Blood Solace (Blood Grace Book 2)

by Vela Roth

  “She became overheated, that is all. I advised her to return to her rooms right away and get off her feet.”

  “I would love to pay her a visit later and see how she is feeling.” Cassia hesitated. “That is, if I may. I hope you can forgive me for declining your invitation at temple. I assure you, it was no reflection on my regard for you and His Lordship. It would grieve me if today’s events cost me your good opinion.”

  “Our promise to Solia that we would look after you did not end with her death. Do you imagine Titus’s little boy would be enough to weaken such a promise now?” Lady Hadrian sniffed. “In any case, you were wise not to make Flavian cross the feud to ask for your hand, although I would not have been satisfied had I not offered you a place at our sides.”

  “Your invitation meant more to me than I can say.”

  “That invitation will always be open to you, my dear. You are always welcome in my weaving room, whatever the lords may have to say about it.”

  Lord Hadrian appeared at her side. “This lord says Lady Cassia must escape as often as possible to visit us. That young man who danced with her may keep his thoughts to himself.”

  Cassia smiled. “You are very kind, my lord.”

  “If I had a son, you would be wed to him already. But Sabina must remain a friend to you, if not a sister.”

  “Sabina’s friendship is a treasure without compare.”

  If only it was one Cassia could call her own. The looks of jealousy and derision from the other ladies were easy to bear compared to the sting of knowing she and Sabina could never be friends.

  “Ah.” Lady Hadrian stared without staring at a knot of approaching celebrants. “My lord, your opponent has sent his children onto the field, and they are prepared to invade us armed with smiles and laughter. Shall we put them to the test, or withdraw?”

  “A withdrawal, I think. It would be unfair of a seasoned warrior such as myself to give the young and inexperienced a beating for which they are thoroughly unprepared.” Lord Hadrian took his lady’s arm, tucking her close. “There is no shame in a retreat arm-in-arm with the most beautiful woman at the festival.”

  Cassia stifled a grin. She had never heard such a flowery compliment pass Lord Hadrian’s lips, but when it came to his wife, it seemed he was not to be outdone by eloquent Lord Titus.

  Lady Hadrian did not look surprised at all. “That is because you are not retreating from anything, my dear, but charging to a better position on the field.”

  Lord Hadrian’s battle-hardened face did not crack a smile, but Cassia caught a glimpse of the gleam in his gaze as he let his lady lead him away. His reply was only for her ears, but Cassia could not help but see it on his lips. “You have been demonstrating better positions to me these many years. Do tell me what maneuver you have in mind for us today.”

  The invader who first descended on Cassia was a girl about Perita’s age with fistfuls of velvet skirts and a head of chestnut curls. How many unenviable hours had the girl devoted to those shiny ringlets, only to dash across the greensward without thought for their preservation? “Lady Cassia! I have made it to you at last! What a bother this crowd has been. I had no idea Kyria’s dear handmaidens could be such a formidable obstacle.”

  A lady several years older than Cassia arrived at a dignified but brisk walk. She offered an apologetic smile and a flawless courtesy. “Forgive us for waylaying you like this without introduction, but…”

  “I’ll do the honors, my lady.” Sir Benedict took up a post behind the two women. He wore golden brown, a match for his hair and the season, his only acquiescence to his liege lord’s sense of fashion. Compared to Flavian, Sir Benedict’s traditional tunic and braccae were as humble as the ‘Sir’ in front of his name. “Lady Cassia, allow me to present Lady Valentia…” He bowed to the eldest lady. “…and Lady Eugenia.” His second bow lasted a heartbeat longer, and his faithful gaze attained still greater depths of abject devotion. It seemed he took his oath of loyalty very seriously indeed when it came to Flavian’s maiden cousin.

  Lady Eugenia was unmistakably a scion of Segetia’s noble family, from her chestnut hair to the spark of wit in her eyes. She studied Cassia with evident delight as she bobbed a courtesy. “Lady Cassia in the flesh! We meet at last. Do call me Genie as my dear Flavian does. I would not let him rest until he appointed Lady Valentia and me to be your companions all day, although now that we have taken so long to find you, I am sure we will hear about it from him.”

