Her Reputation (The Empire: Book 1)

by Laura R Cole

CHAPTER 7

  Phoenix held back tears as she made her way to her rooms through the palace hallways. Since she had to be the first to leave the court, all eyes were upon her in her passing. Even out in the halls it seemed that everyone seemed to know what had transpired. The servants whispered to one another, and lords and ladies paused to watch her pass.

  Once back in her room, Phoenix dismissed all of her entourage save for Natalya and Alina before breaking down into tears. Natalya’s comforting hand rested on her shoulder, and Phoenix turned into her, embracing the older woman with fervor.

  “Shh,” Natalya soothed her. “I know you didn’t do anything wrong.” She stroked Phoenix’s hair while the Princess sobbed into the woman’s tunic. Alina stood by silently.

  The door banged open suddenly, and Phoenix quickly drew away from Natalya in surprise. She hastily wiped away tears as she looked to see who it was. Seeing that it was only her mother, her tears started anew. She left Natalya in favor of her mother’s embrace. Layna’s protective hug calmed Phoenix, and after a few more minutes of hysteria, she was finally able to draw away. She still gasped in short erratic breaths, her emotions high from crying, but she wiped away the last of the tears.

  “I swear I didn’t do it, Mother,” she said when she could speak again.

  Her mother’s face softened. “I know that. Not only do I know you well enough to not have any doubt that you would never hurt someone in such a way, but I have also examined the victim.” Her expression turned thoughtful. “There was definitely an aura of magic about him. It is fairly obvious that he was indeed attacked by one whose talent was strong enough to allow them to penetrate into the very mind of another and force their energy into it. Your father and I have both sworn up and down to the investigators that it is not your aura. However,” she gazed into her daughter’s eyes sadly, “a parent’s word in an investigation such as this is in question, even when those parents are the monarchs.” She paused and added wryly, “An amendment to the laws that I added myself, as luck would have it.” Her face hardened. “I would take it back if it meant I wouldn’t have had to put you through this.”

  “Don’t say that, Mother,” Phoenix admonished. “I know you don’t mean it. I’ll be fine. It’s what needs to be done.” She put on a brave face.

  Her mother sighed, “You’re right, of course. But it still would be nice to be able to just tell them all as the Queen that my daughter would never do such a thing.”

  “We shall just have to prove it.”

  “And we will,” Layna promised, kissing her daughter on top of the head. She put her hands on Phoenix’s shoulders and examined her at arm’s length. “Are you alright?” she asked, waiting a moment for Phoenix’s nod. “I will help you more by finding who really did this rather than being here with you, but I don’t want you to feel alone or abandoned.”

  Phoenix nodded her head firmly. “I know. Go. I have Natalya and Alina for company.”

  Layna glanced up at the two women and gave them a brief smile. “That you do.” Then, addressing the two as she turned to leave she said, “Keep her well. I’ll be back soon.”

  Phoenix sank down onto the couch after the door had clicked shut behind her mother. Now that the initial shock of having been accused had dulled, her mind began to whirl. A courtier attacked with magic. She looked up at Natalya. “Do you know who it was that was attacked?” she asked.

  “I believe that it was Lord Havensford, Your Majesty.”

  “Lord Havensford,” Phoenix repeated, puzzled. “Why would someone attack him? Forgive my bluntness, but he’s not exactly in a position of wealth or power that would prompt such an attack, is he?”

  “Not that I know of, Princess. Perhaps it was nothing more than a lovers’ quarrel gone horribly wrong.”

  Phoenix thought for a moment. “Or perhaps he was in the wrong place at the wrong time,” she offered. “And saw something he wasn’t supposed to see.” She was silent for a long moment, her mind spinning through possibilities. “It’s possible he even did it to himself. If he had a latent talent he wasn’t aware of that suddenly emerged it could have damaged his mind.”

  “Indeed, Princess, and whatever it is, I’m sure that your mother will uncover the truth.”

  A knock sounded at the door. At Phoenix’s nod, Natalya went to see who it was. She cracked the door open, spoke to the person, then shut it again to turn to Phoenix. “Lord Gavin and Mistress Regina are here and wish to speak with you. Are you able to see them?”

  Phoenix nodded. As soon as the door was opened again and their entrance was permitted, Regina burst into the room. She threw her arms around her friend and squeezed her so tightly that Phoenix thought she might burst. “Oh, Phoebe!” she exclaimed. “I couldn’t believe the horrible things that man accused you of! I know you would never do something like that!”

  Gavin was more reserved, walking calmly into the room and giving her a sympathetic look. “Are you alright?” he asked.

  Phoenix waved off both his question and Regina’s hugs. “I’m fine,” she stated resolutely, holding back any tears that even thought about trying to come forward. “I only hope that nobody takes my mother’s actions in the wrong way.”

  Gavin shook his head. “Everyone understands that she had no choice. Under her own laws she must look into the accusations against you. The people will respect the both of you more for abiding by these laws.”

  Phoenix smiled gratefully at him. “So do either of you know anything about it? Natalya said that it was Lord Havensford who was attacked, but I can’t for the life of me imagine what possible motivation someone could have to do so.”

  “It’s horrible, just horrible!” Regina said. “Who would do such a thing with any motivation?”

  “Well, incapacitating him certainly won’t gain anyone anything for the usual reasons – money or power – so I would guess that he either knows something secret or it was an accident,” Gavin offered. He seemed rather distracted.

  “Do you think he’ll be alright?” Regina asked.

  Phoenix and Gavin were both silent. Phoenix had seen someone in a similar state before – the healers had called it a coma – though this one had been brought on by a physical blow to the head. At the time, they had said that there was no way to know whether or not the mind would be able to come out of it ever, let alone pin down a time frame. That little boy had woken up in a matter of weeks, but the healers had called it a miracle.

