by Megan Derr
It was as wonderful as it had been the first time, and Iah was glad, so very happy, that he'd risked it and taken that first step. Sol tasted warm, like the summer that filled his voice. He'd had a handful of lovers in his life, and a few adventures in town, but no one had ever felt quite like this. Iah hoped he wasn't just clinging to the only person that seemed not to be bothered by his blindness.
Goddess he hoped.
Sol broke the kiss, then leaned back in for a second. Finally he pulled away, and Iah could almost feel the stubbornness in him. "Sleep," he said.
Iah started to protest, suddenly wanting very much not to sleep, but the protest came out as a yawn, and with a brief laugh, he conceded defeat. Settling into the blankets and against Sol, breathing in the scent of home and the man beside him, Iah allowed sleep to take him.
*~*~*
Esta glared at Iah, who had buried his face against Sol's shoulder to muffle his laughter. It could be ignored—for the moment. She turned to address Kalan and Matthias. "So when were we going to tell me what was going on?" No one replied, which meant they at least knew they were in trouble.
Kalan dared to speak. "As soon as we were certain—"
"Certain?" Esta repeated.
"Now they're in trouble," she heard Iah say.
She narrowed her eyes at him. "Don't think I can't see you over there, Iah. Just because you can't see me doesn't mean I'm not prepared to smack you."
"Yes, ma'am." Iah said quickly.
Esta wasn't fooled by his contrite tone. "So what exactly is going on? Why am I housing two Salharans and a Krian?"
Matthias answered her. "The Salharans I can explain. Sol has been a spy for quite some time. Beraht—Essie, he's our Breaker."
Esta looked toward Beraht who sat quietly in a green chair in the corner. Sunlight streamed into the breakfast room from a wide window. Beraht was a fine sight when cleaned up. If she didn't know any better, she would swear he looked almost Illussor. "Don't play with me, Matthias, especially about this. I'd feel it if he was the Breaker."
"That's the arcen," Beraht said. His eyes were nearly as bright as the sunlight flooding the room. "Near as we can tell, it blocks whatever it is the Illussor can sense. Wait until it's flushed from my system in a few days." He fell silent and returned to gazing out the window.
Esta blinked furiously, fisting her hands tightly in her dress. She looked to Matthias. "Is he really, then?"
"Yes, Essie." Matthias smiled at her.
Crossing the room, Esta stooped and embraced Beraht, who froze. "I'm so glad you're here. Thank you."
"S-sure," Beraht replied, still and tense in her arms. She stood and smoothed her skirts, catching Matthias' frown in the corner of her eye. Didn't like the hug, did he? Well, served him right for keeping secrets. She beamed at Beraht. "You've no idea how much it means to have you here. Will you really help us?"
Beraht shrugged. "Why not?"
Smiling at him again, knowing Matthias was seething, Esta whirled around and planted her hands on her hips. "So the other one is the spy?"
"Sol," Iah corrected gently. "He is the reason Beraht and I are here. Without him, I would still be in a Salharan dungeon, and Beraht would be dead."
Esta nodded, then remembered Iah couldn't see the gesture. "Yes, Iah. No insult was intended." She shifted, folding her arms across her chest. "So explain the Krian."
"Dieter," Iah said again.
Esta sighed. "Dieter, then. Why is he here? Is he really the Wolf? Why is he not here this morning?"
"Oh, he's the Wolf all right," Beraht said, glaring out the window. "I'm sure he's just licking his wounds."
Matthias snorted. "Perhaps, unlike the rest of us, he knew to avoid the bloodshed."
"If you make one more comment," Esta said with a patient smile, "bloodshed will be the least of your concerns."
"Yes, ma'am."
"Back to the Krian."
Sol laughed softly. "Beraht is the one responsible for Dieter's presence here. It was… a fluke, I suppose. No doubt he wonders why he is not in chains."
"Should be." Esta only just heard Beraht's muttering. "The man is a menace."
"How so?" Esta asked sharply.
Sol frowned at Beraht. "You are out of line."
