There was only one day left. One day before the wedding he wasn’t at all ready for. Caplin woke early, slipping quietly out through the palace kitchens to grab a bite. In the stable, he shifted restlessly from one foot to the other, watching the Lyran groom as he saddled the black mare, Velvet, the mare Indigo had ridden so many times. The mare wasn’t his regular mount, but she satisfied a tiny fraction of the yearning that had drawn him from his rooms much earlier than he usually rose.
The servant who was saddling her, Terun, had moved along with most of the family horses when their household relocated into the palace. He handled the big animals with a deft patience that they responded to well. He was also a handsome man in the way of any man from a purer Lyran bloodline and every movement held a certain grace that defied his low station. The royal grounds seemed to embrace him as though he belonged there and he looked better in that environment than Caplin had ever seen him look, stronger and healthier.
“Is something wrong, my lord?”
An elegant voice as well. Caplin met his eyes, only then realizing that he was scowling at the man. He shook his head, schooling his expression to something more neutral.
“No. I…” He trailed off, searching those light green eyes. So much serenity in those pale depths. How could that be? He’d been sold off into slavery by his own people. “You… Your manner… You strike me as a nobleman, Terun. Were you? Before…”
Terun’s expression turned wary.
“I apologize. It’s not appropriate of me to ask such a thing,” Caplin said, taking the reins and stepping up beside the horse.
“Yes.”
Caplin hesitated then turned to face the man. He was almost surprised to realize that they were about the same height. Odd that he had always thought of Terun as much shorter. “How…? Doesn’t it…?” He fumbled and fell silent. Where had his usual charisma vanished to?
“Yes, it makes me angry at times, but I gave my freedom in exchange for protection for my family. That they are safe comforts me and my fate could be much worse. Your family treats us all fairly and I have always enjoyed working with horses.” He stroked the mare’s nose and she pushed it into his hand, eliciting the faintest smile from him.
Caplin rested a hand on the cantle. He should mount and leave now, before he said something else foolish. He stayed where he was. “Now that Emperor Rylan is gone, do you wish you could go back?”
Terun’s eyes blazed to life, his jaw tensing. “You never struck me as a cruel man, Prince Caplin. When you were younger, such a question might be excused, but I think you are old enough to know better. False hope is not something you lay at the feet of a man who has made peace with his fate.”
Caplin winced. He considered apologizing, but he had known it was cruel when he asked it. Apology would be for his own benefit only. Terun made him think of Yiloch and for that, he had wanted to cause the man pain.
“You’re right Terun. Perhaps I envy that you have found that peace.”
A bitter smile flickered across his lips. “Royalty and peace are uncommon bedmates, my lord.”
Caplin grimaced. “So I’ve noticed.”
Swinging up into the saddle, he trotted Velvet from the stable. Outside, four guards fell in behind him. He would have preferred to go without the escort, but he would never hear the end of it from his mother and Andrea if they found out. Accepting the shackles his newfound royal status came with was easier than fighting them. Passing through early morning streets brought a different kind of torment that built up on top of the angst within him. The way people moved out of the way and bowed their heads when they saw him, the way they watched him with eyes full of expectation and envy. There had always been some of that, as the king’s nephew, but not to this degree. He was their future king now and they longed for him to be great in so many different ways. He could never live up to all of their many disparate expectations.
Irritation became an itch over his entire body and he urged the mare up to a canter, weaving quickly through the streets. The guards sped up to keep pace and the clatter of hooves on the cobbles warned anyone who might step into their path. They left the city behind, but the pressure of obligation and responsibility remained, wrapped around him in a suffocating embrace. He urged the mare faster until she stretched long, her ears pressed back against her neck in response to his volatile mood.
