Druid's Bane

by Phillip Henderson

  Danielle scoffed at that. “Oh, so we’re to jump when the nobles say so, are we, least we give some imagined offence? Perhaps we should just convert to Orthodox Goddianism as well and keep the Archbishop happy.”

  Her father leaned on the bridge railing and looked out over the garden shaking his head.

  Danielle murmured a curse under her breath. She knew that once again she had gone too far. “Father, I’m sorry… I will try harder.”

  He looked at her and was about to reply when a servant came through a stone archway a short way up the path and called to him.

  “What is it?” he snapped.

  “Apologies, Your Majesty,” the man said with a respectful bow, “but the Archbishop is here to see you.”

  “About what, exactly?”

  The servant looked sheepishly at Danielle before replying, “I’m afraid he wishes to register a formal protest, your highness, about this matter of the lady throwing a Noren rose to the crowd after her last match. He also wants assurances that it won’t happen again today.”

  “You can inform His Eminence that it was a youthful indiscretion on the lady’s part and that he has my apologies and my assurance that it will not happen again,” said the king, levelling a meaningful glance at his daughter.

  “Of course, Milord.”

  With the servant gone, Danielle felt her father’s attention settle on her as she looked down at her reflection in the pond. “What am I to do with you, Danielle?”

  She sighed and looked up at him. “I can only try harder, Father.”

  “Well, you had better. Because I warn you, if you give me reason again, you’ll have no choice but to appoint you a permanent protector, and you know what that will mean to your freedom. You’re too important to me and to the future of this realm for me to allow you to continue recklessly endangering yourself. Until you realise that and mend your ways, you give me no choice but to play the tyrant with you. Do you understand?”

  “Well enough, Milord,” Danielle said curtly, smarting at the injustice. A protector! Did Eden and Michael have a protector? No, of course not, for they were men!

  “Now, about the tourney final today.” He looked at her, deeply troubled. “I am not sure I should let it proceed.”

  “What?” Danielle gaped at him. “Father, please …”

  “I think it was a mistake. My hope was that if you could beat him soundly, Kane, being the bully he is, would leave you alone. Now I am not so sure.”

  “Father, please. Don’t take this away from me. You do this, and you might as well throw me into the tourney ring without a sword or armour, because Kane will take this as weakness and pursue me relentlessly.”

  Her father grimaced obviously weighing that possibility as well.

  “Please, Father. Safety measures are in place.” Danielle took hold of his arm in earnest. “I promise you, if there is any real danger, I will get out of the ring. And you know I can do this. You have seen me compete.”

  He closed his eyes and nodded, though not happily. “Fine then. But you be extremely careful. Understood? And for the sake of all of us, beat him soundly.”

  Danielle smiled, relieved—at least with his decision regarding the tourney. “Of course.”

  He drew her into his arms and held her tight. He said nothing for a while and then let her go and kissed her cheek. “And please mend your conduct, because I will not be swayed on the matter of appointing you a protector if you give me reason again. I know this angers you, but some day I hope you will understand that I do this for your own good and the good of Arkaelyon.”

  ***

  “It’s absolutely unfair, Joseph. A protector! More like a jailer, I think.”

  When Joseph had not turned up for the final tournament breakfast in the Champions’ Hall, Danielle had inquired as to his whereabouts. Eden had told her that their Lord Protector was to be found in the palace treasury, going over the royal accounts with Mr Lewis. Determined to have words with him, she had excused herself from the breakfast celebrations as soon as it was polite to do so and had gone to find him.

  “Mr Lewis, if you would excuse me for a moment,” Joseph said before taking Danielle’s arm with surprising force and leading her to a private balcony. Closing the doors so they could not be heard, he turned to face her. Danielle glared at him, her hands on her hips.

  “This is hardly the time, Danielle. I am most busy, and you have a match you should be preparing for.”

  “You know what I think, Joseph? I think you agree with Father.”

