Fire of the Soul (27 page)

“Garit, I must go. If I don’t find Mallory
and provide the information he expects, he’ll come looking for me
and he’ll be angry at being made to wait.”

“Of course.” Garit reached for the door
latch.

“Your decision to return to Sapaudia will
please him, and pacify him for a time, I think,” she said. “But
never forget that Mallory cannot rest easy until you and your
brothers are dead.”

“I know. I realized that in the first moments
after Durand told me who had married Fenella.”

“Where have you been?” In the great hall
Mallory grabbed Calia’s arm with a hold so tight that she knew
she’d be bruised by it.

“I’ve been tending Lady Elgida, who is ill.
As you very well know.” Calia was startled by the depth of the
heated animosity she felt toward him. The emotion was so strong it
almost banished her lifelong fear of him.

“How should I know any such thing?” Mallory
demanded.

“Your plan worked, just as you expected it
would. You hurt a helpless old lady—”

“She’s hardly helpless,” Mallory interrupted
with a sneer.

“—and you took advantage of Garit’s love for
his grandmother. Now, you’ll have what you wanted. Garit has
decided to escort Lady Elgida back to Sapaudia, to her own estate
at Saumar. You no longer need to worry that we’ll interfere with
your plans. Isn’t that what you intended?”

“Not entirely. I expected you and Garit to
leave Lady Elgida here at Kinath and ride to Kerun City in my
company. How sorry I will be not to enjoy your presence along the
way.”

“Why did you want us with you? So you could
order one of your henchmen to stick a knife between Garit’s ribs
during the first dark night?”

“No, sister dear. I’d far rather catch him
sticking his hard rod into you,” Mallory said with a smile that
infuriated her. “What greater excuse for a fight can a villain like
Garit offer to a loving brother?”

“Garit would never put his arms around
Walderon’s daughter.” She spoke with a cold certainty, her heart
chilling at the realization.

“If you believe that, then you know nothing
about lust,” Mallory said. “That’s all he’d feel for you while he
was rutting upon you, Calia; lust, and the desire to violate his
old enemy’s child.”

Calia was so enraged by his insults, and so
afraid for Garit’s sake that she could not answer him. Angry words
came to her lips, but the cautious habits of her youth kept her
from speaking them.

“Now,” Mallory went on, his hold on her arm
tightening until she winced in pain, “confess what you are
concealing from me.”

“Nothing. I’ve told you all I know of Garit’s
plans.”

“Ah, but what of Durand’s plans? He intended
to visit his sister in Kerun City.”

“Durand is also worried about Lady Elgida’s
health. He’s fond of her, too, so he has agreed to return to Port
Moren and see her off the ship. Then he will return to Kantia.”

“If you are lying, you will regret it,”
Mallory said.

“Is something wrong?” Durand joined them, his
smile as bland as his voice.

“I was just explaining to my brother that we
must leave.” Calia tried unsuccessfully to wrest her arm away from
Mallory’s hold.

“I’m sure Sir Mallory is sorry to see you go
so soon,” Durand said in the same calm tone. “I am also certain he
will understand the call of duty.”

“Perhaps I won’t let her go,” Mallory said.
“Perhaps I choose to keep her with me.”

“That would not be wise,” Durand said
quietly.

“Oh?” No one could mistake the menace in
Mallory’s tone, or in his gaze. Then he switched his look to
Calia’s face. “What aren’t you telling me, little sister?”

“I don’t know what you mean,” she whispered,
her voice trembling. Was it possible that Mallory had detected the
barriers she had placed on her Power? He knew she was hiding
something important. She could only hope he’d assume she was
concealing what Garit intended to do once they had all left Kinath,
and not the other secret she held. She hoped he’d decide that,
whatever she knew, it wasn’t important enough for him to use his
corrupt Power and exhaust himself to uncover it. She doubted she
was strong enough to withstand Mallory’s unleashed Power.

“Calia,” Durand said with smooth assurance,
“why don’t you see if Lady Elgida is ready to depart? If I
understand the matter correctly, we will need to sail on the ebbing
tide.”

Mallory’s lips twisted into a snarl as he met
Durand’s cool gaze. Then he looked beyond Durand to four of Garit’s
men-at-arms who were approaching. One man carried a folded litter.
Mallory’s face darkened with frustration.

