Dark Spirits

by R. J. Price

  "Anue will winter with Aren," Para said. "Cerlot and I meant it as a mating gift. The girls are quite close."

  "Aren is no longer at court," Av said.

  The man was coming back to himself. His strength was returning, but his previous fragility made Para wonder what the reasons for Aren leaving court were. The one who sat the throne usually wintered near court. Considering her options, Para had little choice.

  "You can send her to Aren, then; they will be happy for each other's company," Para said, causing everyone to look at her as if she had grown another head.

  "Of course," Ervam said. "Aren is wintering with myself and my boys. She headed out this morning, needing space to think after last night's ball. I will be certain to look after Anue's education over the winter."

  "Wonderful," Para murmured. "She should arrive any day now."

  Aren wanted nothing to do with her. If she pushed to go to Ervam's estate to see her daughter settled, she would either be denied, or drawn into a trap and executed. She would not put her own life at risk to insert herself, or to put herself close enough to Aren to be attacked by the young woman's magic.

  Anue's brief time at court would allow the lords to see her, giving them the winter to consider their decision.

  "Why did none of you go with her?" Para asked. "What if she's discovered on the way and attacked?"

  "Av stayed behind to let us know where she is headed," Ervam said quickly. "He was to head out this afternoon, after her, but no doubt Aren would want the man she trusts to escort her sister to her, don't you think, Av?"

  Av nodded as the jeweller approached their table.

  In the jeweller’s hands was a little black box. Para had never seen such a box before. She wondered what was in it, but didn't dare invite the man to approach the table. She would have to wait for one of the men at the table to notice the jeweller.

  "About when is Anue expected? I'm eager to follow Aren.”

  Finally seeming like his old self, Av noticed the jeweller and motioned the man forward. Para watched him approach, speaking as she did.

  "I wouldn't be surprised if she arrived today," Para responded calmly, aware that the ranks were waiting for her to answer before the jeweller was invited to speak.

  The man cleared his throat the moment Para finished speaking. He waited for eyes to turn to him. A pair of glasses were perched precariously on the man's nose. His bushy eyebrows and wild mass of white hair bespoke of a lack of proper respect for those of title. The man could have at least tried to be presentable at court.

  "Lord Av, when you did up the papers all those months ago, the steward of the time asked me to construct a set of rings for the pair of you. He instructed that these rings be like no other and so I went to my brother in the east. He inherited, from his mate's bloodline, chunks of queen's stone." The jeweller opened the box, presenting the rings to Av. "Hand carved, by my own skill, a pair of rings like no other has been seen before. And likely won't be seen again."

  "Show Lady Para," Av said. "Before her eyes pop out of her head."

  The jeweller turned to Para and showed the rings to her. Carved of some ugly opal that was all blue, the rings were intricately designed. Despite the ugly medium, they were gorgeous. Rings made entirely of stone were expensive and difficult to come by. Who could afford an entire piece of stone, only to carve it down?

  "A gift for the eldest son of Mirmae Hue," the jeweller said to Para. "The steward had once been steward for Mirmae and remembered her love of her boys. When I told him that I had chosen this stone, he thanked me for my thoroughness."

  "Why?" Para asked. "The design is good, the stone ugly."

  "Queen's stone is a living stone, dear Lady Para. It is mainly found in the mountains just north of the palace. Because it is alive, water running over it in spring thaws carries disease to palace grounds. Consumption. None recall how to cut the living stone from the ground, making it priceless. The stone has magical properties that can only be used by queens. I've since discovered that it was once tradition for the mates who sat the throne to have rings created with pieces of the stone, to indicate to all those around that they not only belonged to the throne, but to each other. Fabulous to learn something new, just fabulous!"

  "I still say it is an ugly stone," Para said.

  She dimly recalled stories about the rock. Her brothers had once been regaled with tales of queens who had been taken by the stone, then taken the throne. Always in that order, each then going on wild adventures that delighted her brothers for days on end.

