Cornerstone (36 page)

“
But what if Khane tells Lady Emariya that it was you who ordered her abduction?”

“
I believe he already has.” Reeve smiled coldly. “My sweet sister has a woman's heart. She does not want to believe it of me. Even so, she will forgive me once she realizes I did it out of love for our mother. Her death must not go unpunished any longer. Sheas cannot be allowed to take anything else from us. Lady Emariya understands that. Or at least, she will eventually.”

“
Milord, there's a letter for you.” Mairi appeared in the doorway.

“
Leave it,” Reeve instructed.

With a respectful nod, Mairi crossed the room and left the letter on his desk before heading back out of the study. She paused in the doorway. “May I get you anything else, Milord?”

“
No, that will be all.” He dismissed her. Once she had gone, he grabbed the letter eagerly off the desk and began to read. The words hit him as hard as if Emariya had reached through the paper and struck him herself.

My Dearest Reeve,

Oh, brother, where did we go wrong? For so long our mother's passing has left a hole in us, a loss that we can never truly recover from. I have reached Castle Ahlen safely, though I do not intend to stay here long.

I know it was your utmost intent that I reach the castle, so much so that you had Khane ensure it. I hope some day that you might explain to me why, in your own words. Nevertheless, I think I understand.

I know that it all comes back to Sheas. We have always thought they killed Mother. And likewise, I believe they have held ill will to us, believing at best we didn't protect her and at worst we killed her ourselves. I believe her loss has harmed them as much as it has us. But, brother, on my travels I met a group of men led by one named Russell. They call themselves the Separatists and their entire missive is preventing our families
—
The Roths, The Warrens, and The Ahlens
—
from creating one joined bloodline.

I don't know if you know of the Stones and their lore, but brother, not only are you and I both in danger from these Separatists; they killed our mother. It was them, Reeve
—
Russell and the others. Not Sheas, as we believed. Our anger has been misplaced. Our war belongs with them, not Sheas.

Considering what I now know, and given that they have our father, Prince Torian and I are making plans to travel at once to see Rees Hendel. We will provide the information on our mother's death that may offer him peace. Hopefully we can convince him to release father and then, and only then, will Torian and I wed. I want my father by my side, and I hope you will be there, as well. I believe we will come back to Thalmas to wed; I know Torian will insist that his sister be there. I am not sure if you knew that Torian has a sister, Terin. I didn't, but I already adore her. Their closeness reminds me of us, or at least of the way we used to be.

Torian and I have discussed it, and we know that our venture into Sheas may not be without peril, and as such we will need to take the bulk of his forces with us to ensure our safe passage. That leaves him unable to send forces directly to reinforce the fjord. However, he has issued a royal directive that decrees that all attacks in the Uplands must stop. This will be made easier if you are able to open the trade routes again from your side, allowing more food to pass through. Once the fighting ceases in the Uplands, you may rely on our more outlying estates to hopefully send aid before spring. Although I must confess that during my travels through the Uplands, I saw no presence there from the other estates, as I had expected.

Regardless, I trust in you to find the best way to see to our defense, I am not knowledgeable in these matters. Hold strong at the fjord, brother, and we will try to end it from the source itself when we seek audience with our Uncle, Rees Hendel. Once we have secured Father, if Lord Hendel does not consent to withdraw from the fjord, we will come ourselves. We will bring with us the force we are taking for protection, and we will be able to help you make our stand. It is my greatest hope that that doesn't prove necessary.

Please, brother, be wary of Russell and the harm he may wish to bring upon you. I hope to see you soon, hopefully with our father with me, as well.

With Love,

Emariya

All the color had drained from his face. She was going to ruin everything. “That stupid girl!” he bellowed. What could he do? There wouldn't be time enough to stop her. Khane wouldn't be able to stop the entire royal force on his own. He needed to think.

Pushing away from his desk he stood, carefully tucking the letter into a fold of his breeches. Grabbing his cloak from its hook by the door, he fastened it about his shoulders. With a dismissive nod to Jaryl, he slipped quietly out of his study.

The dim corridor was deserted, just as he had expected. Mairi would likely still be in the kitchens, cleaning up after the servants’ supper. Roel had no reason to come into the main house unless summoned, and Jessa, of course, had gone with Emariya. He had no problems slipping outside without being seen.

He pulled his cloak up over his head to ward against the biting wind. With a glance behind him to make sure no one was following, he moved confidently to the heavy iron gate at the rear of Warren's Rest. He fingered the key ring that hung from his belt until he found the key he was after. The ancient lock clicked open easily and, with a final glance behind him, he slipped inside.

He had never been inside the Warren's Rest dungeon until after his father's disappearance. His father had forbidden Reeve and Emariya from going anywhere near the old, seldom used prison. Reeve could understand his father not wanting his softer, more delicate sister anywhere near the prisoners, but he had never seen cause to stay away himself. He'd been sneaking out to the dungeons for as long as he could remember, and to his knowledge, his father had never known. It made it easy to visit them unnoticed now.

He'd also made good use of them since he'd taken over the Warren's Seat on the Council. He was not ashamed to admit how proud he was of the way he'd found new use for Khane and Jaryl. Before they would have been left to rot, or exiled. Now, not only had he learned to use his gifts thanks to Khane, he had secured his hold on Eltar. In time, he would control Sheas and Thalmas, as well, as long as Emariya didn't ruin everything.

As he walked deeper into the dank dungeon, the rancid air assaulted his nose. All the cells were empty, save for the farthest one. His father lay on the floor, asleep or unconscious. Reeve wasn't really sure which, not that he cared. Staying carefully out of sight in case Oren awoke, Reeve quietly watched him through the rusted upper slats in the metal wall. For so long he had been bound by his father's noble notions of right and wrong, unable to exact his revenge. Seeing the iron band around his father’s aged wrists turned the corners of Reeve’s mouth up in an ironic smile. Who was shackled now?

