The Lords of Valdeon (32 page)

Two rangers stood before them, weapons drawn, bodies ready to strike. Chestnut curls framed young faces. Firm, intense eyes held their prey. Julian exchanged a warning look with Marcellus. Good. He knew better than to move. Their captors may be in their teen years, but they were still rangers with full power.

The little De Vincente boy wheezed behind his rescuers. His head rested in the lap of a slightly older boy. Both children glared at Julian. Mockery shimmered in their eyes. Two more soldiers in the D’Antoiné and De Vincente feud.

"Well, Rabbit and Otter, what wonderful nannies you make. Does the Wolf have you watch his litter often?"

Rabbit, the youngest member of the Sacred Guard, turned his perfectly calm face to Julian. "Why don’t you ask him yourself?"

Marcellus screamed in a sudden burst of pain. The bloodied tip of a sword pulled away from his right hand. He covered it before Julian could determine what wound had been inflicted.

"I mark you as the killer you are, butcher of children." Wolf's voice thundered behind them. "Allow one of your pets to come near my little ones again, Julian, and I will carve the same symbol upon your beating heart."

Julian rolled onto his knees. This was inexcusable! Lord of Valdeon or no, Wolf had no right to abuse a companion to the Prince of Valdeon. The flat of a blade rested upon his cheek. The cold steel tip twisted in a caress against Julian’s skin. Fox, a deadly favorite among their numbers, held the blade's handle in a practiced grip.

"You were not given leave to rise, bastard prince."

Julian spun around, slapping the blade away. They were all there, the Lords of Valdeon. Each regarded him with their serene faces and burning eyes. They were inspecting him as if he were an insect.

"I am a Prince of Valdeon. How dare you!"

"Do you hear the clucking of a crow?" The Jaguar lifted a set of irons and let them swing in his grip. "We are within our right to take this killer for the attempted assassination of Lord Santiago."

"I saw the entire incident. Marcellus was trying to stop the attack. Do you doubt the word of a member of the royal house?"

"Lord Pacarro is a witness to his crime."

"And where is this barbarian, Jaguar? I don't see him here making his wild accusations in person. Perhaps he lacks the courage to face the victim of his lies?"

Julian clutched at his ring as their probing began. Without its protection, the rangers would know Marcellus had just killed a man. The Sarcion slapped their powers away, but its strength would not hold for long against the entire Sacred Guard.

"We will have the truth when Lord Pacarro returns. Take your pet and go." Wolf’s hard look burrowed into them. "And De Costa, when next we meet outside these walls, you will answer for what you’ve done to my son."

Julian pulled Marcellus to his feet and hurried him down the corridor. How dare they insult him, and in his own palace! He regarded Marcellus, clutching at his bleeding hand. The bloodthirsty fool had almost killed them both. It was a great pity Wolf had been bound by his respect for the Altar. He might have relieved Julian of his mad burden.

"I will see you avenged, my friend." Julian forced sympathetic outrage to his face. "The Lords of Valdeon will be sorry they ever returned to San Leonora."

Marcellus nodded and followed his lord to Julian’s private chambers. The curtains had been drawn, and the room was illuminated by a single candle. Zoya was strapped tightly to a chair. Her head hung forward in what Julian hoped was sleep.

"Leave her." An unfamiliar voice had come from the darkened corner of his personal chambers. Many guarded the corridors between the public areas of the palace and these private rooms. Whoever the stranger may be, he had shown an excess of brass.

Marcellus drew his sword, but Julian stopped him. The stranger could be an enemy or worse — one of his allies. Either one of them would delight in killing Zoya to hurt him.

"I won’t ask the typical trite questions, but rather I will get to the point. What do you want?"

"Your family is having a run of misfortune, Julian. Both your brothers were killed in accidents, and now your father has gone missing.

"Tragic."

"If it pleases you to pretend so, but I would call it advantageous."

Their visitor's shadow moved along the wall to the wine cravat. Spice wine gurgled as it filled an unseen glass. The sound grated upon his nerves. Julian bit his lip. This intruder visitor was bold and obviously delighted in expensive treats belonging to others.

"Advantageous. I wouldn’t think my father’s many admirers would agree. We share opinions, sir. I would ask you to get to the point."

