Fire of the Soul (29 page)

“Why did my father send you to me?”

“My lady?” Durand responded, looking
perplexed.

“Not you, old friend,” Laisren said, a slight
smile curving her beautiful mouth. “I was speaking to Calia.”

“A short time ago, we were in Tannaris,”
Calia said. “While we were there the Great Mage Ultan summoned me
to his own house.”

“And greeted you in a room filled with
stars,” Laisren interjected. A dreamy expression softened her
perfect features. “I know it well.”

“It’s a beautiful room,” Calia agreed. “Ultan
is a remarkable man.”

“Why did he summon you?” Laisren asked.

“He wanted me to deliver a delicate gift to
you. I am instructed to place it directly into your hands, in
private.” Calia paused, glancing at the man who stood beside
her.

“You may trust Durand,” Laisren told her. “He
will never reveal anything we say or do in private.”

The queen held out her hand, palm up, and
Calia saw no reason to hesitate. This was the opportunity she had
sought. Pushing aside the folds of her shawl and reaching into the
pocket of her gown, she withdrew the stone box and placed it in
Laisren’s hand.

“Ah.”

At Laisren’s soft exclamation Calia felt a
clear vibration of the Power, subtle but strong.

Laisren’s right index finger moved as Ultan’s
finger had done, along the invisible line and suddenly the lid
appeared separate from the box. Still holding the box in the palm
of one hand, Laisren lifted the lid and passed it to Sundaria, who
came forward to receive it.

Laisren took out the folded parchment that
Calia herself had placed into the box. Then she removed the silver
casket.

Calia heard Durand’s sharp intake of breath.
She saw Sundaria look at Durand and smile.

“So, Ultan knows,” Laisren murmured. “Or, at
the very least, he guessed. Or was he the instigator?” After a
moment of silent contemplation Laisren turned her gaze upon
Calia.

“What message did Ultan speak to you, for
your own heart?” Laisren asked.

Calia stared at the mysterious silver casket.
The plain little object with its domed lid seemed to shine with an
inner light of its own.

“Answer me.” Laisren’s voice was soft, yet as
compelling as Ultan’s voice had been. Calia could not resist the
command.

“He said, ‘Never fear your Power.’“

“He spoke those same words to me just before
I left Chandelar.”

Laisren’s finger tapped the casket and the
lid flew open on tiny silver hinges. She tilted it so Calia and
Durand could see the casket was empty.

“The object for which it was made has not yet
arrived in Kerun City,” Laisren said, “though I expect it
soon.”

“
My lady.”
Durand’s voice trembled.
Calia looked at him in surprise. Until that moment she had never
seen him startled or emotionally moved.

“Yes, Durand, you are quite right,” Laisren
said. “Whatever happens you must not allow that very outspoken Lady
Elgida to depart from Kerun until I place this box into Calia’s
hands again.”

She returned the casket to the stone box and
traced her finger around it, magically sealing the opening. Calia
noted that she still held the folded letter, which she hadn’t yet
read.

“My lady,” Durand said, “you most certainly
know what my present mission here is. If Domini Gundiac dies, the
tribes of the Dominion will present a greater threat to Sapaudia
than that country has ever before faced.”

“First, the tribes will fight each other,”
Laisren said, “until one chieftain attains supremacy. Only then
will the Dominion attack Sapaudia. We will have years to plan and
prepare our defenses.”

“
We?”
Durand said.

“Sapaudia and Kantia together,” Laisren said
in a way that made the words into a promise. “The two countries are
old allies, after all. Perhaps, King Odet of Morenia will wish to
join us. King Henryk is his son-in-law, and those countries have
long been on friendly terms. Eventually, the Dominion will be
defeated.”

“The war you are already thinking of winning
can be avoided,” Durand said. “The terrible bloodshed and death,
and the grief of the survivors, can be prevented. All you have to
do is allow Garit and me to complete our mission.”

“Which is, precisely and narrowly stated, to
make certain of Kantia’s friendship toward Sapaudia,” Laisren
said.

“I cannot imagine that King Dyfrig will
object to peace.” Durand’s tone was wry. “He is a scholar, not a
man of war.”

