King Breaker (20 page)

Piro had to look twice to be sure it was really him. What had been a tendency to flamboyant dress on the
Wyvern’s Whelp
had become a parody on Ostron Isle. Instead of velvet, he wore a pale satin coat with ridiculously padded shoulders. His face was powdered and painted, and even his walk was different, a mince in place of the swagger of a sea-hound. From his perfumed hair to his jewelled high-heels, he was everything her brothers despised about Ostron Isle.

She glanced to Kaspian. Surely, if he was being trained to lead House Cinnamome, he knew Nefysto’s true calling.

‘Natteo.’ The comtissa beckoned Nefysto to her side, then made the formal introductions. ‘Meet Pirola Rolen Kingsdaughter.’

Nefysto’s painted black eyes laughed as he kissed her hand with an elaborate flourish.

‘Viscomtes,’ she addressed him, grateful for her mother’s lessons in protocol. ‘Natteo, how nice to finally meet you.’

‘Give an old woman time to speak with her favourite grand-nephew,’ the comtissa said. ‘Kaspian, show our guest the miniatures.’

This was Piro’s chance to ask him about his pet wyvern. He led her to the far end of the chamber, past paintings of comtes and comtissas, past silver statuettes of Affinity beasts and urns of fresh flowers.

‘House Cinnamome’s collection is the envy of the five houses.’ He gestured to a glass-fronted cabinet which contained intricately-jewelled miniatures of Affinity beasts. ‘Would you like to hold one?’

‘Do you want to save your wyvern?’

His beautiful lips parted in surprise.

‘Do you want to save him? They’re going to kill him, you know. Or don’t you care?’

‘Of course I care.’ He bristled. ‘Don’t presume to judge me. I raised him from a pup. I love Val.’ He lifted his bandaged arm. ‘I was trying to bond with him when this happened.’

Piro decided she liked Kaspian after all. ‘Good. Then we can save... what did you call him? Val?’

‘Valiant.’

It was such a typical name for a boy to choose that she smiled.

Kaspian frowned. ‘What?’

‘I can help you.’ She’d always been good with animals and since her Affinity had manifested she’d become even better. ‘Meet me on the balcony after supper.’

Chapter Sixteen

F
LORIN LEANED ON
the back of Varuska’s chair. The evening seemed interminable. She’d already counted the forest of columns holding up the great hall’s ceiling, compared the painted gilt-edged carvings and worked out how many repetitions there were per column. She glanced to Amil, who was standing behind Cobalt’s chair. How did he fend off boredom?

Would that minstrel never stop singing?

She didn’t understand why Cobalt wanted to hold another feast. After all, how many feasts did it take to legitimise his rule?

Cobalt had recognised the new lord of Steadford Estate, and awarded another markiz title, ensuring the merchant’s loyalty. The new markiz had hired a minstrel to compose a song of praise in Cobalt’s honour. If the minstrel was to be believed, Cobalt had saved the kingdom singlehandedly, from a cruel dictator and his arrogant sons.

The rewriting of King Rolen’s reign infuriated Florin.

She clenched her jaw and stared straight ahead. By chance, her gaze settled on a vicomtissa from one of the great merchant houses of Ostron Isle.

The Merofynian invasion had impoverished Rolencian nobles and merchants alike, but they would be rich again. The vicomtissa was deep in negotiations, arranging loans so that the nobles and merchants could restock. Florin found it fascinating to watch a woman who looked like someone’s elderly aunt drive hard men to their knees as she bargained. She had never seen lords and markizes defer to a woman before.

She’d been moving in the wrong circles.

Meanwhile, Cobalt was deep in conversation with the new markiz and the abbot, leaving Varuska to her own devices.

The girl tugged on Florin’s arm. ‘Can I go now?’

Florin glanced around. No one appeared to be listening to the minstrel. The feasters chattered on, their tongues loosened by rich red wine. There was so much smoke from the many scented candles that Florin doubted if the people at the far end could even
see
the rest of the royal table. Would anyone notice if they left?

She tapped Amil’s shoulder. ‘Piro is tired. I’ll escort her up to bed.’

He leaned forward to whisper to Cobalt, who bid Varuska a fond good night. Turning back to his companions, he made a comment about her sleeping now because she wouldn’t get much once they were married. This roused the kind of vile male laughter that made Florin want to punch someone.

Varuska glanced to Florin. Clearly, the thought of marrying Cobalt terrified her.

Florin helped the girl to her feet. ‘Hide your true feelings.’

