Chapter 9

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Their Majesties, Queen Alexia Targon and King Creal Nyant, arrived that afternoon at the same landing pad that Dynan had. Drake and Xavier were on hand to greet them, leaving everyone else to wait in the sitting room with Marella. Marc was excused from attending due to his still unexplainable collapse the night before, though he protested he felt fine. No one wanted him falling down again in the middle of this meeting.

Dynan stood at the window, staring out on a day that was bright and inviting for a change. It was the first real sunlight he’d seen since arriving on Trea. He was tired of being locked up inside where the air seemed either stale or overly awash in the perfume the women wore. Behind him, the door opened and closed.

The currents of air wafting through the room altered, easing by him like a cool evening after a spring rain. Dynan turned slightly, glancing over his shoulder and saw Loren. She didn’t look at him and he forced himself to look away. He could hear Marella and Carryn talking not far away and knew they were examining every aspect of their reactions. He didn’t want to hear from either of them later on that those were suspect or inappropriate. Sometimes, he was afraid if he breathed wrong someone would find fault with it.

He heard the thump and skid of a cane hitting the carpeted stairs and Roth grunting as he maneuvered up the three flights. He used a real cane, not the kind that relied on a gravity field, made of hard wood with a carved handle, and with the only piece of modern technology, a sticky-button, at the end to keep it from slipping on a polished floor. The First Minister put a hand to Dynan’s back, clamping down on his shoulder the way he always used to when he meant to tell him something important.

“She’s beautiful,” he whispered, leaning in close. He had dropped the old man disguise, though there was grey shot through his closely cropped hair. It was back to being mostly black. The beard was precisely trimmed. The lines at the corners of his eyes remained. Maybe there were more of them. To Dynan, he hardly seemed any different. “Xavier gave me a summary of events and the plan.”

“It’s not so much a plan as what I’m making up as I go.”

“Don’t let anyone tell you she’s not worth it. Your father was miserable with Trameil. Let me tell you, the Kingdom runs much better when the King is happy. The immediate goal of getting you home can’t supersede the rest of your life. You’re going to be on that chair a long time.”

“I’ll be sure to bring that up to Carryn next chance I get.”

“She doesn’t have any room to disagree with you and you shouldn’t listen to her if she does.”

Dynan laughed. “You sound just like ... my intended, and like Dain.”

“Smart and beautiful. I thought as much, and your brother knew a thing or two, about you and how Carryn operates. She has the heart of a great manipulator, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing. You need people like her around to help with the nuance and the subterfuge. She doesn’t have the right to handle you as if you were a pawn in some great battle.”

Dynan glanced at him at that. “Did you know about her visions, Roth?”

“Some of them, yes. And no, I won’t talk about them either. I was warned not to and I agree. We brought her in because of them, to make sure she wasn’t involved in somehow making them happen. Enough were true that she had a hand in stopping that we believed her intentions. Your father trusted her and I do – to a degree just shy of completely. If I’d been with you with what happened on the XR-9, she would still be in the brig.” He looked back over his shoulder at the gathering. “With all these negotiations, I understand why she isn’t.”

“A few mitigating circumstances make that whole mess more complicated than what it appears.” He lowered his voice. “Maralt pushed Drake, only he doesn’t know it, and we don’t think we can safely tell him without adverse effect. Marc has Shalis’ memories now and found out there’s a spy here in the family wing. Drake is trying to find who it is, but so far, nothing.”

Roth narrowed his eyes over that. “I’ve run a security sweep a time or two. Maybe he’ll like some help.”

“I know I would,” Dynan said, smiling at the idea. Roth, like all the other men who’d been part of Cobalt’s ruling government, was a man of exceptional intelligence. “I’ll take all the help I can get. Thank you for being here for this.”

“I’m living proof of the lie that’s been told. I’m happy to be here to refute that nonsense. They’ll be here soon. Are you ready?”

