King’s Palace, Old Vespers
Jerrol sat in the king’s library, perusing the catalogue, searching for references of crystals or Telusion mines. His mind drifted to his conversation with Torsion. He’d never been able to get Torsion to tell him how he’d come by She’vanne.
Scowling at his book, he tried to remember what he knew about Darians, but apart from the fact that they gave their true name when they bonded, and on occasion they could be incessant chatterboxes, there wasn’t much else he knew. Birlerion had told him not to share his Darian’s name, and he hadn’t. Interesting then that Torsion had always openly used She’vanne’s name and that he would use her to validate his point.
“Zin’talia?”
“Yes?”
“Why don’t you like Birlerion?”
There was a short silence. “It’s not that I don’t like him. He is uncomfortable around me.”
“Any idea why?”
“No. He usually keeps his distance. What made you ask?”
“She’vanne told Torsion that you don’t like Birlerion. Torsion told me not to trust him.”
“Pshht! Don’t listen to anything Torsion says. He’s lying.”
“How do you know?”
Zin’talia sighed in his head; a soft ripple of warmth as if she had breathed over him, and he smiled. “She is not bonded.”
“What?” Jerrol sat up.
“They are not bonded. He can’t talk to her.”
“But… they’ve been together for years and he knows her name.”
“It’s not her true name. I don’t know why she is with him. She won’t say. In fact, she rarely speaks. I think it’s been so long since she’s been near another Darian, she’s forgotten how.”
“Can we do anything to help?”
“I don’t know. As I said, she doesn’t want anything to do with me. You could stable me closer to her and I can try. But don’t expect much. I think they have gotten used to each other despite not bonding.”
“Why would he lie?”
“Maybe he doesn’t want to admit that he hasn’t bonded.”
“Maybe. But why lie about Birlerion? Torsion doesn’t know him. It doesn’t make sense. Jerrol stared at his book, his mind spinning. “Keep an eye on her. The Lady would expect us to help her, if needed.”
“Of course.”
As he refocused on his book and turned the page, he became aware that he was no longer alone. Glancing up, he saw Lady Miranda hesitating in the doorway. He rose and smiled a welcome. “Lady Miranda, were you looking for me?”
She cleared her throat. “I heard Sentinal Tagerillion had been injured at Deepwater. I wanted to ask if there was any news. He will be alright, won’t he?” She gripped her hands together so hard her knuckles were white.
Jerrol had forgotten Tagerill had shown an interest, and it seemed it was returned, by the look of concern on her face. “Please have a seat,” he said, leading her into the room. “What did you hear?” he asked, sitting beside her.
She plucked at the folds of the blue silk dress she wore, concentrating on pleating the material. “He was so badly injured that he had to remain in Deepwater, that he hadn’t regained consciousness, and he would lose the use of his arm. Tell me it isn’t true,” she pleaded, suddenly turning her face towards him and gripping his sleeve. Tears were forming in her anxious blue eyes, and she angrily brushed them away.
“It’s not true,” Jerrol said, handing her a handkerchief.
“Oh,” Lady Miranda exhaled with relief. “I-I was so worried,” she gulped, trying to regain her composure.
“Hush, all will be well,” Jerrol murmured. “I am sorry you have been so distressed. Unfortunately, battles are usually exaggerated. Though I must admit, there is some basis in the truth.” He sighed. “I left Tagerill in Deepwater because he was hurt in a fight. He will have to rehabilitate to get back to full fighting strength, but he will recover,” Jerrol said firmly as she stilled. “It was better to leave him in the hands of a skilled healer than drag him over bumpy roads for three or four days. When he can travel, he will return to Stoneford to his sentinal, which will speed his healing, and then he will return to duty.”
“Oh, thank goodness,” she breathed. “Do you think it will be permissible to send him a letter?”
“I would think so.” Jerrol leaned forward. “Lady Miranda, what are your intentions here?”
She lifted startled eyes to his face. “W-What do you mean?”
