Sea of Sighs (Empath Book 2) (21 page)

The same maid who had
bathed her earlier met her outside the council Hall. Expecting to
go back to the same plain room, and preparing herself to mock Pax’s
description of it, Quinn had been disorientated when she’d been
taken through different hallways, through the ashen courtyard, and
into a full suite of rooms.

Quinn had never seen anything like it. They
dwarfed Sammah’s rooms and made a mockery of the luxuries he
surrounded himself with. She had a view across the entire city, not
far removed from the view she had back in the room in Everfell
she’d shared with Neyv. In Farn, she was the sole occupant. Her bed
was huge, and could easily fit five people. She had her own
cupboards, rugs adorned the walls, and she had a separate room with
a tin bath just for her. The maid, Sara, had declared herself at
Quinn’s disposal. Not so long ago, Quinn had been a Sara. Now, she
was someone deserving of such a luxury, and she didn’t quite know
what to think of that.

She tried to guard her mind against it. She
didn’t want to be bought, and Pax had said as much that they were
trying to do that. They must know what growing up in Everfell would
have been like, especially with Sammah, and it would be quite easy
to counteract that hardship.

Her door opened. Quinn turned, expecting to
see Sara, so her heart leapt into her throat, tears springing to
her eyes, when Maertn sauntered into the room. He whistled. “And I
thought I’d been given nice rooms! I don’t think even Vance’s rooms
are as big as this.”

“You’ve been given nice quarters too?” Quinn
wanted to make sure that, captive or not, Maertn was being treated
well.

“Not like this. I have a room. I’m living in
a guild, Quinn, with other healers. Imagine that! A guild, full of
people just like me! There are dozens of us, and that’s just in
Farn! Sha’sek is everything I hoped it would be! I was terrified
when that captain rode away with you. But it’s all fine. Look at
what you’ve got! We’ve made it!”

“How so?”

“How? Look around you, Quinn! You’re being
treated like a queen, and I’m going to learn with my
own
kind
. That’s what we always wanted, wasn’t it, as soon as we
found out where we were from?”

“That’s what they want us to think,” Quinn
replied, frustrated, “that we’re better here. Well,
I’m
not.
I’m more of a prisoner here than I ever was with Sammah. Don’t you
see? They’ve given you exactly what you want to keep you here, and
Ross is being kept under armed guard. I have no choice Maertn. I
must do exactly what they want me to do, otherwise you and Ross
will be killed.”

This gave Maertn some pause. “What have they
asked?”

Quinn open her mouth, then closed it again.
Nothing. They hadn’t asked her to do…anything. They’d told her
she’d be taught melee combat, presumably to be able to defend
herself, and that they wanted to learn from her. They hadn’t told
her what part she would play. The baron had told her explicitly
that they didn’t want to directly fight Everfell. Sure, picking up
the bones after the men of Everfell had already hacked each other
to pieces wasn’t exactly a noble gesture, but he was trying to
protect his own people. Was that, in isolation, such a terrible
thing? “You know what,
Maertn, I don
’t
know what they want me to do, and I think that’s what’s scaring me
the most. I actually miss Everfell. I miss being told what to do by
Ross, and I miss Eden.

Maertn’s eyes softened. “You couldn’t stay
there, Quinn. You weren’t given a choice.”

“That doesn’t make it any easier. You
remember what kind of man Shiver was, and his brother Rowan isn’t
much better. The baron told me they didn’t support Sammah, not
directly. They don’t want to go to war. They are waiting for
Everfell to fall into civil war. With men like Shiver nipping at
Vance’
s heels, he
’ll get his wish. Then,
when the men of the provinces have finished killing each other, the
Sha’sekians will make their move. Where will Eden be whilst all
this is happening? As a…” Quinn spat bitterly. “
Proud son of
Sevenspells
?”

“He’ll be fighting with his brothers.”

“And where will Sevenspells be?”

Maertn’s hands dropped. “The same place
Sevenspells has always fought. At the front.”

Quinn clutched onto her bed, her head in her
hands. She mumbled into her fingers, her voice miserable and full
of tears. “Exactly. If civil war breaks out, Sevenspells will be
the first land involved, and Shiver will have Eden leading the
charge.”