Varuska nodded. Florin had seen that pinched expression on other women’s faces. For every woman who single-handedly ran a castle or merchant house, there were a dozen men ready to teach her her place. Florin grimaced. Back when she served alongside Byren’s honour guard, she’d had trouble with Winterfall. On more than one occasion, he’d tried to slide his hands into places they didn’t belong, and when she’d made it clear she wasn’t interested, he’d turned nasty.

While the guests chattered on oblivious, Florin led Varuska down to the end of the table.

They’d just reached the steps of the royal dais, when Varuska hesitated. ‘I can’t do this, Leif. The thought of his hands on me—’

‘Piro Rolen Kingsdaughter,’ an old woman called as she hobbled towards them. Her white hair was bound up in a bun and she wore a widow’s gown.

Florin felt Varuska tremble with fear.

‘Just as I thought.’ The old woman looked Varuska up and down, her top lip curling with contempt. ‘This girl is not Piro.’ She gestured to the guests on the royal dais, inviting them to look. ‘Are you all blind?’

The closest guests had fallen silent, but others further back chattered on.

‘I held Piro when she was born.’ The aged voice cracked with emotion. ‘I saw her take her first step. I loved her as my own...’

‘Seela?’ Florin hadn’t seen Byren’s old nurse since she’d left the hidden mountain camp. Seela had aged so much that Florin barely recognised her.

‘Who?’ Varuska breathed.

‘Piro’s old nurse,’ Florin whispered. ‘She came from Merofynia with Queen Myrella.’

Varuska tried to take a step back, but Florin stopped her.

‘Are you blind?’ Seela repeated, voice carrying.

The musicians missed the beat and the singer faltered before falling silent. Everyone turned to look at Varuska and Florin, and the frail old woman who confronted them.

‘What is this?’ Cobalt asked, rising to his feet.

‘If you admit the truth, we’re both dead,’ Florin whispered in Varuska’s ear. ‘Go hug Seela. Claim her sight is going. She’s gotten so frail and thin, perhaps it has. You—’

‘What’s going on?’ Cobalt demanded.

Florin glanced over her shoulder. Amil was already moving. She prodded Varuska.

‘S-Seela? Is that you?’ The girl’s hesitation sounded natural, although Florin knew it sprang from terror. ‘You’ve grown so thin, I hardly knew you.’

The old woman blinked, shocked.

‘Run to her,’ Florin urged. ‘Piro is impetuous.’

Lifting her skirts, Varuska ran down the three steps and across the floor, to throw her arms around Piro’s old nurse.

By the time Florin reached them, Seela had pulled out of the embrace. She drew breath to speak, then recognised Florin and a flash of understanding passed over the old nurse’s face. Her manner changed instantly.

She caught Varuska’s face in her hands. ‘Is it really you?’ Seela searched the imposter’s face. ‘It
is
you. My dear, sweet Piro.’ The nurse pulled her into another hug. ‘They told you me you were dead, but I never believed it. Never!’

Varuska wept with relief.

‘Ah, Seela,’ Cobalt said, striding over to join them. ‘I did not recognise you at first.’ He gave her a hard look, his black eyes glittering as his hand settled possessively on Varuska’s shoulder. ‘See how our little Piro has grown. We are to be wed—’ He broke off, then smiled, although it never reached his eyes. ‘You are all the family she has left. Now that you are here, why wait for midsummer? We will marry on the first day of summer.’

Florin saw Varuska’s mouth open in dismay.

‘How exciting!’ Seela said quickly. ‘Everyone loves a wedding, especially a royal wedding. But it’s customary for girls to wait until they are fifteen to marry.’

‘Customary, but not obligatory,’ Cobalt said smoothly. ‘And we need to unite Rolencia. I’ve already spoken with Abbot Firefox. He’ll give us special dispensation. He understands that our marriage will heal the kingdom and herald a new age of peace and prosperity.’

‘In that case...’ Seela slid her arm around Varuska’s shoulders, drawing her away from Cobalt. ‘Come, child, let’s go find your mother’s wedding gown. We must see if it needs altering.’ She gave Cobalt the quick obeisance of an old retainer. ‘With your permission.’

‘Yes, go.’ But first he planted an affectionate kiss on Varuska’s cheek.

The girl went white at his touch and Seela swept her off.

As Florin went to follow, Cobalt caught her arm. ‘Watch the old woman. She may just want her cosy life back, but I don’t trust her. Report to Amil.’

Florin nodded. Contempt filled her. She would never sell out her friends for the favour of a powerful man. She caught up with Varuska and Seela, who maintained a stream of inconsequential chatter as they headed up the steps to Piro’s chambers, where the guard nodded and opened the door for them.

