Druid's Bane

by Phillip Henderson

  “I’d hoped to slip away without a fuss,” Danielle whispered.

  “Yes, they suspected that, too,” Bastion said with a grin.

  “I want to be back in Illandia for the monthly council meeting in two days.”

  “I suspected as much. Unfortunately your father suspected as well and word is he’s not happy about it at all. He doesn’t want you leaving Fairfax for a few weeks yet.”

  “Why? I am recovered?”

  “You know why; Kane and the council meeting.”

  “Don’t get me started. Besides, Joseph is expecting me, so I had best not keep him waiting.”

  “He’s with Faith at the moment,” Bastion said, catching her arm before she could go. “He’s going to send Sarah to collect you when he’s ready.”

  “What is he talking to Faith about?”

  “Your guess is as good as mine,” Bastion said. “Dee, are you sure you should be returning to Illandia so soon?”

  “Yes—quite sure. Even without the council meeting I want to get this Vafusolum proposal I talked to you about off the ground. And if we’re to gain the High Council’s approval before I ride to the Grand Assembly in two weeks, we haven’t a day to lose, you know that.”

  “True. But you’ll be facing a firestorm, all the same.” Bastion lowered his voice so they couldn’t be overheard. “Your father is furious about these rumours. He all but dragged me over the coals yesterday. He suspects I’m part of your little game, which, of course, like an idiot, I am.”

  “You’re not an idiot. And that aside, have you completed the brief I gave you on shipping aid to Vafusolum?”

  Bastion looked at James and grinned.

  “Bastion, don’t fool with me. I’m not in the mood…” She glanced towards the patio for a moment, wondering what Joseph was talking to Faith about and what awaited her there. “Is it possible in the quantity I envisaged or not?”

  “Yes, you’ll be thrilled to know that it’s feasible. I believe there’s enough grain in the royal reserves to send twenty shiploads to Yoon-Soon’s court without any adverse affects to the realm or to your soup houses.”

  The news lifted her spirits a little. “And it can be done before winter?”

  “With a stretch, yes. Depends on whether we can procure sufficient vessels.”

  “I’ll use our war galleys if I can.”

  “Rantius won’t be pleased, Arkaelyon’s fleet reduced to carrying grain.”

  “Rantius will do as he’s told. Do your figures allow for two years of poor harvests here in Arkaelyon?” Danielle could feel an excitement building within her despite everything else that was bothering her right now.

  “They do—not that I think it likely.”

  Excited by the news, Danielle grinned and kissed his cheek. “Very good work.”

  “You speak of the famine in Vafusolum?” James inquired.

  “We do,” Bastion replied. “Word arrived three weeks ago that the harvest in the south-eastern provinces has failed again. Danielle is suggesting that Arkaelyon ship some of its surplus grain to ease the suffering.”

  “If it can be done quickly enough, and other member realms of the Grand Assembly can be convinced to participate,” Danielle added. “I think we can ward off the worst of the famine until the next harvest. The difficult part will be getting it past the High Council.”

  Before she could say more, Jennifer, Sarah, and Amanda had swamped her, throwing their arms around her and Justin and laying their heads against hers.

  “What’s happening here, then?” Jennifer asked, smiling coyly at Bastion. “Danielle, is my doting husband harassing you again?”

  It was a long-standing joke, and Danielle replied, “Your doting husband, Jenny, has just made my day.”

  “So would you have me put together a proposal?” Bastion continued, basking in the praise.

  “No, leave that to me. I’ll be presenting it, so it’s best that I do the drafting.”

  “Besides,” Jennifer added, coming over and slipping her arm lovingly around her husband and smiling adoringly up at him, “Danielle could do it much better than you anyway, my love.”

  Bastion feigned hurt and then bent and kissed her drawing a protest from their son still in Danielle’s arms.

  Well aware that her friends were sizing James up and liking what they saw, Danielle made the introductions. The suggestive smirks she got made it clear Faith had been making the rounds and they knew exactly who James was.

  “Now that we’re all introduced,” Jennifer said, “we want to know, Dee, when you intended to tell us you were leaving.”

