The Raven Coven

by Emma Miles

  Bractius pressed his lips together into a thin line. ‘I do. I’ve been as fair as I could about it, he’s under guard in his rooms, but his men are in the dungeon. He still protests his innocence, but I didn’t want him going anywhere until we get to the bottom of this, or at least until you have had a chance to speak to him yourself.’

  ‘I would like to do so as soon as possible. And Dorthai?’

  ‘He and your other man insist on guarding Larissa’s room and keeping it untouched until you can see it.’ He barked a humourless laugh. ‘I try not to be offended that they don’t trust me!’

  ‘It is the situation, not you personally, that they don’t trust.’

  Bractius nodded his head and glanced at her, his eyes looked red. He really had liked Larissa very much. A cold hand reached in to grab her heart; what had the young queen thought of that?

  ‘I feel like I should be putting on some show, some fancy dinner.’ Bractius rubbed at his forehead with his fingers. ‘But I’m sure you’d much rather get to seeing your people? You remember the way to my private audience chamber?’

  Dia nodded.

  ‘I’ll see you there when you’re ready.’ Bractius turned and strode away down the corridor.

  Behind her, Merkis Dalton cleared his throat. ‘I’ll show you to Larissa’s room.’

  He led them toward the wing of the castle where Dia and Arrus had previously stayed. Larissa had been given the room which Kesta had occupied in her time in Taurmaline. Dorthai straightened up on seeing her, his eyes widening.

  ‘Icante! Arrus Silene, I’m so sorry, I failed you!’

  ‘Don’t be foolish, Dorthai, you failed no one,’ Arrus interjected.

  Dia wanted to say the same, but she couldn’t yet, not without knowing the truth. ‘Tell me what you know,’ she asked.

  Dorthai swallowed, looking down at his feet and then meeting her eyes. ‘I could see no sign of injury on walker Larissa and I thought perhaps she might be lost in the flame, as I heard could happen but …’

  ‘But?’ Dia prompted gently.

  ‘Well, the bed was soiled, so I knew she was dead.’

  It was Dia’s turn to look away. ‘I see. And you examined the room?’

  ‘Only a little,’ he replied quickly. ‘I didn’t touch anything, but did … well, I smelt a few things in case there were any odours that might fade.’

  Heara grunted.

  ‘You did well.’ Dia forced a smile and turned to Heara. ‘Take a look, the rest of you wait outside.’

  Dorthai unlocked the door and Heara stepped in, Dia pausing just inside the doorway. The smell was awful, stale, musty, with the scent of old excrement. It was gloomy, the shutters closed fast with only a small shaft of light squeezing through the join. Heara circled the room, looking down at the carpet, before going to the bed and lifting the sheet. She examined the pillows, then held each to her face, breathing in hard to scent the fabric. She looked over the bedside table, then the central table, picking up a glass to sniff it. Dia drew in a sharp breath and opened her mouth to protest when Heara touched the inside of the glass with the tip of her tongue.

  ‘Elderflower,’ Heara said.

  She crouched before the fireplace and stirred the ashes with the poker. She stood up, placing her hands on her hips and looking around the room again.

  ‘Anything?’ Dia asked.

  Heara shook her head with a frown. ‘I can’t see any sign that anyone else was in here with her, though several people have tramped in and out over that carpet so it’s hard to be sure. I’ll go over it, inch by inch, just to be certain. Let’s take a look at Larissa, then I’ll come back after.’

  Dia nodded her agreement.

  They went back out into the hall and Dia looked from Catya to Mimeth and back again. ‘We’re going to look at Larissa’s body. It will be distressing and unpleasant, but you’ll learn things. I’ll leave it up to you if you’d like to come or not.’

  ‘I’ve dressed bodies for burial,’ Mimeth said. ‘Although never a fellow walker. I’ll come.’

  Dia turned to Catya, Heara also regarded the young girl, shifting her weight from one foot to the other.

  Catya chewed at her thumb, her blue eyes not leaving Dia’s. ‘I’ll come. I want to learn.’

  ‘Are you sure?’ Dia leaned forward to bring herself a little closer to the girl’s height.

  Catya glanced at Heara and nodded.

  ‘Should I come?’ Dorthai asked.

  ‘No, guard Larissa’s room just a little longer.’ Dia touched his arm. ‘Until Heara has finished with it.’

