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Chapter 26
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“Good morning, Gable. Is my brother awake yet?”
Gable nodded, trying not to smile. “Yes, Your Highness.”
“She’s still here.”
“Yes. Prince Garan is here too.”
“Really?”
“He arrived early this morning, wishing to see his father.”
“At least it ought to be safe to go in then,” he said and made his way back to his bedroom.
“I wouldn’t count on that.”
Dynan stopped at the door, but didn’t hear anything, and when he went in found only Garan, or rather a mop of blond hair visible from beneath the covers, almost an indistinguishable lump. Dain and Bronwyn weren’t there. He heard the water running in the washroom and glanced back at Gable, who only smiled at him. Dynan rolled his eyes, aware that his brother wasn’t doing anything more than taking a bath, but didn’t doubt that would change. He quickly retrieved what he planned to wear for Danetha’s arrival, forgoing the more comfortable uniform for formal attire. He moved down the hall to a guestroom to change. He found Gaden waiting for him in his study when he finished, message in hand.
“Did Marc write this himself?”
Dynan smiled over it, but soon lost his good humor the more he read. Marc’s encounter with Alvuen settled a knot in his stomach. Alexia apparently wasn’t satisfied with their agreement if she was allowing Alvuen to openly speak of the gems. With the Governor’s Ball that night, the risk of word getting out only increased, and Dynan wondered if the Queen had plans to see that it did. Then he read about the message Marc had sent to the Planning Committee Governors. For a moment, he didn’t want to believe it.
“Gaden, has this message to the Governors been sent already?”
“Yes,” he said slowly.
Dynan rubbed his eyes. “I’m just going to stop getting out of bed,” he muttered. “Tell Marc I’ll be right down, and that I’ll deal with Alexia. What’s happening with Allie?”
Gaden explained how the com system repairs were going, and for a change, it seemed good news. “We’re not there yet, but we’re close.”
“All right. How is the Guild managing?”
“Well enough, but they hope we get the system fixed soon.”
“Don’t we all.” He nodded and was about to send Gaden on when Jarrid came in. Since Logue’s attack, there was a guard stationed in the room.
“The jeweler is here to see Prince Dain, Your Highness.”
“Oh good. Now I get to keep my brother’s appointments too. Gaden, thanks, and send the jeweler back on your way out. Gable, that’ll be all for now, thank you.”
The jeweler arrived and soon the top of the desk was covered with sparkling gems. When shown the original two, Dynan couldn’t tell the difference. “This is really amazing.”
“Thank you, Your Highness. They did turn out well. I also had time to make this for the young Prince.” He held out a box and inside a small signet ring sparkled.
“The first one. I remember that. I don’t suppose the ones we wore are around any more.”
“Actually, according to my records, when you and Prince Dain outgrew your original crest rings, the King had them reset – traditionally at no additional cost.”
“That’s good to know. Thank you. I’ll tell Dain. I’d like to take care of the payment for this myself. You didn’t give Finance the bill, did you?”
“Prince Dain directed me to bring it to him, so I have it with me, but in the interest of cooperation, you needn’t pay the full amount now. The Palace paid all its outstanding debts, so I’m quite able to wait.”
“That’s reasonable of you, but I’d like to avoid holding too many open accounts.” He moved to the chest he’d pulled out from his vault, taking the meticulously documented paper from the jeweler with him. The pile of gold coins dwindled to a small handful. He did a reasonably good job of not showing any alarm over that fact, still pretending that there was a mountain of gold stacked up in the tower like everyone believed. “Do you want an escort to your shop with all this?”
“Thank you, Your Highness, that’s considerate of you, but I doubt needed. I have a transfer and Rianamar is quite safe again. Please let me know if I may be of further service to you.”
“I will. Just please make certain you don’t speak to anyone about the gems.”
“I understand. Good day to you.”
Dynan sat at his desk after the jeweler left, questioning the wisdom of taking this risk. If Alexia ever discovered these gems weren’t the real ones, she’d see him removed as Cobalt’s Heir, and likely have half the system annexed to her own. It was too late to change his mind about it though, as the real gems were already in the hands of the clothier. He set the two real ones aside, and retrieved the case he meant to give to Alexia. Just as he finished with the gems’ arrangement, Dain wandered in. He looked a little tired, but otherwise in a better mood than Dynan had seen in a while.
