by Mike Shelton
Faegon flinched and moved back a few inches. His whiskers seemed to twitch of their own volition, and his face reddened. “They want power, Shaeleen. Power that only a prince…or a king can give them.”
Now it was Shaeleen’s turn to flinch, but there was no pain. But the implications were almost worse than if there had been pain. It meant Faegon was telling the truth. Stars! That’s what this is all about; Prince Calix wants the throne.
Faegon sat back and folded his arms, looking smug once again, now that Shaeleen’s power had receded. “Not that it’s any concern of yours,” Faegon said. “I’m not even really sure why you are here, in fact. You were traveling under different identities on the ship—why was that?”
“And why were you on the ship, Faegon? What were you doing in Stronghold?”
Faegon laughed and spread his arms out to his sides. “My dear, I am the wizard of Galena. I can go anywhere I please.”
“They why do you stay here, with Prince Calix, rather than with Basil, the crown prince?”
Prince Calix stood up, and Shaeleen didn’t receive her answer from Faegon. The prince looked over the entire group with a sneer and then growled, “The women may leave the room now. I have things to discuss with my supporters.”
The first to stand was the prince’s mother, Queen Raisa. She nodded her head toward Shaeleen, motioning for her to follow.
“Take Orin with you,” Faegon said. “This is not a place for a little boy.”
“I am not little,” Orin said, his lips pouting.
Shaeleen gave Cole a questioning glance.
“I’m fine,” Cole said.
“A young wizard might be valuable,” Faegon said.
“Just be careful, Cole,” Shaeleen offered.
Upon exiting the room, Shaeleen caught the prince’s eyes one last time. They reflected a hungry desire for power. She needed to get back soon and warn Prince Basil about what his brother’s intentions were. She would know more about his specific plans when Cole returned from the meeting.
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
Glancing around the next room they entered, Shaeleen was amazed and impressed by the grandeur of Prince Calix’s mansion in North Bay—artifacts from neighboring kingdoms, rich tapestries, and exquisite furniture filled the room. The queen mother ushered Shaeleen and Orin into the farthest part of the room away from the dozen or so other women.
Orin pulled on Shaeleen’s sleeve and whispered up to her, “I don’t like this.”
A small smile tugged at the corners of Shaeleen’s mouth. This room definitely was not going to be an exciting place for a boy.
“Young man,” Queen Raisa turned to Orin, “I can tell you’re not very comfortable here. Maybe you would like to sit on the balcony. I will have some desserts brought out for you. The views of the sea and the stars at this time of night are quite amazing.”
Orin looked relieved.
“I have two sons of my own,” Queen Raisa added, her bright lips parting into a wide smile. “I understand.”
Erlinda leaned over and whispered something into Queen Raisa’s ear. The queen mother raised her eyebrows in apparent surprise before turning back to Orin and saying, “But I must ask that you honor my accommodations and not wander around.” Her dark eyes bore directly into Orin.
Orin took a step back, and his cheeks colored. He and Shaeleen both knew to what Queen Raisa was referring to—his ability of speed. He nodded to her, and she had a servant bring him out to the balcony.
Shaeleen studied the rest of the women in the room—wives of men important to the prince’s cause, no doubt. She took a step toward a group of them. With her abilities, she was sure she could find out more information to bring back to Prince Basil.
But Queen Raisa put a hand out and took hold of Shaeleen’s arm, the grip a little too tight. Shaeleen turned and frowned.
“I can’t have you wandering around here on your own,” Queen Raisa said.
Shaeleen gave her a questioning look but said nothing.
“I wouldn’t want you to be in pain,” Queen Raisa added.
That caught Shaeleen by surprise, and it must have shown on her face.
Queen Raisa pulled Shaeleen back into the far corner of the room. Erlinda followed behind them, silently watching the room as they sat in a group of chairs in a small alcove, away from listening ears.
Shaeleen’s eyes swept the room once more. Burgundy, overstuffed chairs and couches sat in small groupings around polished cherry wood tables. The ornate designs on the legs and edges of the tables’ wood were impressive. And a few glass-encased cabinets sat against a far wall, with artifacts from around the five kingdoms of Wayland.
