Eventide (Meratis Trilogy Book 2) (12 page)

The lines around Ansella’s eyes hardened, and she bunched her skirt up into her hand. “Explain.”

“What is there to explain? It happened ten years ago. We were children.”

“You were twenty.”

“An immature twenty.”

“Ariana.” Jeff recognised that tone. It was the tone of voice all parents mastered, the one that told their children something horrible would happen if they didn’t smarten up and stop playing games.

Even princesses weren’t immune. Ariana set down the glass horse she’d been fiddling with and turned her back on the dresser, crossing her arms over her chest. She looked towards Jayden and tilted her head to assess him. “Can you blame me? He’s a very handsome man.”

The muscles around Jayden’s jaw worked, and again Jeff noticed a faint blush creep over the collar of his t-shirt.

“Ariana,” Ansella repeated.

“Fine!” Ariana threw up her hands. “It was the year I spent my summer with Nurse and the cousins up at the coast. Nurse had her hands full, and I was bored. So I ran away.”

The queen’s eyes narrowed.

“Of course Nurse never told you. She held herself responsible, but really, with six children under ten years old it’s hardly surprising she didn’t notice right away. I didn’t get far because it turned out Lord Feldall was staying at their summer home to train with a swordmaster. After that it’s a short story. We met, thought we were in love, exchanged some words up at the quaint chapel on the hill, and spent a perfect month together. Then reality set in, and we went our separate ways. That’s about all there is to it. Unless you have anything to add?”

She directed the last question to Jayden, but he maintained his stoic silence. Jeff could just see his Adam’s apple bob as he swallowed his discomfort.

Queen Ansella brushed her fingers over her forehead. “All there is to it,” she murmured. “Did it never occur to you, my darling daughter, what a position this puts us in? How did you intend to pass on our line in a respectable match?”

“It
occurred
to me that being married, which I assumed no one would ever discover, would not preclude me from sleeping with the man of your choice and giving birth to his children.”

A stifled gasp from Basten, and Jeff noticed another shift around Ansella’s eyes. Shock, a mild degree of horror, but also—he swore he wasn’t seeing things—a hint of amusement.

Apparently unable to sit quiet any longer, the advisor spoke up. “Do you have no consideration for all the sensitive plans we put in place, Princess? Ten years ago, I nearly had you married to the Prince of Favole!”

“I know,” said Ariana. “I believe that’s what pushed me towards my rash decision. That man looked like a potato.”

Beside him, Cassie pressed her lips together, and Jeff had to clear his throat to keep from smiling. Having known of her existence for less than twelve hours, he already liked this woman. On his other side, Brady still appeared in shock.

Basten smoothed his moustache with the faint moan of a man whose only job involved directing the futures of other people, and who just found out his most favoured plan had been thwarted by a young woman reaching her majority. He looked to the queen to beg her input, but Ansella had already shifted her attention to Jayden.

“And what about you, Lord Feldall? What have you to say on the matter? Did it mean as little to you to marry a princess, against the wishes and knowledge of her family, as she seems to suggest? I could have your head for this.”

Cassie emitted a barely perceptible squeak, her blue eyes fixed on Queen Ansella, her hands clasped in front of her as if ready to plead for mercy. Brady took a small step towards Jayden, offering support. Beside her mother, Ariana squared her shoulders, her mouth flattened into a stubborn line. She kept her opinions to herself, but Jeff guessed she would have a few choice words if her mother acted on her threat.

Jayden didn’t bat an eyelash, bowing at the waist with a natural grace. “My loyalty is to crown and country, my queen. My life is yours if you claim it forfeit.”

A pregnant pause, growing anticipation. Jeff held his breath, afraid that the slightest movement would sway the queen’s decision the wrong way. But when he actually paid attention to the woman’s face, his panic eased. Although her mouth was still hard set, the lines around her eyes softened. For reasons of her own she was dragging out the moment—maybe more to play with her daughter’s emotions than Jayden’s—but Jeff already knew what her answer would be.

