Keys to the Kingdom (7 page)

She had to admit that she was also falling in love with him. But it was not an admission she was ready to make out loud. For Princess Lenora was proud, and part of her still feared that he would double cross her to get what he wanted. If that happened, not only would her chances of being Queen be shattered, but so would her heart.

She was vulnerable to this prince, and that scared and exhilarated her to the core.

As she stood there, she wondered how her siblings were doing. Were they faring as well? Were they compromising? Or were they resisting the princes who sought to tame and woo them?

She'd promised Kier she would help him, and she would. She would offer advice to his brothers, but that wouldn't be enough. They'd still have to win the princesses on their own. And as Kier had seen - while it could be done - it was never easy.

Chapter Five

Fiona and Justin

Kier was correct in fearing for his brothers, even if at the moment he sought Lenora's advice the second-born prince was falling prey to the same false bravado that the eldest had abandoned.

"Face it, Princess Fiona," Justin said, his voice dripping with confidence. Resistance is an exercise in futility. Your father would have not tasked us with establishing our authority over you and your sisters did he not think we were up for the challenge. You may be clever, but you're still just females.

Fiona had a temper. All the princesses did. But along with the subtle art of manipulation she'd learned to mask her emotions entirely. Now even as she seethed, she managed to smile sweetly.

"Indeed we may just be females, but we are the gateway to all that men desire - companionship, comfort, legacy. For one seeking to guarantee that in his life you seem committed to closing the door where I am concerned."

Justin frowned. Her calm demeanor unnerved him. He preferred Fiona to show some emotion, to get angry even. If she was calm she was rational. If she was rational she was plotting. She'd already managed to play him like a fiddle when she'd set him against his own brother. He was wary of her and felt frustrated that she was refusing to be baited.

"I could make this easier for you, though, if you would care to listen," she said.

"Listen? To you?" He snorted derisively. "The last time we listened to you we ended up at one another's throats."

Fiona sighed and shook her head sadly. "That happens in families that where strength is unequal. My sisters and I are fortunate to be equally matched, even if our gifts are different. With you and your brothers there are some who are strong and some who are weak. The pecking order is constantly being challenged."

She shrugged languidly and picked up her embroidery, falling silent as she did. Justin stood and watched her, waiting for more but she just pulled the needle through the cloth. He considered her words, rolling them over in his head. He knew he should not examine them too carefully. Fiona's words had already proven dangerous. But what if....

"We are united," he said.

She looked up and gave him a smile. A slightly sympathetic smile. "Well, of
course
you are..."

"We are."

"Am I arguing?" she asked. "I have no reason to doubt you, Justin. Your father's defeat and your exile likely had nothing to do with the rumored turmoil that kept you all from rallying as one to the defense of your kingdom."

This was, of course, a complete lie. Fiona had never heard such rumors. In fact, she herself had no interest in the politics of neighboring kingdoms and knew little of Randor's troubles. But Justin did not know that.

"Rumors? What rumors?"

"Really, I'd rather not say. I would not want you to think ill of my father."

"Your father?" He stood up. "Why would I think ill of your father?"

"Do I really need to spell it out for you? He pities you princes. It's widely known that your reputations were destroyed by your inability to agree on a strategy in time to come back and aid your father. The counselors who advise my father made great talk of it. It was well known what happened, but my father is a good man and simply dismissed your weakness as folly of youth..."

"No..that's not true! Justin's face was pained. "There was no weakness. We were away! We were away on travels as ambassadors for Randor. A plea for help from our father was intercepted by enemies...."

Fiona stood, taking him by the shoulders.

"Come now," she said. "Everyone understands why you would tell such a story. After all, the truth that you let your father down is so hard to bear. I personally think your plan to concoct such an explanation should have bee more appreciated by your brothers..."

"My...? My plan?"

Fiona put her hand over her mouth. "Oh dear. I've said too much..."

