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Chapter 43
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Dynan closed the door to his brother’s room, or the guestroom that was rapidly turning into permanent quarters for Dain, and rubbed his eyes. They were all four of them crying like babies by the time Marc finished removing the splinters. His brother was asleep now. Dynan didn’t think he’d be able to close his eyes. He wasn’t really tired, just emotionally wrung out.
Marc had done a bit more than save his life. His shoulder didn’t hurt and neither did his knee. He hadn’t had his brace turned on since his father’s arrival and wondered if he really needed it any more. He went to his rooms to get a new shirt and discovered Drake had been put in his bed. He grumbled under his breath. He didn’t have a place to sleep again.
His father met him at the door. “Dain all right?”
He nodded. “Marc got all those things out of him, so he ought to be a lot better by morning. At least I hope so.”
“Dynan, what he did to you...” Ambrose shook his head.
“He did what he had to. What he always does. Find the only possible solution to an impossible situation.”
“I know. Still, it was...difficult to watch.” He shook his head and laughed a little. “I know Marc is an extraordinary young man, but I thought you were dead.”
“I’m fine. Really. I even feel better than I have in too many days. Seems a bit backwards, doesn’t it?”
Ambrose followed him into the parlor and poured them a drink. “Alexia sent another message while you were in with your brother.”
He closed his eyes and downed his drink in two swallows. “She never gives up.”
“You just need to be firm with her, son, and stop letting her push you.”
“Thank you, Father. That’s really useful advice.”
Ambrose smiled. “I know the actual situation is far more complex and not so easily managed, but the principal is the same. You agreed to marry her daughter, not her. You didn’t agree to allow her to rule your life, even though we know that’s what she wants. You still have the non-interference laws on your side. She can’t appear to meddle with this system beyond the scope of your agreement.”
“So trying to maneuver Danetha into managing the coronation is technically a violation of the non-interference laws?”
“Yes. You can’t confront her with that fact, considering your own violations. You shouldn’t be afraid to allude to it though, and she’ll get the message.”
“She’s already threatened to go to High Council,” Dynan said.
“But she doesn’t get what she wants if she does that.”
“She could have this system annexed to her own. I don’t have any proof that she’s done anything wrong.”
“Marc mentioned a spy. Has there been any word about his apprehension?”
“Last report Drake sent me said they were getting closer. They have the alias he used to get into the Ilthain Palace to see her, but not much else. There’s still no connection to Maralt. We’ll likely have to get that from Bajain.”
“An expensive proposition,” Ambrose said. “Have you been to the tower vault?”
Dynan grunted under his breath, a little afraid to tell his father about the missing gold, but he did. His reaction was only a frown and he hummed about it.
“I’m assuming you haven’t told anyone,” he said. “A good plan there. Once you’re crowned, you’ll want to spend some time trying to find what happened. Kamien couldn’t have spent it all. So he must have moved it.”
“But why and where?”
Ambrose shook his head that he didn’t have that answer. “In the mean time, there’s an old compartment in the tower on the main floor. It’s hidden under the stair. Your grandfather told me about it. He got tired of climbing all those stairs up and down, so he had a big chest of it stowed at hand. His secret stash for just this sort of occasion.”
“Kamien would have—”
“I never told Kamien. You either, because I always thought there would be time to do so. It isn’t written down anywhere. I expect it’s still there. You’ll be surprised.”
“Let’s go take a look then.”
Ambrose shook his head. “We’ll go tomorrow. I haven’t slept in...” He smiled. “I was about to say two days, but it’s been longer than that. I think I’m ready to turn in.”
Marc interrupted when he walked in with Gaden, one arm around his shoulders, talking quietly as he led him out. “Thanks Marc,” Gaden said. “I’ll remember that.”
“I’ll get him out. I promise. Go get some sleep.” He turned when Gaden had gone, feeling his way to a chair. He didn’t sit though, using the back for balance. “I just thought of something. What was it that Maralt said when he showed up tonight?”
“You mean all that business about how we’re following you into the abyss? I didn’t pay it any attention, and neither should you.”
“How could he even know about it? He threatened to send a steady stream of victims to the pit.”
“He’s their agent,” Ambrose said.
“Yes, but he wasn’t able to communicate with them before. I have Maralt contained except for the part Logue has. They shouldn’t be able to reach each other.” He shook his head, rubbing his eyes.
Dynan started to speak, but a voice came into his head, almost whispering. He knew it, but thought his brother asleep. “For every action there’s a reaction. For every influence, the Gods allow there’s a corresponding response. They play off of each other.”
“Dain?”
Dynan saw him then, standing at the window of a tower, stones encircling him. He smiled, winked, held his finger to his lips and he was gone.
Marc frowned. “What was that?”
“I think it was the other Dain,” Dynan said and smiled. “Interfering again.”
“Action and reaction,” Marc said. “I wonder if that one was allowed and if so, what will happen because of it.”
“I got the impression he wasn’t supposed to do that.” Dynan smiled again. “I bet he’s giving them so much trouble. Something else to think about, but not until tomorrow. Pop, I don’t think there’s any room in here. Are the King’s quarters cleaned yet?”
Marc nodded, but Ambrose shook his head. “I think I’ll be more comfortable with Marc, if of course that’s all right with you.”
“It’s fine with me. Is the hall clear?” He touched his crest pin. “Ralion, can you clear the hall to my rooms please. Thanks.”
Ambrose came over, and Dynan was afraid to let him out of his sight suddenly. Marc’s words came back to haunt him, warning that his father’s existence might not be permanent. “Afraid if you go to sleep, all this will turn out to be a dream?” When he nodded mutely, Ambrose pulled him into his arms. “I’ll be here in the morning. That much I know. I wasn’t brought back just to be taken away again the next day. I’m not quite certain what my purpose is, but it hasn’t been accomplished yet.”
“And when it is?”
“Then we’ll see what’s next. Take this time on faith, Dynan.”
He managed a nod, and Ambrose let him go.
“Goodnight, son.”
He nodded again because he didn’t trust his voice, and watched his father all the way to the front door. He was shaking by the time it closed. He turned, and went in search of a bed.