"Very well. I know the circumstances surrounding your father’s disappearance. He has been running for these two years from a foe capable of besting his Lion Ring. The king remained in hiding, but never in safety. His pursuers caught up with him in every town and every inn in which he hid. He finally reached a place of safety, but left soon after receiving a letter."

"Letter? How do you know Leo's comings and goings? Better still, how do I know you speak the truth?"

"It is best for you to trust my word. Let us say I have intimate knowledge. He received a very special letter from the Grey Cliff Isles."

Julian forced the new surge of hope out of his voice. "Why tell me?"

"Let’s just say I’m a Patriot."

The voice came from behind them this time. Julian spun around. How had the man moved so quickly? He waited. Soon a demand for money or royal favors would come.

"Do you have a specific location? Those Isles would take a lifetime to search."

Their visitor gave him a condescending sigh. "Surely you have spies to help you, Julian. You must hurry if you wish to take the throne. The ring goes to find its heir."

"I am its heir! I am the last son of Edmund D’Antoiné."

Julian gritted his teeth, angry with himself to have allowed his emotions to escape. The D'Antoiné family was fresh out of cousins and distant relatives. He was the last. Esteban the Hawk, the king's brother, had disappeared long ago. He wouldn’t have any interest in the Lion Ring or anything else to do with Valdeon.

"You know Edmund had rather dangerous tastes in women." The stranger's voice took on an amused purr. "His interests drifted over the border to Tslavia. Think, Julian. How long has it been since the king took himself a queen?"

Julian glared into the darkness. "Well over fifteen years."

"Sixteen. I believe this is the length of time Princess Anne Von Wolkhurst of Tslavia has been missing." The stranger paused, letting this information drift upon the silent air. "You didn’t murder all the sons of Edmund D’Antoiné. Leo will favor this half-breed, no doubt, because he is their child together — leaving you once again, the unwanted son."

"How dare you! Let me dispatch this worm, my lord prince."

"Keep silent, De Costa, or I will give you a mark upon your left hand to match your right! Beware the Lord of San Rudalfo, Julian. He has great power and many friends. They would put the Crown of Sorrows upon his head."

Stone scraped against stone. He hurried into the shadows. The stranger disappeared through the wall, leaving Julian seething in his wake. He slammed his fist against the hidden entrance. How had a stranger to the palace been able to navigate long-forgotten passageways?

"Marcellus, contact the Amity raiders. I have need of their services."

"You trust him enough to risk doing business with raider scum?"

"I have to believe him, fool! He knows more about my father and my home than I!" Julian turned violently on him. "I will have the Lion Ring no matter the cost. Now go prepare my ship. We leave at once."

"What of the Wolf?"

"Have him followed. We can’t afford to let him run loose."

Julian smoothed his fingers over the cold surface, but their probing found no latches or loose stones. He struck his fist against the wall. Nothing! The stranger must be a member of the Valdeonian Court, but who would be so brazen? He rested his forehead against his stinging hand. A new player had joined their game, but whose side was he really on?

Chapter Twenty-Six

Wolf sank to the marbled floor of the atrium and picked up the struggling body of his little son. Cradling Gaspar, he reached inside his waistcoat for the emergency kit he always kept ready. Grasping a tiny flask of water, his fingers tugged upward. A soft cloth fell upon his lap as the flask worked free.

"Come now, my son." Wolf patted the wet cloth on the back of Gaspar’s neck. "Calm down for Papa. They’ve gone. I am with you now."

The little body shivered in his lap. Short gasps of air wheezed between pale lips. Wolf continued to pat Gaspar’s neck with the wet cloth. It had been many months since the breathing illness had viciously attacked his son. Julian and his pet were to blame. He hid his anger. Gaspar needed him now. A father’s justice would wait.

Otter sheathed his sword and came to join them with Rabbit in tow. Wolf regarded the two young men kneeling down beside him. They were no more than boys themselves, not quite a year out of their apprenticeship. Both were becoming fine men and brave rangers.

Lifting a hand toward Gaspar, Otter hesitated and let it fall again. "I didn’t mean to leave him. We were playing. Will he be alright?"

"He’ll be fine. Thank you both for saving him."

