The Crown of Anavrea (The Theodoric Saga)

by Rachel Rossano

  “Ana City!”

  Raising her eyes in hope to the window and the free, open space passing beyond it, Eve longed for the end.

  “I understand how you feel.” Ireic said from his seat, knee to knee with Labren. He caught her attention with his warm brown gaze. Fine lines etched around his eyes and fatigue painted his cheeks pale. “I would prefer anything to this.”

  “I wish we had our wagon again.” A wheel jumped out and then back into a rut making Eve bite her tongue. “At least we had space.”

  “It is almost over,” Han pointed out with a wan smile. “Just remember. We won't have to listen to anyone's snoring tonight.” All of them looked toward the snoozing professor.

  Labren laughed softly. “I believe he frightened every beast for a couple miles every night.” The arm around Eve's waist tightened slightly. “I, for one, am looking forward to a hot bath and a soft bed.” Both Han and Ireic murmured their agreement to this.

  The carriage wheels struck the edge of the pavement with a jarring thump and then glided along more smoothly than they had in days. Silence again descended and Eve turned her attention back to the distant window and the forbidden freedom beyond.

  A few moments later, they heard cries of greeting from a chorus of male voices. The hollow sound of a drawbridge echoed beneath the wheels.

  “The gates,” Ireic informed them dully.

  His statement must have been true because almost immediately the horses slowed and a voice inquired, “What is your business inside the city?”

  “King Ireic's personal business,” the captain of the escort replied, tapping the crest on the carriage door. “Let us pass.”

  “By all means.”

  The sound of moving men and horses precluded an abrupt start. Outside the window, Eve glimpsed immense, wooden doors and the bottom of a portcullis. The rattling of cobblestones under the wheels began. As the sounds of everyday peasant life drifted in to the crowded passengers, all three men listened with memory‑hooded eyes.

  Eve was reminded of the world that she had left behind in Braulyn. So much had changed since then. Now she was loved, something she had never expected. She also had friends, Eve realized as she looked across at the three other men in the carriage. This revelation gave her a secure feeling. She was no longer alone.

  The journey through the city streets took longer than Eve expected. It was at least a half hour after they passed beyond the gates before they finally ground to a halt and the door closest the professor and Han opened.

  Stiffly, the professor unfolded himself and climbed out. Han and Ireic followed. Hesitant and suddenly nervous, Eve accepted the gloved hand offered and ducked through the door into the dimming afternoon sunlight.

  After the momentary blindness passed, Eve realized that a large group of people were standing before her. She heard the carriage groan. Labren stepped to the ground behind her with a sharp intake of air. His leg was probably bothering him again. She turned to look up into his bent face.

  “Are you all right?” she asked.

  Labren nodded slowly before opening his eyes. “It does not like being moved after it has been sitting for a while.” He managed a weak smile. “I will need your shoulders though.” Their actions, smooth from repeated maneuvers like this, brought Labren forward, straight and tall with his right arm around Eve’s shoulders for support. This way she could support his body weight if his leg gave out or the pain became unbearable.

  Now Eve got a good look at the group waiting to greet them and her heart sank. Most of the men were dressed in elegant clothing covered by identical dark brown robes. Standing a little apart from these men was a smaller group of many ages, sizes, and wearing different degrees of attire. Except for one woman, their clothing seemed to be the kind a high ranking servant would wear. The exception was a sophisticated young woman of about Eve’s age. She wore a more regal looking costume than the others and carried herself with somber dignity as if that was all she had left.

  “My sister,” Labren informed her as they stepped forward to be greeted. Racking her brain, Eve tried to remember if either brother had told her about a sister. “Don’t look so startled, Eve.” Labren’s voice was low enough for only her to hear. “I will explain later. Just look composed and self-assured. Ireic and I will take care of everything.” He tightened his grip on her shoulders and Eve tried to relax.

  “Welcome home, Your Majesty.” A tall thin man stepped forward from the group of men. A heavy silver chain hung around his neck that his comrades lacked. It fell forward as he bowed deeply and gracefully.

