Chapter 9

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A throbbing tension behind his temples expanded as he moved. He became aware of a voice, urging him to get up, the sound swirling through a fog, close at hand one moment, distant the next. Light cut across his eyes, instantly intensifying pain. He didn’t know where he was, or who was talking to him, but as awareness returned through the pounding in his head, he recognized that it was Liselle.

“Dynan, wake up. You have to go. You have to get out of here.”

He couldn’t seem to get his eyes open to confirm the voice to the face. It was like climbing straight up out of a dark tunnel to the surface where light existed. It was a long way off. He couldn’t think why Liselle would be in his bedroom, telling him he had to leave.

“Dynan, wake up.”

The urgency of her voice struck him then and he peeled his eyes open, blinking at the soft colors of pale rose and lavender that told him he wasn’t in his room. Memory finally returned, but only in small, disjointed pieces. He remembered bringing her here. He remembered taking her clothes off, stumbling into this bed, kissing her, putting his hands through her hair and everywhere else, wanting her. But past that ... it all went away in a blazing white light and the fog of too much alcohol.

His head throbbed from movement as he tried to sit up. “What—”

“They’re coming.” She looked to the door and abruptly rose from the bed. She wore only a gossamer shift. He saw the gown he’d taken off of her and all the under garments that went with it, strew around the room. A smear of red stained the white sheet and he stared at it until the urgency of her voice took his attention. “Lady Hendel. I should have been downstairs an hour ago. If she sees you...”

He knew then the reason for her growing panic. He had to get out of her room before he was caught here, the repercussions of which were too huge to think about. He untangled himself from the bedclothes and stumbled to his feet, grabbing for articles of clothing that were his, while Liselle was doing the same thing with hers, trying to repair the appearance of her room.

He’d only just barely managed to get his pants on when he heard voices from the closed door, leading to the sitting room. He recognized Lady Rene and guessed there was probably a maid with her. Liselle grabbed a dressing gown, threw it on and then started to work on her bed, trying to make it up so that it wouldn’t be immediately obvious that there’d been two people in it, covering up the evidence of what had happened.

Dynan spotted an empty bottle of wine with two glasses sitting on a table near the fireplace. He pulled on his shirt while he moved to get rid of more evidence. Lady Hendel knocked softly on the door. Liselle froze where she was. Dynan handed the wine and glasses off to her.

“Is there another way out of here? A service entrance?” He kept his voice to barely a whisper and she shook her head mutely. He looked to the window, wondering if he’d make it down the trellis without falling off. He still felt half-drunk. Liselle was shaking.

“It’ll be all right.” He pulled her to him, whispering in her ear. He kissed her, ignoring for a moment the increasing pressure of time. He didn’t want her to be afraid and he didn’t want to leave her without letting her know that he didn’t regret this for one second. She finally smiled and tension left her face. “I’ll see you downstairs.”

He got his boots on and the window open, letting in a burst of cool morning air. Lady Hendel knocked again, calling for Liselle. Dynan took the wine bottle from her and dropped it into a big bush two stories down, hoping it wouldn’t break. Liselle handed him his jacket, helping him into it. He tucked the glasses into an inside pocket. The latch turned on her door.

Dynan swung himself out the window and onto the vine trellis that ran from the base of the wall on the right of a line of windows to the roof. He crouched down so he wouldn’t be seen, while Liselle pretended to be opening the window and curtains to let in the fresh air. Dynan stayed under the window ledge, clinging to the edge of the trellis, waiting.

“Yes, Lady Hendel,” Liselle said in response to something Dynan couldn’t hear. “I know. I overslept. I’m very sorry I’m late. I’ll be ready in just a few minutes.”

Liselle moved away from the window, still speaking. Dynan decided not to wait to hear more, thinking he needed to get down and out of sight. It wouldn’t do for someone outside to spot him hanging onto the side of the wall. He clambered down as quietly as he could manage, trying to ignore the pain in his head and the dizziness that swept through him when he looked down.

He made it, half collapsing onto the ground beside the wall under cover of the same bush that caught the wine bottle. He left it there and got rid of the glasses. The gardeners would wonder maybe, where they came from, but Dynan didn’t think they’d figure it out. He waited another minute for a bout of dizziness to pass, wishing he didn’t feel so horrible. He didn’t understand it, having been drunk a time or two, and not had this kind of debilitating reaction. Maybe it was the added nerves of having so narrow an escape, and pulled himself into a crouch.

He made his way down the back side of the mansion that way, staying out of sight using various large plants to conceal his movements and crouching down under the windows as he passed them. He made it to the corner, deciding the best way in would be through the kitchen, peered around the corner and saw that no one was there. He slipped inside and eased into a chair beside Dain, who was having a breakfast of sausage and stirred eggs, a second before his attendant, Regan, came into the room.

“There you are. I was beginning to wonder. You didn’t sleep in your room last night. Where were you?”

“I couldn’t sleep.” He hoped he didn’t sound like he was lying. He wasn’t in the habit of doing so and felt sure he looked guilty. “I was in the study for a while, trying to get caught up on some work. Walked around outside a little. I stayed up most of the night.”

Beside him, Dain remained silent, except to roll his eyes. Dynan wondered what he’d have to say about it all, thinking it wouldn’t be anything good.

“Your father’s transfer is pulling in the front drive,” Regan said with a raised brow. Dynan looked down at his disheveled clothes. He needed to get to a medic kit too, or he wouldn’t survive the next hour with this headache. Dynan nodded, even when he didn’t think he could stand up again.

“I’ll go get changed.”

He pushed himself to his feet and found his arms shaking as he leaned on the table. He felt sick. He turned away when Regan looked at him and started for the door to the hall. He met Ralion and Sheed coming in. Both guards stopped at the sight of him, eyes widening slightly, but they didn’t say anything. They shared a look as he walked by and then they were both looking back at Dain for the explanation Dynan wasn’t going to give them. They knew, just as Dain knew, that he hadn’t stayed up all night catching up on anything. Dynan trusted they weren’t going to tell Regan or run to the King about it either.

He made it to the stairs. Climbing them might kill him. He heard Ralion coming up behind him. His guard put a hand under his arm and helped him.

“Have a little too much to drink last night?” he asked mildly when they reached the top. Dynan could only nod, groaning from the pain that was now pulsing through his entire body. “Don’t remember much of what happened either, do you?”

“No. Look, if you’re going to...” He had to stop. He was going to be sick any minute.

“I’m not.” Ralion held up a hand, steered him into his room and into the washroom. He was trying not to laugh. He got Dynan over to the sink. “Here. Have at it.”

Dynan nodded miserably. His stomach obeyed as though given a command and he started throwing up. His guard left him to it.