Flame Thrower (23 page)

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Gareth, the Crown Prince of Folkyn nervously paced in the great hall while King Irfan kept them all waiting. He’d been called away and now they stood about lingering until his return from whatever it was he had been doing, probably gambling. This moment called for urgency, yet his Father dallied, raising his agitation. Two months of no word regarding his sister and now word arrived that she’d been found.

Found!

Gareth silently fumed with a mixture of anger and guilt while he paced the hall. There were few in attendance, his fiancée and a few others, but not many. This made the great hall seem more spacious than normal. It also didn’t help that the dark coloring of the slate used in its construction wasn’t lighting his bleak mood at the moment.

The guilt ate away at his ability to think, feel or care about anything else. Based on what the messenger today told him, she’d been discarded like a rag doll and found in Yorath, a fortnight’s ride from here.

“Shite,” Gareth swore. He ran his fingers through his curly black hair for the hundredth time out of agitation. The attention sent the mass into wild disarray giving him a crazed appearance.

“Darling, please relax.” The Duchess of Tulkendy looked up from her reading in an attempt to comfort him. “Why do you fret so? You should be rejoicing with this news, dearest.” She waved her hand to indicate his appearance. “Your attitude and the way you are behaving give the appearance you had something to do with her disappearance.” Gareth’s fierce glare had Siani cringing back in confusion. “What did I say?”

“Nothing. Just go back to reading, Siani,” Gareth sneered heavily before he turned away to rudely walk farther away from her. The sound of his footsteps echoed in the cavernous hall, adding to his feeling of isolation. The guilt continued to gnaw and the last thing he wanted was to deal with Siani.

How could he have done this to Tillian? His beloved and cherished little sister. It burned a hole in his heart that he was forced by obligation to desert her to pain and torment. By his actions, he’d left her in Akland’s hands to abuse however he pleased. What did this make him? A monster? A rapist? Maybe a murderer? Gareth looked quickly at the sealed note and his gut tightened yet again.

This act could never be rectified or made right. He expected that no amount of apology would ever earn her forgiveness; hell, he didn’t deserve it. He abandoned her and the terror in her eyes when she watched him leave still haunted him daily. He only could imagine what she’d been thinking since, considering he’d not come to her rescue either. He prayed she wasn’t too badly injured and dreaded the contents of this letter that arrived from Yorath. Like a block of ice in his gut, he feared the contents were King Ryan sending word she was dead. Gareth ran his hand through his hair yet again and cursed aloud for the hundredth time, “Shite!”

Siani watched from her cushioned chair up on the throne. Gareth’s normally calm character was in a state of churning anxiety, and it was very disconcerting. “Didn’t you read the note?” Siani attempted to draw her fiancé out of his stupor, but when he didn’t reply, she lost her patience. “Gareth, you are acting very odd. Why don’t we just read it now and ease your suffering?”

Gareth sneered dangerously at his fiancée. A wicked smile curved his sensual lips when he thought about how furious Tillian would become when she learned their Father had forced Gareth to wed Siani. Tillian absolutely hated her.
Tillian.
His smile faded and replaced with a grimace, for just thinking of her made his heart ache painfully. The feeling of guilt overwhelmed him again for what he’d done to his own sister. A shuffling sound of fabric drew his attention back to Siani and watched her approach. He felt such revulsion for her that he had to swallow his bitter laugh and did his best to ignore her.

For years now, the Duchess Siani chased after Gareth and, up to this point, she was effectively warded off by his younger sister. Tillian couldn’t tolerate Siani’s nasally voice and snorting laughter and presented a barrier to her brother by blocking her advances. He recalled the humor shared between them when Tillian used to imitate Siani, pointing out all her flaws and weaknesses in a dramatic fashion. Gareth missed those moments. He also missed how Tillian would play a game of picking out stronger and more forceful woman to be his wife instead. That game typically occupied their conversations at parties, but their most favored game together was playing ‘dodging Siani’. With a dark glance, he eyed Siani from head-to-toe and snorted. Now he would have to marry her.

