Iron Garland (Harbinger Book 3)

by Jeff Wheeler

  Trevon’s brother nodded firmly. “Tell her.”

  “Sera, there has been an outbreak of disease among the prisoners we rescued from the battle. They are dying quickly and experiencing violent symptoms. Some of our healers have been struck down as well. This happened today, while you and I were away.”

  “A disease, you say?” Sera asked.

  “Yes. It’s highly contagious and fatal, unlike any our healers have faced before. We think it’s the cholera morbus.”

  That was news, and it would no doubt cause a frenzy of panic. She looked at Trevon in concern. “I knew nothing of this.”

  “But that doesn’t mean,” said the king, “that your privy council did not. Perhaps they seek to infect us to end this war.”

  “No!” Sera said, shaking her head vehemently. “This was not planned, but we’ve battled this disease for many years. There is no cure.”

  “We must shatter the mirror gates!” the king snarled. “Surely this is a punishment from the Fountain.”

  Sera looked at the king. “My lord, send for Lord Fitzroy. He was the Minister of Wind prior to the war, and he studied this disease and looked for a cure. He could tell you, definitively, if it is the cholera morbus and how best to quarantine the infected. Perhaps we can discover a cure if we work together. I implore you, send for him!”

  The king looked at Trevon sharply.

  “Would he help us?” Trevon asked.

  “I know he would,” Sera said. “With no conditions.”

  The king turned to the man Sera thought was his advisor. “Bring Fitzroy here at once.”

  “Yes, my lord,” said the man with a curt bow. He gave Sera a wary look.

  She rubbed her hands together, feeling the chill of the room.

  “Come by the fire,” Trevon urged, walking her and Becka over to the hearth where they could warm themselves. As they stood there, Trevon glanced back at his father.

  “Why did you come in the middle of the night? How did you know we were here?”

  “The same way I knew who you were at Lady Corinne’s manor,” Sera said, chafing her hands.

  Trevon fell quiet.

  They did everything possible to keep the crisis a secret. The palace staff were kept unaware, and Sera was asked not to tell the advisors she had brought with her. Because of the seriousness of the situation, she was confined to her rooms. There was no doubt in her mind the Mysteries had guided her to the throne room, though she wasn’t sure if the danger it had alerted her to was the man who’d pursued her or the spread of the disease. Trevon had had her room searched, and he’d personally questioned the guards in the hall. Neither effort had yielded anything.

  In late afternoon, Prince Trevon arrived with Lord Fitzroy. She was relieved to see both of them.

  “Is it what we feared?” she asked him with concern.

  Fitzroy nodded. “It is the cholera morbus. Some of the soldiers must have had it during the battle. This outbreak is in the early stages. Many more will die before it runs its course.”

  She’d feared as much, but the spark of hope in her heart refused to burn out. “What can be done?”

  Trevon rubbed his mouth. “Lord Fitzroy lacks the tools to study it here. There are individuals better suited to this type of study back in your world.”

  “Like Adam Creigh,” Sera said firmly. “He wanted to study it.”

  “I told them as much,” Fitzroy said. “We could send some doctors over here to study it. I think some would be willing. Maybe pooling our knowledge is the answer. Perhaps that is what the Knowing intended all along.” He gave Sera an arch look.

  She felt a glimmer of excitement. His thoughts so perfectly aligned with her own.

  “I don’t think your privy council,” Trevon said, “would be so willing to assist us. If they find out we’re vulnerable, they might launch a strike against us.”

  “But not if a peace were negotiated first,” Sera said to him, her eyes boring into his. “An armistice. Surely you must see this for what it is. An opportunity to reconcile the hostilities between our worlds.”

  “An armistice would certainly be to our advantage now,” Trevon said. He sighed. “I was hoping that I might persuade you to stay longer.”

  “As your bride?” Sera asked directly. Her heart leaped in anticipation of his answer.

  Trevon shrugged, looking conflicted.

