“Did they let you in the front gate? How did you explain our appearance to the guards?”
“Are you being flippant? I didn’t even attempt the gate. It was one thing to be seen riding out of the city to battle with Gorman’s writ in my hand, clad in my finest garb. I looked like a hero. I had no desire to be seen skulking back into the city in rags with a half dead girl in tow.”
“Then, how did you get in?”
“There are tunnels the skins use, a sewer system I think. The fat man guided me. It’s been awhile since he’s shown any interest in me, but our escapade through the forest intrigued him. It was his idea to knock you out.”
“Oh.” I grimaced, both grateful and disturbed that the fat man bothered to interfere.
Fynn nodded. “I’m not thrilled to be under the fat man’s scrutiny either.”
“I was unconscious. How did you get me through the sewers?”
“I carried you.”
“By yourself?”
“Sadly yes. It took me days to make it back to my studio. Days, Ani. I wish you had woken up while I was dragging you through the tunnels. That would have been helpful.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Me too. But, alas, there’s nothing for it. I suppose I should be glad you’re still alive. I was beginning to wonder.”
“Why didn’t you bring me to the Great House? Mediera would have called a healer.”
“I dared not,” Fynn said with a sigh.
“Why?”
“The official word is that the city is under siege. Most of the captains and soldiers have returned. We missed quite a bit, you and I. Gorman’s no longer pulling the strings. I tried to see him yesterday, but I was turned away at the door to the Great House. I didn’t push the issue. It seemed unwise.”
I frowned. “Who has taken charge?”
Fynn shook his head. “I don’t know and didn’t ask.”
“Look, I can get in. The front gate is not the only entry point.”
“I don’t doubt that.”
“Will you come with me?”
He shook his head. “No. You’ll have to go alone. I don’t want to get involved if I don’t have to. If Gorman wants me, he can come and get me. I’m done with all of this war business. It’s not for me.”
“You won’t go west across the mountains? Will you, Fynn? We need you here.”
“I would go in a moment if I could. Think, Ani. I can’t go anywhere. The fat man still has his hooks in me. I doubt he would let me flee the city.”
“Of course.”
“It must be nice to be so blithe about the fat man’s noose.”
“I’m sorry, Fynn, but I’m glad you can’t leave.” Should I offer to release Fynn from his bonds to the fat man as I had done for Azriel and myself? Would he run the moment he regained his freedom? Probably.
“Not very grateful of you.”
“Fynn, I truly appreciate everything you’ve done for me.” While I started to lower the bed sheet, intending to get out of bed, I stopped by the realization that I wasn’t wearing any clothes.
“Why am I naked?”
“I had your dress laundered. There’s a girl who works in the market who does my linens and garments. I salvaged your dress from the mare’s saddlebag. Sadly, I lost your headpiece somewhere in the tunnels. My apologies.”
He handed me a neatly folded square. While I sniffed the cloth, an aroma of fresh cotton and vanilla greeted me. I wondered if he paid extra for the sweet scent.
“Thank you.” I didn’t move for his eyes were still on me.
Fynn smirked. “I’ll let you change in privacy. Do you need money for a carriage?”
“No. I can walk.”
“Take some coins. I don’t wish to be responsible for misfortune befalling a sister of mercy. It’s bad luck.”
After leaving Fynn’s studio, which resided on a charming side street on the outskirts of the market, I walked toward the town’s square. The buzz of early morning activity declared that even if the city was under siege, the daily life of the city’s residents was little changed. Once in the central square of the market, it was easy to hail a carriage.
“I’m sorry, the city gates are closed,” a driver said in greeting. “I can only stay within the city limits today. Will that be all right, sister?” he asked. I was surprised he knew me as a sister without my headpiece. The white frill on the neckline of my dress must be particular enough to mark me.
“That will be fine. Will you take me to the Great House?”
