by Wendy Wang
“He was using her to paint passageways into other realms.”
“Yes, but we haven’t had any reports of unusual troop movement in a couple of months. So we think they’ve stopped using them.”
“Maybe for now they have. Maybe it’s too painful.”
“Too painful? For who?”
“Peter,” she said. He gave her a dubious look. “You do know Peter is very emotional. I mean he makes me look stoic. His decisions are always colored by his feelings.”
“Your point being?”
“If it’s a painful reminder, then he’s either destroyed the paintings or locked them up somewhere, so he doesn’t have to think about them.”
“My money would be on locking them up. Emotional or not, he’s far from stupid. Destroying them would be a huge waste.”
“Exactly. If Eryn could get access to a painting leading out of Ethavia—and it wouldn’t even matter where as long as it was out—we could use Cai’s spy network to get her home.”
A wide grin stretched Gordon’s lips until they disappeared into his thick red beard. His round cheeks lifted and his eyes became half-moons. “See? I knew you’d find it. We should go tell the chief.”
“Why don’t you go tell him. He’ll listen to you,” she said trying not to sound too bitter. She may have calmed down but it wouldn’t be for long if she saw Cai right now.
“Majesty.” Gordon stood up, towering over her. “Can I give you a bit of advice?”
“Can I stop you?”
He laughed. “No.”
“All right then. What’s your advice oh sage of mine?” She teased.
“Forgive him, even if he never asks for it.”
“Which he won’t.”
“You do things that worry him or hurt him all the time then expect him to forgive you. And he does even though I’m quite certain he doesn’t want to. He’s not used to hurting you and those few times he has he hates himself for it.”
“He could at least admit it,” she said frowning.
“He could and he still may. Your forgiveness is not for him. It’s for you. So you’ll let it go instead of letting it eat you up inside. Resentment will kill a marriage faster than anything else. Forgive him and move on. Go back to adoring him.”
“Is that what you did? When you were married?”
His gaze settled on her for a moment before his eyes became distant, as if he were seeing past her into another time. “She was the one who did most of the forgiving. I never had much call to forgive her.”
“Were you matched?”
Gordon chuckled but there was no humor in it. “Matching is for people like you or the chief. Everyday people like me. We don’t get matched.”
Neala nodded. “So you married for love.”
“Yes.”
“How did she die?”
Pain shaded his long thin face as he spoke, “She and our son died from the Anoban plague.”
“Oh Gordon,” Neala said her voice breathy. She reached for his arm. “I am so sorry.”
He smiled again, his eyes glistening. He placed his gloved hand over hers and squeezed. “Thank you Majesty. I appreciate that. I had her for eight years. Maybe it should have been eighty, but I’m happy for the time we had. Marriage isn’t easy but it is wonderful when you can truly share yourself with someone.”
“Even when it hurts?”
“Especially when it hurts. But it won’t hurt for long if you talk to him and forgive him.”
She heaved a sigh and rolled her eyes. “Fine. You win. Let’s go to talk to Cai.”
Thirteen
Sorrel sat in the chair by the window flipping one of the coins over and over between her fingers. She stared out at the vast garden behind the mansion that was filled with roses and neat little hedgerows. On the east side of the property there was even a proper maze and a reflecting pond filled with gold fish. On the west side there was a small white brick building with large windows. When she had asked about it, Eryn had told her it was just for storage now and side-stepped all other questions.
The emperor stepped out from beneath the portico moving along the garden path like he had a purpose. No guardsmen followed him and Eryn wasn’t with him either. He disappeared into the small building. Where was he going? Again, she was left to wonder the buildings purpose. Was it a shed or a studio of some sort? She didn't imagine the emperor painting or singing. A knock came at the door and Sorrel scrambled away from the window.
Eryn opened the door and stuck her head inside. “You ready for breakfast? We should go down soon.”
Sorrel nodded, calling up a smile and slipped the coins back into her pocket.
Once they were in the breakfast room a tall handsome footman brought Eryn and Sorrel boiled eggs, a platter of bacon, and a stack of freshly buttered toast. Sorrel grabbed a piece and slathered on some prickleberry jam. She didn't like eggs very much, but she gobbled up three pieces of bacon and two pieces of toast. When she was done she sat back in her chair and patted her stomach.
“I'm getting quite fat here. Do you think we could go for a walk?”
“Of course,” Eryn said, nodding. She cracked the shell of her egg and peeled open the top. “I used to walk a lot more than I do now. We should walk through the gardens. The roses will be gone soon.” Eryn’s gaze drifted to one of the windows becoming distant as if she was remembering something.
Peter entered the breakfast room frowning. He took a seat at the head of the table, grabbed a spoon and tapped it against the shell of the soft-boiled egg on his plate.
“Good morning Peter,” Eryn said softly. “Is everything all right?”
His lips pressed into a flat line and a dark cloud flitted across his face before finally softening. “Yes Mouse, everything is fine. How are you and my fine seer today?”
“I'm fine. Thank you. Sorrel and I were just discussing how easy it is to get fat around here. We were thinking of going for a walk in the garden.”
“I think that's a wonderful idea,” Peter said, but he didn't sound convincing. “So Sorrel, have you had any new visions for me.”
