by D. E. Morris
“Your Majesty, please.”
She looked once more at the boy, then nodded, satisfied in seeing the ease with which his chest rose and fell. Once more, Killian took her hand and helped her to her feet. Both of them were covered by now, but not so covered as the girl with the wild red hair who greeted them at the top of the stairs. Her pale eyes were bloodshot with trails of red leaking from the corners and from under her nose and ears. Her chin was covered, as well as the front of her gown, and she stumbled along the wall, feeling her way with her fingers. Killian started to let go of Ashlynn but froze where he was, choosing duty over family. “Rowan!”
“Da?” She perked just a little at the familiar voice, but the rush of endorphins, even at such a small rate, only left her with less energy than she had before. “I'm not feeling very well.”
Ashlynn released his hand before he could even look at her and he rushed forward to catch his daughter before she could fall. “I am here,” he promised, scooping her up like a small child. There was so much blood on her, but if her eyes were bleeding, if it was coming out of her nose and ears as well, she shouldn't have been alive. Ashlynn knew for a fact that those were the tell-tale signs of the body shutting down. Killian looked at her in fearful question, but she had no answer and could only shake her head, perplexed herself.
“Your Majesty?”
Ashlynn squealed and jumped, feeling a hand on her shoulder. As she spun around, she saw Vala standing on the step below her, also covered in blood, looking up at her with wide, fear-filled eyes. “Oh, Vala!” She grabbed the younger woman by the shoulders and looked her over. “Are you all right?”
“I'm fine. None of this is my blood. What is happening?” She looked past Ashlynn and gasped. “Rowan!”
“She's all right. Vala, are you sure you're feeling well?”
“Yes, I'm perfectly fine.” Finally returning her eyes to Ashlynn, she asked, “Are you?”
Ashlynn let go of a long-held breath and took the girl into her embrace. “Yes,” she breathed. “Yes, I'm fine. We need to find everyone else.”
“I'm so sorry for everything that happened, Your Majesty. To think that something could have happened to you and I did something to betray your trust...”
“It is forgotten for now,” Ashlynn promised, running a bloody hand over the girl's dark hair. “We have much bigger things to worry about.”
The entire castle smelled acrid. It was as though a battle had been fought inside Altaine's halls, yet for all the blood that stained the floors, the walls, and the linens, only five more people were lost in total before the night was out. A great deal more were found to have been poisoned and many were critically ill, but their prognosis was good. Kenayde was quick to set to work on a cure with Badru acting as her assistant. He was much more skilled with healing potions and salves than any within the castle, but Kenayde's knowledge of the rabis plant was intimate, and he was more than willing to let her take the lead. Rowan was not the only fallen among the core group. Cavalon had also taken ill, though not quite to the same degree. Rowan admitted to drinking a little extra that night, though would not say why. Badru guessed it was her Elemental blood that saved her from overdosing. Wessely was quite sick as well, and was counted among the hundreds who were stuck in bed with round the clock care.
As the cleanup process began and sections of the castle were set up for the ill the be given care, Ashlynn had the realization that she had checked in with everyone but her own son. Neither Lochlainn nor Lucien had been seen at all during the chaos. They had their own secret places they liked to play and hide. It was highly likely that it was in one of these that they had found refuge when the terror broke out. Instead of bringing her comfort, the idea of the two of them tucked away somewhere, hidden and out of sight, made her feel uneasy.
“Killian.” At the sound of Ashlynn's voice, he left the room where Rowan and Cavalon were resting together, being looked after by Niam. “I haven't seen the children.” He nodded, needing no further explanation. Together, they set off for Lochlainn's rooms to check there first, then the secret passage that led from his quarters to Ashlynn and Jaryn's rooms. Despite her son's insistence upon having secret places just for him and Lucien, Ashlynn liked to believe she knew each and every one of them. With a labored sigh, she took Killian on a tour of them in the hope of finding the boys.
