The Desolate Empire Series: Books 1-3

by Christina Ochs

“You met Dimir? How did you find him?” She wasn’t sure she wanted to know the answer.

  “Slightly wounded and brave. He knew his fate and never flinched. Many of his betters did far worse.”

  “Did you see him die?” She hadn’t expected the conversation to take this turn, but she wanted to know.

  “It was quick. He didn’t suffer. I’m sure the worst of it was knowing it was coming, but he faced that brave as anyone I’ve ever seen.”

  The tears came all of a sudden. Until now, Dimir and her old life in Kaleva had seemed years away.

  “Oh come now.” Braeden looked uncomfortable. “He really did well. You should be proud you were married to such a man.”

  “I am proud.” Janna sobbed. “Very.” She forced herself to stop crying and wiped her tears. “He was a good husband, and his children were wonderful, too.”

  She couldn’t think about that now. It was obvious her tears made Braeden uncomfortable, and she still had business to discuss. “Maybe another time you can tell me more about what happened. I’m afraid it’s still too fresh.”

  “Naturally.” Braeden chewed on an end of his mustache, looking at her with concern. “Though we still have the problem that you are a wanted rebel.”

  “I understand if you want to turn me in,” Janna said in a small voice.

  “Don’t be ridiculous. I may have to follow the empress’s orders in battle, but I don’t have to hand you over to her. I probably should, but I won’t.”

  “Thank the gods.” Janna couldn’t hide her relief.

  “You didn’t think I would?” He seemed a bit insulted but also amused.

  “I wasn’t sure, to be honest. But I hoped you wouldn’t, otherwise I wouldn’t have taken the risk.”

  “Still, you shouldn’t be going about with the last name of Kronek. Is there another you can use?”

  “Beran was my maiden name.”

  “Good enough. From now on you’re Janna Beran. Where should you be from? Not Kaleva, in case someone gets nosy.”

  Janna considered for a moment. Her family had always been from Kaleva. “What about Nitrany? It’s a small town on the Sanova road. That horrid Tomescu woman burned it.”

  “Good enough reason for you to be out on the road for us to find you. Chances are, no one will suspect you, and if your name doesn’t draw attention, you should be in the clear.”

  “I can’t thank you enough.” Janna forced herself to look into his eyes. “And again, I’m sorry that I’m nothing but trouble.”

  “What are you talking about? You’re no trouble at all. Senta misses her girls and likes having someone to fuss over. She already loves you like one of her own. She said so.”

  “She did?” Janna was touched. “I love her too; she’s wonderful. But I know I can’t live with them forever.”

  “Don’t worry about it right now. They like having you and something will work out, I’m sure of it.”

  Gwynneth

  Since Kendryk was away, Gwynneth needed to be a proper hostess. Except for Ossian Schurtz, who might as well have been born in a gutter, Arian Orland’s officers were all noblemen of Maladena with courtly foreign manners. Next to them, Arian seemed rough and unpolished, though she couldn’t say she disliked it, it was so different from what she was accustomed to.

  Suppers were intimate, informal affairs. With no other visitors there was no need for ceremony. Besides, after working all day, it was nice to have civilized company.

  Most evenings, she left them to card games in the study, but now and then, she would spend an hour before retiring. Captain Lanza was an accomplished guitarist and sometimes played songs from Maladena. Gwynneth found them lovely and filled with longing.

  One evening, she sat listening to a particularly poignant song when she couldn’t stop herself. She had been aware for some time now that Arian Orland’s eyes were always on her, and she made a point of not looking at him. But the song made her feel soft and weak. When she dared to glance Arian’s way, the intensity of his eyes shocked her. She looked away again but sneaked another glance soon. A shiver went over her.

  As soon as Lanza finished the song, she excused herself. She considered going to bed, but it was still early and she needed to calm herself. She turned to Avaron and Linette. “Why don’t you retire? Tell Catrin I’ll be up in a few hours. I’ll find something to read.”

