Nightfall: Book Two of the Chronicles of Arden (54 page)

“Deegan will be brought in shortly,” Koal said. He stood beside the only window, and Joel sucked in a sharp breath of air when he noticed Gib shadowed the seneschal. Heart hammering within Joel’s chest, he chose to stare at the intricate carpet beneath his boots. Everything else in the room felt as though it was off limits.

“What’s happened to him?” Hasain asked through gasps for air. “Why is he so ill?”

“Poison.” Aodan sat to one side of the King while Dahlia sat at the other. Both of their faces were tear trailed and worn. “Someone plotted against him. They’ve won this time.”

Hasain dropped to his knees, weeping into the blanket as he sought his father’s hand. Diddy sat on the foot of the bed, eyes searching but not seeing. “Poison? Is—is he—?”

King Rishi uttered a shallow sigh. “I’m dying.”

Both sons gasped and began to weep. Joel put a hand to his throat.
This can’t be happening
.

The King pressed on in a labored, slow tone. “Some bastard bested me. It was bound to happen sooner or later—”

“What?” Hasain bleated. “Where are NezReth and Natori? They can help you!”

“No. Marc’s seen to it that I’m not in pain, but there’s nothing more to do.”

From his seat beyond the foot of the bed, Marc made some sort of indiscernible noise. Joel hadn’t even noticed the dean when first entering the room.

Dropping his head, Hasain wailed into the quilted bedspread. King Rishi managed to lift a hand and placed it atop the young lord’s head. “Don’t, Hasain. Don’t cry for me. I’m old and have had a good life. Don’t mourn my death.”

Tears streamed down Diddy’s face. “Don’t ask the impossible of us, Da. What’ll we do without you?”

King Rishi’s face lifted into a smile for a fleeting moment, as though he were enjoying a peaceful dream. “You’re both grown. You’ll need to watch out for Deegan and Gudrin. Keep our family whole.”

Joel bit the inside of his cheek until he tasted blood. He refused to break down here. He’d already been crying for so long, and right now his cousins and aunt needed his support. He needed to be strong for their sake. Sparing a glance at Gib, Joel saw the understudy had a hand on Marc’s shoulder, offering silent comfort of his own.

“There’s not a lot of time. Hasain, I have to give you something.” The King sounded more and more tired with each passing moment. Like sand wisping through an hourglass, his life was slipping away. “It’s an unfair burden, my son, but I have no choice. I’m sorry.”

Koal took up a small box and brought it to Hasain. Joel noted the concentration in his father’s eyes as he held out the chest, and as soon as Hasain took it, Koal retracted his hands and backed away. Joel couldn’t fathom why his father would be so unnerved by such a simple thing as a box but supposed the weight of the moment might be to blame.

The King’s eyes fluttered open, looking straight through Hasain. “Don’t open it now. I wrote a letter some time ago when I knew you were the one I’d give the box to. I’ve explained why I chose you, but—I can never ask enough for your forgiveness. Only know I have no choice. Please know that.” King Rishi’s desperation made Joel wish he could offer reassurance, despite not knowing what was happening.

Hasain must have felt the same way. A trace of confusion flashed behind his dark eyes, but a moment later he took his father’s hand and squeezed it. “I believe you, Da. There’s nothing you could ask of me that I wouldn’t do for you. Worry not about this box or what’s inside.”

King Rishi blinked. “I love you.” His fragile gaze passed over Diddy as well. “Both of you—all of you children—more than I can say. Deegan will be king, but he’ll need guidance and protection. You mustn’t let the crown ever come between you. Just like this box, the crown is an empty promise. It delivers more pain than favor. Your family is the only thing you ever really have in this world.”

Joel wiped at his treacherous eyes. All around him, people wept. His aunt, Marc, Aodan, both Hasain and Diddy—even his father had to keep rubbing tears from his cheeks. The only person who’d managed to maintain his calm was Gib. He stood on the other side of the window, hands clasped in front of him, with a dazed look about him. Was this what it had been like when his father had died? It had been so long since Joel had spoken to Gib that he supposed he’d never be able to ask him.

Gib looked directly at Joel for no longer than a heartbeat before gazing back toward the window, and his heart twisted for an entirely different reason. There’d been a time when he could have mourned King Rishi’s passing with Gib, but no longer. Now he’d have to cry for yet another loss on his own.

A lone knock cut through the stifling air, and Joel twisted his head in the direction of the common room. “Someone’s here.”

Koal was on his feet and out the door before anyone could say another word.

Dahlia brushed back a strand of her husband’s unruly hair. “That may be Deegan, my love.”

“Good. I’m so damned tired.” The King’s words were vapid, completely devoid of life.

Dahlia’s quiet resignation didn’t settle well with Joel. She’d given up. They’d all given up. Where had this poison come from? What did they plan to do to catch the person responsible? Why weren’t there guards out there, right now, searching?

Koal’s muted voice carried through the hall. “In here, Deegan.”

The youngest prince was ushered inside. Deegan blinked, looking from one person to the next. Much as Joel had, once he spotted the King, the Crowned Prince couldn’t tear his eyes away. “F–Father?”

King Rishi had just turned toward his youngest son’s voice when there came a deafening crash from the hallway, followed by racing footsteps and the sound of Koal and Bailey shouting in unison, “
Gudrin, no!
”

It was too late. The door flew all the way open, knocking into Joel, and Gudrin raced through. Joel instinctively tried to grab her, but she was too fast and much too agile. She’d always been like a little cat, darting and twisting with almost super-human agility. In a glimmer of blue dress and dark hair, she whipped past Joel and only came to a stop when she stood beside Deegan. Her victorious grin fell away in an instant.

