[fan] diviners saga 02 - diviners curse

by Nicolette Andrews

  "I shall be there in a moment," Princess Arlene shouted to the servant. Then, turning to Beau and me, she said, "If you will excuse me, I must leave you for a time." She bowed at the waist and hurried after the servant.

  One of the falcons flapped its wings and shrieked a high-pitched noise as the door banged upon Princess Arlene's exit. The lord falconer came over and coaxed the animal onto his arm, which was covered in a large leather glove.

  "This one seems to have a good temperament," I said, pointing to the falcon Beau had been petting. I hoped if I got the lord falconer talking, he might know something about Damara or, better yet, Sarelle.

  The lord falconer grinned at the compliment. "He is a good bird." He stroked the plumage on the animal's breast.

  "Have you been working at this estate for long?" I asked.

  "Yes, since I was a lad." He put the bird back onto the rung. "My father worked for Earl Dremonte before he passed."

  "He died in the war, did he not?" I asked, vaguely recalling the name from Princess Arlene's long recounting of the estate's history.

  The falconer turned a perplexed gaze to me. "No, my lady, he died a few years back in a hunting accident."

  "Oh," I replied. A creeping sense of dread overcame me.

  "Sad affair, to be sure. He was a good man, the earl. He was a friend of King Reginald, or so my father used to tell me, but he liked to spin a tale or two."

  "Then he owned the lodge before Princess Arlene?" I asked.

  The man frowned. "Yes, he did. He loved a good hunt. He was here at least once a month.

  I had heard of Princess Arlene's betrothal and the accidental death of her betrothed at the countess' dinner party, and I wanted to know more. The parallels between Sarelle's death and Earl Dremonte's were uncanny. And their only connection other than the cause was Princess Arlene.

  "How did he die?"

  He shook his head and nudged the falcon back onto the perch. "He and Princess Arlene came around to go hunting, as he often did. He saddled his favorite hunting horse, and he and Her Highness went out into these woods here." He gestured to the wooded area surrounding us. "By noon the princess came riding like death was at her heels. She was pale as a sheet, I remember. She told us that the earl had fallen from his horse. It was the strangest thing; the animal had always been well tempered before." He shook his head again. "We went out into the woods and found the horse with a broken leg and the earl..." He looked at me and then said, "Well, a lady like you does not need to hear any grim details, but you can imagine."

  My palms were slick, and I wiped them down the front of my gown. "I wondered why she is unmarried at her age. Did she care for the earl deeply?"

  The falconer shrugged. "Cannot say one way or another, but I have heard rumors that she had something to do with his untimely demise. I can see why; she was the last one to see him alive."

  My pulse raced, and I felt as if I had stumbled upon a treasure trove of information. If Princess Arlene could threaten me and had killed her betrothed, why would she not kill Sarelle? The only question that remained was why?

  I decided to settle on a neutral question for the falconer. "Does the princess come around here often?" I asked, in what I hoped was a curious tone and did not sound prying.

  "Here or in the kennels or in the stables, places a proper woman should not—" He looked at me, as Beau must have been glaring over my shoulder, and corrected himself. "She has other duties to attend to, at the palace."

  "I heard the king will only see her," I remarked.

  "That's what the rumors coming from the palace say." He glanced around as if expecting her back at any moment. "I also heard from one of the king's maids that she feeds the king a tonic every night. One that is keeping him from leaving his chambers. I bet she has him under some kind of spell. There's whispers that she wants to take the throne in place of her uncle, who's next in line since there's no male heir." He laughed. "Can you imagine something so ludicrous? A woman on the throne? It's bad enough that she parades around in men's hosen!"

  I forced a laugh, but his gossip concerned me. Had Sarelle somehow stood in the way of Princess Arlene taking the throne? What about Prince Reynard, the heir apparent? Surely he'd be a more viable opponent. Why target his betrothed and not the prince himself?

  Princess Arlene did not return for us, and when I inquired at the estate, the housekeeper Giovanni informed me in a terse tone that the princess had gone back to the palace. Giovanni begrudgingly allowed us a tour of the lodge itself. I found nothing else of interest, and by the time we had seen nearly every room in the lodge, the sun was making its descent in the sky. We thanked the housekeeper for her hospitality and headed back to the city ourselves.

