The Kingmaker Complete Trilogy (The Kingmaker Trilogy #1-3)

by Gemma Perfect

  12

  GINATA LEAVES HER ROOMS not long after Will, and takes a long meandering walk through the castle and the grounds. She has a basket which she puts flowers in for good measure, but really, she just wants to be sure that no one is following her.

  She must risk it. She must see Everleigh and warn her, but also there has to be some communication between the people at the castle and the people at her cottage. If Will is being followed and there’s no reason not to think he is – he’s not one for being overdramatic – he will have to stay away. Lanorie is locked up. It has fallen on her to be that person.

  And she is petrified.

  She wants Everleigh to be Queen and she wants the end of Millard’s insane reign but she also wants to live. More than anything.

  She walks to her cottage, following the familiar paths and waving at familiar people. How many people she has helped over the years she cannot count. Endless love potions, endless charms. She knows the secrets and the foibles of most of the villagers around the castle. She would never tell.

  She isn’t followed and she’s glad. She slips into her cottage and finds only Della and Addyson. “Where’s Everleigh?” Her voice is sharper than she intended and Della looks up, hurt evident on her face. They have never had cross words in all the years that they’ve been neighbours.

  “I swear I didn’t know. I would have done my best to talk her out of it.”

  “Sorry, Dell, I know you didn’t know. I just don’t think she realises how unsafe things are now.”

  “She’s with Finn. At the river. Shall I fetch them back?”

  “Maybe. No. They are probably safe. Millard is searching the castle and the grounds for her. He wants her locked up. Or dead.”

  Della’s face turns white. “He truly is a mad King?”

  “Completely. She never should have gone there last night. How he let her get away I’ll never know.”

  “What can I do?”

  “Keep her safe. Keep her here. It’s impossible really. She has her own mind. And if it had worked, if she had killed him, we’d be so pleased with her. Instead it’s reminded him of how unsafe it is having her roaming free. And he’s convinced someone is helping her. He’s questioned me and the fool, so far, I think I’m safe. But he’s not stupid.”

  “Were you followed?”

  “No. I made sure of it. But I’m uneasy now. I thought it was perfect bringing her here, but because she tried to kill him, he won’t rest. Once he’s searched the castle and grounds again today I have no doubt that he will start searching the villages. He means to find her.”

  They hear Everleigh laughing before they see her and when she follows Finn into the cottage, her face changes. She is contrite but defiant. “I had to try, Ginny. I’m sorry but I had to try.”

  “He wants you dead. He’s talking about you joining Addyson in the tower, but it’s a lie. He wants you dead. Addyson’s no threat to his crown, but you are.”

  “I know it seems stupid. But everyone is rallying around me, people have died for me, and I just didn’t want to be a useless, helpless little princess anymore. I wanted to be in charge, to act. To be a Queen. To show I was worth backing.”

  “You are. Even without the heroics. We all see that in you.”

  “If only Lanorie was safe, I’m thinking I’d leave Millard to it. I failed in killing him. He is stronger than me, quicker than me, maybe smarter than me. I don’t want anyone else to die.”

  “And the prophecy?”

  “I still have a choice, don’t I?”

  Ginata shrugs. She could do with the teacher here to help advise them all. With Halfreda gone there is a chasm where all the wisdom was. “I don’t know. But whether you choose to rule or not, if you can even make that choice, Millard is going to kill you if he finds you.”

  “He better not find her then,” Finn says, plonking himself in the seat next to Addyson.

  “We all want to keep her safe. But I know he will start searching the villages tomorrow if he doesn’t find her today.”

  “We cannot hide her if they come here, into the cottage. There is nowhere.”

  “I am going to speak to him tonight, see if I can counsel him out of it. I’ve seen Lanorie.”

  “How is she? Does she know how proud I am of her?”

  “Yes. But she’s petrified. How do we get her out?”

  “Kill the guards?”

  “Everleigh. You are on the verge of choosing the exact same path your brother would. It’s worrying. You cannot kill every person who gets in your way.”

