Kingdoms and Chaos (King's Dark Tidings Book 4)

by Kel Kade

  Rezkin sniffed and said, “Well, there is no need to get testy. It is only a matter of semantics, after all.”

  “No, it is not,” Serunius said. “We are talking about kingdoms and people. Real people.”

  With a growl, Serunius turned and began stalking down the corridor at twice his previous speed. The shorter members of their party were forced to jog, and Rezkin laughed and made jests about the artwork along the way. By the time they reached the throne room, Serunius was fuming, and the shorter ladies … and Wesson … were out of breath.

  Wesson scurried beside Rezkin as he strode into the throne room dressed for his part. He was no longer Dark Tidings. He was King Rezkin. He wore a dark blue military style coat with silver buttons and two silver and blue embroidered baldrics crossing his chest to support his Sheyalins at either hip. His smooth, raven black hair was plaited and tied with a silver ribbon. The only indication of his station, though, was a silver brooch bearing his sigil pinned to his baldric over his left breast. The fact that he had dressed for the occasion only reaffirmed Wesson’s belief that Rezkin had known it was coming.

  They stopped in front of the throne. Queen Erisial was not seated. The dark wood, stained red and carved to appear like enticing tongues of flame, sat empty as she stood before it. The queen now wore a red silk robe that might have been a night-rail in any other kingdom but was apparently appropriate for court in Lon Lerésh. Her feet were bare, but she still wore the crown in addition to a necklace bearing more rubies than Wesson had ever seen in one place—with matching earrings.

  The woman’s brow was furrowed. She looked to Serunius and said, “Did you force them to run the entire way? That is not considerate of our guests.”

  “The man was being disruptive. I wanted to get him here as quickly as possible so that he would not upset the peace more than he already had.”

  Erisial looked around the room. It appeared that nearly everyone of any importance in the palace had shown up for the proceedings. She said, “Did he resist our summons?”

  Serunius growled. “No. He was more than willing to come.”

  Rezkin smiled and said, “I was merely commenting on the splendid opulence of your palace. Your consort did not care for my observations.”

  The woman’s eyes narrowed slightly as her attention shifted between the men. Finally, she said, “Well, you are here now, and it is late, so we should get on with this. A member of Council House Leyet, a palace guard named Morlin, has been killed. A member of my house”—she nodded toward Celise who stood to one side pensively chewing at her lip—“has accused you of killing him.”

  Rezkin continued to stare at the queen without comment while people in the crowd whispered.

  “Well?” Erisial said. “How do you plead?”

  “Plead?” said Rezkin. “Are you charging me with a crime?”

  Erisial calmly explained, “There are no charges as of yet. I just want to know if you killed him.”

  Rezkin did not look at Celise, but Wesson could see in her gaze the fear that he might deny the claim. Wesson had no idea what had happened, but he was fairly certain that Rezkin had, in fact, killed the man.

  Without the tiniest hint of remorse, Rezkin said, “Yes, I killed him.”

  A woman stepped forward from the excited crowd. She was the red-headed woman who had been one of the four to escort them from the docks. “He is lying. She killed Morlin, and she has convinced him to take the credit since he is a visiting diplomat.”

  Erisial looked to the woman. “Depheli, you forget that I can hear that he speaks the truth.”

  Depheli turned to Rezkin and said, “What gives you the right to come to our home and kill our people?”

  Rezkin met her accusation with an icy stare. “I need not explain myself to you, Advisor.”

  Erisial cut the woman off before she could retort. “I would appreciate it if you would explain yourself to me.”

  Rezkin tilted his head and said, “He was attacking your servant girl over there. According to Leréshi law, it is legal to kill a man caught in the act of assaulting a woman.”

  Depheli gawped, her face turning red with indignation. “Morlin would never attack a woman! She instigated this!” Depheli shook a finger angrily at Celise. “She did something to make it appear that he was attacking her!”

  Celise shook her head. “No, I did nothing! I was only performing my duties when he grabbed me.”