She gestured to the chair. "Please, Justin. Please sit down. It will do no good for you to get angry with your brothers. I can understand especially why Kier sought to distance himself from the story when other kingdoms began to say that it was nothing more than a way for the sons of Randor to explain away their inability to rally together..."

"Kier?" He glared down at her, shaking his head now.

"Oh no. Oh no you don't," he said. "I know what you're doing, princess. And it won't work this time. Do you hear me?"

"As you wish," she said. "Were I in your shoes I'd probably blame the messenger as well. It's far easier than facing the reality of the situation."

He turned away, brooding. But she knew the damage had already been done. Justin was preoccupied now with new suspicions about his brother. Had something been said to suggest that they were to blame for King Salazar's overthrow? They did bicker from time to time, that as true. But he'd always thought they didn't disagree any more than any other group of brothers.

Justin glanced at Fiona and she looked up again to shoot him another sympathetic smile. How he hated that smile. He did not want this woman's pity; he wanted her respect. He wanted her obedience. If she thought he was an incompetent dupe of his older brother then he would never get that kind of respect.

"I need to go out for a moment." Justin walked to the door.

"Whatever for?" Fiona asked innocently.

"That is my own private matter," he replied, his voice choked with anger. Justin wanted to confront his brother immediately and find out whether what Fiona had said was true. Had Kier heard these rumors, perhaps, and sought to shift blame to him. It would make sense. As the second born he was the most direct threat to Kier.

"Would you like me to accompany you, Prince Justin?"

"No," he said hastily. "You will keep to your chamber. Is that understood."

"As you command," she said. "I know it must be s important to have someone listen to you. For once..."

He turned and walked out, slamming the door behind him. Justin was livid. He hoped he could calm down before reaching his brother, but by the time he arrived at Prince Kier's chamber he was nearly shaking with rage.

Kier opened the door to find Justin staring at him with a stormy look. His hand instinctively went to the handle of the sword at his waist.

"What's happened brother?" he asked. Kier did not know what had upset his brother so but was ready to defend him from whatever threat he faced. Justin however, already made paranoid by Fiona's manipulations, saw his brother's hand on the sword as a threat.

"Good Lord, Kier," he said in disgust. "Would you really take up arms so readily against me?"

"What on earth are you talking about?"

"It's clear you bear me no good will. I know full well what you have done. Accusing me of spreading rumors I would never have started in the first place about why we were unable to aid our father when he needed us most...."

Kier shook his head. "I know of no such thing, brother!"

"Indeed?" Justin laughed harshly and then proceeded to repeat Fiona's convoluted tale. He did not reveal the source of the information.

"That is the most ridiculous thing I've never heard!" Kier said his temper flaring. Soon both men were shouting until they heard something that made them stop.

It as Lenora's laughter.

"I hardly find anything amusing in this situation, Princess," Kier said coolly.

"That is only because you are too foolish to see it," she said.

"Hold your tongue woman," he said. "Unless you wish to find yourself over my knee."

The smile from Lenora's face disappeared. "And this is how you plan to prove that you will accept and recognize my counsel?"

Kier looked down, ashamed. "Forgive me, Lenora. You are correct. I forgot myself."

Justin stared, so surprised that he seemed for a moment to have forgotten why he had come.

"You beg forgiveness of this woman, brother? Has she bewitched you so that you've taken leave of your senses. We've been ordered to gain their submission!"

"And a fine job you're doing if you've already allowed my sister to turn you against your brother for a second time."

"What makes you think...?" Justin began.

"Not think, Prince Justin. Know. Are you going to stand before me and deny that this intelligence came from my sister?"

Justin stared at her, his look challenging. Then he dropped his eyes.

"She sounded so certain," he said.

Lenora put a hand on her shoulder. "She always does. But that is her talent. Fiona uses people like pawns. And at this moment you are just part of her game."

Justin looked from Kier to Lenora and back again. "And why are you telling me this?"

