by Connie Ward
I nodded, accepting that answer with my body but not my heart. “Has he named my successor?"
"No, not yet."
"What about our allies? What is their position? Have you spoken to Uncle's advisors? Perhaps they can be petitioned to sway him."
"How, Kathedra?” Valleri snapped. “How can I know what our allies think? How can I move Bertrand's advisors? I'm a lowly lieutenant. I'm not privy to such circles."
"What about Arial? Surely he won't sit by and allow this outrage to occur."
He slid me a sideways glance. “The Regent ordered Arial's Royal north to Shipsford to investigate an increase in bandit activity. He won't be back any time soon."
Well, that was convenient. I repressed a shudder at the mention of Shipsford. Arial was welcome to it. I recalled riding through there last summer, after repelling a particularly savage raider assault. One minute the villagers were hailing me a hero for saving their homes and farms from the dreaded northern invaders, the next they were calling me oppressor and setting my horse's tail on fire. There is just no pleasing some people.
I bit my lip to keep from bursting out in frustration. It would serve no purpose to alienate my sole ally. “Have you found out anything at all?"
"Oh, yes, Kathedra,” Valleri murmured in a tone that said he was not happy with me. “Oh, yes, indeed.” His eyes glinted with something akin to anger. “I overheard a pair of guards talking. It seems you ‘tried to incinerate the Regent's head'. Is that true?"
"Please,” I snorted, waving a hand. “If I'd really wanted to send Uncle's bald pate up in flames I could have done so."
"That's not the point."
"It was an accident."
"An accident?” His gaze hardened to granite. “Like the other night when you destroyed that set of goblets?"
"No. I mean, yes. Oh, what's the difference? I didn't mean to do it. It just slipped. It won't happen again."
"But it's happened before."
I turned my back to him, indignant at the thought I need explain myself. “Just forget it, Valleri. I don't want to discuss it."
"We must discuss it, Kathedra."
"I fail to see what this has to do with my plight. You're supposed to be helping me. I want to know why Uncle has done this."
"You already know. You just don't want to believe it. The drug is losing its effect. It can no longer properly restrain your powers."
"True, my tonic is not as potent in its present measure, but the dosage needs only be increased."
Valleri got to his feet and placed gentle but firm hands on my shoulders. “Kathedra, you know that will not work—has not worked. You've been upping the dosage on your own and it hasn't helped."
I tried to deny it but Valleri's hands only tightened. “No, Kathedra. Don't lie to me. I paid a visit to the medicinal stores where your tonic is house and discovered a ... discrepancy. You've been stealing it and administering it to yourself without telling anyone. How long has this been going on?"
Though his discovery of my perfidy came as some relief, I began to tremble with uncertainty. “I've done so for almost six months now, ever since I noticed my need had grown."
"How bad is it, Kathedra? How far has it gone? On the day you broke the goblets, how much did you take?"
"My regular dosage plus two."
I felt Valleri tense, heard his gasp of surprise. “Three full doses and they did not last the day?"
Twisting in his arms, I saw the shock roll across his face and hurried to reassure him. “Yes, that's true. But I've been experimenting, Val. I can control my Umagi talent. Well, a little anyway. I've let it slip forth in small increments. Remember our victory at Alags Field three months ago? Remember the earth tremors, the hailstorm that whipped up seemingly out of nowhere? I did that, Val. I did. Didn't you see how the enemy fled in droves?"
"Yes, and don't think I didn't see that half of our men fled the field right alongside them."
"It needs some tweaking, I admit. But, Val—” I clutched his arms with barely reined excitement, “I'm learning to channel my powers, to direct them where I will."
Gently, he disengaged himself from my grip. “It doesn't matter, Kathedra. I don't think you should take up the study of telekinesis upon a battlefield. And I'm sure most everyone else will agree with me, Bertrand included."
"Maybe not, but I need to learn.” My fingers caught his sleeve. “Listen, Val. I don't have a choice now. The drug has become practically useless. In order for it to continue working, the dose has to be so high it leaves me a veritable zombie, incapable of consciousness, let alone the ability to function. While Uncle may suspect my dose needs to be increased, he doesn't have to know the whole truth of it. All I have to do is—"
"Too late, my dear. He knows. Your clandestine forays into the dispensary haven't gone unnoticed on the apothecary or Bertrand. This is the ultimate betrayal, worse in his eyes than even what your mother did."