  He shrugged his shoulders. “You could marry, and negate the need for a protector.”

  “Oh I see. Is that what this is about? Is Father trying to force my hand?”

  “Of course not, you are free to marry whom you please. His concern is for your safety and he has some grounds, you have to admit. After all, this isn’t easy for him, either. You know how he hates being out of sorts with you. And you should not forget, it is because of him, that you have as much freedom as you do.”

  “Freedom? You mean the same freedom my brothers have by right and I have to fight for: the right to sit as an equal in Arkaelyon’s councils, to compete in the tourney, to ride.” She lowered her voice saying, “Gods forgive me, but they can even lie with whom ever they want, while I must be as pure as the driven snow or as secretive as one of your spies.”

  “Danielle, will you please stop,” Joseph demanded quietly. He took his spectacles off and began to clean them. “I know your father has always been particularly protective of you on the grounds of your sex, and tradition, law and social expectation have never been equitable. And you know I empathise with you and have done my very best to help you in these matters, but none of that changes the fact that your father has reason to be concerned. You have to curb your temper and take more care with your conduct… And don’t you shake your head at me, missy.”

  “I’m sorry—I thought I had an ally in you.”

  “More than an ally and you know as much, but don’t think I’m going to condone this nonsense. You have to understand that when all is said, Eden might be a good reformist, but you are your father’s protégée. Your life is intertwined with the future of the realm more than any of us—look at me when I’m speaking to you.” Danielle glared at him before walking away to the railing. A protector! The mere words felt like a slap in the face. Then there would be the difficulties that would arise when she wanted to be alone with James, for the dullard knight appointed to the task would be her proverbial shadow and unlike her guards he would be able to do exactly as he pleased regardless of her wishes.

  “Your life must be protected and your immense energy channelled in the right direction…” Joseph continued.

  “You mean controlled,” Danielle said curtly.

  “I seriously doubt that such a thing is possible, particularly when you’re in this mood,” Joseph said, putting his spectacles back on.

  She gave a sigh and looked begrudgingly off at the city’s rooftops. She knew she wasn’t being entirely reasonable right now, and both father and Joseph had valid arguments, even if she didn’t like them. And, after all, the appointment of a protector was only a threat at this stage.

  After a short pause she turned back to him. “Fine. I could be more tactful and take more care of my safety, and perhaps even exhibit a trifle more patience and tolerance, but I tell you now, Joseph, I will not tolerate the humiliation of a protector. I’m not a child anymore, and I won’t stand for some fatuous lunk following me about and telling me what I can or cannot do. It’s bad enough that I must suffer the company of guards at every turn.”

  “Was Glomar a fatuous lunk?” Joseph asked kindly.

  “I was but eleven years old, and he was a lunk in all the right ways,” she answered begrudgingly. Even after more than a decade, she missed her childhood protector.

  “He was, and it’s a crying shame he’s not here still.”

  “So you do agree with this, then?” Danielle said.

  “In
truth, I’m beginning to. Part of me thinks that young James Sydney will do you good.”

  “Oh, so he even has a name now, does he? And clearly a false one seeing as there are no Sydneys in Arkaelyon since Wyatt’s murder. And please do not tell me his real name is James.” The idea that her protector and lover should have the same name was more than she could bear. “Well, if I’m forced to this, Joseph, I’ll make you all rue the day.”

  “And, Danielle, it’s exactly that wilful temper of yours that will force us all to it.”

  “That’s not fair, Joseph. Yes, I need to rein myself in more than I have of late, I admit that freely. But you also know that this has more to do with differing opinions between father and myself on how things should be done. Age has made him increasingly cautious, and while it might be for good reason—”

  “Yes, for good reason. He recognises his own excesses in you, and he sees the risk it poses for Arkaelyon and the danger it puts his beloved daughter in.”

  “And that justifies chaining me to a protector’s leash like some child?”