  “Trevon, can we not secure peace for the short term? I’m not saying that I’m unwilling to give you what you want. But does it have to be now? Can we not agree that it would benefit both of our worlds if we became allies instead of foes? You are authorized still to negotiate the terms of the peace treaty, are you not?”

  “I am,” he said.

  “Then let me suggest some terms. You desire peace between our worlds, but measures must be implemented to guarantee that peace stands the test of time. Require that Lord Fitzroy be chosen as the next prime minister so we might exchange ideas on science and technology. Give us a chance to teach one another. Lord Fitzroy is highly respected and, most importantly, is a man of his word. We can name the peace for a period of two or three years. At which time,” Sera added, lowering her lashes, “we will see where things stand between our worlds.”

  Trevon gazed at her closely, his expression a mixture of conflicting emotions. “You’re not saying no entirely.”

  “I’m not,” she answered. She liked him very much, but there was so much at stake. She wasn’t sure what she wanted in the end, or even if a match between them would be possible. “Perhaps I can find some answers to the matters we discussed yesterday.”

  Trevon nodded. “What do you think, Lord Fitzroy? Would you accept peace on such terms?”

  Fitzroy sighed. “I could be persuaded.”

  Sera wanted to hug the prince. He was not what she had feared he might be. Her admiration of him increased each day. She honored his reasonableness and ability to see both sides of an argument. “Thank you!”

  Trevon smiled. “Let me talk to Father and my advisors. I will return soon.”

  “Can Lord Fitzroy stay with me a while longer?” she asked. “I’d like to discuss certain matters with him privately.”

  “I discharge our prisoner to your custody,” Trevon said with a wink.

  CHAPTER THIRTY

  A CHARGE OF MURDER

  Sera did not know how much time they would have. She took Fitzroy to one of the benches in her rooms and sat down with him, leaning in closely as she disclosed the details of how she had come to learn about Mr. Skrelling’s murder. She informed him of the situation with Becka—what the girl had seen and how she’d been sent to Kingfountain as Sera’s maid. She kept her voice calm and steady, but she was relieved to finally be telling someone, especially now that it was possible that Fitzroy would become the prime minister. He would do something about it. He would see justice done.

  Lord Fitzroy was seemingly shocked by the news, and he absorbed her words without speaking, his expression shifting as he reasoned it all through. He rubbed his bottom lip with agitation, his brows furrowed and disturbed.

  “And Becka was truly an eyewitness?” he eventually asked, his expression looking even more troubled.

  “Yes, you can ask her yourself. She’s here in the castle.”

  “I have no doubt about what you told me,” he said, shaking his head. “I would never have suspected Corinne capable of murdering someone. What dark truth did she wish to hide? Mr. Skrelling worked for my advocates, so I have a personal interest in this matter. Believe me when I say that this is the most serious of accusations and will be dealt with in the most prudent way. If Lady Corinne is indeed guilty of murder, she will pay the price for it. Her husband will be shocked. Utterly shocked.”

  Sera leaned forward. “Didn’t you know? Lord Lawton is dead.”

  “I did not,” he said, looking even more surprised.

  “And from what Lord Welles told me, Lady Corinne took it rather in stride. It’s no secret that my father fancies her, and n
ow with her husband out of the way, she may attempt to rise.”

  Lord Fitzroy grunted. “Well, as the ancient maston tomes say, how the mighty fall. You’ve warned me in the past about Lady Corinne. I believed you then, but now we have evidence. The word of a child may not seem to mean very much. But in this instance, it may rule the day. Thank you, Sera. What a burden you’ve been carrying.”

  Her sense of relief was overwhelming. “You must become the prime minister, Lord Fitzroy. The empire needs you at this moment. Our society has become too corrupt. It’s time to instigate change.”

  He gave her a knowing smile. “I think, Sera, your help in that area would be paramount.”

  Sera glanced at the door, still unsure of how much time they had to speak frankly. “There’s one more thing. I’ve learned a great deal about Trevon’s people and the history of our rivalry with them. While I don’t wish to give up my faith in order to win peace between us, Trevon is a good man, and I think highly of him. We’ve spent a good deal of time together, and he shared with me a controversy that I hadn’t known about.”