  “It is good to be home.” Ireic nodded his recognition of the councilmen and then turned to the smaller group of servants. “What? No greeting for your older brothers?” He asked the elegant woman Eve noticed earlier.

  An almost completely hidden flicker of surprise passed over the girl’s face before she stepped forward.

  “Of course,” she replied, curtsying daintily. “I am just overwhelmed at the shock of seeing both my brothers home at last.” She dipped her head remorsefully. “Pardon my lack of decorum, dear brothers.”

  “Granted,” Ireic replied. His movements were calculated and measured. His face showed none of the emotion Eve would have expected at the reuniting of siblings after their father’s death.

  What followed these initial greetings Eve could only describe as a dance. Each dancer knew the complicated pattern to be executed. This hand there, that foot here, bow to the King, dip for the councilmen, each player knew their part and preformed it perfectly, scorning those who had not.

  Eve did not understand the strategies and none of her training at the school prepared her for the elegance and cruelty of these proud dancers. She forgot that she was to nod at the councilman and almost dipped, giving them more esteem than due. Thankfully Labren caught her mistake before the others noticed. After the near miss, he whispered and coached her through the maze of people. His effortless negotiations were so smooth, she was shocked with all the others when he stepped out of sync and stopped the dance.

  “Princess Eve will not be residing in the Opal suite.” Labren’s voice was calm, but Eve could feel the hard determination beneath the placid tones. A slight echo reverberated in the silence as all, two servants, the head butler, the councilor with the silver chain, and, of course, Ireic, stopped moving and talking. Ireic and the councilor turned to regard Labren.

  The councilor spoke first. “Which suite would you prefer her to reside in?”

  “She will be residing where I reside, which, I believe, is where I quartered before I left.” His placid tones disguised an undercurrent of pain.

  The councilman turned white and an expression of mild admiration passed across Ireic’s face. For a moment the mask was gone. A smile played at his lips and laughter glinted in his eyes.

  The councilman spoke. “Tradition mandates that each member of the royal family has their own quarters.”

  “Do you and your wife keep separate quarters?” Labren’s voice challenged the older man’s superior smirk.

  “As a matter of fact we do.” The man was obviously proud of their practice.

  “I feel sorry for you.” Labren’s face showed genuine sympathy, but Ireic struggled not to laugh. One of the maids coughed and the butler frowned carefully, but Eve gained the impression that he wanted to chuckle.

  Quickly pulling the mask back on, Ireic finally spoke to the now red-faced council member. “Very well, Princess Eve and Prince Trahern will be residing in the north wing. There is more room there than the old quarters. Of course if you would rather…?” Ireic raised an eyebrow as he regarded his brother.

  “That would be wonderful, dear brother.” Labren replied immediately. “Those rooms have direct access to the gardens, a beautiful place for my young wife.”

  “Now, if there is no new business?” Ireic addressed the painfully still man at his side. The councilman managed a weak head shake to indicate there was none. “I will retire to my rooms. It has been
a long day.” Ireic quickly bowed to Labren, Eve, and nodded to the councilman. Turning on his heel, the king quit the hall in the direction of the royal quarters.

  “We will also leave.” Labren announced. “This way, my dear.” They left the room without acknowledging the councilman, but Labren pointedly nodded to the stunned butler and two servants.

  Later in their rooms, Labren visibly relaxed in his chair the moment the door closed behind the last servant.

  “I forgot how awful this whole life is.” He sighed loudly. “If I had remembered, Ireic would have never talked me into this crazy idea.” Wearily he rested his head on the back of the chair and closed his eyes.

  Without the life in his eyes and their distracting glimmer, the strain of the past week of travel was plain. Slightly blue circles ringed his eyes and fatigue pulled at his mouth.

  Kurios, please give him strength. Eve crossed the room to kneel next to his chair. Taking his right boot into her lap, she began to work on the lacings.

