King Callie: Callie's Saga, Book One (27 page)

“Thank you,” she muttered.

“Glad you listened?” he asked, as he took the bottle back, and had a drink. Caliandra nodded. “Good,” he said. “I can get back to the barracks from here, and if anyone asks, they’ll see the bottle and my limp, and that’s all they’ll think of.” She glared at him, and saw the design on the bottle’s front - it was one from the Della Ferra vineyards, her father’s favorite. A rare and special wine, in the hands of a common soldier, posing as a drunk. She wanted to snatch it away from him, and put it back - or finish it herself. But she restrained her hands. After all, his was a good plan.

“Very well,” she said. “I will leave first.” She caught a glimpse of his eyes again; her mood softened, and she found it difficult to be completely mad with him. And he continued to stare right back, as he drew closer to her, one hop at a time. Darryn took her hand in his, lifted it to his mouth, and kissed the back of it.

“Good luck,” Darryn said; Caliandra let her hand linger in his. There was something comfortable about him, in spite of the ways in which he infuriated her, and had complicated her plan. Her heart still hammered in her chest, and beat a bit faster; a small blush rose to her face, and she looked downward, trying to hide the beginnings of a smile. She pulled her hand away, but not before squeezing his.

“Thank you,” she said, as she started for the door. It wouldn’t be far to the stairs, to her left; that would bring her up to the second floor, where she’d easily be able to find her room. Her heart pounded, and she could still taste the wine on her lips. That was when a voice sent a fright up her spine.

“Lady Caliandra?” A man asked. “What were you doing in the buttery?” She whirled around to see a castle guard, looking her over with confusion. She wagered that the shocked look on his face came from all of the dirt and grass stains on her clothing. “How did you get outside?”

“I… I snuck out,” she said. “I’m sorry. I just… I don’t know what came over me,” Caliandra replied. “My father and brother are dead, my sister’s gone…” She tried her best to think of something sad; it came quickly, but only because the feeling was so fresh. The guard’s suspicion turned quickly to consolation.

“We’ve got men out looking for you,” the guard said. “After what had happened, we were worried you’d been kidnapped. The Duchess’s worried sick.”

Caliandra glanced back at the buttery, and back at the guard. “Then take me to my mother,” Caliandra said. “I must ease her worries, promptly.”

CHAPTER FIFTY

Sophine heard the knocks at the door in the early morning; with Eliya’s early escape, and Caliandra missing, she dreaded their news. She opened the door with no small measure of trepidation; on the other side, she found stony-faced Kells, his face awash in orange torchlight.

“This came for you,” he said, as he held out a letter, “From an urgent rider. He asked that it be taken to you immediately.” She snatched it from his hand, and slid her finger under the seal; as she unfolded it, she read the words to herself. Her alertness drastically increased. Dyern, the commander from the White Stags had responded; the better part of her fortune had not gone to waste. His men had found the missing pieces of Peacebringer, and acquired the proof she requested of the thieves involved. “I’ve also been given word that Mas and Eliya have escaped… the first soldiers that Marrol sent after them have returned empty-handed.”

“Oh, that’s wonderful news,” she said, as relief filled her heart. She turned to the note, and read it once more; then, darted past him, into the hall, and held the note to the torch’s flames. Sophine watched the orange flickers swallow up the dim cream of parchment, and when it had become too hot to hold, she dropped it to the floor; there, it crumpled into a jet mass. “Who else knows about the letter?” she asked in a whisper, as she turned to him.

“Three, maybe four men at the most. But not its contents,” Kells emphasized, dour. “That much, we have in our favor. They sent it by an unmarked messenger, not one bearing their sigil.”

Sophine thought for a second about her next move. “Arrange for two horses,” she said. “I’ll be traveling to Dunsbrook on the hour.”

“I’ll arrange for three,” Kells cautioned. “Take two men with you, instead of one. Trustworthy ones.”

“No,” she said. “I will take Bevi, and two horses. It’ll be an errand, to visit a sick friend in town, and pick up silks from Talwyck. If you send soldiers with me, it will raise suspicions.”

“Duchess, I can’t agree with this,” Kells protested, “A maid can’t defend you on the road.”