Eryn glanced at her, panic in her eyes.
“Yes,” Sorrel began. “Actually I have had a vision.”
Peter put his spoon down next to his plate and focused his attention on her. “Please tell me. I need some good news today.”
“Well, I hope you'll think it’s good news,” Sorrel said. “It's about your daughter.”
“You've seen my daughter?”
“I've seen a vision of two girls and one of them is your daughter. The girls are fighting over a crown and it breaks. The child holding the bigger half of the crown is your daughter.”
“My daughter will be empress?”
“No.” Sorrel met his stare. “Your daughter will be queen.”
“Sweet Jerugia,” Peter said under his breath. “Who is she fighting?”
“The queen's daughter,” Sorrel said. The vision was not a lie. She had seen it. And she meant it when she told Eryn she could color the story with her bias. Just as Tahlulah had taught her, it was all a matter of perspective.
“The queen doesn't have a daughter,” Peter said.
“No, but she will,” Sorrel said.
“When?” Eryn asked.
“That much I don't see. I just know they fight over the crown,” Sorrel said. “And she wins. At least in my vision she wins.”
“This is excellent news,” Peter said sitting back smiling. He grabbed a piece of toast and a couple of pieces of bacon. “Most excellent news Sorrel. Good job.”
“Yes.” Eryn blanched. “It is.”
“Do you see when she's coming back to me?” Peter asked.
“No,” Sorrel said. “I'm sorry. That hasn't been revealed yet. But I'm sure it will be soon. I rarely have visions about the far future.”
“Wonderful,” Peter said and crunched into the piece of bacon.
Eryn gave Sorrel a pointed look and she looked away focusing on her toast again.
After breakfast Eryn and Sorrel headed out into the garden. Sorrel stopped as soon as they were in the sunlight and held her face up letting it warm her.
“So you really had that vision? About the two girls?” Eryn asked, but Sorrel already knew she’d been read.
“Yes.”
“And Y’Ana really won?” Eryn asked softly.
“The crown is broken into several pieces both girls have a piece. I told you there’s always bias in the interpretation. Neither child had a bigger piece nor did either have the whole crown. I don't know what it means yet.”
“Well, you could've fooled me, and you definitely fooled Peter.” Eryn grinned and shook her head. “Well done.”
They continued to walk along the brick pathways. Every once in a while Sorrel reached out and grabbed pieces of greenery and held it to her nose.
“I can have them cut some roses and put them in your room if you’d like,” Eryn said. “We probably won’t have them for much longer. It’s getting colder.”
“That would be nice,” Sorrel said.
They came to a split in the path. One way led towards the small white building Peter had gone into earlier this morning and the other led toward the fishpond.
“What is that place, really?” Sorrel asked, pointing to the building. “And don’t tell me a storage building. I know better.”
Eryn’s eyes narrowed and her mouth quirked. “All right. If you must know. It’s an art studio. For Peter's wife Harbee. She left him a few months back and took his daughter. That's why he's so excited about the prospect of getting her back.”
“That must be why he was so upset this morning. I saw him go in there this morning before you came and got me for breakfast. I used to go to the place where my parents were killed all the time.”
“No he was upset about something else,” Eryn said.
“What?” Sorrel asked.
“I'm not sure,” Eryn said, glancing at the rose bushes.
“I thought you could read him,” Sorrel said cocking her head to one side.
Eryn chuckled. “No. Peter is actually very hard to read. He and his brother both are. I only get to read him when he wants me to, which is almost never.”
“Oh,” Sorrel said. “I guess I still have a lot to learn about Wood Kaels and Water Kaels and Fire Kaels and Earth Kaels for that matter.”
“You've never met Kaels with those affinities before?” Eryn asked.
“I met the queen. She's a mix of course and I met the chief he's a mix too. Wood Kael and Fire Kael I think. I don't think I've ever met a Water Kael at least not to my knowledge.”
“That's funny, I'd never met a water Kael either until a few months ago,” Eryn said. “He was quite special.”
“What happened?” Sorrel asked.
“He was killed,” Eryn said.
“I'm so sorry,” Sorrel said.
“Me too.” Eryn crossed her arms, and her eyes became distant as if she was thinking about the Water Kael.
“So which way do you want to go?” Sorrel said.
“I—” Eryn looked at the white building. “I don't know.”
“Are you all right?” Sorrel asked. She wished that she had the ability to read minds. Just so she could get a peek inside Eryn's head. There was something she wasn't saying.
“Yes,” Eryn said bringing her focus back to the conversation. She gave Sorrel a smile. “Everything's fine. Sorry. I just got lost in my thoughts for a minute.
“If you want to talk about it,” Sorrel said. “I’m a good listener.”
“Thank you. You’re very kind.” Eryn brushed her hand over the top of Sorrel’s arm. She shrugged. “Let’s go look at the fish.”
“All right,” Sorrel said following Eryn. She glanced over her shoulder at the white building one last time and then quickened her pace to keep step with Eryn.
******
When Neala arrived back at the palace, she headed straight for her quarters, hoping Cai would be waiting and not out looking for her. Cai was never very good at waiting though. Gordon followed close behind.
