The Return of Absent Souls (After The Rift Book 6)

by C. J. Archer

  “Glancia too.”

  “Then we’ll go to one of the temples.”

  “When?”

  He smiled. “If not today then tomorrow.”

  “Very well,” I said. “There’s more important things to discuss, anyway. Such as what to do with the third wish.”

  “Agreed.” He tugged me towards the throne.

  “And we should decide where we’re going to live.”

  “Here for two years,” he said.

  “And after that? What are your plans?”

  “We’ll talk about that later.” A sly smile curved his lips as he kept tugging me towards the throne.

  “We should also discuss your plans for Glancia, at least in broad terms,” I said.

  “Politics is so dull.”

  I chuckled. “You’re the leader of this nation, for good or ill. You have to discuss politics at some point.”

  “True, but not now.” He scooped me up into his arms. “Now, I’m going to ravish you.”

  I gasped. “Dane! There are no locks on these doors!”

  “You want to do it here?” He looked around. “On the throne?”

  “Isn’t that where you meant?”

  He carried me out of the antechamber, through the council chamber, the formal sitting room, a games room, the private dining room, a small chamber of indeterminate function, a small library, private office, and finally the king’s bedchamber. We did not stop there, however. He carried me through to the adjoining bedchamber, assigned to the captain of the guards.

  “This door has a lock on it,” he said, pushing the bolt across. “And the bed is more comfortable than the throne.”

  I smiled against his mouth. “It’s also far away from the rest of the palace. Not many will think to look for you here.”

  He smiled too. “Politics and administration can wait. I have more important things to do.”

  Our time together was over all too briefly. Dane needed to attend meetings while I went in search of Meg. I found her at the forest cottage, about to return to Mull. She was in a bit of a lather.

  “Josie, thank goodness you’re here. Tell Max that my parents will not be angry about last night.”

  “Wellll…”

  She gave me an arched look. “I sent word that I was staying here with you. They will assume Max was in the garrison where he should be.”

  “That’s all right then.” I turned to Max. “What they don’t know won’t make them cross.”

  He considered this a moment. “But we should be honest with them.”

  “No!” both Meg and I cried.

  Meg took his hands in hers and kissed him lightly. “I adore my family, but they’re overbearing sometimes. They don’t need to know we spent last night together. But we should tell them about our plans for the future.”

  “You’re getting married?” I asked.

  She nodded, smiling. “Just as soon as we can. You and Dane?”

  “The same.” I hugged her then Max too. “It looks like we’ll all live at the palace together for a while. You’ll be made captain of the guards, Max.”

  He shrugged. “Maybe.”

  “Definitely. There’s no one better qualified. You proved that by outwitting the Deerhorns when you fetched Brant.”

  “Speaking of the Deerhorns,” he said. “Are you returning to the palace? I’ll escort Meg to Mull, but you need to be properly guarded. Until the third wish is used, you’re still in danger.”

  “My escort is outside. They’ll accompany us all to Mull. I can’t wait to see your parents when you tell them, Meg. They’ll be so pleased.”

  We traveled at a rapid clip along the village road, staying alert. There was no sign of the Deerhorns, but they would do well to remain at the palace. They could not kidnap me when I was with so many guards. It wasn’t just Max and my escort that protected us, but a number of staff accompanying the duke of Buxton and the minister for justice joined us. The duke and minister rode in an official palace carriage. One of the doors gleamed with fresh black paint where Leon’s personal insignia had been covered. The door on the other side still sported the Lockhart family crest of key and prancing deer. I wondered if that would soon be painted over too. What would replace it?

  I asked one of their men why they were going to the village, but he didn’t know.

  We parted ways at the edge of the village, and we headed to the Divers’ house. I remained outside to allow Meg and Max to speak with her parents alone.

  The door opposite opened and Bessie Tailor emerged from Doctor Ashmole’s cottage. She felt her way with one hand against the wall. Her near-blind eyes sought out the sun, but she wouldn’t be able to see more than a general lightness. Nobody accompanied her.