  Cassia offered them a courtesy in return. Here were two women, at least, who were glad to see her. It might be for Flavian’s sake, but that was the only opportunity Cassia needed to win them to her side for her own sake as well.

  “I’m delighted to meet you both. I must confess, Flavian did promise me your excellent company today, but after you have fought so hard to reach me, I shall see to it he holds no delays against you.”

  Lady Valentia was a dark-haired beauty with a perfect figure and even better posture. Her antiquated blue festival gown was cut from pure tradition and sewn according to all the dictates of impeccable taste. Not that the gossips would refrain from taking her apart for her past, her poverty and Lord Tyran’s neglect. Her real armor was Flavian’s favor and, by all accounts, her own strength of character.

  Her polite smile wavered into discomfort. “We intended to greet you as soon as you arrived in the temple and invite you to stand with us. I sincerely apologize that you had to climb all the way to the gallery.”

  “Do not give it a thought. As much as I would have enjoyed your company, I was happy to stand in my customary place.”

  “Well, there is no better company than Mistress Risara,” Genie declared.

  Cassia did not reply, for she noticed Sir Benedict’s dour expression had turned forlorn. No, she was not mistaken, for he had just done it again. He was catching glances at her dress and trying to appear as if he were not.

  “Sir Benedict, my lord Flavian has informed me you agreed to smile today.” Cassia put on a smile of her own and leaned closer so she need not project her voice over the crowd. “I know how hard it is today, but if I can, I am certain you will be able to as well.”

  He did give her a smile, a sad but grateful one. “Aye, my lady.” He cleared his throat. “It’s a lovely dress.”

  “Lovelier to those who believe it to be new.”

  “It is a truly divine gown,” Genie declared blithely, but her observant gaze took in Sir Benedict and Cassia.

  “Thank you,” Cassia replied. “But you see, Sir Benedict has seen it worn before, and he sympathizes with me that I must dance in it. Please, don’t tell my lord Flavian. I should hate for him to know my Greeting dress is a hand-me-down.”

  Genie frowned. “My dear Ben, what a time to develop an eye for fashion.”

  Lady Valentia cast a knowing glance at Sir Benedict, then at the golden gown. “I shall not breathe a word. But there is no shame in a hand-me-down from caring hands.”

  The minstrels struck up a new song, and Cassia provided Sir Benedict an escape from the conversation. “Sir Benedict, I must insist you do another favor for me, besides that smile. You absolutely must ask Genie to dance, for if you do not, I shall be unhappy I am the only lady here who is enjoying the festival to the fullest.”

  “It would be my honor to obey that request, my lady.” Sir Benedict showed everyone his second smile of the day, this one entirely genuine. He bowed to Genie and offered her his arm.

  She had a charming grin, a lopsided one that made only half her mouth turn up. “I do believe Lady Cassia is a mind mage. I have been standing here longing for my first dance at Solorum and wishing you would ask me.”

  “Go enjoy yourself, my dear,” Lady Valentia urged her. “How well I remember my first Greeting, when I was your age.”

  “Oh, don’t say that. You talk as if you’re an old maid! I do hate that Lord Tyran has left, for we were planning to work on him, weren’t we, Ben? I am determined to persuade him not to wait a moment
longer to finally wed you, my dear Lady Valentia. Fifteen years is quite long enough to be betrothed!”

  “We must allow my lord Tyran to see to his business for your cousin,” Lady Valentia replied, “and make certain we do not distract him with any letters. Don’t spend such a lovely afternoon worrying about me. Only go and get the most out of the festival.”

  “Very well. But I am not done with your Lord Tyran.” Genie leaned close to Cassia. “Nor with you! I hope we will have plenty of time to talk later. We have so much in common.”

  The young lady’s half-smile changed. For the first time, she smiled with her whole mouth. There at the corners of her lips, a natural upturn appeared, the image of a particularly famous mouth.

  She must have seen Cassia’s look of comprehension. Genie put a finger to her lips before turning away to tuck her arm around Sir Benedict’s.

