The King of Anavrea (Book Two of the Theodoric Saga) (15 page)

“Ireic, they are telling the people you are
dead.”

The feet stopped and silence followed.

“I heard the first time, Ipore.” Ireic’s fatigue
came across clearly in his tone.

“What are you going to do about it?”

Ireic sighed heavily. “Leave. We leave for Fuge
Aven in two hours.”

“Should we send word to someone that you are
alive?”

The sound of cloth rubbing against the rough
wood of the partition indicated someone had slid over the wall to
the floor. His next words were barely audible. Lirth guessed he was
covering his face with his hands.

“We aren’t sending word because it is too
dangerous. If we sent word to an ally, it would only give the
council and Lirth’s tormentor a trail to follow. I believe the
council wants me dead right now. They think it would solve all
their problems. They do not know that upon my death they would be
dealing with Trahern, an irate older brother with less respect for
their dignity.”

“But we can’t let them go unchallenged.”

“They have no proof, Ipore. We disappeared. The
king, the queen, and the ambassador from Sardmara disappeared from
a secured palace. The council holds no proof to support their
claim. With no body and no king, they possess no power unless the
people give it to them. Considering the council’s actions of recent
years, I doubt the people will be eager to follow them.”

“But the council claims the unpopular events of
the past few years are of your making.”

“The evidence is against them. Let them spread
the lies. The truth will win out in the end. They have declared
war. With the people’s support, I will respond in kind.”

Ireic’s voice became clear as he lifted his head
to look up at the healer. “Don’t worry, Ipore, I am not running
away to disappear. I am running to find a safe place to regroup.
When I gather my resources to fight, I will return. I am not going
to leave Anavrea in the former council’s hands. They would destroy
her. As tempting as freedom from the throne is, I could not live
with myself if I stood idly by while they did it.”

“I will discuss transportation with Liam
then.”

“Let Aarint know he is welcome to join us,
should he wish to.”

Lirth waited until Ipore’s footfalls reached the
ladder and began to descend before she moved. Rolling to her hands
and knees, she made her way slowly to the partition. Ireic had made
her promise not to walk while she was in the loft. Tugging her
skirts so that she could move her knees, she crawled to the end of
the rough wall and began making her way toward Ireic. She located
him by the sound of his breathing.

“There is a crack in the floor about a foot in
front of you.”

“Thank you.” She reached out to check for the
hole. It was about the size of her fist and easy to avoid.

“I am sorry we woke you.”

She settled next to him. “I was already awake.”
Her heart swelled slightly as he took her hand.

“Still, it wasn’t the most pleasant way to
wake.” He brushed her fingers with his lips.

“Do you think you can defeat the council?” The
thought of losing him sent a shiver down her back, but she resisted
it.
Thank you for sparing him, Kurios. Please let us get through
this.

He took a deep breath and let it out slowly,
caressing her fingers with its warmth. “They can’t act too overtly,
but their options are many and their motivations are strong. They
want power. They don’t seem to realize that I am not the only one
standing between them and a puppet king.”

“Trahern?”

“Trahern, Eve, Seth and the child that Eve is
carrying at this moment. My edicts are clear and binding. I am
sorry I wasn’t able to add you to the line as well, but there
wasn’t time.”

Lirth shook her head. “I am glad you didn’t. I
have no desire for power.”
Only for you,
she thought as he
touched her face.
Please keep him, Kurios.

“You need breakfast.” He rose to his feet
bringing her hand with him. He pulled her to her feet and into a
warm embrace.

Lirth savored the strength of his arms around
her and pressed her cheek to his chest. “Thank you,” she
whispered.

“For what?” His breath stirred her hair.

“For choosing me.”

