Chapter Two

 

 

Para stumbled into the dining hall and to the head table. After the abysmal end to her daughter's engagement ball, she had helped herself to a bottle of wine. It was likely to be the last bottle of fine wine she would ever have.

The estate was broke. Cerlot's vineyard had only survived thanks to coin from Merkat, with a promise of more once Aren mated his youngest son. With Aren mated to a southern man, she would be removed from palace lands and her brother would inherit the estate.

When Para had discovered Aren sat the throne, the plan had changed just slightly. Merkat would still fund the vineyard, but Aren would remain on palace grounds.

Taking her place at the table, Para focused intently on her plate. She assumed the awkward silence was because she arrived at the breakfast table still slightly drunk. When she looked up to confront those who were judging her, she found them staring openly at Telm, who was very calmly cutting into a steak, ignoring the ranks who were becoming agitated.

"What?" Para asked. "What has the girl done now? Decided to fly off the world? Did she change the colour of the sky?"

The baron of the north snorted. "Learn to duck."

Whatever this meant to those at the table, they began chuckling. One by one, the barons laughed at the cryptic remark. The only two who didn't find the words amusing were Para and Av. The man, who should have been full of himself for thwarting Para's plans, actually looked as if he were about to shatter. A strong wind might have knocked him over.

Something had happened to Aren.

While Para had met with some concerned lords, who questioned the capabilities and sanity of their new queen, none had mentioned taking that step, not yet. She had sent for Anue, her younger daughter. If Aren had been a rank all along, hiding herself away, Anue might also have done the same.

If the girl was a queen? Then the lords would take control. They knew the throne wanted Argnern blood sitting it, and that blood didn't necessarily have to be Aren. With quiet, pliable Anue sitting the throne, Para and Cerlot would rule for between five and seven years. Plenty of time to convince the court that the poor girl needed her parents there to guide her throughout her life.

The message had been sent the day Para and Cerlot arrived at court—a fact she hadn't dared think about until that moment. Her mother had often told her that queens could read minds, especially those linked to the throne.

"What has happened?" Para asked the table. "I've sent for Anue, is there danger at this court for my daughters?"

All eyes turned to Para. Eyes judged her, but without having seen the child, no one would have guessed what her plan truly was, in bringing her youngest daughter to court years before she was ready to be finished. Even Merkat had never met Anue. The girl had been in bed hours before his arrival.

"Court is leaving for winter in just a few days," Jer said, frowning.

"Anue will winter with Aren," Para said. "Cerlot and I meant it as a mating gift. The girls are quite close."

"Aren is no longer at court," Av said.

The man was coming back to himself. His strength was returning, but his previous fragility made Para wonder what the reasons for Aren leaving court were. The one who sat the throne usually wintered near court. Considering her options, Para had little choice.

"You can send her to Aren, then; they will be happy for each other's company," Para said, causing everyone to look at her as if she had grown another head.

"Of course," Ervam said. "Aren is wintering with myself and my boys. She headed out this morning, needing space to think after last night's ball. I will be certain to look after Anue's education over the winter."

"Wonderful," Para murmured. "She should arrive any day now."

Aren wanted nothing to do with her. If she pushed to go to Ervam's estate to see her daughter settled, she would either be denied, or drawn into a trap and executed. She would not put her own life at risk to insert herself, or to put herself close enough to Aren to be attacked by the young woman's magic.

Anue's brief time at court would allow the lords to see her, giving them the winter to consider their decision.

"Why did none of you go with her?" Para asked. "What if she's discovered on the way and attacked?"

"Av stayed behind to let us know where she is headed," Ervam said quickly. "He was to head out this afternoon, after her, but no doubt Aren would want the man she trusts to escort her sister to her, don't you think, Av?"

Av nodded as the jeweller approached their table.

In the jeweller’s hands was a little black box. Para had never seen such a box before. She wondered what was in it, but didn't dare invite the man to approach the table. She would have to wait for one of the men at the table to notice the jeweller.

"About when is Anue expected? I'm eager to follow Aren.”

Finally seeming like his old self, Av noticed the jeweller and motioned the man forward. Para watched him approach, speaking as she did.

"I wouldn't be surprised if she arrived today," Para responded calmly, aware that the ranks were waiting for her to answer before the jeweller was invited to speak.

The man cleared his throat the moment Para finished speaking. He waited for eyes to turn to him. A pair of glasses were perched precariously on the man's nose. His bushy eyebrows and wild mass of white hair bespoke of a lack of proper respect for those of title. The man could have at least tried to be presentable at court.

"Lord Av, when you did up the papers all those months ago, the steward of the time asked me to construct a set of rings for the pair of you. He instructed that these rings be like no other and so I went to my brother in the east. He inherited, from his mate's bloodline, chunks of queen's stone." The jeweller opened the box, presenting the rings to Av. "Hand carved, by my own skill, a pair of rings like no other has been seen before. And likely won't be seen again."

