The Hidden Sun (Bariwon Chronicles Book 1)

by J. Lloyd Morgan

  Alana rolled her eyes. “Sunshine, let’s go.”

  Sunshine squeezed Rayne’s arm. “Thank you, Guardian Rayne, for your help.” She gave him a wink and walked off with Alana.

  ***

  Caldre examined the envelope in his hand. “The seal has been broken.”

  “That so?” Guardian Cameron said indifferently. “Wuz probably that servant that gaves it to me to give to yous.”

  Opening the envelope and removing the card from inside, Caldre read the simple message that was written in flowing script:

  Magistrate Caldre,

  Thank you for your offer, but I must decline. I feel there are much more qualified people who would serve you better as an assistant. I will continue to work and study so that one day I will be worthy of such an honor.

  Sincerely,

  Savant Sunshine

  Caldre crumpled up the note and threw it into the fireplace, where it caught fire from the embers.

  “I’m guessin’ that wuz bad news,” Cameron said.

  Caldre almost lashed out at Cameron, but held back. Who was Sunshine to refuse him? Her refusal only made Caldre want her more. He would have her. And once he had Sunshine, he would use her against Bertram. But how to get to her?

  “Cameron, what do you know of Savant Sunshine’s friends here in the castle?” Caldre asked.

  Cameron scratched his head for a moment. “Wells, her brother is a guardian here. Alsos, I thinks there is somethin’ betweens her and Guardian Rayne. And she spends lots o’ time with Magistrate Bertram. I tries to gets her attention once, but she gaves me no never mind.”

  Caldre nodded. “That will be all.”

  Cameron turned to leave the room, but stopped when Caldre said, “Oh, and one more thing, Guardian. Next time you deliver a personal note to me with the seal broken, I’ll see to it that a part of you gets broken.”

  ***

  “Guardian Rayne! Excellent. I’m glad it’s you,” Anemone said, waving as he approached her.

  There were several assignments that Rayne enjoyed, and helping Anemone or the other nursemaids was one of them. Smiling, he said, “It’s good to see you again, Nursemaid. How are you today?”

  “Call me Anemone, please. You’ve known me long enough.” She took Rayne by the arm. “And I’m feeling as well as a woman of my age can feel, I suppose.”

  “I’m happy to hear that,” Rayne responded. “Where are we off to today?”

  Anemone pointed a spotted, crooked finger toward the main road that led to the heart of the marketplace in town. It was just after mid-day, and while it had been sunny all morning, afternoon clouds had started to roll in. “I’m in need of more bandages. Those darn guardians keep getting cuts from all their fooling around with swords.”

  “I’d be happy to get them for you,” Rayne said. “There’s no need for you to make the trip.”

  Anemone patted Rayne’s arm as they walked. “Ah, in that you are wrong. If I don’t keep moving, these bones of mine will stop working altogether. And I’m not quite ready for that just yet.”

  “Understood.” Rayne flashed another grin.

  “There you go again,” Anemone said. “Every time you take me somewhere, I can’t shake the feeling that I’ve met you before. You seem so familiar to me—especially your smile.”

  Rayne tensed up a bit, but tried to force himself to relax. In the weeks he’d been in the castle, several people, mostly the older residents, had remarked how he looked familiar to them. Up to this point, he had been able to dodge any probing questions on why that may be.

  “Well, I have helped you many times, and we’ve taken several trips into town together,” he said slowly, “so it’s no wonder I seem familiar to you.”

  Anemone scoffed. “It’s more than that.”

  They continued walking down the street, chatting idly about how spring was transitioning into summer with its longer days and warmer temperatures. As they approached their destination, a light rain started falling.

  Looking up, Rayne noted that the sun was still shining even though the rain clouds had arrived. “The sun is playing hide-and-seek.”

  Anemone stopped abruptly. “What did you say?”

  Rayne nodded toward the sky. “The sun is playing hide-and-seek. It’s raining even though the sun is still shining.”

  “Where did you hear that?” Anemone asked, eyeing Rayne carefully.

