Fool's Errand (46 page)

Jeslyn, turning her attention away from the scheming confederates, had waited long enough and wanted her own answers.

“So, now it is my turn. You can shake your burlap sack at me all you want to you big bully,” she said, glowering at Goldain, “but I am going to have my say now. I promise if you do manage to bag me, you will be nursing bruised shins right after.”

The girl’s spunk seemed to amuse her cohorts. She had been told her spirit of persistent defiance could either be admirable or dangerous depending on the timing of its manifestation. Fortunately, now was a safe enough time and place to let her say her piece.

Goldain smiled at the girl.

“Go on, kiddo, I promise not to bag you as long as you keep your voice down. We don’t need every suspicious guard in the place getting an earful along with us.”

“So let me get this straight,” Jeslyn began. “Garan sprung Rarib and Podam out of jail here, and the only person who can confirm this is now likely dead by the princess’s order. We can’t talk to Rarib until we get back to Stonehold, if he is awake by then, and Podam ain’t talking to nobody again, being dead and all. Now the Cyrian princess sends us packing like a band of beggars with no more answers than when we came. We have no idea who was behind Garan other than some mysterious Blue Mystic, and we are leaving the only place where we might be able to find out before we have any chance to really investigate. Beyond that, I still have no idea if my dad is alive or dead, and our only leads, weak at best, seem to point to Parynland. That about cover it?”

“You got it, princess,” answered Goldain. “Look, we are just as anxious to find out what happened to your father as you are. The fact is if the princess knows more about Garan, she ain’t telling us. The best person to answer anything at all is Rarib. Once we get back to Stonehold and talk to him and the others, maybe we can put some pieces together. For now, we’ve hit a dead end and the best thing you can do is get some rest. According to Mel, we have a long night ahead of us.”

Jeslyn was not satisfied with the answers, but she had no idea what other questions to ask. Everything Goldain said made perfect sense, but she still couldn’t let go of the feeling that there was something more she could do or should do.

She took to one of the beds and tried to catch a nap amid the swirling thoughts filling her head. For the first time ever, she began to question whether she would ever find out what happened to her father. This singular thought had carried her this far, but now her confidence began to falter. The reality that she may truly be alone in the world haunted the edge of her consciousness.

As Jeslyn tossed and turned in a corner trying to get some sleep, Goldain pulled Gideon aside to another corner.

“So, brother,” he began, “the princess had some harsh words back there. I’ve never seen you get that riled up before. I mean Xyer Garan was a master at getting under one’s skin, but apparently, rudeness and antagonism is taught as a cultural value in Cyria. It hurt me to see you so bothered, my friend.”

“No, Goldain, you misunderstand.”

“Well you might want to explain, then. Something got you way out of sorts.”

“Yes, I admit that was not exactly my best behavior, was it?”

“Definitely lifted a few eyebrows, I’d say.”

“This problem is like a tarnished coin that no matter how many times you spend it seems to keep winding up back in your pocket. The civil war between Parynland and Cyria was hard and bitter. I am certain the Ayabim were fueling the hatred and xenophobia of Cyrus and his people. They envied so much the long life accompanying the mixing of Adami blood with the V’rassi, the earmark of the integrators I told you about. The dissenters, however, hated and feared becoming something other than human.”

“So your ancestors had something they didn’t want, but they didn’t want you to have it either? Sounds about right. We have some similar issues in Qarahni history.”

“Yes. Ignorance, prejudice, and fear walk hand in hand, and they are the fuel for bloodshed and war that ravaged our nation. Even though peace finally prevailed, it was a coerced peace accomplished by the irresistible combined might of King Paryn’s people and our V’rassi allies. It was a bitter pill that the Cyrians were given no choice but to swallow.”

“That bitterness and hatred,” continued Gideon, his eyes filling with tears, “has touched every family in both nations. There is not a Parynlander or Cyrian who did not lose relatives or friends in that bitter struggle. Because of our V’rassi-infused bloodlines, most Parynlanders still remember the war firsthand, but the Cyrians old enough to remember have passed their bitterness onto the next generation. From talks with Tarynna, it seems these feelings have been greatly amplified with the passing. I thought as time went on and memories waned that the rift between our people would fade and allow room for reconciliation. If the heart Tarynna showed us this morning is any indication of the feeling of the people, then my hope for reconciliation is slipping away like smoke on the wind.”

“Time heals, brother,” Goldain said, laying a comforting hand upon the shoulder of his captain. “Sometimes it just takes a lot of it. My people were fragmented centuries ago into the three clans. There was bitter war and struggle between the White Wyrm, the Bear and the Wolf Clans. Now the Bear and Wolf Clans have a peace and have even resumed trade between us. The White Wyrms have still chosen to remain outside and unreconciled, but open warfare has not been among our people for many generations. Be patient, brother. Your children and their children may yet see true peace between your peoples once again.”

“I hope against hope your words come to pass.”

The two warriors settled in for some uneasy rest while Melizar and Thatcher scribbled and whispered away the afternoon.

As soon as she left the room, Princess Tarynna exhaled forcibly, and a sob escaped from her throat. She wrung her hands in an attempt to stop them from shaking. Demonstrating his customary empathy, her counsellor Daemius rushed to her side. Placing a hand upon her shoulder, he spoke softly to her.

