The Last Falcon: Book 1 of the Cael Stone

by Colleen Ruttan

CHAPTER 4

  Erynn found the falconry much the same as she left it. The same lone falcon was perched on the same post by the window. The same two guards were standing by the stairs. Clay was on his knees on the far side of the room, scrubbing the droppings and feathers from the floor. The only difference was Faris was gone.

  "Where's Faris?" Erynn asked, trying hard not to scream. Nothing seemed to be going right for her today and here was another delay. Mirella would give her the crypt for sure.

  Clay put down his rag and rose to his feet, looking almost uneasy to see her again. "Another letter?"

  "Yes, and it's urgent."

  "He went down to the throne room to see the Galians, but I can give it to him when he comes back." He walked toward her and held out a hand.

  Erynn tightened her grip on the tube, not about to give the letter to anyone but Faris — and even then not until she absolutely had to. "I have to watch it leave."

  An annoyed look crossed Clay's face and he dropped his hand. "Then you'll have to come back later when Faris is here." He turned and went back to his work, lowering himself down to the floor and picking up his rag.

  "Do you know if he'll be back soon?"

  "He didn't say."

  Erynn rubbed her free hand through her hair. She'd have to go find Faris and tell him to come back. She didn't have any other choice. If she came back later, he might still be gone and she needed to get this letter sent. The only problem was not getting caught. She had just promised the king she'd stay away from Lord Caden and they'd both be down in the throne room. And Mirella was sure to be lurking about, too. Not being hard at work in the kitchen was one thing — getting caught spectating in the throne room quite another.

  She turned for the stairs, deciding she had to take that risk, but then her eyes passed over the falconer's desk and she paused. The letters Faris had been reading earlier were still there, stacked in a neat pile in the center of the desk, but the letter tube she had delivered was gone. "Where's the king's letter?"

  "What letter?" Clay asked, still scrubbing the floor.

  "The one I delivered earlier."

  For a moment, Clay was silent. "Must have taken it with him."

  Erynn frowned. "Why would he do that?"

  "You'll have to ask him."

  Erynn had the distinct feeling Clay wanted her to leave. She could hear it in his voice, and it reminded her of Faris and just how much the falconry had changed in the last few months. Ever since Holden passed that new falconry law and those guards arrived.

  One of the guards shifted his feet and crossed his arms over his chest. Erynn wasn't sure why, but she suddenly feared he might try to take the letter and quickly fled the tower.

  She reached the main floor a few minutes later, and after pausing at the foot of the rear stairs outside the kitchen to watch for any sign of Mirella, she continued down the hall toward the front of the keep. Holden had clearly given little notice that the Galians were coming and the kitchen and rear hallways by the pantry and storage rooms were busier than she'd ever seen them before. Some of the other servants noticed her as she passed by and cast her rather nasty looks — obviously wondering why she wasn't busy working like the rest of them — but she ignored them. She'd be back at work soon enough. Right now she had something more important to take care of.

  Erynn slipped in the back entrance to the throne room and made her way past several of the army's more senior soldiers who had gathered along the side wall. She had never seen the room so full. The king sat on his throne up on the dais, looking rather pale; the chair next to him empty. Gareth's young wife, Lianne, stood to his right, dressed in a deep blue gown lined with gold cord and her long blonde hair pinned back from a face that looked almost as pale. Holden was at the foot of the dais, facing the Galians, Marik a few feet to his left, and on each side of the room, flanking the visitors, was a long row of Alyrian knights.

  The king was saying something, but Erynn was too busy scanning the room for Mirella and her father's killer to hear his words. She couldn't see the Galians very well due to all the soldiers in front of her and by the time she returned her attention to the king, he was on his feet and making his way toward the back entrance — Lianne following a short distance behind. As the men stepped back to let them both pass, Erynn slipped further away along the wall, grateful she hadn't arrived a minute later. When he was gone, the men relaxed and some stepped forward to talk to the Galians.

  And that was when she saw him.

  Her father's killer stood a few feet in front of his men, smiling as Holden walked toward him.

  Erynn knew she needed to find Faris and get to the kitchen, but she couldn't take her eyes off him. His hair was a little longer and his face a little fuller, but other than that he seemed the same as she remembered. Tears rose to her eyes as her mind flashed back to that lonely road in Galia, and how she had stood there, helpless, as her father collapsed to the ground in front of him. Part of her wanted to push her way through the crowd right now to confront him, not caring one bit about the king's orders — or Holden — but the other was too scared to move.

  Then she noticed an odd sound, sort of like rushing water. At first it was faint and she ignored it, but soon it grew louder. She glanced around, but couldn't identify a source of the noise and no one else even seemed to have heard it. Then a dull ache broke out across her brow and she felt an almost overwhelming urge to flee. And not just the castle — Alyria.

