Pentadai, Week 12 – 26th Lowal, 19th Lowis 1209
Macarian House – King’s Bedchamber
THE FOLLOWING MORNING, Adeone looked up as his administrator knocked and entered. Having heard the commotion of an arrival, the King took in his administrator’s appearance.
“Should I be worried, Richardson?”
“Lady Amara wonders if Your Majesty has a moment.”
That explained the harassed look.
“Of course. Do show her in.”
“I’m in already,” replied Amara. “Thank you, Richardson. I’m sure you’ve much administrating to do.”
Adeone waited until his administrator had left before pushing himself to his feet. “You shouldn’t do it, you know.”
Amara snorted. “Does them good, Sire. Come here…”
He accepted the hug she gave him with a lump in his throat.
“Simkins said you collapsed a couple of nights ago. Why didn’t you send for me?”
“Talking to anyone was beyond me by the time I realised how bad I was, aunt. I wasn’t thinking about anything that didn’t require immediate attention. I’m sorry. I know how much you care.”
She accepted a drink from him and sat down, arranging her skirts with a precision he knew to be wary of.
Eventually she said, “The boys?”
“Coping as well as you might expect. No, that’s wrong. Better than you might expect. Tain’s found distraction in a new friend and Arkyn… Well, he’s finally talked out some of his worries. He’s devastated but coping.”
“And you?”
He eyed her sideways. “Much as you might expect, aunt. I’ll miss her every day.”
“Yes, it gets you like that.”
He studied her. “I wish you’d had more time with Uncle Ewart.”
“There’s never enough time when you love people as we do, little Adeone.” After a moment, she said, “That’s enough sentiment for now. We need to talk.”
“There was me thinking I’d escaped remonstration for now,” observed Adeone dryly.
“I didn’t say anything about remonstration, nephew. Her Grace’s passing has changed things—”
“I—”
“Don’t interrupt. It’s changed things. Are you going to marry again?”
Adeone was momentarily speechless. “Lady Amara, my wife’s funeral hasn’t even happened yet!”
“No, it hasn’t. Unfortunately, the Court, your Court is already speculating, so get used to being asked and think about your reply. Marrying for love, as we did, is a luxury and you may not be able to afford it.”
Controlling his temper, Adeone said, “I’m not discussing this. No. I’m not. I know what you’re saying but I’m not. Sicla.”
Her gaze scorched him. “Ira’s death put your life and your sons’ lives in even more peril.”
“So would remarrying. What’s more, this hypothetical wife would be in peril also.” He stopped, considered, ruminated and concluded, “In peril from whom, aunt?”
“Scanlon.”
“How?” He watched her face, her worried face. “I didn’t think you knew. I tried to keep you out of it.”
She snorted. “Haven’t you learned anything about me in all these years? That is never going to be successful. So, you can either tell me your troubles or I can discover them from others, who I must admit merely confirmed my suspicions.”
“Others being?” He sighed at her withering look. “Fine. Can’t blame me for trying to find out who is—”
“Protecting your back, defending you?”
“Landis. Of course, it would be. He’s feared you for years.”
She chuckled. “I do my best. Young Festus merely confirmed my suspicions. So, what are we going to do about it? Moving the youngsters to Ceardlann is sensible, but it doesn’t protect you.” As Adeone glanced at his desk, she frowned. “You’re not escaping this conversation, nephew.”
“I don’t want to,” he replied, quite truthfully. “A moment.” He rang for Richardson, asking for privacy until he was alone again. Sitting back down, he said, “How much do you know about Scanlon’s aims, aunt?”
“Just that he’s working to remove you and your sons.”
“I don’t want you caught in the middle.”
After a moment, she enquired, “Who said anything about the middle? I cannot sit by and let our family descend into anarchy. How do you see Scanlon now? You wouldn’t be the first king to disown family.”
Adeone hesitated. “I might not be able to forgive him his schemes, the fact he wasn’t here when father died but he’s my brother. He will always be my brother, aunt.”
“Do you have any evidence he’s trying to murder you?”
“Not direct evidence, but he’s definitely plotting. Aelia told Ira she was worried that Scanlon had lost reason a few years ago but Chapa confirmed that he’s sane. Scanlon won’t see Chapa these days and has employed his own doctor.”
“Yes, I heard about that. He’s a fool. Chapa’s good. So, what are you going to do about this little problem?”
“I’ve always admired your habit for understatement, aunt.”
“Stop prevaricating.”
“Fine.” Adeone considered. “First, I’m going to make sure my sons are safe, and Elantha, for that matter. I won’t have him use them as pawns. I’ve also appointed a new captain for the intelligence regiment. I’ve briefed him but will let him settle in before I see if I need to do more.”
“Whom have you appointed?”
“One Wynfeld. Used to work here when Ira was young—”
“Doesn’t mean he’s loyal or right for the job.”
Adeone snorted. “Shall I send him along for you to check? He cared very deeply for Ira; I could see it when they were talking. I think it will help keep him loyal to us.”
“You really can be too trusting at times. That’s your mother in you. Keep an eye on him until you’re sure.”
“Oh, I think Landis will do that. It saves a lot of awkward questions.”
“Good. Now, why haven’t you moved against Scanlon if you’re so sure he’s after your life?”
Adeone considered how to phrase it. Eventually, he said, “I do not want to plunge the empire into civil war and cause thousands of deaths. Scanlon is good at manipulating situations to his advantage. Always has been.”
“There are other options: assassination, arrest and trial—”
“Are we really going to sit here and talk about my brother, your nephew, like this?”
“Better than doing it elsewhere,” observed Amara.
“True. I won’t have him murdered, aunt. I just can’t do it. Any murder is morally outrageous and I won’t be that sort of king. I will never take a life that way. It would make me as bad as him. What’s the difference? Murder is still murder.”
“Isn’t execution murder?”
“In a manner of speaking, but generally we’re removing dangerous persons, would-be assassins—”
“Or traitors,” interrupted Amara softly. “He is plotting your overthrow, Sire. That is treason.”
“Yes. I’ve been talking with Judge Tancred over recent years about the issue. He informs me I can arrest Scanlon but unless Scanlon confesses, which he is never likely to do, then the only person who could try him would be—”
“A Justiciar of the Empire,” finished Amara. “Much as that might be true, the law states a peer or higher. You are higher, sir.”
“I will never set that precedent, Lady Amara.”
“You won’t order his assassination because it’s murder, you won’t arrest him because you can’t try him, at least for eleven years until Tain is twenty, and you won’t challenge him and face civil war. Just what are you planning to do to safeguard your life?” she demanded, exasperated.
“I appointed Landis to do that,” said Adeone flippantly. He saw his aunt’s face. “I’ll suffer years of uncertainty and probably die of my principles, aunt, but at least I’ll know I can face myself in my mirror. I’m not exactly looking forward to the experience.” His eyes became haunted.
“Will anything change your mind?” she whispered, squeezing his hand.
“No. I cannot let him destroy who I am.”
“I understand that. All right. I’ll accept your stance. I don’t agree with it but, as you’re so adamant, I will work with that in mind.”
“Work—?”
She smiled. “Young Adeone, you may be King, but that doesn’t mean you have to deal with everything—”
“That’s arguable.”
“But you’re not going to argue with me, young man. I will endeavour to do what I can to make sure he fails.”
He finally looked at her. “Don’t… I can’t believe I’m saying this but… don’t you have him killed or start a civil war, aunt.”
“I have other methods, nephew. Now, tell me about everything that’s been happening.”