“Tasters will need to be appointed,” he told her at long length. They had been silently searching for a while now, and Killian's words felt hesitant, as though he didn't want to say them. “I know you do not like the idea...”
“No, I don't,” she answered quietly, “but I understand the necessity of it now.” She pursed her lips. “It is a wonder that anyone still feels safe coming here after all that has happened and continues to happen.”
Killian offered her half a smile. “I can promise you that Altaine does not hold the monopoly on tragedy. It comes in seasons to every kingdom.”
“In that case, I believe it is time for the seasons to change.”
He opened a door to another passageway for her, allowing her to pass through before following behind. “I suggest sending a message to High Queen Nuala to let her know what has befallen Cavalon, then to the other nations as well. There is no telling if they are at risk or not, but it is not worth the gamble.”
“Certainly not. Did we lose any of our messengers?”
“No, all three are still well.”
“Then I will draft letters as soon as the boys are found.” She narrowed her eyes. “If they are ever found.”
“There is one place I can suggest that is as far from the castle as they can get without actually leaving the grounds.”
Ashlynn paused, her mind racing. When the answer came to her, she nearly laughed at herself. “The stables. Of course.” It was the first place they should have looked. Lochlainn found freedom from a great many things among the horses. They helped relieve his anxiety. He was able to focus better on a task that required a great deal of thought when he was with them. Problems were solved when he was mucking out stalls or brushing manes and tails. It was only logical that he would flee to such a safe place when everywhere else was turning to chaos.
The heat of the day had given way to cooler night air and Ashlynn welcomed the breeze as they stepped out of the castle. She paused for a moment to lift her face to the dark sky and breathe, thankful for that small, brief moment of calm. It wouldn't last. It never did, but she was thankful for it none the less.
“Your Majesty.”
“I know.”
“No,” Killian hedged.
There was something odd in his voice. His tone was tight. She looked at him, then followed his dark gaze down the well-worn path that would take them to the stables. Several hundred feet away, partially hidden by the sloping of the hillside, she could make out the heads of several people gathered by a torch-lined path. At first glance there was nothing all together strange about it. As Ashlynn watched, she could see they were all encircling something. Several people looked down upon whatever was in the center with shock and dismay. “What now?” she grumbled. Killian took the hilt of his sword in his hand as they progressed forward, but made no move yet to unsheathe it. “This is going to be the longest night...” He made no comment, only walked at her side.
As the group saw Ashlynn approaching, they began whispering among themselves and looking over their shoulders at her. “What could possibly be more interesting here than what has happened inside?” Those closest to her bowed their heads and moved aside so she could see what had so fully captured their attention. Cirilla lay on the ground with a gaping wound in her stomach. Both Killian and Ashlynn realized who it was in the same instant. He pulled Ashlynn behind him so quickly that she yelped her surprise. In a flash, his sword was at Cirilla's throat. “Is she alive?” Ashlynn asked.
“Only just.”
“I'll get a healer.”
“Do not bother. There will not be enough time. Everyone get back!” He leaned forward as
the crowd moved a few feet away. The edge of his blade pressed into the delicate skin of Cirilla's neck, making her hiss in pain. “You have done well, hiding yourself away.” He glanced at the deep gash her shaking hand was trying to cover. “Apparently not well enough. Was it you who put the Rabia in the wine?”
She gave him a weak and pained grin before her eyes lifted to Ashlynn. “He thought you'd like that.”
“Who else are you working with?” Killian demanded. “How many of you are there?”
“It doesn't matter.” she whispered, her voice thick and strained. Her hand slid to the ground and exposed the depth of her wound. “The purge has already begun. You cannot stop it.” She leaned forward, pressing her neck even farther onto Killian's blade with a feral look of glee in her eyes. “You cannot stop us.” With the strength she had left, she made to swipe at him with nails that were impossibly sharp. Killian was too quick for her and pivoted, pulling his blade upward and severing her head from her shoulders.