  I went to help her navigate the steps, my escort of guards in tow. “Bessie, it’s me, Josie Cully. Can I help you?”

  “Josie!” She squinted in my direction. “Is that really you?”

  “It is,” I said, taking her arm. “Step down now.”

  “I thought you were at the palace, measuring up the queen’s chambers.” She laughed at her own joke, revealing a lot fewer teeth than the last time I’d seen her.

  “What happened to your teeth?” I asked.

  “They were old, like me, so Doctor Ashmole said I should have them removed before they cause me trouble.”

  “So they weren’t causing you trouble yet?”

  “They were fine.”

  “He shouldn’t have done that. It’s not necessary—”

  “My, my,” came a brittle voice behind me.

  “Ugh,” Bessie muttered. “The viper speaks, unfortunately.”

  “Giving out medical advice again, Miss Cully? Didn’t you learn from the last time?”

  I glanced over my shoulder to see Mistress Ashmole looking down her nose at me, her arms crossed. “Just having a chat with an old friend,” I said.

  I assisted Bessie down the next step and she assured me she could get home alone from there. “Although one of your nice young men could offer to help, if you can spare one.”

  “Are you sure you can’t see?” I teased.

  “I can see their shape,” she said.

  “How did you know they’re not women?”

  “They smell like men.”

  I laughed and signaled to one of the guards to take her to her home in the next street. “She’ll let you know which one it is when you reach it.”

  I watched them go and was about to return to Meg’s house when Mistress Ashmole spoke. “I’ve been the midwife ever since your departure.”

  “I hope you found the task to your liking.”

  She sniffed. “It’s menial work. You may take back the role.”

  I arched my brows as she disappeared inside. I was still recovering from the conversation when she handed me my midwifery pack. “All the instruments are in there. You won’t find any missing.”

  “I suspect nothing less from you, Mistress Ashmole.” I went to walk off, but she spoke again.

  “It’s impossible for you to have made a living as a midwife. Perhaps with the apothecary shop, you could have survived if you lived frugally, but there isn’t enough midwifery work. You must have been doctoring to support yourself.”

  Perhaps I was bolstered by recent events, with Dane becoming king then interim leader of Glancia, and with the Deerhorns being outwitted, but I couldn’t let her comment slide. “I didn’t simply give up the apothecary business. You took my premises, my ingredients, everything I had in storage. How was I supposed to continue?”

  She humphed. “They tell me you’re clever, resourceful. Clearly you are not.”

  She was the sort of person for whom inflicting an injury wasn’t enough. She liked to dig her thumb into the wound too. I loathed her with every fiber of my being. Before I could think of a retort, however, she disappeared inside and slammed the door.

  “Bloody awful woman,” one of the guards said.

  I returned to Meg’s house and spent some time with h
er family until Mistress Diver suggested we visit some of the shops for wedding things.

  “Have you thought about your gown, Josie?” she asked.

  “Not yet,” I said as we walked into the village with a small army of guards behind us, including Max.

  “We’ll see what the draper has in stock.”

  “Probably not much,” Meg grumbled. “He doesn’t use Deerhorn merchants for his supplies, which means his own deliveries will most likely have been delayed or blocked altogether.”

  We inspected the bolts of cloth in stock anyway and listened to the draper’s complaints about his struggling business. Then we spent a leisurely afternoon moving from shop to shop, mostly greeting friends rather than actual shopping. News had already reached the village about the republic, and they had many questions, some of which we could answer, many we could not. I wasn’t familiar enough with the concept and what it meant for the ordinary person to explain it.

  “Little will change for most of us,” I assured one shopkeeper.

  She looked somewhat disappointed until Meg chimed in. “Things will certainly change for the better around here, though. Dane is going to end corruption. The Deerhorns will have to unblock supplies or be arrested for hindering trade.”