She could smell the sweet desserts that had been brought out to Orin, which made her turn her head that way. Queen Raisa smiled and motioned for a servant to bring a plate of desserts over to the three of them. Shaeleen nodded her thanks and, with a small napkin, took a small, icing-covered cookie and then bit into it. It was wonderfully delicious. I really must commend the cook.
During this entire time, Queen Raisa and Erlinda had not said a word. But Shaeleen was beginning to put things together.
“Why are you here, Queen Mother?” Shaeleen asked after finishing her cookie.
Queen Raisa’s eyebrows rose in surprise. She smoothed back a dark strand of her coiffed hair. “What do you mean?” Queen Raisa asked.
“Why are you here with Calix instead of in the capital with Basil?”
“Ahh.” Queen Raisa nodded her head. “Well, after my husband, the king, passed away five years ago, I couldn’t stand being in the city any longer.”
Shaeleen felt a small twinge of pain in her gut: not enough to suggest a total lie but enough to cause suspicion at Queen Raisa’s words.
“I would think you would want to be there,” Shaeleen said, “to support your son and the regent.”
Queen Raisa’s eyes flicked to Erlinda then back to Shaeleen. “The regent is a good man. He does not need my help.”
Shaeleen was growing frustrated. She glanced around the room again. A group of women stood talking together across the room. One woman seemed to be different than the others. Strength showed from her posture, and her long, blond hair, rather than feminizing her, strengthened her. Both beautiful and strong.
“That’s Commander Kerr’s wife, Brigitte,” Queen Raisa said.
Shaeleen turned with a questioning look.
“The commander of Gabor’s army,” Queen Raisa added.
What is going on here? Shaeleen could tell Queen Raisa had tiptoed around her questions. The queen was obviously used to having Erlinda—the kingdom’s TruthSeer—around. Then an idea occurred to Shaeleen, and she turned to Erlinda.
“TruthSeer, what is your take on what is going on here?” Shaeleen asked, her mind jumping steps ahead of where they were.
Erlinda actually jumped in her seat. Her short, graying hair bobbed around her neck. Her eyes held deep-seated pain and crackled with small strands of power. As she peered at Shaeleen, Shaeleen’s entire soul was bared for the TruthSeer.
Using her own power, Shaeleen cut Erlinda’s intruding mind off from her own.
Erlinda swayed a bit before saying, “I have served Galena for many years—through two kings—and now…” Erlinda stopped as if surprised that she had been about to say something.
Shaeleen smiled and pushed forward. “Go on. What were you saying?”
Erlinda looked at Queen Raisa and then back to Shaeleen. “Nothing,” she said and shook her head.
Pain crept into Shaeleen’s mind. A definite lie. She tried not to wince, but Queen Raisa seemed to notice.
Shaeleen had had enough of their games. “Erlinda, why are you and your wizard here in North Bay with Calix instead of in Stronghold, helping Basil and the regent?” Shaeleen winced inside as she thought about her brother chastising her for being informal with the princes’ names.
Erlinda’s face twisted in pain. She squirmed uncomfortably in her seat and looked ove
r at Queen Raisa.
“A TruthSeer owes no deference to any man or woman,” Shaeleen said. “Why do you keep looking at Queen Raisa before you answer me?”
“Enough questions!” Queen Raisa said, raising her voice loud enough that others in the room stopped talking and glanced over. She waved her hand in their direction to return them to their own conversations.
Then Queen Raisa lowered her voice and faced Shaeleen as she said, “I don’t know who you are or even why you are here. Faegon thought your brother important, and you travel with another of abilities…” She turned her head to the balcony, where Orin seemed to be in conversation with a serving girl. “But I suspect it is you who is the important one here. Who are you?”
“I am Shaeleen, the oldest daughter of a carpenter of some renown in Stronghaven,” was all Shaeleen said. It was true enough to not set off any pain, but only barely.
“And, Shaeleen, the carpenter’s daughter, why are you here in North Bay?” Queen Raisa continued.
