by Jeff Wheeler
“I must leave you here,” she said. “Severn may be able to sense my presence, though he will not understand why there has been a surge in the Fountain. I must away back to Brythonica. But I will leave you messages in the chest, and you can do the same for me. I will look forward to it.”
He turned and gazed at her, taking in her lovely smile and the look of tenderness and excitement in her eyes. His sensations struggled to reconcile the fact that they had crossed from one end of Ceredigion to the other in a mere moment.
“This is one of your powers?” he said, shaking his head in wonderment. “I never knew.”
“I trust you can keep it a secret,” she replied. “While the mist is up, no one can see or hear us. This particular fountain is not in the main hall of the sanctuary. Set the chest down inside the waters and then entrust it to the Fountain. It will disappear from view from all who aren’t Fountain-blessed. And not even everyone who is Fountain-blessed has the power to do so.”
“You mean the king could see it?” Owen pressed.
She nodded. “If he came here.”
“But you’ve seen the future and know that he will not?”
She gave him a warm look of approval and a single nod. “He will not come here.” She glided her hand along his arm, a possessive gesture. “Write to me soon, Owen. I want to help you.”
“And I’ll need your help,” he said with a chuckle. “Thank you, Sinia.” Before setting the chest into the waters, he opened it to examine the Wizr board. Sure enough, the white Wizr had moved across the board and was now adjacent to the dark king. There was a white knight next to it.
Sinia nodded to him, but said nothing. He shut the lid and then settled the chest back into the waters. Just as his hands were about to enter it, the waters were repelled back, clearing a dry space on the floor of the fountain. It amazed and astounded him still.
“May the Fountain guide you, my beloved,” she said, her voice full of longing.
Her words caught him off guard. He had pledged himself to marry her. They had thrown the dice together to unseat a king. But the thought of being loved by someone, of being cherished, filled him with conflicting emotions.
“And you,” he replied. She gave him an awkward look, then pressed up on her tiptoes and kissed his cheek, grazing his thick stubble. And she vanished in an instant. Before he could kiss her back.
He stared at where she had been standing and realized with a chuckle that she’d left her sandals back on the rail of the fountain of St. Penryn. He stepped away from the fountain, and the mist fell away, sloughing off like powder. His heart burned with purpose as he walked away from the fountain. There were few visitors in the sanctuary that day, so no one seemed to notice him. When Owen left the building, he saw a black smudge of cloud starting to fester in the northern sky.
Owen entered the palace grounds through the Espion gate he had once used as a child. He did not want word of his return spreading too quickly. By his estimation, Etayne would not arrive for another day or two. He had already left a note for her at the inn where they’d arranged to meet, explaining that he had returned ahead of her and to look for further messages from him inside her tower.
The sunlight was fading, filling the sky with the ink of darkness. Taking care to avoid people, he made his way to the Espion tunnels without being seen. Then he grabbed a lamp and maneuvered his way to the king’s council chamber. The sound of voices emanating from beyond the wall made him slow his approach. He found the latch to open the spy hole and extinguished the lamp before releasing it.
He pressed his eyes to the slits for a view inside the room. Severn was there, pacing back and forth, and so were several of the lords of the realm, including Catsby and Paulen. Kevan, Owen’s second in command of the Espion, was leaning against the far wall, shaking his head and frowning in frustration. The air was charged with enmity. The voice of the king’s chamberlain rang out, announcing dinner, and the mood changed as the meal was brought in. Owen sensed the subtle flow of the Fountain coming from the room, which made him wary.
Owen concentrated on the draw of the magic, trying to get a sense of the source. At first, he suspected the king, but it was coming from deeper in the room. He dared not use his own magic for fear of revealing himself to the king and whoever else was there. Listening in eagerly to the conversation when it resumed, he discovered quickly that the fate of two men’s lives were being discussed over seasoned beef.