“Dyfrig is more devious than you imagine. And
far more stubborn,” Laisren said. “Well, I will think on what you
have said, Durand. Perhaps I will decide to defy my father, which I
have never dared to attempt in the past. Thank you for coming to me
before you meet privately with the king.

“Now, Calia, what can I offer you as a reward
for delivering my father’s gift?”

“There is only one thing I want, Queen
Laisren.” Calia spoke quickly, almost without thinking. “Please,
release Belai and Kinen to Lady Elgida’s care. Or, if you cannot do
that, let Lord Garit take them. My brother is not likely to let
them live much longer.”

“That I cannot do without King Dyfrig’s
permission, in addition to their mother’s consent,” the queen
responded.

“Mallory will never allow Fenella to give her
consent,” Calia said. “He won’t give up his control of those boys.
They are his key to Kinath.”

“Do you really want them?” Laisren asked.

“Lady Elgida wants them,” Calia said.

“I am not overly fond of them. They are badly
behaved at the best of times.” Laisren looked hard at Calia, and
Calia thought she was giving serious consideration to the idea.

Before Laisren could speak again a
maidservant interrupted them, entering the little room after only a
cursory knock on the door.

“My lady, King Dyfrig sends word that he will
meet you in private, immediately. In your bedchamber, my lady.”

“Tell my lord that I will welcome him gladly,
as I always do,” Laisren said with a grimace that told Calia the
king was far from welcome in her bed. To Calia and Durand she
added, “You must leave at once lest the king find you here.”

“My lady,” Calia began.

“I will do what I can. Sundaria, see these
friends to the palace gates. I won’t need you again this night, but
come to me early in the morning.”

“Yes, my lady.”

“Calia,” Garit told her, exasperated, “you
ought not to be alone in a bedchamber with two men so late at
night.”

“What you really mean,” Calia responded, “is
that you want me to go away so you can speak freely with Durand.
You don’t want to hear my opinion of Queen Laisren.”

“Since Durand was with you, he can tell me
what was said.”

“Let her stay,” Durand said. “Calia is
observant. She will have noticed feminine details that I, as a man,
may have missed.”

The three of them were in Durand’s chamber.
He waved a hand to indicate a bench pulled up to a table where a
jug of wine and some cups were placed. At Durand’s gesture Calia
immediately sat down before Garit could protest further. She
listened in silence while Durand described their meeting with the
queen.

“Have you anything to add?” Durand asked her
when he was finished.

“Several things. First, Queen Laisren and
Lady Sundaria are very close friends. I give Sundaria that title
because it’s plain to see she is not a mere servant. When she
summoned us to meet the queen, she mentioned that she is from
Chandelar.”

“When noble or royal marriages are made,”
Garit informed her, “the brides are always permitted an entourage
of their dearest friends, sometimes a childhood nurse or teacher,
perhaps some familiar servants. It’s done to ease the change from
the old home to the new, and it is particularly useful for a queen,
who is expected to transfer her loyalty from her native country to
a land that’s foreign to her. So, it’s not surprising that Laisren
has Chandelari attendants, nor is it strange if she depends upon
them. The Kantian court is a difficult place no matter who is king.
My grandmother could tell you so, and no doubt has, many
times.”

“Thank you for that lesson, Lord Garit,”
Calia said with mock humility. “I am certain it will prove
useful.”

Garit looked annoyed at her response. He
opened his mouth to reply, but it was Durand who spoke next.

“If you are suggesting that Laisren is more
loyal to her native land than to Kantia,” he said, “I can assure
you that’s not the case. Ever since she wed Dyfrig she has worked
unceasingly for peace with Chandelar. While Dyfrig was Prince of
the Northern Border, he allowed his men to carry out frequent and
extremely damaging raids against Chandelar. That land is so far
north and the winters there are so cold and icy and so very long,
that the loss of a single farming household, or the lack of food
from two or three fields, can make the difference between famine or
survival in large areas. The royal marriage was arranged in part to
stop the violent destruction of the farmlands just north of the
border, which is the most productive land in Chandelar. Dyfrig has
kept to his oath given in the marriage contract. For the most part,
the raids have ended.”

“‘For the most part,’“ Calia repeated. “Does
that mean not all of Dyfrig’s nobles adhere to their king’s sworn
word?”

