Red Rope of Fate

by Shea, K. M.

  “I said if Princess Claire’s situation in the court has not changed in a month’s time, or if I receive word that Arion is stuck in the Honor Guard and has not returned to the army, I will return with all speed,” Tari said in Calnoric, her voice dark although she spoke so softly the volume was just above a whisper. “I do not understand why you want Arion and I separated so badly, Your Royal Highness, but I will allow it for now. However, if I find that you are still pressuring the Herycian family and you have not lived up to your word, I will return with more than my teacher backing me. Before I leave I want a written vow that you will indeed aid Princess Claire in the courts, and that you will no longer hold back Arion’s career.”

  Crown Prince Benjimir pursed his lips. “Very well. Tomorrow, here in these gardens after the noon hour?”

  Tari inclined her head. “I will be there,” she said before moving to leave. She frowned when she caught sight of Arion. He was still a black blob in the park, but he hadn’t continued on to find his men.

  What on earth is he doing?

  “You really intend to leave?” Crown Prince Benjimir asked.

  Tari stared at the black blob and felt her heart ache. She straightened her stance and silenced her emotions. “I do.”

  The Crown Prince made a noise in the back of his throat that Tari suspected may be a happy sigh. “I see. I will hold up my word if you will hold up yours.”

  “Agreed.”

  Chapter 11

  Never Attack the Elf

  The following afternoon Tari left her rooms in a hurry. She flicked leftover tears off her eyelashes as she made her way to the gardens. She saw Grygg but could only spare the patrol leader a brief nod—she was going to be late for her appointment with the Crown Prince. (It didn’t matter anyway, after saluting her Grygg practically ran off. Probably a side effect of Tari’s drinking and Arion’s glares.)

  Her morning had been rather lachrymose. Tari finally told Evlawyn of her plan to return home. The loyal maid vowed to follow her and the two had a good cry before they started packing Tari’s wardrobe. Tari was growing tired of crying and wished it would all be done and over with, but that would mean she would be leaving Arion.

  Tari silenced her traitorous heart as she hurried down the stairs. Her elvish grace saved her from tripping on her skirt when she reached the bottom stair, and Tari took a moment to breathe deeply and collect herself.

  Tari ran a hand through her shortened hair, pushing frost blonde curls out of her face. I can do this.

  After taking another deep breath Tari set off down the open air corridor. She ground her teeth in irritation when she realized her lack of understanding the twisting palace corridors had taken her out of her way.

  Tari walked as fast as she possibly could, but she knew she arrived at the designated meeting place late. Knowing this, Tari slowed down when she was within hearing distance of the selected garden, making a great show of strolling into view.

  “Good day to you, Your Royal Highness,” Tari said in Calnoric, dropping into a curtsey in front of Crown Prince Benjimir.

  “Lady Tari,” the Crown Prince bowed. He held a scroll in his hands, which he held out to Tari. “The written vow you requested.”

  Tari plucked the scroll from the royal’s hands and rolled it open. She stared at the human script before announcing, “I cannot read this.”

  “I realize that, and I apologize. I would like to keep this arrangement between us. I see no need to bring in a translator to verify it.”

  Tari rolled up the scroll and offered it back. “If I can’t read it, it is no good to me. The point of having a written agreement is that I would have the assurance that you would keep your word. As it stands now I have no idea if you have actually written anything about our agreement, or if you have merely scribbled drabble about me being a drunken idiot.”

  Crown Prince Benjimir frowned. “Then I don’t know how to solve this problem, because I refuse to ask a member of the Translators’ Circle to translate it.”

  Tari looked at the scroll for a moment before lowering her hand and shrugging. She would force Benjimir’s hand, and quite easily if she read him right. “Very well. I’ll ask Arion to verify what it says. As soon as I have his assurance I will announce my departure to King Petyrr and King Celrin,” she said, turning as if to leave.

  “Wait,” Crown Prince Benjimir said. He reached out and grabbed Tari’s forearm. “If all you need is another human to verify, would Princess Claire do?”