  “Go on,” Fitzroy said encouragingly.

  “You are much more learned than I am. Was there a time in the past when Kingfountain sent an envoy to us? Someone by the name of Sinia Montfort?”

  Fitzroy frowned. “I know the name from history, but I’m not entirely familiar with the story. I don’t recall ever hearing about such a visit. But this would be centuries ago, would it not?”

  “Indeed,” Sera affirmed. “They believe our people abducted and imprisoned her because of our rancor against women. She may even be alive, he said, imprisoned somehow by magic. A Leering perhaps?”

  Fitzroy’s eyebrows lifted, and a strange look came over his face.

  “What?” Sera pressed. “What is it?”

  He tapped his cheek thoughtfully, his mind clearly conjuring something of interest. “Give me a moment,” he said.

  Sera was restless, anxious to learn more. Her eyes kept darting to the closed door, but she stayed silent until he spoke.

  “You remember after you left Muirwood,” he said, his voice low and guarded, “how Cettie was attacked?”

  “Yes,” Sera answered promptly.

  “She mentioned to me that the man who attacked her had some power over Leerings. Her assailant was the man my sister-in-law saw using one of Kingfountain’s special ships.” He paused, rubbing his forehead, before continuing. “There is some knowledge that I cannot share with you because you have not faced the Maston Test, but there used to be an order that sought out and murdered mastons. This order was run by women who possessed incredible power. They brought about the destruction of thousands, even millions, but Empress Maia hunted down the remnants of their group and abolished it. It is possible, Sera, that some of them escaped. Perhaps they found a home here in Kingfountain, where no one knew the true nature of the order and the dark role it played in our history. There is more that I cannot say, but it’s possible this may shed light on Lady Corinne’s actions as well. I don’t know for certain. I will be careful and cautious and wary about whom I trust with this information you’ve shared with me. I encourage you to do the same. If Corinne was willing to murder someone to keep a secret, she would have no qualms about doing so again.”

  “I agree,” Sera said. “Is this something I can share with Cettie? We both knew poor Mr. Skrelling at school, and he was always quite fond of her.”

  Fitzroy frowned at the request. “His death isn’t a secret. But Lady Corinne’s involvement should be.” He was silent for a long moment, and his features tightened as he gave it further consideration. “I don’t want Cettie to get involved in this. At least not yet. I have some suspicions I’d like to confirm first.”

  Sera nodded. “It will pain me to keep it from her, but I’ll respect your wishes, of course.” She was normally so open with Cettie, yet she’d learned how to keep silent when necessary. That thought put her in mind of Lady Corinne, the woman who’d taught her that lesson. “I’ve observed Lady Corinne very closely for the last three years. She is subtle and incredibly cunning. I had always assumed it was because she wanted to secure her position and influence. Before what happened to poor Mr. Skrelling, I thought her motives rather petty but at least mostly harmless. One thing I noticed about her is that she reveals nothing about herself and always draws information out of others. She brokers power like an advocate does in contracts. Who was she before she married Lord Lawton?”

  Fitzroy pursed his lips, lost in thought for a moment. “Goodness, you’re going to tax my memory. She and her sister were from the Pared family. I believe Corinne was the younger of the two but the first to get married. She was much younger than her husband, though I am not one who can cast stones about that, since Lady Maren is significantly younger than I am. Corinne was determined to secure her position back then, even at the expense of others. My wife suffered for it.”

  Sera heard the story with growing contempt. “I’ve seen how she treats other women, Lord Fitzroy. She can be very cruel.”

  “Our world can be very cruel,” Fitzroy said with a sigh. “But do we not all have a duty to make the world as we wish it to be?”

  Sera smiled and patted his arm. “Indeed we do, sir. Indeed we do.”

