A Mother's Secrets

by Tuppence Van de Vaarst

  She and Nazir took their places in the Great Hall, Gwyn directly behind them. A servant came to announce Lord Conn of Dunbarrow. Vinet eyed her fellow councilor closely as he entered. He looked the same as he had last she had seen him, still full of poorly suppressed anger and righteousness. He wore a fur cloak to ward off the chill of the season. His burly bodyguard, Aed, accompanied them. The rest of their guard must have been left outside.

  She stepped forward, smiling a greeting. “Lord Conn. This is a pleasant surprise.”

  Conn smiled broadly. “I do hope so.”

  Vinet raised an eyebrow at Conn. He seemed to be struggling to find his next words.

  “Lady Vinet, I…” his eyes widened as he actually looked at her. “I…my apologies, Lady Vinet. I believe congratulations must be in order. Did I miss the official announcement?”

  Involuntarily, she glanced down. On the journey back from the council session, her pregnancy had become more and more visible. The tight-laced formal dress she had donned made it even more apparent. She exchanged a wry look with Nazir. “No, there has been no announcement,” she said. “Thank you for the congratulations, all the same.”

  Conn nodded, absent-minded again. Finally, he looked her square in the eye. “Lady Vinet, I have become aware that you are sheltering a person I must speak with.”

  Vinet blinked. “And who would that be?”

  “The woman who claims to have birthed the son of Lord General Torainn.”

  Vinet sucked in a breath. So, someone had told Conn about Eithne’s presence at Ninaeva. Not that she had ever kept it a secret.

  “Eithne, you mean?” she asked, keeping her voice casual. “Why do you want to speak to her?”

  Conn blinked. Vinet tightened her lips. Had he been expecting her to deny Eithne’s presence?

  “I’m searching for Lord General Torainn,” he said. “She may know something.”

  She felt some sympathy for him, which surprised her. He had looked up to Torainn as one of his mentors. “She won’t be able to tell you anything,” she said. “I’ve already asked her.”

  Conn’s expression tightened. “I likely know things you don’t,” he said. “And she may know more than she realizes.”

  Vinet exchanged another look with Nazir. He shrugged slightly.

  She thought for a moment. She could see no harm in granting Conn’s request, provided that he did not threaten Eithne in any way.

  “Nazir will ask her if she’ll talk to you,” she said. “Let’s go to my study. She’ll be more comfortable there, if she decides to talk. She’s not used to talking to nobility.” She stopped herself from biting her lip. She did not know how to warn Conn that he needed to be gentle in order to gain any information from Eithne.

  Conn nodded impatiently, and she had the feeling that if Eithne did refuse to talk, he would attempt other methods. He was worried, far more worried than she had ever seen him before.

  Gwyn and Aed were two steps behind them as they made their way to the study. Gwyn followed them inside, but Aed stayed outside. Vinet couldn’t help but feel a moment about relief for that. No man should be as large and burly as Aed, and of all people, he would be the one most likely to intimidate Eithne.

  Vinet gestured for Conn to take a seat while she remained standing, using all her will to keep from pacing.

  “Where did you find her, Lady Vinet?” Conn asked.

  Vinet felt her shoulders tense, and she braced herself for a line of questions.

  To her relief, she was interrupted by Nazir opening the door. Behind him, dressed in plain servants’ clothing, was Eithne. Vinet had offered to support her, but the poor woman was aghast at the idea of living on charity. Finally, Vinet had offered her a place in the household, and Eithne had accepted with relief.

  Vinet smiled at the woman. Poor Eithne's eyes were wide as she regarded the room. Since her arrival, Vinet could count on one hand the number of times she’d interacted with any of the nobility.

  “It’s all right, Eithne,” she said. “This is Lord Conn MacTir, a friend of Lord General Torainn’s. He hoped you might answer some questions.” She turned to Conn. “Lord Conn, this is Eithne.”

  Eithne managed a shaky curtsy. Conn nodded. “I’m told you knew Torainn intimately? And that you bore his child?”

  Eithne’s gaze flickered to Vinet with the same shock Vinet knew was on her own face. Conn had never been much of one for tact, certainly, but this was extreme, even by his standards!

