by Jeff Wheeler
She was talking about Etayne. He had almost forgotten she was in the room, amidst the storm of emotion. “No, of course not! She’s my . . . how shall I put this? She’s my protector.”
Jessica’s eyes lifted with surprise. “Very well, although that’s quite a mysterious answer. I will send word to Maman and Papan at once. I’ll see you tomorrow. I’m so glad you have finally come!” She hugged and kissed him again and then stole away from the room, blowing him a last kiss as she quietly shut the door.
Owen folded his arms, still reeling from the revelations of the evening. He heard Etayne’s footsteps pad up to him.
His heart still raged with emotions. He blinked quickly, feeling close to tears, and pinched a few strands of his beard below his bottom lip and tugged at them.
“I’m glad you’re here, Etayne,” he said in a half whisper. “My emotions are being toyed with. I’m not even sure what to think right now.”
“So that was your sister. Are you certain it was her? I can feel Fountain magic all around us.”
“The endearments she used,” Owen said, nodding. “That’s what I used to call my mother and father.” His heart was roiling like one of Liona’s stews. “When you play Wizr and start losing, it’s easy to make mistakes. Often fatal ones. Why have my family been here for so many years without telling me? Are they hostages? Perhaps even willing ones?”
“Why would the duchess forbid your sister from seeing you? It seemed to me that she stole in here deliberately.”
Owen nodded. “Exactly. Was that happenstance? Or by design? This is an important game I’m playing. I already feel I’ve been outwitted. I came here to start a war, not a betrothal.” He turned and looked at Etayne. “I am betrothed, aren’t I? The reality is finally hitting me. I knelt down in front of witnesses and offered my hand and she said she’d take me. That wasn’t supposed to happen. Weren’t we supposed to negotiate terms or formulate a treaty at the very least?”
Etayne smiled with amusement. “Threat,” she said knowingly.
Owen shook his head. “Somehow she predicted it. Did you notice the look on her face?”
“Whose face?” Etayne asked.
“Lady Sinia’s. She almost looked relieved when I asked for her hand. She didn’t look upset at all. Why is that? Because she guessed correctly? Or does she stand to gain something from this union?”
Owen started to pace, wishing he had brought his tiles with him. He rarely used them to replenish his magic now, but this unexpected invocation of his childhood made him suddenly crave them.
“From what your sister said, it’s clear that you already have a reputation here. Whatever it was before has been compounded by how you acted once getting here. Let me see what I can find out tonight. What were they saying about you before you came and what are they saying about you now?”
“It can’t be pleasant,” Owen sniffed. “And it will not end pleasantly.” He looked hard into Etayne’s eyes. “I didn’t come here to get married,” he said flatly. “I can imagine the king’s reaction if he were told.” He mimicked Severn’s voice. “‘Good work, lad! You defeated them without a skirmish! Marry her, and let’s work on toppling Chatriyon.’ He won’t give five figs for my feelings.”
Etayne’s eyes narrowed shrewdly. “What? She’s not beautiful enough for you? I can imagine many men would eagerly marry her to inherit the duchy of Brythonica even if she were a homely girl.”
Owen didn’t like her mocking tone. “I gave my heart to another woman long ago.”
He fidgeted under Etayne’s stare, and his mind would not give him peace. Yes, he had given his heart to a woman. A woman who was now a queen in another realm and had two children of her own. Was he going to pine after her for the rest of his life? Would he cling to the hope that Iago might stumble during his hop on the rocks by the waterfalls and plummet to his death? Or perhaps he simply needed to admit to himself that Sinia intrigued him and he was actually considering a possibility he had never thought to contemplate.
Owen slept fitfully that night. Although his rooms were spacious and exquisitely comfortable, he was not used to them. Every little noise and sound disturbed his slumber and made him worry someone was trying to enter his room to murder him. He finally fell asleep just before sunrise, and when he awoke, light streamed in through the thin veils and stabbed at his eyes. It was midmorning, and he rarely slept in that late. His mind was muddy and confused. He unfastened the bolt on his door and found Farnes outside, pacing worriedly.