“The Assizes have found them both guilty of treason, just as you wished,” Catsby said to the king after the servants had cleared out. “Eyric and Dunsdworth are doomed. They both know it. I don’t understand why we can’t sentence them now, my lord, and throw them both into the river this very evening?”
Owen’s stomach lurched with dread.
“My lord!” Kevan said imploringly.
“Shut it, man!” Catsby snarled. “You had your chance to bring evidence. It’s the king’s decision. Why do you hesitate, my lord?”
There was a miserable look on the king’s face. He was frowning, his face full of agitation. “Don’t press me, Catsby. I warn you.”
“Shall we not pend the sentence until Lord Owen returns?” Kevan demanded. “Let him see the evidence. Would it not be more just to add his voice to the council?”
Catsby had daggers in his eyes. “I told you to be quiet.”
“You are not the master of the Espion,” Kevan growled. “The evidence is murky at best. There were others involved who helped Eyric and Dunsdworth escape. It seemed as if . . .” He hesitated.
“Go on,” Severn said, much to Catsby’s chagrin.
“The circumstances of their escape and capture are highly suspicious,” Kevan said.
“Say more,” Severn pressed.
“I dare not,” Kevan replied, looking worriedly at the others in the room.
“You have an accusation to make, then make it!” Catsby growled. “You think I was behind their escape? Pfah! Why would I care a green fig about them! I came all the way from the North to help since Kiskaddon is conveniently absent. When did you summon him back, my lord? How many days ago? He could have taken a ship. Why would he delay so long?”
“You have no idea how far he must ride,” Severn said impatiently. “Even if he left right after receiving Kevan’s news of their escape, it would still take him another day to reach us. Give him time. He will come. I assure you, he will.”
“My lord,” Catsby said, a battle between impatience and forced courtesy playing out in his voice. “You have a guilty verdict. Do you think having Kiskaddon’s opinion will make your decision any easier? You must execute these two rivals. They are the last threat to your throne. Dunsdworth could not fulfill the role of king without sending all of us to the river. He’s much too damaged and dangerous.”
“And it’s my fault that he is, I suppose?” Severn asked huskily.
Owen tried to sense if the magic was coming from Catsby, but though it was the right direction, he couldn’t be sure.
Catsby put away his napkin and rose. “You’ve been far more lenient than other kings would have been. Your brother used a poisoner to put Dunsdworth’s father to death. Is that why you hesitate? And what of Eyric . . . or should I say Piers? He’s the son of a fishmonger’s wife. You should have killed him years ago.”
Severn’s gaze burned hot, and Owen was about to enter the room to startle them all, but some impulse held him back.
“What say you, Jack?” Severn said, his burning eyes fixed on Catsby.
Jack Paulen was busy devouring his meal, but he paused to wipe the grease from his mouth with a napkin, then said, “I sat on the Assizes, my lord. The evidence may be murky, but that doesn’t shroud the result. The two are a threat to your throne and your power. They must be put to death in the river.”
“Go,” Severn said curtly. “All of you. Leave me.”
Catsby gave the king a disdainful look and stomped out of the chamber. They all left, one by one, leaving Severn standing by himse
lf in front of the hearth, his eyes lost in thought. It was the perfect opportunity to approach the king alone, but Owen still hesitated. Intuition plucked at him, warning him to wait, to see what the king would do all alone.
“Are you still here?” the king said in a low, angry tone.
Owen blinked with surprise. Had the king somehow detected his presence? Then he sensed the ebbing of the subtle power of the Fountain, which had filled the room throughout the meeting, and a man appeared in the farthest corner. He was a square-faced man with dark sideburn whiskers and thick unruly hair, dressed in a jacket and breeches. He pulled a long-stemmed wooden pipe from his belt and began chewing on the end. Owen recognized him instantly, although his look and manner had changed dramatically. He’d last seen this man crouching nervously in a cell. It was Etayne’s father.
And Owen realized immediately that he was the Fountain-blessed one he had sensed.
“Of course, my lord,” the man said gruffly, chewing on the stem.
