Imber

by Tyffany Hackett

  “She’s not getting rid of you. End of discussion.” Jyn looked doubtful, and I stepped across the room and wrapped my arms around his waist.” With a gentle squeeze I said, “Don’t worry. You’re non-negotiable.”

  He returned the hug. “Thanks, Princess.”

  “Was he really teaching me incorrectly?” I stepped back and looked up at him. “He didn’t seem to be doing so bad, and he was being really careful to correct me.”

  “Your stance was easy enough to fix, but I guess I have had more experience than him. If I’m not going to teach you, I shouldn’t be so hard on him.” Jyn dropped to the floor. He crossed his legs and gestured that I could sit on his bed. “I’m probably biased because I don’t like the guy. Maybe offering him another lesson would help smooth things over.”

  “I don’t want to be taught the wrong things. Maybe you could give us both instruction.”

  “No, I don’t think so.” His voice caught and his gaze fell to the floor, where he began to trace patterns across the rug with his fingertips. “You know how I feel about bows. Since my parents . . . honestly, I was surprised I landed a single shot. I haven’t used a bow in years.”

  “But by Nahara did you shut Lucian up.” I grinned and Jyn’s eyes lightened. He leaned back, propped against his elbows.

  “Either way, I’m sorry. I’ll arrange for you two to have more lessons this week. Next week, when he’s gone and the act can’t possibly cause offense, I’ll hire someone to teach you properly. From my own salary.”

  I threw my head back and laughed. “So dramatic. I can pay for someone.” Jyn opened his mouth to argue and I added, “I’ll have the Council increase your pay to cover the difference if you try.”

  He lowered his head in defeat. “Fine. We’ll take a run into town, and I’ll find someone who can train you to actually hit somewhere near the center of the target in less than an hour. In the meantime, would you like me to ask Camion to do an extra lesson with you every week? I don’t think one day of physical exertion a week is nearly enough for our warrior queen, if your shaking muscles today were any indication.”

  “You’re hilarious,” I drawled, narrowing my eyes. But I considered. “Sure. Maybe we can do one day of swordplay and one day of strengthening exercises. I wonder if he can do archery too? Why couldn’t you do the extra lesson?”

  “Don’t want to.” His sarcastic sneer was unbelievable.

  “Well. Fine.” I spun to leave, but before I’d completely closed the door behind me Jyn was there, his free hand lightly grasping my arm.

  “I have a job, Princess, one that I take extremely seriously. I’m not able to do said job if I’m distracted, and teaching you would involve focus. When you can defend yourself properly, I’ll rest much easier.” Jyn hesitated. “Besides, I like Camion.”

  “Glad one of us does,” I grumbled.

  “You like him.”

  “I don’t hate him, but he’s being paid to train me in a skill I asked to learn. He’s no more than another person who’s in my life because of the coin he can earn while doing so.”

  Jyn tugged on my arm until I was fully facing him. He met my eyes with ferocity.

  “Do you really think that?” I cringed, but he scowled at my silence. “I would do my job without a copper of pay; don’t assume that no one else feels the same. Maybe you should pay attention to Camion sometime. While you’re busy teasing him and assuming the worst, you’ve completely missed that your lessons are easier when you’re having a bad day. Or that he never asks you to help clean the blades even though they’re technically yours and should be your responsibility.”

  Jyn’s words were a punch to the gut. My shoulders fell.

  “I didn’t mean you, and I . . . I guess I don’t really pay attention, huh?” He looked away, jaw clenched. “Jyn, I’m sorry.”

  He lifted a shoulder in a half-hearted shrug, but he wouldn’t meet my eyes. “Do you want to go down for dinner?”

  “No. I’m not feeling very hungry at the moment.” I sighed. “But with everything that happened today, if I don’t go down . . .”

  “Change and wash up. I’ll wait for you.”

  Chapter 10

  My hands were folded on my lap as I sat on the stairs, eyes locked on the two men below me. Jyn pulled Lucian aside to talk after we ate, and I wasn’t sure I trusted the two of them alone. From the inflated statures, I’d probably made a wise decision—Jyn had his chest thrown out and Lucian had his nose in the air suspiciously.