“Farnes?” he asked, blinking in surprise. He had left him in Tatton Hall to handle the guests.
“You’re awake,” the herald said with relief. “I was debating whether I should send for Captain Ashby to burst open the door. You normally don’t sleep this late.”
“I have a splitting headache,” Owen said. He noticed several trays of food set on tables outside the door. It had been locked, so no one had been able to enter and arrange it within his chamber.
Farnes followed him in and handed him a series of letters, many marked with Espion seals. He began breaking them open as his stomach growled noisily. While Owen started to read the first note, Farnes went to the door and snapped for a servant to bring in the food.
“How did you leave things with all those visitors at Tatton Hall?” Owen asked, tossing the letter aside. He was adept at reading quickly and remembering the key points after only a quick look. He felt the magic inside him stir with his efforts.
“You managed to offend each and every one of them,” Farnes said crisply, rocking on his heels, his hands clasped behind his back.
“I’m rather good at that these days,” Owen said with a chuckle, perusing the next letter.
“You didn’t used to be,” Farnes said pointedly.
Owen didn’t care for the rebuke or the tone. He gave Farnes a sour look. “What did you expect me to do, Farnes? They were uninvited guests preying on my hospitality while I had business elsewhere.”
“I’ve heard about your business,” Farnes said. “The problem is how you go about it. I apologize for being so candid, my lord, but I feel it’s my duty to tell you when you are creating diplomatic hazards for yourself. People are much more willing to remember a slight than a compliment. It’s like salting a well you’ll need to drink from later.”
He was only half listening to Farnes because the second message was from Kevan, telling him that Drew was being moved to the palace to be a playmate for Evie’s daughter. It did not surprise him, but he swore softly under his breath.
“Ill news, my lord?” Farnes asked worriedly.
If the king saw the boy continually, it was inevitable he would notice the boy’s similarities to Lady Kathryn and Eyric. His eyes widened farther as a new thought struck him. Lady Kathryn would see her son! Would her heart tell her who he was? How would she react? The throbbing in his temples felt like the clanging of kitchen pans.
“You truly look ill, my lord,” Farnes said.
“I already told you I’m not feeling well,” Owen said, gazing down at the page again in consternation and rubbing his temple with his free hand. He needed to get back to Kingfountain. He had to contrive a plan to send the lad away. If Duke Catsby abrogated the commitment to rear the boy, then Owen would have to bring him to Tatton Hall where he could trust his own people to look after him. Maybe he could send the boy to Atabyrion? His mind whirled with the possibilities as implication upon implication and consequence upon consequence flooded his mind.
This was a challenge that would test him greatly. He would need to come up with a way to force Lady Sinia to break off the engagement, after all. Something that would allow him to return back to Kingfountain quickly, even if it meant losing the opportunity to see the rest of his family. At least he knew where they were. He had sensed Sinia was powerful with the Fountain’s magic. She had allowed him to see that, although he did sense she resented it.
“Have some food, my lord. It will help. When did you last eat?” Farnes asked.
; He shook his head. “Not since I arrived.” He wandered over to the trays the servants were still carrying into the vast chamber. There was tray after tray of fruit, mostly berries in a huge assortment. Little round purple ones, long bell-shaped ones—his favorites were thimbleberries, and he’d never seen such a huge platter of them in his life. There were breads baked with them, little pots of jams and jellies. Some, like the bowl of gooseberries, were dusted in sugar. He wondered if anything on the table had been poisoned. He expected that Etayne had already examined the trays, but he had not seen her yet.
“Do you know where the duchess is?” Owen asked Farnes.
He rocked back on his heels again, hands clasped. “She left early this morning.”
Owen scowled. “I thought she was going to hear disputes from her people?”
Farnes nodded. “She is. She goes down to them. The lord marshal also left this morning, bringing his soldiers with him. They say he has quit the palace.”