  "Quinn," came a voice nearby. "Thought you would have been here for the king's welcome."

  Erynn recognized the speaker as one of Marik's more senior soldiers, although she didn't know his name. Another man was moving towards him through the crowd from the direction of the main doors — a man dressed all in black, with dark stringy hair flecked with grey and several days growth of beard. He had a slight scowl on his face, like he didn't want to be there at all, and although a few of the other men nodded at him as he passed by, he didn't pay them much attention. Erynn did know his name: Quinn Dunigan — once a fairly high-ranking soldier in the Alyrian Army and now a hired-sword. She'd heard rumors that he and Gareth had once been friends, but that he'd betrayed him. She also knew the king didn't trust him, and would be furious to learn he was even inside the keep.

  "Sorry I missed it," Quinn said, not looking particularly sorry at all. He stopped a few feet in front of Erynn, not appearing to notice her, and turned toward the Galians, his eyes slowly scanning the crowd.

  "Well, you didn't miss much. Word is he didn't have much time to prepare."

  Quinn made a small snorting sound, which Erynn barely heard over the rushing in her ears. "How does one prepare for Galians?"

  The soldier smiled and gave Quinn a glance over. "Where'd Marik send you this time? You look like you've been on the road for days."

  "Farglen."

  The soldier laughed. "Let me guess. He's got you looking for thieves again? I heard he's had reports out that way. Not exactly the kind of excitement you're used to?"

  Quinn didn't take his eyes off the crowd. "You haven't seen Marik when we catch them."

  The soldier smiled again, but then he returned his attention to the Galians and his face grew serious. "Any idea what's going on?"

  "Marik only tells me what he needs me to know."

  "They say their leader's the one that killed Melaryx. That's where he got the scars — and the limp."

  "Never a good idea to go messing with dragons."

  "Think Gareth will come home when he hears of this?"

  Quinn was quiet a moment, but his jaw had tightened. "The man will if he's smart."

  "What will you do if he does?"

  Quinn turned to the soldier, his eyes hard, but before he could respond he noticed Erynn standing behind them. He knew who she was and who she reported to — like most of the people around Caraden thanks to all the whisperings — and his eyes narrowed, clearly not pleased that she'd been listening.

  Erynn looked away and continued on dow
n the length of the room, the ache across her brow pounding now and the rushing sound loud in her ears. All she wanted to do was find Faris and leave. To get out of that room and away from Lord Caden. She scanned the crowd, standing up on her toes to peer over the men in front of her, and finally she saw the falconer, standing alone near the main doors. She started toward him, but hadn't gone more than a few feet when Marik suddenly appeared next to him and leaned in close to say something. Faris seemed uneasy at first and cast quick glances around the room, but then he reached into his pocket and pulled something out — something small — and quickly handed it to him.

  Erynn's breath caught. She was too far away and the object far too small to know for sure what it was, but there was no doubt in her mind that it was a letter tube. And not just any letter tube — the same one she had delivered to the falconry earlier. The rushing in her ears grew louder and the ache across her brow stronger, but she ignored them. Marik was saying something to Faris, his eyes fixed on the falconer. Faris shook his head, but then finally he nodded and Marik turned and walked away.

  A murmur rose on the far side of the room, near the tall windows overlooking the courtyard. Everyone turned that way, talking rather excitedly, but Erynn barely noticed. She was too busy watching Marik move through the crowd, craning her neck to see over the men in front of her again. He paused a couple of times to talk to someone, and then continued on. Finally he came to a stop next to Holden. He leaned close to speak to the king's son and as he did he casually handed him something. Holden didn't even look at it, just slipped the object in his pocket.

  Everyone was leaving the room now, brushing past her toward the main doors, but Erynn paid them no attention. A rage was rising up inside her, fueled by the pounding in her head. Faris had given Marik the king's letter. The one to Gareth. And now Holden had it. She was sure of it. But why? It didn't make any sense. There was nothing secret in the letter. The king was simply asking his son to come home. Unless Holden thought it contained something else? And then another thought occurred to her — did this have something to do with why Faris and Clay had been acting so unusual lately? Was Holden reading all of his father's letters? Not just this one?

  Erynn whirled around, looking for Faris, and saw him disappearing through the main doors. She started after him, but then caught herself. The Galians were leaving the room with everyone else, heading that way, and Lord Caden and Holden were slowly moving with them. She turned to go out the back door instead, planning to catch up with Faris by the stairs — but then she froze.

  Mirella was standing in front of her, hands on her hips.

  "What are you doing in here?" the headservant demanded. She was dressed in her usual black robes, her steel colored hair pulled back in a tight bun. "You are supposed to be in the kitchen. Working."

  Erynn swallowed. "I – I was looking for Faris." She pointed towards the main doors, but the falconer was gone. "The king wants a letter sent right away."

  "Did you deliver it to the falconry?"