“Mostly.”

“They’ll try to goad you,” Roth said and clapped him on the back. “Don’t let them.”

As if on cue, Ralion knocked and stuck his head in the open door. “Their Majesties are on their way.”

Dynan turned from the window with Roth and started down toward Carryn and Marella. He glanced at Loren, but did nothing more than nod in her general direction, as he would with any lady in attendance. But he was smiling as he joined them.

“Alexia will certainly wonder why you’re so happy, knowing it isn’t because of her presence,” Carryn said.

“I’ll be grim enough when she arrives, I promise.” He turned to Marella, so that only she could hear him. “Having her here makes me feel more at ease. A good thing, wouldn’t you agree?”

“Yes, just remember the consequences should you forget yourself.”

“I won’t.” He turned serious. “How long is this expected to last?”

“Not very long, though long enough to be a strain. Watch yourself.”

They heard the guards first, then saw Ralion and Sheed snap to attention. Drake preceded them inside, flashing Dynan a brief glance that spoke volumes. Alexia entered, escorted by Creal. They were followed by a crowd of Lords and Ladies. Ralion and Sheed slipped in behind them all, and as unobtrusively as they could, took up their posts, on guard and watching.

Dynan bowed, taking Alexia’s proffered hand and kissed it. A circlet of brilliant jewels topped her black hair. Dynan had to admit that her beauty was equal to Marella’s. Except for her eyes. They held none of the mirth that usually shone brightly in Marella. Alexia’s were dark and forbidding. “Your Majesties.” He included Creal, who was no less imposing. He was taller than Dynan by half a head, broader in the shoulders and larger in build.

“Your Highness,” Creal said. “Nice to see you made it here in one piece.”

“Mostly,” he said. “I have a few more holes than I used to.”

“We were aware of your visit to my System,” Alexia said, eyebrows arching, dispensing with the niceties that fast.

“An unintentional one, Your Majesty. We had some engine trouble, which we corrected as quickly as we could and got back underway,” Dynan said, still smiling.

“And you didn’t notice my ships?” Alexia said.

“We noticed them. We also feared that Maralt might be nearby and didn’t want to risk involving your ships in battle.”

“How expedient of you,” Alexia said.

“I didn’t think you’d appreciate it.”

“You would be correct in that assumption.”

Dynan turned and indicated Roth, who stood a step back out of the way. “You remember Cobalt’s First Minister, of course.”

Alexia had been forewarned, but her eyes belied a hint of surprise. Maybe she hadn’t believed it, or maybe it was something else Dynan saw – spite? His father hardly ever said a kind word about her. Roth probably felt the same way. Maybe she knew, since it seemed the feeling was mutual.

“Alexia,” he said and she bristled over his lack of formality. He only smiled and took her hand. “You’ve hardly even changed.”

She didn’t know what to say to that. Her lips pursed as if she’d been insulted. She retracted her hand and Roth tilted his head. She turned from him to greet Marella.

Creal followed her. He wore a beard with more grey now than dusty brown. The last time Dynan met him flashed through his mind, but he held out his hand and forced a smile. Creal seemed equally reticent, but he turned to Roth and laughed.

“It’s a pleasure to see you, Roth. Returned from the grave. What of the others, though, who didn’t receive the Rites? With you, the reason is obvious. They didn’t have a body.”

Dynan clamped his teeth together. It was the flippant way Creal spoke about people he didn’t really care for that grated against his ability to suppress the flash of temper, but Roth only nodded. “Melgan Lon and Brendin Moch died that night for certain. I saw them. I’m alive because of their sacrifice, Creal, so be careful how you speak of them.”

“Now, Roth, I meant no offense. I knew them too. I’ve often wondered why Kamien would go so far as to deny them a proper burial.”

“It wasn’t Kamien,” Roth said and glanced at Dynan, who was only able to relax a little. “That was an order from his Shade.”

