The King's Bastard (54 page)

Springdawn stepped closer to Piro, hemming her in, so that the nun was on one side and the queen on the other.

'This natural shielding, Piro,' Springdawn's soft voice fell into the rhythm of lecture, 'you have it too.'

Piro went very still.

Unaware of her reaction, Springdawn raised her voice. 'I am here if you need support, warder.'

The monk sent her a sharp look that held an undercurrent of dislike.

Then Autumnwind, Halcyon Affinity warder, stepped around behind Cobalt, placed both hands on the larger man's temples and closed his eyes.

Piro desperately wanted to observe Autumnwind's technique. She longed to open her senses so that she could see with her Unseen sight but she didn't dare, not with the wardess at her side.

'Do not fear, Piro.' Springdawn took her hand and squeezed it. 'Affinity rarely turns nasty. Though I did read of one occasion when the warder died before they could disengage his senses from the candidate, who turned out to be a renegade Power-worker in disguise.'

Autumnwind's eyes flew open and the look he sent her this time was definitely unfriendly. Then he lowered his lids again and spoke the words to clear his mind and open his senses.

Piro looked away, controlling her instinct to observe. She felt Springdawn do the same thing, distancing herself from the procedure. Why would she do that? Was the Sylion nun leaving her colleague to sink or swim?

At least a dozen people were present, but no one fidgeted or spoke as the silence stretched. Piro heard servants going about their tasks. Voices echoed down the halls, distorted by distance, while, in the great hall, there was only the sound of the fire crackling in the hearth, which was big enough to burn a trunk as thick as a man was tall.

Despite her best intentions, Piro's gaze was drawn back to Autumnwind and Cobalt. The monk frowned and Cobalt grimaced, lips white as if in pain. Sweat beads collected on the monk's forehead. Cobalt groaned and ground his teeth.

Piro had to fight the instinct to reach for her Affinity. The effort made her sway.

Springdawn noticed. 'Are you unwell, Piro?'

'She's upset,' her mother said and gently led her away from the others over to the table where their wine sat forgotten. She pressed Piro into a chair and put her head forwards. The nun followed them.

'Breath deeply, Piro. It will pass,' her mother said.

'I know it is not a pretty sight, this Affinity seeking,' Springdawn said softly. 'The smell of blood affects me the same way.'

'I'm all right now,' Piro whispered. She lifted her head, feeling her cheeks grow warm as the colour returned. 'What... what happens if he can't get past Cobalt's natural shielding?'

'Then sorbt stones are the final proof. We strap a stone to the Candidate's naked skin and leave it there. At some point his concentration must falter, he has to let down his guard to sleep, you see. The moment his walls drop the stone will sense the Affinity and naturally try to absorb it. Any trained warder can detect if the stone is activated. The danger is, that once activated the stone can drain an untrained person to death within heartbeats. Sorbt stones are very powerful.'

Piro shuddered and glanced towards Cobalt and Byren. Despite her fear of detection she wanted to see what was happening. 'How long will this take?'

'As long as it needs to,' Springdawn said.

'Are you feeling better now, Piro?' her mother asked.

She nodded and stood up. They headed towards the others but had not even reached Garzik and Orrade, who were on the outer circle, when the smell hit Piro. Sweat and vomit.

'Ugh.' Her nose wrinkled then she froze, afraid that this smell was something only those with Affinity would be aware of.

'Yes.' Springdawn shuddered. 'It's a bad one. Trust Autumnwind to force his way through.'

'What is that smell?' Piro whispered.

'It's the smell of battle,' Orrade muttered. 'Only battle's worse.'

'How could it be worse?'

He just looked at her. She glimpsed a window to horror before he shielded his mind. And she thought she knew Orrade. He was a blade, sharp and merciless. She shuddered. Damn her Affinity. Had Springdawn noticed?

'Catch them!' King Rolen yelled.