  “Why not?”

  It’s Finn who replies to her. “If you kill everyone who disagrees with you or gets in your way, soon everyone would be dead. It’s not the answer.”

  “Maybe not.” Everleigh sounds sulky to her own ears. “But I need her to be safe.”

  “We need everyone to be safe. I just have no idea how to achieve it.”

  “How did you get past the guards last night?” Addyson asks.

  “What?”

  “When you got into Millard’s room last night. You didn’t kill the guards then.”

  “Oh, you’re so clever! I drugged them. We can do the same to the guards at the tower. We can do it tonight. Get Lanorie out.” Everleigh grabs Addyson and hugs her.

  “Brilliant idea,” Ginata says, pacing the floor, trying to work it all out in her head. “I’ll make up some more sleeping draughts. I’ve got all the stuff to do it at the castle.”

  “I’ll come and meet you at the island.”

  “I’ll go with you,” Finn offers.

  Ginata nods. “I’d rather that. I don’t think you can underestimate your brother, Everleigh.”

  “I don’t. But maybe he underestimates me. We’ll get a little maid to give them the drinks. I’ll be happy once she’s free.”

  “Right, let’s get your strength up,” Della says. “Finn, did you catch any fish?”

  “Yes. They’re on the table outside.”

  “Light the fire then, we’ll cook and eat outside. While we can.”

  Addyson helps gather some wood for the fire, glad to be useful. Everleigh hugs Ginata tightly. “Thank you for visiting Lanorie and I’m sorry about last night.”

  “You don’t need to apologise to me. But I need you safe. I need you alive.”

  “Well hopefully after tonight, everyone will be safe. And then I promise I’ll keep my head down until Saturday.”

  Ginata grins and hugs her close.

  Della fetches bread from her cottage and some ale. Finn cooks the fish and the five of them sit to eat, the silence thick with unspoken fear and apprehension, but also hope.

  Lanorie

  SO, I AM GLAD THAT Ginata came to visit me and sad at the same time.

  Glad, because she kept Millard away from me. He would have killed me in a heartbeat if he’d walked in here this morning. No doubt in my mind.

  Sad, because since she’s gone the place seems smaller, colder, scarier, quieter.

  I’m not good at being by myself.

  I wonder if Millard comes in and I fall at his feet, and tell him I only wanted him to be King. How handsome I always thought he was. How much better he was than Macsen, would he take pity on me? Keep me alive?

  Or just kill me anyway?

  I reckon he’d kill me anyway.

  There is nothing I can say or do now that will save me. I made a big bold gesture by pushing Addyson out of here. But in saving her life I have ended my own.

  I feel it in my bones.

  I have shown Millard that I am on Everleigh’s side. I have made him look stupid.

  I feel stupid. Since when do I make big, bold gestures?

  Never!

  I look after myself. I keep quiet and let others talk. I do as I’m told. I’m a doer not a thinker.

  I don’t know what I was thinking. Trying to make amends I guess. Trying to make myself feel better and look better.

  I have too much time to think.

  Some of it is n
ice. Remembering all the years I have looked after Everleigh, bathed her, washed her hair, dressed her in the most beautiful clothes. I remember how she loved me and looked after me. All the clothes and jewels and furs she passed on to me. She was never rude to me. Never anything but polite. Like princesses are. Just perfect.

  She made me feel like we were sisters, that we were equal. That I mattered.

  I knew it wasn’t true but it didn’t matter. I felt it. I felt happy.

  Will I ever feel happy again?

  Oh, I know I’m a right moaning old misery and maybe everyone would be better off if they left me in here. I won’t starve. The guards don’t speak to me or look at me. Just open and close the door. Unlock and lock the door. Grunt and spit and cough.

  I lay on the hard floor, watching a spider cross the ceiling. How did he get in? How will he get out? If I was tiny I could follow him, crawl through the cracks and escape.

  If I was a spider Millard wouldn’t kill me, or would he?

  I hope he kills me quick. Painless and quick.