Though many gagged at the sight and some even retched, Ashlynn only cringed and turned away. It was this motion that allowed her to see Mairead hurrying her way, a deep crease in her brow. “Stay here,” Ashlynn said to Killian. He rose to his feet in confusion and saw the young woman approaching. She met his questioning gaze and nodded, a silent promise to keep the queen safe passing between them that allowed him to stay with the body at his feet.
“What's happened?” Ashlynn asked as quietly as she could.
“I found the boys.”
Immediately, her heart was in her throat. Nothing more was said as the two hurried through the castle. It wasn't long before Ashlynn recognized where they were headed, though she wasn't exactly sure why they were going to the nursery. It had been empty for quite some time. Even when Misuzu was there with Nagisa, she chose to keep her baby with her at all times. The room was almost never used for anything more than storage for the items she hoped to one day make use of again.
Before they got too close to the open door, Ashlynn realized there were guards in the hall and looked at Mairead in question. “They are safe,” Mairead promised. “I did not want to say too much for fear of who might be listening and what might be overhead.” The younger woman extended her hand toward the room, allowing her queen to go first but following right behind.
Inside the room filled with dusty baby furniture and little else, Lochlainn and Lucien sat together on the floor in the furthest corner from the door. Lochlainn was covered in blood. The very sight of it practically knocked the breath from Ashlynn's lungs. She surged forward, but before she could reach her son, Lucien jumped to his feet. He flung his arms and wings wide to block her from him in determination. “Stop!”
“Lucien!” she cried. “What are you doing? Step aside!”
“He's okay!” Lucien promised. “He just doesn't want to be touched right now.”
Behind the protection of his friend, Lochlainn started to sob. Ashlynn pushed Lucien's arm and wing aside, stepping around him to crouch down beside her son. He was so lanky and getting taller by the day, but she did her best to gather him into her arms and cradle his head to her chest. “It's okay,” she promised. “Mama's here, sweet boy. I'm here.” His arms encircled her neck as he clung to her, and she worked to swallow down emotions that had been building all day. Instead of giving into them or demanding answers from a child who was unlikely to speak in his given state, she looked to Lucien. “Are you okay?”
He bobbed his blonde head. “I'm fine. We're both okay.”
“What happened? Where did all of this blood come from?”
He shifted his weight from one foot to another. “We were down at the stables when all the blood stuff was happening,” Pausing, he made a face. “Is that over?”
“Yes, it's all being taken care of.”
“Is Perè okay?”
She gave him a weak smile. “He will be.”
The boy relaxed a little. “Good. Well, we were coming back up to the castle when this lady came up to us. Neither of us knew who she was and we know not to go with strangers, but she kept trying to get Lochlainn to go with her.”
Ashlynn's brows lowered. “Go with her where?”
“I don't know. She didn't say, just that she had to go and he had to go with her. He kept telling her no and said that he was going to call for the guards. When he did...” Lucien trailed off, absently grabbing the tips of his wings. He stroked the ends that looked like white versions of his mother's feathers and pulled them around himself like a protective blanket. “She changed.”
Confused, Ashlynn glanced at Mairead on the other side of the room, who only shook her head. “What do you mean she changed?”
“Her face wasn't nice anymore, it was mean. And her eyes glowed like the embers in a fire.” Once more, Ashlynn looked to Mairead, but there was no confusion in her gaze this time. Both of them had seen eyes like that before. Mairead has seen them in the faces of those that had attacked her carriage and left her scarred. Ashlynn had seen them in the face of the man who had nearly killed her and all but severed her connection to her Element.
“She grabbed Lochlainn's arm,” Lucien continued, “so hard that her nails dug into him and made him bleed. She said if he didn't go with her, she'd kill him and then she'd kill you and Jaryn. She tried to pull him one more time and he reached for me, but instead of grabbing my arm, he grabbed my dagger and...then stabbed her.” He winced. “It wasn't a clean stab like how Cavalon taught me. He kind of dragged the dagger along her skin, and-”
“Okay,” Ashlynn interrupted. “That's okay.”