  With all the letter-writing she’d done in the past months, she’d neglected her books. She had a stack building up in the library of ones she’d ordered and those sent as gifts by friends. It would relax her to read for a while.

  It was a warm night, so the windows stood open to the garden. She sank onto a sofa with a sigh. Perhaps she was too tired to read after all. Or maybe it was something else. Her cheeks burned and her mind raced. She wondered what had gotten into her.

  She started as the door opened behind her. “I don’t need anything,” she said, supposing it was Avaron checking in on her one last time.

  “Are you sure?” a deeper voice asked.

  It was Arian. “Goodness. I wasn’t expecting you.” She didn’t bother to cover her consternation. He was the last person she wanted to see right now.

  “Really?” He sat down next to her, but not too close. “I was being rather obvious.”

  She forced a laugh. “I hoped you had better sense than that.”

  He sighed. “I’m afraid sense has nothing to do with it. I’ve never fallen in love like this before, Princess. It’s rather upsetting.”

  “It should take more than that to upset you. I’ve heard you are accomplished at this sort of thing.”

  “Rumors are cruel. People don’t understand.”

  “What is there to understand? You have a habit of seducing ladies and leaving them.”

  “That was in the past. I’m a happily married man now. Or rather, I was, until I met you.”

  “Don’t be ridiculous.” Her tone was much too sharp. The best way to handle this was with light banter, and she wasn’t managing it.

  “It is ridiculous,” he said softly. “But I can do nothing about it. You know how it is when love strikes. No reason or logic can stop it.”

  “Distance works rather well,” she said.

  “The thought of being away from you is unbearable. I’m amazed at your husband, that he would leave you without a thought.”

  “He left because he must. I can assure you he thought about it a great deal.”

  “Perhaps. Still, in his place, I would have taken you along.”

  “You are not in his place. Best to remember that.”

  “I know.” He hung his head, which was so uncharacteristic of him she almost laughed. “I am sorry for being inappropriate, but I had to tell you how I feel.”

  Gwynneth stood up quickly. “I am very sorry, but I can’t reciprocate. It’s impossible.”

  He stood. The moonlight streaming through the windows reflected off his dark hair and illuminated his eyes just enough so she could see their flash. She stepped back into shadow.

  “It’s not impossible,” he said, in a more serious tone than she’d ever heard him use. “Not at all. I want you to be all mine, but I realize that can never be. I would take a few stolen moments whenever I can get them. Anything at all …”

  “That will be enough,” she snapped, and made for the door. To her relief, he didn’t stop her. She opened it and stepped into the corridor. “Good night,” she said. “We will speak no more of this.” And she fled down the hallway and up the stairs, not slowing down until she had burst into her dressing room and closed the door firmly behind her.

  Janna

  Senta had been waiting for Janna. “There you are!” she exclaimed when Janna returned to their tent. “I couldn’t imagine where you’d gotten off to. And after dark. You should be more careful.”

  “You told me I was safe here in camp.”

  “You are. But I would hate for some fellow to be rude and frighten you.”

  “I’m becoming less easy to fright
en.” Janna sat down next to Senta. “I needed to talk to Braeden.”

  “So you’re on a first-name basis now?” Senta looked pleased.

  “He insisted. I wanted to speak with him because I was anxious about something.”

  Senta listened to Janna’s tale, her mouth opening wider as Janna finished her story. “I am amazed. You look so innocent.”

  “I am innocent,” Janna said firmly, then mentioned that Braeden had met Dimir.

  “The world is a strange place.” Senta shook her head. “I am sure that things happen for a reason, but often I have not the slightest idea what that reason is. But I still try to take comfort in it. Did I ever tell you how I met Reno?”

  Janna shook her head.

  “It started as the worst day of my life. I was fourteen and our city had been under siege for two months. We had eaten the horses and were looking at cats and dogs with great appetite. I lived in a small city in Cesiano, but our defenses were strong. Someone betrayed us and let in the old empress’s army, including the Sanova Hussars. I hid under the kitchen table and watched some dreadful men kill all of our servants. They probably killed my family too, though I didn’t see them do it, thank the Mother. I just know I never saw them again.