  Cassia watched them join the crowd. Now she understood the overdone curls and half-smiles. It would take Genie great effort indeed to make her ringlets appear an affectation rather than a natural feature from her mother. But the greater challenge was not showing the world she had inherited Mistress Risara’s mouth. How had the girl trained herself to grin with only part of herself every hour of the day? Did it cost her as much as it cost Cassia to put on the Smile?

  “Oh, my.” Lady Valentia sighed. “Her first visit to court. I do hope Solorum is ready for her.”

  “She is clearly ready for Solorum. But I would expect no different from a lady of Segetia’s noble family.” Cassia smiled to herself. “From what my lord Flavian has said, their fathers were quite a pair when they were young. I understand Lord Titus and his younger brother were very close—and very alike.”

  “So I’ve heard.” Lady Valentia’s smile faded, and her voice hushed. “It’s a shame what happened to Lord Eugenius’s family.”

  “Yes.” Cassia said no more. She did not have to imagine the loss with which Genie’s family lived. Nor did she have to explain it to Lady Valentia. They all carried their fair share.

  It had been the hazards of settling the eastern Tenebrae that had devastated Lord Eugenius’s household and supposedly left his infant daughter the only survivor. Now Cassia surmised there had been no such babe, and the tragedy had inspired Lord Titus and Mistress Risara to donate their own child to the continuance of Lord Eugenius’s line.

  A clever, kind lie to honor Lord Eugenius’s memory and secure their daughter a better life than that of a concubine’s bastard. A painful lie, perhaps. But Genie had still enjoyed many years with her mother, who doted on her in the guise of her uncle’s companion.

  Cassia had never known her mother. But she had once known someone who had loved her, who had tried to improve her lot.

  For her and Lady Valentia, it had been the Siege of Sovereigns that had reduced their lives to ruins and made self-reliance their best and only recourse.

  Cassia turned to Lady Valentia. “It is kind of you to take Genie under your wing. She is fortunate in your guidance.”

  “It is my pleasure, I assure you. I am her opposite—I have been at court too many times. It is refreshing to share in her enthusiasm.”

  “I too am well accustomed to wearying years,” Cassia replied, “and long waits.”

  “You are indeed, my lady. Although now that you finally have a promise, I suspect he who has made it will not keep you waiting long.”

  “I am sorry your betrothed had to leave you so suddenly. I understand you had been apart from him for some time already.”

  “You are the last person who should apologize, for we have you to thank for relieving us of his presence. Please accept my compliments, and this.” The lady untied a purse from her belt. “I am aware Callen is not the only one who suffered injustice at his hands. I make no excuses for Tyran and his men. I do not clean up after their crimes. I only try to mete out as much justice as I can when he will not. You will find herein the fine the law stipulates an offender must pay in cases of attempted assault and slander of a lady’s reputation. Of course, I have no knowledge at all of the woman whom Tyran’s guard so abused, if anyone were to ask. Since I do not know her name, much less her rank, I have provided the maximum amount, which is reserved for ladies of the highest station. Something tells me you are in a position to ensure the right person receives this.”

  When Cassia felt the purse’s weight, her surprise gave way to a vision of Perita’s expression when she saw this much coin in her own hands. “This is more than any lord or magistrate has done for her.”

  “This is not a payment for silence. If there were any lords or magistrates who would listen, I could fill their ears with tales. As you know all too well, Tyran is expert at ensuring there are no consequences for his and his men’s misdeeds.”

  “And at preventing any challenges to your betrothal?” Cassia guessed.

  Lady Valentia touched Cassia’s hand briefly. “I am glad we understand one another. Now then, you cannot dance with this at your belt. I will gladly have one of my household deliver the purse to your residence later, if you will trust me to uphold my promise.”

  “I will.” Cassia handed Perita’s fortune back to Lady Valentia for the time being. “On behalf of the woman in question, allow me to express heartfelt gratitude. I cannot tell you what this will mean to her.”

