Artesans of Albia

by Cas Peace

  Pharikian snapped an order and one of his pages ran for the door. “We’ll do just that.” He moved around Robin and sat on the bed beside Sullyan. Taking one of her pale hands, he clasped it in both of his. “This would be a tragedy indeed,” he murmured, “to lose you before I have gotten to know you properly. You look so like your mother, yet in your strength and power you are much more like your sire. They would both be so proud of you, to see what you have achieved and how beautiful you have become.”

  Sullyan lay still and silent.

  Robin dared to ask, “Majesty? Where are her parents?”

  Pharikian looked up, his eyes full of sadness. “It grieves me to hear she’s lived all these years never knowing who they were. I can’t imagine what went wrong. Morgan was going to leave her with relatives to be brought up. That’s what he told me he’d done.”

  For some reason, Robin felt defensive. “She was found abandoned as a baby by some villagers, brought up an unwanted orphan.”

  He was startled when moisture suddenly appeared in Pharikian’s eyes.

  “Unwanted? Ah, no.” He turned his gaze on Sullyan’s pallid face. “She was never unwanted. Her parents tried for years to conceive and carry a child to term. She was her mother’s dearest wish.”

  He looked up again and Robin saw memories filling his eyes. “Brynne was conceived here, and later born here, in this very room. In this very bed, in fact.”

  “Here?” Robin stared at the old man. There was such care in Pharikian’s tone, such sadness. He swallowed. “And are they … are they still alive, sir?”

  The Hierarch’s voice was so low that Robin strained to hear it. “Alas, no. I can’t tell you how much I wish they were. Poor Bethyn died bringing her baby into the world, and Morgan couldn’t live with the loss. So the one thing they both wanted above everything else finally killed them.”

  Robin thought he was going to say more, but at that moment the page returned, ushering a bewildered Marik into the room. When the Count saw who Robin was talking to he fell to his knees, bowing his head to the floor.

  With a heavy sigh, the Hierarch rose, crossed the room, and raised Marik by the arm. “Get up, man, there’ll be time for all that later. Right now we need you. We have a crisis here, and this young man thinks you might be able to help.”

  Marik allowed himself to be drawn to the bed. When he saw the color of Sullyan’s face, he gasped in dismay. Robin gripped his arm. “Tell his Majesty what you did to help Sullyan seal off the poison.”

  Marik glanced at him and nodded, but his nervousness caused him to stammer when he tried to describe what he had done.

  “Show us,” commanded Deshan and the three Andaryans crowded round the bed. Robin could sense them concentrating the power of their minds on suppressing and walling off the creeping poison of Rykan’s seed. Redundant and fearful, he retreated to the side of the room.

  + + + + +

  It was daylight when Sullyan woke. She lay still, unwilling to move. Her body seemed so heavy she felt like never moving again. Slowly, she opened her eyes. There was a canopy over the bed, and what she could see of the ceiling was white, completely unlike the suite she and Robin had been assigned. She frowned, knowing without turning her head that she was alone in the huge bed. She couldn’t hear any sounds and wondered where Robin was.

  Coming fully awake, she suddenly realized that the heavy ache in her bones was the only pain she could feel. For the last few days she had lived with the constant, nagging cramp in her belly caused by Rykan’s poison. Now that pain was gone. She considered this, unwilling to use her metasenses to probe for the reason. She left it alone, grateful for the respite no matter its cause. Briefly, she entertained the thought that the lack of pain was a sign the end was near, but apart from aching as if she had fought an entire army single-handed, she felt remarkably healthy. In fact, she felt better than she had since her capture.

  She even felt hungry and very thirsty. Where was Bull with his fellan when she needed it?

  Thoughts of Bull brought a tiny, sobbing breath to her throat. Now she heard a sound. Someone was moving toward her. Too weak to turn her head, she stretched out her senses and touched a familiar presence.

  “Marik? What are you doing here? Or have I been arrested too?”

  She heard a noise which could have been either laughter or a sob. Then Marik leaned over the bed, and she saw care and strain etched into his melancholy features. Sudden fear clenched her heart. “What is it, Ty? Is it Robin? Is he hurt? Where is he?”

