Instantly she was on her feet. She didn’t know why it struck her the way it did to hear Dacian’s insistence. The fear of Callum having a dark secret hidden in his past was unnerving. But why Dacian? Why did he have to be the one to present the information? She had no desire to be anywhere near him – and he was the last person anyone should see in her company. It was too soon. The wounds caused by their last meeting remained open and festering. Still, she wanted to hear what he had to say. Curiosity was getting the better of her. “I suppose I could spare a moment, though only a brief one. All things considered, you and I should not be seen together.”
“Aiva.” Calie looked up at her disapprovingly from the bench. “My brother would not be pleased if he knew – ”
“Your brother is never pleased. Do not worry yourself, Calie. I am doing nothing wrong.” She tried to force a smile through her own discomfort. It was difficult to reassure Calie that everything would be alright when she couldn’t believe it herself. Depending on what information Dacian had, it could change everything. Or it would only serve to deepen her current depression over the terrible mistake her parents forced on her. “Lord Dacian…” she hesitated. She couldn’t really be thinking of doing this. It was absolutely absurd. But she had to. She wanted to know the reason he had for protesting the wedding. It was too late to spare her the betrothal but it wasn’t too late to stop the nuptials if he could provide solid evidence to advocate a separation. “There is a line of trees near the lilies at the back of the western garden. Meet me there in five minutes. It should offer enough privacy in which to discuss the matter.”
With a flourish Dacian bowed to her and Calie in turn, casting a wink over his shoulder as he walked away to leave them staring after him. In the light of the day, Aiva couldn’t argue the difference in his mannerisms. He was polite at first glance, yet there was a hint of greed in his maroon eyes. Something no one else could see unless they were standing at the receiving end of his gaze.
“You cannot go with him,” Calie argued, rising to her feet in a rush. “I know it isn’t my place to tell you what you can and can’t do, but there has been enough trouble between our families because of that man. As your future sister, I must beg of you to change your mind and stay here where no one can accuse you of impropriety.”
“No one is going to accuse me of impropriety because no one is going to know I am gone. If Callum comes in search of me, will you promise to distract him until I return?”
“How can you ask me to cover for you while you disappear with the same man you were discovered with before? I can’t do that to my brother.”
“Then I will have to return quickly so it is not left in your hands,” Aiva sighed, brushing past Calie toward the back of the courtyard. Through the soft din of conversation she could hear the pathetic protests of her friend, quiet, afraid to speak too loudly in fear of drawing attention to them. Aiva knew Calie had nothing to be worried about. Although she and Dacian experienced a single moment of passion in the past, there was no chance of it happening again. Regardless of her disdain for the arrangement, Aiva was engaged. She wasn’t the kind of girl to throw herself into the arms of another man and risk the charge of infidelity. There would be no recovering from an accusation of that sort.
Curiosity was a dangerous thing. She could think of nothing but the secrets Dacian might be able to provide her with, tempting her even more with the prospect of what she would learn. Horrible images passed through her mind, racing with the possibilities. Had he done something wrong? Blackmailed his men into secrecy which required Dacian to approach her in the manner he did?
In the cover of the trees she stood, breathing in the gentle scent of flowers throughout the garden, thicker in the dense foliage of the deeper paths. Rarely did anyone find need to go into the darker sections of the courtyard other than the gardener. It was more for appearances than anything else. During the warmer months the insects were far too bothersome in the shade to make the path worth traveling for leisure.
Dacian was there. She could see him clearly in the dim light filtering through the tops of the trees, leaned against a thick trunk. Casual. Comfortable. He didn’t seem at all distressed by the possibility of being discovered there with her. “You came. I wasn’t sure if you would.”
“You made the offer difficult to pass up,” she mused, eyeing the area suspiciously. She had no basis for distrusting Dacian other than the things told to her by Edric, though she knew her brother wouldn’t make accusations without proof. If Dacian was at all like he was said to be, she would need to be careful. Keep her distance. “What is this information you have about my husband-to-be?”
