ESTORA’S GARDEN

Estora smiled as her husband stood in the doorway of her bed chamber taking in all the greenery. He’d brought her a bouquet of spring flowers, but they were overwhelmed by all the pots and vases of plants that already filled her room.

He glanced down at the bouquet. “These would seem rather inadequate.”

She reached out. “Please bring them to me. I love them.”

He came to her bedside and handed her the flowers. “I know you tire of being cooped up, so I thought to bring a little spring to you.”

“Irises,” she said. “How lovely. Jayd, might you locate another vase?”

The maid, who had been folding linens, smiled. “I will try,” she said, and left.

“What is all this?” Zachary asked, gesturing broadly at all the plantings as he sat.

“Master Fairhouse is preserving some of the plants from the courtyard garden as it is being converted to vegetables. Most are going to the greenhouse, of course, but he thought I’d enjoy some in here.” And she did, very much so. She loved the scents of soil and blooms. She loved the textures of the leaves beneath her fingers—some smooth and waxy, some rough or fuzzy, some nubby. Master Fairhouse had even potted a balsam fir sapling for her so she could enjoy its woodsy fragrance. She’d some fear that the plants might not do well inside, and that maybe they would not get enough sunshine, but to her surprise, they thrived.

During the times she was allowed to rise from bed, she took on the job of watering the plants herself, though Jayd did all the fetching of water. She loved living in a garden, and she thought that maybe after the children were born, she might keep the plants indefinitely.

She was especially pleased that Zachary had brought her flowers because she suspected they were a peace offering after some heated words they’d exchanged over the book of poems by Lady Whitewren citing their love as inspiration. Her suspicion was confirmed when he next spoke.

“I am still displeased by this book of poems,” he said, “but I understand my imposter had undue influence in the matter.” His imposter had been the aureas slee, an ice elemental that had abducted him and taken his form and place. “I apologize for being so cross about it.”

“I should have known it was the sort of thing you would not find appropriate,” she replied, “when the imposter agreed to it. I should have guessed it was not you.” There had been so many clues, but she’d been so pleased, so full of joy that the one who she thought was her husband had started to pay her so much attention, that it had overcome her good common sense and suspicion.

“I realize I am not an ideal husband,” he said.

“You are a king, and that comes with a responsibility first to the realm.”

“That is why I have come to see you now.”

She’d been expecting this moment, dreading it. She’d known he would not be satisfied watching his soldiers march off to war without him.

“I leave in two days’ time,” he said, “to join our troops on their progress east toward the mountains.”

“The children will likely come while you are away.”

“I know, and I am sorry, but it cannot be helped.”

She could see it in his face, etched in the lines around his eyes. She looked down at the flowers in her hands. “I am sorry, too.” Would he come home? Would their children know their father?

“I wish to be here for the birth, but I also wish to give my children a stable kingdom. A safe kingdom.”

They sat in silence, each lost in their own thoughts. What else was there to say? Zachary was leaving again, leaving her alone to face the fruition of their marriage on her own, an event that was as frightening to her as it would be joyous.

Jayd reappeared in the doorway and cleared her throat. “Your Majesties, Colonel Mapstone is here to see you.”

“Send her in,” Estora said. Maybe Laren could talk sense to Zachary. Remind him that his place was to govern, not to die in battle. The colonel could talk to him in ways that no one else could.

Laren stepped into the bed chamber and bowed.

“Welcome, Laren,” Estora said. “Will you sit with us?”

“I am afraid I am here on business, my lady. Rider Newland arrived not an hour past.”

“Ty?” Estora asked eagerly. “Has he brought news of Coutre?”

“He may have,” Laren replied. She hesitated, then said, “He is in the mending wing recuperating from a confrontation with the Darrow Raiders. He was not conscious long enough to speak of his errand to Coutre, but he did speak of other things.”

Estora felt Zachary stiffen beside her. “Explain.”

Laren did, relating how Ty had been taken on the west side of Eagle’s Pass. “He corroborates what your scouts have told you about the enemy encamped near the pass, though he says they are now shielded by some magic.”

“Magic, despite Grandmother being dead,” he murmured. “They must mean to make an attempt against the keep. Continue.”

She described how terribly Ty had been beaten, then said, “And they used him to bring a message from Torq to the Red Witch.”

“The Red Witch?” Estora asked. “Who is that?”

“Laren,” Zachary said. “It’s what the Raiders called her back in the day. She was required to use her ability extensively to sift the truth out of Raiders who had been taken prisoner. And what was Torq’s message for the Red Witch?”

“That I must meet him at a certain location by the next full moon or they will torture and kill certain captives they have taken.”

“Our missing Riders?”

“Yes, Rider Duff, Rider G’ladheon, and Rider Notman. And also . . . my daughter.”

“Your daughter!” Estora exclaimed.

“Yes.”

It struck Estora how clearly Laren had shuttered away emotion. How she could do so when it concerned her own daughter, Estora did not know. And Karigan. The Raiders had Karigan. She gazed at her husband, who had risen to his feet. His expression was grim, but he did not expose any deeper emotion though she knew it must roil inside him.

“What do they want?” Zachary asked.

Laren smiled a smile that was anything but. “Me. They will exchange the captives for the Red Witch.”

“That is an impossible choice,” Estora said.

“There is no choice,” Zachary said.

“What do you mean?”

“The realm does not treat with the enemy in regard to hostages in this fashion.”

“You are just going to let them kill the captives?” Estora asked incredulously.

“We cannot make exceptions,” Laren said.

Estora could not believe this. “Have you both gone mad?”

“I wish I had,” Laren murmured. To Zachary, she said, “I will be riding out with a cohort of Riders as soon as all are ready. It appears I failed Queen Isen in her prosecution of the Darrow Raiders. I aim to correct that. Unless you say otherwise, of course.”

“I, of course, expect the Green Riders to assist the realm in eliminating this menace.”

“Then if you will excuse me, I’ve preparations to make.” When Zachary gave his assent, she bowed and departed.

“This is maddening,” Estora said. “How can you both be so calm?”

“I assure you, we are not the least bit calm.”

“And what is Laren doing? Is she going to sacrifice herself to those Raiders? Surely they’ll just kill the captives anyway.”

“That is likely.” Zachary gazed at the doorway Laren had just passed through. “But it would be against the realm’s policy for her to give herself to them as they demand.” He turned once more to Estora. “You must excuse me, my lady. I have some matters to attend to.”

“Of course,” she murmured, but he was already out the door.

And so they would all leave her alone while they went to fight. But hadn’t she been alone all along?