Kier put a hand on Lenora's shoulder. "Because she has decided to help us, brother. Not because she thinks she or her sisters need our leadership. Not because they are not capable. But because she recognizes that marriage between the sons of Salazar and the daughters of Elgar will ultimately be a wise and formidable alliance."

For a moment, Justin looked doubtful. Then with a resigned sigh he looked at Lenora.

"Please," he said. "Tell me what to do?"

Lenora smiled gently. She did not like having to ally with anyone against her sisters, but she was a practical girl and knew that what she was doing was in their best interests.

"Be mindful of her tactics," she said. "Be especially suspicious if she acts aloof or matter-of-fact. Fiona has mastered the art of subtlety. She can suggest things to you in a way that makes they were your idea in the first place. She delights in manipulating others, but she can't do it if you know what to look for. And when you spot it you must..."

Her voice trailed off here. She did not want to tell Justin to discipline her sister, for despite Fiona's faults Lenora loved her.

Justin reached for her hand.

"Lenora, I will not hurt her," he said, immediately understanding why she had fallen silent.

"I'd be naive to believe that," Lenora said. "Fiona is a stubborn girl. Just promise that you won't hurt her very much."

Justin smiled and squeezed her hand. Then he returned to his room, devising a plan as he went.

* * *

Justin found Fiona where she left her, sitting in the window seat working on her embroidery.

He did not speak to her when he walked in. Instead he paced the floor.

"I should have known I could not trust Kier," he said and glanced at her, noting how her eyebrow went up, how her mouth curved ever so slightly into a smile.

Subtlety. That is what Lenora had said to look for. The eldest had been right. She was delighting in all of this. Well, he thought, he could play games as well.

"Kier wouldn't admit it, of course, but I could tell by his expression that you are right. He did indeed accuse me of making excuses, and thereby besmirched my name for his own gain. I can remember in the fall he was often away, to meet with advisers he said."

He paused. "Tell me, Fiona. Did any of these men you saw your father with show up around that time?"

She put aside her embroidery and made a show of considering this. Then she turned to him, her eyes bright with fake recollection.

"As a matter of fact, it was exactly around that time. I remember because it was after the leaves had turned. In fact, I heard Kier's name mentioned among those they had seen. News of your father's death was big news."

Justin, of course, knew this to be a lie. Their father had been killed and his kingdom taken over in the spring. In the fall and winter they were all home and blissfully unaware of what was to come.

Justin began rolling up his sleeves. "And you're sure of this?"

"Yes," she said, her eyes intent on her embroidery as she pulled the threads through a picture of a peacock she was stitching. "I remember finding the conversations rather painful to hear."

"As painful as this?"

Fiona cried out in alarm as Justin unexpectedly hauled her from her window seat.

"What are you doing?" she cried as he sat down and pulled her across his lap.

"Teaching you how easily you can become trapped in your own game, my pretty princess."

Justin raised Fiona's skirts, ignoring her as she let loose with a tirade of threats and insults.

"Save your breath," he said. "No one can hear you and even if they did no one will come and save you. It is time, my dear, that you learn the price of getting caught in your own web."

Justin drew back and raised his hand, bringing it down hard on Fiona's bottom. She was naked save for a pair of lacy under things which - while affording her a bit of modesty - offered little protection against his open palm.

Fiona screamed when his hand impacted her skin. She was still sore from the last spanking and this one was being delivered with even more force.

"Unhand me!" she cried, kicking her legs and beating against the legs of the chair and even his legs with her little fists.

But Justin ignored her.

"Spoiled...SMACK!....selfish....SMACK!.....little wretch! SMACK!" he pronounced as he spanked. "All your life you've known nothing but comfort and luxury. You've never had to face loss. And yet you would strip away for your own amusement the one thing the sons of Salazar have left - their brotherhood!"

"SMACK! SMACK! SMACK! SMACK! SMACK!"