  “You promised Ireic two months, correct?” She glanced up to find her husband watching her hands work.

  “Yes, but with the way things look, he is going to want me longer.” A small fearful flicker gripped Eve’s heart. She was about to ask for an explanation when someone knocked on the door. As she rose to get it she tried to convince herself that Labren would not agree to stay longer, but she failed. He loved his brother and his county.

  As Eve approached the hall door, she heard the sound of a child’s voice on the other side. Puzzled, she was even more surprised to find Ireic when she opened it. The young woman introduced as his sister accompanied him and holding her hand was a young girl child of about two years.

  “Uncle?” The toddler regarded Eve with liquid, dark brown eyes.

  “No, Isica,” the young woman corrected. “Aunt.”

  “May we come in, Eve?” Ireic asked. “I promise we will not linger long.”

  Stepping aside, Eve let them pass. “He is exhausted,” she warned Ireic.

  He flashed a reassuring smile before disappearing into the living area where Labren sat. His sister followed with the child in tow. Eve carefully closed the door.

  “Ah, Trahern,” Ireic stepped forward.

  As Labren started to rise, Eve rushed forward to protest.

  “Your leg is swollen.” Pushing him gently back into the chair, Eve further prevented his movement by taking his foot again into her lap and continuing work on the laces.

  “Sorry,” Labren managed through gritted teeth as Eve shifted the foot. “It seems I am not going anywhere.”

  “That is fine.” Ireic took a seat on a couch opposite his brother and gestured to the woman and child to join him. “Yulandra wanted to see you as soon as possible and I was worried about your leg.”

  “Isica.” The young woman, Eve deduced was Yulandra, spoke to the child. “This is your Uncle Trahern. I told you about him. Do you remember?”

  Regarding Trahern with large eyes, the girl stuck her finger in her mouth and pointed at Eve with her other hand.

  “Who she?”

  “I believe she is your aunt…”

  “My name is Eve.” Eve smiled and Isica smiled back. “Would you like to come over and play in the garden some day?” To Eve’s delight the child looked interested and turned a questioning face toward her mother. Yulandra nodded her approval and shot Eve a friendly glance over the girl’s head.

  “We both would be delighted.”

  The fear and hesitancy vanished in the young woman’s face and Eve felt she could hope she found a friend as well as a sister. Two things she never had before.

  Sensing Labren’s pain, Ireic decided it was time they left him to rest and said as much.

  “Do not worry about starting tomorrow, Trahern.” The king paused before following the females out the door. “I think I can handle it for a day and you need your rest.”

  “Thank you.” Eve whispered after her brother-in-law. “He needs it.”

  Ireic nodded knowingly before disappearing down the hall. Eve was sure she caught a worried look in his eye. Regardless, she had a husband to put to bed.

  A few months later, Eve awoke to the delicious weight of her husband’s arm lying across her stomach. It was a rare and welcome sensation. She tried to linger and savor it. The sweet sound of Labren’s breath, the pleasant warmth of the bedclothes, and soft breeze blowing across her face were all wonderful invasions of the senses, but other sensations encroached. They elbowed their way to the forefront. A thick throbbing began at her temples and her stomach revolted.

  Her middle had been doing this every morning for almost a week now. Most mornings, when it woke her, Eve obediently stumbled to the bathroom and emptied her stomach, but this morning was different.

  Labren had not hurried off to his duties before she had awoken. Breaking from his habit of being up, dressed and gone by the time her stomach forced her to the chamber pot. For months, she had barely seen him and since he had not run off yet today, Eve was determined to linger in his embrace and her middle was just going to have to wait.

  That was the plan. Eve found it more difficult by the moment to lie peacefully enjoying her husband’s presence. In fact, within five minutes of deciding not to let her stomach have its way, she dove desperately toward the bathing room. She made the move so abruptly that Labren went from contented, oblivious sleeper to worried husband almost instantly.

  “Eve?” His sleep-ragged voice followed her to the tiled room. “Are you all right?”