  Tari waited several seconds, more because as Crown Prince Benjimir spoke Tari could have sworn she heard a bush violently shaking than because she was thinking. “I suppose so,” she said before unrolling the scroll. “In that case I want you to read it to me now. We shall then go directly to Princess Claire’s rooms, and she will read it to me as well.”

  “To make sure our versions match? For an elf you are paranoid.”

  “And for a prince you are unchivalrous. Read it, please.” Tari said, holding the scroll open.

  The Crown Prince sighed, but reached out to hold the bottom edge of the paper before he started reading, “I, Crown Prince Benjimir, son of King Petyrr—ruler of Calnor—and his Queen Luciee, take an oath to abide by the following terms. Upon the exit of Evening Star Tarinthali Ringali, I will take care to aid the Herycian family. I will help Princess Claire—bride of Prince Vincent—to ally herself within the courts, and I will no longer hold back the pursuits and career of Captain Arion Herycian. I will return Captain Arion to his previous position, ending his demotion. So say I, and that is my signature,” Crown Prince Benjimir said, pointing to a messy scrawl at the bottom of the paper.

  “I see,” Tari said, staring at the vow. It felt horrible to her, that a paper would be all that separated her from Arion. But if it meant he was better off she would do it.

  “Do you find it satisfactory?”

  Tari mutely nodded before she released the bottom of the paper, allowing it to roll up again.

  “Excellent. Let us search for Claire, then. Lunch has just finished, she has probably returned to her quarters for the afternoon,” Crown Prince Benjimir said. Together he and Tari turned to walk the short distance to the palace corridor.

  Tari kept her eyes on the scroll, but looked up when the Crown Prince abruptly stopped. Standing in the corridor, leaning against the wall was Arion.

  His expression was blank, but there was anger in his eyes. Frozen, icy anger.

  Benjimir took a step back, and Tari swallowed.

  Arion narrowed his eyes and pushed off the wall, approaching Tari and the prince.

  “I am surprised, for I thought you to be of a higher intelligence, Your Royal Highness,” Arion said to Benjimir, stopping next to Tari. He spared her a glance, and Tari quaked under the power of his gaze. His eyes were as cold as ice caps. “King Petyrr did say he would personally deal with whatever blackguards tried to separate us,” Arion said as he reached out with his left hand. Tari was glad she did not wince, for Arion’s fingers were gentle when he grazed them against her cheek before dropping his hand to wrap his arm around her shoulders.

  Benjimir whipped his gaze to Tari. “You told him?”

  Tari shook her head, about to protest, when Arion answered for her. “No, she did not. But you forget, prince. Tari is my partner. We are bound together and I can read her very soul. Did you really think she could hide her distress and pain from me?” As Arion spoke he used his right hand to tilt Tari’s head up, so she would meet his gaze. His eyes softened momentarily, reassuring Tari, before he returned his attention to the prince.

  Benjimir shook his head. “So what? My father will never believe you.”

  “Doubtful. But even if he does not he will believe others,” Arion said.

  Bushes rustled, and a scholar, Seer Ringali, and four Honor Guards stepped into view, surrounding the prince.

  Tari recognized the scholar-y looking man as one of King Petyrr’s personal secretaries who often was a member of the King’s procession
. The secretary was grave as he stepped forward and took the scroll from Tari’s lax grasp. He opened it, read the contents, and nodded at Arion. The secretary turned on his heels, heading for the corridor. One of the Honor Guards followed him. Tari belatedly recognized the guard as Grygg.

  “I am not afraid. What is there to accuse me of, vowing to help your wretched family?” Benjimir snarled.

  Arion shook his head. “You underestimate the gravity of your manipulation, prince. King Petyrr has personally spoken to the Guard Commander. He admits that the transfer to my previous position and the reaction to my refusal were all at your behest. Seer Ringali tells me you have been pushing him to return to Lessa, and to take Tari with him,” Arion said, gesturing to Seer Ringali, who nodded when he recognized his name. “Matched with those instances King Petyrr will surely see that this supposed vow is nothing more than an attempt to separate Tari and I,” Arion said, pulling Tari closer. “He will not be pleased, prince. And he has four sons, he can certainly spare one,” Arion cruelly reminded him. “He is waiting to speak to you in the royal study.”