CHAPTER 5
“SWEET SISTERS, ANI. Where have you been?” After I had slipped into the family dining room, Mediera embraced me. I had snuck into the Great House through the servants corridors, trying to make myself unseen and unheard, and had hoped to find Mediera eating breakfast. I hugged her back, grateful to have found her so easily. I did not answer her question, though, for I had not come up with a story yet to explain my absence.
“Oh, Ani. Everything fell apart. I don’t know what to do…” she stammered.
“Sister Anais?”
Mediera dropped her arms, and I turned to see who was calling my name. A guard clad in livery stood watch at the door opposite of the one I had entered through. I hadn’t noticed him at first, but I wasn’t surprised to find Mediera with a chaperone.
“I was told to watch for you,” he said. “You’re wanted in the council chamber, sister. My apologies for the interruption, but the matter is quite urgent. We were told you must be fetched immediately upon your return.” He took me by the elbow, and by instinct I wanted to flinch away–I wanted to run. But, of course, I couldn’t. Even if I managed to escape this lone guard, Mediera and Uthur were tied to this place. I wouldn’t leave them. As he led me away, I glanced at the untouched spread of pastries on the table and wished I had grabbed one.
“Sister Anais, take a seat,” a hard voice directed me after I entered the council chamber.
Three men clad in military regalia were positioned in chairs at one end of the wide circular table. I recognized the speaker, the one in the center–Captain Carenhail. His ice blue eyes drilled into me, as I sank into the chair opposite him. Did he recognize me? I lowered my head, letting my now long dark hair flutter down across my face, disguising my features in shadow. I wished Fynn had not lost my headpiece, for it would have been a more effective mask.
The guard who had escorted me bowed at the three men before leaving the room. Something was about to happen. I just wished I had some clue what it would be.
“Do you know why you are here?” the man on Carenhail’s right asked, his voice softer and kinder than Carenhail’s, but still insistent.
I shook my head. I had no idea why they would have any interest in me. I was no one.
“Brentwood, you don’t need to help.” Carenhail cleared his throat and then turned to me. “You ate dinner in the family dining room a month ago on the night Lord Pendragon vanished? Was he present at the meal?”
I nodded, understanding sinking in. These men did not believe the story we had concocted to explain away Lord Pendragon’s disappearance. And I was a witness. They wanted to shake the truth from me.
“Were you seated near him?” Carenhail asked.
“No. I was seated at the smaller table. But I could see him.”
“Who were you seated next to?”
“Sister Zilla and Jacarda Clark. Jacarda is a local socialite.”
The man on Carenhail’s left unrolled a scroll and made a quick note.
“We know who she is. Why did you attend the dinner?”
I shrugged. “Lady Mediera invited me.”
“Did she do that often?”
“Often enough.”
“Did you see Lord Pendragon leave the table?”
“No. I didn’t notice him depart.”
“Are you certain?”
I shrugged. “I wasn’t paying attention to his table. He was there and then he wasn’t.”
“Did you return to your room directly
after you finished eating?”
“Yes. Cedric escorted Sister Zilla and me to our room.”
“Where is your room located?”
“Our room joins with Lady Mediera’s bedchamber. We also share our room with Sister Tatiana and Uthur’s wet nurse.”
“Did you notice that no guards stood on duty that night?”
“I did notice. But, I have no control over the guards’ schedules.”
Brentwood tittered, and Carenhail shot him a dark look before he resumed questioning me.
“Was Lady Mediera in her room when you returned?”
“No.”
“Where was she?”
“Presumably with her husband.”
“When did Lady Mediera return to her room?”
“Sometime during the night. She woke me when she returned, and I joined her in her room.”
“She didn’t wake the baby?”
“Would you wake a sleeping baby?”
Brentwood laughed again, harder this time. Carenhail stared at him for a moment, a frown on his face. The man rolled his eyes. There was discord between these two. Perhaps there had been some argument over who would lead this interview. If so, Carenhail had won, but maybe the other man was not so content with the outcome.
“Answer the question,” Carenhail demanded, turning his attention back to me.
