The Last Falcon: Book 1 of the Cael Stone

by Colleen Ruttan

CHAPTER 7

  Erynn kept watch for Marik as she headed back across the inner ward, but saw no sign of him. Still, she couldn't shake the feeling that at any moment she might turn around and find him watching her — and that made her even more nervous about what she was about to do. But if Holden had letters that would explain why the Galians were here, she definitely wanted to get her hands on them.

  When she reached the kitchen, she found Mirella lecturing two of the other servants over by one of the cauldrons and almost everyone else watching them. No one even seemed to notice her enter the room, let alone grab three pitchers from a shelf near the back door and slip down the hall to the cistern. She filled the pitchers with water, and took one final look around before heading up the rear stairs.

  The pitchers were heavy and awkward to carry, but Erynn made her way to the king's solar without much trouble and was glad to find her path deserted. The last thing she needed was to run into one of the other servants, who might realize what she was doing and tell Mirella. The headservant usually chose someone different to freshen the Royal Family's drinking water every day, and while she had picked Erynn three times in the past, Erynn had accidentally dropped and shattered a pitcher in the king's solar the last time and she was sure Mirella would never ask her again.

  Erynn knocked on the king's door, and within seconds it was opened by his chamberlain, an older man with thinning white hair. He took one look at her and the pitchers in her arms and let her in without a word, but she caught the annoyance in his eyes. The king had fortunately not been present when she dropped the pitcher, but his chamberlain had and he wasn't at all pleased with the mess. Erynn hoped he wouldn't complain to Mirella, and took extra care as she set one of the pitchers down on the table by the king's bed. Then she grabbed the pitcher another servant had left there the day before, still half full of water, and quietly left the room.

  Lianne was present in her solar, but was busy with two of her maids as they fitted what appeared to be a new green gown for the banquet. None of them paid any attention to Erynn as she replaced the empty pitcher of water on a side table and left the room.

  Erynn's heart beat faster as she headed down the hall toward Holden's solar, and she wondered again if she was making the right choice. If she was caught, she didn't even know if the king would understand — or be able to save her from Holden. But still she kept moving. She glanced back several times, afraid she might see Marik following along behind her, but saw nothing. The halls were quiet.

  When she finally reached Holden's door, she knocked and held her breath, almost hoping his chamberlain would be there so it would give her an excuse not to go through with this, but when seconds passed without a response, she took one last glance up and down the hall and quickly slipped inside.

  Holden's solar was on the north side of the main keep and therefore cooler than the others. A silver goblet half-full of wine sat on a desk in front of the balcony doors, right next to an empty pitcher of water. On the other side sat an unlit candle, burned almost to the base, and a shallow silver tray containing a small pile of ashes.

  Erynn set the pitchers down and took a closer look at the ashes. Tiny pieces of parchment were scattered throughout the pile — enough to prove Holden had been burning letters, but no way to tell who they were from. She closed her eyes, fearing she was too late and that he'd already burned all of the letters she had hoped to find, but then she pushed those thoughts from her mind and went around the desk to search the drawers. Refusing to give up just yet.

  She found several letters, but none were from Gareth or the Galians. Three were from the king's lords, addressed to the king and expressing concern over Holden's new falconry law, including one from Lord Brison, the king's closest friend. Erynn had met Lord Brison once. He lived in the south, but had visited the castle not long after she returned from Galia and had even called her to the king's study so he could tell her how sorry he was about her father. He said her father used to manage his stables, before the king sent for him to come work at Caraden, and that he had always been one of his most trusted servants. He even claimed that her father used to bring her to his house quite often. Erynn had thought something about him seemed familiar, but couldn't remember any specific memories.

  Erynn doubted the king had seen Lord Brison's letter, or any of the others, and was tempted to take them as proof of what Holden was up to. But then she remembered her conversation with Faris and put them back. If Holden discovered the letters missing, he'd know someone had been in his desk and would most likely suspect his father.

  A cabinet stood on the far side of the bed, similar to the one in the king's study except smaller. The doors were locked and Erynn was immediately curious about what might be inside, but she wasn't able to find a key and knew she didn't have time to look. She searched around the bed, in case a letter had slipped off one of the side tables, and then she turned to the wardrobe.

  She found a letter in the pocket of one of Holden's coats, folded twice in half. She recognized the handwriting the second she opened it and her hands trembled: it was the same as the handwriting in the letter old Soren had found near her father's grave in Galia. She had mentioned the contents of that letter to the king the day she was first brought to see him, but had no idea whether he'd ever sent the information to Gareth. She still had the letter in the pack she kept under her cot, along with that small black stone she had taken from her father's grave. Two reminders of that horrible day.

  She switched her attention back to the letter in her hand, reminding herself that what she was doing was far too dangerous for distractions. It was dated three days before the Galians arrived.

  Holden, Dragon attacked after crossing bridge. Lost two men. Seems intent on driving us out but will press on. Expect delay. Naedra warned this might happen so we were prepared. Will explain everything when we arrive. Again, it would be best if your father was not advised we are coming. Silas

  Erynn was confused. Naedra knew Krystalix might attack? But how was that possible? And why would he want to drive the Galians out of Alyria? She read the letter over several times, trying to commit it to memory. Trying to understand it. But other than a vague confirmation that the Galians had indeed come for something, and were possibly worried about the king's interference, it had only left her with more questions.

