Dissident (Forbidden Things Book 1)

by Nikki Mccormack

  A headache threatened at the mere thought. “Absolutely not. I don’t need him trying to organize my room again. I couldn’t find a blasted thing the last time.”

  Sheyv made a small noise that might have been a strangled laugh before bobbing a hasty bow and scampering off down the hall.

  Caplin gave the portrait across the hall a frosty look before shutting the door then proceeded to sort through clothes lying on foot of the bed, sniffing at them to see if they were suitable for the council meeting later. Once dressed, he arranged his mussed hair, nodded approval at his reflection, and left the room.

  Andrea waited in the sitting room at the foot of the grand staircase. She sat in a high backed chair, her spine rigid, staring out the window and twisting a lock of dark red hair around her finger. A rim of red around her eyes suggested she either hadn’t slept well or had been crying, maybe both. A steaming cup of tea sat untouched on the table.

  She jumped to her feet when he entered and looked past him as if expecting someone else to be there. Disappointment dimmed the light in her eyes.

  “Lord Caplin. I’m sorry to drop in unexpectedly, but…” she lowered her voice and glanced past him again, “… is Indigo here?”

  For a second, he thought she was accusing him of having relations with Indigo, then other possible implications behind the question struck him. “Why do you ask?”

  Andrea placed a hand on his arm and drew him into the room with her. Lowering her voice even more, she said, “Indigo and Jayce had an argument last night. She left and never came back. She didn’t tell him where she was going. Have you seen her?”

  His pulse began to race and a metallic taste rose on his tongue. Where would she have gone at night? He kept his voice even and reassuring. “I’m sure she’s fine. She’s probably in class now… ” He trailed off when Andrea shook her head.

  “I went to class after I talked to Jayce hoping she would be there. When she didn’t show up, I requested permission to leave and came here. I didn’t know where else to go. You two have been friends a long time. I thought you might know where to find her. Jayce is in an absolute fury.”

  And what did our dear Lord Jayce do to chase her away?

  Indigo’s training at the academy was important to her. She believed that becoming a healer would somehow erase her father’s treason from people’s memories. He couldn’t imagine her missing class over a simple argument. The twisting sensation in his gut warned of something more sinister.

  He clutched Andrea’s arm. “What did Jayce do to her?”

  She took a step back and jerked her arm away, her eyes widening in surprise. The moment of stunned silence was short-lived, however, then her eyes narrowed and her hands settled on her hips.

  “He didn’t do anything,” she snapped. “She overreacted to a little argument.”

  Caplin bit the insides of his cheeks, fighting not to say something he would regret. He had known Indigo a long time. The Indigo he knew was considerate and sensible. It wasn’t like her to storm off in a fit of pique. She wouldn’t have run out into the night without good reason. Jayce must have done something substantial to provoke that reaction. Still, Andrea was as quick to defend Jayce as he was to defend Indigo and fighting with each other wasn’t going to help them find her.

  “I don’t know where she would go if she didn’t go to one of us. I can check a few places this morning. There’s a council meeting later. If I haven’t found her by then, I’ll ask Lord Serivar if he’s heard anything.”

  Andrea’s expression softened. “Yes. Headmaster Serivar should know regardless, in case she doesn’t show up for her other classes.”

  He gave her shoulder a comforting squeeze. “I’m sure she’ll show up soon. Don’t worry about it.”

  “Thank you, Caplin. I knew you’d help.” She beamed at him, her anger forgotten. “I’d best get back.”

  He escorted her to the door and watched until she passed out of sight then shoved it shut and turned into the house. Panic threatened again. What if something terrible had happened? Indigo could have been attacked, even killed, if she wandered the wrong streets at night. Demin might be one of the safest cities in the kingdom, but there were still places where a woman walking alone at night would draw the wrong kind of attention.

  The mere thought caused painful twisting in his chest. He had to find her. She was his sanity. Whenever he got discouraged with politics of the High Council or demands of upper nobility, he sought her out for the calming effect she had on him, albeit less often since her engagement. Her pleasant conversation and open smile were a soothing balm to any frustration.