  Eithne cast her eyes down again. “Yes,” she said.

  Conn gave her a toothy smile, reminding Vinet of a wolf. “I don’t bite,” he said. “I just wish to find out what you know.”

  Vinet couldn’t help herself, the young mother looked so frightened and confused. She walked over and gently placed a hand on her shoulder.

  “When did you last see Torainn, Eithne?” Conn asked.

  Eithne kept her eyes cast down. “In Venia, my lord. Over a year ago, now.”

  “What was he like then?”

  What was Conn trying to ask? Despite her reservations, Vinet didn’t bother to interrupt, for the question had clearly put fire into Eithne.

  “He is the strongest man I’ve ever known,” Eithne said, slightly breathless. “He is firm, fair, kind, the best of all men.”

  “Is?” Conn frowned. “How do you know he’s still alive? Have you had contact from him?”

  Eithne blinked, obviously taken aback. “No one could kill my Torainn,” she said. “He is the strongest man alive.”

  The deep faith in the woman’s voice was enough to make Vinet’s heart contract. She loves him so much. I could only wish he were worthy of such faith, for her sake.

  Conn continued his questions as if the woman had never spoken up. “How did you come to be with him?”

  Eithne’s eyes darted to Vinet again, then to Conn. “I was a slave, before Torainn found me,” she said. She straightened proudly. “He made me his servant instead, his housekeeper. He visited me often, and we grew to love each other. When I told him I was with child, I had never seen him so pleased. Then he vanished. Shortly afterwards the house was taken over by thugs, and I was forced into the streets where Lady Vinet found me.”

  Conn cast an eye at Vinet, who kept her face impassive. He narrowed his eyes before turning his attention back to Eithne.

  “How was he in those final days?”

  Eithne blinked again. “He was himself. Same as ever. I was not allowed to perform my duties as housekeeper because of my pregnancy, but that was all that was different.” She smiled, a sad little smile.

  “And he gave no indication why he left?”

  Eithne leaned forward, and Vinet could see the intensity in her eyes. “He vanished,” she said emphatically.

  Conn frowned. “Vanished in what way? As in disappeared in front of you?”

  Eithne shrugged. “He has not come back. But he will return. He always does.”

  “So, he vanished before?”

  She shrugged again. “He has responsibilities. But he always returns. And he will again.” She turned to look at Vinet, and the pleading expression in her face broke Vinet’s heart again. “Won’t he?”

  Vinet couldn’t lie to her. “We don’t know where he is, but I am sure he would be glad of your faith in him.” Empty words, words she couldn’t even know for certain were true, but they seemed to reassure and gladden Eithne.

  Conn regarded them both steadily. Finally, he said, his voice very deliberate, “I know where Torainn is.”

  Eithne jerked away from Vinet, staring at Conn. “Where? Where is he?”

  Vinet glared at Conn. This was information she would have expected him to volunteer first. Instead, he’d come to question Eithne on the pretense of finding out where Torainn was. His deception infuriated her.

  Conn’s expression didn’t change. “Did he ever mention his wife to you, Eithne?”

  Vinet caught her breath. Conn didn’t know, didn’t know that Eithne believed herself to be m
ore than mistress.

  Eithne shook her head. “He had no wife but me.” She leaned forward. “Where is he? Where is my Torainn?”

  Conn glanced sharply at Vinet. “He had no wife?”

  Vinet didn’t know what to do. She placed a hand on Eithne’s shoulder again, trying to will comfort to the poor woman. She shook her head at Conn, trying to tell him not to press the subject.

  Conn glared at her. “I spoke to him. He told me that he would never betray Kianna, his wife.”

  “No. No,” Eithne whispered. She looked up and nearly screamed, “I am his wife!”

  Vinet caught Eithne, who had broken down in tears. Wordlessly, she pulled the woman to her, stroking her hair as she sobbed. Eithne was so much younger than she was, it was almost like holding a child. Except this child was a mother as well.

  Vinet glared at Conn. “I think she’s had enough of your questions.”

  Conn’s eyes flashed. “No. One of them is lying, Torainn or Eithne, and the safety and security of the kingdom depends on it.”

