Breaking Stars (Book 2) (24 page)

Chapter 24

Princess Robyn had summoned the Arconian Queen and her Mages that morning. The Arconian wing was aflutter with excitement. Much had been heard about the resurfaced Princess, and Queen Cathlyn was eager to meet her and strengthen their allegiances. The Mages donned their finest dresses and their maids did extravagant designs with their hair.

Mikelle knew better and chose a somber brown dress swathed in a transparent green shawl. Bianji, Shayleen and Lace also dressed in darker colors, knowing this meeting with the Princess was not to be welcoming. Lace picked at her nails while Shayleen bit her lip and kept straightening her skirts. Those ready had gathered in the hall while they tittered in excited tones and complimented each other on their hair, dress, fabric, shoes, and jewelry until Mikelle was fit to vomit. She leaned against a wall and listened to the conversations as Lace slipped an eavesdrop-pattern into the clusters of women.

“Axa is at it again,” Lace whispered a few minutes later and nodded in the direction of the raven-haired, slender woman dressed in pale lavender with a gray fox shawl about her elbows. “I will give you an emerald to shut her up.”

“I will do it no charge,” Mikelle said and pushed off the wall with a shoulder. Her weakness had been absent all day after a long rest, and she felt prepared to knock Axa soundly across the room.

Axa was laughing as Mikelle walked up behind the gaggle of four other women. She kicked Axa so hard in the back of her knees she sent the woman to the floor, all the while pretending she had tripped. “Oh!” she exclaimed as she regained her balance. “Oh, I am so clumsy! There was a bump in the rug, I am sure of it,” she said as she took her time to inspect the rug and straighten her dress. Leaving Axa to recover, she made a circuit of the room returning to Lace.

“She’s still at it,” Lace sighed. Mikelle grit her teeth and looked for another plan to silence the woman, but a tall page entered the hall declaring he was ready to lead the women to the throne room. Gathering the rest of the party from their rooms, Queen Cathlyn led them the long way to meet the Princess. Each woman was a glory of graceful colors, like a moving rainbow but for Mikelle and her three companions in somber gowns.

“Follow me when we go in,” Mikelle whispered to her company as they pulled to the back. Gabriel had given her instruction early that morning. Something had been troubling him, and his thoughts were in a daze, but he flitted in and out like some bluebird with little more than ten sentences.

They arrived before the great doors carved with eagles in full spread and waited for the page to announce them. The Princess wasted no time in admitting them. The women melted in like a cloud of colors to meet Princess Robyn. She stood before the throne in a golden gown slashed with wide black ribbon to accent her slender curves. As she was not yet Queen, it was not her place to sit the throne or wear the winged crown, so she stood before it with her multi-peaked Princess crown dripping with diamonds that glittered as she breathed. She looked serious and though Mikelle knew she was angry, she did not show it.

Beside her stood Gabriel in a long black coat with a red cloak hanging off one shoulder, banded with gold chain under an arm to give him a royal look. This time he was not distracted, but
he
was not hiding his anger. The man must have been seething, and she could see his hands clasping and unclasping. Lady Aisling stood on the other side in pale rose, looking far too calm with a practiced grace.

It had not escaped Mikelle’s notice that Gabriel had taken the death meant for her. Looking at him even now, she felt devotion to him, and it made her smile slyly. She still had the spear wrapped up with her things, coated with his dried blood. It was something she could not part with, not when it stood for so much. The person who fashioned it had still not come forward, and she suspected they never would.

Mikelle slowed down and stole to the right of the room where Gabriel stood, slipping into the darkened wing. She perched beside a pillar to hide herself from her Queen. This would mean treason against Arconia, siding with Princess Robyn, but she could not push her conscious any further and still consider herself a decent person. With luck, she would still keep ties loyal to King Victor and not be banished from Arconia.