  She was bombarded with more questions, many of which she could answer. She knew a surprising amount about commerce and the law. Certainly more than me.

  “That’s because you had your head buried in medical texts growing up,” she told me when I asked her about it. “Whereas I grew up with Lyle and my father coming home at the end of the day and discussing current events, politics, economics.”

  “Meg,” Mistress Diver whispered. “Don’t talk about such things in front of the sergeant. It’s unattractive in a woman.”

  “Max knows what I’m like.”

  Her mother looked uncertain.

  “Meg’s interest in village affairs is one of the many reasons why I love her,” Max assured Mistress Diver.

  It was just the right thing to say to assuage her and she smiled, albeit unconvincingly. “Still, a wife shouldn’t let such interests get in the way of her home duties. Isn’t that right, Josie?”

  “Uh…”

  “You won’t allow your medical interests to get in the way of Dane’s work as leader, will you?”

  “Actually, I’m going to be the village midwife again. Mistress Ashmole is no longer interested.”

  “Oh.”

  “I’m also considering petitioning the colleges in Logios to allow women. As the wife of Glancia’s leader, I might have some sway. At the very least they’ll have to grant me an audience or risk offending not only Dane, but all of Glancia too.”

  Meg hooked her arm through mine. “Good for you, Josie.” Her mother looked as though she was about to protest, but Meg indicated the building ahead. “The duke and minister are leaving the governor’s office. I wonder what they wanted with him.”

  “Let’s find out.”

  “You’re going to address a duke?” Mistress Diver cried.

  “Stay here if you like,” Meg told her.

  She and I hurried towards them before they departed. They didn’t get into their carriage straight away, however, but seemed to be issuing orders to the governor’s men guarding the entrance. By the shocked look on the guards’ faces, the orders were extraordinary.

  They saluted the duke who then trotted down the steps to join the waiting justice minister. Behind him, the door opened suddenly, forcing the two guards to jump out of the way. The governor emerged. He stomped down the steps like a petulant child denied a treat and headed off, away from the duke’s carriage.

  “I wonder why the guards aren’t escorting him,” Mistress Diver said, frowning. “They always do, nowadays. He’s worried about retaliation, ever since the riot.

  “Your Grace,” I called out to the duke. “May I ask what’s happening?”

  He paused, one hand on the open carriage door. “Of course you may. It is your village, after all.” He indicated the minister for justice. “We were sent here to investigate reports of corruption in the appointment of the sheriff and governor. Upon being confronted with several accusations that he committed fraud and corruption on the Deerhorns’ behalf, the governor stepped down, effective immediately. We didn’t even have to present evidence.”

  Meg and I exchanged glances.

  “So…he’s gone?” Max asked.

  The duke nodded. “The sheriff will most likely fall on his sword too. We’ve already spoken to him with the same accusations, and he said he will consider his position. I doubt he will continue in the role after he hears of the governor’s resignation.”

  “I don’t understand,” Mistress Diver said. “Who is in charge of the village if we have no governor?”

  “His assistant will step into the role temporarily, until a replacement is chosen by the councilors. If the sheriff also decides to leave, his men will have to make do until the new governor appoints a new sheriff.”

  “Do the Deerhorns know?” I asked.

  “Dane went to see them as we were leaving the palace. As lord in these parts, Deerhorn had to be informed.” The duke gave us a smug smile. “I don’t think they’ll be very pleased to hear that all deals made with this governor will be deemed null and void.”

  “Will they have to give back the land they bought for next to nothing after the Row burned down?” Meg asked.

  “They will.”

  “Extraordinary,” Mistress Diver said on a breath.

  “I wish I was there to see Lady Deerhorn’s face,” Meg said.

  “So do I,” said the duke. “So do I.”

  We waited until the crier emerged from the council building and announced the resignation of the governor. He then went on his way to walk around the village, calling out the news. He gathered quite a following of stunned listeners before he’d got very far.