  “Don’t worry, I’ll fetch him. Don’t move!”

  He disappeared. She heard him open a door and caught the break in his voice as he called Robin’s name. There was a flurry of movement, and then the warm and comforting presence of her lover was beside her on the bed. He covered her face with kisses and looked down into her eyes through a blur of tears. He was saying her name repeatedly. She moved one hand, surprised when she could actually raise it to his face and brush her fingers over his lips. He moaned and buried his face in her hair, and she couldn’t imagine what was causing his grief. Very worried now, convinced some tragedy had befallen one of their friends, she reached out to his mind. It was so clouded by conflicting emotions that she couldn’t touch him. She began to panic.

  “Calm down, Robin,” urged Marik. “You’re frightening her.”

  The Captain drew back, taking a deep breath to bring himself under control. He smiled down at her, letting her into his mind, showing her that it was only his love and fear that had upset him so. She relaxed and tried to smile back, amazed when she found that she could.

  Robin sat straighter on the bed and his breathing slowed. “How are you feeling, love?”

  She thought about it. “Good. Robin, I feel good.”

  His emotion overflowed again and she frowned. Marik approached and sat on the other side of the bed. He was grinning.

  “Oh, stop it, you great turkey! Can’t you see you’re confusing her? She’s been asleep for nearly twenty hours. She hasn’t got a clue what’s been going on.”

  Sullyan struggled to sit up. “Twenty hours? What do you mean?”

  Robin put a hand on her shoulder to prevent her rising. “It’s alright, love, just lie still. You gave us a bit of a scare, that’s all.” She stilled, hearing the raw emotion in his tone. “We nearly lost you, you know. It took the combined strength of the Hierarch and his physician to save you, but if it hadn’t been for Ty here telling them what to do, they’d never have done it.”

  The realization that Robin and Marik were now on first name terms made her smile. Then she turned her attention to what Robin had said.

  “I remember feeling very ill. I remember being so angry that it happened when it did. But I remember nothing after that. Robin, where is this place?”

  He snorted. “Only the Hierarch’s private apartments! He wouldn’t have us put you anywhere else.”

  He regarded her narrowly, trying, she realized, to gauge her mental state. She stared back, wondering what was on his mind. Before he could speak, however, Marik stood up. “We’d better let his Majesty know she’s awake.” He winked at Sullyan. “He was very insistent about that, you know. He’s been sitting here beside you most of the time you were asleep. And Robin’s only had a couple of hours sleep himself. You’ve worn us all out.”

  She hung her head. “I am very sorry.”

  Marik just grinned. He crossed to the door, opened it, and spoke to someone in the hallway. Then he returned and sank into a chair by the fire. Robin settled himself against the pillows beside her and helped Sullyan to sit, cradling her body against him. She was grateful, for she knew she couldn’t have managed it by herself. She had just gotten comfortable when the door was pushed open and Pharikian entered the room.

  He was wearing a more functional robe this time, plain dark blue trimmed with gold, and belted with a purple sash. His aging face looked strained and his yellow eyes were full of concern. He walked to the bed, took Sullyan’s hand, and studied
her face. Then he smiled and breathed a sigh of relief. She responded shyly, not at all sure how to react. It was outside of her experience to conduct an audience with such a powerful man from the bed in one of his own chambers. His relaxed and casual manner, however, soon put her at ease.

  “Well, my Lady, I am very pleased to see you so much improved. You gave my physician a very difficult time.”

  She ducked her head. “I thank you, Majesty.”

  “Your Captain has told me the circumstances of your … malady.” His voice grew harsh. “You did well to come to me. Rykan shall pay for what he did to you.”

  “Majesty, I did not come here to present a complaint of the Duke’s maltreatment. I came because I carry important knowledge of his battle strategies and other … plans. My illness has wasted yet another day, so it is imperative that I speak with you concerning his challenge.”

  Pharikian held up a hand. “All in good time, child, there is no immediate threat. My generals are well aware of the position of Rykan’s forces, and for the past few days he has not advanced. We are fully prepared. My senior commander, Lord General Anjer, has all the information he needs to direct the Caer’s defenses. You can rest easy.”