Once inside, Seela lifted a finger to her lips, still rattling on. ‘Now, let me hear you play your dolcimela, Piro. Have you been keeping up your lessons?’ She removed the stringed instrument from a chest and, after checking that it was in tune, began to play a child’s nursery song.

Under cover of the music, she beckoned Varuska and Florin to the window seat.

‘Well, Florin?’ Seela’s face might be seamed with age, but her mind was sharp as ever. Her fingers did not miss a note.

‘Florin?’ Varuska repeated. She glanced from Florin to the old nurse. ‘How does a mountain girl know the royal nurse? How did you know that Piro was impetuous? What lies have you told me,
Leif
?’

Florin marshalled her thoughts and began to explain. Telling how she came to be serving the false Piro meant revealing her plan to assassinate Cobalt. She would have to somehow assure Varuska that she would not be harmed.

‘You’re going to kill Cobalt?’ Varuska asked, torn between hope and terror.

‘I knew you were up to something.’ Seela nodded. ‘You’ll need my help.’

Florin felt a surge of relief. The old nurse was familiar with every twist and turn of the castle, and she’d had a lifetime’s observation of royal politics.

‘I’m not a willing imposter,’ Varuska told Seela, even though Florin had already made this clear. She plucked at the fancy gown. ‘I never wanted this. I tried to run, but—’

‘I found her and brought her back,’ Florin confirmed. ‘She wouldn’t have gotten out of the castle alive. As it was, I nearly didn’t save her sister.’

‘What?’ Varuska jumped to her feet. ‘What happened to Anatoley?’

‘Nothing. Your sister’s safe, she escaped the castle. But I wasn’t quick enough to save old Mirona. Cobalt’s men got to her first. Death is the best way to ensure silence. That’s why you must tread carefully, Varuska. Our lives depend on you.’

The girl lifted her fingers to her mouth. ‘I can’t do this. I feel sick all the time.’

‘It will be over soon.’ Seela stopped playing the dolcimela long enough to give the girl’s trembling hands a squeeze. ‘We’ll work out a plan.’

‘I’m not marrying him,’ Varuska told Florin. ‘I’m not marrying him just so you can get close enough to kill him.’

‘Would you marry him if he never made it to your bed?’ Seela asked. ‘The wedding night would be the perfect opportunity to kill him. What man doesn’t let down his guard and take wine on his wedding day?’

‘I won’t put Varuska’s life at risk,’ Florin said.

‘Knowing Cobalt, he’ll want to surround his marriage with pomp and pageantry,’ Seela said, eyes bright. ‘We could suggest the wedding take place in the town square, like King Rolen and Myrella’s. If it is held outside the castle, it’ll be easier to escape.’

Florin felt hopeful. ‘You’ll have to get cosy with the castle-keep, Seela. Yegora rules this place, and she thinks Cobalt can do no wrong.’

‘I can deal with her.’

‘Oh, and another thing,’ Florin said. ‘Cobalt’s manservant, Amil, is a corax.’

‘An assassin?’ Varuska gasped. ‘But... but he wears perfume and curls his hair.’

Florin laughed. She couldn’t help it.

Seela stopped playing and nudged Varuska. ‘Laugh. Laugh loudly. This is a happy day. We want the guard to tell Cobalt his betrothed laughed with joy while planning her wedding.’

Somehow Varuska summoned a laugh, and Florin laughed along with her. Soon Varuska’s laughter turned to sobs. Seela sent Florin to tell the guard to fetch hot water for a bath.

When Florin came back, the old nurse’s worried eyes sought her. So much rested on Varuska. If she faltered...

The girl caught them. ‘I won’t let you down.’ She wiped her flushed cheeks. ‘But I do wish I’d never come to the castle looking for work.’

‘Well, you did, so we have to make the best of it,’ Seela told her. ‘Count yourself lucky, for if we hadn’t come along, Cobalt would probably have gotten rid of you after you delivered him an heir. Many’s the woman who’s conveniently died of child-bed fever. For now, all you have to do is to play along until the wedding day.’

‘He has such sharp eyes. What if he suspects?’ Varuska objected. ‘I’m not a fair-ground player.’

‘You’re a pretty girl. Smile and act simple,’ Seela said. ‘Most men don’t look beyond a pretty girl’s face. Meanwhile, Florin and I will go unnoticed.’

Florin’s cheeks burned.

So what if men looked right through her? There had only ever been one man she’d hoped would notice her, and he’d never seen her as anything other than a useful source of information about the mountain passes.