“Wow,” he said as he looked in the case. “These the real ones?” He fingered the sapphire and diamond still lying on the desk. “This the bill? Really? You just spent half the damn kingdom on this girl! Literally!”
“I’m going to start making you pay rent if you keep using my bedroom. That ought to make me solvent by what, next week? You think? Here, this is for Garan.”
“You get any sleep last night?”
Dynan looked up at him. “No, Dain, not much. You?”
He laughed. “No, but then you didn’t spend most of yesterday dying either. Not a bad way to end that day, considering how it started out. Not a bad way to start this one either. When’s her most Royal Hoitiness arriving?”
“Lunch.”
“Have you eaten yet? Better get something now before your appetite is ruined.”
“I have to get downstairs. Marc is at it again. He must be having some sort of short-term memory loss since he can’t seem to remember what I told him not to do just two days ago.”
Dain bit back a smile. “What now?”
“He’s busy pissing off every Governor in the system, is all. Security this time, for the Governor’s Ball. I bet by the time I finish with Alexia, I’ll have messages from the Planning Committee wanting an explanation.” He stood, picking up the jeweler’s bill and tossed it into the fire. The paper blackened as it curled from the heat, reduced to floating ash the next moment. “He’s right this time, which will only make it worse when I have to appease them somehow. They don’t want any armed guards in the Hall, if you can believe that. Marc’s probably made them so angry, I’ll be lucky if they don’t retract the invitation. Not the best way to start things off with them, as if the Governor’s meeting wasn’t enough.”
“I take it Marc told them we’re bringing armed guards, like it or not,” Dain said.
“Pretty much.” Dynan picked up the gem case. “I have to go. Just remember, if you plan on staying here tonight, it’ll cost you.”
The meeting with Alexia was as unpleasant as Dynan expected, but she was pleased with the gems. She examined them closely enough to make him nervous. She didn’t show any sign of suspicion though. She kept him longer than he wanted to stay, and when she started questioning him about Loren, he understood why. Alexia was determined to have her removed from the forefront of Palace affairs. She especially objected to Loren planning his coronation. Dynan wasn’t giving in on that though. He wanted her known throughout the system, so that when the Coronation Ball finally arrived, the people would know her and more importantly, accept her. He couldn’t make too much of an issue of it. Finally, trying to appeal to Alexia’s sense of fairness, he convinced the Queen to leave Loren alone. For now, she amended, without needing to say that if Loren’s reputation began to overshadow Danetha, she would change her decision.
He managed to escape her after that, but had little time to get any actual work done before Danetha was due to arrive. He walked down to the main hall, and saw all three Governors from the Planning Committee walking in the front door. Dynan swore under his breath, and felt like turning around. They saw him, of course, so it was too late.
“Governors, it’s nice to see you again,” he said once he arrived at the office where they waited.
“I assure you, Your Highness, there is nothing pleasant about the need for this visit.”
Dynan barely kept the cryptic response that came to mind behind clenched teeth, and as politely as he could manage, invited them to his office. “Gray, could you see to the Governors’ refreshment,” he said. “I’ll be with you shortly.” He ducked into the com office and quickly shut the door. Allie and Trevan looked at him while he leaned back. “Please tell me you’re closer to getting this fixed.”
Allie nodded tightly. “We’re running the last test sequence now. Com should be back up before we leave for the ball. Or, it would be, if Marc would allow it.”
“Why wouldn’t he?”
“To tell you the truth, I don’t know. I just spent the last hour explaining all the new security parameters we have now, how the chip has been nullified, and he’s just not listening. He doesn’t want the system on, but he won’t say why, except he’s worried that Logue will find a way back in.”
“Is that a valid concern?” Dynan asked.
“Not really,” Trevan answered. “We’ve practically rebuilt the programming base from nothing. Everyone’s access codes are changed. We put the chip signal in a box loop should a transmission ever be detected again. If Logue is able to get in after all that, then we’ll have to face the fact that we no longer have a secure system and won’t until we design a new one. We’ve about done that already. I don’t think he can break in again.”