  “Look, my personal feelings aside, I should not have interfered earlier. For that, I apologize.”

  Lucian’s glance flicked to where I sat on the stairs, and he sighed heavily. “Honestly, I was out of line as well. That word . . . I don’t know what came over me. That was completely unacceptable. In regards to that matter, I’d like to offer my own apologies.”

  “Not a problem.” Jyn’s voice was tight when he added, “Natylia has a lesson in the morning, but she’ll have free time in the afternoon since your mothers are going into town. If you’d like to help her with her archery again.”

  “Why aren’t you training her? You’re clearly better than I am.”

  “I can’t protect her if I’m watching her aim instead of her back.”

  Lucian inclined his head. “I can respect that. Especially after the fiasco at the ball—we’d have lost her if you hadn’t stepped in.” I noted the ‘we’ in his statement and raised an eyebrow, but he continued. “I’ll take you up on that offer.”

  “I’ll see it arranged,” Jyn said. The prince climbed the stairs to where I sat and dipped into an informal bow.

  “Till the morning, My Queen.”

  Jyn’s shoulders relaxed visibly when Lucian disappeared down the hallway. He mounted the stairs and dropped to the step beside me. “I still want to punch him.”

  “I know. I’m glad you didn’t.”

  “Someday.”

  I cast a side-eyed look his way. “That shouldn’t be a goal.”

  He grinned and patted my knee gently. “We should probably head to bed. You’ll be up early in the morning.”

  “Jyn—”

  “I know. I forgive you.” Jyn winked. “I sent a messenger into town while you were eating to see if Camion would be able to add another day for you. Apparently Fentyn almost refused him because mornings are generally his scheduled time.”

  “I assume that will cost Camion.”

  “Likely. Fentyn is strict, but he can be bought fairly easily. I imagine Camion offered him a significant amount of gold to free up the time.”

  “He would do that?” I paused, processed what he had said. “You’re right, Jyn. I don’t pay attention.”

  “I know.”

  “Remind me to have his pay raised. I want to cover the difference.”

  “That’s my Princess.”

  I rolled my eyes. “I need to speak to Mother before I tuck in. Would you wait upstairs for me?”

  Jyn’s eyebrow rose. “Or I could come with you.”

  “The guards are still lining the halls. Devlyn still has everyone on high alert. I’ll be okay. I need to run an idea by her quickly. Seriously, I’ll be right behind you.”

  “Fine,” he huffed, but helped me to my feet before he stalked off. Mother had mentioned that she needed to grab a book from the library before we’d left the dining hall and there hadn’t been much time between. I couldn’t imagine she’d already gone.

  I heard soft chatter when I neared the library doors, one of which leaned slightly open. The voices sounded like Mother and Kathryn, and I made to go in when I heard the urgency in their tones.

  “ . . . tell Natylia. By legal rights as soon as the Council deems her completely ready, she takes over. The Council won’t allow you to refuse.”

  I moved from the doors and instead leaned against the wall beside them, casually picking at my nails in case any of the servants wandered past. The guards nearby shot me incredulous glances, but I ignored them to listen.

&
nbsp; “I don’t even know if this is worth the thought.” Mother sighed. “No one has seen the scepters in centuries. Don’t you question the existence of these . . . well, these keys, I suppose.”

  “Yes, of course. But if the rumors are resurfacing, she needs to be aware. Can you imagine what Audri would do with that kind of power?” Kathryn’s voice shook, a sound I’d never heard. I had always known Kathryn as resilient. The waver unsettled me.

  “Audri is a non-issue. Her army is smaller than Thrais’ alone, by a significant amount. She knows that if you and I combined forces she wouldn’t stand a chance.”

  “Natylia and I combined forces,” Kathryn corrected softly. “You’re not going to be ruling much longer, my friend. The Council is going to start steadily limiting your power. You’ll likely be cut off far sooner than you think. You have to prepare her for what’s possible, even if you don’t want to.”

  I heard Mother sigh again and the soft rap of knuckles on wood.