  "Most commoners believe it to be an ugly opal. Only ranks seem to believe it beautiful. Suppose that's fine by ranks, keeps commoners from wanting to steal it," the jeweller said to Para before he turned back to Av and set the closed ring box at his hand. "Her being a queen and all, it is my understanding that if she is in trouble and you are wearing the ring, it will whisper to you. Queen's stone will speak in the voices of any queens who trust you, in order to protect you, or them. Wonderful stuff, it truly is."

  "Thank you," Av said to the man, dismissing him.

  The jeweller bowed, then took his leave. Para watched the man leave, curious.

  She found herself asking the question, rather than holding her tongue. "Who was this steward that he would order the jeweller to create such rings for you and Aren?"

  Ervam shrugged. "He was Mirmae's steward, put in charge of Mar's household when the young woman was banished by her mother. Em did it as much to get rid of the man, I suspect, but when he returned to court she had been without a steward for several months and she was desperate to fill the position."

  "Was he, by chance, a warrior?" the northern baron asked.

  "Yes, a very calm one. I wouldn't say he was weak, so much as patient and even-tempered," Ervam said. "Most didn't recognize him as his rank because of how still he was."

  "Is," Jer corrected. "The man's still alive, though I don't know where he went. Surprised everyone by quoting honour at Mar's mating ceremony, declaring all ties between Mar and Em to be severed. Then he resigned and left court. Didn't tell anyone where he was going."

  "Perhaps enquiries should be sent?" Ervam said quickly. "He was a good steward, after all, and you, Jer, could learn a good deal from him about running court."

  "True," Jer grumbled.

  "When is the mating ceremony to be held?" the eastern baron asked the table. "Spring, then? Perhaps I will return in the spring to attend, if the palace would have me?"

  "Of course the palace would be happy to have you all back for the mating ceremony,” Telm said. “We will send word once the date is set."

  "Wonderful," was the awkward response.

  Para stood, finding her appetite ruined. She felt as if the eastern baron had changed the topic because she had been sitting at the table and she did not appreciate being treated such. Giving the excuse of an upset stomach, Para left the dining hall and headed straight for the entrance of the palace, meaning to walk the front gardens.

  Instead, she nearly stumbled over a sopping wet traveller.

  "Watch where you are going!" Para snapped.

  "Mother?" Anue asked, pushing her hood back. "I came as you asked. It's terrible out there. Snowing, at this time of year!"

  Her precious obedient girl smiled up at her. She would grow into a beautiful lady, one who would bring wealth and reputation to her parents. Anue was everything that Aren was not. Kind, good, happy. A wonderful child to have.

  That smile turned from Para, to behind her. The girl nodded once.

  "You must be Lord Av," she said. "I understand that I will be spending the winter with you."

  "I am," Av, having snuck up behind Para, said as he stepped around her. "If you are Lady Anue, you are. Delighted to meet you. Don't bother unpacking. We will leave immediately with my father. My brother, Jer, will close up court, then join us after his daughter is seen off to her estate."

  "Of course, Lord Av."

  "Stay here, I will collect my father and the few item
s I will need for winter."

  "Of course, Lord Av," Anue said again.

  Para watched Av leave, then turned to her daughter. "How did you know that?"

  Anue's face scrunched up with concern. "Mother, you just told me all about it. Are you feeling all right?"

  The world did a sickening spin. Para put a hand to her head. "I partook in drink last night. That must be what is wrong with me. I will go lie down. Do enjoy your winter and remember what I've told you."

  "Of course, Mother. I will behave and see about allying myself with the Mariltons in order to further your status at court. I am glad to do it."

  "Wonderful, dear child," Para sighed. "If only your sister were half the good person that you are."

  Chapter Three

  Av found his father, told him the news of their immediate departure, and left Jer to explain things to the court. It appeared that no one would expect Av or Aren to be around the palace, and, given what had happened the night before, they might not even be expected until spring.