“If he does, what could he do?”
“Shut us down, but he won’t be able to eavesdrop any more. He never got close to any secured files in the first place. All information pertaining to you, or anything to do with you has been shifted to high secure subsystems. Everything.”
Dynan looked at Allie, who seemed more than a little angry. “All right. Tell me one more time and if I’m satisfied, you can go ahead.”
Allie nodded and launched into an explanation that Dynan thought extremely well presented and left him wondering why Marc didn’t want the system up. Partly because he was angry with him, and partly because he didn’t want to argue about it, Dynan agreed with Allie.
“Do it. I’ll tell Marc I trust your judgment. He’ll get over it.” He turned for the door.
“He’s not the one who’s supposed to be in charge here anyway,” Allie muttered as he returned to his station, and Dynan felt he hadn’t meant for him to hear that.
He stopped and held the door. “Allie?”
“I ... I’m sorry. I didn’t mean that.”
“Afraid he’s trying to take control or something?”
“No, Dynan.”
“Worried that Maralt will get away from him, that he’ll take over and we won’t know it?” Dynan saw by the quick flash of fear across his face that Allie was more than worried about that possibility. “Dain and I aren’t going to let that happen, and neither will Marc. But, if you ever feel uncertain about him, come tell us about it. All right?”
Allie nodded slowly, obviously unhappy with the thought that Marc could turn on them. Dynan understood it though, sharing the same fear, remote though he wanted it to be. Allie shook his head. “Don’t tell him I said that. He doesn’t deserve it.”
“I won’t tell him.” Dynan left the door open, pasting on a smile he didn’t feel for the Governors, and escorted them back to his office. Marc and Gaden were going over the rest of the day’s schedule. “If you’ll go into my office, I’ll be right with you. Governor Valsand, I’m aware of your concerns. I’ll be with you in a moment.”
He pulled in a breath, wishing he could close his office door.
“Marc,” he said in a low voice, “are you doing this to make my life a waking nightmare, or what? Gaden, out. I guess you forgot – again – about clearing it with me before you make any official decisions? Remember me? The future King? The one who never seems to know what’s going on around here until it comes up and clubs me over the head?”
Marc didn’t know what to tell him, but the realization crossed his face that he’d just made the same mistake twice. He shook his head.
“You forgot.”
“No. I mean, yes. I wasn’t—”
“Thinking?”
“Look, why don’t you just shoot me, all right? Do everybody a big favor.”
“Maralt for certain. I happen to agree with you this time, but I wouldn’t have let you send out that message.”
“It’s my job to make sure that you’re safe. I thought this was covered under that clause in the charter. Protect the Prince. You know, that one.”
“You’ve got to work on your diplomatic skills. This system’s Governors can only be pushed so far before they push back. They’re here to do that now and I’ll have to let them. So, do you think you can come in with me and take it, or not? Be honest now, because it isn’t going to be pleasant.”
“Like I said, just shoot me.”
“Sorry, you aren’t getting off that easy. You coming?”
“Yes. All right. I’m coming.”
“Need a hand?”
“I remember the way in there.”
“Governors,” Dynan said as he entered, waving them back down as he moved behind his desk. Marc followed, standing to his immediate left. He kept his eyes half closed and on the floor. Dynan guessed he had to be at least a little self-conscious about the way he looked, and he saw all three Governors staring. He cleared his throat and regained their attention. “I understand we have a disagreement about security for the ball.”
“Not until your First Minister began meddling with our completely adequate plans,” Valsand said while the other two nodded. Valsand was the younger of the three, but still a contemporary of Ambrose Telaerin. Couland and Cumoref were closer in age to Xavier. “And then we received this ... this directive from our esteemed Lord Chancellor.”
Dynan didn’t bother looking at the sheaf of paper Valsand practically threw across the desk. “I’ve seen it, Governor.”
“You mean to say you approved this?” Cumoref asked.
“I don’t need to approve it. The Lord Chancellor has every right to see to my safety. It’s part of his job, a fairly large part lately, but, as the Governor’s Ball is under your purview, I can see where you could consider our actions as intrusive. I want to assure you that this was not our intention. Lord Chancellor Talryn and First Minister Blaise are only concerned that security precautions are being taken. I understand you have some objections to our requests. I’m sure if we go over these concerns together, a decision can be reached.” He turned to Marc. “Would you go ask Ralion to join us?”