  “I’m sorry. You’ve all been so good to me, but I must get back to Illandia.” Danielle lowered her voice. “And you all know how I hate fuss.”

  The women laughed. “Hate it or not,” Sarah said, so that only those nearest could hear, “if you think we’re just going to let our favourite royal sneak away from here without a celebration, you’re gravely mistaken. However, before you can enjoy yourself, Joseph wants to see you in the library, and we must get you into something presentable. Now, give Justin to his mummy and come along.”

  After excusing herself, Danielle went with Sarah across the lawn to the house, nodding politely at the local gentry they passed. Once they had weathered the curtseys and polite greetings and were safely inside and alone, Sarah glanced sideways at her. “James is certainly adorable.”

  “He is,” Danielle admitted, failing to hide her joy.

  Sarah laughed, and then said, half in jest, “You know courtly gossip isn’t going to be kind to you.”

  “Well let them say what they will, I don’t care. I love him Sarah and I’m sick of sneaking about and keeping everything secret.”

  “Good. We’re all so pleased for you.”

  They came to the door of the library, and Sarah drew Danielle up. “Now, after you’ve completed whatever business you have with Joseph, you’re to come upstairs and we’ll pretty you up. Then you’re going to enjoy yourself this evening. There’ll be plenty of opportunity to dance with Mr. James Sydney. And I’m sure if you are discreet no one will notice where you two sleep tonight.

  “I’d be a liar if I said I wouldn’t enjoy that,” Danielle said, with a naughty grin.

  Sarah’s warm brown eyes suddenly moistened, and she pulled Danielle into a hug. “I’m going to miss you so much. I’ve loved having you here all to ourselves. I know you’re so busy, but you don’t visit Fairfax nearly enough, Dee. Certainly not like you used to when we were younger. You must promise to come more often, even if it’s just in passing.”

  “I’m going to miss you, too, Inky.” It was Sarah’s nickname, given to her on account of her letter writing prowess and her jet-black hair. “I’ll try and visit more often, and you’ll have to ask Bernard if you can come and visit court now and again. You know you’re always welcome at the palace.”

  Sarah eased herself back, grinning proudly. Her front teeth were clamped on her lower lip, her eyes twinkling with excitement. “I’ve been told I shouldn’t travel for a while—for eight months, to be exact.”

  It took Danielle a moment to register the news; then she gave a shout of delight and hugged her friend. She knew how much Bernard and Sarah wanted a child. “Gods, are you sure?”

  Sarah nodded, her pretty face beaming with youthful delight. “Yes. However—apart from the midwife and Bernard, of course—you’re the first to know, so you mustn’t speak of it.” Sarah swept the hair back from her face, becoming serious. “Now, there’s something I have to speak to you about. Bernard and I have both talked about it, and we want you to be our child’s godmother. Dee, please say yes.”

  Danielle hugged Sarah tight. “You know I’d love to be!”

  After they broke apart, Danielle promised to come upstairs to change, then watched her friend go before turning to face the library door, not sure what she was about to learn on the other side.

  CHAPTER FIFTEEN

  The library was quiet but for a fire cr
ackling in the hearth as Danielle slipped inside. Joseph sat looking glumly into the flames, obviously contemplating an unpleasant task. Faith stood on the other side of the room gazing out the window, arms crossed. From the tilt of her friend’s head, Danielle suspected that Faith had her eyes closed. Both were clearly lost in their own solemn thoughts. It didn’t bode well. Softly she closed the door, the chunk of the lock drawing Joseph and Faith’s attention.

  “You wished to speak with me, Joseph?”

  “Yes, lass, please make yourself comfortable.” He stood and gestured to the soft chair opposite his.

  As she sat down, Faith brought her a glass of wine. “You’ll be needing this,” she said, fixing Joseph with a steely glare.

  Danielle watched Faith walk back to her spot by the window and then turned back to Joseph, perplexed. “What’s going on?”

  Joseph sat back down and took a deep breath and cleared his throat. The heaviness and regret she saw in his face worried her immensely.

  “Joseph, what is it? If this is about James being Wyatt’s adopted son, then as long as you’re honest with me, I don’t care.”