  She had a feeling it was time to leave, so she folded the letter and put it back where she found it. Then she went to the desk, grabbed the pitchers, and headed for the doors.

  "Erynn!" came a sharp voice the second she stepped out into the hall.

  Erynn froze.

  The grey-haired woman from the kitchen, the one that had questioned her the day before about Krystalix, was walking down the hall towards her and not looking at all pleased. She gazed down at the pitchers in her arms, and then at the door to Holden's solar. "What were you doing in there?"

  "Just replacing the water," Erynn replied.

  The woman snatched the pitchers one-by-one from her arms. "Mirella already tasked someone to do that."

  Erynn shrugged. "I was just trying to help. You know, to make up for being late yesterday."

  "Maybe you should just do what you're told. That way when His Grace sends for you, we don't have to go searching the entire castle to find you."

  Erynn felt a sudden rush of anxiety, even though she had known this would happen sooner or later. "The king asked for me?"

  "Right away," the woman said, giving Erynn one last glare before storming off down the hall.

  Erynn slipped a hand down to her pocket and touched the letter tube. He was going to ask her about it. If she'd sent it. What was she going to tell him? She took a deep breath. She knew only one thing: she couldn't possibly tell him the truth.

  The king was on his feet the second she entered the study. He looked tired, his grey hair slightly unkempt, and there were dark circles under his eyes. "Did you send the letter?"

  "Yes, Your Grace," Erynn said as she reached the desk. She kept her ha
nds folded in front of her, over her pocket, fearing he might notice the outline of the tube through the fabric.

  "You watched Faris send it?"

  "Yes, Your Grace."

  "Good." The king sank back down in his chair and ran a hand over his face. "He should have it in seven days. Or eight perhaps, depending on the falcon. The journey will take weeks of course, but at least he will be on his way."

  Erynn felt horrible and could barely bring herself to look at him. She gazed up at the painting of Krystalix, but was bothered by the way the dragon seemed to be staring at her, and shifted her attention back down to the desk instead. She noticed he had his map out and found her eyes drawn to Ridan in the east. Had she made the right choice in lying to him? The capital city of Stonehaven seemed so far away and she knew she needed to get Gareth this letter. If she couldn't figure out some way to get down to the village so she could look for Sheldon, she didn't know what she was going to do.

  She spotted the quill first, out of the corner of her eye. And then the ink pot and the old book lying open in front of him. But seconds passed before she realized what it was: the history book on Krystalix. "Were you writing about the dragon, Your Grace?"

  At first the king didn't seem to understand the question, his mind clearly elsewhere, but then he followed her gaze and noticed the book. He reached out a hand and closed it, clearing his throat. "Yes, I was just making note of his appearance here yesterday. It has certainly been a while since anyone saw him. Or reported it anyway."

  "Since I saw him."

  "That is correct. Since you saw him."

  Erynn wondered what he'd written, and why he seemed so concerned that she might read it. "I heard he attacked the Galians after they crossed the bridge. Even killed two of their men."

  The king leaned back slightly in his chair, but still kept his hand on the book. "Yes, Lord Caden went on about that for some length at dinner last night. The man seems to think he has a way with dragons. To keep walking away from them without getting himself killed."

  There was anger in his voice and Erynn knew she needed to tread carefully. Sometimes the king was accommodating of her questions, and sometimes he was not. But she knew she couldn't stop now. She had to know more. "Do you know why Krystalix attacked them, Your Grace? I wondered if it was because of my father. If Krystalix remembers Lord Caden. Or if it was maybe because of Melaryx."

  The king was quiet, staring at her in a way that suddenly made her a little uncomfortable. But then he gave a slight shrug. "I do not know why Krystalix did what he did, but it is certainly possible he remembers Lord Caden. Whether he would know about Lord Caden's responsibility for Melaryx is hard to say. It would seem unlikely, but dragons certainly are intelligent creatures. More so than some of us like to think anyway."

  "Krystalix doesn't want the Galians here though, does he, Your Grace?"

  "No, Erynn, I do not believe he does."

  Erynn thought she detected something in his voice. Something that told her he knew more about the dragon's unusual behavior and what was going on with the Galians, but for some reason was not willing to say. She wondered if he'd written everything he knew in the book. "Did you need help with the writing, Your Grace?"

  The king shook his head. "I can manage this time, Erynn."

  "But don't you find it difficult?"

  A bit of a stern look crossed his face and she knew right away that she'd gone too far. He motioned to the door. "That will be all, Erynn. I will send for you later. I slept very poorly last night and want you to bring me a cup of that tea before I retire."

  "Yes, Your Grace," Erynn said. She didn't want to leave. She wanted to know what he had written in that book. But she knew she had no other choice but to obey, so she took one last look at the book and quietly left the room.

  Perhaps it was her success in Holden's solar that did it, finding that letter from Lord Caden without getting caught, because by the time she returned to the kitchen she had already come up with a new plan — one that she hoped would give her some answers. She would bring the king his tea later, the same tea her mother had given her as a child whenever she had trouble sleeping, and then, when she had finished the dishes — and was sure he and everyone else in the castle was asleep — she would return to the study. She was going to read that old history book for herself and find out just what was going on with the dragon. It didn't matter that he kept the book locked up in his cabinet. She knew where he kept the key.