“I mean, are you an Ascendant? Determined to cause the downfall of the Lady and the rule of the king?”
She gasped. “N-No!”
“Then why do you persist in presenting yourself as one?”
“I don’t.”
“Yes, you do. You place your star firmly in the orbit of Prince Kharel and his wife, yet you hover on the edges of society like an apologetic ghost, not quite one thing or the other. Just because you were the princess’ lady in waiting, doesn’t mean you have to remain one.”
Lady Miranda twisted the handkerchief in her hands. “You don’t understand,” she said with some bitterness. “When I fled Greenswatch, I fled the terrible mistake I made. I was shunned by society, branded a terrible mother and worse. The princess sheltered me; offered me solace and support, a job, a place to live. I can’t betray her trust.”
“She gave you a job and encouraged you to sever yourself from your family. That doesn’t sound like a good friend to me. She isolated you; made you dependent on her for everything.”
“I isolated myself with my behaviour.” Lady Miranda’s voice was muffled, though Jerrol hoped she was listening.
“That was ten years ago, Lady Miranda. It doesn’t have to be a life sentence. The world has moved on. Greenswatch has moved on, and your son is now a lord. You should be proud of him. Your daughter has arrived here in Old Vespers. Are you going to shun her because of old regrets? You have already missed so many years of your children’s lives when you didn’t have to.”
“It’s far too late.”
“It’s never too late,” Jerrol reproved her gently. “That is just pride talking. The question is, do you want your family back? I think they would want you back in their lives, Alyssa especially, with all she has gone through. They may be a little angry and upset to begin with, but that is understandable, isn’t it? I think Tagerill would love your children if you asked it of him,” he suggested.
Lady Miranda stilled; her head bent over her hands. She lifted her face, hope dawning. “Do you really think so?”
“Well, I can’t speak for him, but I’m sure you know him well enough to know what he would expect of you.”
“Maybe he expects too much,” she whispered, flushing.
“Or maybe you expect too little. Lady Miranda, you are only a victim if you let yourself be one. You don’t have to do it all by yourself.” Jerrol’s lips twisted as he echoed Liliian’s words. Listen to your own advice! he thought. “There are people around you who would support you if you asked; me being one of them.” He prodded his chest with his thumb, grinning at her encouragingly.
She took a deep breath and sat up. “I must look a wreck.”
Jerrol laughed. “Nothing that can’t be repaired.”
“I have no idea how to request a change of room or whether the king will permit it. He has no reason to trust me.”
“But I do, and I can set it in motion if you would like me too. You wouldn’t have to return to the princess if you didn’t want to.”
“That would be a cowardly way out. I should thank her for her support and tell her she needs to hire a new lady in waiting.”
“I promise I will come and rescue you should there be any difficulty with you leaving her service. Remember, she does not own you.”
Lady Miranda stood, determination in every line. “Captain Haven, if you would be so kind, I would like to request the relocation of my room, though how I will pay for it, I don’t know as I will have no income.”
“Mere details. I am su
re the king will provide you with a bed while you figure out your next step. After all, I would think you are trying to figure out how you can visit Tagerill, aren’t you?” he suggested, offering her his arm.
Lady Miranda stared at him. “Captain Haven, I think I may have underestimated you. I came for news but you are about to change my whole life.”
Jerrol quirked an eyebrow at her. “Lots of people underestimate me, though this is all your decision. I just helped you reach it.”
She gave a watery chuckle as he escorted her out of the library and back to the tower where the King’s Guards stood, guarding the door.
“I will return to collect you in one-quarter chime. Will that be sufficient?” Jerrol said.
Lady Miranda swallowed and nodded. “I would appreciate that very much.” She squared her shoulders and opened the door, closing it behind her.
Jerrol hesitated. Should he wait for her? No, he would speak with Darris who could start organising Miranda’s move, and when he returned, he would see what would be.
Miranda crossed the antechamber to her room. As she placed her hand on the latch, the princess’ voice floated out to her. “Is that you, Miranda? Where have you been?” There was an edge to her voice. The princess was not happy.