  “James talked?”

  “No. I guessed.”

  “I’m afraid it’s about that—and much more.”

  Faith gave a grunt of acknowledgment from the window.

  “Then it should help to know that I’ll accept James as my protector. I also want to thank you for the freedom you have brokered for me.”

  Joseph nodded as he took off his spectacles and rubbed his eyes. “First things, first. This rumour you’ve had Bastion circulate on your behalf—I’m afraid it’s upset your father terribly.”

  Danielle placed her hands in her lap and straightened her back. “Well, I regret the latter, but clearly, sitting on our hands isn’t working. We know little more about Kane’s activities now than what we knew six weeks ago, except that he might be presenting a bill to the General Council in two days. And not a word from your spies concerning these rare sheep that Helidon is supposedly shipping directly to his estate or any reply from the ex-colonies either.”

  Joseph smiled crookedly. “So Bastion has been feeding you information, then.”

  “Well, no one else would!” She leaned forward some, adding pointedly, “You keep me out of the loop, you can’t expect me to play by your rules.”

  He considered her for a moment before saying, “Danielle, I share your frustration, as you well know, but sometimes you have to let these things run their course. In two days we’ll know whether your brother is going to present a reform bill to the council or not, and we’ll go from there. Sometimes, just sometimes, waiting and seeing, is the best thing to do.”

  “In two days, whatever that devil is up to will most likely be law, and there will be very little we can do!”

  “Which begs my point. In the last two weeks your rumours have helped how? And on what mandate do you do this? Because you don’t have your father’s blessing or mine, and you certainly don’t act on behalf of the council.”

  “I act for the good of Arkaelyon,” she retorted.

  “You have to see reason on this, Danielle.”

  “I see reason well enough.”

  “Fine, then, if you see reason well enough, tell me what you intend with these rumours—nay, lies? Because from where I sit the only thing you have achieved is to show how impotent, divided and desperate we have become on the matter and I am quite sure that wasn’t your intention.”

  Danielle shut her mouth grudgingly and looked moodily at the fire. She knew the truth of his words, but it still rankled her to hear them.

  “Well?”

  “Perhaps it did not work quite as I hoped.”

  “I’ll take that as an apology,” Joseph said, scratching his brow with his knuckle. “Now, you should know that your father has agreed to forget this matter if you’ll sign a writ making it clear that the rumours aren’t true. He also wants you to agree to remain here for the next three weeks. James can stay with you and I promise that from now on you’ll be kept in the loop.”

  Danielle put her glass down and leaned forward. “Absolutely not!” At that, she got up and went over to Faith, ignoring Joseph’s request that she sit her self back down.

  Sullen-faced, Faith seemed lost in her own thoughts.

  “Did you know about this?”

  An ironic smile brushed Faith’s lips. “Believe me, it gets much worse.”

  Danielle wasn’t sure how it could. She turned and went back across the library and stood in front of Joseph, her arms crossed. “So what will Father do if I refuse?”

  “Lass, if you don’t rein yourself in, it’s possible he might move to reduce you to nothing more than a lady of leisure. He’s fair petrified of losing you after this business with the tournament, and a part of him is increasingly convinced that despite your talents and importance to Arkaelyon, it would have been best had we never encouraged you in such matters in the first place.”

  “That’s ridiculous. What about the good of Arkaelyon?”

  “With the way you’re behaving lately, he’d be doing this for the good of Arkaelyon,” Joseph replied, his voice rising. Seeing how much his words hurt her, he stopped for a moment before continuing more calmly. “Danielle, your father stands at a cross roads with what is to be done with you. And which path he will take depends entirely on how you respond to his requests in this matter. His mind is made up.”

  “Is that a threat?”

  “Lass, how hard would it be for you to rein yourself in just a little?”

  “Perhaps I could if I wasn’t surrounded by men who thought the best thing to do in my brother’s case was wait and see. Joseph, I’m merely trying to stop my unscrupulous brother from serving his own ends at the expense of the realm, and I don’t know how I’m supposed to manage it with my hands forever being tied behind my back by people who claim to love me.”