“Yes, Your Highness,” he said without any hesitation, but with the slightest touch of resignation.
Dynan bit back a smile. “I need Gaden too, and while you’re out there, ask Allie if he has a timeframe for when the com system will be back up.”
Marc stopped, took a breath, and nodded. “Yes, Your Highness.”
Dynan winced inwardly, forgetting that he hadn’t told him about the com system decision, and Marc wasn’t prepared to hear that a schedule was even being contemplated. It was exactly too late to forewarn him now. They all heard him drumming his fingers along the wall. Dynan kept the smile intact, acting as if there wasn’t any difficulty at all.
“Governor Valsand, would you please explain what arrangements you and your colleagues have made for the security of the Royal Family, Queen Alexia, King Creal and King Drake?”
Marc stopped about midway down the hall before the com office after finding Ralion’s office silent, and tried to rein down a flash of anger. He should have known that Dynan would allow the com system to be brought back online, but it surprised and angered Marc that Allie had gone behind his back to get it done. Trevan too.
“Gaden?” he asked as he reached the door and went in.
“Right here, Marc.”
“Dynan needs you for something.”
“Sure. Uh, is he going to yell at me?”
“I doubt it. I think having the Governors here is probably why not. We can hope that won’t change when they leave. Allie?”
“Yes.”
“Dynan wants to know if you have a schedule for bringing the com system back on.”
When Allie didn’t answer immediately, Trevan did, and Marc felt like he cut him off. “We should be partially up in the next few minutes. Communications only. No file access yet.”
“Marc, I didn’t—” Allie began.
“You don’t have to explain. Dynan knows well enough why I didn’t want this to happen. His decision. Where’s Ralion?”
Trevan answered again. “He went upstairs to get ready for Danetha’s arrival.”
Marc swore silently. “Send a messenger up and tell him to hurry. We’re having a security meeting with the Governors and he needs to be here now, and have Thurmond bring down something appropriate for me to wear to this thing with Danetha.”
He didn’t get an answer except for Trevan sending the messenger on the run to Ralion, but not to Thurmond. “The schedule we have for you says you’re supposed to rest,” Trevan supplied after a brief silence.
“I don’t have to be there?” Marc asked and smiled. “You’re kidding?”
“No. You can thank Geneal later.”
“I will. Good. Thanks Trevan.”
“Sure.”
“Can you get a copy of that schedule to Gaden? As of today, I’m making him my assistant.”
Complete silence followed that statement. Finally, Trevan cleared his throat and gave him a parchment. “I’ll see he gets it.”
Marc nodded, turned, and retraced his steps, but he heard Allie start to complain anyway. When he got back to Dynan’s office Gaden was explaining that preparations for Danetha’s arrival were complete and that Loren had runners stationed outside. Marc knew they wouldn’t be necessary for much longer, once the com system was back up. He returned to his place, waiting for Gaden to finish. Ralion came in before he did, and stood beside him.
They spent the next hour listening to Governor Valsand explain why it was so important that the guests at the ball not be intimidated by the number of guards. It all came down to appearance, and the Committee’s belief that it just wouldn’t be appropriate for armed guards to be present. Marc knew what was coming, and he didn’t want to stay to hear it. While Dynan didn’t agree to all their demands, he cut the number of guards by over half, and only his personal guard would be armed. That was close enough to what the Governors wanted to make them happy. They assured Dynan that all the serving staff had been carefully chosen, and of course, the guest list was a select group of Cobalt’s respected families, who therefore, posed no danger at all.
Just as the Governors were preparing to leave, a chirp sounded from the companel on Dynan’s desk, and Allie announced that the system was up. Everyone greeted that news with relief that Marc didn’t feel. Dynan turned back to the Governors. “I look forward to seeing you this evening, gentlemen.”
“You are assured a delightful time, Your Highness. Thank you for addressing our concerns.”
They said their goodbyes, and finally left with Gaden to escort them to the front door. Marc waited while Dynan talked to Ralion for a minute before sending him off.