“What is it, child? Are you all right?”

She nodded.

“Their mage used some sort of
kashaph
. I felt it run through every part of me.”

A look of alarm filled the older man’s face as Daemius replied.

“Were you affected? Are you injured?”

“No, my dear Daemius,” she said, placing a reassuring hand on his arm. “Your daily wards, which you fortunately renewed just before our meeting, held true and protected me as they have my whole life. I felt them fighting against whatever he was attempting. I do not believe anything got through, and I seem to be in full control of my faculties. It was just a bit disconcerting.”

“I will send troops and have them executed at once,” snapped Field Marshal Arian.

“You will do no such thing,” Tarynna replied. “There are citizens of at least three nations among the visitors. Are you trying to align the entire northwest against us?”

“But, your highness…”

“But nothing, Arian. Whatever they tried to do it failed and I am fine.”

“Possibly,” Daemius replied. “ but I would feel better if you allow me to do some examinations myself to make sure all the wards are intact and you have no lingering
kashaph
affecting you. I think it might be prudent to have Arian arrest immediately and hold them until we determine exactly what they did attempt.”

“No, it might have been nothing more than a simple detection spell, but no doubt, they know I am warded.”

Daemius bowed his head in deference as he answered.

“That in and of itself is not unusual for any royalty. Still and all, we should act quickly to secure them until we know for certain their intentions.”

“We will do nothing overt until we meet with the alliance council. Arian, increase the guard at the State Hostel, but take no direct action against them yet. The visitors will be secure there until morning, so there is no need to be hasty.”

“As you wish, your majesty.”

Arian called for a guardsman, gave him orders quietly and dispatched him to his duties.

“Daemius, send for Dadao and Xiao Hong and have them meet us in the war room in half an hour. Arian will escort me to my ready room. A little cold water on my face, and I will be fine.”

The high counsellor bowed in acknowledgement and withdrew. Tarynna’s brief shakeup passed quickly, and she was once again clearly in command.

As Arian escorted her to her ready room, the Field Marshal broke the silence.

“Your highness, I am curious. Why did you not mention the
kashaph
powers in the meeting? We could have seized them while they were weaponless, killed the mage, and held the rest for trial. If the alliance council decides we should move against them, it will be much more dangerous to take them armed and ready. Milady, if you are to rule a kingdom, you must learn to think more strategically and seize the moment.”

“Field Marshal,” Tarynna said, her lip involuntarily curling as she suppressed her distaste for Arian’s opinions and his audacity at questioning her. “When you have ruled a kingdom, then you will be qualified to give me advice on diplomacy with potentially hostile visitors. You may have lead Cyrian troops on the battlefield, but I still lead Cyria itself, and I am more than capable of defending my own life. They may have been unarmed, but there were still five of them to three of us, and their mage was already prepared for casting while Daemius was not.”

“Yes, your highness, but I had my sword already drawn and ready.”

“Your sword would not have stopped all of them before they rushed me and snapped my neck, wards or no. And you, not being warded, would have been the first to die beneath the mage’s
kashaph
, leaving Daemius and I without physical defense. No, to have escalated a conflict at that moment would have been both reckless and imprudent.”

“My apologies for questioning your wisdom, princess.”

Tarynna could hear the seething rage beneath the field marshal’s cool exterior. This man was looking for any weakness in her, any opportunity to seize power. He would need to be watched very closely. In the meantime, he needed to learn who was in charge.

“Arian, I know you served with my father during the war, and you think of me as some pretty, brainless plaything that you hope my father awards to you some day. You can put that thought out of your head. My father will never rise from his sickbed. I have reconciled myself to that reality, and you should too.”

“Yes, your highness.”

“I will be your queen, but will never be your bride. I would see you dead on the gallows first. You keep your mind focused on the defense of our nation, and let me handle negotiations with our enemies. Are we clear?”

Arian gave a resentful nod and took his station in the hall outside her ready room. In a few minutes, she was back and en route to the war room. Arian followed, but as she passed she saw his fists were clenched, his jaw set, and his eyes staring as if to burn a hole through her. Once she had passed him to where he could not see her face, she let slip a smile of satisfaction.

As they proceeded down the hallway toward the war room, the guard she dispatched to the prison earlier approached her. He bowed deeply.

“Well,” she said in a commanding and impatient tone, “report.”

“Milady, it was as you suspected. Nearly two months ago, there was a tavern keeper named Podam in prison for murdering a gang of ruffians trying to extort protection money. There was also a bard, Rarib, in prison for nonpayment of debts. Having no family or relatives to clear his debts or look after him in prison, it is doubtful he would have survived much longer according to the jailor. Per your instructions, the jailor Marut has been taken into custody and is awaiting the executioner.”

“Perhaps, I was a bit brash with that order.”

“Begging your pardon, highness?” inquired the guardsman.

“If Lord Garan commanded Marut to release the prisoners to him, he would have no choice but to obey a Cyrian Lord. This still does not explain why he did not report the incident, but perhaps Garan was behind that as well. Have the executioner delayed until I have a chance to personally interview Marut. He has been a faithful and responsible jailor for many years. It would be a shame to lose him over something he had no choice but to be complicit in.”