  Benjimir bent over, clearly trying to keep himself under control. “Does Yvrea know?” he asked.

  Tari blinked. “What?”

  “No,” Arion said.

  Benjimir nodded and straightened up. “I wish those cutthroats had killed you,” he said, his eyes flickering back and forth between Tari and Arion. “Both of you.”

  In the span of a heartbeat Arion had his sword out of its scabbard, the tip pressed against Benjimir’s throat. “Chose your words carefully, prince,” Arion said as he drew closer, dragging Tari with as he had yet to release her. “The only reason I have spared your life so far is that you have done nothing to physically harm Tari. Royalty or not, I will skewer you if you so much as dream of hurting her. And I am well trained, your highness. I can reach you wherever you hide.”

  Fear flashed across Benjimir’s face as Arion loomed over him like a murderous beast. He fell backwards, crashing to the ground. He breathed shallowly when Arion rested his sword a finger’s width from the corner of Benjimir’s eye.

  “Arion,” Tari said.

  Arion glanced to Tari before easing off, lowering his sword. “Take him to King Petyrr,” he said to the Honor Guards.

  “What, you don’t want to know why I did it?” Benjimir harshly laughed as he stood and brushed himself off.

  “I do,” Tari muttered.

  “It is because he is in love with the Crown Princess Yvrea,” Arion carelessly said, resheathing his sword in its scabbard.

  Both Benjimir and Tari stared at Arion.

  “What?” Tari squeaked, pulling away from Arion to gawk at Benjimir.

  “How did you know?” Benjimir blurted.

  “You and I are rather alike in certain aspects,” Arion said.

  Tari, distracted with this new insight, exclaimed, “That’s why you learned elvish. You wanted to be able to speak to My Crown Princess Yvrea!”

  “It is also why he was intent on separating us. You posed a threat. He seemed to be afraid that you were telling tales of him to Crown Princess Yvrea,” Arion said.

  “What do you mean?” Tari asked.

  “He did not try to actively separate us until you revealed you could speak human. It was then that he grew worried, what sort of things were people telling you about him? Not to mention you were my partner, and my family was being treated horribly by Prince Benjimir and his relatives. I suspect he grew anxious and paranoid, believing you would tell Crown Princess Yvrea your discoveries.”

  “Why would I tell My Crown Princess Yvrea? What would I tell My Crown Princess Yvrea? Crown Prince Benjimir did nothing at all noteworthy,” Tari said.

  “I realize that,” Arion said, staring at Benjimir. “But men who are passionately in love are not known for their sense of logic.

  Benjimir grew pale. “Do not tell her, please, I beg you. Do not tell Yvrea any of this matter.”

  Arion shook his head. “It is not up to us to decide this, it is a matter for His Majesty King Petyrr. But, Prince Benjimir, she will find out soon enough,” he warned before shifting his gaze to the guards. “Take him to King Petyrr.”

  The soldiers saluted Arion and arranged themselves in a triangle formation around the prince.

  Benjimir walked with dignity, his gaze straight and his stride sure. Tari pitied him, she knew King Petyrr well enough to know he would not take the matter lightly.

  “Arion,” Tari said, turning to face the captain.

  Her words were too late. As soon as the prince was down the corridor a storm of secretaries, translators, and officials swarmed Arion.

  Tari watched as the King’s men jockeyed for Arion’s attention. The exasperated, stone-faced captain took wads of notes and countless missives from the government employees, stirring a fond smile out of Tari.

  “Next time you are grasping for an idle excuse to leave do not drag me into your affairs.”

  Tari jumped when she realized Seer Ringali was next to her, idly opening and closing his razor edged fan.

  “Sir,” Tari said, bowing. “I apologize.”

  “Hn. I am not the one you ought to be apologizing to,” Seer Ringali said, hiding the lower half of his face behind the fan before shifting his eyes in Arion’s direction.

  “I don’t understand, how did you find out about this?” Tari asked.