  ‘This way, then, please.’ Merkis Dalton gestured for them to follow.

  They left the bright corridors and went down into passages with bare stone walls and a few, widely interspersed torches. Merkis Dalton held up a hand. ‘Wait a moment.’ His voice echoed.

  He went ahead of them to a gate that barred their way and spoke to a man who stood in the doorway of a room off to the right. Arrus shifted beside Dia, glancing back over his shoulder. The man came out, using a large, dark key to unlock the gate.

  ‘It’s just in here.’ Dalton gestured with his head.

  As soon as they were all through the gate, it was closed and locked behind them. A shudder went through Dia.

  ‘Okay, be warned.’ Dia caught all of their attention. ‘This will be really bad.’

  Dalton took in a deep breath and opened the door.

  They were hit at once by the horrendous smell, sulphurous, like rotting eggs. All of them automatically put their hands to their faces, Merkis Dalton pulling his tunic up over his nose. Catya retched.

  ‘No one has to come in.’ Dia regarded them all. ‘Try not to think of this as Larissa.’ Gritting her teeth and steeling herself, she stepped into the room and slowly approached the bench on which a covered body lay. Glancing over her shoulder she saw everyone had followed her, pride over sense. Dia stood near the head, meeting Heara’s eyes. The scout took hold of the blanket and pulled it away.

  Catya ran out of the room, Arrus following her more slowly, his face almost grey. Merkis Dalton stood completely still, facing toward the wall with his head bowed.

  ‘Okay.’ Heara drew in a deep breath. Dia herself was breathing as little as possible. Heara stepped forward to study Larissa’s face, gently prizing open her mouth and moving aside the bloated tongue to look inside. Dia had to turn away, bile rising from her stomach, as Heara prodded at the skin below Larissa’s protruding eyes. She studied the body’s fingers and nails next, Mimeth finding the courage to step up beside her. As Heara lifted the purple-hued hand some of the skin came away and Dia couldn’t help but let out a groan.

  She heard movement behind her and saw Catya had crept back into the room, holding tight to Arrus’s hand.

  ‘If I turn her over, I’m likely to cause damage,’ Heara said.

  Dia swallowed. ‘What’s your conclusion so far?’

  Heara gave a shrug. ‘As Bractius said, no sign of any wounds and no obvious sign of poisoning. The decomposition makes it much harder to judge on that count though.’

  Dia sighed and rubbed at the bridge of her nose. ‘Okay, let’s leave it. My knowing tells me Bractius is telling the truth, as far as he knows it.’ She turned to Dalton who was still looking away, his nose covered. ‘Can you take us to Temerran now, please?’

  ‘At once.’ He hadn’t even finished his words before he spun on his heels and led them out of the room. Heara and Mimeth quickly covered Larissa again before following. Some of Larissa’s red hair spilled out over the bench and Dia froze, feeling a sob rise up from her chest.

  It was a relief to get back to the brightly lit, carpeted hallways, the smell of the wax and lavender polish that was used on the wood was comforting.

  There were six guards outside the door of Temerran’s room, Dia frowned and glanced at Merkis Dalton. The guards stood up straighter but moved aside at once, Dalton grabbed the doorknob and pushed the door open.

  Inside the room Temerr
an halted, his fingers caught in his copper curls, his eyes widening as he saw Dia.

  ‘Icante!’ He took two steps toward her, then glanced at Dalton, his hand falling to his side.

  ‘You’ll wait outside, Merkis.’ Dia turned to look at the Eldeman, holding his gaze.

  Merkis Dalton bowed and withdrew from the room. The others crowded in, Arrus closed the door behind him.

  ‘Dia.’ Temerran’s shoulders sagged, he seemed somehow much younger. ‘I’m so sorry about Larissa. Have you any news of my men?’

  Dia’s mouth opened and her hand went to her throat. ‘I was told some of your warriors are being held in the dungeons, but I haven’t seen them.’

  Temerran turned, and moving slowly, went to sit in a chair. Dia opened up her knowing but didn’t need it to recognise the Bard’s fear. ‘You’d better tell us what happened,’ Dia said.

  Temerran looked up. ‘There’s not much I can tell you. We arrived and were welcomed, treated as guests and allies. There was a feast at which I sang, it went on until the early hours. I was awoken from sleep by Eldemen bursting into my room, I was told Larissa had been murdered and that I was suspected!’