He didn’t pull her back down until they reached the turn into the clearing by the river. The place he and Indigo had spent so much time in their youth, dipping their toes in the river and sharing silly daydreams. The horses were all sweating and breathing hard. Velvet’s sides heaved under his legs and he patted her neck absently as he turned her into the clearing. Dismounting, he led the mare to the river and let her drink, placing a hand against her side to feel the powerful beat of her heart. The rhythm was comforting. He closed his eyes, letting the fast, hard rhythm fill him, thrumming through his mind, chasing everything else away.
How long he stood that way, he wasn’t sure. Eventually, the black mare’s lips, cold and wet with river water, nipped at the arm of his shirt. Caplin opened his eyes and held a hand out, letting her lip at his palm in search of treats.
They had received a missive the prior evening from Lord Theron. There really was an army marching on Yiroth, due to arrive within a few days if the reports were accurate. Indigo was somewhere in Kudan and Lord Edan’s whereabouts were unknown. Emperor Yiloch was in Yiroth, returned to the capital less than a day before Theron arrived. That came as a shock, almost as much of a shock as Indigo in Kudan. The emperor claimed she was there by choice, though Caplin couldn’t help doubting that. Why would anyone, aside from the Kudaness themselves, actually want to linger in Kudan?
Theron advised that they take no action against Emperor Yiloch until after the coming army had been dealt with and an attempt could be made to find Indigo. That suggested that she might indeed have information they needed to confirm the emperor’s guilt or innocence. Theron ended the missive stating that he intended to stay in Yiroth until he could learn more. Curiously, he offered no opinion on whether Caithin should come to Lyra’s aid. Caplin voted in favor of providing military assistance, though his reasons were of a more personal nature. They weren’t going to find Indigo while a war was going on. Most of the council members had been hesitant to get involved, though Serivar also supported the idea. The reasons behind that support still eluded Caplin.
The mare was breathing easier now, as were the other four horses. Caplin turned her and mounted, the guards rushing to follow his example, as though they feared being left behind. Squeezing his legs, he urged the mare up to a trot and left the clearing behind, driving for the city at a less intense pace for the sake of the horses.
•
It took no more than half an hour to get back into the city and ride to the Healer’s Academy administration building. The woman who escorted him to the headmaster’s office gestured for him to wait and stepped inside, shutting the door behind her. If he hadn’t already known the office was protected against eavesdropping, he might have put his ear to the door. Instead, he waited patiently.
That he could wait patiently was a pleasant change from his earlier temper. Deciding to confront Serivar calmed him. The anger and frustration faded, replaced by the resolute determination that came with having a purpose he could act upon. When the woman came out and gestured him in, he smiled and entered the office, gesturing for his shadowing guards to wait outside before he shut the door.
Serivar stood behind his desk, his slender face an impassive mask. He bowed and Caplin acknowledged the gesture with a polite nod.
“Prince Caplin, I wouldn’t have expected to see you the day before your wedding. You must have so much preparation still to do.” There was the faintest, uneasy edge to his voice as he gestured to a chair.
Caplin sat and Serivar waited until he had settled to do the same, an uncommon show of proper courtesy from a man who often forgot to include titles for anyone short of the king hi
mself. Was the headmaster trying to get on his good side for a reason? Maybe he suspected the purpose of Caplin’s visit.
“Lord Serivar,” he acknowledged the headmaster in as polite a tone as he could manage. “Given the coming festivities, I’m sure you can imagine why I might be avoiding the palace right now.”
The headmaster smiled, pretending to commiserate, but his eyes narrowed a fraction, undermining the sentiment. “Certainly. To what do I owe the pleasure of your visit?”
“I wanted to thank you for your support in the council yesterday, though I’m still a little puzzled as to why you want to aid Lyra now. As I recall, you didn’t support the alliance with Emperor Yiloch before and now he’s back in charge of Lyra. Why show support for him this time, when he’s been accused of such horrible crimes against Caithin?”
Serivar picked up a few scattered books from his desk and stacked them in one corner. Then he moved the inkpot and a few scattered quills to one side. He rested his elbows on the cleared surface and steepled his fingers, regarding Caplin over the peak.