  “Your wolf man approached me and asked me—in exceedingly garbled elvish—if I had convinced you to leave Haven, or if you were leaving under your own volition. Naturally I was astounded to learn you and I had long talked of leaving because of your duties as an Evening Star,” Seer Ringali paused and flicked his fan shut before bopping Tari on the forehead with it. “It was cruel of you to inflict this on him, Tarinthali. I expected you to treat your bond partner better than this.”

  Tari hung her head rather than face the disappointment in Seer Ringali’s eyes.

  Seer Ringali shifted. “I am off. I have an afternoon appointment with King Celrin. Count yourself beloved, Tarinthali. Your Captain worked hard to pluck you out of this trap. We practice tomorrow morning,” the older Evening Star reminded Tari over his shoulder as he slipped into the shadows and disappeared.

  Tari watched him leave before glancing to Arion. He was still busy with a swarm of men. Tari started for the palace, she would talk to Arion when half of Haven was not clamoring for his attention. She was yanked to a halt when Arion caught her by her shoulder.

  “No. You are staying with me,” he warned her before returning his attention to an Honor Guard.

  Arion’s hand slid down Tari’s shoulder and arm until he found her hand and held it.

  Well. Tari reflected as Arion’s hand warmed hers. This isn’t so bad.

  Tari lifted her head off the back of the cushioned chair she was dozing in and looked around like a curious cat. She stretched and yawned, finding Arion’s office empty—for the first time that day—except for Arion and herself.

  “Did you sleep well?”

  Tari shuffled in her chair until she faced Arion, who was sitting at his desk. It was dark; Tari could see the night sky in the open windows behind Arion. The only light in the office was an oil lamp perched on Arion’s desk.

  “I did. What time is it?”

  “Two hours after dusk. You slept for several hours.”

  Tari rolled her shoulders before she settled back into her chair. Her nose twitched, she could smell food.

  “Evlawyn brought you hard boiled eggs not an hour ago,” Arion said, nudging a plate to the edge of his desk.

  “You read me too well,” Tari comfortably said as she reached for an egg. The egg was salted and silenced Tari’s rumbling stomach.

  “Hardly. If I did I would have seen this coming sooner. Tari, please explain your actions.”

  Tari exhaled, her shoulders drooping. “A few days ago I had tea with your sister, Princess Claire. After exchanging pleasantries, the princess explained to me that if I left Haven Crown Prin
ce Benjimir would help her in the courts and end the isolation Queen Luciee has imposed on Princess Claire.” Tari hesitated, uncertain how to continue.

  “Please tell me that was not your sole motivation for leaving,” Arion said, his voice flat.

  Tari shook her head. “No, I was not much moved until Princess Claire explained how Crown Prince Benjimir would help you. She said being in Haven, with me, was stifling your career. If I left you would be free to resume your normal duties and continue on the path to promotion, maybe even a title above your father’s.”

  “That was what swayed you?”

  “She mentioned something about our relationship ruining your reputation, but I didn’t really understand that part.”

  Arion leaned back in his wooden chair, making it creak. “Do you want to go home?”

  “No!” Tari said, leaning forward in her chair. “I wanted to stay here, with you. But I couldn’t stand the thought that you were suffering because of me.”

  “Suffering?” Arion laughed. He shook his head and massaged his forehead, shielding his eyes.

  Tari shifted uncomfortably in her chair. “How were you able to guess about Crown Prince Benjimir? That he loves My Crown Princess Yvrea I mean.”

  “I noticed he exhibited behavior that was similar to mine.”

  “I beg your pardon?”

  “To begin with he was unfailingly obvious in his jealousy of Seer Ringali.”

  “I don’t understand, why would he be jealous of Seer Ringali?”

  “Crown Princess Yvrea pays an extraordinary amount of attention to him. She seems to be an admirer of his.”

  “Of course she would be. Seer Ringali is one of the top Evening Stars. He is also is her father’s cousin,” Tari said, reaching for another boiled egg.

  “So I suspected. I also noticed if anyone was to be romantically involved with Seer Ringali it was likely to be you.”

  Tari almost dropped her egg. “What?” she squeaked.

  “You bear the same surname as him, and he came to Haven specifically to see you. He also spends the most time with you.”