“Maralt Adaeryn.”

“Yes.”

Creal glanced at Dynan, nodding again. Alexia was listening while she chatted with Drake and Xavier off to their right. “It has been a pressing concern for me, after the accusations that were made, to get to the truth of that night. Xavier’s word, of course, went far to alleviate the questions I had and you standing here takes care of any lingering doubts on the issue.”

Dynan kept the neutral smile in place when Creal looked at him again, this time expecting a response. “I’m glad to hear that, Your Majesty.”

“There remain other concerns and new rumors.”

Roth looked for the tea service and Lady Carmella was ready with one. She stood by while Roth poured himself a cup, and Creal one when he nodded. Dynan declined and kept trying to act as if none of the conversation’s undertones bothered him. He probably should have taken the drink. His throat was dry, but he didn’t think the delicate cups would withstand the pressure and he’d end up with shards of porcelain through his hand.

“What concerns and what rumors, Creal?” Roth asked. “Garan? Dain’s son? I see you’ve heard.”

“I’ve heard he was someone’s son, but whose couldn’t be determined with any sort of certainty.”

Again, Dynan didn’t react to the accusation. “He’s mine now,” he said and the gap in conversation was noticeable, a blank moment where silence filled the space.

Creal took that piece of information and mulled it over. “You mean to acknowledge him then. Your Governors might have an issue with that.”

“They might,” Roth said and sipped his tea. “It isn’t likely to be a long term concern. Dynan will marry and there will be other heirs. It is an absolute that the boy’s rights not be denied, more for personal reasons, but some political as well. Kamien’s rights were removed, as you well know, which is one reason why we’re here today. Of course, these are all internal concerns for Cobalt to address and at a much later date. Far more pressing difficulties lie before us.”

“Yes, another absolute,” Creal said. “The level of secrecy around the boy’s existence implies involvement, Your Highness.”

“The level of secrecy is for Garan’s protection,” Dynan said and Creal’s eyebrows rose as if this was something he hadn’t considered. The King didn’t like his tone though, indicated by narrowed eyes and pursed lips. “Since you know about him,” Dynan added quickly, trying to dial back the dislike he had for this man, “it would seem we’re not succeeding.”

Roth wagged his head. “He’s as safe as you are, as any of us are against such a man.”

“That doesn’t really make me feel any better, Roth,” Dynan said.

“With you to stop him, we have better than half a chance.” Roth turned to Creal when he grunted as though he didn’t believe it. “Over the next several days, Your Majesty, you’ll come to discover another absolute. This young man is going to save Brittallia.”

“Now there’s a comfort,” Creal said, smirking at the thought. “Tell me what does he need me for?”

“Maybe he doesn’t,” Roth shot back and made Dynan cringe, but Creal only laughed.

“Ah Roth, it’s nice to see you haven’t changed. If you have any sense,” he said, turning on Dynan, “you’ll make sure you never let this man leave your service.”

“Of course he has sense,” Roth said and held out his hand to the King. “It’s good to see you again, Creal. And you know very well why he needs your help. You should give it to him.”

“Which is why I’m here to consider it. All in due time, Minister.” Creal smiled at that and moved on.

Dynan managed not to roll his eyes, keeping the same frozen expression for all the onlookers who eagerly watched to see if he’d give anything away. He noticed Lady Alvuen, who he only knew from the images from her file, standing off along the wall, her dark eyes grazing across the room. When she noticed Dynan looking at her, she tilted her head to him. Hers was the kind of smile that sent a chill through him. There was nothing of warmth behind it.

She watched Carmella, Loren, and Katreen as they saw to it that everyone got some refreshment. She didn’t seem overly interested. Alexia noticed Loren and only eyed her for a moment. Dynan saw when Creal noticed her too, and how often his eyes strayed to follow her.

“Careful, Your Highness,” Roth said quietly as he clapped Dynan on the back before he moved to join Xavier.