The shock of that rendered me momentarily speechless.
Valleri wrapped his arms around me, resting his head on my shoulder. “Oh, Kathedra,” he whispered. “Don't you realize that was the worst thing you could have done? Bertrand was afraid there might come a time when the drug would lose its potency, but he expected you to tell him. He doesn't trust you anymore. Why did you hide it from him? From me?"
"Because I was scared—scared something like this might happen.” My voice caught, tripping over my fear. “And it has!” I tried to shrug out of his grasp but he held me all the tighter. “Val, I can settle this uprising for him, for Gryphon. I know I can. All he has to do is trust me."
"And you expect him to do that now, after what you've done? Kathedra, my love, you are in such danger you can't imagine. Your drug dependency was intended to last a lifetime. You were never, ever, supposed to wean yourself from it, let alone learn to wield your Umagi powers."
"Why not? If Uncle wouldn't be so stubborn, I could throw away the tonic, and concentrate on my magic. How can he deny me that? Hell, Valleri, you said yourself that he doesn't want what happened to Mauranna to happen to me."
A glazed look came over his features, like he'd gone somewhere else for just a moment. With a shudder, he came back to me. “This has nothing to do with what happened at Idyll. It has to do with this revolt, and more pointedly, yours. Bertrand will never forgive the people for turning on him, for taking the side of the Umagi over his. He will tolerate neither magic nor insurrection in Thylana, including yours. Tales have been taken back to the throne room, Kathedra. He knows your views concerning the Umagi. He knows your allegiance is shifting. Do I really need to spell it out for you? You're the next best thing to a traitor."
"No, Val, I'm not. You know that."
"But there's more, Kathedra. Think about it. If the tonic no longer controls your powers, that means Bertrand no longer controls you. As you are now—untaught and inexperienced in the ways of magic—you are unpredictable, unmanageable, even dangerous. But once you master your Umagi talent, and learn to work it to your will, you will truly be formidable. You will become a threat, his worst nightmare come true."
"A threat? How?"
"Whether you realize it or not, your telekinesis, once tapped and properly channelled, could become an awesome weapon. You caught a brief glimpse of that power at Alags Field. You can turn on him, challenge him, and if he resists, you can use your own Royal, together with your magic, to put him down. That's why you were retired. You've become too powerful with all your influence, winning the undying loyalty of troops whose first loyalty should be to the Regent. In time, you could rally all of Castle Gryphon's Royals to your banner, then crush him and his Halberdiers. The people of Thylana would call you a hero."
I was appalled. “That's preposterous! I would never betray Uncle. I would never violate the high laws of my ancestors. Never."
His patience lost, Valleri snarled, “The day will come when he pushes you too far and you will be forced to retaliate. However, that day may come too late. Even now,
he hastens to bend you to his will while you are still within his thrall, forcing you from your post of command into an arranged marriage so you will be in less of a position to rebel against him. If he waits until you gain total mastery of your powers you won't stand for it."
I railed against him, not wanting to believe a word of it. “If it's true that I pose such a threat to him, why didn't he send me from Thylana in exile, too? Why, when insurrection broke out, did he bestow upon me the most coveted title in Thylana and grant me all the authority that goes with it?"
"Because maybe in the beginning Bertrand hoped your magic could be of use to him, an instrument to be forged into a great weapon. He knows well the destructive capabilities of Umagi talent, witnessed it first hand. But he can't control it any more than he can control you."
A spreading numbness crept through me, cold and debilitating. As Valleri suspected, I had known in the back of my mind the cause of my downfall. There was no reason now, since the truth had been spoken aloud, for me to continue denying it. I was a weapon with the potential to grow so proficient that I must be destroyed.
Light-headed, I swayed and reached out for Valleri's arm to steady myself. He took my hand, lending me his strength. Gently, he murmured, “You must leave, Kathedra. If you want to save yourself, your only hope of escape from Bertrand is to flee Thylana."