Calia knew he had enough men of his own in
Kinath to prevent any or all of Garit’s party from leaving, and for
a tense moment she feared he’d do just that. Then he took his hand
from her arm.

“We will meet again,
sister,”
he
warned, and turned his back on her.

“He was so angry, I don’t know why he didn’t
keep us there,” Calia said later.

They were back in their cabin aboard
The
Kantian Queen
and Lady Elgida was resting on her bunk after a
difficult trek down the hillside to where the rowboat waited. Calia
could hear the horses being loaded into the hold. From the noise,
some of them were unwilling to be harnessed below.

“Does Mallory’s reasoning matter?” Lady
Elgida asked. “With a bit of luck and a fair wind, we will reach
Kerun City and sail away with my grandsons before he can ride there
to interfere.”

“If Belai and Kinen leave Kantia,” Calia
said, “they may lose all claim to the lordship of Kinath. Have you
thought of that, my lady?”

“Are you suggesting that Garit will stay in
Kerun to defend the boys and their rights?” Lady Elgida sounded
hopeful and excited at that thought.

“I have no idea what Garit will decide.”
Calia didn’t say that she suspected Garit, along with Durand, of
having some other purpose behind their actions. Garit wanted his
brothers safe, of that much she was certain. But she sensed
something more, something agreed upon between the two men. Durand,
she reminded herself, was a secret agent for King Henryk.

How very complicated a simple voyage had
become, she thought as she felt
The Kantian Queen
begin to
move.

She wondered what Garit was feeling about
their departure and whether he expected ever to visit his childhood
home again.

Kerun City was much larger than Tannaris and
it appeared to be more fragile, too. Where buildings in the capital
of Chandelar were kept to one or two levels in order to avoid
casualties and damage in frequent earthquakes and were set on high
ground because of sudden tidal surges, the Kantian capital was
founded upon steadier ground. Kerun City was all high towers and
needle-thin spires that looked too delicate to withstand a strong
wind. Narrow buildings four and five or even six levels tall
crowded close together near the water, as if they lacked enough
land to spread out and be comfortable. Long, narrow windows
emphasized the shape of each building, and every window boasted a
box of tumbling, colorful flowers and luxuriant green vines. Huge
stone pots along the streets added still more color and
fragrance.

Even the wharfs were decorated with stone
pots of flowers. The blue sky above exactly matched the color of
the surprisingly clean harbor water. Bells rang out as if to
welcome the travelers.

“What a lovely city,” Calia exclaimed.

“Don’t take what you see as the reality,”
Lady Elgida warned. Her health had improved greatly in the two days
since they’d left Kinath, so she was back to her usual acerbic
self, especially on the subject of Kantia and the Kantian people.
“Don’t trust anyone you meet here.”

“Not even Durand’s sister?” Calia asked.

“Lady Ilona is Sapaudian by birth,” Lady
Elgida reminded her. “But her husband is Kantian, so take care,
Calia. You too, Mairne. We don’t know yet who in Kerun City is
trustworthy, and who is not.”

“Yes, my lady.” Mairne’s face was all
innocence, though Calia noticed how her eyes sparkled as she
regarded the city.

As soon as the horses were unloaded the
company mounted and Durand led them along a narrow street and up a
hill to the house where his sister and her husband lived. This
building was made of dark wood and was three stories tall. Seeing
it, Calia began to worry about Lady Elgida having to climb several
flights of stairs.

“Durand!” A woman who could have been
Durand’s twin flung herself into his arms while he was still barely
inside the door. “I was beginning to fear you were lost at sea. How
glad I am to have you here, safe and well. I must say, you do look
very well.”

“Unhand me, Ilona.” Durand contradicted his
own order by pressing his sister close for a moment before he
released her and stepped back to introduce his companions. “I have
promised beds to all of them,” he finished.

“Of course, you are all most welcome.” Ilona
smiled upon her unexpected guests at the same time she caught her
brother’s hand and held it against her heart. “My dear, I really
was concerned. We’ve heard reports of pirates hindering travelers,
killing those who resist them, and holding others for ransom.”