“I am not supporting Emperor Yiloch specifically, but Lyra can be a powerful ally. If they fall, then we have an unknown entity to deal with. By all reports, it doesn’t seem that these visitors from beyond the Rhuakine are all that friendly. Besides, if we come to the aid of Yiroth now, then we have another powerful bargaining point in our favor moving forward.”
“Yes, I know all the political reasoning,” Caplin replied with a dismissive wave of one hand. “What I want to know is what your motivations are in regards to Lyra and Lady Indigo.”
Serivar sat back, his pleasant half smile vanishing the instant Indigo’s name came up. The headmaster brushed at one sleeve as though some offending substance had appeared there. He finally met Caplin’s eyes again, his warm brown eyes gone cold.
“Unfortunately, I have business to attend to, Lord Caplin. I really would love to discuss this more, but—”
“I’m only asking for a moment, Lord Serivar. I don’t see why it would take more than that for you to explain your honorable intentions.”
The headmaster’s slight frame rose and fell with a heavy sigh. “This is absurd. I’ve given my explanation. Why must you persist in questioning me?”
Caplin tapped his fingers on the desk, meeting that cold gaze. “Fine. I’ll accept your reasons for wanting to send aid to Lyra… for now. What about Emperor Yiloch and Lady Indigo. What do you think should be done with them when this new enemy has been dealt with?”
“This is council business—”
“No.” Serivar flinched at the force behind the word and Caplin forced a pleasant smile. “This is nothing more than personal curiosity.”
Serivar clenched his teeth, muscles in his jaw tightening. “Emperor Yiloch should pay for his crimes, by which I mean he should be put to death. Someone else in the royal line should ascend to the Lyran throne. There must be someone suited to the position.”
“And do you think the emperor will get on the first boat across the Gilded Straight and put himself in our hands? That doesn’t seem at all like the Emperor Yiloch I know. Besides, are you so certain he really is guilty? Lady Indigo didn’t seem to think so.”
“You yourself admitted that she is in love with the Lyran emperor. I’m not sure her judgement should be trusted.”
Caplin frowned. “Yes. She also loved this school and she has always been very close to my family.” There was an undignified grunt from Serivar, but Caplin ignored it and continued. “To my shame, I was willing to accept that love for Yiloch was what drove her at first. It took my father to make me realize that it just didn’t make any sense. She wouldn’t abandon everything that mattered to her to rescue him if she believed he was behind the assassination of the royal family. There is something more to this and I think you know something about it. Something you don’t want to talk about.”
Looking like a cornered animal, Serivar stared at him for several minutes, his hands dropping to the arms of his chair and tightening. Then he shook himself, the fearful look giving way to irritation as he adjusted the stack of books again.
“Emperor Yiloch’s adepts signed confessions stating that he was guilty. There is nothing left to discuss.”
“Yes, I know. None of it makes sense, does it? That is why I think we need to be very deliberate about trying to put the pieces together. If Lord Theron is able to bring Indigo back, I’m sure her testimony will help shed some light on the investigation. I also think it would help if you shared whatever information you’re hiding.”
Serivar’s lip rose in a snarl. “I don’t know what you’re playing at, Prince Caplin, but don’t think you can manipulate me with your petty political games. I am not a mere lord. I am headmaster of the Caithin Healer’s Academy and head of the King’s Order…” Serivar trailed off, his eyes narrowing when Caplin shuddered.
Now why did that proclamation send a chill through him? The King’s Order were the only adepts in Caithin other than the Ascard Watchmen who used ascard for anything other than healing. They worked in dedicated service to the king.
Or did they? Who gave them their orders, really? His investigation into the Order once he was in a position to be aware of their existence revealed that all of their activities were coordinated through Serivar. Even the few creators and adepts on duty in the palace answered to him as head of the King’s Order.