The queen thrust through the others, with Piro on her heels. They were in time to see Cobalt sway and tumble forwards off the chair. Her father caught Cobalt's arm before he could hit the ground. Autumnwind struggled to a seat, visibly shaken. No one had actually thrown up, the smell came through their skin.

Piro had never come across anything like it. The smell hit her at a primal level.
Fear
, it said.
Danger
.

Instinct triggered her Affinity and her sight shifted to the Unseen. The monk pulsed, his outline hazy as if he was only partly there. She could tell he had exhausted himself.

'Wine!' The king's words reached her as if they came down a deep tunnel, reverberating oddly. He held out his hand and a goblet was refilled then placed in his grasp. He handed it to Cobalt, who drained it in one go, hands trembling.

He hardly registered on Piro's vision. No power radiated from him. But then no power radiated from her mother either as she poured Autumnwind a drink and gave it to him.

Springdawn shifted and Piro glanced to her, not surprised to see that she also pulsed like the monk, but much more strongly. The nun had not exhausted her store of Affinity.

Made aware that she was exposing herself needlessly, Piro tried to rein in her Affinity, backing up until she hit someone.

'Piro, you're trembling.' Garzik steadied her.

'Don't feel so good.'

'I know. The smell's almost too much for me too.' He tried to lead her back to the chair but she planted her feet. She didn't want to miss a thing.

'And what did you learn, Warder Autumnwind?' King Rolen asked formally.

The monk moved off the chair, sinking to one knee before his king. 'I could detect no Affinity.'

It was as Piro had feared.

'What?' Byren unfolded his arms. 'You jest!'

'If the warder could detect no Affinity that's good enough for me,' the king said. He put a hand on Cobalt's shoulder and squeezed. The younger man reached up to return the pressure.

Piro waited for Springdawn to tell them about the sorbt stones but she didn't.

Piro thrust free of Garzik's supporting hand and darted through the others until she was in the ranks of the inner circle, where she could see the nun. Springdawn met her eyes, but didn't seem to get her message. Why didn't the nun speak up?

Piro glanced to her mother, who seemed to hesitate. Did she still harbour feelings for Cobalt?

'It's settled then,' the king said.

'No, it isn't.' Piro insisted. 'There is still the sorbt stone test.'

The monk looked startled.

'What's Piro talking about, Autumnwind?' her father asked.

He used the sleeve of his monk's robe to wipe his forehead. 'Your daughter is remarkably well educated, King Rolen. She's speaking of the final test which will either kill or clear the accused.'

Springdawn stepped forwards. 'I will send to Sylion Abbey for a pair of sorbt stones. Once we have them we can conduct the test. If that is your wish, my king.'

'I want my name cleared.' Cobalt lurched upright. He swayed and let the king press him back into his chair. 'I must clear my name.'

The old honour guard nodded sympathetically. Piro wanted to shake them but she wasn't surprised they were taken in, when Cobalt played the injured party so well.

'A man has a right to clear his name,' the king agreed. 'Send for the stones, Springdawn.'

'I must know, Uncle, am I a prisoner?' Cobalt asked.

'Of course not.' The king looked uncomfortable.

Byren muttered under his breath, radiating impatience and Piro winced for him. Instead of discrediting Cobalt before everyone, his ploy had won Cobalt their sympathy.

'I'm sorry it has come to this, Illien,' King Rolen said. 'I don't know why Byren -'

'I do.' Cobalt paused and everyone waited for him to go on. 'When I was at Dovecote estate he wasn't there. Ask him why he didn't go to Dovecote.'

The silence stretched.

'Byren?' Queen Myrella asked. 'What is he talking about?'

Byren let his breath out slowly, then lifted his hands. 'Lord Dovecote told me never again to set foot on his estate.'

There was a hushed intake of breath. Byren's cheeks flushed but Piro couldn't tell whether it was with anger or discomfort.

'Why would the Old Dove do such a thing?' the king demanded.

Byren drew breath to explain.