  Dia exchanged a glance with Mimeth, knowing that her fellow walker would also be monitoring the man’s emotions. As far as she could tell he was completely innocent.

  ‘I was questioned by several men, including the one who just let you in, Dalton? I’ve asked so many times for an audience with King Bractius, but he has refused to see me. Dia.’ He reached a hand across the table towards her. ‘There is something very wrong here.’ He looked around the room at the others.

  ‘You may speak with confidence in front of everyone here,’ Dia reassured him.

  His voice dropped almost to a whisper. ‘There’s a darkness here in Taurmaline. I feel the nip and stab of poisoned words. Do you feel the fear, the jealousy, the paranoia? They follow the Queen like ghostly dogs and eat the King from the inside.’

  Arrus cleared his throat. Dia felt as though a weight had settled on her shoulders and a snake wrapped around her ribs to squeeze. Her own arms went about her waist. ‘I’ll speak to Bractius and do what I can. You have no idea what killed Larissa?’

  ‘None,’ Temerran shook his head, his brows drawing in tight. ‘Save that to me she felt like the only light in this black castle.’

  ‘Is there anything else?’

  ‘I …’ Temerran stared down at his hand on the table, the pale-red hairs on his arm were standing up. ‘There is something … but …’ He shook his head and breathed out loudly in frustration. ‘It’s like something won’t let me remember.’

  ‘Convenient,’ Arrus muttered.

  ‘No, there is something … foggy, about this place,’ Mimeth agreed with the Bard.

  Dia drew in a deep breath. ‘Okay. Heara, you and Catya go back to Larissa’s room and check every inch. Temerran, I’ll do my best to get you and your men out.’

  She opened the door to find Merkis Dalton pacing the hallway. He glanced past her at Temerran.

  ‘Arrus Silene and I will see the King now.’ Dia didn’t give Dalton any time but immediately set off toward the private audience room. Heara, Mimeth, and Catya started off in the opposite direction to go back toward Larissa’s room and Dia smiled as she heard Dalton swear under his breath. He grabbed one of the guards by the arm.

  ‘Escort those ladies!’ he barked, then hurried to catch up with Dia and Arrus.

  ***

  A page was waiting outside Bractius’s room, as were two guards in armour far more ornate than that of the others in the castle. They stepped aside for Merkis Dalton who knocked and then tentatively opened the door. Bractius was seated at his desk in the corner, playing with a glass filled with a dark-red liquid with his left hand. His right lay on an open scroll.

  He stood up on seeing Dia, his brown eyes widening. ‘Did you find anything?’

  She raised a hand, opening up her knowing to send calm toward him. Arrus pulled out a chair for her as Dalton closed the door, remaining in the room with his arms folded. Dia sat, taking in a deep breath before looking up at the King. ‘We haven’t found much more than you, your majesty. As you say, the cause of her death is hard to tell. It could be poison, it could be some natural cause. Had we seen her earlier it might have been easier to find an answer.’

  ‘I can tell you something.’ Bractius sat slowly, leaning across the table toward her and glancing at Dalton. ‘When I saw her, lying in that bed … it was … it was terrifying. Her eyes were so wide, her mouth contorted as though in a scream, but her body …’ His voice became hoarse. ‘It was calmly composed in comparison, her hands on her chest.’

  Dia realised she was staring at the Elden king.

  ‘Could it be magic?’ Bractius whispered.

  Dia opened her mouth, biting her lower lip before replying. ‘Not any magic I know, but I’m starting to find there are more types of magic than I ever knew. One thing I can tell you, although I understand if my word is not enough, Temerran of the Borrows is innocent. If you’re holding him on my behalf, then I ask you to please release him and his men. He is not the culprit.’

  ‘Not?’ Bractius tilted his head and leaned back in his seat. ‘But if not him, then who? You have no enemies here in Elden.’

  Dia decided to bite her tongue for the moment. ‘As I said, we can’t even be sure the cause wasn’t something natural. My scout, Heara, is still looking, she may find something yet.’

  ‘Well.’ Bractius shrugged, slumped in his seat. ‘I’ll let the Borrowmen go, although I’d rather they left Elden immediately.’ He looked at Dalton, who nodded.