  Rayne shrugged. “It’s something people say.”

  Anemone shook her head slightly. “No, they don’t. I’ve not heard that saying for many years. Tell me, Rayne, where did you hear it?”

  “My father said it once on our farm in Tevoil. He said it was something my mother would—” Rayne stopped talking. He had been very careful up until now not to mention his father and mother to anyone, but here he was, telling Anemone. He felt like he could trust her, but still felt he had said too much.

  “Your mother would say?” she prompted.

  Rayne tried to urge her to start walking again, but Anemone wouldn’t move. “Also, you said you grew up in Tevoil, but you represented Lebu in the Mortentaun, didn’t you?”

  “I did.” Rayne wondered how to explain it. A lesson his father had taught him over and over again was, “Always tell the truth, Son. It’s much easier than remembering what you lied about.” He hadn’t lied—he had just avoided answering the questions. He decided to be honest with Anemone, at least until he could find a way to change the subject.

  “My father died last year,” Rayne said after a pause. “We lived in Tevoil at the time. After he died, I moved to live with my grandparents in Lebu. Technically, they were my sponsors for the Mortentaun, so I represented Lebu.”

  “And did your mother move with you as well?” Anemone asked almost anxiously.

  Rayne shook his head. “No, my mother died long before that. If it’s all right with you, I’d rather not talk about this.”

  “I’m sorry for asking such personal questions. But if you will indulge me, I have just one more.”

  Rayne considered the old woman before him. In the time he had known her, he had seen her treat the servants and commoners with respect, and she would always go out of her way to help someone. Rayne felt she was a good person, and he couldn’t imagine her intentionally hurting anyone.

  “All right, one more question,” he agreed.

  “How did your mother die?” Anemone asked.

  Rayne looked away from the nursemaid and up at the clouds that continued to move over the town. “I didn’t even know her. My father told me she died giving birth to me.”

  Anemone nodded. “Thank you, Rayne. Now let’s get inside before we get too wet.”

  ***

  Councilor Abrecan grinned like a cat that had a mouse cornered. Governor Dylan of Donigi noticed and didn’t care for the expression at all.

  “So, Governor Dylan,” Abrecan began, “I understand your district has decided to sponsor someone for the Shoginoc. Don’t you think it’s a bit late for that? After all, the Shoginoc is only a week away.”

  Looking around the room, the governor noted many expensive items. The tapestries on the wall had to be recent commissions, since the depictions of the councilor included the gray hair that now dominated his head.

  Dylan considered his response carefully. “Yes, Councilor, I know it seems very last minute. But understand this—I have been training a young man to replace me as governor. He’s shown quite the aptitude for leadership. I think he would make an excellent king, but we didn’t think we would be able to gather enough items to compete at the Shoginoc. However, fortune struck, and we recently came across an oyster bed that had been overlooked for years. It was discovered quite by accident. What we found was an amazing cache of pearls—some so large as to take your breath away.”

  Councilor Abrecan narrowed his eyes. “And you think you have enough of these pearls to make a credible showing at the Shoginoc?”

  Dylan nodded emphatically. “Oh, yes. Pearls are one of the rarest it
ems in Bariwon—each is very valuable. The collection we have is quite impressive indeed.”

  Abrecan picked up a pear from the table in front of him and started slicing it into sections with a sharp knife. “And is your sponsor married, Governor Dylan?”

  Dylan eyed the knife in Abrecan’s hand. “No, he isn’t. But as I understand it, that no longer makes a difference—he would be able to marry anyone he wanted.”

  Placing the pear slices on a plate, Abrecan said, “Yes, that’s true, thanks to Magistrate Bertram’s discovery.” He held up the knife and used it to motion toward Dylan. “There isn’t anything I could say that would persuade you to change your mind about participating, is there, Governor?”

  “Why would you want to change my mind?” Dylan asked, looking at the knife and not at the councilor.

  Abrecan chortled. “It’s no secret that you’ve been critical about me and my son, although you’ve not been man enough to do it to my face.”