Dynan took that warning to heart and kept an aloof expression that bordered on tedium the rest of the afternoon. Once those first sparring rounds were dispensed with, Alexia seemed content to speak more mildly. Creal didn’t speak to him again. Dynan thought he knew why and guessed he would have to do something to end the obvious strain. He remembered the day easily enough where the strain originated. Despite trying hard not to, he still harbored resentment toward Creal, and that bitter anger kept him from doing anything to fix the problem. It was easier to delay the inevitable.

Instead, he spent a good deal of time near the window, fighting a desire to turn his back on the gathering and stare outside. The sun shone brightly and it beckoned.

“Beautiful, isn’t it,” Loren said, suddenly beside him.

He tried not to look at her any differently than he would Katreen or Carmella, but found it impossible, and so returned his gaze to the sun dappled forest beyond the Palace walls. “Yes.”

“After your long journey it must be difficult being locked up inside.” She looked out. “I’m told the gardens here are beautiful and naturally lit.”

“They are. Both.”

“You should ask your Lord Chancellor about Alexia’s daughter some time,” she said in a low murmur, but in the same tone of voice.

Dynan didn’t react to that, except to nod that he would. He didn’t have to wonder too long what Danetha Targon might have to do with anything Loren was concerned about.

She offered him a cup of tea from the tray that she carried, or actually only steered. It had an anti-gravity unit attached to the underside, making the heavy tray easy to handle. This time he accepted, and she moved away without another glance. He wasn’t so sure he could manage that level of detachment.

He turned his back to the sunshine, forcing himself to watch the group milling around. All the Royals were seated and chatting. He thought he should probably join them and didn’t want to. He was out of practice for this sort of gathering, and didn’t like the accompanying unease. He never liked idle chatter. These encounters were overly dependent on it. He grumbled silently to himself, but joined Their Majesties. He remained standing, positioning himself beside Drake and as far away from Alexia as he could manage and hoped it didn’t look like he was trying to avoid her. He thought he would be doing that the entire length of her stay. He felt his eyes glaze over as he listened to the conversation babble around him.

At last, Alexia expressed her desire to be shown to her rooms, prompting Alvuen’s immediate departure with Carmella. Creal followed the Queen out and the other Lords and Ladies with them departed in his wake.

Dynan sank into the nearest chair the moment it was safe to do so, feeling suddenly exhausted. He rubbed his eyes. Marella smiled and patted his hand. “A little out of your depth?” she asked gently. “You’ll get used to it again and you did well enough.”

“Only just,” he said, slumping back in the chair. “And it’ll take years to get used to this again.”

Marella turned from him. “Loren, you and Katreen may go. You should get ready for this evening’s dinner and the ball. I’ll need your assistance when your preparations are finished.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.” Katreen immediately bowed and turned to leave the room. Loren hardly hesitated at all at the abrupt dismissal, bowed too, and followed after Katreen.

“And we should do the same,” Carryn said, rising. Xavier and Roth had departed after Alexia and Creal. Ralion and Sheed moved to their usual positions around Dynan.

Dynan followed them out, turning to Carryn as they walked. “The ball.”

“I know. Drake’s security precautions are extensive. Everyone already knows you’re here, including Maralt. While bringing you out of hiding in such a dramatic fashion does make me a little nervous,” she said with a slight smile, which told Dynan that really, it terrified her, “we can’t afford to offend Alexia and Creal. They asked if you would attend. They didn’t object, so they’re aware of the perception of aligning themselves so publicly with you. The time seems right.”

Dynan nodded though he wasn’t sure how he felt about the idea of being out in so public a gathering. Outside of his experience on Cadal, where the possibility of someone trying to kill him was far less likely, it had been a long time since he’d been seen in public. “How do you think it went?”

“Creal is being, shall I say, somewhat belligerent.”

“A little.”

“You need to talk to him.”

