Many Roads Home (29 page)

He didn’t answer. He couldn’t speak without weeping and he refused to weep.

He heard the thunk of Yveni removing his boots, and the soft padding of his feet as he crossed the floor. Then the weight of him on Paole’s bed, and the weight of him on Paole’s body. Paole’s arms went around him as Yveni rested his face in the crook of Paole’s neck. Oh, how he’d missed this. How he would miss it too.

Yveni’s words were a warm breath against his neck. “I love you, Paole.”

“I know. I’m sor—”

Yveni put his fingers on Paole’s lips, silencing him. “Just hold me.”

So he did.

Chapter Twenty-Four

Paole was still asleep when Yveni rose, heavy-eyed and heavy-hearted. He thought about waking his lover but considered it kinder to let him rest. He kissed his forehead and slipped out of the room.

Gil, Ferdi and the two servant boys were at breakfast, so Yveni didn’t speak about Paole or about his plans. Instead the talk was of when the women and children would come back, and when the city would return to normal. Yveni ate and let the others carry the conversation.

“You’ll come with me this morning?” Yveni asked Gil when he’d finished eating.

“Of course. Are you ready?”

The streets were quiet, though some of the market stalls were back in operation and some of the shops were open. Yveni suspected the main reason for the slow start was the volume of ale consumed the night before.

“How’s Paole?” Gil asked.

“Asleep. Miserable. I don’t know what to do.”

“Do as you must, and talk to him. Concentrate on the task in hand, though. This isn’t a childish enterprise. Your return could spark a civil war.”

“I’m aware of that,” Yveni snapped. “Half our constitution was developed after the last war to prevent another ever happening again. Of course, we didn’t plan for murderous regents. I want to be rid of him, and I don’t care how we do that, so long as the people don’t suffer.”

“That’s the trick, isn’t it.”

They walked on in silence, Yveni contemplating the awful prospect of another war rending the prosperous and peaceful duchy he loved. Sardelsa was one of the richest and most stable members of the Unity of duchies. If it could be thrown into conflict so quickly, it must send a chill through other less prosperous or secure entities. It could destabilise, even destroy the Unity. Yveni couldn’t allow that to happen.

They found Markov and the other officers waiting for them in a secondary chamber kindly provided by the governors, though none of them were present. Markov explained that Their Excellencies felt it wasn’t for them to be involved in Sardelsan internal politics. “They won’t ask any citizen to go with our force. But they equally won’t hinder them.”

Yveni nodded. “Only fair. Now, your views?”

“There are two approaches, Your Grace. One is the frontal, bold push, the other the secretive entry. The risk with the former is that it creates maximum civil disruption and exposure. The latter means you can’t count on public support and Konsatin could murder you and dispose of you without anyone being aware you’d returned.”

“I won’t slip back into my own home like a thief. No, we make a show, but with no public accusations regarding Konsatin’s treachery unless he forces our hand.”

Gil agreed. “People will be happier to accept a miracle from the gods than that they’ve been duped. The less ill will you create, the more united your backing.”

“I have a thousand men, Your Grace. Konsatin’s brother had sent three hundred from Enholt for ‘support’ before I left. We have to assume more have arrived.”

“Yes,” Yveni said. “But Enholt won’t want all-out war, not without a credible pretext. Handling the public mood will be essential. Our friends from Uemire will have to keep a low profile, and their role kept discreet.”

“But there will be Uemiriens with you, I promise,” Gil said. “If you had but one or two seers, a handful of mind controllers—”

“Excuse me, Gil, what are you talking about?” Markov frowned in confusion.

Yveni sat back and let Gil explain, enjoying the wave of surprise and even alarm among the Sardelsan soldiers as they realised that the tall tales and myths about Uemiriens were actually true, and had been the reason they came close to defeat in battle the day before.

“By the panoply of gods,” Markov breathed. “If we had that kind of help, it would make all the difference. But will we have it?”

“We can ask. The Uemiriens might not be too friendly to us right now.”

“Understood. But to see the future! Incredible.”

“Not exactly ‘see’,” Gil explained. “They receive a series of images, which can be difficult to interpret, especially when the future is rapidly changing and the seers are far from the event. When the images are consistent across seers, and to each one, then the probability is greatest. That’s why you need more than one, if you can. A skilled seer, such as my wife, can work on her own, but two or more is best.”

“Then we can only hope we receive that help.”

They talked until noon, making plans. The key issue was the population. If Yveni met hostility, then he’d have to choose whether to force his way forward or not. He couldn’t stomach the idea of fighting his own people or going against the heartfelt wishes of the majority. But the idea of leaving them in Konsatin’s hands equally revolted him. He couldn’t abandon his sisters either. Gil raised the idea of assassination, which met with some support among the officers.

“You’re asking me to begin my reign with a heinous crime,” Yveni said. “How is that different from what Konsatin is doing?”

“You’re the heir.”

“He’s the lawful regent. No. Killing him in battle is one thing, but not murdering him in his sleep.”

“Putting him down like a mad dog,” Gil muttered.

“He’s bad, not mad. Try him, then hang him. That’s the law.”

He instructed Markov to refine the plans as discussed, for further examination the following day, and met the leader of the city wardens to arrange recruitment. Other than asking the Sardelsan officers to offer advice and training to the Uemiriens to bolster their defences, he could do nothing more that day.

Only as he walked back with Gil did he realise he hadn’t given Paole a second’s thought since that morning. His desire to leave Horches died on the spot. The sooner he left, the sooner he’d be without his lover.

But maybe that would be the best. Cut things off cleanly and quickly. Too late for that, though.

Gil noted his preoccupation. “You’re worried about the plans?”