“The border is a lawless place,” Garit
said.

“Is Mallory one of the raiders?” Calia
asked.

“He may have sent men to the border,” Durand
answered. “We have no proof. Mallory is cautious where his own
interests are concerned. What else did you notice while we were
with the queen?”

“That she doesn’t much care for her most
intimate marital duties.” Calia could feel her cheeks flushing when
Garit stared at her, but she stared back, refusing to alter her
assessment of the queen’s feelings. “She doesn’t. I am certain of
it.”

“I noticed, too,” Durand said. “I’ve seen her
reacting to Dyfrig in similar ways during previous visits to court.
Anything more?”

“She is deeply worried about the king’s
safety. I watched her closely while we were in the audience hall
and I believe she knows there is a certain group of Dyfrig’s nobles
who cannot be trusted.”

“Yes.” Durand nodded his agreement. “You are
perceptive, Calia. What else?”“

“She loves and respects her father.”

“She does.”

“And, finally, she intends to return that
stone box to me. I have a dreadful presentiment that she will
expect me to travel back to Tannaris and there hand over the box to
the Great Mage Ultan.”

“Do you think so?” Durand used the bland,
uninformative voice and facial expression that Calia was beginning
to recognize and dislike.

“You heard her say so,” she told him.
“Therefore, Durand, I insist that you and Garit explain to me the
true nature of your mission to Kantia. After you have done so to my
satisfaction, you may reveal what belongs in that little silver
casket. What is important enough to require a secret delivery and
not the usual method of transporting letters or packages between
Tannaris and Kerun City?”

“Calia, I would rather you weren’t involved
in this,” Garit began.

“I am involved,” she interrupted him. “Lady
Elgida involved me when she insisted that I accompany her on this
journey. Ultan involved me when he entrusted me with the box and
ordered me to deliver it to Laisren. Worst of all, Mallory involved
me when he admitted he intends to hold Kinath Castle as his own.
That piece of knowledge made me responsible for the lives of your
little brothers and of Lady Elgida. I deserve to know what you are
doing.”

“She’s right,” Durand said. “What’s more, she
can be a greater help to us if she has the same information we’ve
been given.”

“I’d prefer that you not tell her,” Garit
said.

“Why not?” Calia asked. “Because Mallory is
my brother? Or because I didn’t defy your grandmother’s order and
tell you about that relationship immediately?”

“Because you lied to me,” Garit said, glaring
at her. “How can we trust you with King Henryk’s secrets?”

“And you never lie?” Calia glared right back
at him.

“We are wasting time,” Durand said. “King
Henryk instructed me to use my own discretion, as I have always
done in the past. I trust Calia.

“Our mission here is just what you have
already guessed,” Durand continued, speaking to Calia. “Because of
the unrest in the Dominion, King Henryk wants to be assured that
Kantia will remain the same dependable ally it was during the reign
of King Audemer. Dyfrig is an unknown quantity; he’s seen as weak
and changeable, rather than strong. He is too easily swayed by
those he considers his friends. Worse, he hasn’t established full
control over his nobles.”

“Lady Elgida cannot have helped your cause
with her demands about her grandsons,” Calia said. “Dyfrig probably
doesn’t want to irritate Mallory. Have you considered the
possibility that Dyfrig may need Mallory’s corrupt Power as a means
of holding on to his throne?”

“If that’s so,” Garit said, “then Dyfrig is
in danger, too. At some point Mallory will want to rule Kantia in
his own name, just as his father once planned to rule
Sapaudia.”

“And all of this is what you two were sent to
Kantia to prevent?” Calia asked.

“Yes.” Garit made the admission with a sigh
of reluctance, but apparently he had decided to take Durand’s
advice not to withhold anything from her. “My grandmother’s
insistence on rescuing my little brothers provided a perfect excuse
for me to come to Kantia openly, instead of in secret. Our stop at
Kinath Castle offered an opportunity to learn more about Mallory’s
intentions. Anders and Mairne worked together there and they
learned quite a bit from the servants and the stable hands. As for
Durand, no one will question his presence in Kerun City, since he
frequently comes here to visit his sister.”