“If I tell you, I must request you not let it be known where you heard of it. Our commander – Captain – made it very clear that he did not wish the malefaction to be passed along to anyone here in Tanispa. It would blemish his reputation. Your parents never would have allowed this engagement to take place.”
“Then you are a day late,” Aiva stared at him, pausing a few feet away. “You have my attention. Speak quickly, however. We have little time.”
Dacian smirked. Letting his eyes scan the area, pausing for effect, he brought his gaze back to settle on Aiva. His smile widened. “You’ve likely heard of the misfortune which befalls the military in Siscal,” he stated calmly. “One of the enemy ships was taken down, but not before a Luquarrian spy managed to infiltrate the troops on one of our vessels, collecting personal information on the men in the unit.”
“I heard something about this, yes.”
“Well, there is more to the story.” Dacian chuckled, shaking his head. “Maybe I should not be telling you this.”
“No, you should,” Aiva took a step forward. She was afraid he would back out. Lose his nerve. “In fact, as of this moment, I am commanding you to tell me everything you know. That is a direct order from your Princess.”
Pushing himself away from the tree, Dacian came to stand directly in front of Aiva, searching her eyes. “When you put it that way, how could I deny you the information?” he grinned. “I will tell it to you bluntly. The spy was an Esai. A half-breed Vor’shai working in conjunction with the pirates of Luquarr. Turns out, she is one of their most dangerous leaders. A woman by the name of Ireni Moura. She might have been discovered soon enough to avoid any danger, but our beloved commander fell under her spell. Nothing of any mystical means. Just her body. She was an attractive woman, I won’t argue that. Not as lovely as you, however.” Dacian leaned forward, breathing in the scent of Aiva’s skin. Shivering, she stepped away, staring at him in disbelief.
“Callum was romantically involved with this woman? This pirate – Ireni?”
“Oh, yes,” Dacian nodded. “Not many knew of it, though several of us happened across the two one night. They thought everyone had turned in for the evening. I saw them with my own eyes. My knowledge of the Captain’s behavior is likely the only reason I was not reprimanded for my indecency with you. He knows I could easily ruin him. Tell his father. The King and Queen. His reputation would be destroyed. But I felt you should be aware of his traitorous deeds, at least. A woman deserves to know what kind of slime she is crawling into bed with.”
Aiva stared into the distance, appalled by what Dacian was saying. It couldn’t be true. She hoped it wasn’t. To picture Callum with one of the disgusting pirates, an Esai; there were so many things wrong with the possibility that it made her sick to her stomach to even consider. “How close was the Captain with this pirate? Did he know of her connection with the enemy?”
Dacian stared at her, sympathetic. “The two were very close. We suspect he was aware of her affiliations and yet continued to involve himself. Some of us even fear he passed along tactical information which caused the chaos in Siscal. He might have been swayed to leave with her to Luquarr if we had not come across them that night. The Captain was quite comfortable in her arms…”
“That is enough,” Aiva cut in, unwilling to hear any more. It was even worse than she thou
ght! Sleeping with the enemy. Leaking sensitive information. Callum was no hero. He was a traitor. And she’d almost let him kiss her! Nauseous, she stared down at the engagement band on her finger, filled with regret beyond anything she’d ever felt before. “I need to get back to the others,” she mumbled, stepping away to place more distance between them. Dacian looked disappointed. Discouraged by her eagerness to leave.
“Is there no reward for my honesty, Your Highness?”
“In time,” Aiva nodded dismissively. She couldn’t focus on Dacian. There were far more important matters which needed her attention.
Dacian moved to follow, reaching his hand out to Aiva’s. Hesitantly she pulled away, staring at him as if he were a serpent prepared to strike. She was in no mood to deal with his advances. She was repulsed by the thought of letting a man near her again. “Do watch yourself, Lord Dacian,” she stated coldly. “I made a mistake once, and I will not repeat it. If you approach further, I will see you arrested.”
