Fire And Ice (Book 1) (55 page)

             
“That’s right,” Walther stated.  “Your wife has been telling everyone that you actually spoke to her, face to face.”

             
“I did,” Treska replied proudly.  “And I am telling you she will make a fine Queen.”  When he saw her he could tell she had the iron necessary to do the job.

             
“Some of the guards who come in here speak highly of her,” Walther added.

             
“Well, as long as she bares the mark of the sun, that is good enough for me,” Jorgins decided.  “Too bad for Stemis though, he was a good enough King.  Never meddled too much in the lives of us common folk.  Always a good thing.”

             
They all agreed to that, toasted the former King, and then the new Queen.

Chapter 28

Secret Departure

              Coran checked the bookcase in his anti-room for the papers he had copied and placed there before leaving for the East.  The last week was difficult for many, but no one as much as Katelyn.  She had been swamped by meetings with various officials and people of importance who basically wanted her to know they were there.  Other meetings were more important.  She wanted to send someone North to Herrinhall, but apparently the Kings in the North were calling a gathering there and no one but a Northman could be present.  That information came from Roland who had finally received word from Holdon.

             
Coran spent what time he could with her, even sitting in on the meetings himself.  All he could do was give her what support he could, and his council when she asked.  He had to let Shirri take care of herself for a while.  Why the Karandi woman was still here was a mystery, but it was her business.  The few times Shirri and Katelyn were together in the same room he could feel a tension in the air.  Something was going on between them and it had to be about him.  At least it hadn’t become open dislike yet.

             
Stemis was in his state of ‘sleep’ in the royal bedchamber and his wife stayed mainly in their rooms to watch over him.  It was the illness, or poisoning, that started a tickling in his mind that he was missing something.  The feeling grew until he thought that maybe it was something he had read.  He found the papers right where he remembered putting them.  Taking them out he sat in the blue cushioned chair that was arranged before the crackling fire.  He scanned the papers, and didn’t find what he had been looking for.  If he remembered correctly, there were more papers from where he had copied these.  He would have to go and look through them again.  Getting up he replaced the papers back on the shelf.

             
He could tell Katelyn was in the former King’s study by the two guards who were flanking the door.  He knocked once and entered.  It was still a mess of scattered papers and stacked books.   She said using it was difficult at first, but all the reference material she needed was already there.  She looked on it as a place for business, not family. 

             
He found her sitting behind the oak desk, she glanced up from the paper she was reading at his entrance.  Someone else was already there.  Clad all in gray was Lord Roland, standing in the middle of the room facing her.  By the looks on their faces he knew there was more bad news.

             
“What is it?” he asked quickly.

             
She held up the paper in her hand.  “Roland’s predictions seem to be coming true.  Northmen have raided a town north of Waverly.”

             
“Raids are nothing new,” he stated.  “They go on all the time.”

             
“Yes, but this one is different,” Roland answered for her.  “They slaughtered everyone.  Everyone they didn’t take with them that is.”

             
If he thought it through it shouldn’t have been the surprise it was.  They were up against an enemy who would do anything to win.  Even so, it was still a shock to hear.  Normally, there were unwritten rules followed in committing raids.  Looting was all right, but unnecessary killing was the kind of thing that made rulers angry.  That code was what kept the nations from going to war with each other.  If that happened it could easily spread to engulf all of the North and all of Midia. 

             
“Do we know who is responsible?”

             
“No,” Roland responded.  “It does not really matter.  Relations will become even more strained and I am sure that Holdon will have to send some help to Northwatch.”  He glanced uncomfortably to the Queen.  “That is not the only thing.”

             
Katelyn took it from there.  “King Mattis is dead.  He was murdered by Lord Oscan of Canby.”              

             
One King poisoned and now another murdered.  What would be next?  “What of his son?”  He was sure that Mattis had a son who was old enough to rule.

             
“He was with the King’s army in the south of Grendin.  When he heard the news he took the army back to Fairtown and reached it just before Oscan did.  Lord Oscan pulled back, but the damage is done.  Grendin is now in a civil war.”  She sighed heavily.  “The worst part is that Grendin will not be able to help us.  Holdon is unsure at this point and Voltia cannot be counted on.  Only half of Midia is able to fight and we still do not know for sure what Ithan is up to.  Are they taking advantage on their own or are they in league with Elthzidor?”

             
Coran had never heard her in such despair.  She sounded like she had lost all hope.  He thought of the idea he had to propose and hoped it might be enough.  He looked directly at her.  “We need to talk.”

             
She nodded and glanced at Lord Roland.  “Would you excuse us, please?  And give my offer some thought.” 

             
The man bowed his head before leaving them alone.

             
“Offer?” Coran asked curiously after the Lord of Axely left the room.

             
“I asked him to command the combined armies of the Alliance.”  She shrugged.  “He is respected by all and his reputation precedes him.  No one should object.”

             
He nodded.  “A good choice.”

             
“So what did you want to talk about?  Or did you just want to be alone with me?”  She forced herself to smile.               