His stubborn father had resisted him at every turn. He'd lost count of the times he had come to his father, requesting leave to take an exploratory force into Sheas, to try and make the first strike instead of waiting, which made them vulnerable like lambs to the slaughter. Under his rule, Eltar would be the weakest land no longer, he was sure of it. Convincing the Council to follow him had been simple, until his father had tried to return, undoubtedly ready to undo everything he had begun. It was fortunate that the report had reached him first. Khane and Jaryl had intercepted him and quickly secured him in the dungeon under the cover of night.

A slight twinge of guilt settled in his stomach. He knew his sister still yearned for their father's return. Still, she was n
aïve
of the ways of war and too forgiving. He, too, could be forgiving. He didn't begrudge her softness. That was simply the way of women, and it was why they were not fit to lead. It was also why he was confident that he could convince her that everything he had done had been necessary.

He studied his father lying motionless on the grimy prison floor. What to do with him? For now, he supposed the best thing to do was to keep him here. As much as he hated his father for being too weak to do what was necessary to strengthen Eltar, he couldn't bring himself to have him killed. Reeve wasn't sure if he would ever forgive his father for leaving them at the estate alone that day. If he'd been there, Reeve believed that his mother would still be alive.

He knew undoubtedly that his father had loved his mother, Lady Valencia. It was one of the few things they had in common. Oren had punished himself for his wife's death more than Reeve ever could. Clouded by his guilt, his father had abandoned everything his mother had hoped for. Reeve wasn't stupid enough to think the peace she sought was possible through alliance. Still, if peace couldn't be brought through marriage, he'd bring it through blood. The blood of war, the blood of conquest, and the blood of the Stones.

If what Reeve had read in his father's old journals were true, the power of both Emariya and Torian would grow if they were bound. Both of his parents had noticed that after they came together, their gifts increased dramatically. It was that power which he intended to harness to take control of all of The Three Corners.

If his plans were to work, he must be able to convince the Council to make a move against Sheas, and for that he needed Sheas to provoke them. The battle at the fjord was well on its way to doing just that, come spring, but if he didn't have the reinforcements from Thalmas it would do no good. It would be a mere bonus if Prince Torian had access to his visions and was able to use them to help his new bride defend her homeland. Regardless, he wasn't counting on his visions, just his men.

Judging by his sister's letter, though, he might need a new plan. His sister could be annoyingly persuasive; she just might manage to convince Hendel not to advance. Then he'd have nothing to wave in the face of the Council to motivate them to accept his planned attack. Suddenly it struck him. Her letter. What had it said:
I am not sure if you knew that Torian has a sister, Terin.
If the Ahlens had a daughter, he could bind the lines himself.

CHAPTER FORTY-TWO

No One Loves The Moon

Emariya couldn't take it anymore. She never should have let him go without her.
Or hidden in my chambers and not said goodbye,
scolded herself angrily.

Cautiously she knocked on the door to Terin's chambers. After what seemed like an eternity, the girl opened her door sleepily. “Lady Emariya? What time is it?”

“
Its early. Very early, I'm sorry I shouldn't have come.” She started to turn away; this had been a mistake.

Terin reached out and caught her arm “No, it’s fine. Come in.” She smiled, starting to show some of her normal bubbly nature.

“
Do you know where your brother would have gone? Where is this trader he needed to see?”

Terin looked at her for a moment before answering. “He'll be back in a few days, I would imagine. Don't fret, Milady, he won't be long returning.”

“
Terin, Your Highness, I know he won't be long, but I…well, I need to talk to him and I don't want to wait another moment. Please, will you help me?”

“
Well if you put it that way.” The girl winked conspiratorially. Then she nodded. “All right, come on.”

A few minutes later they crept quietly into the stable. The horses were shifting nervously in their stalls, not used to someone being in there that early. The sun would be up soon. She'd lain in her bed all night, unable to sleep thinking about Torian before finally seeking out Terin's aid.

“
I'll stay here; they will be panicked once they’ve realized you're gone, you know. Just go over the bridge then follow the mountain line south. Don't go up into any of the mountains themselves , stick to the valley. Just go straight south, keeping close to the mountains to the east, and you should find him. The trader he went to see is only about a day's ride away; you'll likely catch him returning, anyway. Are you sure you don't just want to wait?”

Emariya nodded. “I'm sure. I've waited too long already.”

Terin smiled then gave her a hug. “Good luck.” Then she was gone.

She rode steadily across the bridge, keeping her filly at a quick trot. The horse was nervous beneath her, feeding off Emariya's own nerves. The sun was starting to paint the dark cloudy sky with shades of silver, pink, and gold as she hurried even faster through the valley. She rode without stopping for the entire day. She was beginning to think this entire idea had been stupid when she finally saw him up ahead.

“
Emariya! What the hell are you doing out here?” Torian demanded.

She wasn't sure of the answer to that herself. All she'd known was that she had to see him. “I needed to see you.”

He helped her off her horse. “Riya, don't think I'm not glad to see you, I am. Truly. But it’s not safe for you to be out here alone. Not to mention it’s not proper,” he scolded gently.

Proper? Oh, by The Three, did he think she was ever going to be proper? They were going to be doomed to be miserable together before they even had a chance.

“
I'm sorry, this was wrong. I shouldn't have come.” She turned to go. What had she been thinking?

“
Riya, don't leave. You must have had a reason to come riding out here like a maniac. Tell me. What was it?”