"Leave?” I repeated, dazed. “I can't leave. I can't leave my home. I can't abandon Thylana to Uncle's mercy. If I flee, I will be disinherited. Then I will never sit on the throne. I will never get the opportunity to right all Uncle's wrongs. But if I remain, if I bend my knee to his will and marry Lesuperis, he may forgive my defiance. He may even—"
I heard myself babbling. Valleri's stern voice cut in above mine. “If you remain, you will never sit on the throne.” His eyes narrowed into angry slits and his grip tightened about my shoulders. “Do you honestly believe that once you give birth to Thylana's heir you will live out the day?"
"Uncle wouldn't dare! He must abide by the laws of our ancestors. To shed family blood is a sin too vile even for him.” I tried to disengage myself but his grip was too strong. I wanted to throw something, anything, hurl it at the wall or pound away at the stone bricks until they crumbled into dust. I felt the confusion welling up inside me and fought to curtail any random thoughts, thoughts that without purpose or direction might find release in dangerous and violent ways.
"Listen to me,” he hissed, his face a scant inch from mine. “Blood and honour and law—none of it matters to Bertrand. He seeks only to preserve himself and everyone else be damned. If you want to save your throne and your life, you must leave."
"No!” I cried, over and over, a litany of shock. “No!"
Above us the iron wheel and its host of candles swayed upon its chain. The dishes on the table jiggled and bounced, tinkling musically against one another. My coat rack toppled to the floor. Books tumbled from the shelves in my bedroom. Even the tapestries on the walls shifted askew.
"Kathedra, stop it.” Spinning me around, Valleri shook me until my teeth rattled in my head. “Control it,” he commanded. “Turn it. Force it down. You must. You can do it, Kathedra. Just concentrate."
I tried. Focussing all my will, all my strength, I struggled against the tide of power surging up inside me. My fingers balled into fists around Valleri's hands, my nails drawing blood. With supreme effort I thrust my rage and frustration aside. Slowly, rational thought returned. The tableware ceased their impromptu dance and the iron chain swung to a standstill.
Perspiration soaked my clothes and matted my hair. I felt cold all over. Exhausted, I lifted my gaze to Valleri. His eyes were wild, his hair and skin as damp as mine. “Help me,” I begged. “Valleri, please. Help me."
His eyes lost their feral look and his features relaxed. He even managed a weak smile. “I'll help you, Kathedra. Have no fear."
He guided me onto my settee, then poured us each a measure of wine. We drank it down quickly and he poured again. As I sipped from my second cup, I asked, “Where will I go?"
"Zigores, I think. It's a known haven for Umagi renegades. When you get there ask for asylum from Bertrand, but under no circumstances reveal your true identity. You'll have coin enough to pay your way, as well as to apprentice yourself to the best Teki adept you can find. You can stay there, studying and learning, until I deem the situation in Gryphon safe for your return."
"And how will I know when it's safe?"
His hand stole across the space between us to cover mine. “I will come for you myself. I will find you. Come fire or brimstone, flood or famine, I will find you, and bring you home. The only problem I see will be getting you to Zigores in the first place."
Zigores. I allowed a wry smile. None of Uncle's agents had been able to infiltrate the place. Maybe I would succeed where a hundred others had failed.
"Getting there, yes.” I sipped my wine, reflective. Zigores lay many miles east. But in the east, so lurked the Crusaders. I had every confidence I could get there, once I got out of Thylana. Trouble is, can I get out?
"You will be hunted,” Valleri observed, as if reading my thoughts. “Bertrand will not permit you to escape his yoke. He won't let you run around loose. Here, under the influence of your tonic, you are like a leashed hound. But now that leash is severed. Dangerous you will be in your own right if you decide to turn on him, but you will be a formidable weapon against him in the hands of his enemies. For your own sake, you can't allow yourself to cross paths with the Crusaders."
One question still puzzled me. “How will I get out of the castle? I'm under house arrest, remember? I'll never get past the sentries."
"You will if we plan your escape for the night of your wedding."
"That's leaving it to the last minute, don't you think?"