“No. She didn’t wake the baby.”
“Did she wake the other sisters?”
“No.”
“Why did Lady Mediera wake you?”
“She wished to pray.”
“Why?”
I shrugged. “Men fight battles with swords, women wield other weapons.”
“Please be specific. What did she say in her prayers?”
“We prayed silently.”
“For how long?”
“An hour, perhaps longer. While we were in prayer, Lord Pendragon knocked on the door and told Lady Mediera that he had been informed that he was needed in the field. He told her he would only be gone for a few days, no longer. He kissed her and then left.”
“What time did this happen?”
I shrugged. “I don’t know. It was late.”
“Did you go back to your room after he left?”
I shook my head. “No. I have a cot set up in Lady Mediera’s room. I stay with her frequently. She doesn’t like to be alone.”
“Was that the last time you saw Lord Pendragon?”
I nodded. “Yes.”
“One more question. Where have you been for the past week?”
I closed my eyes, having no notion how to answer. What had Mediera and Cedric said about my absence? I suddenly wished I had had more time with Mediera before I was taken away for questioning. Cedric thought I was on an errand to the Abbey, but surely they must know by now that Fynn and I had gone elsewhere. What had Gorman told them? Probably nothing.
“A week ago I left the Great House en route to the Abbey,” I started.
“That’s not possible,” Carenhail interrupted. “You could not have re-entered the city. The gates have been closed for four days. The Abbey is cut off.”
“You misunderstand. I left the Great House with the intention of visiting the Abbey. However, I grew ill and turned back. A kindly painter, known to Lord and Lady Pendragon offered me his hospitality while I was feeling unwell. He has a studio near the market.”
“Why did you not return to the Great House?”
Lies stacked on lies had a tendency to be terribly unsteady, but I had no choice but to keep spinning this story. “I feared Lady Mediera would insist I saw a healer.”
“A healer would be appropriate if you were truly so unwell.”
“I am terrified of having my blood drawn. I begged the painter to shelter me until I was well enough to avoid such a fate.”
“That’s ridiculous. Perhaps we need to induce the truth from you in another manner.”
“Oh, don’t be impossible,” Brentwood said. “I know many a soldier who would go to greater lengths to avoid the leeches. Leave the poor sister alone. You’re just angry that her story supports Lady Mediera’s tale.”
The man on Carenhail’s left straightened his spectacles before tapping Carenhail’s shoulder. “Brentwood’s right, sir. We can’t torture a sister of mercy. The people of Barriershire are very superstitious. It would be a mistake.”
Carenhail sighed in resignation. “This isn’t over,” he grumbled.
“You may go, sister,” Brentwood said, an impish grin on the corner of his lips.
After I left the council chamber, I looked for Mediera in the family dining room, but she wasn’t there. This time I grabbed a pastry off the table, and then thought better of it and grabbed a second. It looked as if I was the only one who would be enjoying this fare. Hopefully, the servants would reclaim it soon for their brunch.
I found Mediera rocking Uthur’s basinet gently in her bedchamber. He was cocooned tightly in cotton, and all I could see of him was his tiny face. I walked up to the bassinet and place a hand on his cheek. I felt my ties to him weave tighter still, and I knew instinctively that the magic that bound us was stronger even than the magic I used to bury the furies by the road. Perhaps power born from love would always carry more weight than power derived from ambition or fear. I sighed. How would I ensure Uthur’s survival? How would I provide him an opportunity to grow up without the constant threat of attack? How could I offer him a safe world? I couldn’t imagine any way to defeat the furies. Even if the soldiers managed to push them back to the Southlands, what good would that accomplish? There were no mages left to build a new wall. I didn’t think I had either the strength or the skill to do it myself. Could he ever be safe here?
As I sat down on the edge of Mediera’s bed, she let her head drop on my shoulder.
“This isn’t working,” she sobbed. “They don’t believe us.” As the words tumbled out, she trembled.