Queen Cathlyn garbed herself in a deep orange dress with a tall green collar and trimmings that made Mikelle think of pumpkins, and the idea made her smirk. She offered Princess Robyn a modest bow fit for a woman ready to be crowned and gave a warm smile that Mikelle recognized as her manipulative grin. The Queen often used it on her husband and got away with it. The Mages behind her all gave proper curtsies and folded their hands politely before them. Gabriel looked fit to burst, but when he glanced her way and saw her sly grin, the tension in his shoulders slackened a touch as he frowned at her.

Robyn had one hand on the throne in a display of her power and stepped forward fixing Cathlyn with a blank stare. “I see you have made yourself welcome in my home, Your Grace,” she said and gave a small smile. “I am sorry I was not here to welcome you myself.”

“Your people have been most hospitable, Princess,” Cathlyn said with a tilt of her head.

“I have heard many reasons as to the true purpose of your visit. I hope you found everything agreeable.” She left the question open, but Mikelle saw the trap.

“My ladies have told me very pleasant things of Mage Gabriel,” Queen Cathlyn nodded. “Though he has not been agreeable, no.”

“Imagine that,” Robyn clipped. “The real question I need answering is why you thought it would be acceptable for a woman of your standing to command a man to lie unwillingly with your subjects. Is it not custom here for a person to remain chaste until wed? So what makes you think yourself so high that you can command
my
subject to go against his will and custom?”

The Princess’ voice rang through the room with punctuated echoes, leaving silence behind. The women had grasped rather quickly that Robyn was not pleased, and backs slacked as heads lowered and eyes looked away. Robyn’s calm face was ablaze with fury now.

“Is he not a Class Ten? In your kingdom as well as mine, a Class Ten outranks your Classes, yet I am informed he was still commanded to do as they wished without his own will and station taken into account. Answer me, Queen Cathlyn, why did you think it acceptable to come here under these terms?”

Queen Cathlyn had not slackened or turned her eyes away, and her face remained cool. “I came here under Prince Nolen’s invitation and the welcome of Queen Miranda. It was Prince Nolen who concocted the plan you find so devious, but I was rather pleased to find a way to strengthen our Mage population. It is not every year a Class Ten is born in a Class Five world, so is it not right that he should be shared?”

“That was
not
your place to decide!” Robyn roared, slamming a hand on the throne. “You admit you came here of selfish volition. You thought nothing of the life you would harm, only of yourself.”

“I thought of the welfare of my kingdom as any good ruler would,” she said in a tone that poked accusingly at Robyn. “Shalaban’s ships are always skirting my shores, and the kingdoms of Bodelane and Desuldane need protection when they cross the sea to trade with us. We need more Mages for our security.”

“You speak foolishly for a woman in such mire,” Robyn snapped. “You have done me a great disservice in bringing your ladies here on such terms, and you have insulted not only Mage Gabriel, but the kingdom he hails from. Insulting him is insulting me. Perhaps you did not know, Mage Gabriel and I are old friends. In fact, he was my protector for years, and in doing so has won my heart. So, Queen Cathlyn, you have deeply wounded the both of us in your actions.”

As Princess Robyn spoke, the color from the Queen’s green collar seemed darker as her face paled, but she kept the dignified, terse look upon her lips. “Had I known, I would have considered twice.”

“Your Grace, you should have considered twice
regardless
, but as you did not, it proves to me your lust for power, and I see only one action that would leave me satisfied. I am forthwith removing my soldiers from your soil. You will defend your lands with your own devices.”

The astonishment was palpable. While Arconian soldiers were disciplined and well trained, the Anatolians were far grander in skill with blades and horsemanship.

“You are breaking the treaty?” Cathlyn gasped, now appearing as worried as she should be. If surprised, Aisling and Gabriel showed nothing.

“No,” Robyn replied, in full control of the conversation now. “I am bringing my men home and giving you one year to make amends for your actions. Should you fail, I will break the treaty. I would offer safe passage and harbor your people should Shalaban attack your shores, but I would not come to your aid. Should they attack within the year, you will defend alone.”