“Come sit down,” Dynan said, and led him over to the fireplace chairs. He fixed himself a drink, more than one by the sound of it, bringing over a glass of water. Marc drank that down, and was given another before Dynan joined him. “I’m sorry,” he said.
Marc shook his head. He didn’t want to talk about it. He didn’t feel good about any of it, and he was suddenly very tired.
“I know there’s a risk Logue can get back in, but it’s a chance I’m willing to take. We can’t do without a com system.”
“I understand, Dynan.”
“You don’t look like you do.”
“What do you want me to say, that I’m thrilled you’re going to this ball with half the guards you should have, all because the Governors don’t want it to look bad? Unarmed guards? What good are they if they can’t carry a weapon?”
“There’s a longer view that I have to take here, Marc,” Dynan said quietly, “which means I have to take the short-term risk. I know it’s hardly safe for me to walk from my room to my office, much less out the front door.”
“That’s right. So tell me, where is the long term if you die, or if all of you die? What then?”
“The long term is I can’t hide any more. The long term is I have to look like I know what I’m doing, even when I don’t. I have to project some sense of confidence that we’ll all get through this, even when I don’t feel it. If I show up at that ball with the regiment of guards you and Ralion had assigned for the event—”
“It wasn’t a regiment.”
“—I’ll end up convincing everyone of just the opposite. People are worried enough after all that’s happened. Forget about Maralt for a minute. If they knew about him and this weakening, or the reason behind the black vortex spinning over the mountains out back ... Forget about that, because they’re scared enough without knowing it. I can’t show up at one of the largest social events of the year, looking like I don’t trust a single person there. So, I have to take the chance that what security we do have will be enough.”
“Don’t you think that so public an attack on you and your family would have an even worse impact than the appearance of implied mistrust?”
“I’ll tell you why I’m not as worried about this as you are, but it won’t likely make you feel any better.” He stood and leaned over his chair. “I have you. My own personal warrior from the Gods.”
Marc started at that, and at the same time weariness descended on him. It was suddenly difficult to breathe, and he heard the concern in Dynan’s voice. “No, I’m all right.”
“Maybe you better head upstairs. You look a little pale all of a sudden.” Marc nodded, feeling more tired than he had before, and started to get up. Next thing he knew, Dynan had caught him, and kept him from falling. “You need to sleep.”
“I can’t.”
“Sure you can. You’ll be all right. Here, over to the couch. You can sleep here.”
“No.” Marc straightened, trying to stop him.
“What? What’s wrong?”
“Not here.”
“You’ll never make it up the stairs,” Dynan said, and put him down on the couch. Marc shook his head, and pushed himself up, tried to stand and couldn’t. “Oh. Wait a minute. I understand. Marc, stop. Just sit here a minute, all right? I’ll get you upstairs.”
He relaxed only a little, still afraid Dynan would let him fall asleep here. There were too many memories of Maralt putting him on this same couch. Marc didn’t think he should sleep anyway, but he was having a hard time keeping his eyes open. He felt it start, the high-pitched whine that changed to whispering voices, all of them seductive, and fought to stay awake. “I can’t.”
“I know. I’ll get you upstairs to your own bed. I promise.”
“No, that’s not ... Dynan, I can’t go to sleep. Not yet. I can’t. Call Geneal. Tell her she has to give me something that will keep me awake.”
“She won’t. Are you kidding? Look, you aren’t going to lose Maralt just because you close your eyes for a few hours.”
“I think I could. I need another day to get used to this. We can’t afford to take the chance. Not with this. Call Geneal.”
“She won’t do it, Marc. The kind of thing you’re talking about can kill you if it’s done wrong. She’ll take one look at you and probably give you something to make you sleep. Can’t you do that ... I don’t know what you call it—”
“I don’t call it anything, and no, not with you. Never with you.”
“Why not?”
Marc almost laughed because Dynan sounded as though his feelings were hurt. “You’re the King, and it’s forbidden.”
“Oh. All right. I’ll call Dain.”
“Call me what?” Dain startled them both from the door. “Danetha is on her way down.”
Dynan growled a little. “Great. Come here. Marc needs to do what ever it is you do when he gets too tired.”