  Sullyan shook her head. “He does not have the information I carry, Majesty! Rykan would never have revealed it had he suspected for one moment I might survive his brutality. His own vicious nature will be his undoing, for I will not see him overthrow your reign if I can prevent it. That is why I am here, Majesty, to play as large a role in his defeat as I can. I owe him that much for the premature ending of my life.”

  Pharikian raised his brows. “He hasn’t ended it yet, child, and if we overturn his challenge you may yet cheat him of your death.”

  Robin hissed in shock and Sullyan froze. She felt the blood drain from her face. “How so, Majesty?”

  He cocked his head. “Surely you are aware that Rykan can cleanse you of his poison?”

  Her flare of hope died instantly and her reply was bitter. “Oh yes, Majesty, if he wills it! Can you see Rykan, once defeated in his challenge, agreeing to spare my life?” She snorted. “How he would enjoy that! By then he would have lost everything. What could possibly persuade him to be merciful to me?”

  Pharikian began to speak but she stopped him. “I will not beg him, Majesty, not again. This I have sworn. I will never lie helpless before him or put myself in his power again. Not even to save my own life.”

  The Hierarch chose not to argue with her, seeing how even this small discussion had tired her. “Very well, child, do not distress yourself. We will discuss this later.”

  She began to protest, but he held up a hand. “No, my dear, no more. If it will calm you, I promise to keep you informed of any change in the Duke’s position. Otherwise, you are to forget him for now.” He rose to leave and turned his stern gaze on Robin. “Young man, you are to keep her in bed for the rest of the day. Deshan will come by later to check on her, and I will send for some food for you both. Which do you prefer, spice-tea or fellan?”

  Sullyan replied for them both. “Fellan, please, Majesty, as strong as possible.”

  He stared at her, a slow smile coming to his lips. “Fellan, as strong as possible? Yes, of course.”

  His evident amusement puzzled her, but he continued before she could ask.

  “I am also having your things brought here from the other suite. I want you close to me, here in my private apartments.”

  Sullyan was touched and thanked him earnestly, but he caught the wistful tone of her voice. “What is it, Lady?”

  She lowered her eyes. “Majesty, does this suite have a bathing pool?”

  He laughed, a sound of genuine pleasure. “Ah, you enjoyed that, did you? Yes, child, all the Palace suites have pools. We’re very civilized here! And the private apartments have the largest pools.” His eyes took on a distant look. “Your mother loved bathing too.”

  Shortly after his departure, a servant brought fresh food and fellan. The brew was easily as strong as Bull’s, and tears came to Sullyan’s eyes as she drank it, remembering his big, comforting presence. She glanced over at Robin, who sat in one of the chairs by the bed. Marik was still there too. As the Hierarch passed him on his way out, he told the Count he was released to Sullyan’s custody. He cautioned Marik to remember it. The Count was more than happy to obey. Now he sat across the room from them, quietly drinking fellan and thinking his own thoughts.

  “What would Bull make of all this, Robin?”

  The Captain chuckled and looked around the lavish room. “He’d never believe it. Mind you, I can hardly believe it myself.” He smiled shyly. “Do you remember that you have a name now? Does it feel like it fits?”

  She hadn’t really thought about what she had heard in the Hierarch’s audience chamber. Her memory of that time was mingled with the pain of her illness, and she wasn’t entirely sure she had heard correctly. Robin told her what Pharikian had said about her birth and her mother’s death—here in this very room—and her soul was in turmoil, desperate to know more.

  She glanced down at her hands and tried the name on her tongue. “Brynne … I hardly know, Robin. I have had only one name all my life, so to suddenly have another seems somehow … superfluous.”

  The Captain laughed aloud and Marik grinned. Robin took her in his arms.

  “Oh, my love, only you could think that having such a lovely name was superfluous!”