“Then arrange for someone to meet me at Deckard’s Inn who can. That’s my only concern.” The rapid steps from down the hall drew her attention, and her concern; no one could know what she was planning. She quieted her voice, and turned to the source of the sound. It was a guard, escorting her daughter - who looked harrowed, and from the dirt and grass stains on her clothing, as if she’d been sleeping in the brush. “Caliandra,” Sophine said, surprised, “What happened to you?”

“Marrol’s behind it all,” Caliandra said. “I met with one of his men.” She saw the look of alarm on Kells’ face, but it was Sophine who was positively enraged. She looked back at Kells. How reckless could Caliandra be, to speak openly about the conspiracy with a guard present?

“He can be trusted,” Kells said. “He’s one of mine.” All the same, Sophine gestured for the guard to leave; she, Kells, and Caliandra entered her room, and once the door was shut, Sophine unleashed her anger on Caliandra.

“What the devil is the matter with you?!” Sophine said. “Why would you put yourself in danger like that? Are you hurt?”

“No, Mother, I’m fine,” Caliandra replied; she waved off Sophine’s concern. “Darryn’s on our side.” It was then that Sophine noticed the empty sheath at Caliandra’s hip, and became more alarmed.

“Who is Darryn? And why did you brought a
dagger
?” Sophine hissed. “Where is it? Did you hurt someone?”

“As a precaution,” Caliandra replied, with a combative tone. “I didn’t need to use it.” She glanced at Kells, who shook his head with disapproval. “It was a calculated risk,” she told him. “And it confirms what we thought - that Marrol hired the Sparrows to kill Royth as a distraction, while he and his men stole the Peacebringer pieces. Darryn was there, and he knows other men who will speak to it. We can prove Marrol was behind it.”

Kells grimaced as she spoke, and when she finished, he turned his disappointed gaze to her. “We had an agreement,” he said, “You’ve betrayed my confidence, Caliandra.”

“This is different,” Caliandra replied, looking at Sophine, whose anger had begun to boil at the very phrase
different
. “You can’t possibly hold that against me now.”

“What did she do?” Sophine asked Kells.

“She took one of Valric’s swords yesterday, and tried to go after Royth herself, on horseback,” Kells said. “I told her it was foolish, stupid, and unbefitting a lady, and I had agreed not to tell you, provided she didn’t do anything equally foolish again.”

“That isn’t fair!” Caliandra protested. “If I hadn’t gone after Royth, the opportunity to speak with Darryn wouldn’t have presented itself - and if I stayed inside, we wouldn’t have the means to arrest him.”

“You swore to me that you wouldn’t take any more needless risks,” Kells replied, sternly, “And put yourself in danger again. And that’s exactly what you did.” Caliandra seethed at the statement, and while Sophine was even more disappointed in her daughter’s behavior, she took stock of what had been accomplished; with the Peacebringer found, and with concrete proof that Marrol was involved, removing him - and punishing him - was a distinct possibility.

“Let us quit arguing,” Sophine said. “What’s done is done. I am disappointed, Caliandra, but your actions have given us an advantage we must use.”

“We can’t use it,” Kells said. “So long as he’s King Regent, he still controls a number of the soldiers, and there would need to be a majority of Ministers to rescind him.”

“We don’t need a majority,” Sophine said, “Because he won’t be King much longer. Make the arrangements, Kells. I leave promptly.” Kells departed with rapid footsteps, and with the door shut, Sophine turned to her daughter.

“Arrangements? What arrangements?” Caliandra asked. She glared at Sophine. “What aren’t you telling me about?”

“Stay with your friends,” Sophine said. “I can’t involve you in this any further. You’ve put yourself at risk enough today for our cause... It’s my turn.” she said, as the cold night air grazed her form. She pulled the chemise on over her head, and stepped into the dress, one quick leg after the other. With a tug, she raised it up to her chest, and threaded her arms through the short sleeves.

“Tell me why,” Caliandra demanded.

“I will,” Sophine said, “First, be useful and lace me.”