Siani was wealthy and arrogant, something which caught his Father’s attention. Ever since Irfan had lost a significant amount of coin through gambling he’d resorted to selling his own flesh and blood. The money Duchess Siani brought with her dowry was too much to pass up. King Irfan saw this obnoxious woman as his next opportunity to dig himself out of the hole he’d made and forced Gareth to do the second most unthinkable act-he was forced to propose to her.

Duchess Siani of Tulkendy would be the next Queen of Folkyn. That was a very sobering and nauseating thought, but one Gareth had no say in. His Father was determined and there was no persuading him otherwise.
Queen Siani
, thought to himself.
Gods, that even sounds wrong.

Siani continued to approach ignoring his dark demeanor. Gareth clenched his teeth when she neared, but bit back his annoyance before he turned to face her. He couldn’t hide the displeasure on his face, however, but she didn’t back down.
Maybe she had a backbone after all?

“Gareth, your attitude is rude. What did the bloody note say?” she demanded in that awful nasally voice that made his skin crawl.

He lost whatever patience remained and yelled. “Silence, Siani! Do you think I go around and open letters addressed to the King of Folkyn? It wasn’t addressed to Crown Prince Gareth, therefore I have no knowledge of what it contains. For once, do you think you could show some patience?”

His outburst annoyed her, but it was his accusation that hurt her. She didn’t feel that of the two of them, she was being the impatient one. “My apologies, Gareth. I thought you had read it and the contents were the cause of your distress.” Siani motioned and a servant approached with more wine. She indicated his empty goblet on the table and said, “Have some more refreshment to calm your nerves.”

Gareth realized his words were harsher than was proper and said, “My apologies.” The words were like acid on his tongue. “I’m very worried about my sister. She’s been missing for so long that I’m impatient for news.” He cast a nervous glance at the letter which remained on the silver tray near the fire. The paper the envelope was made from seemed to pulse with a life of its own when the firelight reflected off the iridescent material. “I just hope she’s well,” Gareth whispered more to himself.

“How do you know it is about her if you’ve not opened it?” The Duchess asked confused. If he hadn’t opened it, as she’d assumed, then why was he so agitated?

“The messenger that arrived from Yorath divulged the topic while he got settled to wait for a response. It’s about Tillian, but I know not what else.” Gareth paced away from Siani and circled the table where the note rested. He dragged his fingers over the sealed letter wishing for once he had magic to see within the folded paper. “His order was to wait for a response.” Gareth sighed loudly then continued, “Whatever that could mean.”
Could it be that Ryan was asking for instructions on what to do with her body?
He thought .
Could she be dead?

Gareth again growled at that thought and pulled his hand back from the letter. He wasn’t sure how he would react if he heard he had participated in his beloved sister’s death. She was the only person who ever saw anything good in him. Tillian had a way to look past all the evil things their Father had him do and see what lay beneath. She was the only one who cared. With snort he realized he was wrong in that assessment. There was Siani. She felt he could do no wrong. Gareth snickered suddenly causing his fiancée to flinch.
If she only knew.

Before Siani could question his reaction, King Irfan strode dramatically into the great hall, catching Gareth’s eye. Irfan noted where his son stood and snarled in annoyance. He stood near the note with a look of guilt on his face and Irfan decided to council his son later on the importance of hiding one’s emotions better.

Right now, he needed to deal with this message and would take care of his son’s training later. Irfan flung his cape to the side and sat on his ornate throne. It was dramatic and arrogant. He then pinned his son with a darkening gaze and demanded, “What’s this I hear of a message from Yorath?” Before Siani or the others could get settled to hear the news, he waved his hand. “You are all dismissed…except Gareth.”

Gareth watched in flat interest when his fiancée flinched and then sulked away with a hurt look directed at him. He knew she resented the fact he had not even defended her right to remain. He turned back to his Father, ignoring her accusation and said in a flat tone, “It arrived an hour ago. The messenger from Yorath is waiting for a response. I’ve sent him to the kitchen while you had time to read the contents.” Out of the corner of his eye, he watched Siani’s back when she departed. It was a great relief that she was sent away.