'Why, Uncle?' Cobalt said softly. 'Because your son and his friend are Servants of Palos. And, like all loyal Rolencians, Lord Dovecote despises them. Discrediting me was part of their plan to usurp the throne.'

Their father took a step back, visibly shaken.

Their mother lifted a hand to her chest as if in pain, her black eyes going to Byren's face. 'That's why Lence -'

'It's not true,' Piro cried. 'It's -'

'A wicked lie!' Garzik insisted, his voice cracking so he sounded like a boy and not a man.

Cobalt gestured to Orrade. 'Do you deny you two are lovers?'

'I do,' Orrade said stoutly. 'And may I face the Trial of Truth to prove it.'

The king looked impressed. The Trial of Truth was not invoked lightly.

'Answer me this if you can, Orrade the Nameless,' Cobalt countered. 'Why were you disinherited?'

'Because my father leapt to the wrong conclusion.'

'And what conclusion was that?' Cobalt persisted.

Orrade hesitated, glancing to Byren.

'What is this? What does he mean?' King Rolen demanded of Byren.

'Orrade is a true and loyal friend, who has saved my life on more than one occasion,' Byren said. 'He is not my lover, never has been. But he is -'

'...a Servant of Palos,' Cobalt finished for him.

'There is no secret society serving Palos.' Byren rounded on Cobalt, glaring. But with Cobalt slumped exhausted in the chair and Byren towering over him, Byren appeared the aggressor.

Her brother seemed to realise this and took a step back, looking around the group. 'It is all wicked rumour spread by an evil schemer for his own advancement.'

Cobalt shook his head sadly. 'You accuse me of what you are doing. It is ever the way.'

Byren's mouth dropped open, then he turned to their father in a silent plea for understanding. But King Rolen's usually bluff, good-natured face had grown hard with suspicion.

Piro glanced to their mother who looked from Cobalt to Byren, obviously horrified by what was unfolding. If only Piro hadn't asked her mother to look into Byren's heart. Instead of convincing her of his honesty, it had convicted him in her eyes. It was Lence who had, unconsciously, severed the twin-link, not Byren.

'Byren?' the queen whispered.

He dropped to his knees in front of the king. 'I swear by the love I have for Rolencia, I have never sought to be more than your second son, Father. I have served the kingsheir -'

'As long as it suited you,' Cobalt inserted.

There was a low murmur from the old guard.

Byren shifted with annoyance. 'Out of love, I have served my twin and will always do so.'

But Piro noticed even Captain Temor had averted his face from Byren. There was only one way to prove Byren spoke the truth.

She darted in front of the queen. 'Please, mother, tell them Byren speaks the truth. You know he does. You can -'

'No. I can only see with a mother's heart,' the queen whispered, denying her Affinity.

Piro's gaze flew to Byren, who had resumed his feet. She turned back to the queen and, in a flash of insight, Piro realised that if her mother revealed her Affinity now her marriage would be annulled and her children declared bastards. Cobalt would have as much right to the throne as Lence.

Piro fixed on Springdawn. 'You are an Affinity wardess, you can look into people's hearts and tell if they speak the truth. Look into Byren's.'

But Springdawn was already shaking her head. 'I don't have that skill. It is a very specialised talent.'

'Autumnwind?' Piro pleaded.

'I can't and even if I could, I'm exhausted,' he apologised.

'Then send for someone who can,' Piro insisted.

'Enough, Pirola!' the king snapped, using the voice he reserved for hearings. 'These are very serious accusations.'

'But Father -'

He silenced her with a look. 'The Servants of Palos caused the civil war that weakened Rolencia and this was the reason Merofynia attacked us thirty years ago. It might seem like history to you, but I was there. I saw the destruction -'

'But Father, Byren is innocent!' Piro ran to him and clutched his arm. 'If anyone is guilty of deceit it is Cobalt.' She rounded on him. 'Why did you leave Dovecote before we did? It was to lead the manticore pride to our camp site, wasn't it?'