  Vinet felt herself stiffen, but she kept her voice dry. “Safety and security of the kingdom? Torainn was an important man, I grant you, but that’s going a bit far, don’t you think?”

  Conn met her eyes. “An important man who might either save or destroy the kingdom.”

  Vinet blinked at the intensity in his voice. What was he talking about?

  A soft knock at the door startled her. Nazir opened it, and a young servant woman carrying a baby looked inside hesitantly. “My lady? I’m sorry to interrupt, but this little one wants his mother.”

  Vinet had never been so grateful for an interruption. Eithne eagerly received her son.

  “Wait,” Conn said sharply. “You said you were his wife. When did that happen? What aren’t you telling me?”

  Vinet felt a flare of anger on Eithne’s behalf and she was ready to leap to her defense, but it proved unnecessary. The presence of her son, or Conn’s refusal to tell her Torainn’s whereabouts, had stiffened Eithne’s spine.

  “I am his wife, Lord,” she said firmly. She looked down at her son, who wiggled and tried to grab her hair. She hugged him close. “The details of when we were married should be of no more concern to you than the details of our wedding night!” She stalked out the door. Gwyn closed it behind her without waiting for a signal from Vinet.

  Vinet turned to glare at Conn. “What in Mazda’s name is going on?” she demanded.

  Conn met her gaze, and she could see he was breathing heavily. His hands were clenched tightly, and she was grateful for a fleeting second that he didn’t appear to be armed.

  Then everything seemed to relax. He collapsed back into his chair, his shoulders slumped. “I don’t know.”

  She exchanged glances with Nazir and Gwyn. Nazir moved to stand in the shadows, while Gwyn went to stand by the door. Conn ignored them both.

  “I went to Tigri some time ago. I was apologizing to a Lord who I’d… well, I had business there. And while I was there, Torainn met me.”

  Vinet sat down carefully. She had the feeling this was about to get very interesting.

  “Torainn talked about the king’s illness, that politicians surrounding him were keeping him feeble, keeping him from making his own decisions. He said that none of his Majesty’s feebleness had started until the arrival of a certain noble who’s been put into far more power than he should have.”

  Vinet already knew who Conn was hinting at. “Lord Auriel,” she said flatly.

  Conn nodded and sighed.

  “Torainn suggested Lord Auriel is poisoning the king?” Vinet asked to clarify Conn’s suggestion. The idea sounded so outlandish to her ears. Lord Auriel didn’t stand to gain anything from that. He was already steward. There was no further rank to climb. He couldn’t become king, after all. None of the nobles would accept him, not even now. And especially not while the Prince still lived, a true-blood heir to the Saemarian throne. And yet there was something unsettling about Lord Auriel that Vinet couldn’t deny. If the king died… the prince is only a boy.

  “No.” Conn shook his head. “Not poison, more that he was controlling the king, influencing him. Perhaps the illness is a symptom of that. After all, the king is rarely seen unaccompanied, and the person who accompanies him is almost always Auriel.”

  Vinet could think of plenty of more innocent reasons Lord Auriel would need to be at the king’s side. He was the steward, and there were affairs of the kingdom to handle, for one. There were less innocent reasons as well, however, and the position as steward would make Lord Auriel unlikely to be questioned.

  Conn shook his head again, more fervent this time. “You doubt me. I knew you would. I am starting to doubt myself!” He threw his arms wide before letting them fall limply to the armrests of his chair. “That is why I came here. Torainn denied the existence of Eithne and the child, so I needed to verify the truth myself.”

  “And what did you verify?” Vinet asked, her tone sharper than she’d meant it to be.

  Conn glanced sideways at her. “She has benefited a great deal from telling you she was Torainn’s mistress.”

  Vinet didn’t bother to remind him that Eithne believed she was Torainn’s wife. “That is through my own action, not hers,” she said. “Eithne did not find me, I found her. She was not even aware I was in Venia. No one was.”

  Conn snorted. “No one? Not even Lord Auriel? The man knows far more than he should, even you have to admit that.”

  Vinet tightened her lips. “No one knew,” she emphasized. “No one besides Gwyn and Nazir.”