"At least you don't beat me for it."
"Perhaps I should."
Esta watched the exchange in silence, uncertain of the undercurrents she could feel running beneath it. "Is the Wolf going to be a problem?"
"No, he's not." Matthias spoke firmly. "Let me speak with him, though I would appreciate any support you could lend me later, Esta. Perhaps you don't think you're in charge around here, but everyone else disagrees."
"What are you scheming?"
"You're going to yell at me either way, so I think I'll just keep my silence."
Esta looked at him. "Oh, really."
"Yes, really, and there's nothing you can do about it." Matthias stood up, brushing out his dark green coat. "In fact, I think I'll go make my first move now. Kalan can stand in for me so far as punishment goes." He crossed the room and took one of Esta's hands. "We would have told you, Esta, but it was hard enough for us—we didn't want to get your hopes up too if something went wrong." He ducked his head and kissed her cheek, then fled the room.
Esta glared at his back then turned back to face the rest of the room, daring them to speak. "I suppose you must be hungry," she said. "Eat, already."
"Thank you, Queen." Kalan grinned. "I mean Duchess."
"Except you." Esta ignored his litany of protests as she helped herself and took the seat nearest Beraht's, sharing the small table between them. "So were you in the Salharan army?"
"Yes." Beraht glanced at her briefly then went back to his food, sucking on a small piece of orange melon.
"What was your rank?"
"Lieutenant," Beraht replied after a moment. "I really don't think you want to ask any more questions, Duchess."
"Esta, please." Esta nibbled for a moment on a bit of pastry smothered in honey and nuts. "I really am grateful you're willing to help us." She set the food aside. "I really never thought we'd find a Breaker—"
Beraht frowned. "Breaker, Breaker—what's so rare. I seriously doubt my father was the first one to get a little too friendly with a foreign woman."
"Probably not," Kalan interrupted, "but you're the first one we've located. If you're right about the arcen blocking your Illussor magic—"
"I don't have Illussor magic," Beraht interrupted. "You can bet if I did that bastard never would have gotten the better of me."
Esta looked at him inquisitively. "To whom are you referring?"
Beraht muttered something beneath his breath then bit down on another slice of melon hard, as if he were pretending it was something else. "The bastard who named me."
"Dieter," Iah said. "His name is Dieter."
"I'm Salharan," Beraht replied scathingly. "I know his name."
"Ah," Esta said. Her mind tumbled over what she knew of Salharan custom, which was very little. "Names are important, yes? They change with marriage and all, if I recall correctly. How did you acquire a Krian name?"
Beraht choked on one of the honey-covered pastries. "It's not important!" He looked almost desperate as he stared at her. "Please, it's trivial. Let's not ruin breakfast by discussing something so boring."
Esta looked at Iah when she heard him snickering. "What is so funny?"
"A Salharan with a Krian name," Iah said unhelpfully.
Rolling her eyes, Esta said, "Don't think your having one injury will prevent my giving you more."
Iah snickered again then wisely fell silent.
Esta nodded, frowned at Kalan for good measure, then went back to Beraht. "Would you like a tour after breakfast?" She asked, smiling as though she hadn't just been threatening her brother bodily harm.
Beraht smiled back, slowly, hesitantly, but it was a smile all the same. "Sure, Duchess. Why not?"
"Marvelous."
Chap
ter Sixteen
Matthias nodded and murmured to people as he walked, smiling at everyone who bowed or curtsied. The motions were entirely automatic, however; even his feet moved by habit more than by thought. His attention was only for his destination and how he would make his idea work.
Now that he'd thought of it, he wasn't sure what to do if it didn't work. The only wolves he'd ever seen had been dead ones. The Wolf in his palace now was something else altogether. He'd only gotten a few glances the previous night, but that was all it had taken to see why so many people feared him. Even, it was said, his own soldiers.
Matthias caught a servant as she exited the Wolf's room. "Is he there?"
"Yes, Highness." The girl bobbed a hasty nod, eyes flitting back toward the door, back to the prince, then to the floor.