From somewhere amongst the trees she heard a rock skitter along the ground. Nervous at being discovered, she glanced into the shadows, heart racing. There was nothing. They were still alone.
“Arrested?” Dacian asked. He sounded amused by the concept. “By the royal guards who answer to General Cadell? Have you considered what his son will think if he learns you were with me again? Is your reputation worth it?”
Her legs were trembling. Calie had been right. She never should have come here with him alone. She’d risked too much in exchange for the information about Callum. “You would not dare mistreat me. You are a decorated soldier. Your sworn duty is to serve my family. Even if you managed to get away with this for now, once I am Queen, you would feel the wrath of punishment for your misdeeds.”
“I’ll take my chances.” He stepped in closer. “Come on, Your Highness. You will enjoy it. I didn’t hear you complaining the other night, at least.”
Anxious to distance herself, Aiva stumbled backward, speechless. She’d never had anyone speak to her in such an uncouth manner. Her mind raced with how to handle the situation while before her eyes it continued to spiral out of her control. In a swift motion Dacian grabbed her wrist, tugging her into him, their lips meeting in an awkward kiss. Bile rose in Aiva’s throat as she tore her face away from his. Panicked, she tried to break his grip on her arm. He held firm. The feeling of his fingers digging into her skin was painful. Frantic, she brought her free hand up, palm striking Dacian’s face with a crisp smack, the noise ringing through the hedges so clearly that she feared everyone in the courtyard beyond might hear. Dacian reacted instinctively, returning the blow to Aiva’s face with a strength beyond any she’d felt in her training. Her vision swam, head reeling.
White spots floated before her eyes, distracting her until she felt her feet being pulled out from beneath her, sending her crashing to the ground. Still blind and disoriented, she felt Dacian’s weight pushed away with a pained grunt, his hand releasing her wrist. Someone was at her side, helping her to her feet, guiding her away from two men rolling on the grass, trading punches in a flurry of motion. It was all happening so fast! Frightened, Aiva looked up to see Edric’s face, brow creased in an angry glare. She’d never seen him so furious. His muscles were tensed, struggling to keep himself from jumping into the fray.
Glancing back to where Dacian fought against Aiva’s savior, she realized in horror who the other man was, recognizing Callum’s strong form, fists clenched in rage, pummeling a rain of blows upon Dacian. The match was in his favor. Through her tear-filled eyes she watched Dacian’s body go limp. Giving up the fight.
“Aiva,” Callum breathed, rising to his feet to leave Dacian’s unconscious figure on the ground. As he came closer, she tore against Edric’s hands, desperate to get away from him. Callum was no better than Dacian. They were both scoundrels.
“Get away from me!” she hissed through gritted teeth. Callum took pause at the anger he saw in her eyes. At that moment she hated him. She didn’t think it possible to feel such a strong emotion, but she couldn’t deny the rage which filled her.
Fighting against her thrashing arms, Edric spun Aiva around to face him, shaking her harshly to get her attention. “Aiva, stop this!” he stated firmly, though quiet, cautious not to let his voice raise high enough to risk being overheard. All traces of his fury drained from his face to see her, the anger diminishing into an expression of shock and concern. Aiva flinched to feel his fingertips lightly brush the side of her face where Dacian had struck her, painfully aware of the sting that lingered, fading into a dull throb as the adrenaline started to wane. Edric stared at Callum over Aiva’s shoulder. When he spoke, his uneven tone revealed barely maintained calm. “Keep the guests entertained. We cannot allow anyone to see her. Not like this.”
He was already escorting her deeper into the courtyard toward the back corridor of the palace gardens. There was no chance for Callum to argue. Reluctantly, Aiva allowed Edric to usher her along, his hold firm, uncomfortable, stiff.
Upon reaching the gated doorway, Edric pushed it open, stepping inside with Aiva still in his arms. He used his foot to close the gate, leaving them in the quiet of a darkened corridor within the palace halls. “I’m fine, Edric,” Aiva exhaled. She wished her heart would stop racing. The ache in her cheek was getting worse. Throbbing. Tingling. The entire left side of her face felt as if it was about to explode.
