Quest for the Moon Orb: Orbs of Rathira (13 page)

“I intend to,” Marene replied, omitting the fact that she had already discussed it with King Rhobar.  “However, since you will accompany the men on this journey, I thought I would attempt to appeal to your sense of decency.”

“My sense of decency?” Karma asked with more than a little amusement.  She shook her head.  “Marene, let’s be clear.  I have nothing to do with the decisions as to who goes on this journey, and who does not.  Also, Kapia’s guardianship, or lack thereof, is most certainly not my business, therefore, I will not engage in a discussion about it.”

Marene’s face turned bright red, a most unbecoming color for her, Karma thought.

“Now,” Karma continued, “if you will excuse me, I really must not keep King Rhobar waiting any longer.”  Karma turned and walked out to the balcony to wake Nikura, leaving Marene standing in the middle of the room.  When she returned Marene was gone, much to her relief.

“Let’s go, Nikura.  As much as I enjoy making Marene angry, I do not want to do the same with King Rhobar.

“You are most wise, Lady Techu,”
Nikura said.

Karma snorted in a very unladylike manner as she opened the door and led the way out into the hall.

***

Marene hurried away from Lady Techu’s quarters, too angry to keep to her usual indolent pace.  First King Rhobar had refused her request to accompany Kapia on the upcoming Orb Quest, then Kapia had refused to assist her in meeting with Zakiel, and then Lady Techu had...had...well, she wasn’t exactly sure what sin to lay at her feet.  She knew only that since the off-worlder’s arrival, things had not been going her way.  This entire journey was simply ridiculous!  She hadn’t even been told about it until that very morning and they were leaving in less than two days.  She didn’t have time to do anything other than try to get herself included as Kapia’s companion.  It was her only option, and so far, she was hitting dead ends at every turn.

She had to be included on this quest.  Not that she cared about the search for the orbs.  She knew there was some importance to it, but that mattered very little to her.  No, what was truly important was the expression on Prince Zakiel’s face whenever he looked at the off-worlder.  She’d known him her entire life and never had she seen such a disgusting display of infatuation on the face of a grown man.  For an off-worlder, no less!

From all she could tell, the off-worlder had no interest in Zakiel at all, which was a relief of sorts.  Nevertheless, she could not allow the two of them to go traipsing across the country on their own.  She had too much at stake to allow her plans to be so easily endangered.  But what was she to do?  King Rhobar had refused her, and Kapia was proving to be more useless than usual.

She simply had to talk to Zakiel.  Now more than ever.  Since no one would help her, she was going to have to side-step the usual channels.  She would go directly to Zakiel herself.  She would explain to him that Princess Kapia’s reputation must be protected at all costs, and he would forgive her breach of propriety when he understood her concern for his sister.  He would believe that she had done it for the most selfless of motives. 

Her mind made up, she wondered where the Prince would be at this time of day.  A moment later she remembered hearing him tell King Rhobar that he intended to go to the library after mid-day.  She turned around and hurried back through the palace.  As she reached the bottom of the stairs leading to the library level, she saw Sir Bredon speaking with one of the palace guards in the corridor.  Marene barely spared him a glance as she approached, until he stepped in between herself and the library door.

“Greetings, Cousin Marene,” he said, his voice polite enough, though his green eyes were cool. 

Marene stared at him for a moment, wondering what Kapia saw in the man.  She was fully aware that the girl had some silly interest in him, but she’d never been able to understand it.  He was handsome enough, she supposed, with his red hair and green eyes, and he was a knight.  But he would never rise higher than that.  Just as her own father had never been able to rise above the same rank, close confidant of the king or not. 

Even though Kapia had the personality of a rock, she was a
Princess
.  She could have her pick of men with little to no effort while she, beautiful, intelligent and wealthy as she was, had to struggle and fight to marry her way into a higher rank.  And she would succeed, too.  One day she would be Queen Marene of Isiben, while Kapia would likely marry down to a knight.  Well, she’d always known Kapia to be a fool.