  Conn waved his hand as if her statement was of no importance. “I’ve been trying to find out the truth of the matter,” he said. “If Torainn’s claims are true, then we are facing civil war. Half the nobility already back Auriel, a man who assassinated Torainn’s wife without judgment or regret. The other half…” he let his voice trail off.

  Vinet felt her eyes widen. Regardless of her feelings about Lord Auriel or Torainn, this was far more alarming.

  “Civil war?” she demanded. She thought back to the council session, the reports of the war in the south. “Lord Conn, are you out of your mind? We are already at war! A civil war would be disastrous, and benefit none except Mount Halon!” How could Conn even be considering this?

  Conn’s eyes were dark. “The king’s safety is paramount. And if Auriel is controlling him…”

  “Forgive me if I put the kingdom’s safety before the king’s,” Vinet said sharply. “He won’t have a kingdom to rule if Mount Halon sweeps over us all. His protection is what he has his knights for.”

  Conn smiled thinly at her. “But we are sworn to the king.”

  Vinet felt her fists clench. Of all the times for Conn’s sense of honor to appear! “My oath as a noble is to the king,” she retorted. “Our oaths as councilors are to the kingdom; and they supersede the noble oath.”

  Conn’s face was impassive, and a fire shone in his eyes. Vinet cursed his inconvenient honor. She had to get through to him. “Lord Conn, you’re a military man. You’ve seen the reports from the southern border just as I have. General Alexander is getting ready to conscript more troops. Do you really think Saemar could withstand a civil war and not be overrun by Mount Halon? If Torainn urges you to consider such a course, you might ask him where his actual allegiances lie.”

  That, at least, caught Conn off guard. He blinked at her. “Are you suggesting he may be in league with that darkness?” he demanded.

  Vinet threw up her hands. “I don’t know!” she exclaimed. “I haven’t met him since he disappeared. But I know that one of the theories about Lady Kianna is that she wasn’t actually Lady Kianna, and that is why she was killed. Where did you meet him, Conn, was it the north Tigrian border?” she demanded abruptly.

  Conn nodded, taken aback.

  With Conn’s lands in the north, Vinet had suspected as much. “There have been rumors of dark magic there since we became councilors. Mazda’s light, Conn, that’s
what Ellil is investigating! Who knows what could be going on up there?”

  She didn’t know if any of what she was saying was true, only that she had to get Conn to stop and think, to not act immediately based entirely on Torainn’s word alone.

  Conn continued to hesitate. “I had not thought of that.”

  She breathed a sigh of relief. “Well, think of it, please,” she said. “You are an honorable man, Lord Conn. Please do not let your honor get in the way of your reason.”

  Conn blinked as if he was waking up. “You have given me much to think about,” he said. He stood, rising to his feet a little shakily. “Do you mind us intruding on your hospitality for a night?”

  Vinet shook her head. “Not at all. Quarters have already been set up for you and yours.”

  He shook his head. “My thanks.” Without another word, he turned and left the study.

  Vinet turned to Nazir and Gwyn. Both stood silent, waiting for her assessment.

  She took a deep breath. “I don’t know who’s in the right on this,” she said, “But I know that Conn shouldn’t be handling it on his own. There are two people who need to know. I’m writing a report to General Alexander, and I’ll tell Lady Pellalindra myself when we’re back in the capital.”

  Gwyn raised an eyebrow. “Do you think Pellalindra won’t just tell her husband?”

  Vinet hesitated. Gwyn had a point, but still Vinet felt it was the right course of action. “Pellalindra has contacts all over the nobility. If anyone has heard rumors of civil war, it’s her,” she said. “Besides, her closeness to Lord Auriel might be exactly what is needed to determine the truth.”

  Gwyn nodded her understanding.

  Vinet turned to Nazir. He looked at her, uncertainty plain on his face. She stepped forward and pulled him into an embrace.

  “What’s wrong, Vinet?” he asked.

  She buried her head in his shoulder. “I’m scared, my love,” she whispered. “If Conn is correct, and talking about civil war…”

  “Shhh,” Nazir stroked her hair, much as she had stroked Eithne’s earlier. “It will not come to that. I promise.”

  He had no authority to promise that, but it made her feel easier. She straightened. She had work to do.