  “Sir Benedict has spoken of your kindness and forbearance. He is one of the best judges of character I know. It is I who am grateful you deign to speak to either of us.”

  “Lady Valentia, you have as much reason to hold that night against me. But I think none of us should revive a dead war by blaming each other for our fathers’ actions.”

  “Indeed, I wish only to offer my condolences. First for lesser offenses, which may yet be mended. I am sorry for the rumors that have pervaded at court all these years about your callousness. It is clear from how you speak of Princess Solia to Lord Flavian that whatever your reason for never visiting Her Highness’s tomb, it is not due to any lack of feeling. As for the wounds that cannot heal, I can only strive to express how deeply I regret that my family’s allies cost you your beloved sister.”

  “I appreciate your kind words, but I cannot accept them. Once already today, you have apologized for a crime you did not commit. That is enough.”

  “Someone ought to.”

  “But not you.”

  “Then at least let me offer you comfort, if I can. I only hope my words will bring you more consolation than pain. You and Benedict were only seven and eight then, but I was thirteen and more aware of events.”

  Cassia tried to swallow the fist in her chest. “Knowing more of the truth is worth any pain and does bring its own kind of comfort.”

  “Then I will tell you this. As you know, none of my family were at Castra Roborra during the Siege of Sovereigns, but we had the closest of ties to Free Lord Evandrus, who assisted in Her Highness’s capture. He was in the fortress that night with his eldest son, Evander—that is, Lord Evandrus the Younger.” Lady Valentia’s smooth voice became throaty with emotion. “I don’t know if you can take my word for their character, but I knew them as well as I know myself. I can speak to their motivations, and I hope what I say will not merely rub salt in your wounds.”

  Their motivations for kidnapping and brutally murdering Solia in cold blood? Cassia bit her tongue. If she responded to Lady Valentia’s plea with hostility, the other woman might change her mind about confessing what she knew. “Are you suggesting there was something more to their motivations than was apparent?”

  “Whatever the other lords who perpetrated the rebellion wanted, I can say with certainty Lord Evandrus held the tenets of the Free Charter in his heart and felt honor-bound to take action to stop what he regarded as abuse of royal power. Whatever went wrong in the fortress that night, he would never have wanted it to end the way it did. I believe he strove to prevent it from descending into bloodthirsty revolt, but the other lords overruled him.”

  With an effort, Cassia kept the skepticism out
of her voice. “So you believe the plan to which Lord Evandrus originally committed himself degenerated into something he never intended, which he could not control.”

  “I can believe nothing else of a man like him. He would never willingly join in the feral madness the traitors committed that night. Lord Evandrus would have had every intention of holding the princess safely under house arrest and treating her with respect and courtesy until the men resolved their differences. He and his son would have done everything in their power to ensure their actions brought no suffering upon innocents like your sister. Perhaps it is little comfort, but I believe with all my heart she had two lords striving to protect her from the others that night. Their failure to do so most certainly means they forfeited their lives in her defense.”

  Solia’s gown weighed on Cassia. She had thought herself prepared to confront her memories today. She had not expected the greensward to turn into the field where her sister had fallen. She struggled to find words. “Forgive me. It is so sudden and rare to speak about my sister like this.”

  “I understand.”

  Cassia studied Lady Valentia. The woman gripped her white-knuckled hands in front of her. All the color had drained from her face, and her gaze was that of a supplicant. Cassia could imagine the lady had been forced to assume that role many times as her family had scrambled to tie their futures to Free Lord Tyran and the Segetian faction to keep from following Lord Evandrus’s kin to the executioner. Cassia had never before found herself in a position to stay the axe, and it would be a long time before that power felt easy in her hand, if ever.

  A woman just trying to get ahead did not empty her own purse on behalf of a nameless victim. A woman trying to buy the silence of those her betrothed victimized did not avoid marrying him for years. Cassia did not see before her a conspirator who sought to use Lord Flavian’s bride-to-be as a stepping stone out of ignominy. She saw a woman like herself, who sacrificed what she must and held fast to what she could, so she neither sank with those to whom birth had bound her, nor became them by pushing others down.