“No, that won’t be necessary,” she said at last, and as much as he had expected it, Jeff’s shoulders sagged with relief. “Rise.”

Jayden resumed his statuesque posture.

“You have a reputation with women, Jayden of Feldall—one that has reached us even in court. But my daughter is known for getting her own way, so I suspect you had less to do with your decision than you realise. And I can hardly execute the only heir to the throne.”

Ariana sniffed, doing her best to sound unperturbed although Jeff detected the tremor in her fingers as she smoothed out her skirts. “It would have been foolish anyway. Jayden didn’t even know who I was when we exchanged vows. I lied to him, said I was a courtier’s daughter visiting from Margolian.”

“This does not surprise me,” said her mother. “You were never one to embrace your position in this court. No matter how little choice you have.” The queen sagged back against her chair, looking as if all she wanted to do was heave a deep sigh. She managed to restrain herself and dropped her head to pinch the bridge of her nose. “We’ll postpone this conversation until we’ve dealt with the real trouble. I now have two independent accounts that Raul is back in Andvell, which I am willing to accept as confirmation.” She lowered her hand to her lap and sat up straight. “Ariana, how did you come by your knowledge?”

“I saw him,” the princess replied, sounding smug as everyone’s attention focused on her.

“Where, Your Highness?” Basten asked first.

Ariana moved over to the map of Andvell posted on the wall. “I heard rumours of strange men seen in this area here, near the Redwater. I wanted to go look.”

This time, Queen Ansella couldn’t hold back the small exhale of breath, her eyes closed as she swallowed whatever she wanted to say. Basten didn’t appear as content to keep his mouth shut about the princess’s adventures, but before he could scold, her mother motioned her to continue.

“I knew better than to be seen,” Ariana said, sounding miffed that either of them should look so worried. “It took about an hour tracking their movements, but finally two of them appeared out near the old Amesbury Retreat.”

Jeff thought of the urgency with which she’d ridden home the night before and realised they must have been closer to Raul at that point than any other time since their return. Cassie looked up at Jeff, her eyes wide, and he wondered if the same thought occurred to her. “Should have” was a useless phrase, but he wished now they’d asked why she was in such a rush. Maybe then the entire situation could be resolved already.

Basten glanced at the queen. “I recall my recommendation to tear that place down.”

“And I see now that you were right, Counsellor. If only we had torn down the building, Raul would have had no place else to go except into our waiting arms.”

Jeff rose his eyebrows at the very unsubtle sarcasm. After all the self-control she’d shown so far that day, it suggested either a growing comfort in front of her guests, or extreme unease with the news her daughter shared.

“I didn’t have long to wait,” Ariana continued. “He left the building a few minutes later and mounted a horse.”

“You’re sure it was him?” asked Jeff. Cassie nudged him with her elbow, and he added an awkward, “Your Highness?”

Ariana nodded. “I haven’t seen him since I was a child, but it was him. He was dressed like you, with a trimmed beard and wild eyes. He spooked his horse as he got close. Two of his companions had to hold him down so Raul could mount up.”

Jeff caught Brady’s eye, and the scholar nodded. “That sounds about right.”

“So that’s where we head first,” said Jayden. “Tonight.”

Basten rose to his feet. “Now see here. I hardly see where your involvement is necessary. You’ve done your part by bringing the matter to our attention. From here, it seems wiser to allow our men—trained men—to track him down.”

“Trained?” Jayden growled, stepping towards him. “Are your men trained to battle animals that have been experimented on? Mutated until they barely resemble what they once were, their claws, teeth, their very fur designed to kill on contact? Are they practiced fighting against the corpses of their brothers, who have risen from the field of battle as their enemy? You cannot
train
for the evil Raul has brought into this world.”

“Jayden,” Brady said, his voice low and soft.