“Greetings, Cousin Bredon,” she replied, her tone far less polite than Bredon’s had been.  “Please step aside.  I wish to speak with Prince Zakiel.”

Bredon ignored her rudeness.  He was accustomed to that.  It was her intention itself that surprised him.

“Prince Zakiel is alone in the library,” he said carefully.

“I am not a child and do not need to be chaperoned,” she snapped.  “Nor do I need to be reminded of what is proper and what is not.  Please stand aside.”

Sir Bredon shrugged and stepped aside.  “As you wish,” he said, waving a hand toward the door.  Marene waited, expecting him to open it for her, but he turned and resumed his conversation with the guard.  Gritting her teeth angrily she opened the door herself and stormed into the library.

“Hara Marene,” Zakiel said, as she marched up to the table where he was working. 

 “I wish to discuss your sister,” she said abruptly, knowing that her anger was too apparent, but unable to hide it.  Hopefully the Prince would believe her emotions were due to worry over Kapia. 

“What about her?” Zakiel asked.

“She has grown most impertinent, Highness.  I am certain it is the influence of that...that...off-worlder.  I have spoken with King Rhobar concerning the need for Princess Kapia to have a guardian on this ridiculous journey you are planning, and he has refused me.  I cannot imagine what must be going through his mind to disregard his only daughter’s safety.  I even attempted to speak with the off-worlder on the matter, but she is incapable of understanding our culture and the importance of the Princess’s reputation.”

Prince Zakiel’s eyes narrowed.  “What is it that you want from me, Marene?”

“You must order your sister and the off-worlder apart from one another, Highness.  And it is most important that you overrule King Rhobar’s decision and allow me to act as Kapia’s guardian on this journey you are so set on making.”

“Must I, really?” Prince Zakiel asked calmly, wondering when Marene had become so sure of herself that she felt it acceptable to give him orders. 

“Yes, you must, really,” Marene replied sharply.  She took a deep breath to calm herself.  “You cannot ignore the danger to your sister, Highness.  For her to travel alone for who knows how long in company with so many men without supervision is unseemly at the least.  Apparently I am the only one to take this matter seriously.”

Zakiel put his writing brush down and leaned back in his chair, struggling to keep his temper in check in spite of Marene’s insults. 

“To begin, Hara Marene, it was
my
decision to refuse your request to accompany Kapia, not my father’s,” he said.  “I will act as guardian to Kapia, and I trust that no one will doubt that I am capable of looking after my sister.”

The icy anger in Zakiel’s eyes made Marene swallow hard.  She could only nod in agreement, not daring to speak as she realized how foolish it had been to begin this without checking her temper first.  She had never seen him so coldly furious with her.

“Second, Princess Kapia’s
impertinence
toward you is her prerogative.  She will be of age in a few short weeks, so even if I wanted to alter her behavior, it would do little good and be of short duration.  Third, Lady Techu’s rank is such that she is not subject to anyone’s orders.  Not King Rhobar’s, not mine, and most certainly not yours. 

“Therefore, I will not act as you
suggest
.  I will, however, warn you against making such
suggestions
to me in future, particularly as they apply to countermanding King Rhobar’s orders.  I will not be so lenient again, and treason is, as you know, punishable by death.”

“Treason?” Marene whispered, her mouth going dry.

“Attempting to undermine the orders of the king?  Yes, treason,” Prince Zakiel replied.  “Which reminds me, why did you tell me that nonsense about my Father bribing Lady Techu to remain on Rathira?”

“It was not nonsense,” Marene replied evenly, though inside she was quaking.  How had he found out?  Zakiel and the King never discussed the off-worlders because it always ended in arguments between them.  Why was everything going wrong for her now? 

“False accusations against the king.  Again, treason,” Prince Zakiel said softly, watching carefully as Marene’s face paled, then flushed red.  He nodded, satisfied she was guilty. 

“You are dismissed,” he said coldly.