“You’ve done your work well, Dragan,” Severn said wryly. “Of course, it wouldn’t have worked at all if Lord Kiskaddon had been here. He would have sensed you, just as I can.”
Owen’s heart seethed in uneasy anger. What was going on?
The man shrugged with unconcern. “Best to get it over with quickly, my lord. Break it off quick and sudden. That’s what I say. He’ll never know. You seemed contrite enough. I think you fooled them others.”
“It may surprise you, Dragan,” Severn said with a cunning look. “But I do care about the lad’s conscience. He won’t accept the throne willingly. But I need an heir, and he deserves it. He deserves it without all the complications I’ve had to endure.”
“It’s so kind of you, my lord,” the man said with a low chuckle.
“You’ll get a bonus, of course,” Severn said. “I said I’d pay you double what Maxwell was offering to rescue the lad.”
Dragan clenched the stem within his teeth. “Money is money, my lord. I’m not picky as to who’s paying it.”
“Of course not. I need a man like you around, Dragan. Do you have the Espion ring I gave you? Maybe I’ll let you keep it a while longer.”
Dragan smiled charmingly. “If you say so, my lord. If you say so. Might I have some of these fixings? It would be a shame not to eat it up.”
“I’m not hungry. I must go prepare to console a soon-to-be widow.”
Dragan smacked his lips and helped himself to the food trays while the king exited the council room and shut the door behind him. The thief took a bite from a piece of succulent beef and smacked his lips.
“Poor lass,” he said with a wicked grin. “He’ll get her in the end. She’s been wearing black for so long she looks like his queen now.”
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
Loyalty
As Owen stalked the dark Espion tunnel, his emotions churned. The implications of what he had witnessed made him burn with conflict. It appeared to Owen that Severn was going to position him as his named heir. The idea made his ambition squirm to life inside him. Owen Kiskaddon—King of Ceredigion. But Severn had told that to the thief. Was it even true? And if so, should Owen willingly accept the role and use it as an opportunity to abdicate in favor of Drew? That question brought forth another—one that poked at the very essence of Owen Kiskaddon. Would he have the strength to let go of power once he had a taste of it?
He feared he might not, a thought that troubled him deeply. As he walked through the Espion tunnels that snaked through the walls of the palace, he brooded on how the years had altered him, making him more and more like Severn. His tongue had developed the same sarcastic sharpness. His moods grew ever darker, and everything smelled of treachery and deceit. No, Owen could not allow himself to play the role of the usurper. Perhaps everyone expected it of him. But he would defy that fate. He would not betray Sinia. He needed to get her a note about what had happened upon his return. Their plan to topple Severn had to start immediately.
The end of the journey found him deep in the secret wings of the palace at the Star Chamber, where he hoped to find Kevan Amrein alone. He listened at the portal for a moment, then rapped on the door and opened it.
The older Espion was sitting in a chair opposite a desk stacked with a tottering tower of missives. He looked beleaguered and fretful as he glanced up at the intrusion, looked back down at the letter, and then started and rose from his chair.
“You’re back!” Kevan said with unfeigned surprise. “I’ve not had word from you since you left. I’d begun to fear you’d come to harm in Brythonica!”
Owen smiled at the remark and quietly shut and bolted the door behind him.
“Does the king know you’ve returned?” Kevan pressed.
Owen shook his head. “Not yet. I wanted to see you first. I eavesdropped on the meeting you just had with him.”
A relieved exhalation came out of Kevan’s mouth. “I’m glad you did. I’ve been trying to stave off disaster, but I’m afraid I’ve been failing. Thank the Fountain you made it back. What can I tell you? What do you need to know most? Did you get my message about Eyric and Dunsdworth?”
“It’s why I returned so quickly,” Owen said. “Tell me what happened—how they escaped.”
Kevan walked around the desk so they could face each other. “That’s the problem. I don’t understand how it happened. Your orders were to hold Dragan for a few days, then release him and follow him. He escaped from his cell the day you left.”