How can I answer that without giving myself away? Instead, she reiterated her earlier question of the queen mother: “I have asked you the same, and yet, you have not answered me.”
Queen Raisa’s face reddened, and her lips tightened. She was obviously not used to being talked to in this manner. Instead of answering, she turned this time to Erlinda, with a questioning look in her eyes, as if awaiting an answer.
Erlinda nodded her head once, and Queen Raisa laid her head back against the cushion of the chair and closed her eyes for a brief moment. When she opened them again, they held a determined look. Then she stood and motioned for Shaeleen and Erlinda to follow her out onto the balcony. Chasing away the serving girl from Orin’s side, the queen closed the glass double doors and walked to the edge of the balcony.
Orin gave Shaeleen a questioning look.
She only shrugged in response. She didn’t know what was going on. But, apparently, some internal battle tore at the queen mother, who stood staring out toward the sea. The moon lit up the tips of waves and the outlines of sailing ships in the harbor. Lights seemed sprinkled across the darkness down in the town. And faint voices traveled through the air, the conversations too far away to hear.
Queen Raisa turned, her dress flaring out around her as she did. With two long steps, she stood in front of Shaeleen. She was taller than Shaeleen—most women were—and Shaeleen shrank back a step from the queen mother’s presence.
“Show it to me!” Queen Raisa demanded.
Shaeleen spread her arms out to her sides. “Show you what?”
“The stone,” Erlinda whispered from Shaeleen’s right side. “Show us the TruthStone, child. You must have one.”
Shaeleen bristled for a moment at being called a child, but, compared to Erlinda, everyone must seem so. Standing silently, she sensed more than saw Orin take a step closer to her on her left. She looked at him, and his eyes told her that with a signal he could whisk them out of the castle. But Shaeleen couldn’t leave Cole. Her brother was too timid in circumstances like these. She hoped he was being treated better than she was.
Queen Raisa still stood in front of her, awaiting an answer to her demand. “I have lived with a TruthSeer for years, Shaeleen. I know one when I see one.”
Shaeleen let out a long-held breath. She couldn’t see any good way out of this one. She could lie and then drop to the floor in pain, or she could show them what they wanted to see.
“Every few generations, a new TruthSeer is born,” Erlinda said. “I am getting old and have been awaiting an apprentice for years.”
Shaeleen almost laughed out loud. So that’s what they thought? She could play along with that for now—she hoped—without too much pain.
“I can’t show you the stone,” Shaeleen said, followed with a deep breath in and out. “It isn’t time.”
Both Queen Raisa and Erlinda seemed to relax, grim smiles coming to their faces.
“So, you do admit you are a TruthSeer?” Queen Raisa asked.
Shaeleen nodded. “Well, one that needs training, as you have said.” That was true at least.
Goodness, it is exhausting to tell the truth all the time!
“And Cole is your wizard?” Erlinda said.
“Well, he’s not a very good one yet,” Shaeleen said, trying to lighten the mood and turn the attention away from the stone weighing down both her heart and her pocket.
“Give him time,” Erlinda said with the first smile that Shaeleen had seen from the old woman. “They need more time than we do to learn their own powers.”
“So, I know why you are here now,” Queen Raisa said to Shaeleen.
Shaeleen only nodded. Apparently, Queen Raisa supposed her to be seeking out the TruthSeer. Shaeleen did and said nothing to persuade her otherwise.
“But why are you here, Queen Mother?” Shaeleen pushed one more time. She felt the answer to that question would help her to know what to do next.
Queen Raisa looked at Orin, then Erlinda, then back to Shaeleen. She stood for a moment, ringing her hands as if deciding what to say and do herself.
“I need you to take Erlinda away from here,” Queen Raisa finally said.
“W-what?” Shaeleen said, stumbling on her words in surprise. “What do you mean?”
“There is too much pain for her here,” Queen Raisa continued. “I can’t stand to see her suffer any longer.”
“Queen Mother,” Erlinda said, “there is no need for that. I am fine.”
“You are not fine, Erlinda. You have aged these past few years, and I now see constant pain in your eyes. You should not be required to keep these lies any longer.”