             
“I always want to be alone with you, but right now I need to find something.”  Without explaining he walked behind the desk and pulled open the top left hand drawer.  Reaching inside he found them at the back.               “What are you doing?” she asked him, then saw the papers he pulled out.  “What are those?”

             
He quickly scanned each paper, putting the ones he didn’t need back in the drawer, until he found what he sought.  “Take a look at this,” he said triumphantly, handing her the scrap of paper.

             
She read what was on it.

                            “When the old sun grows dim,

             
              The Chosen must seek the answer in the land                             of Ice.

             
             
There will he find the cure within him.”

              “It did not make much sense the first time I read it, but I think it does now.  Do you understand it?” he asked her.

             
She nodded.  “The dimming sun is my father?” 

             
“That is what I think too.”

             
“So who is supposed to be the chosen?”

             
“I don’t know for sure. But when I was in Crecy Miko told me that I was their chosen leader.”

             
“You did not say anything about that.” 

             
“It is not something I am comfortable talking about,” he said and then reluctantly explained about being the M’Shai.

             
“Death?” she repeated in a whisper. 

             
He didn’t really want to talk any more about that.  “So I could be the chosen it talks about.”              

             
She appeared doubtful.  “Would that apply here?”

             
“I do not know for sure, but it cannot just be a coincidence,” he told her and he believed it.  The timing was too perfect.  “It is worth a try if I can find a cure.”

             
“Maybe, but what does it mean inside you?  Do you have a cure already and just don’t know it?”

             
He shrugged.  “Either way I have to go there to find out.  Also I was thinking that I could try and talk to the Northern Kings and convince them to help.”

             
“What about the prohibition against non-Northerners?”

             
“I have Northern blood remember?”

             
“I forgot.”  She shook her head wearily.  “The thought of you leaving again...”  She couldn’t finish the sentence.

             
“I know.”

             
“Do you really think you can get the Northmen to help?”

             
“I don't know, but if I can get into that meeting and somehow make them see reason, who knows.”

             
She smiled for the first time.  “If anyone can it would be you, but I think that even this might be too much for you.”

             
“That isn’t the only reason,” he told her and the smile vanished.  “As soon as the idea came to me I knew it was right.  I had that feeling in my gut.  I keep thinking of the path ahead and I wonder if these feelings are like signposts, guiding me along the way.”

             
“The last time you had that feeling I received word that you were dead,” she scolded him.              

             
“I think I have to do this,” he said firmly.  “I need to.  I have to find out why Elthzidor wants me dead.  Maybe I will find an answer in the North.”

             
She took in his set features.  “All right.  Now I know how my father felt asking you to go to Daes Shael.”  She took a deep breath.  “When do you leave?”

             
“I want to talk to you about that as well.  I have been wondering about that attack when I arrived.  Why did Elthzidor send those two creatures after me so long after the first attack?”

             
Her brow lowered in thought.  “Obviously you have a theory.”

             
“I do.  You received word of my death here, and there were no attacks on me even though I was right under his nose for a time.  Then you find out I am alive and there is another attack.  What does that suggest to you?”

             
“A spy?”

             
“And another thing.  Who knew I was leaving for Arencia?”

             
“Some of the people in the palace, but many more knew you were leaving if not where.”

             
“I think it would be safer if we assumed the worst.  There is a spy in the palace,” he stated significantly.  “So here is what I want to do...”

              They waited in the office until a knock announced the arrival of the man they waited for.  Gelarus entered the study wearing light brown robes that were somewhat worn.  He came to stand in the middle of the room.

             
“You sent for me?”

             
“I did,” Katelyn told him.  “I have some questions for you that I need answers to.”

             
His face became serious and amused at the same time.  It was a look he recognized.  The old wizard was getting ready to play with their words.                

             
“You know this Elthzidor, or about him anyway.  Who is he really?” she asked evenly.

             
“Who do you think?” he countered. 

             
“I expect an answer,” she said, her tone becoming heated.

             
Gelarus faced her hard gaze without changing his expression at all.  “A wizard, the Ra Majin, the leader of an army, the leader of a people, take your pick.”

             
That wasn’t getting them anywhere.  Coran didn’t think it would.  “You said you do not have a cure, but Herrinhall might?  How can you know that?”

             
“It is logical.  There is nowhere else that contains as much knowledge of the world.”

             
“Is there any other reason you suggested it?” he pressed.  Gelarus had to know about the passage they found.

             
“No,” the wizard told them unequivocally.

             
“Thank you, Master Gelarus,” Katelyn said.  “You may leave us.”

             
The wizard bowed from the neck and left.

             
“He lied,” she stated.  “He actually lied to me.”

             
“We found out what we needed to know,” he added sadly.  “I do not think we can take the chance of trusting him.”  That was why they had asked the wizard here, to see if he would help them decide if his leaving was the right thing to do, and what he knew of Herrinhall.  Coran could never believe that Gelarus was a spy.  Even so, he had lied to them. 

             
They were on their own.