Dain flopped down beside him and draped an arm around him. “Can’t do without your daily dose? Will it get me out of the meet and greet?”
“Shouldn’t,” Marc said, already feeling better just being around Dain. “Well, maybe some of it.”
“I don’t think Alexia will mind if you’re not there,” Dynan said, and stood. “Is Bronwyn coming?”
“I dropped her off with Loren.” Dain leaned closer over to Marc. “Did you have as good a time as I did last night?” Dynan started laughing and Marc pushed Dain away. “I had to do something to keep you up.”
“Be sure to tell Bronwyn I said thanks.”
“Maybe I should tell my sister instead.”
Marc reached over, put his hand over Dain’s heart, and concentrated. The room emerged into sharp focus. Light filled him and he could breath again.
Dain blinked at him. “This is different,” he said, smiling as he settled back into the corner. “You remember.”
Marc nodded. “Some things are given.”
“We seem to be getting more of those,” Dynan said. “Maybe I’m more right about them than you think. I won’t believe that Car—I mean, I don’t think that ... uh...”
Marc looked over at Dynan and saw him cringe, looking quickly to see if Dain heard him.
“Carryn? What about her? Wait a minute, Marc. Stop.”
“He didn’t say anything,” Marc said. “Not now, Dain.” His eyes fluttered closed under protest. He looked over at Dynan again, shaking his head at him. Then he looked beyond him to the window. “It’s snowing.”
“Yes. Again,” Dynan said. “I’m sorry. I should have told you that.”
Marc shook his head again and left Dain, entering Dynan’s mind. He moved to the window, watching the snow drift by in gentle swirls. He turned from it though, knowing he shouldn’t stay too long with Dynan, but looked around the room anyway. He couldn’t help it. When he saw Allie coming and he forgot about being mad at him.
Allie stopped abruptly when he realized that Marc was really looking at him, lowered his gaze, and turned quickly to Dynan. “Alexia is coming down the main stair.”
Dynan smiled, glancing down at his desk. “What happened to having the com system back on?”
“Loren sent me back here to get you.”
“All right. Let me know when Her Majesty is halfway down the hall. Is Creal with her?”
“No. He and Drake are in the guest wing parlor. Ralion, Neithia Bairing, Lady Juleta Gurrell, most of Alexia’s Ladies, Creal’s staff and Trevan are with them.”
“Where’s Alvuen?” Marc asked.
“She’s coming down with the Queen. Lady Clarien is with her as well.” Allie moved to Dynan’s desk. “Gaden, where is Her Majesty now?”
Shalis answered from the door. “Close enough to notice you aren’t there. Come now.”
Marc left Dynan, and the dark returned, startling in its severity after the brightness of the world. Dynan reached to steady him, and guided him to the couch. “Go on. I’m all right.”
Dain stirred, and seemed to be trying to wake. Dynan couldn’t delay any longer, but Marc suspected he wanted to. Shalis urged him toward the door, and he relented. Marc started to get up when he realized Shalis hadn’t gone with him. She sat next to him.
“Aren’t you supposed to be out in the hall too?” he asked, smiling when she leaned against him. As long as he kept her blocked, being with her didn’t pose so much of a problem for him. It seemed easier without his sight. He would have been happier about that if he didn’t miss seeing her so much.
“So eager to be rid of me?” she said. She put her arms around him, and kissed his cheek.
“No, I just don’t want you to get into trouble because of me.”
“I’m a Princess, my Lord Chancellor. I can’t get into trouble.”
“Unless of course, it happens to be your big brother who catches you,” Dain said just as Shalis kissed Marc again.
“You have no room to talk.”
“Run along, little girl. The Lord Chancellor and I have things to discuss.”
“Don’t call me that,” she said, but to Marc’s surprise, she relented without a big fight. She kissed him again before going.
“You’re not the only one around here allowed to break the rules, Dain,” Marc said after she had gone.
“Sure I am, especially when it’s my sister you’re breaking them with. What did Dynan say about Carryn, and don’t tell me nothing, or any of that, some things are given crap. I know what I heard.”
“Then why are you asking me?” Marc smiled as he stood. He made his way over to the side bar, found the water, and poured two glasses without spilling more than a drop or two. Of course, getting back across the room without using his hands was a challenge, and a little unnerving. He made it without running into anything. “Here.”