  “She’s so young. She’s only a little girl . . . my little girl. What if there’s no truth to the rumors, and I worry her for nothing? Stories change from ear to ear.”

  “But what if there is? She may be your little girl but she’s not actually so little anymore. What she offered to do for you? Going to the Council herself? That shows a great deal of maturity and initiative. Trust her. You’re going to have to, she’s the official queen of your kingdom.”

  “I know. I know you’re right. The idea that these rumors might hold any legitimacy is terrifying. I don’t want to scare her.” A pause. “Maybe I can casually slip the stories into her studies. Maybe I don’t have to tell her directly.”

  “As long as she’s at least aware of the stories, I suppose. She can’t learn from a history she doesn’t know.” Kathryn sighed. “I’ll help her if this becomes a real threat. Wydus will always be at the aid of Thrais. As much as we can be, of course. If these scepters are what the stories say, even one could wipe out all three kingdoms in the blink of an eye. But I’ll do everything I can.”

  “I know. Thank you. I don’t think I’ll ever really believe she’s old enough for this. She cut her own freedom so short taking the throne early.” Mother paused. “I wish she’d take an interest in Lucian, he’d be such a good husband for her.”

  “They’d be a beautiful match,” Kathryn agreed. “But we can’t force her into anything.”

  “They would. She’s so resistant to marriage, to finding someone who could share her burden . . . Kerrick was a treasure. I didn’t realize until he was gone how much he really did, how much he took on himself so I could raise the girls.”

  “He was a wonderful man, Palina, but Natylia doesn’t need a husband to be a good ruler.”

  “But she’s alone, and it’s hard ruling alone. It’s cold and lonely, and even when you think you’re doing right by everyone there will still be unrest. Who will she turn to? Someone actually tried to harm her . . . What am I leaving to her?”

  “She’ll be okay. She’s a smart girl.”

  “Kathryn . . . The healers don’t think I have very long. Months, maybe. If I’m lucky. I haven’t had the nerve to tell the girls yet. Who will take care of her? Watch her, protect her? And Annalea? My girls . . . ”

  I heard the shuffle of feet and soft sniffles before Kathryn said, “The girls are going to be fine. Drask and I will keep an eye on Thrais, help where we can. Annalea might want to settle down on her guard swaps.” I heard Mother chuckle softly. “But you can’t tell me there’s a person in the world who could get past Jyn. I have never seen such fury as I did in his eyes when that man came after Natylia. Your girls will be fine. I promise.”

  More soft sounds echoed from the library. When their voices picked up again, on another topic, I slipped away. I had wanted to speak to Mother about Jyn and about my disinterest in pursuing a match with Lucian. But now those matters seemed so . . . inconsequential. Mother’s fears and the cryptic scepter discussion had my stomach roiling in fear.

  The door to my room was open when I stumbled through. I was unsurprised to see Jyn splayed across my chair. He had stoked up the fire and now stared at me with a face scrunched with annoyance.

  “Right behind me, huh?”

  I sighed, but held up a hand. “Could you listen, please?”

  He plucked at his leathers while I rattled off what I’d heard. When I’d finished, he shrugged in dismissal.

  “Do you know how many scepters are mentioned in the lore of Araenna? Dozens. Hundreds, maybe. Your mother could have been talking about any of them and probably half of those are complete myths. If your mother isn’t too concerned, I wouldn’t think anything of this.” He paused and pursed his lips. “If there’s anything to know, you said your mother plans to mention them in a lesson, yes? Pay attention.”

  I threw myself dramatically on top of my multicolored quilt and huffed. How absolutely like Jyn to hear a story like this and immediately make it a non-issue. I would have to wait at least another day to find out since Mother had canceled my lesson tomorrow. If she even decided to share that soon. She could wait. I could see her prioritizing this at the bottom of her list. Kathryn had seemed concerned though, and I couldn’t shake the feeling of unease curling my stomach.

  “What’s wrong, Princess?”

  “Nothing.” I pulled a pillow over my face.

  Almost as quickly, Jyn dropped himself onto the bed beside me and tugged the pillow into his lap.

  “You’re convincing,” he drawled. “What’s really bothering you?”