Koal and Bailey both crashed through the door a moment later, but the damage had already been done. Gudrin’s eyes were fixed on the King. Her bottom lip trembled as she took a tentative step forward. “Pa–Papa?”

King Rishi tried to lift himself up onto his elbows, but he couldn’t. “No,” he rasped, his face stricken with grief. “She wasn’t supposed to see.”

Aodan leapt from his seat and rushed at the young princess, but Gudrin saw him coming. Letting out a shriek, she made a mad scramble for the King. “
No! Papa!
” She launched for the bed and, even in his shock, Joel had to wonder how the little girl could jump so far.

Aodan reached her an instant later, lifting her from the bed. “No, Gudrin. Papa’s sick. You’ll hurt him!”

Gudrin grabbed hold of the blanket, refusing to let go. She screamed unlike anything Joel had ever heard before and shredded the heavy blanket with her bare fingers—or something. He squinted. That couldn’t be right. For just a moment, Joel had sworn he’d seen
claws
on the ends of each stubby digit.

Aodan snarled something at the flailing princess, and Joel just about fell on his backside when Gudrin growled back—not the growl of a small child, but that of a wild cat or other vicious creature. Her eyes were wide and terrified as she tried to break free from Aodan’s grip. “Let go! What’s wrong with him? Papa!”

“Calm down!” Aodan said, leveling the princess with a fearsome scowl. “Calm yerself an’ I’ll let you go to ’im. But ya can’t be climbin’ all over ’im, Gudrin. He’s sick.”

Gudrin went limp at that, any growls or snarls giving way to whimpering cries. Joel’s heart slowed just a little. As the princess softened, so did Aodan. He went from restraining her to cradling her in his arms. Together they wept as he took her to the bedside and allowed her to see her father. Gudrin nuzzled against his side and the King rested his cheek atop her head and whispered sweet words to her.

Deegan joined his sister, standing beside the bed. He reached out and placed a hand on King Rishi’s arm, and at last, tears began to cascade down his cheeks. Dahlia swept over and wrapped her arms around Deegan’s shoulders, crying with him. Behind them, Hasain and Diddy leaned on one another as they wept. Marc sat at the back of the room, his head in his hands, and Gib continued to pat the dean’s back.

Joel clenched his jaw, caught between sorrow for the loss of their king and the apprehension of what had just taken place with Gudrin. His eyes darted around the room, wondering if anyone else had noticed the frightening behavior but found no answers, only tears and heartache.

“All right.” Koal’s voice cut through the silent suite. “The only others we’re waiting on are the Blessed Mages and Roland Korbin, and then I’m going to explain everything. No questions until I’ve said my peace. Not everyone who’s here was meant to see this, but secrecy is going to be a must if we’re to succeed.” His heavy gaze fell onto first Gib and then Joel. “I’m afraid I haven’t good news and our time is short, so listen well and keep your mouths shut.”
 

The bright sun shining through the temple windows was a lie Gib could feel in his core. He could find no warmth, no comfort. Not today. All around him stood people. Some were strangers. Some he only barely knew. Others were people who’d become his second family over the past three and a half years. Hearts heavy, they all waited together to say their final goodbyes to King Rishi Radek.

Three nights prior, Gib had watched in horror as the King fell victim to his treacherous opposition. He’d been poisoned, and this time Gib hadn’t been in the right place at the right time to prevent the assassination. No one had.

The people in the kingdom knew none of this, however. Even as King Rishi took his final breaths, he made Koal promise to see to it that Marc wasn’t prosecuted. The world couldn’t know it was the Healer’s vial, laced with deadly wolfsbane, that had poisoned the King. Gib’s stomach rolled. The ugly rumors of how the King had hung himself in his bedchamber made him want to retch. King Rishi had been brave, even in the end, but no one here would ever know. They couldn’t know the truth, or Marc’s life would also be jeopardized.

Gib folded his hands in front of himself and watched as countless people shuffled through the temple, an endless procession of foreign dignitaries, Ardenian officials, highborns, and courtiers. Each stopped at the foot of the grand, marble tomb where the deceased king had been laid out and dressed in fine clothing. In death, King Rishi looked peaceful. His hair was woven into a loose braid with a golden crown perched atop it. With clasped hands resting on his still chest and sealed eyelids, Gib could almost convince himself the King merely slumbered.

The Queen and the immediate royal family stood to the side of the tomb, as was custom. After each guest said their final goodbyes to King Rishi, condolences were given to family. Gib watched with wet eyes as Dahlia, her bodyguard Aodan, and the royal children struggled to keep their composure. Crowned Prince Deegan stayed by his mother’s side while little Gudrin clung to Aodan, grasping the bodyguard’s hand. Diddy stood behind her, gently rubbing his sister’s shoulders and somehow managing to keep his own tears at bay. Gib was so caught up watching he barely realized Hasain had approached.

Eyes bloodshot and olive skin an unnatural pallid hue, the young lord glared at the procession line. “Look at them all,” Hasain said, the tremble in his voice betraying his anguish. “Saying their goodbyes as if they knew him. Of all the men who’ve passed through the temple thus far, I could name only a small handful. I hate this. He would have hated it, too.”

Gib nodded his agreement. He could almost hear the King’s disapproving snort. “My pa’s funeral was so small it was over in a mark. It was just my siblings and a few neighbors. Nothing as grand as this.”

“It’d be better if only our family and loved ones were here. Father wouldn’t have cared for all of these politicians looking at him. They’re only here to discuss what will happen tomorrow anyway.”

“Tomorrow?” Gib hadn’t bothered to think that far ahead yet.

Hasain wiped his face with a sleeve. “They’ll seal him away today. Tomorrow, who knows what will become of Arden. The council will meet to decide who will rule in his stead.” His bottom lip trembled, but he covered it with his hand. Gib pretended not to notice.