  That afternoon, the delegation from Lockhaven assembled in a large sitting room decorated with intricate murals. Huge silver chafing dishes were loaded with an assortment of treats and delights, and a small group of musicians played softly in one corner. Most of the men appeared bored and resentful, and little wonder—Sera had not used any of them during her negotiations. Colonel Worthington was speaking in low tones to Lord Fitzroy, however, and seemed less sullen than he had the last time she’d seen him.

  While they waited for the royal family to arrive, Becka approached Sera with a small plate full of berries and offered them to her with a smile and a curtsy. The young girl had been relieved to learn they had Lord Fitzroy’s support. Sera wasn’t hungry, even for the delicious berries from Ploemeur, but she accepted the plate and, remembering their playfulness in Ploemeur, was sorely tempted to toss one of them at Trevon when he finally arrived. Moments later, she set it down and started pacing. Would the terms she’d proposed be accepted by Trevon’s parents? Would they countermand him in the end? She wished she could have been invisible, watching the proceedings.

  “Will they never come?” Colonel Worthington muttered in an excessively loud voice.

  As if his rude comment had summoned them, a butler arrived at the door soon afterward and announced the arrival of the royal family. The musicians stopped playing, and everyone who wasn’t already standing rose and bowed in greeting. Sera wrung her hands behind her back. The king came in with a measured look that revealed nothing. The queen seemed cross and held her head in a haughty manner, but neither was unusual for her. Finally, Sera watched Trevon enter the room with his brothers and sisters. He searched the crowd until he saw her.

  Sera stared at his face, hoping for some sign from him that his efforts had not been wasted. He gave her a neutral look, which sent a shock of disappointment through her, but then he winked at her.

  “Welcome, one and all,” the king said graciously. He looked as if he’d swallowed something sour. “You will be departing soon for the mirror gate and returning to your own world. We hope our efforts at hospitality have been acceptable.”

  A few murmurs of assent were accompanied by a smattering of applause.

  The king waited until it was quiet again. Sera noticed that General Montpensier and some of his commanders had also arrived in their colorful dress uniforms. The general’s face was not pleased. Indeed, he looked especially agitated.

  “The queen and I gave the crown prince the right to negotiate the terms of an armistice. Some thought this unwise,” he added, glancing at the general. “But we learn from our mistakes as well as our best efforts. If the word of a monarch cannot be trusted, then he does not deserve to be one. Therefore, Prince Trevon will announce the
terms of the armistice, which you will carry back to the privy council. We will not barter with you. We will not haggle over terms. If the privy council does not honor in good faith the negotiations made by Miss Fitzempress, then all is null and void.” The king raised his finger almost accusingly. “Mark these words, ambassadors. The fate of our worlds hangs in the balance.”

  The king then gestured for Trevon to speak.

  Trevon nodded to his father. “You do me great honor, Father. I have tried, to the best of my ability, to faithfully discharge the duty you put on me. Princess Fitzempress and I would both see this conflict end. More can be gained by our cooperation than by our conflict. We propose a sharing of knowledge between our worlds. We will send scholars to you, and you will do the same. The amount and frequency of these exchanges will be decided by a joint council. As a sign of good faith, the emperor’s privy council must elect Lord Brant Fitzroy as the new prime minister, not because of his military successes but because of his interests in the fields of study we care about. He holds secrets we wish to learn.”

  Sera couldn’t help but smile when she saw the startled looks on the faces of the members of the delegation. Colonel Worthington looked very surprised. Lord Welles would lose his place. The machine was being rattled.

  “We propose that this armistice last for the span of two years,” Trevon continued in a straightforward way. “Any disputes will be resolved by Princess Sera and myself. She will agree to spend three months of every year here in Kingfountain.” This was a surprise to Sera, and she gazed at him in shock but listened as he continued, “and I will spend three months of each year in your world. We will better learn each other’s customs and beliefs in the hope of securing an even more lasting peace between us.”

  Although Sera was surprised by the proposal, she didn’t object to it. It was fair, and it would require both of them to leave their homeland for an equal amount of time. It provided an opportunity for them to personally nurture the new peace . . . and it would also give them more time to get to know one another.