Something Caplin had said to Indigo came back to him then. “We don’t train such skills in Caithin, we smother them. It only makes sense that the assassins would be foreign.” If only that were true, he would have so much less doubt and fear spreading through him now like some malignant disease.
Somehow, Indigo had known the truth before he had. He had seen argument building in her eyes when he said those words, though he had dismissed it when she didn’t put voice to it. She had already known about the King’s Order, which suggested, given the secrecy its members were sworn to, that she must have spoken with Serivar about it, and the only way the headmaster would have divulged that information to her was if she were a member of the Order. But, shortly after learning about it, Caplin had indulged his curiosity and read through the roles for the King’s Order, a created document that a select few people were given the ability to read. Indigo wasn’t on that document. All adepts of the King’s Order were supposed to be on those roles, even the ones in training.
Another thought occurred to him while Serivar regarded him with a disturbing expression of increasing calm. As someone with no functional connection to his inner aspect, he wouldn’t know if someone was using ascard against him. If there was something sinister going on here, the headmaster, with the wide array of adepts following his orders, could be a powerful and dangerous man. He wasn’t well equipped to deal with such a threat and, while he doubted that the headmaster would do anything to him now with the royal guards standing outside, he wasn’t willing to take the chance.
Standing, Caplin nodded to the other man.
Serivar stood as well, that growing calm breaking all of a sudden. His quarry was making an escape.
“Lord Serivar, perhaps we can talk more about this later. I have a wedding to prepare for and you, as you said, have business to attend to.”
Serivar’s gaze turned inward, losing focus and Caplin decided not to wait for a proper farewell. Instead, he hurried to the door and let himself out. Serivar was starting to speak when he shut the door behind him. He no longer cared what the headmaster had to say, he didn’t want to be alone in a room with him. Perhaps he was being paranoid, but Serivar had a distinct advantage over him in his ascard power and his connections. If he was hiding something and wanted it to remain hidden, how far might he or one of his many adepts be willing to go to keep it that way?
One way or another, Caplin promised himself as he strode down the hall with the guards falling in step behind him, I will find the truth in this, even if it means proving Emperor Yiloch innocent.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
Yiloch snappe
d awake. Sitting up in his bed, his nerves crackling like fire in his skin, he listened, one hand already holding the dagger he kept under his pillow. He waited.
Nothing.
Why had he woken in such a state of alert then? It was still dark outside the crystal windows, whitecaps in the ocean below picking up a scant luminescence from the sliver moon. A nightmare might have woken him, though he couldn’t remember the last time that had happened.
He waited a few more minutes in the calm quiet darkness.
Calm. Quiet.
Suddenly he realized what was wrong. There was nothing, and that was the problem. The constant mental assault, the barrage of ascard intimidation that had been radiating out from the Grey Army for the last two days, had stopped. That could only mean one thing. The warlord was through playing games, now he was ready to make his move.
Yiloch pulled on his boots. He had laid down to rest without getting out of his clothes. It would be folly to put comfort above readiness at a time such as this. If luck were with him, Lady Auryl would still be sleeping. There was no need for her to go through the stress of knowing they were under attack right now and he didn’t need the irritation of her questions or the distraction of trying to keep her from harm. Someday he would have to address the resentment he harbored toward her for not being Indigo, but he had much bigger problems right now.
He strode through the halls, moving with quick, eager strides. Action was something he understood. The waiting was tortuous. For better or worse, the time for fighting had come.
A servant darted around one corner and leapt sideways, slipped on the floor, and caught himself on a hallway table. The vase in the center rocked to and fro, but settled upright at the man’s touch.
He blew out a relieved exhale and turned, bowing deeply.
“Emperor Yiloch. Lord Captain Adran requests your presence.” He paused a few seconds to catch his breath before rushing out with the rest of the message. “He and Commander Hax are waiting on the outer wall by the main gate.”
Apostate: Forbidden Things Page 13