Owen’s mouth hardened into a frown. He reached for one of the thimbleberries and plopped it into his mouth.
It was the sweetest fruit he’d ever tasted.
CHAPTER TEN
Sea Glass
Even Owen could no longer stand the stench of his shirt and tunic, so he accepted the trunk Farnes had brought with him, and cleaned himself up. He deliberately did not shave, but he used the water pitcher, bowl, and towel to wipe away the grime from his travels and felt freshened by the change. While he was tugging on his boots, he was interrupted by the arrival of Captain Ashby and Etayne.
Owen squinted against the light pouring in from the silk curtains and grimaced while he pulled on the boot and fastened the straps alongside. “What news, Ashby?” he asked in a rushed manner. He wanted to leave the castle as quickly as possible and be on his way.
Captain Ashby saluted and started to pace. “We’ve scoured the castle grounds and taken note of the number of knights protecting it. The cliffs are especially rugged and steep. It would be difficult to lay siege to this place.”
“I saw that myself on the ride up here yesterday,” Owen said wryly. “What else?”
“I took some of the men down to Ploemeur last night. It can’t really be called a city. There are manors on the hilltops all around, but very little down in the valleys. Mostly smaller shops that line the thoroughfares connecting the hills. They carry a variety of things to trade. What surprised me was how many of the merchants are from other kingdoms. There are many from Genevar, Legault, and Atabyrion. Truly a hodgepodge. I don’t think I’ve seen a place like this before. Every few blocks the culture and language changes. This is a major trading hub, my lord. I even bought a few trinkets for my wife and children, little necklaces made of glass beads.”
Owen set his leg down and then began tugging on his other boot. “I wasn’t aware of that. How far is the harbor from here?”
Ashby shook his head. “Not far at all. The tide comes and goes regularly, bringing with it ships from every port. I heard many languages last night.”
Owen continued tightening the buckles. “How were your men treated?”
Ashby shrugged. “There were so many from so many different countries, I don’t think we stood out. When we got back, the palace staff looked like they wanted to spit on us, but the people down below knew nothing of our arrival. Nary a word about it.”
“Thank you, Ashby,” Owen said, finishing his work. He stood and buckled his scabbard around his waist. “So what you’re saying is the kingdom is vulnerable. Especially by sea. It seems they’d probably try to use the woods to block us from getting this far.”
“Aye,” the captain responded. “If you don’t mind, my lord, I’ll get some sleep now myself. We were out a bit late last night, but I didn’t want to keep you waiting.”
Owen nodded, dismissing him. He turned to Etayne, who was dressed and coiffed in the Brythonican fashion.
“So they really hate us now?” he asked her with the quirk of a smile.
She gave him a knowing look. “I think the sentiment is more directed at you right now. The people here are very generous and they care about their duchess. There is an almost reverential feeling when they speak of her. By insulting her, you’ve offended them deeply. There is much gossiping and backbiting about you throughout the castle. They’re suggesting you won’t be the Duke of Brythonica. Only the duchess’s consort.”
Owen started to laugh. “Oh really? I’m not worthy to be a duke outside of Ceredigion? As if Westmarch isn’t three times the size of Brythonica.”
“I thought you didn’t want to become the duke here?” she reminded him.
“I don’t,” he said, frowning. “But I also don’t like being told what I can or can’t have. They’re insulted, though, so that makes good sense. It also gives me a good way to goad the duchess. When I talk to her, I’ll ask about the history of consorts and dukes. Her father was a duke, and she holds rank in her own right. I will definitely insist that the marriage terms include the title. Hopefully, she’ll balk and withdraw her acceptance.” He fidgeted with his belt and smoothed his tunic front. “I received some news from Kevan. Drew is being sent to the palace as a playmate for Genevieve.” He tried to keep from frowning but failed. “I need to get there before events unravel.”
Etayne smiled knowingly and bowed. “Then you should be on your way. She metes out judgment at a place a bit lower than the palace called the House of Pillars. That’s where I would look for her.”