  Depheli said, “You are a liar and a tease. I challenge you for the honor of my fallen house member.”

  Erisial glanced between the older woman and Celise and then casually took a seat in her throne. Her robe fell open to expose nearly the entire length of her thighs, but she did not appear to notice, much less attempt an adjustment.

  Erisial asked him, “What were you doing in that corridor without your escort?”

  Rezkin raised his hands innocently and said, “I got lost?” She smirked but did not challenge him. He said, “Can you not hear that she is telling the truth?”

  Erisial smiled indulgently and said, “Of course I can, but you seem to understand Leréshi law quiet well. You already know that the word of a truthseeker cannot be used in court, and that includes my own. The challenge must stand. Celise, call your champion.”

  “You do not intend to provide her with a champion, knowing she is innocent?” Rezkin said.

  “Another question to which you already know the answer. No, she is only a servant, and it is past time for her to choose a consort. She must provide her own champion.”

  He smirked as he said, “And you know already that I intend to serve as her champion.”

  “Of course,” Erisial replied. “You and I know how this scene will play out. Depheli, however, had not considered that you, the self-proclaimed True King of Ashai, so-called King of Cael, might fight on behalf of a servant. If you had not, I am sure Knight Yserria would have.” At Yserria’s nod, Erisial said, “Either way, Depheli’s champion, who is also her consort, will die. He is good, but I am confident that you are better, and I doubt you would allow Yserria to fight a battle you did not think she would win.”

  Depheli’s worried gaze danced between them as she took a withering step backward.

  Erisial did not give the woman a second look as she said, “Her inability to consider the possible outcomes of this challenge has proven her to be a weak head of house. In the past few minutes, she will have lost a significant following, and by the time we are done with this discussion, she will have lost her place among my advisors. It is just as well since I suddenly find myself with one more than I prefer. The only way for Depheli to retain her place would be to win the challenge. Now she must decide. Does she go through with the challenge in a desperate bid to save face and lose her consort in a pointless fight, or does she back out and accept her fate as the matrianera of a middling house?”

  Depheli’s consort stepped forward and took her hand. Quietly, he said, “I will fight for your honor if you wish it.”

  She shook as she replied, “No, I withdraw the challenge.”

  With tears in her eyes, she dragged her consort through the crowd and left the hall.

  Erisial did not watch her go. She stared absently across the hall, as though unconcerned by the upset to her council. Once the commotion died, she said, “You see, battles need not be fought when both sides are intelligent enough to perceive the outcomes before they begin. It is a pity. The battle would have been more exciting.” She paused to make sure he was paying attention, then said, “You, Lord Rezkin, are playing a game with my Serunius. I do not know what it is or why, but I assure you it is unnecessary.”

  Serunius frowned and looked at her quizzically before turning his narrow-eyed gaze on Rezkin.

  The queen chuckled and said, “Serunius is an intelligent man like you, and he would be able to see it if he were not so emotionally involved. He is … possessive.” This last she said with a sultry smile and a wink for her consort. Her gaze roved over the crowd and then returned
to Rezkin. “That said, tomorrow, after the midday meal, I intend to claim you, Lord Rezkin.”

  “You know I will not accept,” Rezkin said.

  She smiled. “You will dine with me. We will have a discussion, and then you will change your mind.”

  “Why are you telling me now?”

  “You do play an odd game, Lord Rezkin. For a man with so many secrets, you like everything stated in the open. I am giving others the chance to plan their challenges, but you know that. Perhaps some of your own wish to lay claim to you?”

  The queen’s gaze landed on Frisha first, so he knew Celise had been reporting on them to someone, if not directly to the queen. Her attention shifted to Yserria next. Yserria did not squirm under the scrutiny this time. She held herself as a warrior although it might have been because she was once again wearing her own clothes. When Yserria did not give any indication that she planned to challenge the claim, Erisial’s gaze slid swiftly over Reaylin and Nanessy.