“I can’t believe that
base-born bastard is making demands of me!” Vance paced up and down
in his quarters, and Eden had given up trying to follow his
footsteps.

“Call his bluff, sire. Summon the guild and
ask them if he’
s correct.
”

“That’s what he wants Eden! He wants me to
embarrass myself. I knew perfectly well he was entitled to having
Quinn at that trial, I only sent her away in the hope that Sammah
would either forget, or think her dead. It was foolish of me, I
know. Now I will have to send someone to Sha’sek to get her back.
That’s not going to be easily accomplished.”

“Can’t we just send messages to Lynton?”

“The council won’t accept something so
anonymous. Seals can be forged. They won’t release one of their own
to my custody just because a letter asks them to.”

“Can’t you send a page? One of your
courtiers?”

“Spirits, no! The only reason Quinn and
Maertn got into Sha’sek is because of who they are. Ross can work
his reputation as a mercenary, but I’ve got no doubt he’ll end up
captive or dead within weeks of getting there. Now who have I got
to send? I can only hope their new emissary gets here soon enough
that I can send them back on a return boat to bring Quinn to me. If
one of their own asks, then they can’t really refuse without
causing trouble.”

Eden saw his opening, then. It was a slender
opportunity, and he knew that it was risky even contemplating it.
It might, though, be his only chance of seeing Quinn again before
all-out-war was declared.

“What about me?”

Vance stopped pacing. “What about you?”

“Think about it, your highness. Who better
to bring her back than me? Quinn doesn’t trust anyone in this city,
other than the men you’ve already sent away with her. You don’t
want to send anyone common, but think Sha’sek wants war? Well then,
why risk any man you care about?”

“I care about your welfare, Eden.”

“That’s not what I mean, sire. I’ve been
doing what you asked; listening. Much of the court feels that
Sevenspells doesn’t deserve its place any more; that we’re a
province of traitors. Well, if that’s what they think, then I’m
expendable. It doesn’t matter what happens to me in Sha’sek, your
lords won’t think anything of it. My brother is disliked; my father
is a traitor. My other brother is an anonymous fop. What’s the life
of another Sevenspells son?”

“That’s not what I think of your father, or
your brothers.”

“It may not be what you think your highness,
but it’s what the rest of the court thinks. You need to make sure
you keep playing the strongest hand you have available, and right
now, I’m the strongest hand you can play. You need to bring Quinn
back here for Sammah, and you know a trial can’t go ahead without
her. You can’t be seen to let a man like Sammah having his way, so
the best thing to do, is decide that you’re recalling Quinn for the
trial. Make it your decision, Vance, not his. Everybody knew that
Quinn and I had a relationship, so just makes sense that I am the
one to send after her.”

“I understand you, Eden, but there is
something unsettling me.”

“What’s that?”

“Two things actually, one is your level of
familiarity. There are many men in this court who wouldn’t dare
speak to me without using the proper intonations. You called me
Vance
.” Eden at flinched the realisation, but didn’t
interrupt the king. “The other problem I have, is that since even
before Sammah was indicted for treason, you’ve been making most of
my decisions for me. I didn’t realise until now, but it was you and
Ross who convinced me to let him go after Quinn in the first place.
As a pair, you asked me to make you chamberlain. Now you’re
persuading me that you are the best man in my court to retrieve
Quinn. Why? Do you want to get away from your obligations here, so
you can stay in Sha’sek with your lover?”

Eden hadn’t thought of that himself, so his
natural reaction at such a ridiculous accusation, was to laugh. It
was a genuine noise of shock. “Your highness, I can’t think of
living anywhere but Everfell. I’ve heard stories about what goes on
in the islands, and whether they’re true or not, they are not my
people.”

“Quinn isn’t one of our people either, but
you seemed happy enough with her?”

“When I fell in love with Quinn I didn’t
know what she was.” It wasn’t a lie, though Eden felt ashamed that
it was partially true. “
My feelings
aside
, your highness, my loyalties have always been here. I
know that you can only get out of this situation with your rule
intact, if you bring Quinn back to court. The only sound way for
that to happen, for your reputation, is for me to get her. This way
you save face in front of all of the lords, and you’re not putting
men who are perceived as being more valuable in a position of
risk.”