Shaeleen tried to follow what was being said. She pulled upon the power of the tiny IntelligenceStone held within her TruthStone, for help. Then she became aware of Queen Raisa, Erlinda, and Orin staring at her.
“How?” Queen Raisa half whispered.
“You’re glowing again,” Orin said from her side.
“Why did you leave Stronghaven, Erlinda?” Shaeleen asked as she turned to the TruthSeer. “What lies are you keeping?”
Erlinda’s eyes filled with tears, and she put a hand on a nearby chair to steady herself.
“I…uh…I…” Erlinda said.
“Tell me the truth!” Shaeleen said, pulling on a significant amount of her power, making her voice a demand that couldn’t be disobeyed.
Erlinda bent over in a gruesome pain that Shaeleen understood all too well. Queen Raisa moved to Erlinda’s side and lowered the TruthSeer into the chair.
“You’re hurting her, Shaeleen!” Queen Raisa said, her voice pleading for Shaeleen to stop.
“Then tell me: what lie is so big that it causes her so much pain and has both of you in North Bay rather than in Stronghaven, with the crown prince?”
Queen Raisa kneeled down next to Erlinda and held the TruthSeer’s hand. Looking up at Shaeleen, the queen mother’s eyes filled with tears that began to spill down her cheeks, dripping off her chin. She took a few deep breaths and tried to gain control.
“Prince Basil is not the true crown prince,” Queen Raisa drew out her answer slowly. Then, with one last sob, she blurted out, “Prince Calix is the oldest son.”
Shaeleen had braced herself for pain, but none came. Nothing. It was as she had recently suspected. But, to hear it voiced was different. She now knew with certainty the truthfulness of the words. Plopping down on the chair Orin had been sitting in earlier, she tried to comprehend what this news meant to her mission.
Orin paced to the railing and back more than once.
“Orin, stop it!” Shaeleen said.
Orin turned to her, his eyes wide.
“I’m sorry,” she said. “Sit down. I can’t think with your pacing.”
“What are we going to do?” Orin asked Shaeleen.
“You’re going to take Erlinda away from here,” Queen Raisa said, now standing up by Erlinda’s chair.
Anger suddenly filled Shaeleen, and she stood and took two steps tow
ard Queen Raisa. “How could you do this?” she demanded. “How could you keep this secret all these years? What have you done to the kingdom, Raisa?”
“To protect the crown, my husband and I decided to lie to protect the rightful heir to the throne while the boys were younger. It was never intended to go on this long.”
“Then why?” Shaeleen asked.
“Why?” Queen Raisa raised her voice, and she wiped new tears away for her eyes. “Have you seen my son Calix? Have you seen the type of person he has become?” Queen Raisa shook with anger, and pain filled her eyes. “I hate myself for saying this. But, would you want Prince Calix as your king?”
Shaeleen now understood.
The queen stood there: once so proud and regal, now looking shaken and vulnerable. Her voice was barely audible as she added, “I kept hoping he would change or, worse yet, that something might happen that would make Basil the oldest surviving heir.”
CHAPTER NINETEEN
Early the next morning Shaeleen, Orin, and Erlinda crossed over the border into the kingdom of Gabor. With Orin’s speed, the border crossing caused them little difficulty. He sped across twice, taking Shaeleen and then Erlinda with him.
Shaeleen wanted more than anything to confide in Cole and to get his opinion on the matter. But the queen mother had insisted on Shaeleen and Orin getting Erlinda away from the prince’s presence as soon as possible. Shaeleen knew that, in reality, she didn’t have to follow any order from the queen mother—or anyone else, for that matter.
But, with thoughts of Prince Calix and Prince Basil in her head and the implications of their birth order, she had decided to help. She would get Erlinda away, return in the morning for Cole, and then they would catch the next ship back to Stronghaven.
Now they were standing off to the side of a road, watching early morning travelers and merchants making their way between North Bay to Portsmouth, a small seaside town on the border with Gabor.
“Now what?” Orin asked. “I’m hungry.”