The Adamantists (The Crown Prophecy Book 2)

by M. D. Laird

  My plan could still work. I just need Eleanor to believe that I am sorry for my actions.

  “Send her a gift,” said the king. “Send her the white Shenton mare.”

  Henry looked sharply at him. “That horse is supposed to be for me.”

  “No. It was supposed to be a wedding present for Queen Genevieve.”

  “It would still have been mine.”

  “Well, you should have thought about that before you voided your espousal. Send the horse to Eleanor.”

  “Fine,” Henry seethed.

  “Send it alive, Henry,” said the king firmly. “I do not want that animal harmed in any way. We have tormented the princess enough. It is time to build bridges. When we have taken care of the Crown and the brotherhood, we need to get the queen back onside. If she hears of any more barbarity towards the princess, then that will be impossible.”

  “As you like,” the prince replied glumly.

  Eve motioned for her guards to get her out. After Calab had assured her that she and her guards could spy on the hollow crown from within the Cloak without breaching the decree, Eve had taken the guards and found the king hidden inside his own guild.

  Eve was freezing, despite her thick layers of clothing, and weak, despite the large quantities of glucose she had consumed. But she had accomplished a great feat. She had used her alchemy to weave her and her guards, unseen, within the king’s alchemist’s Cloak.

  Leliel carried her out of the guild, and they flew at great speed until Eve was far enough away to let her Cloak drop.

  She sat shaking, unable to support her own weight. Barakel and Raum, at Leliel’s order, sat at either side of Eve to warm her, and Leliel gave her more glucose.

  She took her breath as her strength began to recover and her vision became less blurred.

  “I need to speak to the quorum before I make any decisions about what to do,” she stammered, still shivering. “The king thinks we have the adamantine. He doesn’t know the brotherhood have taken it. Was he speaking honestly? Did you get the impression that it may just be another trick? That he knew we were there?”

  “What he said was the truth,” said Leliel. “Though, careful selection of words can disguise his motives. Some of what he said was vague and has more than one meaning.”

  “Aren’t you guys just supposed to know?”

  “It is difficult when we don’t have access to our senses from within the Cloak.”

  “I’m sorry,” Eve said. “I didn’t mean that the way it sounded.”

  “Lord Amarya wanted you to capture the king if you found him, Your Majesty,” said Barakel.

  “I know,” said Eve, “but weaving into that Cloak was exhausting. I didn’t have the energy for more magic, and the prince has an adamantine blade. I won’t risk anyone getting hurt. Also, there is probably more to be gained from spying on the king as long as we can remain undetected.” Eve sighed and took a seat on the grass. “Let me rest a while and then we’ll go back.”

  “I have received word from Queen Genevieve,” said Calab. “She has managed to find the king. He is hidden within his own guild inside an alchemical Cloak. The queen was able to breach the Cloak and spy on the king.”

  “What do you mean she spied on him?” asked Lord Amarya. “That wasn’t the plan. She was to take him prisoner.”

  “The queen was exhausted. She did not feel capable of further magic and was concerned for the safety of her guards as Prince Henry as an adamantine dagger.”

  “Why are you all so terrified of adamantine?” snapped Amarya.

  “The queen won’t put her guards at unnecessary risk.”

  “They are guards. Their job is supposed to be risky.”

  “Regardless. She plans to return to spy on the king once she regains her strength. She told me to inform you that the king’s ships are beginning to move into position and the king’s men have been given orders to capture you alive or, if that’s not possible, execute you on sight. I took the liberty of informing your commander on my way to find you.”

  “Fine,” said Amarya. “Tell the queen that she can channel her Cloaking power with lolites until she gets stronger. The larger the stone, the more power she can harness. She can, with practice, store permanent Cloaks within the stones. That’s how I protected one of my islands.”

  Calab hadn’t considered that Geneveive should use alchemical rocks to channel her power like other alchemists. Most alchemists were powerless without a channel.

  “I suppose that makes sense,” said Calab. “We’ve started using them in Arkazatinia’s tunnels in recent years.”

  “They have planal transfer properties,” said Amarya impatiently. “She needs a large stone if she is using it to infiltrate another’s Cloak for a good length of time. That is quite advanced—I’m amazed she has figured it out let alone managed it for a few minutes without a channel. She must be quite powerful.” Amarya appeared thoughtful for a moment before shaking her head and continuing. “Anyway, I have a store of stones in Axandria.” She pulled out a sheet of vellum and a pen from her desk and scribbled something on it. “Tell her to look here. If she is as good as you say, then she should have no trouble getting through my defences.”

  Eleanor had just finished readying herself for the day when Thomas entered their cabin having been out early on decree.

  “I have timed my return poorly,” he purred. “I should have come a little sooner.”

  She smiled as he approached her and nuzzled at her neck. The prince was insatiable.

  He groaned and pulled away. “We must return to the guild. Your father is sending his man-servant to check your welfare,”

  “Why can’t he just leave me alone?” she said bitterly. Her expression became twisted, and that acrid scent emanated from her. “I will kill him.”