  We headed back to the Divers’ house, meeting Lyle and Mr. Diver along the way. They’d heard the news and were as shocked as us but had more to say on the subject.

  Meg was very quiet, however, not joining in on their excited conversation. Since she was remaining behind in Mull, we said our goodbyes outside the Divers’ cottage. I wanted to reach the palace cottage before it grew dark.

  “Is something wrong?” I asked Meg after her family retreated inside.

  “Nothing. I’m just thinking.”

  “About becoming the next governor of Mull?”

  She looked around to see if anyone had overheard, but her family had all gone. Max, however, gave her a nod of encouragement. “An inexperienced nobody can’t simply step into the role of governor,” she told us both. “The councilors will never choose an uneducated woman.”

  “Perhaps not for governor, but I think they would consider you for a position on the council now that one has become vacant.”

  “Especially if the people of Mull let it be known they want you,” Max added.

  Meg sighed. “My parents wouldn’t allow it.”

  I took her hands in mine. “You’re a grown woman, Meg. Your decisions are your own to make. Besides, you’ll no longer be living with them soon. You’ll be with Max, and if he thinks it’s a good idea then how can you refuse?”

  Her smile began slowly and spread, lighting up her entire face. “I think I will apply.”

  I drew her into a hug. “This village needs you.”

  “It’s not just that,” she said, pulling away. “I want to prove that women can be councilors—or even queens—and do a good job of it without being ruthless like Lady Deerhorn.”

  “Perhaps you will run for the high minister’s role in two years’ time.”

  “I don’t know about that, but perhaps other women will see that it’s possible.”

  “Meg Diver, councilor of Mull. It has a nice ring to it.”

  “Meg Bullitt, councilor of Mull, sounds better,” Max said.

  The garden staff were lighting the torches along the drive when I arrived back with
my escort. The forecourts, pavilions and the palace itself were already well lit, welcoming us. I wanted to see Dane before I retired to the cottage, but after waiting in the garrison for some time, I gave up and went in search of Balthazar instead.

  His heavily guarded office signaled his presence inside. “You’re still here?” I asked.

  He looked up from the paperwork with a weary smile. “There’s much to be done. The servants are starting to indicate whether they’re staying or going, more and more nobles are arriving, and some staff have not been performing their duties to optimum levels in recent weeks.”

  “You’re working too hard. All of that can wait until tomorrow. Come to the garrison with me.”

  “Or I can finish this.” He indicated his papers.

  I sighed. “You should relax and enjoy life.”

  “Why? Because I’m old? The day I stop working is the day I die.”

  A distant shout set my nerves on edge. I joined the guards at the door as they drew their swords. Another shout echoed along the tunnel as the flickering light of a torch signaled someone’s approach.

  The guards raised their swords.

  “Rylan! Zeke!” Quentin rushed out of the darkness, torchlight picking out the worry in his eyes. “We need help. The prisoners have escaped.”

  “From the palace cells?” one of the guards asked.

  “Of course from the bloody cells,” Quentin snapped.

  “How?” Zeke asked.

  “Don’t know. We can investigate later, but we’ve got to round them up before they hurt someone. The Deerhorns’s mercenaries will probably leave the vicinity and not cause trouble, but the other three are evil. They can’t be trusted to roam the grounds or village at night. Come on, we need help!”

  Rylan glanced into the office. “We have to protect Balthazar and Josie.”

  “Go,” Balthazar said, rising. “Josie and I will join the staff in the commons. We’ll be safe there.”

  “Zeke, take two men with you,” Rylan said as Quentin ran off again. “The rest of us will escort Josie and Bal to the commons then help you look for the prisoners.”

  Zeke and another two guards raced after Quentin. We followed as quickly as Balthazar’s gait would allow, with three guards in front of us and three behind. I held onto Balthazar’s arm to steady him so he could walk faster. The sooner we reached the commons, the sooner our escort could leave us and join the hunt.