  ‘I can understand that, although it’s a shame to mar the peace we have established.’

  Bractius just wrinkled his nose and shook his head. ‘Until we are sure, I’ll take no risk.’ He grabbed up a scroll and crushed it in his fist. ‘I don’t suppose you’ve heard any more from your daughter and Jorrun?’

  ‘Not since your ship came back,’ Arrus said. ‘You?’

  He shook his head. ‘I intend to send Teliff back very soon with more trade goods. I keep intending to order Jorrun back, but then I tell myself I’m being paranoid. He is doing more good where he is. At least I hope so.’

  ‘Kesta seems to think so,’ Dia said quietly. She didn’t add that she felt the task her daughter and Jorrun had set themselves seemed almost impossible.

  ‘I have something to ask.’ Bractius shifted in his seat. ‘I won’t expect you to send me another walker ambassador, not after what’s happened. It’s a shame Worvig didn’t stay, I liked him, although he didn’t say much. But … would you both stay a while? A week, maybe two, just until things settle a bit?’

  Dia realised the king was afraid. He felt incredibly vulnerable without Jorrun, and Larissa’s death had shaken his nerves as well as hurt his heart. Bractius had realised for the first time in his life that he was alone. He trusted no one, not even herself and Arrus, but he desperately wanted to.

  ‘I need to get Larissa’s body home as soon as possible,’ Dia replied.

  The King’s face fell.

  ‘Would you perhaps be able to get her taken to the Fulmers?’ Arrus suggested to Bractius. ‘Perhaps Dorthai and Mimeth can escort her?’

  A smile lit Bractius’s face for the first time. ‘An excellent idea, Silene!’

  Dia bowed her head but said nothing. She should really be the one to escort Larissa home, but the state of Elden and Temerran’s startling words had her deeply troubled. As much as she wanted to return to the isolated sanctuary of the Fulmers, she had a horrible feeling this wasn’t something to dismiss.

  ‘Is that Elden wine?’ Arrus nodded toward the King’s glass.

  ‘Oh! Forgive me, I’m so rude,’ Bractius stood. ‘It’s port, would you like a glass?’ He looked from Bractius to Dia.

  ‘Oh, no thank you.’ Dia held up her hands. ‘I’d like to see how Heara is getting on.’

  ‘I’d love to join you for a glass.’ Arrus grinne
d.

  Bractius grabbed up a decanter. ‘Dalton, please see the Icante back to Larissa’s room.’

  Merkis Dalton hesitated, looking meaningfully at Arrus.

  Bractius almost growled. ‘Just do as I say, Merkis!’

  The man coloured slightly, but gave a terse bow and opened the door for Dia.

  As they walked along the corridor, Dia turned to the Merkis. ‘You did a lot of the interviewing and investigation, what were your conclusions, honestly?’

  Dalton was silent for a while, studying her face before answering. ‘If I’m honest, were it not for the incongruity between body and face and her relative youth, I’d have said natural causes. As for the Borrowman, he could be a marvellous actor I suppose, but he seemed as totally shocked by all this as the rest of us.’

  ‘Is there anyone else who might have had reason to hate Larissa?’

  Dalton didn’t answer, keeping his gaze on the carpet. Dia’s eyes narrowed.

  ‘Not to worry,’ she said after a while. ‘Would it be possible for me to speak with Temerran again before he departs Elden? I want to be sure there is no ill will between the Borrows and the Fulmers after all I did to create a truce.’

  Dalton sighed, his mouth turned down in disapproval. ‘I suppose that would be all right. After I tell him he may leave, I’ll mention your request.’

  ‘Thank you,’ Dia raised an eyebrow. She understood the king’s advisor being protective, but something really did seem to have put a hornet in the man’s trousers. Her knowing gave her his emotions, but not the cause. She sighed. Not for the first time, she wished her daughter were not so far away.

  ***

  She’d been back in her allocated room with Heara, Mimeth, and Catya for almost two hours when Arrus came stumbling in, his cheeks flushed and his hair standing up a little as though he’d run his fingers through it several times.

  ‘Sorry,’ he mumbled. ‘I was just making friends with the King.’

  Dia laughed and shook her head. ‘It’s fine.’ She held out her hand toward him. ‘Did you learn anything?’