Harrowed Heir

by Sarah E. Burr

Lady Sabine Arceneaux’s porcelain cheeks glowed pink. “He wanted to make sure you were well looked after, given all you’re up against.” She brushed a stray lock of hair out of Jax’s face.

  “How oddly considerate of him.” Jax’s heart glowed with renewed warmth. “Did you just arrive?”

  Uma shook her head. “We got in late last night, but George asked us not to disturb you. He wanted to make sure you were well-rested after your journey.”

  Sabine’s pretty face dissolved into a frown as she scrutinized Jax. “Although, by the looks of you…”

  “His attempts to not have me disturbed were all in vain.” Jax chuckled, feeling her spirit renewed just by being in the presence of the two younger women. She welcomed them inside her apartment and shut the door behind them.

  Uma and Sabine stopped abruptly, causing Jax nearly to run right into them. “Who’s this?” Uma squeaked out.

  Jax wondered why she sounded panicked, but then followed Uma’s wide-eyed gaze. She stifled a giggle. She supposed that to a stranger, the sight of Ziri standing in the center of her sitting room twirling two glistening daggers with deft hands would be reasonable cause for concern.

  “I’d like to introduce you to the newest member of my court.” Jax stretched an arm out, beckoning Ziri to move closer. “Lady Uma, Lady Sabine, this is Ziri Axesinger. She is my new spymaster.”

  Sabine’s mouth popped open. “Virtues. George mentioned you had enlisted the help of one of the legendary Knights of Grace, but…” she paused, glancing at Uma, “this certainly isn’t who I pictured.”

  A velvety chuckle danced across Ziri’s curled lips. “I hope I am not a disappointment, Lady Sabine.”

  Out of the corner of her eye, Jax saw Sabine’s cheeks flush pink. “N-no, Mistress Ziri. Certainly not.”

  Ziri arched a dark eyebrow, assessing both Uma and Sabine. Her agile body visibly relaxed, and Jax assumed her dear friends had passed her silent inspection. “I shall give you three some time to catch up.”

  Jax moved closer to Ziri and squeezed her forearm. “You are more than welcome to stay. You are one of us, now.”

  Ziri bowed her head. “I appreciate that, Duquessa, but my duties as spymaster await. In a city as large as Lamartre, I’m sure the whisperings floating around the marketplace will be a wealth of information.”

  Jax nodded understanding, silently thanking Ziri for giving her time alone with her friends.

  “Lady Uma. Lady Sabine.” Ziri addressed them both with reverent bows. “I look forward to working alongside you in the service of the Duquessa.”

  Jax wondered if it was her imagination playing tricks on her, or had Ziri’s bronze gaze lingered on Sabine’s flushed cheeks longer than was required?

  Sabine twirled a lock of long hair around her finger, her expression coy. “As do we, Mistress Ziri.”

  Ziri batted her words away. “Unless the Duquessa commands it, please, just call me Ziri.”

  “Then I am just Sabine.” She beamed in response.

  Uma chuckled. “I quite like being called Lady Uma.” At everyone’s stunned reactions, she burst into a full-throated laugh. “Virtues. I am only teasing.”

  Ziri left them to recover from their fit of giggles, a bounce in her step.

  Jax turned to her lady-in-waiting once they were alone. “For a moment, I thought all the power you’ve been wielding over Saphire in my place had finally gone to your head.”

  Uma’s big, brown eyes glistened with emotion. “It has been too long, Jax.” In an uncharacteristic display of affection, she embraced Jax once more. “How are you doing with everything?” she asked, her voice ringing with sincerity.

  Her arms around her friend, Jax couldn’t summon the words to describe all that had transpired since she left her friends behind in Saphire and rode to the War Council.

  “George filled us in on what he could.” Sabine stroked Jax’s long hair, the tender action a soothing balm on Jax’s wearied soul.

  Jax noted the deep sorrow welling in the young woman’s eyes. “I’m so sorry about Ivan, my dear.” Breaking away from Uma, she gave Sabine a sympathetic squeeze. Sabine had grown up with Perry and his brothers, and as their cousin, had been close with the fallen captain.