“I agree with you, Eden, though I don’t have
to like it. I’m also inclined not to send you on your own. I don’t
know who I could send with you that would make a difference.”

“You don’t have to send anyone with me,
sire. Just give me enough horses to ride non-stop, and the coin for
a passage over the Sighs.”

“Why do you want to take that accursed
crossing?”

“Ross told me that, if he found them, he
would take them to Farn. The quickest way to get to Farn is over
the Sighs. It’s a dangerous journey, but it’s short, and for
Everfell’s benefit, I’ll have to take it.”

“Do you already know a ship willing to make
that passage for you?”

Eden shrugged. “It’s a risky route, but its
reputation draws a certain crowd. With enough coin, I’ll be able to
convince someone to take me.”

“I had my doubts before, but letting you
make that crossing? I refuse. Take a longer route.”

“And risk open rebellion when you still
haven’t pulled Sammah up into trial? I don’t think so, your
highness. If you don’t hear a message from me in a week, then you
can assume that I’ve been in a wreck. You have that week to think
of an alternative plan.”

“You know what, Eden? It’s your complete
lack of fear that worries me the most. Are you sure this is what
you want to do?”

“Yes, your highness. I’m positive. And I’m
sure it’s the only way.”

Vance chewed on his lip, hesitating for only
a second. “Make the arrangements. Requisition anything you need the
journey. Are you sure you can go without a retinue?”

“Your highness, the only lands I have to go
through are my own and Port Kahnel. If I need a retinue through
those lands, then something is very rotten at the core of Everfell,
and nothing either of us can do would ever fix that.”

“Humph. I’m still not sure that I want you
going on your own.”

“
You can
’t trust
me, can you sire?”

“
I won
’t be able
to trust anyone anymore, Eden. Don’t take it personally.”

Eden didn’t. He couldn’t begin to understand
how Vance felt, cornered in on all sides by enemies, both real and
imaginary. Eden didn’t want to bring Quinn back for Vance; he
wanted to bring Quinn back for himself. That didn’t make him feel
any less pity for his king. “
I don
’t,
your highness, I assure you. Pick whomever you want to accompany
me; even guardsmen, if that will make you feel better. I don’t
think you should risk anyone of any real standing, though.”

“You don’t consider yourself a man of
standing in the court?”

“I barely consider myself a man, sire.”

Vance chuckled. “Then you need to start
putting yourself around court a bit more, rather than following me
around like a hen. You’re more respected than your father, and I’ve
heard more than one lord mention it’s regrettable you weren’t first
in the line of succession.”

“Then they flatter me unduly. I’ve not spent
my life under the same pressure as Rowan, being the heir to a seat
like Sevenspells.”

“Being captain of the guard at such a young
age must have come with its own sense of responsibilities?”

“Sevenspells is a peaceful land, in the
main. We’re all too busy wondering about who we’re going to be
fighting outside our borders to have time for scraps within
it.”

“That’s precisely what I’ve been worried
about.”

Eden had realised his mistake as soon as the
words had left his mouth, but had been hoping Vance wouldn’t
notice. Hopefully, the king would just think it a slip of the
tongue; Eden hadn’t given him any real reason to distrust in his
newest and youngest chamberlain; not yet, anyway.

“Who do you think is going to do your duty,
whilst you’re gone?”

Eden had no idea; he didn’t know the court
well enough, despite his attempts to listen carefully to everyone
that chose to bend his ear—not many, yet—and paying close attention
to the manoeuvring of the lords around their king around critical
occasions such as court and dinners. There was a definite divide
appearing, and his brother and Lord Calvin of Port Kahnel appeared
firmly on one side of it. Eden preferred where he was, despite
Vance’s unlikeable demeanour. At least, with Vance, he knew where
he stood.

“It’s not a necessary position, is it?”

Vance tried to hide his smile, but Eden
caught it tugging at the corners of the king’s lips, underneath the
greying whiskers of his moustache. “Explain what you mean?”