“Yes, your highness, I’ll be right there,” Miranda called as she opened her door and strode over to her mirror. Her face was blotchy. She hurriedly splashed her face with cold water, but it was apparent that she had been crying. She never could cry prettily. She patted her face dry, straightened her gown, and, gathering her courage, left her room.
“You needed me, your highness?” she asked as she entered the princess’ parlour.
“Yes, pour me some wine.” The princess inspected Miranda, her eyes cold and hard. She lay on a blue and gold upholstered chaise lounge, playing with a fan decorated with pale pink feathers. Scattered around her on the floor were a variety of scarves, combs, and fans. “Where have you been? It is boring here by myself.” She yawned delicately, revealing tiny pearl teeth.
“I was arranging the relocation of my room, your highness. I have decided it is time I took some responsibility for my children. They need me. I am sorry, your highness, but I must resign from my position in your service,” Miranda said, forcing the words out.
“Don’t be so silly,” the princess replied. “You can’t leave me. I am all you have.”
“I am sorry, your highness, but it is time for me to leave,” Miranda repeated.
“No, I think not. This is just one of your little wobbles. You know you have to stay with me; it is the only way you can be safe,” the princess said, swinging her feet over the side of the settee. “You need to stay with your princess,” she repeated as she twirled her fingers. “This situation is only temporary. Kharel will have it all resolved shortly, and then we will be back in power.”
Miranda wavered. “I appreciate all you have done for me, your highness, but you can’t look after me forever.”
“Of course, I can. You belong with me. You don’t want to leave me, do you?”
“N-No, I don’t want to leave you,” agreed Miranda. She shook her head. What was she saying? “No, I do want to leave,” she mumbled, confused.
“No, you don’t. You know you are safe with me. You’ve always been safe with me; no one else knows how to look after you.” The princess flicked her a sharp glance and gentled her voice to a calming murmur as if soothing a frightened animal.
Miranda stared at the tiny woman, frowning as she tried to remember why she had wanted to leave.
A sharp voice sliced through her confusion. “Is this a new hiring technique? Is it the only way you can get people to work for you, Selvia?” Jerrol stood in the doorway, observing the princess with cold amusement.
“How dare you enter my rooms?” Selvia replied, stiffening with anger.
“How dare you try to keep someone in your employ against their will?” Jerrol replied. His voice dispersed the cloud of confusion in Miranda’s head. “How long have you been mesmerizing Lady Miranda? From the very beginning? Did you persuade her to leave her family in the first place? Was it all your idea?” Jerrol asked, his voice bitingly cold.
The princess watched Miranda, her gaze darting about the room. “Of course not, Miranda chose to work for me. I helped her when she was in need, gave her a roof over her head. No one else would, only me. Miranda knows that, don’t you? You are safe with me, aren’t you? Always safe with me?”
A white-hot rage rushed through Miranda as the implication of Jerrol’s words filtered through her confusion. “How dare you?” she cried. “How could you? All these years you said you were my friend.” Miranda shook. “You took my children from me.” Her eyes widened. “You took my husband from me,” she gasped.
“No, No, I didn’t. I swear.” Selvia held her hands out before her, hesitantly backing away from the incandescent Miranda. “It was Isseran who suggested it first,” she blurted, eyeing Miranda. “We got on so well, he suggested you should stay. He planted the discontent with Greenswatch, and once you were here I just, well, encouraged you to stay. It was easy; you wanted to stay.”
“Only because I didn’t think I had anywhere else to go,” Miranda said, rigid with fury.
Selvia stiffened as she bumped into the wall behind her. She raised her chin, her eyes hard. “I only encouraged your feelings. I’m not an Ascendant like Isseran.”
“So, you know that Isseran is an Ascendant?” Jerrol asked with interest.
“Ha!” Selvia snorted. “He hoodwinked you good and proper, didn’t he? He almost had you as well, got you reassigned, and managed to sneak his friends in under your nose. Dishonourably discharged; how does that look on your record?”