To her surprise he took a step back. She stumbled slightly without his support, her hand lifting to her face. When her fingers drew back, Aiva gasped to find them tinted with a thin coat of blood from her lower lip. Dacian had drawn blood in his strike. She feared to think what her face must look like.
“Would you like to explain why you were out there with that man in the first place?” he questioned sternly. “Did I not tell you what he was like?”
“How did you even know where I was?”
“Calie cannot hide anything when she’s nervous, and you know it,” Edric shook his head. He was clearly disgusted, though by which part of the flagrant scene, she couldn’t be sure. “Callum and I came looking for you – though I must say, I did not expect to find you the way we did. What is the matter with you lately, Aiva? Have you gone mad?”
“How should I be, Edric?” Aiva shouted, wincing at the discomfort the effort created in her jaw. It wasn’t fair that she was being blamed for everything. She’d never intended for any of this to happen. And he didn’t even know the whole story! “Do you really know the man you call your best friend?” she glared. Edric blinked at her, confused by the question, though she gave him no opportunity to respond. “Everyone is always raving about what a good man Callum is. What a brave soldier. A hero. And now I am engaged to a traitor! A man who shared his bed with an Esai whore! Did you know that, Edric? Did you?”
“Aiva, what the hell are you talking about?”
“Dacian told me all about Callum sleeping with the Luquarr spy. He betrayed us! He gave information to the pirates.”
“And you believe what that man says?”
“I have no reason not to!”
Edric drew in a deep breath, jaw clenched in his rising anger. He exhaled slowly, fighting to control his emotions. “Callum has been our friend for years, Aiva,” he stated with strained calm. “Do you really believe he would do these things? The things told to you by a man you only just met? One who attempted to take advantage of you – Twice? Does he seem like an honorable man to you?”
“I don’t know what to believe anymore. I barely know Callum. War changes people. For all I know, it changed him, too. I have seen enough evidence of such since his return.” She shook her head. In her dwindling rage, she felt her muscles quivering, struggling to keep her on her feet. She was exhausted. Fatigued from the fearful excitement.
“Listen to me, Aiva,” Edric replied sternly. “I know that you are less than pleased with this engagement to Callum. On many levels I feel for you, I really do, but you are making it impossible for me to sympathize whe
n you behave in this fashion. Callum has sacrificed a great deal for our family. For the work he has performed in Siscal. He deserves better from us. From you. While you sit here feeling sorry for yourself, he has been out there risking his life day in and day out. You know nothing beyond these palace walls. The real world has shades other than black and white. While Dacian’s claims might have some basis, you have to see that there could be more to it. You haven’t even asked Callum yet you’ve already condemned him.”
“You’re right,” Aiva said irritably. “I don’t know what the world is like outside these palace walls. But whose fault is that? I didn’t ask to be sheltered. Maybe I should go off to battle with the soldiers when they leave for Siscal. I know how to fight. Maybe then I will learn what life is really like and how it can be at all acceptable to bed your enemy.”
“Don’t be ridiculous. You can’t just run off into the middle of a war. You are the heir of this family, Aiva.”
“Yes, I am. And that is exactly why I should be learning these things. So I can know how to rule our people properly.” Aiva threw her arms up in exasperation. “Our mother served in the military. How can I expect to be anything like her when I know nothing? And every time I try to learn, I am pushed back. Because I am the heir. Because I have to do this, or I have to do that.”
“Come with me,” Edric sighed, lightly taking Aiva’s arm to guide her down the hallway. She put up little resistance. Whatever he intended to do, it couldn’t possibly make her feel any worse than she already did. “We should get you cleaned up. We can sort this mess with Callum once the festivities have died down.”
“And if there is truth to what Dacian says?”
“Then it will be dealt with accordingly. For now, there will be no more talk of it. Do you understand?”
The Myatheira Chronicles: Volume Two: Beyond the Veil Page 12