  Later that evening, after a page had shown Marik to his rooms across the hall, and Deshan had come by to check Sullyan once more, Pharikian returned. Despite his orders and Robin’s protests, Sullyan was not in bed. She had risen shortly after eating, yet she only went as far as the bathing pool. The warm water did wonders to ease the deep ache in her bones, and she reveled in the clean, buoyant feel of it, her tawny hair floating out around her.

  Worried she might overtax herself, Robin sat by the pool and watched her closely. She emerged feeling much improved. Now, wrapped in a soft, voluminous house robe, she lounged on a settle by the fire, spreading her damp hair to dry.

  A discreet knock sounded at the door and Robin went to open it. Three servants entered, bearing trays laden with food, wine and fellan. A page came behind them, and then to Sullyan’s amazement, the Hierarch appeared. He looked strained and tired, but his tension eased when he saw her. He did, however, point a stern finger at Robin.

  “Young man, I thought I told you to keep her in bed.”

  Robin was about to explain but Sullyan got there first. “Do not blame the Captain, Majesty. I could not resist the bathing pool. Once I have eaten a little and drunk more fellan, I will be more than happy to return to my rest.”

  The servants laid their trays on the low table near Sullyan and departed. Pharikian’s page, a young lad of about twelve who reminded Sullyan strongly of the Manor kitchen boy, Tad, closed the door behind them. His master approached Sullyan and indicated the space beside her. “May I?”

  She blushed. “Majesty, you need ask no leave of me!”

  He sighed and wearily lowered himself to the settle. “Child, I have had people bowing and scraping and generally fawning over me all day long. Would you do me a very great favor?”

  Her eyes widened. “Anything, Majesty.”

  “Then, when we are alone, will you do me the courtesy of using my name and forgetting that I am Andaryon’s sovereign lord? That is how it was with your parents, and I found it very refreshing. Your father was one of my closest friends, Brynne. It would give me inestimable pleasure to think of you in the same way.”

  She stared into his yellow eyes, and as she offered metaphysical contact, her pupils dilated wide. “It would give me great pleasure also, Timar.”

  He accepted her offer with a pleased grin that took years off his face. She smiled shyly. “Dare I ask you a favor in return? Not that I do not already owe you everything for saving my life.”

  His eyes flashed. “That was just due recompense for what you suffered at the hands of one of my so-c
alled subjects. An accounting will be sought, of that you can be sure.”

  Her smile vanished. “May we talk of that later?” He gave a terse nod and she broached the subject that had been filling her heart and mind since his astonishing revelation in the throne room. “Timar, will you tell me about my parents? Robin has told me what you said concerning my birth and how my mother … died, but I would love to hear more. I always hoped someday to find someone who could tell me about them.”

  Pharikian reached for a plate of meat and offered it to Sullyan. She took some and he helped himself before passing the plate to Robin.

  “I will tell you while we eat, but I don’t want to tire you. Deshan thinks you will feel much better tomorrow, and we will discuss then what can be done about my rival. I should warn you, though, that your arrival and the news that you carry information concerning Rykan’s plans have already spread throughout the Caer. It has stirred up my generals, Brynne, which may be no bad thing!”

  Her heart gave a lurch as she heard her given name. It would take some getting used to.

  “Please, Timar, I would rather that the details of my … circumstances do not become public knowledge. I want no pity, only the chance to play my part in thwarting Rykan’s challenge.”

  “I know, child, rest easy. No one else knows but Deshan, and he is very discreet. Have no fears on that score.”

  Companionably, they sat together and consumed the fine food provided by the Palace kitchens. As they did so, Pharikian told Sullyan about his friendship with her parents.

  Chapter Fourteen

  “I first met Morgan Sullyan around forty years ago. He was a well-respected bard and a gifted storyteller. His fame reached us even here. For this he was made welcome by my father, the previous Hierarch. Morgan became a regular visitor at Court. At that time, I had an elder brother, Selmar, who was my father’s Heir. Many of the higher ranking nobles had sworn allegiance to my brother and were pledged to support his succession. But Selmar died unexpectedly in a dueling accident, and I became the Heir. The nobles, judging their oaths annulled by Selmar’s death, rebelled, for they felt no loyalty to me.