Once alone, Irfan finally spoke freely. “Really? Now why would King Ryan be writing to me? It is no secret he holds no love for my affection.”

Gareth paled. “The messenger said it was regarding Tillian.”

“Oh? I wonder what my wayward daughter is up to now.” Irfan snapped his fingers and held out his hand while he waited for Gareth to retrieve the message. Irfan immediately tore into the delicate paper and quietly read while his face became flushed with anger.

“Very interesting,” he whispered, reading the message again. “Very interesting indeed,” he then crushed the paper in his fist and threw it with force into the fire. The motion sent small embers to alight and drift upward in the draft of air from the chimney.

Gareth lunged after the wad of paper and pulled his hand back from the flames before he was burned. “Wait!” He’d not been able to read what it said! “Why did you do that?” he challenged.

“You forget your place, son.” Irfan’s voice vibrated with warning.

Gareth continued to watch the ball of paper glow red while it burned into ash. “What news of my sister?” Gareth sealed his heart for what he would hear next. He really couldn’t take the news if it was of her death.

“The whore got married,” Irfan roared. “She married the bloody Flame Thrower.”

That was definitely not what Gareth expected and he squatted back on his heels to stare at the crimson ball of paper as it charred. A bewildered look on his face made him look an imbecile. When the shock wore off, he turned to his Father with a guarded expression, seeing the coldness that radiated from his Father’s anger.

Married? Good for her.
Gareth silently cheered his sister’s good fortune. He would never allow his Father to see his elation that Tillian had survived and not only survived, became Queen of Yorath. Irfan had not ruined her after all. “Married? How? When?”

“She was rescued three weeks ago, or should I say ‘found’ within King Ryan’s hunting grounds.” He swore under his breath. “It was sloppy of Akland. He should have returned her to the castle, curse him!”

“Father, please tell me the rest,” Gareth begged.

“Ryan found her himself and according to this note, they fell immediately in love,” Irfan said with mock sincerity and sweetness. “She was a useless daughter, which was proven by the pathetic amount of coin I received for her attention. I believe this statement of love much as I find it unbelievable that Ryan would marry her.”

“How? King Ryan holds no agreement to do this,” Gareth whispered, worried this could turn very quickly. Marriage amongst royals needed to be documented, agreed to and notarized.

“Very true. It appears Ryan doesn’t care about protocol. He married her two days ago while this letter was in transit. The bastard actually had the nerve to apologize for my absence!” The dangerous tone in Irfan’s voice had Gareth on alert and looking once more towards the throne.

“What the hell does she think she’s doing?” Irfan growled before he turned to his son with a false tranquility that chilled Gareth’s blood. “Find a way to get her back. Find whatever law she broke and bring that whore home. Actually, while you’re at it, find a way to make Ryan compensate us for this injustice. If there is no law, break one yourself. Just get her and any payment home.”

“But Father, what if it’s legal in Yorath?” Gareth dreaded the next words.

“It will mean war. She will not insult me by this treacherous act.” When Irfan noticed his son had not moved, he hollered making Gareth flinch, “Go get my daughter!” Suddenly, Irfan found a sick humor in all of this and laughed. “What, now you suddenly have a conscience?” Irfan knew Gareth’s role in Tillian’s situation. Even if he did it out of obligation, he knew his son had a wicked streak in him that ran deep. Irfan had used that to his benefit. He thought back to all the women his son had ruined before he was forced to the arrangement with Siani and snorted with irony. No, Gareth was no saint and he definitely wasn’t a model gentleman. “So, tell me, Gareth, are you feeling guilty for abandoning your sister?”

Gareth’s feet slowed at the question from his Father. It was a taunt to unsettle him and it worked but he wouldn’t let him know it. When he replied, his voice was filled with authority and confidence, but he didn’t turn around to show his discomfort.