  Phoenix changed the subject. “So do you two know each other?” she asked.

  “A little,” Regina replied for both of them. “We’ve met during classes. We were paired up for one of the tribal exercises.” She giggled. “You should have seen his face when Petra came in and flew around for us.”

  Phoenix smiled, but didn’t laugh – she was hardly in the mood. Gavin’s expression did not look like he would take being laughed at well anyway; she sensed that something was upsetting him. Instead she said, “I think it’s a surprise for everyone seeing that for the first time. When did you first see her?” she asked Regina.

  “A few years ago,” Regina admitted, her fun at Gavin’s expense foiled by Phoenix forcing her to admit that she had prior knowledge of Petra’s unique abilities. “She was here for the Queen, but she stopped by the classes then too to speak about diversity and acceptance.” Having been ousted, she confessed to Gavin, “I was pretty surprised when her pretty cloak suddenly separated into two wings and she jumped into the air and stayed there.” She looked out the window wistfully, “I spent weeks wishing that I had been born in the Tribes.”

  “Except that you’d be just as likely to have been born with a pig’s face,” Gavin put in, obviously remembering their run-in with Arnie.

  “Indeed,” Regina sighed. “And besides, who would give up living at the palace?” She tore her eyes from the landscape beyond and focused on Gavin, looking uncomfortable. She was no doubt realizing th
at this privilege had not been granted to him, and she quickly changed the subject. “How are you enjoying your stay?”

  He hesitated a moment, “It’s been good,” he said finally, without conviction.

  “Is everything alright?” Phoenix asked.

  Gavin looked from her to Regina and then sighed. “My parents have been arguing a lot since we got here. My father had been spending the majority of his time living with me while my mother was here. At first I thought it was just because he wanted to be near me, but now I think it was more so that he didn’t have to be with her. It’s put a damper on things to say the least.”

  Regina patted his hand. “My parents fight all the time, too, but they always make up,. Don’t worry. And don’t let it ruin your stay! Surely there’s something you love about being here?”

  Gavin glanced at Phoenix. “Well,” he agreed, “I have definitely met a lot of interesting people. And it seems like there’s always something going on.”

  “Yes, and you’ve been getting more training for your talent as well, haven’t you?” Regina asked, but then immediately fell silent. Both she and Gavin glanced at Phoenix worriedly.

  “That’s wonderful!” Phoenix exclaimed, ignoring their sympathetic looks. It was a similar reaction with most people – they all tended to avoid the subject of talent with her as though it was their fault that hers had been sacrificed. Which in a way, she supposed it was, but she certainly didn’t blame anyone for it. At times she wished she could do the magical things her parents could, but she tried not to let it bother her. It wasn’t as if she was the only person to lack the talent to control the power. “I didn’t know you had talent.”

  “A tiny bit,” Gavin said humbly.

  “Have you learned anything exciting?” she asked.

  “Not really,” he said, though his eyes twinkled with excitement, his earlier discomfort over his parents’ fighting evaporating. “But I can do this.” He held out his hand and there was a pop and a fizzle. He concentrated harder and there was a louder pop, and suddenly a flower appeared in his hand. He handed it to Phoenix. “It was supposed to be a rose…” he said, wrinkling his nose in embarrassment.

  “It’s beautiful,” Phoenix said, taking the flower. It was missing several petals, and vaguely resembled a carnation, though the remaining petals were beginning to shrivel and dry, making it hard to recognize.

  The three of them sat in awkward silence for a few moments, with Regina making faces at her behind Gavin’s back. She kept smiling knowingly and nodding to Gavin, winking at Phoenix, obviously thinking her teasing was subtle and horribly failing. Natalya saved her by suggesting that perhaps it was time for Phoenix to retire.

  After her friends had left, Alisha came in to draw a bath for Phoenix and help prepare her for bed. Phoenix was gratified to learn that Alisha, and apparently all the servants, had found it insulting that Princess Phoenix was being investigated and assured her that not one of them believed the outrageous claims. The maid was surprisingly dismissive of the subject, sure that Phoenix’s name would be cleared in no time. Instead, the girl apparently found it more interesting to discuss the Princess’s love life.

  As Alisha lifted the chemise up over Phoenix’s head, the maid spoke at an opportune time – while Phoenix’s mouth was too smothered in cloth to protest. “Lord Gavin is quite handsome.” She spoke hurriedly, in order to get it all out before Phoenix regained her ability to speak. “It’s a shame he’s only here for such a short visit, any longer and your coronation combining the sections that Queen Layna and First Advisor Aria control could be more than we planned.”

  Phoenix’s response was muffled. “I’m sure I don’t know what you’re talking about.” She slipped the rest of the way out of her clothes and stepped into the bath. Ignoring the slight pain from the overly-warm water, she ducked her head underneath, shutting out whatever else her impudent maid had to say.

  As she surfaced, she saw the girl’s impish smile as she gathered Phoenix’s dirty clothes. She winked at her as she left the room, closing the door behind her. Phoenix sighed. She supposed that Alisha was right. There would be a certain poetry to her and Gavin ending up together. She scrunched her nose in distaste and wondered if that had been her mother’s plan all along. She closed her eyes again and sank into the water. My mother wouldn’t do that, she finally decided. Lady Aria on the other hand…

  Some time later, Alisha returned with clean night clothes and helped Phoenix prepare for bed without another word on the subject. Phoenix asked how the investigation was going, but so far, there had been no news.

  Sighing yet again, Phoenix sank into her bed and burrowed her face into her pillow. Hopefully things would look brighter in the morning.