“I will. Thank you, Etayne. Are you going to get some sleep now?”
“I’ve rested enough,” she said. “I’m going to learn more about that patch of woods we passed if I can. The one where we felt the Fountain so strongly.”
He gave her a wary look. “See what you can learn, but we should go there together on our way out. Be careful.”
“I always am,” she answered and turned away.
Owen did not find Lady Sinia at the House of Pillars. The building was comprised of a center main tower with a dome and spire basilica and two lower-level wings jutting from angles on either side of the tower. As Owen approached the beautiful structure, full of windows and arches, it occurred to him that the tower in the middle resembled a piece from a Wizr board. The first floor of the tower and the wings were made of brick. The second and third levels were made of plaster and wood. The roofs were slanted and steep, and there was symmetry in the windows and arches throughout, each one lining up perfectly with the ones above and below. The basilica was made of iron or bronze, a darker color than the rest of the structure. He was intrigued by the design and felt the stirrings of the Fountain emanate from the structure itself.
The duchess had already heard cases and moved to the docks, so he ventured there next, only to find that he had just missed her. Owen was feeling impatient and thwarted after spending several hours trying to catch up to her. Her servants answered him obediently, but he could see the scolding looks in their eyes. After another delay, he was led away from the docks. He had an escort of ten with him, and he could sense their eagerness to explore the trading stalls Ashby had described. He dismissed half of his guard after arranging for them to switch out with the others in an hour. His soldiers gratefully accepted the short furlough.
The uniformed servants of the duchess escorted Owen to a private cove along the bay where the surf came crashing against the rocks and sand. They had to hike down a little sandy trail to reach the basin, where he found the duchess walking side by side with her steward. Owen’s boots crunched in the sand as they reached the bottom of the steps. Having noticed his arrival, Sinia gestured for the steward to leave. There were a dozen or so soldiers in Raven tunics standing back along the edge of the cove, leaving room for the duchess to wander alone. As Owen passed the steward coming toward him, he noticed the tight frown on the man’s face.
“Glad you finally caught up,” the steward said with a biting tone.
“Glad you waited for me, Thierry,” Owen answered mockingly.
The stew
ard sniffed and shook his head, heading toward the soldiers by the path. As Owen approached Sinia, he saw she was walking barefoot, two sandals dangling from her fingers. His boots left large prints on the sandy shore. The wind blew some of her golden hair into her face, and she reached up and smoothed it back before turning to face him.
He was expecting resentment in her countenance—how could she feel otherwise after having a day to stew on their unsatisfactory conversation? But her look was resigned instead, as if Owen were a trial to be patiently endured. The wind carried the salty smell of the sea and the crashing of the waves.
“I found you at last,” Owen said with an almost reproachful tone.
“Walk with me,” she said, and then she turned toward the waves and started off. She clasped her hands behind her back, the sandals still dangling in the crook of her fingers. The sun was beginning its descent and glittered off her leaflike tiara. Today’s gown matched the color of the ocean, except for the girdle and the white ruffs at her sleeves.
As Owen followed her toward the pounding surf and the hulking boulders and formations jutting up along the shore, he felt a change in the texture of the sand beneath his feet. The sand became firmer and more saturated, and his boots left crumbs in the wake of their passing. The rocks were speckled with sea life and he saw half-buried shells poking out all around them. The sun was warm, but the breeze was cool. As they approached the first crag of rock, the sand began to change again, and instead of tiny brown flecks, the shore was filled with small rocky beads of various colors. Sinia walked through it, the sticky sand clinging to her bare feet. The crunch from his boots took on a different sound. Were they pebbles? How strange that the beach would turn from sand to pebbles as they approached the waves.
A particularly large wave crested and then hissed with foam as it approached them. Sinia walked in defiance of the wave, and it receded away from her before she reached it. She set the sandals down as she crouched and scooped up a handful of the tiny beads to show him.