“Aren’t you?”

“I’m more worried what Sofia will do to me when she finds out I’m going with you.”

“You don’t have to come. Your Vision’s helpful, but not essential.”

“Lad, I know that castle like the back of my hand. I’ve a feeling that’ll come in useful. Besides, I’ve got a personal stake in this. Bastard chucked me out of my job and my home, and slandered my son. He’s made a lot of my people very angry indeed.”

“True. But Sofia won’t just skin you alive, she’ll come after me. Once you’re down, who’ll protect me?”

Gil grinned. “Every man for himself, Yveni. Now. I’d best find my sons and tell them what’s happening. Could you let Ferdi know I’ll be home later?”

Ferdi was back in business, sitting in the foyer and looking over his orders with his clerks hard at work in the back office. “How did it go?”

“Fine. Never planned an invasion of my own country before.”

Ferdi grimaced. “Can’t be fun. I have some more bad news for you.”

“Damn. About Sardelsa?”

“No, you. You’re sacked as a clerk, I’m afraid. Can’t have an heir to a duchy working for me. Looks odd.”

Yveni grinned with relief. “That’s all right. I’d have to resign anyway since I’m going home. Where’s Paole?”

“He’s moved back to his apartment. The crisis is finished, after all.”

“Oh. Then I’ll go over—”

Ferdi put his hand on Yveni’s arm. “Wait, lad. I think you should give him some time. He had a lot of things on his mind. I suspect you were one of them.”

Yveni was torn. What if Paole was waiting for him to come over? “Can I ask a favour, Ferdi? Would one of your boys run over with a message from me later?”

“Of course.”

He’d let Paole know he’d come at any time. Then he’d have to wait and see if he was called.

Paole sat in his closed shop and wondered if he should even attempt to open for business before Raina came back. His young clerk had evacuated with the rest, so it was just him to handle things. He’d been in the shop for hours and not a soul had called by—too many other things to worry about, he suspected.

He should have been doing an inventory but he couldn’t seem to get moving. Instead he sat and stared at the rows and rows of drug drawers and bottles, not seeing any of them. Instead he remembered the day before, with Yveni. The sweet sounds he’d made, and the taste of him. Feeling him humming with life and health and desire, and the bright flare in his loins as he came. The first time, and possibly the last, unless Paole threw away all he’d built up over a year and went running after the boy. Which the boy might not even want.

The only thing missing from his life over this year had been Yveni. When they’d reunited, Paole had foolishly thought he could want for nothing more. Stupid of him. Life was never that generous. What it gave with one hand, it took with the other.

Now he had to decide which meant more to him—his business or his lover. Perhaps Yveni had already made the choice and all this stress was for naught.

He grunted and stirred himself. He had work to do, and if Yveni was a lost cause, the work was all he’d have. Better get on with it then.

The evacuees turned up the following evening, earlier than Gil would have predicted. Sofia explained that their seers had been fairly confident of Yveni’s success and had decided to start back the day the Sardelsans arrived.

Raina was beside herself with happiness, until Yveni told her firmly she would not be going to Sardelsa with the army. “You promised I could train in the infirmary! And Sofia’s going. It’s not fair.”

“I did promise and I meant it. But I don’t have any power to put any trainee in the infirmary now. You’re still studying at the university and Paole depends on you, and Sofia’s got a useful gift.” And Yveni well knew he hadn’t a hope in hell of dissuading her.

“I’ve got a useful gift too. I’m a healer!”

“The army has medics, and I’m not changing my mind. Don’t even think of stowing away either. This isn’t a book, Raina. I’ll have those ships searched top to bottom before we leave.”

“I don’t like you at
all
.”

Gil grinned over her shoulder at him. “Too bad, my lady,” Yveni said. “Now run along and see how your employer’s doing. I think Ferdi’s holding an open house so you could invite him to supper.”

“Why don’t you invite him? He’s
your
lover.”

Sofia winced. Gil put his hand on her arm. “Yveni’s got things to deal with here. We’ll see you at supper. Paole will want your news and your drugs.”

Raina pulled a face, but climbed back aboard the wagon and flicked the reins to make Denil move. Sofia wiped her brow as she watched the wagon rumble off. “I’ve aged ten years, I swear. Husband, you may make me tea. Yveni, I’m so glad you had the good sense not to argue with me, and to prevent her going.”

“One of you is more than enough.” He jumped smartly to avoid her smack. “I’d be happier if you remained. I don’t need to say that.”

“No, dear. So Paole’s not going with you?”

“Uh.” Was that a prediction?

Gil rescued him. “There’s a few things to sort out, Sofia. Leave the lads to work it through. Come inside.”

It ended up being quite the party, with Gil’s sons, their families, Ferdi’s servants and
their
families, and even some of the neighbours. Yveni was the toast of all present, and beleaguered by questions until he finally hid in the kitchen and begged Sofia to save him.

“Some hero,” she scoffed. “Here, take this out to the horses.” She handed him some fruit and vegetables that were a little past their best but fine for the animals.

“Raina hasn’t returned?” Paole’s shop boy had brought Denil back some time ago, but not the wagon.

“I’ll send her to you when she does.”

The cool night air was a blessing after the heat in the house. Luna heard him coming and poked her nose out of the stall, knowing that humans often had treats in their pockets.

How often had he done this? Come down to the stables to visit Ande, or some of Gil’s other charges, to bribe them with fruit or sweet things, and make friends with them. Some of the happiest memories of his life were connected with horses. Would he have time for this in the future, once he was grand duc? His life was about to change again, and again quite dramatically. All his life he’d prepared for it, but he’d never asked himself if he’d
enjoy
it. Still, enjoy it or not, he had to do it.