  This worked in their favour, and the moment Av heard the excuse muttered at the breakfast table he knew it was the right thing to do. With court winding down everyone would begin returning to their separate estates. Aren would not be missed until spring, giving him months to find Aren and either bring her back to court, or create another excuse, one that the lords and ladies would accept.

  He packed his few belongings and returned to the palace entrance where Anue smiled sweetly at him, then at his father and Mie who arrived a moment later. Ervam gaped at the girl, as Av had when he had first laid eyes on her. She had large brown eyes, thin brown hair, and softer feminine features. Anue shared many of her features with Aren, though the older sister's hair was not thin and silken, but instead thick and unruly. The younger sister was small for her age. She looked half-starved, and that gave Av a very odd instinctive feeling. He wanted to feed Anue.

  Para stood near the girl, speaking to her in a hushed tone. The talk ended the moment he appeared. Para stepped behind Anue, paling as Ervam stepped up, looking the girl over.

  “What are you?” Anue asked, surprise colouring her voice.

  “I am a trainer,” Ervam responded. He turned to Para without asking the question that he always asked ranked children when they questioned him. “It is my understanding that Anue will be spending the winter with her sister, Aren, who is in turn spending the winter with me. Is this true, Lady Para?”

  This was being said for Anue's benefit. They did not know what Para had said to Anue, but the woman was not well known for communicating clearly with her children.

  “It is,” Para responded with a tremble.

  “Very well,” Ervam said, turning to Anue. “Are you up for more walking today?”

  “I did not walk, sir,” Anue said with a curtsey. “I have a horse messenger who came with me.”

  “Ah, we will be going on foot,” Ervam said. “Lord Jer will be bringing supplies with him, but my boys know to travel light. If you have a good deal of clothing with you, it will have to be stored here for the winter. You won't need court dresses where you're going.”

  “I packed a bag just in case I had to travel shortly after arrival,” Anue said. “I will fetch it.”

  “We will go together and head out from there,” Ervam said gruffly. “Say your goodbyes to your mother.”

  Anue turned stiffly to Para. “Goodbye, Mother. Will I see you in the spring?”

  “Yes, of course, dear child,” Para said with a nod.

  They left the palace and retrieved the girl’s bag from the messenger. Av carried her bag in his hand, his own on his back. The walk was several hours and done in complete silence. She did not ask how far they were going, how long it would be. She did not run circles around them, as Mie did. Back and forth, around, bounding on ahead and back again. The boy wore himself out by the time they reached the small path leading off the main road.

  Mie shuffled, head down, exhausted. As the same rank, Av knew that the weariness would last only a few minutes before Mie was bounding about once more. The boy would be given the run of the yard while Av and Ervam discussed sleeping arrangements inside.

  They each deposited their bags just inside the door. By that time Mie was vibrating again. A change to the everyday, the arrival of a new rank—especially a rank closer to his age than he had ever seen before, was riling him up. It was beyond time the boy was trained. Av had been years younger than Mie when he first had begun training. Jer, even younger.

  Ervam closed the door on Mie, an exasperated look on his face as he turned to Av. “I'd forgotten how annoyingly bouncy you people can be.”

  Av made a sound and sat at the dining table as he struggled with his winter boots. Getting one off, he dropped it on the floor with a wet splat and looked to Anue, wondering what they were going to tell the girl.

  Her boots were dry.

  Frowning, he unlaced his other boot and yanked it off, dropping it beside the first. “What are you?” he asked, the same question that his father should have asked hours before.

  “I am a queen,” Anue responded quietly.

  “Even I say commoner,” Ervam grumbled, kicking off his boots. “And I made Aren miles away.”

  Anue sucked in a breath and revealed herself. It wasn't like Aren unveiling herself, it was unlike anything Av had ever seen. Anue's defences were built almost like the weave of a basket. When the last shred withdrew, he found himself leaning on the table for support.