  “In his mind, yes. Danielle, you should remember that you are here by choice. You have every right to be nothing more than a royal lady of leisure. Or you could marry.”

  She gave him an unappreciative look and turned back to the garden below. “You know I’d make a horrible lady of leisure and I’m quite sure the mention of marriage would scare my James off for good.” She wasn’t usually this candid with Joseph about James but he’d caught her at a weak moment.

  “He loves you?”

  Danielle glared at her aged confidante. “Yes, he does.”

  “And you have discussed the possibility of a match?”

  All the confusion she felt about the possibility of marrying James cooled her temper. She shook her head in the negative and sighed. “Not exactly. It’s just … I don’t know. It’s such monumental thing.”

  “It is. And as that maybe, it doesn’t change the fact that you are going to have to rein yourself in, lass, or face the consequences. You need to remember that you are a protégée—an apprentice. You’re a remarkably talented stateswoman—at least when the mood takes you—and you share your father’s passion for a free Arkaelyon republic, but you do not have the experience of any other member of your father’s Inner Council. To be allowed to sit among them as you do is a privilege; I’m afraid you sometimes forget that. You need to remember your place, because your father and I are not going to be around forever, and the future of Arkaelyon will depend on how well you and Eden listen and learn from us now. That said, I do understand your plight, and when I get an opportunity I’ll talk to your father again. In the meantime, I suggest you work on James... your James.”

  Danielle squeezed his gnarled old hand and gave him a grateful though weary smile. “Thank you, Joseph. And I will try to be more tolerant and look to my conduct.”

  “Good.”

  There was a tap on the glass behind them, Joseph turned and opened the door for a young messenger. “What is it, Peter?”

  “Milord, Milady, apologies for interrupting, but the Lady Galloway has asked to see you—she says it’s urgent, Milady.”

  “Where is she?” Danielle asked, guessing it must be time to dress for the tournament.

  “Your chambers, Milady.”

  ***

  “What do you mean, gone?” Danielle demanded.

  “Exactly that—your suit of chain mail is gone. And mine as well,” Faith replied from where she sat on the edge of Danielle’s bureau. “I’ve looked everywhere. Someone has taken them. Your guards and servants didn’t hear anything, but that door to your balcony was open when I arrived.”

  “And yours?”

  “A cleaning maid said two men arrived at my chambers claiming to be tournament officials, and said I’d sent them to collect my armour.”

  “Kane and his cronies, no doubt. The bloody snake! I wondered why he was looking so smug at the champions’ breakfast. He can’t beat me in the ring, so he’s trying to prevent me from fighting,” Danielle said as she went through the various items that made up her armour.

  “Trying?” Faith stood, frowning. “Danielle, without a suit of chain mail under your armour, the match wardens won’t let you compete, and you know it. It’s simply too dangerous.”

  Danielle walked over to the window and gazed down into the garden. Black left Faith’s side and trotted after her, and was now nuzzling her hand, looking for affection. She crouched beside him and hugged his head. She knew the rules well enough, but she had to face Kane today; there was nothing else for it. She simply couldn’t bear to wait another year. And Kane certainly wouldn’t agree to postpone the match on her account, particularly since it was almost certainly one of his lackeys or supporters who had stolen her chain mail in the first place. Who else would be so brazen?

  Deciding what must be done, she glanced back at Faith. “Do the guards know what has been stolen?”

  “Not yet.”

  Faith had her arms folded across her chest. Danielle ignored the suspicion in her friend’s face.

  “And my maids?”

  “No. Why?”

  “Then no one needs to know, do they? Fetch me a soldier’s mail shirt from the armoury.”

  Faith snorted at the idea. “It will be three times as heavy! I am not putting you in a standard mail shirt and sending you into that ring. You will be too disadvantaged, assuming we can find a suite small enough to fit you in the first place. Kane will win for sure. You would be better off withdrawing from the match and saving yourself from the beating he will most certainly give you.”