“I know,” Dynan said. “I just don’t know what I’m supposed to talk to him about.”

“I wouldn’t bring up your last encounter unless he does,” Carryn said.

“I’ll avoid the subject if at all possible. It would be a lot easier if he weren’t so arrogant.”

“It’s possible he has the same opinion of you, or worse.”

“Why did he come here then?”

“He came here because Alexia told him to,” Carryn said.

Dynan glanced at her. “Her influence is greater than we thought.”

Carryn nodded. “I think so. I’m afraid Alexia will be the one deciding whether any assistance is forthcoming. He’ll do as she dictates and that is not a very pleasant prospect. Her power has grown and is gaining. She wields the same influence over Trayanna and Lorton. That leaves Drake and you against her.” Carryn waited until they were inside the apartment before going on. Ralion and Sheed moved on to check the rooms. “All it will take is one misstep, one fatal discovery, and she’ll have you too.”

Dynan looked at her, knowing exactly what that one discovery was and what it would do to him should it become known. “What ever it takes.”

“We’re doing everything we can,” she said in a tone milder than Dynan had heard her use in a long time. She nodded him on. “Go change, and try to keep an open mind about the evening. The Queen went through a lot of trouble to arrange it and I happen to know she did it mostly for you.”

Carryn left and Dynan went in to change yet again. On the way, he got out a comboard and looked up for himself about Alexia’s youngest daughter. He saw immediately what Loren was talking about. The very public cancellation of a Royal engagement meant only one thing to him. The Queen meant to leverage his need for assistance into a marriage contract for her daughter. That’s all it could mean. He only took small comfort in the fact that he couldn’t make any marriage contract, officially, until he was back home.

He rubbed his eyes, unable to sort out the myriad emotions, aside from the fact that he was already married, and decided to pass this bit of information on to Xavier and Roth, who were better equipped to sort out the spider web of possibilities.

In his room, trying to put everything else out of mind, he changed into clothes for the ball that were even more formal and restrictive, though excellently tailored. He felt a little silly in all the finery and would have preferred a uniform. The clothes had been set out for him though and he guessed Marella had made the choice for him. When he finished, he regarded himself in the mirror. Shoes instead of boots, dark slacks, a dark blue coat tapered at the waist to drape back to knee length, dark grey embroidered vest and a shirt with ruffles at the sleeves and neck, and then pinned with the large sapphire from his mother, all showed the Queen’s taste for flourishes.

Sheed smiled from the dressing room door. “Very nice,” he said. He was similarly attired without all the frills.

“No uniform?”

“I know. It feels a little strange, but Drake suggested it and I think he’s right. We’ll fit in better with the crowd dressed in normal clothes.”

“You call this normal?”

“Normal for here.”

“Right.”

“You ready?”

“No.”

“You’re escorting Lady Katreen. She’s a little bit beside herself over the thought.” Sheed smiled when Dynan groaned under his breath. “Come on.”

Loren found a very elegant, blue satin gown set out for her, with threads of silver stitched through the puffed sleeves and bodice. She wondered how much longer she would be able to comfortably wear a corset. So far, she wasn’t showing, but she felt like she was getting heavier. With the help of her maid, she dressed, put her hair up, and discovered a beautiful set of jewelry to wear. She found it astonishing the jewels that Marella had loaned to her. There seemed to be a large supply of it and Marella wasn’t stingy with it. Carmella told her that all the Ladies at Court were given a gift of jewelry to wear. That seemed to indicate that she was one, though Loren wondered if there wouldn’t be some official announcement. A necklace of sapphires sparkled at her throat, accompanied by matching earrings. The significance of the color wasn’t lost on her, but hoped everyone else would overlook it.

While her maid wasn’t looking, Loren checked the pocket sewn into to the bodice where Dynan’s rings were hidden. That particular detail had to have come at the Queen’s bidding. Loren was more and more grateful to have her help. It made her less afraid of what the future might bring. With that in mind, Loren smiled at her reflection, turning to her maid.