  After a quick inspection at the gate, we were on our way back to the villa when I had an impulse to visit Elenna. It had been some time since I had checked in with her and given the new revelations. It might be wise to confer with her and see where to look next.

  I poked my head out the carriage window and shouted to Beau and the coachman, "Turn up here at the cross street. I want to make another stop."

  "As you wish, your grace," the coachman shouted back to me over the clip-clop of the horses' hooves on the cobblestone path.

  When we drew close to the playhouse, I banged on the roof, and we came to a rumbling stop. Beau opened the door and let me out. The torches on the outside of the building had been lit, and they cast orange light against the façade of the building. Patrons were filing in through the double doors out front. I joined the crowd and entered the amphitheater proper. I forgot they would have a show going on.

  I headed backstage. Once there, I removed the earrings and dropped the glamour. The players were rushing around, preparing for the play. A few of them stopped to greet me, but most of them were too busy to give me any mind. I caught Philippe with his costume half on.

  "Where is Elenna? I wanted to speak with her."

  "Ah, Bella, you have not been around in a while. The last I saw her, she was with a Danhadine man in her chamber... I think he came here with you once." Philippe gave me a poignant look, and my stomach dropped. It's nothing. I'm sure he is mistaken. Why would Johai come here without me?

  "Thank you," I squeaked, and I half-walked, half-ran to Elenna's chambers.

  When I reached her door, I heard muffled voices beyond. I wanted to knock but feared what I would see inside. Jon taunted Johai about visiting the playhouse; is this where he's been going? They've met before; is there something I don't know?

  The door opened, and Johai's surprised face greeted me. "Maea."

  Elenna was within, and she was arranging a garland of flowers on her head in the mirror. I looked from her to Johai. He's been visiting her without telling me. Why? Are they lovers? The very idea punched me in the gut. I found them alone in her room, and he's been visiting her in secret; what other reason could there be?

  "I have to go," I said and turned to walk away.

  I did not get two steps before Johai grabbed me by the wrist and stopped me. "What are you doing here without the glamour?" he asked. "It's dangerous for you to be out. What if someone had seen you?"

  I felt like I was drowning. It shouldn't matter to me if Johai courted another woman, but it cut me deeply, and I couldn't breathe. He doesn't even realize.

  "Maea," he said my name again. He grabbed my chin and tried to force me to face him.

  I jerked my head away. "Don't touch me."

  He removed his hands, and I crossed my arms over my chest. I turned away from him. Beau showed up at the worst possible moment, and he glanced between the two of us with a bland expression without comment.

  "Maea, talk to me. What happened?"

  "Nothing. I was just coming to see if Elenna had made any progress on your curse..." I was being a fool, and I knew it, but I could not look at him, thinking that he might be visiting Elenna on secret trysts.

  "She has not learned anything new." He stood in front of me, and I hesitantly lifted my gaze. He
smiled at me. "We've been working on deciphering that Jerauchian tome. She learned the old languages when she trained as a priestess."

  Heat flushed my cheeks as I realized I had jumped to the wrong conclusion. Johai knew me well enough to know I would have thought they were lovers. He had been working on the curse while I had assumed he was keeping secrets from me.

  "Why didn't you tell me you were coming to her for assistance?" I said to my feet.

  "I did not want to get your hopes up until I found something."

  I shuffled my feet and avoided his gaze. "Have you found anything out?"

  "Not yet," Elenna interrupted.

  I glanced up at her. She was radiant in white with her long, dark hair cascading over her shoulders. Just looking at her natural beauty, I felt a twinge of jealousy. Even if nothing was going on between them, I could not help but be jealous of her. Johai was free to be with anyone; I held no sway over his heart.

  "We should go," Johai said. "The show is about to start, and it is getting late." He turned to Elenna. "I shall see you a few days hence."

  "I look forward to it." She smiled.