  “He died protecting those he loved. He wouldn’t have had it any other way.” Sabine smiled through her tears. “I’m just glad he and Perry were able to mend their relationship before...” she trailed off. “It ate away at Ivan,” she sadly added, “after Perry was sent off to Saphire. He knew he hadn’t treated his little brother fairly.”

  Uma bit her lower lip. “How is Perry, by the way?”

  Jax’s stomach tightened. Uma sounded almost hesitant to ask about her husband. Had George suspected there was tension growing between her and Perry and shared his thoughts with her friends? “He’s…coping as best he can.”

  “You poor thing.” Sabine tutted and drew Jax across the room to an inviting sofa, urging her to sit down. “Perry should be here, by your side, helping you through all this confusing aftermath.”

  Jax’s nose wrinkled at the comment. “He had to oversee all of Ivan’s various burial ceremonies, and of course he had to be there. I would have gone with him—”

  “Burial ceremonies?” Sabine scoffed. “What burial ceremonies?”

  Jax stared at the young woman. Had Sabine hit her head or something during the trek from Saphire?

  “Pettraudian warriors,” Sabine continued on without waiting for an answer from the Duchess, “are burned on a pyre atop the Caisleán Cliffs, their ashes taken on the wind. Very little fuss is made. The whole ritual takes all of twenty minutes and ends with a feast…” Sabine’s voice trailed off. She must have seen the confusion growing on Jax’s face.

  “Would Ivan’s death be observed in that manner as well?” Jax’s words were shaky coming from her lips. “As a member of the royal family?”

  Sabine bobbed her head, her long, shimmering white-blond hair catching the sunlight from the windows. “Of course. As Captain of the Pettraudian Ducal Guard, it would have been an affront to his honor if his death were treated any other way.”

  Jax lowered her face into her hands. Why had Perry lied to her? Why had he made it sound like Ivan’s burial concluded after days and days of endless ceremonies? If she had known the truth, she could have attended Ivan’s sendoff and been at her husband’s side. She could have spared a day on her journey south. Had Perry not wanted her there? Was that why he had lied? Had he used Ivan’s death as a chance to escape her company?

  Uma seemed to sense Jax was spiraling at the unveiling of this new information. “Why don’t Sabine and I prepare a bath for you, Jax? While you’re soaking, we’ll scrounge up some food. I believe the Hestian High Courtier plans to work you to the bone, preparing you for this upcoming coronation ceremony.”

  Jax grunted. “I’d rather spend the time getting acquainted with the state of affairs in Hestes.” Planning a coronation was the last thing on her mind. She wanted to get this business over and done with to prevent any rebellion. She had to unite all her holdings as quickly as possible and rally her allies. The Coalition of Right may have suffered a great loss, but it hadn’t been completely snuffed out. Qylvard Savant was no doubt biding his time, holed up in some corner of the realm, licking his wounds from his defeat in Cetachi. She hadn’t seen the last of him, and with every passing second, she worried about his brutal retaliation.

  And now she had to add Perry’s confounding deception to her growing list of concerns. Why in the Virtues had he not wanted her to be with him in Pettraud?

  Uma dragged Sabine from the sitting room, saying they needed to prepare a bath for Jax. Jax tried but couldn’t quite make out the hissing whispers being exchanged between the two of them in the washroom. Her friends were as smart and perceptive as she usually was. If she had to guess, Uma and Sabine were likely discussing the troubling reality that Jax’s husband had lied to her while making her feel guilty for no reason at all.

  ‡ />
  “Jax? A missive just arrived for you.”

  The next morning, Jax, lounging in the tub, opened one eye, spotting Uma in the doorway of the washroom. “Do you know who it’s from?” she asked, her words slurred from relaxing in the warm, lavender-scented bathwater. “Can it wait?”

  Uma and Sabine’s unexpected reappearance yesterday had considerably brightened her spirits, and although she had slept much better than she had her first night here in Hestes, a dull ache still pulsed against Jax’s scar. If she were to put in another grueling day with High Courtier Dellathorne, familiarizing herself with the duchy and its list of issues, all while orchestrating her formal coronation, she would need a bit more time to unwind in her morning bath.