  Stepping back into the sitting room, he pulled the string for the servant’s bell. Sheyv darted out through a hidden door. Caplin didn’t give the boy time to complete his bow.

  “Have Terun saddle my bay gelding, Nissin. I’ll be out in a few minutes.”

  Catching the urgency in his tone, the boy rushed to the door, pausing for a quick bow before vanishing outside.

  “Father!” Caplin took a few steps toward the staircase and paused. He didn’t know where his father might be in the big house at this hour, perhaps a sitting room or his study. He was an early riser. “Father!”

  As the second shout rang through the house, a door under the staircase, the one that led to the kitchens, flew open. His mother, a handsome woman whose refined features complimented her gentle nature, stepped through the doorway amidst a waft of aromas that made his stomach growl. The cook was hard at work on something.

  His mother raised her eyebrows at him. “By the Divine’s grace, Caplin, are you trying to wake the district?”

  “Where’s Father?”

  She walked to him and lifted one hand toward his head in a familiar attempt to smooth his hair. Caplin caught her slender wrist in a firm grip and she searched his eyes, frowning.

  “What’s wrong dear?”

  “Indigo’s gone missing. I need to go look for her.”

  He released her hand and it went to her chest. “Dear me. I hope she’s all right. I’m afraid Gavin’s already gone to the palace. A messenger came for him early this morning. Emperor Rylan must have snubbed some part of the trade agreement again.”

  Caplin nodded, grinding his teeth in frustration. Ironic that Indigo’s calming influence would be such a boon right then. He placed a distracted kiss on his mother’s forehead. “I’ll see him at the meeting then.”

  “Will you be home for supper,” she asked when he spun away and strode to the door.

  He jerked the door open and stepped through, pausing with one hand gripping the ornate handle tight enough to hurt. “I don’t know.” He shut the door, blocking out the disappointment in her eyes.

  The day was bright, though a chill lingered in the morning air. He stopped in the courtyard and closed his eyes, picturing Indigo. Her smile came to mind, a beautiful smile that lit her vivid blue eyes with its sincerity. Aching filled him and he opened his eyes, his glare cut through the morning calm as he stormed toward the stable.

  The groom, Terun, his ice-white hair bound in a long tail, met him at the door with Nissin saddled and ready to go. Caplin took the reins and swung into the saddle, managing a hasty nod of recognition for the man before he trotted Nissin out into the morning street.

  There were only so many places Indigo might go. She was too absorbed in her schooling to build up many close friends in the city and her Uncle Theron’s estate was too far outside the city for a spontaneous visit. The meadow by the river was a favorite place. He couldn’t imagine her spending the night there, but it was the best lead he had.

  A few hours later, Caplin returned to town disappointed. He found no sign of her by the river. She might have shown up at the academy or her residence by now. He couldn’t verify either in the time he had, so he went to the palace. If nothing else, he might have a minute talk to his father about her before the meeting. Gavin referred to Indigo as his incidental daughter. He might think of something Caplin overlooked.


  King Jerrin’s hearty bellow met him when he stepped through the council room door.

  “He’s going to get a war if he keeps this up!” The king’s was face flushed beneath his heavy beard, his dark eyes pinched in anger.

  Gavin and Lord Serivar, the Healer’s Academy headmaster, were also present. Jerrin paused in his tirade and the three men nodded greeting. Caplin bowed to his uncle first before offering a nod to his father and Lord Serivar.

  “Am I interrupting?”

  “Not at all.” Jerrin gestured to a chair.

  Caplin took his usual seat.

  Jerrin resumed his rant. “That Divine forsaken Emperor Rylan raised prices on slaves again and he’s increased taxes on Lyran exports of wine and fabric for the third time in two months. He’s making a mockery of our trade agreement.”