  “Councilor, I—”

  “I have left you alone in your district,” Abrecan interrupted, “because you have always paid your taxes on time, although I wonder why we haven’t received part of these pearls in taxes. In addition, the reports of your insolent attitude have always bothered me. Your insistence in participating in the Shoginoc has taken things too far.”

  Governor Dylan slid his chair back from the table and stood. “Are you threatening me, Councilor?”

  Abrecan gave Dylan another cold grin. “No, Governor, it is you that are a threat to me.”

  In one swift motion, Abrecan took the knife and stabbed himself in the back of his other hand. He let out a howl of pain, which caused the guardians to rush into the room.

  “Arrest him!” Abrecan shouted, holding his bleeding hand prominently. “He just attacked me!”

  CHAPTER 22

  “Did you see this tree when it was in full bloom this spring?” Sherwyn asked.

  Anemone squinted up at the large tree, noting that the blossoms were all gone and the summer leaves had grown in. “I didn’t. Unlike you, Sherwyn, I don’t make it out to this hill very often.”

  “Well, I’m glad you decided to join me today,” he said. “What inspired you?”

  Anemone removed a wool blanket from the bag she had slung over one shoulder. She laid it on the ground and sat down, motioning Sherwyn to join her. “I needed to talk to you, and it had to be someplace where we couldn’t be overheard.”

  Sherwyn frowned as he sat down beside her. “You don’t think it’s safe to talk in my room, or yours?”

  The nursemaid shook her head. “I couldn’t take the risk. After the shocking news of Governor Dylan’s attack on Councilor Abrecan, I’m leery about many things in the castle.”

  “Understandable,” the priest said. “Although, I’m not entirely sure I believe Dylan did it.”

  Anemone considered Sherwyn carefully. “You aren’t?”

  “I heard Dylan was going to enter his district in the Shoginoc. It seems more likely to me that the councilor did something drastic to prevent another entry.”

  Anemone sighed. “And the Hierarchy of Magistrates won’t do anything about it?”

  “What can they do?” Sherwyn shrugged. “It’s Abrecan’s word against Dylan’s. And Abrecan was stabbed—that can’t be disputed.”

  “It’s possible that Abrecan stabbed himself. I wouldn’t put it past him.”

  “Be that as it may, it seems that after Governor Dylan was arrested, his sponsor had a closed-door discussion with Abrecan, and soon after, it was announced that Donigi withdrew. That means that only Erd, Regne, and Lewyol will be competing. That doesn’t bode well for Bariwon.”

  Anemone cocked her head, her flowing gray hair cascading off to one side. “How so?”

  Priest Sherwyn took a deep breath. “Think about it. Erd and Lewyol are both governed by the same man—Governor Eadward, who is the candidate for both districts.”

  “But what of Regne?” Anemone said.

  “Lady Nicole is from Regne. Not long after she was chosen to become Daimh’s wife, her father was made magistrate over Regne. He’s the candidate the governor of Regne has selected. It appears that Abrecan has thought of everything.”

  Anemone shook her head. “No, not everything.”

  Sherwyn eyed her carefully. “What do you mean?”

  “I think I’ve discovered something wonderful. Have you met Guardian Rayne?”

  Rubbing his hand over his bald head, Sherwyn thought for a moment. “I believe so. He’s new, right? Bright yellow hair? He seems very nice.”

  Anemone nodded emphatically. “That’s him. Does he remind you of anyone?”

  “Hmm. I’ve not really been around him much, but if I recall, he did seem familiar to me.”

  Anemone sat up straight. “Let me give you some clues. In addition to his blond hair, he has bright blue eyes. He was born twenty-one years ago. His father’s parents live in Lebu. His mother died during childbirth.”

  “Are you suggesting he’s Eliana’s son? It might be nothing more than a coincidence. If I recall, Rinan was from Lebu, but we don’t know where he went after he left.”

  “Rayne said he grew up in Tevoil, but after his father died, he moved to Lebu.” She waved her hands in front of her. “But more importantly, when Rayne escorted me to town yesterday, he used a phrase Eliana made up when she was younger for when the sun was out, but it was raining. I’ve not heard anyone else say that but Eliana. He must have heard it from Rinan, who heard it from Eliana.”