Marene watched as Zakiel picked up his writing brush and returned to his work.  The fear that had swept through her quickly transformed into fury at his dismissal.  She turned her back on him and crossed the library toward the door, her mind in turmoil. 

What was she to do now? she wondered.  It was clear that she was not going to be allowed to join the Orb Quest as Kapia’s companion.  She had to come up with another idea and she had very little time to do it in.  But what? 

Her wealth had always given her power over those around her, with the sole exception of the royal family.  She’d found ways around that.  She’d used Kapia for years by bullying and intimidation, and had, to some extent, been able to control Zakiel through his sister.  If the little brat weren’t so enamored of Lady Techu, it would take but a moment to convince her to insist her only friend, Marene, must accompany her.  But that course was closed to her now.

Was there no one else she could blackmail, bully, bribe or cajole into doing her bidding?  No, she was forced to conclude, there wasn’t.  Only knights and servants were going, and none of them would willingly help her.  It all came down to power, and she had none. 

She stopped mid-step in the center of the library as a thought exploded in her mind.  Could she do it?  Did she dare?  If she were found out, all of her plans and dreams would be for nothing.  An image of
her
Prince in the arms of the off-world upstart decided her.  Yes, she dared. 

She’d been approached several times, so she was fully aware of the initiation procedure, and the requirements.  A sacrifice would have to be made.  Her lip curled in distaste.  It was one reason she’d decline the invitations before.  Now however, she’d do what she had to do.  But she wouldn’t be a fool about it.  She would do this, but she would do it on her terms only.

Marene resumed walking, deep in thought as she opened the library door and entered the corridor.  She completely ignored both Sir Bredon and the guard until she reached the foot of the stairs.  She looked up, her eyes falling on Sir Bredon.  She had only two more days before the Orb Quest began.  She had no time to waste, and he would do as well as any. 

Marene’s foot slipped off the edge of the third step and she fell heavily onto the marble stairs with an involuntary yelp of pain.  She heard the sound of running footsteps approaching, but thankfully the pain of her fall helped her to hide her true feelings.

“Hara Marene, are you all right?” Sir Bredon asked as he reached down to help her from the floor.

“I do not know,” Marene replied with a gasp as she tried to put her weight on her right foot.  “I think I sprained my ankle.”

“Shall I call for a physician?” Sir Bredon asked.

“No, that is not necessary,” Marene replied.  “I would be most grateful if you would assist me to my quarters though.”

Sir Bredon’s reluctance was obvious, but he could see no good reason to refuse her.  “Certainly, Hara Marene, I would be pleased to aid you.  But are you certain you should attempt to walk?”

“Sir Bredon, in spite of what you may think of me, I have no desire to make a spectacle of myself,” she said in a low voice.  “Once I am in the privacy of my own rooms, I will summon a physician if necessary.”

Sir Bredon’s expression of surprise was hardly flattering, but she didn’t care.  All that mattered was that he assist her to her rooms.

“I understand, Hara Marene,” Sir Bredon.  “Lean on me as much as you can, and we will get there.”

Marene smiled her thanks, keeping her eyes on the floor to hide her immense satisfaction.

Chapter 7

For the third time, Karma entered King Rhobar’s sitting room with Nikura and closed the door behind her.  She saw him standing before the same tapestry as before, so she crossed the room to stand beside him.  She stared up at the tapestry, her eyes drawn to the giant red and blue bird.

“Greetings, Lady Techu,” King Rhobar said as he continued to stare at the tapestry. 

“Greetings, King Rhobar,” Karma replied.  “Thank you for agreeing to see me this afternoon.”

“There is no need to thank me,” King Rhobar said, tearing his eyes from the tapestry and turning toward Karma.  “Techu Samyi indicated that I should tell you of the Vatra, but I confess that with everything else that’s been happening these last few days, I had forgotten.  I’m glad you reminded me.  Come, let’s take a walk in my private garden and I will tell you that which you need to know.”