MEETING THE ROYAL HEIRS
“The army from Coutre will arrive by nightfall,” Estora said, “and they will help with the detainment and interrogation of prisoners. Many—the ordinary folk, the farmers, shopkeepers, and the like—may be able to go back to their old lives so long as they take an oath not to bear arms against king and country again.”
Karigan sipped her tea. Estora’s sitting room was an oasis of calm, especially with all the plants, largely ferns in this case, softening the stone surroundings. The castle had become very busy with soldiers and courtiers coming and going, but the sitting room exuded peace. Her visit with Estora had begun with the usual niceties of how the other was faring, but conversation naturally turned to the battle.
“It sounds like a positive way to proceed,” Karigan carefully replied, “but there will still be factions that remain active.”
“So it is with zealots,” Estora agreed, “and not just in Sacoridia. King Thergood in Rhovanny has apparently been putting down outbreaks of insurgency, too. We did warn him.”
Karigan nibbled on a piece of pound cake and closed her eyes in ecstasy. The buttery, moist, sweet-but-not-too-sweet cake was the best thing she had tasted in ages. It was all she could do to stop herself from greedily stuffing it whole into her mouth.
Estora set her teacup aside and fell into silence for a few moments as if deep in thought. Then she said, “Karigan, there is something I wish to address with you.”
Uh oh, she thought. It could only be about her and Zachary.
Instead, Estora said, “The luin prime came to me with some very disturbing comments.”
Karigan swallowed a mouthful of cake. She was almost relieved. “He does not like me for some reason.”
“It is not just you,” Estora said, “but all Green Riders and their historic association with magic. But he was very clearly displeased with how the people whom you had led out of the fire in the lower city responded to you as though you were god-sent and divine.”
“He was a bit harsher with me,” Karigan replied. She wondered what he’d think if he learned she’d spoken with the actual gods. “I believe he wishes to try me for heresy.”
“Yes, he did say that. I have dissuaded him for now, and told him not to mistake the gratefulness of the people who had suffered a horrific night, with some desire on their part to worship a Green Rider.”
Despite the seriousness of the subject, Karigan was amused by the thought of people worshipping Green Riders. “Thank you. It is a relief that you spoke to him.”
“I must tell you,” Estora continued, “he will likely remain suspicious and antagonistic. Even more so now that he knows of your affiliation with the Eletians. I think he thinks I have been blinded by Green Rider magic.”
“I can’t imagine any Rider having that kind of power,” Karigan replied. She would have to ensure she steered clear of the luin prime, and to warn Connly that the others should, as well.
“Me, either,” Estora replied. “But Prime Brynston is of the school of thought that all magic is evil, anathema, and not to be tolerated.”
It was an old bias, Karigan thought, and unfortunately, the head of all moon priests, with all his influence, was likely preaching against magic to the faithful.
Travis entered the sitting room.
“Yes, Travis?” Estora asked.
“My lady, we have received word that the king has entered the castle and is on his way up.”
“Thank you.”
He bowed to both of them. Karigan raised her brow as she watched after him. He’d called her “Lady Winterlight” upon her appearance at Estora’s door.
She set her cup on the small table that held the tea service and cake.
“I will go now,” she said, “before the king arrives.”
“No, wait,” Estora replied. “I wanted you to meet the babies when they woke from their nap, but now you can both see them.”
Karigan settled back into her chair a little apprehensively. She was not sure she wanted to be there when Estora and Zachary had their reunion. Estora’s eyes glistened with excitement, and she smoothed her skirts nervously. She tinkled a small bell.
Her maid appeared within moments.
“Jayd,” she said, “please ask the nurses to prepare the children to meet their father.”
“Yes, my lady.”
“Do I look presentable?” Estora asked Karigan.
Karigan almost laughed. “You are as stunning as usual, my lady.” Estora looked startled by her words, but it was no lie. Motherhood had only deepened her beauty. For Karigan’s own part, she was just pleased she wasn’t covered in mud.
When Zachary arrived, his presence dominated the room. He’d removed his armor, but he was clearly fresh from the battlefield with mud on his boots and cloak. The cut on his cheek was nicely cleaned up and looked to be healing well.
He bowed over Estora’s hand and kissed it. “My lady. It pleases me to see you looking so well. Your leadership while I was away has been hailed as exceptional by your advisors, particularly General Meadows and Castellan Javien.”
“That is gratifying to hear from those two crusty gentlemen,” she replied with a laugh. “I am very pleased to see you, Your Majesty, well and victorious from the field of battle.”
He then turned to Karigan and she bowed.
“Lady Winterlight,” he said with a nod. “A surprise to see you here.”
“We were having tea,” Estora replied, “and I asked her to linger so she could meet Dav and Ez.”
“My son and daughter,” he murmured with barely concealed excitement. “I can’t tell you how much the gift of the little portraits meant to me. I’ve kept them here, even during the battle.” He tapped a pocket over his heart. “I couldn’t wait to see them.”
Estora smiled. “Then the wait is over.” She rang the bell, and when the maid reappeared, she said, “Now, Jayd.”
Two nurses appeared, each bearing a swaddled infant.
“This is Prince Zachary Davriel,” Estora said pointing to one. “And this is Princess Esmere,” she added, pointing to the other.
They kind of looked the same to Karigan. In fact, they kind of looked like any other baby she had ever seen with their chubby cheeks and fuzzy tufts of hair, but she had to admit they were much cuter in person than how they were portrayed in the miniatures.
She was much more interested in Zachary’s reaction as he saw his heirs for the first time, than the heirs themselves. A smile of profound happiness formed on his lips as he leaned forward to get a good look. His eyes were bright, his expression unmasked and . . . vulnerable. Estora practically glowed.