"Is all well?"
"Y-yes, Highness." She did the eye thing again.
Matthias frowned. "Then what's wrong?"
She looked up, and he realized it wasn't fear as he'd thought—it was fear mixed with hate. "My father died fighting him, Highness."
"Of course," Matthias said. "If it troubles you, then have another girl tend him. I've given permission, if anyone challenges you."
The girl bobbed her head and started to go, shoulders sagging with relief. "But Beki—" He caught her eyes as she turned back to him. "Remember that your father killed Krians; the war is not one-sided." Beki nodded, but it was a stiff gesture, and she neglected to curtsy as she fled.
Matthias sighed. At least she hadn't tried anything foolish. He made a note to speak with Esta later on the matter; she always dealt with those sorts of things far better than he. He knocked on the door, then pushed it open.
At first, it looked as though the room was empty, then he saw Dieter by the window and wondered how he'd missed him. Perhaps because he held so still. "Even at my craziest," he said, "I never thought I would be welcoming the Wolf of Kria into my palace."
Dieter turned away from the window and regarded him in silence. Matthias stared back. More than a few tales abounded about the Wolf. A hulking brute with red eyes and an insatiable lust for blood. A terrifying monster who did not understand the concept of mercy. A hard, cold general who bore the mark of the Krian god of death and whose own men feared him.
Quite a bit different from a man who was simply large when compared to the Illussor tendency toward slenderness. His skin was weathered by a life spent outdoors—no doubt he was also well-branded with marks of war. If Matthias ever felt suicidal he would call those pale, gray-green eyes pretty. Never had he been so painfully aware of his own pampered life in the palace. Certainly it wasn't easy to be the crown prince, but he bet it was nothing compared to what this man had lived through.
"I doubt you are half as confused as I," Dieter said.
Matthias laughed. "Does that mean you will not elaborate on the reasons for your being here? Your companions seemed somewhat reticent."
Dieter grinned, and Matthias could not help but think it wolfish. He was starting to sound like the soldiers. "That is because none of them really wanted me along. Unexpected events forced our hands."
"No one is going to tell me, are they?"
"It is a boring story, Highness. Did you come here for a purpose, or merely to gauge how much trouble I am going to be?"
"A purpose. Esta might think all I do is laze about the palace, but that's only because I don't raise a ruckus the way she does." Matthias motioned him forward. "Having you here is already upsetting a great many people; I'm sure I don't have to elaborate on why."
Dieter shrugged. "What is your purpose?"
"Given all I've heard, I expected something a bit different than quiet compliance."
"I'm a soldier," Dieter replied, as if that explained everything. Perhaps it did.
"Come with me," he said. "There are things I would like to show you before I make my proposal." He glanced at the sword hanging at Dieter's hip. "You're welcome to wear that, though I'd prefer you not draw it if you do not absolutely have to."
Dieter's face flickered with anger for a moment then it was blank again. "I fight soldiers, not civilians."
"Of course, I meant no offense." Matthias said carefully. "I meant simply that seeing you is enough to terrify, not that you would hurt anyone, though I hear plenty of stories about the rampaging beast you can be."
There seemed to be no reply forthcoming. Matthias sighed. Talking to Dieter was much like talking to his father—except his father was silent from listlessness. Dieter seemed more like bottled fury—a wolf in a cage. Matthias mentally rolled his eyes at himself. It really was all too easy to associate Dieter with the beast. "Come." He led the way from the room and through the palace. He was painfully aware of his inadequacies next to the man beside him, and was tempted briefly to use the quartz in his pocket to mask them, but Dieter proved far more useful at ensuring they were undisturbed. Matthias lost count after the tenth person who suddenly found a different hallway to be in.
It was almost funny. Well, people would have time to become accustomed. If Kria, for whatever reason, had been stupid enough to lose their Wolf, Matthias was not going to give them a chance to take him back.
They continued out the back door of the palace and through the garden and the hidden door at the end of it. No one was about, for which Matthias was grateful. Ordering people out of the garden was always awkward.