  I didn't like the way she smiled at him. I grabbed Johai by the hand and led him away. It was selfish of me to want him all to myself, to make him attend upon me. I had set myself beyond his reach, yet I continued to jealously guard him. He laced his fingers with mine as we exited the playhouse, and for a moment, I pretended that our lives were different and that we could be together.

  Chapter Fifteen

  AFTER TWO MONTHS IN the south, a portion of the Neaux army, led by Prince Reynard, returned. Three quarters of its forces remained stationed along the Neaux-Biski border. It was said the campaign to drive back the raids had been successful, but to deter further attack from the Biski, a large force had been left behind. Adair had championed a similar victory in Danhad, and it had increased his popularity at court. The echoes of the past were more than passing strange, and I was convinced they were connected somehow. Jon and I were invited to the palace to attend the victory banquet. It was the opportunity I needed. Prince Reynard had been briefly betrothed to Princess Sarelle just before her death. Coupled with the mysterious exchange of property, I did not want to discount him as a part of the plot.

  Jon waited for me in the foyer. He looked handsome in his dark-maroon doublet with gold stitching. It was nearly an affront. His color palate mimicked closely the royal colors of Neaux, which I suspected was intentional. Part of his appeal was his irreverence. I, too, wore a deep mauve accented with gold stitching and a gold caul held back my hair, which under the glamour appeared chestnut brown with waves.

  "You look charming this evening, Duchess," Jon purred.

  Johai, who walked a few steps behind me, growled at the back of his throat. It was unlike Johai to be so gruff. Jon's eyes darted in his direction, and a smile curled his lips. He took my hand in his and kissed it overlong.

  "Ah, if only our marriage were not a sham, the things I would do!" Jon proclaimed.

  A sword rang as it was withdrawn from its sheath. Johai pointed his blade at Jon's throat. I did not even realize Johai was carrying a sword.

  "You will not disavow her honor. That is what we agreed." Johai drew in close to Jon.

  I ran over and grabbed Johai by his upper arm. The dark cast of his eyes frightened me. They were not quite black but a richer blue, almost like the night sky. This was not the Johai I knew.

  Jon held up his hands in surrender, and his eyes darted from me to Johai and back. "I would never dream of such a thing."

  Johai held onto his lapel for a moment, the fabric twisted and bunched in his hands.

  "Johai, please, he was merely jesting," I said in what I hoped was a soothing tone.

  Johai lowered his sword and shoved it back into his scabbard with a click. My pulse raced. That moment of something inhuman in Johai's eyes scared me beyond reason. Lately, I felt as if I did not even know Johai any longer. He was slipping away. Johai had never been one to carry a sword before, and as of late he seemed to never be without one. Is this the spirit's influence upon him? I pushed it to the back of my mind. Tonight I would find the answers and, with them, the way to save him before it was too late.

  After the tense standoff, we left for the palace. Johai joined us as a valet, as did Beau. They wore black livery with the six stars of House Sixton across their chests. Johai climbed onto the back of the carriage and Beau the front. Jon helped me into the carriage with a hand on my waist. I glanced over at Johai, but he was avoiding my gaze. Words of reassurance dried up in my throat. I lowered my head and took a seat inside. Jon climbed in after and engaged me in a one-sided conversation. He didn't seem to mind hearing himself talk, and it allowed me to think. We arrived at the palace in short order, and when Johai opened the carriage door, his face was a mask of indifference once more.

  I looked past him, unwilling to meet that empty gaze that I knew was hiding his displeasure with me. The steps leading into the palace were lined by soldiers in armor. They held decorative spears with gold plate, and crimson capes were draped over their shoulders. The sun was setting behind the mountain range in the west, and purple light was bleeding into the encroaching night sky. Lights from windows of the palace gleamed orange in the dying light.

  We followed a stream of courtiers into the palace, and sounds from the ballroom reached us before we reached it. The crowded ballroom was buzzing with noise and the clink of silverware and the chink of glassware. It seemed no expense had been spared for the gathering.