  “I don’t know, Anemone. It seems a bit of a stretch. How could you prove this? You said Rinan passed away.”

  “We need to send someone to Lebu to see if they can find out,” Anemone said. “I asked around this morning, and it was Governor Nash who personally trained Rayne. He would know who Rayne’s grandparents are. I’m sure they know the truth.”

  Sherwyn rubbed his hand over his head again. “Why not ask Rayne directly?”

  “I almost did,” Anemone said. “But as soon as he mentioned his father and mother, he became very quiet. It was obvious this was not something he would talk about easily. Plus, we’ll need someone else’s word on it.”

  “Someone else’s word about what?”

  Anemone smiled excitedly. “That Rayne is actually the heir to the throne.”

  ***

  Alana waited patiently to be escorted to see the governor. When Priest Sherwyn and Nursemaid Anemone first came to ask her for a favor, she was understandably curious. Alana had known them a long time and knew they had been loyal to her uncle, King Kenrik. Over the years, she would often go to Sherwyn for advice on how best to deal with one political issue or another, and he always gave her good counsel. Sherwyn and Anemone clearly felt they could trust Alana as well, because they invited her to take a walk with them outside after dinner and told her what they suspected about Rayne. Both the priest and the nursemaid were getting on in age, and neither was up to the task of traveling to Lebu and back before the Shoginoc. Sworn to secrecy, Alana had arranged for a guardian to accompany her to see Governor Nash. After arriving in Lebu, they went directly to the governor’s house. The wait to see the governor was a short one, and soon Alana was ushered in, with the guardian waiting outside.

  “Ho ho!” Governor Nash chuckled when Alana came in. “Well, isn’t this a surprise. It’s not often I get visited by a member of the nobility.”

  Alana gave Governor Nash a polite hug and a quick kiss on either cheek. “It’s good to see you again, Governor. I always enjoy your visits to the castle—your sense of humor is such a refreshing change from what I have to deal with day to day.”

  Offering her a seat, Nash sat down next to her on a large, comfortable couch. “That’s kind of you to say,” he said. “Did your husband come as well?”

  Alana’s mood changed at the mention of her husband. “No, he’s still back in the castle,” she said a bit stiffly.

  “Is something the matter with him?”

  “No
, he’s fine. He has claimed the right of separation,” Alana said. “When it was revealed that arranged marriages were not condoned by the Tome of Laws, many of the people who were forced into arranged marriages made the same claim.”

  Nash patted her on the knee. “Oh, my dear. I’m so sorry.”

  “Don’t be,” Alana said. “Ours was a loveless marriage. We never had any children, and we spent most of our time apart, so things haven’t changed much.” She squared her shoulders. “But that’s not what brings me here today. I need to ask you something, to be kept just between you and me.”

  “Of course,” Nash said.

  “I understand you helped train Guardian Rayne.”

  Nash nodded. “Oh, yes. He is one of the most talented fellows I have ever trained. I dare say he’s even more talented than his father.”

  Alana sat up straighter. “You knew his father as well?”

  “Of course! I helped train him too—right after I retired from being a guardian myself,” Nash said, pounding on his chest for emphasis.

  “And who was Rayne’s father?” Alana asked, trying to sound casual.

  Nash frowned. “Has Rayne done something wrong?”

  “No, actually, just the opposite. He has been an exemplary guardian. He’s impressed many people.”

  “Then why ask about his father?”

  Alana leaned in a bit closer to Nash and said conspiringly, “That’s why I was sent here. It’s important.”

  Nash leaned back and rubbed his long, white beard before he answered. “I promised Rayne’s grandparents I wouldn’t reveal Rayne’s parentage before the Mortentaun. They felt it may cause him to be treated unfairly. Even though it’s after the Mortentaun, I’d rather not betray that trust until I’ve spoken with them.”

  “I understand and respect that,” Alana said. “Would you be kind enough to summon them? And the sooner, the better. Time is of the essence.”