  “They were trying to drag me out from under the table. I was never so scared in my life. Then there was a commotion and a moment later, someone dragged me out, but it wasn’t those men. It was Reno, and he wasn’t a day over eighteen. Your Braeden was with him, and not much older.”

  Janna wondered if she should correct Senta about “her” Braeden, but decided not to bother.

  “They’d chased off the other soldiers, but I was sure they meant me harm. I was crying and shaking like a leaf. I’m sure I looked awful. My nose turns so red when I cry, and I was much too skinny because of the siege. I don’t know what Reno saw in me. But he made sure I got safely out of the city. I was still so frightened, but he put me in his tent and wouldn’t let anyone bother me. I learned he was also from Cesiano and spoke my language. We talked all that night and the next, and I was pregnant with Adela within a month.”

  “Goodness,” Janna said faintly.

  “So yes, the worst day led to some of the best things of my life. I missed my family, but have never been sorry that I met Reno and had the girls. It has been a good life.”

  “Isn’t it hard, always being on campaign?”

  “You get used to it. Now I like it. I have seen so much more of the world than I would, had I stayed in my little town. Perhaps your adventure has just started.”

  “I wish I could see it that way. So many bad things have happened, and so few good. You and Reno and Trisa, and Braeden,” she said after a second’s hesitation.

  “Yes, Braeden,” Senta said. “He is a good man. He will always do the right thing.”

  “That’s why I told him. I knew he would help.”

  “Yes, he would. But we must take this a step further if we are to pull the wool over the empress’s eyes.”

  “Why?”

  “The empress is a practical woman and very unromantic. She is sure that everyone has their price, and she may be right. However, she would not for a moment believe that Braeden would help you just to be kind. He would help you in exchange for something.”

  “I suppose I knew it was a possibility. I just wanted more time …” And some choice in the matter.

  “You misunderstand me. Braeden expects nothing from you. He helps because he wants to. But the empress would not believe that, and neither would many around her. Normally, we wouldn’t worry, except that the empress has a special interest in Braeden and pays attention to everything he does. It needn’t be true, but it should appear that you are his woman. A pretty young girl discovered in the countryside, now living in his tent would seem natural.”

  “I wasn’t raised to be like that.” Janna didn’t wish to offend, but she couldn’t see how this set her apart from the worst slattern in everyone else’s eyes.

  “Of course you weren’t. But there is no harm in you living in his tent. No one here will think worse of you for it.”

  “Won’t it be awkward?” Janna squirmed, feeling she was losing the argument.

  “At first,” Senta admitted cheerfully. “Braeden is such a dolt around women and he will be shy. You are shy too, but it will be all right. Don’t worry. I will arrange everything.” And she bustled off before Janna could protest any more.

  Gwynneth

  Gwynneth tossed and turned that whole night, falling asleep at last when the sunlight found its way between the curtains. After sleeping for a few hours, she awoke with a start, bathed in sweat, and feeling an odd sense of urgency. Looking critically in her mirror while Catrin dressed her hair, the sleepless night showed. It would be marvelous if she could avoid seeing anyone today.

  She sat up straighter. If she didn’t look her best, what did it matter? She wasn’t here for the viewing pleasure of mercenary officers. She sniffed and tossed her head, making Catrin lose the pin she had been putting in. “Just leave it,” she said. A few strands still hung down, but looked rather becoming with her face so pale.

  Once in the library, she found it impossible to concentrate on her writing. “It’s pointless anyway.” She threw down her quill. “I write and write and all they do is respond with pretty words and prevarication if they respond at all. I’m wasting my time.” She jumped up and paced the room.

  “I’m sure that’s not true, Your Grace,” Avaron said in a soothing tone, which annoyed Gwynneth even more. “You write the finest letters. You’ve had a bad night and the terrible heat doesn’t help.”