Then something changed. His features hardened and the corners of his mouth sagged. But it was his eyes that alarmed Karigan. They clouded, turned black as night.
“Get them out of here!” she yelled at the nurses. They stared at her as though she were mad. Estora looked confused.
Zachary’s hand went to the hilt of his sword.
“Run!” Karigan cried. “Get out!”
Estora glanced at Zachary’s face and gasped. She turned and pushed the nurses away.
“TRAVIS!” Karigan screamed, and she threw herself at Zachary so he wouldn’t charge after Estora and the nurses.
He flung her back and she crashed into the tea table. The teapot, cups, and treats crashed to the floor. Instead of pursuing Estora and the twins, he drew his sword and turned to Karigan. She lobbed the first thing that came to hand at him. It turned out to be the pound cake, which was unfortunate on two counts, the first being that it merely bounced off his chest and did nothing to slow him down. The second was that she had sacrificed the pound cake, the very ambrosia of the gods, with no good results.
Zachary’s blade swept down and she rolled out of the way just in time. She climbed to her feet. She dared not draw her sword against him. To do so, to draw on one’s sovereign, was tantamount to treason, even in self-defense. A king had absolute power to kill one of his subjects if he so chose.
His expression was cold, like iron, the blackness of his eyes like smoldering coals. She darted away from a thrust.
“Zachary,” she said, “it’s me, Karigan!”
If he heard, it did not register on his face.
Travis ran in at last.
“Travis!” she cried. “He’s bespelled!”
The Weapon seemed to comprehend what she meant, that there was some reason Zachary was trying to kill her other than she deserved it.
“Your Majesty,” Travis said, approaching carefully from behind.
Zachary paused. Then, with Travis just within arm’s reach, he whirled and smashed the pommel of the sword into the Weapon’s face. Travis crumpled to the floor.
No! Karigan thought.
Zachary came after her again. She leaped over the sofa, but he was unnaturally quick and grabbed her arm. He threw her at the wall. She crashed into potted plants and the back of her head hit the stone wall. She blacked out for a moment as she slid to the floor. Her eyes fluttered open to discover the tip of his sword pressed against her chest.
“Zachary,” she whispered. “It’s me, Karigan.”
“Must kill you,” he said. “Must kill what I love most.”
“No,” she said. “That’s Grandmother’s spell. You are stronger than that.”
He applied pressure to the sword, but not enough to stab her. “Must kill what I love most.”
She closed her eyes expecting to be impaled at any moment. “I love you, too,” she whispered.
The stabbing did not come, though she still felt the pressure of the swordtip. When she looked, there was a flicker in his eyes, a wavering in his stance.
“Zachary,” she said, “this isn’t you. It’s Grandmother’s spell. Come back, please. You are stronger than her.”
“I . . . I don’t know,” he replied. “I must kill what I love.”
“That is not you, Zachary, it’s Grandmother. Do you remember? She tortured you, placed a spell on you. You can defeat her in this.”
“I think . . . I think I remember.” He wavered again, and there was the slightest slackening of pressure against her chest.
“That’s right,” Karigan said. “Don’t let Grandmother win.”
The black in his eyes diminished. “Karigan,” he whispered.
“Yes,” she said. “It’s me.”
“I love you,” he said.
“And I love you.”
He threw the sword aside and it thunked on the carpet.
“Dear gods,” he said, and suddenly he was himself, all the black gone from his eyes, and the iron from his features. He dropped to his knees beside her and took her in his arms. “I am so sorry. I’m so sorry. I would never—”
“I know, I know,” she said, and she wrapped her good arm around him. The change in him was so profound she had no doubts he’d overcome the spell, that the knots tied around his heart had come unraveled. She could feel it in her connection to him. “I know.”
“How could I have even . . . ?” He sobbed.
“It’s all right,” she whispered. “You didn’t, and you defeated Grandmother.”
The sounds of fighting quieted, and Estora made to open the door of her bed chamber to see what was happening. She’d bade the nurses lock themselves and the heirs in the nursery. They’d be safe there.
“My lady,” Jayd said, “you mustn’t.”
“I need to see what is happening.”
She stepped outside and made her way toward the sitting room. She heard no yelling, no more fighting, just the low murmur of voices. She peered into the sitting room. Travis sat on the floor bent over, blood dripping from his nose. Zachary knelt on the floor with Karigan in his arms, cheek to cheek in the attitude of lovers. He rocked her, and was sobbing.
“I would never mean to hurt you,” he told Karigan. “I love you.”
“I know,” she whispered.
Estora was not shocked.
He kissed Karigan’s forehead, then suddenly released her and stood. He backed away.
“What—?” Karigan asked.
“I’m—I’m a danger.”
Fastion and Lennir ran into the room.
“My lord?” Fastion said.
“Travis and Sir Karigan need the attention of menders,” Zachary said, “and I am going to the Chamber of Proving, where I will not be a danger to my children or . . .” He looked up at Estora. “Anyone.” He swept from the room with Fastion tailing him. Lennir knelt to help Travis.
Estora stepped into the sitting room and surveyed the damage. Karigan, who still sat on the floor, looked dazed. Blood stained the sleeve of the arm that had been in the sling.
“What came over him?” Estora asked, but she already knew.
“Grandmother’s spell,” Karigan replied. “Seeing his heirs seemed to trigger it.”
“What is this Chamber of Proving, and why is he going there?”
“It’s a place, a room in the castle that nullifies magic. I think he must fear a resurgence of the spell and that he is a danger to you and the little ones.”
No, Karigan, Estora thought, he thinks he is a danger to you.