“Maybe I should do the talking,” he said. A worried look settled on his heavy features. “Just in case he’s doubly angry.”
Neala stopped and rounded on him. He almost tripped over her and had to fight to keep his balance. “Why would he be doubly angry?”
“Well, I…” Gordon swiped his hand through his reddish blond mane and scrubbed the back of his neck. “I may have told him where to look for you, knowing you wouldn’t be there. If he figures it out, he may be a tad angrier. At me though. Not you.”
“Why would you do that?” she said. She cringed at how shrill her voice sounded.
He shrugged. “So I could talk to you first. I knew if he got to you before I did, you’d just end up arguing more. You both needed time to cool down, he just didn’t know it.”
“I can’t believe you,” she said, amazed at his gall. “You are so nosy.”
“I know I’m incorrigible. Now are you going to stand here and gape at me or are we going to tell him your idea?” His lips twitched with the hint of a smile.
Neala narrowed her eyes and scowled at him. She turned and continued towards their suite. After her mother and sister had died, she couldn’t stand to be on the hall where her family’s bedrooms were, so after she and Cai married she moved them into a suite on one of the adjacent halls. She opened the door expecting him to be in their living area but there was no sign of him.
“Stay here,” she said. Gordon nodded and she entered the bedroom. Still nothing. “Cai? Are you here?”
“Out here,” he called to her from the balcony off their bedroom. One of the paned doors was opened slightly and she felt the cold late autumn breeze wafting in as she drew closer. The gray day was giving way to darkness, but even in the milky twilight his tall, broad form was unmistakable. He leaned over the balcony railing overlooking the wide expanse of gardens. No flowers bloomed now with winter so close. She sidled up next to him, letting her elbow touch his.
“Hi,” she said softly giving him a sideways glance, testing the waters. Her breath caught in her throat at the beauty of his profile. Sometimes it was easy to forget how handsome he was—the cut of his square jaw, the perfect line of his nose. He flashed his blue-green eyes towards her.
“Hi,” he said. “I see Gordon got what he wanted.”
“What’s that?”
“To give you time.”
She wiggled her hand into the crook of his elbow and rested her head against his shoulder. “I think he wanted to give us both time.”
“He’s very presumptuous, always thinking he knows what’s best.”
Neala chuckled. “Maybe he does.”
Cai turned his face and pressed his lips against the side of her head. “Are you still angry with me?”
“No,” she said. “What about you?”
“I was never really angry. Frustrated but that’s no excuse. I’m sorry. I should never have called you an impulsive child. And you are right. You are not your mother and I shouldn’t expect you to be.”
Neala suppressed a laugh. “I need that in writing please.”
“Which part?”
“The I’m right part.” She hugged his arm. “And I’m sorry too. I lose my temper too easily.” She felt his lips curve into a smile against her temple.
“That’s one of my favorite things about you. Your passion.”
“Even though it drives you crazy?”
“Yes, even though it drives me crazy.”
“I feel the same way about your level-headedness. I love you for it and I hate you for it.”
“So, do you forgive me?”
“Maybe,” she teased.
“Maybe —” he protested sounding a little hurt. She pushed herself into his arms and planted her lips against his before he could argue further.
“Of course I forgive you,” she whispered against his lips and wrapped her arms around his neck pulling him closer, kissing him d
eeper. His arms tightened around her and he dragged his lips across her cheek down to her neck, nestling his face in the crook of her neck.
“I hate when we fight,” he said softly.
“We've been fighting since the day we met Cai.” She chuckled against the skin of his neck. “I don't think we could ever be one of those couples that didn't fight for what we believe. I will always try to win you to my point of view and you will always try to win me to yours and I don’t really want that to change. I think we just need to learn not to say mean things. That's when it gets destructive.”
“You're right,” he said.
She pulled out of his arms and cupped his cheek, making him look her straight in the eye. “I promise not to call you names like stupid headed lunk if you promise not to call me things like an impulsive child or compare me to my mother.”
“You never called me a stupid headed lunk,” he said, a look of confusion mixed with amusement.
“Not to your face,” she said, grinning. He opened his mouth to say something and she pressed her lips against his stopping him. She whispered against his mouth, “I love you Caius Declan.”
“I love you too.” He pulled her close to him again, tightening his arms around her. She rested her head against his chest.
“Gordon and I think we figured out a way to get Sorrel back without attacking Ethavia.”
“You did?”
“Yes.”
“When was this?”
“An hour or so ago.”
“So he found you?”
“Don’t blame Gordon for knowing where to look. He spends more time with me than you do.”
“I beg to differ. He purposefully mislead me. Told me I’d probably find you at the shops.”
Neala snorted. “Did you go look?”
“No, of course not. Even I knew you wouldn’t be there.”
“Well don’t be mad at Gordon. He’s just looking out for us.”
“Mmhmm.” Cai grunted. The wind picked up and she shivered against it. “You’re cold. Let’s go inside and you can tell me all about your ideas for getting Sorrel back.”
Neala looked up into his face. “That’s easy. Eryn.”
“Eryn? I don’t know. Her position is already precarious.”