  Erynn hesitated, afraid the headservant might take the letter if she told her she still had it. She squeezed her hand tight over the tube and pulled it behind her. "Yes, but I just wanted —"

  "Then I'm sure Faris will take care of it when he returns." Mirella glanced over at a handful of men still standing near the foot of the dais — men responsible for the care of the castle and certain affairs of the kingdom and which she herself reported to. "I have something to attend to, but I expect to see you in the kitchen when I return. Is that understood?"

  "Yes, ma'am," Erynn said.

  The headservant glared at her for a few seconds longer, then she stepped aside and waited for her to pass.

  Erynn didn't say a word, just lowered her head and left the room. She knew she was in trouble — even more so than before — but right now all she could think about was Faris. She started for the main staircase to the upper floors, searching for him. People bumped into her as they headed for the front doors, appearing in some rush to leave, but she ignored them. Finally she spotted the falconer, one of the only people not interested in leaving, and ran after him.

  She caught up to him by the stairs, but he didn't turn around until she had called his name twice.

  "Erynn?" he said, looking rather surprised to see her. "Shouldn't you be in the kitchen?"

  Erynn's heart was pounding. "Where's the letter?"

  "The letter?"

  "The king's letter to Gareth. The one I delivered to you earlier."

  The falconer glanced around at the people heading for the doors. Then he turned and continued toward the stairs. "I have work to do, Erynn. If you'll excuse —"

  "I was just up there," Erynn said, following him. "I know it's not there."

  "Aren't you needed in the kitchen? There must be a lot to do now that we have guests."

  "You gave it to Marik, didn't you? I saw you."

  Faris paused, but then continued on, starting up the stairs. "I don't know what you're talking about, Erynn."

  "I'll tell the king."

  Faris turned and came back down the stairs so fast that Erynn took a step back. He grabbed her arm and pulled her close, his mouth tight. "If you care one bit about the king, you won't say a word to him or anyone else about what you saw."

  "Why not?" Erynn said, wrenching her arm away. His words had shaken her, but she was trying hard not to let him see it. "He has the right to know his letters are being read."

  "Because I don't think Holden will tolerate him interfering with his plans."

  Erynn stared at him. "What plans?"

  "I don't know, but it probably has something to do with this." Faris waved a hand toward the throne room and the Galian soldiers still making their way to the front doors.

  "Holden says they've just come for a visit."

  "Galians don't come for visits, Erynn. They're here for something."

  "What?"

  For a moment she didn't think Faris was going to say another word. Then he exhaled. "I don't know. But whatever it is, it's important. Important to Holden."

  "But he's the king. If I tell him, maybe he can —"

  "He can do nothing, Erynn. Not anymore. And I think you're smart enough to see that. Most of the men are loyal to Marik now and those that aren't are too afraid to speak against him. Holden leaves his father alone because the king lets him do what he wants, but I worry what might happen if that changed."

  Erynn swallowed, realizing what he was saying. "You don't think he'd hurt him?" But almost as soon as she said it, she could see the answer in his eyes. Faris was worried about the king.

  "I really don't know what Holden would do."

  Erynn didn't know what to say. A minute ago she was furious with Faris and now she didn't know what to think. Finally she shook her head. "Then someone has to do something."

  "There's only one person who could and he's a very long way from here."

  Erynn's breath caught, suddenly realizing the full extent of what was very likely going on. "Holden's keeping letters from his father, isn't he? Not just reading those he sends out. That's why the king hasn't heard from Gareth in months. Gareth has written."

  Faris straightened, not looking comfortable at all. "I think you've asked enough questions. Marik tells me you've another letter?"

  Erynn took a step back, pulling her hand behind her. "The king wants it sent right away. That's why I was looking for you."

  Faris held out his hand. "And now you found me."

  Erynn didn't move. "Are you going to send it or give it to Marik?"

  "I don't have a choice, Erynn. You've seen the guards."

  Erynn took another step back. "But we need to tell Gareth the Galians are here. You have to help me."

  Faris shook his head, looking frustrated now. "Impossible. The falcons are guarded day and night. It's better you give me the letter."

  "Why?"

  "Because Marik wants it, that's why. You really want him paying you a visit in the middle of the night?"


  Erynn shuddered at the thought, but still couldn't bring herself to give Faris the letter. She didn't understand why Holden was so threatened by Gareth finding out about the Galians, but had a very bad feeling about what was going on and knew he needed to come home. She also knew that Gareth was probably the only hope she had to get justice for her father. "Then I'll have to find another way."

  "It's too dangerous, Erynn. Falconry is illegal now. Marik's killing people he catches doing it. People once close to me. Women. I doubt the king even knows half of what that man's been up to in the last few years. There's no way you can get Gareth that letter."

  Erynn gripped the tube even tighter. "I have to try."