  To Rezkin, she said, “You will meet me in my quarters at midday. Court will commence afterward.”

  Erisial abruptly stood and left the hall without a backward glance. The guards began escorting the spectators from the room, and Celise scurried over to their group with a bright smile gracing her pixie face.

  She said, “Thank you. I was worried that you might not admit to what happened.”

  “Why would I not?”

  “For several reasons, I guess. You might not want to upset Queen Erisial, for one. I know why you are here. You want Oledia.”

  “I do not want Oledia. I agreed to retrieve her as part of a deal,” Rezkin said.

  “Oh, yes, I know. She wants to go with you. Queen Erisial has her locked in her chambers under guard in case you try to steal her away. I think she is more afraid Oledia will claim you so that you will act as her champion against any challengers. You know, because then she would be able to leave with you without Queen Erisial’s permission.”

  “I would not accept Oledia’s claim, regardless, and I have no intention of absconding with her without Erisial’s permission. If I intended to do so, I would already have her and be gone from here with all of you none the wiser.”

  “She is quite secure—”

  “Are you certain she is still in her rooms? It is possible that I am the unwitting distraction and the Adana’Ro have already secreted her away.”

  Celise blinked as concern crossed her face.

  “In fact, the Adana’Ro may have been responsible for the attack on you. Perhaps it was no coincidence that I happened to be in that corridor when you happened to be assaulted.”

  The young woman glanced at his companions as if to see whether he was speaking truth, but only Yserria could understand their words, and she did not appear optimistic.

  “But I do not believe that,” he said. “I believe another culprit was responsible for your attack. I believe it was Erisial who goaded Morlin into trying to force a claim, and I do not think she intended for me—or anyone else—to intervene.”

  “But, why would she do that?” Celise said.

  “I doubt it was personal. She needed to get rid of an advisor. Morlin’s attack would have done enough damage to his house to see to that, especially if he had been able to finish what he started. In addition, she would have made Morlin’s punishment and execution a public spectacle, a show of her strength and an ill-conceived attempt at intimidation aimed at me. It is convenient that the attack occurred on the eve of the arrival of her guests—one of whom she intends to claim.”

  Celise clenched her jaw, obviously trying to stymie the tears threatening to spill from her eyes. “She is my mother. Of course, it is personal.”

  The hall had cleared so that only their group and Celise stood in its center. Serunius remained listening near the exit through which Erisial had departed. Rezkin glanced back at Frisha who was watching the exchange with concern. Although the others did not know what was being said, they could easily see that Celise was upset. He met Yserria’s hard stare. She looked angry, and her gaze seemed to be challenging him to do something. Apparently, he was going to have to remain involved in this little family feud.

  He tilted his head toward Serunius and grinned wolfishly. Then, he unpinned the sigil brooch on his baldric and handed it to the young woman. For Frisha’s benefit, he spoke in Ashaiian.

  “If anyone else gives you trouble, I will act as your champion. If anyone causes you harm, I will avenge you, regardless of their station. You need not pay me for the service.”

  She held the brooch loosely, as if it might bite her. Since he had switched to Ashaiian, she attempted it as well. “Why you do this for me?”

  He grinned again and stared at Serunius as he answered. “To frustrate your mother, of course.”

  When they returned to their quarters, Wesson said, “I do not understand. Why are you trying to upset the queen when we need her to give us her daughter?”

  “She intends to claim me. I am making it clear that doing so will not be pleasant even if she somehow convinces me to change my mind. Also, Celise is the daughter she does not want, and I have offered myself as her champion; meanwhile, I have not even asked after the daughter for whom I came, the one she loves. She may begin to wonder if I will not take Celise instead. The Adana’Ro only want a daughter of Erisial. I doubt they truly care which one.”

  “Then you have made Celise a target,” Wesson said.