The stairs were as dark as ever, the smell of damp and mildew and smoke from the torches pungent. After so many visits, he did not require light. He walked the length of the tunnel from memory; he had not used a torch to light the way since they'd taken his brother to his death.
The tunnel was still ominous, and if it bothered him, he winced to think what it must do to Esta. He still wished he'd been able to take that duty from her, but Esta held it as dear as her mother and grandmother had. It was their burden.
Matthias sighed softly, limping alongside Dieter, embarrassed but grateful that Dieter kept pace without comment. What he would give to have the Wolf's strength— He shoved the dangerous thought aside. Dwelling on past mistakes did no good. Better to focus on the ones that could be fixed. They had the Breaker, and now hopefully, he could take care of the last remaining loose end of that problem.
"So what dirty secret is kept here?"
Matthias laughed ruefully. "However did you guess? You'll see in a bit, but I will tell you it is why we need your friend Beraht."
"Beraht is no friend of mine," Dieter said coldly.
"My apologies then," Matthias said and bit down on his curiosity. "Should I keep you two separated? I had not realized it was genuine antagonism."
"If you want to keep the peace, sew his mouth shut." Dieter's voice was cool, but Matthias could hear an underlying frustration beneath it.
They continued on in silence for several minutes. There was no indication as to when and where the tunnel ended. More than once Matthias had nearly walked into the door, too absorbed in the rhythm of walking to realize that he should have stopped. By now, though, his feet knew when to halt. Matthias pulled his keys out and swung the door open.
He hated the room, not least of all because it was his little brother who occupied it. Dead, and lost forever to anchoring and spreading the magic that was killing the people it had been intended to help. Matthias reached out a hand to touch his brother, but stopped just short of doing so. It would achieve nothing. He let his hand drop and spread his arms to indicate the room. "Welcome to the Crystal Chamber."
"Breath of the Autumn Prince—" Dieter said. "What is this?"
"Do you know why our three countries fight over the Regenbogen?"
Dieter shrugged his immense shoulders, the jacket found and hastily fitted for him barely enduring the movement. "I fought to keep it in Kria's possession. Salhara wants it for its arcen-rich fields. No one knows why Illussor wants it."
"It belonged to Illussor once," Matthias said. "Kria took it from us nearly a century ago. I could not tell you why, but I know fr
om records that it used to belong to Illussor. Back when that was not our name." He frowned, staring at a section of crystal on the far wall. If not for the corpse-like figure in the center, the crystal and strange light flooding the room might have been beautiful. As it was, it only gave him nightmares. "These days, we fight mostly to keep the rest of you out of our country and to search for the Breaker—though few realize that, and those who do understand very little of what or why."
He was surprised when Dieter nodded. "You do not intend to tell them why until after the deed is done."
"Yes—mostly because of the council. They already dislike me; I do not need them undermining me further."
"Why do they dislike you?" Dieter asked, folding his arms.
Matthias shrugged. "I am not my father, and that makes them uncomfortable." He grinned. "Not that it matters. They'll be cleaned out soon enough. Not having magic will set them on their ears, and they'll have no choice, but to listen to me. Which brings us back around to my intended purpose for you." He motioned to his brother. "When the Breaker shatters the spell in this room, my people will have no magic. At all. Even before the Crystal Chamber, we had some. Like Salhara, it is our way of life. Kria is different. Your country has always eschewed magic, for whatever reasons."
The look Dieter gave him made Matthias feel as if he were back in the nursery with a tutor whose patience had been sorely tried. "Magic is lazy and weak. It allows a man to rely on outside sources to do his work for him."
"I see," Matthias said. "I disagree, but that is neither here nor there. What matters is that I'm about to strip my people of something they've always had." He motioned to his leg. "I will be crippling them. Which means that should we become involved in yet more fighting—which I am hoping to avoid—my men will have no idea what to do."
Comprehension flashed in Dieter's eyes. "You are insane."
"Royalty is often accused of being so, but I am egotistical enough to say that I do not think a sane man would rule a country."