  Faith snorted in disdain, drawing both Danielle’s and Joseph’s attention. “That’s not the only thing going on behind your back,” she said cuttingly from the window, her brown eyes boring into Joseph. “It seems that your father and others have never trusted you, Dee—or me, for that matter. But then again, we’re just women, aren’t we, Joseph?”

  “Faith,” Joseph said wearily, “I know you’re angry, and understandably so, but this is not the way.”

  Faith thrust a finger at Danielle as she glared at Joseph. “Either you tell her now, or I will. You tell her the truth! Gods, Joseph, if anyone ever deserved the truth, Danielle does. How could you, of all people, let this farce continue for so long? She deserves better.”

  “I agree with you, and if I’d had my way, it would never have been perpetrated in the first place.”

  “But of course, you had your hands tied,” Faith said scornfully. “Which makes her present circumstances all the more poignant, because unlike the rest of you, she will not let herself be held captive.”

  The sudden change in subject took Danielle quite by surprise, her curiosity getting the better of her temper. “Would one of you please tell me what is going on? And for goodness’ sake, Faith, please pour yourself some wine and sit down.”

  Danielle watched her friend go to a side table and pull out two glasses, then sat back down and took Joseph’s hand. “So, what’s going on?”

  Joseph’s eyes followed Faith as she placed a glass of wine on the table beside him and dropped into a chair with a glass of her own. It was obvious this interview was not proceeding as he had hoped.

  “I suggest you speak, sir,” Faith said firmly before taking a sip of her wine.

  Danielle rolled her eyes. “Faith, please.”

  “It’s all right, Danielle. Faith is quite justified in her anger—as will you be, also. There is a certain matter that was kept from both of you—and in my opinion, wrongly so.”

  Danielle frowned suspiciously at him—James had said as much. “If this is about James, I already know he was adopted by Wyatt. James was gracious enough to tell me s
o. However, he wouldn’t say why it had been kept from me, or why he doesn’t wear the Sydney ring or live on the Sydney estate.”

  “Why would he? Faith said. “Wyatt would have to be dead to see it so, wouldn’t he, Joseph?”

  Danielle stared at her friend, baffled by what was being suggested. Then she looked to Joseph for explanation. “What is Faith saying?”

  “It’s really quite simple—”

  “Shut up, Faith,” Danielle snapped angrily. She knew from the look in Joseph’s eyes that Wyatt was still alive. But how, she could not imagine. She couldn’t even begin to comprehend why this had been kept from her. “And Glomar as well?” she asked, her throat constricting. No wonder James had spoken of her old protector in the present tense.

  “Yes,” Joseph said regretfully.

  “They survived the attack?” Danielle asked, trying to push through the shock of this.

  Joseph bowed his head and ran a gnarled hand through his wild white hair, saying softly, “There was no attack.”

  “Or funeral,” Faith added petulantly. “Those graves you’ve visited every time you’ve been near Ambry for the past ten years have nothing but rocks in them.”

  Danielle sat slowly back in her chair, her emotions threatening to get the better of her. She couldn’t believe that people she trusted absolutely could have been so cruel to her. She wiped irritably at the tears that sprang to her eyes. “Why the lies, Joseph?”

  He pulled out a handkerchief and held it out to her. Danielle ignored it. The hurt she felt was quickly turning to indignation.

  “Something terrible happened to Wyatt during his time as your father’s principal emissary. Half mad with grief, he decided to exile himself to a secluded abbey in Noren that had been abandoned after the Noren peasant rebellion. As his dependents at the time, Glomar and James were obliged to go with him. It was a tragic affair, and for a time he wanted nothing to do with Arkaelyon.”

  “Clearly,” Danielle said. It cut deeply to know how little Wyatt, Glomar, and her father really thought of her.

  “Lass, you have to understand that few have been as loyal and dedicated to your father as Lord Sydney and Glomar. Without Wyatt’s efforts, it’s unlikely the Amthenium Treaty would ever have been signed. What happened to him was a terrible tragedy… He needed seclusion, and your father owed it to him. He never meant to hurt either of you. It wasn’t an easy decision.”