"Show Lady Para," Av said. "Before her eyes pop out of her head."

The jeweller turned to Para and showed the rings to her. Carved of some ugly opal that was all blue, the rings were intricately designed. Despite the ugly medium, they were gorgeous. Rings made entirely of stone were expensive and difficult to come by. Who could afford an entire piece of stone, only to carve it down?

"A gift for the eldest son of Mirmae Hue," the jeweller said to Para. "The steward had once been steward for Mirmae and remembered her love of her boys. When I told him that I had chosen this stone, he thanked me for my thoroughness."

"Why?" Para asked. "The design is good, the stone ugly."

"Queen's stone is a living stone, dear Lady Para. It is mainly found in the mountains just north of the palace. Because it is alive, water running over it in spring thaws carries disease to palace grounds. Consumption. None recall how to cut the living stone from the ground, making it priceless. The stone has magical properties that can only be used by queens. I've since discovered that it was once tradition for the mates who sat the throne to have rings created with pieces of the stone, to indicate to all those around that they not only belonged to the throne, but to each other. Fabulous to learn something new, just fabulous!"

"I still say it is an ugly stone," Para said.

She dimly recalled stories about the rock. Her brothers had once been regaled with tales of queens who had been taken by the stone, then taken the throne. Always in that order, each then going on wild adventures that delighted her brothers for days on end.

"Most commoners believe it to be an ugly opal. Only ranks seem to believe it beautiful. Suppose that's fine by ranks, keeps commoners from wanting to steal it," the jeweller said to Para before he turned back to Av and set the closed ring box at his hand. "Her being a queen and all, it is my understanding that if she is in trouble and you are wearing the ring, it will whisper to you. Queen's stone will speak in the voices of any queens who trust you, in order to protect you, or them. Wonderful stuff, it truly is."

"Thank you," Av said to the man, dismissing him.

The jeweller bowed, then took his leave. Para watched the man leave, curious.

She found herself asking the question, rather than holding her tongue. "Who was this steward that he would order the jeweller to create such rings for you and Aren?"

Ervam shrugged. "He was Mirmae's steward, put in charge of Mar's household when the young woman was banished by her mother. Em did it as much to get rid of the man, I suspect, but when he returned to court she had been without a steward for several months and she was desperate to fill the position."

"Was he, by chance, a warrior?" the northern baron asked.

"Yes, a very calm one. I wouldn't say he was weak, so much as patient and even-tempered," Ervam said. "Most didn't recognize him as his rank because of how still he was."

"Is," Jer corrected. "The man's still alive, though I don't know where he went. Surprised everyone by quoting honour at Mar's mating ceremony, declaring all ties between Mar and Em to be severed. Then he resigned and left court. Didn't tell anyone where he was going."

"Perhaps enquiries should be sent?" Ervam said quickly. "He was a good steward, after all, and you, Jer, could learn a good deal from him about running court."

"True," Jer grumbled.

"When is the mating ceremony to be held?" the eastern baron asked the table. "Spring, then? Perhaps I will return in the spring to attend, if the palace would have me?"

"Of course the palace would be happy to have you all back for the mating ceremony,” Telm said. “We will send word once the date is set."

"Wonderful," was the awkward response.

Para stood, finding her appetite ruined. She felt as if the eastern baron had changed the topic because she had been sitting at the table and she did not appreciate being treated such. Giving the excuse of an upset stomach, Para left the dining hall and headed straight for the entrance of the palace, meaning to walk the front gardens.

Instead, she nearly stumbled over a sopping wet traveller.

"Watch where you are going!" Para snapped.

"Mother?" Anue asked, pushing her hood back. "I came as you asked. It's terrible out there. Snowing, at this time of year!"

Her precious obedient girl smiled up at her. She would grow into a beautiful lady, one who would bring wealth and reputation to her parents. Anue was everything that Aren was not. Kind, good, happy. A wonderful child to have.

That smile turned from Para, to behind her. The girl nodded once.

"You must be Lord Av," she said. "I understand that I will be spending the winter with you."

"I am," Av, having snuck up behind Para, said as he stepped around her. "If you are Lady Anue, you are. Delighted to meet you. Don't bother unpacking. We will leave immediately with my father. My brother, Jer, will close up court, then join us after his daughter is seen off to her estate."

"Of course, Lord Av."

"Stay here, I will collect my father and the few items I will need for winter."

"Of course, Lord Av," Anue said again.

Para watched Av leave, then turned to her daughter. "How did you know that?"

Anue's face scrunched up with concern. "Mother, you just told me all about it. Are you feeling all right?"

The world did a sickening spin. Para put a hand to her head. "I partook in drink last night. That must be what is wrong with me. I will go lie down. Do enjoy your winter and remember what I've told you."

"Of course, Mother. I will behave and see about allying myself with the Mariltons in order to further your status at court. I am glad to do it."

"Wonderful, dear child," Para sighed. "If only your sister were half the good person that you are."