“I’d rather have Corrigan.”
“Then get up and get it yourself.”
“Would if I could. Quit stalling. She’s not dead, is she?”
“No. She’s not.” Marc smiled at the thought. It was extremely comforting to know Carryn was still there to help them, regardless of whether or not she would be able to save him from what he felt was unavoidable.
“But that means she’s got a part of me with her,” Dain said.
“Yes, she does, and you can’t have him back. Not yet.”
“Him? This is me we’re talking about here.”
“This is important. It may even be critical. You’re being taught, and when they’re done, they’ll give you back. So don’t go looking for yourself. Don’t even think about it. I need you here, and they need you there.”
“Why is it that I’m always the last one to find out about these things that involve me in an extremely personal way?”
“We all just like using you, Dain. After all, it’s so much fun. You’re such a great person to have around. Think what kind of torment your other half is putting Carryn through. I’m sure she’s enjoying it about as much as I did. Now, since I’ve told you something you weren’t supposed to know, it’s your turn. What is Dynan planning with Loren? And don’t tell me nothing, because I can tell there is a plan.” Dain’s silence was at least confirmation. Marc waited, guessing that Dynan had told him to keep quiet. “I can start guessing, but I’d rather not waste the time.”
“He doesn’t want you to know, Marc,” Dain said finally.
“Except I already do, and since you didn’t tell me—”
“Who did then?”
“All of you. Dynan more than anyone else. I can still tell what he’s feeling most of the time. When Alexia demanded an announcement, his reaction bordered on terrified that he wouldn’t be able to get out of it. I started to ask myself why. Then—”
“Stop. Go close the door.”
Marc did that and finished the explanation to Dain. “It just doesn’t fit. When we shipped Loren over to Capra, I didn’t think he would stand it. He was about to toss it all into Shalis’ lap, on his way out of the Ilthain Palace alone when Maralt took Loren from Trea. Now suddenly, from one day to the next, he’s given up? He’s trying to convince us all that he has, to make Alexia believe it. I get that. But Dain, she isn’t buying it. Alvuen is still watching. If you hear just one whisper tonight of a marriage between Dynan and Danetha, you can be sure Alexia doesn’t believe it, and she’s going to do something to ensure that this marriage happens.”
He stopped and took a sip of water. Leather creaked as Dain stirred, and he grunted as he sat up. “Dynan needs to do something more to assure Her Majesty that he’s serious. Taking Danetha to the ball is part of that, but he wouldn’t have been able to get out of that anyway. Presenting Danetha with the gems ought to help. Once the gems are given, no one else has any claim to them.”
“Which is why he doesn’t want anyone to know that he’s giving them to her. I can’t quite figure out how he plans to get them to Loren, except to know that he has to.”
“He isn’t giving Danetha the real betrothal gems, but duplicates he had made.”
Dain went on to explain, and Marc understood then why he had gone into town that day he was attacked. He sat back, shaking his head. “The opportunity for mistakes between now and Coronation Day are too numerous. Dynan is too happy right now to fool anyone for long.”
“You’re right. If this were really happening, he wouldn’t be smiling at all.”
“If you tell him that Alexia isn’t fooled, he’ll only worry about it, and likely make her more suspicious. You shouldn’t tell him I know either, and I’ll do my best to stay mad about it.” He frowned a moment. “Can you talk to Loren? Maybe she should leave the Palace for a few days, under the circumstances, with Danetha here and all.”
“We can send her to the Beach Manor. I’ll see if I can’t get her to ask Dynan about it tonight.”
Marc shook his head at that. “She should tell him she wants to leave, and when she comes back, she shouldn’t try to resume her duties.”
“She can’t disappear, or she won’t be accepted either. Right now, everyone is more awed by what she’s been through and what she’s managed to accomplish than thinking about where she’s from. Eventually, people are going to start questioning any intention to marry outside the system. The last time that was done was about two Ages ago. Long time. Tradition around here is carved in flesh, not stone.”
“Sometimes with drastic results. Isn’t unyielding tradition what started all this to begin with? Time to throw that book out, I think.”