“Am I ready?”

“Completely,” Mellie answered. “You look exquisite, my Lady.”

“Well, for a change, I feel that way. Wish me luck.”

“You’ll be fine.”

“I hope you’re right. Thank you for your help. You’ll have to show me how you manage this some day.” She pointed to her hair. Mellie had put it up in a soft bun, leaving a few flowing locks to tumble down, framing her face.

“Then I wouldn’t have the privilege of doing it for you,” Mellie said, gathering up a light shawl.

Loren waited while the maid draped the garment just so, fussing for a moment longer over her gown. Mellie saw her to the door, smiling as she closed it behind her lady.

Marella had sent word that she wouldn’t need Loren’s assistance after all, so she went to meet her escort for the night. She wouldn’t be coming in with just the Brassils, she’d been told, though they would precede her into the room.

Frayn Edwallin was a quiet sort of man, polite and attentive. Loren liked him immediately. He’d apparently been told that this was her first Palace appearance. He never said so directly, but by his manner of explaining things to her, she guessed that someone had mentioned her inexperience to him. For that, she was grateful.

The dining hall was huge. There were hundreds of people there. Loren had no appetite at all, and after being seated and served, ate sparingly. She was seated far from Dynan, who was escorting Katreen. Loren had to talk herself out of being jealous or annoyed. Katreen, she discovered, wasn’t interested in Dynan, hinting that there was someone else she had her sights set on. Being seen with Dynan was a huge privilege and an honor afforded her by the Queen, which told Loren she could be trusted. Katreen was openly ecstatic about not only meeting him, but walking into the ball with him. Loren couldn’t see more than a glimpse of either of them. She wasn’t the only one glancing his direction, she noticed, so didn’t feel self-conscious when she tried to catch sight of him.

After the meal, Frayn escorted her out to a waiting room, where they would remain until it was time for them to enter the ballroom, one flight of stairs below them.

“There’ll be a great deal of fanfare,” Frayn said when their turn came, and he led her into the hallway. There were other couples strolling in that direction. “We’ll be introduced as we go down. Trumpets and the like. A lot of noise, I think, but it gets everyone’s attention.”

“I imagine it would.”

“And then we’ll go down and wait for the Royals. Did you know Prince Dynan will attend? He’s escorting Lady Katreen tonight, if you didn’t notice. They’ll be coming down with the King and Queen.”

“She’s very lovely,” Loren said, wondering at his tone. The way he said her name made Loren curious if there might be something between them and if he was the one Katreen was interested in.

“Yes, she is,” he said, almost wistfully. He nodded to some unseen signal and took her hand. Loren wondered if she would trip and almost laughed at the thought. There was a very loud blast from a horn that made her jump despite Frayn’s warning.

“You did tell me,” she said as they neared the open double doors of the ballroom. Many, many faces turned in her direction as she and Frayn were announced. She heard his name and then hers, followed by Lady at Court.

“Congratulations, my Lady,” Frayn said as he led her forward.

Her throat dried up. Her knees suddenly didn’t want to cooperate. Frayn managed to indicate she was doing fine. A moment later, they were down amongst the crowd, aware of the stares and whispers. Loren knew the questions. Who is she? Where is she from? They couldn’t get any answers just then. She didn’t think they’d be satisfied until they did.

Attention was drawn from her as another couple came down the short stair. She noted how they waited, letting the crowd look before descending to the floor. She was almost certain she hadn’t done that, practically rushing down the stairs instead. The one event she attended at the Brassils seemed nothing at all similar to this. There were more people here than had been at the dinner, by a few hundred.

Another fanfare rang out, and Carmella came down. Loren was surprised to see Xavier with her. In a sea of strangers, his was the first face she recognized. It was only a brief widening of her eyes, before her expression returned to what she was quickly referring to as the mask.