His arms tightened slightly but he remained
silent. After a moment, he withdrew. “Come, you need to eat.”

~~~~~~

Ireic leaned against the outer wall of the barn.
Lirth conversed easily with the farmer’s wife a few feet away. In
spite of the dark circles under Lirth’s eyes, she smiled and
laughed with the older woman over the antics of the children.

“She seems to be handling this well.” Aarint
joined him.

Ireic acknowledged his brother-in-law’s arrival
with a nod. The ambassador looked very different dressed like a
field hand. Still, Aarint wore the dirt and rough clothing with the
ease of a man born to a simpler life. Ireic hoped he pulled off the
appearance of a rural man with half as much comfort.

“She is sore,” Ireic pointed out.

“I meant emotionally. She was pretty distraught
when they brought you in after the procession yesterday. She feared
that you were dead.”

Ireic nodded. “I might die yet.” Stating the
heaviness that was weighing on his heart did nothing to lift it. He
looked over at Aarint, who watched him with a measured look. “I
assume Ipore has spoken to you about the danger.”

Aarint nodded, his dark blue eyes solemn.

“If something happens to me, get Lirth to the
academy in Braulyn. My brother and his family will take care of
her.” Ireic wanted to be clear that Lirth would not be
abandoned.

“I hope it never comes to that.”

Straightening, Ireic stepped away from the barn
wall. “Me too.”

__________

Lirth’s legs had grown numb hours ago and her
joints hurt. The days of riding on the back of a plow horse were
too long. She tried to insist on walking, but Ireic vetoed her
plea. He insisted he do the tramping instead. Even now, she could
hear him trudging along beside her mount. Somewhere up ahead, Ipore
sought out their next stopping place. Aarint and Liam brought up
the rear. She hadn’t heard anything from them for hours.

“Lirth, are you familiar with the Kurios?” Ireic
drew alongside her mount.

“Yes, I know Him well.” Her heart thrilled.
Is this my opportunity to share my knowledge of you?

“So you are a follower?”

“Yes. My brothers’ tutor introduced us to the
Kurios and taught us about His perfect gift.”

“The manuscripts from the Lisbrith claimed that
the Kurios controls everything. Do you believe that?”

He must be thinking about all that has
happened
.
Kurios, help me to speak the words that will bring
him comfort.

She took a deep breath. “Yes, I do. It was the
only thing that kept me from despairing during captivity. I clung
to the promise that all of it was for a purpose. He would deliver
me when it was time.”

“So, you believe he sent me? I am not sure I can
see that.”

“You wanted a wife. Anavrea needed support
against an increasingly hostile neighbor. I don’t believe it was
purely chance my father remembered he had a daughter of
marriageable age while he sat at the negotiation tables with you
and your councilors. He didn’t care about me for five years. Why
remember me then?”

“But I brought you out of that into this. On the
run for your life is hardly an improvement.” The weariness in his
voice pulled at her heart.

“No, I prefer this. I am not alone now.
Regardless, Kurios is good and wise. He has a good plan no matter
what.”

The reins tightened as Ireic caught the harness.
Obediently the beast stopped. “How can you believe that what has
transpired?”

“You are alive. I am alive. Those we love are
alive. I know you have lost throne, crown, and security, but we
still have each other and hope. The Kurios has promised that He
will not desert His own.”

“I am glad you can believe that.”

 Lirth swallowed back the protest that
jumped to her lips. Somehow she knew now was not the time to push
the subject.

Kurios, give me the words and let me know
when to say them. Let it be soon,
she prayed.
He needs you
so badly right now.

~~~~~~

How can she believe it?
Ireic frowned as
he glanced back at his wife. She wanted to say more. Despite the
desire written in her eyes, she held the words back.

His thoughts filled with the passage he had read
that morning. A king had lost his throne to his son. The tale
caught Ireic unawares because it was so similar to his own
predicament. The king held hope in the same way Lirth did. Even
now, she clung to the trust she placed in this Kurios, her god.

Ireic looked up at her. The peace in her
features and the ease with which she answered his questions made
him wonder. There might be something more to this than he thought.
If he placed himself in her position, having lost her sight and
then being kidnapped and held captive for years, he wondered how he
would have responded. But she knew of the Kurios before the
kidnapping.

“Sire.” Liam fell into step with Ireic. “We
detected movement in the woods. Should I go investigate? It could
be someone tracking us or it could be something we can eat for
dinner.”