  “Mother. The things she said. Sometimes I forget she’s my mother, or that she misses my father. That she does really care about Annalea and I under all the official posture. Yet, she told Kathryn everything so openly. I don’t understand her.” I stared at the ceiling above me, counting the lines between the stones. “And . . . I’m concerned. If Kathryn is pressing her, then I believe that something is happening in Araenna, and I want to know what.”

  Jyn shrugged. “Don’t worry too much, Princess. She’ll tell you what you need to know, and if she thought the scepters a real threat she’d have told you already. Trust her. Like you said—under all that posturing she really loves you girls. Wait this out, see what she has to say.”

  I groaned and pulled the pillow back over my face.

  Chapter 11

  Camion was trying to kill me. He was genuinely trying to kill me, running along beside me with that gloating smirk and the steady rise and fall of his chest. Jyn had woken me before the sun was even in the sky. My stomach had begun to angrily protest at the lack of breakfast, and that alone did nothing to improve my mood.

  This was our third lap around the palace walls, and I didn’t miss the grins on the guard’s faces when I dropped pace, or when Camion yelled at me to keep up “or else.” I was fairly positive I didn’t want to know what the “or else” in that threat was.

  Even when we went behind the palace to stretch and do more targeted exercises, his breaths were soft and even.

  “Is this absolutely necessary?” I groaned. My legs were stretched in front of me, and I was bent literally in half, gripping my boots. I could feel the fiery protest from the backs of my legs.

  Camion chuckled. “If you’re in that much pain, yes, all of this is absolutely necessary.” He stretched his arms behind him. “We can rest for a few minutes though.”

  I was drenched in sweat and ached in places I didn’t know I could ache. Jyn stepped out from where he’d been hiding in Meryn’s cottage, hands wrapped around a bowl laden with fruit. I could have cried in gratitude.

  “Don’t eat too much or you’ll get a stomach ache,” Jyn warned.

  I leveled my gaze on his face as I shoved a handful of grapes in my mouth. He sighed, and when Camion prodded me to move again not five minutes later he grimaced. I found myself glad that we’d only agreed to these lessons once a week. Three hours felt like an eternity. I was incredibly naive to assume that because I practiced swordplay once a week I was in good sh
ape.

  “I want to teach you some hand-to-hand maneuvers as well. I think if you’d had knowledge of how to disarm someone prior to the ball, you might have stood a better chance on your own.”

  Jyn nodded. “I agree. Especially since your mother has been insistent that you and Lucian wander off alone.”

  Camion stilled beside me. “After the attack? She’s left Tyli to fend for herself?”

  “There are guards enough,” Jyn said. “But, as the other night showed, anything can happen.”

  “Alright.” Camion leveled his gaze on me. “Aim for my chest. I wouldn’t want you to damage my face.” His lips twisted into a crooked half smile, and he raised a hand to beckon me forward.

  I wasn’t so sure I had any energy left in my body. Camion shifted my stance a few times before I swung and, when I did, my arm wobbled in protest. Jyn burst into laughter. I narrowed my eyes, and he backed slowly across the lawn toward the palace, chuckling softly.

  “Alright, alright. At the very least I’m going to show you something basic. We can work on the combative side of things next lesson.” I appreciated that he hadn’t laughed, but a cocky lilt still colored his voice. When he reached for my hand, I hesitated. Camion was gentle though, as he looped his fingers around my wrist and turned my hand to the side. I tried to ignore the warmth that spread through my chest, the way my heart stuttered.

  “I don’t see how holding the attackers hand will help me,” I teased.

  “So impatient.” Camion ran the tip of his finger up the outside of my forearm. I shivered at the touch. If he noticed, I couldn’t tell. “With enough force and a solid strike here, at the center, you can break this bone. At the very least you might cause enough pain that your attacker would release you.” He flipped my hand, palm down, and traced a path slightly above my knuckles. “A sharp tap here would do the trick though, with much less force. Use your knuckles if you can. Better still if you have a weapon—the hilt of a dagger or something—to reinforce the hit. Every time you land a blow, that spot will hurt more. Eventually, they’ll have to release you from sheer pain.”