Caliandra sighed. Sophine felt the fabric tighten, and heard the sounds of cloth laces threaded through eye-holes. With small, final tugs, no longer did Sophine’s dress feel slack against her body; she was appropriately covered. “As I told you, I hired men to find the pieces of Peacebringer that had gone missing,” Sophine said, as she found slippers, and fitted them to her feet. “I received word that they have been successfully recovered.”

Caliandra stepped back. “That’s wonderful news,” she said, delighted. “I’ll take the throne, and Marrol will be deposed for certain.”

“It could be lies. Just the same as Royth,” Sophine replied, as she turned to face her daughter. “It is possible he said you would be King, just so I would spare his life.” The thought lingered in her mind; if it were the case, that would be disastrous. She had almost a quarter of her fortune staked on the recovery alone… and while it might force him out, Marrol would no doubt retaliate. Success depended on it. “But this is a risk I must take,” Sophine said. “Or I will regret it for the rest of my days.”

Caliandra looked down and away, then back up. “You should send somebody else,” she said. “To be safe.”

Sophine shook her head, and reached for her cloak - on the inside of her armoire - along with a large purse, filled with gold coins. “Kells has arranged for escorts to meet us there,” she said. “The mercenaries I hired will meet with no one but me. There is a great risk in this… but it is mine to take.” With that, her daughter sighed; her lips pulled downward, and her eyes were framed with worry.

“Please, be safe,” Caliandra said, concerned. “I don’t know what I’d do if -”

“You would, in time,” Sophine said, as she pulled on her cloak, and moved for the door. Each step brought her closer to her goal - and the thought of what she’d given up brought her close to tears. “I know you would.” She wrapped her arms around her eldest, and pulled Caliandra tight against her chest. “Be strong for me,” Sophine said.

“I will,” Caliandra said. Her voice was a brittle squeak, and Sophine saw tears forming in the moonlight. Caliandra brushed one away as Sophine let go, and headed for the door. She hated every step before it, and each one after it twice as much.

Yom forgive me if I fail
, she thought, as she made her way to Bevi’s quarters.
No one else will.

CHAPTER
FIFTY-ONE

A wiser man, a stronger man, a handsomer man - few enough walk this earth, and fewer still have taken my heart. You hold it in your hands, this fragile thing full of promise; this heart’s aches, marked by a trembling quill. Mark them, and know what I wish you to have - my flowering affection, both above and below.

Marrol had never known words like hers in those letters; a more poetic man might say they inflamed his spirits, and inspired him to greater heights. The truth of it was, their chance meeting had become something else entirely after he’d written her back. The whetstone he kept on his oak desk, close at hand; her first letter he hid, tucked into his coat, next to the carved black bird token. Two of his greatest secrets, on top of each other.

He thought of how to begin his latest letter; all he had, so far as ideas went, were discussions of her form, her eyes, her hair… But he was distracted by events back at Castle Claine, that weighed heavily on his mind. With Royth and the Sparrow free, he was still at risk. If they were captured -
if,
he reminded himself, knowing it was not likely - Royth could expose him. But the Seer’s name was already sullied; all the kingdom blamed him for Valric’s death. Even if Kells was the one who had done the deed, Royth was held at fault. He’d hardly be trusted.

Then, of course, there was the need to frame the Kersikki prince for the missing Sparrow. At the very least, he would be contained, and held suspect; they came with his retinue, and Marrol could cast suspicion on the Kersikki. He didn’t know who had hired Royth in the first place, but now, he hardly cared; Royth was not a problem, and with the means for a war at hand, he could rally his people’s spirits. He would prove to the world that the Barrish were not to be trifled with - even more so, without Peacebringer. And he would lead them to glory. He, and no one else.

Marrol thought for a moment, and began to write.
King I may be, a crown upon my head, all the beautiful land under my feet - the queen at my side, not the queen of my heart. I wish to kiss the things that make you lovely, all of them, each after the other until we fall asleep in each other’s arms, our troubles far away.

His troubles were close to his heart, though. The worst of it was that he thought he would feel more guilty about what he expressed, given his marriage to Patta - and yet, he didn’t. Much in the same way with seeing the guards killed, to steal the Peacebringer.