It was enough to catch the warrior’s attention, and he took a step back, twisted towards the queen. “I apologise, Your Majesty, but once you’ve seen what we’ve ….” He stopped, seemed to choke on his words. Jeff could hardly blame him. Even at the mention of last time, bile crept up his throat, burning the back of his tongue.

“I will not be left behind,” Jayden continued after a moment. “I have sworn my life to bring him down, and nothing short of death will stop me.”

Queen Ansella’s dark eyes watched him, appraising.

“I believe you,” she said. “I believe your prior exposure will offer a great advantage. As much as I’m reluctant to ask such a boon of anyone not in my own guard, I cannot deny your request.” She rose to her feet. “But would you be so arrogant as to turn down resources when they’re offered to you?”

Jayden’s throat bobbed as he swallowed. “No, Your Majesty.”

She nodded. “Very well. Counsellor Basten, you will arrange for five hundred scouts to ride out to acquire any information, and bring Raul back to this court to face justice if they can. Or kill him, if not. Divide them down each road out of the city. Lord Feldall, you have my support to prevent Raul from achieving his goals, with my leave to do so by whatever means necessary. I doubt anyone will sleep poorly if he dies. I assume that you will want to start at the Amesbury Retreat.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“Then that road will be yours.” She grimaced. “Why can’t that man appreciate when he’s not wanted?”

“I think he does appreciate it,” said Jeff, finding the courage to speak. “It’s why he has so much fun doing what he does.”

“Perhaps.” The queen’s gaze fell on him, and Jeff felt his face grow warm. “But it’s time he faced some real consequences. Twice now he’s unintentionally run away. See to it, Lord Feldall, that it does not happen again.”

Jayden nodded. “You have my word, my queen.”

“Good.”

“Your Majesty, I must protest,” Basten said, worrying his moustache again. “I have no doubt that my lord is a very able—capable—” he corrected, “—man, but to leave such an important matter as this up to a private citizen …. I don’t think it’s wise.”

Jeff frowned. For a man charged with giving advice to the queen, Basten was proving himself pretty quick to underestimate people.

“Are you questioning my decision, First Counsellor?”

“That is my job, when I see lapses in judgement.”

Ariana hissed through her teeth, but when Jeff looked over at her, she appeared almost impressed by the advisor’s nerve. He guessed she didn’t often see the man do much other than bow and scrape.

Ansella’s brow arched. “Do you volunteer to accompany them?”

Basten frowned. “I suggest—”

“I volunteer,” the older Dorning spoke up from his corner.

Everyone in the room turned to face him. He moved away from the wall and rested his hand on the hilt of his sword.

“Begging your pardon, Your Majesty, but I volunteer to be the queen’s man that goes with them. Figure it can’t hurt to have a man on side with leverage of your name, or skill with a blade.”

Darcy Dorning stepped forward as well. “I ask leave to accompany my father. A smaller band might draw less attention, but with a few skilled swordsmen, we stand a better chance.”

The queen tapped her finger against her lip, waiting for Basten to argue. The man bowed his head and deferred the decision to her.

“I can see the benefit of not creating mass panic,” she said. “The fewer people involved might even give us a chance to catch him unawares, if that’s possible. You have my blessing, but I expect regular updates. If you’ve not found him and dealt with him within two weeks, Counsellor Basten will see this responsibility taken out of your hands. Is this understood?”

“Yes, Your Majesty,” Jayden and both Dornings said.

Ariana crossed her arms, her lips creased into a tight smile. “I’d do the noble thing and volunteer myself, but I don’t think that would be accepted so readily.”

“No,” said the queen. “No, it would not. But your offer is appreciated just the same.” She turned back to her guests. “The four of you will be given rooms for the night. You have my thanks for your past efforts.”

She resumed her seat, a signal for the end of their meeting. Basten ushered everyone out of the room and then closed the door behind them, sealing himself and the princess in with the queen, no doubt to voice further opinions on Ariana’s news.