  “Oh, would you be quiet!” Gwynneth snapped, then regretted it after seeing Avaron’s crestfallen face. “I mean, perhaps you’re right. Let’s spend some time in the garden before it gets hotter.”

  She walked out through the open doors, down the path between the fountains until she reached the shady path under the trees. In the distance, she could hear the children playing on the lawn, but she didn’t want to see them right now.

  It was much cooler under the trees, so she slowed down and took a few deep breaths. Linette and Avaron hung back, probably worried about another outburst.

  Gwynneth turned down another path, remembering. She and Kendryk used to come here when in the early days of their marriage they wanted more privacy than the palace afforded. Yes, it was still here; a little pavilion overlooking a brook. Even though she hadn’t been here in at least a year, it was still well-maintained with soft cushions on the bench and a little table ready for a picnic. Gwynneth sighed and sat down. It was cooler here and very peaceful. It might have been leagues out in the country rather than in her own garden.

  She sat quietly until her mind calmed and her heartbeat slowed. It was hard to say how much time had gone by before she stood up, smoothing her skirts. Linette elbowed Avaron, who had fallen asleep, curled up in a corner.

  As they walked back under the trees, they spotted others coming their way. They weren’t the only ones trying to escape the heat. Gwynneth flinched when she saw it was Arian and two of the Maladene officers.

  “Ooh, it’s Captain Lanza,” she heard Linette titter into Avaron’s ear. “He’s so handsome, don’t you think?”

  “Hmph,” Avaron said, while Gwynneth hid a smile. The captain wasn’t handsome exactly, but he had long-lashed dark eyes, and anyone hearing him play the guitar was likely to fall in love with him, or someone nearby.

  “Good day, Princess.” Arian’s eyes were no less intense than before.

  “Good day. I suppose you’re trying to escape the heat as we are.”

  “We are,” Lanza said. “We sent the troopers off to bathe in the river. Their tents are most uncomfortable.”

  “We just came from the loveliest spot.” Linette told them about the pavilion by the brook. Gwynneth wondered if she was hinting at an assignation. She’d have to keep a close eye on the girl. It was true her husband was an unpleasant fellow, but that was no excuse.


  After returning to the palace, Gwynneth managed a few more hours in the library. The heat broke right before dinner when a short and violent thunderstorm passed through. The servants rushed to close all the windows before rain blew in, and opened them all again after the storm had ended, letting in the fresh evening air.

  In the cool hour before supper, Gwynneth resolved not to speak with Arian alone again, ever. She was in dangerous territory. Whenever she closed her eyes, she saw Arian before her, looking as tempting as the strawberry tarts she loved but of which she never ate more than one.

  She realized she often denied herself small indulgences, priding herself on her strength and self-discipline. Perhaps she deserved a little treat, a diversion. Kendryk need never find out.

  Gwynneth pushed the thought away. She was not one of those weak, immoral women who threw themselves at the first attractive man to pay them attention. She was just a bit lonely and missed her husband, and the feeling would pass soon enough.

  “You were right about the pavilion,” Captain Lanza said at supper. “What a beautiful place. Cool and secluded.”

  “Prince Kendryk built it for me, for my birthday, just after I arrived here.” Gwynneth smiled, remembering.

  “A lovely gift.”

  She was surprised at the tears that sprang to her eyes. Perhaps she just missed Kendryk.

  There was no card game that night since the heat had worn everyone out. Arian monopolized her attention, but since they were sitting in a group, it wasn’t as conspicuous. Gwynneth was still sure that Father Landrus wouldn’t approve and was relieved he was in Heidenhof.

  “I liked that pavilion too,” Arian said. “You should visit there more often, especially when it’s hot.”

  Gwynneth kept her gaze averted.

  The next day was as hot as the one before, but more humid after the previous evening’s downpour. There would probably be another that night, but in the meantime, the palace was much too warm. Avaron had a toothache, so Gwynneth sent her to her room with instructions for a poultice. It was hard to get any work done. By afternoon, she’d had enough. “Let’s go to the pavilion again, Linette. It was so much cooler.”