Cornerstone (32 page)

After giving Emariya an encouraging smile, Kora stepped lightly across the room and opened the door, ushering in Prince Torian.

He stood in the doorway transfixed, unable to move from his spot. She waited, watching as he slowly and deliberately let out the breath he had been holding. He bowed gracefully, but his eyes never left hers. “My Lady. Emariya. You look beautiful.”

She hadn't realized she'd been holding her own breath, as well. Releasing it, she smiled. “You look quite dashing, yourself,” she said. He was wearing a new, clean version of his vest, which was adorned with the silver and black wolf. He'd replaced his heavy traveling cloak with a lighter one that gracefully accentuated his strong shoulders. He'd also taken the time to shave. She had to resist the urge to run her fingers gently along his handsome jaw.

He offered her his arm. “Shall we?”

They made their way quickly to the chambers where King Dellas rested, awaiting their arrival. “Father?” Torian called as they entered. The room was nearly pitch dark. No candles had been lit, and the only light was the fire in the hearth. Even that had an iron grate in front of it. Heavy drapes had been pulled shut across the windows, blocking the moonlight. Emariya squinted, trying to see into the room. She thought she caught sight of movement across the room in the far corner.

“
The door! The door! I don't want to see!” shouted a gravelly voice.

Clutching Torian's hand, Emariya stepped inside while Torian shut the door, leaving it open just a crack. “Don't fret, Father, it's me. Torian. It's Torian, Father.”

“
Torian? My son?” came the voice again, quieter this time.

Emariya saw a wrinkled face, framed by wild wiry hair that fell to the man’s shoulders, peering at them in the darkness. Was this the fate that awaited Torian? No wonder he felt so strongly about not wanting to inherit the visions.

“
You aren't alone,” Dellas said, not really a question.

Emariya attempted to curtsy, but Torian held her hand fast and pulled her back up.

“
Father, this—”

“
She's your wife, boy. I know who she is. Warren,” Dellas snapped, interrupting his son.

Torian glanced at Emariya before turning back to his father. “No, Father, we were to wed, but that is on hold until we decide—”

Dellas interrupted again. “You may not have wed yet, but you will. You will.” The King turned solemnly to Emariya and fumbled for her hands. Emariya tentatively placed her hands in his. His touch was cold in hers, but gentle. “Beware, child, your path is littered with broken Stones.”

Emariya glanced back at Torian, who was standing behind her, watching his father. He shrugged in response to her unanswered question. He didn't know what Dellas meant any better than she did. Swallowing hard, she tried to summon the question that was burning in her mind. “Your Majesty, forgive me, but I must ask. Can you tell me how to use my gift?”

“
Don't listen!” Suddenly Dellas was shouting again.

Emariya looked to Torian in alarm. She hadn't meant to upset him. “I'll listen, I promise,” she said soothingly.

“
No, no, no! Don't listen!” He stopped as suddenly as he had started, then turned away from them as if they weren't there.

“
It's not your fault. He gets like this. More often than not, anymore, he stays like this.” The level of sadness in Torian's voice tugged at Emariya's heart. At least there was a chance she might be able to have her father with her again. As they were leaving, the King turned back to them. “Torian, my son. Find the hole. A lost Stone falls into the hole and watches. Find the hole!”

“
All right, Father, I'll find the hole,” Torian tried to appease him. “I'll come to see you again tomorrow, Father. Do try to rest.” He shut the door behind them as he led Emariya out.

She tried to put her arms around Torian, but he shrugged away. Letting her arms drop by her sides, she followed his determined pace. “Torian.”

“
What?” He spun toward her bitterly. “So now you've seen what would be waiting for you, if you were to wed me. A husband who one day wouldn't be able to even face the light, much less hold you. Know you. Show you how much he loved you. I won't blame you if you run from this place screaming as soon as Jessa arrives.”

“
Torian,” she said again. “Come here.”

It took no more encouragement than that. Their second kiss was as passionate as their first. The first time he had been staking a claim. This time, he needed her. It was a plea for her to accept him after she had seen what he had to offer.

Where before his lips had been hard and demanding, now they implored her softly, giving her the chance to turn away, should she so desire. His mouth was so urgent, and so afraid.

She kissed him back, offering him the only reassurance she could.

Breathlessly they broke apart, staring at each other.

“
Torian, I think we may be able to help him,” she said. She didn't want to get his hopes up. “Do you know about the gift of the Warrens?” she asked.

“
I know the basics. You are supposed to be able to mold the earth, make it do your bidding. With plants, mostly; I don't think anyone knows what it could do if it were fully developed.”

Emariya nodded. “Exactly. Do you know much about herbal remedies?”

“
No,” he admitted. “Herbs don't grow well here. We don't have any who are skilled with them. We have a woman who can bind a wound, but I wouldn't call anything she does a ‘remedy’.” He cringed involuntarily. “Besides, I thought you said you didn't have control over your gift?”

“
I don't really think of it as a gift most of the time, I guess. Herbs were just something I grew up with. Anyway, Neela—our healer at The Rest—she taught me a tincture to calm the mind. I think it’s worth a try.” She looked up at him hopefully.

“
Emariya, you've no idea what it means to me that you want to help my father. To help me. But we don't have any herbs,” he said sadly.

“
Then let us pray that Jessa arrives soon, she'll hopefully have my herb pack with her.”

CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX

The Devils In The Details

They had to wait nearly a week, but finally Jessa did arrive. Summoned by Kora, Emariya was waiting on the front steps as Jessa approached. Emariya tried to count the mounts as she waited anxiously for them to finish crossing the bridge. She could easily make out Jessa by the red flame of her hair, but she couldn’t distinguish her companions. They were so clustered together that it was hard to tell, but she thought there were six horses. On either side of Jessa rode a guard. They must have been the ones that had come with Torian when he'd set out to find her. She couldn't see if the horses behind them had riders or not.