“You don’t have to convince me of that,” Dain said. “We can’t forget about Liselle either. Rumor of her return is already spreading, and you can bet it won’t be too long before people stir up that catastrophe, wondering if he intends to marry her after all.”
“To me, she’s more of a distraction than a threat. She stands no real chance of getting Dynan back, if that’s what she even wants. She’s connected to Westiben. She’d never survive the whole inquisition that goes on here.”
“No, Marc. You don’t understand what kind of power that woman holds over Dynan. All she has to do is convince him of her innocence, and he’ll make sure everyone knows that he believes her.”
“And you two will get into another huge fight over her, thereby convincing everyone he means to marry her. This is not something we want to happen, Dain. Even if Dynan is sure that Liselle is innocent, your reaction to that will be far more telling. Try to remember that. Regardless, I don’t see that as an option he means to pursue.”
“Liselle’s interference could come at a really bad time, and I believe she’ll see the opportunity.”
“Doesn’t he have her locked in her room?”
“For now. He hasn’t talked to her yet.”
Marc smiled. “Just remember what I told you. She’ll only get undue attention if we provide the fuel.”
Dain didn’t answer right away, standing to pace, and Marc mistook his silence for anger. “This is a little strange,” Dain said then and stopped moving back and forth. “Yesterday, I found a list of names in one of your files, with nothing else to explain your reasons for putting them there. When I first saw it, I didn’t understand why you’d put this particular group of people together. We’ve been talking about most of them, and now it makes more sense. Lyle and Ames are on there because of the conversation Ames had with Dynan about Liselle.”
“That’s right. I wanted to find out more about Lyle and what he saw at Beren, and I meant to send Ames a message about talking to them but never had a chance to.”
“Westiben is also on there, and now we know there’s a connection to Liselle, except you added him before you knew that,” Dain said.
“Actually, I put him on there as a reminder to move him out of the guest wing. Creal mentioned it to Dynan, suggesting we get it done before Alexia finds out about it.”
“So that’s why you put Creal on there?”
“No, he was added because he’s been overly helpful it seemed to me. After Dynan left Trea, he all but convinced Alexia to maintain her agreement to send her ships.”
“Considering the way that turned out, I’m not so sure you could call that being helpful,” Dain said.
“At the time, it seemed so, and he’s been making these small gestures. I don’t know what to think of him most of the time, but I’d like to figure it out. They aren’t really connected to each other.”
“But they are. Creal tells Dynan to move Westiben, who we find out from Lyle and Ames had something to do with Beren’s destruction, and we know that Logue was there. Maybe Aldridge too. He’s another one who could have a little spark of Maralt buried in his heart, by the way. The last name is Juleta Gurrell. What about her?”
“I put her on there because she’s been mentioned as a possible Lady in Waiting for Shalis. I haven’t found anything about her that should preclude her coming here, and nothing that connects her to that other group.”
“Not yet, anyway. You didn’t put this list together expecting there’d be a connection between any of them, did you? It turned out that way though, and being an adept means you don’t ignore coincidence. Have you moved Westiben yet? I think I’ll go see about getting that done.”
“Just don’t let Alexia find out about it. Creal was right about that,” Marc said.
“I’ll be quiet about it. You’re going to want to watch Lady Juleta too, or at least get someone else to watch her, and you have a good reason to do it.”
“She’s already been accepted.”
“There’s nothing in the rules that say you can’t change your mind about it. All these connections lead back to one person, Maralt, and that means Logue and Aldridge.”
Marc shook his head. “I don’t think Aldridge is connected in that sense, except that he’s still out there, and right now an unknown. He hasn’t been seen in a long time. I don’t have any sense that Maralt is in anyone else but Logue.”
“Wishful thinking?”
“No, though it’s true I hope I’m right. If I’m not, we’re in trouble. I have doubts enough that I’ll be able to take another strengthening to Maralt, much less two. I couldn’t hold all three separately either.”
“There’s something we need to figure out about Logue. How is it possible for Maralt to even exist in a non-telepath? Why don’t you head up? While you’re resting, think about it.”
“I have been thinking about it.”
Dain laughed a little. “Think harder. Come on. I’ll take you as far as the stairs.”