  “You will do no such thing. I will be implicated if that wretch is harmed.”

  “Fine,” she seethed, “but I will get him one day.” She turned to the mirror and pulled a brush through her hair. “Why does he need to visit? My father can’t still be pretending that he is concerned for my welfare.”

  “I don’t know, but we must go. We can’t risk alerting your father to our involvement in this revolution.”

  “Fine,” she said. “Are we to leave now?”

  “Hmm,” said Thomas, his eyes smouldering at her reflection in the mirror.

  Does nothing put him off?

  She smiled and turned towards him, slipping her arms around his neck. “We can make Victor wait a little while.”

  Victor had grown impatient by the time Eleanor and Thomas entered the guild.

  “Your Highness, I have been here for hours.” He growled. “Where have you been? Surely you received word of my visit.”

  “We did,” said Eleanor. “Not that it is any business of yours, but we have been shopping,” She raised the parcel of purchases she had had Thomas buy for her on their return to the guild.

  Thomas had grumbled about shopping as always, but he agreed that they needed an alibi should Victor ask where they had been.

  “Well,” said Victor, reasserting himself. “I am here to check on your welfare at the king’s request, and to bring you a gift.”

  “What gift?”

  “From your father. It’s in your orchard.”

  Eleanor and Thomas followed Victor to the orchard at the rear of the guild, and Eleanor was met with a beautiful sight.

  “A Shenton horse?” she asked, her eyes widening.

  “Yes.”

  “Why?”

  “Your father wishes to remedy the damage caused to your relationship.”

  “He thinks I will forgive him if he sends me a horse?”

  “He wishes you to know that he regrets what happened.”

  “And he can’t tell me himself? He must send you of all people. And exactly what does he regret? Does he regret James or having you nearly kill me or for bullying me for my entire life?”


  “All of it,” said Victor nonchalantly.

  Eleanor glared. “I’m sure you regret nothing. You enjoyed every lash you gave me.”

  “This isn’t about me, Your Highness. The king merely wished to check if you have recovered and to send a gesture of goodwill.”

  “You can tell my father that I am very well, no thanks to him, and as always, I am being taken care of by my husband.”

  “I shall inform him. The king has offered to rescind his offer to Prince Thomas and will allow you to absolve your marriage. He will compensate the prince with the return of his one hundred thousand mirs.”

  Eleanor felt a rush of panic, and she looked to Thomas, pleading with him to refuse. Thomas looked unmoved as usual.

  “I would rather keep my wife than have the money,” said Thomas.

  Eleanor felt a wash of relief.

  “The offer was for Her Highness,” said Victor to Thomas before turning to Eleanor. “The king has given you a choice.”

  Me?

  Her father had never given her a choice in anything.

  What is his game? Is this another trick?

  “I too would rather remain with the prince,” she replied.

  “Very well,” said Victor. “I shall return to His Majesty.” Victor bowed and left them.

  Eleanor gave Thomas a relieved smile. She put her arms around him and buried her head into his chest. “Thank you,” she said.

  Thomas shrugged. “What do you suppose your father is up to now?”

  Eleanor turned from him and leant against the fencing surrounding the orchard. “He is probably trying an alternative ploy to get to your adamantine. We should tread carefully.”

  “Do we have to keep this thing?” asked Thomas, motioning towards the horse.

  “I’d like to, though I should probably return her. I don’t want my father to think he can buy me. I’ve always wanted a horse like this and my father has always refused.”

  “What is so special about it? You already have two horses and a carriage that you never use.”

  “I never used them as I was in danger from my father, but they are coach horses, this horse is bred for speed and endurance. They can travel at speed for hours.”

  “So can I.”

  She laughed. “My father uses these horses to travel around his kingdom. He can make it across the continent in a few days.”

  “I’m faster.”

  “Are you jealous of this majestic beast, Prince Thomas?”

  The prince snorted. “I just don’t see the point of keeping it.”

  “She is worth a lot of money. Around a hundred thousand mirs.”

  Thomas rolled his eyes. “Keep it if you want,” he said. “Princesses and a menagerie… My guild will be a laughing stock soon.”

  She laughed. “It doesn’t seem as though anything has been sent with the horse—I shall prepare a list of items that need to be bought. I will need a saddle and riding clothes.”

  Thomas growled. “I should have accepted the king’s offer. You cost me a fortune.”

  Eleanor rose onto her toes and kissed his neck. “I will make it up to you.” She purred.

  The glint in his eye told her he had no regrets about keeping her.

  With the horse in the care of Thomas’ demons, Eleanor and Thomas made their way back to Lord Amarya’s ship. It was a little before supper when they arrived. Lord Amarya was not happy.

  “You could have used this to our advantage,” she snapped. “You could have asked to go for supper and get close to the king. Honestly, between you and Queen Genevieve, we have had chance after chance to capture the king, and they have all been wasted. Are any of you taking this seriously?”