Then one of the guards shifted in his saddle and she caught sight of the tiny boy riding behind the rest. “Oh, by The Three,” she said under her breath. It was Rink! Seeing her as they rode closer, both the boy and Jessa started waving happily. Forgetting all about formalities, she rushed forward to greet them. Unable to decide whom to greet first, she ended up hugging them both at once.

“
Are you all right, really? Oh Rink, I'm so sorry!” she said.

“
No Milady, it's me who’s sorry; I shoulda bashed them one good! And I would have, too,” he grumbled.

Emariya saw the guards roll their eyes. “And you—are you all right?” she said, turning to Jessa.

“
I'm fine. What about you?” She glanced up at Torian's guards, before looking pointedly toward the group waiting for them on the castle steps. Emariya knew Jessa was referencing that when they'd last seen each other they had thought Torian was trying to bind the lines. They had been trying to head away from him, yet here they were, on his doorstep.

“
Much has changed, but that can keep. Come, I am sure you would both like to rest. Oh Jessa, you must have been so afraid out there, just the two of you!”

“
Just us and the boars, you mean.” Rink grinned at Jessa, who glared and shook her head.

After introductions had been made all around, Garith took Rink to the quarters they would share. Emariya told Torian she would come find him later and left him to see to the unloading of the packhorses. She was thrilled to see that the pack with her mother's gowns and her herbs had made it.

She led Jessa back to her own chambers so they could talk in private. She waited patiently while Jessa changed her clothes and then did her best to answer Jessa's numerous questions.

“
So we don't think he was trying to bind the Stones, after all?” Jessa asked.

“
No. It would seem not. He was aware that it would happen, but it wasn't his reason. Jessa, his father is pretty far gone. I'm hoping we can help him, but I don't know that it is even possible.”

Jessa nodded. “It's harder than it looks. I was sure Rink was going to die. Even now, I am not sure how he survived.”

Emariya squeezed her hand. “You did well, Jessa, I can't imagine how afraid you must have been.”

Jessa changed the subject, uncomfortable with the praise. “So where is Khane? We thought he was with you.”

Emariya chewed on her lip thoughtfully. “I don't know where he is now. Torian sent guards out to look for him immediately after we arrived, but we haven't heard anything yet. He wasn't kidnapped with me; he helped them take me.”

Jessa’s eyes flared. Her jaw hardened with anger. Emariya wouldn’t have been surprised to hear an indignant ‘I told you so,’ given how Jessa had always been suspicious of Khane. Instead, she asked, “What? But why?”

Emariya shook her head sadly. “We don't know. I know Garith and Torian suspect Reeve ordered it himself, but I just can't believe that. Neither of them will mention it to me, though, I think they are afraid it will upset me.”

Jessa hugged her tight. “So what now, then? Emariya, where do you want to go from here?”

“
I wish I knew. Part of me wants to go home. Regardless of whatever else he may have done, Reeve is still in danger from Russell. And I am still not sure what the prophecies mean. I just don't know that I can marry Torian until I know more. It just seems too risky.”

“
Until? Meaning you think you may want to marry him eventually?”

“
Perhaps.” Emariya blushed. “But even that is complicated. It's like when he is nearby, he clouds all my thoughts and I can barely even think. I suspect it has something to do with us being Stones.”

“
But you are attracted to him?”

“
Yes. Very much so. But I want to be attracted to him for
who
he is, not what he is or what I am.”

“
Riya, being a Stone is part of who he is. It's not like you like him for the power of it alone. Is it really any different than admiring his gorgeous brown hair or liking his strange gray eyes? It's just a feature, really, when you think about it.”

Jessa had a point. Emariya hadn't thought of it that way before. She hugged the girl. “Oh, I'm so glad to have you to talk to again! And I don't know where we go from here. Or when. At first Garith and I had been planning to wait here for you, and then the three of us were going to go home, but now I don't know. It would be easier if I knew what Reeve's involvement in all this was. I think maybe I want to go to Sheas. More than anything, I want my father back. Everything else can wait.”

***

Emariya hastily tried to dry her eyes as Torian entered.

“
My Lady, have you been crying? What is it?” he asked, coming toward her. His arms were around her in moments.

“
It's nothing. Really.” She tried to smile up at him. “But I thought we were past the use of titles, at least in private.” She glanced around, indicating the empty room.

“
I don't call you ‘My Lady’ as a title, Emariya. I mean it more as a statement that you are my lady. I've not given up hope that you will consent to be my bride, at least in time.” He held his fingers to her lips as she started to protest. “No, I know you aren't ready. I'm in no hurry. Still, I think there is hope, at least?” She confirmed it with a smile and he continued. “I was just coming to tell you that I just visited with my father. He was calmer today and seemed a bit more like himself.”

Emariya was pleased at the news. She had given explicit instructions to the Ahlens’ cook about how to mix the herbs into Dellas's food. All that remained now was to wait and see what effect it would have on him. “That's wonderful, Torian.” She burst into tears.

“
Oh, Riya, don't fret.” He pulled her closer. “Just because you've tried to give me back my father doesn't mean I've forgotten yours. I promise you, we will get him free.”

“
But only after we are wed?” she asked bitterly. She knew she shouldn't be angry with him. He already had men out searching for Khane; it wasn't as if he had an unlimited supply of guardsmen to send on expeditions. It was true, though, that he would be weakened politically if he sent forces into Sheas for her without a serious public commitment from her—at the least that she would marry him.