  The sounds of retching answered him which brought him immediately to his feet. By the time Eve’s stomach tried to climb her throat the second time he was there. Brushing and holding her hair out of the way, he silently rubbed her back to soothe her.

  When she finally finished and he returned from emptying the pot, he scooped her off the floor. “You should not be on the cold tiles.” He carried her back to the bed. Setting her down and sprawling beside her, he looked over and asked, “How long has this been going on?”

  Eve avoided his eyes. “About a week.”

  “Eve, please look at me.”

  She did.

  “Do you have a stomachache? A fever?” His blue eyes clouded with worry as he reached to feel her forehead. “I do not think you should be entertaining Yulandra today. You should rest.”

  Eve instantly opened her mouth to protest, but was interrupted by a noise coming from the front of their quarters. Now, after growing accustomed to living in the palace, Eve was finally confident that the sound would be dealt with. Their servants learned, after the second week, that neither their master nor mistress needed assistance with dressing and a myriad of other things Eve did not even know you could be assisted with. Now the servants only cleaned, served meals, answered the door and announced visitors.

  A moment after they heard a burst of cheerful, childish chatter, a maidservant appeared at the bedroom doorway. “Her majesty Princess Yulandra and her daughter are here to visit Princess Eve.”

  “Thank you, Lisip.” Eve shot Labren a defiant look. “Please tell her I will be right out.”

  “Yes, Your Hi…Madam.” The woman disappeared back around the corner.

  “Only if you promise to rest later,” Labren immediately demanded. He caught her hand as she moved to rise. Cradling her face with his other palm, he stroked her cheek with his thumb. “I want you to take care of yourself. Ireic, Han, and Olof all back me up when I say you do not take care of yourself enough.”

  Eve hated the way the lines deepened around his mouth when he worried. It had been an almost constant feature over these last months.

  “I will rest after she leaves.” She placed her free hand over his and pressed it hard against her cheek. “I promise.”

  A half hour later, the women and Isica retired to the gardens.

  “Trahern seemed extra agitated this morning,” Yulandra observed as she and Eve watched Isica running after a butterfly. “Is something wrong between you two?”

&
nbsp; They were sitting on the patio adjacent Eve and Labren’s living area. Eve loved this part of the gardens. All the green and space were wonderful to see after the coldness of the palace halls and the strict paces of the dance. The warm spring afternoon sun played with the shadows across the lawn and a gentle breeze ruffled Isica’s hair.

  Eve looked over at her new friend.

  Yulandra looked and acted like a princess. Her clothing displayed riches and beauty without being gaudy. She could gracefully glide across a room without thinking about the curve of her slender neck or where her hands should lay. Although obviously Ireic’s sister and Labren’s half-sister, she was also clearly feminine. Even now as she bent her dark head over the white linen in her hands, she defined composure and elegance. Her slender hands with their long, tapered fingers were constantly making something. Eve, who had sewn all her life, still wondered at the beauty of the embroidery that Yulandra could produce with her needle and colored thread.

  “Eve? Are you listening to me at all?” Yulandra’s dark brown eyes regarded her with mild concern.

  “I am sorry.” Quickly, Eve picked up her forgotten fabric and resumed basting the seam. “I have been so easily distracted lately. What was your question again?”

  “Is there anything wrong between you and Trahern? He seemed a bit out of sorts this morning.”

  Eve felt a slight blush creep across her cheeks. “No, there is nothing wrong.”

  “Then why are you blushing?” Leaning forward, Yulandra raised Eve’s chin. “Tell me about it. I might be able to help, being an experienced wife and all.”

  They both smiled at the statement. Yulandra had been married all of three months in which she only saw her husband for one week. That one week had given her Isica, for whom, Yulandra told Eve, she was inexpressibly grateful. The child was the reason she survived the death of her husband and, shortly afterwards, her mother.

  “I have been having trouble for a week now with an upset stomach,” Eve finally admitted.

  “About what time of day?” Her sister-in-law immediately asked with widened eyes.