  “My father would be suspicious if I asked to go for supper,” said Eleanor. “He knows I hate him.”

  “He will expect that he has made amends now you have accepted the horse.”

  “He will not expect that, he’s not an idiot.”

  Lord Amarya flashed her a glare and strode out of the war room.

  “I’m starting to wonder if she would make a great queen after all,” said Eleanor to Thomas.

  “Hmm,” he muttered. “Though the Crown is supposed to do what is best for the people. She can’t be worse than the king.”

  Maol had barely spoken to Rya since his argument with her. He still felt shocked that she wouldn’t free him and would consider selling him despite the fact that she had agreed to marry him and was carrying his child.

  He was wandering around the quarterdeck when he saw her march out of the war room.

  “Rya,” he called.

  “Maol, I don’t have time for this now,” she snapped.

  “Time for what? You don’t even know what I’m going to say.”

  “I can imagine.” She growled. She softened then added, “Maol, I have to consider the bigger picture. I can’t make sacrifices that only benefit myself or a few people. I have to think about everyone.”

  “But we’re having a baby, Rya. Surely you can make sacrifices for your own child.”

  “It’s a fantasy, Maol. We can’t get married. We can’t be a family.”

  “Why not?” he exclaimed.

  “Because I don’t want to. I don’t want to be a mother, and I don’t want to be a wife.”

  “Why?” he asked, feeling his chest tightening as the weight of her words crushed him.

  “I just don’t,” she murmured. “I want to give the baby up.”

  “No,” he said, alarmed. “I will raise the child.”

  “You can’t, Maol. What have you got to offer a child? You have no home, no income and you’d need ten thousand marcs to buy your freedom.”

  He suppressed the rage he felt rising in the pit of his stomach. “You can surely waive the money to ensure your child is raised by its father.”

  “I can’t waive the money. I have to consider the bigger picture.”

  “You are unbelievable, Rya.” He growled. “I will get you your damn money. I will get a house, and I will find work.”

  “And how will you look after a child when you are working?”

  “I will manage.”

  “You’re dreaming, Maol. We should find someone who can do right by the baby.”

  “I will do right by my baby, Rya.”

  “I don’t have time to talk about this now,” she said. “We have a war to win first.”

  Eleanor looked pleadingly at Thomas as they watched Maol leave the quarterdeck.

  “What?” asked Thomas. “Don’t get any ideas about adopting that baby.”

  “Not that,” she said, “but we can help Maol, though. We can buy him his freedom and give him a room at the guild.”

  “What?” exclaimed Thomas. “Why would I do that?”

  “Because it is a nice thing to do.”

  “I don’t care about being nice.”

  “It would make me happy.”

  “Why would it? What’s in it for you?”

  “It would make me happy to free a man from slavery and provide him with a home so he can raise his child.”

  “It’s not you that’s doing it. It’s my money that would free him and my guild that would house him,” he snapped.

  “Please, Thomas,” she pleaded.

  “No.” He growled. “You have cost me enough money today with that horse.”

  “Thomas, you said I could spend as much of your money as I like.”

  “I didn’t mean that you could buy a man and a child that I have to pay to feed.”

  “It won’t be forever. It’s just until he can get himself in a stronger position.”

  “No.”

  “I will sell my horse,” she said. “I will use the money to buy his freedom and pay for his food. Would that be okay?”

  “If you’re selling the horse then you can buy him a house.”

  “He’ll need someone to help him care for the baby. I would like to help.”r />
  “My guild is not a refuge for waifs and strays.” He growled.

  Eleanor slipped her hands around his waist. “Please, Thomas. I will make it up to you.”

  He snarled and pushed her away. “Stop trying to manipulate me, Eleanor. I have said no!”

  “Fine,” she said. “I’m going to find, Maol. I will see you later.”

  Eleanor left Thomas and walked in the direction Maol had headed. She found him at the bow of the ship and approached him.

  “Hello, Maol,” she said, settling at his side.

  “Your Highness,” he greeted her.

  “I heard your argument with Lord Amarya.”

  He grimaced. “She’s going to give my child away, and there isn’t anything I can do about it. Even if I get her the money, she still won’t let me have the baby.”

  “I want to help you,” Eleanor said. “I want to help you raise the baby.”

  He turned to face her, surprised. “Why would you do that?”

  She turned to face the ocean and took a breath as the cool breeze hit her face. “I had a terrible father who made my life miserable,” she said gently. “If I had a father who was half as passionate as you, then maybe my life would have been different. I can’t see your child go without its father if there is something I can do to help.”

  He gave her a weak smile. “I don’t know how I will get that money.”

  “I will sell my horse. That will raise enough money for you to pay Lord Amarya and buy a house. If you buy a house near the Guild of Sonneillon, I can be close by to care for the baby whilst you’re working.”

  Maol frowned. “That is a very generous offer, Your Highness, and I appreciate it, but I can’t let you do that. I can’t let you sell your horse.”

  “I can find her a good home.”

  “No. Thank you, Princess. I’ll figure it out on my own.”