  Danielle saw her point. “Fine. I’ll use the sleeves only. It will be enough to fool the tournament officials into thinking I have a mail shirt underneath my plate armour. You know how little attention they pay to checking my armour, particularly the mail beneath my plate.”

  Faith looked horrified. “What are you saying?”

  “Faith, I am not forfeiting this match.”

  “Oh, like Vellum I’m going to let you step into that ring, knowing you’re not fully protected.”

  “Have I not proved these past three weeks that I can beat my brother?”

  “That’s not the point.”

  “It’s exactly the point. I can do this and you know it. Why else would someone have stolen my armour except they feared my brother could not beat me? And if it is so dangerous not to wear chain mail, why is it that only royal competitors are forced to do so? Half the men I have fought in the tourney wore only plate or mail, yet were no worse for wear because of it. Faith, please. If you don’t let me, then I stand to fail every common born man, woman and child of my father’s realm.”

  “Absolute rubbish. Your father will make it known that part of your armour was stolen, and cancel the match.”

  “And you think that will be believed? More likely it will be taken as a falsehood, whose intent is merely to hide the fact that I fear facing my brother. The nobles will be vindicated, and the gods know what it will cost the commoners in lost bets. Kane will win if I don’t do this, and in more ways than one. Please.”

  “Danielle, don’t ask this of me. Really, I can’t believe you. What if something happens?”

  “Nothing is going to happen, except that I’m going to take Kane’s title and win back my peace of mind at long last and show the commoners that the arrogance of the nobility isn’t infallible. Please, Faith, I need this from you.”

  With an exasperated sigh, Faith slumped down into a stuffed chair, put a hand to her forehead, and closed her eyes. “There has to be another way.”

  Danielle knelt down beside the chair. “If your mail shirt is gone, too, then there simply isn’t.” She squeezed her friend’s arm. “Come on, please. I can do this. If things get risky, father’s guard will intervene before I can come to harm. No one will ever know. Besides, the risk is nothing compared to what is at stake here. Please…?”

  Faith’s eyes opened and settled on Danielle; they were full of wor
ry, though it was the sympathy there that made Danielle grin.

  “By all the furies, what can I say? Fine, then. But only because there will be guards to intervene if there is any trouble. I’ll be there as well, and I’ll bloody storm in there myself if I think there is reason.”

  Relieved, Danielle laughed and hugged Faith. “Thank you.”

  ***

  Half an hour later Faith was still going over the details of the match plan as she finished getting Danielle into her armour, when Black sudden bolted up from the sunny spot he often occupied by the balcony windows and went to the door, his tail wagging furiously. A moment later there was a tentative knock from the other side.

  “Who is it?” Danielle asked.

  “Me—Eden.”

  She felt a sting of guilt. “What do you want?” Apart from their short exchange at breakfast, which had done nothing to ease the tension between them, they had not spoken. And they certainly had not talked about last night.

  “Will you open the door, please?”

  Faith looked up expectantly as she worked on Danielle’s shin guards, and got a reluctant nod. She had her plate armour and mail sleeves on so there was no way he would guess that she wasn’t properly protected. And a chance to clear the air with her brother would be a blessed relief—one less thing on her mind. And despite everything, she was sorry she had treated him so shabbily, and she knew deep down that all his opposition stemmed from his concern over her safety.

  “If you’ve come to tell me how foolish and selfish I’m being, don’t waste your breath,” she said as he came through the doorway into her day chamber, much of his attention on greeting the excited wolf.

  “I might be a fool sometimes sister, but I know when I’m beaten. Actually, I came to wish you the best of luck.”

  “And…?” she pressed, grinning at his smile.

  His smile broadened. Gods, how she had missed that smile! “And to apologise. To both of you. I haven’t been as understanding and supportive as I could have been.”

  “You didn’t tell father about me supposedly riding from the palace last night.”