  It was a testament to the state of things that his mother had already guessed the cause of the king’s upset. The Lyran emperor had been abusing terms of the trade agreement in subtle ways for several years. In the last several months, he’d progressed to open disregard of much of that agreement and Caithin nobility was beginning to feel the impact of his actions in rising costs. Jerrin could no longer afford to let it slide and risk losing the support of his people.

  There was a long silence while the king composed himself. Then he turned to Caplin. “There is another issue we’ve been discussing. I know you have friends in the education district. Perhaps you might have insight to offer.”

  Caplin longed to talk to his father about Indigo, but he wasn’t going to brush off his uncle when the man was already in a sour mood. He stared at Jerrin, trying to generate interest.

  Gavin read him like a book and held up a staying hand to his brother. “You look troubled, Son. What’s wrong?”

  With no small relief, he explained. “Lady Andrea paid a visit this morning to ask my help. Our mutual friend, Lady Indigo, has gone missing.”

  The meaningful look Gavin and Jerrin shared then gave Caplin a dreadful chill. They knew something and, judging by the solemn expressions, it wasn’t good.

  Serivar glowered at him. “Who’s Lady Indigo?”

  “Indigo Milan,” Caplin snapped. “She’s a student at your academy.”

  Serivar’s eyes bored into him. “Do you honestly think I have time to memorize the names of every individual enrolled in the academy?”

  Caplin opened his mouth to snap back, but his father’s harsh look silenced him. “I think we have identified our mystery woman. The description fits.”

  Caplin glanced around at them. “What do you mean? What mystery woman?”

  Jerrin nodded to Gavin who leaned back in his chair and inhaled deeply. He scratched his chin through his well-trimmed beard and his dark eyes gazed down the broad family nose Jerrin also shared, but that Caplin had fortunately escaped.

  “There was a strange flare of ascard energy in the Healer’s Courtyard the day before yesterday. It happened again that night, a little stronger. The Ascard Watchmen increased patrols in the area yesterday, but we assumed someone was playing around illicitly with their healing skills. Such things do happen on occasion. With a few Ascard Watchmen tuned to the area, a third offence would have given them an ascard signature to work with. When nothing else happened in the area yesterday, they resumed normal patrols.”

  Gavin glanced at Serivar, perhaps seeking verification of the story. The academy headmaster worked closely with the Watchmen on matters of student misbehaving.

  Serivar stared at the table, his long fingers steepled in front of him, and gave a faint nod.

  Gavin continued. “Last night, one of the Watchmen saw a young woman going to the Healer’s Courtyard alone. A few minutes later, there was a powerful surge of ascard energy from the area. When the Watchman reached the courtyard, there was no one there. They started investigating and found a couple who had been near there the night before. They said they’d seen a young woman running away from the courtyard. The description they gave matched that of the woman the Watchman saw. It also sounded familiar to me when I heard it, though I wasn’t sure why until you mentioned Lady Indigo.”

  Caplin felt faintly ill. “They haven’t found her then?”

  “No. They’ll continue searching and now we can at least tell them who they’re looking for. We can’t do much more than that I’m afraid.”

  Caplin stared at his father. Something inside him broke, leaving a hollow in his chest.

  “The young woman has a lot to answer for,” Serivar snapped.

  Gavin’s look of warning kept Caplin from lashing out in response. Perhaps one student among hundreds mattered little to the headmaster, but the callous tone infuriated him. What if something bad had happened to her? What if she had tried to protect herself with the ascard or someone else used it against her? The possibilities were endless and he didn’t like any of them.

  The door cracked open and a servant stepped in, bowing to Jerrin. “Your Highness, the other council members are arriving.”

  Jerrin nodded. “Send them in. We have much to discuss.”

  CHAPTER FIVE

  Indigo didn’t have to open her eyes to know she wasn’t with Jayce. He never held her like this. Her heart sped up. She opened her eyes to the sight of jagged black stone pressing in around them. Dingy light shone on the packed dirt floor, the remains of a fire smoldering in the center.

  Not a nightmare.