“Even if they think we are lying, they can’t prove it. As long as no one can offer evidence that disputes our version of events.” I tried to comfort her, but the words fell flat.
“I’ve held fast to our story, and so has Cedric. But Carenhail wants to prove me a liar. He’s said as much. Was he the one who questioned you?”
I nodded. “Yes. There were two other men present, but Carenhail led the proceedings. He clearly considered himself to be the leader, although it appears one of the other men did not wish to grant him control.”
“I almost thought him handsome at first, with those blue eyes. But he’s awful. Truly terrible.”
There was a rap at the door, and it opened a crack. “Cedric Seve wishes to speak with you, my lady,” the guard said.
“Of course. Let him in.”
The door opened fully, and Cedric entered. Mediera flew into his arms, and once again I was struck by how much they looked the picture of the courtly romantic couple from a fairy story–the broad-shouldered knight with the square chin, holding the lithe blonde damsel–a doomed romance, in their case.
Once they disentangled themselves, Cedric’s eyes turned to me. “Oh Ani, I’m glad you’re back. I thought you were trapped at the Abbey. They aren’t letting anyone enter the city gates.”
“I never made it that far. I fell ill.” I decided it would be best to stick with the same lie I had told Carenhail and the other captains. There was no reason to burden Mediera or Cedric with the truth.
“Why didn’t you come back? I would have called for a healer,” Mediera said.
I shook my head. She wouldn’t believe me if I said I feared being bled. At least, I didn’t think she would believe me. There had to another explanation I could offer–a credible lie.
“Ani?” she asked.
“I feared the baby would get sick. I didn’t want to expose him. He’s so little. Fynn let me stay with him.”
Mediera’s eyes turned to Uthur. “Oh. Maybe that was for the best. I would not wish him to fall ill either.”
“You should have sent a note,”
Cedric accused. “We were worried. Especially with Captain Carenhail breathing down our necks. If we knew you were in the city, you could have spoken with him earlier. He was convinced that you left the Great House because you knew some secret about Colin’s disappearance. He thought you were the key. What did you tell him?”
“I told him exactly what we planned for me to say. Nothing more. Nothing less.”
“Was he disappointed?” Cedric asked.
“Very.”
“Did he believe you?”
“He didn’t have much of a choice. The other captain, Brentwood, I think, wouldn’t let him beat the answers he wanted from me.”
“Brentwood’s a good man.”
“Can he can stop Carenhail from taking control of the city?”
“No. Gorman believes Brentwood means to help Carenhail, but he thinks Brentwood wants it done properly, while Carenhail doesn’t care who he hurts.”
“What happened to Gorman? Why isn’t he here?”
“He’s back in the city guard. They stripped him of his title. He’s just a common guardsman now. I think Carenhail feared Gorman had too much power, and would use it to oppose him. I’ve met with Gorman a few times. He seems to accept his change in station. I wouldn’t be so serene if I were him.” Cedric ran a hand through his hair. “I fear there is nothing we can do. Carenhail will have his way and place himself as lord of the city.”
Mediera frowned but did not argue. I wondered how many times they had had this conversation.
“How is that even possible?” I asked. “He has no claim to Barriershire.”
“It may not matter. In times of war, a military ruler can take the seat of a lord. That’s why Carenhail called for a siege. He’s proclaiming war. He needs agreement from the lords’ council, and he may get it. Baby Uthur is too young to take his seat, and with Colin dead, there is no one to fill the role.”
“Cedric, you have more of a claim than he does, at least you’re family. Carenhail is no one,” Mediera said.
“Carenhail is a knight.”
“It shouldn’t matter,” she hissed. “He’s no relation of mine.”
“It matters. Carenhail squired for Lord Weston and was knighted by the lords’ council before he was trained as an officer. His credentials are impeccable. His father was not a lord, but he is the Lord of Courtshire’s nephew. If he wants the seat, he may just be able to take it. At least for the duration of the war.”
Anais and the Broken War (The Blood Mage Chronicles Book 5) Page 4