to Argelle. Get a good night’s sleep.”
I bowed deeply. “Good night, Your Majesty. I hope you sleep well, too.”
I closed the door softly behind him. I looked around the beautiful room that I would soon be abandoning. I hadn’t had the opportunity to ask Ilena how she felt being home. Would she want to stay here?
I paced nervously. Was it too late to speak with her? A soft knock interrupted my quandary. I was close to the door, so I quickly opened it. Silvesto stood in the hall, looking a little disheveled but still wearing his finery.
“Lord Pierce-Seahorn, Lady Ilena sent me to see if you were still up and would like to join her in the parlor downstairs?”
Grinning, I nodded. “It’s still Conran, but I was hoping to talk to her tonight. Will you join us?”
“Of course, my lord,” he responded lightly.
“I just need to get into something comfortable and my old boots. I don’t think I will ever get these boots broken in,” I grumbled for at least the second time this evening.
“Not if you don’t wear them more,” he offered dryly. “Shall I wait for you?”
“It isn’t necessary, Silvesto. I won’t be long.”
Before the heavy door closed quietly behind him, I was already pulling off the richly brocaded doublet Mother had sent. From the corner of my eye, I saw movement as I hung the doublet in the carved oak wardrobe.
I whirled around, my right hand up and ready to cast but saw no one in the cavernous room. The dusky light creeping into the room did little to dispel the shadows. Heart pounding, I scanned the room again. I knew I’d seen something.
Slowing my breathing, I used my inner sense to detect if there was someone cloaked. The brocade curtains undulated slowly in the evening wind. I had a sense of feathers – Raven? It couldn’t be! She was dead and buried between three rippling streams to contain her spirit.
I continued searching but couldn’t find anyone. Suddenly, it dawned on me that I’d failed to ward my room. I mentally kicked myself. Yes, it was Ilena’s childhood home, but she’d left it for a reason. I felt sure someone was watching me even if I couldn’t see them.
A low, dull throb started at the base of my head. I rubbed, trying to ease it. I changed as quickly as possible and put on my old boots before leaving to join my friends. Ilena and I would have a lot to discuss after the impromptu party.
My boots echoed in the dim, carved hall. I jumped as
a figure stepped out of a doorway. Lady Ilena laughed softly.
“I didn’t mean to startle you.”
“I’m relieved it isn’t Nicky. I wouldn’t hear the end of it,” I said laughing.
“He’s too busy trying to eat his weight in food downstairs. I thought we could walk slowly and talk.”
My stomach twisted. I hoped she wasn’t going to say she wanted to stay with her family though I knew that was a selfish desire. As if she read my mind, Ilena stopped and rested her hand on my arm.
“I will not live here, Conran. It hasn’t been my home for a very long time. Fira would resent me if I did. I will stay with you as long as you need me.”
“Thank you. That may be a very long time,” I teased before saying more seriously, “I wanted to talk to you, too. I thought I saw a flash of something in my room. I had an image of a black bird but didn’t we take care of Raven?”
Ilena stopped abruptly before continuing on.
“I thought Mother had gotten rid of it. It’s a slaugh that has been in our home for a few generations.”
“What is a slaugh?”
“A sprite that collects dead souls.”
“Why would it be in my room? Is it predicting my death?”
“It isn’t a banshee,” Ilena replied gently. “It doesn’t foretell or cause death. A slaugh just waits to collect a soul.”
“That really doesn’t make me feel better, Ilena.”
“It should, but we’ll be leaving tomorrow,” she replied as she lifted her skirts to descend the staircase. “I can have you moved to another room if you prefer.”
“I believe you that it cannot hurt me, but why can’t I see it?”
“You saw more than most. You didn’t feel it before, so it may move on before you go to bed.”
“I hope so.”
I knew I should be thankful that it wasn’t Raven after all, but the idea of some death collecting sprite was disconcerting. We walked the rest of the way in silence. The manor was strangely silent, except for our footsteps.
“What did you want to talk to me about?”
“I wanted to find out how you are. I saw the tenseness between King Drexel and you this evening. Not what I would have expected from a king bestowing a peerage.”
The Sigil of Sobek: Book 2 The Chronicles of Conran Page 10