“But Princess, people could die.”

“The life of my own people is my chief concern. You will not find me as malleable as Queen Miranda, and while I am just, I am not merciful against injustice. And you, Your Grace, have named yourself a villain.” She let her words sink in. “You will pack your bags and leave by ship tonight. I can guarantee your safety as far as the Balfor Delta. You and your ladies are banished from my shores, except for the selected I have chosen to remain.”

Cathlyn looked around suddenly as she realized there were women missing. Mikelle took the moment to reveal herself from the darkness, folding her arms over her chest. Lace, Bianji and Shayleen flanked her into the light. “You,” the Queen whispered. “You were loyal to my husband, you traitor. He will be wroth with you!”

“Your Grace,” Mikelle said and made a lavish bow that only mocked the woman. “I am here on his bidding. He
will
be wroth.”

Mage Axa, standing in the front, stepped forward to say something, but Gabriel moved so quickly no one saw the Spirit pattern laid in his hands until it was around her head. A glowing sphere sat around her shoulders. She opened her mouth to speak, but could not pierce through it, with her voice nor her hands. The woman gave a satisfied smirk and folded her arms, content to be silent. Queen Cathlyn looked offended, but when Axa showed no signs of fighting, she grew still.

“You will pack your things now,” Robyn stated before anyone could cut in. “I have hired the
Foam Rose
to take you by dusk. You have one year to make retribution. Leave.”

Queen Cathlyn looked abashed as she left Robyn’s presence trying to hold her head high but knew she had been beaten. The Mages with her looked equally ashamed, and a few had even wept. The great doors closing was a sign of relief, and Robyn’s shoulders relaxed.

“You would really break the treaty with Arconia over me?” Gabriel asked Robyn as the four Mages drew up.

“Have you been grieved by them, my love?” Robyn replied. “I certainly have been. I cannot ally myself with someone who thinks this behavior acceptable.”

“You cannot go breaking deals like this every time I am offended,” Gabriel cut in. “Lives could be in jeopardy.”

“I have to set the tone for my reign. I will not be seen as another Queen Miranda.” She took a breath. “And I hope Arconia will make retribution soon, for you do not know that Miranda has driven Anatoly into near poverty.”

Her words came as a shock to them.

“Arconia is a land rich with gems, and I will do whatever it takes to keep my kingdom out of debt. The silver load my mother struck is running dry, and the inflow of coin has slowed. I refuse to raise taxes as my first order, so I will strike two blows in one action. Mages,” she said and turned to Mikelle, “I trust you to keep that to yourself.”

“Yes, Your Grace,” Mikelle replied with a bow. “I know how to keep a secret—Gabriel is scared of snakes.”

“I told you that in confidence!”

“My apologies,” she grinned and dipped her head.

“Snakes,” Aisling stated and looked at him flatly.

“Robyn doesn’t like spiders,” he interjected.

“No one likes spiders,” Bianji sighed.

“Enough,” Robyn chuckled. “Ladies, please move your things into my wing once the Arconians are out of their hall. I will divide you into two rooms so you are more comfortable. Until then, please adjourn to my sitting room so we can talk of Arconia and King Victor.”

“We need to speak first,” Gabriel whispered before she slipped away. Mikelle watched them go. They were a handsome couple if ever she saw one, even if Robyn was too short for him.
‘He is tall and should have someone tall to match him.’
She smirked.

“Head Mage?” Robyn gasped, her mouth falling agape. They stood in her sitting room; a hearth blazed warmly at her back as Gabriel hooked his thumbs over his belt. “Truly?”

“I would not make this up,” he replied lightly. “Secondhand Lael made a convincing case, saying it was Casimir’s wish.”

“This—this would be….”
‘Wonderful for you, but it would keep you far from me. And you would outrank me eternally.’
She bit her lip. “Have you given your answer?”

“I have.”

“
And
?”

“I want your opinion first.”