“We easily outran the pirates,” Durand said,
laughing. “I’ll tell you about it later. If you are wondering where
to put everyone, Garit and Anders can share my usual room with me.
It’s certainly large enough. Perhaps the ladies would enjoy the
guest cottage in the garden, if it’s not being used at
present?”

“As you wish.” Ilona bestowed an affectionate
grin on him. “I trust you appreciate that you are the only man I’d
allow to make domestic arrangements in my home. Not even Euric
dares to tell me where to put our house guests.”

“Where is Euric?” Durand asked. “And do you
have many guests these days?”

“Men from the Western Hills come and go,
Euric’s family and his boyhood friends, mostly.” Ilona’s silvery
eyes danced with humor as she regarded her brother. “You are always
so inquisitive, my dear. We will talk in private after everyone has
a place to sleep. Euric is at court today. We can join him there
this evening, or wait until tomorrow if you’d rather.”

“Lady Elgida, which do you prefer?” Durand
asked.

“The sooner I speak with the king,” Lady
Elgida answered, “the more likely I am to be successful in
convincing him of Mallory’s evil intentions toward my grandsons. If
we delay, Mallory may reach him first.”

“Do you mean Sir Mallory?” Ilona had gone
perfectly still at the mention of his name.

“He has married my daughter-in-law,” Lady
Elgida explained, “and he almost certainly means harm to Belai and
Kinen.”

“I know the boys, and their mother.” Ilona
frowned, then changed the subject. “Lady Elgida, allow me to escort
you to the guest cottage. Durand, will you play host for me and
show the men to their quarters?”

The cottage was small, only two rooms and a
bathing chamber. It sat well behind the main house in a pleasant
garden that boasted gravel paths and a stone-rimmed pool. The
garden promised quiet and privacy. Even better, Calia was relieved
to know that, thanks to Durand’s tactful suggestion, Lady Elgida
would have to climb only two wide steps to enter or leave the
cottage. When Mairne threw open the casement windows a
flower-scented breeze blew into the neat, white rooms.

“I’ll send a servant with hot water,” Ilona
said, “and someone with food. I’m sure you’d like to rest before
leaving for court.” She started to the door.

“Thank you,” Lady Elgida said. “Before you
go, may I ask a few questions? You said you know my grandsons. Are
they well?”

“If by ‘well,’ you mean healthy, yes they
are,” Ilona said. “Queen Laisren sees to that, you may be sure. If
you mean, are they happy, then no, they are not. Both are
mischievous boys and the queen has little patience with them. They
are remanded to her service as pages in order to learn courtly
manners and how to wait upon a lady. In truth, they would far
rather be riding in the king’s daily hunt, or practicing with
weapons. Nor do they care to spend hours each day learning to read
and write.”

“They sound like typical boys to me, as any
mother of sons would know,” Lady Elgida said. “Do you have
children?”

“Not yet, I’m sorry to say.” Ilona laid an
arm across her slim waist. “I do recall the days when Durand was a
boy. Belai and Kinen are more unruly than he ever was, but then,
Durand didn’t have a brother to urge him on to greater feats of
mischief.”

“I understand.” Lady Elgida looked hard at
Ilona. “If the queen is impatient with them, then I assume she has
no children of her own.”

“No.” Ilona’s soft voice and a certain look
on her face sent a warning to Calia, a hint that perhaps all was
not well in the royal marriage.

“You ought to know something of the current
situation at court before you meet King Dyfrig,” Ilona continued.
“My husband, Euric, who is Dyfrig’s first cousin, believes Dyfrig
has it in him to be a good king if only he’d put forth the effort.
But Dyfrig suffers from a serious lassitude and he’s pulled in two
directions by his advisors. Some, like Euric, are his loyal boyhood
friends.

“Other men came here from across the seas to
join his company when he was made Prince of the Northern Border. By
then it was clear to everyone that King Audemer would never have
children, so Dyfrig would succeed his brother as king of Kantia. He
accepted the newcomers most readily, knowing he’d need his own
elite guard.

“A few members of that second group are truly
loyal to him; unfortunately, most of them only claim to be his
friends while they attempt to garner wealth and influence for
themselves. They don’t care what harm their rapacious activities
cause to the country, for it’s not their native land.” Ilona
paused, looking at Lady Elgida as if expecting her to speak.