Wolf rubbed Gaspar’s back and began to sing.

"Sailboats made with candle wax, sailing to the shore line.

Wave your little arms, help them find you.

Carry my little one to the distant shores of dreamland

And back again to Papa’s arms come morning."

Gaspar’s breathing finally calmed. Wolf kissed his cheek. Danel, his oldest, moved to them. Wolf pulled him into his arms as well, sitting both boys upon his lap. He projected comfort and protection, wrapping the power around his little ones. They'd lived their short lives under the protection of Wolf's title. None dared to threaten the family of one of the Sacred Guard until this dark day. It was considered an act of treason. These troubling times meant new dangers for his family.

Wolf cupped Gaspar's quivering chin gently in his hand and lifted his son's face toward his own. Tears spilled from the dark eyes, wetting his little cheeks. Wolf swore an oath in his heart as he looked upon the innocent face. He would collect a bucket of blood from Marcellus De Costa for each tear his son shed. That butcher would die the death he gave others.

"You are both my blessings from heaven. The Creator made you both special just for me and Mama. Others like De Costa or Julian can never understand how wonderful you are. I pity them for it."

Gaspar threw his arms around Wolf’s neck and favored him with a wet kiss. "You scared Julian and his pet. Didn't you, Papa?"

"Of course he did. I think De Costa wet himself." Danel grinned when Gaspar started to giggle.

"Prince Julian called Mama a bad name, Papa. I kicked him in the shin as hard as I could!"

Gaspar's eyes glowed with pride when the Lords of Valdeon burst into laughter. He was a brave little man despite the illness. Wolf sometimes imagined his fierce little son as a man full grown, wearing his father's ring. Alas, it was not meant to be. The Jalora chose its rangers. Neither of his sons were born with the golden aura of power marking them as heir to the Wolf Ring. Another destiny awaited Gaspar and Danel. Their father would help them find their futures in a peaceful Valdeon.

"You mustn’t look so pleased with yourselves when we tell Mama. Promise me, children. If Julian or De Costa come near you again, run to find me or one of the Lords of Valdeon."

"We promise."

"Come, we’ll see you back to our quarters." Wolf pulled the boys up and took their hands. "Papa must meet with the other rangers."

They made their way down the ornate corridors lined with tapestries toward the guest wing of the palace. Wolf and his family were given a floor of their own, while the young Lords of Valdeon had been housed above them.

"Playing hide and seek in the Palace of Kings. Jalora spare me from fools!" Jaguar slapped his younger cousin across the back of the head. "Have you no respect, Otter? The Altar of Providence is just down the hall."

"It was a game. Don’t be so stuffy. Your father isn’t, and he was a general in the Valdeonian Army."

"Papa?" Danel tugged on Wolf’s sleeve, drawing his attention away from the Mendoza cousins. "What did you carve on the man’s hand?"

Wolf ran his thumb gently along the smooth skin of Danel's little fingers. "Do you remember when you went with Papa to ride among our herd of horses last year? We had a stallion who had turned bad and hurt some of the other horses."

"Yes, I remember. The stallion kept everyone away, but you walked right up and roped him."

Wolf chuckled. He was their hero. Creator willing the day would never come when his sons replaced him with another.

"Yes. We marked him with a ‘C’ to warn everyone he was bad and must be culled to protect others. I gave De Costa the same mark."

"No one is more deserving of such a mark than that butcher." Bitterness hung heavy in Ernesto the Raven's words. De Costa’s crime had been committed on De Quintaro land. The rangers would never forget the horror they found as they helped their comrade deliver justice. Wolf pushed such things from his mind as he looked down into the innocent faces of his two little ones. No such thing must ever happen to them.

Soldiers of the San Rudalfo Army snapped to attention as they approached. The forest green and black of their immaculate uniforms appeared harsh against the golden walls of the palace. Good. Wolf wanted the strong presence of his army felt in San Leonora during these troubling times.

The men he brought with him were well trained and not prone to panic or other breaches of discipline. Their lieutenant unexpectedly stepped away from his post to meet them. His eyes were troubled. Something had happened. Anger, shock, and concern swirled around his body. Wolf probed his memories and saw the unthinkable there.

"Double the guard around my family and keep a wary eye open."