  Just chops my head clean off. Like he did with Macsen.

  13

  GINATA FINDS WILL TURNING somersaults outside the great hall and falls in with his audience, laughing and clapping at his antics. He sees her and grins, throws himself on the floor and plays dead. The crowd, used to him and his father before him, watch for a second in case some sort of grand finale to his fooling is coming, but when he stays still, they happily wander away.

  “She’s fine. Della and her brother are looking after her. Addyson is fine too. We had an idea. We are going to meet here tonight and give the tower guards a sleeping draught. Get Lanorie out.”

  Will can’t help himself. He gives a whoop and jumps in the air. Anyone who sees him smiles. Being the fool means that no one expects him to behave normally.

  “We’ll speak after supper.”

  Ginata goes in to the hall to take her place at the top table, up on the dais, where the royal family sit, so everyone can get a good view of them.

  Millard is sitting on the throne, his crown heavy on his head, deep in conversation with Wolf. Neither man looks happy. The King looks icily furious, while Wolf looks miserable. This time a week ago, the table had the King, Macsen, Millard, Everleigh, Addyson and Halfreda all sitting happily, enjoying their food. Now it holds one angry King who has either killed or isolated everyone who should be sitting around him, enjoying his new Kingship.

  Except Wolf.

  Ginata feels a shiver every time she sees him, remembering him standing outside her cottage when he pretended his alliances were with the other prince of the Realm. How could Millard trust someone who turned his coat like that? She would never trust him and tried her best not to even look at him, never mind talk to him.

  She bows to Millard before taking her place three seats up from him. He calls her over.

  “Sit beside me.”

  She cannot refuse and so sits. Millard clicks for a little maid, who rushes forward and pours wine into a goblet for her. Holding it gives her something to do. It is nice to be waited on, that’s one thing she won’t mind getting used to, while serving Millard and then Everleigh.

  Pages start bringing forward dishes for the King to try. He chooses what he wants and sends the rest to the other diners. Ginata chooses a few things and fills her plate, but isn’t feeling hungry.

  The hall is full of people, all still eager to see this crazy new King. Aware of their eyes on him once more, he is smiling and waving, sending out good dishes, ignoring Wolf, who stares at his plate.

  “Have you had any luck today? Trying to see where Everleigh is?”

  Ginata shakes her head. “Sorry, my King. I have tried. I saw Addyson-”

  “Ah, how is she?”

  “Upset, but understanding of your position, I would say.”

  “Good. My position...I like that. Shall I see her tomorrow?”

  “Let me see her again. Let me see how she feels first.”

  “I’m happy with that. Little cursed thing. I don’t like seeing her much to be honest. When I think of how she killed my mother...”

  Ginata says nothing. She cannot argue with this man. Addyson didn’t kill the Queen, not really. No baby can be blamed if their mother dies during childbirth, but of course, poor Addyson killed a Queen; hence her curse. Her curse is what she is known for. What marks her out. Identifies her.

  “So, you haven’t found Everleigh. Wolf hasn’t found Everleigh. I am failed by all of my closest allies.”

  “My King. I am trying. I spoke with Addyson. I made up a fire. I think because she is hidden I cannot see past it.”

  “She is hidden because someone in the Realm is betraying me. If they have helped her and hidden her, then they work against me. They are traitors. And traitors will hang.”

  Ginata gulps down some wine so she cannot answer. She is a traitor. Will is a traitor. Lanorie is a traitor. She has even made Della and Finn traitors. Will they all hang for this?

  Millard broods as he eats, then remembers the eyes of the crowd on him and smiles, trying to act nonchalant, then he broods again, and so on until his plate is clear. He clicks for a page and whispers something to him. Within minutes a trio of musicians start playing and he smiles as he listens. He is nothing if not changeable this new King of the Realm.

  Ginata lets the music wash over her and thinks about her predicament. She has to keep Everleigh alive and get her on the throne, get the crown on her head. It’s what she promised Halfreda she would do. And if she has to work for somebody in her position as wise woman, she would much rather work for Everleigh. She knows she is more likely to keep her head that way.