  Uma hurried to the side of the copper basin, her outstretched hand containing a sealed scroll. “I can’t be certain who, exactly, but it was carried here by one of the Academy’s kestrels.”

  Made alert by curiosity, Jax sat up straighter in the bath, a barrier of bubbles swirling around her body. “The Academy?” The famed institution had been around for centuries, founded during the early days of the Rebirth. Situated on a peninsula that sprouted off the southern coast of Hestes, the Academy belonged to no duchy, and thus shied away from political matters. Jax had attended the Academy in her youth, and her time there produced some of her fondest memories.

  Wiping her hands on a nearby towel, Jax took the scroll from Uma and broke the seal. Seeing the familiar handwriting, a smile graced Jax’s lips, but slowly disintegrated into a scowl as she read.

  My dearest Jax,

  I hope the Academy’s spies have not been misinformed in that you are planning to stay in the Hestian capital for a time. With all the rumors flying around the realm, one hardly knows what to believe anymore. I pray all is well with you.

  When we last saw each other at Galensmore, I had just returned home from the Academy, as Headmaster Ezarath made the decision to close its doors before the term had ended. With the realm in such a state of unrest, he didn’t feel we could properly protect our students from the brewing discontent. But then the headmaster had a change of heart and at the start of the new year, he summoned us back to our teaching posts. He said in these uncertain times, it is more important than ever for us to continue educating and shaping young minds. However, many professors opted not to return, leaving our halls woefully vacant. The students are not due back for another month, so there is still time to get things in order. Ezarath has spent the last few weeks trying to increase our staff, but sadly, only three new professors have accepted positions here.

  I am writing to you with interesting, if not troubling, news. You’ll remember Master Gautherd, the Academy’s head archivist? Yesterday, I overheard him discussing a new collection with Headmaster Ezarath that has recently been bequeathed to the Academy by an old Savantian bloodline. Apparently, while reviewing the contents of the massive collection, Master Gautherd has come across strange providence documents, suggesting significant portions of Hestes rightfully belong to the Duchy of Savant due to some unforgiven debt. He has yet to verify their authenticity, and Headmaster Ezarath charged him with the task before speaking any further about the matter.

  Last night, I tried engaging Master Gautherd about the contents of the new collection, to see if he made progress verifying the providence documents’ origins, but he continuously evades my questions. I’ve since asked to see the collection myself, but Gautherd refuses to let anyone into the processing room until the records are properly cataloged, which will still take some time.

  The existence of these documents concerns me. Headmaster Ezarath has his share of spies throughout the realm. We’ve heard of Qylvard’s treachery and the Coalition of Right’s attack on the War Council. Word has also reached us about Florian’s passing and your impending ascension to the Hestian throne. I fear if these documents prove to be authentic, it could spell trouble for your plans.

  I will try to gather what information I can and pass it along in the hopes it will help you bring Savant to justice.

  Until we see each other again, may the Virtues bless you.

  With love,

  Carriena

  As Jax reread the letter, she massaged her forehead, her scar throbbing at the disquieting news Carriena had sent. Providence papers stating Savant owned the Duchy of Hestes? What nonsense was this?

  “You don’t look very pleased.” Uma stood next to the basin, holding out a towel for Jax.

  Jax exchanged Carriena’s letter for the warmth of the thick towel, allowing Uma to read the words for herself while Jax dried herself off and slipped into a robe.

  “Oh, my,” Uma mumbled as she finished the note, handing it back to Jax. “Is it true? Could Savant really have a claim to Hestes?”

  “I’ve never heard of such a thing.” Jax ambled out of the washroom, Uma at her heels, and settled into one of the sitting room sofas. “An unforgiven debt? Hestes was part of the original charter when the Realm of Virtues was established. It doesn’t make sense that the Duchy of Savant would have a claim to its lands.”

  “What in the Virtues are you talking about?” Sabine asked as she appeared in the room with a tea tray.

  While Sabine set about laying out breakfast for the day, Jax read her the letter Carriena had sent, bringing her up to speed.

  As Jax finished, Sabine handed her a cup of tea with a snort. “Sounds like a bunch of rubbish to me.”