  Like the shelter, the long muscular body pressed against her was very real.

  Or a dream.

  What have I done?

  No matter how wrong it might be to wake in another man’s arms, the warmth of his embrace muffled her guilt and quieted her fear. Savoring the sensation, she lay there until he stirred next to her. His hand came up to caress her cheek.

  “Eldrian,” she murmured.

  He said nothing and she wondered if he heard her, then he slipped his arm out from under her and rose up on his elbow. She rolled onto her back. The gray light became beautiful where it touched his long silver hair.

  “I didn’t hurt you last night, did I?”

  She shook her head, the concern in his voice soothing her inner turmoil more than her own attempts at justification could. Right or wrong, it was easy to forget everything else while gazing into his stunning silver-blue eyes, so cold at a glance, hiding such extraordinary passion.

  “I shouldn’t have been so bold.” He traced the line of her jaw with one finger. “You have lovely eyes.”

  She exhaled a small laugh and he raised his brow in question. “I was thinking the same thing of you.”

  He kissed her then. She reciprocated, willing and with none of the awkwardness she might have expected after such sinful indulgence with a stranger. Perhaps that was due to the peculiarity of the situation. The thought of Jayce out searching might have caused her guilt if not for the sting of her lip as they kissed. Classes would go on without her and she hated to fall behind, but that was far away, part of another world.

  Within this nightmare landscape, she was free for once to do as she pleased and it pleased her to experience all of him. He was keeping things from her, but since he only needed her to help him escape, they didn’t need to know one another’s secrets. The lack of long-term obligation provided a sweet sense of liberation.

  He ended the kiss and got up to gather his tattered clothes. The fabrics were expensive silks, satins, and other fine cloth, still beautiful despite the wear. Upper nobility indeed, if that was his typical attire.

  Lyran grace poured out of him, evident in every movement. Lean muscle rippled beneath his pale skin. A long scar ran along his ribs and another marked his left thigh. Perhaps battle wounds given his situation. A good healer might have prevented such scarring, but she appreciated their stark contrast to his almost surreal perfection.

  He glanced at her over his shoulder and she looked away, her cheeks warming. He chuckled and finished dressing. Aware that he now watched her, she rose and pulled on her wrinkled dress. His open admiration
made her cheeks flush hot, more with desire than embarrassment.

  When she finished, he handed her some dry purple berries and she followed him from the shelter munching on the sour morsels. The landscape was more desolate in the grayish light seeping through dark clouds. It wasn’t active here like the area they traversed in the night. This appeared older with patches of dirt and sparse brown grass nestled amidst black basalt and spotted with gnarled little trees and bushes.

  He led her to a nearby spring where they drank their fill then turned his somber gaze on her. “Are you ready?”

  “Lead on, my lord.” She hid discomfort behind her smile. The berries only amplified her hunger, but, from the looks of the place, food was in short supply.

  He started walking, his strides confident. She took a deep breath and followed. The sulfur stench was less bothersome now. She was growing used to it.

  They hadn’t gone far before the sting of rubs began on her toes and heels along with a building ache in the arches of her feet. Her dress shoes weren’t suited to walking the rugged terrain. When pain became intolerable, she would heal her feet, but only then. Healing was draining and she didn’t dare waste too much energy on it.

  Hours passed with the dark sky churning overhead. Needles of pain began to shoot up her lower legs, muddling her thoughts. Bleak surroundings faded before the substantial effort of putting one foot in front of the other.

  When he noticed her falling behind, he stopped. She sank down on a weathered rock and took off the shoes, exposing bloody rubs on her toes and heels.

  He gave her a reproving look. “You should have said something.”

  “And what would you have done, carried me?”

  At least he was sensible enough not to argue the point. Instead, he turned to picking tart berries off a nearby bush while she placed her hands around one foot and then the other, healing the wounds. With considerable dread, she slipped the shoes back on. Sticky smears of blood inside them promised more misery.

  He gave her handful of berries and frowned at her feet. “I hate to make you continue.”