"Yes, but it's the best time. As tradition dictates, the ceremony will take place in the evening, which shall provide us the cover of darkness. Since it's an atmosphere of celebration security will be lax. There will be plenty of noise and confusion, what with entertainers and guests all making merry. The bailey will be deserted. By the time the wedding party arrives to collect the bride, you will be in the secret passage on your way to the stables."
My spirits lifted at the thought I'd be going to Zigores, a place far from the turmoil and strife of Thylana, there to be among fellow Umagi. A place where I'd be able to study magic without interference from Uncle or drugs.
Only one thing worried me. Would I ever be able to return to Thylana and sit on my mother's throne? Uncle was not the only obstacle in my path. There were the Crusaders, as well.
My consternation must have shown on my face, for Valleri set aside his goblet and slipped onto the settee beside me. “Don't worry, Kathedra. The Crusaders are no match for the mighty Royals of Thylana. They will be quickly and thoroughly vanquished. Castle Gryphon will never fall. She will await your ascension to the throne, when you return to Thylana as sole mistress of your powers and challenge Bertrand for what is rightfully yours. Then no one, not even Bertrand, can oppose you. And I, with all your loyal troops, shall stand beside you."
Smiling, I reached out to fondle a strand of his hair. “But what of you, Val, in the meantime? If Uncle discovers you helped me escape he will not be lenient. I will live in constant fear for you."
"You mustn't. I'm insignificant and agile enough to sidestep Bertrand."
I counted myself lucky to have Valleri for my trusted friend. But such loyalty is not always a good thing. He would lie, cheat, steal, and risk himself for me. He would do anything for a cause he believed in. Even kill. I must resign myself to the ugly fact that Uncle and I have become enemies. I know that one day I will have to oppose him if I ever want to reclaim my homeland. I also know that I will use my magic against him if forced, as much as I hope it doesn't come to that.
It would take many years to heal the land, to regain the trust of the people, and to restore my family's good name after all the injustices Uncle had wrought. But even af
ter learning he had conspired against me for years, I would not make him pay the price for his treachery with his life.
"Valleri, I ask you to protect my interests here in Thylana. Keep my name alive in Castle Gryphon. Do whatever you can. Everything, I mean, short of murder. I don't desire Uncle's death. Promise me you will do nothing rash."
Defiance flickered in his eyes but quickly passed. “I swear I shall not harm a hair on his head."
That oath would not suffice, for Uncle's head was balder than a baby's bottom. “Val, your word."
As expected, he balked. Apparently he had plans of his own for Uncle. Nonetheless he relented. “I promise, Kathedra. You have my word. But I will do everything within my power, short of killing him, if he in any way threatens your return or sabotages your throne."
"So be it.” I began to worry Uncle may have an ‘accident'. Twice, I had extorted promises from Valleri. I would not risk a third.
"You'll have to rely on your own ability to control your powers. You must conceal them from everyone you meet during your journey to Zigores. You can do it, Kathedra. I know you can. You have great strength and willpower. You need only remain calm and patient."
Therein lay the problem. I've learned to control my Teki blood under normal circumstances, but as my outbursts in Uncle's throne room and here in my own prove, I am hard pressed to do so when agitated. Valleri had more faith in me than I did.
Forcing a confidence into my voice I did not feel, I said, “I just hope that one day I'll be able to reward you for all your loyalty."
"The only reward I need is to see you crowned queen.” He surprised me by dropping to a knee at my feet and taking my hand. “Don't despair, Kathedra. You will sit on Thylana's throne. I promise you."
"Promise me one more thing, Val,” I urged, squeezing his fingers. “Promise you will be there at my side ... my consort."
He bowed his head, the image of abject humility. “I am not worthy. My blood is not yours. I am fortunate to serve as your second. I am too lowborn to share your dais, to share your bed."
"Ahh, now I see,” I purred, sliding into his lap and pushing him down to the leopard-skin rug. “But you are not too lowborn, not too humble, to share the Gryphon Highlord's bed? I shall be the one to judge your worthiness, Noble Knight.” Bending to nibble his ear, I murmured, “You are more than worthy."