  Jax sipped the hot, sweet liquid. “But if they are real, Savant could protest my upcoming ascension and cause a great deal of turmoil while I am in Hestes.”

  Sabine stirred the juice of a lemon wedge into her tea. “I think you’re getting a little ahead of yourself, Jax. You don’t even know if these documents are authentic. And even then, how would Savant ever get hold of such information?” She snorted. “It’s not as if the Academy is just going to hand them over.”

  “You do have a point,” Jax murmured, her gaze trailing out the window. The waves of the serene Kind Sea shimmered in the distance. Even if Sabine thought she was jumping to conclusions, Carriena’s note still troubled her. If her claim to Hestes could be called into question, it would throw her plans for the realm into turmoil. She needed to be on her way to Kwatalar before the week was out to assert herself on its throne. She couldn’t afford to dally in Hestes for too long, should trouble arise, and she had yet to discover a way to be in two places at once.

  Moments later, Jax tapped the arm of her chair, staring at the crumbs on the serving tray, the only evidence it had once been laden with pastries. The Academy was only an hour’s ride down the coast from the Hestian capital. Perhaps she could venture there herself, speak with Master Gautherd about these supposed providence documents, and assess the situation from there. Not to mention, it would give her some time to catch up with a dear friend before her impending ascension to the Hestian throne.

  “I don’t like that gleam in your eye, Jax.”

  Jax’s attention was drawn to Uma, who gave her a knowing look.

  “You’re planning something, aren’t you?” Uma cocked an eyebrow.

  Sabine set about gathering their cups and saucers. “Come now, Jax. You’ve got enough to worry about rather than concern yourself over some dusty old papers.”

  Jax narrowed her gaze on her lady’s maid. “I appreciate your candor on the subject, Sabine, but something about this situation doesn’t sit right with me.” Her tone was clipped. “Would you mind fetching George? I’d like to speak with him.”

  Sabine stilled, her cheeks almost translucent in their paleness. “O-of course, Duchess.” She dropped into a graceful curtsy and fled the room with tray in hand.

  Jax caught a beseeching look as it fluttered across Uma’s face. “What?”

  “Did you really need to speak to her in such a cool manner?” Uma asked with irked bemusement. “The poor thing has missed you ever so much, and you’re reunited all of twenty-four hours before you’re pushing her away.”

  Heat pinched Jax�
�s cheeks at Uma’s light rebuke. “My intuition is telling me these providence papers could spell trouble. Carriena doesn’t scare easily, and it’s obvious she’s concerned about their existence and how the Academy leadership is handling them.”

  Uma rose and placed a calming hand on Jax’s shoulder. “Sabine is just worried you’re taking on too much. Virtues, you have enough on your plate, what with the acquisition of Hestes, Kwatalar, and Crepsta. To say nothing of how you’re going to deal with the remnants of the Coalition of Right. What about the Duchies of Beautraud and Tandora? Aren’t you worried they are harboring Duke Savant and his minions?”

  “Of course, I’m worried, Uma. But I don’t get to pick and choose the problems I deal with,” Jax snapped. “As Duchess, I have to face them all. Including the goings-on at the Academy.” Knowing her lady-in-waiting had not meant to anger her, she took a deep breath and tried to regain her composure. Lack of sleep over the past few weeks was surely affecting her ability to remain calm and collected when challenged by others. “The Academy has always stayed out of the political arena, but I have long considered Headmaster Ezarath a good friend and ally. A simple visit to the archives to review these supposed providence documents is all that is required. I’m sure we’ll know by this afternoon that the documents are indeed forgeries and that we have nothing more to be concerned about.”

  Before Uma could offer another word, a light knock sounded on the hallway door.

  “Everything all right in here?” George asked cautiously as he sauntered inside the room. “Sabine seemed a bit upset when she came by my quarters to tell me that I’d been summoned.”

  Jax’s guilt doubled under Uma’s I-told-you-so stare, but she held her chin high. She’d let George read Carriena’s note for himself, and if he told her she was overreacting, then she might let the whole matter slide.

  “It all depends on what you think of this, Captain.” Jax held the letter aloft.