Owen’s brow crinkled. “How so?”
“I wish I knew!” Kevan said with surprise. “The jailor came to feed him and found the chains in a heap on the floor. The door was still locked, but the man was gone. You saw his cell. It’s not very big. The jailor’s key went missing, so I had him arrested for being part of the conspiracy.”
Owen shook his head. “The jailor’s innocent. I know how he escaped.”
“But how? I told the king about it, and he blamed the Espion for bungling things. He was furious, as you can imagine. Then shortly afterward, Eyric and Dunsdworth escaped. Set free by Dragan, no doubt. I had every man available on the hunt.”
Owen tapped his lip and started pacing. “Let me guess. You didn’t have trouble finding them.”
Kevan looked at him in surprise. “You’re frightening me with your clairvoyance, my lord. Did you have a portentous dream? You have been in Brythonica, have you not?”
“I have indeed,” Owen said with a smirk. “After your meeting with the king, everyone left. Except for the king. And Dragan.”
The Espion’s eyes bulged. “Dragan was there?”
“He was in the room with you all the while. I sensed him, but couldn’t see him. The thief is Fountain-blessed.” Etayne’s gift made so much sense now. “He can turn himself invisible. A handy skill for a thief, wouldn’t you say? So when you found chains on the floor in the cell . . .”
Kevan’s eyes widened. “He was still there. He’d managed to slip out of the cuffs, but he was waiting there all along. And he managed to steal the jailor’s key in the hubbub.”
Owen nodded. “Dragan is working for the king now.”
Kevan blew out softly. “I’m . . . I’m bewildered, my lord. All of our information showed that Dragan was working for Maxwell of Brugia.”
Owen shrugged. “Severn paid him off. I think he’s using Dragan to create an opportunity to destroy his two rivals. Then he will be able to do as he’s long wished and wed Lady Kathryn. I must stop him.”
“My lord,” Kevan said, looking disturbed. “There’s something else.”
“Why not ruin my evening completely? Say on, man. I can’t be in a worse mood.”
“I think the king plans to replace you as head of the Espion. Whenever I report the news to him, he asks me many pointed questions about the Star Chamber and which men are the most loyal to you personally. I get the sense that he plans to cast you aside, like he’s done to others. That he isn’t comfortable with how much power you’ve accrued. I think he means to
put someone else in the role.”
“Do you know who?” Owen asked.
Kevan shrugged. “It’s not me. He knows I’m loyal to you. Now that I know he was behind Eyric’s escape himself . . .” He paused, looking disgruntled. “I fear what he may do with you.”
Owen scratched his neck. “He sent me to Brythonica to get me out of the way. I see he appointed Catsby to lead the Assizes while I was gone.”
“And you know how quick he is to do what Severn wants. What he’s doing in the North is nothing short of rapine and plunder. Catsby hates you. He’s envied you for years and sees himself as your replacement if you should fall.”
“He can have anything he wishes,” Owen said snidely. “He may be plundering Dundrennan, but he’ll get his fair share.” He chuckled to himself. “I think the king will be very surprised to learn the duchess and I are now betrothed.”
“You can’t be serious!” Kevan said with a cough of surprise. “How did you manage that! Everyone believed it was a fool’s errand. A pretext to start a war with Occitania because you know Chatriyon would rather let you spit in his eye than allow Ceredigion to occupy one of the larger duchies.”
“I truly believe the king intended for me not to be successful,” Owen replied with a grunt. “But what can I say? The duchess was wooed by my many charms.” He stopped pacing and turned to face the Espion. “I may not be head of the Espion for much longer, but I am head of it now. I need you to send word of my return to the king, and tell him that a messenger came just ahead of me with news of my engagement with Lady Sinia Montfort. Inform him that I’m coming to his great hall to share the news of a dream. Make sure the other dukes know about it. I want everyone there.”
Kevan’s eyes gleamed with excitement. “What news, my lord?”