  Millard is nodding along to the music. Wolf is miserable and Ginata is watching them both warily. What will Millard do next, if he cannot find Everleigh? Will he let her go, figure that she has escaped for good, or will he keep looking? If he gets Wolf to search the villages as he has warned, then he will find Everleigh and Addyson in her cottage and work out pretty quickly the part she has played in all of it. Her head will roll or her body will hang.

  What a choice.

  She is determined to keep Everleigh safe and her head too.

  EVERLEIGH IS SITTING with her knees tucked up to her chest, back against the fence, watching the flames die down. Addyson is inside the cottage with Della. Everleigh wanted her to take a sleeping draught to help her sleep a dreamless sleep but she refused. She wants to know what happens with the rescue. Everleigh hopes she will fall asleep before they get back but she knows that she will be safe with Della either way.

  Finn smiles down at her. “Ready?”

  She jumps up, straightening her skirt, and her cloak. “Yes.”

  She will feel better when Lanorie is safe.

  The walk to the castle is different tonight from last night. Last night she had been filled with anger and hatred towards her brother. Tonight, she is calm. They will rescue Lanorie and then on Saturday she will take her brother’s crown. In the five days between then and now she will lie low and wait. Keep herself and everyone else safe.

  If only she had been able to do the same for Halfreda and Archer.

  She cannot think of him; as soon as she does she feels a helpless ache inside and wants to drop to the floor in a hopeless puddle of tears. That won’t help, though, not yet.

  “I used to think you were brave, when I was a boy. But now I know it,” Finn says after a few minute’s silence.

  Everleigh shoots him a sharp look. “You don’t know anything.”

  “I do. I was there yesterday.”

  “I wasn’t brave yesterday. I was useless.”

  Finn shakes his head. “What could you have done?”

  Everleigh stops and spins, facing him, hands on her hips. “Watch this.”

  She starts muttering under her breath, loud enough that he can hear her, but too fast for him to make out the words. She calls louder. “Rain. Rain. Rain. Now.”

  He looks up at the clear sky, shaking h
is head.

  “Rain.” She repeats the word firmly, and closing her eyes, she holds out her hands.

  Finn watches the sky, his eyes widening in amazement. Light fluffy clouds, change before his eyes, filling the sky, deepening to grey and then black, filling the air with the damp heat you get before a storm.

  “Rain.” She says it one more time and the clouds burst. Within a second they are both drenched and Everleigh stares at him defiantly. “I did that. But I let everyone I love die.”

  Finn wipes a hand across his mouth, pushes his wet hair off his face. “That was amazing. I have never seen anything like it. Magic?”

  Everleigh nods. “That and being Queen. Almost Queen.”

  “But that wouldn’t have saved anyone.”

  Everleigh shakes her head. He’s not getting it. She searches the floor, finds a rock, passes it to him. “Throw it.”

  “What?”

  “Throw it at me.” She backs away from him, stopping after ten feet. “Throw it at me.”

  “I can’t.” His hands remain at his sides.

  “Do it,” she calls.

  Finn shrugs and lifts his hand, he hesitates for a second but then throws the rock. He flinches as it hurtles towards her and he runs forwards as though he could catch up with it.

  When it’s a foot from her face she twitches her head to one side and the rock follows suit, hitting a tree and dropping to the floor. Finn stops dead in his tracks, silent.

  “I’m magic,” she says. “But when Millard stabbed Archer through the heart I did nothing to stop it. I should have stopped it.” She’s crying before she realises it. And Finn is holding her before he realises it.

  “Everleigh. What you just did was amazing. Have you always been able to do it?”

  “No. Just a week.”

  He throws up his hands. “So, is it any wonder you couldn’t help them?”

  “I should have.”

  “Maybe.” He shrugs. “But I don’t think anyone would blame you for not being able to. It was madness at the castle yesterday. You wouldn’t have been thinking straight. Millard was quick and vicious.”