“She tried to get me with her nails, too.” He turned to show her the long slices through his tunic to where the creamy skin beneath had already healed. “Lochlainn was screaming and trying to get the dagger out of her as she was trying to grab him and me. No guards were coming because of everything that was happening inside. She fell on top of him and stopped moving. Some of the stablehands came running and rolled her over and Lochlainn rolled over on top of her. I think my dagger is still in her stomach somewhere.” He shrugged with disgust. “My mother won't like that very much.”
Ashlynn squeezed Lochlainn a little tighter even though his tears had quieted. “You were very brave.” Looking up, she beckoned Lucien forward. She pulled him to her, gathering him into her lap like her own child. She pushed the hair back from his face and kissed his brow as well. “You both were.” Lucien rested his head back against Ashlynn's other shoulder after it was quiet for a moment and Lochlainn dropped a hand to intertwine it with one of Lucien's. Indeed, they were brothers.
“Mairead, would you please let Jaryn know what has happened and where we are, and find a scribe for me.” Ashlynn was already formulating the letter she would need to send forth with the messengers to the other nations. “It seems we are at the beginning of a war that we must all prepare for.”
Chapter Seventeen
It was late by the time the castle was settling once again. The sickness that came with the Rabia poisoning was not a pleasant one and many people were in a great deal of pain. Those that were able to stand the sight of others getting sick helped cart linens back and forth to be cleaned and changed. Others took on the even less glamorous challenge of cleaning up the castle. No one was immune from a menial task, not even the royal couple. They, too, found themselves in the middle of it as they followed the directions of those in charge of certain areas. As soon as she could, Ashlynn left her ladies to tend to the sick and slipped away to take a long, hot bath and have a hard cry. She needed it. She was angry and felt violated. Either she let her tears flow or she would destroy things, and Altaine had already seen enough damage.
Kenayde and Badru worked tirelessly on a cure until they were certain they had something that would ease the gut-twisting pains of the infected. Once all of the wine was burned, along with a great deal of the food, tasters were secretly appointed. Orders were put in to local farms for more supplies with more gold than was usually offered. Messengers have been
sent forth to Braemar, Caedia, and Ibays, and would be sent south Alybaen and Cieria in the morning. Niam and Connor put aside whatever differences were between them for the time being. Together, they saw to the great fire in the courtyard that not only burned away the tainted food, but the bodies of those that had passed as well.
Once more, Elas and Jaryn found themselves walking the castle halls together. This time there was no banter, no arguing, barely any conversation at all. They were somber and serious, both of them weary but neither of them eager to sleep. Jaryn knew as soon as he tried, every little noise would make him jump and keep him from slumber. Ashlynn was likely going to be the same, which meant a night of discussing how this could have happened and how it could be prevented in the future. Though Rowan and Wessely were ill, that also meant pulling in Cailin and Killian to discuss their part in it.
“Kenayde is going to be exhausted,” Elas yawned, scrubbing a hand over his face as he broke into Jaryn's thoughts. “She's been taking care of the baby all day, then pushing herself to find some sort of antidote.” He gave a weary smile. “She was so proud of herself when I saw her. She and Badru were healing people. I was so proud of her. She's different from the frightened little girl I met under the monastery in Caedia.”
Jaryn smiled with nostalgia. “She was scared of her own shadow back then. Now she's a skilled archer, a Gael learning to understand her abilities, and a budding alchemist. There isn't much she's afraid of these days that she lets herself stay afraid of.”
“I have always admired that about her.” Elas shook his head. “She's already in love with this baby, Jaryn. It's going to break her heart when we have to send her away.”
Jaryn massaged his temple. “I know. But you can't keep her. We'll have to check the land registry to learn the family name and see who her next of kin is. She'll have to go to them.”
“How long will that take?”