  She was stronger, and had more control than her older sister. Av had the distinct feeling that this was how Jer had felt, when he had first learned of Aren's rank. Anue hadn't complained on the way out, but neither had Aren. She had been kind and smiling, a happy child as compared to Aren's sullen acceptance.

  The weave entwined together, hiding her once more. Anue clasped her hands before her and watched the two men.

  “I love my sister, but her methods are more bashing a person over the head,” she said.

  “But Aren said you had no rank,” Av managed to get out.

  Queens could be identified before they hit puberty, before their skills fully manifested, but to have that kind of control over her magic at such a young age? Anue might not even be at her full strength yet, something that, thankfully, ranks grew into rather than having it dumped on them all at once.

  “There are two factors that play into magic use,” Anue said, obviously quoting a text she had read. “The strength of the caster, or the strength of the well he taps, and the susceptibility,” she stumbled over the big word, “of the one the magic is being cast upon.”

  “How do you know about magic?” Ervam asked, barely above a whisper.

  “I convinced Mother that learning about magic would aid me when I went to court,” Anue said. “A trick Aren tried, but Mother was having none of it with her. Of course, Aren does not have my strength. I saw what she did and built upon it. Once I had the texts, I absorbed them quickly. Aren never knew that I had them, since I've only been learning recently. A queen does not come to her full potential until she reaches the time of woman, just as a warrior does not until he becomes a man.”

  “You learned of ranks?” Av asked.

  “From texts,” Anue said. “They vary vastly. This one says a queen's first romp will change how strong she is, that one that a queen's only use is as a well for man. Not the people, just man. Another said that queen is the only rank kept to the one gender, making it better. Yet another says that all ranks have both the male and female form, that even commoner is a rank.”

  “We'll add to your education,” Ervam said.

  “I like learning,” she said with a bright smile. “Father said ladies aren't supposed to learn, maybe that's why I took to books.”

  “Good, a keen mind is always an asset in your rank,” Ervam said. “Why don't you go outside and get acquainted with Mie? The two of you will be playmates for the winter.”

  “Where is Aren?” Anue asked.

  “We don't know,
” Ervam said, drawing those brown eyes to him. “She ran off last night, and we have no idea where she's going or when she will be back. We only know that she's still alive and, at this point, unharmed.”

  Anue turned to Av, looked him over and turned back to Ervam. “I can tell my mother whatever you want me to, and she will believe me.”

  “I beg your pardon?” Ervam asked.

  “Mother is susceptible,” Anue stumbled over the word again, “to magic. I don't change her mind, I just… tell... her that I'm not lying. Aren takes after Mother, which the books say means that she can do great things if she uses her magic on her body.” Anue shrugged. “I'm not like them. I took after Father in that, and I can do some neat stuff.”

  There was the child.

  Ervam winced. Av watched his father wince and wondered what about Anue acting like a child her age could make the hardened trainer flinch.

  “Go play with Mie,” was the grumbled response through gritted teeth.

  Anue shrugged and left, closing the door quietly behind her.

  Av turned away from his father as he picked up his boots and placed them by the door. Retrieving a rag to clean up the water left by melted snow, Av gave his father time to collect himself.

  “Queens down here don't play with their magic,” he said through gritted teeth, an almost growl.

  “And?” Av asked, taking his seat. “Don't we want them to play with their magic? Learn how to use it? Can't have enlightenment without someone blowing off your eyebrows once in a while.”

  He watched his father sit across from him gravely, swallowing hard. “Your mother was the strongest the north had seen in centuries, since the decline. My father said it was because of the mixing of blood from the different lands, the east and north mingling. He would have approved of Jer and Em, to mix north with central, but that didn't produce what we would have hoped.”

  “Mother was a strong rank, that much I know,” Av muttered. “Aren is stronger than she was.”

  “No, she's not, you're blinded by the wrong head,” Ervam growled. “Aren is almost the strength of your mother. With none of the skill, understanding, or self-confidence that their rank needs to be able to use their magic beyond explosions and moments of anger.”