  “Celise was already a target. She was nearly killed tonight. I have placed her under my protection, which makes her very powerful. Few would dare challenge her for anything. She could even declare her own house without the need for a consort. So long as I am her champion, Erisial cannot afford for Celise to break from her house. If she does not convince Celise to remain, Erisial’s rivals may gain the confidence to challenge her for the throne.”

  Nanessy said, “You are forcing Erisial to recognize Celise as her daughter?”

  “I am not forcing Erisial to do anything.”

  Frisha crossed her arms and said, “There is more to it, isn’t there? The queen said you were playing a game with her consort. What are you up to?”

  Rezkin gave her a placating smile. “You are right, Frisha, but now is not the time for this discussion. It is late. Let us sleep.”

  “Do you plan to sleep?” Frisha said. “Or are you going to be scurrying about the palace again?”

  “No, I intend to remain in that room over there for the remainder of the night.”

  Frisha pursed her lips and gave him a stern look. He smiled again, and her scowl deepened.

  He said, “Good night, Frisha.” He wished the others the same and then went to his room.

  A field of white silk rustled in the breeze. The glistening strands separated and whipped about in a wild dance that was quickly shrouded by a midnight hood. The figure turned and called to someone. The hood floated free, snatched by the wind. A pale hand rose to shield a face from the angry gust. Between her slender fingers, white lashes blinked over silver irises that glittered brightly in the rising sun.

  Rezkin awoke with a start. He could smell the earthy scent of evergreens and feel the sting of the wind across his exposed flesh. The stone against his chest burned nearly too hot for him to touch. Enough light stole through the gaps in the shutters for him to see that the heavy weight on his lap was a rope. When he reached to remove it, the rope suddenly squirmed. As it coiled around itself, Rezkin froze. It was a snake; and, in the dim light, he could not see which kind. It was not the first time he had awoken with snakes in his bed. The strikers at the fortress had used the training scenario several times and not just with snakes. He had several options but ultimately decided he had best capture the creature to study it in better lighting.

  Very slowly, he reached up to grip the edge of the bedcovering. He whipped the blanket off while simultaneously leaping from the bed and twisting the material so that it spun around itself. The snake thrashed within the wrapped blanket before finally settling. A bri
ef survey of the room revealed that no other creatures or people had invaded. After finding the head, he unwrapped the creature’s body. It had the markings of a constrictor common to the region, nonvenomous and too small to have caused him serious harm. When he finally uncovered the head, he sighed and dropped the snake.

  He looked into one yellow-orange eye and said, “What do you want, Bilior?”

  The snake raised its head, which began to distort in grotesque bulges until it appeared vaguely humanoid, somewhat resembling a drauglic.

  A black, forked tongue silently tasted the air, and then it hissed, “The you brings the army to the we.”

  “I am working on that,” Rezkin said. “I have not yet secured our sanctuary that you promised.”

  The snake’s body twisted back and forth in a mesmerizing display of patterned scales. “They come,” it said, and then it burst into millions of beetles that swarmed up the wall and through the gaps in slats of the shutters.

  Rezkin peered out the window to see that the sun had just barely left the horizon and was mostly obscured by a drizzling overcast sky. He armed himself and dressed for training. Stepping lightly, so as not to wake the others, he slipped into the main corridor. The guards did not notice him right away, and he was several steps ahead when they finally called out to him.

  “Ah, my lord, where are you going?” the blonde guard said.

  Without stopping, Rezkin replied, “It is Your Majesty, and I am going to the practice yard.”

  “But … you are not supposed to leave your room without an escort,” said the second guard.

  Rezkin continued walking as he said, “Then, you had best catch up.”

  The blonde remained at the door while the second, a bearded, brunette in his late twenties, jogged to join him. “Sir, ah, Your Majesty, the queen has authorized you to use the royal family’s facilities, which are in the other direction.”

  “I prefer to visit the main practice yard.”

  “But, Your Majesty, it is raining.”

  “I am aware of that,” Rezkin said.

  “The royal practice yard is covered and raised so the ground will be dry.”