Ireic nodded his consent. Liam slipped out of
sight among the trees.

~~~~~~

Hours later, Ireic recognized a fork in the
trail. The marker, a hatchet head buried in the knot of a twisted
pine, clearly indicated the way. Gradually the land grew familiar,
as though he was slowly waking from a nightmare.

Memories of following the stream during his
childhood warmed Ireic’s heart. He marked the rapids and the change
in the water’s flow as they passed it. They were only a mile or so
from Fuge Aven. However, the reality that he knew nothing of what
would greet them tempered Ireic’s joy at being so close to some of
his happiest childhood memories.

A steward oversaw the fortress’ upkeep and
defense. Ireic had met him years ago and trusted his wisdom, but
the man hadn’t been told to prepare for war.

They were going to need food, weapons, horses,
and men. Ireic tried to remember how many tenants manned the
estate, how many men he could count on from his own lands. Too few,
he was sure.

“Your Majesty, look.” Ipore stopped and pointed
across the valley before them.

A colony of green cloth roofs edged in gold
crowded the open vista around the fortress. By Ireic’s estimation,
roughly a quarter of the Anavrean army spread out across the
rise.

“Are they attacking?” Ipore asked.

“The gate is open,” Liam observed as he came
alongside Ireic. “I see no signs of a battle. I would guess they
are here in peace.”

“But at peace with whom?” Aarint frowned.

“What is it?” Lirth asked. “I take it that there
is something there, but I have not gathered much else.”

Ireic and Aarint both spoke at once to describe
the scene and then stopped. Ireic met his brother-in-law’s gaze
before continuing. “There is an army camped outside the walls of
Fuge Aven and the gates are open.” He glanced her way to find her
watching him with unnerving accuracy.

“They are probably seeking you,” Ipore said. “I
can think of no other reason for them to be here.”

“The question is whether or not we want to be
found.” Ireic pointed out as he continued to count tents. They
would have to find a way to find out without declaring their
presence.

“Too late for that.” Liam nodded toward a
distantly approaching group of riders. “We have been spotted.”

“Orders, sire?” Ipore asked.

Liam readied an arrow.

Ireic turned to find Ipore had set down his pack
and already drawn his blade. Beyond him, Aarint was in the process
of doing the same.

“Do we stand and fight?” Liam studied the
approaching horses through narrowed eyes.

“We don’t know if they are friend or foe,” Ireic
reminded the bodyguard. “We will stand. They would catch us
regardless.” He caught the reins of the plow horse. “Dismount,
Lirth,” he ordered. Sitting up there, she made the perfect target
should there be an archer in the welcoming party.

Within a moment, she stood on the ground.
Catching her hand Ireic pulled her behind him, shielding her body
with his own. He drew his own weapon with his other hand. Liam and
Ipore closed ranks before him. Aarint took a position to cover
Lirth should Ireic fall. They arranged themselves while the mounted
party drew to a halt.

“Who goes there?” The leader asked as he
steadied his fidgety horse.

“Who commands this army?” Liam demanded.

The leader scowled. “Identify yourselves
first.”

“Why should we identify ourselves to you?” Ipore
issued the challenge. “This ground is not restricted, and we are
free men.”

“We are the King’s men awaiting his appearance.”
One of the party volunteered, a young man on a dappled gray. “He
fled Ana City and we gathered to put him back on the throne.”

“Hush, Kolp,” the leader hissed. “Keep your
tongue.”

“Who leads you?” Ireic demanded. He didn’t
recognize the leader, the young man, or the last man.

“The King’s brother, Prince Trahern.” The leader
tightened his grip on his sheathed weapon. He pinned Ireic with a
dark gaze.

Ireic deliberated for only a moment. “Take me to
him.”

The man frowned. Ireic watched the leader weigh
his choices. After a long moment, he said, “I will, but you go
unarmed.”

It was a reasonable request. Ireic nodded to
Liam. All four of his men set down their weapons.