  I scanned the room for the royal family and saw the queen, and the new lord of the privy seal, Eeland Yette, stood at her shoulder. He wore a gray doublet with onyx buttons and a large silver chain over it with links in the shape of triangles and squares. The queen wore a deep blood-red gown with a train so long it was draped over the edge of her throne. As usual, the throne beside her was vacant. Her middle daughter, Princess Marie-Celeste, sat beside her. She was frail and gaunt, and the bright pink gown she wore made her skin looked pale and accented the dark circles beneath her eyes. The third seat lay empty, presumably reserved for Princess Arlene, who was also absent.

  To the left of the king's throne, Prince Reynard sat. He wore a doublet of gold and crimson brocade and a long cape of crimson as well. He scanned the crowd whilst gazing at everyone over his folded hands. He was a thin man with angular features, a long sharp nose and severe brows. It gave the impression that he was a very shrewd man. He was in his early middle years. If his brother passed soon, as many suspected, he would have a long reign with more than enough time to produce an heir. I wondered what kind of king he would make. As I regarded him, his gaze turned in my direction, and our eyes locked for a moment. I dipped my head to avoid looking at him further.

  Jon led me by the arm across the ballroom. Is Adair waiting for Prince Reynard to take the throne to make his move? Is he waiting for an untried king? Would it give him the opening he needed to take control? Adair had once said he would not start a war, yet how could he without doing so? I did not think the Neaux royal family would hand him their kingdom without a fight.

  A buzzing murmur rippled through the crowd, and I turned to see what the commotion was all about. As I turned, the crowd parted, and a man at the far end of the chamber strode across the ballroom. As he passed, everyone whispered and jumped out of his way. He was of slight build and not of an imposing mien by any stretch of the imagination. He wore brown doublet and a white shirt and jerkin. His hair was cropped short and curled around his ears.

  "Who is he?" I leaned in and whispered to Jon.

  He frowned as if trying to place the stranger. "I am not sure."

  The man came in our direction, and a group of courtiers jockeyed in front of us, blocking our view, but I caught a glimpse and recognized the proud tilt of his chin. He was not a man at all but a woman.

  "Princess Arlene is at it again," a woman sighed to her companion.

  "To think she would do this at her uncle's banquet!
Has she no shame?"

  I watched the young woman, wondering at what game she played. What does she hope to achieve with such a display? Arlene was an enigma to be certain. She reached the dais and bowed at the waist as a man would, and why not, she wore men's hosen and a doublet.

  Her mother sat up straighter and frowned at her daughter, and the entirety of the court tittered behind her.

  "Mother," Princess Arlene said. Her tone was cold and without inflection.

  "Arlene." Her mother nodded her head, but her normally jovial air was drained, and in its place she stared at her daughter with a cool gaze. "Do you care to explain your garb this evening?"

  "Yes." Arlene turned to face the crowd. "Good people, I stand before you, the firstborn of King Reginald, king of Neaux. For these past seven months, I have listened to your counsel and passed judgment in my father's stead. I would have you look on me, not as a woman, because what is gender but an illusion? By our laws, the firstborn is the one who is intended to rule after their father's passing. Good people, I am your rightful ruler. Per my father's royal decree, I shall take the throne come his passing and rule Neaux as your queen."

  Some people cheered; many more shouted and argued, demanding to be heard. Princess Arlene stood before them, arms crossed over her chest, her chin jutted forward stubbornly. I saw a shadow of Sabine in her resolve. There was steel in the princesses of Neaux.

  The queen stood, and the crowd fell silent as she raised her hand. "You would interrupt your uncle's fete to proclaim these follies. Only men can rule; no false decree can change centuries of laws."

  Arlene glowered at her mother. "My father is anointed by the gods and put upon this earth to rule his people. His words are law, and I am his mouthpiece."

  "You are nothing but a manipulator," a bold courtier called out. "Let us hear the king's decree in his own words."

  Arlene whirled around towards the voices, but more voices were shouting, and the voices were overlapping one another, becoming unintelligible. I took the opportunity to slip away. I had a mind to investigate the palace now that most occupants were busy with the fete. I also wanted to question the servants. They gossiped just as the courtiers did, and perhaps they knew more about Sarelle's death that their masters did not.