“Not too bad seeing as I’ve been reinstated,” Jerrol replied. He looked across at Miranda. “Ready to go?”
“Yes,” she said. “Please take me away from here. I hope I never see her again.” She turned her back on the princess and stalked out of the tower, her back straight.
Jerrol followed her, pausing in the doorway. “I think you’ll find it difficult to find any help once people know what you are,” he said to the princess.
“You can’t leave me. I need you,” Selvia’s strident voice followed Miranda as she left the room. “No, come back! You want to stay with me; you love me. I keep you safe! You’ll regret it. I can keep you safe.” Her voice was muffled as Jerrol slammed the wooden door shut and the lock clicked into place.
“Are you alright?” Jerrol asked as he led Miranda out of the tower and back into the main palace. Tremors of shock shuddered through her.
Miranda hugged herself. “Was that the truth? She was controlling me?”
Jerrol sighed. “I’m afraid so. Do you think you could stand to talk about this to the king? We need to tell him what she said.”
“What she said? It was all vitriol.”
“She said more than she realized,” Jerrol said, leading the way towards the king’s chambers. He requested the king’s presence as he strode.
“Are you sure we should be here? I mean, won’t the king be annoyed at being disturbed?” Miranda asked as she scurried after him through the corridors.
“It will be fine; he is expecting us,” Jerrol said, pausing to tap on the antechamber door.
Darris opened it immediately. “The king is waiting for you in his chamber.”
Jerrol nodded and led Miranda through the antechamber. She hung back nervously. “All will be well,” he murmured, tugging her forward.
“Sire,” Jerrol said, dropping to his knee as Miranda dropped into a deep curtsey.
King Benedict looked across at him. “This is becoming a habit,” he said wryly, “and I thought I said you were off duty until I called for you.”
Jerrol rose with a grin. “I was in the archives starting the research you ordered me to do.”
“Ah yes. I did, didn’t I?” He looked at Lady Miranda. “Lady Miranda, rise.”
“Your Majesty,” she said hu
skily. “I apologise for my appearance; Captain Haven didn’t give me a chance to prepare.”
“Yes, he can be a bit hasty at times,” the king agreed.
Jerrol’s grin widened.
“Well, Captain Haven, what is it this time?”
Jerrol recapped what had happened. “Sire, Selvia was adamant that she was the only one who could protect Lady Miranda. She had persuaded Lady Miranda to leave her family, to remain in her employ. She knew that Isseran was an Ascendant, that he had the power to plant suggestions. She confirmed that he had brought his people into the palace and the government.”
“Your Majesty,” Lady Miranda said. “She also said her husband would have this situation resolved; that he would soon be back in power. She knows something is being planned.”
“Had you heard anything of this plan previously?” the king asked.
Lady Miranda shook her head. “Not in such definite terms. She often said her father would not stand for her being imprisoned, for being treated in such a manner. She said her father would act and that Kharel had friends in powerful places. But I heard nothing fixed or prepared. Thinking about it, Prince Kharel has been absent from his rooms more often of late. He is usually up at the top of the tower. The princess complained that he liked fresh air more than her.”
The king frowned. “I thought we searched his rooms?”
“Not well enough, it seems,” Jerrol said, his face grim. “He must have a crystal. They must be planning another coup.”
“At least we are forewarned. Call Darris for me,” the king instructed as he walked over to his desk and started making a list. He looked up as his steward entered the room. “Darris, discreetly get Fenton, Nikols, and Prince Anders here now. Jerrol, get your Sentinals roaming the palace. Full alert, and tell Fonorion to come in here.”
Jerrol nodded and left the room to be replaced by Fonorion.
“Fonorion, I want you to check everyone who comes into my rooms, and I mean everyone, including Lady Miranda here. Have them each say the Lady’s Oath. Some Ascendants have infiltrated the palace, and we need to find them and quickly. Sorry m’dear, but it’s better to be sure.”
Sentinals Rising: Book Two of the Sentinal series Page 14